Seattle's Library Reopens — With a Fee for Taking Books Home

At a special meeting of the library commission held yesterday afternoon, with F. H. Smith in the chair, Dr. Kibbe and Dr. J. W. K. present, and Secretary J. D. present, it was decided to open the library at 9 o'clock this morning under the monthly fee system.

John Collins' offer to relieve the rent of the library for six months, $20 a month, was accepted with many expressions of appreciation from the members, especially in view of the fact that Mr. Collins had originally contracted an additional expense of $1,000 in fitting up the hall for the use of the library.

After a lengthy discussion the board passed a resolution that the library will for the present be closed every evening at 9 o'clock. This was done because a great majority of the readers were in the habit of leaving at that hour, and the extra hour thus saved will materially reduce the bill for electric lights.

The commission generally expressed itself as well pleased with the present position of the library, and every member feels that its darkest days are over.

Dr. Kibbe was appointed a committee to investigate the cost of the necessary machinery for binding and rebinding books, the work to be done at the library by the employees. The commission estimates that this will be a saving to the library of from $25 to $50 a month. The cost of such a plant is estimated at not over $75.

The library will be open at 9 o'clock this morning under the new system recently adopted by the commission, by which a charge of 10 cents a month, or 25 cents a quarter, will be made to all patrons of the circulating department; in other words, 10 cents a month for the privilege of taking books home. The reading rooms will remain open to the general public free of cost to any and all, both as to books, magazines and papers. The library has been opened the last two days for the return of old cards and the issuing of new ones.

Many people have already taken advantage of the new system and paid their fees in advance, while the general verdict appears to be that the new plan is a good practical measure that will insure the life and success of the library.

The pay system, Mr. Atkinson, the librarian, says, may have a tendency to reduce the number of patrons, but those taking out books and paying their fees will be the more desirable patrons, as better appreciating the use and value of books. Another advantage is that it will enable the librarian to give better service; in other words, having more books at his command, he can more promptly respond to the daily calls for them.

It is estimated that the money derived from these membership charges will almost entirely go into new books, as expenses have been so reduced that the usual income from the city, namely, one tenth of fines and licenses, will pay the running expenses, especially with a $20 reduction on the rent.

The commission has succeeded in bringing about reductions that will make a total saving of $275 per month, made up as follows: salaries reduced, $160; saving on rent, $80; electric light, $25; book binding, $25; on cost of printing by securing advertisers for book slips, about $25 a month.