Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-29

| AadS P4SpdfCQ as pTSS1QonI lIlc OllS library, Gen. William A. Aiken notes the fact that the sad war now going on between the great powers or the world has greatly stimulated the de- mand for all kinds of literature bear ing even indirectly upon it, embrac- ing histories of all the countries in- Nolved, biographies of their distin- guished soldiers, statesmen and dip | lomatists. essays upon its causes, po- litical and economic and even novels like Tolstoy's War and Peace Erck- man-Chatrian's Waterloo, or Zola's The Downfall, all masterpieces of war description.
 With favorable action upon the ap propriation by town meeting, the trus- | tees will be enabled to satisfy the demand for what is now so eagerly sought by many readers. It will help also in replacement of valuable but worn-out books, in the interest of the public health and convenience. to say nothing of the normal condition of new works.
 Although it is difficult, continues General Aiken in his report. to eX- plain fully the difference between the book circulation from one year to an- other, the showing of the largest out put this year of any, with one excep- | tiOn, in the history of the library, is q source of qualification and encour- | agement
 | The report of the treasurer shows Il | niShed by the town are applied, eXclu- | Sively to the current expenses of the | library, in distinction from its in- vestments in construction, repairs, in- surance. furniture, books, magazines and reading matter of every descrip- ton, all of which are paid from the | income of the permanent funds. | The library building as compared with many others in towns of equal size, Is a very plain affair; but few ! dn the amount nf work in nTOn0rfi0n | to size of library or population that l the Otis library does.
 ] In one respect, we are very serious l ly handicapped: and as yet the trus- | tees see no relief.
 If good Deacon Otis has foreseen the growth of the library bearing his name, he would, I think, never have limited it's occupation to the lower story of the neat and symmetrical two | story building which he erected.
 The use b the library of the sec- ond story would relieve undue pres | sure in the present reading room and furnish ideal quarters for the chill dren, such as are deemed indispen-
 sable in all modern libraries, giving needed space and additional quiet to
 the large number of adults who alone often fill the main reading room to capacity.
 This handicap is especially felt be- cause of the extreme difficulty of fur l lLtT Lilo lOl Ol WHICH IllS library stands. for the purpose. The trustees have been thus far unsuccess- full in their efforts to obtain the use of the whole or part of the afore-
 said second story. As the pressure of the times increases. they permit them | selves to indulge in hopes of better success. Tn closing my brief remarks on the benefactorS of the Otis library at the
 Broadway theatre on Sunda. June 7th, <I I T
 What is a benefactor? Lord Bacon
 says it is one who confers a bene- fit
 'The devoted librarians-frorn Dea- con Hamlin Buckingham to the pres ent cumbent-together with their
 faithful assistants, have rendered to
 this community services that cannot
 be measured in terms of the stipends
 they receive"
 In conclusion Gen. Aiken says: A
 merous class of benefactors to the Otis library:
 You, taxpayers of Norwich. who,
 for more than twenty years have an
 nually voted with practical unaninity at the October town meetings to tax
 yourselves to the full amount asked by
 the trustees for library support. you have shown a generous type of en-
 frightened se1f-interest. Your unwavering confidence in the i, l HIGH WIiO lIAdudSS lIlS GlLdIIS OL LllE
 library fills them with a grateful and
 solemn sense of their responsibility
 and should afford you high satisfaction
 in the thought that you are securing
 to yourselves and your households the
 inestimable benefits of Free Public
 Library
 - Treasurer's Report.
 plain fuplly the difference between the . c. Averill, which has been audited by Archa ". Colt, is as follows: } Report of the treasurer as of August 31, 1914:
 - F: cash in bank, $1,176.65; library : building, etc, s24.4s3.12; furniture, etc. , $Sf6.17; total ss7.437.41.
 The above is made up principally of the following funds:
 Joseph Otis fund s11,5O0: Daniel ! Tyler Colt fund, s1s.o5s.22; Charles Boswell fund, s1.00O; Citizens sub- scription fund fused for the addition to library building), SIS, ,S69.3S; William
 M n1int05 aas0s fuad s,s sd sd5o0q Rss chsTIss
 Woodruff fund. $s,e06: Martha Prince | Foster fund, $1,940; Emily Serena Gill
 man fund s1.oo0: Mary L. Huntington fund, $2,000; total, sS5,s62.6o.
 Receipts and expenditures of the Otis library for the year ending Au- gust 31 1914:
 Receipts. Balance on hand August 31, 1913 $2S6.S3; from Town of Norwich, $4, 500;
 from books, s76.o5: from fines, s26T.69 from fees from non-residents. s22.90; from income of invested funds, $3,1SS.- 7T; for rent Of Thamesville property. $500; from rebates, 7.33; total receipts ss,e12.74; total credits. sS,S7s.57. Expenditures. Expense on Thamesvilie property s269.53: salaries, $3,634.51; fuel $189.- 75; water. s14.2O; insurance, 10S.54
 lighting. s30e.e2; other current ex- \ penses. $643.10; new books. s1,763.79; periodicals, S177.91: re-binding, S24S.-
 75: repairs s225,s2; accounts paable
 s125; total expenditures, s7.702.92; cash | on deposit with Thames National bank, $1,176.65; total debits, ss,SI9.57;
 accounts payable, S3so. Report hy Librarian. In her report. Miss Imogene A., Casi \ notes that
 A most encouraging feature of th' N work of the year is the number O. N books circulated 116,S54. which show!
 gain of 19.051 over the previous year ' The credit is due, undoubtedly, tc \ the increased number of new book
 bought, and largely. think to adver | tising. It is a problem how best t,
 advertise. but it certainly is a fac