History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 145

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 145

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A step in the right direction was made by the directors in procuring a large collection of the best dictionaries, encyclopædias, etc. It was impossible for them to do all that they wished, for they could not get money enough, in the earlier days of the library, to enable them to carry out their plans. They did what they could with the means at their disposal. Still, the reference library was not much used. In 1871 there came a sudden growth in its use. This use increased rapidly in succeeding years. It is now very large. How has this increase been effected ? It has been brought about by the use of very simple means. It was thought that the reason why people did not use the library was that they needed assistance in using it. A new librarian was appointed, and he was allowed to render such aid as was desired by frequenters of the library. Then, all

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persons in the city who had questions to ask to which they might hope to find answers in books were cor- dially invited to come to the library and propound them. It was made a rule that everybody should be received with courtesy and made to feel that he is an owner of the library, and that its officers are bound to give a reasonable amount of time to finding an- swers to his questions. The youngest school-chil- dren, the humblest citizens, were to be received cor- «lially, and an impartial courtesy extended to all. The plan worked admirably. It has been a cardinal principle that the officers should manifest a persist- ent determination not to allow an inquirer to leave the building without getting-if a possible thing to find it-an answer to his question. When books needed in answering questions are not found in the library, efforts are at once made to buy them. If their purchase cannot be afforded, or if they cannot be bought in time for present uses, pains are taken to find ont whether they do not belong to some other library or to some individual accessible to the ques- tioner, or they are borrowed by the librarian from some institution within the city or in some other place. Time is spent in doing such work as this,- the time, too, of persons whose service is somewhat costly. But this time is well spent. The personal relations of an accomplished librarian with users of a library are productive of great advantage. Few users of a reference library know what books to go to, to get answers to questions which they have to ask. Many need help in finding out and stating the exact question which they wish to have answered. The librarian or an assistant steps forward and helps them to give a definite shape to their inquiries, and then refers them to some master of the subject to which their inquiries relate. He gives them the best books, and keeps them from the productions of (labblers in knowledge.

Formerly, when the reading-room of the reference library was not filled with persons who had come to it for instruction, entertainment was sometimes of- fered to such as desired it in the form of stories and bound volumes of illustrated papers. That custom has long been discontinued, however, the legitimate nses of the library for study and serious reading hav- ing grown so large that there is no room for mere pleasure-seekers. That the efforts to build up a large use of the reference department were success- ful was evidenced at once by the statistics given in annual reports. From those it appeared that 7321, 12,408, 15,672, 20,550 and 22,833 persons, respectively, had books given them during the first five years of the new order of things, or helped themselves to hooks to be used in answering their inquiries, or to give them enjoyment. A very large proportion of these recipients of information and enjoyment re- ceived answers to serious inquiries. While, too, care has been taken to supply the wants of humble in- quirers, the officers of the library have been equally

solicitous not to neglect the demands of more ad- vanced students. While a half-hour has been readily spent in finding out for a curious boy how dates can be plucked from the top of the tall palm-tree, what- ever time was needed has been cheerfully given to the scholar whose questions required reference to philosophical transactions or a Greek anthology, or to the public instructor in preparation for a lecture or review article. A reference library that is not used becomes very unpopular. Where such a library is so administered that a large constituency gets ad- vantage from it, all will recognize it as a public bene- fit, and citizens unskilled in the niceties of scholar- ship will, in consideration of the benefit they them- selves derive from the institution, be willing that money should be spent in supplying the wants of scholars. During the last ten years 51,674 volumes have been used annually on the average in the Green Library for purposes of reference, study and serious reading; 61,424 volumes were given to users for those purposes in the library year just closed, namely, that from December 1, 1887, to November 30, 1888.

The Free Public Library has become distinguished for the aid which it has rendered to schools. Every effort has been made there to help teachers to do their work, and especial facilities have been afforded them in pursuing studies. They have also been as- sisted constantly in their exertions to add to the pleasantness and profitableness of study by the chil- dren under their charge. Many of the teachers in Worcester have been very successful in awakening an interest in reading among their pupils and in raising the standard of reading among them. They have done this mainly by starting an interest in subjects, and then supplying books from the library to satisfy the curiosity aroused.

Immense numbers of books have been used in this way by the teachers, for their own benefit and that of their scholars. Space cannot be afforded here to describe the methods in use in the Public Library. They have been set forth from time to time in the pages of the Library Journal and in pamphlets con- taining papers and addresses of the present libra- rian.

It is enough to say in this place that the plans adopted in that library have led to results such as have approved themselves to the managers of libra- ries in other communities, and have been copied or adapted to local emergencies by a very large number of institutions in the cities and larger and smaller towns of the United States, and have attracted atten- tion in foreign countries, and to a certain extent been introduced into England.

It will be remembered that among the " terms and conditions " imposed by Dr. Green in the deed by which he transferred his library to the city, is one which provides that the books shall " be used only in the library building." This provision was extended in his will to the use of all books bought with

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money left by him and placed in the department which bears his name. It has sometimes been thought that the reference library would be more useful if the books in it could be taken to the homes of users. Now, however, the restrictive pro- vision is, 1 think, generally believed to be a wise one by persons who have thought much about the matter. There was more reason formerly than exists now for anxiety on the part of citizens to have the books put in circulation. In the earlier days of the library the additions of books made to the circulating department were wholly inadequate to supply reasonable demands of users. The directors knew that this was so, and bought as many books as they could with the money at their command. Now the circulating department is generously cared for, and it is very seldom that a citizen feels it a hardship not to be able to take home books belong- ing to the Green Library. There are two weighty reasons why those books should not be taken away from the library building,-first, it is desirable that investigators should always find them at hand for consultation ; second, books which are put in cir- culation become dirty and mutilated. Mr. Salis- bury speaks forcibly on this head in the fifth an- nual report of the directors. He says of the meas- ure of allowing books in the Green Library to be taken to the homes of users, that it "would be like killing the goose that laid the golden egg. For a time the use of the books would be stimulated and increased, but when they should become defaced and worn out by use, it would require to keep the library interesting and attractive, a larger expendi- ture than the majority of citizens would approve, and the most liberal givers might hesitate to place valuable books in a heap of rubbish."

The Free Public Library is mainly dependent for its support upon an annual appropriation made by the City Council from money raised by taxation. This appropriation was very small at first. It con- tinned small for several years. The directors saw that it was very important that more money should be placed at their disposal, and persistently urged the claims of the library for liberal support. Their ef- forts gradually bore fruit. The city began to grow also, and a greater readiness to spend money on im- provements to manifest itself. With increased ex- penditures in other departments of the government, the annual appropriation of the library began to grow.

The sum of money given to it the first year of its existence was $4000. The library had, besides that amount, $88.26, which had been collected for fines and obtained in other ways. For the last ten years (1878-79, to 1887-88), the average annual municipal appropria- tion has been $11,729, and so much of the money paid for dog-licenses as is applicable to library purposes. The amount received in that way has increased from $1931.05 in 1870, the first year in which it came to

the library, to $4006.89 in the last library year, 1887- 88. In that year the municipal appropriation was $14,500. The dog-law may be found in the public statutes, chapter 102. Examine especially sections 84, 98 and 107. Under the provisions of that law, in all the counties of the State, except Suffolk County, the money raised in towns by payments for licenses issued to owners of dogs, after a portion has been re- tained by the city for general purposes, and deduc- tions have been made to cover the depredations of dogs among sheep and other domestic animals, must be appropriated by the towns to the support, either of public libraries or of the common schools. With appropriations now enjoyed $6500 a year can be spent for books and periodicals. For the purchase of books the library has also available, it will be re- membered, the income of the Green Library fund. The income of the reading-room fund, likewise, swells its resources and gives it means of buying periodicals and papers. A considerable sum, on the average over $500 a year, is received from the collection of fines, the sale of catalogues and other miscellaneous sources. The average yearly receipts of the library from all sources during the last ten years have been $17,530. During the library year just closed the receipts were $21,305.87. These were received in the following amounts from the several sources of income: munici- pal appropriations, $14,500 ; Green Library fund, $1772.87 ; reading-room fund, $462.48 ; dog-licenses, $4006.89 : fines, etc., $563.63.

At the date of its foundation the library had 11,500 volumes in its two departments. A third department, known as Intermediate, has since been established. At the date of the last annual report, December 1, 1888, the number of books in the library was 73,669, divided as follows among its three divi- sions : Green Library, 22,255; Intermediate Depart- ment, 17,520 ; Circulating Department, 33,894. The average home use of the library for the last ten years has been 128,123 volumes. The use during the last library year was 142,449 volumes.

The average annual use of books for home purposes, for reference, study and serious reading in the library building and for use on Sunday during the last ten years has been 182,009. That use during the library year just closed was 206,290. The average daily use of books on secular days last year was 665. This number does not include, of course, the immense use of magazines, reviews and papers in the reading- rooms.

During the last complete year of the existence of the library of the Worcester Lyceum and Library Association, the precurser of the Circulating Depart- ment of the Free Public Library, 9,742 volumes were given out for home use. During the eight months spoken of in the first annual report of the latter organization, 31,454 volumes, or a daily average of 153, were delivered to users for the same purpose. Thus a great increase of use followed the change of

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the library from a private to a public institution in which privileges were made free. The increase is also indicated by the fact that 3,200 applicants for cards to be used in taking out books received them during the first eight months of the library's exist- ence. If we place side by side, however, the number 31,454 and that representing the use of books in the Free Public Library last year, namely, 206,290, a great growth is shown in this respect in the twenty-nine years of the library's life. The number of hooks lost and not paid for during the last library year was 16. The average annual loss for the past ten years has been 12. On the average, 254 volumes have been yearly withdrawn from the library because worn-out or for other reasons during the same decade.

The library of the Free Public Library has been selected with careful reference to the actual wants of its users. The standard of works placed in its circula- ting department has always been high and for many years has been raised gradually every year. The aim of the officers of the library has been to give to it a certain completeness in all branches of knowledge that the citizens of Worcester take an interest iu. In a community such as Worcester is it has proven useful to bring together a large collection of books relating to chemical and physical science aud their applica- tions, and the library has therefore secured many valu- able sets of periodicals representing progress in those fields and of the transactions and proceedings of learned scientific societies and a large number of important works on mechanical and other applications of science. It has also bought numerous sets of peri- odicals and individual publications relating to the fine arts and their applications to industrial pursuits. While then the library has aimed to supply existing wants, it has been led in doing this to make a specialty of procuring works of the classes just enumerated.

At the start the library used for its circulating department copies of the catalogue of the Lyceum and Library Association. In 1861 a catalogue of the circulating department of the Free Public Library was issued. A list of additions was printed in 1867. Another catalogue of all the books in the same depart- ment was issued in 1870, and a supplement to that in 1874. In 1884 the present printed catalogne was pub- lished. It contains all the books which readily circu- late that belonged to the library September 1, 1883, and consists of one thousand three hundred and ninety-two pages. It is intended to print a supple- ment to that catalogue during the present library ycar (1888-89). The library issues from time to time lists of additions to all departments of the library in sheets of four pages.

. The library has outgrown its present quarters, and the city has bought a lot adjoining the one which is occupied by the existing building, and will, it is anti- cipated, begin the current year to put up on it a new building to be used in connection with the edifice now standing.

In the Green Library room there is a fine portrait of the founder of the reference library, which was painted by direction of the city government after Dr. Green's death, by the late William II. Furniss, of Boston, and a statue of Dr. Green, in plaster, by the late B. H. Kinney, of Worcester.

The librarians of the Free Public Library have been Zephaniah Baker (from February 17, 1860, to January 14, 1871), and Samuel Swett Green (from January 15, 1871).

The Free Public Library was the first public library in New England to open its doors to vis- itors on Sunday. On that day the reading-rooms of the library are open from 2 to 9 P.M. No books are given out in the circulating department to be taken home. The periodicals and papers can be freely used. Books are procurable also for use within the building from either department of the library. This experiment began in 1872. It appears from the yearly reports of the librarian that the number of persons who used the reading-rooms Sundays in the year 1872-73, for one Sunday less than the whole year, and yet for fifty-two Sundays, is 5,706; for 1873-74, 7,179; and for 1874-75, 10,142. The average annual use for the last ten years is 13,867. The librarian is present for two hours on Sunday after- noon to render assistance to inquirers seeking infor- mation from books. Two attendants remain in the rooms during the hours they are open, to see that they are kept comfortable, to preserve quiet and to aid readers. Those attendants are persons who do not serve the library on secular days, but who come to it only on Sundays. In regard to the character of the reading done on Sundays, it may be stated that it is mainly of magazines and papers. Some persons, how- ever, engage in study every Sunday. The average num- ber of volumes given yearly to readers on Sundays dur- ing the ten years just passed is 2,211. The number given to them during the last library year is 2,417. Since Elm Park has been opened and Lake Quinsiga- mond has become readily accessible, while the number of readers has remained about the same as before, the proportion of serious reading has greatly increased, as mere pleasure-seekers have lately to a large extent sought recreation at those popular resorts.

LIBRARY OF THE WORCESTER DISTRICT MEDICAL SOCIETY .- It has been stated that books given by Dr. Elijah Dix to the County Medical Society, the immediate predecessor of the existing medical asso- ciation, formed the nucleus of the library now be- longing to the Worcester District Medical Society. The statement seems to be incorrect, however. Dr. Dix promised to give to the earlier society books of the value of fifty pounds. Its thanks were voted to him, a librarian was chosen, a list of books was made out and forwarded to him, and committees visited him three times to confer regarding the matter, but no books appear to have been received by the so- ciety. The Worcester District Medical Society was

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founded in 1804, but does not seem to have collected many books for a considerable number of years. Dr. Thomas H. Gage, in an address to the society deliv- ered iu 1862, states that " the first movement of which any fruit now remains, which may, indeed, be con- sidered the beginning of the library, was the ap- pointment of Drs. Oliver Fiske and John Green, in 1813, to obtain subscriptions and solicit books from profession and from laity to found a medical library." The junior member of the committee, who had been in practice four years when appointed to serve in that position, afterwards became the founder of the Free Public Library. Dr. Gage remarks that the committee met with success in its efforts. That could not have been great, however. Dr. Leonard Wheeler states that the librarian seems to have been "merely a personified hope of books until 1822." In 1822 that officer was authorized to receive from the Massachusetts Medical Society the quota of books which it was willing to lend to this district. The loan appears to have been practically a gift, for the general society never had any intention of reclaim- ing the books. In 1823 the District Society passed an order for printing its by-laws and a catalogue of its library. It began at that time also to have a committee for purchasing books. Few works could have been bought, however, in those early years, for, as Dr. Wheeler remarks, the whole amount of money received by the treasurer for the four years ending in 1828 was less than ninety dollars, and out of that sum refreshments had to be procured for the mem- bers of the society and some printing paid for.

In 1825 Daniel Waldo is thanked for "his very splendid and liberal donation of books." At that time the library contained, perhaps, one hundred volumes. The first recorded enumeration of books does not appear until 1836, when the number of books in the library was stated to be one hundred and twenty-eight. Mauy of those, the librarian re- ports, were " very valuable works." He adds, how- ever, that the volumes were but little used, and Dr. Wheeler states that "most of them would seem to have remained unmolested for years excepting by worms." In 1843 Dr. Joseph Sargent reported that the library contained over two hundred volumes and that he found it in a room over Mr. Harris' book- store, where it was little used.

A very important event in the history of the li- brary was now impending. In 1845 a bequest of six thousand dollars was made to the society by Daniel Waldo, the income of which was to be used in buy- ing books for the library. In 1851 Dr. Charles W. Wilder, of Leominster, left five hundred dollars, by will, to the society. The income of that bequest and of another of one thousand dollars, made by the late Harrison Bliss, of Worcester, in 1882, for library purposes, as well as that of a small investment known as the Available Reserve Fund, is spent for the bene- fit of the library. The amount which the library

committee has at its disposal annually is about four hundred and fifty dollars. As the society has no rent to pay for its rooms and the other expenses of the library are very small, most of that sum is used in buying books.

In 1861 the library contained two thousand two hundred and thirty volumes. It is estimated that in 1878 it possessed about four thousand five hundred volumes, and in January, 1886, it is stated to have had five thousand eight hundred and twenty-six bound books. One hundred and eighty-two dupli- cate volumes were included in that number. The value of the library at the last-mentioned date was estimated as eight thousand dollars. The library is in rooms in the building of the Free Public Library. Books may be taken from it for home use by mem- bers of the Worcester District Medical Society and by other members of the Massachusetts Medical So- ciety resident in Worcester County. Its books may be used for purposes of reference within the building of the Free Public Library by all persons who are entitled to use the reference books of that institution, subject to the discretion, however, of the librarian of the Free Public Library. The medical library is an excellent working collection of books published in the English language and has undoubtedly done much to raise the standard of medical practice in Worcester and its vicinity. It is somewhat deficient in periodical literature, although much has been done during the last ten years in supplying that de- ficiency. It still lacks and much needs a large co .- lection of pamphlet literature.

The library has been carefully rearranged within a few years and a card catalogue, which is kept up to date, has been prepared. About five hundred volumes are taken home by physicians annually, and the library is consulted for purposes of reference, it is es- timated, about one thousand times in a year. The present librarian is Dr. A. C. Getchell. The library is prosperous and well managed.

Most of the information used in preparing the sketch of the District Medical Library was found in a manuscript address by Dr. Leonard Wheeler, deliv- ered in May, 1878, and now owned by the library. An earlier address by Dr. Thomas H. Gage, delivered, as stated above, in 1862, has also been consulted to advantage. That address, in manuscript likewise, belongs to the library of the District Medical Society.

LIBRARY OF THE WORCESTER COUNTY MECHAN- ICS ASSOCIATION .- The first public meeting which took into consideration the subject of the formation of the Worcester County Mechanics Association was held November 27, 1841. A constitution for the new organization was adopted December 11th of the same year, and on the 5th of February, 1842, its first board of officers was elected. July 2d, of the latter year, a committee was appointed "to confer with the trus- tees as to the expediency of establishing a li- brary, and also to report some plan to the association

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for effecting that object." That committee reported the 20th of the following December. The report was accepted, and it was voted "That the asso- ciation do adopt the report and circular made by the Committee on the Library, and that the sum of two hundred dollars be expended in the purchase of books for the commencement of a library for the association, and that a committee of three be chosen to be associated with the committee of the trustees on the library and to carry into effect the suggestions contained in the report." February 7th, in the fol- lowing year, a further sum of one hundred dollars was appropriated for the benefit of the library, and seven days later, the 14th of the month, a room and book-cases were provided for its use. April 13, 1847, it was reported that the library contained six hundred and seventy volumes. At the present time, January, 1889, it possesses more than nine thousand volumes. Most of these have been bought; a few hundred, however, have been presented to the society for its library.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 145

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1464

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464