Report of the Howland Circulating Library for the year 1931

              Report of the Howland Circulating Library
FOR THE YEAR 1931
The annual meeting of the Howland Circulating Library Co. was held Monday, January 4, 1932, at which time reports for the year 1931 were received from the Treasurer and Librarian.
Librarian's Report of the Howland
Circulating   Library   for   the   year 1931.
Members of the Howland Circulating Library Co.:—We have completed our third year as a free library, and again we show an increase in membership and circulation as in the past two years. In the report for last year, we called attention to the fact that a long period of unemployment, undoubtedly had been a factor in this increase; it is true also of this year. The reports of libraries throughout the nation, show that the "depression" has given the libraries an opportunity for greater service to their communities than ever before. In our own library it has been interesting to note the comments heard from many readers, the gist of which was they were thankful that at least they had the library to turn to for diversion and mental relief. A point of comparison in our work as a free library and that of a subscription library is that in our third year the circulation   is  three   times  greater  than
that of the highest year under the old system. Surely we were justified in thinking that the Library could fill a need in the community.
On May 6th the Library Institute for this district was held in this library. Miss Hathaway, Mrs. Webb and Miss Eastwood of the State Library were the leaders. Subjects of special interest to library workers were assigned for the days program. About 25 delegates from the eastern and southern section of the county were in attendance and the day proved a most interesting and profitable one.
The Week Institute for this section which is conducted by the New York Library Association was held at Middletown Library the last week in April. Miss Davies attended this institute and reported an interesting week, devoted entirely to the study of Reference Work in libraries.
During Children's Book Week we arranged for a display of 60 or more new childrens books, selected for boys and girls from the 3rd to the 9th grade. With the cooperation of the principals of the public and parochial schools the occasion was brought to the attention of their pupils, and an invitation given to visit the library during the week.   This re-