Report of the Librarian 



The most significant characteristic of a modern pubUc Hbrary is the 

 ever broadening field of its activities. The advent of the automobile, 

 outdoor sports, and the ''movies" have all been said to threaten the 

 reading habit. Yet for a generation the number of books drawn from the 

 City Library has increased at a very much faster rate than the popula- 

 tion. The circulation has steadily mounted from a total of 164,091 

 volumes in 1900, equivalent to 2fo volumes per capita, to a total of 

 1,189,991 volumes .last year, equivalent to 9i% volumes per capita. 

 These rather remarkable figures would seem to indicate, if the circula- 

 tion of library books is a guide, that people in Springfield, at least, are 

 reading today between three and four times as many books as formerly. 

 Not only the number of books, but the character of the books called 

 for is worthy of note. While precise figures are not available, there is 

 no doubt that there has been a great increase in the use of books as 

 sources of information, and particularly of books on the industrial arts, 

 trades, and business. In view of the manifold social problems pressing 

 for attention, it is not surprising that sociology was the class showing 

 the largest gain in circulation the past year, the increase amounting to 

 21%. A deposit of books on this subject established at the Union Relief 

 rooms for the staff and volunteer workers has also been much used. 



During the past seven years 66,559 persons were registered as card- 

 holders. A portion of these cards are no longer valid owing to death, 

 removals, etc., so that it finally became necessary to make a new register. 

 This laborious undertaking was begun the first of May and will require 

 at least six months for completion. The fact that an active library has 

 enrolled as card-holders probably less than half the population shows 

 how far the public library still falls short of filling its field. 



The accessions to the main library and branches numbered 18,787 

 volumes, and 6,634 volumes were worn out or withdrawn as of no further 

 service. The total number of books now in the library numbers 284,800. 



Rice Hall. 



Although the work in Rice Hall, where the reference collection is 

 shelved, is second in importance to that of no other department, it has 

 received scant attention in annual reports because its very diversity 

 renders it difficult to summarize. Each inquiry differs, and many pages 

 would be needed to describe adequately what goes on in this room. For 

 example, an officer of one of the largest manufacturing companies 

 wished to compile a list of books on economics and labor problems 

 suitable for foremen; another manufacturer sought practical books on 

 traffic management; another, exhaustive material on making up wage 

 scales and comparative wage lists; another sent a long cable message 



