Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-10-23
S27,226.49

ZI,ZZO.1p
 The librarian read her report for the year giving detailed account of the work in all departments.
 There are now 65,716 volumes in tho library, 1549 having been worn out or discarded during the year and 51g0 added, being 1882 more than the addi- uons of last year This increase, and the enlargement of the issues of tlle library by 15,490 volumes have had for their financial basis a gift from the city of $3.000. This extra money was spent in the interest of the schools and the teachers, 2000 volumes being distributed among the school libraries and about 1000 in the children's de- partment of the main library which IS patronized almost entirely by the pupils of the public schools.
 The library has now 2952 volumes distributed through the grades of sev- en schoolhouses as follows: Barnard, Bunker Hill, Merriman, Walsh, Wash ington, Wateryille and the new Croft school which has 1131 volumes.
 Great interest has been shown by the parents, and books taken home by the children are often read by them. The school deposits thus, serve as neighborhood libraries in the outer parts of the city, and by natural evo- lution will come to have in connection with them collections of books for old CT readers. This function is already in process of fulfiIment at the Barnard school where n room with shelving for 300 volumes has been offered as a delivery station for the Brooklyn dis trlct. Arrangements are being made to start this early in November.
 The circulation of books during the year numbered 106,406, of which some what more than one-third were chil1- ren's books. 10,213 volumes were is- sued also from the school libraries, making the toltal circulation 16,T00, record never before reached in tho history of the library.
 Surveying the progress of five years the librarian noted the fh t that an increase during that perioI of mora tban 4T,000 volumes in the circulation of the library, had brought additional pressure upon the library staff. but had so far been provided for with slight increase of the salary list The completion of the card catalogue, the opening of the shelves tO the pub lie, the increased comfort and conyen- fence of the reading room, and lhc elimination of red tape from the regis tration and lending systems had been accepted by the public as evidence of good will and had won for the library many kind expressions of appreciation. No restriction, it was said, is now placed on the number of books which may he taken at one time from the non-fictiou department. the library ad. lusfing itself to the needs of special students fin regard to time limit. as occasion requires A systematic effort is made to bring the library into rela- ton with clubs and societies and with individual readers in special lines. A classified card catalogue of these has been started and notice is sent by mail when books of value are added.
 There has been a demand of late for good stories to readA aloud to young children. in response to which a spec ial collection has been formed of the fairy tales. hern stories and myths suggested in Bryant's How to Tell Stories t0 Children" These are to he &HllE Nn NAAftefH dttI ID NfbE1fF~ lHNAI- esteI In their chiliren's reading.
 Speaking of gifts from friends. mem ti0n was made of the beautiful stat11e Night. lent by Miss Caroline \. PIatt. and sfill on exhibition in the art rom: and 0f the landscape paint ing '-tfrev Crngs. Newport. hy Will Ham IT.. Rieifanis. an American artist of international reputation which hangs in the reading room. Other pie tures In the same room are the vaiu- able series Of steel euzravlnzS of ItaHess Bible Illustrations. lent by Mr and Mrs Henry SeoyilL
 Tn closing her report the librarian sf-eka huFsefully of g further extension of deposit HlaFsrseS In the outlying rawS Of the fnwn. contingent upon a possible city sprrgpriatfoE. and said that flse service ia the main HtHAry ought fs te extended by the employ meat of aa additionai trained azsfs- fauf deEatfnx her time to the Interests uf readers and the development of the