RULES FOR CERTIFICATES OF CIRCULATION

LIBRARY SERVICE

Revised Mar. 4, 1903

Laws of 1892, ch. 378

AND OTHER APPROVED

§ 37 Subsidies. By similar vote money may be granted toward the support of libraries not owned by the public but maintained for its welfare and free use; provided, that such libraries shall be subject to the inspection of the Regents and registered by them as maintaining a proper standard, that the Regents shall certify what number of the books circulated are of such a character as to merit a grant of public money and that the amount granted yearly to libraries on the basis of circulation shall not exceed 10 cents for each volume of the circulation thus certified by the Regents.

The purpose of these rules is not to restrict the freedom of any library as to number of books lent to a reader at one time, its methods of distribution or other details of local administration, but to fix a standard fairly comparing the work of different libraries reporting.

Circulation

1 The standard certificate of circulation will include only approved books circulated under standard conditions.

2 The free circulation of each library shall be accurately recorded each day, counting 1 for each bound book voluntarily selected and taken by a borrower, presumably from his wish to read it.

3 Only one work of fiction at a time may be counted for one borrower, but other books not fiction may be counted.

4 Renewal of a book under library rules at or near the end of regular terms of issue may also be counted, but no increase can be made because books are read by others or for any other reason.

Other approved service

5 On request supplemental certificates will be given in all cases when needed to place the facts of other approved service to the public by the library before local financial boards.

6 Books lent by unregistered branches, distribution of books to students in schools, use of traveling or home libraries, circulation of unbound magazines, pamphlets or any other kind of approved circulation or other library service will be recognized by supplemental certificates if the records kept make it practicable.

7 Reports should cover the year ending June 30, though for sufficient reason permission will be given to report for a year ending at some other date.

8 Whenever the report of a library asking a certificate is for any cause unusual or out of due proportion to the number of its books or readers, a detailed examination of its rules, methods and

records of charging books shall be made and the certificate shall mention or allow for any errors or methods which might increase or diminish unduly apparent service to the public when compared with that of similar libraries under usual conditions and methods, or for any books in use by the library which would not be approved to be bought with state grants. If anything inconsistent with a proper library standard appears, no certificate will be given till all requirements have been met.

Albany N. Y. May 2, 1903

No.

MELVIL DEWEY Director

Certificates of approved circulation Oct. 1, 1902–Sep. 30, 1903

Certificates of approved circulation Oct. 1, 1902–Sep. 30, 1903 (continued)

Grants of public library money were made to 245 libraries including branches. Apportionments were made each month except in August 1903 and each grant was limited to $100. As $200 is still allowed by ordinance, 83 applications were in excess of the sum paid and 69 were for the full amount of $200. The total amount granted was $21,704.17, averaging $88 to each library. Approved applications from the same libraries amounted to $29,179.17, or $7475 in excess of all apportionments. Doubtless many applications would have been for larger sums if full payment had been thought possible.

The following tables show monthly payments and amount given each library.

Public library grants

Deducting 5 duplicates this shows a total of 245 different libraries and branches receiving grants.

Libraries receiving grants Oct. 1, 1902-Sep. 30, 1903