Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-01-16
WAR AFFECTED WORK
At FLETCHER LIBRARY
Contributed to De-
crease in Observation-Disclosures
nine Thousand Volumes Now
Catalogued - Trustees Pay
Tribute to Mrs. Benedict.

At the annual meeting of the board of
trustees of the Fletcher Free Library
held January Is, the reports of the wears
work were given. and the following off,
GERS were elected for the ensuing year:
President, W. ]. Van Patten; secretary,
Edmund G. Mower; treasurer, II. L.
Ward. DR.. Frederick Upper was elected
member of the board of trustees to All
the vacancy occasioned by the death of
Mrs. Granville G.. Benedict,
Judge Edmund G. Mower. secretarv Of
the board in his report, gave the follow
ing tribute In memory of Mrs. Benedict:
with profound regret we are called
upon to record the death, on December
10, 1918. of Mrs. G.. G.. Benedict, a mem
Der OF the board since 1903 and for IL
years Its secretary. 1t may be said in all
candor that in her death the library has
suffered well-nigh irreparable loss.
Constant and self-sacrificing devotion to
its interests, fine appreciation of it's mis-
sion and value as an intellectual force in
the community, unremitting efforts to
widen and vitalize its sphere of useful
ness-these ideal qualities of trusteeship
characterized in notable measure her
service upon the board.
For this service, gratuitous save for
the deep satisfaction she enjoyed in the
doing. so inconspicuous but so potent in
nourishing the intellectual life of Bur-
lngton, our people are under lasting OBJ
legation to Mrs. Benedict, and should
cherish her memory in grateful appre-
citation.
I'm no perfunctory spirit do the trus-
tees take this occasion to express their
keen sense Of personal loss in her death.
Rare and charming qualities of charac-
ter rendered association with her in the
work Of the board. and especially on the
DOCK committee. a pleasure and an in
SEPARATION. The tribute to her church
loyalty paid by her pastor might we'll
nave mad reference to her relations with
her fellow library trustees: She gave us
the substantial support of her strong
character. the guidance OF her clear and
sound judgment, the warmth of her
loyalty"
The librarians report showed that the
work Of the year had been somewhat
affected by the conditions existing be-
cause of the war, the prevailing epidemic
and the closing of the library and schools.
statistics OF the circulation, registra-
tion and additions are as follows:
Circulation for the year, 1851
Decrease in circulation over 1917 s195.
Largest daily issue, TAI. on February
Smallest daily issue, 49, on November
H.
Average daily issue, 3I7
Percentage Of non-fiction circulated.
"a 1920.
Percentage Of fiction circulated, S5 7-2O.
Number of borrowers cards In use.
1854
Total additions Of books and pamphlets.
1.127
Number Of volumes now cataloRued.
1904.
Number of magazines received regu-
larly. 125.
Number of books received by gift, 25l.
VI the additions. the largest number on
single subject aside from fiction were
those bearing upon the war and recon-
struction, 126 new titles being received
There was gain of $50 in the circulation
or war books over the preceding wear.
Nearly all classes Of readers were IA
vored in the years purchases. One hun
dred and ninety new titles of fiction were
added. few Of which were recent French
novels. The most popular author of the
year was Mark Twain. Scarcely a day
passed that some of his books were not
The work with the public schools has
been continued This year so school
rooms were supplied with collections of
books for collateral reading; 1880 VOL
umes being sent them. The circulation
OF books from the school rooms for home
reading was S,493 Scores Of the four
minute speeches on subjects relative to
the war required Of the high school pu-
pills have been planned in the reference
room. The librarian has given a series
OF six lessons on How to use the library
to the misunderstanding class of the high
school. and one lesson on book mend
ing was given by Miss Rogers.
The intensive campaign to collect books
for the soldiers and sailors inaugurated
In March by the American Library assoc
citation War Service was a gratifying sue
cess. Upwards of 1900 books were do
mated tn one week in March, and enough
more have been received since then to
raise the number to 5000. Cases contain
ing LOSS books were shipped for overseas
service Several hundred also have been
delivered for use at Fort Ethan Allen. the
Signal Corps and Y. NJ. c. A. at the
University of Vermont Hundreds OF
magazines have been contributed for the
soldiers. and distributed for their use.