Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-17
NEARLY 100000 CIRCULATION
Fletcher Library Makes New
Record during 1917.
Average Daily Issue Of Books 327-Ac-
QUESTIONS for the Year Numbered
i.2aO and Catalogue Has
7O,5O4 Cards.

The annual meeting Of the trustees OF
the Fletcher Free library was held Mon
dag morning at the library. when the
following officers were reelected: Presi.
dent, w. J. Van Patten; secretary. Ed
mund c. Mower; treasurer, II. l.. Ward
The book committee was appointed as
follows: Mrs. G.. G. Benedict and Mr..
Mower.
Mr.. Mowers report as secretary of the
trustees was read by Mrs. Benedict. Mr..
Mower being absent because of illness. In
it was expressed appreciation of the
conscientious and intelligent work OF the
library staff. Much of the usefulness of a
public library depends upon the courtesy
and spirit of helpfulness which charac-
terizes the service of those In charge of its
routine work. 80" To the librarian, George
Dana Smith, is due correspondingly credit
for the success with which the library
meets the needs of the community.
1t is gratifying evidence of the increasing
usefulness of the library that the librarian
reports the largest annual circulation thus
far reached. the total for the year
being approximately 100000"
LIBRARIANS REPORT.
Mr. Smiths report for the year, the 10th
under his guardianship. showed that the
total circulation was the largest In the his
tory of the institution, being 9s,s94. 1t ex-
ceeds that of 1916 by 1850. The library was
open $685. days The largest daily issue,
that of February "a. was $50, and the
smallest issue, on July %, was 119. The
average daily issue was 327.
The number Of borrowers cards in dse
was 71,736, and the number of new ones
in the year was 1888. The circulation from
schoolrooms was 12,119.
During the year. the library received
by purchase 956 and by gift 2S4 volumes.
There were 2s2 volumes withdrawn. The
total number of cards in the catalogue Ia
7O,50a. New titles catalogued in 1917
numbered S66; cards added to the cata-
logue, 3.477. Five thousand nine hundred
and sixty-three books were repaired in
the library during the year.
BOOK SELECTION DIFFICULT.
"The problem of book selection" says
Mr.. Smith in his report. grows more
difficult from year to year, owing to the
gradual rise in book prices, and no corre-
spending increase in our income.
Aside from fiction, the books most called
for have been those pertaining to the
war. Seventy-nine titles were added
either by purchase or gift to the literature
of that subject. One table has been
reserved especially for the war books"
GAIN IN MUSIC BOOK CIRCULATION.
One of the most interesting items Of Mr..
Smiths report is the statement that the
circulation of 400 music books is a gain
of so per cent. over last year.
REFERENCE ROOM.
Tn fba rofo
were purchased for reference use The
reading tables have been supplied regu-
larly with 126 periodicals, 80 being re-
ceived by gift. and SO by subscription.
The list includes eight dailies, 80 weeklies,
II monthlies and nine quarterlies.
CH1LDREN's ROOM.
The circulation from the children's
room was 109OS fiction, S.6O5 non-fiction,
showing gain Of 2.2S5 over last year.
The library has never been used SO ex-
tensively by the school children as this
year. The number Of schoolrooms sup
pied with books was As; number of
books issued for schoolrooms. 1923; num-
Der of stereographs and pictures issued
Tor schoolrooms, 932; issued from school
rooms for home use, 1918.
GIFTS OF ESPECIAL INTEREST.
Several gifts Of especial interest and
usefulness have been received during the
past year. collection of 129 photo-
graphs of cathedrals and historic places
OF the British Isles was received from
the estate of Miss Mary T. Wells. A
fine engraving of a group of 10Th Century
inventors was presented by Mrs. c. ].
Staples, and has been given place in the
reading-room. Gifts of books and PAM
phlets to the number of 2S4 also were
received. The library has served as des-
pository for books and magazines for
soldiers Hundreds of magazines and a
generous supply of books have been left
with us for that purpose and have been
duly delivered at Fort Ethan Allen"