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 1930 > Part 26
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62
66
125
223
00
53
176
304
2
3
284
360
57
337
128
68
166
299
146
101
290
464
3
1
260
342
49
177
107
55
131
254
115
80
212
318
3
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415
336
69
153
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208
356
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325
326
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389
439
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122
153
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165
398
106
119
276
477
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211
453
72
220
68
359
123
259
211
620
141
569
4
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223
360
27
177
85
138
138
339
139
335
149
377
5
1
250
103
549
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230
344
127
229
438
228
5
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276
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357
78
53
46
220
345
130
143
358
183
5
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223
100
260
96
28
48
179
280
98
74
264
162
5
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310
142
297
124
42
31
170
315
250
103
259
288
5
5
267
122
263
119
39
66
193
268
120
102
301
183
6
1
334
218
134
133
72
105
500
348
116
113
210
348
00
2
205
230
95
114
46
70
266
246
112
81
165
539
6
3
143
137
79
82
86
70
194
234
72
35
155
135
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215
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106
48
76
305
268
86
57
147
155
6
5
99
45
36
19
34
13
160
175
41
22
75
148
5738
5130
3015
3828
1943
1708
4503
6906
2635
3163
5433
6671
398
CITY OF QUINCY
399
REPORT OF CITY CLERK
CITY ELECTION-DECEMBER 2, 1930 Mayor
Ward Precinct
Bates
McGrath
Blanks
1
1
590
452
1
1
2
533
592
4
1
3
351
409
2
1
4
315
490
1
1
5
396
434
1
2
1
406
359
2
2
2
384
364
3
2
3
555
473
3
3
1
408
401
3
3
2
555
466
9
3
3
621
357
8
4
1
612
522
6
4
2
576
360
4
5
1
372
852
2
5
2
444
644
6
5
3
286
534
4
5
4
397
593
0
5
5
331
542
6
6
1
471
541
2
6
2
307
456
3
6
3
288
331
2
6
4
262
448
1
6
5
80
247
0
9,540
10,867
73
CITY ELECTION-DECEMBER 2, 1930
Councillors-at-Large Edmons-
Ward Precinct
Curtin
ton
Fahy Leander Prout Young Blks.
1
1
352
555
271
673
450
409
419
1
2
477
492
506
537
480
413
482
1
3
271
408
329
406
314
269
289
1
4
315
414
256
475
354
283
321
1
5
385
317
426
464
312
238
351
2
1
380
252
447
370
259
283
310
2
2
344
273
345
386
275
250
380
2
3
527
390
484
485
355
297
555
3
1
463
308
273
355
340
221
476
3
2
490
468
245
538
528
341
480
3
3
564
392
215
559
418
284
526
4
1
742
295
540
437
383
326
697
4
2
583
290
347
496
335
273
496
5
1
296
890
178
771
601
595
347
5
3
245
486
162
528
410
431
210
5
4
338
533
222
608
516
416
337
5
5
292
497
192
558
431
383
281
6
1
415
356
256
491
482
649
393
6
2
365
264
213
418
287
437
314
6
3
256
314
139
391
232
327
204
6
4
279
280
193
410
323
439
209
6
5
87
132
29
236
152
207
138
8,806
9,316
6,473
11,291
8,776
8,274
8,501
5
2
340
710
205
699
539
503
286
400
CITY OF QUINCY
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1930 Published by the Trustees 1931
THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEES 1930
COL. GEORGE E. ADAMS, Chairman
GEORGIANA C. LANE, Secretary
REV. JAMES H. SANKEY, Treasurer
MRS. MARY M. CAREY
CHARLES H. JOHNSON
JOHN PRATT WHITMAN
LIBRARIAN GALEN W. HILL
STAFF
GERTRUDE F. CALLAHAN, First Assistant
MARGARET L. STEARNS, Cataloger
SARAH B. KINGMAN, Children's Librarian
MARTHA K. ROSVALL, In charge of circulation
ALINE BLAKE, Assistant
HELENE HODGKINSON, Assistant in Children's Dept.
*VIOLET JOHNSON, Assistant
+DOROTHY WHITE, Assistant
JESSIE D. WILFORD, Reference Assistant
BRANCH LIBRARIANS
MABEL S. BAXTER, Baxter Branch
ZAYMA CONNOLLY, Hospital Service
MARIE CORAYER, Parkway Branch
MARION L. DAVIS, Norfolk Downs Branch
M. LOUISE DINEGAN, Lakin Square Branch LAURA DUNCANSON, Atlantic Branch HELEN EGAN, Manet Branch MARGARET HEBERT, Montclair Branch CAROLYN KITTREDGE, Palmer Branch PHOEBE LINDBERG, Temple Branch *JOSEPHINE MARSHALL, Manet Branch MABEL F. PORTER, Merrymount Branch
CATHERINE SAVILLE, Wollaston Branch
CAROL A. WILMORE, Squantum Branch
Janitor JOHN V. MEAD
* Resigned.
f Part time.
401
ANNUAL REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
To His Honor, the Mayor of the City of Quincy:
The sixtieth annual report of the Trustees of the Thomas Crane Public Library is submitted herewith.
The work of the library during 1930 has been intensive rather than extensive. No new branches have been added. On the other hand, efforts have been concentrated towards building up the book collection, improving facilities and bettering service. While the total of books is now over 85,000, it is still inadequate. It is prob- able that there is no public library having a circulation as large as ours but what has well over 100,000 volumes.
The per capita circulation of 9.2 is higher than any previous year and is far above the average for public libraries. The fact that there was a turn-over of more than two-thirds of a million volumes in the main library and its various branches and agencies would seem to indicate that there is a healthy growth in the de- mand for reading in spite of the radio, movies, miniature golf and other attractions and distractions of today.
While the cost of operation has increased so far as the amount of money expended is concerned, nevertheless the unit cost per volume circulated remains below 10 cents, whereas the average for public libraries throughout the country is 151/2 cents.
The main building and those branches owned by the library have been kept up by such repairs and painting as was required during the year. The Wollaston Branch grounds were graded and a fence installed to prevent encroachments on the lawn which had become a source of annoyance.
There is one matter of paramount importance to which attention should be called at this time and that is the overcrowded condition of the book stacks and administration facilities in the main build- ing. The ever-increasing use by our citizens of the library makes the time not far distant when some solution of the problem of an outgrown building will have to be considered.
The Trustees desire to take this opportunity to attest again the splendid efficiency and loyalty of the librarian and members of the staff and to thank the mayor and city council for the cooperation so generously accorded by them to the Library Department.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE E. ADAMS, Chairman.
GEORGIANA CUSHING LANE, Secretary.
402
CITY OF QUINCY
TREASURER'S STATEMENT
THOMAS CRANE ENDOWMENT FUND
Securities on hand December 31, 1929:
10 Matured shares of Pioneer Co-opera- tive Bank $2,000 00 10 Matured shares of Massachusetts Co- operative Bank 2,000 00
10 Matured shares of Wollaston Co-
operative Bank
2,000 00
3 $1,000 American Tel. & Tel 5% Bonds (cost) 2,940 75
$8,940 75
Balance in National Mt. Wollaston Bank, December 31, 1929 $100 00 Balance in Quincy Savings Bank, December 31, 1929 49 87
Received:
Interest on deposits in Quincy Savings Bank
55
Interest on American Tel. & Tel. Bonds Interest from Pioneer Co-operative Bank 110 00 Interest from Massachusetts Co-operative Bank 82 50
150 00
Interest from Wollaston Co-operative Bank
110 00
Paid:
Thompson B. Crane, shelves, labor $80 00
John V. Mead, care of building and
grounds 420 00
Balance on hand December 31, 1930 :
Balance in National Mt. Wollaston Bank
100 00
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank 2 92
$602 92 $602 92
Securities on hand December 31, 1930:
10 Matured shares of Pioneer Co-opera- tive Bank
$2,000 00
10 Matured shares of Massachusetts Co- operative Bank
2,000 00
operative Bank
2,000 00
3 $1,000 American Tel. & Tel. 5% Bonds (cost)
2,940 75
$8,940 75
Crane Memorial Fund
Securities on hand December 31, 1929:
10 Matured shares of Henry Wilson Co- operative Bank $2,000 00 10 Matured shares of Quincy Co-opera- tive Bank 2,000 00
10 Matured shares of Wollaston Co-
403
ANNUAL REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
10 Matured shares of Volunteer Co-oper- ative Bank 2,000 00
10 Matured shares of Homestead Co-
operative Bank 2,000 00
1 $1,000 American Tel. & Tel. 5% Bond (cost) 980 25
$8,980 25
What is left of the Laban Pratt property, so called, has practically been paid for from, and is now, a part of this fund and was assessed in 1925 for 17,900 00
$26,880 25
Balance in National Mt. Wollaston Bank, December 31, 1929 65 60
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank, December 31, 1929 39 08
Received:
Interest on deposits in Quincy Savings
Bank
63
Interest on American Tel. & Tel. Bond 50 00
Interest from Henry Wilson Co-operative Bank
110 00
Interest from Quincy Co-operative Bank
110 00
Interest from Volunteer Co-operative
Bank
100 00
Interest from Homestead Co-operative Bank
110 00
Paid:
Thompson B. Crane, shelves, labor
$85 22
John V. Mead, care of building and
90 00
grounds
90
Henry A. Wheeler Co., repair flag Walter X. Mead, work on library lawn and building
30 00
Galen W. Hill, expenses of staff at North- eastern Library Conference
112 25
Norfolk Woodworking Co., change drawer cases
104 28
Lester A. White, substitute janitor, in- stalling sprinkler
13 00
Quincy Savings Bank to replace defaulted interest on bonds. Cotton Center John- son Fund
50 00
Whittemore-Durgin, glass
2 50
Monroe Co., plumbing supplies
3 72
Henry Lavelle, concrete floor for garage
26 00
Balance on hand December 31, 1930:
Balance in National Mt. Wollaston Bank
65 60
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank 1 84
$585 31 $585 31
Securities on hand December 31, 1930 :
10 Matured shares of Henry Wilson Co- operative Bank $2,000 00
404
CITY OF QUINCY
10 Matured shares of Quincy Co-opera- tive Bank 2,000 00
10 Matured shares of Volunteer Co-opera- tive Bank 2,000 00
10 Matured shares of Homestead Co-op- erative Bank 2,000 00
1 $1,000 American Tel. & Tel 5% Bond (cost) 980 25
Laban Pratt property, so called
$8,980 25
17,900 00
$26,880 25
George W. Morton Fund
Securities on hand December 31, 1929:
2 $1,000 Kansas City Terminal bonds, 4's $1,880 50 Balance in Quincy Savings Bank, December 31, 1929 $3,218 04
Received:
Interest on deposits in Quincy Savings Bank
160 95
Interest on bonds 80 00
Paid:
National Mt. Wollaston Bank, safe in vault
$5 00
Walter X. Mead, work done in Main Li- brary
12 75
Thomas S. Burgin, Wm. T. Donovan, W. Porter & Co. Bond for treasurer Arthur A. Martin, painting of flagpole F. W. Hibbett & Sons, supplies, labor Norman W. Pemberton, repairing roof Quincy Trade School, electrical repairs
25 00
22 00
17 72
34 14
Holland Furnace Company, cleaning heat- ing plant
18 00
The Rice Studio, photo at Quincy Hos- pital
8 00
Old Colony Laundry, Inc., laundry service Henry Lavalle, concrete floor for garage
89 00
Balance on hand December 31, 1930:
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank
3,208 11
$3,458 99
$3,458 99
Securities on hand December 31, 1930 :
2 $1,000 Kansas City Terminal Bonds, 4's Alice G. White Fund
$1,880 50
Securities on hand December 31, 1929 : 1 $1,000 American Tel. & Tel. bond (cost) $980 25 Balance in Quincy Savings Bank, December 31, 1929 1 03
Received :
Interest on bond
50 00
Interest on deposits in Quincy Savings Bank
1 07
10 00
9 27
405
ANNUAL REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
Balance on hand December 31, 1930:
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank
$52 10
$52 10 $52 10
Balance on hand December 31, 1930 : 1 $1,000 American Tel. & Tel. bond (cost) Ellery Channing Butler Fund Balance in Quincy Savings Bank December 31, 1929 $1,000 00
$980 25
Received:
Interest on deposit in Quincy Savings 50 43
Bank
Paid:
Graphic History Association, maps
$7 20
Patterson's flower store, flowers 2 50
John J. Cronan, story hour 10 00
Mabel S. Baxter, work done for treasurer
20 00
John V. Mead, care of building and grounds
10 00
Securities on hand December 31, 1930 :
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank
$1,000 73
$1,050 43
$1,050 43
Cotton Center Johnson Fund
Securities on hand December 31, 1929 :
2 $1,000 Kansas City, Clay County and St. Joseph bonds, 5's (cost) $1,890 00
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank December 31, 1929 5 64
Received:
Interest on deposits in Quincy Savings
Bank
55
Interest on bonds 100 00
Paid:
R. W. Wagner Company, books $38 00
Charles Scribner's Sons, books 43 20
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1930: Balance in Quincy Savings Bank
24 99
$106 19 $106 19
Balance on hand, December 31, 1930 :
2 $1,000 Kansas City, Clay County and St. Joseph bonds, 5's (cost)
$1,890 00
JAMES H. SANKEY, Treasurer. GEORGIANA CUSHING LANE, Auditing Committee.
406
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Trustees of the Thomas Crane Public Library :
In submitting the report of the library for the year 1930 it may be worth while to note that the year just past was the sixtieth year of the public library of Quincy, the forty-eighth as the Thomas Crane Public Library.
In the first report, that for the year 1871, occur these sentences: "The library has now ranged itself by the side of its eighty sister libraries in Massachusetts and begins the beneficent work in which all ages and employments may share alike. Whether it will prove the blessing anticipated by its friends will depend upon its proper use. . .. It only needs further to be said that the Trustees will direct their best efforts on a line with the requirements of the time, in the hope that those who seek entertainment or knowledge shall find here what they seek." The six men who signed this first report were the men who organized and guided the movement for a public library in the town of Quincy and who supervised its es- tablishment. Their names, which will still be remembered by old-time residents of our city, were William W. Greenough, Luther W. An- derson, Henry Barker, Harrison A. Keith, Charles F. Adams, Jr., and Charles A. Foster. All six forward looking men have passed away, after contributing much to the civic development of Quincy.
A review of the record of the library for the year just past will, we hope, show that this library has continued to the present time to be "the blessing anticipated by its founders," and that it has kept "on a line with the requirements of the time."
Circulation
At the end of the past year the Thomas Crane Public Library had a list of registered borrowers totaling 22,096 persons, or 30 per cent of the present population of Quincy. Books issued for home use amounted to 668,187 volumes, a gain of 57,899 over last year, or about 81/2 per cent. The per capita circulation, 9.28, is well above the average, which is 5.29, for public libraries through- out the country. Though the figures for books loaned furnish the only statistical records for measuring the use of the library, they do not, of course, cover the total use that is made of the resources of the library. Thousands of books are regularly consulted or read during the year within the confines of the library, and of these no accurate record can be kept. If the library is to be judged by the use made of it, I think it may be fairly regarded as approximating the standard set by its founders.
Book Additions
The first report shows that this library opened with 4,607 books on its shelves. Last year we added more than double that number of books. Our present total stock amounts to 85,295 volumes. This may not seem a growth in any way phenomenal, but it should be remembered that over a period of years, thousands of books have worn themselves out in service or have become out of date and been discarded. Once more I call attention to the need for books. In spite of an average turn-over of nearly eight circulations for each book in the library during the last year, we still fall far short of meeting the demands made upon us for books and more books.
407
ANNUAL REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
Reference Work
Two years ago, in my annual report, I mentioned our reference or information service as an outstanding weakness in our service. It is gratifying to report this year that this branch of our work has been decidedly strengthened. Much of the credit for this is due to Mrs. Wilford, who came to us in the fall of 1929. Possessing a background of familiarity with books, she has developed an in- stinctive knack of finding just the right material for the searcher for information, and we have been the recipients of many favor- able comments on the assistance she has rendered. Other assist- ants who have been scheduled at the reference desk have also done excellent work in aiding readers.
.
Children's Work
The extent of the library's service to the boys and girls of Quincy may be evidenced by the fact that a total of 299,381 books were borrowed from the children's room of the main library, the children's shelves of the branches, and from the classroom libra- ries sent to the schools. This amounts to 45 per cent of the total circulation. It was found possible this year to install the much- needed and long-awaited modern charging desk in the children's room of the main library and to give Miss Kingman an equally needed full-time assistant to aid in her work. Outside of the issu- ing of books, much time is given by the children's librarians in an- swering questions, finding books for children and in assisting parents and teachers in book selection. A very attractive exhibit of new children's books was held during Book Week in Novem- ber, and a story hour was held one afternoon which filled the room to overflowing. Miss Kingman also prepared the classroom libra- ries, 141 of which, a larger number than usual, were sent to the elementary schools of Quincy, and she or her assistant have fol- lowed up this work with regular visits to the schools.
Branches
No new branches were added during 1930. Indeed, as I stated in my report of 1929, the city is now so well covered that it seems hardly probable that requests for additional branches will be made for several years at least. Changes to more desirable and more adequate quarters were made in the cases of the Manet and the General Palmer branches during the year. The only change antici- pated for 1931 is the removal of the Baxter Branch at South Quincy to some location nearer the business center of that district, in proximity to the Quincy Adams Station. With one exception, all the branches showed gains in circulation ranging from 2 per cent to 30 per cent of last year's circulation. A very considerable proportion of the increased book appropriation of last year went into the duplication of books for the branches, especially standard books on the high school reading lists. The book collections of the branches still need strengthening, and it is hoped that this coming year more books for permanent use may be purchased for the branches and the necessity of drawing upon the main library for popular books lessened. Additional shelving was installed in the Wollaston and Baxter Branches during the year.
408
CITY OF QUINCY
Hospital Service
Our library work at the Quincy City Hospital has been main- tained on the schedule instituted in 1929 of three afternoons of ward service. Through the cooperation of the hospital authorities an innovation and extension of the service was made possible last fall. The library was assigned a room in the administration wing (the old Ward A), which we furnished with shelves, a table, chairs, drop lights, etc., from funds left over from the appropriation for the Merrymount Branch. This attractive room is open an hour and a half on the days the hospital librarian is in attendance for the use of nurses, internes and convalescent patients. This inno- vation is proving a success. Books loaned through the hospital li- brary service amounted to 8,488, a gain of nearly 2,000 over last year's figures.
Inventory
It has been the practice of this library to take an annual inven- tory of the stock of books. In the last five years our work has grown to such an extent that it has been found necessary to spread the inventory over two years, taking the stock of the branches one year and that of the main library the alternate year. The last inventory completed in 1930 showed greater losses than heretofore. Just why this should be so is a question that is puzzling most pub- lic librarians who are very generally reporting similarly increased losses. The usual answer given is that in the last few years, or since the war, there has been a moral let-down in regard to prop- erty rights which is widespread and that the abuse of the privi- leges offered by public libraries is but one phase of a general atti- tude. In proportion to our total circulation our losses are com- paratively slight, but they are often extremely exasperating in special cases, where a borrower wants a particular book which is discovered to be among the missing. It sometimes seems as if we were putting too much trust in the honesty and good sports- manship of some users of our library.
Staff
The library lost, by resignation this year, two members of our force-Mrs. Josephine Marshall and Miss Violet Johnson. The former, as Miss Ghigli, joined the staff in 1922 and had served for six years as librarian of the Manet Branch at Houghs Neck, where she made many friends both for herself and the library. Miss Johnson, who came to us early in 1929, left in June of this past year to be married. Both resignations were accepted with regret. Mrs. Zayma Connolly, our hospital librarian, was granted a year's leave of absence in September, this position being filled by the transfer of Miss Marion Davis from the Norfolk Downs Branch. We were fortunate to secure as a substitute for Miss Davis, Mrs. Winifred Russell, a resident of Quincy, who had had experience both in the Springfield and the Somerville public libraries. . Four regular assistants have been added to the staff during the year- Miss Helen Egan, now librarian of the Manet Branch; Miss Helene Hodgkinson, assistant in the Children's Room; Miss Carolyn Kitt- redge, assigned to the General Palmer Branch, and Miss Aline Blake, assistant in the main library. All these new assistants and eight other members of the staff took the course in library work given in the fall under the auspices of the State Division of Public
409
ANNUAL REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
Libraries. This library was represented at the All New England Conference of Librarians held at Swampscott in June by the libra- rian and a good proportion of the staff for one or more days.
A Retrospect
As the past year marks the completion of five years' service as your librarian, it may not be out of place to close this report with a brief retrospect. Entering on my duties Feb. 1, 1926, I found a library, which, under my predecessor, Mr. Temple, had not only expanded rapidly, but was exceptionally well organized for a high degree of efficient service at a very low operating cost. While op- portunities for further branch expansion have presented them- selves in these five years of my administration and have resulted in the establishment of three new branches, at Montclair, Lakin Square and Merrymount, my chief problem has been the develop- ment of a book collection to more adequately meet the demands created by the rapid expansion of library outlets. Through the co- operation of the city officials, our budget for books has been in- creased $6,500 in the past five years and the effect has been evidenced by an increase of 50 per cent in the circulation of books for the same period. Much attention has been given to book selec- tion, both in fiction and especially in non-fiction, and I believe that we have within certain limitations a well-rounded collection of books for active use. Though our stock of books has increased 331/3 per cent in this period, we continue to cope with the demands of readers who last year borrowed over two-thirds of a million books. In this connection it may also be pointed out that, while our per capita circulation has increased from 7.8 in 1925 to 9.28 in 1930, the unit cost per volume circulated is only 1/10 of a cent higher today than in 1925, and that it is still much below the aver- age for public libraries.
Our work with the children of the city through our various agencies has grown materially and I can testify to a genuine spirit of cooperation with school authorities and teachers in this phase of our work. Improvements have been made from time to time in our branch service. We have increased the opening hours, changed locations and provided more adequate facilities where they seemed needed.
In giving this résumé of accomplishments, I am at the same time well aware that we have often fallen short of what might have been expected of us, that many improvements remain to be made and that the coming years will bring forth other problems. I am also extremely sensitive to the fact that such growth in useful- ness as this library may have had in the five years of my adminis- tration could not have been accomplished without the assistance and vision of your board of trustees, nor without the cooperation and support of the city authorities. And any credit that may be due belongs, in large measure, to Miss Callahan and the corps of assistants whose efficient service and loyalty to the interests of this library I doubt is exceeded in the personnel of any public in- stitution. Lastly, I may add that no one could have enjoyed more friendly or happier relations with trustees, staff or users of the library than it has been my good fortune to enjoy during these years as your librarian.
Respectfully submitted,
January 31, 1931.
GALEN W. HILL, Librarian.
410
CITY OF QUINCY
Statistical Summary
Population served, 71,965 (1930 census).
Free for lending and reference.
Total number of agencies, consisting of : Central Library Branches
12
Stations:
Hospital service
1
Deposits
4
Schools (buildings)
25
Number of days open during year:
For lending
302
For reading
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