USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1949-1950 > Part 5
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Turned over to the U. S. Army
1
Miscellaneous
Amount of Property reported lost.
$9,036.80
Amount of Property recovered. $3,413.80
Amount of Imprisonment Imposed (days).
2,315
Amount of Imprisonment Imposed (days) Suspended. 3,830
89
Assisted other Officers
347
Suicide.
1
Automobiles Stolen.
12
Automobiles recovered.
12
Buildings found open and secured.
632
Bicycles Stolen.
26
Bicycles Recovered ...
29
Complaints Investigated.
1,465
Dangerous Wires and Poles Reported.
22
Dead Animals Found on Streets ..
58
Defective places in Streets Reported.
29
Defective places in Sidewalk Reported.
64
Disturbances Suppressed without Arrest
13
Dogs and Cats gassed.
82
Duty Calls.
39,409
Escorts Furnished Processions and Parades.
6
Fire Alarm Boxes Found Open
1
Fire Alarms Given Still.
3
Fires Extinguished without Alarm
10
Intoxicated Persons Helped Home.
18
Lights reported out in Stores.
91
Lost Children restored to Parents
41
Number of Visits to Pool Rooms ..
903
Officers for Extra Duty at Ward Rooms
23
Officers for Extra Duty at Church ..
5
Officers for Extra Duty at City Hall.
33
Lights Found Burning in Buildings
366
Lights Furnished for Dangerous Places.
9
Injured Persons Assisted.
19
Accidents reported.
53
Put on Probation
Committed to State Farm, Bridgewater, Suspended.
77
City Marshal
Officers for Extra Duty at Ball Games.
164
Officers for Extra Duty at High School.
2
Officers for Extra Duty at Dance Halls
66
Officers for Extra Duty at Theatres.
108
Officers for Extra Duty.
57
Safes Found Open.
Search Warrants for Property
Sick Persons Assisted.
16
Street Lights Reported Out.
691
Telephone calls on Police Signal System
67
Wagon Calls ..
Water Found running in Buildings
4 4
Water Main Burst, Superintendent notified.
108
Windows found broken.
109
Summons served for other Police
47
Bicycles Registered.
104
Bodies Found in River
2
Visits to Parks and Playgrounds
108
Persons Bitten by Dogs.
41
Fingerprints Taken.
68
Dogs Shot.
3
Gun-shot Wounds Reported.
2
Traffic Lights Reported Out.
6 3
Visits to Liquor Places.
7,183
Signs Burning
35
Messages Delivered.
161
Guards for Money Transfers
166
Fatal Accidents.
1
Gun Permits Issued
79
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES E. SULLIVAN, City Marshal.
78
17
1
Sudden or Mysterious Death, Notified Medical Examiner.
8
5
Windows found open and secured
Notified to Remove Gaming Implements.
Fire Department
February 8, 1950
His Honor the Mayor Members of the City Council City Hall Newburyport, Mass.
Gentlemen: I hereby submit the required report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1949.
249 Still Alarms
50 Bell Alarms
3 Funerals Attended
14 Foot-ball Games
5 Parades Attended
1
Bonfire Attended
5 Locked out parties assisted
2 Halyards replaced in flag poles
600
Ambulance calls responded to
428
Wiring permits and inspections
933
Oil burners inspected
42 Firemen- duty at City Hall
5457 Telephone calls to and from Station
1
Loss of life- suffocation
1 Body in river assisted
6250 Feet of lem hose used
14300
Feet of 22" hose used
562
Feed of ladders raised
153
Hours machines worked
3192
Miles traveled- apparatus
4235
Miles traveled- ambulance
108
Hours- machines at practice
261
Hours at fires
204 Glass replaced in Fire Alarm boxes
22 Cross-arms, wires & poles changed over
16 Rendered first-aid
648
Buildings inspected
29 Fire drills and schools inspected
291 Complaints attended to
43 Troubles repaired on Fire Alarm and Police Signal
300 Feet 22" hose discarded, unfit
150 Feet 12" hose discarded, unfit
10 22 gal. Foamite used
288 22 gal. Chemicals recharged
Value of buildings & contents
Insurance
$1,273,930.00 932,652.00 35,096.58
Insurance paid on buildings & contents
Loss on property-no insurance 938.00
We are very thankful for the assistance given us by the City Council, Haverhill Electric Co., Daily News, New England Telephone Co., Water and Police Dept., the Highway Dept., and also to the neighboring Fire Depts. and Chiefs.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) C. Frank Creeden, Chief
79 .
Weights & Measures
SEALER WEIGHTS AND MEASURES DEPARTMENT
ADJUSTED
SEALED
NOT SEALED
CONDEMNED
5,000 to 10,000 1bs.
1
100 to 5,000 lbs.
17
Under 100 1bs.
193
1
1
Weights
104
Liquid - 1 gallon or under Over 1 gallon
73
16
Gasoline
75
5
Meters
28
Other devices
39
Leather devices
1
Yard sticks
25
TOTAL
572
6
1
FEES COLLECTED DURING 1949 -
$347.01
80
Bord of Health
BOARD OF HEALTH NEYBURYPORT DEATHS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO THE INTERNATIONAL LISTINGS
II - Cancer and Other Tumors (45-57)
Number of cases
45ª Lip
1
46a esophagus
1
460 stomach
3
462
reotun
1
460
intestinos
6
46€ pancreas
4
47a
lung
1
49. ovary
50 breast
55. abdomen
III - Rheumatism, Dieses of Nutrition and of Endocrine glands (58-71) 61 diabetes mellitus
1
V I - Diseases of Nervous System (80-99)
81 Meningitis
1
83 cerebral hemorrhage
10
83b cerebral embolism
1
85 epilepsy
1
VII - Diseases of Circulatory System (90-103)
92b mitral stenosis
6
93d chronio myocarditis myocardial dogeneration
7
93.1 myocarditis
1
93.2 myocardial insufficiency
2
94a diseases of coronary arteries
32
95c3 dilation of heart
1
97 Arteriosclerosis
3
103 other diseases
1
VIII - Diseases of Respiratory System (104-114)
107 Bronchepneumonia
14
108 Lobar pneumonia
1
Diseases of Digestive System (115-129)
124 Cirrhosis of liver
1
127a Cholecystitis
1
128 Diseases of pancreas
1
X - Diseases of Genite-Urinary System (130-139)
130 Acute mephritis
2
132 Uremia
1
133a Pyelonephritis
1
XI - Diseases of Pregnancy (140-150) 1460 Other and unspecified hemorrhages
1 -
XII - Diseases of skin and cellular Tissue (151-153)
152 - Phlegmon and acute abseess 1
W - Congenital Malformations (157)
157d other congenital malformations of central nervous system 1
157. congenital heart 1
XV - Diseases Peculiar to Ist year of life (158-161) 159 Prematurity 3
16le Other diseases 1
XVII - Violent er Accidental Deaths (163-198)
81
131b Chromic nephritis
7
2 ] 211 1
Board of Health
BOARD OF HEALTH
1640
Suicide by hanging
1
1640 Suicide by firearms
1
170 Motor vehicle accidents
2
181
Accidental burns
1
185 Accidental injury by knife
1
186 Accidental injury by fall
2
XVIII - Ill-defined
200a myocardial failure stillborns not defined veterans
1
4
6
4
TOTAL NEWBURYPORT DEATHS 149
INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING REPORT 1949
Dogs quarantined
-
52
Farms quarantinod
-
1
Farms visited
-
19
Cattle inspected
-
518
Horses inspected
-
22
slaughtering
0
82
Board of Health
BOARD OF HEALTH 1949 BIRTHS
RESIDENT
Males
131
Females
124
Stillborn
Twins
2
NON-RESIDENT
Malos
67
Females
63
Stillborn
4
Twins
1
DEATHS
Newburyport Residents
149
Non-Residents
73
Resident Ashes Interrod
3
Died Here, Buried Hero
122
Died Elsewhere, Buried Hero
73
Non-Resident Ashes Interred Hero
0
Removals
2
.
REPORTABLE DISEASES
Chickenpox
138
Measles
42
Mumps
9
Polio
13
Scarlet Fever
11
Whooping Cough
5
Tuberculosis
1
L. Pneumonia
3
TUBERCULOSIS
Cases Admitted
5
New Cases
1
Re-activated
2
Diod
2
Arrested cases
3
Cost for Hospitalization of Tuberculous Patients
$3118.50
PERMITS ISSUED
Plumbing
111
Masseurs Licenses
4
Milk Licenses
124
Ice cream Licenses
5
Pasteurization Licenses
3
Undertakers
7
Oleo licenses
40
Carbonated Beverage Lie.
2
TOTAL
296
FEES COLLECTED ON ABOVE PERMITS
$760.62
83
Board of Public Welfare
February 6, 1950
REPORT OF BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
To His Honor theMayor
& Members of the City Council:
The report of the Board of Public welfare for the year 1949 covering Aid to Dependent Children, General Reljef and William Horton Home is as follows :
Aid to Dependent Children :- Gross cost $60,868.48.
This is a Federal, State and City program and the cost is broken down as follows: Federal $17,904.52 -- State $20,289.47 -- City $22,674.49.
General Relief :- Gross cost $50,757.22, including relief in Other Cities and Towns for which Newburyport is liable. Received in reimburse- ment from the State -- $7,770.49; from Other Cities & Towns for cases aided in Newburyport -- $3,135.68; for Board & Care and returned checks $723.00; leaving a net cost of $39,128.05.
William Horton Home ;- Gross cost $10,320.74, less income of $326.75 from sale of stock; leaving net cost of $9,993.99.
While the cost of operating the Home shows a slight decrease over the previous year, the cost of Aid to Dependent Children and General Relief show a substantial increase. The increased cost of welfare is not con- fined to Newburyport, but is a state-wide problem.
Respectfully submitted, Murphy.
Welfare Agent James 7. Comuden
Richard B Little Josefch R. Thibault Board of Public Welfare
84
Board of Public Welfare
SUMMARY REPORT, 1949
PAYMENTS
WELFARE :
Groceries
$16,679.00
Fuel
3,110.95
Board & Care
4,768.32
Office Supplies
177.33
Rent
1,748.61
Shoes & Clothing
604.83
Telephone
85.55
Temporary Aid
3,144.44
Truck
171.44
Glasses
38.50
Medical
2,547.35
Drugs
1,318.75
Hospital
1,469.95
Transportation
22.19
Den tal
69.00
Burial
139.00
Travel
14.26
Miscellaneous
17.50
Cash
14,630.25
$50,757.22
INFIRMARY :
Groceries
2,629.87
Fuel & Light
2,106.55
Feed & Grain
1,747.20
Medical
82.47
Drugs
80.96
Supplies
847.31
Tobacco
558.50
Pest Control
99.96
Telephone
85.98
Miscellaneous
638.48
Barbering
264.00
Equipment
241.01
Slaughter
15.00
Shoes & Clothing
103.82
Repairs
626.00
Insurance
63.63
Burial
130.00
$10,320.74
OTHER PAYMENTS :
Aid to Dependent Children:
Federal
$17,904.52
State
20,289.47
City
22,674.49
$60,868.48
SALARIES :
Infirmary Welfare
3,385.00 8,028.62
$11,413.62
85
Board of Public Welfare
SUMMARY REPORT
PAYMENTS
( cont)
$133,360.06
SALARIES :
Welfare-City (6072.15)
A.D.C. City Adm. (1130.04) A.D.C. Federal Adm. (826.43)
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN :
Federal Administrative
City Administrative 13.15
13.15
$133,373.21
86
RECEIPTS
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN :
Federal Grant:
Nov. & Dec. 1948
$2,478.51
Quarter ending:
March, 1949
4,174.04
June, 1949
4,520.26
Sept., 1949
4,530.87
Month ending:
Oct., 1949
1,540.08
$17,243.76
Federal Administrative:
July-Dec. 1948
756.61
Jan .- June, 1949
710.86
$ 1,467.47
State Share:
July-1948 to March 31, 1949
$12,308.36
April-1949 to June 30, 1949
5,113.17
$17,421.53
Returned Checks:
A.D.C. City
38.90
$ 38.90
TEMPORARY AID :
State :-- 1947-48
$
958.09
1948-49
6,785.40
$ 7,770.49
Other Cities :
Amesbury
$ 841.15
Ipswich
1,082.70
Newbury
257.83
Plymouth
15.00
Salisbury
939.00
$ 3,135.68
RETURNED AID:
Board & Care Returned checks
$ 597.00
126.00
$ 723.00
INFIRMARY :
Sale of calves
$ 317.00
Refund on check (V.E.O.)
9.75
$ 326.75
TOTAL
$48,127.58
.
87
Board of Public Welfare
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
PAYMENTS
MONTH
FEDERAL
STATE
CITY
TOTAL
January
$1,308.18
$1,366.16
$1,424.15
$4,098.49
February
1,437.18
1,628.86
1,820.55
4,886.59
March
1,501.02
1,784.80
2,068.58
5,354.40
April
1,423.48
1,748.67
2,073.87
5,246.02
May
1,516.30
1,691.77
1,867.25
5,075.32
June
1,503.48
1,672.73
1,841.97
5,018.18
July
1,492.98
1,653.27
1,813.57
4,957.82
August
1,503.76
1,691.07
1,878.39
5,073.22
September
1,534.13
1,645.65
1,757.17
4,936.95
October
1,540.08
1,699.04
1,858.00
5,097.12
November
1,544.75
1,771.90
1,999.06
5,315.71
December
1,599.18
1,935.55
2,271.93
5,806.66
TOTAL
$17,904.52
$20,289.47
$22,674.49 $60,868.48
88
REPORT OF CITY INFIRMARY -- BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
Board of Public Welfare:
Gentlemen:
We present the annual report for the year ending December 31, 1949.
No of Inmates cared for during year 35
No. of inmates at present time 20
Average No.
21
Unable to work
10
Deaf Mute
1
Money received and paid Treasurer
$317.00
Wood bought
10 cords
Wood delivered
10 cords
Bought lawn mower
Bought 5 pigs
Exchanged 1 horse Paid $20.00
Live stock at present time : 2 horses, 8 cows, 4' hogs, 110 hens
Poultry killed and used on farm
7 hogs -- 2100 1bs .-- 1 cow, 510 1bs.
1519 doz. eggs -- 560 lbs. butter
1017 -- 20 qt. cans of milk
Canned Goods :
230 qts. tomatoes -- 18 qts. beans -- 95 qts. peaches -- 20 qts. pears -- 22 qts. applesauce -- 80 qts. beets -- 97 qts. picalilli.
Crops raised :
40 tons hay -- 150 bu. potatoes -- 100 bu. corn on cob -- 10 bu. onions -- 30 bu. carrots -- 15 bu. beets -- 20 bu. turnips -- 5 bu. parsnips -- 13 bu. #1 Apples -- 10 bu. #2 apples -- 10 bu. cider apples 500 lbs. squash -- 1000 1bs. cabbare -- 20 bu. swiss chard -- 32 bu. string beans -- 12 bu. peas -- 10 bu. cucumbers -- 42 bu. tomatoes -- 40 bu. sweet corn -- 20 bu. peaches -- 6 bu. pears.
REPAIRS :
Painted 2 large dining rooms -- 2 kitchen pantrys -- 4 rooms on men's wing -- barbershop -- 30 chairs -- 16 beds -- varnished 3 tables -- 12 doors and frame work on outside of house -- 2 outside steps and porch on south wing.
Built housing around oil tank. Repaired wood work on 4 sinks -- new metal work on 4 sinks -- New metal work on 2 sink boards -- re- pairs to men's toilet in basement. Repairs to flush tank in supervisors quarters -- repaired water pipe in basement. Repairs to metal work on kitchen tables. Built new trough and front to pig pen. New sink strainer and repairs to pipe in kitchen sink. Repairs to sink in men's dining room. New lead pipe from trap to soil pipe. Repairs to water pipe on furnace. New bottom in lime spreader -- Repaired barbers chair.
89
REPORT OF CITY INFIRMARY -- BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
Oiled and sanded driveway. New valley on roof of west wing. Rebuilt top of smoke stack. Jacked up sill in barn and put in sub sill and 3 posts.
Built over tieup in cow stable -- New fence at Powder house field -- Shingled porch.
Respectfully submitted,
Dudley T. Currier, Supt.
90
INFIRMARY EXPENDITURES -- Jan. -- Dec. -- 1949
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
TOTAL
Groceries
33.34
235.12
128.69
186. 17
105.17
292.76
186.95
285.43
230.49
142.36
380.04
423.35
2,629.87
Fuel & Light
246.45
77.37
266.25
211.76
102.99
69.83
37.85
67.70
116.70
250.65
167.55
491.45
2,106.55
Feed & Grain
123.44
178.70
92.90
112.63
321.90
117.70
103.56
129.16
141.15
78.86
140.49
207.01
1,747.20
Medical
5.00
3.00
13.00
24.00
6.00
7.57
3.00
9.00
11.90
82.47
Drugs
3.40
1.40
137.23
58.58
216.58
48.69
36. 82
32.73
35.78
73.54
22.44
31.95
117.69
847.31
Tobacco
33.44
53. 80
31.12
44.00
49.68
45.64
29.92
44.94
33.04
33.44
56.36
103.12
558.50
Pest Control
8.33
8.33
8.33
8.33
8.33
8.33
8.33
8.33
8.33
8.33
8.33
8.33
99.96
Telephone
5.22
5.32
4.77
5.80
6.96
7.86
9.40
8.10
7.90
8.40
8.30
7.95
85.98
Miscellaneous
78.02
24.29
64.61
49.38
1.50
6.20
16.53
39.21
272.60
5.00
28.14
53.00
638.48
Barbering
30.00
24.00
54.00
30.00
24.00
24.00
30.00
24.00
24.00
264.00
Equipment
60.00
Slaughter
15.00
Shoes & Clo.
9.75
14.90
16.98
18.94
9.40
12.00
10.00
11.85
103.82
Repairs
63.63
Burial
----
--
-
TOTAL
566.92
841.31
698.25
862.76
806.23
847.71
488.67
879.28 1,340.32
645.48
864.16 1,479.65 10,320.74
SALARIES
280.00
280.00
280.00
0.00
280.00
280.00
280.00
280.00
280.00
280.00
280.00
280.00
3,385.00
846.92 1,121.31
978.25 1,142.76 1,086.23 1,127.71
768.67 1,159.28 1,620.32
925.48 1,144.16 1,759.65 13,705.74
Board of Public Welfare
91
.
63. 63
425.00
51.00
150.00
626.00
Insurance
130.00
130.00
26.63
37.00
80.96
Supplies
35.28
1.40
11.13
161.01
20.00
241.01
15.00
WELFARE EXPENDITURES
-Dec. 1949
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
NO V.
Dec.
TOTAL
Groceries
693.50 1,435.50 1,515.00 1,538.50 1,353.00
Fuel
40.20
765.77
209.65
172.75
435.00
77.38
38.448
87.47
24.90
177.41
406. 83
674.21 3,110.95
Board & Care
224.78
284.68
76.29
1.04
4.06
69.44
12.53
2.67
9.25
11.20
Rent
122.62
161.99
200.57
160.57
100.71
104.36
123.50
103.71
134.07
151.16
167.14
218.21
1,748.61
Shoes & Clothing
32.85
50.35
50.45
68.16
24.95
10.40
23.25
17.85
109. 30
44.28
66.80
106.19
604.83
Tele phone
4.48
5.43
4.98
6. 14
7.05
8.37
8.65
8.75
7.40
8.60
8.35
7.35
85.55
Temporary Aid
80.00
Truck
158.99
Glasses
3.00
11.50
18.00
6.00
112.00
127.75
137.75
120.00
322.00
238.75
493.60
2,547.35
Drugs
104.77
89.43
170.80
101.42
51.02
40.41
37.80
78.35
147.74
166.33
330.68
1,318.75
Hospital
232.45
184.00
240.00
376.00
248.00
160.00
24.00
5.50
1,469.95
Transportation
22.19
Dental
69.00
Burial
139.00
Travel
2.24
5.35
14.26
Miscellaneous
1,165.87 3,245.27 2, 822.99 3,008.33 3,816.43 1,701.44 1,498.20 2, 854.75 1,958. 88 2,314.85 3,732.60 8, 007.36 36, 126.97
Cash
1,034.00 1,082.00 1,398.50 1,048.00 1,106.00 1,422.00 1,153.50
1,421.50 1,144.25 1,086.50 1,502.00 1,232.00 14,630.25
2,199. 87 4,327.27 4,221.49 4,056.33 4,922.43 3,123.44 2,651.70
4,276.25 3,103. 13 3,401.35 5,234.60 9,239.36 50,757.22
SALARIES
553:41
661.91
789. 85
631.88
631.88
789.85
660.65
86.12
603.52
500.77
721.19
657.59 8,028.62
TOTAL
2,753.28 4,989.18 5,011.34 4, 688.21 5,554.31 3,913.29 3,312.35 5,102.37 3,706.65 3,902.12 5,955.79 9,896.95 58,785.84
Board of Public Welfare
823.00
700.50
44.29
1,003.47
42.36
89.29
985.45
534.32 4,768.32
Office Supplies
47.44
15.95
3.75
177.33
2,356.65
3,144.44
171.44 38.50
Medical
193.75
263.85
284.00
253.00
6.56
2.04
6.34
6.12
36.00
129.00
3.56
3.11
17.50
158.20
105.41
156.00
141.93
146.25
10.00
1.13
33.00
92
17.50
12.45
114.86
269.66 1,098.32
1,052.50 1,272.00 1,347.00 1,671.50 3,377.00 16,679.00
Jan. -
PUBLIC LIBRARY Ninety-Fourth Annual Library Report Newburyport, Mass.
Board of Directors for 1949
The Rev. Stanley E. Anderson Resigned September 1949 Mrs. Robert M. Driver Dr. Randolph C. Hurd
John F. Leary
Erving A. LeCain Miss Grace G. Pettengill Miss Ellen G. Todd Richard L. Walsh
Trustees of Building Fund and Permanent Members of the Board
William Balch John J. C. Coffin Peter I. Lawton
Ex-officio John M. Kelleher, Mayor Arthur W. Southwell, President of the Council
Librarian Katherine M. Kuechle
Library Staff
Ruth L. Anderson, Assistant Resigned August 27, 1949
Eleanor E. Gannon, Assistant Bessie W.P. Hills, Permanent
Grace Bixby, Assistant
.
Part-time Assistant
Elizabeth M. Brennan, Assistant
Beulah E. Moody, Assistant
Eleanor M. Clancy, Children's Librarian
Mary A. Cummings, Assistant
Catherine W. Parsons, Assistant Marian G. Todd, Assistant
Josephine Johnson, Summer Substitute
Janitor
C. Frank Kelleher
Report of the Librarian
To the Board of Directors of the Newburyport Public Library :
The year 1949 showed a substantial increase in the use of library fa- cilities. During the year 93,354 books were circulated as compared to 86,432 - an overall gain of 6,922. Of this total 69,291 books (both a- dult and juvenile) were circulated from the Main Library as compared to 63,346 in 1948. Juvenile book circulation, from the Main Library and branches, was 23,189 as compared to 22,636 in 1948 - a gain of 553. Belle- ville Branch circulation increased from 10,853 books issued in 1948 to 13,637 in 1949 - a gain of 2,784 for the year. Andrews Branch issued 10,426 books in 1949 as compared to 12,233 in 1948 - a decrease of 1,807. Thirty-three per cent of the adult book circulation was of non-fiction books in 1949 as compared to thirty-five per cent in 1948: and twenty- three per cent of the juvenile book circulation was non-fiction as com- pared to twenty-two per cent in the previous year.
The number of borrowers cards increased from 9,212 in 1948 to 9,555 in 1949 - a gain of 343. Juvenile cardholders totaled 1,782 - four less than in the previous year. Sixty-seven per cent of the residents of Newbury- port are holders of library cards.
Although 307 worn-out books had to be withdrawn from the book collection in 1949, the total book stock of the library increased from 84,536 at the end of 1948 to 85,797 at the end of 1949. This is a net gain of 1,261 books added for the year.
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
The facilities of the Children's Room at the Main Library and the Belle- ville Branch in particular have shown a marked increase in use in 1949. As always, there is an urgent need for more books for the children. As the school population increases, the demands on our juvenile book col- lection increase. The Ethel Parton Fund, sponsored by The Friends of the Library, which reached its goal of $2,000 in May 1949 will help somewhat to supply juvenile books, but the modest amount of $500 for children's books included in the budget estimate for 1950 is urgently needed.
The week of December 19 was observed as "Christmas Library Week" during which time all fines on all overdue adult and juvenile library books re- turned during the week were cancelled. Since many children's library cards were not being used because of small fines owed on them, for books returned late, all such juvenile fines were cancelled thus enabling chil- dren to draw books from the library again. At the Andrews Branch the overdue fines on some forty children's library cards were cancelled dur- ing that week and almost half of the children started taking out books within the week.
The 1949 Summer Reading Club featured a "S. S. Bookland Cruise" for which eighteen younger children read ten books each, and ten children fifteen books each. A party in September, with games and prizes, concluded the cruise.
Book Week, November 13-19, was observed with displays of new books, a book review program by the children, special story hours. Mrs. Richard J. Schaper, Rowley, fascinated children present when she appeared in Dutch costume and described her own experiences of "Child Life in Holland"
Miss Clancy gave library instruction in use of reference books and the library catalogue to all of the fifth grades in the public schools. Each class came once, accompanied by their teacher to either Belleville Branch or the Main Library for instruction. Ten State Reading Certificates were issued in 1949, and fourteen school deposits were lent to teachers.
Weekly story hours, during the school year, have been held at the Main Library and are very popular with the children. Story hours at the Andrews Branch were resumed in November and are attracting more and more children to the library.
Book circulation reflects a community's special interests to a sur- prising degree. The circulation of books on painting and the dramatic art took a great plunge ahead with the formation in 1949 of the Newbury- port Art Association and of the Port Players. Music books have contin- ued to be popular. The early winter and spring months of 1949 brought quite a number of people in who found they had time to read again because they were out of jobs; and wanted books of the western and romance type for entertainment. Newspaper contests brought in many more who had never used the library before. As always, club papers or research projects and High School term papers presented interesting opportunities for research on such varied subjects as anti-vivisection, comparative religions, popu- lation theories, the "new" drugs, the "Berlin lift", women's reforma- tories, national debt, and local history. Edward Rowe Snow, popular New England author and "Flying Santa Claus", made several visits to the library checking material for the chapter on the Newburyport Schoolhouse Ghost for his most recent book "Strange Tales from Cape Hatteras to Nova Scotia.
The inter-library loan department of the State Division of Public Libraries has been most helpful in supplying additional books on such specialized subjects as psychiatry for social worle rs, cartridge manu- facture and pyrotechnics, speech correction, production control; sets of books on weights and measures, books on child psychology for use in con- nection with Agricultural Extension lectures; and sets of books in French, and other languages.
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
150 books were borrowed on inter-loan in 1949. We lent books to the libraries in Lynn, Ipswich and Amesbury.
The Annual Meeting, open to the public, of the Friends of the Library, was held in the Reading Room of the Main Library on May 25. Miss Bodil Jorgensen, West Newbury, gave a most interesting talk on "Life in Denmark".
1949 saw a pleasant exchange of correspondence and of town histories between the Library of Newbury, England and the Newburyport Public Library.
The librarian reviewed books for the following groups: The Unitarian Women's Alliance, the Y.W.C.A., and The Ladies of the Rotary. The librari an and staff act as examiners in Bookbinding and Reading for the Lone Tree Council of Boy Scouts and for the Girl Scout Council.
Two long-hoped for improvements in the main library building were achieved in 1949. New fluorescent lights were installed in the Children's Room in February. The wonderful light provided is in brilliant contrast to the lighting elsewhere in the building which should be modernized as soon as possible for the comfort and convenience of library patrons. The second improvement was the installation of a staff lavatory on the main floor level - long overdue and greatly appreciated. The adjoining office was painted and a fluorescent light installed.
1949 was a particularly difficult one because of the unusual amount of sickness which prevailed throughout the city generally and to which the library staff had no special immunity. Work was often carried on under great difficulties due to the sickness of two or more staff members at the same time. Each staff member deserves special thanks for the fine, uncomplaining spirit in which additional work was taken on. Provision should be made in the library budget for the hiring of substitutes when- ever the maintenance of satisfactory library service requires it during periods of staff depletion due to illness and during the summer vacation period. A suitable provision for the purpose was incorporated in the estimated budget submitted for 1950 as were salary increases recommended by the Directors.
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