of most APPENDIX XXII. - LIBRARIES IN MASSACHUSETTS, 1868-9. - Continued. Novels and Juveniles. Use of Books yearly. in volumes. Yearly increase Total volumes. .. • 5 New Bedford, Public F. 200 1852 25,000 1,000 • A. 2,500 21,000 1,000 66 • J..10 4,500 137 53 Natick, Public. 1857 A. 330 2,540 58 Northampton, Public 60 Phillipston, Phillips' Free Public 61 Pittsfield, Mercantile 62 Reading, Public 63 Reading, South, Public 64 Roxbury, Athenæum 65 Rutland, Public 67 Shelburne Falls, Arms 68 | Sherborn, Public Income from Funds, Ap Subscription. propriation, or Founded. PLACE AND NAME OF LIBRARY. - Vacations. Evening. Hours open. Catalogued. APPENDIX XXII. -LIBRARIES IN MASSACHUSETTS, 1868-9. — Pamphlets. Books yearly. • Till 8. January. • ... None. None. Printed and Cards. Sale duplicates. Books covered. employed. Printed Reports. accessions given. Per cent. of Worn out. Lost. APPENDIX XXII. - LIBRARIES IN MASSACHUSETTS, 1868-9. — Concluded. A. 400 1862 .... F. 190 4,000 • • Very large. .33 • • 1858 Ν. .20 .. • • 3,000 200 .20 J. .25 • Half the pop. 1,300 Use of Books yearly. Loans. Per cent. of in novels. purchases Novels and Juveniles. Per cent. of use. in volumes. Yearly increase of most Library. Building. 1863 F. 1,200 3,784 1868 1,000 2,200 Total volumes. Income from Funds, Ap Subscription. propriation or Founded. PLACE AND NAME OF LIBRARY. 74 Sudbury (South), Goodenow 80 Westfield, Athenæum 81 Westford, Public 84 Winchendon, Public. 87 Worcester, Public • • • 88 American Antiquarian Society APPENDIX XXII. - LIBRARIES IN MASSACHUSETTS, 1868-9. - Concluded. • • • 73 1 9 ... No. 1 Yes. .. • Till 81. Ledger. None. None. Holidays. 2 weeks in Feb. February. Register & slips. Ledger. None. None. Printed and Cards. Printed. 9 3 Printed. 15 10 Printed. 11 3 Printed. Sale duplicates. Books covered. ployed. Persons em Printed Reports. accessions given. Per cent. of Worn out. Lost. NOTE TO MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARIES. These libraries, where strictly public, were not infrequently formed at the start from some social library which was given to the town as a nucleus for a free library. It is more customary than otherwise with such libraries not to require guarantor's agreement to make good any loss the library may experience from infractions of the rules by principals, those of small towns relying upon the librarian's personal knowledge of the applicants for cards to use the books. Minors, however, must be vouched for in Fall River, Lancaster, Leominster, Lynn, and some other places. Barnstable, Charlestown, Fitchburg, Groton, Hudson, Peabody, Winchendon, Winchester, and perhaps others, require vouchers by their rules in all cases. The library of the Pacific Mills, at Lawrence, has a hold upon the operative's wages. It is not usual to require any annual subscription in these libraries, when supported by the town, or largely so; but at Chicopee they demand fifty cents a year, and think it is a good rule. In the purchase of books recommended, these libraries often, as far as they can, accede to any reasonable demand; but in many cases no greater weight is given to a recommendation because a book is absolutely wanted, fitness in the committee's eyes being the sole criterion. Newburyport reports that it buys "frequently " in answer to such demands. The Boston Athenæum says it buys on an average three out of four that are recommended. In the purchase of duplicates, few of these libraries have means to satisfy the demands in this way. Some of them occasionally purchase two or three copies, as at Fitchburg and New Bedford. Lynn goes sometimes to the extent of seven or eight. The Boston Mercantile Library once in a while goes as high as twelve copies of a very popular book. At the Boston Athenæum they do not ordinarily duplicate in more than ten cases in a year; and the usage at the Boston Library Society is the same. |