USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Inaugural address of the mayor, with the annual report of the officers of the city of Quincy for the year 1913 > Part 13
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Chapter 154. An Act authorizing the city to sell water from its reservoir in Braintree for mechanical purposes, without com- puting the amount of water so sold in determining the amount the city shall pay to the state for water used during the year.
Chapter 405. An Act authorizing the city to change its method of sewer assessment.
Chapter 789. An Act authorizing and directing the Metropoli- tan Park Commissioners to widen, deepen and maintain the chan- nel and the entrance to the channel of Sachem brook in Quincy.
Chapter 836. An Act authorizing the city to Increase the rate of interest on its water bonds issued under the act of 1911 from 4 to 4 1-2 per cent.
On January 24, 1914, I retired from the position of city solic- itor after holding the office for nine years, the last six being con- secutive years. I feel my years of experience in the office qualify me to express an opinion as to the increase in the volume of business the law department of the city is called upon to deal with each year.
The steady increase in the city's population and its develop- ment as a commercial and manufacturing community, necessarily means an annual increase in the work of each department of the city.
The law department is the one to which all the others must look for advice and guidance in the discharge of their duties, and as those duties multiply and become more involved and important, so the occasions for seeking the assistance of the city solicitor be- come more frequent and, therefore, the performance of his duties call for more of his time each year.
In 1901. the salary of the city solicitor was made $1,400 a year. There has been no increase in his salary since that date, althoughi the work of the office has greatly increased. I believe the salary should be changed and recommend that it be made not less than $2,000 per year. There is no right or justice in requiring a public official, who renders such valuable service to the city, to work for such inadequate compensation as the present salary. It is not an answer to say that the city can get these services for the present salary, or even less, that could be said of every office in this or any other city.
The salary should be in keeping with the dignity of the city, the importance of the office, and the amount of work required of its incumbent. -
JOHN W. McANARNEY,
City Solicitor.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TRUSTEES
OF THE
Thomas Crane Public Library
QUINCY, MASS.
For the year ending December 31, 1913
625
1640 :1799 MANET
QUINCYS $1888
QUINCY PUBLISHED BY THE TRUSTEES
1914
TRUSTEES 1913
CHARLES R. SAFFORD, Chairman MORTON SMITH, Secretary
HENRY MCGRATH, Treasurer, January-March CHARLES C. HEARN Treasurer, April-December RUFUS B. TOBEY
GEORGE A. SIDELINGER
Librarian ALICE G. WHITE
Assistants CHARLOTTE COCHRANE, Cataloguer
MABEL S. BAXTER *ELIZABETH H. CAMP
· BLANCHE MORRISON STELLA. BARKER EDITH S. HYLAND HELEN L. FOLLANSBEE Assistant in charge of Children's Room *IRENE T. HIBBARD *FLORENCE M. FORD
Janitor RAYMOND S. BARRY
WEST QUINCY READING ROOM Furnace Brook Parkway BELINDA E. WAINWRIGHT, Assistant in charge
ATLANTIC READING ROOM 11 Botolph Street CATHERINE SAVILLE, Assistant in charge
Hours of Opening
Central Library, daily (except Sundays and holidays). Main Hall, from 9 A. M. to 9 P. M.
Closed at 6 P. M., Saturdays excepted, during July and August.
Children's Room, from 12.00 M. to 1.15 P.M. and 3.30 to 6. P.M. During school vacations and Saturdays, from 10 A. M. to 12 M. and 1 to 6 P. M.
West Quincy and Atlantic Reading Rooms, daily (except Sundays and holidays), from 3 to 5.30 P. M. and 6.30 to 8.30 P. M. Closed Fridays at 6.00 P. M.
*Resigned
209
Report of the Trustees
The record of the work of the Thomas Crane Public Library each year, for many years, has shown a considerable growth in use- fulness over that of its predecessor. The record of the year 1913, the forty-third of its existence, is one of continued growth and con- tinued success, as shown by the Librarian's report which follows, the figures of which are interesting and suggestive.
As pointed out in previous reports, the demand for branches at Quincy Point and Wollaston are more ardent and clamorous. Their just claims and enlarged demands made upon the Library, owing to the increase in the population of the city, will require a progressive increase in appropriations, and without such an increase tlie Library will fail to be efficiently worked and improved to its full capacity.
The appropriation for last year did not fully meet the require- ments for the efficient administration and maintenance of the Library system. The Library must either march forward or fall behind in its work; it cannot simply mark time.
The building on the Morton lot has been removed and the lot incorporated with the Library grounds, greatly adding to the looks to the east of the Library.
We have received from the executor of the Mrs. Lydia L. Morton estate, $5,000, to be known as the "George W. Morton Fund." This has been safely invested as shown by the Treasurer's report which follows.
The removal by the City of the building at the corner of Wash- ington and Coddington Streets, has greatly added to the beauty of the Library grounds.
Surrounded as we are by public buildings, we suggest that the City make laws restricting the height and distance from the street of all future buildings fronting on the Library grounds, with the view of making it the "Copley Square" of Quincy.
Our prophetic dreams are :- Buildings for branches owned by the City; a suitable building to be used for a lecture hall, story hours, exhibitions, and training school for apprentices.
With the almost unlimited possibilities of increased usefulness, bequests and contrbutions are earnestly desired. Our possibilities are limited only by our means.
The Library affairs have moved smoothly and well during the year, owing to the loyal and faithful service of the Librarian and others in our employ. We are glad to commend the excellence of their work.
Respectfully submitted,
For the Trustees,
CHARLES R. SAFFORD, Chairman.
-
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CITY APPROPRIATION.
Appropriated for 1913 Dog Tax
$11,000.00 2,377.57
Total
$13,377.57
EXPENDITURES.
Central Library
Salaries
$6,098.26
Books
2,185.97
Periodicals, Binding and Printing
1,292.05
Fuel and Lighting
779.45
Sundries
725.68
Total
$11,081.41
Reading rooms
West Quincy
Rent and care of room
$397.50
Salaries
627.18
Books and Periodicals etc.
46.20
Fuel and Lighting
106.29
Sundries
167.43
Total
$1,344.60
Atlantic
Rent and care of room
$300.00
Salaries
490.07
Books and Periodicals, etc.
40.48
Fuel and. Lighting
65.70
Sundries
55.31
Total
$951.56
Total expenditures
$13,377.57
TREASURER'S STATEMENT
1913 Thomas Crane Endowment Fund
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1912 $21,786.95
Received interest on Mass. Gold Bonds
630.00
Received interest on deposits in Quincy Savings Bank 85.75
211
Paid Ruud Co., heater
$112.70
M. Guess, work inside buildings
20.00
Sanborn & Damon, sink, grate, etc.
51.46
Pyrene Co., fire extinguishers
25.20
A. T. Stearns Co., lumber
1.92
A. C. Merritt, labor on doors
6.45
William Leavens, table
5.00
Holmes & Hall, cork, labor, etc.
36.75
William Westland, hardware
3.89
J. A. Keating Co., vencer
1.50
Det. Pub. Co., "phostint journeys"
9.70
Mt. Wollaston Bank, deposit
100.00
C. F. Randall, stereographs
39.65
Nathan Ames, seed, hardware
3.09
J. E. Keniley, plumbing
6.00
T. O'Brien, rolling lawn
3.50
J. H. Lalley, painting
159.37
G. W. Shaw, ventilators
21.00
American Surety Co., bond
25.00
Dor. Awning Co., awnings
16.00
J. G. Morton, casters
5.80
Granite Trust Co., vault
5.00
P. J. Williams, labor on doors
21.89
Union Vault & Safe Co., labor
2.55
Pettingell-Andrews Co., lamp
145.00
Oliver Whyte Co., gates
65.00
Art Metal Co., glass floors
18.25
Norfolk Iron Co., rep'g. lifts
5.50
Henry Siegel, veneer
3.00
J. Breck & Sons, bulbs, etc.
5.76
City of Quincy, grading lot
26.00
George E. Adams, services re land
25.00
J. G. Thomas, tiles and labor
21.89
Beckford & Lynch, rep'g. lights
9.01
W. T. Arnold, reframing pictures
2.00
A. Nugent, labor on grounds
242.00
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1913 Mass. Gold Bonds (Cost Price) Quincy Savings Bank
$1,251.83
$19,656.75
1,594.12
$22,502.70 $22,502.70
212
Cotton Center Johnson Fund
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1912 $2,053.27
Interest on Chicago Junct. Bonds 100.00
Interest on deposits in Quincy Savings Bank 3.14
4.00
Pearson & Marsh, books C. E. Lauriat Co., books
50.49
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1913:
2,000.00
Chicago Junction Bonds Quincy Savings Bank
93.82
$2,156.41
$2,156.41
Catalogue Fund
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1912
$2,976.36
Received from Library fines, etc.
390.96
Received interest on deposits in Quincy Savings
Bank 119.04
Paid Miss Hyland, services
10.95
Miss Kingsbury, services
6.85
Miss Whittemore, services
9.47
Miss Ford, services
1.26
Miss Prout, services
.90
G. W. Prescott Co., printing
170.50
Library Bureau, supplies
121.84
Miss White, "Quarterly" distributed
2.25
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1913,
Quincy Savings Bank
3,162.34
$3,486.36
$3,486.36
Gift of Albert Crane.
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1912
$121.09
Received rent of house, 19 Spear street
120.00
Interest on deposits in Quincy Savings Bank
7.80
Proceeds from sale of house, 19 Spear St.
179.50
Paid C H. Johnson, auctioneer
25.00
City of Quincy, water tax
16.12
Alex Nugent, labor
45.00
Raymond Barry, labor
3.50
Rufus Tobey, expenses
5.00
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1913,
Quincy Savings Bank
333.77
$428.39 $428.39
Paid DeWolfe & Fiske Co., books
8.10
213
Children's Fund. Gift of Quincy Women's Club.
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1912
$52.52
Interest on hand Dec. 31, 1913,
2.10
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1913, Quincy Savings Bank
$54.62
$54.62
$54.62
Geo. W. Morton Fund.
Received from Mrs. Lydia L. Morton Estate $5000.00
2 Kansas City Terminal Bonds, 4's at 931/8
1,862.50
Int., July 1 to Sept. 22 1 Mass. Gas, 416 at 9534
18,00
957.50
2 Mass. Gas, 41% at 96
1,920.00
Int. July 1 to Sept. 23
31.13
Commission
3.75
Deposit in Quincy Savings Bank, Dec. 31, 1913
207.12
$5,000.00 $5,000.00
Mt. Wollaston Bank Account.
May 8, Deposit by vote of Board by transfer from Endor ment Fund $100.00
Balance on hand, Dec. 31, 1913
$100.00
$100.00
$100.00
CHARLES E. HEARN, Treasurer.
Approved H. O. FAIRBANKS, Auditor of Accounts.
214
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN.
Quincy, Mass., January 1, 1914.
To the Trustees of the Thomas Crane Public Library :-
With an increase in the city appropriation of but $595.58 for the year 1913 over that appropriated for the library for the year 1912, we were confronted with the problem of carrying on the newiy opened reading room at Atlantic for twelve months instead of for two months and one week, less the expense of its establishment. Besides this extra charge, we could not anticipate that our regular running expenses otherwise would be less, as every year in which we grow adds to our cost of maintaining that growth. As we look back over the year's work what has happened?
The total circulation for the first full year at Atlantic has been 23,397. But this year the West Quincy reading room's circulation is over 5,000 larger than last year. The Children's room figures show a gain of 2,668 in 1913, and from the main desk there is an in- crease of 4,801 over 1912. In all we have a grand total of circulation for the year 1913 of 150,986, or an increase of 30,427 over the year 1912. To the new reading room at Atlantic is due 60 per cent. of this increase. But the rest of the library system has carried the other 40 per cent.
Such increase of circulation means more assistance at desk wear and tear, telephone calls, questions etc. The wear and tear, for instance means the mending of 8,337 books and 938 periodicals as against 5,788 books and 307 periodicals in 1912. The saving in binder's bills indicates the stitch in time that saves nine, for many more books would have been sent away to be repaired and rebound with consequent increase of expense, also longer withdrawal from circulation. but for this time spent in mending by our own assis- tants.
But this circulation of its books, periodicals, stereoscopic views, mounted pictures, music or whatever else, covers but a small part of the real work of a public library as a public educator. As a fellow servant with the public schools the library this year as never before has had its resources drawn upon to supply books for the required reading in English of the High school pupils. Since the opening of the fall term nearly every day at the close of the school session has seen a crowded delivery desk sometimes requir- ing four attendants for an hour. It is not surprising that large in- creases of circulation are to be found in the classes of fiction, travel and biography. One most pleasing thing to note Is the very great improvement in the behavior of the High school patrons. No confusion, no conversation, no disorderly manners while they crowd around the card catalogue or the delivery desk or the lists and shelves of their "outside required reading," the fiction of which we put on outside shelves, buying as many duplicates as we could afford. May it be that the five years of the children's room is bearing some fruit as to the library habit, the uses of the library
215
and behavior in it? Besides this home use of books for outside reading, books in history, science, and arts have been reserved for High school pupils' use at the library. Four bulletins have been loaned to the new Adams school and one to the High school. We look forward to still further co-operation the coming year of the library with the schools both teachers and pupils.
But not only come the pupils thronging to the library to find out who said "You may fool all the people some of the time, etc."; material for a debate on woman suffrage; something for and against the new dances, or something about coral. The library is now rightfully regarded as a place in which all kinds of informa- tion on all sorts of subjects may be sought by all classes of people. So there has come to be the need of a regular reference depart- ment to which can be referred, while the work at the delivery desk is being carried on, such questions, for instance, as the above, or "Where can I find the story of the camel poking his nose in at tlie window and finally driving the Arab out of his house?" 'For this ought we to have done and not to leave the other undone.' And we have tried to do botli, hoping for still further progress toward a reference department next year.
In September the hours of the Main hall were extended by opening from 9 A. M. until 9 P. M. There is no doubt that these two extra hours daily have been appreciated, especially the evening one when men and boys, in particular, who have finished their day's occupation, are seen using the magazines, newspapers and refer- ence books.
Again this year as three years ago we have made as thorough a. revision of the registration as we were able to give the time to, and, adding to 244 names void by death or removal from the city, the 2,035 cancelled by revision, we have as the total number of bor- rowers at present using the library, 7,205.
As to the inventory, fiction in the Main hall has been read, last previously read in 1908, and 32 books are reported missing. Over 1,000 of these volumes of fiction have been rotated on the outside shelves during the year. Of the other books put on the outside cases, new fiction and non fiction for the most part, 22 books are missing. The Children's room inventory shows 20 books missing from their open shelves. No doubt some of these books will turn up in most unaccountable ways.
The feat most worthy of mention in the catalogue department has been the long business of getting the valuation of the books in the library. A beginning was made in 1912, but the more com- plicated part of the finishing, with charts to continue for the future, has been done the past year. Incidentally, this recount of the books showed that there were 423 less books in the library on Dec. 31, 1912, than had been reported. Bulletins with lists of in- teresting books on the subjects have been made on Panama canal, Hallowe'en, Football, and others. A weekly article has been writ- ten for the educational page of the Quincy Daily Ledger and our
.
216
thanks are due to the publishers of the same for this free publicity given the library. Special reading lists have been published on a variety of subjects: Birds, Gardening, Camping and scouting, Boat- building and boating, Resorts and historic places In Massachusetts, Business, Labor, Amusements, Municipal government. The Quarterly Index and special lists have been mailed or distributed in outlying sections. A. much needed aid in the use of the card catalogue of the Main hall has been supplied by a set of 5,000 guide cards, and 500 have also been filed in the card catalogue of the Children's room. The schedules are also made out by the head of the catalogue department, and on account of the many changes on the staff, new apprentices, and sickness, there have had to be fre- quent changes of schedules, a real tax in itself to so dovetail all that nothing too important shall be neglected when the workers have been too few.
Of the books recommended for purchase by the library, many of them technical books, 151 have been bought. Only 13 suggested were not added by the book committee for various reasons-out of print-too expensive-too special, etc. Magazine articles are often found of use in reference work, and those periodicals which the library has have been checked in red ink in the Readers' Guide, Poole's Index, and the American Library Annual.
The new reading room at Atlantic has justified our expectations from the start, and I wish to express my extreme satisfaction with · Miss Saville's results. Both she and I believe that the difficulties of discipline would be lessened on the one hand, and the use by and enjoyment of the adult patrons would be increased on the other, if we could have a room much better adapted for the purpose than these two rooms of a private house, attractive as they are. In short, in a year the reading room has outgrown its capacity. And I therefore hope that early in the coming year steps will be taken towards a different housing of our second Branch reading room. Aside from the expense of moving, the cost would still be no more or not as great as that at. West Quincy with its rent and care, if plans, for some time in the air, could be brought down to earth.
A story hour has been started at the Atlantic reading room and bulletins with lists have been made. Both have not failed of worth and appreciation. The deposit of books is now only 700 and must be increased. An average number of 90 has been exchanged month- ly, and 803 have been sent on request from the Central library. With the help of a young assistant, the mending of 1,371 books and 419 periodicals has kept the collection in good condition.
In May we received a most useful and greatly appreciated gift from the Literature Committee of the Quincy Women's Club, who presented the Library with an opaque projector known as the Balopticon, manufactured by the Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., of Rochester, N. Y., whose lenses are of the best. The instrument was connected for use at the West Quincy reading room and a dem- onstration followed. Four illustrated talks have been given on the
217
closed evening of the week. Our thanks are due to the Reverend Richard F. Armstrong for the lecture on the Philippine Islands. With the children this instructive entertainment has quite over- shadowed the story hour, and one of the picture talks had an audience of 200 young enthusiasts.
A glance at the regular work of this reading room shows that the deposit of books from the Central library, having been increased this year by 300, now numbers 1,100 volumes. An average of 94 has been exchanged monthly. The circulation figures show that in every month of each succeeding year since the opening of the read- ing room, July 1910, there has been an increase over the corres- ponding month of the previous year. Miss Wainwright seems to think that a proportionate increase can no longer be hoped for un- less the Central library is enabled to expend from Its supply more for the enlarging of the usefulness and widening of the influence of this very greatly appreciated reading room in this section. Hence, the necessity for more books. The fiction output in the large in- crease here the past vear has dropped 2 per cent. Mounted colored pictures are largely used, reference work has increased, and co- operation with both teachers and pupils is a large factor of the reading room's varied and valuable activities. Miss Gertrude Calla- han, assistant here, having given her time in the summer to train- ing at the Central, broadened by the experience at the Branch, is becoming more and more useful. The expense of maintenance of this reading room the past year has increased to $1,344.60 from $1,248.61 in 1812. More money has been paid for assistance; one of the large awnings had to be replaced; a table and chairs for the little children, and much needed stand for the Balopticon have been purchased.
An expense account of the two reading rooms has been kept by Miss Baxter through the year. Also an order list, showing date, cost and source of all library supplies.
In April, Miss Camp resigned to take charge of the Wellesley Free Library at a much larger salary. Miss Barker was put in charge of the desk and we struggled through the vacation time, doubly short-handed with Miss Saville and two apprentices, Miss Hyland and Miss Ford, taking the Simmons College summer course in library science. On Oct. 1, Miss Morrison resigned to be married after three years of such faithful, valuable work as to leave her ab- sence sorely felt on the library staff. Then Miss Hibbard who had charge of the children's room since its opening in June, 1908, left for Schenectady, N. Y., where she is employed as assistant to the librarian of Union College. Miss Ford, owing to illness in the family, was very irregular at the close of the year, and after being put in charge of the children's room in November, felt obliged to resign on Dec. 31. Miss Ina E. Brackett, a graduate of the Sim- mons College summer class of 1911, has begun upon her duties in charge of this room. Miss Hyland was added to the staff in Sep- tember and Miss Helen 1 .. Follansbee of Amesbury in November.
218
With the opening of the library 12 hours a day in September the hours of the staff were reduced one hour, to 42 per week. Thus we began the fall with more hours open to the public's demands and less assistants to meet it; more circulation; more reference work.
Notwithstanding the hard luck in the children's room at the close of the year, its increase of circulation is to be noted. A guessing contest on authors and books by means of pictures on the bulletin board, was held in the room by Miss Hibbard and Miss Eleanor Whittemore, which may account for some of the increase. A special list of stories for older girls was made, and ten sets of pretty colored post cards "Little phostint journeys" were added to the mounted picture collection.
For its restoration to its original charm of coloring, its new bulletin boards on the pillars in time for the attractive Christmas pictures, the librarian voices the thanks of herself and our inost critical patrons, the children, and wishes also to express apprecia- tion of the bright light at the entrance of the Main hall.
We have received the usual number of Library Art Club pic- tures for exhibition, and the gallery has been more frequently visited this year owing to the publicity given the exhibits by our newspaper articles.
Through the Inter-library loan system our patrons have had the use of 12 volumes from the Boston Public Library, and we our- selves have loaned books to the public libraries of Braintree, Milton and Belfast, Maine. It is a matter for rejoicing that libraries will on March 16 be able to exchange their books by parcel post.
It was with much pleasure that the Librarian attended the Massachusetts Library Club meeting at Williamstown, and also with two assistants attended the meeting at Medford and with two others the one at Brockton.
There has come the call for books in the Spanish language. Our Italian readers come, both here and at West Quincy, and read the meagre supply we have to offer them of books in their own language, and then go again because we cannot afford to buy more books. Just at this writing comes a letter from the new director of work with foreigners, appointed by the Massachusetts Free Li- brary Commission, who, knowing our great need of work along this line, offers the loan of some 50 or more Italian books for six months. We certainly hope to be able to buy some to eke out our scanty supply for the rest of the year.
In thus trying to show what we have done with the appropria- tion granted us by the city less by $622.43 then your Honorable Board asked what has suffered? It cost $951.56 to maintain the Atlantic reading room for 1913. Subtracting $595.58-the item with which my report began,-namely, the amount given to support the Atlantic reading room, we have a difference of $355.98. That money has been needed for books-every cent of it. Books in dupli- cate for the High school, that one copy may be reserved for their use and that other readers may not be unfairly treated in thus not
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