6 



CITY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. 



The Catharine L. Howard Library. 



From the report made at the annual meeting of the association, 

 through whose generosity this valuable collection of reference books 

 is maintained, it is clear that a fund of sufficient amount has been 

 accumulated to provide for additions of such standard works as are 

 desirable. The room where the library is placed is admirably adapted 

 for its purpose and attracts each year an increasing number of 

 readers. The thanks of the museum and the public are due the 

 women who have established this useful, fitting, and enduring memo- 

 rial to an esteemed and beloved teacher. 



MUSEUM PROPAGANDA. 



Attendance. 



A ready and simple means of extending the influence of the 

 museum and making it an effective medium for public education is 

 found in the encouragement of people, young and old, to visit and 

 study the collections. Appeals to the interest of the community are 

 made through special exhibits and frequent use of press items in 

 regard to the various activities of the museum and the notable 

 additions. Such publicity is in reality taking the people into con- 

 fidence. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the readiness of the papers 

 of the city to actively cooperate with the museum officials. 



While the limited number of attendants makes it necessary to 

 restrict the hours of opening to the general public, it is always 

 possible to make arrangements for visits by classes, and for purposes 

 of special study, at any hour of the day. 



The data of general attendance indicate a total of 30,000 visitors 

 during the year. 



Public School Classes. 



Every facility is offered for the use of the collections and special 

 exhibits by the pupils of the public schools. It is especially desired 

 that teachers should bring classes and feel the utmost freedom in 

 thus supplementing the work of the class room. Thus far, however, 

 one must acknowledge that patronage of this nature has fallen short 

 of expectation. In a community like Springfield, where all means 

 of instruction are so highly valued, it is to be hoped that there will 

 be increasing advantage taken of the resources of the museum. 



