REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN 



7 



ties can grow much further until the building is enlarged. At Indian 

 Orchard there is need of community clubs or gathering places for boys 

 and girls which would make far simpler the problem of maintaining in 

 the reading rooms the quiet desired by adults. Nevertheless, there has 

 been a gain of 22% in the patronage by adults. The Memorial Square 

 branch is fortunate in having a large basement devoted to the juvenile 

 department, which has made possible reading clubs for boys and for 

 girls, story hours, and similar activities to encourage good reading. 

 I wish it were possible to describe in detail the work of the branches — 

 the intimate and helpful relations prevailing between the members of 

 the staff and the various clubs and organizations a^^^ell as the individ- 

 uals of the neighborhood; the talks at school and playground by the 

 "library teacher"; the many opportunities for siigge^ting helpful read- 

 ing and encouraging a wider outlook, in not a few cases the giving of 

 wise practical advice, especially to the children; the visits when neces- 

 sary to the homes of those who cannot reach the library — to arrange 

 for books to beguile sleepless nights for a little girl suffering from heart 

 disease, for an elderly woman confined to her fourth floor by rheumatism, 

 for a crippled man who finds books useful both for his vocation and his 

 pet hobby. In many such ways there is a direct personal relation, and 

 a mutual appreciation and helpfulness that are very gratifying. To 

 follow the various exhibits, the special collections of books, and the 

 illustrated bulletin boards relating to current events and other sub- 

 jects is in itself no small step towards a liberal education. 



Publicity. 



As in the past, the newspapers have been the chief reliance in spread- 

 ing information about the resources of the library, and acknowledg- 

 ment is due for their courtesy in publishing weekly notes of new books 

 received and many news items. The printing by the library of special 

 lists and catalogues which have proved so helpful in the past had to be 

 much curtailed. After the monthly bulletin, the most important publica- 

 tion was a pamphlet entitled '^The Pilgrim Tercentenary, the Puritans 

 and the New England Spirit" listing, with readable annotations, books 

 not simply relating to the history of the colonists, but showing their 

 real genius and formative influence throughout the country. With the 

 advent of woman sufl"rage, a list of books for the new voter proved 

 popular. Brief lists of good vacation reading were also printed for the 

 children in the different school grades. So many requests were received 

 for the biographical list called ''Memories of Childhood and Youth" 

 that the folder was reprinted. A brief list was also prepared for the mem- 

 bers of the new City Planning Board. Besides its own publications, 

 the library has procured, by gift or at small cost, and has distributed, 

 numerous other useful lists, including the ''Quarterly List of New Tech- 

 nical and Industrial Books," "The Atlantic Book Shelf," "Farm and 

 Garden Books," "New Books about Russia," "Business Books," "What 

 to Read on Social Hygiene" (by the American Social Hygiene Associa- 

 tion), etc. The library also exhibited its work at the Mothers' Confer- 

 ence under the auspices of the Springfield Federation of Women's Clubs 



