New Britain herald., 1926-05-05

because the schools and fire stations do not keep complete records and
 in the library building books are
 taken from the open shelves every
 day to read here.
 The total number of new card holders registered during the year
 was 2,S55 which Is 3S5 less than
 last year. a falling off which may be
 also accounted for by the closing of
 East street.
 -Four thousand, nine hundred and
 seventy-three volumes were added
 by purchase. Fl by gift. 505 were
 transferred from the book club, D.
 177 were worn out or withdrawn,
 333 volumes were added to the
 school libraries, 2,720 were sent to
 the btndery and 16,459 were mend
 cd, this last being nearly 5000 more than last year. The number of books
 purchased was less because our
 book fund was cut. While few persons have continued to give books from their own collections, we have not had as many gifts as during the preceding year.
 Our picture collection now num- hers 12,4SS and the circulation is 14,566, which means that they are In constant use. We depend upon worn out books and odd magazines for pictures to mount, but it should be possible to spend q small sum for good reproductions of works of art as the teachers are using them more and more for class instruction.
 The Boys and Girls Rooms
 Recently a speaker in 6 public address said that after ail it does not greatly matter what the grown person reads, his path is staked out but it does make all the difference in the world what kind of reading inc growing boy and girl do. And sure ly we all agree that the public ti- brary has opened an enchanted world to the young. We are for tunate in having an attractive room and some splendid books, vet thara are not enough books nor enoueb trained workers to meet the army that descends at certain hours When one considers the number of our schools, their size and the fart that they are ever-crowded tt is easy 10 see the utter impossibi1itv Of taking care of even a small rer- centage of our coming citizens in one room of a, central library. Some times we are asked If the library rooms in the schools do not lessen l .he patronage here: on the contrary | they increase the demands upon our ! resources. Also the teachers are l appealing more and more to the l lbrary for books. pictures and . 'eference help. The annual celebra- ion of Boys and Girls Book Week y an exhibition of good new books md attractive old ones took place IS usual and drew the customary 'ro|d. This is an event eagerly an- lcipated and gives an opportunity or groWn-ups to learn what inter- 'sts their sons and daughters and That Is wholesome for them, too.
 Miss Wainright. in addition to york in the library, has visited chools, made lists and in various Tays given the neneht Of her knowledge Of children and books to he community. There was 2 de- reake in the number of books for j cry young people owing to the cut n our book fund. The fairy tale helves became actually hare!
 Possibly because of the new re- gious education movement there I 'as a greater demand for books thout the Bible and the circulation { books on the useful arts increased I oticeably. This past year we have s cen receiving many children who { ever before enjoyed library priv eges or had books in their homes I nd some Of these youngsters need f he taught respect for the place [ nd its treasures; on the other hand. q re those who do feel their re- f oonsibiIity Here is q note which ( ime from a small boy who had re- q 'ived an overdue notice while visit [ g out Of town: I
 " I am sorry did not return your 1ok. I am in SprtnG1e1d now and will return if when I am back and will pay you what I owe you.