Report of the city of Somerville 1900, Part 19

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 546


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1900 > Part 19


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 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38


650


1897


1


Sarah I. Baird,


454-A Medford st.


650


1895.


K'g'n Ass't


Ethel M. Burton,


2 Homer sq.


350


1900 ,


LUTHER V. BELL.


37 Stone ave.


$1 800


1897


9


Alice L. Davis,


24 Walnut st.


725


1895.


8


Mary F. Lyman,


67 Columbus ave.


650


1898.


8,7 7


Grace E. Weeks,


23 Putnam st.


650


1899


6


Mabel T. Totman,


24 Walnut st.


650


1892


6


Maribelle Curtis,


23 Putnam st.


650


1895.


5


Emma F. Schuch,


25 Tufts st.


650


1874


5


Ada F. Fernald,


12 Miner st.


650


1893


4


Ella H. Bucknam,


10 Putnam st.


650


1897


3


Florence S. Hartshorn,


96 Glen st.


650


1900 ·


2


Martha E. Daniels,


93 Concord ave.


650


1891


1


E. Lorette Schuch,


25 Tufts st.


650


1882


CUMMINGS.


4 3


LYDIA J. PAGE, Principal,


21 Webster ave. .


$725


1869


Fannie L. Gwynne,


65 School st.


650


1886


2


Angeline Cann,


Wakefield.


650


1897


1


Elizabeth L. Hersey,


16 Appleton st., Boston.


650


1897


650


1890


2,1


M. Helen Milner,


Alice I. Norcross,


26 Russell ave., Watertown.


650


1885.


H. Gertrude Edgerly,


220 Medford st.


600


1897


9


HARLAN P. KNIGHT, Master,


20 Spring Hill ter.


650


1889 .


Nellie S. Dickey,


:236


ANNUAL REPORTS.


TABLE 29 .- Teachers in Service December, 1900 .- Continued.


Grade.


NAME.


Residence.


Salary.


Beginning of Service.


9


CHARLES E. BRAINARD, Master,


113 Glen st.


$1 900


1889


9


M. Eva Warren.


29 Evergreen ave.


725


1898


8


Annie L. Dimpsey,


232 Highland ave.


650


1891


8


Helen E. Blaisdell,


72 Rush st.


650


1898


7


Mary E. Richardson,


224 Broadway.


650


1893


7


Mabel C. Mansfield,


224 Broadway.


650


1893


6


Isabelle M. Gray,


23 Webster st.


650


1897


.5,6


Edith M. Snell,


22 Summer st., Melrose.


650


1900


5


Mary E. Coyle,


70 Glen st.


650


1898


4


J. Louise Smith,


36 Hamilton ave., Lynn.


650


1896


3


Fannie G. Holt,


35 Mt. Vernon st.


(5)


1899


2


Lillian Nealley,


109 Glen st.


650


1882


1


Martha M. Power,


37 Gleason st., West Medford.


650


1891


9


MARY E. NORTHUP, Master,


181 Central st.


$1,900


1878


9


Mary E. Stiles,


181 Central st.


725


1883


8


Mary G. Woodman,


16 Hampshire st., Everett.


650


1899


7


Nellie E. Briggs,


47 Sargent avenue.


650


· 1898


6


Mary H. Brownrigg,


8 Howe st.


650


1900


5


Ellen A. Boynton,


15 Evergreen ave.


650


1891


5


M. Frances Guptill,


75 Franklin st., Melrose Highlands.


650


1869


4


Margaret A. Orr,


148 Warren ave., Boston.


650


1891


4


Mary A. Goddard,.


9 Winter Hill Circle.


650


1893


3


Anna G. Welch,


324 Main st., Stoneham.


650


1897


3


Florence E. Baxter,


49 Hudson st.


650


1891


2


Flora B. Rice,


Marshall St. Circle.


650


1895


2


Carrie Armitage,


57 Madison st.


600


1899


1


Belle J. Tifft,


15 Dartmouth st.


650


1892


1


Ida M. Record,


45 Greenville st.


600


1899


(K'g'n


Mrs. Etta D. Ellsworth,


112 Newbury st., Boston.


600


1897


.Ass't


Emma E. Norcross,


60 Marshall st.


425


1899


9


FRED C. BALDWIN, Master,


25 Browning road


$1,900


1893


9


Mary E. Bunton,


13 Lee st.


725


1894


9,8 8


Fanny E. Jennison,


37 Madison st.


650


1896


20 Montrose st.


650


1900


7


Jane Batson,


32 Florence st., Malden.


650


1900


6


Elizabeth F. Clement,


650


1884


6


Mary C. Strange,


Stoneham.


650


1899


5


Lucy K. Hatch,


10 Ames st.


650


1892


6


A. Gertrude Deane,


14 Stickney ave.


650


1899


5


Jo Winslow King,


106 Brooks st., West Medford.


650


1899


4


Elizabeth S. Brown,


72 College ave.


650


1897


4


May I. Bradish.


45 Pembroke st., Medford.


650


1899


3


Maud L. Kent,


18 Maple ave.


650


1893


3


Edith T. Crabtree,


112 Jenny Lind ave.


650


1900


2


Annie S. Gage,


32 Marshall st.


650


1883


2


E. Mina Smith,


412 Medford st.


650


1896


1


Grace Shorey


23 Forster st.


650


1892


1


Cora J. Demond, BINGHAM.


The Prescott, Everett,


650


1900


6


HARRY F. HATHAWAY, Principal,


31 Vinal ave.


$1,100


1890


Ass't


Carrie F. Hathaway,


31 Vinal ave.


360


5


Elizabeth J. O'Neil, .


505 Broadway.


650


1894


4,3 3


Mabel E. Perry,


187 Central st.


650


1896


2


Ida M. Kimball,


10 Ames st.


650


1899


-2


Rose O'Loughlin,


Stoneham.


650


1896


1


Nellie R. Bray,


11 .Bradley st.


650


1898


1


Mabel E. Mansir,


77 Albion st.


650


-1891


Harriet F. Ward,


57 Madison st.


650


1895


Irena S. Nightingale,


14 Court st., Arlington.


700


1895


Jessie M. Lockwood,


29 Kidder ave.


FORSTER.


JACOB T. GLINES.


EDGERLY.


237


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.


TABLE 29 .- Teachers in Service December, 1900 .- Continued.


Grade.


NAME.


Residence.


Salary.


Beginning


of Service.


9


MINA J. WENDELL, Master,


211-A Summer st.


$1,900


1882


9


Emily J. Gifford,


30 Berkeley st.


725


1895


8


P. S. Downes,


45 Brastow ave.


650


1872


7


Alice E. Jones,


53 Laurel st.


650


1897


7


Lennie W. Bartlett,


44 Preston st.


650


1893


6


Anna E. Sawyer,


26 Bow st.


650


1872


6


Kara M. Johnson,


99 Summer st.


650


1897


5


Lizzie E. Hill,


22 Rutland sq., Boston.


650


1891


4


Anna C. Damon,


53 Laurel st.


650


1879


3


Agnes C. Rice,


20 Spring Hill Terrace.


650


1900+


2


Ella P. McLeod,


70 Austin st., Cambridge.


650


1888


1


·Ardelle Abbott,


71 Craigie st.


650


1897


1


Alice M. Emerson,


146 Highland ave.


650


1891


Grace Russell,


1323 Broadway.


650


1900 .


9


CHARLES G. HAM, Master,


Watertown.


$1,900


1893


9 8


Anne E. Bragdon,


21 Harvard st.


725


1×98-


51 Preston st.


650


1900 -


8


Jane W. Leeman,


51 Preston st.


650


1900 ·


7


Jennie E. Sutherland,


22 Pleasant st., Salem.


650


1898


7


Harriet A Hills,


9 Harvard pl.


650


1×74


6


Marie T. Smith,


33 Chester st.


650


1898


6


Marion P. Crawford,


650


1-97


5


Mary A. Haley,


117 Summer st.


650


1867


4


Mabel A. Mann,


88 Chelsea st., Everett.


650


1898.


3


Florence B. Howland,


39 Boston st.


650


1897


3


Elizabeth S. Foster,


53 Laurel st.


650


1895


2


Bessie A. Dadmun,


48 Oxford st.


650


1897


1


Ethel F. Morang,


162 Lowell st.


600


1898.


1


Gertrude Friend,


33 Wallace st.


650


1893


4


NORA F. BYARD, Principal,


248 Summer st.


$725


1884


3


Maud M. Brackett,


16 Howland st., Cambridge.


650


1899-


2


Edith L. Hunnewell,


23 Milton st.


650


1894


1


Mary Winslow,


38 Spring st.


650


1893.


5


LAURA J. BROOKS, Principal,


31 Stevens st., Stoneham.


$1,000


1883


Ass't


Grace J. Alexander.


34 Victoria st.


360


4


Elizabeth A. Davies,


37 Meacham st.


650


1893


4


Minnie S. Turner,


153 Lowell st.


650


1885,


3


A. L. Brown,


281 Summer st.


650


1885


3


Mary E. Lacy.


63 Cherry st.


650


1890


2


Amy W. Freeman,


65 Sycamore st.


600


1899


2


Alice E. Morang.


162 Lowell st.


500


1


Florence M. Hamlin,


128 Orchard st.


650


1889


1


Alice A. Beckwith,


13 Brastow ave.


650


1897


9


GEORGE E. NICHOLS, Master,


26 Loring st.


$1,900


1877


9


M. Alice Paul,


122 Orchard st.


725


1879


9


S. Adelaide Blood,


Washington st., Ayer.


700


1882


8


Phœbe A. Mathews,


34 Bow st.


650


1897


7


Cora B. Wheeler,


39 Chester st.


650


1896


8,7


Grace M. Clark,


10 Vernon st., West Medford.


650


1893


6


Jennie C. Frazier,


56 River st., Boston.


650


1887


5


Sarah E. Pray,


28 Quincy st.


650


1878


5


Mary H. Joyce,


76 Boston st.


650


1891


4


Mary E. Cunningham,


96 Orchard st.


650


1899


3


Alice T. McNamara,


34 Newbury st., Boston.


650


1895


2


Jane M. Taaffe,


159 Morrison ave.


650


1888


1


Katherine E. Hourahan,


12 Grove st.


650


1892


1


Clara G. Hegan,


100 School st.


500


1897


5


Susie L Luce,


25 Greene st.


. €50


1846.


4,5


Grace T. Merritt,


281 Suminer st.


600


1900


GEORGE W. DURELL.


BURNS.


HIGHLAND.


53 Laurel st.


MARTIN W. CARR.


Harriette C. Baker,


MORSE.


238


ANNUAL REPORTS.


TABLE 29 .- Teachers in Service December, 1900 .- Concluded.


Grade.


NAME.


Residence.


Salary.


Beginning of Service.


WM. H. HODGKINS.


-9


ARTHUR L. DOE, Master,


86 Chandler st.


$1,900


1896


9


Alice M. Winslow,


33 Wallace st.


725


1896


8-7


Edith W. Emerson,


Arlington.


650


1896


7


Alice S. Hall,


Arlington.


650


1896


6


Mrs. Gertrude W. Leighton,


20 Chapel st.


650


1896


6


Berthe M. Mason,


39 Burnside ave.


650


1894


5


Flora A. Burgess,


183 Ash st., Waltham.


650


1894


5


Mrs. N. Agnes White,


53 Chester st.


650


1896


4


Helen A. Wooster,


17 Willow ave.


650


1898


3


Katherine M. Fox,


Stoneham.


650


1896


2


Ida May Pettee,


21 Cottage ave.


650


1899


2


Grace H. Morse,


58 Bow st.


650


1900


1


Mrs. Marion I. Noyes,


16 Winter st.


650


1896


1


Almena J. Mansir,


77 Albion st.


600


1899


4


MAY E. SMALL, Principal,


122 Orchard st.


$725


1900


3


Charlotte F. Mott,


86 Charles st., Boston.


650


1886


2


Martha A. Jencks,


2 Kenwood st.


650


1899


1


Eliza H. Lunt,


50 Curtis st.


650


1890


SPECIAL TEACHERS.


MUSIC.


·9-7 6-1


S. Henry Hadley, 4 days,


$1,500


1869


60 Bow st.


900


1898


9-1


Mary L. Patrick,


Newtonville.


$1,000


1895


8-5


Mary L. Boyd,


$650


1888


85


Emma J. Ellis,


54 Marshall st ..


600


1900


8-5


Bertha M. Paul,


23 Monmouth st.


500


1900


PENMANSHIP.


9-1


Wm. A. Whitehouse,


94 Summer st.


$1,200


1895


LINCOLN.


46 Pearl st.


Charlotte D. Lawton, 5 days,


DRAWING.


SEWING.


239


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.


TABLE 30. - OFFICERS IN SERVICE DECEMBER, 1900.


NAME.


Residence.


Salary.


Beginning of


Service.


SUPERINTENDENT.


Gordon A. Southworth,


40 Greenville st.


$3,000


1893


CLERK.


Eleanor L. Hannay,


Hotel Hamlet.


$650


1897


TRUANT OFFICERS.


Lemuel H. Snow, Jairus Mann,


81 Benton road.


$1,100


80 Porter st.


50


1886 1872


TABLE 31. - SCHOOL JANITORS, DECEMBER, 1900.


SCHOOL.


Name.


Residence.


Salary.


Latin High, S


Joseph Young.


51 Oxford St.


$1,000 00


English High, S


H. B. Sellon.


9 Stickney Ave.


1,200 00


Prescott, S, 12


George A. McGonnigle.


50) Pearl St.


830 00


Edgerly. S, 12


David G. Marston.


20 Everett Ave.


830 00


Davis. F. 4.


N. L. Pennock.


54 Putnam St.


320 00


Bell, S, 12 .


F. S. Dickinson.


1 Putnam St.


830 00


Cummings, F, 4 Knapp, S, 13


John C. Sampson.


64 Flint St.


830 00


Pope, F. 12


Hiram A. Turner.


16 Gibbens St.


830 00


Prosp. Hill, F, 6


Edward T. Peterson.


18 Stone Ave.


420 00


Bennett, St., 4


Alfred Shiner.


Schoolhouse.


165 00


Jackson, St., 4 .


James L. Whitaker.


146-R Sycamore St.


720 00


John H. Kelley.


163 Hudson St.


900 00


Glines, S, 14


Roy C. Burckes.


249 School St.


950 00


Bingham. S. 8


John F. O'Brien.


5 Richardson St.


500 00


Morse, F, 12


Charles Gale.


10 Brastow Ave.


830 00


Durell, S, 4 .


Albert C. Taylor.


17 Shawmut St.


480 00


Burns, S, 4


Charles Weston.


23 Conwell St.


500 00


Highland, F. 12


E. P. Cook.


241 Elm St.


770 00


Lincoln, S, 4


W. B. Higgins.


82 School St.


480 00


Hodgkins, S, 12


Andrew B. Colesworthy.


Simpson Ave.


890 00


Hanscom S, 6 .


Albert Gilman.


66 Glen St.


480 00


Carr. S, 15 .


James W. Rich.


206 Highland Ave.


1,080 00


Perry, S, 6


John F. Richardson. ·


11 Grove St.


600 00


.


William T. Higgins.


82 School St.


315 00


Alfred F. Shiner.


Schoolhouse.


174 00


Forster, S, 13


.


.


Buildings heated by steam are marked "S," by furnace " F," by stove " St." The numbers show the number of rooms.


The high schools are heated by a single plant in Latin building.


PUBLIC LIBRARY.


BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS


OF THE SOMERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1900-


Trustees.


CHARLES A. WEST. EDWARD C. BOOTH, M. D. GEORGE W. PERKINS. JOHN B. VIALL.


J. FRANKJWELLINGTON. CHARLES W. SAWYER. HOWARD D. MOORE. IRVING G. HALL. EDWARD GLINES.


Officers.


CHARLES A. WEST


President.


SAM WALTER FOSS .


.


Secretary ..


Committees.


Building and Grounds - Viall, Perkins, and Hall.


Administration - Wellington, Sawyer. and Glines.


Books and Catalogues - West, Viall, Booth, Wellington, Moore, and Sawyer. Finance - Perkins, Hall, and Glines.


Librarian. SAM WALTER FOSS.


Assistant Librarian. ADELE SMITH.


Cataloguer. F. MABEL NORCROSS.


Assistant Cataloguer. ESTHER M. MAYHEW.


Children's Librarian.


ANNA L. STONE.


School Librarian.


EDITH B. HAYES.


Reference and Art Librarian. MABEL E. BUNKER.


MARY J. WARREN. MARY S. WOODMAN. FLORENCE D. HURTER. BESSIE L. DUDDY.


Assistants.


MARY L. SIMAS. F. EDWARD KAULA. AUBREY A. HILLS. CHARLES F. SHEPARD, GARDNER STACY.


Janitor.


CHARLES A. SOUTHWICK.


SOMERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.


PUBLIC LIBRARY ACCOUNT.


Receipts and Expenditures for 1900.


CREDIT.


$ 02


Balance from 1899


3,257 45


Dog tax . ·


50 00


Annual appropriation


462 55


Fines, etc.


16 00


Library bureau


1 00


Charles Scribner's Sons


Total


DEBIT.


Books and periodicals


$4,116 62


Binding


136 00


Printing


53 80


Salaries


158 40


Boxes


21 38


Repairs


22 15


Express


298 86


Electric lights


53 40


Gas


4 80


Water


4 36


Typewriter


90 00


Postage


20 00


Telephone


49 32


Labor


69 84


Insurance


254 65


Supplies


73 79


Pictures


88 79


Disbursements


51 50


Balance carried to 1901


42 92


Total


$13,787 02


Isaac Pitman Poetry Fund.


CREDIT.


Balance from 1899


$40 57


Income for 1900


50 00


Total


$90 57


DEBIT.


Books of poetry purchased in 1900


$50 68


Balance carried to 1901


39 89


Total


$90 57


Cards


318 51


Stationery


6,924 80


Agencies


933 13


Income on Pitman fund


10,000 00


$13,787 02


REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES.


"To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :-


Gentlemen,-The twenty-eighth annual report of the Trus- tees of the Public Library is herewith respectfully submitted.


The past year has been memorable in the history of the Library because of its enlarged facilities and the phenomenal increase in circulation of books for home use, as well as the constantly growing attendance in the children's department and the opening of the Library every evening to the public.


Much of this material advancement has been made possible by the liberal appropriation for the enlargement of the building, and the Trustees are gratified that with the increased opportuni- ities have come increased use, which testifies to the intelligent and wise public spirit which governs our civic administration, for in no way can the mental and moral condition of a com- munity be more effectually raised than by encouraging the use of the Public Library.


Early in the year the experiment was tried of opening the Library every week day evening until nine o'clock, looking for- ward to a possible small attendance during the summer months. The opportunity affording access to the reading rooms, where could be found the leading newspapers and periodicals, was quickly appreciated, and the attendance increased to such an ex- tent that it was found necessary to make this regulation perma- nent. This room is often crowded, and the Trustees look for- ward with apprehension to the time when the present facilities will be found entirely inadequate.


The popularity of the new room for the use of the children is evidenced by its already crowded condition at certain hours, notably during the late afternoon and on Sundays. The at- tendance of the children has far exceeded the most sanguine ex- pectations, and if their needs and desires are to be gratified, as they certainly should be, an immediate purchase of juvenile books must be made. Can the money of the city be more wisely or judiciously expended than by giving these young children ac- cess to such books as shall supplement the education furnished them in the public schools?


The most pressing need at the present time is the com- pletion of the new wing, which should be suitably furnished with stacks in keeping with those now in use. The cost of the re- quired furniture and fittings is estimated at approximately $6,500.


243


PUBLIC LIBRARY.


The work which the Library is now doing should be ex- tended and enlarged as contemplated, and no time should be lost in placing this room in condition for immediate use.


The tendency of the prominent libraries to-day is to bring the people into closer relations with the books themselves, and where the experiment has been tried of permitting free access to the stacks, it has proved most helpful. It is the desire of this board to furnish the same facility for the free examination of books and periodicals as can be enjoyed in a private library or a book store. Where this privilege has been granted, an in- creased attendance is apparent at once. While the Library ex- ists to supply the demands of the people, it should also cultivate a desire for good literature, and by permitting a free inspection of the books, many valuable, though comparatively unknown, vol- umes are brought into circulation.


The Trustees are indebted to Superintendent Southworth for many kindnesses, as shown by his interest in the Library and his hearty co-operation in bringing its advantages to the atten- tion of the scholars. The Public Library is an able adjunct to the public school system, and supplements the work of the teacher to a marked degree.


The circulation of books for home use has very materially increased during the past year, and this Library retains the en- viable position of being second only in the state to the city of Boston in number of volumes circulated.


The musical department, which was established last year, has been acceptably received, and the increase in the circulation of musical literature has been marked.


A growing desire for a closer and better knowledge of works of art and all pertaining has encouraged an extension of the art department, which has already a valuable nucleus. A collection of photographs of the old masters has recently been purchased, which have been suitably mounted and will shortly be ready for circulation in portfolio form. It is planned to further materially increase the usefulness of this department during the coming year.


The Trustees are again privileged to acknowledge the beneficence of Mrs. Harriet Minot Laughlin, who has made a further donation to the Isaac Pitman fund of the munificent sum of four thousand dollars, the income of which is to be expended by the Trustees in the purchase of works of art. This bountiful donation is greatly prized and appreciated, and it is fondly hoped that it may prove to be only the forerunner of still further bene- factions.


Notwithstanding the large purchase of books during the past year, we are unable to answer the demands of the public for the prominent works of the day, which is a source of much an- noyance to the Librarian and his assistants. In consequence of the inability on the part of the Library to satisfy the people, we


244


ANNUAL REPORTS.


have seen a growing number of book clubs and circulating li- braries, whose business comes largely from our card holders. This is, indeed, unfortunate, as the scope of the Library should include all demands of the reading public if its sacred province is to be maintained. This proud position can only be secured by liberal appropriations judiciously expended.


Those not familiar with the Library and the work it is doing can have but a slight idea of the labor and responsibility resting upon the Librarian and his assistants during this period of re- organization in order to successfully meet the requirements of the people. It is a pleasure to note the great interest taken by our Librarian and the hearty zeal and labor which is shown by the increased and still increasing circulation and attendance. The assistants are universally courteous and attentive, and a cor- dial spirit of co-operation is everywhere manifest.


CHARLES A. WEST, President.


December 31, 1900.


-


DELIVERY ROOM.


REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.


To the Trustees of the Somerville Public Library :-


I herewith submit the Librarian's twenty-eighth annual report.


The year just closing has been an epochal one in the history of the Public Library. The completion of the new annex has enabled the Library to greatly expand its work along the lines of progressive activity, and to fulfill some, at least, of modern library demands. The year has begun a new epoch in the his- tory of the Library, an epoch of growth, and of wider develop- ment in all departments. The year has been successful in many ways, as will be seen by the following statement in detail relative to the various departments :-


The Cataloguing Department.


The cataloguing department, under the supervision of Miss F. Mabel Norcross, in addition to its regular work, has been occupied upon the new card catalogue. This really formidable undertaking is now nearing completion. All the available help of the Library have now been engaged upon this task for a period of about two years and a half during all their available time. The work is now completed with the exception of the departments of Religion and Philosophy. In a matter of this kind it is dangerous to make specific predictions, but it is prob- able the work will be entirely completed within a period of three months. This catalogue, though not complete, has been used by the public for several months. It is housed in an elegant and well-made case, easy of access, in the delivery room. The books are catalogued under author, title, and subject, with copious cross references. It has been the cataloguer's aim to reduce the diffi- culties of finding a given book to the minimum. This new card catalogue is of incalculable aid to the patrons of the Library, and is greatly appreciated by the public.


A card catalogue, alphabetically arranged, is in most re- spects the ideal catalogue. But it is not portable. It must be consulted, if it is consulted at all, at the central library, and this is such a barrier to its use that many citizens cannot make it available at all. The making of a complete printed catalogue for a library of the present size of ours would involve great labor and an impossible expense. The most practicable thing to do is, perhaps, to print special lists from time to time of the books in our various departments. During the coming year a list of our juvenile books should be thus printed. These lists should be distributed through the schools in considerable numbers. There is already a great call for such a list, which we have no means of supplying. If the expense is not too great, a complete list of our works of fiction, purchased since 1895, the date of our last


246


ANNUAL REPORTS ..


printed catalogue, should also be prepared. The work of cata- loguing a library is a work that is never completed; and in a growing library it is a work that can never be in a condition en- tirely satisfactory to the public. The more rapidly a library grows, the more unsatisfactory must be this condition. It is the penalty paid to progress. By the frequent publication of new special lists we should endeavor to reduce these unsatisfactory features to the minimum.


Below are the statistics of the books withdrawn from the Library, and the. books added to the Library, and the books bound by the Library during the year :--


Books Withdrawn.


Number of books worn out .


563


66 66 lost by general readers


10


in schools


17


burned on account of infectious exposure . 18


Total number withdrawn


608


Total number of books withdrawn to January, 1900 .


3,992


66


during 1900


608


Total


4,600


Books Added.


Accession number, January 1, 1900


47,423


January 1, 1901 52,672


Total number of books added during 1900 .


5,249


Books new to the library


2,916


Duplicates


2,333


Total number withdrawn


4,600


Total number of books in the library


48,072


Binding.


Volumes rebound


1,900


Periodicals bound


207


Paper-covered books bound


34


Pamphlets


14


Total


2,155


The Reference and Art Department.


The Reference and Art Department, under the supervision of Miss Mabel E. Bunker, has made a steady progress. The reference room in the Library, in addition to its use by the gen- eral public, is coming to be used by all the pupils of the schools much as a college library is used by the students of a college. The Library and the schools are two co-ordinate branches of one common system of education, and it is the aim of the Library through its reference department to supply all the sup- plementary aid that the scholars of the public schools demand.


Below is given the statistics of attendance in the reference room during the different months of the year 1900 :-


.


247


PUBLIC LIBRARY.


2,695


January


2,675


March


2,783


April


4,005


May


1,836


July (periodicals removed)


966


August


256


September


1,513


October


2,369


November


1,889


December


2,290


Total


25,907


It will be seen by the above figures that when the periodicals were taken from the reading room last July the attendance im- mediately dropped to a low point. Since then the attendance has, however, rapidly increased, and is already approaching the average that prevailed when the room was a reading room and reference room combined.


The Art Department of the Library is as yet in its infancy. Our collection of art books is a promiscuous and somewhat haphazard one, containing many works of real value and some of comparative worthlessness. It will form a substantial nucleus, however, for better things. There has been of late a. very rapid development of the artistic sentiment in the com- munity. This is due largely to the instruction given the pupils. in the public schools, the study along these lines fostered by the. women's clubs, and the increased attention given to these mat- ters by the special magazines devoted to such topics, as well as by general magazines and periodicals. There is a very general and rapid art taste developing. It is needless to say that in this movement the Public Library should be a leader. Art books and art works of all kinds are expensive, and for this very reason they are usually beyond the reach of private purchase and are accessible only through the public library to most of our people. We are expected to have them, as we are expected to have the expensive books of reference. The time has arrived when this altogether natural expectation on the part of the public should be gratified. It is fortunate that we shall be able to satisfy this; need, to a degree at least, through the generous gift of four thousand dollars lately donated the Library by Harriet Minot Laughlin, of Boston. We have already purchased one hundred and fifteen well mounted photographs of many of the master- pieces of the world's great artists. These will be placed in port- folios especially designed for the purpose, and are an excellent addition to the art equipment of the Library. This selection was made by Miss Mary L. Patrick, supervisor of drawing in the public schools, to whom we owe a debt of thanks for her trained services. These portfolios will be given out on readers' cards the same as books.




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.