The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-02-29
FREE LIBRARY HAS
HAD BEST YEAR
IN HISTORY
Circulation of Books Has Near
Iy Doubled
USEFULNESS is INCREASED
The Number Of Persons Who Take
Books from Library Has In
creased by More Than 700

BOOKS from Library Udo NV
creased by More Than 700
The year of the Young Mems asso-
citation, the organization which dir
ects the affairs of the Library Hall
property, ends March 10, 1912. Spec
ial improvements have been made in
the administration of the library a
very notable year has been about com
pleted, and for that reason the public
ought to be fully informed OF what
has been accomplished before the
annual town meeting when the ques-
ton of appropriation for the support
of the library comes up. The direc-
tors, therefore, submit their report
two or three weeks ahead of the usual
time. There will be some slight
changes in the figures of the final re-
port, but otherwise the report Will
stand as here presented.
Never was our library so largely
useful as now. Attention is called to
the comparative figures of circulation
and registration this year and last.
The public is asked to notice the
other changes which the librarian
specifies in her report. And yet this
is only a beginning Of what we might
have, did our means allow. The peo-
pie this past year have been getting
the full worth of their investment,
and we are confident, appreciate the
service of the library. The directors
or the librarian will be glad to listen
to suggestions as TO popular needs
and will do their best to meet them
whenever practicable.
In June, 1911, Miss Angie Melden OF
the Springfield Library Training
school began her work as librarian,
and although in the position less
than a year, has fulfilled the expecta'
ton and hope of the library manage
ment. We are pleased to present her
report as follows:
To the trustees of the Bennington
Free Library and the people of the
town of Bennington
1t is my privilege to submit to you
the annual report of the library, GOV
ering the work for the year endina
March 1, 1912. The number of books
in the library is 6,256 During the
year, we have added 700 books; ga
by purchase, 141 by gift. This does
not include q government publica
tons, and some 200 books, partially
worn, given to us by the Springfield,
Public Library. Nearly a Thousand
have been discarded; too worn to b.
repaired or rebound.
Among the important purchases arr
The Universal Anthology" in g.
vols, and "The Book of knowledge" II
"a vols, for the children; Browning
complete poems in vols; two sup
Elementary vols. of Encyclopaedia
Americana" "Brady's Photograph,
History Of the Civil War;" in 10 vols
The number of volumes issued TO
home use was 22,395 which compared
with 12,S15, the circulation for 1911
shows a gain of some 70 1-5 per cent
This may be accounted for In the In
crease in the number Of juvenile Dor
rowers, and also by the fact that per
sons are allowed to borrow any rea
sonable number of non-fction, will
one book of fiction. The largest cir
culation per month was January, 1912
In which 3,16S books were loaned; tn,
smallest per month was 1881 in Apri
1911.
In spite Of the fact that Bennington
is the fourth largest town in Vermont
as far as can be ascertained from
available statistics. our library rank
twentieth in number of volumes, bu
tenth in circulation among the Ere,
Libraries of Vermont.
We have registered III new Dor
rowers, some of these, however, ar,
re-registration of persons, who hav,
not used the library in some years.
We have sent schoolroom libraries
to four district schools. Special list
for children in the different grades
have been made with the help OF IN,
] principal of the grammar school. I'm
der the direction of the Civic League
the children earned over 500, which
purchased some 1875 new books To-
their department.
The teachers have been compile
menting their school work by sendinl
their pupils to the library for refer
ence work. We are very grateful 70
the hearty cooperation OF the teach
ers, both in the grades and the higl
school.
We are indebted to Judge Slbley
Mrs. Lowrie, and several others 70
gifts OF books and money for the II
brary.
New stacks and drawers for maya
zine files have been added during tn
last year. A large, roughly fnishe
stack has been placed in the bacl
room, where files OF the best maya
zines are kept for three or four years
A new study table has been place.
in the main room. and n handsom
oak desk. Electric light fixtures hav
been placed over the tables and 4
the stacks, so that the lighting
much improved.
For several weeks an expert cat,
loguer was here. re.classifylng IN
library. Both the librarian and ASST
tant have been at work on the cati
logue since, so that Il Ia now almol
completed any book in the librar
may be found upon consulting IN
Index This means that over 5000
cards have been written on the typ
writer, and filed In alphabetical ords
in the drawers. The catalogue no
has author title. and subject entrle
arranged In one alphabet like n di
tionery There seems 10 be some M
Continued on Last Page)