The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-10-04

books, selecting them with discrimina-
 tion according to the wants of our pat
 rons. The demand for current fiction is so great that this department grows
 inordinately. Whenever the depart
 ment becomes uvercrowded the books are weeded out and deposited in the
 upper room to await their removal to
 the paper factory. Many of these books
 have a mere ephemeral value and are
 rarely called for after they are, year old. It seems to me that it would be
 wise policy to offer many of these books for sale as soon as they cease to circu- late. This policy is constantly follow ed in the special loan department and I think it may well be extended more
 thoroughly to the department of fiction.
 The special loan department is still
 popular feature and has yielded net revenue during the year. To meet the
 demand for popular novels we are
 often compelled to purchase more than
 twenty duplicate copies. These general ly find a ready sale when their circula- tion begins to drop off and the demand for the next new work begins. It is the aim of the librarian as a rule to limit the whole number of books in this department to less than three hundred.
 The service committee during the year has considered the practicablity of inserting two new windows on the east side of the building, which would furnish ample light to the alcoves dur ing the day. These would be a great aid to ventilation and would make con- siderable saving in the consumption of gas. I hope the improvement may be made during the coming year.
 The finance committee has held reg ular monthly meetings and the ac- counts are now systematically audited and carefully supervised so that the ex- penses are kept within the appropria- tions
 The magazine committee has so care- fully selected the necessary periodicals that the wants of our patrons are amply supplied at much less expense than in former years.
 During the year the executive com- mittee has been appointed whose duty it is to supervise the general man agement of the library and to devise means for the extension of it's infln. ence. They have carefully considered the question of opening a children's de- partment in the third story and have made arrangements for q trial of the same during the coming year. It Is to be under the supervision of Miss Abby Farren, who has been a popular ap- prentice in the library during the past year, sincerely hope that it's pop ularity will warrant it's permanent con tinuance.
 More than a year ago Miss Gorham and Miss Steel completed their term of apprenticeship with the institute and passed successful examinations for po- stions in the public library, but for some reason they were not appointed They were, however, employed in diff ferent libraries in New York city and have now secured permanent positions. Miss Gorham is now reference librarian in one of the Carnegie libraries in New York, and Miss Steel is assistant libra rian in Ansonia I feel sure that both will meet with great success in the profession which they have chosen.
 The institute has maintained it's ex- cellent service under the supervision of l the librarian and his efficient corps of | assistants and complaints ofAthe man agement are comparatively rare
  work of fiction at least twice week.
 The finances of the institute are in a 1 condition and the report of | the treasurer will show a handsome | balance to our credit which will en- able us to purchase a liberal supply of | the new books which the publishers bring out in such profusion during the | autumn months.
 Within the past year two of our most | popular directors have passed away. | James D. Dewell, during his long busi- ness career In this city, was one of our warmest supporters. He was director for more than quarter of a century. | He was president of the board for two terms and at the time of his death was | one of the three trustees. During his | presidency the contest over the Marret | will commenced and he promptly as- sumed the pecuniary responsibility for the conduct of the suit When the adverse decision was rendered he con- tributed largely towards the expense and raised the balance among his per scnal friends. Of late years his busi- ness and public cares have kept him i, from the meetings of the board. but we shall greatly miss his wise counsel and judicious advice which he was ready to give in every emergency.
 Charles F. Graves was a, director of the board for at least thirty years and at two different periods served as president. During the first period the institute was passing through it's un- certain fortunes and it was his courage and perseverance which be,ned to maintain it. At time when the tr,Is- tees were struggling to increase the permanent fund for building purposes