a Open to public. There is an annual appropriation. c And about 100 pamphlets. d Supported by State school fund. e Supported by entertainments. f Appropriation. 2,237 0 100 1, 125 21 38 0 38 1, 100 25 15 85 100 1,353 1,130 4 5 2,000 100 80 80 1,000 30 25 0 25 TABLE 102.-Detailed statistics, mainly for 1886-87, of libraries attached to public school systems, etc.-Continued. [NOTE.-Items respecting libraries marked with an asterisk are taken from a previous Report.] Number of volumes. At date of report. the year. 1,260 1,357 2,610 1,002 1,400 2,500 1,057 2, 007 1,312 11,500 7,398 1,000 1,000 1,100 1,250 Open to public. e For books only. FREE CORPORATE LENDING LIBRARIES. [Tables 103 and 104.] The generous spirit so characteristic in Americans is manifest in the support of libraries as of schools and colleges. Many of the libraries included in the first group considered in this chapter might be included in this group if it were sought to show how many such collections depend upon the past or present bounty of our citizens for a part of their support. Excluding those previously classified, this group includes those entirely supported, so far as known to this Bureau, by private gifts, bequests, or endowments. Libraries of this class naturally precede those supported by public moneys. It is quite possible to imagine the time when they will be practically superseded in the older and richer parts of the land; but the time is yet very distant when their usefuluess in the South and West shall be gone. In these parts of the country private beneficence can find no more useful object, no greater opportunity, than in the endowing of library corporations, which shall circulate good, useful, and entertaining books to all persons in their neighborhood. TABLE 103.—Summary, by States and geographical divisions, of free lending libraries owned and supported by corporations. |