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 1939 > Part 28
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Balance in Quincy Savings Bank, December 31, 1939
$ 64 05
Principal in Quincy Savings Bank, December 31, 1939 1,000 00
$1,064 05
Alice G. White Music Fund
Securities on hand, December 31, 1938
$991 00
Balance in savings bank
15 41
Receipts, dividends and interest
40 20
$ 55 61
Payments, music books
$ 29 36
Balance in savings bank
26 25
$ 55 61
Securities on hand, December 31, 1939
$991 00
George W. Morton Fund
Securities on hand, December 31, 1938 .... $1,880 50
Principal in savings bank, December 31, 1938
3,207 12
Balance in savings bank, December 31, 1938 1 16
Receipts, dividends, and interest
161 08
$3,369 36
Payments, miscellaneous expense
$ 20 00
Balance in savings bank, December 31, 1939
142 24
Principal in savings bank, December 31, 1939
3,207 12
$3,369 36
Securities on hand, December 31, 1939 ....
$1,880 50
425
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
Cotton Center Johnson Fund
Principal in Quincy Savings Bank, December 31, 1938 $152 77
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank, December 31, 1938 6 73 Interest on deposits Quincy Savings Bank 4 00
$163 50
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank, December 31, 1939
$ 10 73 Principal in Quincy Savings Bank, December 31, 1939 152 77
$163 50
Katherine A. Raycroft Fund
Received from executor of Estate of Kath-
erine A. Raycroft, legacy under her will $1,000 00 Additional amount allowed in settlement of estate 350 00
Total deposited in Norfolk County Trust Co. $1,350 00 Balance in Norfolk County Trust Co. $1,350 00
Thomas Crane Public Library Building Fund
Balance in Granite Trust Co., December 31, 1938 $13,538 52
Balance in First National Bank of Boston, December 31, 1938 46,320 45
Transfers from Crane Memorial Fund 35,358 24
Treasurer of United States, P. W. A. Grant 67,295 81
$162,513 02
Payments
Preliminary expense
$ 157 10
Construction expense
Engineering expense
146,046 07 8,215 56 313 06
Legal and administration expense
Balance in First National Bank of Bos- ton, December 31, 1939 299 21
Balance in Granite Trust Co.
7,482 02
$162,513 02
PAUL C. REARDON, Treasurer
HENRIETTA C. THOMAS, JAMES S. COLLINS, Auditing Committee.
426
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Trustees of the Thomas Crane Public Library:
In looking back upon the work of the library during the past year it seems as if the greater part of the time, energy and thought of the librarian was given to the new addition, the Adults' Reference and Children's Library, completed in December. However, the routine of the library has gone on without inter- ruption and it has been a busy year in all departments.
The increase of $2,000 in the city's appropriation for books was gratefully received and has been helpful in making a start in building up our much depleted stock of books. It did not, natural- ly, affect the circulation of books during 1939 and the figures for loans show a drop from 701,167 in 1938 to 698,456 in 1939. A study of the circulation records reveals that this loss was entirely in fiction, both non-fiction and children's books showing gains. Moreover, the falling off was almost completely confined to the last four months of the year and was fairly proportional among the branches. There were some striking exceptions, however, - the Hospital Library Service recording an increase of over 1,000 books, and the Squantum, Merrymount and Temple branches slight gains. The real phenomenon is the Manet Branch which last year showed a gain of over ten per cent and in three years has moved in point of circulation from sixth to practically a tie for second place among the branches. There was a slight loss of 190 in num- ber of registered borrowers but the figure 24,064 is well over thirty per cent of the population of Quincy.
The Reference Department of the main library has had a busy year. For the first time a record was kept during 1939 of the number of requests for information which required some search on the part of the reference assistants. This record shows a total of 8,266 such questions asked and answered, the inquirers being divided as follows: 3,649 were high school students, 539 college students, and 4,078 adults obviously over college age. A record was kept of unusual questions and a space on the daily chart was provided to show subjects on which the library had insufficient, obsolete, or no material at all. The above figures do not include reference work done in the Children's Room or branches. So few libraries publish such a record of their reference inquiries that we do not find bases for comparison, but the 8,266 seems a respectable figure for our library. The readers' advisory service was kept up except during the summer months and such reports as are avail- able indicate that it has been worthwhile. Last winter the Quincy Y. M. C. A. asked our cooperation in arranging for a book dis- cussion group to be held under their auspices. As a result, such a group was formed with Miss Callahan as leader. Her course was well planned, the books discussed were timely, and the re- sponse in interest and enthusiasm was very gratifying. She has been asked to plan for another such group this winter.
Mention was made in last year's report that Miss Newton and Miss DiBona had begun the making of a duplicate catalog of non- fiction for use in the new building, together with a much needed authority list. The latter was completed in the spring but the work on the catalog progressed rather slowly until September when we were able to secure a W. P. A. project for this work. With a sup- ervisor and four assistants working directly under Miss Newton
427
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
and Miss DiBona rapid strides have been made and several classes completed, but there is at least a year's work ahead before the project will be finished. Another W. P. A. project begun in the fall has been the selection and mounting of pictures for reference use and home circulation. The cataloging of the picture collection begun by Miss Hebert some years ago is also part of this project which is under Miss Hebert's direction. And the W. P. A. mending project, now in its fifth year, continues its good work and has preserved the life of many books and saved the library much money.
There were no changes in the location of branches during 1939 but in December an improvement was effected at the Temple Branch through the rental of the adjoining store and cutting through the partition, thus doubling the reading room and shelf capacity. Increased space has been badly needed at Temple for some time. As a result of the hurricane in 1938, it was found necessary to replace the entire roof of the Wollaston Branch.
No resignations by members of the staff were received during the year. In July, Miss Henrikson returned from her year as a student at the Carnegie Institute School of Library Science where she made a fine record, and has resumed her position as librarian of our Hospital Service. Miss Ruth MacDougal, who had been her substitute for a year, left at the end of the summer to enter college. Preparations for occupying the new building necessitated the employment of more part-time help in the Fall.
While the dedication of the new Adults' Reference and Chil- dren's Library did not take place until January of the present year, the building was actually opened for the use of the public, with all departments in operation, on December 18, 1939, so its completion may be recorded in this annual report. As my report for last year included a description of what the new building was to be and how we expected it would improve our service, it seems only necessary now to say that completed, it meets all our hopes and comes up to our expectations. As an architectural achieve- ment in harmonious design and beauty of exterior and interior, it will stand for years as a lasting tribute to our architects, Paul A. and Carroll Coletti. From the point of view of library service it is already proving its practicability. For the first time, at least since I became your librarian, we have room to spread out, to specialize and to grow.
A few words, however, about one feature of the new building which has aroused much interest and occasioned many favorable comments,-the music room and especially the phonograph de- partment with its two recording instruments in sound-proof booths. Lack of funds precluded the purchase of more than a com- paratively few but well selected records before the new building was opened. These make only the germ of a collection, the possibil- ities of which may be illustrated by a reference to the annual re- port for 1939 of Mr. Hiller C. Wellman, librarian of the City Library Association of Springfield, Mass. In that library the col- lection of phonograph records was begun in 1923. They now have about 2,600 records and the circulation of these last year amounted to 21,656, an average for each record of over eight times a year, and as they are doubtless played several times when borrowed, the actual use may be as high as eighty times a year. To quote Mr. Wellman: "The records are used by ministers, by broadcasters, by
·
428
CITY OF QUINCY
theatrical groups; they are used with children by teachers, and of course by the general public, but they are used extensively also by professional musicians." I take space to include this testimony on the value of a phonograph record collection and the pleasure it affords because our own library has at present all too limited funds for the purchase of such records and if our stock is to grow rapidly, it will need the help of interested persons either by gifts of records or funds for their purchase. All such gifts will be most gratefully received and will be acknowledged, and the donors will have the satisfaction of contributing to the enjoyment of many people.
Just to say that we moved into the new building on December 18th does not indicate the amount of work involved in planning for the move and in the actual shifting of the books, the latter being done over one week-end. In addition, the move was followed by an entire shifting of all the books on the first floor and stacks of the main library to give a more systematic and better arrange- ment of the various classes. To those members of the staff who directly assisted in these changes and to all the others who have carried on so well during an unusual year in the history of the library, I record my grateful appreciation of their loyal service.
For the last fifteen months it has been my privilege to be in close contact with those who have been concerned in the erection of the new addition. With all,-the architects, the contractors, the superintendent, the P. W. A. resident engineers, the clerk of the works, and with many of the workmen,-I have enjoyed the most pleasant association and have formed some real friendships, and all have contributed to the education of a librarian.
Lastly, I want to repeat that no one is in a better position than I to testify to the burden which your chairman, Colonel Adams, has carried during the whole period from the beginning to the completion of the building. I have intimate knowledge of the vast amount of time and the careful thought he has given to the pro- ject. Credit for its successful completion is largely due to his foresight, tact and good judgment. And to all your board who have so wholeheartedly worked for the best interest of the library, I express my grateful appreciation.
Respectfully submitted,
February 5, 1940.
GALEN W. HILL, Librarian.
429
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
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
302
For reading
330
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
150,878
21.6%
Number of volumes of adult fiction lent for home use
338,323
48.4%
Number of books for children lent for home use
209,255
30%
Total No. of volumes lent for home use
698,456
Registration
Adult 15,219
Juvenile
Total
Total number of registered borrowers
8,845
24,064
Borrowers registered or re-registered during year ..
5,800
2,500
8,300
Number of non-resident borrowers (included above)
18
Book Stock
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Number of volumes at beginning of year 78,072
34,395
112,467
Number of volumes added during year ..
5,610
2,280
7,890
Total No. of volumes at end of year .. 81,350 2,332
1,951
4,283
34,724
116,074
Number of newspapers currently received excluding duplicates 12 Number of periodicals currently received excluding duplicates
209 Fines, non-resident fees and miscellaneous receipts
paid to City Treasurer
$3,037.46
Number of volumes withdrawn from record during year
430
CITY OF QUINCY
Library Expenditures 1939
City
Appropriation $13,790 15
Endowment Fund $29 36
Books
Periodicals
1,209 26
Binding
1,299 66
Library Service
35,859 43
Janitor Service
7,533 80
Police Service
370 00
Rent
3,575 00
Gas and electricity
1,341 25
Heat
1,939 33
Maintenance supplies, telephone, printing, etc.
2,467 89
7 25
Repairs, replacement equipment
1,800 66
36 60
Miscellaneous
51 80
30 90
Automobile expense
200 00
Insurance
132 97
New Equipment
695 97
$72,267 10
$104 11
Books in Library January 1. 1940
Adult
Juvenile
Total
General
1,516
499
2,015
Periodicals
3,915
24
3,939
Philosophy
1,480
39
1,519
Religion
1,565
314
1,879
Sociology
6,481
2,163
8,644
Language
552
42
594
Science
1,986
1,276
3,262
Useful Arts
4,837
1,516
6,353
Fine Arts
4,483
1,302
5,785
Literature
7,250
2,936
10,186
History
8,587
4,184
12,771
Biography
5,939
1,714
7,653
Fiction
32,759
18,715
51,474
Total
81,350
34,724
116,074
CIRCULATION BY CLASSES 1939
BRANCHES
CENTRAL LIBRARY
Parkway
Atlantic
Temple
Wollaston
Baxter
Norfolk
Downs
Squantum
Manet
General
Palmer
Hospital
Montclair
Lakin Sq.
Merrymount
Boys' and
Camps
TOTAL
General
12,621
3,017
3,073
1,795
6,822
1,711
4,419
1,353
5,549
2,315
3,053
2,481
2,934
3,137
850
55,130
Philosophy
2,574
116
205
53
667
63
398
55
243
16
72
39
93
33
1
4,637
Religion
1,140
83
123
61
494
97
186
43
284
12
31
22
62
45
277
2,960
Sociology
6,676
1,510
913
1,373
2,709
771
1,326
454
1,256
699
263
468
614
414
1,940
26
21,412
Language
711
102
23
62
85
8
64
14
122
18
10
14
19
3
31
1,286
Science
3,651
460
301
278
1,066
126
514
213
321
126
35
133
226
127
691
29
8,297
Useful Arts
10,156
1,153
794
579
2,043
429
1,219
421
1,219
447
307
312
572
413
1,148
18
21,230
Fine Arts
7,960
646
608
318
1,378
184
878
327
590
128
69
214
· 392
191
651
22
14,556
Literature
6,605
2,878
2,178
2,363
4,468
2,188
2,168
1,276
3,602
2,116
347
1,715
1,308
1,586
3,500
19
38,317
History
4,738
549
542
486
1,411
258
817
206
466
188
84
200
449
184
404
13
10,995
Travel
6,191
1,548
1,547
981
3,344
917
1,939
616
1,477
876
294
489
923
660
1,057
34
22,893
Biography
6,905
968
955
717
2,450
802
1,193
474
1,013
330
393
294
786
457
700
31
18,468
Fiction
80,063 31,535
30,841 31,255
89,666 23,609 35,403 16,411 34,265 16,162 11,784 19,288 19,325 12,948 25,116
Total.
149,991 44,565
42,103
40,321 116,603 31,163 50,524 21,863 50,407 23,433 16,742 25,955 27,703 20,198 36,374
511 698,456
Girls' House
318
477,989
..
432
CITY OF QUINCY
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF QUINCY, MASS.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1939
Chairman HON. THOMAS S. BURGIN, Mayor
Vice-Chairman MR. HESLIP E. SUTHERLAND
HON. THOMAS S. BURGIN Term expires Dec. 31, 1940 131 Munroe Road, Quincy
MRS. BEATRICE W. NICHOLS Term expires Dec. 31, 1939 45 Elm Street, Quincy
MR. HESLIP E. SUTHERLAND Term expires Dec. 31, 1939
50 Spear Street, Quincy
MR. L. PAUL MARINI Term expires Dec. 31, 1940
223 Presidents Lane, Quincy
MR. ROY PROUT .Term expires Dec. 31, 1940 44 Highfield Road, Quincy
MR. JOHN P. FLAVIN Term expires Dec. 31, 1941 14 Neponset Road, Quincy
MR. JOHN H. TAYLOR Term expires Dec. 31, 1941 108 Warren Avenue, Wollaston
Secretary to School Committee and Superintendent of Schools
JAMES N. MUIR, B.S. 132 Winthrop Avenue, Wollaston
The regular meetings of the School Committee are held at 7:30 o'clock P.M. on the last Tuesday in each month.
433
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION
WILLIAM A. BRADFORD, Chairman
ALBERT C. BLACKMAN
ALBERT W. Koss
FERDINAND J. COMI
FRANK FOSTER
GEORGE A. OSTER
CONRAD HALLGREN
ARCHIBALD WESTHAVER
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DISTRIBUTIVE TRADES
WALTER CHANNING DEACON HENRY A. GALLAGHER ARTHUR W. MACFARLAND
OFFICE STAFF
Secretary MARION NILSEN 33 Nilsen Avenue, Quincy
Bookkeeper HELEN M. CANTY 65 Safford Street, Wollaston
Clerks ANNIE M. OHMAN 71 Bennington Street, Quincy THERESA V. KROESSER 18 Thornton Street, Wollaston
Office : School Committee Rooms, Quincy High School Building, Coddington Street.
Office Hours : 8 A.M. to 5 P.M .; Saturday, 8 A.M. to 12 M.
Supervisor of Attendance HARRY G. BURNHAM 226 Everett Street, Wollaston Office: School Committee Rooms. Office Hours : 8 A.M. to 12 M., 1:30 to 5 P.M. Saturday, 8 A.M. to 12 M.
434
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Quincy:
The 1939 School Committee organized January 2, 1939 as follows:
Chairman (ex-officio), Honorable Thomas S. Burgin, Mayor Vice-Chairman, Heslip E. Sutherland Secretary, James N. Muir
Clerk, J. L. Marion Nilsen
Standing Committees:
Maintenance: Mr. Taylor, Mrs. Nichols, Mr. Marini Athletics: Mr. Marini, Mr. Flavin
During the year the Committee held twelve regular meetings and twelve special meetings. All of the regular, and most of the special, meetings were open to the public.
Immediately after organization the Committee made a personal inspection of all school buildings and from the first-hand knowledge thus obtained established a comprehensive plan for repairs and improvements. For the most part such repairs and improvements were of a routine nature made necessary by the usual wear and tear on the school property. In making a number of major im- provements, such as the landscaping at the Cranch and Adams Schools, the regrading of the yard at the John Hancock School, the insulating and remodeling at the Squantum School, as well as a number of smaller projects, the Committee received generous sup- port from the Works Progress Administration and the cordial co- operation of the local administrator.
Particular mention should be made of the renovating of the cooking rooms in the Home Economics Department at the Quincy High School. Here the most modern appliances were installed and the rooms themselves completely reorganized.
One of the problems which occupied a large measure of the Com- mittee's attention during the year was the increasing demand for free use of school halls by private organizations for civic and charitable purposes. Recognizing the value to the community of all such programs but realizing the considerable financial burden of making school halls available without charge for such purposes, the Committee adopted a new schedule of rental fees for the various auditoriums based practically upon the actual costs involved. This policy has met with general approval and has tended to eliminate requests for the use of these accommodations without charge.
Being faced with a sharply increasing demand for the use of school gymnasiums and athletic equipment by private groups the Committee undertook a study to determine to what extent and upon what conditions these facilities should be made available for com- munity purposes. This investigation is still in progress.
The Committee is glad to report that the use of the portable wooden structure at the Coddington School has been discontinued, and it is hoped that the coming year will see the only remaining portable structure used for classroom purposes, that at the Central Junior High School, likewise abandoned and removed from the premises.
435
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
The needed enlargement of the Trade School curriculum and the necessary expansion of the Trade School building was further stud- ied by the Committee throughout the year. Through the good offices of Honorable William A. Bradford, Chairman of the Advisory Com- mittee on Industrial Education, a joint committee of the City Coun- cil, the Advisory Committee, and the School Committee was ap- pointed. After a series of meetings at which all phases of the prob- lem were studied, this Committee adopted specific recommendations which would provide the necessary accommodations in a new wing to be erected on the Huntly Road side of the Trade School building. These recommendations were endorsed by the School Committee and forwarded to the Mayor and City Council with a request for the necessary appropriation.
Believing that the maintenance of a school plant, the providing of text books and supplies, the employment of teachers and cus- todians, and, in fact, all of the activity carried on within the School Department, is but incidental to the main purpose of providing in- struction for children of school age, the Committee undertook a survey of some of the special functions being carried on within the Department. It is hoped that through a succession of special meet- ings, each devoted exclusively to some different phase of school work, this and future committees, as well as the citizens at large, may gain a greater appreciation of some of the important work being done in the schools.
The amount spent by the Committee during the year 1939 for school purposes was $1,253,925.29 of which $1,086,720.70 was for salaries.
The Committee is glad to record its gratitude to all the members of the school staff whose loyal cooperation made possible another successful year in the functioning of the Quincy Public Schools.
As a matter of general information, there are appended hereto the Superintendent's report to the School Committee, the report of the Assistant Superintendent, and statistical data pertaining to the schools.
The foregoing report was prepared by a special committee con- sisting of Mrs. Beatrice W. Nichols and Mr. Heslip E, Sutherland and was adopted as the report of the School Committee for the year 1939.
436
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Quincy:
For several years in my annual report I have given what we considered the outstanding accomplishments of the previous year. Susan Coolidge says, "All the past things are past and over; the tasks are done and the tears are shed." Longfellow says, "Act, act in the living present." In this report I am attempting to bring to your attention those items which seem to me of paramount import- ance to the school system at the present time.
For sometime I have asked the School Committee to permit me to put out an annual report depicting school life, this report to be entirely separate from the traditional and statistical. It would have suitable illustrations for popular consumption and would give the citizenry a view of the schools as they are.
A recommendation in my last annual report relative to the shop work for boys in the Quincy High School was as follows:
"The shop work for boys at the Quincy High School is outmoded. Both the equipment and program need our im- mediate attention. The junior schools which feed into Quincy High School have modern shops and splendid equipment. The elements of several trades are taught in the junior schools which give the boys an opportunity to explore their talents. When these same boys come to the Quincy High School and select the Civic curriculum their shop work is confined largely to woodwork. This is dull and uninteresting unless they have a liking for woodwork. Many of the boys at the Quincy High School would take greater interest in shop work, in fact they are eager to get it, but before they do we must modernize the shop facilities."
The newly equipped Home Economics room in the Quincy High School is a great credit to the school committee and to the school system. This was made possible during the year 1939 by your co- operative efforts and interest in giving the young women in the high school an opportunity to express themselves in this important field of work. The Home Economics department is growing and needs further extension. We must continue to keep abreast of the times.
You will recall that I asked for modern equipment at the Central Junior School. This was the first school in the system to take up Home Economics and the equipment is old and much of it is worn out and needs replenishing.
Quoting from my 1939 annual report, I am re-emphasizing the cafeteria situation at the Central Junior School:
"Another problem confronting the school system is the cafeteria situation at the Central Junior School. This has been brought to the attention of the committee on several occasions. If we cannot have new quarters for the cafeteria at that building, we should give our best efforts to improv-
437
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
ing the old. The equipment is inadequate and obsolete and should be replaced by new and up-to-date equipment."
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