REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN 



9 



the Garden Club joined with the Art League in bringing to Springfield 

 during the winter a rarely beautiful collection of paintings of flowers 

 and gardens. Portraits, landscapes, and still life by Xander War- 

 shawsky were exhibited under the direction of the Springfield Women's 

 Club; and the Publicity Club provided a notable series of prints illus- 

 trating the history and development of the art of wood engraving. 

 Other prints, lent by the United States National Museum, showing 

 the processes employed in the graphic arts, were later displayed. 



In the art room there was the usual succession of exhibitions, includ- 

 ing colored reproductions of modern paintings, . old London in color, 

 beautiful photogravures of Hopi Indians, the life of Christ as depicted 

 by early Italian painters, Spanish interiors, quaint views of old New 

 York, reproductions in color of Violet Oakley's mural paintings in the 

 Pennsylvania capitol — all of which were from recent accessions to the 

 art library. There were also an exhibition relating to Oberammegau 

 and the Passion Play, lent by Miss JuUa Buxton; spirited drawings of 

 Mile. Susanne Lenglen by Miss Marjorie Sankey; a fascinating dis- 

 play of etchings, lithographs, and block prints lent by the Print Makers 

 Society of California; and exquisite Polish embroideries lent by Mrs. 

 Walter E. Johnson. A display of much practical interest consisted of 

 blouses made and embroidered by the Chestnut Street junior high school 

 pupils, the designs being suggested by plates from the library, which 

 were exhibited in conjunction with the resulting work. By far the most 

 attention was excited by a large collection of daguerreotypes lent by 

 Springfield citizens, showing well known figures of the past, together 

 with men and women of today as they appeared in youth or childhood. 



Phonograph Records. 



For a number of years the funds available have made inadvisable 

 any attempt to extend the scope of the library's work beyond the lines 

 on which it was already organized. The one innovation the past year 

 has been the installation of a collection of phonograph records bought 

 with the income from the Grace Rumrill music fund. The purpose is 

 to aid in the study and appreciation of music, so that the collection is 

 confined to music of high quality, chiefly instrumental and orchestral. 

 The popularity of this enterprise was instantaneous. A start was made 

 with about one hundred records, which number was quickly increased 

 to 168, including several gifts. Announcement was made in the Bul- 

 letin March 1, and in about two months the records were borrowed 

 1,131 times. Owing to the great demand, the number of records to 

 be taken at one time is limited to two, and the period to a week. In 

 general, practically all the records have been out all the time, with 

 numerous names on the waiting list. The experiment was made with 

 some hesitation for fear that the records vrould be injured, but only 

 two have been broken and two scratched, the damage being cheerfully 

 paid for. 



The Branches. 



The branches, although like the main library experiencing temporary 

 diminution in the number of books lent, all report a year of active 



