To the Honorable Secretary of State:

SIR:-I herewith submit the twenty-first annual report of the state librarian for the year 1921.

In my last annual report I made a special reference to the two decades during which the library had been under the charge of a state librarian and functioning under your jurisdiction as a department of the state government. This report will be devoted to discussing the requirements of the future. If the library is going to operate to its fullest degree of efficiency, it is necessary that due consideration should be given to the needs of the state library in devising plans for changes in the State House or the erection of public buildings on the State House grounds.

The Governor, in his annual message to the general assembly, has noted the need of additional space and has urged a comprehensive investigation of the situation.

We have at the present time 50,000 books and 50,000 pamphlets and for the storage of these books we occupy rooms on four different floors. The scattered locations seriously handicap administration and waste valuable time in searching for material. The principal room on the second floor, used as a reading room, has to be occupied by the working force and the noise of the typewriters interferes with the quiet which a reading room should insure. Fresh consignments of books in large or small quantities have to be examined, accessioned, cataloged and placed on the shelves. This work may be performed in several rooms and the books taken from one place to another as the work progresses. A function of the library is the distribution of state documents

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on exchange account. These shipments are made up in various rooms, according to the working conditions at the time. Within the library there is no adequate coat room or any sanitary conveniences. Valuable maps and plats are filed in inaccessible places and scattered throughout the building. The congestion in the library is so intense that all documents prior to 1915 are stored in the basement.

The state house commission has realized our problem and has made every effort to provide such relief as could be given. Through their courtesy the use of a room adjacent to the reading room was given to the state librarian for office purposes. This single room is inadequate, as persons who desire to confer with the librarian frequently have to wait in the corridor until others in conference have finished consultation. These conditions enhance the difficulties of administration and make enlarged and commodious quarters most essential.

At the proper time I should be glad to present through you, to a committee of the general assembly, the needs of this department.

THE PAST YEAR.

The book additions during the year 1921 show an increase over the previous year and total 1,641. In detail they are as follows: exchange, 616; gift, 205; purchase, 239; United States Government, 232; state officials of Rhode Island, 233; bindery, 44; and storage, 72.

In addition the library has received during the year, 1822 pamphlets. To this total should be added the government pamphlet deposits and the serial publications which are listed on cards and not accessioned. Much of this material is of real value and by our system of filing is made readily accessible for a period of ten years.

LIBRARY QUARTERS.

Reference has already been made to the congested condition of the library. During the year we have frequently loaned Room 8 to other departments of the state which required temporary additional space.

During the summer the main library was closed to the public and the room given a thorough cleansing, a large part of the expense of which was borne by the state library.

Additional shelving has been placed in Room 8 and two hundred document cases were placed in one of our storage rooms in the sub-basement. The consulting room and office of the librarian has greatly assisted him in the performance of his duties.

LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU.

This department of the state library has continued to render service to the legislature. During the year 1921 there were prepared for the general assembly 470 bills, memorials and petitions. In addition, special research has been conducted on the following subjects: List of all labor bills introduced in Rhode Island legislature, 1919-1920; harbor lines and wharfage rates, R. I.; women serving on juries, digest of laws of other states; medical chests for first aid; moving picture censorship; permanent police departments, R. I. cities; state expenditure for firemen's fund, 1904-1920; expenditures for state roads, 1906-1921; optometry, reciprocity clause; study of use of armories by organizations in Rhode Island, 1918-1921; standing room in moving picture houses; rent conditions and profiteering; right of fire department to enter upon private premises; school hours, time for calisthenics; school expenditures by towns; chiropractic laws; usury laws; compensation of special commissions and committees; court of appeals; list of highway surveyors for Rhode Island; transfer of ownership, motor vehicles; complete digest of soldiers' legislation; flag legislation; excess condemnation, complete digest; compulsory insurance act, auto drivers; prohibition enforcement acts; state control over private hospitals.

This brief summary gives but slight recognition to the work of the legislative reference bureau. Our card files which keep accurate track of the status of legislation, our mailing system for printed publications of the legislature and cur constant telephone requests for information concerning the progress of legislation should all receive mention. The

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legislative reference bureau keeps in close contact with the legislature and the constant demand for the construction of bills and research of legislation of other states attests its value.

The legislative reference bureau has completed its fifteenth year as an integral part of the state library and during the entire period has not attempted to reach out beyond the confines of its duties as prescribed by the original law. This action, in the opinion of the librarian, has been a wise procedure.

The special course in political science conducted in connection with Brown University has continued to function with success. A limited number of students are permitted to take the course and the results of the work have been made available for legislative purposes. During the past year we tried the experiment of giving the students an opportunity to make quick researches, frequently conferring with members of the legislature and observing at first hand legislative procedure. The experiment has been successful and will be continued during the coming year.

EXCHANGES.

The usual exchange has been conducted with the various state libraries and other institutions throughout the country. Acting under the authority of a resolution of the general assembly, this library has distributed various documents in the possession of the secretary of state to libraries on our exchange list. We urge all heads of departments to forward as promptly as possible all documents issued by them for distribution in order that we may give the libraries on our exchange list prompt service. We are anxious to obtain ten copies of all publications issued by the departments for our bibliographical file. The bibliography recently compiled by the librarian has been of great value in distributing documents to other libraries.

The librarian was in attendance at the Swampscott conference of the American Library Association and affiliated associations and was elected secretary-treasurer of the Na

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tional Association of State Libraries. He delivered before that association an address upon "Information Services."

FINANCES.

The usual sums have been expended for the support of the state library and the legislative reference bureau. In response to a proper demand for higher salaries, we have from time to time increased the salaries of assistants, but during a period of years we have not added to our book funds. Within the last decade the prices of books, periodicals and supplies have increased and we have, therefore, been obliged to restrict our purchases to the most pressing needs of the library. It is most essential that we make a moderate increase in our book funds in order to maintain the library at a suitable degree of efficiency. I, therefore, recommend that five hundred dollars be added to the state library appropriation for general purchases.

LIBRARY STAFF.

There have been a few changes in the library staff during the year. Theodore S. Butterfield has entered the automobile department and Miss Madeline T. Mulgrew has become identified with the banking department. Temporary employees will replace these persons on our staff.

CONCLUSION.

In conclusion I desire to extend to you and the members of your office my thanks for courtesies rendered during the past year.

Respectfully submitted,

HERBERT O. BRIGHAM,

State Librarian.