LIBRARIES WHICH ARE BUSINESS INVESTMENTS. (Tables 109 and 110.] The last group considered in this chapter contains circulating libraries conducted for the profit of their proprietors. Doubtless this list is very imperfect; for example, all but nine of the libraries mentioned are in the North Atlantic Division. The libraries in this group, considered as means of public culture, are almost without value; as a means of personal amusement or relaxation, generally of an innocent kind, they serve their purpose and fill some sort of demand. TABLE 109.-Summary, by States and geographical divisions, of circulating libraries which are business investments conducted for profit. TABLE 110.-Detailed statistics, mainly for 1886-87, of circulating libraries which are business investments and conducted for profit. [NOTE.-Items respecting libraries marked with an asterisk are taken from a previous Report.] © Care is taken to exclude questionable books, and judgment used in giving books to children. 1868 3,000 J. H. Congdon. 100 1866 62.500 2,000 1876 1,800 200 TABLE 110.-Detailed statistics, mainly for 1836-87, of circulating libraries which are business investments and conducted for profit-Continued. [NOTE.-Items respecting libraries marked with an asterisk are taken from a previous Report.] CHAPTER XIX. EDUCATIONAL PERIODICALS. The following list of educational periodicals represents such as are on file in the library of the Office, and such as are found useful in making up the Annual Report. Some in the list, no doubt, have suspended publication. There is no way at the disposal of the Office of finding out when many of these periodicals began or when they ceased publication. The table is intended to give a brief description of these publications. 973 |