State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE LIBRARIAN EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE RECORD COMMISSIONER FOR THE YEAR 1914 PROVIDENCE: E. L. FREEMAN CO., STATE PRINTERS Kit FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE LIBRARIAN. To the Honorable Secretary of State: DEAR SIR:—I herewith submit the fourteenth annual report of the State Librarian for the year 1914, and in addition the eighth annual report of the Legislative Reference Bureau. The record of the past year has been noted for quiet achievement of service with increased efficiency in all departments of the work. The growth during the past year has been slightly above the average for the previous year and represents an increase of 1,720 volumes, which have been received from the following sources: 856 by exchange, 135 by gift, 159 by purchase, 289 from the United States Government, 137 from state officers in Rhode Island, and 144 from bindery. All consignments of books, with the exception of a large quantity of government documents received from private sources, have been accessioned and placed upon the shelves. The pamphlet accessions constitute 2,164 pamphlets, a decrease from the previous year, when 2,607 pamphlets were received. The regular staff of the Library has remained unchanged during the past year. In this connection it may be well to note that the permanency of the service has been of great assistance in keeping up a high standard and in promoting general efficiency. The Librarian has now been in service eleven years, the Legislative Reference Director eight years, and the Chief Cataloger six years. The remainder of the staff have been in service at varying periods of from three to six years. The Library is constantly adhering to its distinctive policy in the purchase and selection of books. As a further step to that end an agreement was reached between the Public Library, the University Library and the State Library in regard to the special field of muni 4 cipal documents. In addition, the patent collection has been developed at the Public Library in preference to the State Library, as the general use of patents was largely during the evening hours when this Library is not open to the public. The Public Library on its part, has dispensed with books relating to State administration, and had turned these volumes over to the State Library. The regular shipments to the several libraries on the exchange list have been forwarded with increased promptness, as the use of the parcel post has enabled us to decrease the size of the packages and the frequency of mailing A tentative check-list which was in course of preparation has been delayed, but will be issued early in the coming year. The Library was represented at the American Library Association by the Librarian and the Legislative Reference Director. The value of these conferences lies largely in the personal acquaintanceship and the opportunity to obtain information regarding methods followed in other states. In conclusion may I extend to you and to your staff my sincere thanks for your courtesy during the past year and, I also hereby acknowledge the faithful services of the assistants in the Library. Respectfully submitted, HERBERT O. BRIGHAM, State Librarian. EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU. To the Honorable Secretary of State: DEAR SIR: I herewith submit the eighth annual report of the State Library relative to the operations of the Legislative Reference Bureau for the year 1914. The Legislative Reference Bureau has completed a year of unusual activity with a high degree of service which has been appreciated by many members of the General Assembly. A large percentage of the members take advantage of the facilities offered by the Bureau, and during the year there were drafted, redrafted, copied or typed, 435 bills, resolutions, memorials and petitions for introduction into the General Assembly. These figures indicate more than anything else the vast amount of work done in this department; and when one considers that much of the labor is performed under considerable pressure and with constant interruptions, the task seems all the more difficult. Special researches have been conducted during the year to the total of 54, including the following subjects: Lights on Horse Drawn Vehicles; Tax on Municipal Bonds; Bank Saving Deposits; Excess Condemnation in Cities; Milk Importation; Convict Labor; Spite Fences; Taxation; Pure Food and Drugs; Shrinkage of Packages; Legislative Bill Drafting Commissions; Zones in Cities; Bill Boards; Water Supply; Age of Consent; Public Defender; Seizure of Goods; Family Care for Insane; Review of Legislation on Public Health; Safety First; Pathological Laboratories; Pollution Work under Board of Health; Private Banking for Schools. Our permanent file of law abstracts now contains 210 different items. Much of the material of previous years has been discarded and the entire collection examined and re-indexed. |