Until 1886 the books were grouped in broad classes by a fixed location number. During that year and the next they were re-classified by the Decimal System and shelf and dictionary card catalogues made.

Following an enlargement of the building in 1889-90, the library was entirely rearranged in the alcove plan, and in March, 1890, the shelves

The library has received few gifts. The most important one was the gift of $1,000 from the managers of the German Humboldt festival in 1869, which purchased the first collection of German works, and special collections of books from Mr. John G. White and Mr. J. W. Walton, to which they are still adding.

STATIONS

DEPARTMENT

HE

STACK

ROOM

CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY-REFERENCE AND MAGAZINE READING ROOM. 171,181 volumes in the Main library and its branches. The increase in the annual issue of books for home use is as follows: 1870, 94,702; 1880, 130,443; 1890, 234,138; 1900, 958,737. No accurate figures can be given of the use of the library for reading and study in its own rooms, but it is greatly in excess of the figures given for the year 1900, which

SOCIOLOGY

SOCIOLOGY

EDUCATION

HISTORY

were opened for public access, permitting the selection of books directly from them, and their freest possible use, which plan has since been followed with satisfactory results.

The growth of the library by decades is as follows: In 1870 it contained 7,030 volumes; in 1880, 29,155; in 1890, 62,380; in 1900,

MEFEREMLE

STACK

0900

are as follows: Number of visitors to the reading room, 383,079; number of books noted as used, 464,873.

The most important phase of the library work of recent years has been the development of a system of library agencies in various parts of the city. Formerly the entire library work was confined to the one building. The first extension was by the issue of small collections of books to teachers for the benefit of their pupils. This was carried on largely between 1889 and 1892, from 3,000 to 5,000 volumes being used throughout the year in this way. The plan is still in use, but has been partly replaced by stations in some school buildings for the use of all the rooms

of the building and the neighborhood as well. In the year 1890 the issue of books to manufacturers for the use of their employees was begun.

The first branch was opened in rented rooms on Pearl street on March 12, 1892, and known as the West Side Branch. This was removed and opened on January 1, 1898, in a new building on Franklin avenue. The building was erected for the purpose by the People's Savings and Loan Association and leased to the Library Board.

The Miles Park Branch was opened on September 10, 1894, in a building which was formerly the town hall of Newburg, and is leased to the Library Board by the Park authorities at a nominal rental. The Woodland Branch was opened January 31, 1896, at 1060 Woodland avenue in a former church building, enlarged for the purpose and leased by the Board. The South Side Branch was opened in a leased building erected for the purpose, on February 22, 1897. Each branch has a

permanent collection of from 12,000 to 17,000 volumes, and includes a reference department and a reading room. They are kept open during the same hours as the Main library.

In addition to these branches the work of the library has been extended by means of sub-branches, deposit stations and delivery stations.

Of sub-branches, there are four in operation, as follows: Central High School, opened January 6, 1896; Detroit, opened January 2, 1900; Hiram, occupying rooms in the Hiram House, a social settlement, opened February 3, 1900; Alliance, occupying rooms in the Educational Alliance Building of the Jewish Women's Council, opened March 10, 1900. Each of these has a deposit of books from the Main library for circulation, a few reference books, and a reading room with periodicals. They are

CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY-MILES PARK BRANCH.

kept open six hours daily. Of deposit stations there are nineteen, operated in schools, social settlements and manufactories, having deposits of books numbering from 125 to 1,350, and open two to four hours, two or four times each week. Of delivery stations, to which books are sent when asked for, there are thirteen.

This rapid development from a single library to an extensive system may best be shown by the following comparison:

Until 1889 all the public library work of the city was done at the Main library. In 1892, as noted above, the first branch was opened. In 1895 the library system consisted of:

The Main library.

Two branch libraries.

Seventy-two collections averaging fifty volumes each, deposited with teachers for the use of their schools.

It now comprises:

The Main library, which, in addition to its Reference and Circulating departments, includes the Administrative and Catalog departments for the whole library system, and the loan of books to the various other library agencies.

Four branch libraries, occupying buildings devoted exclusively to their use.

Four sub-branch libraries.
Nineteen deposit stations.

Thirteen delivery stations.

Forty-seven collections averaging fifty volumes each, deposited with teachers for the use of their schools.

Twenty-six engine houses having collections of books.

A total, aside from the Main library, of 113 library agencies in operation during the year 1900.

The most important change in the method of the library was the opening of the shelves to the public access in 1890, as already noted. Other plans for increasing the usefulness of the library worthy of mention are the placing of duplicate magazines in the Circulating department to be issued for home use, the issue of an additional number of volumes to teachers for use in their work, and the plan of permitting reserve cards to be left for books, all of which were begun in the winter of 1884-5. Collections of pictures have also been made which are issued for home and school use, and exhibits of pictures and of other collections of interest have been made in the library. Attention has been paid to the work of study clubs, an alcove has for several years been set aside for their use, their programs have been obtained and references looked up in advance. In connction with the work in the schools, neighborhood mothers' clubs have been organized and books provided for their special use.

The Children's Library League was founded in the Cleveland Public Library in March, 1897, by Miss L. A. Eastman, the vice librarian, with the assistance of Miss M. G. Pierce, the loan librarian. Its purpose was to enlist the interest of the children to take proper care of the books and to use their influence with others to this end. A pledge was drawn, badges provided, and bookmarks distributed. It met with immediate and great success, and within a few months the membership numbered more than 14,000. The interest continues, and its good effects in the care of the books has been marked.

A special room for the children was opened in February, 1898, by partitioning off one of the alcoves of the Circulating department. It was entirely inadequate in size, but as noted above, a larger room is provided in the new temporary building.

In addition to the juvenile stories, this department also contains the best books, written especially for children or suitable for them, and