Full text of "Annual report of the Peoria Public Library"

027

P419R

1902-1913

THE UNIVERSITY
OF ILLINOIS

LIBRARY

Hfc .

%&F:

THE

TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

AND THE

Forty-fifth Annual Report since its Organization
as the Peoria City Library

!iiiu! '

PEORIA, ILLINOIS

For the Year Ending May 31, 1902

EDWARD MINE & CO., PRINTERS

DIRECTORS OF THE PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
FROM ITS ORIGIN, APRIL, 1880.

John S. Lee 1880 to 1889

James C. Dolan 1880 " 1894

Mathew Henebery 1880 " 1894

Bernard Cremer 1880 " date

Henry Ullman 1880 " 1898

Austin F. Johnson 1880 " 1884

J. M. Hutchinson 1880 " 1884

Chas. B. Allaire 1880 " 1883

Geo. B. Foster 1880 " 1886

James Millard 1884 " 1886

Matthew Griswold 1884 " 1886

Robert C. Grier 1884 " date

Henry W. Wells 1886 " date

Dan F. Raum '. 1886 " 1889

Thos. F, Burnett 1889 " 1890

Geo. B. Foster 1889 " 1892

Thos. M. Mcllvaine 1890 " date

Edward Hine 1892 " 1895

Chas. R. Vandervort 1894 " 1902

Frank Meyer 1894 " 1897

Leonard F. Houghton 1895 " 1898

Mark W. Goss 1896 " 1897

Samuel D. Wead 1897 " 1900

James P. Nailon 1897 " 1900

N. E. Worthington 1898 " date

Max Newman 1898 " 1899

Leonard F. Houghton 1899 " 1902

John E. Keene 1900 " date

James M. Quinn 1900 " date

Alexander G. Tyng 1902

Frank J. Quinn 1902

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 1902-1903.

THOMAS M. MC!LVAINE, 516 Main Street Term expires 1903

JOHN E. KEENE, 301 South Jefferson Ave " " 1903

JAMES M. QUJNN, Chamber of Commerce . . . . " " 1903

BERNARD CREMER, German-American National Bank " " 1904

HENRY W. WELLS, 325 Main Street " " 1904

NICHOLAS E. WORTHINGTON, Circuit Court, Court House. " " 1904

ROBERT C. GRIER, Chamber of Commerce " " 1905

ALEXANDER G. TYNG, Chamber of Commerce " " 1905

FRANK J. QUINN, Niagara Building " " 1905

OFFICERS.

N. E. WORTHINGTON President

T. M. MclLVAiNE Vice-President

B. CREMER Secretary

STANDING COMMITTEES.

Finance and Auditing Keene, Cremer, Tyng.
Books Wells, Quinn, Quinn.

Executive Worthington (ex-officid], Mcllvaine, Grier.

LIBRARY SERVICE.
E. S. WILLCOX Librarian.

Assistants :

ELIZABETH T. ELLIS Reference Librarian.
ANNA L. ARCHER Cataloguer.
John M. Youngman," Louise L. Booth,

Harold H. Willcox, b Elizabeth Bontjes,

Helen M. Ballard, John H. Rad"ley, d

Fred. J. Huenken, Dallas R. Sweney,'

Margaret M. Mcllvaine/

In the Bindery:

Richard J. Cross, Ruth McKenzie, Rachel Garrabrant,

Edith A. Quinn, Margaret A. Theena.

Evening Attendant Samuel W. Dodge.

The Library is open for the delivery of books, except on Sundays and
holidays, from 9 A. M. until 8 P. M.; on Saturdays until 9 P. M.

Reading room open from 9 A. M. until 9 P. M.; on Sundays from 2 P. M.
until 6 P. M.

Until Oct. 31; b Nov., Dec , Jan.; until Nov. 15; " from Dec. 15; from Jan. 15; ' from Feb. 1;
to Jan. 15; h from Jan. 15; ' to March 1; > from March 1.

256887

Report of the Directors.

To the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Peoria:

Herewith is transmitted the financial and statistical report of
Mr. E. S. Willcox, Librarian, for the past year, which report is
approved and made a part of the annual report of the Board of
Directors required by law to be transmitted to your body.

The test of the utility of a well selected public library is the
number of volumes annually issued. Tried by this test, the
Peoria Public Library shows a healthy, yearly increase.

Reference to former reports verifies this statement as will be
seen from the following statistics expressed in thousands:

Volumes issued for year ending in 1892 89,000

1893 96,000

1894 119,000

1895 136,000

1896 139,000

1897 138,000

1898 161,000

1899 152,000

1900 167,000

1901 174,000

1902 183,000

It is the policy of the present Board of Directors to make
the Library as attractive to the general public as is practical with
a prudent and liberal management, believing that thereby the
membership will be increased and its usefulness promoted. To
this end changes have been made in the reading room that acid
largely to the number of volumes to which members have free
access. Hereafter all new books which are adapted to general
circulation will be placed for a reasonable time upon the open
shelves. It is believed that the knowledge that this is done, and
that as new publications are purchased they can be seen, handled,
examined and selected, will do much to increase public interest
in the Library. It is the People's Library, and its management
should be such as to make that fact apparent to the people and

TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

appreciated by them. A gradual evolution in the management
of public libraries from the conservative policy which hid books
in secluded alcoves, to be seen only upon request made to some
guardian entrenched behind a counter as a barricade, is taking
place and is justified both by common sense and by experience.

In the report of the Cleveland Library made December, 1901,
after referring to the children's department, it is said:

"This warm personal interest in the work is of no less value
in other departments. The opportunity for this friendly interest
in the needs of readers and helpfulness in meeting them is greatly
increased by the freedom of access to the books which is given in
all departments of the Main Library and in the branches. The
ideal library permits the least possible machinery and routine to
interfere between its readers and the books, and furnishes intelli-
gent help in reaching them and their contents. This ideal the
Cleveland Library is trying to reach in all departments."

In the report of the Providence Library for the same year it
is said:

" The reader's opportunity for making an intelligent choice
of the books he wishes to take home with him is by no means
limited to the various catalogues and bulletins accessible in the
building. The large number of open shelf exhibits throughout
the building contribute in a marked degree to this end."

And again in speaking of the free access to new books, it is
said:

"The privilege of examining these books has been greatly
appreciated by the readers,"

In many libraries a children's department is maintained,
under the supervision of a competent librarian's assistant, who
advises and aids in the selection of suitable books for young per-
sons. The rapid increase of population in our city, with the
increasing number of juveniles who come to the general reading
room, brings before the Board the question of the advisability of
establishing such a department in our Library. It will receive
due consideration during the coming year, and if thought advisa-
ble such a department will be established.

Harmony and hearty concert of action, on the part of all
connected with the administration of the Library, is essential to
the full measure of its usefulness. That this full measure may be
secured is the sole aim and purpose of this Board.

N. E. WORTH INGTON., President.

Report of Librarian.

To the Board of Directors of the Peoria Public Library.

GENTLEMEN: Herewith I beg leave to present the Librarian's
report of the Peoria Public Library for the library year ending
May 31, 1902, the twenty-second annual report of the Public
Library and the forty-fifth annual report of the same library since
its origin as the Peoria City Library in 1855.

Our statistics for the year, which will be found tabulated at
the end of this report and to which I refer for more explicit
details, show a gratifying and continuous growth during the last
twelve months, in the enlarged membership, in the number of
volumes added and in the home circulation.

Our membership is now 8068, an increase of 549 over that of
one year ago and one to every iy 2 of our population. As all mem-
berships with us expire at the end of two years these may be
presumed to be with very few exceptions, all active members and
patrons of the Library.

The number of volumes added during the year was 4,700,
making a total of books now in actual use 75,863, or with dupli-
cates not in use 78,090. If to this we add our large and valuable
collection of pamphlets, the grand total amounts to 83,504 vol-
umes.

Our home circulation for the year, not counting the large
number of books consulted in the library, was 183,500, an increase
of 8,555 over that of the preceding year and the largest ever yet
attained.

Of our total issues 130,348 volumes, or 71 per cent, were fic-
tion, adult and juvenile 44 T fi adult and 26 T 4 juvenile and
53,152 volumes, or 29 per cent, were non-fiction history, biogra-
phy, science, art, literary miscellany, etc.

SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

In a number of our public schools farthest removed from the
centre of the city we place at the beginning of the school year, in
September, carefully selected libraries of 200 to 400 volumes each,

8 TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

which are issued to the pupils under the same rules and regula-
tions as prevail in the central library. Two new schools were
added to our list this last year, the Columbia and the Glen Oak
in the new North Peoria addition to the city, making eleven in all.
Our circulation through these eleven schools this last year
was 31,729 volumes, an increase of 37 per cent, over that of the
preceding year, and according to classification as follows, viz:

Literature 1,836 vols.

Science, art, religion 5,170 "

History, biography, travels 10,219 "

Fiction, fairy tales, legends 14,504 "

A total of 31,729 "

Or ITjVu per cent, of our total issues.

THE BINDERY.

In our bindery we employ regularly one foreman and four
young women. The total number of books bound, rebound and
repaired during the year, including 1498 repaired by desk assist-
ant, was 5940 as against 6572 the year before, at a cost for labor
of $2,138,72 as against $1,951.79 the year before.

During the last ten years there have been worn out and with-
drawn 5,875 volumes, mostly novels which had been once rebound,
all the rebinding they would bear with the poor quality of book
paper now given us.

INVENTORY.

Our biennial inventory just taken shows 113 volumes missing
in the two years. A few of these may yet turn up as misplaced
and a few more may be brought back and furtively restored to
the shelves, but still the actual loss remains a lamentable fact.

THE REFERENCE LIBRARY.

A gratifying feature of our work is the constantly growing
use of our reference department, by teachers and pupils of the
High School, Spalding Institute, Bradley Polytechnic Institute,
by the numerous literary and reading clubs of our city and by the
public generally. Only those persons who are directly acquainted
with what we are doing in this line every day, are able to form
any just estimate of the value to our city of our large, well
equipped reference library.

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

AMONG THE IMPORTANT PURCHASES DURING THE YEAR ARE:

Chittenden. American Fur Trade, 3 vols.

Richards. Memorial Atlas of Ireland.

Hanna. The Scotch Irish, 2 vols.

Monette. Valley of the Mississippi, 1846. 2 vols.

Fitch. Annals of the Army of the Cumberland.

Versailles Historical Series, 18 vols.

Napoleon's Memoirs, dictated to Gourgaud and Montholon, 1823. 5 vols.

Bunker. Long Island genealogies.

World's best music: vocal and instrumental, 8 vols.

Poe's complete works, Crowell ed., 17 vols.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's complete works, Coxhoe ed., 6 vols.

Shakespeare's complete works, International ed., 13 vols.

Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder. 1884-1895. 8 vols.

Encyclopaedic Dictionary, 6 vols.

Moulton. Library of Literary Criticism, 4 vols.

National Educational Association. Journal of proceedings, 1884-1898, 16 vols

Masterpieces of Ancient and Modern Literature, 20 vols.

New Americanized Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15 vols.

Harper's Encyclopaedia of United States History, 10 vols.

American and English Encyclopaedia of Law, 52 vols. (Not yet completed.)

Harper's Young People, complete set, 1879-1897.

William and Mary College Quarterly, 1892-1900.

Journal of the Society for psychical research, 1885-1892.

GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY, 19O1-'O2.

From Mrs. Samuel White, 56 vols., miscellaneous.

Marshall Field, Field Genealogy, by Pierce. 2 vols.

Jullius Winter. Bibliothek der Unterhaltung und des Wissens, 1901. 13 vols.

R. W. Kempshall, four large photographs of the Buffalo statuary at the
Colosseum.

C. W. Shields, "The Reformer of Geneva," by C. W. Shields.

W. E. Phelps (formerly of Elmwood), Reports and U. S. documents. 14 vols.

Mrs. Sarah P. Howe. Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia, 1861-1883, vols. 1-23;
Bayard Taylor's Works, 10 vols.; Poems of Places, ed. by Longfellow, 26 vols.;
Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, original designs by Rheid; Appleton's Art Jour-
nal, 1878; Album of Art Treasures galleries of London, St. Petersburg,
Madrid, Venice, Berlin, Florence, the Louvre, ten pictures in each case; China,
illus.; Italy, illus. Total, 70 vols.

From the local papers of our city we receive two copies of each issue regu-
larly, one for our reading room and one for binding; from the Evening Journal
the printing of our quarterly list of new books, and from the Galesburg Even-
ing Mail one copy daily.

OUR NEEDS.

For ten years now, that is, since January, 1892, the annual
appropriation made by our city council towards the support of

10 TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

the public library has stood at the sum of $15,000, based on the
statutory provision of two mills on the dollar on the assessed
valuation then of $7,500,000 taxable property in the city. That
valuation now is over $10,000,000.

Meanwhile the population of our city, according to the U. S.
census, has grown from 41,024 in 1890 to 56,100 in 1900, a gain of
36 T 7 per cent, and the expansion in the use of the library has
grown still more rapidly.

Our active, two-year membership May 31, 1892, was 4,440
and is now 8,068, an increase of 81 T 7 jj per cent., and our home
issues of books has grown from 89,644 ten years ago to 183,500
this last year, an increase of 104/g per cent.

In 1892 we had a library of 42,306 volumes, in 1902, 75,863
volumes, a gain of 79 T 3 per cent.

Of libraries placed in schools at a distance from the central
library and to be issued from them, we had in 1892 one of 71 vol-
umes, an experiment in the Franklin school, we have now 3,500
volumes deposited at the beginning of the school year in eleven
different schools, showing a circulation last year from those
schools of 31,729 volumes. The new Harrison school, the twelfth,
will have to be provided for in the fall.

It need hardly be said that this showing means a great deal
more of hard work by your library force, crowding us to the limit
of our possibilities, for in our library service we have no more
helpers than in 1892 and our salary item for that service was last
year only $159.71 greater than in 1893.

It is plain also with our greatly enlarged membership, our
still greater increase of issues and the consequent wear and tear
of books that we need more money to meet the demand for new
books than we needed ten years ago, and more to replace stand-
ard books worn out by constant use.

In the number and character of volumes it possesses, its com-
parative completeness in all departments of human inquiry, in its
admirable catalogue and in its efficiency in serving our public
the Peoria Public Library is a credit to our city, our one all-
embracing educational institution, the people's university. And
besides, being the largest collection of books in Central Illinois,
it has to supply to a considerable extent the scholarly needs of
adjacent towns.

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY 11

Larger cities have many and differently planned libraries.
Chicago, for example, has its Public Library, its Newberry
Library, John Crerar Library, Historical Library and University
Library besides theological, medical and law libraries, in one or
another of which scholars may find what they seek. Our library,
according to its means, has to perform the functions of all these
different specialized libraries and seek to assemble here in the
various departments of philosophy, science, art, history and ur-
rent periodicals a fair representation at least of the best thought
of past and present times. It must keep even pace in dignity
with the growth in numbers and wealth of this central metropolis
of our State.

The most important use a free library serves lies in supply-
ing good reading to the mass of people who without it would go
through life in complete ignorance of the great world of 'books,
ignorant of the delightful enjoyment they provide, the enlarged
vision, the acquaintance with other men and other times and the
opportunity for self-culture.

If in the majority of cases the taste for books is created
through the reading of fiction let us then be thankful so far for
fiction. There are worse ways of spending idle hours than in
reading good stories. A taste for reading is the great thing.
That taste once awakened will improve, and as our young people
grow older and learn more of the world, biography, history,
science, art and literature stand ready to invite them into broader
fields, and assist them to become intelligent members of society
and useful citizens in the State.

It is no light responsibility resting on library boards, that of
building up and administering a great free library along the best
lines; for on the efficiency of the public library of to-day in meet-
ing the demands made on it, in providing the latest and best
literature in the whole range of intellectual activity, and in serv-
ing the public promptly, intelligently and sympathetically in a
word, in keeping the library alive and up-to-date depends largely
whether or not our young people, and our older ones as well, be-
come cultivated men and women.

It is, therefore, with no hesitation that we lay our wants be-
fore the always generous city council of our prosperous and grow-
ing city.

12 TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

With thanks to the Board of Directors for their continued
confidence and support and to each one of my assistants in all
departments, for faithful work performed, I am

Respectfully,

E. S. WILLCOX,

Librarian.

STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1901-1902.

RECEIPTS.

From city appropriation $15,746.37

Desk receipts on hand June 1, 1901 34.50

Rent . .- 800.00

Fines 643.59

Books damaged and paid for 8.85

Books lost and paid for. 11.89

Book sold .96

Extra books loaned 20.50

Duplicate cards issued 19.40

Reserve postal cards 10.59

Memberships 14.50

Catalogues sold 33.40

Waste paper sold 5.85

$17,350.40

EXPENDITURES.

Books $ 4,096.10

Periodicals 787.00

Stationery 233.53

Salaries 5,700.08

Janitor service 1,074.75

Binding (labor) 2,138.72

Binding (materials) 280.25

Tools and machinery 32.00

Fuel 419.57

Light 987.30

Expense 493.90

Furniture and fixtures 239.07

Improvement 31.90

Supplies 2.25

Reserve fund 800.00

Desk receipts on hand June 31, 1902 33.98

$17,350.40

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

MEMBERSHIP.

Memberships in force June 1, 1901 '. 7,519

Memberships issued during the year, good for two years 4,232

Total 11,751

Memberships expired during the year 3,683

Memberships in force May 31, 1902 8,068

CONTENTS OF LIBRARY.

June 1, 1901

Books in circulation 72,133 vols.

Duplicates not in use 2,217 vols.

Unbound pamphlets (estimated) 4,561 "

Losses-
Lost and paid for 21 vols.

Worn out and withdrawn 949 "

Total losses 970 vols.

71,163 vols.
Additions

By purchase 3,862 vols.

By donation 426 "

By periodicals bound 412 "

Total additions 4,700 vols.

Total books in circulation . . 75,863 vols.

Duplicates not in use 2,227 vols.

Pamphlets (estimated) 5,414 " 7,641 vols.

Total contents May 31, 1902. 83,504 vols.

Number of periodicals taken and always accessible in the reading room

Dailies '. . . . 14

Weeklies 51

Bi-weeklies 8

Monthlies 160

Bi-monthlies 12

Quarterlies 44

289
Duplicates in circulation 42

Total.. . 331

TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

NUMBER OF VOLUMES ISSUED. Per Cent.

Philosophy 1,968 1.07

Theology 1,441 .78

Social and political science 1,776 .97

Natural science and useful arts 11,853 6.46

Fine arts, poetry and music 3,545 1.93

Fiction 81,836 44.60

Juvenile fiction 48,512 26.44

Literary miscellany 5,997 3.27

History and travel 20,633 11.24

Cyclopaedias and periodicals 5,939 3.24

183,500 100.00

Of the above were issued at the library 151,771

" " " " " " " schools 31,729

183,500

Highest issue on any week day during 1901-1902 Mar. 1, 1902, 1,227 vols.

Lowest " " " " " " " " Sept. 11, 1901, 202 vols.

DELINQUENTS.

Books kept overtime during the year 11,809

Number of fine notices sent 1,295

" " notices for books reserved ' 745

SCHOOL ISSUE.

Literature

Science, art, religion

History, biography, travel.
Fiction, fairy tales

Total.

895
1,615
2,745

8.743

156
1,209
1,300
1,654

4,319

305

647

1,472

1,820

4,244

635

1,146

2, 392

4,240

112

436

852

1,311

2,711

145

132

1,014

1,174

2,465

322
1,010
1,017

2,447

1,577

1,836
5,170
10,219
14,504

47481,729

The following table shows the number of volumes in each class June 1,
1901, the losses and additions during the year, together with the total contents
of the Library, May 31, 1902:

Philosophy

Theology ,

Social and political sciences

Natural sciences and useful arts

Fine arts and poetry

Vocal and instrumental music . .
Fiction

tivenile literature
iterary miscellany

History and travel

Cyclopedias and periodicals

Total.

"o rt^-

+*.

1,115
2,796
9,644
8,242
4,314
428

11,043
8,831
5,422

13,224
7,574

72.183

= a
55

3 >~
0-0

o-S
' 5

432

486

949

1,112

2, 795
9,643
8.237
4,308
428

10,602
7,838
5,410

13,218
7,572

71,163

74
122
481
412
162
9

1,018

1,256

402

487

277

4,700

Total volumes
in Library
May 81, 1902

No.

1,186
2,917

10, 124

8,649

4,470

437

11,620
9,094
5,812

13, 705
7,849

75,863

Per
Cent.

1.56

3.84
13.34
11.40

5.89
58

15 32
11.99

7.66
18.07
10,35

100.00

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY 15

CHARACTER OF ADDITIONS.

English 4,577

German 107

French 7

Vocal and instrumental music . . 9

Total 4,700

Purchased 3,862

Donations catalogued 426

Periodicals bound. . 412

Total 4,700

BINDERY.

Books bound 755

Newspapers bound 28

Books rebound 2,689

Books repaired .* 949

Portfolios made .. .... 21

Total 4,442

48 32 24 16 12" 8 4 f Total

1 117 54 813 1,623 676 103 85 3,472

Portfolios and books repaired, miscellaneous sizes 970

Total 4,442

Books repaired by desk assistant 1,498

Total 5,940

Peoria Public Library catalogues bound in paper 200

Current periodicals covered 503

Members' cards folded and pasted > 9,717

STATE OF ILLINOIS,
COUNTY OF PEORIA.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this llth day of June, A.D. 1902, by
E. S. Willcox, Librarian. LEWIS B. HOWE, Notary Public.

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.
[SEAL.]

TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

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THE

TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

AND THE

Forty-sixth Annual Report since its Organization
as the Peoria City Library

PEORIA, I ILLINOIS

For the Year Ending May 31, 1903

EDWARD MINE * CO.. PRINTERS

DIRECTORS OF THE PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
FROM ITS ORIGIN, APRIL, 1880.

John S. Lee 1880 to 1889

James C. Dolan 1880 " 1894

Mathew Henebery 1880 " 1894

Bernard Cremer 1880 " date

Henry Ullman 1880 " 1898

Austin F. Johnson 1880 " 1884

J. M. Hutchinson 1880 " 1884

Chas. B. Allaire 1880 " 1883

Geo. B. Foster 1880 " 1886

James Millard 1884 " 1886

Matthew Griswold 1884 " 1896

Robert C. Grier 1884 " date

Henry W. Wells 1886 " date

Dan F. Raum 1886 " 1889

Thos. F. Burnett 1889 " 1890

Geo. B. Foster 1889 " 1892

Thos. M. Mcllvaine 1890 " date

Edward Hine 1892 " 1895

Chas. R.Vandervort 1894 " 1902

Frank Meyer 1894 " 1897

Leonard F. Houghton 1895 " 1898

Mark W. Goss 1896 " 1897

Samuel D. Wead 1897 " 1900

James P. Nailon 1897 " 1900

N. E. Worthington 1898 " date

Max Newman 1898 " 1899

Leonard F. Houghton 1899 " 1902

John E. Keene 1900 " date

James M. Quinn 1900 " date

Alexander G. Tyng 1902 " date

Frank J. Quinn 1902 " date

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 1903- 1904.

BERNARD CREMER, German-American National Bank Term expires 1904

HENRY W. WELLS, 325 Main St " " 1904

NICHOLAS E. WORTHINGTON, Circuit Court, Court House. . " " 1904

ROBERT C. GRIER, Chamber of Commerce " " 1905

ALEXANDER G. TYNG, Chamber of Commerce " " 1905

FRANK J. QUINN, 101 S. Jefferfon Ave " " 1905

THOMAS M. MclLVAiNE, 516 Main Street " " 1906

JOHN E. KEENE, 301 South Jefferson Ave " " 1906

JAMES M. QUINN, Chamber of Commerce " " 1906

OFFICERS.

N. E. WORTHINGTON President

T. M. MCILVAINE Vice-President

B. CREMER Secretary

STANDING COMMITTEES.

Finance and Auditing Keene, Cremer, Tyng.
Books Wells, Quinn, Quinn.

Executive Worthington (ex-officio), Mcllvaine, Grier.

LIBRARY SERVICE.
E. S. WILLCOX Librarian.

Assistants :

ELIZABETH T. ELLIS Reference Librarian.
ANNA L. ARCHER Cataloguer.

Helen M. Ballard, John H. Radley,"

Louise L. Booth, Dallas R. Sweney,

Elizabeth Bontjes, Margaret M. Mcllvaine,

Raymond A. Wheeler. b

In the Bindery:

Richard J. Cross, Ruth McKenzie, Rachel Garrabrant>

Edith A. Quinn, c Margaret A. Theena,

Evening Attendant N. M. McLaughlin.
Engineer George A. Kobison. Janitress Mrs. Mary Fogle.

The Library is open for the delivery of books, except on Sundays and
holidays, from 9 A. M. until 8 p. M.; on Saturdays until 9 p. M.

Reading room open from 9 A.M. until 9 P.M.; on Sundays, October 1,
to June 1, from 2 p. M. until 6 P. M.

'Three months; b occasionally; r 10 months.

Report of the Directors.

To the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Peoria:

In pursuance of the requirement of the statute authorizing
public libraries, the Directors of the Peoria Public Library here-
with present their annual financial and statistical report. It has
been compiled by the Librarian, and is believed to be full and
accurate.

The library is aiding the work of popular education both in
the schools to which school libraries are furnished and among
the people who avail themselves of its advantages.

In the last annual report it was said: " It is the policy of
the present Board of Directors to make the library as attractive
to the general public as is practical with a prudent and liberal
management, believing that thereby its membership will be
increased and its usefulness promoted.

" Hereafter, all new books which are adapted to general
circulation will be placed for a reasonable time upon the open
shelves. It is believed that the knowledge that this is done, and
that as new publications are purchased they can be seen, handled,
examined and selected, will do much to increase public interest
in the library. It is the people's library, and its management
should be such as to make that fact apparent to the people."

This policy will be continued and enforced in the future.
Fears were entertained by some that free access to books on the
shelves would result in the loss of many volumes by theft or
carelessness. The test of experiment has proved, that while
some loss may occasionally occur, the greater attraction given to
the public by allowing books to be seen on the shelves, handled,
tasted and examined, more than compensates for any occa-
sional loss.

In the annual report for the year 1897 it was said: "We
wish to popularize. Your Directors are ready to drop old
established ways and adopt improvements and new ways; are not
wedded to ideas and plans that do not satisfy or please the public.

TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

" In visiting the library, if there is an air of constraint or
discipline, we wish to displace it with a home feeling. We can
trust to good, common sense and a natural tendency of propriety
on all occasions for a proper standard of library good manners.
Pleasant anticipations should always accompany a visit to the
library. Attention and faithful service are sure to gain the
respect of all who enter our doors."

This statement still expresses the desire and purpose of the
Board.

The management of a public library, as required by law, is
" to render the use of the library and reading room of the greatest
benefit to the greatest number."

The present Board of Directors, with the aid of those directly
in charge of the books and building, will keep this purpose in
view, and will endeavor to carry it to a successful completion.

N. E. WORTHINGTON, President.

Report of the Librarian.

To the Board of Directors of the Peoria Public Library:

GENTLEMEN: Herewith I beg leave to present the Librarian's
report of the Peoria Public Library for the library year ending
May 31, 1903, the twenty-third annual report of the Public
Library and the forty-sixth annual report of the same library
since its origin as the Peoria City Library in 1855.

Our statistics for the year, to which I refer for more explicit
details, will be found at the end of this report. They show a
gratifying growth during the last twelve months, in the enlarged
membership and in the number of volumes added, but a slight
falling off in the home circulation.

MEMBERSHIP.

Our membership is now 8,226 as compared with 8,068 one
year ago. As all memberships expire at the end of two years,
these may be presumed to be, with very few exceptions, all active
members.

CONTENTS OF LIBRARY.

The number of volumes added to the library during the year
was 4,200, which, making deduction for books lost and paid for
(19), or worn out and withdrawn (707), makes a total of books
now in actual use, 79,337, or, with duplicates not in use, 81,576.
If to this amount be added our large and valuable collection of
pamphlets, the grand total amounts to 87,777.

HOME CIRCULATION.

Our home circulation for the year, not counting the con-
stantly increasing number of books consulted in the library, was
182,900 a slight falling off of 600 volumes from that of the pre-
ceding year.

Of our total issues, 132,760 volumes, or 72 T 6 B 9 o per cent., were
fiction 45 T 4 C 2 5 per cent, adult and 27 T \, 7 per cent, juvenile and
50,140 volumes, or 27 T 4 c \j percent., non-fiction, history, biography,
science, art, literary miscellany, etc.

TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

We have continued during the year our practice of placing a
carefully selected library of from 300 to 500 volumes each in
eleven of our public schools farthest from the center of the city,
and, late in the season, we opened at No. 2000 South Washington
street a separate branch library to accommodate families in that
part of the city. The short period of two months since this
library was opened is hardly enough to determine how it is going
to be appreciated, but so far it has been patronized only by
the children who were already provided for in the public
schools near.

In all our school libraries, books are issued according to the
same rules and regulations as prevail in the central library and
under the intelligent supervision of the respective teachers of
each grade. In addition, therefore, to the juvenile department of
our main library near the center of the city, we have, for all prac-
tical purposes, eleven well equipped children's rooms scattered
over the city to its extreme limits, in close and sympathetic rela-
tion with our public school system where they naturally belong.

Our circulation through these branch libraries this year was
31,504 volumes, or 225 volumes less than that of the preceding
year, and, according to classification, as follows, viz:

Literature 1,627 vols.

Science, art, religion 8,958 "

History, biography, travels 9,419 "

Fiction, fairy tales 16,600 "

A total of 31,604 vola.

Or IVf^fu per cent, of our total issue.

BOOKS RESERVED ON REQUEST.

No public library has the means to supply all the popular
novels promptly as called for, and it would not be wise to do so
if it had the means; it would be a foolish waste of money. It
would result in loading up the shelves with many duplicate
volumes of no permanent value.

To satisfy this temporary demand for the last new novel, or
for any book in especial demand, any person, by depositing two
cents, may have his or her name entered in due order on a list

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

kept at the delivery desk, and, in regular order, is immediately
notified by a printed postal card when the book is in and
can be had.

It is not such an urgent matter to have any given book
to-day, or to-morrow, even; our public is entirely satisfied if they
are sure of having it within a short time, without favoritism
shown to any one and without having to scramble for it at
the desk.

There were 1,417 such reserve cards issued last year, and no
person is allowed to have more than one book reserved at the
same time.

This urgent demand for the last new novel is met in some
libraries by purchasing an extra supply of new novels, not to go
into the general stock, but kept separate and issued at a charge
of 5 cents a week. On that plan our 1,417 reserved issues would
have cost the public $70.85, at 5 cents each, instead of $28.34, at
2 cents each.

THE BINDERY.

The steadily improving quality of work done in our bindery
shows very decidedly this year in the greater durability of the
books bound. Last year's report showed 949 volumes, mostly
rebound fiction, worn out and condemned, while for this year
the number was 707, or 25 per cent. less. We find also that the
dark green book cloth which we are now using for the covers
adds strength to the binding, lends a more agreeable appearance
to the book, and is, besides, not so easily soiled in handling.

REFERENCE WORK.

The constantly growing use of standard works in our
reference department, by teachers and pupils of the High School,
Spalding Institute, Bradley Polytechnic Institute, by the numerous
literary and reading clubs of our city, by students in neighboring
colleges, and by the general public is a gratifying feature of our
work. Only those persons who are directly acquainted with
what we are doing in this line every day are able to form any
just estimate of the value to our city of our large, well-balanced
collection of standard works.

10 TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY, J902-J903.

We receive many annual reports and bulletins from other
libraries which are duly acknowledged at the time. From the
local papers of our city we receive two copies of each issue regu-
larly, one for our reading room and one for binding; from the
Evening Journal the printing of our quarterly list of new books,
from the Herald-Transcript many notices and reviews of new
books from week to week, and from the Galesburg Evening
Mail, the Washington News, the Galesburg Labor News, the
Canton Labor News, the Peoria Labor News and the Christian
Science Sentinel their regular issues.

Following is a list of other noteworthy gifts:

Church of Christ, Scientist: Science and health with key to the Scriptures,
Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, 8 copies.

W. M. Benton: Pharmaceutical Association. Proceedings, 1851-91, 38
vols.; Journal of Pharmacy, 1829-90, 61 vols.

Leslie D. Puterbaugh: Chancery Pleading and Practice, by S. D. Puter-
baugh, fifth edition, revised 1902.

Rt. Rev. J. L. Spalding: Anthracite Coal Strike. Report of Commission.

J. S. Barkman: Dickens' works, 15 vols.; Thackeray's works, 10 vols.;
Spectator, 4 vols.; Miscellaneous, 19 vols.

Miss Eliza Sloan: U. S. Land office warrant, original parchment, signed
by Jas. Monroe, President.

C. P. Farrell: Framed lithograph of Col. R. G. Ingersoll's poem on the
birth-place of Robert Burns.

J. C. Lindsay: History of Peoria County, 1880.

B. F. Blossom: Two framed copies of Magna Charta, one fac-simile.

R. H. Salter: Hendrick's Commercial Register, 1902.

Mr. Van Brunt Bergen: Bergen family genealogy.

James H. Hyde: Life of Henry Baldwin Hyde.

AMONG THE IMPORTANT PURCHASES DURING THE YEAR
ARE THE FOLLOWING:

f Tennyson, Riverside ed., 6 vols.
Complete J Fiske, Standard library ed., 24 vols.
Works I Irving, Crowell ed., 10 vols.

^ Hawthorne, Manse ed., 22 vols.

Woodrow Wilson's history of the American people, 5 vols.
Memoirs of the life of Scott, by Lockhart, 5 vols.
Lincoln's life, by Ida M. Tarbell, 4 vols.
Library of oratory, ed. by Depew, 15 vols.

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Japan and China, history, arts and literature, 12 vols.

Four additional sets of Stoddard's lectures, 12 vols. each.

New edition of Lord's Beacon lights of history, 15 vols.

Briggs* International critical commentary, 9 vols.

New Jersey as a colony and as a state, by Lee, 4 vols.

Portrait biographical album of Peoria county, pub. in 1890.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, new volumes, 11 vols.

New International encyclopaedia, 10 vols. (not yet completed).

Kelly's directory of merchants, manufacturers and shippers of the
world, 1903.

Thesaurus dictionary of the English language, ed. by March.

Munsell's historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Peoria
county, 2 vols.

LIST OF PERIODICALS TAKEN.

Gifts are designated by an asterisk.

Chicago Chronicle.

Chicago Record-Herald.

Chicago Tribune.
*Congressional Record.

New York Tribune.
*Peoria Evening Star.

DAILY PAPERS.

*Peoria German Demokrat.
*Peoria Herald-Transcript.
*Peoria Journal.
*Peoria Sonne.
*Peoria Volksfreund.
St. Louis Globe-Democrat.

WEEKLIES.

Academy.

American Architect.
*American Banker.

American Gardening.

American Field.

Athenaeum.

Charities.

Chicago Banker.

Christian Endeavor World.
*Christian Science Sentinel.

Christian Work.

Chums.

Dramatic Mirror.

Electrical World.

Engineering.

Engineering and Mining Journal.

Engineering Record.

Fliegende Blatter.

Forest and Stream.

Graphic.

Harper's Weekly.

Illustrated London News.

Illustrirte Zeitung.

Independent.

Iron Age.

Journal of Education.

Knox Student.

Leslie's Weekly.

Life.

Literary Digest.

Little Chronicle.

Living Age.

London Times.

Musical Courier.

Musical Leader.

Nation.

Nature.

Notes and Queries.

Outlook.

*Patent Office Gazette.
*Peoria Sonntags Post.

Public Opinion.

TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

Publishers' Weekly.

Punch.

Saturday Evening Post.

Saturday Review.

School Journal.

Science.

Scientific American.

American Inventor.
"College Rambler.
Dial.
Engineer.

Scientific American Supplement.
Spectator.

Sunday Schcol Times.
*Union Signal.
Western Electrician.
Youth's Companion.

BI-WEEKLIES.

*Eureka College Pegasus.
*Gleanings in Bee Culture.

Vom Fels zum Meer.

Zur Guten Stunde.

MONTHLIES.

Amateur Work.

American Amateur Photographer.

American Boy.

American Engineering and R. R.

Journal.

American Naturalist.
American Poultry Journal.
Antiquary.

Architectural Record.
Arena.

Art Amateur.
Art Interchange.
Art Journal.
Astrophysical Journal.
Atlantic.
Biblia.

Biblical World.
Birds and all Nature.
Blackwood.
Bon Ton.
Bookman (Amer.).
Bookman (En?.).
*Boston Public Library Bulletin.
Botanical Gazette.
Boy's Own Paper.
Brown Alumni Monthly.
Brush and Pencil.
Business World.
Carpentry and Building.
Cassier's Magazine.
Catholic World.
Century.

Chatterbox.

Chambers's Journal.

Chautauquan.

Child Garden.
*Choir Journal.
*Christian Science Herold.
*Christian Science Journal.

Commons.

Contemporary Review.
*Cook's American Traveller's Gazette.

Cornhill Magazine.

Correct English.

Cosmopolitan.

Country Life in America.

Craftsman.

Critic.

Cumulative Book Index.

Cumulative Index.

Current Literature.

Delineator.

Deutsche Rundschau.

Education.

Educational Review.

Engineering Magazine.

English Illustrated Magazine.

Entomological News.

Era.

Ethical Addresses.

Etude.

Everybody's Magazine.

Forestry and Irrigation.

Fortnightly Review.

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Frank Leslie's Monthly.

Gartenlaube.

Gentleman's Magazine.

Geographical Journal.

Girl's Own Paper.

Good Government.

Good Health.

Good Housekeeping.

Good Roads.

Handicraft.

Harper's Bazar.

Harper's Monthly.
*Herald of the Golden Age.

Home Science Magazine.

House Beautiful.
*Illinois Climate and Crop Service.

Index and Review.

Inland Architect.

Inlander.

International Studio.

Journal of Franklin Institute.

Journal of Society for Psychical Re-
search.

Keramic Studio.

Kindergarten Magazine.

Knowledge.

Ladies' Home Journal.

Lamp.

Land of Sunshine.

Library Journal.
*Library News Letter.

Library World,

Lippincott.

Literary News.

Literary World.

Little Folks.

Little Journeys.
*Locomotive Firemen's Magazine.

McClure's Magazine.

Macmillan's Magazine.

Magazine of Art.

Masters in Art.

Masters in Music.

Mayflower.
*Michigan Alumnus.

Missionary Review of the World.

Monde Moderne.

Monthly Gazette of English Lit-
erature.

Monthly Review.
*Monthly Summary of Finance.

Monthly Weather Review.

Muse.

Municipal Engineering.

Munsey's Magazine.

Musical Record.

Musical Record and Review.

Musical Times.

Musician.

National Builder.

New England Magazine.

New Metropolitan.
*New York Public Library Bulletin.

Nineteenth Century.

North American Review.

Open Court.

Our Dumb Animals.

Out West.

Outing.

Overland.

Pacific Monthly.

Petermann's Mitteilungen.

Photo Era.

Power.

Phrenological Journal.

Physical Review.

Popular Astronomy.

Popular Science Monthly.

Public Libraries.
*Railroad Telegrapher.
*Railroad Trainmen's Journal.

Reader's Guide to Periodical Lit-
erature.

Reliable Poultry Journal.

Records of the Past.

Review of Reviews.

St. Nicholas.

School News.

Scientific American, Building Edition.

Scribner's Magazine.
*Spirit of Missions.

Steam Engineering.

TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

Success.

Sunset.

Teacher's Institute.
Traveler's Record.

Typewriter and PhonographicWorld.

Ueber Land und Meer.
*U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, monthly

list.
*U. S. Public Documents Catalogue.

Velhagen und Klasing.

Westermann's Monatshefte.

Westminster Review.

Wilson's Photographic Magazine.

Work.

World To-day.

World's Work.

Writer.

BI-MONTHLIES.

American Antiquarian.

American Geographical Society Bul-
letin.

American Journal of Sociology.

Annals of American Academy of
Political and Social Science.

Annals of the Propagation of the
Faith.

Bird Lore.

Ethical Record.
Journal of Geology.
Philosophical Review.
Psychological Review.
Southern Historical Association Pub-
lications.

*U. S. Labor Bulletin.
Whist.

QUARTERLIES.

American Anthropologist.
American Catholic Historical Re-
searches.

American Historical Review.
American Journal of Archaeology.
American Journal of Psychology.
American Journal of Theology.
Auk.

"City of Chicago, Statistics.
Dublin Review.
Economic Journal.
Edinburgh Review.
English Historical Review.
Essex Antiquarian.
Folk-Lore.
Forum.

Genealogical Quarterly.
International Journal of Ethics.
International Quarterly.
Iowa Journal of History and Politics.
Journal of American Folk-Lore.
Journal of Pedagogy.

Journal of Political Economy.

Library.

Mind.

Modern Language Association Pub-
lications.

Monist.

Municipal Affairs.

New England Historical and Gen-
ealogical Record.

New York Genealogical Record.

North Carolina Historical and Gen-
ealogical Record.

"Old Northwest" Genealogical Quar-
terly.

Pedigogical Seminary.

Poet Lore.

Political Science Quarterly.

Portfolio.

Proceedings of Society for Psychical
Research.

Quarterly Journal of Economics.

Quarterly Review.

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY IS

Shoppell's Modern Houses. Theological Quarterly.

South Carolina Historical and Gen- Virginia Historical Magazine.

ealogical Magazine. William and Mary College Quarterly.

*Sound Currency. Yale Review.

With thanks to each one of my assistants in all departments,
for faithful work performed and for the always pleasant and har-
monious relations they have maintained with one another and
with our public, and with thanks to you gentlemen of the Board
of Directors for your continued confidence, I am

Respectfully,

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.

STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR J902-I903.

RECEIPTS.

From city appropriation $14,719.13

Desk receipts on hand June 1, 1902 33.98

Rent 800.00

Fines 700.77

Books damaged and paid for 5.65

Books lost and paid for 14.76

Books sold 1.73

Extra books loaned 22.40

Duplicate cards issued 17.70

Reserve postal cards 15.00

Memberships 14.50

Catalogues sold 26.90

Waste paper sold . 8.40

$16,380.92

EXPENDITURES.

Books $ 3,417.81

Periodicals 787.25

Stationery 266.86

Salaries 5,749.60

Janitor service 1,130.00

Binding (labor) 2,101.12

Binding (materials) 254 89

Fuel 405.33

Light 982.39

Expense 880.16

Furniture and fixtures 79.75

Improvement 38.00

Reserve fund 800.00

Desk receipts on hand May 81, 1903 37.76

$16,380.92

16 TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

MEMBERSHIP.

Memberships in force June 1, 1902 8,068

Memberships issued during the year, good for two years 3,996

Total 12,064

Memberships expired during the year I 3,838

Memberships in force May 31, 1903 8,226

CONTENTS OF LIBRARY.

June 1, 1902

Books in circulation 75,863 vols.

Duplicates not in use 2,227 vols.

Unbound pamphlets (estimated) 5,414 "

Losses

Lost and paid for 19 vols.

Worn out and withdrawn . . 707 "

Total losses... 726 vols.

75,137 vols.
Additions

By purchase 3,179 vols.

By donation 559 "

By periodicals bound 462 "

Total additions 4,200 vols

Total books in circulation 79,337 vols.

Duplicates not in use 2,239 vols.

Pamphlets (estimated) 6,201 " 8,440 vols.

Total contents May 31, 1903 87,777 vols.

Number of periodicals taken and always accessible in the reading room

Dailies 12

Weeklies 60

Bi-Weeklies 8

Monthlies 176

Bi-monthlies 11

Quarterlies 45

312
Duplicates in circulation 25

Total . . 337

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY 17

NUMBER OF VOLUMES ISSUED. Per Cent.

Philosophy 1,665 .91

Theology 1,662 .91

Social and political science 1,789 .98

Natural science and useful arts 10,280 5.62

Fine arts, poetry and music 3,782 2.07

Fiction 88,067 45.42

Juvenile fiction 49.693 27.17

Literary miscellany 5,323 2.91

History and travel 19,323 10.56

Cyclopaedias and periodicals 6,316 3.45

182,900 100.00

Of the above were issued at the library 151,396

" " " " " " " schools and branch library 31,504

182,900

Highest issue on any week day during 1902-1903 Feb. 21, 1903, 1,184 vols.

Lowest " " " " " " " " Feb. 3,1903, 197 "

DELINQUENTS.

Books kept overtime during the year 13,021

Number of fine notices sent 1,529

" " notices for books reserved 1,417

TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

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Theology
Social and political sciences
Natural sciences and useful
Fine arts and poetry
Vocal and instrumental mua
Fiction
Juvenile literature
Literary miscellany
History and travel
Cyclopaedias and periodical:

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20 TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

CHARACTER OF ADDITIONS.

English 4,029

German 119

French 6

Hebrew 1

Vocal and instrumental music . , 45

Total 4,200

Purchased 3,179

Donations catalogued 559

Periodicals bound.. 462

Total 4,200

BINDERY.

Books bound 739

Newspapers bound 33

Books rebound 2,630

Books repaired 1,153

Portfolios made . . 61

Total 4,616

32 24 16 12 8 4 f Crown Total

3 50 715 1577 705 232 119 1 3,402

Portfolios and books repaired, miscellaneous sizes 1,214

Total 4,616

Books repaired by desk assistant 1,955

Total 6.571

Peoria Public Library catalogues bound in paper 100

Current magazines covered 491

Members' cards folded and pasted 8,000

STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) sg
COUNTY OF PEORIA. >

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 10th day of June, A. D. 1903, by
E. S. Willcox. LEWIS B. HOWE, Notary Public.

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.

[SEAL.]

THE

TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

AND THE

Forty-seventh Annual Report since its Organization
as the Peoria City Library

PEORIA, ILLINOIS

For the Year Ending May 31, 1904

HOWARD MINE & CO., PRINTERS

DIRECTORS OF THE PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
FROM ITS ORIGIN, APRIL, J880.

John S. Lee 1880 to 1889

James C. Dolan 1880 " 1894

Mathew Henebery 1880 " 1894

Bernard Cremer . . 1880 " date

Henry Ullman 1880 " 1898

Austin F. Johnson 1880 " 1884

J. M. Hutchinson 1880 " 1884

Chas. B. Allaire 1880 " 1883

Geo. B. Foster 1880 " 1886

James Millard 1884 " 1886

Matthew Griswold 1884 " 1896

Robert C. Grier 1884 " date

Henry W. Wells 1886 " 1904

Dan F. Raum 1886 " 1889

Thos. F. Burnett 1889 " 1890

Geo. B. Foster 1889 " 1892

Thos. M. Mcllvaine 1890 " date

Edward Hine 1892 " 1895

Chas. R. Vandervort 1894 " 1902

Frank Meyer 1894 " 1897

Leonard F. Houghton 1895 " 1898

Mark W. Goss 1896 " 1897

Samuel D. Wead 1897 " 1900

James P. Nailon 1897 " 1900

N. E. Worthington 1898 " 1904

Max Newman 1898 " 1899

Leonard F. Houghton 1899 " 1902

John E. Keene 1900 " date

James M. Quinn 1900 " date

Alexander G. Tyng 1902 " date

Frank J. Quinn 1902 " date

John Birks 1904 "

Alexander Glass 1904 "

Population of Peoria 1900 56,100

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, J903-J904.

ROBERT C. GRIER, Chamber of Commerce Term expires 1905

ALEXANDER G. TYNG, Chamber of Commerce " " 1905

FRANK J. QUINN, 101 S. Jefferson Ave " " 1905

THOMAS M. MclLVAiNE, 516 Main St " " 1906

JOHN E. KEENE, 301 S. Jefferson Ave " " 1906

JAMES M. QUINN, Chamber of Commerce " " 1906

BERNARD CREMER, Peoria Demokrat " " 1907

JOHN BIRKS, Colburn Birks & Co " " 1907

ALEXANDER GLASS, 834 Fayette St " " 1907

OFFICERS.

T. M. MclLVAiNE President

J. E. KEENE Vice-President

B. CREMER Secretary

STANDING COMMITTEES.

Finance and Auditing Tyng, F. J. Quinn, Glass.
Books}. M. Quinn, Cremer, Birks.

Executive Mcllvaine, (ex-officio) Keene, Grier.

LIBRARY SERVICE.

E. S. WILLCOX Librarian.

Assistants :

ELIZABETH ELLIS Reference Librarian.

ANNA L. ARCHER Cataloguer.
Helen M. Ballard, Dallas R. Sweney,

Louise L. Booth, Margaret M. Mcllvaine,

Elizabeth Bontjes," Fannie Mayo Seabury. b

In the Bindery :

Richard J. Cross, Ruth McKenzie,

Rachel Garrabrant, Margaret A. Theena.

Evening Attendant N. M. McLaughlin.

Engineer George A. Robison. Janitress Mrs. Mary Fogle.

The Library is open for the delivery of books, except on Sundays and
holidays, from 9 A. M. until 8 P. M.; on Saturdays until 9 p. M.

Reading room open from 9 A. M. until 9 p. M.; on Sundays from 2 p. M. until
6 P. M.

Until November; b from November.

Report of the Directors.

To the Mayor and Aldermen of Peoria :

GENTLEMEN: Pursuant to the statute requiring the Directors
of the Peoria Public Library to make an annual report to your
honorable body, the following is respectfully submitted:

The financial and statistical reports have been made to this
Board by the Librarian and are very complete and highly inter-
esting as well as instructive to those who have the welfare of the
Library at heart.

Various additions, alterations and repairs have been made to
the Library Building during the past year, (the first since its
erection ten years ago), which have put it in first-class condition
for a number of years to come.

Among the extraordinary expenses thus incurred the follow-
ing might be mentioned:

The gutters on the entire building have been renewed and
the roof repaired where found necessary at a cost of $396.50. All
the inside woodwork has been cleaned and the walls and ceilings
tastily retinted, costing in all $648.50. The stack room was not
only a very dusty place, owing to the many windows, and for
the same reason was extremely cold in winter, so that it was
a real hardship to our assistants, especially in winter, to do their
necessary work therein.

This has been most happily overcome by fitting the windows
with Chamberlin's metallic weather strips at a cost of $159.60.
The results of putting the weather strips in the stack room have
been so gratifying that we would recommend that the remaining
windows in the Library be fitted with the same, which may be
done at a cost of about $240, but which soon will repay itself in
saving of fuel alone. Several other repairs and improvements
have been made of slighter importance, which, with those enum-
erated above, bring our extraordinary expenditures up to a little

TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT

over $1,300 for the year. Considerable insurance expires this
year, and its renewal will amount to about $400.

The Librarian and his assistants have performed their duties
with their usual fidelity and regard for the best interests of the
Library, as well as for the benefit and accommodation of the
reading public. We believe we have as valuable a corps of
workers in our Library as has any similar institution anywhere.

Thanking your honorable body for the liberality displayed
toward this public institution in the past, we trust that it will be
continued; that this Library may always be an honor and source
of pride to our citizens.

THOS. M. MclLVAiNE, President.

Report of the Librarian.

To the Board of Directors of the Peoria Public Library:

GENTLEMEN: Herewith I beg leave to present the Librarian's
report of the Peoria Public Library for the year ending May 31,
1904, the 24th annual report of the Public Library and the 47th
annual report of the same library since its origin as the Peoria
City Library in the autumn of 1855.

Our statistics for the year, to which I refer for details, will
be found at the end of this report. They show a slight falling
off in membership and in the home circulation, so slight however
as to make no perceptible difference in the work of the library
and in its thorough occupancy of its natural field of usefulness in
our city, yet sufficient to raise the question why there should be
any falling off, and not a decided increase, which I venture to
discuss later in this report.

MEMBERSHIP.

Our membership is now 8,013; one year ago it was 8,226, and
our home circulation for the year was 174,700, last year 182,900,
a falling off of 8,200. The percentages of fiction and non-
fiction, adult and juveniles, remain the same as heretofore without
noticeable change.

SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

As in former years we have continued our practice of placing
a carefully selected library of from 300 to 500 volumes in each of
our eleven grammar schools farthest removed from the central
library, and also a library in a separate branch, the Neighborhood
House, at 2000 S. Washington St. These school libraries are
practically branch libraries in close and sympathetic relation with
our schools where they naturally belong, but serving also to a
large extent for the use of the children's parents as well.

Our High School being only one and one-half blocks from
the library, its 600 pupils are always near the fountain head for
any assistance they need.

8 TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT

CONTENTS OF THE LIBRARY.

The number of volumes added to the library during the year
was 4,145, which, making deduction for books lost and paid for
(18), or worn out and withdrawn (728) and exchanged in trade
with publisher (15) a total of 761 makes a total now in use of
82,721, or, with duplicates not in use (2,251), a total of 84,972.
This does not include our large and valuable collection of
pamphlets (6,775) which would make a grand total of 91,747.

THE BINDERY.

One foreman and three assistants one assistant less than
the preceding year do not show as large a product as in my
last report, and partly for the reason that for the last six weeks of
the year and running into the coming year, the entire force were
busy binding up a large accumulation of daily newspapers, ac-
count of which will appear in our next year's report. These
daily papers, 95 volumes in the lot, mostly local papers and some
of them dating from before the rebellion, had not been bound at
the time as is our usage now, but, though seldom called for, they
are yet among our most valuable possessions, growing more valu-
able as time goes on.

GIFTS.

Of these the library has received the usual number, mostly
of minor importance this year, together with reports and bulle-
tins from other libraries which are acknowledged at the time. It
is not too late I hope to record here one valuable gift in 1902,
which should have been mentioned in our last report, viz:
Sixteen fine plaster casts from the antique given to the public
library by the Peoria Mercantile Library Association and costing
$80 the small balance left over after the erection of our library
building by the Mercantile Library Association in 1897. These
noble copies of classical subjects Jupiter, Homer, Socrates,
Plato, Euripides, Virgil, Demosthenes, Cicero, Caesar, Dante,
Venus de Medici, Niobe and her daughters, etc., taken from the
originals in the celebrated galleries of Rome, Florence, Paris,
Berlin and London make a most instructive as well as attract-
ive addition to our reading room.

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

AMONG THE IMPORTANT PURCHASES DURING THE YEAR
ARE THE FOLLOWING:

Dickens, illus. library ed., 15 vols.
Complete , Scott, illus. library ed., 12 vols.
Works Eliot, illus. library ed. 8 vols.

[ Roosevelt, Statesmen's ed., 14 vols.
Cyclopedia of engineering, ed. by Louis Derr, 4 vols.
Garnett and Gosse, English literature, 4 vols.
Essex institute historical collections, 38 vols.
World's history and its makers, 10 vols.
The drama, Victorian ed., 22 vols.

Bryan's dictionary of painters and engravers, new ed., 8 vols.
Life and labour of the people in London, 2d ser., 5 vols.
History of Oregon, by Lyman, 4 vols.
Siege of Quebec, by Doughty, 6 vols.
People's Bible, by Joseph Parker, 27 vols.
Biography and memorials of Nathan Hale", by Johnston.
Appleton's universal cyclopaedia and atlas, new ed.', 12 vols.
New international encyclopaedia, vol. 11-17 (now completed).

INVENTORY.

Our biennial inventory just concluded shows 132 volumes
missing in the two years, viz:

Non-fiction 38

Fiction 23

Juveniles 38

German 33

Forty-five of these were from open shelves, 29 of the 45 from the
open shelves of juveniles a discouraging symptom.

In explanation, I should say, we keep 700 or more of our latest
non-fiction purchases and something like a thousand juveniles
on open shelves accessible to the public. Excepting these and
works of reference like cyclopaedias, dictionaries, etc., our books
are kept in classified order in the stack room. Yet we admit to
the privileges of the stack room, on request, and for special study,
many different persons in the course of the year.

Some of the missing books may yet be discovered or be re-
turned furtively, for I certainly think that the persons who took
Talbot's Our Bible, or Van Dyke's Reality of Religion ought to
be convicted of sin by this time. Whoever walked off with
Mason's One Thousand Ways of a Thousand Teachers has added
another Way to the list and the fellow who pocketed Roosevelt's
Strenuous Life carries strenuosity to an extreme not justified, I

TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT

am convinced, by our worthy President; but who has our three
volumes of Violin Classics? Is he fiddling and stealing still?

This matter of stealing books from a public library and
of mutilating a periodical now and then being betrayed and
robbed by those we have loved and trusted is one of the most
exasperating experiences of human nature that librarians have
to encounter. There are no words to express our feelings at
least none that we are familiar with in the vocabulary of polite

society.

A SERIOUS MATTER.

Permit me to call attention to the following tables:

Wards.

Population
under 21
years, school
census.

MEMBERSHIP IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY BY
CITY WARDS.

Library
Member-
ship.

2
3
4

5
6

7
8

2,183
2,194
1,765
1,711
3,102
4,172
4,540
4,569

Upper end along river and railroads

593
1,029
1,311
1,134
1,614
759
352
820

East bluff, residence district ....

Center of city, Library, Post Office, High School . .
Center of city, adjoining 3d ward

West bluff, residence district

Below bluff to western city limits

Middle river district, wholesale, railroads

Lower river district, factories, mills, railroads
Non-residents

24,236

7,612
401

~8,013

Actual membership

The above figures grouped differently:

Wards.

Population.

Members.

Wards.

Population.

Members.

2,194

1,029

2,183

593

1,765

1,311

4,172

759

1,711

1,134

4,540

352

3,102

1,614

4,569

820

8,772

5,088

15,464

2,524

If we compare in the above tables the first, sixth, seventh
and eighth wards, which may be called the lower wards of our
city, with the second, third, fourth and fifth wards it will be seen
that while the former have nearly twice the school population of
the latter they have only half as many memberships in the pub-
lic library. To be in proportion they should have three and one-

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY 11

half times as many, or, instead of 2,524 it should be 8,970 which
would give us a total library membership at the present time of
14,058 instead of 8,013.

I need not here enter into an argument to show the value to
our young people of acquiring a taste for reading that it is the
indispensable first step in education and culture, that its effect is
to diminish idleness, ignorance and vice and so prevent a wasted
life, that the perpetuation of our free institutions depends on
universal education no one questions it, it is a truism.

And this, as part of our public school system, is what free
public libraries are here for. " Give a man a taste for good
books and the means of gratifying it and you can hardly fail of
making a happy man. You place him in contact with the best
society in every period of history."

The practical question for us of the library is: Why have we
no more readers from these lower wards ? Distance from the
library does not account for it. for the second and fifth wards are
also distant, street cars from the extreme limits of the city pass
within half a block of the library, a single fare only, and the
lower wards are better provided for in the branch libraries at the
schools.

I think the reason is that their children do not know how to
read, at least not well enough to find pleasure in books; they
have not acquired that fine accomplishment, the art of reading
with ease. There are exceptions, of course, to so general a
statement, but the fact remains that too many of them were not
taught the elements of reading, their letters, early, at that most
impressionable period of a child's life between the ages of three
and six. That is the one best time for doing it easily and doing
it to last. It is play for a child to learn his letters at three or
earlier; put it off until he is six and has a thousand trivial things
in his head and it is work. The idea of teaching him anything
useful other than to keep out of the way seems not to have been
thought of, and, as a consequence, the three best years of his life
have gone to waste. And the fault lies with the parents; they
neglect their children; are busy, perhaps with many cares; may
have had little or no English education themselves and therefore
do not appreciate its value. Especially is this the case with the
laboring class of immigrants from Eastern Europe.

12 TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT

It is true, sympathetic young women from our best families
now and then coax together a handful of little imps from the
streets, tell them pretty fairy tales and sweetly flatter them-
selves that they are almost missionaries beyond the seas doing
something for God and humanity, while, in point of fact, the
youngsters ought to be, and would prefer to be, reading their
own stories for themselves if they had only had half a chance.

Because a child is not admitted to the public schools until
he is six years old is no reason why he should not know how to
read before that. Every child should have learned his letters at
his father's or mother's knee by the time he is three years old,
and at the age of six should be able to read anything he could
understand spoken. Do fathers and mothers nowadays owe no
duty to their offspring in the matter of their early training?
Can they throw all responsibility off on the school board ?
Franklin and Webster did not remember when they could not
read, which is true of many of our older people to-day. It was
the rule fifty years ago. Swift was reading the Bible at three,
Carlyle, Dickens, Ruskin and Beecher were reading everything
at four, Coleridge read the Arabian Nights before he was five,
George Eliot read Waverley at six, Brougham was in the high
school at seven and Byron had read the Bible through and
through before he was eight. These are but a few instances out
of thousands that might be mentioned. In music it is the same;
Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn,
Liszt, Paderewski were all busy at the piano between the ages of
four and six, before their little fingers could stretch an octave on
the keyboard.

Do you say these were born geniuses?

Every normal child is a genius, or at least something of a
genius. Ask his mother. How do we know it was not the
early start they got and the pleasure of doing something worth
while that endowed them with what we call genius?

It is preposterous to claim that either the body or the brain
of a healthy child is hurt by learning to read young. We may
be sure he is learning something at that age and not half so good
for him. A child is a small embodied cyclone of restless activ-
ity. He learns more new things before completing his seventh
year than in all the rest of his life together. It is the most
eager, inquisitive period of life.

LIBRARY

OF THE

DIVERSITY of ILLINOIS.

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY 13

Admitted to a world of new and wonderful things the child's
curiosity is insatiable, his memory never again so retentive, and
of all the thousand and one things he learns nothing can be so
serviceable to him, nothing can give him such a lift on the road
he has to travel in after life as knowing early how to read. For
this throws the doors wide open to all knowledge, this it is that
marks the immeasurable distance between the cultivated man
and the clown. And it is to be borne in mind that a genuine
taste for reading can never be acquired so long as reading itself
is a labor and a stumbling block the picking out of words
slowly one by one.

I am told by our teachers that good, fluent, intelligent read-
ing, to say nothing of correct spelling, is almost a lost art in our
public schools, all the way through even to the end of the high
s chool.

The remedy I suggest for this condition of things is not one
that can be made effective i-n a day, it will take years, but the
sooner we begin the better. Let us urge then upon parents once
more and without ceasing, by every influence we can bring to
bear, through the schools, the women's clubs, the pulpit and the
press, the duty they owe their children of teaching them how to
read early before they enter the public schools.

But there is still another explanation of the comparative
illiteracy of our rising generation, of the lack of appreciation of
library privileges, viz.; truancy which prevails to an alarming
extent in these lower wards. It is not the children who have
been carefully taught at home and who can read when they
enter school at six who are likely to find school studies irksome;
they are the children we call bright, they will enjoy their studies
and be ambitious to go on farther and faster. The dull child,
the one who is behind in his reading, becomes discouraged and
shirks attendance. The first one is not likely to play truant, he
holds on to the end; the dull boy whose parents have shirked
his education at home will now be the one to shirk his studies at
school.

To him we must apply the truant law. He may not like it
at first, but it is for his good and for our good. He must suffer,
if suffering it be, for the sins of his parents and we must help
him to overtake his lost opportunities. We must try to save his
soul.

14 TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT

And we have an excellent truant law in this state, the essen-
tial points of which I beg leave to give here:

COMPULSORY EDUCATION ILLINOIS STATE LAW.
Kurd's Revised Statutes, 1903. Page 1706.

313. For how long a time children must be sent to school.

1. Every person having control of any child between the ages of seven
(7) and fourteen (14) years shall annually cause such child to attend some
public or private school for the entire time during which the school attended is
in session, which period shall not be less than one hundred and ten days of
actual teaching.

314. Penalty. 2. For every neglect of such duty prescribed by section
1 of this act, the person so offending shall forfeit to the use of the public schools
of the city, town or district in which such child resides, a sum not less than five
dollars ($5) nor more than twenty dollars ($20) and costs of suit, and shall stand
committed until sucli fine and costs of suit are fully paid. (As amended by act
approved May 13, 1903. In force July 1, 1903.)

315. Board to appoint truant officer, 3. The Board of Education in
cities, towns, villages and school districts, and the Board of School Directors in
school districts, shall appoint at the time of appointment or election of teachers
each year, one or more truant officers whose duty it shall be to report all viola-
tions of this act to said Board of Education or Board of Directors and to enter
complaint against and prosecute all persons who shall appear to be guilty of
such violation.

This law, I am told, has not been enforced here for some
years. Meanwhile hundreds of half-grown boys who should be
in school learning not only to read but also habits of industry,
obedience to law, good manners, fitting themselves to become
useful citizens, are permitted to roam our streets in idleness.
They are learning fast enough learning mischief and vice, how
to become thieves, barn burners and boy bandits.

Even as I write this paragraph I learn from our chief of
police that he has a list of ninety-one names of boys of our city
between the ages of ten and eighteen years who are now under
suspended sentence for these very crimes, in fact for almost
every crime in the calendar. They are all under police surveillance
and for a second offense will go straight to the reform school at
Pontiac or to the penitentiary. Herein lies a peril to society
more fatal in its consequences than scarlet fever or smallpox
against which our civic authorities take the most stringent pre-
cautions. The health, the very existence of our body politic are
threatened by the hordes of ignorant, vicious youth roaming the
streets day and night. Nine-tenths of all the crime committed

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY 15

and nearly all our poverty is the direct result of ill spent leisure
idleness.

This is something to set us thinking, and with it to connect the
fact given me by our Superintendent of Schools, that only five
per cent of the enrollment of our elementary schools last year
completed the full eight year course; that is, in a total enroll-
ment exceeding 10,000 only 508 went through the eight years.
Here is a field for truant officers.

We have had truant officers in former years, comfortably
inefficient I am told, except on pay day.

Suppose then we try the principals of our schools, make
them truant officers, empowering them with authority in their
respective districts; it is in their line; it is just what they are
aching for, and they know or easily can know every one of the
little scamps. They have time for it, too; it would not take
much time after a few examples had been made. Moreover, our
chief of police, whose heart is in the matter, and for good reason,
considering the trouble they make him, tells me that if the prin-
cipals find any incorrigibles just send in their names to him. It
is what he has been wanting; he will do the rest of the business.

These, then, are the suggestions I would make for increasing
the membership in our library:

1. Give the children an earlier start in reading.

2. Enforce the truant law.

I do not claim that the reading of good books by our youth
will accomplish everything: only this, a taste for books, like
good society, good advice, good examples, all of which are to be
found in good books, is one of the best means we know of for
guiding the feet of our youth in the paths of industry, honesty
and good citizenship, and that if a large library membership
from our old, well-to-do families who have books of their own in
their houses is desirable all the more is it desirable from those
families where children are growing up ignorant of the sight of
books in their homes.

Respectfully,

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.

16 TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT

STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR J903-J904.

RECEIPTS.

From city appropriation $16,718.38

Desk receipts on hand June 1, 1903 37.76

Rent 800.00

Fines 693.58

Books damaged and paid for 4.65

Books lost and paid for 14.75

Books sold 2.59

Extra books leaned 20.05

Duplicate cards issued 17.45

Reserve postal cards 15.00

Memberships 24.50

Catalogues sold 22.80

Waste paper sold 8.19

- $18,379.70
EXPENDITURES.

Books $ 3,832.68

Periodicals 840.75

Stationery 255.27

Salaries 5,894.01

Janitor service 1,090.00

Binding (labor) 1,784.84

Binding (material) 228.38

Fuel 607.11

Light 1,143.51

Insurance 180.00

Expense 1,410.21

Furniture and fixtures 69.25

Improvement 217.00

Reserve fund 800.00

Desk receipts on hand May 31, 1904 26.69

- $18,379.70

MEMBERSHIP.

Memberships in force June 1, 1903 8,226

Memberships issued during the year, good for two years 4,019

Total 12,245

Memberships expired during the year 4,232

Memberships in force May 31, 1904 8,013

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY 17

CONTENTS OF LIBRARY.

June 1, 1903

Books in circulation 79,337 vols.

Duplicates not in circulation 2,239 vols.

Unbound pamphlets (estimated) 6,201 "

Losses

Lost and paid for 18 vols.

Worn out and withdrawn 728 "

Exchanged with publisher 15 "

Total losses . . 761 vols.

78,576 vols.
Additions

By purchase 3,285 vols.

By donation 457 "

By periodicals bound 403 "

Total additions 4,145 vols.

Total books in circulation 82,721 vols.

Duplicates not in use 2,251 vols.

Pamphlets (estimated) 6,775 " 9,026 vols.

Total contents May 31, 1904. . 91,747 vols.

Number of periodicals taken and always accessible in the reading room:

Dailies 12

Weeklies 65

Bi-weeklies 10

Monthlies 179

Bi-monthlies 9

Quarterlies 42

317
Duplicates in circulation 25

Total 342

NUMBER OF VOLUMES ISSUED. Per Cent.

Philosophy 1,372 .78

Theology 1,556 .89

Social and political science 1,828 1.05

Natural sciences and useful arts 8,955 5.13

Fine arts, poetry and music 4,065 2.33

Fiction........ 81,393 46.59

Juvenile fiction 45,933 26.29

Literary miscellany 6,080 3.48

History and travel 17306 9.91

Cyclopaedias and periodicals 6,212 3.55

174,700 100.00

Of the above were issued at the library 150,153

" " " " " " " schools and branch library. .. 24,547

174,700

Highest issue on any week day during 1903-1904 April 9, 1904. 1,145 vols.

Lowest " " " " ' " Jan. 20, 1904, 216 "

DELINQUENTS.

Books kept overtime during the year 21,625

Number of fine notices sent 1,557

" " notices for books reserved 1,259

TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT

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l"hilosophy
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Vocal and instrumental music
Fiction
Juvenile literature
Literary miscellany
History and travel
Cyclopedias and periodicals

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PEOR1A PUBLIC LIBRARY

CHARACTER OF ADDITIONS.

English

German

French

Vocal and instrumental music .

Total

Purchased

Donations catalogued.
Periodicals bound . .

4,005

102

4,145

8,285
457
403

Total 4,145

VOLUMES ISSUED PROM EACH CLASS-1881-1904.

1881-1901

1901-1902

1902-1903

1903-1904

1(5,039

1,968

1,665

1 372

Theology

19,186

1,441

1,662

1,556

Social science

25, 808

1,776

1,789

1,828

Natural science, useful arts

94,540

11,853

10,280

8,955

54,918

3,545

3,782

4 065

Fiction

1,002,062

81,836

83,067

81,393

Juvenile fiction

567,314

48, 512

49, 693

45,933

70,345

5 997

5,323

6 080

211,672

20,633

19,323

17 306

Cyclopaedias and periodicals

79,763

5,939

6,316

6,212

Total

2,141,647

183,500

182, 900

174,700

PERCENTAGE OF ISSUE FROM EACH CLASS, 1881-1904.

1881-1901

1901-1902

1902-1903

1903-1904

Philosophy

0.67

1 07

0.78

Theology

0.78

0.91

Social science

1 16

0.97

0.98

1 05

4.12

6.46

5.62

5 13

Fine arts, poetry and music

2 45

1 93

2.07

2 33

Fiction

47.48

44.60

45.42

46 59

Juvenile fiction

27.15

26-44

27.17

26-29

Literary miscellany

3.20

3.27

2-91

3.48

History and travel

9.32

11 24

10.5(5

9 91

Cyclopsedi as and periodicals

3 58

3-24

3.45

3 55

100 00

100.00

BINDERY.

Books bound

Newspapers bound.

Books rebound

Books repaired

Portfolios made. .

565

2,021

701
37

Total 3,352

20 TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT

32 24" 16 12" 8 4 f Total

12 42 446 1329 529 129 127 2,614

Portfolios and books repaired, miscellaneous sizes 738

3,352
Books repaired by desk assistant 3,164

Total 6,516

Peoria Public Library catalogues bound in paper 258

Current magazines covered 460

Members' cards folded and pasted 9,400

STATE OF ILLINOIS,
COUNTY OF PEORIA.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 8th day of June, A. D., 1904, by
E. S. Willcox. LEWIS B. HOWE, Notary Public.

[SEAL.]

OF THE

ILU0*S.

THE

TwENTY-FlFTH ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

AND THE

Forty-eighth Annual Report since its Organization
as the Peoria City Library

PEORIA, ILLINOIS

For the Year Ending May 31, 1905

BDWARD MINE * CO.. PRINTERS

DIRECTORS OF THE PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
FROM ITS ORIGIN, APRIL, J880.

John S. Lee 1880 to 1889

James C. Dolan 1880 " 1894

Mathew Henebery 1880 " 1894

Bernard Cremer 1880 " date

Henry Ullman 1880 " 1898

Austin F. Johnson 1880 " 1884

J. M. Hutchinson 1880 " 1884

Chas. B. Allaire 1880 " 1883

Geo. B. Foster 1880 " 1886

James Millard 1884 " 1886

Matthew Griswold 1884 " 1896

Robert C. Grier 1884 " date

Henry W. Wells 1886 ' 1904

Dan F. Raum 1886 " 1889

Thos. F. Burnett 1889 " 1890

Geo. B. Foster 1889 " 1892

Thos. M. Mcllvaine 1890 " date

Edward Hine 1892 " 1895

Chas. R. Vandervort 1894 " 1902

Frank Meyer 1894 " 1897

Leonard F. Houghton 1895 " 1898

Mark W. Goss 1896 " 1897

Samuel D. Wead 1897 " 1900

James P. Nailon 1897 " 1900

N. E. Worthington 1898 " 1904

Max Newman 1898 " 1899

Leonard F. Houghton 1899 " 1902

John E. Keene 1900 " date

James M. Quinn 1900 " date

Alexander G. Tyng 1902 " date

Frank J. Quinn 1902 " date

John Birks 1904 " date

Alexander Glass 1904 " 1905

C. R. Vandervort 1905

Population of Peoria 1900 56,100

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 1904-1905.

THOMAS M. MC!LVAINE, 516 Main St Term expires 1906

JOHN E. KEENE, 301 S. Jefferson Ave " " 1906

JAMES M. QUINN, Chamber of Commerce " " 1906

BERNARD CREMER, Peoria Demokrat " " 1907

JOHN BIRKS, Colburn_,Birks & Co -.- " 1907

CHAS. R. VANDERVORT . . 71 0.N, .Jefferson Ayfe 1907

ROBERT C. GRIER, Chamber of Commerce " " 1908

ALEXANDER G. TYNG, Chamber of Commerce " " 1908

FRANK J. QUINN, 101 S. Jefferson Ave " " 1908

OFFICERS.

T. M. MclLVAiNE President.

}. E. KEENE ^.. Vice-President.

B. CREMER Secretary.

STANDING COMMITTEES.

Finance and Auditing. Tyng, J. M. Quinn, F. J. Quinn.
Books Vandervort, Cremer, Birks.
Executive Mcllvaine (ex-officio), Keene, Grier.

LIBRARY SERVICE.

E. S. WILLCOX Librarian.

Assistants :

ELIZABETH ELLIS Reference Librarian.
ANNA L. ARCHER Cataloguer.

Helen M. Ballard, Dallas R. Sweney

Louise L. Booth, Fannie Mayo Seabury,

Margaret M. Mcllvaine, Willis B. Coale."

Branch Library:
Louisa Anderson.

In the Bindery:

f~~

Richard J. Cross, Margaret A. Theena,

Rachel Garrabrant, Daisy Wetzler.

Evening Attendant -N. M. McLaughlin.
o
> Engineer Chas. A. McMullen. Janitress Mrs. Mary Fogle.

The Library is open for the delivery of books, except on Sundays and
holidays, from 9 A. M. until 8 P. M.; on Saturdays until 9 p. M.

Reading room open from 9 A. M. until 9 P. M.; on Sundays (July and
August excepted), from 2 P. M. until 6 p. M.

From January.

Report of the Directors.

To the Mayor and City Council:

GENTLEMEN: The fol'owing Report of the Directors and
Librarian of the Peoria Public Library for the year 1905 is
herewith respectfully submitted:

The financial and statistical reports made to this Board are
very full and show the utmost watchfulness on the part of the
various Committees and the Librarian in the administration of
the affairs of the Library. In this connection the report of an
expert auditor will not be out of place, and the credit given by
him to our bookkeeping, is certainly well deserved:

Mr. Alexander G. Tyng, Chairman of Finance Committee of Peoria Public

Library, Peoria:

DEAR SIR: Pursuant to the instructions of your Committee to examine
and audit the books of account of the Peoria Public Library from Jan. 1, 1900,
to Oct. 1, 1905, I beg to report that I have completed that work, and that I find
the said accounts to be in perfect balance. They have been accurately and
very neatly kept and reflect the highest credit upon the librarian and his
bookkeeper.

I find every item of receipts properly entered and a proper voucher,
approved by the proper officials and committee, showing every item of dis-
bursements for the period above named.

Owing to the excellent condition and absolute accuracy of these accounts,
the work of examination has been speedily and easily accomplished, and I beg
leave to say in my opinion your committee and all concerned have excellent
reason to feel proud of the system and efficiency of the Peoria Public Library.

Very Respectfully submitted,

JOHN MCALLISTER.

PEORIA, ILL., Oct. 19, 1905.

During the night of Sept. 17-18, a stroke of lightning injured
the smoke stack and broke some tiles on the roof. The expense
of the repair work amounting to $149.67 was paid by the
insurance companies.

The amount of insurance carried is as follows: On building
$20,000, books $19.500, furniture $1.000 and on binding tools and
materials $500, making a total of $41,000.

TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Only words of commendation and praise can be used in
writing of the work done by the Librarian and his corps of
assistants, always at their posts of duty, ever ready to serve the
reading public. The patrons of the Library, will, I am sure, join
with us in this well deserved acknowledgment of their faithful-
ness and capacity.

Trusting that the liberality shown the Library by your hon-
orable body in the past will be continued in the future toward
sustaining this institution which is an honor and credit to our
city, I have thejhonor to be,

Very respectfully,

THOS. M. MclLVAiNE, President.

Report of the Librarian.

To the Board of Directors of the Peoria Public Library:

GENTLEMEN: Herewith I beg leave to submit the Librarian's
report of the Peoria Public Library for the library year ending
May 31, 1905, the 25th annual report of the Public Library and
the 48th annual report of the same library since its origin as the
Peoria City Library in the autumn of 1855.

Our statistics for the year, to which I refer for details, will
be found at the end of this report.

MEMBERSHIP.

Our two-year membership is now 8,005 as against 8,013 one
year ago, and our home circulation for the year was 174,920 as
against 174,700 the previous year.

That our library is doing good work, that it is warmly ap-
preciated by our public, we who work here daily have abundant
evidence from the grateful acknowledgments of our own mem-
bers but especially by the constant expressions of approval from
new comers in our city and the regrets expressed by people who,
for various reasons, are compelled to remove to other cities.
These appreciations and these regrets are an almost every day
experience with us here.

If it is asked, then, why we have not shown a larger increase
in membership and in circulation, this may be said:

In a newly opened free public library the increasing acquaint-
ance with the advantages it offers, spreading quickly through the
community, produces a rapid increase for some years both in
membership and in circulation, but an old established library,
once having approached its maximum of usefulness, grows there-
after more gradually; this, perhaps, is our condition now, and this
also, I do not doubt, has its effect, viz: the enormous increase in
the number and circulation of the popular, illustrated cheap mag-
azines of the day. With these magazines and the daily papers
flooding our tables at home, we neglect the reading of books of
more solid, permanent value.

* TWEXTT-FIFTH AXXTA1. REPORT

Our circulation through the schools in distant parts of the
city is somewhat less than last year, but some compensation for
this loss is found in the increasing circulation of books from the
branch library at the Neighborhood House. 2000 South Washing-
ton St., which, under the efficient charge of Miss Louisa Ander-
son, shows a growing interest in books in the lower end.

GERMAN BOOKS.

There were issued during the year 4.077 books in the German
language,, mostly fiction, and issued to elderly persons who came
to this country too late in life to have acquired facility in reading
English. Their children, educated in our public schools, do not.
I regret to say. keep up their German reading as well as their

parents.

CONTENTS OF THE LIBRARY.

The number of volumes added to the library during the year
was 4.355. which, making allowance for books lost and paid for
(19) or worn oat and withdrawn 1,194) and exchanged (17) a
total of 1.230. makes a total now in use of S5.S46. or. with dupli-
cates not in use (2,260), makes a total of 87,746. This does not
include our large valuable collection of pamphlets (7,300). which
would make a grand total of 95,406.

THE BINDERY

With one foreman and three assistants shows 95 volumes of news-
papers, mostly local papers, and 502 books bound, 2.431 books re-
bound. 1,191 books repaired and much miscellaneous work done
besides. But for nearly two months' illness of our foreman, the
showing would have been considerably larger.

Gil* IS.

Of these the library has received no great number this year
ontside of the annual reports and bulletins from other libraries
which are acknowledged at the time.

Being a government depository we receive all the U. 5. govern-
mcut publications as issued, which are of value for reference both
now and in the future. They take up a great deal of shelf room, how-
ever, so mack that in order to find more room in our lower stack
for our bound sets of newspapers and periodicals we have
compelled to shift several thousand volumes of them into a
room in the third story, where they make a very handsome
and. indeed, formidable showing. It is to be hoped they may

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBMAJtT 9

prove as useful to future students of our national history as they
are imposing now.

Among the more valuable personal gifts of the year are the
following, viz:

L diversity of Chicago. Decennial publications. 10 Tofc.

J. S. Starr. MunselTs Historical Encyclopaedia of Illinois. 9 vote.

J. . Huber. Uber Land and Meer. 6 rols.

Daheim, Deutsch-Amerikanische Famflien-Blatter. 2 vote.
Julius Winter. Allgemeine Roman- Bibliothek. 26 voJs.

BIbliothek der Unterhahmig nnd des Wasens. 14 rois.
C. P. FarrelL Omar Khayyam. Sufi interpretatkns by Bjerregaard.

We are also greatly indebted to our local press, especially
the Journal and Herald-Transcript, for frequent and extended
notices of our new accessions.

Among the important purchases of the year are the follow -
valuable sets of books for our reference department, viz:

Porter's History of Louisiana 4 vob.

Williams' History of Science 5 -

New York Genealogical and Biographical Record 8 -

World's Best Poetry 10 -

Ideas That Have Influenced Civilization 10 "

Irish Literature 10 "

Humbokh Library of Science 18 -

Guy Caiieton Lee's History of America 20 *

Disraeli's Complete Works 20

Historians' History of the World 25 -

World's Best Classics 30 -

International Library of Technology 45 -

Also a iarge globe for our reading room and an oblong case
with 81 pigeon holes for maps.

PATENT OFFICE PUBLICATIONS

One large room. No. 3. in our third story, is almost exclus-
ively devoted to Patent Office Reports. Here we have, neatly
bound and in chronological order, a complete set of the weekly
Patent Office Gazette, and, also, all the volumes of specifications
up to date, a room which is visited almost daily by the patent at-
torneys of our city.

OUt FILES OF LOCAL NEWSPAPERS.

An important function of the public library is to gather up
and preserve the local newspapers. Future historians will find

10 TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT

the historyof ourcity in these papers, and they become, of course,
more and more valuable with age.

From the following list it will be seen that the Peoria Pub'ic
Library has fairly complete files of Peoria papers from February,
1840, down to the present time, a period of more than 65 years,
the most of them in a good state of preservation and complete-
ness, and all bound, catalogued and easily reached on our shelves.

Peoria Register and Northwestern Gazetteer Apr. 1840-Feb. 1843

Democratic Press (daily) Jan. 1854-Dec. 1855

Democratic Press (weekly) Feb. 1840 Jan. 1857

Democratic Union (daily) June 1860 Sept 1862

Weekly Republican Jan. 1852 -July 1857

Tri-weekly Press Jan. 1853-Jan. 1854

Morning News (daily) Dec. 1854-May 1858

Transcript (daily) 1857-Dec. 1893

Transcript (weekly) Feb 1858-Dec. 1892

Morning Mail Jan. 1863-June 1864

National Democrat (daily) Sept. 1865-June 1886

Evening Review Jan. 1875-Oct. 1884

Freeman (daily) Jan. 1881-June 1886

Journal (daily) Jan. 1881-to date

Saturday Evening Call 1881-1886

Emery's Daily Peorian Jan.-Aug. 1881

News (daily) Oct. 1883-Dec 1884

Evening Freeman-Post Feb.-Oct. 1887

Herald (daily) Mar. 1889-Mar. 1899

High School Opinion 1892-1902

Evening Star (daily) Sept. 1897-to date

Herald-Transcript (daily) Apr. 1899-to date

Taglicher Demokrat Jan. 1898-to date

If any of our older families happen to possess, hid away in
closets or garrets, any back volumes or numbers of our earliest
papers like the Democratic Press or the Peoria Register and
Northwestern Gazetteer, we shall be glad to have them.

In closing this report permit me to lay some emphasis on the
value of the Public Library in diffusing general intelligence among
the people, among those families especially which have few books
at home.

In our old Mercantile Library, in which I was a director for
17 years and which was, of course, a subscription library charging
$4.00 a year, we had a membership of less than 300 with an an-
nual issue of about 7,500 volumes. Our membership now ex-

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY 11

ceeds 8,000 and our circulation 174,920. Making an allowance of
132,318 for adult and juvenile fiction which has its uses, we issue
now to the people of Peoria 42,602 books of the better class
books of philosophy, history, biography, travel, science, art
and litera'ure, as compared with 2,250 books of the same classes
formerly. Without taking into account all the innocent, de-
lightful and instructive entertainment afforded by the 132,318
volumes of lighter literature, adult and juvenile, should not this
showing count for much in the diffusion of knowledge among
our people?

For knowledge is the greatest blessing, ignorance the great-
est curse, and vice and crime are the legitimate offspring of ig-
norance. Thousands of years ago Sinai thundered and light-
ened against these twin monsters that still run riot on the earth.

The promised millenium is not here yet, else we should have
no work to do. The church, the school, the press are leaders in
the long drawn-out battle between good and evil. May not we,
obscure laborers in the public library, claim a place in the ranks
of these faithful workers for man?

With thanks to each one of my assistants in all departments
for faithful work performed and for the always pleasant and har-
monious relations they have maintained with one another and with
our public, and with thanks to you gentlemen of the Board of
Directors for the interest you have shown in our public library
and for your continued confidence, I am

Respectfully,

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.

12 TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT

STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR J904-J905.

RECEIPTS.

From city appropriation $16,869.52

Desk receipts on hand June 1, 1904 26.69

Rent 800.00

Fines 760.28

Books damaged and paid for 4.05

Books lost and paid for 15 . 75

Books sold 2.14

Extra books loaned 19.90

Duplicate cards issued 14.95

Reserve postal cards 15.00

Memberships 12.00

Catalogues sold 26. 15

Waste paper sold 10.46

$18,576.89

EXPENDITURES.

Books $ 4,021.45

Periodicals 839.98

Stationery 262.30

Catalogues 362.90

Salaries 6,365.66

Janitor service 1,140.00

Binding (labor) 1,832.49

Binding (material) 220.17

Tools and machinery 3 . 10

Fuel 483.70

Light 1,151 .64

Insurance 468.00

Expense 532.03

Furniture and fixtures 59.00

Reserve fund 800.00

Desk receipts on hand May 31, 1905 34.47

$18,576.89

MEMBERSHIP.

Memberships in force June 1, 1904 8,013

Memberships issued during the year, good for two years 3,988

Total 12,001

Memberships expired during the year 3,996

Memberships in force May 31, 1905 8.005

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY 18

June 1, 1904 CONTENTS OF LIBRARY.

Books in circulation 82,721 vols.

Duplicates not in circulation 2,2 H vols.

Unbound pamplets (estimated) 6,775 "

Losses

Lost and paid for : 19 vols.

Worn out and withdrawn 1,194 "

Exchanged with publisher 17 "

Total losses 1,230 vols.

81,491 vols.
Additions

By purchase 3,464 vols.

By donation 503 "

By periodicals bound 388 "

Total additions . 4,355 vols.

Total books in circulation 85,846 vols.

Duplicates not in use 2,260 vols.

Pamphlets (estimated) 7,300 vols. 9,560 vols.

Total contents May 31, 1905. . 95,406 vols.

Number of periodicals taken and always accessible in the reading room:

Dailies 12

Weeklies 65

Bi-weeklies 8

Monthlies 180

Bi-monthlies 8

Quarterlies 41

314
Duplicates in circulation 33

Total 347

NUMBER OF VOLUMES ISSUED. Per Cent.

Philosophy.. 1,352 .77

Theology 1,662 .95

Social and political science 1,876 1 .07

Natural sciences and useful arts 8,282 4.74

Fine arts, poetry and music 3,855 2 20

Fiction ... 87,029 49.75

Juvenile fiction 45,289 25.89

Literary miscellany 5,730 3.28

History and travel 13,982 8.00

Cyclopaedias and periodicals 5,863 3. b5

174,920 100.00

Of the above were issued at the library 156,011

" " " " schools and branch library . . 18,909

174,920

Highest issue on any week day during 1904-1905 February 25, 1905, 1257 vols.

Lowest " " " " " " " " . . . . Tune 23, 1904, 292 vols.

DELINQUENTS.

Books kept overtime during the year 13,384

Number of fine notices sent 1,672

" " notices for books reserved 1,877

TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT

3SSI

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Literature
Science, art, religi
History, biograph
Fiction, fairy tales

Total

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Philosophy
Theologry
Social and political sciences
Natural sciences and useful arts. .
Fine arts and poetry
Vocal and instrumental music. .. .
Fiction
Juvenile literature
Literary miscellany
History and travel
Cyclopaedias and periodicals

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

CHARACTER OF ADDITIONS.

English

German

French

Spanish

Vocal and instrumental music

4,177

143

4,355

3,464

503

388

Total 4,355

VOLUMES ISSUED FROM EACH CLASS.

Total

Purchased

Donations catalogued.
Periodicals bound .

1881-1901

1901-1902

1902-1903

1903-1904

1901-1905

16 039

1 968

1 665

1 372

1 352

19,186

1 441

1 662

1 556

1 662

25,808

1,776

1 789

1 828

1 876

Natural science, useful arts
Fine arts, poetry and music
Fiction

91,540
54,918
1,002 062

11,853
3,545
81 36

10,280
3,782
83 067

8.955
4,065
81 393

8,282
3,855
87 029

567, 314

48 512

49 693

45 933

45 289

70,345

5,097

5 323

6 080

5 730

History and travel

211,672

20,633

19,323

17.306

13, 982

Cyclopaedias and periodicals

79,763

5,939

6,316

6,212

5,863

Total

2,141,647

183,500

182 900

174 700

174 920

PERCENTAGE OF ISSUE FROM EACH CLASS, 1881-1904.

1881-1901

1901-1902

1902-1903

1903-1904

1904-1905

Philosophy

1 07

Theology

Social science

1.16

1 05

1 07

Natural science, useful arts
Fine arts, poetry and music
Fiction

4 12
245
47 48

6.46
1.93
44 60

5 62
2.07
45 42

5 13
2 33
46 59

4 74
2 20
49 75

Juvenile fiction

27 15

26 44

27 17

26 29

25.89

3 21

3 27

2 91

3 48

3 28

History and travel

9 32

11 24

10 56

9 91

8 00

Cyclopaedias and periodicals

3.58

3 24

3 45

3 55

3 35

100.00

100 00

100.00

10000

100 00

BINDERY

Books bound

Newspapers bound.

Books rebound

Books repaired
Portfolios made . .

502
95

2,431

1,191

Total 4,273

16 TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT

32" 24 16 12 8 4 f Total

8 32 513 1685 520 128 147 3,028

Portfolios and books repaired, miscellaneous sizes 1,245

4,273

Books repaired by desk assistant 3,032

Total 7,305

Current magazines covered 443

Members' cards folded and pasted 9,382

STATE OF ILLINOIS, j
COUNTY OF PEORIA. j

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 9th day of June, A. D., 1905, by
E. S. Willcox. EMMA DONNELLY, Notary Public.

[SEAL.]

THE

TwENTY-SlXTH ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

AND THE

Forty-ninth Annual Report since its Organization
as the Peoria City Library

PEORIA, ILLINOIS

For the Year Ending May 31, 1906

EDWARD HINE & CO., PRINTERS

DIRECTORS OF THE PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
FROM ITS ORIGIN, APRIL, 1880.

John S. Lee 1880 to 1889

James C. Dolan 1880 " 1894

Mathew Henebery 1880 " 1894

Bernard Cremer 1880 " date

Henry Ullman 1880 " 1898

Austin F. Johnson 1880 " 1884

J. M. Hutchinson 1880 " 1884

Chas. B. Allaire 1880 " 1883

Geo. B. Foster 1880 " 1886

James Millard 1884 " 1886

Matthew Griswold 1884 " 1896

Robert C. Grier 1884 " date

Henry W. Wells 1886 " 1904

Dan F. Raum 1886 " 1889

Thos. F. Burnett 1889 " 1890

Geo. B. Foster 1889 " 1892

Thos. M. Mcllvaine 1890 " date

Edward Hine 1892 " 1895

Chas. R. Vandervort 1894 " 1902

FrankMeyer 1894-1897

Leonard F. Houghton 1895 " 1898

Mark W. Goss 1896 " 1897

Samuel D. Wead 1897 " 1900

James P. Nailon 1897 " 1900

N. E. Worthington 1898 " 1904

Max Newman 1898 " 1899

Leonard F. Houghton 1899 " 1902

John E. Keene 1900 " date

James M. Quinn 1900 " date

Alexander G. Tyng 1902 " date

Frank J. Quinn 1902 " date

John Birks 1904 " date

Alexander Glass 1904 " 1905

C. R. Vandervort ^ 1905 " date

Population of Peoria 1900 56,100

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, J905-J906.

BERNARD CREMER, Peoria Demokrat Term expires 1907

JOHN BIRKS, Colburn Birks & Co " " 1907

CHAS. R. VANDERVORT, 716 N. Jefferson avenue " " 1907

ROBERT C. GRIER, Chamber of Commerce " " 1908

ALEXANDER G. TYNG, Chamber of Commerce " " 1908

FRANK J. QUINN, 101 S. Jefferson Ave " " 1908

THOMAS M. MclLVAiNE, 516 Main St " " 1909

JOHN E. KEENE, 301 S. Jefferson Ave " " 1909

JAMES M. QUINN, Chamber of Commerce " " 1909

OFFICERS.

JOHN E. KEENE President

ALEXANDER G. TYNG Vice-President

B. CREMER Secretary

STANDING COMMITTEES.

Finance and Auditing Tyng, J. M. Quinn, F. J. Quinn.
Books Vandervort, Cremer, Birks.

Executive Keene, ( ex-officio ) Mcllvaine, Grier.

LIBRARY SERVICE.

E. S. WILLCOX Librarian

Assistants :

ELIZABETH ELLIS Reference Librarian
ANNA L. ARCHER Cataloguer.

Helen M. Bailard, Dallas R. Sweney,

Louise L. Booth, Fannie Mayo Seabury,

Margaret M. Mcllvaine Willis B. Coale,'

Myra E. Van Eps, b Lester Wheeler, 1

Elizabeth Buchanan, Edward Poole.

Evening Attendant -N. N. McLaughlin.

Branch Library :
I Louisa Anderson

In the Bindery :

Richard J. Cross, Margaret A. Theena,

Rachel Garrabrant, Daisy Wetzler,

Engineer Chas. A. McMullen. Janitress Mrs. Mary Fogle

The Library is open for the delivery of books, except on Sundays and
holidays, from 9 A. M. until 8 P. M.; on Saturdays until 9 P. M.

Reading room open from 9 A. M. until 9 p. M.; on Sundays (July and
August excepted), from 2 p. M. until 6 P. M.

Untfl January. b From April. e Occasional.

Report of the Directors.

To the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Peoria.

GENTLEMEN: The Directors of the Peoria Public Library
submit, herewith, their twenty-sixth annual financial and statis-
tical report compiled by the Librarian and approved by the Board;
also the report of the Librarian and the Board of Directors, in
which attention is called to matters of special interest to the
library. A careful study of these reports will, we think, inspire
a feeling of justifiable pride in an institution that is doing so
much for the intellectual and moral development of our City.

The Public Library stands unquestionably next to our com-
mon schools as a means of popular education, and excels them as
a source of special information, as an inspiration to greater
knowledge.

The Directors, with the hearty co-operation of the Librarian
and his assistants, have tried, in every possible way, to make the
Peoria Public Library all it should be to our citizens to whom it
belongs. A cordial invitation is extended to all to visit the
Library and avail themselves of the rare privilege offered by its
richly stored shelves. The Directors take pleasure in saying that
the Librarian and his able corps of assistants have been uni-
formly faithful and courteous and all those who have visited the
rooms have been made to feel that they were at home within
these walls.

We wish to call your special attention to the large increase
in membership and number of books, also to the rapidly increas-
ing circulation, both in the Library proper and its branches, prov-
ing the efficiency of the service and the esteem in which the
Library is held by the community. This has necessitated in-
creased facilities and expense, as mentioned in the report of the
Librarian, all of which we feel sure will meet with your approval.

We thank your Honorable Body for the support heretofore
given, and trust that, in the future, the growing needs of this
splendid institution will not be without your adequate expression
of appreciation. Respectfully submitted,

JOHN E. KEENE, President.

Report of the Librarian.

To the Board of Directors of the Peoria Public Library.

GENTLEMEN: Herewith I beg to submit the Librarian's re-
port of the Peoria Public Library for the current year ending May
31, 1906 the 26th annual report of the Public Library and the
49th annual report of the same library since its origin as the City
Library in the autumn of 1855.

Our statistics for the year will be found at the end of this re-
port; meanwhile the following summary of our work here:

MEMBERSHIP.

Our membership one year ago was 8,005, it is now 8,485, a
gain of 480 and the largest in the history of the library.

CIRCULATION.

Our home circulation for the year was 195,920 as compared
with 174,920 the year before a gain of 21,000, again much the
largest in our history.

This increased circulation has been attained notwithstanding
the fact that two of our ward schools, which had issued 6,714 vol-
umes the year before from libraries deposited with them issued none
this year, but this loss was more than overcome by the increase
of issues from our evening branch library at the Neighborhood
House, 2000 South Washington street. This evening branch library
under the efficient management of Miss Louisa Anderson, situated
in the lower end of town among the industrial classes, near the
railroad yards, mills and factories, issued last year 10,525 volumes
as compared with 3,495 the year before a gain of 7,030.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

The number of volumes added to our collection during the
year was 5, 000, which, making allowance for books lost and paid
for (23), or worn out and withdrawn, mostly fiction (1,119), a total
of 1,142 in all, makes the number now on our shelves in circula-
tion 89,704, or, including duplicates (2,281), a total of 91,985.
This does not include our large and valuable collection of
pamphlets (8,044), which would make a grand total of 100,029.

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

BRANCH LIBRARIES.

We supply libraries from 500 to 700 volumes each to nine of
our public schools farthest removed from the center of town, and
a similar library at the Neighborhood House, 2000 South Washing-
ton street. The total issues from these ten libraries, all prac-
tically branches of the main library, were 26, 501 as against 18,909
the preceding year, a gain of 7,592.

These subsidiary libraries do excellent work in supplying
good reading to families in the lower wards at no expense for
service. They are more and more appreciated from year to year
as may be seen from the increased circulation, with every promise
of a still larger circulation the coming year.

THE BINDERY

Continues to do good work, but this must be said: If pub-
lishers did as good, honest work in their binderies we should not
have half as much to do in ours in rebinding the cheap, flimsy
work they turn out.

No account is kept of the use of books and periodicals in our
large, well lighted public reading room nor of the number of ref-
erence works consulted in the library. It is enough to say that
our room is fairly well filled by readers and students at all hours
of the day, and, at all seasons of the year, except in the summer
months, occupied nearly to its full capacity.

We take regularly 336 periodicals, always accessible in the
reading room 33 of them being duplicates in circulation. They
form a large part of the attractions of our library.

Among our more important purchases during the year are the
following:

Burns. Complete works, self-interpreting ed. 6 vols.

Lamb. Complete works. 12 vols.

Swift. Prose works, 10 vols.

Lowell. Complete writings, Elmwood ed. 16 vols.

Goldsmith, Works. Library ed. 12 vols.

Whittier. Complete writings, Amesbury ed. 7 vols.

Schiller. Samtliche Werke. 16 vols. (German.)

TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT

New sets of the following authors:

Dickens, Eliot, Reade, Kingsley, Scott, Henry James, jr., G. P. R. James
and Crawford.

Famous composers and their music, extra illus. ed. 16 vols.

Ridpath's Library of universal literature. Edition de luxe. 25 vols.

Universal Classics library. 20 vols.

Century dictionary, new ed. 10 vols.

Burton Holmes lectures. 10 vols. 3 sets.

World's wit and humor. 15 vols.

Walters. History of ancient pottery. 2 vols.

Gamier. Soft porcelain of Sevres.

Maxwell. History of the house of Douglas. 2 vols.

Sturgis. Study of the artist's way of working. 2 vols.

Pepys. Diary and correspondence. Braybrook ed. 4 vols.

Oxford history of music. 6 vols.

Payne's Royal Dresden gallery. 2 vols.

Rand, McNally & Co. Indexed atlas of the world. 2 vols.

Thwaites. Wisconsin in three centuries. 4 vols.

Elgood & Jekyll. Some English gardens.

Illinois State Gazetteer, 1858-1859.

Journal of the constitutional convention 1869.

The Ancestor, a quarterly magazine, 1902-1905.

Texas state historical society quarterly. 9 vols.

The following for architects:

Seder. Naturalistische Decorations malereien. 3 vols.

Olbrich. Architectur. 2 vols.

Kidder. Building construction and superintendence. 3 vols.

Beauclair. & Gradl. Documents architecture moderne. 3 vols.

Racinet. L'ornement polychrome. 2 vols.

Buehlmann. Architecture.

We now have the following Illinois county histories in the
library:

Fulton, Greene, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Livingston, Massac, McDonough,
Peoria, Sangamon, Stark, Warren.

And also:

Matson. Pioneers of Illinois.

Steward. Lost Maramech and earliest Chicago.

Alvord. Old Kaskaskia records.

Blair. Pictures of the past: memories of old Toulon.

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Some extraordinary expenses, chargeable mostly to improve-
ment account, had to be met during the year, the final payments
in several instances being made after the close of our fiscal year:

The ceiling in the basement underneath the bindery plastered. .$ 46.05

The eaves troughs around the entire roof repaired 40.00

The apparatus in the electric closet made new and enlarged to

meet the increased demands for electric light 23.50

An outside electric light over the main entrance 34.00

Shelves for room No. 4, third story 198.05

Map case or cabinet, l l /$ feet long, 3}4 feet high, 3*4 feet wide,
containing 81 long pigeon holes for maps rolled up and

tagged 85.00

And a new story, the 4th, of book cases by A. Lucas & Sons,
the firm that put in our 3d story of cases six years ago; at
a cost for the

Steel uprights of 1,240.00

Glass floors between cases 416.00

Wood floors in the aisles 105.30

Pine shelves for the cases 166.50

In addition, chargeable to expense account, new flues in our

two steam boilers . . 246.85

A total of extraordinary expenditures of $2,551 .25

This new fourth-story stack room will give us shelf room for
30,000 additional volumes, which with the spare shelving still at
our command in the third story, will supply our storage needs
for ten years to come at the present rate of growth. There re-
mains one more story in our stack room, the fifth, to be equipped
with shelving for 30,000 more volumes when needed.

At the annual meeting of our State Library Association in
Springfield, May 22-24, our library was represented by Miss
Mcllvaine and the librarian. The attendance of library workers,
including library directors, from all over the state was large and
encouraging and the papers read with the discussions following
were profitable.

The value of these annual meetings of librarians cannot be
estimated too highly. To work hard a year within the four walls
of one's own library the same daily round is to be something
of a hermit, a little near-sighted.

To come together once a year with one hundred or more
other librarians, shake hands with fellow workers, compare ex-
periences and discuss problems is good, is stimulating; we go

10 TWENTY- SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT

back to work again not with new ideas only, but also with in-
creased self-respect and greater confidence to welcome our
friends thronging at the delivery counter.

To our daily newspapers the Herald-Transcript, Star and
Journal we owe thanks for numerous friendly allusions to the
value of our library as a factor in our educational system, and
for publishing frequent lists of new books. To the Journal we are
especially indebted for publishing quarterly our long list of new
additions.

It is our custom to take an inventory of our library every two
years, but this year it was found to be impracticable owing to the
work going on and consequent disturbance in our stack room.
It will be done next year.

THE BRANCH LIBRARY.

The growing appreciation of our work at the Branch Library
on South Washington street, to which I have alluded, raises the
question of providing better accommodations, a larger room to
serve as a reading room for older persons of evenings in connec-
tion with the issuing of books.

The room we now occupy, only 133^ feet wide by 22^ feet
long with book cases for 1,500 volumes against the walls, three
small tables, a few chairs and a low desk in the corner for the at-
tendant, is much too small to make an attractive reading room for
grown people, the very ones we are now after and beginning to
get hold of.

Mr. A. S. Oakford, to whose public spirit we are indebted
for the use of this small room, rent, light and heat free, offers us
the use of the adjoining room, which is more than twice as large,
as a public reading room of evenings. The two rooms are con-
nected by a doorway. By providing a few tables and chairs, the
daily newspapers and some of the popular magazines, we might
be able to draw in under more refining influences many young
men and women, and, for that matter, older ones, too, who are at
a loss now where, except on the streets, to find a pleasant resort
after the day's work is over.

I commend this matter to your serious consideration.

PEORIA PUBUC LIBRARY 11

THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.

Sooner or later with the rapid growth of our city a branch
library and reading room will be wanted in the neighborhood of
the proposed new High School on Lincoln avenue.

A little foresight on the part of our School Board now in
planning the building might make the way easy for such a desir-
able addition to our educational forces. Let them leave one large
room on the lower floor for a public room without fixed seats and
desks and, when the demand arises, let the public library board
furnish and supply it with reading matter for evening use.

It is a pity that so many large and beautiful rooms as our
school buildings have, otherwise so convenient for public uses,
should all lie empty and idle fifteen hours of the twenty-four be-
cause of the 40 or more immovable children's desks in each one
of them.

With thanks to each one of my assistants in all departments
for faithful work performed and for the always pleasant relations
they have maintained with one another and with our public, and
with thanks to you gentlemen of the Board of Directors for the
watchful interest you have shown in your charge and for your
continued confidence, I am, Respectfully,

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.

12 TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT

STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1905-J906.

RECEIPTS.

From city appropriation $ 17,987 . 86

Desk receipts on hand June 1, 1905 34.47

Rent 800.00

Fines 800.96

Books damaged and paid for 4 . 20

Books lost and paid for 17.25

Books sold 1 .73

Extra books loaned 18.70

Duplicate cards issued 17.25

Reserve postal cards 19.00

Memberships 9 . 00

Catalogues sold 18.30

Waste paper sold 6.00

Old iron flues sold 15.00

$19,749.72

EXPENDITURES.

Books $ 4,657.11

Periodicals 815.06

Stationery 288.87

Salaries 6,829. 12

Janitor service 1,147.00

Binding (labor) 1,716.43

Binding (material) 233.58

Tools and machinery 3.15

Fuel 471 . 27

Light 1,095.50

Insurance 90.00

Expense 756. 74

Furniture and fixtures 262 . 25

Improvement 559 . 92

Reserve fund 800.00

Desk receipts on hand May 31, 1906 23.72

$ 19,749. 72

MEMBERSHIP

Memberships in force June 1, 1905 8,005

Memberships issued during the year, good for two years 4,499

Total 12,504

Memberships expired during the year 4,019

Memberships in force May 31, 1906 8,485

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY 18

June 1, 1905 CONTENTS OF LIBRARY.

Books in circulation 85,846 vols.

Duplicates not in circulation . . 2,260 vols.

Unbound pamphlets (estimated) 7,300 "

Losses

Lost and paid for 23 vols.

Worn out and withdrawn 1,119 "

Total losses 1,142 vols.

84,704 vols.
Additions

By purchase ^ . . 4,042 vols.

By donation >. 423 "

By periodicals bound 535 "

Total additions 5,000 vols.

Total books in circulation 89,704 vols.

Duplicates not in use 2,281 vols.

Pamphlets (estimated) 8,044 " 10,325 "

Total contents May 31, 1906. . 100,029 vols.

NUMBER OF PERIODICALS TAKEN AND ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE IN THE READ-
ING ROOM.

Dailies 12

Weeklies 63

Bi-weeklies 6

Monthlies 175

Bi-monthlies 6

Quarterlies 41

303
Duplicates in circulation 33

Total 336

NUMBER OF VOLUMES ISSUED.

Philosophy 1,418 .72

Theology 1,795 .92

Social and political science 1,995 1.02

Natural sciences and useful arts 9,135 4 . 66

Fine arts, poetry and music 3,669 1 . 87

Fiction 97,480 49.76

Juvenile fiction 52,097 26.59

Literary miscellany 6,616 3.38

History and travel 14,947 7.63

Cyclopaedias and periodicals 6,768 3.45

195,920 100.00

Of the above were issued at the library 169,419

Of the above were issued at the schools and branch library 26,501

195,920

Highest issue on any week day during 1905-1906, March 17, 1906 1,320

Lowest " " " " " " 1905-1906, June 6, 1905 292

DELINQUENTS.

Books kept overtime during the year 16,026

Number of fine notices sent 1,819

Number of notices for books reserved . . 866

TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT

SCHOOL AND BRANCH LIBRARY ISSUES.

!-H

The following table shows the number of volumes in each class, June 1, 1905, the total losses and additions during the
year, together with the total contents of the library, May 31, 1906.

01 4)

8889 g8 8i58Sa

rH rH iH i^ iH

MIS

1^ |

isiisiiiiii

.,,=,oo

as- aaa

,.o-,o

- r
rH <t> CO tfj

to CO

O oj-

S5 r-l

P*.

SSSS

O
1

aaq

"Sli

o
oo

H ' l-( 1H

Sill

"S ^

sl-s

o a a
* 1

JOIJ^IU .\\

88|g

1-1

:: .-

PI3QJBQ

l|l

o|c

ggliliSIll

aajBig

oo^?3r~

rHOOrHCi^) 1 COOCOlOOO

UOSUJT3H

i-JeT

^o"fc
~ &"S~<*

III!

Philosophy
Theology
Social and political sciences
Natural sciences and useful arts
Fine arts and poetry
Vocal and instrumental music
Fiction
Juvenile literature
Literary miscellany
History and travel
Cyclopaedias and Periodicals

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

CHARACTER OF ADDITIONS.

English 4,792

143

German

French.

Spanish

Vocal and instrumental music.

Total 5,000

Purchased 4,042

Donations catalogued 423

Periodicals bound. . 535

Total . . 5,000

VOLUMES ISSUED FROM EACH CLASS.

1881-1901

1901-1902

1902-1903

1903-1904

1904-1905

1905-1906

16,039

1,968

1,665

1,372

1,350

1,418

Theology

19, 186

1,441

1,662

1,556

1,662

1,795

25,808

1,776

1,789

1,828

1,876

1,995

Natural science, useful arts

94,540
54,918

11,853
3,545

10,280
3,782

8,955
4,065

8,282
3,855

9,135
3,669

Fiction

1,002,062

81,836

83,067

81,393

87,029

97,480

567,314

48,512

49,693

45,933

45,289

52,097

70,345

5,997

5,323

6,080

5,730

6,616

History and travel

211,672

20,633

19,323

17,306

13, 982

14,947

Cyclopaedias and periodicals

79,763

5,939

6,316

6,212

5,863

6,768

Total

2, 141, 647

183,500

182,900

174,700

174,920

195,920

PERCENTAGE OF ISSUE FROM EACH CLASS, 1881-1906.

1881-1901

1901-1902

1902-1903

1903-1904

1904-1905

1905-1906

0.67

1.07

0.78

0.77

0.72

0.87

0.78

0.91

0.89

0.95

0.92

Social science

1.16

0.97

1.05

1.07

1.02

Natural science, useful arts
Fine arts, poetry and music
Fiction

4.12
2 45

47.48

6 46
1.93
44.60

5 62
2.07
45.42

5.13
2.33
46.59

4.74
2.20
49.75

4-66
1.87
49.76

Juvenile fiction

27-15

26 44

27.17

26.29

25-89

26.59

3 20

3 27

2.91

3.48

3.28

3.38

9 32

11.24

10.56

9 91

8-00

7-63

Cyclopaedias and periodicals

3-58

3.24

3.45

3.55

3.35

3.45

100.00

100 00

10000

100.00

BINDERY.

Books bound 630

Newspapers bound 34

Books rebound 2,586

Books repaired 8,224

Portfolios made 38

Total . . 6,512

16 TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT

32" 24 16' 12 8 4 f Total

2 38 383 1989 562 154 122 3,250

Portfolies and books repaired, miscellaneous sizes 3,262

6,512
Books repaired by desk assistant 1,283

Total 7,795

Current magazines covered 450

Members' cards folded and pasted 9,325

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.

STATE OF ILLINOIS, )
COUNTY OF PEORIA. $

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 9th day of June, A.D., 1906, by
E. S. Willcox. EMMA DONNELLY, Notary Public.

[SEAL]

THE

TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

AND THE

Fiftieth Annual Report since its Organization
as the Peoria City Library

PEORIA, ILLINOIS

For the Year Ending May 31, 1907

EDWARD HINE & CO., PRINTERS

Report of the Directors.

To the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Peoria.

GENTLEMEN: The Directors of the Peoria Public Library
submit to you, herewith, their twenty-seventh annual report.

The financial and statistical tables, compiled by the Librarian
and approved by the Board, set forth facts in figures which we
feel ought to be a source of satisfaction and pleasure to those
interested in the work of a Public Library. We wish to call
special attention to the introductory remarks of the Librarian.
They express wisdom, experience and a clear comprehension of
the needs of a Public Library, and set forth the policy of our own.

The Directors, as a body, have been faithful in their attend-
ance upon all the meetings of the Board during the year, and
have done what they could to make the Library all it should be
to this community.

The grounds upon which the building stands have been
drained, graded and beautified and improvements have been
made in heating, lighting and ventilating our splendid building.

We have sought in every possible way, to meet the demands
of the public in comfort and in service. Special effort has been
made to ascertain the books and periodicals wanted by the
different professions and the reading public, and that want has
been met when known. We are largely indebted to the Librarian
and his able and obliging assistants for the satisfactory results
attained. Their arduous work can only be appreciated by those
who have availed themselves of the privileges of the Library.

We should have additional branch Libraries one should be
opened at Averyville at once. The one in South Peoria which is
doing splendid work should be greatly enlarged. This we cannot
do with our present appropriation. We trust your Honorable
Body will appreciate the situation, and grant us the maximum to
which the Library is entitled under the law.

We feel sure the public appreciate the rare advantages of the
Library as one of the greatest educational institutions in our
city, and as their servants we will seek to increase its efficiency.
Respectfully submitted,

JOHN E. KEENE, President.

Report of the Librarian.

To the Board of Directors of the Peoria Public Library.

GENTLEMEN: Herewith I beg to submit the Librarian's re-
port of the Peoria Public Library for the year ending May 31,
1907 the 27th annual report of the free Public Library and the
50th annual report of the same library since its origin as the
Peoria City Library in the autumn of 1855.

Detailed statistics will be found at the end.

MEMBERSHIP.

Our membership one year ago was 8,485, it is now 8,526, a
slight gain of 41 only, but still the largest in our history. Mem-
bership, it will be understood, is good for two years only, thus
dropping out any who may not be active members.

CIRCULATION.

Our home circulation for the year, not counting reference
work or general reading done in the library, shows a slight falling
off from that of one year ago, being 191,600 volumes as compared
with 195,920 the year before, a loss of 4,320. It is a terrific com-
petition that good books have to face now-a-days with the daily
newspaper and the deluge of illustrated magazines.

WHO ARE THE PRINCIPAL PATRONS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY?

All lovers of books are, more or less frequently, patrons of
the public library the entire body of students, investigators,
club women preparing papers for their season's programmes, a
few lawyers, doctors and preachers who need some sweets with
their more solid meat, and then fiction readers, pure and simple,
tired men and women, lonesome people with time on their hands
and unfulfilled desires.

Comparatively few business men visit the library, they read
newspapers. Matthew Arnold said if he lived to be eighty he
should probably be the only man in England who read anything
but newspapers and scientific reports. Besides, people are more
and more buying libraries of their own; for a good book that is

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

worth reading is worth owning, if you can afford it. And, no
doubt, a choice, well selected library like ours has its influence in
bringing about this purchase of home libraries; but of the lavishly
advertised fiction of the day only a small per cent, is of such value
as to merit individual ownership. For fiction therefore, the
average reader goes to the public library, and it is this which will
always make our fiction issues seem disproportionately large. Of
course, the reading of a good novel now and then is not to be
disparaged; it is interesting, possibly instructive and often stimu-
lating.

We none of us can ever be entirely happy, but we can be
busy, therefore we resort to books to fill in the empty spaces in
our lives.

Let it not be forgotten, however, that in addition to the
usual amount of fiction and juveniles that are the principal issues
of all public libraries, some 42,254 volumes of good, solid read-
ing science, art, history, biography and travels were issued

also.

BRANCHES.

Our ten libraries placed at the opening of the school year in
as many different schools farthest from the main library, issued
13,953 volumes and the Branch library at the Neighbor-
hood House, 2000 South Washington street, which is open even-
ings only and under the efficient management of Miss Louise
Anderson, issued 12,729 volumes a gain of 2,204 over last year
a total altogether of 26,682.

With the completion of the new High School building on
Lincoln avenue, we ought to equip another branch in one of its
rooms there, and with the contemplated annexation of Averyville
to our city, a branch library will be needed in the upper part of
our city also.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

The number of volumes added to our collection during the
year was 4,700 which, making allowance for books lost and paid
for (29) or worn out and withdrawn, mostly fiction (1,232) a
total of 1,261 volumes, makes or should make the* number now
on our shelves in circulation 93, 143 or, including duplicates (2,290),

*See report of Inventory.

TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT

a total of 95,433. This does not include our large and valuable
collection of pamphlets (9,472) which would make a grand total
of 104,905.

Among our more important purchases during the year are
the following:

Bess. Eine populare Geschichte der Stadt Peoria.

Utley and Cutcheon. Michigan as a province. 4 vols.

Hooke's Roman history. 1830. 6 vols.

Gust's annals. 9 vols.

Hale. Modern achievement. 10 vols.

Lincoln's complete works. Gettysburg ed. 12 vols.

New England historical and genealogical register. 1862. Reprint.

London magazine. Jan. 1820 June 1821. 3 vols.

Page. Complete works. 12 vols.

History of all nations. 24 vols.

Norrcena. Viking ed. 15 vols.

Holmes. Complete writings. Autocrat ed. 13 vols.

Longfellow. Complete writings. Craigie ed. 11 vols.

Bryan ed. World's famous orations. 10 vols.

Library of home economics. 12 vols.

Nouveau Larousse. Supplemental vol.

Americana: a universal reference library. 16 vols.

La Follette ed. Making of America. 10 vols.

Dio's Rome. 6 vols.

Catholic encyclopedia. (Subscribed for) 15 vols.

We have now histories of the following thirty-three Illinois
regiments:

Cavalry, 8th, 9th and 14th regiments.

Infantry, 2d, 7th, 9th, 10th, 13th, 32d, 33d, 34th, 36th, 39th. 45th, 46th, 47th,
50th, 55th, 59th. 73d, 75th, 77th, 84th, 85th, 86th, 95th, 96th, 102d, 103d, 104th,
112th, 115th and 124th.

INVENTORY.

Our biennial inventory was necessarily omitted last year.
The one just completed covers, therefore, a period of three years
and shows a loss of 296 volumes, or an average for the period, of
99 volumes a year less one volume, viz:

German 39

Non-fiction 72

Fiction 89

Juveniles 96

296

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

A few of these missing books may yet be discovered or fur-
tively returned, but the lamentable fact remains that we have
had nearly 100 volumes a year stolen.

In explanation I should say, we keep some 700 of our latest
non-fiction and something like a thousand juveniles on open
shelves accessible to the public. Excepting these and large
works of reference like cyclopedias, dictionaries, etc., our books
are kept in classified order in the stack room, yet we admit to the
privileges of the stack room by special permission in the course
of the year many different persons supposed to be trustworthy.

Of these 296 books missing, some of them very valuable and
hard to be replaced, 175 were on open shelves or lying exposed
on the counter for examination, 121 were from the stacks. How
these latter were taken we do not know unless, having been
handed out for examination or reading in the room, they were
secretly carried off without being charged.

Saying nothing about the demoralizing effect upon our
young people of our quietly submitting to or winking at this
theft of books constantly going on books which are public prop-
erty and can be had for the asking and the stroke of a dating
pencil, without smirching one's soul with the crime of thieving
this being wantonly robbed by friends we are waiting to serve is
one of our most exasperating experiences.

And I make this appeal to every man, woman and child in
our city to assist us in detecting the thieves, in finding the
stolen books and in putting an end to the petty pilfering of valu-
able works from their public library.

It may not be amiss to append here the audit of the libra-
rian's accounts made by order of the board in 1905, and covering
the preceding five years and nine months.

Mr, Alexander G. Tyng, Chairman of the Finance Committee

of Peoria Public Library, Peoria.

DEAR SIR: Pursuant to the instructions of your committee to examine
and audit the books of account of the Peoria Public Library from Jan. 1, 1900, to
Oct. 1, 1905, I beg leave to report that I have completed that work, and that I
find the said accounts to be in perfect balance. They have been accurately and
very neatly kept and reflect the highest credit upon the librarian and his book-
keeper. I find every item of receipts properly entered and a proper voucher,
approved by the proper officials and committee, showing every item of dis-
bursements for the period above named.

10 TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT

Owing to the excellent condition and absolute accuracy of these accounts,
the work of examination has been speedily and easily accomplished, and I beg
leave to say that in my opinion your committee and all concerned have excellent
reason to feel proud of the system and efficiency of the Peoria Public Library.

Very respectfully submitted, JOHN MCALLISTER.

Peoria, 111., October 19, 1905.

The audit made by Mr. Bannister one year later, Nov. 21,
1906, was equally satisfactory.

COMPARISONS MAY BE ODIOUS.

The following table which I find in a late and lively library
annual report, claims to show the number of books circulated
per attendant per annum in a few of our larger public libraries,

viz:

Louisville 2,248

Boston 4,348

Worcester 5,984

Syracuse 7,652

Chicago 8,351

Brooklyn 11,322

Washington 11,666

Detroit 13,499

Los Angeles 14,738

To which I add Peoria 23,717

Excepting my own I neither vouch for nor question these
figures; let such estimates count for what they are worth, but we
must remember there is much subsidiary work to be done in
every library along with the issuing of books, and the older and
larger the library the more deliberate and self-respecting its
motions. Nor do I doubt there may be smaller libraries in our
state that can make a better showing than any of us.

Another interesting question is: how long does it take on
the average to issue any book called for.

This again is affected by the size of the library and the con-
struction of the building. In the Boston Public Library, the
great and honored forerunner of us all with its 687,456 vol-
umes and its badly planned stack rooms, it takes, according to
a late report, ten minutes.

The average of three trial tests made by us on Saturdays at
our busiest hours, was 307 books in 101 minutes, or a trifle more
than three a minute.

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY 11

It is no more than fair to add, however, that these tests
being made on Saturdays, a larger proportion than usual was of
fiction, which is easily reached from the delivery desk. Our
patrons are evidently conscientious and opposed to doing any
work like stiff reading on Sunday.

But, after all, the real test of the usefulness of a library lies in
its ability not only to hand out the latest new novel promptly, but,
far more exacting than that, to answer every reasonable demand
made upon it for the latest, most reliable information on the ten
thousand different subjects of human inquiry constantly arising.
This means labor, it means study, it means foresight and prepa-
ration in the supplying of books, and, not one whit less, does it
mean intelligence, experience and quick responsive knowledge
on the part of the assistants at the delivery desk.

It is they to whom the public apply and whose patience is
often tried, whose amiability must never show wear and who
must have at least a speaking acquaintance with nearly every-
thing under the sun. Waiter boys, runners who can read the
Dewey numbers on the back of a book on the shelves cannot fill
the bill; nothing less than some knowledge of the contents of
books and their values will do, and this means years of experi-
ence and study. It means a sympathetic and responsive interest
in every want expressed or dimly felt, whether by the scholar
pursuing some recondite subject or the child just discovering a
new world a world of books, or the child's tired mother seeking
diversion and relief from care.

To illustrate by contrast; one of my assistants on her vaca-
tion lately visited, very naturally, the public library in one of
our largest eastern cities. She found near the entrance a half
dozen or more ladylike assistants entrenched within a large ring
or circular counter sitting comfortably waiting. A small wicket
on one side admitted to the stack room behind them, and
another on the opposite side offered a way of exit. She asked
for a certain book and with a gracious wave of the hand was told
to go in and help herself.

There in the alcoves before her was a library of more than a
hundred thousand books and a hundred or more people rum-
maging among them, helping themselves. How could she, a

12 TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT

stranger, ignorant of the classification and shelf arrangement,
knowing how liable books were to be missing or misplaced in
such a scramble how could she find any particular book in the
half hour's time at her disposal? She sat down dismayed and
left.

The system in use in that library is what is known as the
Open Shelf System where the fashion is, "go as you please
through our whole collection, they are there for you, help your-
self." The first explorer who ventured some ten years ago into
this unknown sea of open shelf for our larger libraries may have
felt like Columbus when he thought he had discovered America,
it has turned out to be only Cat Island.

Wherever inventories have been taken, and they are fre-
quently shirked, the library boards are amazed at the losses by
theft and by mutilation of many of their most precious volumes.

Of the few who have had the courage to take an inventory,
one library reported 1000 volumes a year for four years and
went back to the old way. The Boston Public Library reported
in 1905 a loss of 1,693 volumes in one year, the Providence
Public Library the same year 1,796, the Los Angeles Public
Library 4,044 a year for two years and 2,988 the last year re-
ported. They are at their wit's end. They begin to realize
that the Open Shelf is only another word for self-slaughter.

For a great library is a great treasure house of priceless
wealth, the gathered experience and wisdom of 6,000 years of our
race. To guard the valuable deposits there with less watchful-
ness than our banks do their treasures would be encouraging theft.

Go to your bank and ask for $100. The paying teller points
to the trays of gold and silver inside and asks you to be so good
as to walk right in and help yourself, only please leave your
check as you pass out for the amount you have taken; and your
bank's visible cash would have disappeared before three o'clock.

No one can be better aware than I that our library is not
perfect, it has its deficiencies which are supplied as fast as we
learn them and to the extent of our means, but it does not run to
fads. We try to have a fair supply of the latest and best on all
subjects and thankfully accept suggestions from our friends; in a
word, to have a well balanced collection of books. Perhaps I am

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY 13

a little proud of it as such, but I am still more proud of my corps
of intelligent, willing assistants, whose industry, knowledge and
amiability are known of all men and particularly of all women
and children in our city.

During the year we have prepared and published a supple-
ment of 134 pages to our classified catalogue covering the acces-
sions from January 1, 1899, to July, 1907; the catalogue and sup-
plement making now a handsome royal octavo of 357 pages,
which we hope may be appreciated and made use of by our
public to some extent corresponding to the amount of hard work
spent upon it. Price at the desk only 40c.

At the same time we published a finding list of 10 pages of
music and musical literature now in our library a department of
our work highly appreciated and constantly patronized by our
musical people. Price 5c.

Of periodicals we take regularly 262 which are always acces-
sible in the reading room and constantly in use, thus constituting
a great attraction to the library especially for grown people.

At the annual meeting of our State Library Association in
Bloomington, February 20-22, our library was represented by Mr.
Vandervort, Miss Mclllvaine and the librarian an interesting
and profitable meeting of a hundred or more of the state library
workers.

To our daily newspapers the Herald-Transcript, Star and
Journal we owe thanks for numerous friendly allusions to our
library as a prominent factor in our educational system and for
publishing weekly lists of new books. To the Journal we are
especially indebted for publishing quarterly our long list of latest
additions.

Respectfully,

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.

14 TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT

STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1906-1907.

RECEIPTS

From city appropriation $18,657 . 65

Desk receipts on hand June 1, 1906 24.72

Rent 800.00

Fines 596.92

Books damaged and paid for 7.00

Books lost and paid for 20 . 50

Extra books loaned 24.75

Duplicate cards issued ; 17 . 85

Reserve postal cards 20.00

Memberships 26 . 75

Catalogues sold 12.30

Waste paper sold 14 . 80

$20,223.24

EXPENDITURES

Books $ 4,103.78

Periodicals 881.44

Stationery 354. 63

Salaries 7,216.85

Janitor service 1,146.00

Binding labor 1,979. 18

Binding materials 254 . 50

Fuel 466.76

Light 701.25

Insurance 17.20

Expense 626.92

Furniture and fixtures 79.35

Improvement 1,583.43

Reserve fund 800.00

Desk receipts on hand May 31, 1907 11.95

$20,223.24

MEMBERSHIP.

Memberships in force June 1, 1908 8,485

Memberships issued during the year, good for two years 4,029

Total 12,514

Memberships expired during the year 3,988

Memberships in force May 31, 1907 8,526

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY IS

June 1, 1906 CONTENTS OF LIBRARY.

Books in circulation 89,704 vols.

Duplicates not in circulation 2,281 vols.

Unbound pamphlets (estimated) 8,044 "

Losses-
Lost and paid for 29 vols.

Worn out and withdrawn 1,232 "

Total losses 1,261 vols.

Additions 88,443 vols.

By purchase . 3,877 vols.

By donation 459 "

By periodicals bound 364 "

Total additions 4,700 vols.

Total books in circulation 93,143 vols.

Duplicates not in use 2,290 vols.

Pamphlets (estimated) 9,472 " 11.762 "

Total contents May 31, 1907 104,905 "

NUMBER OF PERIODICALS TAKEN AND ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE IN THE READ-
ING ROOM.

Dailies 12

Weeklies 54

Bi-Weeklies 6

Monthlies 174

Bi-monthlies , 11

Quarterlies 45

302

Duplicates in circulation 39

Total 841

NUMBER OF VOLUMES ISSUED.

Philosophy 1,250 .65

Theology. 1,746 .91

Social and political science 1 ,728 . 90

Natural sciences and useful arts 7,746 4 . 04

Fine arts, poetry and music 3,719 1 . 94

Fiction 100,612 52.51

Juvenile fiction 48,734 25.44

Literary miscellany 6,628 3.46

History and travel.... 12,673 6.62

Cyclopaedias and periodicals 6,764 3.53

191,600 100.00

Of the above were issued at the library 164,918

Of the above were issued at the schools and branch library 26,682

191,600

Highest issue on any week day during 1906-1907, Feb. 23, 1907 1,369

Lowest issue on any week day during 1906-1907, Sept. 23, 1906 208

DELINQUENTS.

Books kept overtime during the year 13,487

Number of fine notices sent 1,913

Number of notices for books reserved 1,446

TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT

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Philosophy
Theology
Social and Political sciences
Natural sciences and useful arts
Kine arts and poetry
Vocal and instrumental music
Fiction
Juvenile literature
Literary miscellany
History and travel
Cyclopaedias and periodicals

Total

PKORIA PUBLIC UBRARY

CHARACTER OF ADDITIONS.

English.
German
French .

Russian

Yiddish

Vocal and instrumental music.

4,516

103

Total 4,700

Purchased 3,877

Donations catalogued 459

Periodicals bound . . 364

Total 4,700

VOLUMES AND PERCENTAGE OF ISSUES FROM EACH CLASS.

1906-1907

Per. Cent.
1906-1907

Philosophy

1 250

RE.

Theology

1 746

Social science

1 728

Natural science, useful arts

7 746

4 (U

Fine arts, poetry and music

3 719

1 Q4

Fiction

100612

f\9 W

Juvenile fiction

48784

25 44

Literary miscellany

6628

3 4fi

History and travel

12 673

fi K9

Cyclopaedias and periodicals

6 764

S 53

Total

191 600

inn no

BINDERY.

Books bound 480

Newspapers bound 37

Books rebound 2 860

Books repaired 4 477

Portfolios made 92

Total 7,946

18 TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL, REPORT

32 24 16 12' 8 4 f Total

3 53 417 2067 604 134 99 3,377

Portfolios and books repaired, miscellaneous sizes 4,569

7,946

Current magazines covered 496

Membership cards folded and pasted 9,100

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.

STATE OF ILLINOIS, )
COUNTY OF PEORIA. )

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 10th day of June, A. D. 1907, by
E. S. Willcox. EMMA DONNELLY, Notary Public.

[SEAL]

THE

TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

AND THE

Fifty-First Annual Report since its Organization
as the Peoria City Library

PEORIA, ILLINOIS

For the Year Ending May 31, 1908

EDWARD HINE & CO., PRINTERS

DIRECTORS OF THE PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
FROM ITS ORIGIN, APRIL, 1880.

John S. Lee 1880 to 1889

James C. Dolan 1880" 1894

Mathew Henebery 1880 " 1894

Bernard Cremer 1880 " date

Henry Ullman 1880 " 1898

Austin F. Johnson 1880 " 1884

J. M. Hutchinson 1880 " 1884

Chas. B.Allaire 1880 " 1883

Geo. B. Foster 1880 " 1886

James Millard 1884 1886

Matthew Griswold 1884 " 1896

Robert C. Grier 1884 " 1908

Henry W.Weils 1886 " 1904

DanF. Raum 1886 " 1889

Thos F. Burnett 1889 " 1890

Geo. B. Foster 1889 " 1892

Thos. M. Mcllvaine 1890 " date

Edward Hine 1892 " 1895

Chas. R. Vandervort 1894 " 1902

Frank Meyer 1894 " 1897

Leonard F. Houghton 1895 " 1898

MarkW.Goss 1896 " 1897

Samuel D. Wead 1897 " 1900

James P. Nailon 1897 " 1900

N. E. Worthington 1898 " 1904

Max Newman 1898 " 1899

Leonard F. Houghton 1899 " 1902

John E. Keene 1900 " date

James M. Quinn 1900 " date

Alexander G. Tyng 1902 " date

Frank J. Quinn 1902 " 1908

JohnBirks 1904 " 1907

Alexander Glass 1904 " 1905

C. R. Vandervort 1905 " 1907

Peter Casey 1907

Robert W. Anderson 1907

Harry M. Pindell 1908

Zachariah P. Siebrecht . ..1908

Population of Peoria in 1900 66,100

Special census report 1905 65,026

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 1908-1909

THOMAS M. MC!LVAINE, 516 Main St Term expires 1909

JOHN E. KEENE, 301 S. Jefferson Ave " " 1909

JAMES M. QUINN, Chamber of Commerce " " 1909

BERNARD CREMER, Peoria Demokrat " " 1910

PETER CASEY, Corning Distillery " " 1910

ROBERT W. ANDERSON, 120 S. Adams St " " 1910

ALEXANDER G. TYNG, Chamber of Commerce " " 1911

HARRY M. PINDELL, Journal Office " " 1911

ZACHARIAH P. SIEBRECHT, 701 State St " " 1911

OFFICERS

JOHN E. KEENE President,

ALEXANDER G. TYNG Vice-President.

B. CREMER Secretary.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Finance and Auditing Tyng, Quinn, Anderson.
Books Cremer, Casey, Pindell.

Executive Keene (ex-officio), Mcllvaine, Siebrecht.

LIBRARY SERVICE

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.
ANNA L. ARCHER, Cataloguer and Assistant Librarian.

Helen M. Ballard Dallas R. Sweney,

Louise L. Booth, Fannie Mayo Seabury,

Margaret M. Mcllvaine, Nella B. Beeson,

George Zimmermann,* Hazel A. Page.
Elizabeth Buchanan, b

Evening Attendant N. N. McLaughlin.

Branch Library ; Evenings:
Louise Anderson, Augusta Anderson.

In the Bindery :

Richard J. Cross, Margaret A. Theena,

Rachel Garrabrant, Daisy Wetzler.

Engineer Chas. A. McMullen. JanitressMrs. Mary Fogle.

The Library is open for the delivery of books, except on Sundays and
holidays, from 9 A. M. until 8 p. M.; on Saturdays until 9 p. M.

Reading room open from 9 A. M. until 9 P. M.; on Sundays (July and August
excepted), from 2 p. M. until 6 P. M.

"After School hours. b Occaslonal.

Report of the Directors.

To the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Peoria.

GENTLEMEN: We submit to you herewith the Twenty-
Eighth Annual Report of the Directors of the Peoria Public
Library.

It consists principally of the report of the Librarian and the
Board of Directors, and the financial and statistical tables com-
piled by him and approved by the Board.

We invite your careful attention to the report of the Libra-
rian and to the figures given in the statistics, showing the mag-
nitude of the Library and its splendid growth in number of books
and in circulation.

The citizens of Peoria have just reason for pride in this institu-
tion. It is our institution, created by our fathers, and supported
by their children. It is not a gift of outsiders either in building
or equipment. It was paid for by our citizens, is sustained by our
citizens and ought to be fully appreciated and patronized by our
citizens. We urge all, therefore, young and old, to visit the
Library, and avail themselves of its splendid privileges.

The Librarian and his efficient and obliging corps of assistants
are ready and willing at all times to give kindly and courteous
attention to those who call. We are indebted to them for their
faithful service. They have made the Library largely what it is.

The Directors are doing all they know how to make the
Library answer the highest demands of the public. They feel
that a carefully indexed catalogue of books in hand, with experi-
enced attendants to find them, insures better service to the public
than the "open shelf," as practiced by some libraries.

The Directors invite suggestions as to any improvements that
can be made in the greater usefulness of this Library.

During the past year we have organized a Children's De-
partment, and have placed it in charge of a competent assistant.
A splendid work is being done in that department.

The increasing demands of a growing city make the financial
requirements of the Library more and more each year. This we
feel you will appreciate, and, in the interests of our citizens, will
grant the needed help.

Respectfully submitted,

JOHN E. KEENE, President.

Report of the Librarian.

To the Board of Directors of the Peoria Public Library.

GENTLEMEN: Herewith I beg to submit the Librarian's re-
port of the Peoria Public Library for the year ending May 31,
1908 the 28th annual report of the free Public Library and the
51st annual report of the same library since its origin as the
Peoria City Library in the autumn of 1855.

Detailed statistics will be found, as usual, at the end.

The annual report of what a well-established and smoothly
running public library has been doing does not vary much from
year to year. Like any other business it has its regular daily
routine of trying, to the best of its means and ability, to serve
its public, to answer demands; in our case, demands for whole-
some and instructive reading matter the latest, best books and
current periodicals and, a most important function, to give,
through its reference department, prompt and satisfactory an-
swers to innumerable inquiries on all kinds of subjects from
students, investigators and reading clubs, and this to be done by
quick, responsive, trained, intelligent assistants.

Our public, so far as we can judge, appreciate the work we
do and are grateful to the city of Peoria for maintaining so gen-
erously such an institution as the Peoria Public Library.

The public library of to-day has grown to be a part of our
educational system, a post graduate school for everybody.

One loss that I cannot help mentioning we have suffered
during the year, the resignation, reluctantly on her part, owing
to impaired health, of Miss Elizabeth T. Ellis.

Miss Ellis had served the public faithfully for 16 years, the
latter half of the time as reference librarian. Her absence from
her accustomed seat in the corner of our open reading room has
been a matter of unfeigned regret to hundreds of our best and
oldest members as well as to the library board and our entire

library staff.

MEMBERSHIP.

Our membership, good for two years only, is, at the end of
the year, 8,490, or 36 less than on our last year's report.

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

CIRCULATION.

Our home circulation one year ago was 191,600, this year
199,735, a small gain of 8,135 volumes.

With no end of daily papers and cheap, attractive periodicals
claiming our attention every spare hour of the day, how many of us
men folks find time to sit down and enjoy a good book these days?

BRANCHES.

Our ten libraries, placed at the beginning of each school year
in as many schools farthest from the main library, issued 13,007
volumes as against 13,953 a year ago, while the branch library at
Neighborhood House, 2000 S. Washington street, under the
efficient care of the Misses Louise and Augusta Anderson, during
evenings only, issued 14,107 volumes, a slight gain over last
year's issue a total issue, schools and branch, of 27,114 volumes,
a gain of 432 volumes.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY

The number of volumes added to the library during the year
was 4,200 and the total number now in circulation is 96,046. This
does not include duplicates not in circulation, 2,291, nor pamphlets,
11,032, a grand total of 109,369.

Among our more important purchases during the year are:

Congress of arts and sciencei. Louisiana purchase exposition. 8 vols.

Buckley. Fine arts. 3 vols.

Muther. History of modern painting. Rev. ed. 4 vols.

Fleming. Documentary history of reconstruction. 2 vols.

Letters of Queen Victoria. 3 vols.

DeBerard. Classic tales by famous authors. 20 vols.

Hugo. Works. LaVende"e edition de luxe. 10 vols.

De Musset. Complete writings. 10 vols.

Lincoln. Life and works. Centenary ed. 9 vols.

Aldrich. Writings. Ponkapog ed. 9 vols.

Library of natural history. 5 vols.

American history and encyclopedia of music. (Subscribed for.)

Cyclopedia of engineering. 5 vols.

Cyclopedia of applied electricity. 5 vols.

Cyclopedia of modern shop practice. 4 vols.

Bailey. Cyclopedia of American agriculture. (Subscribed for.)

Journal of the Franklin Institute. 1845, 1855, 1871-1873.

North American review, vols. 1-4. 1815-1819.

Magazine of American history. Complete index, 1877-1893.

Herman Goedsche. Works. 40 vols. (German.)

TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT

GIFTS.

The following gifts have been received among others:

From Mrs. Cornelia Fulton, one old Bible, quarto, printed in Birmingham,
England, in 1776.

From Mr. Eliot Callender, The Black Hawk War, by J. A. Wakefield,
1834. Works of Josephus, quarto, 1792.

From Mr. Wm. H. Mills, 2 bound volumes of the New York Mirror,
1834-1836.

From the library of the late Major H. W. Wells, for 18 years a valued work-
ing member of the Public Library Board, 135 miscellaneous volumes, and from
Mrs. Wells an excellent life size bust of Major Wells.

From Mrs. Mary Stetson Clarke, The Iliad and Odyssey, Bryant's transla-
tion, 4 volumes; The Turner Gallery, 2 large volumes, and a large framed pho-
tograph of Michael Angelo's fresco in the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, Rome
28x72 inches large.

THE BINDERY.

Our bindery with one foreman and four young lady assistants
has been busy, the heaviest part of our work being the rebinding
of 2558 volumes, and repairing 5690 volumes, which, if well bound
originally by the publishers, ought not to have needed it at all,
or at least not the half of it; mostly fiction of course.

Beside these we bound 587 volumes new, principally our pe-
riodicals, and 24 volumes of our local papers.
CHILDREN'S ROOM.

When our Library building was erected in 1897, a large chil-
dren's room on the ground floor was in the plan, but as our
delivery room on the second floor was ample for immediate needs
this proposed children's room was leased temporarily to the school
board, and the children along with adults were served from one
desk in the large room. But in the eleven years since then our
Library has grown from 58,105 volumes to 96,046 volumes, again
of over 65%, and our annual home circulation, not to mention
reference work, from 138,464 to 199,735, again of more than 44%,
and still with no increase in our number of assistants, 7 then as
7 now.

The consequent crowding of old and young at the delivery
desk during rush hours made it desirable to divide the work.
This was done at the beginning of the year, in January, by throw-
ing a row of book cases across the southeast end of the reading

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

room near the head of the stairs, these cases being 5 feet, or 4
shelves high, and filled on the inner side with children's books,
on the reading room side with cyclopedias, dictionaries and other
works of reference. This gave us a large, attractive and well
lighted children's room, and did not shut it off entirely from the
larger room, as would a partition reaching to the ceiling. Entrance
to this room is by a gate at the head of the stairs. Here, in cases
around the four sides and in three six-foot double cases on the
floor, we have more than 6000 volumes of juvenile literature of all
classes, with tables and chairs in plenty and a librarian on duty
to issue and discharge books and to assist with advice.

In making this arrangement we were happy in having sug-
gestions and encouragement from the Mothers' Club of our city.

LIBRARY WORK.

Thirty-eight years ago a library like ours of 100,000 volumes
would have been counted among the largest in the country. It is
perhaps no longer so but it is still a very large library and the
administration of its affairs demands labor and foresight hardly
less exacting than do our large business enterprises; not so wear-
ing, it is true, for the public library is free from the competitions
of trade, it stands apart, intrenched and impregnable in public
favor.

Nevertheless the executive officer, the librarian of a large
library, has work to do in plenty.

If the library is to fill the full measure of its usefulness, meet
all reasonable requirements as a library, keep abreast of the march
of events and honor every draft for information or wholesome
entertainment made upon its accumulated deposits there will be
no end of work for the librarian and his entire force of trained
assistants.

The librarian, under the instructions of his Board, is in
responsible charge of a great treasure house of human learning,
the gathered experience and wisdom of our race, the story of all
worth preserving that has been said and done in the past and of
all that is being said and done by the restless sons of men in our
day, and it is his duty to keep all this wealth of learning safe;
and not only safe but usable, completely classified, catalogued
and ready to hand out to any inquirer at a moment's notice.

10 TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT

What trained intelligence, what labor on the part of the
entire library force this means only librarians know.

The librarian must be something of a scholar but not a
scholar only; he must be something of a business man also.

He must call to his aid educated, alert and willing assistants
and he or his assistants must be acquainted with other languages
and other literatures than our own as well as with the main currents
of thought in our time.

Like the merchant or manufacturer he must look ahead and
anticipate carefully what his public is likely to want in the near
future. And he must strive to arouse and stimulate a love for
good books and high ideals in our youth, for here in a library, in
the company, as it were, of the great and good of all time
the poets, prophets, priests and teachers of the ages in their
sacred presence is the place to bow the head in reverence, to
take off the hat and speak low, that our youth may learn to
respect whatever in words or in actions is noble and of good
report in a word, it is the place to learn among other excel-
lent lessons, the lesson of good manners.

To our daily press, the Journal, Star and Herald-Transcript,
we owe thanks for numerous friendly notices of our work and for
publishing weekly lists of new books. To the Journal we are
especially indebted for publishing our quarterly long list of latest
additions.

With thanks to each of my assistants in all departments for
faithful work performed and for the always pleasant relations they
have maintained with one another and with our public, and with
thanks to you gentlemen of the Board of Directors for the watch-
ful interest you have shown in your charge and for your continued
confidence, I am, Respectfully,

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY 11

STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1907-1908.

RECEIPTS

From city appropriation $17,165.58

Desk receipts on hand June 1, 1907 11.95

Rent 800.00

Fines 845.07

Books damaged and paid for 6.70

Books lost and paid for 22.72

Extra books loaned , 38.00

Duplicate cards isssued 17.75

Reserve postal cards 15.00

Memberships 22.25

Catalogues sold 21.60

Waste paper sold 8.27

Insurance dividend 8.60

$18,983.49

EXPENDITURES

Books $3,709.99

Periodicals 904.74

Stationery 341.38

Salaries 7,432.25

Janitor service 1,146.00

Binding labor 2,141.06

Binding materials 343.13

Fuel 532.68

Expense 780.99

Catalogue 288.40

Furniture and fixtures 128.93

Improvement 373.00

Reserve fund 800.00

Desk receipts on hand May 31, 1908. . 60.94

$18,983.49

MEMBERSHIP.

Membership in force June 1, 1907 8,526

Memberships issued during the year, good for two years 4,463

Total 12,989

Memberships expired during the year 4,499

Memberships in force May 31, 1908 8,490

TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT

June 1, 1907 CONTENTS OF LIBRARY.

Books in circulation 93,143 vols.

Duplicates not in circulation 2,290 vols.

Unbound pamphlets (estimated) 9,472 "

Losses

Lost and paid for 27 vols.

Worn out and withdrawn 1,270 "

Total losses 1,297 vols.

Additions 91,846 vols.

By purchase 3,520 vols.

By donation 246 "

By periodicals bound 434 "

Total additions 4,200 vols.

Total books in circulation 96,046 vols.

Duplicates not in use 2,291 vols.

Pamphlets (estimated) 11,032 " 13,323 "

Total contents May 31, 1908 109,369 "

NUMBER OF PERIODICALS TAKEN AND ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE IN THE
READING ROOM.

Dailies 12

Weeklies 54

Bi-weeklies 5

Monthlies 167

Bi-monthlies 14

Quarterlies 43

295
Duplicates in circulation 39

Total 334

VOLUMES AND PERCENTAGE OF ISSUES FROM EACH CLASS.

1Q07-1Q08 P er cent.

1907-1908

Philosophy. . 1,454 .73

Theology 1,704 .85

Social science 1,916 .96

Natural science, useful arts 8.260 4 . 14

Fine arts, poetry and music 4,003 2 . 00

Fiction 102,699 51.42

Juvenile fiction 51,018 25.54

Literary misccellany 6,440 3.22

History and travel 14,068 7.04

Cyclopaedias and periodicals 8,173 4 . 10

Total 199,735 100.00

Of the above were issued at the Library 172,621

Of the above were issued at the schools and branch library 27,114

199,735

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

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Literature
Science, art, religion
History, biography
Fiction, fairytales

a
1

The following table shows
year, together with the total cc

Philosophy
Theology
Social and political science
Natural sciences and useful arts..
Fine arts and poetry
Vocal and instrumental music ....
Fiction
Juvenile literature
Literary miscellany
History and travel
Cyclopaedias aud periodicals

14 TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT

Highest issue on any week day during 1907-1908, February 15, 1908 1,248

Lowest issue on any week day during 1907-1908, February 18, 1908 185

Books kept overtime during the year 35,001

Number of fine notices sent 2,071

Number of notices for books reserved 1,975

CHARACTER OF ADDITIONS.

English 4,023

German 123

French 23

Italian 1

Vocal and instrumental music 30

Total 4,200

Purchased ' 3,520

Donations catalogued ... 246

Periodicals bound 434

Total 4,200

BINDERY.

Books bound 587

Newspapers bound 24

Books rebound 2,558

Books repaired 5,690

Portfolios made . . 74

Total 8,933

32 24 16 12 8 4 f Total

5 31 419 1769 696 157 92 3,169

Portfolios and books repaired, miscellaneous sizes 5,764

8,933

Current magazines covered 568

Membership cards folded and pasted 10,060

Peoria Public Library catalogues bound 91

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.

STATE OF ILLINOIS,
COUNTY OF PEORIA.

ss.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 5th day of June, A. D., 1908, by
E. S. Willcox. EMMA DONNELLY, Notary Public.

[SEAL]

LIBRARY
OF THE
UHIVERS1TY Of

THE

TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

AND THE

Fifty -Second Annual Report since its Organization
as the Peoria City Library

PEORIA, ILLINOIS

For tne Year Ending May 31st, 1909

4 PRINTED BY

The Duroc Printing. & Publishing Co.

Catalog Prmter.. 604 Main Sc
PEORIA. ILLINOIS

DIRECTORS OF THE PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
FROM ITS ORIGIN. APRIL 188O

John S. Lee 1880 to 1889

James C. Dolan 1880 " 1894

Mathew Henebery 1880 " 1894

Bernard Cremer 1880 " date

Henry Ullman 1880 " 1898

Austin F. Johnson 1880 " 1884

J. M. Hutchinson 1880 " 1884

Chas. B. Allaire 1880 " 1883

Geo. B. Foster 1880 " 1886

James Millard 1884 " 1886

Matthew Griswold 1884 " 1896

Robert O. Grier 1884 " 1908

Henry W. Wells 1886 " 1904

Dan F. Raum 1886 " 1889

Thos. F. Burnett 1889 " 1890

Geo. B. Foster 1889 " 1892

Thos. M. Mcllvaine 1890 " date

Edward Hine 1892 " 1895

Chas. Ri Vandervort 1894 " 1902

Frank Meyer 1894 " 1897

Leonard F. Houghton 1895 " 1898

Mark W. Goss 1896 " 1897

Samuel D. Wead 1897 " 1900

James P. Nailon 1897 " 1900

N. E. Worthington 1898 " 1904

Max Newman 1898 " 1899

Leonard F. Houghton 1899 " 1902

John E. Keene 1900 " date

James M. Quinn 1900 " date

Alexander G. Tyng 1902 " date

Frank Ji Quinn 1902 " 1908

John Birks 1904 " 1907

Alexander Glass 1904 " 1905

C. R. Vandervort 1905 " 1907

Peter Casey 1907

Robert W. Anderson 1907

Henry M. Pindell 1908

Zachariah P. Siebrecht. . ..1908

Population of Peoria in 1900 56,100

Special census report 1905 65,026

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 19O9-191O

Bernard Cremer, Peoria Demokrat Term expires 1910

Peter Casey, Corning Distillery " " 1910

Robert W. Anderson, 120 S. Adams St " " 1910

Alexander G. Tyng, Chamber of Commerce " " 1911

Henry M. Pindell, Journal Office " " 1911

Zachariah P. Siebrecht, 1024 N. Jefferson St " " 1911

Thomas M. Mcllvaine, 516 Main St " " 1912

John E. Keene, 301 S. Jefferson Ave " " 1912

James M. Quinn, Chamber of Commerce " " 1912

OFFICERS

Alexander G. Tyng President

J. M. Quinn Vice-President

B. Cremer Secretary

STANDING COMMITTEES

Finance and Auditing Casey, Quinn, Anderson.
Books Keene, Cremer, Pindell.

Executive Tyng, (ex-officio), Mcllvaine, Siebrecht.

LIBRARY SERVICE

E. S. Willcox, Librarian.
Anna L. Archer, Cataloguer and Assistant Librarian.

Louise L. Booth, Reference Librarian.
Fannie Mayo Seabury, Children's Librarian.

Helen M. Ballard Dallas R. Sweney,

Margaret M. Mcllvaine, Nella B. Beeson,

George Zimmerman (a) Hazel A. Page,

Elizabeth Buchanan (b) William Righter (a).
Lucy Huggins, (b)

Evening Attendant N. N. McLaughlin.

Branch Library; Evenings:
Louise Anderson, Augusta Anderson.

In the Bindery:

Richard J. Cross, Margaret A. Theena,

Rachel Garrabrant, Daisy Wetzler.

Engineer Chas. A. McMullen. Janitress Mrs. Mary Fogle.

The Library is open for the delivery of books, except on Sundays and
holidays, from 9 a. m. until 8 p. m.; on Saturdays until 9 p. m.

Reading room open from 9 a. m. until 9 p. m.; on Sundays (July and
August excepted), from 2 p. m. until 6 p. m.

(a) After School hours, (b) Occasional.

Report of the Directors.

To the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Peoria.

Gentlemen: We submit to you herewith the Twenty-ninth
Annual Report of the Directors of the Peoria Public Library.

It contains, in condensed form, the facts bearing upon this
great educational factor in our city.

A Public Library is not to be judged by its imposing build-
ing or its fine material equipment, all of which we have, but by
the service it renders to the reading public, and by the growing
interest among its patrons in good literature and general infor-
mation.

By reference to the statistics, herewith presented, may be
seen the intellectual mine from which our people can gather, at
will, the things that make for good citizenship.

The Directors have tried to study the needs of the people in
the matter of books and periodicals, and in the general efficiency
of the Library service.

The Librarian, and his splendid corps of assistants, have
been faithful, courteous and obliging in their efforts to serve the
public.

We take considerable pride in the large circulation of books
as shown by the report of the Librarian, but we are trying, as
best we can, to impress upon the public the great privilege many
of them are missing in not using the Library more than they do.

We are looking forward, with interest and expectation, to
the large results to be accomplished through our Children's De-
partment when the new quarters, now in process of completion,
are ready for occupancy; also to the increased circulation that
we feel must come from our branch libraries, which are being
better equipped to meet the growing demands of the outlying
districts.

We acknowledge, with gratitude, the co-operation of the
Mayor and the City Council in this important work, and bespeak
for the Public Library cause your future kindly and generous
consideration.

Respectfully submitted,

JOHN & KEENE,

President

Report of tbe Librarian

To the Board of Directors of the Peoria Public Library.

Gentlemen: Herewith I beg to submit the Librarian's re-
port for the fiscal year ending May 31, 1909 the 29th annual re-
port of the free Public Library and the 52nd annual report of the
same library since its origin as the Peoria City Library a sub-
scription library in the autumn of 1855.

Detailed statistics will be found tabulated at the end.

The one unfortunate experience of the year was the break-
ing out of a fire in the basement at 4 a. m. of Sunday, Sept. 27,
1908. The fire is supposed to have been caused by the crossing
ol electric wires in the cellar underneath the room on the east
side of the building, occupied by the Peoria School Board. When
discovered by the volume of smoke issuing from the building
there was no blaze but as soon as the city firemen could find their
way through the dense smoke in our bindery on the ground floor
the smouldering fire was extinguished with small loss compared
with what it threatened to be.

Our stack room, storing nearly a hundred thousand volumes,
was entirely unharmed, being practically fireproof and shut off
by iron doors from the front of the building. The principal loss
outside of bindery material and books and periodicals in the bind-
ery, through which the firemen had to grope their way in the
blinding smoke, was caused to the walls and ceiling of the main
delivery room above by the intensely hot smoke that filled the
whole front of the building.

The entire property was amply insured and the loss, amicably
and promptly settled by the insurance companies, was;

On walls, woodwork and ceiling $3,556.07

On books, periodicals and materials 933.20

A total of $4,489.27

The loss of time and labor spent on work in process and de-
stroyed in the bindery, the loss of current magazines there and
the disturbance of our regular routine of work while undergoing
repairs will make itself felt in summing up the year's work done.

MEMBERSHIP.

Our membership May 31, 1908 was 8,490

On May 31, 1909 8,879

A gain of 389

All memberships expire at the end of two years.

8 PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

CONTENTS OF THE LIBRARY.

One year ago our library contained 96,046 volumes in active
circulation, not counting duplicates and pamphlets.

96,046

Deducting lost and paid for 34

Worn out and withdrawn 1,172

Known lost in the fire 158

Given away 150 1,514

Leaves 94,532

Additions during the year:

By purchase 4,378

Donations 329

Periodicals bound 343 5,050

Making total of books in actual use
not counting duplicates and pamphlets 99,582

CIRCULATION.

Our home circulation for the year shows a slight falling off ;
this year 196,300 as against 199,735 the year before a loss of
3,435.

Each year of late and more especially last year, owing to
political discussions, the daily paper and the attractive magazine
enter more and more vigorously into competition with the book
in our homes.

The disturbance caused by our fire and the renovating of
ceiling and walls following had their effect, no doubt. So also
did our unusual dilatoriness in meeting urgent demands for new
books.

The dry goods merchant who expects large sales must fore-
see the probable demand and have his goods on hand ready. The
same rule applies to libraries if they expect a large circulation.

PERIODICALS.

Of periodicals we take 300 and 33 besides as duplicates for
issuing, all kept in neat portfolios in their case and accessible to
the public in our reading room.

Outside of our own city papers, of which we keep regular
files to be bound in durable volumes at the end of the year, we
take very few newspapers. They are seldom called for, perhaps
once a year some visitor asks if we do not take a New Orleans
paper or some other. What we do take supplies the news of the
day and enough.

TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT 9

BRANCHES.

Thirteen years ago we began putting in small branch librar-
ies at the opening of each school year, in schools farthest away
from the central library, three such branches the first year but
gradually, as called for, increasing the number up to ten for the
last few years and also increasing the number of books so de-
posited in each branch.

The number of volumes issued this last year from the ten
schools, was 10,326 and from the branch library at the Neighbor-
hood House, 2000 S. Washington St., under the care, evenings
only, of the Misses Louise and Augusta Anderson, the issue was
15,338 a total issue from all the branches of 25,664.

CHILDREN'S ROOM.

Our Children's Library, set off by a temporary partition
from the main reading room and containing more than 6,000 vol-
umes, under the efficient care of Miss Seabury, issued last year
43,412 volumes, or a little more than 34 per cent of the number
issued at the main delivery to older people.

To give this department larger and more attractive quarters
on the ground floor as was originally intended in planning the
building is a question already under discussion and will probably
b^ consummated the coming year.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONS.

Brewer. Character sketches. 4 v.

International library of technology. 9 v.

Champlain. Oeuvres, second 6dition, 6 tomes.

Minnesota in three centuries. 4 v.

Huebinger's Atlas of Peoria. 1908.

Colonial records of North Carolina. 10 v.

State records of North Carolina. 16 v.

United States Census. Heads of families. 12 v.

Helmolt's history of the world. 8 v.

Nave's topical Bible.

Maupassant. Complete works. 17 v.

Brewster genealogy. 2 v.

Bret Harte. Writings. Library ed. 19 v.

Famous homes of Great Britain, ed. by Malan.

More famous homes of Great Britain, ed. by Malan.

THE BINDERY.

In our bindery on the ground floor at the rear we employ
the entire year one foreman and four young ladies with a com-
plete equipment of necessary tools and presses. Such a bindery

10 PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

under our exclusive control is not only a great convenience in
getting work done quickly when wanted but it turns out a better
job of work based on expert knowledge of the needs for library
binding. So many cheaply bound volumes of popular books are
thrown on the market as to lead to loud protest from librarians,
and /several publishers are now supplying a part of their editions
in better binding. It was high time.

We bound last year:

Newspapers, canvas bound 26

Portfolios for current periodicals 50

Rebound, mostly fiction 2,512

Repaired 4,993

Bound volumes, mostly periodicals 538

A total of 8,119

INVENTORY.

Our biennial inventory this is what hurts, what we shrink
from for the naughtiness it reveals shows a loss of books miss-
ing for the two years of:

Non-fiction 75

Fiction 127

German fiction 5 207

From the children 's room and branches :

Fiction 83

Non-fiction 27 110

Total in two years 317

Of the 296 books missing at our 1907 inventory 28 have
been returned or found since and we shall, no doubt, have a sim-
ilar experience with the present inventory; and, further, some of
our losses may, undetected, have been in consequence of the fire
in September.

REFERENCE WORK.

A public library is an educational institution; it is also a
business with its long lines of steady customers finding their
way daily to its open doors.

They do not come "creeping like snail unwillingly to

TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL BBPORT 11

school," they come with urgent demands for something they
hunger for, for wholesome and instructive reading matter, good
books and periodicals, the best and also the latest. It is our duty
to meet their reasonable demands to the best of our ability.

But it is a no less important function of a great library to
give out from its rich stores of gathered wisdom answers to
thousands of questions on innumerable subjects of inquiry.

This is the work of our reference department and is done so
quietly as a part of regular routine and yet so satisfactorily that
few know of it but those directly interested, yet in this silent,
thorough work lies the perennial value of a great library.

In long rows on our shelves, solemn, silent, imperturbable,
apparently useless and heartbroken from neglect, stand the im-
mortal works in which are told the story of our race for more
than 3,000 years its strivings upwards, its defeats and victor-
ies, its myths and legends, its history, science, philosophy, relig-
ions, arts and literature.

But they are not useless and neglected, you were never more
mistaken.

Ask our alert reference librarian, ask any of our always am-
iable assistants. These are our very best books, our indispen-
sable standbys, our last refuge from defeat, the jutification of our
right to be.

Of the excellent work done by our reference department, of
the help given every day in the year to students, to reading cir-
cles, to investigators, to casual inquirers and to the strangers
from outside our gates, I cannot speak too highly.

It would astonish our friends if I could give here, what lack
ol' space forbids, a list of the hundreds of questions recorded in
our books and answered this last year, but I may be permitted to
mention some of the neighboring towns which have applied to
us for help in that time.

Metamora, Wyoming, Pekin, Lincoln, Galesburg, Washing-
ton, Chillicothe, Pottstown, East Peoria, Dunlap, Princeville,
San Jose, Delavan, Eureka, Roanoke, Minier, Cuba, Roodhouse,
Sycamore, Table Grove, Havana, Macomb, Toulon, Green Valley,
Monmouth.

"Hither astheir fountain, other stars
"Repairing, in golden urns draw light."

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

CATALOGUING.

There is no harder more exacting work required of any one
in a great library than is required of the cataloguer. Here a fair
acquaintance with the whole realm of books is necessary that no
mistake be made in assigning each new arrival to its one proper
place among its neighbors on our shelves.

To collate and classify and enter author, title, publisher,
price and place of purchase of 5,000 volumes, to put in pockets,
stamp the books in three places, to make carefully from 3 to 10
cards each for our catalogue drawers for the public and to do
all this quickly, neatly and acceptably has been a part and a part
only, of the year's work done by our cataloguer with the aid of
one capable assistant.

Their work is not done in the open, seen and read of all men,
they do not perhaps receive as many thanks and approving
smiles as the amiable young ladies who wait on the public at the
desk, but they sit at the throttle, the train cannot move until
they open it.

To our daily press, Star, Journal and Herald-Transcript, we
owe our thanks for the numerous friendly notices and for pub-
lishing frequent lists of new books.

With thanks all around to each of my assistants in all de-
partments and to you, gentlemen of the Board of Directors, I
am, Respectfully,

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.

TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL EEPORT 13

Statistics for the year 1908-1909

RECEIPTS.

From city appropriation $17,988.04

Desk receipts on hand June 1, 1908 60.94

Rent 800.00

Fines 974 . 27

Books damaged and paid for 3 . 05

Books lost and paid for 25.05

Extra books loaned 41 . 55

Duplicate cards issued 17 . 25

Reserve postal cards 37.25

Memberships 22 . 00

Catalogues sold 15 . 05

Waste paper sold 17 . 53

Insurance dividend 2 . 58 $20,004 . 56

EXPENDITURES.

Books $ 4,285 .07

Periodicals 888 . 34

Stationery 364.02

Salaries 7,663.78

Janitor service 1,330 . 00

Binding labor 1,937.75

Binding materials 217.07

Fuel 474.17

Expense 1,202 . 49

Insurance 630 . 00

Furniture and fixtures 186 . 30

Reserve fund 800 . 00

Desk receipts on hand May 31, 1909 25.57 $20,004.56

INSURANCE.

Cash. Dr.

To insurance, fire loss Sept. 27, 1908 $ 4,489 . 27

Cr.

By Fred Meints, repairs as per contract $ 3,591.58

By 5 women 51 days cleaning woodwork at $1.50 76.50 3,668.08

Balance on hand $ 821.19

MEMBERSHIP.

Memberships in force June 1, 1908 8,490

Memberships issued during the year, good for two years 4,418

Total 12,908

Memberships expired during the year 4,029

Memberships in force May 31, 1909 8,879

CONTENTS OF LIBRARY.

June 1, 1908

Books in circulation 96,046 vols.

Duplicates not in circulation 2,291 vols.

Unbound pamphlets (estimated) 11,032 "

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Losses

Lost and paid for 34 vols.

Worn out and withdrawn 1,172 "

Lost by fire 158 "

Duplicatvs donated other libraries 150 "

Total losses 1,514 vols.

94,532 "
Additions

By purchase 4,378 vols.

By donation 329 "

By periodicals bound 343 "

Total additions ~~ ~ 5,050 "

Total books in circulation 99,582 vols.

Duplicates not in use 2,304 "

Pamphlets (estimated) 12,558 14,862

Total contents May 31, 1909 114,444 "

NUMBEB OF PERIODICALS TAKEN AND ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE IN THE

BEADING BOOM.

Dailies 9

Weeklies 63

Bi-weeklies 4

Monthlies . .169

Bi-monthlies 15

Quarterlies 40

300
Duplicates in circulation 33

Total .333

VOLUMES AND PEBCENTAGE OF ISSUES FBOM EACH CLASS.

1908-1909

Philosophy 1,643 .84

Theology 1,515 .77

Social science 1,816 .93

Natural science, useful arts ...... 7,831 3.99

Fine arts, poetry and music 3,780 1.93

Fiction 104,843 53.41

Juvenile fiction 48,058 24.48

Literary miscellany 5,341 2.72

History and travel 13,534 6.89

Cyclopedias and periodicals 7.939 4.04

Total 196.300 100.00

Of the above were issued from the main desk 127,224

Of the above were issued from children's room 43,412

Of the above were issued at schools and branch library 25,664

196,300

TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT

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16 PEORIA PUBLIC LIBTARY

Books kept overtime during the year 16,250

Number of fine notices sent 2,519

Number of notices for books reserved 2,490

CHARACTER OF ADDITIONS.

English 4,946

German 57

French 9

Spanish 6

Latin 1

Vocal and instrumental music 31

Total 5,050

Purchased 4,378

Donations 329

Periodicals bound 343

Total 5,050

BINDERY.

Books bound 538

Newspapers bound 26

Books rebound 2,512

Books repaired 4,993

Portfolios made 50

Total 8,119

32 24 16 12 8 4 f

1 31 332 1939 536 126 109 3,076

Portfolios and books repaired, misc. sizes 5,043

8,119

Current magazines covered 584

Members' cards folded and pasted 9,940

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.

STATE OF ILLINOIS \
County of Peoria J 88 '

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 9th day of June, A. D., 1909,
by E. S. Willcox.

EMMA DONNELLY, Notary Public.

THE

THIRTIETH ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

AND THE

Fifty-Third Annual Report since its Organization
as the Peoria City Library

PEORIA, ILLINOIS

For tke Year Ending May 31st, 1910

THE DUROC PRESS

PRI NTER S
424 FUL.TON ST. P e o ft I A. I Li-.

DIRECTORS OF THE PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
FROM ITS ORIGIN, APRIL 188O

John S. Lee 1880 to 1889

James C. Dolan .".1880 " 1894

Mathew Henebery 1880 " 1894

Bernard Cremer 1880 " date

Henry Ullman 1880 " 1898

Austin F. Johnson v 1880 " 1884

J. M. Hutchinson 1880 " 1884

Chas. B. Allaire 1880 " 1883

Geo. B. Foster.. ... 1880 " 1886

James Millard 1884 " 1886

Matthew Griswold 1884 " 1896

Robert C. Grier 1884 " 1908

Henry W. Wells 1886 " 1904

Dan F. Raum 1886 " 1889

Thos. F. Burnett 1889 " 1890

Geo. B. Foster 1889 " 1 892

Thos. M. Mcllvaine 1890 " date

Edward Hine 1892 " 1895

Chas. R. Vandervort 1894 " 1902

Frank Meyer 1894 " 1897

Leonard F. Houghton 1895 " 1898

Mark W. Goss 1896 " 1897

Samuel D. Wead 1897 " 1900

James P. Nailon 1897 " 1900

N. E. Worthington 1898 " 1904

Max Newman 1898 " 1899

Leonard F. Houghton 1899 " 1902

John E. Keene 1900 " date

James M. Quinn 1900 " date

Alexander G. Tyng 1902 " date

Frank J. Quinn 1902 " 1908

John Birks 1904 " 1907

Alexander Glass 1904 " 1905

C. R. Vandervort 1905 " 1907

Peter Casey 1907 " 1910

Robert W. Anderson 1907 " 1910

Henry M. Pindell 1908

Zachariah P. Siebrecht 1908

Wm. G. Olwin 1910

Eugene F. Baldwin 1910

Population of Peoria in 1900 56,100

U. S. Census 1910.. ..66.950

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 191O-1911

Alexander G. Tyng, Chamber of Commerce Term expires 1911

1911
1911
1912
1912
1912
1913
1913
1913

Henry M. Pindell, Journal Office.
Zachariah P. Siebrecht, 1024 N, Jefferson St.

Thomas M. Mcllvaine, 516 Main St

John E. Keene, 301 S. Jefferson Ave

James M. Quinn, Chamber of Commerce

Bernard Cremer, Peoria Demokrat

Wm. G. Olwin, 113-119 Eaton St

E. F. Baldwin, Star Office

OFFICERS

Alexander G. Tyng President

J. M. Quinn Vice- President

B. Cremer Secretary

STANDING COMMITTEES

Finance and Auditing Pindell, Olwin, Quinn.
Books Keene, Cremer, Baldwin.

Executive Mcllvaine, Siebrecht, Tyng, (ex-officio).

LIBRARY SERVICE

E. S. Willcox, Librarian.
Anna L. Archer, Cataloguer and Assistant Librarian.

Louise L. Booth, Reference Librarian.
Fannie Mayo Seabury, Children's Librarian.

Helen M. Ballard Dallas R. Sweney

Margaret M. Mcllvaine Nella B. Beeson

Hazel A. Page (a) . Lucy E. Huggins (b)

Elizabeth Buchanan (c) Visa B. Wheeler (d)

William Righter (c)

Evening Attendant N. N. McLaughlin.

Lincoln Branch: Jane Anderson.
Washington Branch: Ruth H. Taylor.

In the Bindery.

Richard J. Cross, Margaret A. Theena,

Rachel Garrabrant, Daisy Wetzler.

Engineer Chzs. A. McMullen.
JanttressMrs. Mary Fogle, Mrs. Mary O'Brien.

The Library is open for delivery of books, except on Sundays and
holidays, from 9 a. m. until 8 p. m. ; on Saturdays until 9 p. m.

Reading room open from 9 a. m. until 9 p. m. ; on Sundays (July and
August excepted), from 2 p. m. until 6 p. m.

Children's room open from 12 to 1; from 3 to 6.

(a) To January 1. (b) From January 1. (c) Occasional,
(d) From February 1.

Report of the Directors.

Peoria, 111., July 7th, 1910.
To the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Peoria.

Gentlemen: We submit to you the thirtieth annual report
of the Directors of the Peoria Public Library.

It includes in a condensed form the account of the .work of
the last year, ending May 31st, 1910.

The past year has been a most important one in the work
of this board. We have during that time established the chil-
dren 's library, in a separate room, and made it a more distinct
department. The result has been most gratifying.

We have also established a branch library in the new Lincoln
High School. The issue of books is large at this branch, and its
work is growing.

We have received a gift from Andrew Carnegie of $20,000.00
for a new branch library under conditions which have been ac-
cepted by your honorable body.

We have selected plans for this building and are now work-
ing towards its construction.

We would call your attention to the fact that the issue of
books has increased from 89,644 year ending May 31st. 1892, to
207,070, year ending May 31st, 1910. In 1892 to 1893, the City
Appropriation was $15,000.00. The Appropriation since that
time has not exceeded $18,000.00 any year, and most years was
much less. If you will compare the increase in this Appropria-
tion with the increase in other branches of the city expense, you
will see that the library is expected to handle a large increase in
business with small increase in appropriation.

A comparison will show that the expense of handling the
Peoria Public Library as figured on book issue, shows that our
expense per book is far less than other public libraries in large
cities.

We trust that you will look over the details of this report,
and in your next appropriation make such allowance as will en-
able us to conduct its affairs so they will be a credit to the city.
The accounts of the Library have been audited from time to
time, and their correctness certified to. The last audit up to
date of May 31st. 1910. by John Alexander Cooper & Co., of
Chicago, 111.

THIRTIETH ANXTAI. KKPOKT

We have at all times endeavored to handle the affairs of the
library in such a manner, as to bring the best results to the citi-
zens of Peoria.

We have been greatly aided in our work by the Librarian
and his splendid corps of assistants, who have been faithful,
courteous and obliging in their efforts to serve the public, and
do everything possible for the interests of all.

Very truly yours,

A. G. TYNG,

President.

Report of the Librarian.

To the Board of Directors of the Peoria Public Library.

Gentlemen: Herewith I submit the Librarian's report of
the activities of the Peoria Public Library for the fiscal year
ending May 31, 1910 the 30th annual report of the free public
library and the 53d annual report of the same library since its
origin as the Peoria City Library in the autumn of 1853.

Detailed statistics will be found at the end.

Membership.

Our membership, good for two years only and, therefore
what may be considered all active members was, one year ago,
8.490, it is now 9,418, a gain of 928. This is much the largest
membership in our history and means about one to every seven
of our population, or in general, about one to every family in
the city.

Circulation.

Our home circulation for the year, not counting reference
and study work in the library, now grown to be of large propor-
tions, was 207,070 volumes, a gain over that of last year of 5.470.
OJ' this 207,070 volumes there were issued from the main delivery
room 123,871

from the children's room 41,504

from branch libraries 41,695

a total of 207,070

Contents of the Library.

One year ago our library contained 99,582 volumes in active
circulation.
Deducting lost and paid for in the year 35 99,582

" worn out and withdrawn 2217 2,252

97,330
additions during the year

By purchase 4868

By gifts 740

By periodicals bound 392 6,000

THIRTIKTII AXNUAI EKPORT

duplicates not in use 2309

Pamphlets estimated 14712

Total contents . . 120,351

Periodicals.

Of dailies, weeklies, monthlies and quarterlies we take 371,
33 of these being duplicates for issuing and 39 at the branch li-
braries. It is to these up-to-date illuminating periodicals we go
if we wish to keep pace with the swift march of events, the lat-
est conclusions of great thinkers, the world's progress, the new
ideas which mark this beginning of our XXth century.

Branches.
Lincoln Branch.

On the 9th of October. 1909, a new branch library the Lin-
coln Branch was opened in the lately erected Manual Training
High School building on Lincoln Avenue, in the lower end of
t(.\vn, some two miles from the Main library. The use of this
large and attractive room on the ground floor, north-east corner
of the building and facing on Howett and Shelley streets was
given us free by the School board, until they should need it. The
room was well furnished by the library with shelving, tables,
chairs and a periodical rack and started with some 2500 volumes
of the latest popular books and a goodly number of works of
reference. By gradual additions the library has now some 4000
volumes. Twenty-six periodicals are taken there regularly, to-
gether with the daily papers of the city, gifts from the pub-
lishers.

Under the able management of Miss Jane Anderson this
bianch library has grown rapidly in the appreciation of our
families in that vicinity, showing the very gratifying home issue
of 24,960 volumes in the less than eight months since it was
opened.

Having the promise of $20,000 from Mr. Carnegie for a sep-
arate building of our own and the city authorities having offered
us a free site in Lincoln Park only a block and a half away from
its present location, architects are now, at this writing, drawing
plans for the new Lincoln Branch which, it is expected will be
ready for occupation early in the fall. This will be a noteworthy
addition to that part of our city.

10 1'KOKIA I'l Ill.K UlIKARY

\Yashington Branch.

The Misses Louise and Augusta Anderson, who had for five
years been in charge of this branch, open only of evenings at
the Neighborhood House, 2000 South Washington St., finding it
too onerous for them after teaching in the public schools all day,
resigned in October and Miss Lyford who had charge of the
Neighborhood House activities, took their place, succeeded by
Miss Ruth H. Taylor, her assistant. The opening of the Lincoln
branch not far away, in October, no doubt had its effect in dimin-
ishing the patronage of the Washington branch. The total issue
for the year was 8961 volumes.

The issues from our libraries in the Schools show also a
falling off owing to the opening of the new Lincoln Branch,
amounting for the year to only 7774 volumes, four of the School
libraries having been transferred to the Lincoln branch in their
vicinity.

Children's Room.

On February 1st, 1910, our children's library was trans-
ferred from its quarters on the main floor of the library to the
large room originally planned for it directly beneath on the
ground floor, but which had been, until January 1st. under lease
to the school board. Well equipped with shelves, tables and
chairs, with beautiful pictures on its walls, it offers an attractive
welcome to our young people. Separated in this manner, adults
and children in different rooms, it affords a great relief from the
crowded conditions hitherto prevailing in busy hours at the
main delivery desk.

By giving Miss Seabury, our children's librarian, an assist-
ant, Miss Huggins, she is also able to look after our branch
libraries, their wants and their records, more closely. The total
issue from the children's room for the year was 41,504 volumes.

Important Additions.

Kowland. Encyclopedia of Mississippi history. 2 vols.

Wright. New century book of facts.

Winslow's encyclopedia. 8 vols.

Young people's book shelf. 10 v. 3 sets.

Napoleon 1, by Sloane. 4 vols.

Alex. Hamilton's works. (Constitutional ed.) 12 vols.

Cyclopedia of architecture and building. 10 vols.

THIRTIETH ANNUAI REPORT 11

Webster's new international dictionary. 1909.

Nelson's perpetual loose-leaf encyclopedia. 12 vols.

Hawthorne. Lock and key library. 10 vols. 2 sets.

Cram's standard American railway system atlas.

New international year book 1909.

Century dictionary and encyclopedia, vols. 11-12.

Appleton's new practical cyclopedia. 6 vols.

International correspondence school reference library: window

trimming. 4 vols.
Kiepert's wall map of Greece.
Sturgis premier suspension globe.

Gifts.

A public library is the recipient of many welcome gifts from
appreciative friends.

Of books, we received during the year from Mr. A. D
Thompson of Peoria, 148 volumes and 56 pamphlets of engineer-
ing works.

From the Field Columbian Museum, Chicago, Rossiter John-
son's history of the World Columbian Exhibition, 4 volumes.

From Mr. Walter B. Stevens, St. Louis, 100 years in a week.

St. Louis the fourth city.

From Mr. Frank Wing, artist, of Minneapolis, "Yester-
days," 50 drawings by Frank Wing.

From Dr. W. A. Hinckle, of Peoria, Evolution of Religion, by
W. A. Hinckle.

Of other gifts.

From Mrs. Marie Fromm, of Peoria, a large cabinet contain-
ing 149 star fish and 69 bottles of spawn collected in the waters
of the Pacific Ocean off Alaska, by her son, Dr. Luther W.
Fromm, formerly of Peoria.

Also a number of beautiful pictures to adorn the walls of
the Children's room.

From Dr. Thomas M. Mcllvaine, a noble engraving of Land-
seer's Monarch of the Glen.

From Mrs. Peter Casey, The Lost Child, by J. G. Brown.

And from the Mothers' Club a large photograph from scenes
in Abbey's Holy Grail in the Boston Public Library.

12 PEOBIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Bindery.

Our bindery continues to do good work, as shown by the fol-
lowing figures:

Newspapers, canvas bound 31

Bound volumes, mostly periodicals 565

Current portfolios for periodicals 118

Books rebound, mostly fiction 2771

Books repaired 4130

A total of 7615

Cataloguing and Reference Work.

It is these departments that test the value of a great library.
About three-fourths of the circulation in public libraries is fic-
tion. The great public will see to it that this is supplied; they
read advertisements and will have what they want or turn their
backs on us and our circulation drops off. The latest new novels
can be had anywhere, cheap. But ' a great library of 100,000
volumes, to be a credit to our city, to be worth while, must be-
much more than a collection of novels. They are good in their
Avay, but do not count for much nor for long, with students, cul-
tivated people, seekers after knowledge, nor does it demand
much experience or intelligence on the part of the librarian or
his advisers to supply them in unlimited quantities. But to build
up a well balanced library supplied with the latest and best that
has been said and written on all the varied interests of the day.
on politics, religion, science, art, history travel, genealogies, to
be able to give prompt and complete answers to all inquirers,
searchers after truth, study clubs, investigators, with the latest
and best that is known on those subjects, this is to have a lilbrary
to be proud of, this is labor, this is work.

"While it is true that every one of our assistants at the desk
becomes by practice more or less familiar with the treasures of
knowledge stored away in our great collection of standard works,
it is nevertheless, on our cataloguer, who has this year accession-
ed and catalogued 6000 different volumes and, in so doing,
learned to know them and love them as intimate friends, and on
our alert reference librarian who is kept constantly scurrying
hither and thither after new game, that this labor and responsi-
bility rests especially.

THIRTIETH ANNUAL REPORT 13

That our eager public should know this and appreciate it is
both my duty and my pleasure to emphasize here. And it is not
only what our public want to-day. Our watcher at the top-mast
must look far ahead to spy out what famished mariner on the
sea of life may cry for help to-morrow.

Is It Worth While?

Compared with our public school system, our most expen-
sive and yet indispensable educational institution, it is proper to
ask: Is the free public library worth while? Does it pay back
as an investment a fair return on what it costs? There are 8 1
pupils in our public schools, our live membership in the public
library of 9,418 means probably three times that number of read-
ers in the homes scholars, teachers, preachers, study clubs and
just book lovers.

Not one-half of our school children get beyond the primary
school. They, later in life, if awakened to the fact of their own
lack of education, their ignorance of the world and its manifold
realms of knowledge, so necessary to them for success in life, will
fly to the public library and delve among its treasures as miners
do in the mountains seeking veins of silver and gold. They will
say, the public schools taught us how to read, but it was the
public library that appeased the hunger of our souls, else how
starved and lean we should have been.

In old Egypt a prophet's vote was counted equal to a hun-
dred heads. There is always a prophet or two among us, but
it is the hundred heads a democracy has to look out for and in-
struct.

The public library, then, is not only an assistant, an ally, it
is more; it is a supplement to the public schools, an extension,
ji post-graduate course and it welcomes equally to its tables the
college graduate and the boy who once played hookey at school.

Our Peoria High School with its twenty-two teachers and
580 pupils cost the city last year $25,200 for salaries alone, and
our public schools with 9,446 pupils, cost the city $371,000.

Our public library with its 9,418 members, and at least twice
that number of readers, cost the city $18,000 a year. Is it worth
while ?

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

To our daily press, Herald-Transcript, Star, Journal, German
Demokrat and Die Sonne we owe thanks for numerous friendly
notices of our work and for publishing our frequent lists of new
books.

With thanks all around to each of my assistants in all de-
partments and to you gentlemen of the Board of Directors, I am.

Respectfully,

E. S. WILLCOX,

Librarian.

LIST OF PERIODICALS TAKEN.

Chicago Daily Tribune.

Chicago Record-Herald.
"Christian Science Monitor.
"Congressional Record.
*Galesburg Labor News.
*Galesburg Republican-Register.

New York Times.
"Peoria Evening Star.

Gifts are designated by an asterisk.*

Daily Papers.

*Peoria German Demokrat.
*Peoria Herald-Transcript.
*Peoria Journal.
Teoria Sonne.
St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
"Washington News (Tazewell Co.
111.)

Weeklies.

Academy.

American Architect.
"American Banker.

American Field.
"Chicago Banker.

Christian Endeavor World.
*Christian Science Sentinel.

Collier's.

Commoner.

Electrical Review.

Electrical World.

Engineering & Mining Journal.

Engineering News.

Fliegende Blatter.

Forest & Stream.

Harper's Weekly.

Illinois Issue.

Illustrated London News.

Illustrirte Zeitung.

Independent.

Journal of Education.

Knox Student.

Leslie's Weekly.

Life.

Literary Digest.

Littell's Living Age.

London Graphic.

London Times. (Weekly)

Musical Courier.

Musical Leader.

Nation.

Nature.

Notes & Queries.

Outlook.

"Patent Office Gazette.
"Peoria Weekly Gazette.

Power.

Public, The.

Publisher's Weekly.

Punch.

THIRTIETH AN.NUAI RKPORT

Saturday Evening Post.
Saturday Review. (London)
*Saturday Review. (Peoria)
Science.

Scientific American.
Scientific American Supplement.

Spectator.

Sunday School Times.

Survey.

Vogue.

World's Chronicle.

Youth's Companion.

Bi-Weeklies.

Daheim.

Dial.

Gartenlaube.

*Gleanings in Bee Culture.
Zur Guten Stunde.

Monthlies.

Advocate of Peace.

American Boy.

American City.

American Engineer & Railway
Journal.

American Forestry.

American Geographical Society.
Bulletin.

American Homes & Gardens.

American Magazine.

American Monthly Magazine.

American Naturalist.

American Photography.

American Poultry Journal.

Antiquary.

Architectural Record.

Art Journal.

Atlantic.

Biblical World.

Blackwood's.

Bon Ton.

Book News.

Book Review Digest.

Bookman. (American.)

Bookman. (English.)

Boy's Own Paper.

Business World.

Canadian Magazine.

Cassier's.

Catholic World.

Century.

Chambers's Journal.

Chatterbox.

Chautauquan.

Chifd-Lore.

Child-Welfare Magazine.

Children's Magazine.
"Christian Science Journal

Classical Journal.
' Concrete Engineering.

Contemporary Review.

*Cook's American Traveller's
Gazette.

Correct English.

Cosmopolitan.

Country Life in America.

Craftsman.
*Crop Reporter.

Cumulative Book Index.

Current Literature.

Delineator.

Designer.

Education.

Educational Review.

Electrician & Mechanic.

Elementary School Teacher.

Engineering Index.

Engineering Magazine.

English Illustrated Magazine.

Entomological News.

Ethical Addresses.

Etude.

Everybody's Magazine.

Federation Review.

Fortnightly Review.

Forum.

Geographical Journal.

Good Government.

Good Health.

Good Housekeeping.

Good Roads.

Green Bag.
*Gregg Writer.

Hampton's Magazine.

Harper's Bazar.

Harper's Monthly.
*Herald of the Cross.
*Herold der Christian Science.

Hints.

House Beautiful.

Household Journal.

Human Life.

PL'JSLic r.ir.i:.\i:v

International Studio.

Journal of American Society for
Psychical Research.

Journal of Society for Pyschical
Research.

Journal of Franklin Institute.

Journal of Geology.

Journal of Political Economy.

Keramic Studio.

Kindergarten Magazine.

Kindergarten Review.

Knowledge.

Ladies' Home Journal.

Lectures Pour Tous.

Library Journal.

Library World.

Lippincott.

Little Folks.
*Locomotive Fireman.

McClure's.

Magazine of History.

Masters in Art.
*Michigan Alumnus.

Missionary Review.

Modern Priscilla.

Monthly Evening Sky Map.

Municipal Engineering.

Munsey.

Musician.

National Geographic Magazine.

National Municipal League.

New England Magazine.

New York Public Library Bulletin.

Nineteenth Century.

North American Review.

Open Court.

Our Dumb Animals.

Out West.

Outing.

Overland.

Pacific Monthly.

Palette & Bench.

Philistine.

Phrenological Journal.

Physical Review.
*Pitman's Journal.

Popular Astronomy.

Popular Mechanics.

Popular Science Monthly.

Psychological Review Bulletin.

Public Libraries.

Public Service.

Reader's Guide to Periodical Lit-
erature.

Reliable Poultry Journal.

Review of Religions.

Review of Reviews.

St. Nicholas.

School Arts Book.

School Journal.

School News.

School Review.

Scribner's.

Service.
*Shoppell's Owner's & Builder's

Magazine.
*Spirit of Missions.

Suburban Life.

Success.

Sunset.

System.

Teacher's Magazine.

Technical World.

Theatre.

Thought.

Travel.

Ueber Land und Meer.
*U. S. Department of Agriculture,

Monthly List.
*U. S. Public Documents Catalogue.

Velhagen & Klasings.

Westermanns.

Westminster Review.

Wilson's Photographic Magazine.

Woman's Home Companion.

Work.

World To-day.

World's Work.

Writer.

Bi-Monthlies.

American Journal of Sociology.
American Library Association

Bulletin.
*Annals of Propagation of the

Faith.
Bird Lore.
*Catholic Missions.
Home Needlework Magazine.

Journal of Abnormal Psychology.
Journal of Home Economics.
Manual Training Magazine.
Philosophical Review.
Psychological Review.
Records of the Past.
Religious Education.

THIRTIETH AXMJAI KKPOKT

Quarterlies.

American Anthropologist.

American Antiquarian.

American Catholic Historical Re-
searches.

American Historical Review.

American Journal of Archaeology.

American Journal of Psychology.

American Journal of Theology.

Annals of the American Academy
of Political & Social Science.

Auk.

Classical Philology.

Dublin Review.

Edinburgh Review.

English Historical Magazine.

Folk Lore.

Harvard Theological Review.

Hibbert Journal.

Illinois State Historical Society.

International Journal of Ethics.

Iowa Journal of History & Poli-
tics.

Journal of American Folk-Lore.

Journal of American History.

Library Work.

Mind.

Mississippi Valley Historical As-
sociation.

Modqrn Language Association
Publications.

Monist.

New England Historical & Genea-
logical Register.

New York Genealogical Record.

Old Northwest Genealogical Quar-
terly.

Pedagogical Seminary.

Poet Lore.

Political Science Quarterly.

Proceedings of the Society for
Psychical Research.

Quarterly Journal of Economics.

Quarterly Review.
*Single Tax Review.

South Carolina Historical &
Genealogical Magazine.

Texas State Historical Associa-
tion.

*Theological Quarterly.
*Theosophical Quarterly.
*U. S. Labor Bulletin.

Virginia Magazine of History &
Biography.

William & Mary College Quar-
terly.

Yale Review.

18 PKOHIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Statistics for the year 1909-1910

Receipts

From city appropriation $17,664,44

Desk receipts on hand June 1, 1909 25.57

Rent 600.00

Fines 1,017.93

Books damaged and paid for 6.05

Books lost and paid fo.r 26.11

Extra books loaned 39.30

Duplicate cards issued 16.55

Reserve postal cards 45.00

Memberships ' 26.50

Catalogues sold 9.45

Waste paper sold 19.45 $19,496.35

Expenditures

Books $ 3,739.82

Periodicals 717.11

Stationery 359.77

Salaries 8,252.61

Janitor service 1,196.00

Binding labor 2,264.12

Binding materials 219.34

Fuel 551.32

Expense 876.89

Insurance 468.00

Furniture and fixtures 193.50

Improvement 15.00

Reserve fund 600.00

Desk receipts on hand May 31, 1910 42.87 $19,496.35

Fire loss, Sept. 27, 1908

To insurance paid $ 4,489.27

By repairs $ 4,315.83

By reserve fund 173.44

4,489.27 4,489.27

Commercial German Bank

To reserve fund 8,942.89

By bills paid 8,278.29

By balance, May 19, 1910 664.60

8,942.89 8,942.89

Reserve Fund

To School board rents since 1897 8,651.11

. To accumulated interest on same 1,471.28

To balance from fire insurance 173.44

By Wm. Zerwekh, City treasurer 4,858.04

By Commercial German Bank 4,084.85

By balance 1,352.94

$10,295.83 $10,295.83

TH1RTIKTH AX.NVAI REPORT 19

Membership

Memberships in force June 1, 1909 8,879

Memberships issued during the year good for two years 5,002

Total .13,881

Memberships expired during the year 4,463

Memberships in force May 31, 1910 9,418

Contents of Library
June 1, 1909

Books in circulation 99,582 vols.

Duplicates not in circulation 2,304 vols.

Unbound pamphlets (estimated) 12.558 vols.

Losses

Lost and paid for 35 vols.

Worn out and withdrawn 2,217 vols.

Total losses 2,252 vols.

97,330 vols.

Additions

By purchase 4,868 vols.

By donations 740 vols.

By periodicals bound 392 vols.

Total additions 6,000 vols.

Total books in circulation 103,330 vols.

Duplicates not in use 2,309 vols.

Pamphlets (estimated) 14,712 vols. 17,021 vola.

Total contents May 31, 1910.. 120,351 vols.

Number of Periodicals Taken and Always Accessible in the
Reading Room.

Dailies 10

Weeklies 57

Bi-weeklies 6

Monthlies 172

Bi-monthlies 11

Quarterlies 43

299

Duplicates in circulation 33

Duplicates sent to branch libraries 39

Total . ..371

20 I'KOHIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Volumes and Percentage of Issues from each Class.

1909-1910

Per cent
1909-1910

Philosophy 1,855 .90

Theology 2,082 1.01

Social science 2,179 1.05

Natural sciences, useful arts 8,804 4.25

Fine arts, poetry and music 4,229 2.04

Fiction 109,981 53.11

Juvenile fiction 47,748 23.06

Literary miscellany 6,743 3.26

History and travel 15,003 7.24

Cyclopedias and periodicals 8,446 4.08

Total .- 207,070 100.00

Of the above were issued at the main desk 123,871

Of the above were issued from children's room 41,504

Of the above were issued at branch libraries and schools 41,695

Issued from Children's Room.

Per cent

Religion 204 .49-

Science 2,291 5.52

Literature 1,876 4.52

Travel 2,309 5.56

History 1.119 2.70

Biography 772 1.86

Fiction 32,498 78.30

Periodicals 292 .70

German books.. 143 .35

Total 41,504 100.00

THIRTIETH ANNUAL RKl'OKT

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Science, art, religion ....
Fiction, fairy tales
Literature
History, biography

The following ta
additions during the

Philosophy
Theology
Social and political science
Natural sciences and useful art
Fine arts and poetry ....
Vocal and instrumental music
Fiction
Juvenile literature
Literary miscellany
History and travel
Cyclopaedias and periodicals

22 I'KoniA I'l'lM.K r.lUIIAKV

Number of fine notices sent 4,388

Number of notices for books reserved 3,370

Character of Additions.

English 5,696

German 274

French 4

Polish 2

Gaelic 1

Vocal and instrumental music.. 23

Total 6,000

Purchased 4,868

Donations 740

Periodicals bound 392

6,000

Bindery

Books bound 565

Newspapers bound 31

Books rebound 2,771

Books repaired 4,130

Portfolios made.. 118

Total 7,615

32 24 16 12 8 4 P
5 32 609 1,965 541 112 103 3,367

Portfolios and books repaired, misc. sizes 4,248

7,615

Current magazines covered 533

Members' cards folded and pasted 11,955

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.

STATE OF ILLINOIS \
County of Peoria | '

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 8th day of June, A. D. 1910,
by E. S. Willcox.

EMMA DONNELLY, Notary Public.

THE

THIRTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

AND THE

Fifty-Fourth Annual Report since its Organization
as the Peoria City Library

PEORIA, ILLINOIS

For tne Year Ending May 31st, 1911

PHI NT I D V

THE DUROC PRESS

PEORIA, ILL.

PEOBIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

DIRECTORS OF THE PEOR1A PUBLIC LIBRARY
FROM ITS ORIGIN, APRIL, 1880

John S. Lee 1880 to 1889

James C. Dolan 1880 " 1894

Mathew Henebery 1880 " 1894

Bernard Cremer 1880 " date

Henry Ullman 1880 " 1898

Austin F. Johnson 1880 " 1884

J. M. Hutchinson 1880 " 1884

Chas. B. Allaire 1880 " 1883

Geo. B. Foster 1880 " 1886

James Millard 1884 " 1886

Matthew Griswold 1884 " 1896

Robert C. Grier 1884 " 1908

Henry W. Wells 1886 " 1904

Dan F. Raum 1886 " 1889

Thos. F. Burnett 1889 " 1890

Geo. B. Foster 1889 " 1892

Thos. M. Mcllvaine 1890 " date

Edward Hine 1892 " 1895

Chas. R. Vandervort 1894 " 1902

Frank Meyer 1894 " 1897

Leonard F. Houghton 1895 " 1898

Mark W. Goss 1896 " 1897

Samuel D. Wead 1897 " 1900

James P. Nation 1897 " 1900

N. E. Worthington. 1898 " 1904

Max Newman 1898 " 1899

Leonard F. Houghton 1899 " 1902

John E. Keene 1900 " date

James M. Quinn 1900 " 1910

Alexander G. Tyng 1902 " 1911

Frank J. Quinn 1902 " 1908

John Birks 1904 " 1907

Alexander Glass 1904 " 1905

C. R. Vandervort 1905 " 1907

Peter Casey 1907 " 1910

Robert W. Anderson 1907 " 1910

Henry M. Pindell 1908

Zachariah P. Siebrecht 1908

Wm. G. Olwin 1910

Eugene F. Baldwin 1910

S. P. Prowse 1910

B. G. Carpenter 1911

Population of Peoria, U. S. Census 1910 66,950

THIRTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 1911-1912.
Thomas M. Mcllvaine, 516 Main St Term expires 1912

John E. Keene, 301 S. Jefferson Ave...

S. P. Prowse, Government Building

Bernard Cremer, Peoria Demokrat ....

Wm. G. Olwin, 113-119 Eaton St

E. F. Baldwin, Star Office

Henry M. Pindell, Journal Office

Zachariah P. Siebrecht, Star Office

B. G. Carpenter, 400 N. Glen Oak Ave.

1912
1912
1913
1913
1913
1914
1914
1914

OFFICERS.

Eugene F. Baldwin President

Wm. G. Olwin Vice-president

S. P. Prowse Secretary

STANDING COMMITTEES.

Finance and Auditing Olwin, Siebrecht, Prowse.
Books Keene, Cremer, Carpenter.

Executive Mcllvaine, Pindell, Baldwin, (ex-officio).

LIBRARY SERVICE.

E. S. Willcox, Librarian.
Anna L. Archer, Cataloguer and Assistant librarian.

Louise L. Booth, Reference Librarian.
Fannie Mayo Seabury, Children's Librarian.
Helen M. Ballard Dallas R.Sweney

Margaret M. Mcllvaine Nella B. Beeson

Lucy E. Huggins Visa B. Wheeler

William Righter (a) Louise I. Fisher (a)

Evening Attendant Alfred Corston.
Lincoln Branch: Jane Anderson.

Janitor: Cyrus E. Entwistle.
Washington Branch: Mrs. Dorcas E. Hiser.

In the Bindery.
Richard J. Cross, Margaret A. Theena,

Rachel Garrabrant, Daisy Wetzler,

Elsie M. Neal.

Engineer Chas. A. McMullen.
Janitress Mrs. Mary Fogle, Mrs. Mary O'Brien.

The Library is open for delivery of books, except Sundays and holi-
days, from 9 a. m. until 8 p. m.; on Saturdays until 9 p. m.

Reading room open from 9 a. m~ until 9 p. m.; on Sundays (July and
August excepted), from 2 p. m. until 6 p. m.

Children's room open from 12 to 1; from 3 to 6.

(a) Substitute.

PEOBIA PUBLIC LIBBABT

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS

Peoria, HI., June 30, 1911.

The Mayor and City Council of Peoria,
Peoria, 111.

Dear Sirs :

In our report of last year, we asked your honorable body
for a suitable appropriation to maintain the Public Library work
in Peoria.

We wish to thank you for your generous answer to our re-
quest. The last year has been an important one in our work.
During this time the new Lincoln Branch, the gift of Andrew Car-
negie, has been erected, and dedicated, and is now in active opera-
tion. This Library has been built and furnished within the
amount of our gift. It is filling a long felt want in the lower end
of our city.

The general work of the library has maintained its usual high
standard during the past year, the credit of which is largely due
to our Librarian, E. S. Willcox, and his various assistants.

The full details of our operation are given in the Library re-
port.

Yours truly,

A. G. TYNG, President.

THIBTT-FIBST ANNUAL REPORT

REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.

To the Board of Directors of the Peoria Public Library.

Gentlemen: Herewith I submit the report of the activities
of the Peoria Public Library for the fiscal year ending May 31,
1911 the 31st annual report of our free public library and the
54th annual report of the same library since its origin as the
Peoria City Library in the autumn of 1855.

Detailed statistics will be found at the end.

Membership.

Our membership, renewed every two years, was one year ago
9,418, it is now 9,595.

Circulation.

Our home circulation for the year, not counting the constant
use of works of reference and study in the library, which is a
large item in our work, was 216,025 volumes as against 207,070
one year ago, a gain of 8,955.

Of these volumes there were issued

from the children's room 42,666

from the branches 48,451

from the main library 124,908

a total of 216,025

The population of Peoria according to the census of 1910 is
66,950; accordingly our membership being 9,595, fourteen and
one-third per cent of our population are active members of our
library or about one to every family if we count seven to a family.

Our home issue of books being 216,025 makes an average of
22 volumes to each active member and 3 1-5 volumes to each one
of our population.

Our circulation of books among grown folks ought to be
greater and, no doubt, would be but for the deluge of daily papers
and monthly magazines these latter days, not to speak of cheap
shows, theaters and the claims of so-called society.

To find time and opportunity to sit down quietly with a good
book we shall before long have to steer our Noah's ark to some
lone and far away Mt. Ararat or be submerged.

PEOBIA PUBLIC LIBEABY

Children's Room.

If the fathers and mothers of our city would see something to
gladden their hearts let them occasionally drop into the Child-
ren 's Room. It is a pleasant, attractive, well lighted and well fur-
nished room on the ground floor to the right of the main entrance
of the library. Here they will see a steady stream of quiet, well
behaved boys and girls coming and going intent on finding a
good book to read in the room or to take home with them. It is
the search for wholesome entertainment, the pursuit of knowledge
that brings them there.

It is like entering the precincts of some sacred temple to note
the serene quiet of the room, the beautiful pictures on the walls,
the rows of books on the shelves below them, the inviting seats
and tables occupied by busy readers undisturbed by those enter-
ing and disturbing no one themselves, and always a cheerful wel-
come with helpful advice from the librarian overlooking and
watching all from her elevated desk.

From this room were issued last year 42,666 volumes of well
selected books to be taken to their homes by our young people to
be read there in many cases, no doubt, by other members of their
families.

42,666 books a great library scattered like seed in a single
year on a fertile soil over our city.

And the same may be said of our Lincoln and School
Branches.

What then may we not say of the total issue last year of
216,025 volumes from all our libraries? Permit me to compare
this with our issue of 20,000 volumes a year to a membership of
300 in the old subscription library days.

Branches.

Our Lincoln Branch in the lower end of town, in the Manual
Training High School building, some two miles distant from the
Central Library with Miss Jane Anderson in charge, shows a re-
markable increase of issues for the year an issue of 38,383 vol-
umes for home use, adult and juvenile, as compared with 24,960
for the previous year, a gain of nearly 54 per cent.

This increase is partly explained by the fact that many of the
patrons of our Washington branch and of three of our former
school branches are now drawn to the larger, near by Lincoln

THIBTT-FIBST ANNUAL BEPOBT

branch, but it shows nevertheless a healthy growth of interest in
good books and a wider appreciation of what we are doing in
that part of the city.

The New Lincoln Branch Building.

As was mentioned in our last year's report a gift of $20,000
was offered our public library by Mr. Andrew Carnegie for the
erection of a separate building for the Lincoln Branch, subject to
Mr. Carnegie's usual conditions, viz. that the city give the site
and agree to expend annually 10 per cent of his gift, that is, in
this case, $2,000. for the maintenance of the library.

This gift was obtained through the solicitation of Mr. Henry
M. Pindell of our board.

It was accepted; the city gave the site, one of the choicest
in the whole city, in the center of the large open space planted
with shade trees, known as Lincoln Park, on Lincoln Avenue in
the lower end of our city.

On Friday evening, June 16th, the building was pronounced
completed and thrown open to the public in the presence of a
large audience of city officials and residents of that part of town.

The books, some 5,000 in number, together with the furni-
ture, had already been transferred in a half day on the Monday
preceding, June 12th.

As will be seen from the report of the building committee at
the end of this report, the building was erected by the contrac-
tors, McDonald & Brady, well within the original estimate of $20,-
000. It is 59 ft. by 69 ft., built of Bradford stone and Roman
pressed brick with a 15 foot ceiling, an attic and a large basement
for a store room, boiler room, etc.

The building is an ornament to the park, in fact to that part
of our city.

Miss Jane Anderson continues as librarian.

The Bindery.

Our bindery with one foreman and four assistants on the
ground floor at the rear is kept busy every working day of the
year and cannot catch up even then.

10 PKOBIA PUBLIC LIBRART

Work Done.

Portfolios for current magazines 43

Newspapers bound 53

Books renewed in old covers 76

New books bound 603

Books rebound 2582

Books repaired 3988

Total 7345

As will be observed the largest part of our work in the bind-
ery consists of rebinding and repairing books, mostly fiction, of
course.

Now a novel as it comes from the publisher, will survive
about 20 issues in a public library some more, some less, accord-
ing to our experience, but about 20 on an average and may have
required some repairing of loose leaves or weak backs before it
needs rebinding, while if it were your own private property used
only in your family, it might last for years.

There are several firms, however, that make a business of
buying popular fiction in sheets and giving them what is called a
re-enforced binding at an additional cost of from 10 to 40 cents
the volume. For these we should have to wait some two months
after the publisher's alluring advertisements had set people to en-
quiring for them at our delivery desk and making unpleasant re-
marks about our library being behind the times. For the librarian
like the merchant must have the goods when called for or do no
business

It may be called a selfish satisfaction but satisfaction it is to
be always able to say, you will find any good book on our shelves
as soon as it is on the bookseller's shelves. We are praised for it ;
it pleases us and our friends at the same time. When after some
20 issues, more or less, the book is rebound in our bindery and
we know of no better, more durable bindery work done anywhere
than ours the rebound book will last until the paper itself wears
out.

Music.

That the great masters in music should have a seat among
the immortals in our library is fit and proper.

THIBTT-FIBST ANNUAL BEPOBT 11

Certainly Bach and Beethoven and Mozart and Schubert and
Schumann and Mendelssohn and Wagner deserve a place in the
heavenly choir along side of Milton, Wordsworth, Tennyson,
Browning and Longfellow.

They speak, it is true, a different language but more appeal-
ing, more divine. It is the language of angels we hear when we
listen enraptured to their glorious harmonies.

To our collection of 739 volumes of vocal and instrumental
music we have added this year 56 more volumes, among them 17
volumes of organ music and 25 of violin music and it is gratifying
to hear the words of thankful appreciation from our musical
friends.

New Valuable Additions.

Appleton's new practical cyclopaedia. 6 vols.
Encyclopaedia Britannica. llth edition. 28 vols.
Book of knowledge. 24 vols. 2 sets.
Organ music. 17 vols.
Violin music. 25 vols.
Everyman's library. Ill vols.
Ainsworth 's historical romances. 20 vols.
Fitzgerald. Ireland and her people. 5 vols.
Riley. Poems and prose sketches. Homestead ed. 14 vols.
Kipling's works, Oriental ed. 10 vols.

Life of Beethoven by Alexander Wheelock Thayer. 5 vols.
(German.)

Important Gifts.

Col. A. L. Fahnestock Diary in manuscript of the 86th regiment,

Illinois infantry volunteers, a large folio 300 pages; also

17 government war maps, war of the rebellion.
Mrs. Mary Foster Bryner. 15 books on Sunday School work.
Franks Bros. 16 directories of different cities, various dates.
John A. White. Boston directory 1910.

Chicago directory, 1910.

St. Louis directory 1911.
Family of Chas. P. James. Century magazine v. 1-36.

Scribner's v. 1-22.

Vols. of Bulwer, Cooper, Dumas, Mark Twain, Marryat &
Hardy.

125 miscellaneous vols.

12 PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Southern history of the war. 4 v.
Lyman's historical chart.
Large family Bible.

Typewritten manuscript copy of Mrs. E. M. Bacon's "Letters
from India. ' '

Outside Circulation.

The usefulness of a large, well selected library like ours near
the center of the state is not confined to the limits of the city.
We are not appealed to for help by wireless telegraphy as ship-
wrecked mariners do, but we are constantly applied to for help
from neighboring cities.

Following is a partial list of towns near us who have sought
our aid: El Paso, Ashland, Mackinaw, Morton, Eureka, Ottawa,
Chillicothe, Princeville, Pekin, Havana, San Jose, New Boston.
Wyoming, Kewanee, Elmwood, Mapleton, Lacon, Minier, Canton,
Lincoln, Armington, Atlanta, Wichita Kansas, Denver, Flagstaff
Arizona.

A Serviceable Library.

Granted that the public library is centrally located in an ap-
propriate building, its interior well planned as to light, heat and
ventilation, with ample storage room not only for its present
needs but also for its future, inevitable growth a matter too
often ignored by the architect the most important thing of all
remains the character and completeness of its contents.

It should have on its shelves well classified, well catalogued
and easily accessible, according as its means allow, a representa-
tive collection of all that has been done and said by the world's
great writers since books began to be written; at least a little,
the best and latest of everything in the whole realm of literature
past and present.

This means that history, art and science, industry, politics,
music and religion in all their numerous ramifications must be
well represented.

It should be strong in works of reference for the student or
casual inquirer; dictionaries, encyclopaedias and genealogies to-
gether with the best current periodicals and, of course, should not
forget the bait that dYaws the indifferent, idle and tired public to
its doors good novels.

THIBTY-FIBST ANNUAL REPORT 13

Yet one thing more it needs to give life to these otherwise
inert and voiceless generations, waiting in line behind our delivery
desk, a body of quick, educated and amiable assistants to serve
the public.

These are some of the requirements of a public library which
every librarian strives to secure and which we believe we have.
The last I am sure we have.

To our daily newspapers we owe thanks for numerous friend-
ly notices and lists of new books.

With thanks to each of my assistants in all departments and
to you gentlemen of the Board of Directors,

I am respectfully,

E. S. WILLCOX,

Librarian.

14 PEOBIA PUBLIC LIBBABT

STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1910-1911
Receipts.

From city appropriation $18,243 . 55

Desk receipts on hand June 1, 1910 42.87

Cash in bank June 1, 1910 664 . 60

Rent 80.00

Pines 1,059.48

Books damaged and paid for 2 . 85

Books lost and paid for 30 . 25

Extra books loaned 45.15

Duplicate cards issued 15 . 85

Reserve postal cards 35 . 00

Memberships 17 . 00

Catalogues sold 7 . 80

Furniture sold .50

Waste paper sold 7.40 $20,252 . 30

Expenditures.

Books $ 4,081.60

Periodicals 850.40

Stationery 380.57

Salaries 8,693.43

Janitor service 1,301 . 10

Binding labor 2,337 . 50

Binding materials 181 . 88

Fuel 836.51

Expense 875 . 28

Insurance 88 . 30

Furniture and fixtures 172.70

Improvement 30 . 00

Desk receipts on hand May 31, 1911 19.66

Cash in Bank May 31, 1911 403 . 37 $20,252 . 30

Report of the Building Committee on the Cost of the
New Lincoln Branch Library.

To gift from Andrew Carnegie '$20,000.00

By McDonald & Brady Contracting Co $15,887.40

" Cody & Shea, plumbing 395.00

" heating 869.00

" McDonald & Brady Cont. Co., extra green tile

roofing 350.44

" Central Electric Co 168.00

' J. L. Mott Iron Works 112.00

" Cody & Shea, sewer 336.00

" Sidewalk 76.00

" Grading 40.00

" Decorating 100.00

" Shipper & Block, chairs & tables 340.00

shades 34.00

" repairing book cases 50.00

THIBTY-FIBST ANNUAL BEPOBT

Hotchkiss & Harris, architects

Foundation, extra

Hewett & Emerson, competing plans.

Robinson Fuel Co., coal

Unexpended

950.00

50.00

6.80

185.36

$20,000.00 $20,000.00

HENRY M. PINDELL,
JOHN E. KEENE,
ALEXANDER G. TYNG,

Committee in charge.

Membership.

Memberships in force June 1, 1910 9,418

Memberships issued during the year good for two years 4,595

Total 14,013

Memberships expired during the year 4,418

Memberships in force May 31, 1911 9,595

Contents of Library.
June 1, 1910

Books in circulation 103,330 vols.

Duplicates not in circulation... 2,309 vols.

Unbound pamphlets (estimated) 14,712 vols.

Losses

Lost and paid for 36 vols.

Worn out and withdrawn 1,268 vols.

Total losses 1,304 vols.

102,026 vols.
Additions

By purchase 4,130 vols.

By donations 472 vols.

By periodicals bound 348 vols.

Total additions 4,950 vols.

Total books in circulation 106,976 vols.

Duplicates not in use 2,321 vols.

Pamphlets (estimated) 16,676 vols. 18,997 vols.

Total contents May 31, 1911

125,973 vols.

16 PEOBIA PUBLIC LIBBABT

Number of Periodicals Taken and Always Accessible In the
Reading Room.

Dailies 9

Weeklies 51

Bi-weeklies 9

Monthlies 165

Bi-monthlies 15

Quarterlies 43

292

Duplicates in circulation 32

Duplicates not in circulation 15

Duplicates sent to branch libraries 31

Total . ..370

Volumes and Percentage of Issues From Each Class.

Per cent

1910-1911 1910-1911

Philosophy 1,696 .79

Theology 2,550 1.18

Social science 2,189 1.01

Natural sciences, useful arts 9,242 4 . 28

Fine arts, poetry and music 3,860 1.79

Fiction 114,983 53.23

Juvenile fiction 48,962 22.66

Literary miscellany , 7,114 3.29

History and travel 16,296 7.54

Cyclopedias and periodicals 9,133 4 . 23

Total 216,025 100.00

Of the above were issued at the main desk 124,908

Of the above were issued from children's room 42,666

Of the above were issued from branch libraries and schools 48,451

Issued from Children's Room.

Per cent
1910-1911 1910-1911

Religion 321 .75

Science 2,769 6.49

Literature 2,344 5.49

Travel 2,614 6.13

History 1,356 3.18

Biography 1,065 2.50

Fiction 31,634 74.14

Periodicals 452 1.06

German books Ill .26

Total . 42,666 100.00

THIRTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT

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Philosophy
Theology
Social and political science
Natural sciences and useful a
Fine arts and poetry . . .
Vocal and instrumental musi
Fiction
Juvenile literature ....
Literary miscellany ....
History and travel ....
Cyclopaedias and periodical

18 PEOBIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Number of fine notices sent 6,074

Number of notices for books reserved 3,549

Character of Additions.

English .4,822

German 71

French 1

Vocal and instrumental music 56

Total : 4,950

Purchased 4,130

Donations 472

Periodicals bound ..... .348

Total 4,950

Bindery.

New books bound 603

Newspapers bound 53

Books rebound .... 2,582

Books renewed in old covers 76

Books repaired 3,988

Portfolios made . 43

Total 7,345

32o 24o I6o I2o 80 4o fo
1 30 465 1,971 467 140 164 3,238

Portfolios, books repaired and renewed in old covers misc.

sizes 4,107

Total 7,345

Current magazines covered 656

Members' cards folded and pasted 10,000

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.

STATE OF ILLINOIS )
County of Peoria. j S1

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 8th day of June, A. D- 1911.

EMMA DONNELLY, Notary Public.

THE

THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

AND THE

Fifty-Fifth Annual Report since its Organization
as the Peoria City Library

PEORIA, ILLINOIS

FOR THE YEAR ENDING MAY 31st, 1912

PRINTED BY

THE DUROC PRESS

424 FULTON STEEET

PEORIA. ILL.

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

DIRECTORS OF THE PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
FROM ITS ORIGIN, APRIL, 1880.

John S. Lee 1880 to 1889

James C. Dolan 1880 " 1894

Mathew Henebery 1880 " 1894

Bernard Cremer 1880 " date

Henry Ullman 1880 " 1898

Austin F. Johnson .1880 " 1884

J. M. Hutchinson 1880 " 1884

Chas. B. Allaire 1880 " 1883

Geo. B. Foster 1880 " 1886

James Millard 1884 " 1886

Matthew Griswold 1884 " 1896

Robert Grier 1884 " 1908

Henry W. Wells 1886 to 1904

Dan F. Raum 1886 " 1889

Thos. F. Burnett 1889 " 1890

Geo. B. Foster 1889 " 1892

Thos. M. Mcllvaine 1890 " date

Edward Hine 1892 " 1895

Chas. R. Vandervort 1894 " 1902

Frank Meyer 1894 " 1897

Leonard F. Houghton 1895 " 1898

Mark W. Goss 1896 " 1897

Samuel D. Wead 1897 " 1900

James P. Nailon 1897 " 1900

N. E. Worthington 1898 " 1904

Max Newman 1898 " 1899

Leonard F. Houghton (.1899 " 1902

John E. Keene 1900 " 1912

James M. Quinn 1900 " 1910

Alexander G. Tyng 1902 to 1911

Frank J. Quinn 1902 " 1908

John Birks 1904 " 1907

Alexander Glass 1904 " 1905

C. R. Vandervort 1905 " 1907

Peter Casey 1907 " 1910

Robert W. Anderson 1907 " 1910

Henry M. Pindell 1908

Zachariah P. Siebrecht 1908

Wm. G. Olwin 1910

Eugene F. Baldwin 1910

S. P. Prowse 1910

B. G. Carpenter 1911

Wm. T. Irwin 1912

Population of Peoria, U. S. Census 1910 66,950

THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 1912-1913.

Bernard Cremer, Peoria Demokrat Term expires 1913

1913
1913
1914
1914
1914
1915
1915
1915

Wm. G. Olwin, 113-119 Eaton St.

E. F. Baldwin, Star Office

Henry M. Pindell, Journal Office

Zachariah P. Siebrecht, Star Office. . . ,
B. G. Carpenter, 400 N. Glen Oak Ave.
Thomas M. Mcllvaine, 516 Main St. . . ,
Wm. T. Irwin, Jefferson Building. . ; . .
S. P. Prowse, Government Building. .

OFFICERS.

Eugene F. Baldwin President

Wm. G. Olwin Vice-President

S. P. Prowse Secretary

STANDING COMMITTEES.

Finance and Auditing Olwin, Siebrecht, Prowse.
Books Cremer, Carpenter, Irwin.

Executive Mcllvaine, Pindell, Baldwin, (ex-offlcio).

LIBRARY SERVICE.

E. S. Willcox, Librarian.

Anna L. Archer, Cataloguer and Assistant Librarian.
Louise L. Booth, Reference Department.
Fannie Mayo Seabury, Children's Room.

Helen M. Ballard Dallas R. Sweney

Margaret M. Mcllvaine Nella B. Beeson

Lucy E. Muggins Visa B. Wheeler

Paul L. Boehme (a) Louise I. Fisher

Louise Boyd (a)

Evening Attendant Alfred Corsten.
Lincoln Branch Jane Anderson.

Janitor Cyrus E. Entwistle.
Washington Branch Helena Taylor.

In the Bindery

Richard J. Cross, Margaret A. Theena,

Rachel Garrabrant, Daisy Wetzler,

Myrtle Eichhorn.

Engineer Chas. A. McMullen.
Janitress Mrs. Mary Fogle, Mrs. Mary O'Brien.

The Library is open for delivery of books, except Sundays and holi-
days, from 9 a. m. until 8 p. m.; on Saturdays until 8:30 p. m.

Reading room open from 9 a. m. until 9 p. m.; on Sundays (July
and August excepted), from 2 p. m. until 6 p. m.

Children's room open from 12 to 1; from 3 to 6.

(a) Occasional.

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS.

To the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Peoria.

Gentlemen : We submit to you, herewith, the thirty-second
annual report of the free public library, and the fifty-fifth annual
report of the same library since it was first organized in 1855.

There is little to note of change since our last report. The
most remarkable occurrence is that the circulation during this
year has fallen off over two thousand volumes from that of last
year. The notable fact is that the decrease came from the school
libraries. Three of these have been closed, for various reasons,
but, as the librarian 's report shows, the issue from the main library
chronicles an increase in the number of books issued.

Peoria is not alone in this matter. The same complaint is
made from nearly all the cities of the Union, and it appears to
come from the extraordinary attractions that are now offered our
youth. Formerly, the library was looked upon as the sole means
of instruction. Young people were taught that the foundation of
education along solid lines began with the purchase of good books.
But today, no one buys books, except of a cheap and trashy kind.
The moving picture shows offer to our growing youth a sensa-
tional and momentary excitement that registers no result, and is
productive of no lasting good. No wonder that as the places of
amusement multiply, the library is neglected. The market is now
flooded with books along the same lines. The authors seek to
create a passion for thrills and for tawdry and evanescent effects,
to call it by no harsher name.

The library has steadily protested against this tendency, and
has aimed to lay before its patrons the works of authors which
should stimulate in the reader a desire for improvement along the
higher lines. The directors feel that they have been measurably
successful. There is a steady demand for the better class of
authors, and when the membership is one in seven of our entire
population, we can congratulate ourselves that we have worthily
expended the public money, and been faithful to our high trust.

E. F. BALDWIN, President.

THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.

To the Board of Directors of the Peoria Public Library.

Gentlemen: Following is the report of the Peoria Public
Library for the fiscal year ending May 31, 1912 the thirty-second
annual report of the free public library and the fifty-fifth annual
report of the same library since its origin as the Peoria City
Library in 1855.

Detailed statistics will be found at the end.

Membership.

Our membership, renewed every two years and, consequently,
an active membership, was one year ago 9,595 and is now 9,470, a
slight loss in members, but still one in seven of our population.

Circulation.

Our total circulation also shows a falling off from that of
last year which was 216,025, this year 213,351, a loss of 2,674.
Of this circulation there were issued

From the schools 5,538

From the Lincoln Branch 37,902

From the Children's Room 42,761

From the main library 127,150

A total of 213,351

Of the loss in circulation of 2,674 volumes, the most of this
came from the school libraries, three having been transferred or
closed for various reasons, while the issue from the main library
shows an increase of 2,242, the issue from the children's room
shows an increase of 95, the Lincoln Branch a loss of 481.

When a city of our size has once got a large, central library
fairly established and in good working order with a well balanced
assortment of books in all departments of thought, served by ex-
perienced assistants, and has, in addition, a sufficient number of
branches at convenient distances ; and when, further, the city
fathers have been as considerate of the library needs of their
constituents as is our city council in supplying the means, then
it is reasonable to expect that the circulation of books in the
homes will remain, from year to year, much the same, increasing
gradually with the growth of the city.

It will be seen, therefore, that, on the whole, the history of
our library for the past year shows no remarkable events or
achievements over the history of the immediately preceding years.

There is yet another thing to remember in our case ; Peoria
is not a summer resort with a large population of visitors like

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Los Angeles, for example, seekers of health or rest or amusement
with time and leisure on their hands. Ours is decidedly a business
city. Its merchants, manufacturers, grain dealers, are busy men
and, perhaps, science, art, history, literature and philosophy may
not interest them today as much as do market quotations and
politics which they find in the daily papers. In fact, with the
enormous production now-a-days of newspapers and cheap, illus-
trated magazines, who of city dwellers finds time to read and
enjoy a good old book as I did in my youth, on the farm the
great masters of English, the classics of a former generation?

It is our women and children women interested in general
culture, in the public good, in philanthropic and club work, and
bright, wide-awake boys and girls whose faces are most frequently
seen in a library.

Yet what more inviting, more delightful place of resort for
old or young, for men, women and children, can a city offer than
its public library, its spacious, well furnished delivery room and
reading rooms, so quiet and restful, no loud conversation (hats
off with the gentlemen) and well educated, well trained assistants
to wait on them instantly.

"What an array of old friends, what a flood of delightful
memories does such a library offer as we enter its inviting doors.

It is then I feel like one who has left the tumult and pain of
life behind him and walks the silent corridors of some great
Valhalla, where the marble forms of all the noble dead, the heroes
and benefactors of our race, look down on me with eyes full of
compassion and of immortal youth. And then I repeat as
applicable above all to a library, that inspired line of Byron,

' ' 0, Rome, my country, city of the soul ! ' '

Contents of the Library.

One year ago our library contained of books in circulation . 106,976
Discarded, lost and paid for 2,297

104,679
Added during the year

By purchase 4,966

By donations 807

By periodicals bound 327 6,100

Showing present contents 110,779

Duplicates not in use and pamphlets 21,331

132,110

THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

The Inventory.

Owing to limited help no inventory was taken during 1910
and 1911. The inventory taken this year, therefore, covers three
years. It shows as missing from the main library,

Fiction 268

Non-fiction 83

and from the children's room

Fiction 132

Non-fiction . . 24

A total for three years of 507

Or an average for each year of 169

Of these 507 missing volumes 400 were fiction, mostly late
fiction, such as is exposed upon our delivery counter for exam-
ination by our patrons, and some of them no doubt, judging by
the past, will yet reappear.

Of the 107 classed books about one-third were from the open
shelf where we exhibit them when first received. Every book in
our library has the name Peoria Public Library plainly stamped
in four different, prominent places in the book, yet it is deplorable
that in spite of this and the constant watchfulness of our assistants
we have to report such wicked shoplifting in a public library. So
much we yield to the open shelf idea and so much we pay for
doing it.

During the year 6,100 volumes were accessioned, classified and
catalogued which is always very exacting work and 2,267 worn
out volumes mostly fiction were discarded. These we have
tried to distribute where they would do the most good, giving
instruction with them how to patch them up and paste in loose
leaves. They were, in each case, thankfully welcomed by the
ladies of the Proctor Endowment, by the children of the Home
for the Friendless and by Mr. Joseph Brodman of the House of
Correction.

Reference Work.

This has grown in the last few years to be one of the most
distinctive functions of a public library, a demonstration of its
usefulness and of its justification for liberal support.

To supply the latest, loudly advertised novel is easy enough,
but to answer the inquiries of the high school boy preparing for
a debate, and also the inquiries of his grandfather, of the preacher,
the historical student, the politician, the ladies of the missionary
and philanthropic societies, the literary clubs, and urgent inquiries
from neighboring towns that is something different. It is for
our friends to say how well we do it.

10 PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Our list of periodicals taken and always accessible in the
reading room remains about the same from year to year dailies,
weeklies, monthlies and quarterlies some 300.

The More Important Gifts.

From the estate of the late Col. James M. Rice, himself a
student of history

Illinois Historical Society Collections, v. 3, 5, 6, 7.
" " Transactions, 1908-9.

United States Biographical Dictionary, Illinois, 1876.

Historical Encyclopaedia of Illinois, v. 1.

Biographical Encyclopaedia of Illinois, 1875.

Illinois Society Sons of American Revolution, 1896.

History and pedigree of the Montgomery family. 1863.

Traveller's directory for Illinois. 1839.

Gazetteer for Illinois. 1837.

Danville, Montour Co., Pa., by D. H. B. Brower.

Colonial churches. 1907.

Constitution of the Presbyterian Church. 1909.

What is Presbyterian law? 4th ed. 1882-4.

Echoes from Edinburgh by Gairdner. 1910.

History of the Presbyterian Church in Kentucky by Davidson.

Records of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. 1814.

History of Irish Presbyterians by Latimer.

Presbyterians and the Revolution, by Breed.

Authentic history of Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, by Mom-
bert. 1869.

History of the Augusta Church. 1737-1900.

" '* " " colony and ancient Dominion of Vir-
ginia by Campbell.

Annals of Augusta County by Waddell. 1886 and 1902.

History of Chester County, Pennsylvania by Futhey.

Virginia Magazine, 14 odd numbers.

Political speeches, 1839-1864, miscellaneous pamphlets com-
piled by Colonel Charles Ballance.

Lanman's dictionary of the United States congress. 1859.

General instructor in law by John Bradford. 1820.

From J. B. Greenhut of New York City A large bronze tab-
let, mounted on polished marble 38 by 42 inches, weighing 300
pounds, containing Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

This tablet was placed against the wall in the vestibule be-
tween the entrance to the library and to the Children's Room
where it will be seen by every one entering the library.

THIRTY- SECOND ANNUAL REPORT 11

Valuable Purchases.

Cosmo collection of pictures.
One hundred popular pictures. 2 vols.
Clemens. Writings. Author's national ed. 25 vols.
Burke. Landed gentry of Great Britain. Ed. 11.
See. Researches on the evolution of the stellar systems. Part 2.
Photographic history of the civil war. 10 vols. 2 sets.
The Opera. Ed. by Bates. 4 vols. with atlas.
Century dictionary. 1911 edition. 12 vols.
Americana. 22 vols.
Etude de la Plante by Verneuil.
. Dekorative Vorbilder by Hoffman. Bd. 21-22.
Les Cartons de la manufacture nationale de Sevres by Sandier.
Great texts of the Bible, ed. by Hastings, in 20 vols. (8 vols.
received.)

Our Bindery.

With one foreman and four assistants busy all the time we
have been unable to catch up with our work and have had to send
out 400 volumes of fiction to be rebound by a book binding firm in
a neighboring city.

The following table shows the amount and nature of the work
done by our own bindery during the year.

New books bound, mostly magazines 425

Newspapers bound 48

Books rebound, mostly fiction 3,506

Books repaired 1,932

Books repaired by desk assistant 2,006

3,938

Portfolios made . .... 74

Total 7,991

Current magazines covered 661

Member's cards folded 8,200

Improvements.

In the autumn we introduced the Tuec Air Cleaning System
for dusting the books in our stacks and for cleaning the walls and
have found it both efficient and economical in working.

Another valuable improvement was the putting in last
October of the Chamberlin Metal Weather Strips in our 90 win-
dows to tighten the sashes to the frames and thus keep out the
wind and dust.

12 PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

The value of these weather strips was demonstrated by the
result that our whole building was kept warmer in winter at less
expense for fuel as the following figures show.

For the winter of 1910-11 our coal bill was $836.51

For the longer and harder winter of 1911-12 it was 551.20

A saving of $285.31

This applies to the main library only. If we added to this the
cost of heating the Lincoln Branch last winter the first time we
have had to do it, viz. $123.02 we find that the cost of fuel for
both libraries for the winter of 1911-12 was $674.22 or $162.29 less
than for the one building in 1910-11.

Lights.

Two lamp posts each with 5 large globes have been placed on
the edge of the sidewalk in front of the library, giving an attrac-
tive appearance to the entrance, with a large globe over the door.

Board of Directors.

Our Board of Directors, may I be permitted to say, deserves
unqualified praise and appreciation from the general public for
their conscientious attention to the needs of the library, for their
regular attendance at the Board meetings and for the time and
supervision they give to details.

One year ago Mr. Alexander G. Tyng, who had served faith-
fully for nine years as a Director, and this year Mr. John E. Keene,
who had served with equal faithfulness for twelve years, thought
they had done their share of work in this line for the city and
declined reappointment.

We shall miss them.

Their places have been filled by the Mayor by the appointment
last year of Mr. S. P. Prowse in place of Mr. Tyng and this year
by the appointment of Mr. "William T. Irwin in place of Mr. Keene.

We welcome them heartily.

To our daily newspapers we owe thanks for numerous friendly
notices and for lists of new books.

With thanks to each of my assistants in all departments and
to you gentlemen of the Board of Directors,

I am, respectfully,

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.

THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT 13

STATISTICS FOB THE YEAR 1011-1012.
Receipts.

From city appropriation $23,155.47

Cash on hand June 1, 1911 19.66

Bal. in Bank June 1, 1911 403.37

Fines 1,054.18

Books sold 1.92

Books damaged 4.25

Books lost 20.56

Extra books loaned. 56.05

Duplicate cards issued 17.55

Reserve postal cards 20.00

Memberships 18.50

Catalogues sold 4.85

Waste Paper sold 6.50

Balance from Carnegie fund 88.65 $24,871.51

Expenditures.

Books $ 5,192.94

Periodicals 880.04

Stationery 473.21

Salaries 9,476.68

Janitor service 1,825.95

Binding labor 2,500.38

Binding materials 311.49

Fuel 667.70

Expense 1,264.28

Insurance 285.00

Furniture and fixtures 73.08

Improvement 974.51

Amount transferred from Bank to City Treasury. 643.05

Contingent fund on hand 262.26

Cash on hand 40.94 $24,871.51

Membership.

Memberships in force June 1, 1911 9,595

Memberships issued during the year good for two years 4,877

Total 14,472

Memberships expired during the year 5,002

Memberships in force June 1, 1912 9,470

Contents of Library.

June 1, 1911

Books in circulation 106,976 vols.

Duplicates not in circulation 2,321 vols.

Pamphlets (estimated) .... 16,676 vols.

Losses

Lost and paid for 30 vols.

Worn out and withdrawn. .2,267 vols.

Total losses 2,297 vols.

104,679 vols.

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Additions

By purchase 4,966 vols.

By donations 807 vols.

By periodicals bound 327 vols.

Total additions.

Total books in circulation..

Duplicates not in use

Pamphlets (estimated) ....

Total contents May 31, 1912

6,100 vols.

110,779 vols.
2,349 vols.
18,982 vols. 21, 331 vols.

132,110 vols.

Number of Periodicals Taken and Always Accessible in the
Reading Room.

Dallies 17

Weeklies , 49

Bi-weeklies 7

Monthlies 173

Bi-monthlies 14

Quarterlies 39

299

Duplicates in circulation 28

Duplicates not in circulation 6

Duplicates sent to branch library 24

Total , 357

Volumes and Percentage of Issues from Each Class.

1911-1912 Percent.

Philosophy 1,782

Theology 2,118

Social science 2,271

Natural sciences and useful arts 9,766

Fine arts, poetry and music 4,136

Fiction 117,205

Juvenile fiction 45,904

Literary miscellany 6,922

History and travel 14,301

Cyclopedias and periodicals 8,946

Total 213,351

.84

.99

1.06

4.58

1.94

54.94

21.52

3.24

6.70

4.19

100.00

Of the above were issued at main desk 127,150

Of the above were issued from children's room. 42,761

Of the above were issued from branch libraries and schools. . . . 43,440

Total 213,351

THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT 15

Number of fine notices sent , 6,660

Number of notices for books reserved 3,340

Issued from Children's Room.

Religion 256

Science .. ., 3,033

Literature 2,551

Travel 2,351

History 1,369

Biography . 954

Fiction 31,812

Periodicals 360

German books. . . , 75

Total 42,761

Character of Additions.

English 5,871

German 211

French 2

Spanish 1

Greek 1

Vocal and instrumental music , 14

Total 6,100

Purchased 4,966

Donations 807

Periodicals bound 327

Total 6,100

Bindery.

New books bound 425

Newspapers bound 48

Books rebound 3,506

Books repaired 1,932

By Desk Assistant 2,006 3,938

Portfolios made 74

Total 7,991

32 24 16 12 8 4 f
3 38 607 2,706 425 68 132 ...3,979
Portfolios and books repaired, misc. sizes 4,012

Total 7,991

Current magazines covered 661

Members' cards folded and pasted 8,200

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

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Expenditures for the Lincoln Branch from its Opening, July 1, 1011,
to May 31, 1912, 11 months.

Books $ 562.40

Periodicals 69.25

Expense 115.53

Improvement 78.13

Insurance 285.00

Furniture and fixtures 4.75

Salaries 536.50

Janitor service 495.00

Fuel 123.02

Binding (estimated) 215.00

Total $2,484.58

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.

STATE OF ILLINOIS,)
County of Peoria. J

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 10th day of June, A. D.
1912.

EMMA DONNELLY, Notary Public.

THE

THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

AND THE

Fifty-Sixth Annual Report since its Organization
as the Peoria City Library

PEORIA, ILLINOIS

FOR THE YEAR ENDING MAY 31st, 1913

PRINTED BY

THE DUROC PRESS

424 FULTON STREET
PEORIA. ILL.

PEOR1A PUBLIC LIBRARY

DIRECTORS OF THE PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
FROM ITS ORIGIN, APRIL, 188O.

John S. Lee 1880 to 1889

James C. Dolan 1880 " 1894

Mathew Henebery 1880 " 1894

Bernard Cremer 1880 " date

Henry Ullman 1880 " 1898

Austin F. Johnson 1880 " 1884

J. M. Hutchinson 1880 " 1884

Chas. B. Allaire 1880 " 1883

Geo. B. Foster 1880 " 1886

James Millard 1884 " 1886

Matthew Griswold 1884 " 1896

Robert Grier 1884 " 1908

Henry W. Wells 1886 " 1904

Dan F. Raum 1886 " 1889

Thos. F. Burnett 1889 " 1890

Geo. B. Foster 1889 " 1892

Thos. M. Mcllvaine 1890 " date

Edward Hine 1892 " 1895

Chas. R. Vandervort 1894 " 1902

Frank Meyer 1894 " 1897

Leonard F. Houghton 1895 " 1898

Mark W. Goss 1896 " 1897

Samuel D. Wead 1897 " 1900

James P. Nailon 1897 " 1900

N. E. Worthington 1898 " 1904

Max Newman 1898 " 1899

Leonard F. Houghton 1899 " 1902

John E. Keene 1900 " 1912

James M. Quinn 1900 " 1910

Alexander G. Tyng 1902 " 1911

Frank J. Quinn 1902 " 1908

John Birks 1904 " 1907

Alexander Glass 1904 " 1905

C. R. Vandervort 1905 " 1907

Peter Casey 1907 " 1910

Robert W. Anderson 1907 " 1910

Henry M. Pindell 1908

Zachariah P. Siebrecht 1908

Wm. G. Olwin 1910

Eugene F. Baldwin 1910

S. P. Prowse 1910

B. G. Carpenter 1911

Wm. T. Irwin 1912

Population of Peoria, U. S. Census 1910 66,950

THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 1013-1914.

Henry M. Pindell, Journal Office Term expires 1914

Zachariah P. Siebrecht, Star Office.

B. G. Carpenter, 400 N. Glen Oak Ave

Thomas M. Mcllvaine, 516 Main St. . . .

Wm. T. Irwin, Jefferson Building

S. P. Prowse, Government Building. . . .
Bernard Cremer, Peoria Demokrat. . . .

Wm. G. Olwin, 113-119 Eaton St

E. F. Baldwin, Star Office

1914
1914
1915
1915
1915
1916
1916
1916

OFFICERS.

Eugene F. Baldwin President

Wm. G. Olwin Vice-President

S. P. Prowse Secretary

STANDING COMMITTEES.

Finance and Auditing Olwin, Siebrecht, Prowse.
Books Cremer, Carpenter, Irwin.

Executive Mcllvaine, Pindell, Baldwin, (ex-officio).

LIBRARY SERVICE.

E. S. Willcox, Librarian.

Anna L. Archer, Cataloguer and Assistant Librarian.
Louise L. Booth, Reference Department.
Fannie Mayo Seabury, Children's Room.

Helen M. Ballard Visa B. Wheeler

Margaret M. Mcllvaine. Louise I. Fisher

Dallas R. Sweney Louise Boyd (a)

Nella B. Beeson Esther M. Graydon (a)

Lucy E. Huggins Elmo Kuecks (a)

Evening Attendant Alfred Corsten.
Lincoln Branch Jane Anderson.

Janitor Cyrus E. Entwistle.
Washington Branch Helena Taylor.

In the Bindery

Richard J. Cross, Daisy Wetzler,

Rachel Garrabrant, Myrtle Eichhorn,

Elizabeth McMullen.

Engineer Chas. A. McMullen.
Janitress Mrs. Mary Fogle, Mrs. Mary O'Brien.

The Library is open for delivery of books, except Sundays and holi-
days, from 9 a. m. until 8 p. m.; on Saturdays until 8:30 p. m.

Reading room open from 9 a. m. until 9 p. m.; on Sundays (July
and August excepted), from 2 p. m. until 6 p. m.

Children's room open from 12 to 1; from 3 to 6.
Saturdays and vacations, 9 to C.

(a) Occasional.

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS.
To the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Peoria.

I submit herewith the report of Mr. E. S. Willeox, librarian,
of the condition of the Peoria Public Library during the last fiscal
year. As will be seen no great changes have occurred. The mem-
bership m substantially as it was. The books are in fair condition.
We made some improvements during the last year under the
direction of the chairman of the committee. Dr. MeHvaine, so
that the lighting is now all that can be desired. The same care
has been exercised in keeping the building in repair. For the full
details I refer you to the report of the librarian herein enclosed.

E. F. BALDWIN. President

REPORT OF THE LIBRAJLIAH.
To the Board of Directors of the Peoria Public Library.

Gentlemen: Following is the report of the Peoria Public
Library for the fiscal year ending May 31, 1913 the thirty-third
annual report of the free public library and the fifty-sixth anmoal
report of the sane library since its origin a* the Peoria City
Library in 1855.

Detailed statisfifn will be found at the end.

Our membership, renewed every two years, and. therefore;
an active membership, was. one year ago 9.470 and is now 9308.
about one in seven of our population.

Circulation.

Our total home circulation for the year was 216.443 volumes
as follows :

Neighborhood House and Schools 5.610

Lincoln Branch 37.299

Children's Room 41.441

Main Library 132.073

Total 216,448

or more than three volumes to each of our population.

Contents of the Library

One year ago our library contained of books in

circulation 110.779

Discarded, lost and paid for L5*4 109,195

Added during the year, by purchase. 4.420

Added during the year, by gift 533

Periodicals bound . 247 5.200

Total number in circulation 114JJ95

Duplicates not in use 374

estimated 21.756 24J30

Total contents. 138325

The regular daily routine of work in a great library shows
little change from year to year. The same happy family of faith-
ful, trained assistants have been with us as last year. There has
been no friction between them aa f eflow uoikas, only the meat
friendly help for each other and the

PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

waiting on the public, and always, over all, a welcoming atmos-
phere prevailing.

Cataloguing.

This is, without doubt, one of the hardest worked depart-
ments of a library, requiring long experience, accurate knowledge
and close application.

Of the 5,200 new volumes added to our collection during the
year each one has to be carefully examined as to the author,
subject, contents, assigned to its proper class in history, travel,
science, art, fiction, etc., then catalogue cards carefully prepared,
some 39.000 for the lot for our catalogue drawers, card pockets
filled out, pasted in and neatly stamped in four or five places
showing the library ownership, serial number, class and date of
purchase. All this demands the most careful attention which only
the long experience and thorough business habits of our cata-
loguer and her one trained assistant could accomplish so well.

Reference Work.

This has also grown to be one of the most important functions
of a large library. The number of inquiries on all manner of
subjects, from all kinds of people both in our own city and from
adjoining towns, that have to be answered in the course of a year
has grown to be enormous. And that is what we are here for.

Periodicals.

Of these, dailies, weeklies, monthlies and quarterlies in
English, German, and French, we take 323 with many duplicates
for issuing.

The proper looking after them as received, preparing them
for use in portfolios and assigning them to their locations in the
reading room, then carefully gathering the completed volumes for
binding is no light task for one of our most experienced assistants,
one, too, familiar with the languages.

The Desk Assistants.

These are the ones our public see the most of, and of them it
may well be said, "They also serve who only stand and wait"
behind the desk, quick to catch a request, still quicker to disap-
pear in the forest of books behind them and bring it back for the
waiting patron.

They have to know what books we have on those seried rows
of shelves, exactly where to put their fingers on them and a fair
general knowledge of their contents.

And they receive as they deserve all praise from our friends
for the intelligent and obliging way they have.

THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

The Children's Room.

From the patronage it receives continues to be one of the
most attractive and useful departments of our library. It is a
great responsibility that rests on the librarian and her assistant
there in directing and advising with our younger generation in
their choice of reading, and it is well done.

The number of books issued by them for home use during the
year, was 41.441 volumes.

The Lincoln Branch.

The same may be said of this branch in its beautiful building
at the lower end of our city, under the same librarian as before.
The issues for home use for the year were 37,289 volumes and as
a reading room with daily papers and popular periodicals it is
well patronized by grown people.

OUR BINDERY.

This is a very necessary and useful part of our equipment,
and our foreman, with many years of experience in library work,
and with three or four experienced assistants, does the most
thorough work possible both in binding new books and magazines
and in rebinding old ones.

Improvements.

The most important improvement during the year has been
the putting in of an altogether new and better system of electric
lighting in our stack room, done by the Crawley Electric Company
at a cost of $791.7") for the wiring and by the Central Electric
Company at a cost of $127.00 for the lamps, and also the relight-
ing of the Children's Room and over the main delivery desk
by the Lackey Company at a cost of $105.40.

A like improvement in the lighting of our reading room is
now under way.

Valuable Purchases.
Xew practical reference library. 6 vols.
Alton's encyclopedia. 5 vols.
\>\v International encyclopedia. 21 vols.
University Musical encyclopedia. 10 vols.
Standard encyclopedia. 25 vols.
International library of technology. 40 vols.
Foundation library. 11 vols.
Johnson, ed. Authors digest. 20 vols.
United States Catalogue, books in print Jan. 1, 1912.
Harvard classics. 50 vols.
Johnson ed. Great events bv famous historians. 20 vols.

10 PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Mawson. Standard Thesaurus.

Macfall. History of painting. 8 vols.

Miller, ed. Classics : Greek and Latin. 15 vols.

Johnson and Buel. Battles and leaders of the civil war. Grant-
Lee ed. 8 vols.

Fairbairn's Crests.

Mackenzie. Colonial families of the United States. 3 vols.

Currey. Chicago, its history and its builders. 5 vols.

Wiley and Rines. United States. 10 vols. with portfolio of steel
engravings of the Presidents.

Wolff. Cent Chef s d'Oeuvre. Plates.

Joyce and Thomas. Women of all nations. 2 vols.

Fenollosa. Epochs of Chinese and Japanese art. 2 vols.

Chamberlain and Salisbury. Geology. 3 vols.

Perry. History of Knox county. 2 vols.

Rice. Peoria, city and county. 2 vols.

Wordsworth. Complete poetical works. Grasmere ed. 10 vols.

Scott. Works. Caledonian ed. 24 vols.

Ibsen. Works. Viking ed. 13 vols.

Balzac. Works. University ed. 18 vols.

Abridged agricultural records of the U. S. and Canada. 7 vols.

United States, Department of Agriculture, Farmers' bullletins,
bound in 20 vols.

For the Children's Room.
Hall and Wood. Bible story. 5 vols.

Shinn and Abbott. Guide to systematic use of North American
bird and nature study with chart.

Valuable Gifts.

From the estates of three former well known and honored
citizens each one a civil war veteran our library has been made
the beneficiary of many valuable books and pamphlets.

From the estate of General John G. Ballance 100 bound vol-
umes including Lossing's "Our Country," 3 volumes, Heitman's
Historical History and Registry, Dictionary of the U. S. Army,
Velasquez's Spanish Dictionary, and many pamphlets.

From the estate of Mr. Lem Wiley, 30 bound volumes, in-
cluding Yonge, Popular History of Great Nations, 2 volumes,
History of Free Masonry, 2 volumes, The Soldier in Our Country,
2 volumes, Lossing's "Our Country," 3 volumes, and others.

From the estate of Henry Seed, 40 bound volumes and many
pamphlets.

Owing to the pressure of other work the cataloguing of these
gifts has been delayed.

THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT 11

Books Discarded.

Of the 1,553 volumes worn out and discarded, some were
given to the Proctor Endowment, some to the Home for the Friend-
less, and some to the Work House with instructions how to mend
them up for a little longer use, while many were entirely past help.

Function of the Public Library.

To tax the property of a city for the support of a free, public
library finds its justification in the fact that it is the most efficient
instrument we know of for the diffusion of general intelligence
among the people, for supplying entertaining and instructive
reading to everybody, to busy men and women and to our young
people who might otherwise go through life in ignorance of what
is going on in the world around them, of what was said and done
by men and women who, a hundred, a thousand years ago, had
the same burdens to bear, the same questions to answer and the
same battles to fight that we have to-'day.

Compare the nations that read with those that do not, England
with Russia, the United States with Spain or Turkey to learn
why free institutions flourish in the former and despotism resting
on ignorance prevails in the latter.

A public library is a great receiving and distributing ware-
house, not of food and raiment for our bodily wants, but of some-
thing far better, that nourishes, animates and adorns the soul
a treasure house where are gathered, preserved and again dis-
tributed the priceless accumulation of all human experience, the
wisdom of the ages, the story of all that our race has done and
suffered in its toilsome progress upward from the darkness of
the past into the effulgent light of this our day.

It draws to its inviting doors not only cultured men and
women seeking more knowledge but, no less, thousands, both old
and young, seeking entertainment who might, unfamiliar with
books, waste their hours in idleness on the streets or in wicked
dissipation. Its object is to entertain, to instruct, to educate and
to elevate everybody, without money and without price.

If our home circulation last year of only 216,448 volumes, of
which 163,322 were fiction and juveniles the usual average in
other libraries is not as large as we should like to see, we need
not be surprised. There were, at the same time, issued to our
people 53,126 volumes of philosophy, theology, social science, nat-
ural science and useful arts, fine arts, poetry, music, history,
biography, travels, etc. And we must not forget that a wholesome
story, a work of the imagination, even if it be a little weak and
watery to our taste, may give not only entertainment, may even

12 PEOR1A PUBLIC LIBRARY

bring a gleam of sunshine, some thrill of hope or human sympathy
into the humdrum life of many a tired housekeeper.

And as to the juveniles books throw the whole world wide
open to the eager child.

A bright, healthy boy will ask more questions before he has
finished his seventh year than in all the rest of his life together
almost.

I happen to know a grandfather now half driven to distrac-
tion every day by just such a boy.

It is, therefore, no small responsibility the librarian has to
bear in making a wise use of the funds at his disposal.

Very few libraries can afford to buy all the books or even a
large proportion of those attractively advertised by publishers.
The daily question is, what is most desirable for this library, its
present and its future needs, and what can we afford to buy.

And, making due allowance for the hobbies of his friends,
the librarian cannot afford to ride any hobbies of his own. The
whole field of human inquiry, for to-morrow as well as for to-day,
claims his attention.

He must have on his shelves as far as his means allow, at
least a little of the latest and best on every important question of
the day.

The preacher in the pulpit has nu more solemn responsibility
resting on him than has the librarian, in selecting useful and
wholesome reading for his public.

It is to the public schools, the public libraries and the churches
that we must look for the steady uplifting of the human race.

To our daily newspapers we owe thanks for numerous friendly
notices and for lists of new books.

"With thanks to each of my assistants in all departments and
to you gentlemen of the Board of Directors. I am.

Respectfully.

E. S. WILLCOX, Librarian.

STATE OP ILLINOIS. \
County of Peoria. }

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 10th day of June, A. D.
1913.

EMMA DONNELLY, Notary Public.

(Seal)

THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT 13

STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1912-1913.

Receipts.

From city appropriation $24,801.13

Cash on hand June 1, 1912 40.94

Fines 1,070.28

Books damaged 1.95

Books lost 21.58

Extra books loaned 56.10

Duplicate cards issued 18.00

Reserve postal cards 45.00

Memberships 18.00

Catalogues sold 4.70

Waste paper sold 13.75

Rent from School Board 70.00 $26,161.43

Expenditures.

Books $ 4,977.57

Periodicals 851.37

Stationery 463.50

Salaries 10,318.64

Janitor service 1,969.40

Bindery wages 2,426.34

Bindery materials 274.96

Bindery tools 80.40

Binding (outside building) 309.02

Fuel 563.02

Expense 1,110.48

Furniture and fixtures 63.70

Improvement 1,369.18

Desk and other receipts deposited with City

Treasurer 1,319.36

Cash on hand May 31, 1913 64.42 $26,161.43

Expenditures fur the Lincoln Branch, June 1, 1912-May 31, 1913.

Books $ 222.89

Periodicals 54.38

Expense 36.95

Improvement 119.43

Salaries 652.50

Janitor service 660.00

Fuel 93.96

Binding (estimated) 283.30

$2,123.41
Membership.

Memberships in force June 1, 1912 9,470

Memberships issued during the year good for two years 4,628

Total 14,098

Memberships expired during the year 4,595

Memberships in force June 1, 1913 9,503

14 PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Contents of Library.

June 1, 1912

Books in circulation 11 0,7 7 9 vols.

Duplicates not in circulation. 2,349vols.

Pamphlets (estimated) .... 18,982vols.

Losses

Lost and paid for 31 vols.

Worn out and withdrawn. . .l,553vols.

Total losses l,584vols.

109,195vols.
Additions

By purchase 4,420 vols.

By donations 533 vols.

By periodicals bound 247 vols.

Total additions 5, 200 vols.

Total books in circulation. . . 114, 395 vols.

Duplicates not in use 2, 374 vols.

Pamphlets (estimated) .... 21,756 vols. 24,130 vols.

Total contents May 31, 1913 138, 525 vols.

Character of Additions.

English 5,106

German 58

French 4

Vocal and instrumental music. . 32

Total 5,200

Purchased 4,420

Donations 533

Periodicals bound . ..... 247

Total 5,200

Number of Periodicals Taken and Always Accessible in the Reading

Room.

Dailies 19

Weeklies 54

Bi-weeklies 7

Monthlies 181

Bi-monthlies 15

Quarterlies 47

323

Duplicates in circulation 29

Duplicates not in circulation

Duplicates sent to branch library 28

Total . 388

THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT 15

Volumes and Percentage of Issues from Each Class.

1912-1913 Percent.

Philosophy 2,189 1.01

Theology 2,341 1.08

Social Science 2,709 1.25

Natural Sciences and useful arts 9,475 4.38

Fine arts, poetry and music 4,671 2.16

Fiction 119,316 55.13

Juvenile fiction 44,006 20.33

Literary miscellany 7,585 3.50

History and travel 14,917 6.89

Cyclopedias and periodicals 9,239 4.27

Total 216,448 100.00

Of the above were issued at main desk 132,078

Of the above were issued from children's room 41,441

Of the above were issued from Lincoln Branch 37,289

Of the above were issued from Washington Branch and schools. 5,640

Total 216,448

Number of fine notices sent 6,703

Number of notices for books reserved 3,037

Issued from Children's Room.

Religion 264

Science 2,780

Literature 2,995

Travel 2,120

History 1,503

Biography 1,142

Fiction 30,183

Periodicals 313

German books . 141

Total 41,441

Bindery.

New books bound 528

Newspapers bound 29

Books rebound 3,597

Books repaired 91

By Desk Assistant 2,639 2,730

Portfolios made . . 69

Total 6,953

32 24 16 12 8 4 f
15 34 570 2,498 795 145 97 4,154

Portfolios and books repaired, miscellaneous sizes 2,799

6,953

Current magazines covered

Members' cards folded and pasted 16,285

PEORIA PUBUC LIBRARY

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Science, art, relitrion
Fiction, fairy tales
Literature
History, biography

The followi
ditions during t

Philosophy
Theology
Social and political sciei
Natural sciences and uw
Fine arts and poetry
Vocal and instrumental
Fiction
Juvenile literature
Literary misrellanv
History and travel
Cyclopaedias and perior

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