USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1893 > Part 17
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This year it was deemed expedient to substitute electricity for gas in order to avoid danger from fire and the injurious effect of gas, as well as to secure a more convenient and agreeable means of lighting the building. All these things call for additional expendi- tures.
The trustees, therefore, are called upon to make greater de- mands upon their fellow citizens the coming year than ever before, but they promise to make an ample return for all that is granted
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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
them, in the greater usefulness of the institution placed in their charge.
The trustees would respectfully submit with this, the report of the present librarian, who has described the conditions of the library and its needs, and stated, in greater fulness, the plans for its future management. We wish gratefully to acknowledge the musually large donations of the present year to the library, details concerning which will be found in the librarian's report.
The trustees, in closing, desire to say that the custodians of the library have discharged their duties with marked fidelity.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES S. LINCOLN. CHRISTOPHER E. RYMES. CHARLES H. BROWN. J. HENRY FLITNER. ELIJAH C. CLARK. CHARLES A. WEST. J. FRANK WELLINGTON. JAMES E. WHITAKER. JOHN B. VIALL.
December 26, 1893.
312
ANNUAL REPORTS.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES FOR 1893.
CREDIT.
Appropriation
. $5,500.00
Dog Licenses
3,655.64
Fines
335.06
Catalogues
24.00
$9,514.70
DEBIT.
Balance of 1892 .
$335.44
Books and Periodicals
. 2,929.73
Salaries
2,867.91
Binding
660.05
Repairs
543.30
Wiring for Electric Lighting
349.92
Printing ($296.70) and Stationery ($86.54)
303.24
Covers and Cards
277.00
Fuel .
244.50
Express
221.95
Gas . .
209.91
Electric Lighting
37.18
Book Cases and Desk
191.75
Insurance .
187.31
Branch Office
75.00
Water
24.00
Call Bells .
19.40
Post-office Box and postage
6.00
Incidentals
7.75
Balance to 1894 .
23.36
$9,514.70
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.
To the Trustees of the Somerville Public Library :-
GENTLEMEN,-In compliance with your request and in accord- , ance with your by-laws, it becomes my pleasant duty to place in your hands this report as the twenty-first annual report of the librarian.
The Public Library is not only increasing in size, but it is steadily extending its field of usefulness. Judged by the use our citizens make of it, and the gifts it has received from many of our residents, it is constantly gaining a place in the hearts of those who love our city and who have a special regard for those institutions that diffuse knowledge and power, and aim better to fit her citizens for every duty.
The enlarged appropriation by our city government indicates that Somerville is ever liberal to her educational institutions, and that the Public Library holds a warm spot in her heart. The rapid growth of the city calls for a larger expenditure of money in all de- partments, and this library is not an exception to the rule. While a much larger sum could have been judiciously and profitably spent, it is a matter for congratulation that you have kept your ex- penditures practically within the appropriations. While doing this, you have not only added the usual number of books, but have made expensive additions and repairs, and have begun certain changes and improvements which, when completed, will increase the effici- ency and usefulness of the library, and give it place among the best of its class.
The benefits of a public library cannot be reckoned in coin, ex- pressed in figures, nor described with the pen. The number of
314
ANNUAL REPORTS.
books on the shelves, the annual additions, the monthly circulation, the books covered, and the fines collected, may or may not furnish interesting reading.
The public have placed in your hands something more than this building and its contents, valuable as they are ; you hold a higher office than the custodians of public property. Upon you rests the responsible duty of furnishing the mental food, not only of many of the adults of the city, but of our children and youth. What you select, they use, and thus you exert an influence which cannot be measured. Our Public Library has grown to be a great educational force in the community,-the "people's college," from which they are to obtain, not amusement and entertainment simply, but infor- mation, instruction, inspiration, and power. The high character of the books selected and placed on the shelves, testifies to your faithfulness and to the faithfulness of your predecessors. Your en- deavors seem to have been of a truly democratic character, for you have provided not only for the wants of the scholarly and culti- vated, but also for those of moderate attainments ; and it is gratify- ing to see many standard works circulated among readers of limited educational advantages, showing that they, too, appreciate and. enjoy books that treat of science, art, and history.
STATISTICS.
The whole number of books placed in the library since it was founded in 1872, is 24,869, and the number belonging to the library at the present time, as nearly as can be ascertained, is 22,606. During the year you have added 1,777 volumes, while 195 have been worn out, lost, or withdrawn. Some of the worn-out books cannot be replaced, as they are out of print ; others of them are of only transient interest, and of no instructive or disciplinary value ; we may welcome this natural decay, as we can fill the space with something better. The survival of the fittest should apply in a public library as elsewhere.
The library has been open to the public 305 days during the past year, and 93,213 books have been given out for home use, a daily average of 306.6. The largest number given out in one day was on
315
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
February 11,-804. The largest number in one month was in April, -10,181 ; the smallest number was in August,-4,817. There were distributed through the agency in West Somerville, 6,428 volumes, and by the East Somerville agency, 3,462.
REFERENCE LIBRARY.
No careful record has been kept of the books consulted in the library, but it is very evident that a more general use is being made of the reference books and the books of Americana, than heretofore. Many persons are using the library freely in pursuing their investi- gations, and as an assistance in literary work. It is to be expected that the public will consult more freely the rare and valuable books in the Reference Library, when they realize how rich the shelves are in this direction, and that it is continually receiving additions as rapidly as opportunity and the funds at your disposal warrant.
We regret that changes sometimes mean inconvenience and trouble to the patrons of the library, and the changing of the reference library has been particularly annoying to those who desire to consult the books. I had hoped before this time to have so far re-organized this department as to be able to have the room open all the time and to have a regular attendant in charge. But many of the books had to be sent to the bindery, all had to be re-catalogued, and the demands upon the time of all our force were so great that it was reluctantly decided not to open the room until the change was com- pleted. It was also found that it was impossible to heat the refer- ence-room without additional radiators and double windows. At no distant day, I hope to be able to announce that this department is well equipped for good work, as you have already decided to add many new volumes to those we already possess. The best we can now do is to bring reference books to the reading-room,-and we are not always able to do even this.
Among the more costly books added to the Reference Library are :-
American Caricatures. Fletcher's Index to General Literature. Fletcher's Index to Periodical Literature. Peale's Atlas.
316
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Life of Michael Angelo.
Old Italian Masters. English Cathedrals. Book of Crests. Modern State Trials.
Historic Houses.
New York Historical Collection, containing letters of General Lee. Collections of Massachusetts Historical Society, (complete) . Schoolcraft's History of the Indian Tribes of the United States. Death of Major Andre.
Defence of Norumbega.
Arena (from the beginning) .
Bay State Monthly and New England Magazine, (complete). Lippincott's Pronouncing Gazetteer.
Complete Index to Harper's Magazine.
Neal's History of New England, 1720.
Letters and Memoirs of Madam Riedesel.
Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, (complete) . British Birds.
Earth and Its Inhabitants.
Cyclopaedia of United States History.
VALUABLE ADDITIONS.
For general Circulation we have added :- Six Months in the Appenines.
Works of Jefferson.
Coursing and Falconry. Old and New Astronomy. Proctor.
Photographics. Wilson.
Journey from Edinburg. Campbell. Siberia. Atkinson.
Travels in Russia. Wilson. Museum of Antiquity. The World, its Cities, and Peoples. The Great World's Fair.
Memoir and Letters of Charles Sumner.
Early Diary of Francis Burney.
317
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Sixty Years of Recollections.
Halliwell-Phillips Outline of the Life of Shakespeare.
Literary History of Early Christianity. Gun and Camera in South Africa.
Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay. History of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Completed Writings of Washington.
Theosophy of Psychological Religion.
Tragedies of the Cæsars. Baring-Gould.
Life of Marie Antoinette.
Travel and Adventure in South-east Africa.
Letters of James Russell Lowell.
Memoirs of Count de Falloux.
Donation from Perkins Institute.
Green's History of the English People. (illustrated edition.)
Etrusco Roman Remains. Leland. And many others of equal value.
DONATIONS.
During the present year, the library has received as gifts 356 bound volumes, 147 pamphlets, 1,099 numbers of periodicals, and three pictures. Mrs. C. G. Pope has given 38 volumes, including several volumes of valuable Americana ; Hon. Edward Glines, 47 volumes, several of which are very valuable; Thos. S. Went- worth Esq., a copy of the History of the 13th Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteers.
The Perkins Institution for the Blind has given from the Howe Memorial Printing Fund, 81 volumes in embossed type for the use of the blind. These books are a library in themselves, and cover the field of general literature, including juveniles, poetry, bi- ography, history, religion, essays, text-books. and fiction. While the number of persons needing these books is few, the pleasure and profit those few may derive from them, make the gift of im- measurable value. And I congratulate you on the fact that this library is the first public library in the State to place books in em- bossed type on its shelves.
318
ANNUAL REPORTS. LIST OF DONATIONS.
VOLS.
PAMPH.
PERIODI- CALS.
Mrs. Lucy M. Adams Bohemian Voice
12
Builder's Iron Foundry
1
1
96
C. A. Cushman
2
Joshua H. Davis
1
Prof. A. S. Dolbear
14
46
200
Horace L. Eaton
1
Charles D. Elliot
2
2
Mrs. Lizzie P. E. Evans
6
Mrs. L. A. Field
12
Hon. Edward Glines
47
J. T. Hammer
1
William C. Hammond
8
Harvard College
1
J. S. Hayes
6
Mrs. H. E. Hill
1
Hon. N. P. Hill, Denver Col.
1
Indian Right Association
24
30
William P. Jones
1
Journal Publishing Co.
1
2
104
Mrs. Martha P. Lowe
3
Robert Luce
4
2
2
Thomas Miller
5
Emma F. Munroe
2
State of Massachusetts
38
Millicent Librarv, Fairhaven, Mass.
2
Charles E. Nickerson
171
Mrs. M. J. Ober
1
George W. Perkins
20
50
Mrs. C. G. Pope
38
Perkins Institute for the Blind
81
Mrs. A. E. Pickens .
1
William J. Robinson
1
Salem Public Library
12
Sunset Club, Chicago
G. A. Southworth
Springfield Public Library
12
E. A. Stone
Charles I. Shepard
356
B. F. Thompson
H. W. Tarbell
Tuftonian .
10
Tufts College Library
10
United Societies. Manifesto
12
United States Government
51
Ursuline Convent, New Orleans
1
Worcester Board of Trade
1
Thomas S. Wentworth
1
Rev. A. E. Winship
3
58
Dr. R. Willis
12
Citizen Publishing Co. Deloraine P. Colby
1
1
4
Miss Mary E. Elliot
2 21522 1 2 2
319
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
E. S. Barrett donated six cards issued by the Trustees of the First M. E. Church, in 1874, when they built the church.
F. D. Bourne presented three photographs of the Gen. Lee headquarters, beautifully framed, that should adorn some room in this building.
Miss Mary Flannagan donated a number of clippings from newspapers, relating to Somerville people or Somerville affairs.
It is hoped that the example set by these generous donors will be followed by others, and that many books, pamphlets, and peri- odicals that are now lying unused in many a household will be sent here, and either be put into circulation, or, if they should be duplicates of those we now have, be exchanged by us for books we need.
RENEWALS AND THE BORROWER'S CARD.
The by-laws of the library allow a borrower to retain a book fourteen days, and if renewed before the fourteen days have expired, it can remain in his possession another 14 days without incurring a fine ; but the Committee on Books and Catalogues may require that new books shall be returned in a shorter time and that no renewal of such books shall be made. Under this rule all fiction, juvenile books, some works of travel, histories, and many other books were marked to circulate only seven days; after a time, however, instead of removing the seven-day limit, these books were allowed to be renewed, making them practically fourteen-day books, but putting the borrower to unnecessary trouble. With the possible exception of works of fiction and some small books, one week is too short a period to devote to a good book, and I am confident that the patrons of the library would appreciate having as few seven-day books as possible. It would, in my judg- ment, be wise to make all books that have been in the circu- lating library one year, fourteen-day books, perhaps not allowing fiction and juveniles to be renewed. This arrangement would appear to reduce the circulation of the library, for it has always been the custom here to count a renewed book the same as one taken out, that is, counting a renewed book twice, when it may have left the library but once. This change would also materially reduce the amount collected in fines, a very desirable thing to do.
320
ANNUAL REPORTS.
A new card has been provided for the patrons of the library, which will enable them to keep the call-numbers selected until they obtain the books desired. Space is provided for fifty numbers, and if the holder keeps the spaces filled, he will be enabled to obtain his book much more quickly, and the delivery-room will be partly relieved of the crowd, as patrons are not delayed every time they come to the library by having to select new numbers. If, at any time, a borrower desires a different book from any indicated on the card, he makes out a white slip provided for the purpose, and hands it to the attendant with the card, and the numbers on the slip receive attention, instead of those on the card.
A new card for teachers has also been prepared, upon which they can take out a number of books, not exceeding ten at one time, for use in school. At no distant day, I hope to be able to report some plan to make the library even more helpful to the schools.
LOCAL LITERATURE.
Permit me to call your attention to the language of Justin Winsor, Librarian of Harvard College, at the dedication of this building, which expresses the present policy of your Board of Trustees :-
"I think there is no more important purpose of a local library than to preserve its local literature, and the writings of its local authors ; and I would extend the provision to those writers who were born within the local precincts. There is no other sure way of preserving such books; for the great libraries, with their enor- mous field, must of necessity overlook much. The preservation somewhere of all books of a serious purpose, even if that purpose be nothing more than the creation of a healthy pastime, all students, not only of literature, but of the history of manners, will unite in · commending.
It would doubtless be too much to say that just the matter which kindles our fires, and supplies our paper mills, is destined to become the great treasures of our libraries in later centuries ; but there is a good deal of truth in it nevertheless. It is those books and tracts which are so insignificant in their day of freshness, because we are too near them to discern their relations, that are preserved in obscurity, to become in one time the treasures upon which the binder's skill is exhausted. The commonness which
321
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. 4
makes us despise them now, gives the flavor which makes them representative then.
It is significant that Sir Thomas Bodley, in founding the library at Oxford, which now proudly bears his name, counselled against the accession of the waifs and strays of a London season, and par- ticularly of plays. These very tracts that a few pence could have bought then, I have known the custodians of that library in our day to compete for at scores, and even at hundreds of pounds. The most costly nuggets of our English libraries to-day are the little play-books of Queen Elizabeth's time, when countless thousands nearly all perished with the reading.
In 1846, Panizza, the great librarian of the British Museum, said, 'If a librarian had been guided by critics, he would have burned the early productions of Byron ; and had he judged from their first reception, he would have thrown away, as worthless, 'Par- adise Lost' and Newton's 'Principia'."
Mr. Edward Edwards says, 'The trash of one generation be- comes the highly prized treasure of another.' Such a statement is of course open to limitations, and for a library like yours, hardly I suppose aspiring to be one of the great libraries of the world, the limitations are obvious ; but it is to-day the rule of the Bodleian, the British Museum, the great library of Paris, not to name some of the other leading libraries in Europe, as well as in this country, to reject nothing, having long ago learned the folly of discrimina- tion."
We should, therefore, reject nothing that relates to Somerville, or her children and should gladly preserve everything that comes to us which will aid the future student in obtaining a correct idea of how the present generation employed its time.
ABUSE OF PRIVILEGES.
The most annoying thing connected with the administra- tion of a public library is the abuse books receive in the hands of certain of those who are allowed its privileges. It hardly seems possible that a being endowed with ordinary common- sense would treat any thing, much less borrowed property, in such a careless, heartless manner. The books are soiled, torn, and defaced, valuable plates, pictures, and maps removed and retained,-in plain English stolen !- and by persons it would not seem possible to suspect. Were it not for such persons, we might remove all restrictions even on valuable works, and stop covering
322
ANNUAL REPORTS.
our books-a great expense in the aggregate-and let them circu- late in the attractive covering the book-makers give them. To the cultivated person, a rich binding is an added charm to a good book. Books like choice friends should be treated kindly.
I am inclined to think that the free text-book in our school sys- tem is partly responsible for this careless use of books. That which costs us nothing is lightly prized. The child is not made to realize the intrinsic worth of the books provided him. If he or his parents bought them, he would be more likely to appreciate their value and see the need of more care in using them. I know of no better work our schools can do than to teach children the value of books, and that to mar or disfigure them is to injure friends. We seldom misuse what we properly appreciate and enjoy. What we love we treat tenderly.
"A book" said Henry Ward Beecher "is not a luxury, but one of the necessaries of life. It is better for weariness than sleep, better for cheerfulness than wine; it is often a better physician than the doctor, a better preacher than the minister, a better sanct- uary than the drowsy church."
RE-BINDING.
During the past year 1,492 volumes were sent to the bindery, and there are many books on our shelves to-day that ought to be re-bound before they are again put into circulation. As the library increases in age, the bills for rebinding will necessarily be larger, and this fact must be considered by the city council in making its appropriation for the library.
Your Committee on Books has decided, wisely I think, to bind all books except fiction, in "half-leather", either morocco or cow- hide. The only reason for continuing to use cloth for binding fiction, is the lack of a sufficient appropriation to permit the use of leather.
BOOK LISTS.
The printed.list of books available to the public is contained in the catalogue of 1888 and in the supplements of 1889 and 1892. These three lists include all books in the library bought before No- vember 1, 1891. The list of additions since that date, some thirty-six
323
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
1
hundred volumes, has never been printed. There is no doubt that many patrons of the library desire to select their books at home, and would appreciate a complete list of the books. A strictly complete list is impossible, however, for while a list is being printed, new additions are being made, and a bulletin must be issued.
A catalogue arranged under one alphabet by subjects, titles, and authors, would probably cost in the neighborhood of two thous- and dollars, and I would not advise your printing one until the new classification is completed ; but to bridge over the difficulty in the meantime, I would suggest that you issue monthly bulletins in which the books added since 1891 should appear under authors and titles, and that the public card catalogue be discontinued until one can be prepared with subjects, titles, authors and cross refer- ences. The one now in use is by title only, and would be of no assistance to the reader, as all titles would be available in printed form under the proposed arrangement.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Were it a matter of choice, I would willingly postpone an ex- pression of opinion as to what, in my judgment, would increase the usefulness of the library and add to its efficiency, until longer ex- perience and more careful thought might give assurance of the practical value of my views.
While it is scarcely six months since the administrative man- agement was placed in my charge, it is nearly two years since you requested me to make a study of the plans, aims, and administration of an institution that ranks next to the church and the school.
Besides trying to become familiar with the routine adminis- tration of the affairs of the library, I have endeavored to find out, as time would permit, the character of the books and to study its life and growth as found in the records of this board, and in your reports. As a result, I can freely say that the library has been exceedingly fortunate in having the services of able and devoted men and women in its organization, management, and administration. It has been built up and carried forward with no false step, or retrograde movement, from its small beginning in a little room, until it has quite outgrown this beautiful building,
324
ANNUAL REPORTS.
and it seeks to-day new opportunities of usefulness even in ad- vance of public requirement.
We are all agreed that a complete re-organization of the library must be made at the earliest possible moment, that this re- organization must be made without closing the library to the public, and that the books must be thoroughly classified into the groups to which they properly belong. It is generally admitted that not less than twelve groups should be made, as follows :-
0. General Works.
1. Philosophy.
2. Religion.
3. Sociology.
4. Philology.
5. Natural Science.
6. Useful Arts. 1
7. Fine Arts.
8. Literature.
9. History.
B. Biography.
F. Fiction.
I trust that nothing will prevent our beginning this work and continuing it until it is completed, a finding-list printed, and a card catalogue of all our books with cross-references, etc., prepared. It will take years to do this, but the classification and re-numbering once done, will be done for all time, and the usefulness of the library will be increased immeasurably.
When the classification is completed, the new numbers placed in the books, and we are ready to place the books in their new position, we must have at least twelve hundred feet more shelving in the stack-room alone. Allowing one hundred and twenty feet of shelves for each one thousand books, at the end of five years you will find your shelves full. Economy and prudence would suggest that no change be attempted until an addition be made to the stack-room, and provision made for at least sixty thousand volumes ; for as our city grows in population the an-
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