Show I 1 EIGHTEEN THOUSAND LI there are over regularly established libraries in n the united states containing more than volumes according ing to statistics just compiled by the united states bureau of education the number of vol un onrea is an increase of since 1908 of the 2849 libraries containing volumes or over 1844 are classified as public and society libraries and 1005 are school and college libraries pub lie and society libraries have an aggregate of over fifty million volumes with seven million borrowers cards in force 1446 of these libraries were entirely freed free to the public libraries reporting from 1000 to volumes numbered of which 2188 were public and society libraries and school libraries these libraries contained volumes another group of still smaller libraries br aries comprising those that reported from to 1000 volumes increased the total by volumes the distribution of library facilities is still uneven of the 1844 public and society libraries reported for the entire united states more than half were in the north atlantic states and they contained volumes out of the total of fifty millions and of three million volumes added to library collections for the year 1913 almost one half were for the same section new york state had volumes in her libraries br aries massachusetts in libraries pennsylvania and illinois volumes four fifths the borrowers cards in use were in the north atlantic and north central states library activity for the past year was marked according to the bureau of education report by considerable extension of the branch system particularly in the granting of library privileges on the part of cities to neighboring suburban communities by further development of the country library plan in many states and in general by a vis visible ible growth in the spirit of service that is characteristic of many of the formal educational institutions of today to day the period of the library as a more mere storehouse of books seems to be safely past it has yielded to a period of f direct community service |