The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-05

service. The number of books cir culated in this remodelled building for the six month period, July to December, indicates that book cir culation for 12 month period will, at conservative estimate, show 50 per cent increase over any circula- tion of the past five years.
 Adult Book Circulation
 In the Circulation Department many standard or basic books wear ing out could not be replaced and important current books were bought in a limited number of copies, never sufficient to satisfy the demand. This department, at one time, re- ported 42 requests on file, for Van PaasSen's Days of Our Years" of which the Library had only one copy. and 30 requests for Lin Yutang's Moment in Peking," of which there were but two copies. In November and December one copy of Ernest Hemingway's For Whom The Bell Tolls" had to satisfy 26 re- quests for this book. At the very lowest estimate each borrowed will keep any of the above books at least week. This means that some readers must wait not weeks but months for a desired book. Often borrower becoming completely dis couraged with the service, or as he thinks lack of it, given by the public library, turns to the corner drug store lending library and another borrower is lost to the public library.
 During the past year concen- trated effort was made to build up the Young Peoples Collection, sorely in need of new books and the re- placement of old books. This collec- tion is used by young adults of high school age for recreational as well as required reading. Visits to all the high schools of the city, with talks given at high school assemblies, re- suited in noticeable increase in high school registration and in the use of the enlarged Young Peoples Collection. Our goal for these young people is a special room, well stocked with books for required reading, reference and recreation, and, most important, some one in charge of this room 12 hours day to help these young adults with their read ing problems.
 Fortunately during these lean years, the Library has had at its disposal two book funds from which the income has been fairly constant. A portion of the Frederick John Kingsbury Fund, generally assigned to the purchase of art and genea- logical books, was temporarily di- verted to purchase books of non- fiction which could be considered "of acknowledged and permanent value" The Mary E. FitzSimons Fund has for several years been used for augmenting the Young Peoples Collection. Book Fund No. l, from which the income fluctuates, has nevertheless provided many books which could not otherwise have been purchased. In 1940, the Library again received 5000 from the Coronas Club for the purchase of Italian books. A second gift of 5000 for the purchase of Italian books was received from the Italian-Ameri- can Federation of Waterbury.
 Work With Children
 A little more than half, in fact 55 per cent, of all books loaned dur ing the year were borrowed by chill dren using the Central Library, three branches, eight school libraries and 139 classroom libraries in P schools. The total number of books lent to children was 90,330 volumes The work of the Children's De- partment, however, is not measured solely in terms of books issued for home reading. In addition:
 172 visits were made to class rooms to encourage reading and
 the use of the library.
 A classes came to the library
 for instruction in the use of simple
 reference tools and the card cata-
 log.
 "A story hours were held with
 an average attendance of 46 chll-
 dren at each story hour.
 puppet shows were given.
 Work with children was extended through the establishment of three additional school libraries, at Vel ton School ill January, Bunker Hill School in April and Driggs School in May. This made a total of eight school libraries established in four years. The library at Welton School was closed in June when the school itself was closed to become the headquarters of the City Welfare Department. Combined book circu- lation from the eight schools having school libraries was 44,868 volumes Twenty-two additional schools using the old classroom libraries, had a combined circulation of only 51,691 volumes. This interesting compari- son shows almost two and one-hal1 times as much reading done ir schools where the improved system of school libraries is used, as, il schools where the old box class room libraries are used.
 During the year all graded book. lists were revised and monthly list: correlated with the school program were compiled for each grade. These monthly lists also included new titles and books of seasonal interest suit. able for each grade. Tn addition ar All American Reading List" wa: compiled for each grade. This timely list was popular with both children and teachers. M
 Without doubt the greatest i'm. provement in book service to tht children of Waterbury during thu past year was the opening of sep arate children's room at Brooklyn Branch. Before the building opened a careful selection of books wal made in an endeavor to provide ai good a basic collection as possible The chief problem now is to provide more books, especially picture book for the younger children. In spite Of a slzeable initial collection. tht shelves housing these books ar' always empty. The story room wltt , two rows Of bleachers, instead ol the usual chairs. benches or stools Is filled beyond capacity at every story hour A third row of bleachefl ta. lac. Aas