REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN 



11 



Planning, Interior Decoration, and Furniture". There were twenty in 

 all. Special travel and biography numbers of the monthly Bulletin were 

 issued, which proved very popular and the supply was quickly exhausted. 



In studying the circulation statistics it is surprising to find how com- 

 monly an increase in any class is traceable to some activity of the library 

 in the way of displays and exhibitions, special lists, circulars and other 

 advertising, or the purchase of an unusual number of books on some 

 subject. The last, however, usually means a pre-existing interest on the 

 part of the public. 



Twenty-Five Years of the Training Class 



For just a quarter of a century now the hbrary has conducted a train- 

 ing class for persons wishing to fit themselves for library work. Usu- 

 ally ten members are chosen by examination from nearly three times 

 that number of candidates, and they serve for nine and one-half months, 

 much as members of the staff, but neither paying tuition nor receiving 

 compensation for their services. Class instruction is given each morning 

 in cataloging, bibliography, reference work, English literature, European 

 history, etc., but great emphasis is placed on supervised work under the 

 chiefs of the different departments, a month at a time. The members 

 are largely from the New England states, but some have come from as 

 far west as Nebraska, as far south as Florida, and as far north as Canada. 

 One hundred and ninety-nine persons have been in these classes, and from 

 them the Ubrary staff has been largely recruited, while the others find no 

 difficulty in securing openings elsewhere. Indeed, more of these persons 

 could easily be placed, and many have risen to positions of importance. 



General 



Probably the most urgent need in the library system is an addition 

 to the Forest Park Branch. It is doubtful whether there exists anywhere 

 else a library in a building of that size and cost which is so largely used, 

 and the patronage is steadily increasing. 



The children's department, the reference room, the art department, 

 the three branch libraries call for no special comment. They have all 

 been alert for opportunity, conducting their work on much the same 

 lines as the previous year, but each on a somewhat larger scale. Indeed, 

 while the new or unusual activities receive notice in this report, the daily 

 routine work of building up and cataloging a well chosen and comprehen- 

 sive collection of books, of maintaining an inviting atmosphere for read- 

 ers, and of ministering to their needs by bringing the right books or in- 

 formation to the right readers, offers small opportunity for description 

 in a brief report, yet it constitutes the backbone of Ubrary work. In all 

 of this work the members of the staff have been eager and devoted, and 

 their united and harmonious efforts have made possible whatever meas- 

 ure of accomplishment the year records. 



Respectfully submitted, 



HILLER C. WELLMAN, Libranan. 



