8 



CITY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 



From the American Library Association were procured for distribution 

 valuable catalogues entitled ''One thousand technical books" and 'Tive 

 hundred business books." From the Atlantic Monthly there have 

 been received reprints of the ''Atlantic Bookshelf," in the selection of 

 books for which, the City Library is one of the contributors. The 

 printing and distribution of numerous small special lists has proved in 

 the past an effective and comparatively inexpensive method of informing 

 and interesting the public in the library's resources, and it is hoped that 

 funds will in time permit the resumption of this work on a larger scale 

 than has been possible the past year. 



Americanization Work 



Americanization work has been prosecuted vigorously in much the 

 same way as has been described in previous reports. Branch librarians 

 and assistants from the main library have visited the evening schools 

 for foreigners, have attended their meetings and entertainments, and 

 have occasionally spoken before their societies — of one of which a 

 branch librarian has been made an honorary member. They have also 

 talked with shop-keepers and others, who have gladly distributed printed 

 leaflets telling of the library in the language common to the neighbor- 

 hood. Naturalization classes and other groups have been welcomed 

 at the library and branches; and more success has been achieved than 

 heretofore in entering into relations with the foreign women. Excellent 

 sim.ple books are available in English telling of American institutions, 

 and it is to be hoped that the American Library Association will be 

 successful in its project of having more books printed giving this in- 

 formation in foreign tongues. There is ample opportunity for further 

 work in this field; it has been said that no institution in a city reaches 

 so many of the foreign population as an active public library. 



Affiliated Societies 



The Reading Circle for the Blind has completed happily its sixth 

 season. A piano was given by Miss Ida E. Robbins, and a victrola by 

 Mrs. Frederick Harris. Twenty-three speakers addressed the circle; 

 many citizens kindly lent their automobiles; and Mrs. J. R. Lyman, 

 Mrs. Samuel Bowles, Mrs. Abram Whitcomb, Miss Minnie M. Taylor, 

 Mr. Robert O. Morris, and Mr. Ehsha Gunn contributed a fund to 

 supplement this transportation. Mr. Robert 0. Morris gave victrola 

 records, and Mr. Lambert Murphy a sum of money to buy others. 

 Thus this activity has been supported by a very large number of gen- 

 erous citizens, and especial thanks are due Miss Clara M. Shurtleff 

 who has shared throughout the season the responsibility for planning 

 and making arrangements. 



The meetings of the Poetry Society in the library hall have shown 

 sustained interest, and the public has also been given opportunity to 

 hear Richard LeGallienne lecture, and Vachel Lindsay read his poems. 

 The library has been glad to render some active assistance in the work 

 of the new Art League, though its meetings are held elsewhere and it 

 i s not so closely affiliated as the Poetry Society. 



