USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1956-1957 > Part 14
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DEATHS
Newburyport Resident
159
Non-Resident
81
Removals
5
CONTAGIOUS DISEASE
Mumps
37 cases
Dogbite
48
Chickenpox
11
Pul. T.B.
8
G. Measles
3
Measles
4
Whooping Cough
2
TOTAL
113 cases reported
83
BOARD 04 HEALTH
LICENSES ISSUED
Day Care 6
plumbing
114
Pasteurization
1
Milk ( store) 94
Ice Cream 5
Funeral Directors 8
Milk (dealers) 13
oleo 45
carb. Beverage 2
Masseur
2
TOTAL
290
Fees Collected for above licenses $784.00
DEATHS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO INTERNATIONAL LISTING
VI DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND SENSE ORGANS (80-89)
83a Cerebral hemorrhage 11
83b Cerebral embolism and thrombosis 6
VII DISEASES OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM (90-103)
27
93d Chronic myocarditis
94a Diseases of the coronary arteries 62
III RHEUMATISM, DISEASES OF NUTRITION AND ENDOCRINE GLANDS 61 Diabetes mellitus 1
INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES (1-44)
1
24a Septicemia
1
45€ pharnyx
1
46a Esophagus
2
46g pancreas
1
47d Lung
5
49d Vulva
1
e other
1
50 Breast
2
55 Unspecified-other
2
VIII DISEASES OF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
5
108 Lobar pneumonia
1
llla Hemorrhagic infarction and thrombosis of lungs c Chronic
1
114 e other and unspecified
2
107 Bronchopneumonia
1
84
13bl Tuberculosis
11 CANCER AND OTHER TUMORS
BOARD OF HEALTH
DEATHS CONTINUED
IX DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
123 Other diseases of the intestines 2
124 Cirrhosis of liver
125 other diseases of liver
2 1
X DISEASES OF THE GENITO-Urinary SYSTEM
130 Acute nephritis 1
132 Nephritis unspecified 3
XI DISEASES OF PREGNANCY
148 Puerperal toxemias 1
XIV CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS
157congenital Malformations 1
XV Diseases PECULIAR TO THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE
159 Premature Births 6
XVII VIOLENT OR ACCIDENTAL DEATHS
164f Suicide by crushing 184 Accidental injury by firearms
1
1
Stillborn Unclassified
3
3
85
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
January 31, 1958
REPORT OF BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
To His Honor The Mayor &
Members Of The City Council
This report of the Board of Public Welfare shows an increase in operating costs over the year 1956 due entirely to Legislative action and State Policies.
Increases in Nursing Home rates from $35.00 to $40.25 a week, fuel and light from $14. 75 to $23.00 a month for eight months of the year, increase in the over-all budget from 20% to 25.7% also increase in clothing allowance and an increase in the exemptions for children who might be liable for a legal contribution.
The case load on Aid to Dependent Children, Disability Assistance, and General Relief did not change either up or down. The costs did increase because of these various changes which were mandatory.
A good example of what these changes meant in operating costs is shown in Old Age As- sistance when the case load dropped from 406 cases in January, 1957 to 379 in December, 1957, a total of 27 cases at an approximate average of $85.00 a month per case. Yet our operating costs in Old Age Assistance ahow an increase of approximately $22,000.00 over 1956.
A substantial amount of the cost of the various categories can be found in the cost of Medical care and Hospitalization, Doctors, Dentists, Opticians, Orthopedic and special fields totals $27,335.65. Medicine to various Drug Stores and some Doctors $27,439.87. Hospitals $53,922.96. Nursing Home care which is part of the Medical Care Program $58,479.20 for a grand total of $167,177.68 for medical care only.
If it were not for the Social Security Benefits, particularly in Old Age, and Federal and State participation, the total cost would be impossible for any City or Town to finance. A state letter received recently shows an additional increase in the per- diem cost of Hospitalization effective January 1, 1958 and it is quite probable that the present session of Legislature will approve further increases which are not fore- seable at this time.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank 7. Mouill
WELFARE AGENT James A. Conceden
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
86
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Federal
State
Local
Total
January
$2756.98
$1976.43
$1195.88
$5929.29
February
2862.84
2233.15
1603.46
6699.45
March
2889.77
2363. 13
1836.48
7089.38
April
2839.45
2157.43
1475.41
6472.29
May
2720.60
2147.95
1575.29
6443.84
June
2549.35
1942.73
1336.11
5828.19
July
2790.50
2032.65
1274.81
6097.96
August
3054.88
2114. 94
1174.98
6344.80
September
2877.00
2193.80
1510.59
6581.39
October
2549.53
2013.85
1478.17
6041.55
November
3321.81
2495.68
1669.54
7487.03
December
3239.55
2518.42
1797.28
7555.25
Total:
$34,452.26
$26,190.16
$17,928.00
$78,570.42
87
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE
Federal
State
Local
Total
January
$855.46
$528.01
$461.15
$1844.62
February
1010.90
1317.89
776.26
3105.05
March
1064.00
1522.99
862.33
3449.32
April
1006.38
1319.56
775.31
3101.25
May
1029.85
1529.44
853.09
3412.38
June
999.33
1367.67
789.01
3156.01
July
895.46
1378.93
758.13
3032.52
August
1037.80
1660.65
899.48
3597.93
September
1071.24
1582.31
884.53
3538.08
October
1108.19
1458.01
855.40
3421.60
November
1039.87
1636.73
892.21
3568.81
December
1187.49
3088.92
1425.48
5701.89
Total:
$12,305.97
$18,391. 11
$10,232.38
$40,929.46
8.8
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
Summary Report, 1957
Payments
Welfare:
Board & Care
$3,777.91
Drugs
908.20
Fuel
1,685.52
Glasses
24.00
Groceries
11,308.94
Ilospitalization
6,365.26
Lights
127.56
Meal Ticket
580.00
Medical
945.50
Office Equipment
58.00
Office Supplies
263.77
Rental
2,956.11
Shoes
310.97
Telephone
179.55
Temporary Aid
4,619.05
Transportation
54.79
Miscellaneous
275.36
$34,440.49
$34,440.49
Cash
4,720.68
4,720.68
OTHER PAYMENTS:
Aid to Dependent Children
City
$17,928.00
State
26,190.16
Federal
34,452.26
$78,570.42
78,570.42
Disability Assistance
City
$10,232.38
State
18,391.11
Federal
12,305.97
$40,929.46
40,929.46
Salaries :
Welfare
$12,085.00
12,085.00
Total Payments :
$170,746.05
89
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
RECEIPTS
1957
A.D.C. Federal Grant:
Nov./56 & Jan. /57
$3106.13
Dec. /56 & Feb. /57
2359.75
Jan. & March/57
2726.98
Feb. & Apr./57
2947.84
March & May/57
3009.77
Apr. & June/57
2848.70
May & July/57
2570.60
June & Aug. /57
2279.35
Sept./57
2360.00
July & Sept./57
298.70
Aug. & Oct. /57
3414.38
Sept. & Nov./57
3107.00
Oct. & Dec. /57
2184.15
$33,523.35
A.D.C. Fed. Adm:
Oct. thru Dec./56
$529.70
Jan. thru March/57
641.13
Apr. thru June/57
697.62
July thru Sept. /57
654.63
2,523.08
A.D.C. State:
July/56 thru May/57
$23,633.46
June & Aug. /57
1,942.73
$25,576. 19
25,576.19
Returned A.D.C. Checks :
$280.75
280.75
D.A. Federal Grant :
Nov. /56 & Jan. /57
$899.90
Dec. /56 & Yeb. /57
978.78
Jan. & March/57
757.46
Feb. & Apr./57
431.64
March & May/57
1182.90
Apr. & June/57
1006.38
May & July/57
1020.85
June & Aug. /57
1020.04
Sept./57
700.00
July & Sept./57
195.46
Aug. & Oct. /57
1037.80
Sept. & Nov. /57
1071.24
Oct. & Dec. /57
1108.19
$11,410.64
11,410.64
D.A. Fed. Adm:
Oct. thru Dec./56
$459.66
Jan. thru March/57
307.72
Apr. thru June/57
401.82
July thru Sept. /57
388.76
$1,557.96
1,557.96
$74,871.97
$33,523.35
$2,523.08
90
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
Receipts (cont.)
1957
Brought Forward:
$74,871.97
D.A. State Adm:
Oct. thru Dec. /56
$229.83
Jan. thru Marcii/57
153.86
Apr. thru June/57
200.91
July thru Sept. /57
194.38
778.98
D.A. State:
Nov. /56 thru May/57
$10,585. 70
June & Aug. /57
1,346.96
July & Sept. /57
1,378.93
Aug. & Oct. /57
1,660.65
Sept. & Nov. /57
1,535.03
Oct. & Dec. /57
1,458.01
$17,965.28
17,965.28
Returned D.A. Checks:
$562.10
562.10
Other Cities & Towns:
Amesbury
$220.90
Danvers
30.00
Haverhill
293.17
Rowley
466.97
Salisbury
692.41
West Newbury
40.70
$1,744.15
1,744.15
Returned Aid & Welfare Checks:
$7.00
7.00
Miscellaneous Receipts :
$673.64
673.64
Rent of Land at Infirmary:
$100.00
100.00
State Bills:
$1,194.76
Indigent Persons
658.60
$1,853.36
1,853.36
TOTAL RECEIPTS:
$98,556.48
$778.98
91
WELFARE OTHER EXPENSE January 1 to December 31, 1957.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Total
Board & Care
$221.42 $520.78 $180.00
133.73
12.20
94.30
71.40
44.05
66.64
42.19
23.05
C7.10
97.13
233.41
908.20
Fuel
180.28
154.56
224.06
88.96
93.36
37.44
14.04
4.68
42.12
274.49
208.22
363.31
1685.52
Glasses
24.00
Groceries
915.00 1209.00 1132.00
953.00
318.00
647.09
751.00
346.00
744.85 1030.00
1115.00 1548.00
11308.94
Hospitalization
263.95
365.60
50.35
152.56
310.10
38.00
2.00
20.00
8.00 3725.50
1278.75
149.95
6355.27
Lights
4.12
4.00
4.92
6.01
6.53
8.37
6.43
4.00
14.27
23.79
29.39
13.43
127.53
Meal Ticket
56.00
63.00
56.00
90.00
72.00
580 .00
Medical
10.00
129.00
86.00
130.00
123.00
49.00
45.50
32.00
33.00
76.00
114.00
117.00
945.50
Office Equipment
Office Supplies
3.30
73.54
80.72
31.02
1.35
20.79
11.45
10.10
20.25
4.15
253.77
Rental
173.25
270.17
278.89
173.86
143.00
275.28
139.45
271.29
310.28
312.44
233.62
314.38
2955.11
Shoes
30.73
20.52
14.39
6.00
18.63
14.05
12.43
95.55
12.90
25.03
59.91
310.27
Telephone
14.00
14.30
15.15
14.85
14.45
14.85
15.90
13.80
15.50
15.75
14.30
15.40
179.55
Temporary Aid
377.75 2702.27
4519.05
Transportation
1.33
3.39
1.33
2.33
13.38
54.79
Miscellaneous
8.32
5.00
5.00
5.00
13.64
122.71
7.00
7.00
12.68
18.25
12.17
58.09
275.33
$1882.03$2933.39$2127. 12 $2380.43 $2020. 31 $1482.00$2391. 74 $1413. 04$1631. 12$5005.00 $4395.7495357.39 $34446.4>
Cash
419.00
382.50 383.50
385.CC
477.50
310.CC 385.00
362.00
302.00 404. 41
377.40 . 529.29
1.720.00
$599.50
$513.45
$214.28 $335.42
$216.36 $352.68 $100.00
$487.72
$31.00
$3777.91
Drugs
117.CO
28.00
35.00
35.00
28.00
58.00
50.00
947.78
139.69
151.55
15.91
15.79
12.00
12.00
$2301. 03$3349.39$2513. 32 $2755.43 $2503.09 $1702. 00$2776. 74 $2715. 0492133. 12$3330. 29 $4773. 14$5166.63 $5>161.17
92
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
Federal
State
Local
Total
January
$13,554.39
$ 9,343.45
$ 3,788.26
$26,686.10
February
14,736.04
16,054.54
6,658.87
37,449.45
March
14,608.94
15,058.09
6,773.82
37,440.85
April
14,522.52
17,026.47
7,104.82
38,653.81
May
14,662.40
16,206.93
6,675.32
37,544.65
June
14,601.59
16,737.89
6,661.95
38,001.43
July
14,304.29
16,688.03
6,895.31
37,887.63
August
14,018.88
17,634.68
7,274.49
38,928.05
September
15,577.13
20,753.45
8,626.47
44,957.05
October
15,458.08
17,845.96
7,568.77
40,872.81
November
15,392.68
18,938.62
8,183.57
42,514.87
December
15,466.42
24,533.54
10,675.24
50,675.20
Total:
$176,903.36
$207,821.65
$86,886.89
$471,611.90
93
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
DOCTORS AND SPECIAL SERVICES.
O.A.A.
A.D.C.
D.A.
G.R.
Total
Ames
$953.00
$7.00
$36.00
$47.00
$1043.00
Annis
115.00
23.00
---
46.00
185.00
Anglem
40.00
10.00
50.00
Barnard
294.50
24.00
30.10
304.50
Berg
233.00
20.00
5.00
102.00
Bullard
193.00
Callahan
12.00
12.00
Clancy
29.00
24.00
--
53.00
Cloyes
309.00
-
309.00
Cohen
67.00
22.00
09.00
Connors
11.00
Constantino
11.00
--
-
11.00
Councilman
225.00
4.00
18.00
247.00
Danis
1423.50
243.00
49.00
1718.50
Darling
218.00
130.00
356.00
Davitt
71.00
71.00
Dervan
739.80
244.00
191.00
153.00
1330.80
Driscoll
13.00
5.00
--
30.00
Glickman
5.00
6.00
Goldberg
720.00
200.00
980.00
Harris
165.00
Hewett
393.00
18.00
411.00
Hill
44.00
44.00
Hugenberger
20.00
20.00
15.00
55.00
Johnson
2011.00
536.00
633.00
222.50
3457.50
Kimball
234.00
23.00
51.00
--
308.00
Kirsner
495.00
15.00
51C.CC
Leary
7,910.00
229.00
785.00
223.00
9,152.CC
Lennox
10.00
Locke
3.00
3.00
Longley
216.00
213.CC
Macuzzo
21.85
21.85
Mass. Eye & Ear Infirmary
10.50
10.50
Milden
101.00
101.00
Miller
4.00
4.00
Mur dy
111.00
111.00
Nettle
44.00
44.00
Nice
285.00
13.00
37.00
335.00
Nichols
5.00
5.00
0'Conne11
200.00
---
20C.OC
O' Connor
260.00
48.00
---
308.00
Pearson
12.00
33.00
3.00
51.00
Peirce
221.00
3.00
108.00
4.00
333.00
Drs. Porter & Tucker
5.00
4.00
4.00
289.00
Ross
8.00
115.00
115.00
Schisse11
45.00
45.00
Schwartz
5.00
5.00
Shlossberg
93.00
10.00
5.00
108.00
Silverman
160.00
241.00
71.00
2,312.00
Sullivan
8.00
11.00
19.00
Swartz
22.00
22.00
Thaler
4.00
---
-.
-
4.00
Thompson
93.00
120.00
30.00
10.00
265.00
$20,880.15
$2,169.00
$2,804.00
$967.50
$23,820.55
94
--
160.00
Stockwell
1,710.00
290.00
5.00
Rogers
281.00
8.00
Sapareto
93.00
Tye
105.00
10.00
16.00
Duncan
25.00
11.00
233.00
Birdsall
157.00
193.00
135.00
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
DOCTORS AND SPECIAL SERVICES. (cont.)
O.A.A.
A.D. C.
D.A.
G.R.
Total
Brought Forward:
$20,380.15
$2,169.00
$2,804.00
$967.50
$26,820,65
Walton
155.00
15.00
170.00
Wheeler
89.00
42.00
2.00
133.00
Whitten
170.00
12.00
182.00
Williams
-
30.00
30.00
TOTAL:
$21,294.15
$2,238.00
$2,804.00
$999.50
$27,335.65 1
--
95
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
MEDICINE
O.A.A.
A.D.C.
D.A.
G.R.
Total
Beverly Drug Store
$2.30
$ - - -
$ ---
$ ---
$2.30
Boyle's Drug Store
1,871.50
163.35
2,034.85
Cabot Pharmacy
14.20
---
14.20
Center Drug Store
430.90
430.90
Davis Drug Store
851.30
178.90
164.85
54.16
1,249.21
Eaton's Drug Store
7,151.93
723.55
664.98
426.10
8,966.56
Highland Pharmacy
64.25
--
--
64.25
Hoyt's Drug Store
6,820.89
172.80
812.20
76.63
7,882.52
Lynch's Drug Store
1,451.20
230.20
138.25
93.51
1,913.15
Merchant Apothecary
6.25
6.25
North End Pharmacy
2,013.65
147.70
212.65
136.25
2,510.25
Richey Drug Store
196.45
34.00
230.45
Ropes Drug Company
12. 70
---
12.70
Saunders Drug Store
1,425.20
420.27
61.70
121.55
2,028.72
Tewksbury Pharmacy
29.00
29.00
Torrey Pharmacy
10.00
10.00
Zabriskie's Drug Store
2.65
2.65
Dr. Clancy
3.00
--
---
3.00
Dr. Cloyes
3.00
3.00
Dr. Danis
21.00
21.00
Dr. Johnson
4.00
4.00
Dr. Thaler
1.00
1.00
Beth Israel Hospital
6.70
6.70
Mass. General Hospital
13.20
---
13.20
TOTAL:
$22,406.27
$1,873.42
$2,251.98
$908.20
$27,439.87
-
96
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
HOSPITALIZATION
O.A.A.
A. D. C.
D.A.
G.R.
Total
Amesbury Hospital
$842.41
$ - - -
$ ---
$ -- -
$842.41
Anna Jaques Hospital
23,942.04
1,925.30
2,192.15
1,271.40
29,330.89
Benson Chronic Hospital
6,091.84
---
--
6,091.84
Beth Israel Hospital
196.06
196.06
Beverly Hospital
192.10
---
192.10
Boston Children's Hospital
58.50
685.50
744.00
Boston City Hospital
-
--
---
- --
123.36
123.36
Mass. General Hospital
445.20
2.00
73.50
520.70
New England Baptist Ilosp.
2,206.59
---
2,206.59
New England Peabody Ilome For Crippled Children
3,695.00
3,695.00
Pondville
658.90
--
658.90
St. John's Hospital
20.00
--
20.00
Salem Hospital
54.90
54.90
Worcester Memorial Hospital 245.96
245.96
TOTAL:
$37,642.22
$1,987.80
$7,927.68
$6,365.26
$53,922.96
Nursing Home Care: $54,009.65
$4,248.13 $
221.42
$58,479.20
-
233.48
Jewish Memorial Hospital
1,023.99
5,054.03
6,078.02
Lawrence General Hospital
3.50
608.00
133.00
741.00
Free Hospital For Women
1,485.25
2.00
457.00
1,944.25
Hlale Hospital
233.48
3.50
Mass. Eye & Ear Infirmary
-
97
ONE HUNDRED - SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWBURYPORT , MASS.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR 1957
Mrs. Charles D. Baker
John P. Learned
Mrs. Robert M. Driver
Mrs. Morris B. Wood
Everett M. Follansbee
TRUSTEES OF BUILDING FUND AND PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
John J.C. Coffin William Balch (Died December 1957)
James T. Connolly
EX-OFFICIO
Henry Graf, Jr. , Mayor William J. Fenders, President of Council
LIBRARIAN
Katherine M. Kuechle LIBRARY STAFF
Grace Bixby , Assistant Elizabeth M. Brennan, Assistant
Grace L. Colby, Assistant Eleanor M. Clancy, Children's Librarian Eleanor E. Gannon, Assistant
Bessie W. P. Hills, Permanent Part-time Assistant
Beulah E. Moody, Assistant Catherine W. Parsons, Assistant Marian G. Todd, Assistant Dorothy M. Walton, Permanent Part-time Assistant
SUBSTITUTES
Eleanor H. Rogers Beverly Wells
JANITOR John Szymura Charles Robie, Substitute Janitor Report of the Librarian
To the Board of Directors of the Newburyport Public Library :
During the year 1957, the facilities of the Newburyport Public Library were taxed to the utmost as service continued to expand. Public areas of the building were and are crowded and the need for more shelves for books is acute - especially in the adult department. I am very grateful to the members of our library staff who have carried on the tradition of good service to the people of Newburyport despite the difficult conditions which now exist.
The library was opened 300 days with a total of 91, 978 books cir- culated for home use as compared to 89,035 in 1956. This is an increase of 2,943 over the total book circulation in 1956. The gain in adult circulation was 2,142 while the juvenile circulation gain was 801.
The following table is included for purposes of comparison of 1956 and 1957 book circulation:
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1956
1957
Main Library
Adult
55,727
58,300
2,573 gain
Juvenile
15,118
15,442
324 gain
Total
70,845
73,742
2,897 gain
Andrews Branch
Adult
6,846
6,443
403 1088
Juvenile
4,965
5,312
347 gain
Total
11,811
11,755
56 loss
Belleville Branch
(closed July & Aug. )
Adult
2,445
2,417
28 1088
Juvenile
3,934
4,064
130 gain
Total
6,379
6,481
102 gain
Total-Main & Branches
Adult
65,018
67,160
2,142 gain
Juvenile
24,017
24,818
801 gain
Total
89,035
91,978
2,943 gain
The large increase in adult circulation was probably due to the increase in unemployment in 1957 with the result that there was more leisure for reading. Also, the constant increases in book prices has resulted in less personal buying of books and magazines.
The percentage of adult non-fiction circulated in 1957 was 37 per cent of the total book circulation - up 1 per cent from the previous year. Juvenile non-fiction circulation was 29 per cent of the total juvenile circulation in both 1956 and 1957.
Registered cardholders increased from 11,753 in 1956 to 12,127 in 1957 - a gain of 374 despite the withdrawal of 1201 expired numbers. The number of adult cardholders increased by 331 in 1957, while the juvenile gain was 43. Newbury cardholders, included in the total res- istration figures numbered 547 in 1957 as compared to 472 in 1956.
The total book stock of the library increased from 96,763 at the end of 1956 to 98,845 at the end of 1957. The net gain in book stock was 2,082 despite the withdrawal of 316 volumes. Of the 2,082 books added, 1198 were purchased from the income of trust funds, 774 were purchased from appropiated funds, and the remainder received as gifts.
In spite of movies, television, comics and radio Newburyport children still read. The Children's Room of the Main Library and of the two branch libraries are busy places throughout the year. Juvenile books circulated in 1957 numbered 24,818. Increasing use of the lib- rary has been made in the frequency with which reference books have been consulted in the library for school assignments. A new set of Compton's Encyclopedia was a most useful addition to the Children's Room reference collection.
In the fall, Miss Clancy gave instruction in the use of the library catalogue and basic reference books to all six of the fifth grade classes in the public schools. Three classes, accompanied by their teachers, came to the library for this instruction. Miss Clancy went to the new Belleville School to give instruction to the remaining three classes.
Teachers borrowed 26 school deposits ( collections of Children's books numbering up to thirty or more) for use in their classrooms. Six children received the State Reading Certificate in 1957, having completed the required reading.
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A change was made in the time of granting the YR privilege to young readers: - those promoted to the 8th grade could borrow books from the Young Readers' section and the Book Report section (upstairs) in June instead of waiting until September. Also, those graduating from the 8th grade, could be transferred to the adult department in June instead of September if they preferred. This has worked out very well in enabling the children to have access to 9th grade required reading during the summer months.
The 1957 vacation Reading Club, planned on the theme "Dive for Treasure," attracted 130 children, of whom 46 completed the required reading. Children in grades 2 through 4 read 7 books and reported briefly on them; while those in grades 5 through 7 read 10 books each and reported on them. Each group enjoyed a party in the fall.
Book Week, November 17 - November 23, featured for this Inter- national Geophysical Year the slogan "Explore with Books." Posters, bookmarks, and an exhibit of the new children's books supported the special activities of Book Week which included: a book review program and three story hours at the library during the week. Miss Clancy also visited 8 sixth grades in the public and parochial schools to review some of the new books for the children.
123 books for children were purchased from the income of the Ethel Parton Fund which was augmented by the gift of $100 from the Friends of the Library and by another gift of $25. Six nature books for children were purchased from the interest of the Newburyport Garden Club's Elizabeth Lispenard Johnson Phister Lane Memorial Fund, generously turn- ed over to the library for the purchase of juvenile nature books bearing the "Bessie Book" bookplate.
Weekly story hours were held by Miss Clancy at the Main Library on Saturday mornings throughout the school months. Several story hours were held by Mrs. Brennan at the Andrews Branch.
Use of the reference resources of the library continued high in 1957, the calls for the most part following the pattern of recent years. Help with school assignments, especially in connection with term papers, was given to many high school students. Topics on medicine and science led all others as choices for term papers. Requests for material on club papers included such topics as jet planes, Egyptian archaeology, old gardens of Newburyport, and a variety of topics on Essex county -music, poets, education, etc. A considerable number of college students used the library during vacations and week-ends- a number saying they pre- ferred to do this studying here rather than in their college library. Television seemed to bring quite a few people to the library, interested to find out more about subjects, books or plays which they had seen on television. As in other years, the usual quota of genealogical requests came from widely scattered parts of the country and were ably handled by Miss Bixby.
During 1957 the library borrowed on interloan from the State Lib- rary Extension Division a total of 315 books of which 187 were in French, Polish, Italian or Greek. The other 128 books were individual requests for titles oh subjects such as : operating a motor-court, testing and measurement in education; audio-visual techniques; and silk-screen print- ing. The Newburyport Library sent eight books on interloan to the fol- lowing libraries: Stephen Austin State College ( Texas) ; the Proctors- ville (Vt. ) Public Library; the Amesbury Public Library; Mount Holyoke College Library and the Miami (Florida) Public Library.
Many persons presented books to the library as the list at the end of this report shows. The donors include individuals, organizations, and publishers. Especially noteworthy among the gifts is Life's "The World's Great Religions" presented by the Study Class in memory of Miss Edith March Howe. The Library is greatly indebted to Miss Ellen G. Todd, a
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former Director of the Library, for her generous gift of $500 to the Friends of the Library. The gift was presented for the purchase of nature books in memory of her brother, John Cushing Todd.
The Newburyport Friends of the Library held its annual meeting in the Reading Room of the Library on June 5, 1957. Mr. James M. Barris- kill, authority on the early American theatre, presented a paper on "The Newburyport Theatre in the Federalist Period."
In January, the librarian spoke before the local D.A.R. and in March was invited to the CBS-Hytron plant to accept the gift for the library, of several books on transistor radios - a subject of consider- able local interest. In November, Miss Clancy spoke on children's read- ing to the Women of the Moose on the occasion of accepting the gift of a junior etiquette book presented to the Library.
No major repairs and / or renovations were made at the Library in 1957- though much is needed. Repairs to the furnace stokers were fre- quent and costly. The boilers and stokers, installed in 1928 are def- initely living on "borrowed time". The sum of $5,000 was asked for in the 1958 budget for the purpose of installing a new heating plant. The library is also in need of new paint - inside and out. A solution must be found to alleviate our over crowded shelves if we are to continue to give efficient service to the public. Amounts were included in the es- timated budget for painting and a survey on the book storage problem.
The Librarian is most grateful to each member of the staff and each substitute for the fine spirit of helpfulness shown under the difficult conditions presented by the unusual amount of illness of both long and short duration. We are also grateful to the Library Directors, who though depleted in numbers, were ever generous of their time. We were saddened by the death, in December, of Mr. William Balch for many years a Trustee of the Building Fund and a permanent member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Balch, although unable to attend library meetings for the last two years, was unfailing in his interest in and service to the Library.
In this "space age" which we are entering, libraries occupy a more important role than in the past. As an instrument of education, especi- ally of self-education. To quote a British scientist, past president of the Library Association (London); "If the public library is to be a means of education of the whole of our culture, then one of its duties must be to make the language of science familiar to those who are nottprofessien- al scientists. It must therefore have the books to do this. These books
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