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 1916 > Part 16
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138.50
Library Bureau, book.
6.07
Library of Congress, catalog cards.
100.00
Pratt Co., printing.
19.00
18.00
G. W. Prescott Pub. Co., printing . Balance on hand December 31, 1916
802.35
$2,575.19
$2,575.19
cataloging .
245
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
Cotton Center Johnson Fund.
Balance on hand December 31, 1915:
Kansas City, Clay County and St. Joseph bonds (cost price) . $1,890.00 191.96
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank.
Received interest on bonds . . 100.00
Received interest on deposits in Quincy Savings Bank .
6.30
Paid Boston Book Co., books
$50.00
Dodd, Mead & Co., books. .
32.00
Charles E. Lauriat Co., books
47.23
Balance on hand December 31, 1916:
Kansas City, Clay County and St. Joseph bonds (cost price) .
1,890.00
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank
169.03
$2,188.26
$2,188.26
Gift of Albert Crane.
Balance on hand December 31, 1915.
$25.66
Received interest on deposits in Quincy Savings Bank.
1.02
Balance on hand December 31, 1916.
$26.68
$26.68
$26.68
George W. Morton Fund.
Balance on hand December 31, 1915:
Two Kansas City terminal bonds, 4's.
$1,880.50
Three Massachusetts gas 4}'s.
2,912.38
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank.
449.44
Received interest on bonds.
215.00
Received interest on deposits in Quincy Savings Bank . 17.57
Paid Ruth Alexander, work done for F. Morton Smith, treasurer.
$20.00
Art Metal Construction Co., safe.
90.00
De Wolfe & Fiske Co., books
42.62
Charles E. Lauriat Co., books.
245.56
J. W. Pitman & Sons Co., book plates.
4.50
Ritter & Co.,. book
4.05
Balance on hand December 31, 1916:
Two Kansas City terminal bonds, 4's.
1,880.50
Three Massachusetts gas 42's.
2,912.38
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank
275.28
$5,474.89
$5,474.89
Children's Fund.
(Gift of Quincy Women's Club.)
Balance on hand December 31, 1915. .
$59.06
Received interest on deposit in Quincy Savings Bank .... 2.38
Balance on hand December 31, 1916.
$61.44
$61.44
$61.44
246
CITY OF QUINCY
Mt. Wollaston Bank Account.
May 8, 1913, deposit by transfer from Endow- ment Fund. . $100.00
Balance on hand December 31, 1916.
$100.00
$100.00
$100.00
F. MORTON SMITH, Treasurer.
Approved: H. O. Fairbanks,
Auditor of Accounts.
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN.
To the Trustees of the Thomas Crane Public Library:
I have the honor to submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1916. For the confidence in and support of the public library as shown by the generous appropriation of the city government for the year 1916 I wish first to record our grateful appreciation, and secondly to give an account of our stewardship.
The year has seen the largest number of books added in any one year of the library's history, namely 4021, bringing the total number of volumes up to 41,311. Of 3786 books purchased, 1701 were new titles and 600 were duplicate copies, and the remainder, 1485, brought the re- placements of popular worn out books up to date.
Among the important purchases of the year have been the eleventh edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, the New York Times Index, Holm's Practical Shipbuilding, a portfolio of 56 mounted photographs of the granite industry of Quincy, and a set of St. Nicholas, 78 volumes, for the West Quincy branch. We have received the volumes which complete the second edition of the New International Encyclopædia, and sent our earlier set to the Atlantic reading room.
The use of the books of the library was likewise the largest in its history, a total circulation of 167,922; an increase of 4010 over the cir- culation of 1915. This gain was nearly double the gain in 1915 over the previous year. The library had the good fortune not to be closed on account of the infantile paralysis epidemic, as some libraries were, but the fears of contagion at that time no doubt lessened the patronage of the library, especially of the children's room and branches. The circulation at the main desk decreased 3209 in 1915, and in 1916 it increased 3014, the evident result of a more liberal purchase of books. Of this gain over the previous year, the fiction increase was only 1048; non-fiction circulation gained two per cent in the year's output, due, without doubt, greatly to the larger number of non-fiction placed on the display cases and wherever there was available space in the reading room - an argument, we think, for the open-shelf book room. The use of books and magazines in the reading room is not recorded, but all workers at the desk notice its growth, and 1919 volumes have been brought from the stack room for readers and students. Exclusive of the new fiction, 17,672 books of popular fiction have been put on the shelves outside the delivery desk during the year, and still the fiction readers cry "Give." Plans are already under way toward the realization of more of an open-shelf book room.
In November the Woman's Education Association of Boston lent us 47 books in the Swedish language for six months. The Fore River Shipbuilding Corporation has borrowed 254 books, and there is need for
247
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
duplicating some of those most useful to their employees, as there are many calls for them here. Mr. Bruce Saville's model of a proposed statue of John Hancock was on exhibition for many weeks, and we have had the usual number of exhibits from the Library Art Club.
Music.
The music collection was increased by 21 volumes, including vocal and instrumental music by well-known composers, light and standard operas. This department, small as yet, numbering 133 volumes, of which 33 are the Musician's library, should continue to grow, for returns of use- fulness well repay the outlay, as shown by the circulation, 1358, versus 1108 in 1915. These figures do not include books about music and musicians.
Registration.
In a total number of registrations in 1916 of 1870, the additions in the juvenile registrations are 903, and in the adult 967; a difference of only 64 more adult than juvenile during the year. Furthermore, the number of juvenile borrowers in 1916 shows an increase of 141 over those registering the preceding year; while the number of adult borrowers decreased by 96 during the last year as compared with 1915. The new juvenile registrations at the West Quincy branch in 1916 numbered 240, adult 53; at the Atlantic reading room, juvenile 111, adult 153. At the central library, 761 registered in main hall and 552 in the children's room. This makes a net increase after cancelling those known to be no longer borrowers of 1514 for the year.
Work With the Young People and the Schools.
The registration figures given above justify not only the figures of purchases of juvenile books the past year, but also my yearly plea for a supply where the collection is still all too meagre to satisfy this growing demand of the children. We added in the children's room 393 new titles and 338 duplicates. But even with 1098 replacements of popular worn- out copies, a large number of them 1915's legacy to this year, the net gain is but 822 volumes. In our work with the schools we are greatly handi- capped by the lack of a special school collection. This will be referred to later.
The " library games " have borne fruit in a more intelligent use of the card catalog and reference books. The special vacation reading list stimulated the children to borrow good books, and at the close of the year we published a selected list of books recommended to seventh and eighth grade pupils, which will be sent to the various schools. The picture collection is still inadequate but growing, and, small as it is, has been made much use of by the teachers in their classroom work.
Miss Packard invited pupils of the Washington School to a guessing story contest in the children's room about famous men and women, held a character party here and repeated same at Atlantic reading room, gave a picture book story hour for the youngest readers at the latter, and told stories for a half-hour at the Wollaston and Massachusetts Fields Schools to introduce good books to the children. Especially worthy of mention is the usual Christmas party in the children's room, with decorations, a tiny Christmas tree, the telling of one of Andersen's stories, and a little Christmas play. Too much praise cannot be given to Miss Packard for her unselfish labors at this busy season and all other times, involving
248
CITY OF QUINCY
much outside work, to give pleasure at the library and happiness to so many little children.
The librarian gave three talks at the library to the girls of the new neighboring Home-making School. Duplicate copies of books were bought and reserved for their use on shelves in the reading room. Books were reserved also for the pupils of the High School for their work in English, history, science, and mechanical drawing. Upon notice of an exhibit of pictures of industries, 179 children from the grade schools visited the art gallery.
West Quincy Reading Room.
Owing to the lack of an adequate supply of books from the central library in 1915 and the early part of 1916, the circulation here by August had fallen off 2259 as compared with that of the previous year. In Septem- ber, 294 new books, the foundation of its own permanent collection, were sent to the reading room. This made it possible to so far meet the growing demand, largely for juvenile non-fiction, that the year closed with a decrease of 740 only over the circulation of 1915, the result of the last four months' growth. This collection should be constantly increased and renewed. The work of this branch is largely with children; in a total circulation of 29,666, 20,439, or over 68 per cent, are issued to children. The cost of maintaining the reading room in 1916 was $1,840.03. I will let Miss Wainwright's own words tell the story of the further need as she sees it.
" The new method of ' reading ' in the public schools brings a demand for varied material in the short story form. As we have no school col- lection, our books for teachers are drawn from the general collection, which, of course, reduces the available material on the shelves. Teachers from every grade in the Willard School are frequent visitors, while the Gridley Bryant, John Hancock and Lincoln Schools also come to the reading room for material. It would seem both wise and well to have a collection of books for their use; at the present there is not much to offer to the teachers after the children have made their selection from the shelves. ... The most needed addition to our present equipment is the ' school collection' borrowed from the central library (as I imagine we cannot hope to have our own) but separate from and in addition to our deposit exchange."
Continuing her report, Miss Wainwright says: "There has been a notable falling off in the Italian circulation, shown by the figures 148 for this year as compared with 253 for the year 1915. As the readers are exclusively men it is possible that this is due to the war.
" The service of the reflectoscope has been extended. It is now used by the master of the Willard School in his lessons in geography and history. This was made possible by a set of window shades furnished by the manual training class from material provided by the custodian."
Atlantic Reading Room.
The month of October, the only month in which any cases of infantile paralysis were reported in Atlantic, saw a large decrease in circulation from this room. The total decrease in 1916 was 343 over the previous year. There were 474 books sent on request from the central library, and three were borrowed from the Boston Public Library for patrons here. A largely increased amount of reference work has been done with pupils of the near-by school, the High School and Woodward Institute. Gifts of books and newspapers have been received.
249
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
Cataloging.
One large task the past year, under the charge of the catalog depart- ment, has been the removing of the numbers from the adult fiction and the arranging of the books alphabetically. This is in accord with a grow- ing practice of up-to-date libraries, and as the fiction in the children's room had been done in 1910, all fiction may now be called for by author and title. With the increased demands upon this department by the purchase of 3786 books, versus 1200 in 1915, with much readjustment made necessary by changes due to illness, it has been an arduous year. Miss Clark has "made good " in the opportunity given her to take up the work of cataloging and classification in addition to certain hours at the reference desk, and Miss Whittemore's duties have been manifold. Both have been of invaluable assistance to Miss Cochrane.
Publicity.
A collection of advertising literature from railroad and steamship lines was put on one of the reading tables, and that proved to be a most popular table the entire summer. Postal cards have been sent to persons who might be interested in special books. The weekly "Notes " have been continued every Thursday in the Patriot-Ledger, and we appreciate the courtesy of the publishers for this space. These notes consisted of book criticisms, selected lists on current events, reports of library activities. Bulletin boards and display cases have called attention of visitors to such topics as household sanitation, canning and preserving, the poet Riley's works, etc., with the books themselves near at hand.
Again at Christmas time books both new and standard, expensive and inexpensive, suitable for gifts for children, were shown in the chil- dren's room. Work with the clubs has continued along the usual lines. Since October Miss Hyland has had charge of the publicity work, club work, and book ordering.
Book Repairs.
The usual amount of mending has been done under the efficient workmanship of Miss Murphy and Miss Maybury. Less money has been spent for binding the past year, 17 boxes having been sent to binder while 27 were sent in 1915. In this connection let me say that 385 books in the adult collection and 1100 in the juvenile, versus a total of 287 in 1915, have been replaced by fresh, clean copies.
Reclassification.
A year of splendid and satisfactory work is the report from Miss Alexander of the accomplishments of 1916. Books reclassified, 9606, which is 3446 more than in 1915. Of the adult circulating non-fiction there now remain approximately 1000 books to be reclassified. There are still some 800 or 900 works the cards of which are not in the card catalog. Then there is the comparing and straightening out of the official records, the revision of numbers changed on the cards in the catalog, final verification, etc., to be done. I hope that this large undertaking may be entirely finished, including the reference books and the document room, which will no doubt require the balance of the year.
Sunday Opening.
Here also seems a somewhat more encouraging use of the library than hitherto; not so much in numbers as in the more serious use for reading
250
CITY OF QUINCY
and study. Often help has been given in reference work. The smallest number of visitors was 11 (good skating) and the largest 92, with the proportion of High School pupils for the year 36 per cent. The average number of readers per Sunday was 35. There is still room for a larger appreciation of the privilege, as the figures do not vary materially from the two previous seasons.
Staff.
Miss Hyland, one of our most valued workers, was absent from the library for nearly six months on account of illness. She returned to us the last of September, and is still unable to give full time to the work. In September, Miss Callahan, Miss Clark, and Miss Packard, who had been practically members of the staff since their summer course at Sim- mons College in 1915, were technically added to it. On November 1 Miss Louise Prout left us to be married, and on December 31 Mrs. Dorothy Kingsbury White resigned. Miss Alma H. Farr, who has had eight years' experience in the Greenfield Public Library, has begun her duties with us.
The library certainly has forged forward during the year just ended. But this only sets the pace for the next year's growth. We cannot stand still, and we ought not to go backward. We shall need more money this year. The increasing cost of almost all the supplies that have to do with our special work - paper, ink, binders' materials, etc., makes itself felt in almost every purchase; in the increasing prices of magazine subscrip- tions; in the printing of our regular quarterly index and all other lists; and even in the cost of the very books themselves. To this add the high price of coal and other general necessities, and the high cost of living affects us very materially.
Even at this writing comes a request from the Norfolk Downs Im- provement Association for a deposit station of 200 or more books in place of the little-patronized delivery basket of their section; the renewed desire of the Boston Gear Works for a regular supply of books for the use of their employees. Also the Quincy Industrial School wishes again their quota from our shelves, and there is the oft-repeated request from the Wollaston Woman's Club for a branch library in Ward 5. None of these calls should go unheeded in a city the size of Quincy with a library which should be a potent factor in the community.
The year of work has been especially difficult for those of us who have been here the entire time, and I wish to express my appreciation for the ready adaptability and faithfulness of those who have enabled me to report a busy and useful year. It is only through the co-operation of all that the increasing service of the library through a year of steady growth has been made possible.
Respectfully submitted, ALICE G. WHITE, Librarian.
251
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
STATISTICS. Size and Growth by Classes.
No. of Vols. in Library Dec. 31, 1916
Added by Purchase 1916
Added by Gift, 1916
Added by Binding Periodicals, 1916
General works. .
222
9
4
Philosophy and religion.
1,319
43
17
Sociology.
1,646
87
7
. . .
Science .
1,263
22
1
. . .
Useful and fine arts.
1,836
144
6
. . .
Literature and philology.
2,853
130
14
History
2,759
67
22
Travel.
1,778
56
6
Biography
2,789
26
32
Fiction.
7,478
518
8
170
Reference .
1,546
88
14
Document room .
2,883
4
13
. .
Children's room:
Fiction .
3,520
320
12
.
Non-fiction .
3,522
411
6
West Quincy Reading Room.
717
374
31
. . .
Atlantic Reading Room.
419
2
47
. ..
Total.
41,311
2,301 1,485
235
176
Volumes replaced, 1916.
Number of books bought from city appropriation .
3,556
Number of books bought from Cotton Center Johnson Fund .
104
Number of books bought from George W. Morton Fund .
126
Circulation by Classes, 1916.
Main Hall
Chil- dren's Room
West Quincy Reading Room
Atlantic Reading Room
Total
General works.
491
1,210
308
1,453
3,462
Philosophy and religion ..
1,117
226
247
109
1,699
Sociology
1,776
81
97
252
2,206
Science.
881
892
836
483
3,092
Useful and fine arts.
5,131
1,654
1,292
891
8,968
Literature and philology . .
2,975
3,743
4,671
1,239
12,628
History .
1,542
1,778
1,917
631
5,868
Travel.
1,921
1,936
1,187
863
5,907
Biography
1,545
964
448
269
3,226
Fiction .
40,925
19,213
16,880
24,784
Periodicals (unbound).
13,041
2,324
1,783
1,916
101,802 19,064
Total
71,345
34,021
29,666
32,890
167,922
. .
. . .
. . .
. ..
Unclassified bound periodicals
4,761
1
. . .
.
.
252
CITY OF QUINCY
*Number of books lent to schools.
1,439
*Number of books lent to Fore River Shipbuilding Corporation 254
Increase of circulation in 1916: Main hall 3,014
Children's room .
2,079
5,093
Decrease :
West Quincy reading room
740
Atlantic reading . room.
343
1,083
Total increase of circulation, 1916. 4,010
Average daily circulation, main hall
234
Average daily circulation, children's room,
111
Average daily circulation, West Quincy reading room.
99
Average daily circulation, Atlantic reading room.
10S
Percentage of fiction, main hall
57.3
Percentage of fiction, children's room ..
56.4
Percentage of fiction, West Quincy reading room
57
Percentage of fiction, Atlantic reading room
75.3
Vacation books lent.
257
Books in foreign languages lent .
411
Books borrowed from Boston Public Library.
8
Books of music lent
1,358
Stereographs lent.
2,509
Mounted and unmounted pictures to schools.
643
QUINCY DONORS TO THE THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY DURING THE YEAR 1916.
Addison, Mrs. Thomas A. Book and Universalist Leader.
Branscheid & Martens. Free delivery of local papers to Atlantic reading room.
Butler, Mrs. Sarah. Books to Atlantic reading room.
Cashman, Edward. Books to West Quincy reading room.
Christian Endeavor Society, Bethany Church. Christian Endeavor
World.
Cockayne, Mrs. Frances M. Daily Mail. Overseas edition.
First Church of Christ, Scientist. Periodicals.
Fisher, Miss Grace. Books.
Gordon, Dr. J. A. Books.
Hunting, Mrs. Clara C. Book to Atlantic reading room.
Johnson, Mrs. Books to Atlantic reading room.
MacIsaac, Mrs. Adelaide. Book to Atlantic reading room.
Melcher, Mrs. A. L. Association Monthly.
Prescott Publishing Co. Quincy Patriot-Ledger to the branch reading rooms.
Purdon, Miss Grace. Book to Atlantic reading room.
Quincy, City of. Annual report.
School Department. Annual report.
Quincy Branch National Alliance. Christian Register.
Roberts, Mrs. A. C. Books to West Quincy reading rohm.
Spargo Print. Quincy Telegram to the branch reading rooms.
*Classified and included in general circulation; counted one for each book issued.
253
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
Turner, Miss Hattie E. Books.
W. C. T. U. of Quincy. Young Crusader.
Wainwright, Miss Belinda E. Books to West Quincy reading room.
Waterhouse, George S. Ambition.
Wollaston Woman's Club. Wollaston Woman's Club Magazine. Woman's Missionary Society of the Universalist Church. Books.
STATISTICS ARRANGED ACCORDING TO THE FORM ADOPTED BY THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
Annual Report for Year Ending December 31, 1916.
Name of library: Thomas Crane Public Library.
Name of librarian: Alice G. White.
City or town: Quincy. State: Massachusetts.
Population served (Massachusetts census 1915) ..
40,674
Terms of use : Free for lending. Free for reference.
Total number of agencies. 11
Consisting of:
Central library :
Branches (one occupies separate building)
2
Stations (delivery)
2
Other agencies:
Schools. Industrial corporation.
5
Number of days open during year (central library) :
For lending
304
For reading
323
Hours open each week for lending (central) 72 (10 mos.) and 57 (2 mos.)
Hours open each week for reading (central) 76 (19 weeks), 72 (24 weeks), and 57 (9 weeks).
Total number of staff .
15
Total valuation of library property .
$180,500
Increase.
Number of volumes at beginning of year ..
Adult 32,068
Juvenile 6,571
Total 38,639
Number of volumes added during year by pur- chase. .
1,621
2,165
3,786
Number of volumes added during year by gift. .
175
60
235
Number of volumes added during year by bind- ing material not otherwise counted ..
170
6
176
Number of volumes lost or withdrawn during year .
401
1,124
1,525
Total number at end of year .
33,633
7,678
41,311
Maps: No statistics kept.
Number of photographs added during year.
56
Use.
Total number of volumes lent for home use ... Number of volumes of fiction lent for home use. Number of volumes sent to agencies .
Adult 96,667
Juvenile
Total
71,255 *167,922
62,264
39,538 101,802
1,085
Pamphlets: Classified and cataloged but not counted.
1
254
CITY OF QUINCY
Note: The total circulation includes 1439 books either taken by teachers or sent to schools, and 254 sent to an industrial corporation. Each book is counted one issue in the circulation, no returns for use at agencies included. Number of volumes used in buildings not recorded.
Number of inter-library loans
Number of publications issued .
2,509
Mounted and unmounted pictures to schools
645
*Includes 19,064 unbound periodicals.
Registration.
Adult
Juvenile Total
Number of borrowers registered during year .. .
967
903
1,870
Total number of registered borrowers.
7,857 4,226 12,083
Registration period : 3 years.
Number of periodicals and newspapers currently received: 154 titles; 245 copies.
Number of persons using library for reading and study; record not kept.
FINANCE.
Receipts
Unexpended balance, January 1, 1916.
$3,013.64
*City appropriation.
1S,194.82
Endowment funds, net.
1,012.17
Fines and sale of publications.
439.26
Other sources.
59.48
Total.
$22,719.37
Of which $199.70 (funds) is required to be spent for books.
*Includes dog licenses, $2,394.82.
Payments.
Maintenance :
Books.
$3,669.30
Periodicals
597.53
Binding
597.76
*Salaries, library service.
10,647.31
Salaries, other service (janitors, helper)
1,416.00
Insurance
136.71
Rent
600.00
Heat
544.75
Light
637.62
¡Other maintenance .
1,795.13
Total maintenance.
$20,642.11
*Includes reclassification, $1,491.27.
¡Care of grounds and building, including repairs (central library) $513.47.
S 4
Other circulation : Stereographs.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Department
OF THE
CITY OF QUINCY
MASSACHUSETTS
For the fiscal year ending December 31, 1916
MA
QUINCY
Published by THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
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