USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1945-1947 > Part 36
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September 14th started the three-day-a-week service, with a weekly Story Hour as an added attraction for the boys and girls.
Window exhibits with appeal to the interests of the passer-by, leading to interest in branch books, have been notably good. They have been timely, vital, and at- tractive.
Hospital Branch
Patients and nurses borrowed 2,395 books from the Hospital Bianch. One o f these readers seemed to blow first hot, then cold, with his demand for a book, "With ten murders in the first chapter, and then, that book called 'Peace of Mind'."
Other Extension Services
Wide inquiries made before, showed no local need for a group reading-hour for the blind. It has been kept in mind, however, and this year a need was found for a weekly reading service at the home of a blind patron. The library has undertaken this by enlisting volunteer readers.
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REPORT OF MORRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Deposits of books are sent to the Firehouse, the Baptist and the Congregational Churches. The home delivery of books to the sick, by taxi, has been announced, 6,807 books were circulated from deposits at the schools, largely from the library's Junior Department.
RESOURCES FOR SERVICE: BOOKS AND STAFF
The use of books has increased this year, in each of the four seasons; but especi- ally in the last three months.
Our country's part in world affairs, the new forces of an atomic age, national problems that hit the home town too, are all a challenge to readers, including the library staff. Book questions take a practical turn too, as in the case of a harried veteran who asked for a book to "Help him know how to build a bed."
Booklists have been issued monthly in the Adult Department, and occasionally in the Junior Department. Subject lists have been issued for the use of church leaders; for veterans; and for home builders.
Book, and Other Talks
In addition to lectures on the use of the library to the ninth grade, Miss Edna Phillips, Librarian, was asked to speak on "Books on the Social Sciences" at a meeting of teachers. She, Mrs. James Dunn of the Board of Trustees, Miss Martha C. Eaton, Assistant Librarian, and Miss Barbara A. Jordan, Adult Department Libr arian, each reviewed a book for the Literature Committee of the Norwood Woman's Club, of which Miss N. Dorothy Shumaker, Junior Department Librarian, is the Chairman. Miss Jordan spoke on "New Books" before the Norwood Literary Society. Miss Shumaker spoke on "Shake Hands with the Dragon, or How to Work with Your Librarian" at the Old Colony Library Club; and on "Choosing Books for Children" at the Winslow-West Parent-Teacher Association. Miss Heslam spoke on "Life at the South Norwood Branch" before the Women of the Moose, in addition to four talks to school groups. Miss Shirley Day, Business Assistant, spoke at the Senior High School on her experience in vocational training.
Staff Changes
Miss Barbara A. Jordan, Adult Department Librarian, who had been at the library since 1934, and had made important contributions to its life, accepted another position of wider responsibility. Mrs. Eleanor Johnson, Adult Department Assistant, became Circulation Librarian upon Miss Jordan's resignation. Miss Marjorie Davis resigned to be married, and her place was taken by Miss Helen Crocker, Records Assistant. Miss Crocker brought experience in teaching, in the Circulation Depart- ment at the Yale University Library, and in the U. S. WAVES. Miss Hazel G. Traquair was appointed to the position of Assistant. Both are college graduates.
The library now employs five people who have been here for seven years or more. While the staff is not short numerically, changes have necessitated more reference and executive work by Miss Eaton, Mrs. Johnson, and others.
The Staff Bring Home Ideas From the Professional World
Staff members have attended all regional, state, and local library meetings, at which they have repeatedly given special service. Miss Heslam made good use of a leave for summer study at Columbia University, School of Library Service.
Miss Phillips completed two years as President of the Old Colony Library Club. During this time, it affiliated with the Massachusetts Library Association. She is
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serving her second recent term as Chairman of the American Library Association's Committee on Work With the Foreign-Born; and her first term as Chairman of the Library Council, United Nations Association of Massachusetts. (This Council is a co-ordinating agency between the libraries of the Commonwealth and the United Nations. To the best of our knowledge, Massachusetts is the first state to have such a council.) She also served on the Massachusetts Planning Committee of the New England Conference on Adult Education; and is on the Program Committee of the M.L.A.
This library stresses the need to be in touch with the best practices at other libraries; and they in turn inquire about ours. An unusual request came from a Boston church planning to organize a library and asking our advice on procedures. Paragraphs about this library's annual reports in the "M.L.A. Bulletin" and in the "Wilson Bulletin" brought requests for it from many parts of the country.
Notes From a Cataloger's Desk
2,249 books were added by purchase and gift. All required processing, and most needed cataloging. Miss Eaton did or supervised the work, with the aid of other staff members in juvenile classification. The typing is now done by our Business Assist- ant, Miss Shirley Day.
Inventory of books was taken this year under Miss Eaton's supervision. De- partment heads took their own count, and reported to her. The record was especially good in the Junior Department and the South Norwood Branch.
SERVICE TARGETS
Educational Aid - From ABC's to PHD's
Libraries are an active agency for independent, continued, self-education. As such, the library has to do with the communication of ideas. Books first and fore- most, but not books only; and a realization that the approach to the reader's interest is the library's business.
The Library invited the Adult Education Department of the Public Schools, to join with it in offering a course of seven lectures on "Building the Small Home." The lecturers were excellent, and the audience of prospective home owners took active part in the discussion periods. Books on related topics were shown throughout the course. The library's attractive and homelike Intermediate Room, free from any classroom air, added to the appeal of the series.
213 ninth grade pupils of public and parochial schools, accompanied by their teachers, had instruction in the use of the Adult Department. A small group of Junior High School teachers also came to the library for a presentation of library resources especially useful to the faculty.
Nothing is second in importance to individual service. Typical requests came from a reader starting a nursery school, who used our resources on child psychology and related topics; another leader of a summer church group who was aided by books on sketching, outdoor cooking, and sports; and one of the constant Tello-Test fans using the library for their answers, who won $95.00 thereby. Two architectural students of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, choosing Norwood as the ideal place for a building project for 700 homes, asked for an interview on all aspects of life here. Miss Jordan's strong reference and readers' advisory work were a great asset to the library in this service.
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REPORT OF MORRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Business Needs
Book buying has reflected the business and vocational interests of the returning veterans and the urgency of their housing needs. Lists have been kept posted in the United States Employment Service office.
Announcements about titles of pointed interest to members have frequently been mailed to the Norwood Rotary Club.
Leaders in local industries and professions have generously responded to the librarian's request for advice on books in their fields.
The Arts
Visual presentation of books with related pictures has had much attention, not only from the angle of subject appeal and timeliness. but through beauty to add to the attractiveness of the library.
The Norwood Garden Club has rendered a notable service to civic beauty through its weekly service of flower arrangement, beginning in the summer and continuing throughout the winter.
The library has bought liberally of books for musicians and those who appreciate music, as well as many other books on the fine arts.
Few exhibits at the library have aroused more interest than that of twelve pic- tures by Norwood youth, brought here by invitation to Mrs. Ethel M. Cook, Art Supervisor, Senior High School, and written up for the paper by the co-operation of the Norwood Woman's Club, Art Committee.
Intercultural Relations
Trying to help carry one's share of the load in organized library progress benefits the local work as well.
The librarian's affiliation with the Library Council, United Nations Association of Massachusetts has aided this library's selection and presentation of material on world affairs. Varying aspects of the United Nations and its countries have been prominent in exhibits. Her connection with the A.L.A.'s Committee on Work With the Foreign- Born has in the same way been an aid in local work with books on the great cultures, and on racial topics.
Readers of foreign origin have borrowed books in Italian, French, Polish, Finnish, Lithuanian, Arabic, Spanish, German, Russian, Swedish, and Greek. Most of these were highly appreciated loans from the Massachusetts Division of Public Libraries.
These readers have been introduced as a group to library service at the South Norwood Branch, through their Adult Civic Education classes.
Fun
We try to have plenty of good books that help bring the happy emotions; that relax the reader from his cares; and that make him laugh. It is noteworthy, however, that hospital patients borrowed a higher proportion of non-fiction than other readers.
AMONG THE READERS SERVED, ARE:
Youth - The Junior Department
Independent reading by boys and girls was encouraged through a summer vaca- tion "Travel Club" planned by Miss Shumaker. Each of 25 winners of certificates had read books on at least 10 countries. The readers and their parents, from Main Library and the South Norwood Branch, enjoyed the Club's closing evening of mov- ing pictures, with the awarding of certificates.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
Thirty story hours with an average attendance of 28 helped introduce books to younger readers.
A reading club for 7th and 8th graders held five meetings that helped stimulate and guide adventures in the book world.
Over 200 sixth grade pupils, public and parochial, accompanied by their teachers, were instructed in the use of the Children's Room. New registrations and renewed interest in books followed. 25 kindergartners and their teacher were given a pre-view of pleasures to come, by their visit to the Children's Room.
Reading lists on seven topics were compiled at the request of Junior High School teachers.
The "Treasure Chest" books chosen by Miss Shumaker, and contributed by Norwood children and adults for the children of Norway, was considered by the Boston Committee to be one of the best selections made. An invitation was received to have the Norwood chest presented to the Norwegian Consul at a ceremony in New York City, but it was in use that day on request of the Massachusetts Library As- sociation.
Veterans, Home Again
A close-up of ways they use their library would include book requests made by one making his first speech at a memorial service; another asking book aid in planning a career in scientific exploration; and a third who wanted book material and reading suggestions to take to college with him, on the subject of a 13th century philosopher. Then we had the French war bride whose trip to the Norwood Hospital was pleasanter by being able to take with her some of our books in her native language.
219 books contributed by Norwood people were taken by the Red Cross Motor Corps to a Boston Distributing Center for service men.
THE READERS SERVING - BY VOLUNTEER WORK AND GIFTS
A collection of slides of Norwood scenes have come to the library from the late Dr. Frederick Cleveland.
15 volunteers have aided greatly in the book service at the hospital.
29 people have given us 238 books and many magazines.
24 people have brought flowers to the library.
The Norwood Woman's Club and a member of the library Staff have presented the library with a fireplace set for the Junior Department. Three members of the staff gave the library Christmas trees, one for the children at the Main Library, and one at the Branch.
FIRST YEAR OF THE TEN-YEAR PLAN FOR LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT
A Ten-Year Plan for Library Development began with 1946. This is an effort to look ahead for a decade in progressive steps needed in Norwood. The goal includes broad coverage of town needs, through de-centralized service; increased use of modern approaches to reader's interests; and building improvements to the Main Library and the South Norwood Branch. The objectives met in 1946 were as fol- lows:
1. Building improvement needs granted by the Town to the amount of $5,000.00, together with permission to use part of the Alice H. Plimpton Fund for the conversion of the present Reading Room to a Reference and Reading Room. (On some orders, delivery is not promised until 1947.)
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REPORT OF MORRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2. Four Special events for adults, designed to add to their reading interests.
3. Extended time of Branch opening.
The Librarian desires to pay tribute to the help she has received from the Board of Trustees, and from the Staff, including the Building Custodian. She feels among friends, in mutual devotion to a high cause.
Respectfully submitted,
EDNA PHILLIPS, Librarian.
LIBRARY HOURS
Adult Department Weekdays 10 a.m .- 9 p.m.
Junior Department Monday-Friday 12:30-6 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m .- 6 p.m.
South Norwood Branch
Tuesday and Friday 12-45-6 p.m. 7-8:45 p.m. Saturday 10-12 and 1-5:45 p.m.
Norwood Hospital Monday 1-4 p.m.
Trustees Maude A. Shattuck, Chairman
Francis Doran
Mary L. Dunn
Eugene Nelson A. Marion Swain
George H. Welles
Librarian and Secretary of the Board Edna Phillips
Librarian Emerita Jane A. Hewett
Staff
Martha C. Eaton, Assistant Librarian and Cataloger
N. Dorothy Shumaker, Junior Department Librarian
Eleanor P. Johnson, Circulation Librarian Barbara M. Heslam, Branch Librarian
Helen W. Crocker, Records Assistant
Hazel G. Traquair, Assistant
Shirley Day, Business Assistant
Building Carl B. Pearson, Senior Building Custodian
Substitutes
Ruth R. King
Helen R. Fraser
Barbara C. Perry
Pages Martha Hamilton
Constance King Mary Latham Jane Milliken
Marjorie Mills Anna M. Rusiecka Marilyn I. Stimson
Janice Wheeler
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REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
To the Board of Trustees:
The following is a statistical report of the Morrill Memorial Library for the year 1946, arranged according to the form recommended by the American Library Asso- ciation :
Name of Library
Morrill Memorial Library
Town
Norwood, Massachusetts
Name of Librarian
Edna Phillips
Date of Founding
.1873
Terms of Use
Free for Lending; Free for Reference
Number of Agencies
3
Number of Days Open in 1946
302
Number of Hours Open Each Week
66
Number of Staff
7
Books
Volumes Added to the Library:
Fiction by Purchase
1,192
Non-Fiction by Purchase
829
Fiction Gifts
140
Non-Fiction Gifts
88
Number of Volumes at End of Year
32,820
Circulation
Fiction
Non- Fiction
Total
Adult
37,129
17,696
54,825
Junior Department
10,803
4,201
15,004
South Norwood Adult
4,330
2,021
6,351
South Norwood Junior
4,632
1,683
6,315
Hospital Adult
1,287
914
2,201
Hospital Junior
157
38
195
Balch School
1,350
438
1,788
Callahan School
1,889
654
2,543
Junior High School
36
172
208
Peabody School
0
0
0
St. Catherine's School
0
0
0
Senior High School
5
134
139
Shattuck School
822
215
1,037
Winslow School.
862
39
901
West School.
171
20
191
Fire Station
63
53
116
Westwood Lodge
22
25
47
Church Deposits
70
112
182
63,628
28,315
92,043
Finance
See Report of Town Accountant.
REPORT OF MORRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY
169
Registration
Number of Borrowers Registering in 1946:
Adult Junior
South
Total
514
Department Norwood 207 138
859
Number of Registered Borrowers:
4,625
1,509
537
6,671
Respectfully submitted,
EDNA PHILLIPS, Librarian.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
PON
0
INC.
ยท18-72 .
GUILD-APM9-1775
.FEB . 23
TOWN OF NORWOOD MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31
1946
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE School Committee 1946
Term Expires 1947
John F. Reynolds 31 Oak Road, Norwood 0851
Harold T. Young 1947
73 Beech Street, Nor. 1525
John J. Cavanaugh 1948
235 Railroad Avenue, Nor. 0679-M
Edward H. Thompson 9 Gardner Road, Nor. 1785-R
1948
James J. Curran 1949
347 Washington Street, Nor. 1012-W
Anthony O'Donnell 299 Railroad Avenue, Nor. 0632-M
1949
Organization Harold T. Young, Chairman Elizabeth Zurba, Clerk
Committee Meetings
The regular monthly meeting of the School Committee is held in the Committee Room, Room 100, Junior High School Building, at seven-thirty o'clock, on the third Wednesday of each month.
Superintendent of Schools
Lincoln D. Lynch, 21 Florence Avenue, Telephone Norwood 1266
The Office of the Superintendent of Schools is at the Junior High School and is open from 8:30 to 12:00 a.m. and from 1:00 to 5:00 P.M. every day except Saturday. Telephone Norwood 0133.
Secretary Elizabeth Zurba, 49 Saunders Road, Telephone Norwood 1155W
School Calendar 1946-47
First term begins September 4, 1946, ends Dec. 20, 1946 16 weeks
Second term begins Jan. 2, 1947, ends Feb. 14, 1947 6 weeks
Third term begins Feb. 24, 1947, ends April 18, 1947 8 weeks Fourth term begins April 28, 1947, ends June 20, 1947 8 weeks First term begins September 3, 1947, ends Dec. 19, 1947 16 weeks
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
Holidays
October 25, 1946 - County Teachers Convention
November 11, 1946 - Armistice Day
November 27 noon, 28, 29 - Thanksgiving recess
December 20, 1946 - Schools close for Christmas recess; reopen January 2, 1947 February 14, 1947 - Schools close for mid-winter recess; reopen February 24, 1947 April 4, 1947 - Good Friday
April 18, 1947 - Schools close for spring recess; reopen April 28, 1947
May 30, 1947 - Memorial Day
No-School Signal 2-2
Repeated at 7:15 a.m. No forenoon session for grades 1 through 12
Repeated at 7:30 a.m. No forenoon session for grades 1 through 9 Repeated at 7:45 a.m. No forenoon session for grades 1 through 6 Repeated at 12:15 p.m. No afternoon session for grades 1 through 9
Repeated at 12:30 p.m. No afternoon session for grades 1 through 6 Repeated at 6:15 p.m. No session for Evening School
Note: When the No-School Signal is sounded, all street lights are illuminated for three minutes.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Norwood:
The reports of the Superintendent, Principals, and Supervisors present vital facts related to Norwood schools. Items which the School Committee regards reportable and not included in the aforementioned reports are submitted herewith.
This statement, and the reports of school officers, taken together, are adopted as the Report of the School Committee, it being understood that such adoption does not commit the Committee to the opinions or recommendations made therein.
CHANGES IN PERSONNEL - 1946 Resignations
Mrs. Helen F. Beardsell, Foods, H. O. Peabody School Miss Sarah E. Down, School Nurse, retired Blanche Holman, Peabody School, to be married Ethel M. Keefe, Balch School
Mrs. Margery Lanphear, High School Cafeteria Cook H. Bennett Murray, Senior High School, retired Albert Petitto, Junior High School, to teach elsewhere Mrs. Margaret Sullivan, Shattuck School, to Seattle, Washington Ann M. Switzer, Peabody School, to full time Red Cross service Mary K. Tormey, Peabody School, to teach elsewhere Ruth A. Weld, Foods, Peabody School
Deaths
Alfred M. Disnard, April 1, 1946; Supervisor of Custodians Ruth G. Manchester, June 7, 1946; Junior High School
Leighton S. Thompson, March 10, 1946; Principal, Senior High School
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REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Military Leave
Mary A. Canning, Health Supervisor
Henry F. Fairbanks, Senior High School
Promotions
Charles A. Hayden, Principal of Senior High School
D. Vincent Kenefick, Director of Placement and Guidance, Senior High School
Appointments
Sylvia M. B. Bergman, Balch School, Grade 4
Christine Haeussler, Supervisor, Elementary School Music Rose L. Morrison, Peabody School, Commercial teacher Orlando M. Scafati, Senior High School, Physical Education Steven J. Levanitis, Military Substitute, Senior High School Mrs. Esther J. Chitty, Shattuck School, Substitute, Grade 1 Mrs. Margaret O'Rielly, Callahan School, Substitute, Grade 1 Pauline M. Cataldo, Winslow School, Grade 1 Frederick Wellsman, Junior High School, Art and Practical Arts Alice Dowling, Home Economics, Junior High School
Mrs. Helen Goepner, Peabody School, Social Science Mrs. M. Adele Marcoux, Foods, Peabody School Martin M. O'Donnell, Submaster, Senior High School Margaret J. Ryan, School Nurse
James Meade, Junior Building Custodian
John D'Espinosa, Senior High School, Junior Building Custodian
Resolutions Dr. Frederick A. Cleveland
The death of Frederick A. Cleveland on January 26, 1946, marks the close of a career which has been truly fruitful.
Doctor Cleveland was Chairman of the Norwood School Committee during the eight-year period from 1921-1929. Perusal of Town records over the period of the past twenty-five years reveals his untiring efforts in the interest of better education and public service for our community. He was a person of deep insights and pro- found convictions, - time, to him, meant nothing, - work was a pleasure, - and the quality and completeness of his thoughts and actions identify him as a keen analyst of all problems which relate to improvement of opportunities for better living for all men.
Acknowledgment and evidence of his capacity for leadership of quality and char- acter are to be found in his works, - as a writer, a teacher, an economist and a planning engineer.
Doctor Cleveland was a man of the world. To be sure, he worked and lived at home, but his interests knew no bounds - he knew and loved mankind. His counsel and advice were sought after by nations as well as by communities and by individual men who needed his help - here, all knew, could be found an able, help- ful and willing hand.
We are glad that we knew him - that we know and appreciate his works. While his shadow is silhouetted all over our schools and our playgrounds as a living and perpetual testimonial to his valued services, he lives especially in the Henry O.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
Peabody School for Girls which represents the fulfillment of one of his greatest hopes - a work which was completed in the last few years of his life - an effort which, though a source of joy and satisfaction to him, must just as surely have levied a severe toll upon his failing strength.
We resolve: That these, our sentiments shall be spread upon the records of the Norwood School Committee.
That we would have our feelings known to the people of Norwood through the services of the Norwood Daily Messenger, and
That we shall send to Doctor Cleveland's son, Lindsay, a copy of this Resolution.
Resolution Leighton S. Thompson
Leighton Sumner Thompson was elected to the Principalship of the Norwood High School in 1936.
Until death took him from us, he devoted his life and energy to the school work he loved so much.
We knew him as an administrator and teacher who was loved and admired by all of those teachers and pupils who were fortunate in their mutual associations as co-workers in educational effort.
He was personally interested in the problems of those who sought his counsel. To be able to be of some help was to him, a source of delight. When, occasionally, failure of achievement appeared, no one was more keenly disappointed than he.
Mr. Thompson was interested in our Town and its people and all who knew him, respected him.
The measure of love, devotion and respect as revealed in the countenances of the high school pupils who attended his funeral prompts us to register these, our senti- ments, in the permanent record of our School Committee meetings and with the re- solve that this statement shall be copied for public announcement and that a special copy be prepared to be sent to the members of his family.
Resolution Alfred Martin Disnard
Alfred Martin Disnard entered the service of the School Department on Decem- ber 5, 1919.
For more than twenty-six years he has labored in the interest of our Town and our schools. He was ever mindful of the welfare of those whose business it was to work with him.
A source of special concern and pride to him were the school buildings, the care and maintenance of which were his responsibility for several of the last years of his life.
His wide range of interests provided for him what must have been abiding satis- faction, for to him many of us had to turn when there arose perplexing problems the solution of which were made the easier for his advice.
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