The record of Bangor citizens who served in the armed forces in World War II, begun by the library in 1944 reached near completion in 1946 with 3,325 service records collected. Copy for the Book of Honor of Bangor men killed in the war, which we have been compiling and writing, was finished and sent to the engrosser. The book will contain 110 names. For 101 of these there are separate biographical pages with photographs. Alice M. Wetherell, children's librarian, gave a University of Maine extension course in children's literature. She and her assistants, Charlotte M. Torrey and Eileen B. Parker, gave 65 classes in the use of the library. Isabel R. Carroll, of our staff, gave a course of 12 lessons in the use of books and libraries at John Bapst High School. Olive M. Smythe, reference librarian, gave 14 classes on the use of the library to Bangor High School students. Our constant objective is to make the library useful to all comers.

During 1945 we distributed books at 148 locations throughout Bangor: school rooms, hospitals, residential institutions, other libraries, and our own central library and two branches. In our information department, work, as measured by questions requiring research, increased 15% over the year before. Reserves of books for home use increased 12%. The gain here was principally in the months since the end of the war. These are straws which may indicate that as Bangor's soldiers and sailors continue to return and now that there is gasoline in every auto, the use of the library is likely to rise rapidly to the level of the pre-war years.

Overseas every day some Bangor soldier will write to his mother something like this, "Do you remember that jelly I used to like so much?" or, "There's a little bird here that sings only in the hour just after sunset. You won't see him anywhere else in the world," or, "The time here is six hours ahead of your time," or, "I just saw the original of the statue we used to have on the piano." These are all devices for telling mother, without aiding the enemy, where the soldier is. Perhaps mother reads the message all right. Perhaps not. If she does not, she will phone or call at the library to find out what jelly is named after a city, or what bird sings just after sunset, or for the answer to the time question, or for the location of the original of the Winged Victory. And many times, but not always, the library can answer.

Elmar Trickey Boyd: On October 27, 1942 died our beloved former librarian, Elmar Trickey Boyd. His life is here remembered in a resolution adopted by the Board of Managers of the Bangor Public Library at its regular quarterly meeting, held on the day of his passing: Resolved: The Board of Managers of the Bangor Public Library holds in honor the memory of Elmar Trickey Boyd who served this institution as librarian for sixteen years, from 1921 to 1937, and as consulting librarian for six years, from 1937 until his death in 1942. It hereby records its appreciation of his many contributions to the advancement of the purposes of the library. His mind not simply open to the best ideas, but seeking them actively and creating them, brought to Bangor and employed the finest methods that library science has developed. Under his regime the public use of the library increased fourfold to a degree rarely equalled elsewhere. His kindly personality established an atmosphere of riendliness in the institution that made and still makes it better able to perform its mission, the wide dissemination of knowledge.

It is normal for the Bangor Public Library, in its field of books and information services, to keep abreast of public interest or to anticipate it. In 1941 it was normal for us to do something to help meet abnormal conditions. For business men we added or went on with such continuously up-to-date services as the Research Institute of America's "Business and Defense Co-ordinator," Prentice-Hall's "Federal Tax Service" and "Internal Revenue Code," and Moody's "Investors Service." For air raid wardens we supplied current pamphlets and such authoritative books as Col. A. M. Prentiss' "Civil Air Defense." For Red Cross first aid students we had the "First Aid Text-book." We gave the use of our lecture hall for many Red Cross classes. For aviators we supplied books on aeronautical meteorology, mathematics, and air navigation. When our 152nd Field Artillery went to Camp Blanding we offered to mail books to Bangor soldiers not only in that unit, but also in any other and to sailors. That very few have yet used this service does not spoil the idea. The offer still stands. When the U. S. Army Engineers began the construction of the Bangor Air Base and, later, when the base was manned by the Air Corps, we extended the full use of the library free to all military new-comers and their families. A total of 405 Air Base men have become borrowers. We have lent a library of 1000 volumes to the morale department for recreation hall T-6 at the base and a library of 300 volumes to the hospital at the base. These are unusual activities, but simply a part of our normal job of keeping up with the times.

During 1940 the Bangor Public Library operated not merely from its fine central building on Harlow Street, but from 190 other locations. This wide distribution of its work, which has been the rule for many years, deserves to be better known. Bangor's total home use of library books in 1940 was 416,029, a record figure, yet only 306 higher than the total in 1939, its previous record year. Nineteen percent of this use was from collections of ours located elsewhere than in the central building. From collections in 157 public or private school rooms or school libraries 38,213 items were lent--from the Music Branch in Symphony House, 11,939--from the patients' book truck at the Eastern Maine General Hospital, 11,138--from the public sub-branch at the Forest Avenue Congregational Church, 10,050. BOOKS EVERYWHERE. From 23 collections in such places as the Home for Aged Women in Bangor, the Eastern Corporation, St. Michael's Orphanage, the Bangor Osteopathic Hospital, and Camp Jordan 8,762 books were lent. Seven considerable collections are in locations such as the Penobscot Bar Library Association and the Doctors' Library at the Eastern Maine General Hospital where the books are consulted on the premises and not lent for home use.

More copies than ever of the most popular novels were bought. The number of children's story periods was increased from 51 to 60. Saturday evening hours were added for the children's room. Thirty-two broadcasts over WABI and 39 other book talks were given by the librarian and six other staff members. Newspaper articles, both by members of our staff and by the editors and staff writers of the "Bangor Daily Commercial" and "Bangor Daily News" to whom, with WABI, we are most grateful, kept the public informed of every activity of the Library. It is a fact first realized by many citizens in 1939, though it has long been so, that the Library maintains collections not only in its Harlow Street building, Music Branch, and Forest Avenue Church Deposit, but also in 186 other locations. We told more clubs that our lecture hall and historical room are free for free public meetings of an educational, literary, or scientific nature. More clubs made use of that knowledge, holding 146 public meetings in one or another of our rooms. We encouraged organizations to hold or sponsor exhibits here. Four exhibits were arranged by the Library--ten, by other organizations. We conducted 92 classes, with a total attendance of 2,505, in the use of the Library. We lent books not only over the desk in Bangor, but by mail to 142 individuals and 33 libraries in 109 other cities and towns. All this makes Bangor more favorably known.

The average annual growth of the number of volumes in the Library for the ten years from 1929 through 1938 has been 6,728. At this rate, which is not excessive considering the large use made of our books, we shall in 1941 have to erect new shelves in the last space now remaining in our stack section. The shelves that can be installed in 1941 will, if the rate of growth is not increased, accommodate our additions until 1946, but not beyond. Before 1946 we shall have to seek funds for the erection of an addition. It is not too soon for us to begin to consider ways and means of obtaining them.

In submitting the 55th annual report of the Bangor Public Library I bring to your attention, first of all, that Bangor people are reading more and more works of fact. The per cent of adult nonfiction in the total circulation rose from 24 in 1936 to 26 in 1937. The per cent of adult fiction declined from 51 to 50. The per cent of juvenile circulation went down from 25 to 24...Seventeen public addresses and. 34 radio broadcasts in our series, "Books People Like," were made by the Librarian. Three addresses were made by the Children's Librarian. Single broadcasts in the radio series were made by Olive M. Smythe, Helen Washburn Yost, and Roberta E. Smith...The Library has many friends. Conspicuous among these are radio station WABI, which has made possible our weekly broadcast --the Bangor Daily Commercial, which has produced our book column, "At the Library Tonight" in most attractive form and published it three times a week--and the Bangor Daily News, which describes our bookish doings on its home page.

Assemblies: According to Bangor high school tradition, the Oracle board had charge of the first assembly of the year. This assembly was in the form of a one-act play, starring editor Charles Redman, strangely enough, as Charles Redman, the editor of the Oracle. The second lead was played by Danforth West, playing himself, business manager of the Oracle. The action of the play deals with the unorthodox methods of the business manager to boost the subscriptions of the Oracle at the expense of the editor, who is against advertising in any form.

Dedication: Mr. Charles E. Taylor--progressive educator, able and just administrator--your whole-hearted devotion to the best interests of Bangor High School has earned for you the respect and admiration of students and teachers alike. You have held scholarship to an increasingly high standard; you have encouraged all the varied interests of the students--never have we found you too busy or too tired to attend our plays, debates, concerts, and athletic events. It is due in large measure to your wisdom and integrity that Bangor High School has prospered and gone forward during the past ten years, and to you, with gratitude and appreciation, this book is dedicated by the students of Bangor High School.

New York World's Fair 1939: A national poster contest, open to the 30,000,000, boys and girls who comprise the school population of the United States with a free trip to the New York World's Fair as the Grand Prize, was announced recently by Grover A. Whalen, President of the New York World's Fair 1939. The contest will be open to all students, except children of employees of the World's Fair Corporation, from the first grade through college, in the United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. This includes children in schools under private direction and parochial schools, as well as those in the public schools.

W. P. A. Arts: Many times this year the Oracle has received information regarding the Four Arts Program of the Works Progress Administration. These bulletins contain information of the work which the WPA is doing in regard to theatre productions. While presenting their own plays and helping present others, the WPA is giving entertainment to many people and is also helping many would-be actors.

Chatting with Doctor Hauck, University of Maine President: Two flights of stairs, two long corridors, and a door marked President; a large office, another door, and then President Hauck ushering us Into his private office; an immense polished table in the center of the room, straight backed chairs against the wall, and a large glass-topped desk at one end. Doctor Hauck welcomed us in the friendliest manner (could this be the stern, elderly gentleman we had expected?) and then we got down to business.

Ice Cream versus Education by Norma Munster: Ice Cream! Come And Get All You Want! Absolutely Free!! So Long as You Eat It All!" Should you happen to see such an incredulous sign as this hanging outside an ice-cream parlor, would you ignore it entirely for fear there might be rat poison in it, or would you trust to human nature, gorge yourself with this delicacy until ice-cream cones played tag in your dreams? Suppose some morning as you gained sight of Bangor High School, you were suddenly confronted by a glaring notice in hugh red letters: "Education--Absolutely Free--All You Want For Just a Few Hours of Studying." What would you do in this case--rush in eagerly and take your share, or would you be very generous and give the other fellow a chance first?

The Tuberculin Test: We would like to call your attention to the fact that everywhere in the United States, doctors and health officers are working very hard to stop the spread of tuberculosis. In our own city Miss Hopkins, Dr. Gumprecht, and Dr. Fellows, the heads of the Anti-Tuberculosis Association in Bangor, are doing their utmost to prevent tuberculosis. However, because of the lack of cooperation on the part of school children, these people can not make much progress. Everyone can help very much by taking the tuberculin test. In a few weeks the freshmen will be asked to take it, so let's cooperate by having 100% of the freshman class taking this harmless test.

Magazine Honors for the Oracle Repeated in 1936: The Oracle in receiving First Class Honors in the Sixteenth All-American Critical Service for Scholastic Magazines, conducted by the National Scholastic Press association, scored eight hundred and ninety-five out of a possible one thousand points. In attaining this recognition the Oracle was in competition with sixteen magazines representing schools from various parts of the United States, with student enrollments ranging from nine hundred to sixteen hundred. The entries in all classes totalled one hundred and fifty-one.

Another American Tragedy by John Lewis: Tragedy again blots the souls of American people people in one of its most fearsome ways. The unfortunate people dwelling in the valley districts of Southern New England, up-state New York, and especially in Pennsylvania, are harrassed by uncontrollable waters. Verdant acres of fertile farmlands are ruined by yellowed waters of once serene rivers. Farm-houses and barns with stock still in them are swept swiftly to destruction. Thriving villages and cities are destroyed by turbulent waters. Comfortable homes of striving laborers are whirled away or ruined. Thousands are driven from their homes, forced to leave most of their possessions behind them to be claimed by angry waters. At the latest report, one hundred fifty-five are dead, and hundreds more missing.

Attitude Toward School: Today's attitude toward school has changed, for the most part, considerably from that of years gone past. If, by chance, it has not, then it should change as soon as possible. In our grandparents' time and even as late as the time when our parents went to school, this institution of learning was much different. They were taught under many disadvantages. The school house in itself was a great hindrance to the teacher and pupil. Also books and facilities inside the school building were not too great a help to the pupil. Thus, with the improvement of school buildings and books, the attitude of a pupil should change to a great extent. These were not the only drawbacks, however. A student of grandpa's time was not made to feel that the school was his, and not being made to feel this, it was necessary for the teacher to watch the pupil every minute. The students were not given any responsibility and therefore could not show their worth. Pupils, however, should be and are, to some extent, given a chance to be responsible for the function of school life. This can be done through cooperation of both the teacher and the pupil.

A Balanced School Life: Do we, as a group, receive benefits in proportion to our labors? Or, and, perhaps, what is more important, do we expend efforts that make us worthy of receiving any reward? Some of us, in less than four short months, will start counting up the profits of our four years at Bangor High School. What will the totals tell? A's, B's, and C's don't count as much as that feeling which tells us we have done our best, indeed, our utmost, to attain respectable rank and to really learn what we set out to learn. Some of us will continue our education further.

Our Understudies: The Oracle wishes to take this opportunity to congratulate the faculties and students of the Mary Snow and Abraham Lincoln Schools for their effort and interest in the publishing of a school newspaper. The three editions of the "Palm Breeze" edited by the pupils of Abraham Lincoln School, last year, met with such enthusiastic approval that the maintenance of the publication for this year was assured... The Mary Snow School prints "Snow Flurries" under a similar plan.

A Student Looks at the Teachers' Convention: Three days not ordinary days, but days of leisure. A half-week's vacation because the teachers are going to hold a "meeting." The foregoing is probably what the student first thinks in regard to the Teachers' Convention. Let's follow it along and see what happens next. These days, and the convention held during them, serve a special purpose. These days are used in improving teaching methods. All this is done evidently upon the theory that better methods of attack--yes, attack upon ignorance--will make up many times over for the few hours lost.

Foreword: The Oracle Board takes pleasure in printing in this number a history of Bangor High School from 1835-1935. The Centennial celebration of our high school is of special interest this year, coming at a time when the whole country is joining with the citizens of Boston in celebrating the three hundredth anniversary of the Boston Latin School, the establishment of which was the beginning of free education in this country.