Norwich bulletin., 1910-09-05

Joseph l.. Peacock. librarian of the
Westerly public library, made a COM
prehensive and interesting report of
the library work for the past year at
the annual meeting of the trustees OF
the Memorial and Library association
held Saturday evening in the trustees
room of the Memorial building. Mr.
Peacock reported that the total circu-
lation of books for the year was 81
562, an average of 1000 a week Di-
vided into classes the circulation was:
General works 1884, religious 455. phil
osophical 293, sociology 1872. philoiogy
191, natural science 1913, useful arts 1872,
fine arts 673, literature 1858, descrip-
tive and travel 1873, biography LII;
historical 1883, fiction 42,047.
The largest weekly circulation was
in the week ending February rs, when
1,315 books were taken out Inc
smallest numbe taken out was in the
week ending December %, the number
being sos. The total circulation in
crease for the year was 5,S79. an aver
age of IL Ia per cent. The total
number of books added to the library
during the wear is 1904, of which SAB
are fiction and 1861 nom fiction. Dur
ing the last two years, and since Mr..
Peacock has been librarian, more books
have been added to the library than it
contained when first opened to the
public in 1904
The gifts to the library were larger
than any other year, 30S books, 500
pamphlets and paper covered books
and 116 maps, etc. The total number
of books mended was 4196 and the
total number withdrawn was 1880,
most of these being replaced. The to-
tai number of books in the library is
1852. which does not include the gov
eminent works placed there as a re-
positary library. Since the registra-
ton of year ago, 2,237 persons have
hpon anrni1od not of "a
The reference department of the
public library has been greatly i'm
proved for the public convenience and
many books of reference have been
added, including Sc volumes of national
biogra ply dictionary, IS volumes of
American biography dictionary, 20
volumes of the International Encyclo-
pedia, II volumes of Jewish Encyclo-
pedia, and many others, that total over
500 books of reference.
The reading room isNsupplied with
nearly ali the magazines and period
icals and daily and weekly newspapers,
besides many periodicals of references.
Books are loaned through the library
exchange system. which shows that the
library is recognized as a factor of
education in surrounding towns. BY
arrangement with the board of health
every precaution is taken to prevent
the spread of disease the attending
physicians in contagious disease cases
being requested to destroy the library
books found on the premises, and cir
culation is suspended in the section
affected.
A Juvenile department has been es-
tablished and will soon be in opera
ton. The large conference room has
been fitted with shelves. tables and
chairs and supplied with books ada pit
ed for juveniles and special attention
will be given to this new department
of library work. Miss Alice Kennedy
will have charge of this department,
who is well equipped for the position
by reason of her library experience and
also as a teacher in the primary de-
partment of the public schools 1t
was considered more beneficial to the
work to supply Miss Kennedy's place
at the desk, than to put some one
lacking in library experience in charge
of the Juvenile department.
Mr. Peacock referred to the congest
ed condition of the stack rooms. and
the necessity for increasing accommo-
dations to meet the demands. He
praised the janitor and his assistant
for the cleanly condition and good or
der of the building and their uniform
courtesy to all visitors. He acknowl-
edged the great assistance rendered
him by his predecessor, Ethan Wilcox,
librarian emeritus. and gave an out
line of the benefits derived from at
tendance at the annual meeting of the
American Library association. Mr..
Peacock made several recommends
lions as to the farther Improvement
of the library work which will be
given consideration by the board of
trustees.
President Charles Perry presided q t
the session. and the election of officers
resulted in the reelection of Mr.. Perry
as president Charles P. Cottren sec
rotary, and James M. PendletOn treas
urer. The trustees are Charles Perry,
William D. Hoxie, James NJ. Pendle-
ton, Arthur Perry, Arthur NJ Cottrell,
George H. Utter and Charles p. Cot
trell.