Norwich bulletin., 1917-09-29
LIBRARY WILL ASK
 FOR USUAL GRANT
Forty five Hundred Dollars is Figure
 Named by President Aiken.

In asking the assistance of the town. the sum named this year is the same as has been granted every year-for- ty five hundred dollars, says William A. Aiken in his annual report as pres ident of the Otis Library. President Aiken's report is as follows:
 The heading to the librarian's re- port to the trustees of the Otis. L-' covering the year ending August S1 .> 1917" suggests to me the fact of my official connection with the Otis Li- brary for twice that length of time: scription library; the second. as free library.
 The present age of the library from its foundation is about sixty seven years, dating from the first records in the record book. in 1850. I have stated in a previous annual report my belief that the circulation of books per year in Norwich homes average of eight thousand volumes for the more than forty years before you came to its aid by taxing yourselves on account of its current expenses.
 Since that the average annual cir culation in your homes has exceeded ninety eight thousand seven hundred volumes; the smallest for any full year being eighty y-f1ve thousand eight hum d-ed and eleven. the largest one hun dred and twenty-fou thousand nine hundred and seventy-one. and the to- tai since 1892 aggregating two million four hundred sixty seven thousand seven hundred and six volumes. In addition it is estimated that over twenty thousand books have been an- nually consulted 'in the reading room.
 Special attention has been given by the book committee and the librarian to the literature of the Great World tered since the last annual report of the library. symbolized by the flag floating over our building.
 The attention of students is special. ly called to our invaluable list of. pamphlets and state papers on the subject
 The treasurer's reports show that the annual cost of maintenance of the library approximates four per cent: on a capital investment of two hundred thousand dollars. This includes, in ad- d1tlon to Current expenses" (salaries, wages, light. heat etc.). the cost of insurance, repairs of plant, furniture and all book and magazine purchases and rebinding.
 In asking the assistance of the town, the sum named this year is the same as has been granted every year forty five hundred dollars. For the first few years this very closely ap- proximated the amounts charged to current expense on our books. Dur ceeded the current expenses and the balance was promptly returned to the town.
 With the advance of the average an nua1 circulation has come a neces- sary increase of working force, with increased pay. owing to enhanced costs of living.
 The reason we do not ask a larger appropriation than before is that the library has received from generous friends, gifts or legacies sufficient to enable it to make good the difference between current expenses and the town appropriation from the income of its own invested funds.
 It must be borne in mind that the Otis is 8 circulating library only though so far as that goes, a very good one-it makes no pretensions to the modern facilities of the well equip ped reference library. Nor has it the reading and consulting room facilities going to make up the complete public library for a community as large as ours.
 do the best attainabIe thing within re- stricted limits than to undertake what cannot be done we'll within our means. This, especially in the confidence that the future will develop the library privileges of Norwich along the lines now lacking.
 In conclusion I am pleased to say as I have said before-we have li- brary in which you take an interest: and you show it by taking more books from it to your homes for temporary use sthan is. usual in the average com munity.
 believe this is due in part to the fact that you are helping in it's sup port from year to year: and I say this as the result of a somewhat large ac quaintance with circulating libraries within and outside this state.
 Tn this view I am fully sustained by the board of trustees; and on their behalf, I ask your kind cooperation for another year
 should not close this report with out word of testimonial to a most willing and efficient band of workers within the library.