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 1938 > Part 26
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
Reference may also be had to the annual report of the librarian for the other routine work of the library and also to that part of his report which deals with the plans for the new building.
During the year the time, thought and energy of the trustees has been given chiefly to the new addition to the main library building. A very brief outline of the history of the library may be of interest at this time. Thomas Crane, for whom the library was given as a memorial, was born October 18, 1803 and died April 1, 1875, leaving his widow Clarissa Starkey Crane who died April 22, 1895 and his son Albert Crane who died September 21, 1918. The widow and son presented to the then Town of Quincy the main library which was dedicated May 30, 1882. In her will Clarissa Crane bequeathed to the library the Thomas Crane En- dowment Fund. In 1908 Albert Crane, seeing that the original building was becoming crowded, caused to be constructed a sub- stantial addition thereto which met the needs of the library for a good many years to come. In his will he bequeathed to the library the Crane Memorial Fund, part of which was used for the con- struction of the Parkway Branch at West Quincy and the Wollas- ton Branch at Wollaston. Other funds were also left in his will which in the last year or two have come into the possession of the library. These various funds are now being used towards the cost of construction of the new addition. The citizens of Quincy will always feel a deep sense of gratitude to the Crane family.
Quincy has been a fast growing city of homes and business ac- tivities and of late years, because of the ever growing needs of our patrons, the facilities of the library have been greatly con- gested and outgrown, thus making the additional building an abso- lute necessity. When the trustees had under consideration this addition, it was determined that it would be advisable to build on a larger scale if possible than that which the Crane family funds would provide for. Accordingly, it was decided to make application for an allotment of additional funds from the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works. In due time this grant was made. Subsequently, the plans were enlarged to meet contemplated addi- tional requirements and an additional grant was made by the Federal government. We now have under construction a $200,000 building, 55% of the cost of which is paid out of Crane family funds and 45% by the Federal government. The trustees of the library and our citizens are deeply appreciative, not only for the grant of government funds, but also for the splendid co-operation and valuable assistance of all government officials and engineers in the efficient carrying out of the work. It is expected that the lay- ing of the corner stone of the new building will take place this coming spring and that the building itself will be completed and be dedicated by October, 1939.
413
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
Henry H. Richardson was the architect of the present main library. The trustees commissioned Messrs. Paul A. Coletti and Carroll Coletti to draw the plans for and superintend the construc- tion of the new building. They have devoted much thought and study to this important task in order that the new addition may harmonize with the Richardson structure in design and materials. Tornabene Brothers, the general contractors, are proceeding with the construction work in an efficient and expeditious manner. The trustees are especially grateful to Mayor Thomas S. Burgin for the kind interest and co-operation he has shown them.
A few words might be in order at this time as to the legal status of the library. It was incorporated by special act of the legislature on April 17, 1880, Chapter 202 of the Acts of 1880. Under the original act it was provided that the trustees should be elected in town meeting and that the town meeting should make an appropri- ation annually for the maintenance of the library. Under our city form of government, the Mayor appoints the trustees and the city council makes the annual appropriation.
The trustees take this opportunity to acknowledge again the effi- cient and loyal work of the librarian and members of the staff, and to thank the Mayor and members of the City Council for their val- ued support and co-operation.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE E. ADAMS, Chairman, GEORGIANA CUSHING LANE, Secretary.
414
CITY OF QUINCY
TREASURER'S CONDENSED STATEMENT-1938
Crane Memorial Fund
Securities on hand December 31, 1937 $75,622 97
Balance cash in banks December 31, 1937 6,879 19
Receipts, interest on invested funds 3,611 34
Receipts, rentals New York City property .. 5,557 31
Receipts, dividends savings bank deposits 192 12
Sale of securities 62,548 75
$78,788 71
Payments, administrative and other expense $ 328 69
Payments, Taxes-New York City property
3,711 34
Transfer to Thomas Crane Public Library Building Fund
73,491 76
Balance cash in banks December 31, 1938 ..
1,256 92
$78,788 71
Securities on hand December 31, 1938
$6,555 00
Ellery Channing Butler Fund
Principal in savings bank, December 31, 1937 $1,000 00
Balance in savings bank, December 31, 1937 16 98
Receipts, dividends deposits in savings bank 25 29
$1,042 27
Payments, miscellaneous library items
$ 39 75
Balance in savings bank, December 31, 1938
2 52
Principal in savings bank, December 31, 1938 1,000 00
$1,042 27
Crane Special Fund
Balance in savings bank, December 31, 1937 Hartford-Connecticut Trust Co., partial dis- tribution of principal
1,081 12
Receipts, interest from Hartford-Conn.
Trust Co.
65 11
Receipts, dividends deposits in savings bank 19 90
$1,206 92
Transfer to Thomas Crane Public Library Building Fund
$1,100 00
Balance in savings bank, December 31, 1938
106 92
$1,206 92
$ 40 79
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
415
Special Rent Security Fund
Principal and interest in savings bank,
December 31, 1937 $1,012 50 Receipts, dividends on deposits savings bank 25 46
$1,037 96
Principal and interest in savings bank,
$1,037 96 December 31, 1938
Alice G. White Music Fund
Securities on hand December 31, 1937
$991 00
Balance in savings bank, December 31, 1937 28 07
Receipts, dividends, securities and deposits 40 21
$ 68 28
Payments music books
$ 52 87
Balance in savings bank, December 31, 1938 15 41
$ 68 28
Securities on hand, December 31, 1938 .... $991 00
Cotton Center Johnson Fund
Principal in savings bank, December 31, 1937 $152 77
Balance in savings bank, December 31, 1937
5 30
Receipts, dividends deposits in savings bank
3 93
$162 00
Payments, books
$ 2 50
Balance in savings bank, December 31, 1938
6 73
Principal in savings bank, December 31, 1938
152 77
$162 00
George W. Morton Fund
Securities on hand, December 31, 1937 $1,880 50
Principal in savings bank, December 31, 1937
3,207 12
Balance in savings bank, December 31, 1937
37 98
Receipts, dividends, securities and deposits
161 73
$3,406 83
Payments, books
$ 8 75
Payments, library repairs, misc. expenses
189 80
Balance in savings bank, December 31, 1938
1 16
Principal in savings bank, December 31, 1938
3,207 12
$3,406 83
Securities on hand, December 31, 1938
$1,880 50
416
CITY OF QUINCY
Thomas Crane Public Library Building Fund
Receipts, Transfer from Crane Memorial Fund
$73,491 76 Receipts, Transfer from Crane Special Fund 1,100 00
$74,591 76
Payments, Preliminary expense
$ 101 46
Construction
8,783 10
Engineering
5,808 50
Legal and administrative 39 73
Balance in banks, December 31, 1938
58,858 97
$74,591 76
VINCENT J. READDY,
Treasurer HENRIETTA C. THOMAS, JAMES S. COLLINS, Auditing Committee
417
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Trustees of the Thomas Crane Public Library:
During the past year, naturally much of the time of the librarian has been given to the plans for the New Adults' Reference and Children's Library now under construction, plans not only relat- ing to its physical features, but also for its coordination into our present activities and their extension. Later on in this report, I intend to share with you some of my thoughts on this subject.
First, however, in regard to the work of the library for 1938, I am glad to report that the bottom of the steady decline in cir- culation since 1933 seems to have been reached. During 1938 we apparently started what we hope is the beginning of a steady upswing. The gain in home loans of books amounted to nearly 30,000 volumes and was shared by the main library and every branch. There was a gain of 380 in the number of borrowers registered. In connection with both circulation and registration, it is interesting to note that these increases were wholly in the adult departments. The reason for the falling off in use in the juvenile department is probably the same one which accounts for the noticeable decrease in enrollments in the elementary schools,- the fall in birthrate during the early depression years.
There were no changes in the location of branches during 1938. While all branches showed increased use, the gain at the Manet Branch at Houghs Neck has been so marked for the last few years that it was felt desirable to increase its hours open. This was done by adding five hours each on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons to the schedule. Miss Keniley, the Manet librarian, re- ports that this move has proved popular and is much appreciated. I sometimes wonder if the citizens of Quincy are sufficiently aware of the character and extent of the work done by the Thomas Crane Public Library in carrying on its library service at the Quincy City Hospital. The library provides all books, subscribes to a number of current magazines and employs the librarian who makes the rounds of the wards daily except Saturday; also issues books to nurses and members of the hospital staff. In 1938 a total of 15,725 books was loaned at the hospital, a gain of more than 1,000 over the previous year. The hospital board and superintend- ent cooperate by furnishing an adequate room for the librarian and are enthusiastic about its practical usefulness.
Mention was made in last year's report of some changes in the reference and information service which came about largely from suggestions made by Miss Callahan as a result of her attendance at the Adult Education Institute for Librarians in Chicago. An- other similar institute was held at Simmons College last fall and was attended by Miss Callahan, Miss Gow and the librarian. From the knowledge gained there of the practical work done in this field in other libraries, it was felt worth while to experiment to the extent of instituting a readers' advisory service to take care of the needs of borrowers who desire more than simple information or references to books. Since October, Miss Callahan, Miss Gow and Mrs. Wilford have been on schedule during busy hours at a special desk located between the stacks and as far as can be judged in a three months' experiment, this new service is meeting a real need. Special lists of books have been prepared for borrow- ers and readers have been assisted in finding the exact books re- quired. In addition, Miss Gow is attending meetings of the Quincy
418
CITY OF QUINCY
Woman's Club with exhibits of books on the subjects of the pro- grams.
It has been necessary during the past year to anticipate the opening of the new addition by preliminary work in the form of making a duplicate catalog of the books of non-fiction for use in that building. Miss DiBona and Miss Newton, both technically trained in this field, have thus been engaged since June and ad- vantage is being taken of this opportunity to make desirable re- visions in subject headings and to prepare a much needed author- ity list.
Changes in the personnel of the staff which come about through matrimony are always accepted with mingled feelings of regret and congratulation. It was for this reason that we lost the good service in the fall of Miss Mary Mills, librarian of the Mabel S. Baxter Branch, since 1933. Her successor, Miss Charlotte Stone, had been Miss Mills' assistant for an equal number of years. In order to take care of the extra amount of work necessitated in the building project, Miss Martha Mattson was added to the staff as typist and stenographer. Each year the Carnegie Institute School of Library Science, a graduate school, admits to its courses one student who may not be a college graduate, but whose ex- perience, qualifications and recommendations indicate her to be worthy of the honor. Applications for the appointment come from all over the country. Last spring, Miss Dorothy Henrikson, hospital librarian on our staff, was notified that she had been selected as the special student for 1938-39 and, appreciative of the distinction of having this appointment come to a member of our staff, the trustees granted Miss Henrikson a year's leave of absence. Re- ports indicate that she is doing excellent work and meantime her place as hospital librarian is being taken by Miss Ruth Macdougal who is carrying on the work with enthusiasm.
The most outstanding feature in the progress of the library dur- ing the past year has been the actual start on the construction of the new addition to our main library building. Because the pos- sibility of this enlargement has heretofore seemed indefinitely re- mote, I have purposely refrained in my annual reports from even mentioning how much it has been needed or how much of a handi- cap an outgrown building has been to our work. Now that the completion of the addition is only a few months away, I feel that it is desirable to point out some of the difficulties under which the library has been operating and to indicate how the old and the new buildings can be coordinated into one unit to more completely meet the requirements of a modern public library service and to provide for its future growth.
The Crane Memorial Library is generally accepted as the su- preme achievement in the library field of one of America's great- est architects, Henry Hobson Richardson. To design the new ad- dition to harmonize in treatment with this masterpiece presented a very interesting and somewhat difficult problem for the archi- tects. How well they have solved it, I believe the general public will appreciate when the building is completed. The problem posed the librarian has been different but equally interesting and was concerned with plans for an interior arrangement to the end that an equally harmonious coordination of the various activities of the library might be effected.
I am certain that any professional librarian going over our building would immediately notice three obvious defects, - in-
419
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
adequate reading room and reference department facilities, an in- sufficiency of book shelves and stacks and the lack of any oppor- tunity to increase them, and the wholly unsatisfactory and almost disgraceful congestion of the working quarters in an artificially lighted and poorly ventilated room in the basement. There is also the situation of the Children's Department. The purchase of the Dana house on Spear Street in 1932 and the removal of the Chil- dren's Department into it, did not mean that it was expected that that house would be its permanent home. While it served some- what to relieve the situation and has provided an unusual and at- tractive library for the boys and girls, it is, naturally, not de- signed for the purpose for which it is used, has already reached its shelving capacity and has the disadvantage of being under another roof.
Taking it for granted that the new addition would provide sufficient space to overcome these drawbacks, the problem has been to decide what features of our work should go into the new building, what should be retained in the old, and how to coordinate these activities to secure the maximum of efficient service to the user of the library with the least possible interference with the functions of administration. Before any plans were drawn it was decided to carry over into the new building what may be called the specialized features of our work and make the main floor of the old building a general circulating library and to utilize the entire basement for working quarters.
Before describing the floor arrangement of the new building I want to say that while the plans carry out the ideas of the li- brarian, assisted by Miss Callahan, Miss Kingman and other mem- bers of the staff, in detail and finish they are entirely the work of the architects Paul and Carroll Coletti who have worked in closest cooperation and harmony with us and to whom most of the credit belongs.
On the main floor to the right of the lobby will be the large, well lighted Adults' Reference and Reading Room with shelving capacity for all of our reference books, including bound periodi- cals, and ample provision for future growth, with tables and chairs giving accommodations for eighty readers. This separation of the reference work from the circulation department is a consumma- tion we have devoutly wished for, who have for so many years had to contend with the confusion incident to their being together in one room. In the rear of the lobby is the Art and Technical Room in which will be found an open shelf collection of books on these subjects and seating accommodation for twenty-four readers. The lobby will contain the catalogues and charging desk and on its left a stack room for the overflow of books on art, technology and the like and for other books not needed on open shelves. This floor will also contain the offices of the librarian and assistant librarian and a special Historical Room, with a fireproof vault for the preservation of important research material impossible to re- place.
Directly under the Adults' Reference Room and of the same size, but with the entrance from Washington Street, will be the Children's Room, separation of the older from the younger chil- dren being effected by sections of seven feet high shelving down the center. The loan desk is well placed to be out of drafts and to give adequate supervision. Provision has been made on this
420
CITY OF QUINCY
floor for an office and a work room for the children's librarian and for a modern staff room, something long needed.
The innovation which will perhaps be of greatest interest to many people is the combined Lecture and Exhibit Room on the ground floor. This is a popular feature in many public libraries and the scarcity of any halls or rooms in Quincy suitable for group meetings or for exhibits make the inclusion of this room desirable. It will also afford the library opportunity, never before available, for carrying on story hours, book talks and other pro- grams of an educational nature.
At the left of the entrance to the main floor will be a stairway leading to another "consummation devoutly to be wished", the Music Room, which will contain not only our excellent collection of books of and about music, but has provision for sound-proof booths for phonographs and shelving for records.
In rough outline I have indicated the main features of the new addition. Except for a necessary relocation of the catalogues and magazine cases, the main floor of the old building will remain un- changed. The removal of the Art and Technical Departments will provide in the so-called X room not only more hygienic working quarters, but permit a more efficient routine in the various pro- cesses of preparing books for the shelves. I should add that the two buildings will be connected by corridors on both the main and ground floors.
While we have been working on the plans, we have not been unmindful of the responsibility which the enlarged library build- ing entails, nor of the opportunity it presents. In the report of the first Board of Trustees for 1871, the year the library was founded, occurs this sentence "whether it (the library) will prove the blessing anticipated by its friends will depend upon its proper use." Ten years later when Mr. Albert Crane and his mother erected the Crane Memorial Building, they must have had faith that this anticipation was being realized. That Mr. Crane still be- lieved in it, he showed by providing the funds for its extension in 1908. That he never lost that faith, he proved by providing in his will that eventually a very considerable part of his estate should come to the Thomas Crane Public Library. It is these funds supplemented by those of the Federal Government which are mak- ing possible the enlargement of the library. It is the responsibility of the trustees, librarian and staff to see that that faith will be justified, to give their best thoughts and efforts that it may con- tinue to be the "blessing anticipated" by its founders. And it is the responsibility of the citizens of Quincy to accept the obligation and justify the faith of Mr. Crane by providing the books and the service (and again I quote from that first report) "to keep the library on a line with the requirements of the time."
The opportunities which the enlargement of the building will afford are many. Some of them can be read between the lines in my description of the plans. While the "blessings" of the library are often intangible, incapable of being mathematically demon- strated, many times they do have a practical dollars and cents value, capable of being proved. It is along that line that we ex- pect the extension of our facilities to provide opportunity for better service. We have in mind the acquisition of more material in our reference department on business, industry and investment, the strengthening of our collection on technical and scientific sub-
421
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
jects, adding more books on trades, and other occupations,-all this to make the library more useful to business man and worker alike. To enumerate other opportunities would carry this report to an unreasonable length.
Before closing this report, I want to suggest an opportunity that is open to interested public spirited citizens to assist in increas- ing the usefulness of the Thomas Crane Public Library through gifts or endowments. The beneficence of Mr. Albert Crane, to whom we owe not only the Crane Memorial Building but also the Wollaston and Parkway Branches, has made the city an eternal debtor to his memory. Are there not some citizens in Quincy who would like to perpetuate the memory of some revered member of their family by establishing a fund for the purchase of books on some particular line. We have the Alice G. White Fund, the income only of which is used to purchase books on music. I can think of several libraries which have funds for art books and another libra- ry in a city, the chief industry of which is shoes, has an endow- ment fund for the purchase of books on that subject. Books on shipbuilding are most useful here, but they are usually expensive and the annual book appropriation does not allow more than a minimum allotment to such purchase, and there are other special fields for which funds would be most helpful. If there are any persons who are interested in this suggestion, the librarian would be pleased to discuss the matter with them.
The year 1938 has been a very busy one for the trustees, li- brarian and staff. Much important work has been done by all in connection with the new building, but no one is in a better position than I to testify to the heavy burden which necessarily fell on the shoulders of your Chairman, Colonel Adams. He has given freely an immense amount of time and thought to the many problems which came up both before and after construction started, and it is largely due to his foresight, his tact and good judgment that the whole project is on its way to successful achieve- ment.
In conclusion I want to thank you all for help given and con- fidence manifested during the year and to express to the members of the staff my appreciation of their devotion to the library and their cooperation in the year's work.
Respectfully submitted,
GALEN W. HILL, Librarian.
422
CITY OF QUINCY
Statistical Summary
Population served, 71,956 (1930 census). Free for lending and reference.
Total number of agencies, consisting of : Central Library Branches 12
Stations :
Hospital service
1
Deposits
5
Number of days open during year : For lending
303
For reading
333
Hours open each week for lending.
72
Hours open each week for reading.
76
Total number of staff
29
Total valuation of library property.
$599,824.54
Circulation and Use
Volumes
Percentage of Total Circulation
Number of volumes of adult non-fiction lent for home use
144,508
20.7
Number of volumes of adult fiction lent for home use
348,887
49.7
Number of books for children lent for
home use
207,772
29.6
Total No. of Volumes Lent for Home Use
701,167
100%
Registration
Adult 15,297
Juvenile 8,957
Total 24,254
Total number of registered borrowers ..
Borrowers registered or re-registered during year
6,073
2,431
8,504
Number of non-resident borrowers (in- cluded above)
20
Book Stock
Adult
Juvenile
Number of volumes at beginning of year 76,443
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.