PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 61 Report of the State Board of Education for the two years ended July 14, 1914, is omitted in this volume. It will be bound with the Public Documents for 1915. For the Years 1913-1914 PRINTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTE HARTFORD 50. Report of State Board of Agriculture, 51. Report of Dairy and Pure Food Commissioner, 52. Report of Commissioner on Domestic Animals, PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 61 REPORT OF The Connecticut Public Library Committee ΤΟ THE GOVERNOR For the Years 1913-1914 PRINTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTE HARTFORD PUBLIC LIBRARIES The completion of twenty-one years' activity by the Connecticut public library committee seems to justify a backward look over the library work in the state and a summing up of accomplishment. The committee appointed in 1893 consisted of Caroline M Hewins, secretary, Hartford; Charles E Graves, New Haven; NL Bishop, Norwich; Storrs O Seymour, Litchfield and Charles D Hine, -chairman. Two members of the committee, the chairman and secretary, have served continuously since that time. Mr Graves served until 1900, when he was succeeded by Edwin B Gager, Derby. Mr Bishop served until his death in 1909 and Henry A Tirrell, Norwich, was appointed to succeed him. Mr Seymour resigned in 1911 and George A Conant, Windsor Locks, was appointed to succeed him. The law of 1893 provided for an appropriation of $500 for clerical assistance, printing, traveling and other incidental expenses of the committee and for a grant of $200 or less to newly established libraries, provided equal amounts were appropriated by the towns, or, in very small towns, raised.in any way for the establishment of libraries. In 1895 the law was amended to provide for annual grants of $100 or less to libraries meeting the prescribed conditions. In 1901 the amount for clerical services, etc, was fixed at $750. In 1903 the law was amended to provide for the appointment of a library visitor and inspector and the appropriation fixed at $2,750, and in 1909 the amount was increased to $3,250 annually. The work accomplished by this committee may be judged by comparison of library conditions just before the appointment of the committee with the conditions now. In 1891-2 there were 111 libraries in the state, only 52 of which were free libraries. There were 57 towns without libraries of any kind. In 22 years the number of libraries has increased by 74, the number of free libraries by 114 and the number of towns without libraries has |