REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN 



11 



Publications. 



The library has been able to resume to some extent the publishing 

 of little lists and catalogues which do so much to attract readers and 

 interest them in desirable books. A catalogue of 'Tiction/' a new edi- 

 tion of which is required about once in seven years, was issued. Other 

 Hsts were entitled ''Helps with Children," ''Information for Visitors," 

 "The New Psychology," "Those Nerves," and two foreign lists, one 

 "Libri in Italiano" and the other "Livres Frangais." The first of these, 

 listing all the Itahan books, is very necessary in reaching the older 

 Italians who cannot speak English, and some of whom hesitate to visit 

 the library. Children and friends are sent with checked copies of the 

 list. The other list containing only recent French books is sought not 

 only by French-speaking people but also by the general public. Sys- 

 tematic reading courses, serving a purpose somewhat akin to the popu- 

 lar correspondence school, have been issued by the American Library 

 Association and distributed by the library. These valuable courses, 

 arranged b}^ experts, at present include accounting, business, and jour- 

 nahsm. Other useful lists were "Popular Books in Science" and the 

 "Wanderlust Book Shelf," likewise obtained from the American Library 

 Association; "Wanderings and Adventures," given by the Century 

 Company; and the Bookshelf for Boys and Girls," issued by the R. R. 

 Bowker Company. But by far the most popular list was a little leaflet that 

 the Horton Publishing Company kindly allowed us to reprint, entitled, 

 "100 Worth While Books that Every American Between the Ages of 

 Twenty and Forty-five Ought to Read." These were selected by a 

 committee of ninety-six educated men and women, all of whose names 

 are found in "Who's Who in America," and the titles are arranged in 

 the order of their popularity The first edition was quickly exhausted 

 and continuing calls led to reprinting, while through a mention m the 

 "Literary Review" it became known outside of Springfield, and requests 

 to buy copies were received from all over the country. Special issues 

 of the monthly "Bulletin" dealt with music, fiction, gardening, and 

 business, the last being mailed to six hundred manufacturers and busi- 

 ness houses. The fiction number prepared by Miss Richmond proved 

 especially attractive, received attention in the press here and elsewhere, 

 and many persons outside of the city desired to purchase copies. Mrs. 

 Enos Smith, learning of the frequent need for a pamphlet describing 

 the noteworthy buildings, monuments, paintings, stained glass, and sim- 

 ilar objects in the city worthy of attention, very generously compiled, 

 published, and gave to the Kbrary for free distribution an admirable 

 booklet called "interesting Things to See in Springfield, Massachusetts; 

 Art and Architecture," which was based on a list that she formerly 

 compiled for the Springfield Women's Club. It has proved illuminat- 

 ing to residents and helpful to many sight-seeing visitors. 



No activity of the library is perhaps more important than the so- 

 called re erence work carried on in the art room and in Rice Hall. This 

 consists of helping in the selection of general reading, or in choosing 

 books on a special topic, or in the multitudinous quests for information 

 on a specific point. The inquiries are of astonishing range, and touch 



