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   BRANCHES

  OF THE

  LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY

  An illustrated description of the buildings together with some
  interesting figures concerning their cost, equipment and use.
  Issued to mark the Tenth Anniversary of the opening of
  the first free public library in America
  exclusively for  readers.

  LOUISVILLE, KY.
  1915




  When you see a book think of the
  Public Library




SUMMARY OF WORK

in the

 BRANCHES

of the

LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY

For Fiscal Year Ending August 31, 1916


                                               Western  Eastern    TOTAL
                                                 
                                               Branch   Branch

  Circulation--adult                           17 821    9 289    27 110
               juvenile                        18 597   18 282    36 879
                                               ------   ------    ------
                                               36 418   27 571    63 989
  Class room collections                                          37 303
  Stations                                                         3 841
                                                                --------
  Total circulation through all agencies                         105 133

  Borrowers registered                            632      270       902
  Cards in force                                4 025    1 298     5 323
  Borrowers registered since opening            8 254    1 298     9 552
  Reference topics looked up                    3 493    1 484     4 977
  Persons assisted in reference work
      since opening                            29 501    3 476    32 977
  Pictures loaned                               1 942      805     2 747
  Books added                                   1 484      875     2 359
  Total books in library                       11 269    3 850    15 119
  Current periodicals and newspapers received                        142
  Meetings held in libraries during the year                         498
  Attendance at meetings                                          11 628

Following clubs meet regularly in the buildings:

  Bannecker Reading Circle
  Fisk Club
  Dorcas Literary Club
  Artisans Club
  Girls Dramatic Club
  Normal School Gymnastic Class
  Physical Culture Club
  Wilberforce Club
  Y. W. C. A.
  Douglass Debating Club
  Athletic Association
  Jefferson County Teachers Association
  Ministerial Alliance
  Parent-Teachers Association
  Girls Club
  Mothers Congress
  Story hour




[Illustration: Staff-- Branches]




 BRANCHES

LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY


In organizing the public library for Louisville it was planned to
have separate buildings for  readers. The system consists of
the Main library, eight branches, 230 class room collections in 35
school buildings and 62 stations, a total of 301 centers for the
circulation of books for home use. This includes two branches, 52 class
room collections in 13 school buildings and 6 stations, a total of 60
centers for  readers. The total circulation of books for the
year was 1,045,077. Of this number 104,771 volumes were used by 
readers.

HISTORY. After the opening of the Main library, the  branch came
next. It was opened on September 23, 1905 in temporary quarters in a
residence on Chestnut Street between Tenth and Eleventh. This was the
first free public library in America exclusively for  readers
and it marked an epoch in the development of the race. At the same time
the Library Board purchased a corner lot, 69 by 120 feet, at Tenth and
Chestnut Streets. On this site was erected a Carnegie building which
was occupied: October 29, 1908.

[Illustration: Western  Branch]

The Western  Branch building is 77 feet long and 45 feet wide
and is built of brick and stone with tile roof. The building has a main
floor and basement. On the main floor near the entrance is the delivery
desk and back of it are large tables for reading and reference. To the
left on entering is a newspaper alcove, the librarian’s office and the
special room for children. To the right on entering is the magazine
alcove, a study room and the special room for adults. The basement
floor contains a large lecture room, two class rooms and supply
and boiler rooms. The building is heated throughout by hot water.
The furniture and shelving are beautiful in design and finish, and
provision is made for free access to all the books. The arrangement is
