-0 SURVEY OF Ebe Queens Iorougb ublirc ibrarp Queens Borough 117 square miles 37 % of the area of the Cityof New York The fastest growing borough in the City of New YorK To aid the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to determine upon a Library Policy. Authorized by the Board of Trustees. irrtl(!l!rl~lr~llr l~rrr lrrI III III TI IITIIIIIIIII I L THE GIFT OF QueeI BorouAh Pu1bleJd I i 5iilSIk L L~ai dedl'ii'il hiA:~l i j SURVEY OF be tuheens I3orougb ublitc Ltbrar?, Queens Borough 117 square miles 37% of the area of the Cityof New Yorlk % (\I Ii\ t The fastest growing b orough in the City of New York To aid the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to determine upon a Library Policy. Authorized by the Board of Trustees. co3 "It is only by making the libraries useful that they become regarded as indispensable, and it is when they are seen to be indispensable that they are adequately supported." -The Librarian. This survey was compiled under the supervision of the Director, Owen J. Dever, with the assistance of the following members of the staff. Olive H. Whisenant Eva A. Corham Margaret S. Green Mary W. Early Grace E. Cokeley Harrison M. Parsons Isabella M. Cooper Extension Division - Editor - - Adult Circulation - 'Reference Librarian - ook Selection - Children's Department Finance and Equipment - Consulting Librarian INDEX TO TOPICS Letter of Transmittal Budgets and Appropriations Statistics on Tax Receipts The Queens Borough Public Library Budgets from 1915-1928 Development of Queens Borough Expansion of The Queens Borough Public Library Act of Incorporation Agreement with the City of New York Opinion of the Corporation Counsel Central Library Building Comparative Cost Statistics in New York and other Cities Appraisal of Carnegie Buildings Rentals-Increases necessary Branch Libraries-Location Survey of Adult Book Equipment Library Interchange Service Survey of Children's Book Equipment Page 5 6 7 8-9 14 15 S 18 20 23. 28 29 30 33. 37. 40 42 47 Library Book-lists Story-hour. Sub-Branch and Station Locations Survey of Extension Division. Statistics on Book Circulation.. Binding-Imperative Needs Survey of Reference Depa-tment How the City Money was spent-1926 Finance Audit Corporate Funds--Explanation Auditor's Statement Staff Enlargement necessary... 50... 51.... 52... 53..... 5... 59.... 61.... 64.... 65... 65... 67... 70 Training School-Establishment and Recommendations Salaries-Raising of scale to meet present standards Pensions-Obviously just...... Statement by the Board of Trustees.. 72 75 77 82 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL June 30, 1927. HON. JOSEPH V. McKEE, Chairman, Special Committee on Libraries, Board of Estimate and Apportionment, City Hall, Manhattan. Honorable Sir: The subjoined survey is submitted for your consideration in the knowledge that it will prove a source of enlightenment on the general needs of the library. It was compiled without attempt to resort to any technical discussion of the subject, but an earnest effort was made to present the cause of the Library in as clear a manner as possible. The Trustees were confidently aware that when the facts were before you, you would be in a position to understand why they felt justified in appealing for additional maintenance between budget making periods. The statistics and-other information' contained therein were furnished or compiled by a committee of the staff, and should your committee, or the Board of Estimate and Apportionment in their desire to establish a definite library policy, decide to employ expert assistance, the Trustees respectfully- submit this survey as a basis for consideration and discussion. Very respectfully, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, EDWARD L. HEIN, President. 6 BUDGET FOR 1927 (as recommended by the Board of Trustees and submitted to the Board of Estimate and Apportionment for consideration) FOR OTHER THAN PERSONAL SERVICE and PERSONAL SERVICE....... City allowance for library maintenance for the year 1927 in the General City Budget as approved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment.................... Deduction from the recommendation of the Board of Trustees.................. $601,565.33 393,164.00 $208,401.33 BUDGET FOR 1928 (as recommended by the Board of Trustees and submitted to the Board of Estimate and Apportionment for consideration) For Other Than Personal Service: Books and Periodicals.................................. Binding...................................... Repairs to Buildings...................................... Rentals............................................... Office Supplies..................................... Cleaning Supplies.......................................... General Equipment.................................... Other Estim ates.............................................. Total............................................ $152,000.00 81,000.00 54,272.00 62,230.00 8,380.00 600.00 30,972.22 17,300.75 $406,754.97 $406,754.97 Personal Service: SALARIES, library and janitorial (as modified and approved by the Director of the Budget).......... Allowance for substitutes................................ Amount required to adjust salaries........................... Salaries for 60 New Positions (as per survey report)............. Total Budget Request............ Claims Pending Against City Awaiting Adjustment: Library Corporate Fund obligation during year 1926 for the purpose of supplementing city allowance for substitutes......... Obligations incurred against Library Corporate Funds during the five years prior to 1926................................. $245,600.00 12,000.00 22,980.00 83,520.00 364,100.00 $770,854.97 $ 2,839.89 45,478.84 It has been the policy of the Board of Trustees to co-operate in every possible way with the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, even to the extent of waiving their rights under the statute and contract which give them the power and duty to expend all funds appropriated for maintenance. In continuation of this policy, no resort has been made to law nor pleas entered for writs of mandamus to compel the return of moneys expended, to which they were legally entitled. HOW THE LIBRARY BUDGETS WERE "JUGGLED" IN 1919, 1922, 1923, 1924 INCREASED* TAXES -DECREASED LIBRARY APPROPRIATIONS Number of Assessable Y ear Parcels Assessed Value Real Estate Library Library Share of Tax Rate Dollar of Taxes Tax Rate Tax Reda Estate Budget 1915..... 1916...... 1917...... 1918. 1919..... 1920.. 1921.. 1922. 1923. 1924. 1925.. 1926. 1927.. 141,843 144,684 146,244 147,670 150,417 156,185 163,711 180,000 187,252 202,203 214,836 233,297 $ 509,515,978.00 539,394,614.00 569,865,007.00 591,699,075.00 604,827,476.00 636,409,159.00 718,818,139.00 748,609,486.00 804,000,000.00 904,605,924.00 1,013,547,506.00 1,227,676,363.00 1,483,512,362.00.0195.0206.0207.0241.0237.0254.0285.0279.0274.0274.0269.0273.0270 $ 9,064,485.94 10'052,488.48 10,658,911.18 12,722,009.62 12,792,525.78 14,469,992.36 18,408,462.36 18,830,249.24 20,089,744.66 22,927,504.92 25,346,484.00 31,503,827.48 40,054,823.77 $155,385.00 157,615.00 162,/82.08 175,791.49 160,000.00 223,731.50 252,806.58 236,830.00 234,230.00 248,690.00 276,690.00 300,974.00 403,944.00.000305.000292.000285.000297.000265.000352.000352.000317.000292.000275.000273.000245.000272.013/ A-.01MvO-.01~~.01~i~ -0/l 0 01QI-.011/100.01ý, The library tax rate in 1927 is 22%%7 below that of 1920. The library share of each dollar of taxes collected in Queens of 1915 and 33% below 1920. Borough in 1927 is 43% below that If the library tax rate in 1927 were the same as in 1920 and 1921 the budget would be $552,196.35. If the same proportion of taxes had been appropriated for library support in 1927 as in 1915 the budget would have- been $700,959.51. City appropriation for the maintenance of The Queens Borough Public Library for the year 1927...................$403,944.00 Estimated budget requirements as reconmended by the Board of Trustees for the year 1928.......................$770,854.97 'V. t~s'. Tabulation showing gradual improveme maintainance for other than the Hon. James J. Walker. FIXED FIXED CHARGES ARE RENTALS FUEL WATER BILLS CAR FARES TELEPHONE EXPRESSA GE charges under administrati MITCHEL ADMINISTRATION HYLAN ADMINISTRATION WALKER ADMINISTRATION I U --- M ---------------- II___|__________ BUDGET CODE 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 "**SE[ENoTE I1926 BELOW 1927 1928 BUDGET REQUEST ma BOOKS BINDING OF BOOKS REPAIRS TO BUILDINGS OFFICE SUPPLIES CLEANING SUPPLIES GENERAL EQUIPMENT $27,814.75 $30,548.00 $29,382.00 $29,382.00 $25,590.59 $41,581. 5,960.00 5,960.00 5,827.00 6,500.00" 6,500.00 9,282. 2,500.00 2,185.00 4,726.00 5,122.00 3,622.00 4,000.1 3,500.00 $27,000.00 $27,000.00 $27,000.00 $27,000.00 $40,000.00 $50,000.00 $152,000.00 3,700.00 looo,000.00 6,500.00 6,500.00 6,500.00 6,500.00 10,000.00 20,000.00 2,830.00 2,830.00 2,830.00 2,830.00 5,000.00 20,000.00 81,000.00 54,272.00 8,380.00 600.00 4,928.00 3,330.00 4,562.00 4,684.00 4,409.00 3,300. 300. 1,000.00 3,000.00 3,000.00 4,500.00 4,500.00 4,800.00 5,000.00 289.00 289.00 385.00 517.00 465.00 400.00 250.00 250.00 250.00 250.00 600.00 600.00 1,689.00 2,606.00 3,459.00 4,007.00 1,447.00 4,000. 1,000.00 2,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 4,000.00 7,500.00 30,972.22 TOTALS $43,180.75 $44,918.00 5 Year Deduction in Budgets $48,340.00 $50,212.00 $42,033.59 $62,463. ***NOTE: When the Committee of the Whole of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment considered the City Budget for the year 1926, Mayor Hylan declined 'to sit as Chairman of the Committee. The in-?,600.00 I $41,580.00 $40,580.00 $42,080.00 $42,080.00 $64,400.00 $103,100.00 $327,224.22 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924 and 1925 Average for 5 years $44.584 creases for 1926 were approved by the remaining members of the Committee of the Whole, the Comptroller acting as Chairman. Increase in 1927 Budget $38,700 $89,359.40 A P P R O P A T I 0 N S The fact that the appropriations for the support of The Queens Borough Public Library have not kept pace with the growing needs of the Borough is easily demonstrable. The population has increased since 1920 at an average rate of ten per cent each year and the assessed valuation at about the same rate until 1926, when the increase was approximately twenty per cent. If the same rate had been maintained in Library appropriations the total for 1927 would be $436,000.00 or over $30,000.00 more than was actually written in, but the deficit is more appalling when considered in detail. In the first year of the Hylan Administration- the total appropriation for other than fixed charges was actually less than in any of the four preceding years of the Mitchel Administration, and the loss of actual funds for other than fixed charges from 1919 to 1926 (the Hylan Administration) totaled $240,000.00. During these four years the number of books in the library declined, binding funds did not meet the requirements and the physical condition of the books deteriorated; supplies of all kinds could not-be purchased in sufficient quantities to properly carry on the work of administration; the equipment was not renewed, the furniture of all descriptions, much of which was over twenty years old, could not be replaced or even repaired, and the physical condition of the buildings was deplorable. An illustration of how decreased appropriations affect the activities of a library can be given in the matter of binding. In Queens Borough with a population of approximately 850,000 the book stock should be 850,000 with a turnover of three and one-half..Actually, the book stock is less than 300,000 with a turnover of about seven, or for our 2,000,000 circulation double of what it should be for the ideal circulation of 3,000,000. The natural consequence of this exessive use of the book stock is the rapid impairment of the books. This library was congratulated upon receiving an increase in 1927 of some $90,000.00 over 1926, yet upon analysis the fact remains that not only is the total budget $30,000.00 less than it should be but not one cent of the deficits of the former years has been made up. If the budget for 1928 is based upon actual necessities, and the deficit refunded, the total will be well over $800,000.00. The problem is how to meet the enlarged requirements of 1928, and, in so far as possible, to make up the deficit of the preceding years. THE jTOTAL BUDGET REQUEST FOI 8 FOR ALL PURPOSES IS $770,854.97 10 FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR LIBRARY MAINTENANCE IN THE YEAR 1926 Total available funds from all sources which could be used for maintenance, whether derived from endowments, gifts, taxation, unexpended balances from previous years or from miscellaneous collections from fines, etc., within the Institution.. NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Total available funds in 1926........................ $2,915,173.11 Estimated population served.. 2,920,000 Available funds per capita........ 1.01+ Local taxation (City Appropriation)................... Other sources..................................... Total........................................... $1,494,176.00' 1,456,997.11 $2,951,173.11 OTHER SOURCES ADD NEARLY NINETY-EIGHT PER CENT TO THE CITY APPROPRIATION AND ARE NEARLY FIFTY PER CENT OF TOTAL INCOME. BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY Total available funds in 1926.......................... Estimated population served........................... Available funds per capita............................ Local taxation (City Appropriation)................... Other sources.............................. Total......................................... $1,118,701.26 2,203,235 0.50+ $ 743,283.00 375,418.26 $1,118,701.26 OTHER SOURCES ADD FIFTY PER CENT TO THE CITY APPROPRIATION AND ARE NEARLY THIRTY PER CENT OF TOTAL INCOME. THE QUEENS BOROUGH PUBLIC LIBRARY Total available funds in 1926......................... Estimated population served......................... Available funds per capita......................... Local taxation (City Appropriation).................... Other Sources....................................... T otal.......................................... $ 344,840.42 800,000 0.43+ $ 300,974.00 43,866.42 $ 344,840.42 OTHER SOURCES ADD LESS THAN FIFTEEN PER CENT TO THE CITY APPROPRIATION AND ARE LESS THAN THIRTEEN PER CENT OF TOTAL INCOME. APPROPRIATIONS TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES N THE CITY OF NEW YOR SINCE 1925 APPROPRIATIONS TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK SINCE 1925 New York Public Library........................ Brooklyn Public Library........................ Queens Borough Public Library.................. Percentage increase within two year period. New York Public Library............... 33.6% Brooklyn Public Library............... 31.9% Queens Borough Public Library........ 47.2% (The Budget was not increased prior to 1925 to meet the neecs of the actual growth in population.) 1925 $1,057,876.00 596,564.47 276,690.00 1927 $1,413,315.00 787,270.00 403,924.00 Increase $355,439.00 190,705.53 130,572.00 City Operation Cost (Per Capita) New York Public Library........... 54.2 Brooklyn Public Library............ 41.5 Queens Borough Public Library..... 41.5 New York City-5 Boroughs........ 45 cents cents cents cents NOTE: Included in the per capita cost of operation are the rental charges, viz: New York Public Library........... $4,588.97 Brooklyn Public Library........... Queens Borough Public Library........ $37,541.50 $20,000.00 The cost of rented quarters in New York is less than three-tenths of one per cent of the total budget appropriation; in Brooklyn, less than three per cent, but in Queens over Twelve Per Cent. LIBRARY SERVICE AND COSTS IN LARGE AMERICAN CITIES Expenditure 1926 ~ ~ ~ ~ Ex.Pr ic, Cities D etroit........................ Los Angeles................... Cleveland.................... B oston......................... M inneapolis................... Indianapolis................... Seattle........................ D enver........................ New H aven..................... Providence.................... N ewark......................... Pittsburg....................... 7 1 1 Population 1927 Expenditures 1,319,630 $1,265,106.00 1,200,000 1,200,000.00 1,000,000 1,700,000.00 842,890 1,104,569.00 434,000 448,600.00 398,017 409,844.00 376,000 353,000.00 300,000 225,000.00 185,000 121,200.00 275,000 *246,432.00 472,537 395,000.00 637,000 508,750.00 Expenditure Per Capita.96 1.00 1.70 1.31 1.03 1.03.93.75.65.89.83.80 1926 Circulation 4,105,101 6,407,747 6,900,000 3,499,137 2,528,984 1,896,230 2,441,000 1,534,113 795,000 1,046,908 1,495,977 2,036,289 -- Exp. Per Vol. Cir..3082.2000.2451.3156.1773.2161.1446.1499.1524.2353.2640.2498 Circu. Per Capita 3.11 5.32 6.90 4.15 5.82 4.74 6.49 5.11 4.29 3.80 3.16 3.19 * Yearly cost estimated from forty-six weeks appropriations. STATEMENT GIVING AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION STANDARD Resolution adopted by American Library Association Council at Chicago, Mid-winter Meeting December 29, 1921. "The American Library Association believes that one dollar per capita of the population of the community served is a reasonable minimum annual revenue for the library in a community desiring to maintain a good modern public library system with trained librarians. This sum should cover a main library with reading room facilities, branch libraries and reading rooms within easy reach of all the people, a registration of card holders equal to at least thirty per cent of the population, and a considerable collection of the more expensive books of reference with a home use of about five volumes per capita per year. This allowance of per capita revenue may need modification in the case of very small or very large communities, or communities which;are otherwise exceptional. Small communities may often obtain increased library service for the same expenditure per capita by enlarging the area of administration. The situation in large communities is often modified by the presence of good endowed libraries free for public use. Communities desiring their libraries to supply these needs extensively and with the highest grade of trained service, will find it necessary to provide a support much larger than the minimum of one dollar per capita. This should cover extension work sufficient to bring home to the children, the foreign speaking people, business 'men, artisans, advanced students, public officials, and in general all classes of the people, the opportunities that such a library is not only ready but able to afford, with a service that is administered by trained librarians having special knowledge in their particular departments." Library System Development of Queens Borough Library Expansion lit of Incorporation Aigreement w'ith City Opinion of Corporation Counsel 14 DEVELOPMENT OF QUEENS BOROUGH The following from the Queens Borough Chamber of Commerce shows the Borough's rapid development. The story of the growth and development of Queens Borough during the past three years reads like fiction and can scarcely be comprehended even by many who live here. Old community lines have disappeared as the Borough becomes more intensively developed and truck farms have given way to compactly built-up communities all in this short space of time. The rise in land values in many instances has been spectacular but unlike many "booms" which have taken form and collapsed during the past decade these increased values have something substantial behind them. They have people-people who want homes and places to do business-and, after all, it is people who make values. Thousands, and hundreds of thousands of people living in the more congested boroughs of the city have desired to leave those surroundings, and Queens, with its wide-open spaces (117 square miles of area), has offered them homes in healthful surroundings. The 250,000 people who have moved to Queens Borough in the past three years have given substance to the claim that Queens is the fastest growing borough in New York City. During the past three years the assessed valuation of real estate in Queens Borough has increased from $1,038,290,974 to $1,483,512,362 an increase of 42 per cent. During the past three years permits have been granted by the Building Bureau of the borough for 80,288 new buildings, estimated to cost $519,824,428 and supply accommodations for 89,189 families, enough to make a good sized city. Included in this big total were hundreds of industrial and business buildings, garages, schools, churches and theaters. A survey of the building records for the first four months of 1927 indicates that this great, building activitjy is to continue throughout the year. During the month of March nearly 1,000 more building permits were issued than during the corresponding month in 1926. In April the total estimated cost of buildings for which permits were issued was $23,093,031 a gain of slightly more than $3,000,000 over the corresponding month of 1926. Queens and Richmond were the only boroughs in the city showing a gain over 1926. Richmond's gain, however, was only about $20,000. Another evidence of activity in the real estate market, is shown by the records of the County Register's Office in Jamaica for the first three months in the year. The number of conveyances and mortgages for each of the three months follows: Conveyances Mortgages January........................ 3,650 5,780 February........................... 3.301 5,061 March................. 3,138 3,494. Totals............. 10,089 14,335 The building of so many homes has necessitated the construction of large sewer systems and according to J. Franklin Perrine, Chief Engineer of the Bureau of Sewers, more mileage was constructed and more money was spent in the construction of sewers in 1926 than in any previous year for a similar purposes. 15 There were constructed 29.22 miles of sewer at a cost of $12,385,036. Preliminary authorization was granted on 31 resolutions amounting to $4,446,440. -Final authorization was granted on 43 resolutions estimated at $6,021,200. Assessment lists and maps were bprepared and forwarded to the Board of Assessors on 86 contracts amounting to $22,466,373. The sanitary trunk sewers for the Jamaica, Hollis, Queens and Bellaire sections are rapidly nearing completion and excellent progress has been made on storm water trunk sewers. Another important trunk which, it i's hoped, will get under way this year, according to Mr. Perrine, is the Rodman Street trunk sewer, or what will be known as Nassau Boulevard. It is necessary to build this trunk sewer from Flushing River to Queens Boulevard and westerly through Queens Boulevard to about Fisk Avenue. While there is a sewer in Queens Boulevard part of the way, it is not an adequate size or of sufficient depth to take care of the anticipated apartment house dwellings which will be erected on this main boulevard of the Borough of Queens. During the past year a new fire alarm telegraph station for Queens has been built at Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest Park South and a telegraph system is being installed at a cost of $1,500,000. A number of new firehouses are also being built and others are planned. Under construction are ten schools and two additions to present structures which will soon be ready. Five of these and one addition will be opened in September, and will seat 6,366 children. Ground has been broken for one high school addition. Five other schools and an addition will be completed by the end of the year and will accommodate 6,935 pupils. Plans have been filed for four new buildings seating 5,022 and two additions with 1,913 accommodations. One new high school and another addition are also to be built. Plans for six more schools are expected to be finished in the summer or autumn. In short 22 new buildings and 6 additions to the established schools seating approximately 30,000 students, sumnmarizes the school building program. The City through the Board of Education has recognized the necessity for all these new school buildings to educate 'the children of the new residents of Queens who Will occupy the 13,000 private dwellings and tenements now under construction. EXPANSION OF THE QUEENS BOROUGH PUBLIC LIBRARY EARLY HISTORY The early history of The- Queens Borough Public- Library may be briefly sketched. The Library was founded in 1896, under the name of "Long Island City Library" through the efforts of. Dr. WValter G. Frey and Mr. George Clay who secured a collection of gifts from Mr. WVilliam Nelson as a nucleus of a free library for the public. The Mayor of Long Island City, Mr. I-Ioratio Sanford, aided in obtaining a charter an'd a city appropriation. The library having proved its usefulness, branches were later opened at Astoria and Steinway. 16 During the next few years the small libraries, which had been developing in other parts of Queens County (at Ozone Park, Hollis, Queens, Richmond Hill and Whitestone) were consolidated with the Long Island City Library and the name was changed to "Queens Borough Library.' This took place shortly after the forming of Greater New York when a portion of Queens County became Queens Borough. At that time the City administration thought it best to have the library in one system for the sake of better management in the matter of appropriations. The old Flushing Library, which had been established in 1858 as a subscription library and in 1884 had been made free to the public, was soon after this taken into the system. The library of the Poppenhusen Institute also was absorbed. The consolidation was largely made possible by a gift of $5,200.000 from the late Andrew Carnegie to the City of New York for library buildings, 'of which Queens Borough received $240,000. CARNEGIE AGREEMENT AND GIFT. In 1901, the City of New York entered into an agreement with the representatives of Andrew Carnegie for the erection of branch libraries and provided that the City of New York furnish the sites for the buildings which were originally estimated to cost $80,000.00 each, or a total of $5,200,000. The number of branch library buildings, which it was originally intended to erect was sixty-five but subsequently this number was increased with the understanding that the total of $5,200,000.00 was not to be exceeded. In accordance with the amended agreement, fifty branch libraries were allotted to the Borough of Manhattan, The Bronx and Richmond, twenty to Brooklyn and- eight to Queens, making a total of seventy-eight branches. So far sixty-six have been erected, distributed as shown in the following tabulation: Erected New York Public Library................. 38 Brooklyn Public Library................. 21 Queens Borough Public Library......... 7* TOTAL........................... 66 * Last building supplemented by $35,000.00 City Funds. The Carnegie Agreement provides that the city keep the buildings in repair, furnish water, and include in the annual budget funds for operation and maintenance amounting to no less than ten per cent of the cost of the buildings. The agreement also provides that the free lending division, delivery desk and at least one reading room in each branch be kept open for the use of the public every day from 9 a. m. to 9 p. m. except Sundays. Books purchased by the libraries from City funds are the property of the City. Fines are to be applied by the libraries for library purposes. In 1904, the buildings for College Point (Poppenhusen Branch) Far Rockaway and Astoria Branches were completed. In 1905, Richmond Hill was finished and occupied and 1906 marked the opening of the Elmhurst and Flushing Branches in their new quarters. In 1907 very few libraries of a suitable type had been constructed and as a consequence designs were limited and a large amount of time and effort \was given by the committee to this work. The buildings were attractive and even 17 spacious for 1907 and it was thought that additions could be made later when the need was demonstrated. However, twenty years have passed and the additions, though much needed, are still in the future. Arrangements had been made for buildings in Long Island City and Jamaica but later this was rescinded and,the balance of the money after the six before mentioned buildings were completed, was not used for many years. In 1924, however, the, balance of $37,000.00 was applied toward the erection of the Woodhaven Branch but the building costs had so increased that it was necessary to secure an appropriation of $35,000.00 from the City to complete the work. The Carnegie contract called for adequate maintenance by the City after the buildings became the property of the City but this was completely ignored until 1926. Appropriations have always been so limited that in all the years only current repairs could be made, with the single exception of a new roof for Astoria Branch. Last year (1926) $41,706.00 was requested to make the most urgent repairs. The engineers of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment agreed that this figure was right to put the buildings in good condition, but unfortunately, work that should have been done over a period of twenty years could not be done in one twentieth of that time and the best that could be procured in the 1927 budget was the comparatively small sum of $20,000.00 for the entire system. The deduction is clear that more funds should be allowedl in the 1 28 budget to complete those repairs which are aboslutely necessary to the Carnegie Buildings. In 1907, by legislative action, the library was made an independent corporation and the name became "The Queens Borough Public Library." A new contract was made with the City and the library practically reorganized throughout. Between the-years of 1907 and 1911 six more branches were added. In 1910, the Traveling Library Department was reorganized and a new policy adopted-that of opening stations in communities which were remote from the branches. These stations were housed in stores, schdols, offices, club houses, etc., wherever it was possible to obtain quarters for little or no rent. These small libraries were in charge of a trained librarian who opened the station two or three or more days each week according to the number of borrowers and the use of the library. The books were frequently changed in accordance with the need. The communities which were served were eager and grateful for such service as could be given. The circulation was large, reaching in 1922, 409,153, which- was more than 20% of the circulation of the entire system. Four of the stations, Woodside, Manor (now Woodhaven), Ridgewood and Corona were so successful that later they became branches. The growth of the department, owing to inadequate appropriations, has been very much limited and 1927 finds 23 stations on the list, though many applications for new stations have been received which cannot be granted. Administration headquarters were at first located in Long Island City but were moved to Jamaica in 1908; continually housed in rented quarters and often moved, the space for it has always been too small and the arrangement of the various departments inconvenient. The Trustees urged an appropriation for a central administration building, but many difficulties were encountered before the appropriations for the site and the building were granted by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. Title to the site on Parsons Boulevard and Shelton Avenue, Jamaica, has been vested in the City of New York, plans have been approved by the Trustees and the Art Commission and it is hoped that work will soon be under way. .18 ACT OF INCORPORATION (Laws of 1907. Chapter 164.) AN ACT to incorporate "The Queens Borough Public Library" and to permit libraries in the Borough of Queens of the City of New York, to convey their property thereto, and limiting and defining the powers thereof. Became a law, April 17, 1907, with the approval of the Governor. Passed, three-fifths being present. Accepted by the City. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows Section 1. The following persons, to wit: The Mayor, Comptroller and President of the Board of Aldermen of the City of New York, by virtue of their offices, and fifteen additional persons who, at the date of the passage of this Act, shall constitute the Board of Trustees of the "Queens Borough Library," a corporation incorporated by the Regents of the University of the State of New York, on March Nineteen, Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-six, as amended December Twenty-one, Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-nine, under the provisions of the laws of Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-two, Chapter Three Hundred and Seventy-eight, as amended by the Laws of Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-five, Chapter Eight Hundred and Fifty-nine, are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate under and by the name of "The Queens Borough Public Library," for the purpose of constructing and maintaining libraries and a free public library system in the Borough of Queens in the City of New York. Section 2. The "Queens Borough Library" is hereby declared to be merged into and become a part of "The Queens Borough Public Library," which corporation' shall have and exercise all the powers now possessed by the "Queens Borough Library," together with all powers now possessed by membership and library corporations under the general laws of the State of New York, and' such other laws of this state as may at any time be applicable thereto, excepting in so far as they may be inconsistent with the provisions hereof. It shall be capable of taking and holding for its uses and purposes, by purchase, gift', grant, devise or bequest, any property and estate, both, real and personal, without limit as to the value and amount thereof. Any devise or bequest contained in arly last will and testament, made to the "The Queens Borough Library," whether made before or after the date of this Act, shall not fail by reason of such conveyance, but,/the same shall inure to the' benefit of the corporation created by this Act. Section 3. The corporation shall organize by the adoption of by-laws and the election of officers. The by-laws shall provide for the terms of office of the Trustees of the corporation, excepting that the Mayor, Comptroller and President of the Board of Aldermfren of the City of New York,' shall at all times be members of the board ex-officio. The by-laws shall also provide for the filling of vacancies. The Trustees shall hereafter be chosen in such manner as the by-laws may direct, excepting that the selection of their successors by the corporation shall be subject to the approval of the Mayor of the City of New York. The corporation shall have power from time to time to make such rules and regulations as the Trustees thereof shall judge proper for the accomplishment of the objects of the corporation, for the election of officers, for prescribing their respective functions and the mode of discharging the same, for imposing and collecting dues, fines and contributions, for regulating the times and places of meetings, and generally for the management and direction of the affairs and concerns of the said corporation. The Trustees shall have absolute control of the expenditure of all moneys appropriated by the City of New York for the maintenance of libraries conducted, or to be conducted by the corporation in the Borotigh of Queens, and shall have the power to appoint and fix the salaries of such officers and emp)loyees as they shall deem necessary, who, unless employed under special contract, shall hold their offices during the pleasure of the Trustees, but no Trustee shall receive compensation as such, and the authority of the Trustees to so make and regulate expenditures for maintenance, and their right to select, employ, fix salaries and discharge employees, shall be absolute under this Act, any acts of the Legislature of the State of New York to the contrary notwithstanding. 19 Section 4. The corporation shall make and publish an annual report in detail of its proceedings and transactions for each year, including a full and detailed statement of its revenues and expenses in such form as may be approved by the Comptroller of the City of New York, and it shall furnish copies thereof to the Board of Estimate and Apportionment of the City of New York. Section 5. The said corporation is hereby declared to be a corporation with which the City of New York may contract for the construction and maintenance of free libraries within the meaning of Chapter Five Hundred and Eighty of the Laws of Nineteen Hundred and One, and the said corporation may, with the consent of Andrew Carnegie, or of his legal representatives and of the persons heretofore designated by him as his personal representatives for the construction of free libraries in the said Borough of Queens of the City of New York, and with the consent of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment of the City of New York, be substituted in any contract heretofore made between the said personal representatives of said Andrew Carnegie and the said City of New York for the construction of public libraries as successor to and in place of the persons named in such contract as personal representatives of said Andrew Carnegie to contract with said city; and thereupon the said corporation shall succeed to and possess all powers and be subject to all responsibilities theretofore appertaining to the said designated representatives of Andrew Carnegie, under and by virtue of any such contract. Section 6. The Board of Estimate and Apportionment of the said City of New York is further authorized and empowered to contract with the said corporation for the maintenance of the free public library system in the Borough of Queens of said city, including therein the maintenance of all of the free public library systems in the Borough of Queens that are now maintained in whole or in part by the public funds of the city. The amounts required for such maintenance shall constitute a city charge, to be provided for in the annual budget and tax levy of said city. The said City of New York is further authorized and empowered to transfer and convey to the said corporation, to be held and used by it for free library purposes in the said Borough of Queens, all books, furniture and other property owned and held by the said City of New York in the several free public libraries now maintained by it and administered by the Queens Borough Library. Section 7. In the event of the execution of a contract between the City of New York and the corporation hereby created for the control and direction of the free library system in the Borough of Queens, any sum or sums of money, or the unexpended portion thereof, appropriated prior to the passage of this Act by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment of the said City of New York, for the maintenance and support for the year Nineteen Hundred and Seven of free public libraries in the said Borough of Queens of said city, which libraries are now or have heretofore been administered by the Queens Borough Library in said city, are hereby declared to be applicable to the support of the free public library system to be controlled and directed by the corporation hereby created. The entire amount of any annual appropriation made by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment of the said City of New York for the conduct and maintenance of free public libraries in the Borough of Queens shall be disbursed and paid over from time to time to the'corporation hereby created by the Comptroller of-the said City of New York in such manner and subject to such accounting as the Comptroller shall direct. Section 8. Any corporation now or hereafter organized under the Laws of the State of New York, whether incorporated by general or special act, or by the Regents of the University of the State of New York, or otherwise, and maintaining or carrying on a library in the Borough of Queens, is hereby authorized and empowered to grant, convey, assign and transfer any or all the real and personal property of which it may be seized or possessed, to the corporation hereby created, upon such terms, conditions or limitations as may be agreed upon between the two corporations. Section 9. Upon the transfer and conveyance" by any corporation maintaining or carrying on a library in the Borough of Queens of its entire property and estate to the corporafion hereby created as hereinbefore provided, and upon the making and filing in the office of thle Clerk of the County of Queens of a certificate signed by a majority of the directors or trustees of such corporation and sworn to by the President or Vice-President and Secretary thereof, setting forth the facts of such transfer and conveyance, a copy of which certificate shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of New York, and in the case of a corporation created by act of the Regents of the University of the State of New York, in the office of the said Regents of the University, such corporation so transferring its entire property and estate shall be dissolved and its corporate existence terminated. Section 10. This act shall take effect immediately. 20 AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF NEW YORK and THE QUEENS BOROUGH PUBLIC LIBRARY Agreement between the City of New York and The Queens Borough Public Library providing that the obligations of the representatives of Andrew Carnegie be transferred to the Queens Borough Public Library and further that the City pay such sums toward the maintenance of The Queens Borough Public Library as were agreed upon in the 1901 Carnegie Agreement together with such additional sums as necessary for the Proper Maintenance of Libraries Under the Jurisdiction of The Queens Borough Public Library. 1907. THIS AGREEMENT, made and concluded this 18th day of October in the year One Thousand Nine Hundred and Seven, by and between THE CITY OF NEW YORK, by the BOARD OF ESTIMATE AND APPORTIONMENT of said City, party of the, first part, and "THE QUEENS BOROUGH PUBLIC LIBRARY," a corporation duly organized under Chapter One Hundred and Sixtyfour of the Laws of Nineteen Hundred and Seven of the State of New York, party of the secondipart, W1\ITNESSETH: WHEREAS, by an act of the Legislature of the State of New York, approved April 17, -1907, entitled "An Act to Incorporate 'The Queens Borough Public Library,' and to permit libraries in the Borough of Queens of the City of New York, to convey their property thereto, and limiting and defining the power thereof," being Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-four of the Laws of Nineteen Hundred and Seven, the corporation incorporated by Charters of the Regents of the University of the State of New York, granted on March Nineteenth, Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-six, and on December twenty-first, Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-nine, as "Queens Borough Library," was thereby merged into the corporation "The Queens Borough Public Library," party of the second part hereto, which corporation has thereby authority to exercise all the powers hitherto possessed by Queens' Borough Library under the Laws of the State of New York applicable thereto; and WHEREAS, the persons so constituting the corporation The Queens Borough Public Library have duly organized by the adoption of By-laws and the election of officers as provided in Section Three of said Act; and WHEREAS, said The Queens Borough Public Library i' declared, by Section Five ofrsaid Act, to be a corporation with which the City of New York may contract for the construction and maintenanceof free libraries within the meaning of Chapter Five Hundred and Eighty of the Laws of Nineteen Hundred and One, as amended, upon the conditions therein set forth; and WHEREAS, it is further provided by Section Six of said Act, that the Board of Estimate and Apportionment of the City of New York is authorized and empowered to contract with the party of the second part hereto for the maintenance of the free public library system in the Borough of Queens, including therein the maintenance of all free public libraries now existing in the said Borough which at the passage of said Act were maintained in whole or in part by the public funds of said City; and WHEREAS, The City of New York was by the same section authorized and empowered to transfer and convey to the party of the second part, to be held and used by it for free library purposes in the said Borough of Queens all books, furniture and other property owned and held by the said city in the several free public libraries now maintained by it and administered by the corporation of Queens Borough Library. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants herein, it is agreed between the said parties as follows: FIRST:. In the event that Andrew Carnegie, and Walter G. Frey, Walter L. Bogert, and Phillip Frank, the personal representatives of the said Andrew Carnegie, who on his behalf, became parties to an agreement heretofore entered into with the Board of Estimate and Apportionment of The City of New York, duly executed on or about September 11, 1901, under authority of Chapter Five 21 Hundred and Eighty of the Laws of Nineteen Hundred and One, as amended, consent thereto, said The Oueens Borough Public Library agrees to perform all the obligations of the said personal representatives of said Andrew Carnegie, as their successors under said agreement, and to carry out and to Sperform any and all contracts entered into by said parties under said agreement of September 11, 1901. SECOND: The said The Queens Borough Public Library agrees to administer the free public libraries now existing in the Borough of Queens, and upon the completion of the public branch libraries, to be erected pursuant to said agreement of September 11, 1901, it agrees to administer the same and apply to their maintenance the sums to be appropriated therefor by The City of New York, pursuant to the provisions of said agreement, and. of said Chapter Five Hundred and Eighty of the Laws of Nineteen Hundred and One, as amended, and it agrees to so administer and maintain the said libraries that they shall be open and accessible to the public at all reasonable hours and times, upon every, day of the week except Sundays, including all legal holidays, free of expense to the persons resorting thereto for reference and for taking out of books, subject to such reasonable control and regulations as The Queens Borough Public Library, party of the second part, may from time to time establish for general convenience, and such libraries may be open in whole or in part on Sundays in such manner and during such hours as may be from time to time agreed upon between the said Board of Estimate and Apportionment and The Queens Borough Public Library. Such free use being subject to such reasonable fines and penalties as may be imposed by said The Queens Borough Public 'Library for violation of its rules and regulations. THIRD: The City of New York, party of the first part, hereby agrees that in addition to the amount it is obligated to appropriate and pay under the agreement of September 11, 1901, above referred to, and pursuant to the provisions of the Act, Chapter Five Hundred and Eighty of lthe Laws of Nineteen H-undred and One, as amended, it will appropriate'and pay for the maintenance and support of said The Queens Borough Public Library such sums as may be requisite for the proper maintenance of the libraries under its jurisdiction, such amounts to constitute a City charge and to be provided for in the annual Budget and tax levy of said City. It is, however, agreed that the entire amount of the annual appropriations as made by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment for the conduct and maintenance of free public libraries in the Borough of Queens, shall be disbursed and paid by the Comptroller to The Queens Borough Public Library upon submission to him of a statement of obligations incurred or of moneys expended for the use and purposes of said free library system; provided, however, that on and after December 31st, 1907, onetwelfth of the amount appropriated for the yearly salaries shall be paid over by said Comptroller to 'The Queens Borough Public Library, on the last day of each month, and upon the payment of said obligations by The Queens Borough Public Library proper vouchers and accounts shall be returned to the Comptroller of the City of New York for such expenditures. Separate accounts shall also be filed with the Comptroller showing amount of fines and receipts for lost books received, and disbursements made therefrom, in form to be duly approved by the Comptroller. FOURTH: Upon the execution of this contract the free public libraries of the Borough of Queens heretofore existing and administered by the corporation known as "Queens Borough Library," shall, as to their maintenance and administration, be and they hereby are devolved upon the said The Queens Borough Public Library, and the said corporation the party of the second part, shall receive for the purpose of such maintenance and administration, any unexpended balances of moneys heretofore appropriated for Queens Borough Library, said unexpended balance for "Salaries" to be paid over by the Comptroller in equal monthly payments during the remainder of the year 1907. Accounting for all expenditures when made shall be rendered to the Comptroller in the same manner as provided in Section Three of this agreement. FIFTH: The said City of New York hereby transfers and conveys to The Queens Borough Public Library, to be held and used by it for free library purposes in the said Borough of Queens, all books, furniture and other property owned and held by the said City of New York in the several free public libraries now maintained by it and administered by The Queens Borough Library. It is, however, agreed that the title to the library property in said Borough of Queens heretofore vested in the City as part of said free library system, shall remain in said City, and all books and other personal property hereafter purchased by said The Queens Borough Public Library out of moneys 22 appropriated by said City for the maintenance of said free library system, shall be and remain the property of the City and shall be so marked or identified and designated. It is understood, however, and agreed that The Oueens Borough Public Library may dispose of mutilated and worn-out books, papers and pamphlets and of duplicates and other books not required, but it will apply any and all moneys received therefor to the purchase of other books, papers and pamphlets to be used in said free library system, and it will account therefor to the Comptroller of the City. SIXTH: The Oueens Borough Public Library will continue to occupy the premises now under lease by the City for library purposes and previously occupied by the Oueens Borough Library until the expiration of said leases; but thereafter the party of, the second part shall make all such leases upon terms satisfactory to it, and the rentals so agreed to be paid shall be considered a part of the. cost of maintenance of said libraries to be provided for in the same manner as other expenses of maintenance. The -party of the second part shall not be required upon order of any city departments to erect fire escapes or place water meters in the library buildings, or make any other repairs or alterations unless special appropriation therefor shall be made by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. SEVENTH: The party of the first part hereto agrees to cause to be made at the expense of the City of New York, such repairs or restorations as may be reasonably necessary from time to time, in order to keep the library buildings in proper condition, and to make good any damage to the buildings or to their contents by fire, or otherwise; and to provide the original stock of books for any library building erected under the gift of Andrew Carnegie where no stock of books exists, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 296 of the Laws of 1905. EIGHTH: It is further understood that this agreement may be from time to time altered or modified as may be agreed upon in writing between the.parties hereto, and that in so far as The Queens Borough Public Library, party of the second part, may be made the successors of the said personal representatives of Andrew Carnegie in the agreement dated September 11, 1901, this agreement is subject to such changes and modifications as it is provided in said agreement may be made by the parties thereto, subject to the approval of said Andrew Carnegie. IN WITNESS WHEREOF the party of the first part has caused this agreement to be executed by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment of The City of New York, pursuant to a resolution adopted at a meeting of said Board of Estimate and Apportionment, held on the 18th day of October, 1907, and the party of the second part has hereunto caused its seal to be affixed and the execution thereof to be attested by its officers, the 18th day of October, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Seven. THE CITY OF NEW YORK, by the BOARD OF ESTIMATE AND APPORTIONMENT, GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Mayor. H. A. METZ, Comptroller. P. F. McGowAN, Pres., Board of Aldermen. Jo-N F. AH-EARN, Pres., Borough of Manhattan. BIRD S. COLER, Pres., Borough of Brooklyn. Louis F. HAFFEN, Pres., Borough of the Bronx. JOSEPH BERMEL, Pres., Borough of Queens. GEORGE CROAMWELL, Pres., Borough of Richmond. THE QUEENS BOROUGH PUBLIC LIBRARY, By JOHN KIRK, President. (Corporate Seal.) Attest: ALFRED I-I. SCHLESINGEIt, Secretary. This contract is approved as to form. JoHN L. O'BRIEN, Assistant Corporation Counsel. 23 SEGREGATED BUDGETS The first segregated budget for library purposes was set up in 1909. The appropriations for the libraries were scheduled and each line in the budget given a separate code. Six titles were used for each library. Subsequently the number of titles and codes used in setting up the appropriations for The New York, Brooklyn and Queens Borough Public Libraries was increased. In 1912, 1913 and 1914 functional subdivisions were introduced-into the budget. The question was raised as to whether or not the Board of Estimate and Apportionment had the right under the provisions of the various contracts with the several libraries to segregate the library appropriations as was done in the case of regular city departments. The matter was referred to the Corporation Counsel in 1914. HE REN-T DERED AN OPINION TO THE EFFECT THAT THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE AND APPORTIONMENT W"VAS NOT PERMITTED UNDER THE PRO-VISIONS OF THE VARIOUS CON-- TRACTS WVITH THE SEVERAL LIBRARY SYSTEMS TO SEGREGATE THEIR ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS. IN 1915 THE APPROPRIATIONS TO THE NEW~ YORK, BROOKLYN AND QUEENS BOROUGH PUBLIC LIBRAR] ES 'WERE GRANTED IN BULK TO, EACH LIBRARY. OPINION OF THE CORPORATION COUNSEL MONEYS MUST BE PAID AS REQUESTED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WHEN THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT DOES NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT APPROPRIATED AND PROPER VOUCHERS IN FORMS APPROVED BY THE COMPTROLLER ARE SUBMITTED, EVEN WHEN SUCH REQUESTS DISREGARD THE BUDGET SEGREGATIONS. CITY OF NEW YORK Law Department Office of the Co:poration Counsel Ho-N. WVILLIAM A. PRENDERGAST, Comptroller. New York, September 17, 1914. Sir: I am in receipt of the following communication dated April 30, 1914, and signed by Charles S. Hervey, Deputy Comptroller: "Under date of March 13th, 1914, you rendered an opinion concerning The Brooklyn Public Library, in response to' a communication from the Comptroller, of which the following is a copy: 'I ask to be advised whether the Comptroller, in the audit of payments made to the Trustees of The New York, The Bro'oklyn or The Queens Borough Libraries, may legally enforce the use of city money for salaries and wages for those libraries as provided in the segregated form of the City Budget for 1913, or whether the moneys must be paid as requisitioned for by the respective Boards of Trustees when those requisitions disregard the Budget segregations. 'For your information in connection with this inquiry, I transmit herewith copy of the Budget for 1913 and copies of the contracts made by the City with the three Boards of Trustees. 'The inquiry is made because two of the library boards in payrolls submitted to the Department of Finance disregarde-l the Budget salary and wages schedules for their respective organization. All of the library boards, however, appear to conform to the appropriation segregations for other than salary and wages purposes.' "In the said opiinion you advise that moneys must be paid as requisitioned by the Board of Trustees of the Library, when the aggregate does not exceed the amount appropriated and proper vouchers, in forms approved by you, are submitted, even when those requisitions disregard the Budget segregations. ";It appears that your opinion of March 13th, relates to The Brooklyn Public Library only. Considering the same phases of the question as were considered in regard to Brooklyn, will you please advise me along similar lines regarding the powers of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment in respect to the administration of moneys appropriated for The New York Public L~ibrary and The Queens Borough Public Library." The opinion dated March 13th, 1914, dealt' with the contractual relations existing between the City and The Brooklyn Public Library only, for the reason that subsequent to the receipt of your letter requesting advice this offide was informed that The New York Public Library and The Queens 24 Borough Library were conforming to the schedules for salaries and wages as set forth in the Budget. I will now, however, as requested, consider the city's relations to the two last mentioned libraries. On December 8, 1897, the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of The City of New York, acting through the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, executed a contract with The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations. This agreement relates to the new library building to be erected at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, oil the site formerly occupied by the reservoir and provides, among other things, that The New York Public Library shall have the right to occupy such building as long as it continues to maintain it as a public library and reading room. Paragraph "Second" provides that the City shall on reasonable demand at all times maintain and keep the building in repair. Paragraph "Seventh" stipulates that the library "shaill appoint, direct, control and remove all persons employed within said building in and about the care of the building and the library and collections therein contained;. Paragraph "Eighth" appears in this form: "The city shall annually provide funds for the maintenance and repair of the building and the City authorities or Department of Public Parks, acting tinder its direction, shall at all times provide and care for the roads, walks, fences, grading and general care of the grounds and appurtenances attached thereto. The City in addition shall at all times furnish a supply of water and adequate police patrol and protection. With the limitations already defined, the party of the second part shall exercise entire direction and management over all the affairs of the library building and the books, collections and appurtenances." The only financial burden assumed.by the city in this agreement is the obligation to provide funds for the maintenance and repair of the building, and to furnish a supply of water and adequate police patrol and protection. On July 17, 1901, the city acting through the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, executed another agreement with The New York Public Library. This contract relates to the erection and maintenance of certain branch libraries which were to be brought into existence through gifts from Andrew Carnegie. The essence of this agreement is that the city shall provide the sites, Mr. Carnegie shall provide money for constructing and equipping the buildings, and the city shall provide for their maintenance, Paragraph "Third" provides that The New York Public Library shall complete these branch library buildings as soon as possible "and thereafter to conduct and carry on in the same respectively with funds to be provided by the party of the first part (the city) as hereinafter provided, free public libraries for circulation with reading rooms, and to devote the same to the use of the public." Paragraph "Fourth" provides: "The party of the first part (the City) further agrees adequately to provide for maintenance of the free public branch libraries to be erected pursuant to this agreement and of travelling libraries in said City, and to that end to provide in each year in the annual budget and tax levy of said city a sum not less than ten per centum of the amount expended by said Andrew Carnegie under the provisions of said Act, which sum shall be expended for the maintenance of the branch libraries to be hereafter constructed pursuant to this contract, which maintenance shall be provided for, said libraries to be hereafter constructed as rapidly as the same are obtained;. and provided further that the obligation hereby assumed by the party of the first part to provide for such maintenance, a sum not less than ten per centum of the amount so expended by said Andrew Carnegie shall not be taken to limit the right of said Board of Estimate and Apportionment to appropriate for such maintenance any larger sum if in its discretion additional appropriation should be required." Paragraph "Seventh" provides: S..: the party of the second party (the library) however, shall appoint, direct, control and remove all persons employed within the said buildings, respectively, and in the care of the same; all fines to be exacted from any person or persons shall be retained by the party of the second part applied to the business of circulation and duly accounted for in its accounts. All balances of annual appropriations made by the party of the first part and not duly expended by the party of the second part for the maintenance of such libraries during the calendar years for which such appropriations shall have been made, shall be accounted for and paid by the said party of the second part to the Comptroller of The City of New York to be deposited to the credit of the General Fund for the reduction of taxation within sixty days after the expiration of each of such calendar years." 25 By paragraph "Eighth" the city bound itself, in addition to the provision for maintenance heretofore provided for, annually to provide funds for the repair of flie"several buildings located upon sites owned by the city and to furnish a supply of water. That paragraph then continues iii this language: "With the limitations already defined the party of the second part (the library) shall exercise protection and management over the affairs of the several library buildings and the books, collections and appurtenances." It follows that the Board of Trustees of The New York Public Library being clothed with authority under its contract with the City to "direct and control" persons employed within the branch libraries, and to "exercise protection and management over the affairs of the several library buildings" may expend appropriations made to it by the City for salaries and wages in such a manner as the Trustees may decide to be best suited to that purpose. Moneys must be paid by the Comptroller on proper vouchers for salaries and wages when requisitioned by the Board of Trustees even when those requisitions disregard the Budget segregations. Chapter 164 of the Laws of 1907, incorporated The Queens Borough Public Library and merged in the corporation thus created the Queens Borough Library. Section 3 of that Act provides: "The Trustees shall have absolute control of. the expenditure of all moneys appropriated by the City of New York for the maintenance of libraries conducted or to be conducted by the corporation in the. Borough of Queens, and shall have the power to appoint and fix the salaries of such officers and employees as they shall deem necessary, who, unless employed under special contract, shall hold their offices during the pleasure of the Trustees; but no Trustee shall receive compensation as such, and the authority of the Trustees to so make and regulate expenditures for maintenance and their right to select, employ, fix salaries and discharge employees shall be absolute under this Act, any acts under the Legislature of the State of New York to the contrary notwithstanding" This Act took effect April 17, 1907, and on October 18, 1907, the City, acting through the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, entered into a contract with The Queens Borough Public Library. The "Third" paragraph thereof provides: "That the City, in addition of the amount which it is obligated to pay under the agreement of September 11, 1901, (contract between the Board of Estimate and Apportionment and the agents of Andrew Carnegie), will appropriate and pay for the maintenance and support of The Queens Boro'ugh Public Library such sums as may be requisite for the proper maintenance of the libraries under its jurisdiction, such amounts to constitute a City charge and to be provided for in the annual budget and tax levy of said City." Paragraph "Third" contains this additional stipulation: "It is however agreed that the entire amount of the annual appropriations as made by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment for the conduct and maintenance of which free public libraries in the Borough of Queens, shall be disbursed and paid by the Comptroller to The Queens Borough Public Library upon submission to him of a statement of obligations incurred or ot moneys expended for the use and purposes of said free library system; provided, however, that on and after December 31, 1907, one twelfth of the amount appropriated for the yearly salaries shall be paid over by said Comptroller to The Queens Borough Public Library on the last day of each month, and upon the payment of said obligations by The Queens Borough Public Library proper vouchers and accounts shall be returned to the Comptroller of The City of New York for such expenditures." Both in Section 3, Chapter 164 of the Laws of 1907 and in paragraph "Third" of the agreement dated October 18, 1907, the broadest power is granted to the Trustees of the library to expend moneys within the appropriations granted, foir salaries and wages of its employees and to fix such salaries and wages within such appropriation. I have been furnished with a copy of a resolution adopted by the Trustees of The Queens Borough Public Library on October 13, 1911, whereby the Trustees assumed to waive for the year 1912, the power to fix salaries and wages, and, so far as I have been able to discover, that waiver applied only to the year 1912. Unless the Board of Trustees has since abdicated'its powers under the statute and the contract, moneys for salaries and wages must be paid as requisitioned for, even when those requisitions disregard the Budget segregations. Respectfully yours, (Signed) FRANK L. POLK, Corporation Counsel. Library Buildings Central Oranches 'Rented Quarters 28 CENTRAL LIBRARY BUILDING Authorized by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment 2larch 24th, 1927. title vested in the City on November 3rd, 1926. 14 -Collection having a commodious reading room and a stack room With a capacity of over 60,000 volumes. Adjoining the Main Reading Room will be a large and comfortable Periodical Room for the convenience of readers. The mezzanine floor will have an Assembly Room seating about 150 which may be used as a class room for the Library Training School and as a meeting place for members of the staff; the Cataloging Department will be in the north wing of this floor. The bo rowth It itocni 00qaeftadwlbcosut osoefrhgr fce brick with ston hAckR l R ncor i i R A strt Comite Rom TecleIv c e sho gra stocstri ad b r r Authorization for coipletion of the building $ As,,000.00. The site is on the southp est corner of Palsons Boulevard and Shelton AM enue, Jamaica, and as beeT ahfro owed iy both the Board of Aldermen aind the a oard of Estimate and Apportionment, and The Board of Trustees selected as architects gh Onessrs. hi. F. Schirmer and l. th. Schidt R rhich selection havgas appromoied sy the Boadd of Estimate and Apportitapent. The architects have prepared plans; hicng the Main R es of the Board of Trustees, and c rich are about to be subioritted to then The building has been designed to meet the present requireients and to pro1ide for future clsrooo. ft is to contain br000 square feet and asill be constructed of stone for the ground afor, and lgg e plans as tile drain tenrill povide accommodations for the.ain Reading and Stack Rooms, 29 MAIN READING ROOM The second or top floor of the building will be devoted entirely to proper accommodations for the Administration Department and the Board of Trustees. While the exterior of the building and the main reading rooms will be monumental in design and finish, the offices and work rooms will be of office type. The building is so planned that all rooms and departments are afforded perfect natural lighting. The present plans are so drawn that when the necessity arises the building can be changed from the present "L" shaped design to that of a hollow square; the present structure will be erected on Shelton Avenue and Parsons Boulevard; later the rear and south wings can be built and not in any way disturb the original structure for the present plans are drawn with this eventuality in mind. This future development will provide a hexagonal central reading or exhibition room and a reading room in the rear which will be a counterpart of the main reading room at the front and will also provide additional space for book stacks and for the expansion of the several activities in the departments for which the building as at present designed is not adequate. Immediately in the rear of the present site there is a parcel of ground that the Board of Trustees are anxious to have the City acquire. It could now be purchased for a nominal sum and would round out the site and provide for the present and future needs of the Central Building. It is estimated that $1,250,000.00 will cover the cost of the entire project for site and building. A FEW LIBRARY BUILDING COSTS City Popul Detroit.......................... 1 Los Angeles........................... San Francisco.......................... Cincinnati............................. Portland............................... Indianapolis........................... *Seattle................................ Cleveland.............................. Q ueens....................... * Seattle is making plans for an extensive addition. Latest ation Estimate,290,000,148,000 706,000 540,000 380,000 367,000 354,367 960,000 850,000 Date Library Erected 1921 1926 1916 1926 1913 1917 1906 1926 As Proposed Cost of Library Building $2,775,000 2,300,000 1,152,000 2,500,000 450,000 1,000,000 348,734 4,000,000 500,000 30 COST OF SITE, BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT OF'FAR ROCKAWAY BRANCH AND HOW PROPERTY WAS ACQUIRED The site for the Far Rockaway Branch was the property of The City of New York, the use of which for library purposes was approved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment by resolution adopted December 5, 1902. Approved by the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, December 17, 1902. Premises approved as a site for building erected under the Carnegie gift by resolution of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, December 5, 1902. Property turned over December 17, 1902. Building erected and opened to the public, August 18, 1904. Grantor, Board of Education, Free School District No. 18, Town of Hempstead. Grantee, the Village of Far Rockaway. Consideration, $18,000. Date of Conveyance, March 29, 1897. Liber 1163, page 29. The portion assigned to the Far Rockaway Branch is about one-half of the land conveyed by above deed, the remainder being assigned to the Fire Department and site upon which a Municipal Court is located. Cost of site (apportioned)................................... $ 9,000.00 Cost of building and equipment............................... 29,552.96 Total cost of site, building and equipment.......................... $38,552.96 31 JAMAICA, NEW YORK. At a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Queens Borough Public Library held at Jamaica on Thursday, April 15, 1926, the following action was taken: (51) RESOLVED, That the Comptroller, the Hon. Charles W. Berry, be respectfully requested to authorize and approve an apprasial by the experts of his office of the property now occupied by the Far Rockaway Branch Library on the notheast corner of Central and Mott Avenues, Far Rockaway, L. I., and advise this Board of the appraised valuation. CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SCharles W. Berry, Comptroller., May 28, 1926. MR. CHARLES BRUCKER, Secretary, The Queens Borough Public Library, Jamaica, N. Y. Dear Sir:" With reference to the resolution of the Board of Trustees of -the Queens Borough Public Library, adopted on April 15, 1926, requesting an appraisal of property occupied by the Far Rockaway Branch Library, on the northeast corner of Central and Mott Avenues, Far Rockaway, Long Island, please be informed that in the opinion of the Appraiser of Real Estate of this Department, the property is worth: Land (150' x 87.89').............................. $450,000 Building, Approximately....................20,000 TOTAL.................................... $470,000 Yours very truly, (Signed). CHARLES W. BERRY, Comptroller. Jamaica, New York. At a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of The Queens Borough Public Library held at Jamaica, New York, on Thursday, February 17th, 1927, at 8:00 p. m., the following action was taken: (18) RESOLVED, That the Comptroller, the Honorable Charles W. Berry, be respectfully requested to authorize and approve an appraisal by the experts of his office of the property now occupied by the Flushing Branch Library on Jamaica and Jaggar Aves., Flushing, Borough of Queens, and advise this Board of the appraised valuation. CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE CHARLES W. BERRY Comptroller March 10, 1927. MR. CHARLES BRUCKER, Secretary, The Queens Borough Public Library, Jamaica, N. Y. Dear Sir: In further reply to your letter of March 4th I am giving you the opinion of our Real Estate Division on the value of the Library property. Yours very truly, CWB:JB (Signed) CHARLES W. BERRY, Comptroller. INCLOSURE "On my visit to the City-owned property located at Jamaica Avenue and Jaggar Street, Flushing, Borough of Queens, I observed that the above property, which is used for public library purposes, is situated on a triangular plot of land, "pproximately 330.25 feet on Jamaica Avenue (Kissena Road) 329 feet on Jaggar Avenue (Jaggar Street), with a rear dimension of approximately 200 feet, on which there is a one-story fireproof library building (approximately 75 feet by 30 feet) in excellent condition. The above property is located in the centre of Flushing's busiest business district and where, at the present time there is considerable activity in the real estate market, the result of the anticipated growth of this district's business future. A parcel of land 75' x 100' and located a distance.of less than 300' from the library property was sold recently by the Halleran Agency of Flushing to the Paramount Picture Corporation for $400,000. The property immediately adjoining the City's plot in the rear is held at $2,500 a running foot. In my opinion the above city-owned property should bring at least $300,000 if sold in open market." 32 PROPOSED RIDGEWOOD BRANCH BUILDING An appropriation of $35,000.00 was made in May, 1921, for the purchase of a site for the Ridgewood Branch Library Building and in December, 1921, $75,000.00 was appropriated for the building. I~i. is.he first building for branch library purposes to be authorized from City Funds. There was a lengthy controversy over the location, but a plot on the south side of Madison Street between Forest and Fairview Avenues was finally approved and after a thorough consideration of the plans, the work is about to be started. The structure as planned is to be constructed of red brick with terra cotta trim and will be about 80 x 50 feet. The main floor will contain the reading room for adults, reference collection, librarian's office and staff room. The children's room will be on the ground floor with a separate entrance. On this same level will be a room for periodicals and an auditorium seating about 150. This room can be divided by mcan~s c.f collapsible partitions into three rooms for story hours, club meetings and similar purposes. It is expected that the building will be ready for occupancy in the early part of 1928. TABULATION OF BIDS RECEIVED ON RIDGEWOOD BUILDING, June 23, 1927 Contract 1, General Construction: \Viglan Building Co.......... Thomas Drysdale Inc............ The English Construction Co. Balaban-Gordon Co............ Theo. L. Rubsamen............ Contract 3, Plumbing Work: Thomas E. O'Brien............. Zimmermann Brothers.......... Theo. L. Rubsamen............ Contract 2, Heating Work: $84,890.00 Kenning-Boyne Co............. $3,489.00 88,577.00 H. Sand & Co................ 3,690.00 88,700.00 Astoria Heating Co............. 3,990.00 90,650.00 IMViller & Brady Inc............. 4,000.00 99,850.00 Baerenklau & Co............ 4,010.00 Theo. L. Rubsamen............ 4,875.00 Contract 4, Electric Work but not Lighting Fixture $3,586.00 Theo. L. Rubsamen............ $1,215.00 3,597.00 Equitable Electric Co............ 1,390.00 4,235.00 Harold P. Hamilton............. 1,396.00 Pyramid Electric Co............. 1,725.00 Summary of Low Bids Contract 1 W\'iglan Building Co................................................ Co,ntract 2 Kenning-Boyne Co.............................................. Contract 3 Thom as E. O 'Brien..................................................... Contract 4 Theo. L. Rubsamen................................................ Total.......................... $84,890.00 3,489.00 3,586.00 1,215.00 $93,180.00 .33 RENTALS The question is sometimes raised, "Why does The Queens Borough Public. Library need more rent than is appropriated for the other two library systems?" And this explanation will perhaps be enlightening. Reference again is made to the Carnegie gift of which the major portion went to New York and Brooklyn. For the sake of clarifying, we repeat New York received 37 Buildinags Brooklyn received 21, Buildings QUEENS RECEIVED ONLY 7 BUILDINGS consequently, appropriations for rents are more needed in Queens than in the other two systems. There is no other alternative than to house the balance of the branches in rented quarters. This perhaps, is as it should'be in a Borough which is so rapidly developing and is changing to such an extent that the centers of population do not long remain the same. Yet this very growth causes such increases in the rentals that the Library Administration is constantly open to criticism, as advances in real estate values with the resultant increase in taxes and assessments are raising rents in Oueens to a terrifying degree. For example; in 1918 the Administration Department, including the Extension Divisidn and Jamaica Branch, was housed in the same three story and basement building. The rent paid was $3,200 per annum. About 1920 this property was sold for $77,000 and the rent increased. Again it was sold.- The ground is now valued at $1,000,000 and a building costing upwards of $1,000,000 stands on thesite. It is reasonable to suppose that at such greatly increased valuation, it could not then be rented for $3,200 and the library, of course, was compelled to move before the new building was erected. I-Housed as it now is, the Administration in one building and the Jamaica Branch, Extension Division and Reference Department in another, the rentals in 1927 total $21,500. Another example is the Queens Village Branch. Un'til 1925 this branch occupied a small store at $1,200 per year. In 1927 the circulation owing to the great influx of population in that section had grown so large that the quarters were entirely too small and it was necessary to get a larger place, for which the library has to pay $3,000 per annum. That the removal was justified is evidenced by the circulation given as follows: QUEENS VILLAGE BRANCH CIRCULATION First 5 m onths, 1924.................................16,333 First 5 m onths, 1926............................................. 28,711 First 5 month,, 1927......................................... 34,487 Still another instance is cited in the yearly report of the Chief of the Extension Division, "St. Albans station had outgrown the quarters which it had occupied for several years. The-wagon--buildingf purchased by the Mother's Club of' P. S. 36, had been made into a very attractive library room and rented to us for the ridiculously small sum of $72 per year. They also furnished light, heat, and janitor service for this amount. The wagon had been inadequate and the people of the growing town felt that better library facilities were urgently needed..A nice little store on Mexico Avenue could be secured and since the library could not pay the $35 per month ($420 per annum) which was required, various organizations and clubs offered to pay'the rent' for one year. They collected $245 towards the amount needed and sent it to the library, promising to, pay the balance by May 1st, 1927. To 34 such depths of poverty have we fallen!! These good citizens pay taxes just the same as the people of the larger communities and then must pay again or go without a library." PICTURE OF ST. ALBANS LUNCH WAGON AT RENTAL OF SIX DOLLARS PER MONTH PHOTOGRAPH OF CHECK SENT BY CITIZENS OF ST. ALBANS FOR PAYMENT OF RENT FOR NEW PREMISES. O~tD~l 0 LBAL Ima LIARS &ST ARzwp$,n uW 77 fl -.ýýTAO wý,? 8,:- 4tN ~44" A-1 cn-J, 2i; tWZC A<, Mom IPark during the earh lpait of the year was located in a small store at a rental of $480. In the budget for l927,it xwas considered that this sum would be enough but the increased circulation w\as- so laroe that the ncex place was g)reatly, cruxvcled. Children were obhaged to stand ntesdwl in line -\vaitinor for a chance to entei the hibrarv to get a book. The owner suggested (after the budget a a ta e be ea t r e r d opportuni wa mde tatth rombecilage ad heTrstesgrspd heoporuity.A e leain 35 were completed, the space was double what it had formerly been and the rent was increased to $720. The Trustees have always been ready to take advantage of free or almost free rentals, but these unusual privileges are not pqrpetual. They are often used as a lead to the procurement of a rental. No one gives the City of New York "something for nothing" for a lengthy period. When the library accepts free or almost free quarters, it is at the mercy of the donors and must often make unbusinesslike concessions as to hours of opening and accept all sort of conditions such as dirt, cold and poor light. Therefore a rental, even if small, protects the library in some degree against such possibilities. Sometimes the layman, not understanding the conditions of the establishment or removal of a station or some other existing situation, considers that the Library Trustees are using poor judgment in their administration. It may have been a grave errorfor the Board to render library service.under such conditions as have been brought to the attention of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment when the Extension Division (Traveling Department) rentals were under discussion. A survey of the department has been made and a letter forthwith sent to the;Director by the Head of the Extension Division, an excerpt of which is included for your information. "At the meeting of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment held on March 21, 1927, when the matter of increased rentals for the Extension Division was under discussion, the fact that stations were located in unsuitable places was brought to the attention of the Board. The Mayor criticised severely the policy of having a station housed in a candy store and pointedly referred to the administration that made such things possible. ', "I have always known that more undesirable quarters could scarcely be had than those occupied in Maspeth, Middle Village, Elmhurst Manor and some other sections. There is little excuse for such an unfortunate situation but there is a REASON. First last and always, the REASON was and is LACK OF APPROPRIATION TO PAY PROPER RENTALS. "In the light of present day ways and means, we agree that no longer can a library continue to bear the disgrace of pretending to serve the public in such fashion as the Traveling Department has done for the sixteen years of its existence. However, considering the limited equipment with which we have been compelled to work, we feel that we have given the best service possible to the people of Queens Borough. To explain these seemingly paradoxical remarks, I will give a few incidents of the history of the department and its desperate struggles to arrive at a dignified position in The Queens Borough Public Library. "In 1909, the department was little more than a name having a collection of 3,600 volumes, a Librarianin-charge, one small 12 x 12 room at headquarters and no equipment except a desk, chair and a few shelves in the afore mentioned small room. "In January, 1910, Miss Elizabeth Renninger was appointed Chief of the Department. Miss Renninger was allowed one assistant, Miss Doughty, and in March another, myself. Quarters were offered gratis for stations at Brooklyn Manor and Springfield and small collections of about 500 volumes each were sent to these stations. "I took charge of Brooklyn Manor Station and still have a vivid memory of the days when our charging tray was a pasteboard shoe box, our chair a camp-stool and our few books were on wobbly home-made shelves, but we had an eager, grateful public. So thankful indeed were these people that as fast as the books could be bought, borrowed-or begged, a, like service was extended to the, people in other parts of the Borough. On many occasions, the Civic Associations and Mothers' Clubs helped to obtain better quarters or in some instances paid all or part of the rent. "The Brooklyn Manor Station developed into a Branch (now Woodhaven), circulation for 1926-133,887. "Records in the files will prove that the Chief of the Department was continually urging a larger appropriation for proper rentals ($6-$10 per month was ridiculous even 14 years ago), but her every move was blocked because-MONEY WAS HARD TO GET FROM THE CITY. Requests for books, rentals, supplies and an adequate number of assistants were constantly refused, consequently stations continued to be housed in candy stores, stationery and drug-stores, club-rooms and churches. At one time, one was actually located in the back room of a shoe store and still another in a cigar store. Anywhere, if it were free, or very cheap rent." As a means of reducing rent appropriations, the Board of Trustees suggests that the co-operation of the Board of Education be enlisted for the placing of branch, sub-branch or station library rooms in new school buildings in neighborhoods not now supplied with library service. These library rooms should be for community use and should be provided with outside entrances so that they may be used not only during but outside school hours. In the building program of the Board of Education, 19 new schools are scheduled to be erected within the next 3 years. Library and school authorities could co-operate more closely and correlate the development of the two systems for a minimum expenditure. 36 RENTAL DEFICITS- (as of June 1st, 1927) Reference Department (Jainaica)..................................................... $2,.500.00 Forest Hills..........................................a..............................240.00 Morris Park Sub-branch............................................................ 250.00 St. Albans.......................................................................... 348.00 Northern Boulevard Sub-branch....................................................... 700.00 Jackson Heights..... 0.. 0... 0.....................................................775.00 Middle Village Sub-branch..................................................... 402.50 Maspeth........................................................................ 25 9.00 $5,474.50 Unused Appropriation f or Elmhurst Manor.......................................... 54.00 NET DEFICIT...................... $5,420.50 ANNUAL RENTALS OF SUB-BRANCHES AND STATIONS South Ozone Pa-rk................................................................$ 300.00 R~osedale............................ o................... a.......................... 72.00 Dunton......................................................................... o**,, 120.00 iDouglaston....................................................................... 120.00 Springfield.......................................................................72.00 -13 roadway- Flushiing........................................... 120.00 Hollis Sub-branch................................................................... 900.00 Glendale................................................. a........................1,800.-00 STATIONS OR COLLECTIONS IN FREE QUARTERS 37 BRANCH LIBRARIES OF THE SYSTEM *Astoria, Main and Woolsey Streets, Long Island City (Opened February 28, 1899) Bayside, Elsie Place, Bayside (Opened June 4, 1906) Broadway, 513 Jamaica Avenue, Long Island City (Opened June'20, 1906) Corona, 102-47 43rd Avenue, Corona (Opened May 27, 1911) *Elmhurst, Broadway and Maurice Avenues, Elmhurst (Opened March 31, 1906) *Far Rockaway, Central and Mott Avenues, Far Rockaway (Opened August 19, 1904) *Flushing, Jamaica and Jaggar Avenues, Flushing (Consolidated January 1, 1902) Grandview, Grandview and Forest Avenues, Ridgewood (Opened July 5, 1917) Jamaica, 153-01 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica (Opened November 1, 1906) Nelson, 69 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City (Opened April, 1896) Ozone Park, Woodhaven Boulevard and Kimball Avenue, Ozone Park (Consolidated October 1, 1900) *Poppenhusen, 13th Street and First Avenue, College Point (Consolidated June 1, 1903) Queens Village, Deveer Street and Jamaica Avenue, Queens Village (Consolidated January 1, 1901) *Richmond Hill, Hillside Avenue, Richmond Hill (Consolidated January 1, 1901) Ridgewood, 754. Seneca Avenue, Ridgewood (Opened March 18, 1911) Seaside, Boulevard and Oceanus Avenue, Rockaway Beach (Opened March 2, 1908) Steinway, 441 Potter Avenue, Long Island City (Opened June 1, 1897) Whitestone, 30 Eighth Avenue, Whitestone (Opened May 1, 1907) *WVoodhaven, Forest Parkway, Woodhaven (Opened March 4, 1911) Woodside, Roosevelt Avenue and 58th Street, Woodside (Opened June 18, 1910) * Occupy Carnegie Buildings. Circulation and Reference Needs /Idult books Children's books Expansion of Extension Division 'Development of 'Reference 'Depariment 40 SURVEY OF ADULT BOOK EQUIPMENT The Queens Borough Public Library is situated in the largest of the five boroughs of Greater New York which supports a population of approximately 1,000,000 people, (714,647, state census of 1925). The book equipment of the library is 298,988 volumes (Jan. 1, 1927). The library has, then, at this time, 2-5ths of a book to offer each resident of Queens Borough. In 1920 there were 287,260 books in the library and as the population of the Borough was 469,042 we had, at that time, 3-5ths of a book for every inhabitant. In other words, seven years ago every resident of Queens could have a bigger piece of a book than he can have at present. The following is a list of building construction operations in Queens Borough, Jan. 1-Nov. 30, 1926, with all that it implies of growth in population and community activities: 11,542 frame dwellings (for 12,234 families) 2,635 brick dwellings (3,396 families) 74 frame stores and dwellings (90 families) 987 brick stores and dwellings (1,681 families) 933 tenements (9,181 families) 79 stores and tenements (673 families) 308 stores 5,832 garages 15 schools 102 factories 3 hotels 8 assembly halls 13 churches 10 theatres 1 hospital 5 office buildings 8 clubhouses 99 warehouses 2 banks 2 firehouses 1 playground structure 3 coal pockets 527 miscellaneous buildings While these stupendous changes were taking place in this locality the number of books discarded exceeded the number of books accessioned so that there was actually a recession in book equipment. The book stock is 26,167 volumes less than it was two years ago. It is evident that with such paucity of material as is represented by 2-5ths of a book for a person, the library is "out of the picture" of Queens Borough life. If the library is ever to take its place as an educational institution second only to the Public School, and (we would say) the first recreational institution, we will be obliged to have the necessary equipment for the purpose. There is no reason why The Queens Borough Public Library should not forge ahead rapidly in circulation if we receive the books. The merchant who is always out of stock in his supply of goods which the -buying public wants. loses business. The library which cannot supply the books needed by the borrowers loses circulation. Our circulation statistics no longer mean anything to us as a measure of lprogress for we know by many proofs that we are "out of stock" in books. Years of inadequate funds have so weakened the branch collections that they are in a critical condition. A building which has a constant stream of water flowing at its base and little or no periodical reinforcement, has its foundation gradually undermined and it must totter and fall. The library is being constantly undermined by its lack of books and without reinforcement it, too, must g'o down. 41 The New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library have endowment funds which are used to supplement the city appropriation for the purchase of new books. The Queens Borough Public Library must depend solely upon the City for its entire maintenance. On referring the question of book equipment to the branch librarians, the composite request was for books in large numbers; and as for subjects to.be represented in these books, their wants are legion. It is estimated that $150,000 will be needed to rehabilitate the book stock of the library. Give just a thought to the ever growing population and the increased business development in Queens; to the library as the great continuation school of the city; to the needs of the younger children; and then-remember the decreased and decreasing book equipment and the fact that the book is the unit of library service. The following is a list of the subjects particularly stressed by the librarians together with a table showing the number of adult books needed by Branches, Reference Department and Extension Division: Augumentation Artificial silk making Art, history of Astronomy Automobiles Banking Biography, lives of Founders of our Republic and of noted living men and women Building construction Civil Service examination aids Drama, history of Drama, specific plays Drawing, mechanical Education, history of; new methods Economics Electric welding Engines steam, electric Engineering Etiquette Evolution, Folk lore Fourth dimension Gardening Geology Glass blowing Grammar of all languages, including Japanese and Hindustani Hardwood floors Hygiene Interior decoration Journalism Lawns Mathematics, theory and text b< May pole dances Minstrel shows Mushrooms Nickel plating Noted criminal cases, history of Official equipment Painting, mechanical Paper making Philosophy, new theories,Psychoanalysis Psychology Psychology of pedagogy Refrigeration Religion Reptiles Scenario writing Sex hygiene Shorthand Sociology, case work with the p Street paving Short story writing Table service Textile design ooks )oor Note: Industrial Sociology and Literature are the subjects in greatest demand. Adult books required for Branches, Reference Department, Interchange and Extension Division will number 45,548 volumes at an estimated cost of $68,000. Proposed budget request for books is as follows: Adult books...................... Juvenile books........................ Central Reserve Collection............ Current periodicals................... Total.......................... $ 68,000.00 75,000.00 5,000.00 4,000.00 $152,000.00 42 LIBRARY INTERCHANGE SERVICE The office of the Interchange Division is to supplement the book collections by effecting the interchange of books and other material among the branches and stations. This is done because it is cheaper to exchange books which are not in constant use in any one centre than to buy copies for all centres. The ideal of the service is to make available for every resident of Queens Borough every volume in The Queens Borough Public Library. A member of the library is not confined to the books in his local branch, but by simply making a request at that library desk, any one of the thousands of books in the system becomes available to him. When the request for a book or a subject is received in the administration department from a branch the requisite information is obtained from the union catalogue or other indexes. Then by means of the telephone and the library truck the material is sent from the branch where it has been located and delivered to the branch where the request was made. If the request can not be filled by books or material in the system other information is furnished; book imprints are given or the borrower is directed to various agencies-as government departments, departments in other libraries, or special libraries. This work is most closely co-ordinated with the department of book selection since the interchange request from the branch is one of the most valuable guides, the library has to the trend of subjects wanted by the public. In this division of the work the Central reserve collection of books has been placed. The collection consists largely of books no longer in active demand but held for the occasional call; rare books and books which, for various reasons, are not wanted on the open shelves of the branches. From this central library collections of books on pertinent subjects are formed'-and sent to the small branches. When a new branch is started several hundred books are sent to supplement the branch accessions.,/ The Central reserve library is particularly valuable because it contains the foreign language books of the system. It was found to be inadvisable to add these books to each branch; and consequently traveling -units of books in foreign languages are sent about the system constantly. In many instances the library book stock may be increased most economically by placing one or more copies of a book in the Central reserve collection to be sent to the branches when needed. The cost of placing a copy in each of the twenty branches with all of the labor charge thereby involved is thus avoided. Expensive books are best lodged in this collection for fewer copies are needed and there is less danger of loss than on the open shelves of a branch. For example: Lockwood's Colonial furniture in America has been purchased for two large branches and for the Central reserve collection; the three copies serve the system. As all of the branches have such inadequate book equipment at present it is a point to be noted that the quickest and cheapest form of rehabilitation is to enlarge this Central reserve collection. The foreign book collection is greatly depleted and it in particular need of a thorough building up. We therefore ask for 5,000 volumes. Without the interchange service each of our branches would be resolved into an isolated town library. ADULT BOOK SURVEY OF BRANCHES, MAY 1927 Additional Volumes Requested by Classes. General Branch Works Philosophy Religion Sociology Philology Science Useful Arts Fine Arts Literature History Travel Biogrsphy Fiction Total Astoria.................. -5 100 10 150 25 50 200 50 100 100 25 50 500 1,365 Bayside................15 20 10 25 10 15 15 50 100 100 100 100 500 1,060 Broadway............... 130 87 89 273 97 187 330 230 330 259 173 187 628 3,000 Corona..... 25 10 100 50 25 100 25 100 25 25 25 300 810 Elmhurst................. 10 30 30 100 30 30 100 100 200 50 50 50 400 1,180 Far Rockaway............10 25 25 100 50 100 200 50 200 100 100 100 1,000 2,060 Flushing..................8 113 113 327 8 157 652 27 113 327 27 15 113 2,000 Grandview................. 15 15 50 25 25 200 100 200 200 25 25 400 1,280 Janlaica................. 10 10 10 50 25 25 100 50 100 25 25 25 500 955 Nelson.................. 12 50... 100 50 75 100 40 100 30 10 25 300 892 Ozone Park................ 50 25 25 25 50 200 50 200 25 25 1,000 1,700 Poppenhusen............ 10 25 15 60 20 25 200 100 150 150 100 100 1,000 1,955 Queens Village...................25 25 200 50 100 100 100 200 50 25 50 500 1,425 Richmond Hill............ 10 25 10 75 25 50 100 100 100 50 50 100 1,000 1,695 Ri dgewood................ 25 25 100 50 200 350 150 150 50 50 50 500 1,700 Seaside.................... 10 10 200 75 25 50 50 200 200... 100 500 1,420 Steinway..................... 100 50 50 100 150 250 200 1,000 400 150 150 300 2,900 \Vhitestone................10 25 15 50 15 25 50 20 100 100 100 100 500 1,110 Woodhaven...................10.... 25 25 25 50 30 100 30 50 50 500 895 \tfoodside................. 25... 50 25 25 100 50 125 150 50 100 300 1,000 Totals.......... 230 795 487 2,110 780 1,364 3,447 1,572 3,868 2,421 1,160 1,427 10,741 30,402 44 SUMMARY OF PRESENT AND PROPOSED BOOK EQUIPMENT Number of Books in Library Total Book January 1st, 1927 Additional Books Needed Equipment if Request Is Granted Branches Adult Juvenile Total Adult Juvenile Total Adult Juvenile Total Astoria.......... 12,133 1,981 14,114 1,365 1,250 2,615 13,498 3,231 16,729 Bayside.......... 5,898 1,893 7,791 1,060 1,455 2,515 6,958 3,348 10,306 Broadway....... 8,335 3,143 11,478 3,000 1,350 4,350' 11,335 4,493 15,828 Corona........,. 5,293 1,855 7,148 810 1.750 2,560 6,103 3,605 9,708 Elmhurst........ 12,511 2,746 15,257 1,180 2,325 3,505 13,691 5,071 18,762 Far Rockaway.... 10,628 1,816 12,444 2060 1,680 3,740 12,688 3,496 16,184 Flushing......... 21,536 2,345 23,881 2,000 1,550 3,550 23,536 3,895 27,431 Grandview...... 4,642 2,469 7,111 1,280 1,970 3,250 5,922 4,439 10,361 Jamaica......... 17,449 2,128 19,577 955 2,740 3,695 18,404 4,868 23,272 Nelson........... 6,316 1,505 7,821 892 1,500 2.392 7,208 3,005 10,213 Ozone Park....... 6,330 2,400 8.730 1,700 1,550 3,250 8,030 3,950 11,980 Poppenhusen.... 10,439 2,702 13,141 1,955 610 2,565 12,394 3,312 15,706 Queens Village.... 5,024 1,847 6,871 1,425 1,650 3,075 6,449 3,497 9,946 Richmond Hill..., 14,731 3,042 17,773 1,695 2,670 4,365 16,426 5,712 22,138 Ridgewood....... 7,719 3,798 11,517 1,700 3,150' 4,850 9,419 6,948 16,367 Seaside.......... 6,665 1,380 8,045 1,420 1,700 / 3,120 8,085 3,080 11,165 Steinway........ 5,418 2,298 7,716 2,900 1,100 4,000 8,318 3,398 11,716 Whitestone....... 5,791 1,797 7,588 1,110 1,830 2,940 6,901 3,627 10,528 Woodhaven.... 14,434 3,668 18.102 895 1,270 2,165 15,329 4,938 20,267 Woodside........ 4,089 2,193 6,282 1.000 2,150 3,150 5,089 4,343 9,432 Extension........ 27,554 10,113 37,667 10,946 25,187 36,133 38,500 35,300 73,800 Office, Central Reserve and Refer. ence........... 28,622 312 28,934 5,000..... 5,000 -33,622 312 33,934 Total........ 241,557 57,431 298,988 46,348 60,437 106,785 287,905 117,868 405,773 Note: Number of books both adult and juvenile in entire system January 1st, 1927, was 298,988. Additional number of books needed in library system, which includes Branches, Extension Division, Central Reserve, Reference DeS' partment, Training Class Library and Office for 1928, is 106,785. 45 SURVEY IN DETAIL FOR EACH BRANCH Arranged in Order of Size of Circulation JAMAICA WOODHAVEN FLUSHING Total circulation............... Juvenile circulation............ Average daily circulation...... Total book equipment........ Juvenile book equipment........ Members registered............ 152,597 24,707 497 19,577 2,128 42,957 Total circulation............... Juvenile circulation............ Average daily circulation....... Total book equipment......... Juvenile book equipment........ Members registered............ 133,887 34,527 436 18,102 3,668 29,038 Total circulation............... 122,755 Juvenile circulation............. 22,190 Average daily circulation....... 399 Total book equipment......... 23,881 Juvenile book equipment....... 2,345 Members registered........... 32,926 PROPOSED PROPOSED PROPOSED Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment........ RICHMOND HILL Total circulation............... Juvenile circulation............ Average daily circulation....... Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment....... Members registered............ 23,272 Total book equipment.......... 20,267 Total book equipment.......... 27,431 4,868 Juvenile book equipment........ 4,938 Juvenile book equipment........ 3,895 RIDGEWOOD BROADWAY 122,721 32,238 399 17,773 3,042 40,246 Total circulation............... Juvenile circulation............. Average daily circulation...... Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment...... Members registered............ 122,277 57,284 398 11,517 3,798 31,445 Total circulation............... Juvenile circulation............. Average daily circulation....... Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment...... Members registered............ 104,158 36,903 339 11,478 3,143 24,736 PROPOSED PROPOSED PROPOSED Total book equipment.......... 22,138 Total book equipment.......... 16,367 Juvenile book equipment......... 5,712 Juvenile book equipment........ 6,948 Total book equipment......... Juvenile book equipment....... 15,828 4,493 FAR ROCKAWAY Total circulation............... Juvenile circulation............. Average daily circulation....... Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment........ Members registered............ PROPOSED Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment........ ELMHURST GRANDVIEW 92,346 23,236 300 12,444 1,816 34,803 Total circulation.............. Juvenile circulation............ Average daily circulation....... Total book equipment......... Juvenile book equipment........ Members registered........... 89,184 25,896 290 15,257 2,746 29,558 Total circulation............... Juvenile circulation............. Average daily circulation....... Total book equipment........... Juvenile book equipment....... Members registered........... 76,139 37,787 248 7,111 2,469 11,698 PROPOSED PROPOSED 16,184 Total book equipment.......... 18,762 Total book equipment.,....... 10,361 3,496 Juvenile book equipment........ 5,071 Juvenile book equipment....... 4,439 46 ASTORIA Total circulation........... Juvenile circulation.......... Average daily circulation.. Total book equipment......... Juvenile book equipment.. Members registered......... PROPOSED Total book equipment....... juvenile book equipment. COROINTA Total circulation........... Juvenile circulation.......... Average daily circulation. Total book equipment....... Juvenile book equipment.... Mecmbers registcred......... PROPOSED Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment.. Total circulation........... Juvenile circulation.......... Average daily circulation. Total book equipment....... Juvenile book equipment... Members registered......... PROPOSED Total book equipment....... Juvenile book equipment.. BAYSIDE Total circulation........... Juvenile circulation......... Average daily circulation....... Total book equipment...... Juvtenile baook equ~ipment.., Membelars retgistered.......... Total book; equipment...~... OZONE PARK SEASIDE 70,187 27,312 228 14,114 1,981 27,572 16,729 3,231 60,744 26,350 197 7,148 1,855 16,274 9,708 3j605 46,976 25,403 155 7,716 2,298 11,985 Total circulation........... Juvenile circulation............ Average daily circulation. Total book equipment....... Juvenile book equipment... Members registered......... 69,743 Total circulation........... 31,219 Juvenile circulation.......... 227 Average daily circulation. 8,730 Total book equipment....... 2,400 Juvenile book equipment. 19,632 Members registered......... 62,988 28,354 205 8,045 1,380 11,985 PROPOSED Total book equipment.........11,980 Juvenile book equipment........ 3,950 'PROPOSED POPPENHUSEN Total circulation............ Juvenile circulation........... Average daily circulation..... Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment....... Members registered............ PROPOSED Total book equipment......... Juvenile book equipment......... 54,748 20,693 17 8 13,141 2,702. 14,495 15,706 3,312 Total book equipment.......... 11,165 Juvenile book equipment........ 3,080 QUEENS VILLAGE Total circulation............ Juvenile circulation......... Average daily circulation. Total book eqdipment.. Juvenile book equipment. Members registered......... 51,864 18,757 172 6,871 1,847 7,664 WOODSIDE Total circulation.............. 43,706 Juvenile circulation.............17,994 PROPOSED Average daily circulation. Total book equipment....... Juvenile book equipmentt. Members registered.......... PROPOSED 11.716 Total books equipment......... 3,398 Juvenile book equipment........ 144 6,282 2,193 7,908 9,432 4,343 37,189 16,097 121 7,821 1,505 22,164 Total book equipment....... Juvenile book equipment. 9,946 3;497 WHITESTONE 39,171 10,294 128 7,791 1,893 8,465 -NELSON Total circulation........... juvenile circulation.......... Average' daily circulation. Total book equipment....... Juvenile book equipment. Miembers registered......... Total circulation........... Juvenile circulation.......... Average- daily circulation.. Total book equipment...... juvenile book equipment.. N-embers registered......... 40,997 13,328 134 7,588 1,797 9,044 PROPOSED PROPOSED 10,306 Total book equipment......... 10,213 Total book equipihent......... 10,528 Juvenile book equipment........ 3,348 juvenile-book equipment.3 5 e b q n., 3,005 Juvenile book equipment........ 3,6227 47 CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT The CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT of any PUBLIC LIBRARY has a two-fold duty toward the juvenile members of the community. It should introduce to the children, and help them to cultivate a taste for the treasures of literature while teaching them the proper care of books and public prop-erty as well as the benefits of communal activities. Just as playgrounds, parks and athletic fields are necessary to the physical recreation of our children, so is the PUBLIC LIBRARY necessary to their mental recreation. A book to be recreational need not be light nor trashy. On the contrary, many of the most entertaining books are masterpieces of literature. "... Over what exciting trails will reading just for pleasure take us! Trails lead into the paths of the singing words of poems, into the wide quiet of the starry heavens, into the realms of history or science, and of art." -Extract from "Reading without a purpose" by M. Ethel Bubb, read at the 1927 meeting of the American Library Association. Much ink and paper are used in the yearly production of cheap magazines and books. NVitness the news stands. These magazines would not be published if there were no demand. Had the people who buy this trash been introduced to good literature in their youth, they would now be reading worth-while books. The CI-IILD.comes willingly to the LIBRARY. There is no law that says he must. His parents do not demand it. His arrival at the library is in answer to a craving of his spirit for some kind of information, either for entertainment or knowledge, or for inspiration. This urge of his spirit should be given encouragement and guidance. The library can do this with-BOO.KS. Year after year the library has to discard, because of the constant use to which they are put, more books than it can purchase. In 1926 this Department discarded..................... 20,782 volumes added.......................... 15,882 volumes. WHAT IS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT? THERE IS BUT ONE ANSWER. BO-OKSAND MORE BOOKS. THE BOY WHO BUILT HIS OWN RADIO READ, ABOUT IT FIRST. SH-OULD HE NOT HAVE BOOKS? GIVE THEM TO HIM. CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT - SURVEY OF BOOK EQUIPMENT In 1921 the Juvenile registration of this library was 100% compared with the school registration. In 1927 it has fallen to 62% simply and solely because many of the children who have moved into the Borough during the past six years have come to the library to see empty (or nearly empty) shelves and have decided it was useless to join. With 62,000 more school children in the. Borough than were here in 1921, and 10,000 less books, what can the library do? 48 The total appropriation of $25,000 for the purchase of juvenile books for 1927, will buy approximately 20,000 volumes to be distributed throughout the Department (20 Branches and 23 Stations). The lowest figure to put the Branches alone in proper condition is 35,000 volumes-a deficit-of 15,000 without taking into consideration the Extension Division. On January 1, 1921, the Juvenile book equipment was 90%0o of the active membership-which meant that for every 10 children there were 9 books. On January 1, 1927; the Juvenile book equipment had dropped to 72% of the active membership-which meant that there were but 7 books fpr every 10 children; therefore, three out of every ten children who wished a book had to go without. During April and May 3,500 juvenile books were withdrawn from. the shelves for binding. These books if they could be bound at once could be placed in circulation,-but the appropriation allow for binding in the 1927 budget was entirely exhausted by April 1st. No funds are now available for binding, and these books will have to be withheld until the 1928 budget is approved, unless we allow them to remain in circulation for a few more loans when they would have to be discarded--a very extravagant and unwise procedure which the library hesitates to adopt. At the present rate nearly 30% of the already depleted book stock will be withdrawn from circulation awaiting binding by the end of the year. With this steadily decreasing supply, each book in circulation gets harder wear and has to be discarded sooner. With the active membership increasing and the book supply decreasing, it is no reflection on the library or librarians that the circulation is not what it should be. Many children come to the library, join, find but few books and when they have read these drop out. There is little comment necessary on such plain statistics as these. The condition will grow worse because every month many children are moving into Queens Borough, and our books now. in good condition will have to be discarded by the thousands due to the rapid turn-over, and the "last state wvill be worse than the first." To properly equip the 20 Branches and Extension Division (23 Stations) at least 60,500 juvenile books should be purchased as soon as possible. About 10,000 of these should be easy picture books and fairy tales for these are the books that introduce the LIBRARY to the CHILD and are most quickly worn out. The appropriation for 1927 ($25,000) will purchase about 20,000 books, leaving a deficit of 40,500 volumes. The question "Missus, when are you going to put the rest of the books on the shelves?" put to one of our Children's Librarians by a little boy, reveals the keynote of our book situation. Must our children grow to manhood and womanhood without the joy and influence of good books? This is what is happening at present. Approximately 50,000 school children of this Borough do not belong to our library. WHY? THEY CAME-THEY SAW-(empty shelves) THEY DEPARTED. 49 CHILDREN'S BOOKS IN LIBRARY 1920..................................... 66,652 1922.................................... 70,044 1927.................................... 57,431 While the school registration in Queens shows an INCREASE of 70%, the juvenile book stock of the library shows a DECREASE of nearly 14% as compared to 1920. With over 132,000 school children we have less than /2 a book for each child. CHILDREN'S BOIOKS Appropriations Allowed Children's Books for the Purchase Discarded-Worn Out of Children's Books Volumes Added and Unfit for Circulation 1921...................................... $13,812 8,253 6,153 1922...................................... 10,384 10,006 9,084 1923.................................... 9,675 7,695 11,253 1924........................................ 8,892 7,936 6,585 1925.................................. 8,378 5,888 12,382 1926...................................... 15,737 15,882 20,782 1927......................................... 25,000 20,000* 1,847** * Estimated at end of 1927, (includes reference books). ** As of July 1, 1927. Books with colored plates (maps, birds, animals) because of the additional cost, cannot be purchased although they are an absolute necessity to a well equipped Children's Room. Reference books (costing an average of $4.00 a volume) should be in every Children's Room, for through these books children learn how to find their own material. Picture books, so dear to the heart of the littlest borrower as well as to the child of foreign parents, are another type of book which we hesitate to purchase because of their costliness, though they are a source of delight and education to every child-for the same stories are known in every country and have been handed down through the ages in every language. They are often a link between the CHILD and his LIBRARY, and his foreign PARENT, for through these books the foreigner comes to the library to see what it is all about. The reasons already given for more adequate appropriations for both the purchase and binding of juvenile books do not touch one of the most outstanding-that of FUTURE GROWT-I. With communities springing up over night each housing many children and erecting large Public Schools and Moving Picture houses, surely the LIBRARY SHOULD KEEP PACE. If one of the most distinctively AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS-the PUBLIC LIBRARY is to fall by the wayside through lack of Municipal support, where will these children find their literary recreation-or shall their desire for such cultural knowledge be stifled? With the additional 60,500 volumes, the 50,000 school children who have not joined the library could be encouraged to come. Indeed they would need no second invitation. The children would spread the news. "The library has some new books" is a shout the children love to give. In order that the library may render the service that the children need it is asking for the sum of $75,000 with which to purchase juvenile books. FOR LITTLE CHILDREN FOR MIDDLE-SIZED CHILDREN FOR OLDER BOYS & GIRLS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS A esop Fables Belloc Bad child's book of beasts Bianco Apple tree Browning Pied Piper of Hamelin Collodi Pinocchio Craik Little lame prince Dodgson Alice's adventures in Wonderland Field Eliza and the elves Hunt About Harriet Lefeore Soldier boy Liddell Little machinery Little Goody Two Shoes Milne When we were very young Moore Nicholas Orion Little lost pigs Pyle Careless Jane Rowe Rabbit lantern Sharpe Dame Wiggins of Lee and her seven wonderful cats Stevenson Child's garden of verse Thackeray Rose and the ring Thompson Silver pennies While Joan Morse Whiteman Playmates in print Whitney Tyke-y, his book and his mark Young Sweet times and the blue policeman Asquith Treasure ship Bryant Children's book of celebrated Chrisman Shen of the sea bridges Clark Etiquette jr. Colum Children of Odin Darrow Thinkers and doers Defoe Robinson Crusoe Dickens Holly tree & other Christmas Dodge Hans Brinker stories Finger Tales from silver lands Gilbert Robin Hood Hawthorne Wonder book Holland Historic ships Hudson Little boy lost Jewett Egyptian tales of magic Kingsley Water babies Kipling Just so stories LaPrade Alice in Orchestralia MacDonala Light princess Parker Skunny Wundy Ruskin King of the golden river Sewell Black Beauty Singmaster Book of the Constitution Spyri Heidi Wiggin Tales of laughter Alcott Little women Baynes Aldrich Story of a bad boy Beebe Blackmore Lorna Doone Borrow Buchan Prester John Camp Bunyan Pilgrim's progress Cartwright Cervantes Don Quixote Crane Colum King of Ireland's son DeKruif Cooper Last of the Mohicans Fairbanks Dickens Oliver Twist Gibbs Egan Everybody's St. Francis Grahame Heming Living forest Hemon Hudson Far away and long ago Hopkins Hughes Tom Brown's school da s Irving Jordan High lights of Geography Kenlon Kipling Songs for youth Ltitton Olcott International plays Melville Putnam David goes to Greenland Overton Rush Modern Aladdins and their magic Parkman Skinner White leader Pease Teasdale Rainbow gold Root Terhune Lad, a dog Smith White Danial Boone Stefansson Willsie On to Oregon Towers Yonge Dove in the eagle's nest Walpole Zwilgmeyer What happened to Inger Johanne Walsh Animal heroes of the great war Arcturus adventure Lavengro Athletes all Boys' book of ships Janitor's boy Microbe Hunters Youth points the way Little novels of nowadays Cambridge book of poetry Maria Chapdelaine She blows! and sparm at that! The Alhambra 14 years a sailor Last days of Pompeii Moby Dick Cargoes for Crusoes Oregon Trail Tatooed man Boys' life of Barnum Book of play production Northward ho! From beacon fire to radio Jeremy Our American cardinals BOOK LISTS Lists are great helps to both the child and the library; to the child because they guide and develop his taste in reading; to the library because the borrower has a more adequate knowledge of his desires, or can find a substitute if the preferred book is unavailable (out in circulation, at bindery or otherwise temporarily withdrawn). They are also of great importance (to both adults and children) because suggestions are thus given to the perplexed borrower in the selection of his books. Then, too, they help the studious borrower who wishes to keep a list of his reading. The book equipment in any particular class of books can readily be brought to the attention of the public through the medium of the printed list. In connection with the above lists recently issued by the Children's Department, it is interesting to note that while one copy of each title is in every Branch, each could use at least two more; and in the larger Branches five copies would not be too many. In order to supply just the necessary two copies to each Branch, Sub-Branch and Station over $1,000 would have' to be expended. Every one of these books is worthwhile and would be read with profit by each individual child but there are thousands of other titles just as good which the library should purchase' and would purchase had it the proper appropriation. 51' STORY HOUR AT ELMHURST BRANCH GROUP OF CHILDREN ON THE LAWN LISTENING TO STORIES TOLD BY MRS. JOSEPHINE CARROLL DIFFENDERFER, A QUEENS BOROUGH BRANCH LIBRARIAN Story telling is one of the most ancient of arts. Long before the written word was invented, the story, transmittedby word of mouth from generation to generation preserved the deeds, history and aspirations of the nations. From the earliest ages through the time of the Troubadours the Story Teller was not only welcomed but highly honored. The library Story Hour is one of the first steps in the development of a taste for good reading and serves as an introduction to the treasures of the public library. It attracts the children to the library, stimulates their desire to read, calls attention to a particular book and arouses a curiosity concerning others. 52 EXTENSION DIVISION (Opened October, 1906) Sub-Branches Addresses Glendale...........................................2614 Myrtle Avenue Hollis.................................................. Jamaica Avenue and 192nd Street Middle Village......................................7425 Metropolitan Avenue M orris Park............................................ 104-11 115th Street Northern Boulevard.................................Northern Boulevard and 97th Street Stations Arverne, Far Rockaway High School Annex................Boulevard and Beach 67th Street Blissville, P. S. 80....................................... Greenpoint and Bradley Avenues Broadway, Flushing...................................... 163-16 Northern Boulevard Ditmars................................................ Second Avenue near Potter Avenue Douglaston.........................................Main Street Dunton................................................ 135 Jerome Avenue Elmhurst Manor......................................... 92nd Street and Burnside Avenue Forest Hills............................................. Borage Place Jackson Heights....................................3612 23rd Street near Roosevelt Avenue Laurel Hill, P. S. 76...................Montgomery Avenue Little Neck, P. S. 94..................................... Old House Landing Road M aspeth............................................... 43 Grand Street Rockawav Park. P. S. 43.............................Boulevard and Beach 110th Street Rosedale.......................................... Rosedale Avenue South Ozone Park....................................... 134th Street near Rockaway Boulevard Springfield.......................................... Springfield and Higbie Avenues f! St. Albans............................................. M exico Street and Central Avenue \Vinfield, P. S.78....................................... M aurice Avenue Collections City Prison Fire and Police Companies................ 48 Institutions (Industrial and Social).........20 Schools................................ 10 53 EXTENSION DIVISION The Extension Division of The Queens Borough Public Library is maintained for the purposeof supplying books to districts of the Borough not served by the regular branches and to supplement the work of the branches in the circulation of books through schools, clubs, factories, and other agencies. SUB-BRANCHES Sub-branches are, in effect, small branches serving the public in the same manner though on a smaller scale. They are housed in rented stores which are occupied only by the library. Reading rooms, elementary reference books and periodicals are provided. The major part of their book collections remain at the sub-branches indefinitely. Additions are made to equipment whenever new books are available. Special requests are filled through interchange or by ordering books. Subbranches are opened from 3 to 6 hours a day-4 to 6 days a week. A librarian-in-charge is in attendance whenever the library is open to the public. STATIONS SStations vary in their book equipment, depending upon the size of the quarters available and population served. They are often located in parts of stores, or schools and are in charge of a trained librarian who opens the station about twice a week. At least 25 books are exchanged each month and all special requests which the librarian is not able to fill from her station collection are filled from headquarters or by loans from branches. SMALL COLLECTIONS Collections are those placed in factories, club houses, fire and police stations, schools, hospitals, and other institutions. 1. Mercantile collections are maintained for the purpose of supplying books to employees only. Such collections are most successful when carried on as part of the welfare work of the concern. The number of books varies, depending upon the number of employees. Books on technical and business subjects are sent; also books for foreigners to learn English, where many of the employees are foreignborn. 2. Schools are supplied with books to supplement their own libraries, many submitting their supplementary reading list as means of help in preparing the collection. 3. Books which are somewhat worn, although in fair condition are sent to the City Prison and tuberculosis hospitals. Many interesting requests are received from the prisons to which we send a librarian one afternoon each week. Not infrequently the prisoner has used his "term" as a time of study, learning English. The hospitals are always grateful for our discarded books, which give pleasure to the patients and are destroyed. For years and years the appropriation, for books for Extension Division have been inexpressably small in comparison to the circulation and in discontinuing the use of the tattered fragments of 10,417 volumes the climax of discarding was reached in 1926. Most of the books which were thrown out were positively disgusting to handle, even to make necessary inspection and records, yet they had been circulating to the public because the demand was so great that the librarian carried the thought "the borrower wants it and it will circulate just once more." From the sub-branches and stations comes the constant call for more books. Books for the student and the professor, the mechanic, and the merchant, the business woman and the mother, and the children! In the Extension Division there are 17,374 active juvenile borrowers and 9,031 books. The destitute condition of juvenile book supply is greatly to be deplored. The children go to the library to find pitifully few books on the shelves. Many times this report has been made about stations: "Only 20 books; only 11 books; only 6 books; only 2 books on the children's shelves when the library closed." 54 Children stand in line waiting until other children return their books so that they may have one to take home. Stations with a few extra books have been compelled to ship them to the stations that have none on the shelves, but the additional books were swallowed up as though by a hungry dragon. They became at once a part of those "out in circulation" leaving no more books on the shelves than formerly. Often times the plea that teacher told them to get a specific book was heard, but nothing could be done as the book was not to be had. Development work has been non-existent in 1926. Numerous applications for-both stations and collections have been received but the extremely limited book-stock has been unequal to the task and has compelled the reply that at present service could not be given. The new juvenile books added during the year did not equal the discards and even the $7,000 appropriation for 1927 will not bring the book-stock up to normal. The expansion that is so much needed to cover the newly developed territories in the Borough must be delayed. At least 25 communities with an estimated population of 75,000 to 100,000 people are without library service. Small collections to industrial organizations, collections of specific books for class-room use in elementary, high, and night schools cannot be sent because of the non-existence of books in reserve for assembling collections. Work with hospitals which is done by other libraries cannot be attempted in Queens. A motor book-wagon stationed at schools at scheduled periods might supply the outlying districts at little expense, but granted the book-car, where would be the books to fill it for the hundreds of eager readers? To carry out this program of reasonably good service to the people of Queens, the Division would need approximately 37,000 more books. Tables follow, showing in detail the needs of the Division. EXTENSION DIVISION-SURVEY OF BOOK EQUIPMENT Number of Books in Division December, 1926 Adult Juvenile Total Stations (1926)......... 16,627 9,031 25,658 Proposed Additional Stations...................... Collections............. 4,554 1,035 5,589 Reserves, Binders & Miscellaneous............ 6,373 47 6,420 Total.............. 27,554 10,113 37,667 Additional Books Needed Adult Juvenile Total 4,873 11,269 16,142 5,000 5,000 10,000 446 3,965 4,411 '/ 627 4,953 5,580 10,946 25,187 36,133 Total Book Equipment if Request Is Granted Adult Juvenile Total: 21,500 20,300 41,800 5,000 5,000 10,000 5,000 5,000 10,000 7,000 5,000 12,000 38,500 35,300 73,800 Note: More shelf room being available in largest stations and books being badly needed at these places, all books which were in office in December, 1926, have been distributed at date of this report. We have no reserve books now. There are, however, approximately 2,500 volumes on the shelves waiting to be bound. Our book appropriation for 1926 was $5,591. We added 7,613 volumes during the year, but December, 1926, found us with 2,357 volumes less than we had in 1921. Detail comparison follows: ADULT Stations........................... Collections....................... Reserves, Binders and Miscellaneous.... 1921 11,550 1,748 10,679 1926 16,627 4,554 6,373 27,554 JUVENILE 1921 1926 11,193 9,031 2,904 1,035 1,950 47 16,047 10,113 TOTAL 1921 1926 22,743 25,658 4,652 5,589 12,629 6,420 40,024 37,667 Total............................. 23,977 Note: If we are to go forward with the work of sub-branches, stations, hospitals and prisons, the number of books requested is not excessive. The New York Public Library Extension Division has approximately 75,000 volumes and 25,000 are kept in reserve for collections and emergency use. The New York Public Library territory is well supplied with finely equipped branches and therefore extension service is not quite as necessary as in Queens Borough where the tremendous growth has left us far behind in establishing libraries to cover all communities; therefore our requests are reasonable and modest. 5,5 SURVEY IN DETAIL FOR EACH SUB-BRANCH AND STATION Arranged in Order of Size of Circulation HOLLIS SUB-BRANCH Total circulation........... Juvenile circulation............ Average daily circulation....... Total book equipment....... Juvenile book equipment........ Members registered......... Days open per week............ Hours open per week.......... PROPOSED Total book equipment.......... Juvenile' book equipment....... Days open per week............ Hours open per week.......... IvORRIS PARk SUB-BRANCH NORTHERN BOULEVARD SUB-BRANCH 28,700 11,505 120 2,162 582 2,301 6 29 Total circulation........... Juvenile circulation............ Average daily circulation. Total book equipment........ Juvenile book equipment........ Members registered........... Days open'per week............ Hours open per week....... 28,482 14,096 191 1,723 753 2,126 6 25 Total circulation............ Juvenile circulation............ Average, daily circulation....... Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment.. Members registered............ Days open per week............ Hours open per week....... PROPOSED Total book equipment........ Juvenile book equipment....... Days open per week.......... Hours open per week.......... PROPOSED 3,500 1,500 6 36 Total book equipment....... Juvenile- book equipment. Days open per week............ Hours open per week....... 3,500 1,500 6 36 23,848 12,013 165 1,384 598 1,980 4 15 %2 3,000 1,400 6 36 16,215 10,532 92 985 441 1,679 3 13 MIDDLE VILLAGE SUB-BRANCH GLENDALE SUB-BRANCH M---ASPETH Total circulation...........:. Juvenile circulation........... Average daily circulation. Total 'book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment. Members registered.......... Days open per week........... Hours open per week.......... 23,709 11,614 148 1,282 510 1,656 3 13 Total circulation............. juvenile circulation............ Average daily circulation. Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipmentt....... Members registered............ Days open per 'weegk........... Hours open per week....... 21,782 11,535 161 2,938 703 2,083 6 29 Total circulation............... Juvenile circulation............. Average daily circulation. Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment.... Members registered.......... Days open per wevek.......... Hours open per week......... PROPOSED PROPOSED PROPOSED Total book equipment.......... Juvenile' book equipment....... Daiys open per week............ Houirs open per week........... *WINFIE-LD Total circulation............... Juvenile circulation............. Average daily circulation....... Total books equipment......... Juvenile book equipment....... Members registered............ Days open per week........... Hours open per week.......... 3,000 1,400 6 36 Total book equipment.......... Juvenile 'book equipment. Days open per week............ Hours open per week.......... 3,500 1,700 35' Total book equipment.......... Ju'venile book equipment... Days open per week............ Hours open per week........ SPRINGFIELD ST. ALBANS 15,798 14,774 202 718 512 1,513 1 6V2 Total circulation........... Juvenile - circulation.......... Akerage daily circulatibon... Total book equipment........ Juvenile book equipment....... Members registered............ Days open per week........... Hours open per week.......... PROPOSED Total book equipment........ Juvenile book equipment... Days open per week............ H'urs op'en per week...... 14,423 4,260 125 1,459 339 1,093 3 13 Total circulation........... Juvanile circulation.......... Average daily circulation. Total book equipment........ Juvenile book equipment. Members registered......... Days open per week........... Hours open per Week....... 2,000 1,200 6 26' 11,691 4,819 140 1,277, 437 644 3 12 V: PROPOSED PROPOSED Total book equipment....... Juvenile book equipment. Days open per week........... Hours open per week....... 1,200 1,000 2 12 2,000 Total book equipment....... 1,200 Juvenile book equipment. 4 Days open per week......... 203/2..Hours open per week......... 1,500 500 3 20 56 SOUTH OZONE PARK Total circulation............... Juvenile circulation.......... Average daily circulation....... Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment....... Members registered............ Days open per week........ Hours open per week.......... PROPOSED Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment....... Days open per week........... Hours open per week.......... *ARVERNE Total circulation............... Juvenile circulation............ Average daily circulation....... Total book equipment......... Juvenile book equipment....... Members registered............ Days open per week.......... Hours open per week,......... PROPOSED Total book equipment......... Juvenile book equipment....... Days open per week........... Hours open per week.......... *ROCKAWVAY PARK Total circulation............... Juvenile circulation............. Average daily circulation....... Total -book equipment......... Juvenile book equipment....... Members registered............ Days open per week........... Hours open per week........ PROPOSED Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment....... Days open per week........... Hours open per week.......... 11,488 5,807 111 696 287 1,649 3 12 *BLISSVILLE Total circulation............ Juvenile circulation........... Average daily circulation....... Total book equipment......... Juvenile book equipment....... Members registered............ Days open per week.......... Hours open per week....... 11,488 11,073 304 635 521 569 2 9 FOREST HILLS Total circulation.............. Juvenile circulation............. Average daily circulation....... Total book equipment......... Juvenile book equipment........ Members registered............ Days open per week........... Hours open per week......... 10,990 3,426 97 978 304 1,046 3 12Y2 PROPOSED 1,700 Total book equipment.......... 800 Juvenile book equipment....... 3 Days open per week........... 20 Hours open per week.......... JACKSON HEIGHTS PROPOSED 1,000 Total book equipment......... 800 Juvenile book equipment....... 2 Days open per week.......... 12 Hours open per week.......... 2,000 700 20.20 10,648 5,800 94 659 281 1,775 2 4 Total circulation............. Juvenile circulation............. Average daily circulation.. Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment........ Members registered............ Days open per week........... Hours open per week.......... 8,995 2,758 96 1,103 313 839 3 12 **LITTLE NECK Total circulation............. Juvenile circulation........... Average daily circulation....... Total 'book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment....... Members registered............ Days open per week............ Hours open per week.......... 6,964 3,914 196 819 358 716 1 6 PROPOSED 1.500 Total book equipment.......... 800 Juvenile book equipment........ 3 Days open per week.......... 20 Hours open per week.......... DOUGLASTON PROPOSED 1,800 Total book equipment.......... 800 Juvenile book equipment........ 3 Days open per week.......... 20 Hours open per week.......... 1,500 800 3 20 6,859 4,002 93 590 268 817 2 6 Total circulation............... Juvenile circulation............ Average daily circulation.. Total book equipment........... Juvenile book equipment....... Members registered............ Days open per week........... Hours open per week.......... 6,430 1,480 57 844 219 459 2 9% ELMHURST MANOR Total circulation............... Juvenile circulation............. Average daily circulation........ Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment....... Members registered............ Days open per week............ Hours open per week.......... 6,255 1,916 110 935 281 315 1 5% PROPOSED 1,000 Total book equipment.......... 600 Juvenile book equipment....... 3 Days open per week............ 20 Hours open per week.......... PROPOSED 1,100 Total book equipment......... 300 Juvenile book equipment....... 4 Days open per week........... 20 Hours open per week.......... 1,000 400 4 20 * School stations. Little shelf room. Short hours. ** Suggest quarters outside of school, as present space too small. Note: An increase in the number of hours of opening is not recommended for Elmhurst Manor for the reason that it is in close proximity to the Northern Boulevard sub-branch and the Administration believes that Elmhurst Manor, Northern Boulevard and West Jackson Heights could more efficiently and economically be served by a properly equipped BRANCH. The three sections mentioned are rapidly developing and it is believed that district soon will become a compact "city-sized" community similar to Ridgewood. A circulation of 100,000 volumes would assuredly be forthcoming from this area, for we believe that this section has possibilities that are among the greatest of any in Queens Borough. ROSEDALE Total circulation............ Juvenile circulation............. Average daily circulation....... Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment....... Members registered........... Days open per week........... Hours open per week.......... PROPOSED Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment....... Days open per week............ Hours open per week.......... 6,144 2,690 151 669 186 453 2 9% 1,000 400 3 20 *LAUREL HILL Total circulation............... Juvenile circulation............. Average -daily circulation...... Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment....... Members registered............ Days open per week............ Hours open per week.......... PROPOSED Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment....... Days open per week............ Hours open per week.......... 6,080 4,911 69 551 361 714 1 6 1,000 700 2 12 DUNTON Total circulation............... Juvenile circulation............. Average daily circulation........ Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment....... Members registered............ Days open per week............ Hours open per week.......... PROPOSED Total book equipment......... Juvenile book equipment....... Days open per week............ Hours open per week.......... 4,530 2,908 63 642 346 672 2 6 1,000 600 3 20. **BROADWAY-FLUSHING Total circulation.............. 1,324 Juvenile circulation............. 1,018 Average daily circulation....... 90 Total book equipment........'.. 566. January 1, 1927, Extension Division (Traveling Department) has 18 people Juvenile book equipment........ 341 assigned for the work. Members registered............ 187 Days open per week....:....... 2 Hours open per week.......... 9 V2 Twelve assistants needed to open new stations, lengthen the hours of stations PROPOSED already established and do the necessary office work. Total book equipment.......... 1,000 Juvenile book equipment....... 700 Days open per week............ 3 Hours open per week.......... 20 * School stations.- Little shelf room. Short hours. **Open only the last three months of the year. -**ASTORIA (Ditmars) Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment...... Days open per week............ Hours open per week.......... 2,000 11,000 3 12% PROPOSED NEW STATIONS HILLSIDE Total book equipment........... 2,000 Juvenile book equipment........ 1,000 Days open per week........... 6 Hours open per week.......... 12% RAVENSWOOD Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment........ Days open per week............ Hours open per week.......... UNION COURSE Total book equipment........... Juvenile book equipment........ Days open per week.......... Hours open per week.......... 2,000 1,000 3 12% 2,000 1,000 3 12% GLEN MORRIS HOWARD BEACH Total book equipment.......... 2,000 Total book equipment.......... Juvenile book equipment........ 1,000 Juvenile book equipment......... Days open per week............ 3 Days open per week........... Hours open per week......... 12~ Hours open per week......... **Astoria has been given temporary service. 2,000 1,00 3 -12% 56 VOLUMES CIRCULATED, 1926 BRANCHES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Jamaica...................... W oodhaven..................... Flushing...................... Ridgewood..................... Richmond Hill.................. Broadway.................... Elmhurst...................... Far Rockaway.................. Grandview................... Corona........................ Astoria...................... Volumes 128,443 115,142 111,955 103,674 103,433 96,329 84,776 75,542 68,609 61,958 61,780 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Queens Village.................. Ozone Park................... Poppenhusen................... Seaside..................... Steinway................... W oodside..................... B ayside....................... Whitestone................... N elson....................... Volumes '61,275 57,466 46,630 44,401 44,367 39,071 33,328 33,177 25,185 Total...................... 1,396,541 SUB-BRANCHES AND STATIONS Volumes 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Morris Park..................... Glendale....................... H ollis......................... Northern Boulevard.............. M iddle Village................. W infield..................... Maspeth.................... Blissville...................... South Ozone Park............... Springfield..................... St. Albans.................... Forest H ills.................... Jackson Heights................. 32,022 31,373 28,089 25,267 20,063 13,105 13,089 11,883 11,681 11,675 11,327 8,301 7,951 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. A rverne...................... Elmhurst Manor................. Little Neck................... Laurel Hill..................... R osedale..................... D ouglaston.................... Rockaway Park................. Evergreen................. Broadway-Flushing............... D unton...................... Small Collections.............. Volumes 7,795 6,765 6,475 5,483 5,287 4,350 4,330 3,434 3,261 3,226 82,958 Total...................... 359,190 COMMUNITIES IN THE BOROUGH OF QUEENS WITHOUT LIBRARY SERVICE Auburndale (Treasureland) Baisley Park Belle Harbor Broad Channel Cedar Manor Cherry Avenue Section Cross Bay Boulevard Flushing Heights Forest Hills (Metropolitan Avenue) Forest Park View Glen Morris Hillcrest Hillside (South of L. I. R. R. tracks) Hollis (Between Hollis and St. Albans) Hollis (South' of L. I. R. R. tracks) Howard Beach Jamaica North Jamaica Oaks Kew Gardens Rego Park (Old Mill Road) Ridgewood (Myrtle and Cypress Avenues) Sunnyside-Thompson Hill Trains Meadow Road (Between Woodside and North Beach) Union Course Westbridge *Ditmars (Astoria Annex) has been given temporary service since February 1st, 1927. On July 1st, the Board of Trustees, due to lack of sufficient help, adopted a res61ution restricting the use of the library to new borrowers. The circulation had reached an AVERAGE of 27,500 volumes per assistant. In one branch the circulation was 29,500. The average circulation -per assistant in other well organized libraries is 20,000 volumes or less a year. This action resulted-in a.decrease of 250,000 volumes in the circulation for the year 1926. The Queens Borough Public Library is one of the larger library systems in the United States. The area of Queens is 37% of the City, necessitating an increase in the number of library centers. With a full staff and a book stock large enough to meet the demands of the bm s f t orrowers, the annual circulation could be increased to 3,000,000 volumes, which would mean that the service to the public would be more nearly adequate. 59 BINDING For a number of years prior to 1926 the appropriation allowed by the city for binding has been $6,500 per annum' The dilapidated condition of books in the entire system has proved that the amount has been decidedly too small. The accepted standard for large libraries throughout the library world for binding is 40/o of the book appropriation. The reason for this seemingly large percentage'is that the average publisher's binding,'is too frail and "slimsy" to last for more than ten issues of the book to the public. After the book is bound, however, it may circulate from 60 to 100 times before it is worn out. Allowed in Transfer Appropriated Year Volumes Rebound Regular Budget Within Appropriation from Trustees' Fund 1922............... 12,795 $ 6,500.00 $2,000.00 1923......................... 16,404 6,500.00 4,000.00 1924 14,580 6,500.00 2,500.00 1925...................... 18,512 6,500.00 $6,077.68 238.51 1926..................... 23,636 10,000.00 5,870.40 536.96 1927*...................... 30,518 $20,000.00 * Appropriation of $20,000.00 in the 'Budget for 1927 was all spent on March 31st, 1927. Branches ' January February March Astoria............ 88 230 235 Bayside............. 50 50. 50 Broadway.......... 150 153 100 Corona............ 75 75 75 Elmhurst........... 75... 125 Far iRockaway....... 75 -75 75 -Flushing.............. 300 150 Grandview.......... 75 150 Jamaica............ 150 150 150 Nelson........ 100 50 Ozone Park......... 75 125 107 Poppenhusen....... 50 50 50 Queens Village.... 150 150 Richmond Hill....... 100 80 410 Ridgewood......... 225, 1.00 Seaside............... 150 Steinway............ 50 100 100 Whitestone............ 50 50 Woodhaven...........1. 50 150 Woodside.......... 50 75 150 Extension............. 900 500 Central Reserve......... 502 500 1,063 3,690 3,427 The $20,000 appropriated in the 1927 Budget for binding was used in binding 22,338 volumes left over from 1926, and the binding orders for January, February and March as shown in the above table, total 8,180 volumes. During the months of April, May and June 14,942 volumes were removed from the shelves and are now awaiting delivery to the bindery. The estimated number of volumes to be re-bound from April 1 to December 31, 1927, is 35,000 for which item no funds are available. The Reason the Library has so Many Books to be Bound. In view of the large circulation of books (approximately 2,000,000 volumes per year) the appropriation for new books having been established in 1920 as of $40,000 should have been no lower in the years 1921-1922-1923-1924 and 1925 and the allowances for binding in these years no less than 40%o of the amount appropriated for new books. Because of the diminished allowance for new books the borrowers were compelled to use the books which the librarian felt must be retained on the 60 shelves to meet demands, although they were in need of binding. As a result of this holding over of books unfit for circulation the bulk of the collection has literally collapsed and the new book supply has not been sufficient to restock the shelves. If the funds needed for this wholesale rebinding are forthcoming much can be done toward saving the new book supply which will be inlike condition before long if not relieved by the 35,000 rebound old volumes. This is a penny wise, pound foolish procedure as it sometimes happened that erring on the side of service to the public, the book was allowed to circulate too long and then could not be bound. This policy resulted in a depleted book stock. At the end of 1925, the library was exactly one year in arrears in binding; and although in the 1926 budget an increase of $3,500 was granted, the entire sum allowed was expended within the first quarter of the year. Again in 1927 by the first of April the money was spent but the amount of time in arrears has been somewhat reduced as there is only nine months of back-binding for 1927. In years prior to 1927 the city allowance for the budget was supplemented with appropriations from, fines, as approved by the Board of Trustees. The budget request for binding in 1927 of $30,000 has been proven to be a conservative one but the Budget Director allowed only $20,000. In the budget for 1928 it will be necessary to secure sufficient funds to finish the binding of 1927 amounting to approximately 35,000 volumes at an average cost of $.68 per volume and set aside a sum for re-binding the used books of 1928. Such sum is to be no less than 40% of the amount to be spent for new books. For example; should the City appropriate a like amount for new books in 1928 as was allowed in 1927 ($50,000) the codes for books and binding would read as follows: Books $50,000. Binding 1928 books: 40% of book money.........$20,000 1927 back-binding: Binding from Branches.. 27,000 Vols. Binding from Interchange 5,000 Vols. Binding magazines, etc....... 3,000 Vols. (Estimated)...........35,000 Vols. 23,800 $43,800 The following action was taken by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment upon a request of the Board of Trustees for additional funds to supplement the binding appropriation for 1927. Cal. No. 71 of June 9, 1927. R-3486 RESOLUTION deirying without prejudice to renewal in the 1928 departmental estimate, the request for an appropriation of $18,218.57 from available funds to provide for the rebinding requirements of the Queens Borough Public Library for the remainder of the year 1927;.and for the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to assign an Examiner to make a survey and prepare a report on the binding requirements of the various 'branches, sub-branches and stations of the Queens Borough Public Library, and to describe in detail the actual condition of the book-stock as now existing. The Committee of the WVhole, to which the request, dated April 22, 1927, of the Acting Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Queens Borough Public Lfibrary, for an appropriation of $18,~18.57 for binding books and also for an assignment of an Examiner to make a survey of the bin~ding requirements was referred on April 28, 1927 (Cal. No. 319), directs that it be restored to the calendar and recommends adoption of the above resolution. (Committee Cal. No. 9, May 31, 1927.) Resolution for adoption, denzying request. 61 REFERENCE DEPARTMENT The great purpose of a library is not only to furnish recreative and informative reading to the public for home use but to provide books, staff and place where people may go for information; in other words, the Reference Department, where not only the scholar and the school boy but the "man in the street" may go to settle an argument, determine a fact or find material for debate. The Reference Department of a public library firnishes service to persons of all ages, educated and uneducated, citizen and foreigner, rich and poor; promotes the advancement of learning, and is the source of education in its broadest sense. A reader is referred to those books needed if he is, obviously familiar with the simpler reference methods, and if not he is helped to find the material. Timid people or those who are entirely unused to looking things up have the information found and placed before them. Reference work is the real "backbone" of the program of the adult education system now attracting so much attention. The schools train the child how to study and give him groundwork upon which' to build his future development. The library furnishes the material by which he continues this education when an adult and assists him in the selection of books and in the accumulation of the knowledge which he needs. Many a famous and successful man has given much credit for his pros-perity to the help received in the public library. Many an immigrant, turning to America for the fulfillment of his dreams, and finding there but the drudgery of the sweat shop, has been enabled to pull himself out of the "Slough of Despond" by the help furnished to him in the Reference Depart-. ment of a free public library.' Again, the growth of the Borough has been so great that reference work in the Branches which should have been extended both in service and in the purchase of books, has fallen behind because of the pressing needs of the circulation department. Realizing the necessity of strengthening the reference service in the branches,, the Board of Trustees appropriated a sum of $5,000 from Corporate Funds for use in building up these collections. Each librarian purchased reference books for her branch to the amount alloted but the sum fell short of the present need and far short of the planned equipment. These is constant evidence of the need for a more complete collection of books and better equipment for carrying on the reference service. People are asking for such things as the latest tax revision, modern methods of street traffic management, graphs and business analysis problems, power, fuel, electric design, light, heat, and wiring problems, irrigation, office management, filing and indexing, scientific management, salesmanship, efficiency, advertising, vegetable fats and oils, codes of law, examination questions cf various kinds, Dante, vers libre, evaluation of rare books, home crafts, Americanization, historical data, quotations, and so on, and on. The County Clerk's office, several title and trust companies, banks, and many other business houses and institutions in Jamaica attract many people from the various parts of the Borough and those waiting for business and other appointments take advantage of being near the library to verify a point of information or do reference work which they have had in mind for some time awaiting the opportunity. A close co-operation is planned with those wishing to help in the library program, such as banks, schools, clubs, societies, civic,and Borough organizations and groups whose specialized knowledge will help us to equip the department to help them. In the "Long Island Collection" we have a unique and valuable tool for historical and genealogical reference work. This collection is much used and these books should be fully analyzed, in order to have them yield the wealth of material which is in them. This calls for careful and extensive cataloging. Robert W. Higbie of Jamaica, a member of the State Board of Regents, thinks that more attention should be paid to the study of local history; that it should possibly be taught in the schools so that the people may study and learn more about the history of the community in which they live. Reference volumes in our libraries would aid materially. 62 For the year 1928 we shall need at least $5,000 for the purchase of approximately 1,300 books. We shall also need more room and a larger staff. At the present time this department is operating with one reference librarian, one assistant librarian, and one clerk borrowed for part time. We strongly recommend that the staff of the Reference Department be increased to six. We should also be able to give help on the preparation of bibliographies and of lists for reading and study. There should be provision for the selection and shelving separately of books from various classes to form temporary study units needed by special groups. This work must necessarily be guided by the growth of the collection and the size and calibre of the staff. This is specialized and painstaking work requiring time and training. When in our new building, which we hope to have open by January 1, 1928, we must be able to answer any reasonable questions put to us and the collection of reference books we are now forming is the nucleus of the larger reference division of the library which must become one of the great educational factors of the community. The City has at present almost no burden of maintenance for reference service for its libraries. The great Reference Department of the New York Public Library not only possesses several hundred thousand books inherited from the Astor, Lenox and Tilden libraries, but it also has endowment funds from these and other legacies amounting to millions of dollars, the income entirely supporting the Reference Department and the Central Branch of the Circulating Department. The Brooklyn Public Library, when it took over the old Brooklyn (subscription) Library, came into possession of about 150,000 volumes, which had been purchased from private funds. This was a rich, well-rounded reference library and in addition to the books there were also several endownient funds. The income from these endowments is now used to supplement and augment the older collection. The Queens Borough Public Library has no endowment fund. Our problem is unique for we must begin at rock bottom. The best we have been able to do is to establish headquarters at Jamaica, take over the reference equipment of Jamaica Branch, some books from the Central Reserve Collection and, with an appropriation of $5,000 from Corporate Funds to purchase such additional books as are needed to serve the public's most urgent needs. While our book-stock and staff are admittedly inadequate the demand necessitates at least an attempt to help the people. It is urgently necessary that funds be appropriated to carry on the indispensible reference work in Queens Borough. In the absence of an endowment fund it is necessary for the greatest City of-the Western World to take upon itself the responsibility of supporting, as a privilege and not as a burden, a department which will contribute to the betterment of a million of its citizens to a degree immeasurably great in proportion to the outlay. The Boardof Trustees now has in mind a plan whereby an endowment fund can be established. At a later date this plan will be submitted to the City in a separate document. If we do not advertise the fact that we are here to serve, we believe that our present stock of books, together with those now ordered and those to be ordered before fall, will be sufficient to carry on the department until 1928. Until there are more books, more people on the staff and the catalog is mtore comprehensive, we will be unable to cope with the big problem of rendering satisfactory service to inquirers. There is much material available in the way of Federal and State publications, pamphlets, clippings, and trade advertising, which is valuable for reference but which we cannot acquire until we have room to house and people to handle it. There is also a great store of valuable material in books we already have which are cataloged as, "Reports", "Proceedings", "Bulletins", which when analyzed will prove to be most valuable. It has not been possible to do this in the past on account of a shortage of staff in the cataloging department. The method of cataloging and the extra amount of "analytic" cards needed for a reference department differs as widely from that in a circulation department, as reference books differ from circulation books. In fact, the difference is greater, as two copies of the same book, one placed in each department, may need ten times the analysis for reference as would ordinarily be given to it for circulation purposes. Of course, we can get along with such service as we now have, but the longer it goes on the more good material is lost fot the want of proper analysis. Therefore one of the first services this department needs is that of an experienced cataloger to handle the work of reference cataloging only. Finance How the City money is spent 'ieceipts from City 'eceipts from other sources Financial condition 64 HOW THE CITY MONEY WAS SPENT - 1926 Salaries Library Service....................................................... Salaries Janitor Service....................................................... Books............................................ Periodicals...................................... Binding................................................................ Rent....................................................... Heat................... General Equipment, Furniture, etc...................... I......................... Minor Repairs............................................................... Supplies................................................................. Printing..................................................................... Telephone................................................................. Transportation, Postage, Express, Freight, etc.................................. Other Maintenance......................................................... Total City Maintenance............. Balance......................... Total City Appropriation........... Budget Appropriation 1926.................................................... Additional Appropriation for Rentals (Transferred from Code 3640 on Nov. 11, 1926, Cal 34)................................................................... $167,815.26 22,020.00 33,815.56 3,184.44 15,870.40 37,541.50 5,100.00 3,092.24 4,265.53 3,091.08 2,030.75 1,577.85 5,559.57 473.76 $305,437.94 77.56 $305,515.50 $300,974.00 4,541.50 $305,515.50 STATEMENT OF CASH. RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS CORPORATE FUNDS-1926 Cash Balance, January 1, 1926................................................. Receipts: State Appropriation......................................................... Interest Earned on Bank Balances.......................................... Fines, Pay Collection, and other Receipts collecte by the Branches................. Insurance Settlement.................................................. Sales of Old Books.................................................. Receipt from Unknown Source (Conscience Money)............................ Total.......................... Disbursements: Salaries Library Service................................................. Salaries Janitor Service................................................ Books-State Fund........................................................... Books-Traveling Department................................................ Special Binding........................................................ Pay Collection................................................................ Rent.................................................................. Balance on Auto Purchase................................................ Telephone............................................................... Transportation, Postage, etc............................................ Legal Services............................................................ Premium on Insurance................................................... Balance........................ $19,604.57 2,000.00 365.67 22,153.62 145.00 95.46 15.00 $44,379.32 $12,662.78 2,489.48 2,000.00 36.43 536.96 8,309.62 107.00 201.00 5.18 414.90 250.00 77.33 $27,090.68 17,288.64 $44,379.32 65 RECEIPTS JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1926 Overdue Pay Sale of Branches Fines Postals Collection Telephone Lost Books Old Paper Total A storia.................... Bayside.................. Broadway................. Corona.................. Elmhurst................. Flushing................. Far Rockaway............. Grandview.............. Jam aica.................. N elson................... Ozone Park............... Poppenhusen............... Q ueens................... Richmond Hill............. Ridgewood................ Steinway................. Seaside.................. W hitestone................. W oodhaven................ W oodside................. Traveling................. Office................... $ 262.00 379.92 825.42.201.30 628.70 884.91 728.29 485.60 1,351.36 122.06 659.77 307.15 702.59 1,143.37 664.56 279.44 356.46 242.82 1,539.98 31000 1,211 59 $ 39.42 13.06 46.70 22.12 32.84 96.81 64.32 41.74 111.36 19.85 38.62 46.08 23.94 67.58 34.50 15.12 17.62 25.66 20.94 12.82 73.53 $ 282.56 289.90 433.73 101.20 623.22 1,173.50 598.75 175.15 933.14 289.41 115.19 382.66 387.09 269.06 313.03 261.85 368.05 114.73 200.74 $.70 $ 15.17 2.75 7.75.30 18.08 6.45 11.64 27.39 17.78 5.50 12.44 9.45 68.07 6.35 15.46 2.15 38.02 5.15 5.12 7.25 16.53 13.20 19.06 3.47 8.88 13.00 39.42 5.15 16.05 4.75 9.70 3.95 19.79 5.20 10.68 4.50 43.07 11.26 11.42... 202.07 9.61.. $ 5.50 $ 605.35.25 693.63 3.90 1,328.13.10 342.81 3.25 1,333.18 1.75 2,174.91.. 1,468.88 3.00 727.30 2,436.53 4.40 156.58 4.32 1,015.90 3.70 504.38 3.15 1,124.69 8.95 1,659.41 5.50 994.82 3.25 312.26 710.85 546.21 3.00 1,979.54 1.84 462.07.. 1,687.93 9.61 Total................. $13,287.29 $865.13 $7,312.96 $147.53 $606.20 $55.86 $22,274.97 Receipts from whatever source, are deposited to the Funds of the Corporation whether originating in City appropriations, from fines imposed, or from voluntary or other contributions. Under the law creating the Corporation, and the Contract with the City, the Board of Trustees issue checks for salaries and expenses and forward to the Comptroller of the City, each month, signed vouchers for the full sum of the warrants drawn against the Budget appropriations. At the end of each year an accounting is made to the Comptroller of the City of all receipts and expenditures of other than City appropriations. During 1926, notwithstanding the shortened hours of opening, the Trustees were compelled to expend, for additional help, the sum of $15,152.26, of which the sum of $2,840.12 was for substitutes, as the Budget appropriation of $8,400.00 was exceeded by $4,228.50, of which only $1,388.38 was available for transfer from accruals. Other miscellaneous items necessitated an expenditure of $1,628.80. During the past five years a sum exceeding $45,000.00 has been expended in this fashion, the refunding of which has been requested by the Trustees and is now pending before the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. 66 BALANCE SHEET- CORPORATE FUNDS as of December 31, 1926. Assets: Cash, First National Bank of Jamaica............................ $14,467.21 Bank of Manhattan Company....................... 736.12 Accounts Receivable from the City of New York: Branch Petty Cash Disbursements.......................... $' 258.98 Corporate Fund Advances...................................... 6,059.39 Petty Cash Funds: (! Mechanics Bank............................................ Branch Libraries........................................... Finance Department........................................ Total Assets..................................................... Corporate Fund............................................... * $ 1,000.00 51.00 15.00 $15,203.33 6,318.37 1,066.00 $22,587.70 $22,587.70 STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURES CORPORATE FUNDS-1926 Balance, January 1, 1926, General Account................... Balance, January 1, 1926, Petty Cash........................................... Total, January 1, 1926..................................... $19,563.50 1,107.00 $20,670.50 Income: State Appropriations.......................... $ 2,040.0 Interest, Bank Balances....................... 365.6 Branch Collections..................... $22,274.97 Less refunds............................. 121.35 22,153.6 Insurance Settlement........................ 145.0 Sale of Old Books........................... 95.4( Receipt from unknown source (conscience money). 15.0 Total Income........................ Expenditures: Salaries..................................... $12.312.1z Other than Salaries......................... 10,585.4 Total Expenditures..................... Excess of Income over Expenditures.............. Balance, December 31, 1926, General Account...... Balance, December 31, 1926, Petty Cash........... Total............................... BRANCH LIBRARIES-1926 Collections: Fines..................................................... Overdue Postage............................................. Pay Collections.............................................. Telephone................................................... Lost Books................................................... Sale of Old Paper................................. Total Collections......................................... 0 7 2 0 6 0 $24,814.75 4 1 22,897.55 $21,521.70 1,066.00 1,917.20 $22,587.70 $13,287.29 865.13 7.312.96 147.53 606.20 55.86 $22,274.97 67 The system of financial accounting now used in The Queens Borough Public Library was introduced in 1919 by the Commissioner of Accounts of the City of New York after an exhaustive examination made at the request of the Board of Trustees. All transactions of a financial nature are audited annually and the Trustees in the past have commissioned Mr. W. M. Conant who made the audit in 1919 for the Commissioner of Accounts to furnish them with this yearly information. Not only are copies of the audit sent annually to the Comptroller of the City of New York but information is furnished to any City Department upon request and inspection of the records by any duly authorized City Official is gladly welcomed at any time. COPY WILLIAM M. CONANT & CO. ACCOUNTANTS-AUDITORS 171 MADISON AVENUE NEW YORK CITY ASHLAND 6760 April 21, 1927. MR. EDWARD J. LAHERTY, Chairman Finance Committee, The Queens Borough Public Library, Jamaica, L. I. Dear Sir: Pursuant to the request of the Board of Trustees, we have audited the books of the Queens Borough Public Library for the year ending December 31st, 1926, and submit herewith our report. We respectfully call the attention of your committee to the fact that the collections made during the,year in branch libraries have increased from $14,901.40' in 1923 to $22,274.97 in 1926. Your attention is respectfully directed to the fact that during the past year the Corporate Funds have increased in the amount of $1,917.20. We desire to report that the records of the Department of Finance and Equipment have been efficiently maintained during the period reviewed by us, and we find a very complete, up-to-date record of the library's financial transactions. Respectfully submitted, WM. M. CONANT & CO. WMC:GB (Signed by) WM. M. CONANT. Staf Ilddilional positions necessary Training School Salaries Pensions 70 STAFF For more than a period of ten years the administration of this library has urged that additional help be furnished by the City and that positions be established for the purpose of relieving the overload of circulation which the staff has been carrying. The library officials are grateful that this claim was recognized by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment in the 1927 Budget; when an increased appropriation was granted in the personal service code in the sum of $43,860. At a conference with the Budget Director, 37 positions were decided upon, but due to. promotions and re-assignments we found that is was possible to create from this sum of money 41. However, as the circulation per assistant prior to 1926, was 27,500, these positions when filled with qualified applicants will leave the library in such shape that circulation will still exce2d the accepted standard of 20,000 volumes per librarian. In a section growing as is Queens Borough, to assume that circulation will remain at a definite figure is impossible. For instance, when the Budget is made up, the figure may be placed at 20,000 volumes per librarian but six months later upon th" receipt of new books, the circulation may rise far beyond the stated 20,000. Consequently, in order to allow for growth and expansion a standard,'V of 18.000 must be used, otherwise, owing to the fast increasing circulation, in six months time we again will undoubtedly be in the same position. The following is an excerpt from a letter dated April 7, 1922, based upon a report by an Inspector of the Library Extension Division, State Department of Education: "A thoroughly satisfactory library service cannot be rendered where the assistants' time is so fully taken up with purely clerical task of issuing and receiving books that it becomes impossible to give that personal attention and assistance to the public which is so essential a part of really effective library work. "The average circulation per assistant for all of the New York Public Library Branches is 17,084 and for the Brooklyn Public Library Branches 15,541, as against 24,800 for the Queens Borough Publ:c Library. If we exclude the Central Branch of the New York Public Library and the Montague Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library as rendering a service of a character somewhat different from that of the other branches of those systems the average circulation per assistant is 18,556 and 16.687 which is 34 per cent. and 48 per cent. less, respectively, than the circulation per assistant in The Queens Borough Public Library branch system. "It cannot be successfully contended that the larger circulation per assistant is an evidence of greater efficiency, for efficient library service includes a great deal more than the ability to issue a certain number of volumes in a certain unit of time. To compel a library assistant to devote all of her energy and time to the mere mechanical duty of charging and discharging books is to deprive the public of the most valuable part of library service, namely advice and assistance in the selection and use of books. "The people who use your library are entitled to as adequate and competent service as is rendered by the other library systems of Greater New York, and we do not believe that such service can be given where the average circulation per assistant is as high as it is in your librar y. We therefore strongly recommend that you take such steps as may be necessary to increase the size of your staff to an extent that will make it comparable with the staffs of the New York and Brooklyn Public Libraries." Very truly yours, (Signed) WM\. R. WATSON, Chief, Library Extension Division. 71 We call particular attention to the paragraph from the report -of the Chief of the Ex-tension Divi -sion of the University of the State of New York concerning the larger circulation per assistant not being evidence of greater efficiency. While at first glance it may appear to be a flattering statement that each librarian is circulating such a large number of books yet it is agreed, by all in the library profession, that such library service is not real library work. To provide an ad'equate staff for the present branches and stations as well as for new stations, and collections, using as a factor the 18,000 volumes, it will be necessary to provlide a total of 60 additional- employees enumerated as follows: ADMINISTRATION 1 Supervisor Work with Schools (Instructor advance work" with children).......... $3,000 $3,000 1 Superintendent of Binding.......................................... 2A20 2,280 1 Assistant Secretary........................................................ 1800 1800 1 Investigator of Lost and Overdue Books.......................................1,740 1,ý740 1 Stenographer and Typist....................................................1,500 1500 1 Ass -istant Clerk........................................................... 1,500 1,500 1 Assi'stant Clerk..........................................................1, 3)20 1,320 2 Assistant Clerks.......................................................... 15200 2,400 1 Assistant of Repairs........................................................14,860 1,860 1 Auto EngTineman.......................................... *................. 1,620 1,620 2 Caretakers............................................................... 1,800 3,600 2 Cleaners................................................................. 720 1,440 CATALOGUE DEPARTMENT 2 Grade 3 Librarians........................................................ $1,800 $3,600 3 Grade 2 Librarians........................................................ 1,500 4,500 EXTENSION DIVISION (SUB-BRANCHES AND STATIONS) 1 Book Wagon Supervisor................................................... $1,850 $1,850 1 Children's Librarian- (Instructor in Children's Work).......................... 2,100 2,100 1 Book Wagon Assistant.....................................................1,560 1,560 4 Grade No. 2............................................................. 1,500 6,000 5 Grade No'..1............................................................1,200 6,000 BRANCHES 5 Children's Librarians...................................................... $1,ý800 $9,00,0 3 Reference Librarians......................................................1,800 5,400 14 Grade No. 1 Librarians.................................. I*........ *. *........ *1,200 16,800 72 TRAINING SCHOOL The increase in population in Queens Borough and the demand for more libraries, more books and more library service of all kinds, brings with it a heavier burden of circulation for each member of the staff. In 1925 the situation had reached the point where each librarian circulated an average per year far exceeding the estimated circulation carried by librarians in other cities. The Trustees were forced into the position of closing the branches part time for want of help, a condition which was relieved by the thirty-seven additional positions granted in the Budget for 1927 by Director Kohler after an exhaustive investigation by his examiner. The upward swing of population is only beginning and just as more teachers are assigned each.year to take care of the schools of Queens, so it is necessary that more librarians be allowed each year in order to take care of both the adult and juvenile borrowers at the libraries. This annual in-coming force of young people to be employed on the staff hnust consist -of trained workers, for the trend in the library profession, as in fact in every educational activity, is toward a well-rounded education and specialized training. Since library school graduates with a college degree will accept no salary less than $1,620 and, since the majority of our new positions are slated at $1,200 for entrants, it is obviously impossible to fill these elementary positions with graduates of library schools or even with librarians already trained and experienced in other libraries of the country. i It has become necessary therefore for this library to establish its own training class in library methods: cataloging, the selection of books, reference work, story-telling and other phases of children's work and the rules of the library. No more than general training can be given in a seven months' course, but this must be of high inspirational value with a scope which will start the novice along the road which leads to professional advancement. The members of the class must be well grounded in library routine and must in addition be given enthusiasm to measure up to the standards of librarianship presented to them, so as to help to make this library a well organized institution, able to give a high type of specialized service to the reasearch worker, the business man, the foreigner, the college student and the child; in short to every type of resident in Queens Borough. The Board of Trustees have shown determination to place the new Library Training School in advance of the required standard and have gone to the extent of establishing the position of Consulting Librarian and Supervisor of Staff Instruction in the appointment of Miss Isabella M. Cooper, a recognized leader in her field of work, formerly Librarian-in-Charge of the Central Circulation of the New York Public Library and lecturer in the School of Library Science of the University of California in 1927. The Director of the Library Extension Division of the New York State Department of Education Mr. Frank L. Tolman, commends our appointment as follows: THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK The State Department of Education ALBANY. LIBRARY EXTENSION DIVISION June 7, 1927. Frank L. Tolman, Director June 7, 1927. MR. OWEN J. DEVER, Director Queens Borough Public Library, Jamaica, New York City. My dear Mr. Dever: I have noted with great satisfaction the appointment of Miss Isabella M. Cooper as director of the training work for the Queens Borough Public Library. I believe that no single project could promise so much of benefit in the increased efficiency of your staff as the establishment of this work under the able leadership of Miss Cooper. It has been a pleasure to note this forward step in a recent issue of ANew York Libraries and I shall follow with interest the development of vour liblrary in efficiency which I anticipate will follow from this action. Very truly yours, (Signed) FRANK L. TOLMAN. Another instructor will be David L. Haykin, at present Head Cataloger of the New York State Library. Mr. HIaykin has recently accepted appointment to the position of Chief of the Cataloging Department and will conduct the course in this subject. The following letter was received from a member of the Library Certification Committee of the State Board of Regents: 73 HAMILTON COLLEGE LIBRARY' JOSEPH D. IBBOTSON, LIBRARIAN CLINTON, N. Y. "t... It interests me to know of the rapid strides that your library is making, and the fine plans that you have for its future development. "I quite agree with you that the head of your cataloguing department should be experienced in other fields of library work. The cataloguer who understands the work of the reference department, for instance, will be of far more value to the library and the public..... (Signed) JosEP-i D. IBBOTSoN." -Why broad education and specialized training is necessary for the librarian: Need for broad education: To meet requests for assistance from all types of citizens of varying degrees of educational requirements: The individual of little education but of intelligent outlook who has discovered that there are books which can help him with many practical everyday problems in caring for the household: The children-hygiene, clothing, schooling The housekeeping The budget The new home building The individual of little education who realizes that there is a world of interest in literature, travel, science and many other fields, but who does not know where to begin. The individual in the business, commercial, technical, political or industrial world who knows that he must be up to the minute on information concerning his work but has not the time to keep track of the flood of material issuing in print. The individual of broad education who is also possessed of a great fund of general information and wishes constantly to be kept in touch with all the latest developments and movements of importance in world history. The student' who still needs guidance in the way of material for the intelligent working out of his assignments or developing original problems or projects. The intensively educated person who is in crying need of intelligent, interested assistance in running down crucially importaImt items requiring untiring research endurance. Teachers and professors who need constant co-operation from librarians. The children who in every phase of their development come in contact with the library, necessitating specialized knowledge of their literature and literature about' them, including history of education and latest developments in methods. Note: These are only a few of the endless demands upon a librarian's store of knowledge which necessitates the broadest kind of educational background coupled of course with the kind of personality which is willing and able to produce the goods. Need for specialized training: To give intelligent service in supplying material and information in the above and numberless other cases, by" learning about' sources and tools: Sources: Encyclopedic, handbook material: Which are the best, general, special; what do they contain, exactly; how do you get at what is in them? Books: Which are the best, the oldest, the newest, the most reliable, the most accurate, the most popular-on any particular subject? Research material: What institutions issue specialized monographs of old value or basic importance, of up-to-date achievement, of economics, history, 'finance in the making? What do governments, state or national, issue of value to research workers, farmrers, diplomats, students, teachers, schools, labor, homes, institutions, children? 74 Tools-How to make, organize, use: Card catalogues and printed indexes. A specialization in itself. Vertical files of latest information-knowledge of filing systems. Business organization methods as applied to library order and finance departments. Records, records, records as many as any first class business house-to be handled with accuracy, dispatch, acumen. Note: These are only a few of the countless lines of technical specialization demanded by the profession, requiring two solid years of study and application, and then constant further study throughout the professional career. With the proposed teachers, our Training Class will not only give elementary instruction to prepare for the junior grade but will also direct the advanced study of assistants desiring to take the examinations for promotion to positions of increased responsibility. In return for tuition the entrants agree to work for at least one year on the staff of The Queens Borough Public Library. One of the best training classes in the country is that of the Detroit Public Library which has a well-defined standard of entrance requirements. We append herewith a table showing the progress and development of the Training School in that institution since 1913 and the advance in educational qualification from a high school diploma to a college degree or at least some years of college work., We are informed that requirements for the training class in the Detroit Public Library include entrance examination, at least two years of college work or preferably college graduation. Compensation while training is $100, per month at forty and one-half hours per week. Minimum salary when appointed is $1,440.00 per annum and the assistant may advance to the grade of Branch Librarian of a small branch at a salary of $2,340.00 or a large branch at $2,640.00 per annum. TRAINING CLASS -DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY Table 1. Education of Training Class Graduates: No. Receiving Class of Appointments High School Graduates College Graduates Partial College 1913-14.................... 20 12 2 6 1914-15.................... 19 14 2 3 1915-16..................... 12 6 4 2 1916-17.................... 9 1 6 2 1917-18.................... 13 10 1 2 1918................... 7 3 2 2 1918-19.................... 1-5 6 3 6 1919.................... 7 2 4 1 1919-20.................... 9 3 6 4 1920-21.................... 15 4 8 3 1921-22.................... 18 1 13 4 1922-23.................... 9 1 6 2 1923..................... 8 2 4 2 1923-24.................... 10 0 9 1 1924-25.................... 8 0 6 2 1925-26.................... 14 0 11 3 193 65 83 45 The Detroit Public Library has aimed at lofty ideals for entering library service. It is our contention that the three library systems of Greater New York should hold to no less a standard. Such education and training must receive a compensation salary and this is the reason why we strongly advocate a revision of the salary of the grades to the following scale: MIinimum Maximum Grade 1........................ $1,500 $1,740 Grade 2........................ 1,800 2,040 Grade 3........................ 2,100 2,340 Grade 4........................ 2,400 3,000 75 RECOMMENDATION FOR A CENTRAL TRAINING SCHOOL To secure efficient management of the training class and a thorough preparation of the students for entrance into the library service of the City, we would most respectfully urge that there be established one library training school for the three systems; that such institution be located in the Central Building of either New York, Brooklyn or Queens; such library school to be in charge of a competent principal well' grounded in library science, with a faculty founded by the amalgamation of the present staffs of instructors in the three library schools. Applicants from all the Boroughs would meet the same entrance requirements, receive approved library training, according to a curriculum adapted by competent instructors to the needs of the local libraries; and when graduated would accept appointments at the uniform salary schedule, following in general the practice which obtains in regard to the training of teachers in the City of New York. This central school would also be in a position to conduct annual promotional examinations and promulgate an' eligible list for each grade from which appointments would be made by the three library systems according to the salary revision given above. Further elaboration will not be attempted but will be left for a conference of the officials of the three libraries concerned. The cost of establishing such a training school should be chargeable to an appropriation made for that purpose and not included in the library budget or in the cost of maintaining libraries. ALTERNATIVE PLAN An alternative plan and one which seems worthy of consideration is to include a library course in the curriculum of Hunter College and the College of the City of New York, the course of study and the instructors to be subject to the approval of the Board of Regents of the State of New York. The major subject would be"library science with such other subjects, as would be selected as useful to the future librarian. For practice work which is considered an essential part of the preparation the various public libraries and special libraries of the metropolis could furnish unequalled facilities. The degree in library science from either of these colleges would be equivalent to the degree given by Drexel, Pratt or similar institutions. The graduates would be accredited for positions in the public libraries and the high school libraries of the City. Hundreds of opportunities would also be open to them in the special libraries which are now considered a necessary part of the working equipment of all lines of business. Such library courses would be valuable additions to the many and varied resources already furnished by the free educational system of the Board of Education of The City of New York. SALARIES In order to attract to the library profession people with the desired educational qualifications it naturally follows that an adequate salary must be offered. There is no reason why because of smaller salaries, the libraries of Greater New York should be obliged to accept a lower standard for their employees than is required by the libraries of other large cities. The business world and the city authorities must realize that the service takes machinery, exact, many-formed and expensive. Library service is not that of an attendant at a five-cent-a-day fiction stand but of a high grade of specialization which needs educational background, professional training, technical skill and physical endurance. The worker, therefore, must receive adequate returns and it has now come to the point where the need for librarians exceeds the supply and they demand good salaries. Therefore the city which will not make sufficient appropriations in the salary code will have poor service, a growling public, and a low ranking among other cities in a service which contributes largely to the welfare of its citizens. We strongly urge that the Director of the Budget make a survey of the requirements of other large libraries to the end that salaries comparable with those paid in such institutions should be put into effect in the Budget of The City of New York for 1928. For several years this library has claimed that the staff should be paid a salary equal to similar institutions supported by the City. We cannot escape the conclusion that a well educated and fully equipped librarian in charge of a branch library is entitled to receive a salary as high as that approved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment for librarians of high schools of this City, which provides a maximum of $2,700 76 Equal salaries for the library force should prevail throughout the city of Greater New York. This is the only logical conclusion when one considers that city employees, such as firemen, policemen, mechanics and teachers receive equal pay in all Boroughs. The policeman stationed at Forty-second Street and Broadway in the heart of the metropolis receives no greater salary than the rne in the outlying districts of Queens. The size and location of the library is not the controlling factor in evaluating a librarian. While the scale of salaries in The Queens Borough Public Library with respect to minimum and maximum rates is identical with that in the New York and Brooklyn Public Libraries, the lack of sufficient moneys in the personal service code necessitates paying some of our workers a sub-minimum rate. The amount required to elevate these sub-minimum salaries to their proper places in the grades is the sum of $4,980.00. The recommendation of Director Kohler granting to The Queens Borough Public Library the sum of $10,780.00 in March, 1927, was not sufficient to make an adequate adjustment in the salaries- of all the staff. The amount so granted was augmented by a similar sum voted by the Board of Trustees and a partial adjustment in salary rates was made in the different grades, taking effect as of May 1st. For the purpose of adjusting the present salaries within the grades to a parity with those paid in simi-, lar institutions in New York City for equal years of service will necessitate an appropriation from the City of $18,000.00. Graduates from library schools such as the School of Library Service of Columbia University, Pratt Institute and others who hold a college diploma and a degree in Library Science, when applying for a position in our library, expect a salary of at least $1,620.00. It is a rarity to find an experienced librarian with full qualifications who will accept less than $1,800.00. As the minimum salary for our lowest grade is only $1,200.00 we find it very difficult, almost impossible, to secure applicants to fill our positions. For this reason the staff of The Queens Borough Public-Library includes at the present time thirty-five untrained temporary clerks. It is only reasonable that adequate preparation for service and continued self improvement through appropriate courses leading to promotion should be recognized by commensurate compensation. Lack of such recognition cannot but have a depressing effect upon the best personalities. ýWith these considerations in mind and in order to secure trained assistants and maintain a competent staff, the scale of salaries should be no less than: Minimum Maximum Grade 1....................... $1,500 $1,740 Grade 2........................ 1,800 2,040 Grade 3....................... 2,100 2,340 Grade 4........................ 2,400 3,000 For the purpose of making an advance toward this ideal scale, we would respectfully recommend that the salaries giving credit for years of service within the present grades be made uniform in the three systems and that for the coming year of 1928, the four grades be adjusted to the following: Minimum Maximum Grade 1..................... $1,320 $1,560 Grade 2...........................1,620 1,860 Grade 3...................... 1,920 2,160 Grade 4...................... 2,220 2,700 To accomplish the above purpose for the Queens Borough system approximately the sum of $18.720.00 will be needed in the budget for 1928. 77 PENSIONS Pensions for Librarians have been urged on the ground that public libraries like the public schools are supported by the taxes of the people. They render free service to the entire population, and in this respect are even more completely public servants than the schools. They have no age limit. Their patrons are of all ages and classes. Librarians' salaries have never been adequate, and although recently the scale of salaries in each grade was somewhat increased, they do not compare with" those of other city employees and those in other professions. Librarians have not been able to save for the future. They do not even enjoy the privilege of an automatic increase in salary. On the other hand, teacher's salaries are on a much higher scale with automatic increases. Furthermore, they are receiving the benefits of a pension system supported by the city. Librarians, with still inadequate salaries, no automatic increases and no pension benefits, face the future with great financial anxiety. Superannuation among the employees is a detriment to the service. It is not sound economy to hamper the service of the libraries and at the same time withhold the necessities of life from those who have worn themselves out in the city service. They should not be so penalized. Pensions granted to those who are ready to retire would make way for promotions in the various grades. The promise of pensions to those in the lower grades would provide a stimulus and give new life to the service and would furnish an incentive to stick to the profession. The necessities of the employees form one sound basis for the desirability of a pension. But a point of even greater importance is that the people of the City of Greater New York, served by the library, would behefit by an improved service. The present "Scheme of Service" worked out jointly by the libraries of New 'York, Brooklyn and Queens, in conjunction with city representatives of the Board of Estimate provides for a graded service with a fixed salary schedule. Promotion is determined by examination and service ratings and protects the employees against discrimination or favoritism. The requirements for admission and promotion in the, grades are steadily advancing. The growth of the libraries, the character of their' educational service, and the increasingly wider range of their activities demand more training and better equipment on the part of librarians. But no financial encouragement can be offered for the additional preparation and training required. No inducement is offered for the best equipped to continue in the work. The wider recognition of the importance of libraries in the furtherance of adult education work, and as a creator and fashioner of taste in its children's work is significant. -The public library is a public necessity. It is also recognized as most 'important in the promotion of international understanding and in the furtherance of scientific research. Librarians as tax-payers and voters favored pension benefits for teachers. Teachers and others enjoying these privileges, as tax-payers and voters, surely realize the justice of pensions for librarians. In numbers not nearly as great as teachers, in service as important, librarians could benefit from a pension-plan at little cost to the City. Intelligent and fair-minded citizens cannot fail to realize that such a service is entitled to just rewards equal to those in other educational work. Bills to amend the Boylan Pension Law for New York City employees to include librarians have been introduced at Albany several times. Dates of introduction follow: 1921 introduced by Mr. Pette 1922 introduced by Mr. Boylan 1923 introduced by Mr. Dever 1927 introduced by Mr. Dineen 78 As all of these attempts have been unsuccessful some other plan will have to be devised and the matter is now under consideration by committees of librarians from the three Greater New York Library Systems. The Board of Trustees of this library have whole heartedly supported the movement to have the employees of the library systems throughout Greater New York included in the City's retirement system. Their efforts have been ably seconded by the elected representatives of Queens Borough in the State Legislature and the Queens Borough Officials in the City Administration have been constantly in sympathy with the cause. It is noteworthy that in every effort made to secure legislation for pensions, the library staff has been confronted by opposition from the proponents of the Civil Service idea. Also it is recorded that in opposing the plan in the Legislature the statement has been made that the library is a separate and distinct corporation chartered by the State and it necessarily follows that the members of the staff being employees.of a private corporation, not city employees, cannot come under Civil Service. Another group states that, if by means of a change in the charter, employees could come under Civil Service they mnight yet be denied the right to be included in the retirement system as they would still be employees of a State chartered (private) corporation. The criticism advanced by the Civil Service advocates, concerning pensions, has never been along constructive lines. If they have a better plan, it has never been submitted to the Board of Trustees or the Staff Association of the Library. Should the opponents be able to evolve a workable scheme to include library employees in some municipal retirement system, or a separate pension plan, the library administration would welcome the opportunity to give it most careful consideration. CONCLUSION The preceding commentary upon present conditions makes clear the fact that the library facilities of Queens Borough are quite inadequate to its needs. His Honor Mayor Walker and his associates in the City government have indicated their willingness to recognize the, necessity for more funds by the increase in the budget for 1927 of nearly thirty-three per centum, which the Board of Trustees deeply appreciate. It may appear that the requests for additional appropriations are unending, but the foregoing survey explains in a very definite manner why the Board is compelled to ask for further increases that the library may function adequately, for the present annual expenditure of less than forty one cents per capita is obviously insufficient. In view of the large population of Queens Borough, this institution which ten years ago was seventh among the great libraries of the country, should have retained or bettered its position; but with budgets clearly out of proportion to its requirements it has fallen to seventeenth position. Only a general upward trend affecting every department will place it again in its rightful position. The City of New York cannot afford to have it said that while it recognizes the value of the library, it fails to give adequate financial support. The Board of Trustees wish to emphasize the importance of the following subjects when consideration is given to the budget of 1928: 79 SALARIES 1. The scale of salaries should be adjusted to give full compensation for the high type of service demanded and rendered. 2. Salaries should be uniform throughout all Boroughs and when salary increases are granted they should affect all three library systems alike. 3. Educational fitness and special training should be further emphasized and recognized in salary adjustments. ADDITIONAL POSITIONS Additional positions are needed so that the staff may give that personal attention and assistance to the public which is so essentially a part of effective library work. Residents in all sections of the,greatest city in the world have every right to expect only the best. With an increased budget pace could be kept with modern ideas and many of the features which other libraries include in their regular activities and which either have never been attempted or have been dropped under present conditions, could be undertaken. BOOKS'AND BINDING Queens Borough boasts a phenomenal growth in the past five years but during that period the library has been too impoverished to aid in its progress. The units of service with which the library "works-books-must be greatly augmented if the library is to keep abreast of such times as these, Sufficient book purchases should be made possible to rehabilitate at once the book stock of the library, to keep pace with the demands of the public and to allow an extension in all branches of library service. Allowances for binding sufficient to keep the book equipment in suitable condition for the use of the public have been sadly neglected for several years past and the importance of adequate funds must be forcibly stressed. EQUIPMENT A substantial budget allowance for the purchase of new furniture for the administration offices and the circulation departments is urged. Grateful acknowledgment is made for an increase given last year which permitted the purchase of typewriters and furniture which were sadly needed as the records of the Underwood Company show that at least one typewriter was twenty-two years old. The old furniture was becoming unfit for use for during the period from 1918 to 1926 it was not possible to purchase one new chair! RENTALS On page 33 of this survey the matter of library rentals is fully amplified and submitted in detail. Without library buildings the branches of necessity must be continued in rented quarters. TRAINING CLASS In respect to merging the training class activities of the three library systems, it is believed that the following are the outstanding advantages: 1. Economy of administration. 2. Uniformity of qualifications for entrance and training. 3. Future changes in standards, if and when made, will affect the three systems identically and make for co-operation and not competition. Statement made by the Board of Trustees 82 STATEMENT BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES \While not unmindful of the great responsibilities besetting the City Administration, occasioned by the eternal procession of problems demanding solution and the proper budgeting of annual appropriations approximating one-half billion dollars, and while admitting the imperative-needs of the police, fire, health and other almost equally important departments as well as the extension of the transit system, the elaborate park program, the school system with its ever present demands and the rehabilitation of the dilapidated hospitals, yet the Trustees cannot believe that all the city funds should be appropriated for these activities, however pressing, and they still contend that adequate support could be afforded the free public libraries without embarrassment to the City. The purposes of a free public library are too well known to need repeating, as they are universally recognized as among the greatest supplements to modern education,, and to realize fully these aims and purposes only one thing is lacking, ADEQUATE FINANCIAL SUPPORT. The budget suggested by the Board of Trustees for 1928 approximates ninety cents per capita and includes the extension program which was included in the estimates for 1927 but deferred by the Director of the Budget. During the conduct of affairs by the previous City Administration, even if the willingness of the spirit is assumed, the truth stands out, naked and stark, that the needs of public libraries in the metropolitan area were ignored when budgets were prepared. In the opinion of the officials of this Institution this was the result of a lack of sympathetic understanding of the well defined, and generally acknowledged, purposes for which libraries are created and maintained at public expense. The greatest stimulus to library activities in almost a decade was given in the budgets for 1926 and 1927 in which were allowed increases of $373,839.00 to the New York Public Library, $190,705.53 to the Brooklyn Public Library and $127,254.00 to The Queens Borough Public Library. These adjustments together with the splendid spirit of co-operation indicated ini the granting of $750,000.00 for the Central Building in Brooklyn and $500,000.00 for a like purpose in Queens, will tend to give the same added impetus to the furtherance of the library movement here as is displayed by municipal authorities in other' parts of the country. These substantial increases give welcome and audible answer to those who have been seeking adequate support for these great institutions which so wonderfully supplement the educational system; for the proper use of a well equipped library makes for a post graduate course free to all people. Much has been accomplished in the past two years toward the rehabilitation of the public libraries of this City and the Board of Trustees are fully confident that His Honor, Mayor Walker, and his associates on the Board of Estimate and Apportionment will fix upon a definite policy of library appropriations, so assuring sufficient funds for annual maintenance, based upon such acknowledged and accepted standards that will lift the question of "how much" beyond the realm of controversy. 83 The Board of Trustees of The Queens Borough Public Library have authorized the preparation of this survey hoping that the facts set forth without bias or technicality will do much to aid the members of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment in fixing upon a policy of financial support for the libraries of the City. The libraries are so valuable to all the people, whatever their walk in life, that their usefulness must not be impaired, and the service given must be extended to cover the entire City. Judge Talley recently said that the public library more than any other agency made for the lessening of crime, anid especially juvenile waywardness. Today there are thousands of youths who have no opportunity to lay hold of such advantages, and this is true at least of Queens Borough -if a library is adjacent there are not enough books for the borrowers. The Queens Borough Public Library has just one half book for each registered school child of the Borough! The Board of Trustees daily facing these facts, and having intimate knowledge of the existing unfortunate conditions respectfully, yet earnestly, commend this review to the attention of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, with.the assurance that far more generous support will be granted the libraries of the greater City in the future than heretofore, raising their usefulness to their proper and designed sphere. Freely admitting the right of the City Administration to expect and demand efficient management, rigid economy and wholehearted co-operation, this Board of Trustees collectively and individually pledge their best endeavor to that end. EDWARD L. HEIN, President; CHARLES F. BRUCKER, Secretary; WILLIAM J. DOLAN, Treasurer; JOHN W. DOLAN, FERDINAND L. FEUERBACH, JAMES T. HALLINAN, THEODORE W. HENNINGER, EDWARD J. LAHERTY, JOHN H. LEICI-H, REV. EDWARD F. McGOLDRICK, GEORGE W. POPLE, HENRY STOESSER, M. D., GEORGE A. VANDENHOFF. JAN 11 19g UNIV. F i,g LIS' ARy UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN 3 9015 03394 0936