Charlotte Bookworms Read 66,234 Library Books in 1921

Miss Pierce, Librarian, Reports Circulation of 66,234 Books for Year

Charlotte “book worms” consumed 66 tons and 468 pounds of “food for thought” during 1921, according to the report of Miss Anne Pierce, librarian of Carnegie Library presented at a luncheon meeting of the trustees at the Southern Manufacturers Club Saturday afternoon.

The total circulation for the year was 66,234 books, which tipped the “coal weighing “ scales at more than 66 tons. There was an average daily circulation of 242 books. Adult circulation reached 47,882 books and the juvenile circulation 18,352. Attendance at the reading and reference rooms was 33,261 and new borrowers reached the unusual number of 1,297.

An outstanding feature of the year’s record, said Miss Pierce, was the large increase in the number of non-fiction books read in 1921. A total of 14,908 non-fiction books were passed over the desk to readers, this number being an increase of 4,451 such books over the previous year. The increase for 1920 over 1919 was 87 non-fiction books. The 1921 increase Miss Pierce takes as an indication of the cultural tendencies of Charlotte citizens.

. . . .

Accessions to the shelves of the library totaled 931, of which 227 were donated by individuals and organizations. The following is the list of donors:

The Research Club, E.A. Terrell, Mrs. M.R. Marsh, S.W. Beam, Mrs. George W. King, Roy S. Smith, Mrs. E.C. Register, Mrs. H.B. Styles, M.L. Sanders, Miss Julia Tucker, Mrs. John A. Long, Mrs. J.A. Fore, Mecklenburg Chapter, D.A.R., Joseph Maclean, Mrs. F.I. Osborne, Mrs. F.W. Van Wagenan, Brevard McDowell, Mrs. E.W. Roach, Mrs. C.E. Bradshaw, Z.V. Taylor collection, Mrs. D.P. Hutchison, Current Topic Book Club, Mrs. J.J. Smiley, Miss Helen Long, Miss Lily W. Long, Colonial Dames and Mrs. Fred Oliver. The report of the librarian was the chief interest of the meeting, but other routine matters were discussed. Election of officers resulted in the re-election of all officials as follows: T.S. Franklin, president; J. Frank Wilkes, vice-president; and Miss Pierce, librarian.

From The Charlotte News, Sunday, Feb. 12, 1922