USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1901 > Part 20
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650
1898
9
GEORGE M. WADSWORTH, Master,
23 Munroe st.
$1,900
1891
9
Florence A. Chaney,
Boston.
725
1892
8
Harriet M. Clark,
10 Vernon st., West Medford.
650
1893
7
Alice I. Norcross,
26 Russell ave., Watertown.
650
1885
7
Mildred A. Peck,
21 Hillside road, Medford.
650
1901
6
Blanche G. North,
8 High st.
650
1893
6
Minnie A. Blood,
10 Putnam st.
650
1897
5
Lizzie W. Parkhurst,
22 Highland ave.
650
1885
5
Susan G. Meldrum,
57 Boston st.
650
1896
4
Annie G. Sheridan,
84 Prospect st.
650
1886
3
Lillian C. Albee,
650
1888
2
Florence E. Locke,
650
1898
1
Ella M. Robinson,
18 Stickney ave.
650
1899
4
ANNIE E. MCCARTY, Principal.
18 Quincy st.
$775
1880
4
Frances A. Wilder,
67 Columbus ave.
700
1874
3
Kathryn C. Connolly,
18 Quincy st.
650
1897
3
Isadore E. Taylor,
36 Flint st.
650
1883
2
Kate L. Wheeler,
39 Chester st.
650
1897
1
Sarah I. Teague,
454-A Medford st.
650
1895
9
HARLAN P. KNIGHT, Master,
37 Stone ave.
$1.800
1897
9
Alice L. Davis,
24 Walnut st.
725
1895
20 Spring Hill ter.
650
1889
7
Ella N. Jones,
60 Vinal ave.
650
1902
7
Grace E. Weeks,
23 Putnam st.
650
1899
6
Mabel T. Totman,
12 Sanborn ave.
650
1892
6
Maribelle Curtis,
23 Putnam st.
650
1895
5
Emma F. Schuch,
25 Tufts st.
650
1874
5
Elizabeth M. Collins,
75 Franklin st., Melrose.
650
1901
4
Ella H. Bucknam,
10 Putnam st. 96 Glen st.
650
1897
3
Florence S. Hartshorn,
650
1900
2
Martha E. Daniels,
93 Concord ave.
650
1891
1
E. Lorette Schuch,
25 Tufts st.
650
1882
5
Mrs. M. B. McKusick,
Florence M. Marshall,
103 Jason st., Arlington.
650
1899
10 Kent st.
3,2 1
M. Helen Milner,
Erminnie A. French,
CHARLES G. POPE.
PROSPECT HILL.
LUTHER V. BELL.
Nellie S. Dickey,
42 Walnut st.
9 Prospect Hill ave.
254
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Table 29 .- Teachers in Service January, 1902 .- Continued.
Grade.
NAME.
Residence.
Salary.
Beginning
of Service.
4
LYDIA J. PAGE, Principal,
21 Webster ave.
$725
1869
3
Fannie L. Gwynne,
65 School st.
650
1886
2
Angeline Cann,
Hotel Woodbridge.
650
1897
1
Elizabeth L. Hersey,
16 Appleton st., Boston.
650
1897
EDGERLY.
9 9
Mrs. Lina A. Hooper,
14 Stickney ave.
725
1898
7,8 8
Mrs. E. M. Wheelock,
47 Washington st., Malden.
650
1901
7
Mary E. Richardson,
224 Broadway.
650
1893
6
Mabel C. Mansfield,
224 Broadway.
650
1893
6
Isabelle M. Gray,
23 Webster st
650
1897
5
Edith M. Snell,
4 Vine st. Melrose.
650
1900
5
Mary E. Coyle,
24 Columbia st., Quincy.
650
1898
4
J. Louise Smith,
36 Hamilton ave., Lynn.
650
1896
3
Lillian Nealley,
109 Glen st.
650
1882
2
Alice W. Cunningham,
116 Pearl st.
650
1901
1
Martha M. Power,
37 Gleason st., West Medford.
650
1891
JACOB T. GLINES.
181 Central st.
$1,900
1878
9
Mary E. Stiles,
181 Central st.
725
1883
8
Mary G. Woodman,
32 Summer 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,
220 School st.
650
1891
5
M. Frances Guptill,
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,
650
1891
1,2
Carrie Armitage,
57 Madison st.
650
1899
1
Belle J. Tifft,
201 School st.
650
1892
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,
650
1896
7
Jessie M. Lockwood,
57 Madison st.
650
1900
7
Jane Batson,
220 School st.
650
1900
7
Mrs. Lucetta Knowles,
35 College ave., Medford.
650
1901
6
Elizabeth F. Clement,
29 Kidder ave.
650
1884
6
Mary C. Strange,
Stoneham.
650
1899
6
Lucy K. Hatch,
10 Ames st.
650
1892
5
A. Gertrude Deane,
14 Stickney ave.
650
1899
5
Jo Winslow King,
170 Central st.
650
1899
4
Elizabeth S. Brown,
72 College ave.
650
1897
5, 4
May I. Bradish.
331 Salem st., Medford.
650
1899
4
Mabel G. Delano,
108 Cross st.
650
1901
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,
410 Medford st.
650
1896
1
Grace Shorey,
23 Forster st.
650
1892
1
Cora J. Demond,
The Prescott, Everett,
650
1900
CHARLES E. BRAINARD, Master,
113 Glen st.
$1,900
1889
Annie L. Dimpsey,
13 Arlington st.
650
1891
9
MARY E. NORTHUP, Master,
49 Hudson st.
2
Flora B. Rice,
201 School st.
650
1895
Irena S. Nightingale,
14 Court st., Arlington.
700
1895
37 Madison st.
56-A Pinckney st.
FORSTER.
CUMMINGS.
255
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
Table 29 .- Teachers in Service January, 1902 .- Continued.
Grade.
NAME.
Residence.
Salary.
Beginning
of Service.
5 Ass't
HARRY F. HATHAWAY, Principal,
31 Vinal ave.
$1,100
1890
4
Elizabeth J. O'Neil,
505 Broadway.
650
1894
3
Harriet F. Ward,
57 Madison st.
650
1895
3
Mabel E. Perry,
187 Central st.
650
1896
2
Beatrice Kendall,
500
1900
2
Rose O'Loughlin,
650
1896
1
Nellie R. Bray,
11 Bradley st.
650
1898
1
Mabel E. Mansir,
77 Albion st.
650
1891
MORSE.
9
MINA J. WENDELL, Master,
211-A Summer st.
$1,900
1882
9 8
P. S. Downes,
17 Bradford ter., Everett.
650
1872
7,8 7
L. Elizabeth Hallowell, Lennie W. Bartlett,
650
1893
6
Anna E. Sawyer,
650
1872
5
Kara M. Johnson,
650
1897
6
Lizzie E. Hill,
650
1891
4
Anna C. Damon,
650
1879
3
Agnes C. Rice,
20 Spring Hill Terrace.
650
1900
3.2
Ella P. McLeod,
650
1888
2
Ardelle Abbott,
71 Craigie st.
650
1897
1
Alice M. Emerson,
146 Highland ave.
650
1891
1
Grace Russell,
1323 Broadway.
650
1900
MARTIN W. CARR.
Watertown.
$1,900
1898
Anne E. Bragdon,
21 Harvard st.
725
1898
10 Cambria st.
650
1900
7
Jennie E. Sutherland,
22 Pleasant st., Salem.
650
1898
7
Harriet A Hills,
Hillside pk.
650
1874
6
Marie T. Smith,
650
1898
6
Marion P. Crawford,
650
1897
5
Susie L. Luce,
8 Walter ter.
€50
1896
5
Mary A. Haley,
117 Summer st.
650.
1867
3, 4
Grace T. Merritt,
281 Suminer st.
650
1900
4
Mabel A. Mann,
88 Chelsea st., Everett.
650
1898
3
Florence B. Howland,
39 Boston st.
650
1897
2
Elizabeth S. Foster,
53 Laurel st.
650
1895
1
Ethel F. Morang,
162 Lowell st.
650
1898
1
Gertrude Friend,
33 Wallace st.
650
1893
Ass't
Annie B. Russell,
45 Russell st.
425
1901
4
NORA F. BYARD, Principal,
248 Summer st.
$725
1884
3
Maud M. Brackett,
63 Inman 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
Margaret D. Jack,
112 Perkins st.
400
1899
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
2
Mary E Lacy,
63 Cherry st.
650
1890
1
Alice E. Morang.
162 Lowell st.
600
1899
1
Florence M. Hamlin,
128 Orchard st.
650
1889
9 9 9,8 8
Alice E. Jones,
53 Laurel st.
725
1897
88 Oxford st.
650
1901
99 Summer st.
26 Bow st.
22 Rutland sq., Boston.
53 Laurel st.
CHARLES G. HAM, Master,
Jane W. Leeman,
53 Laurel st.
650
1901
Mary E. Barnes,
33 Chester st.
53 Laurel st.
GEORGE W. DURELL.
BURNS.
65 Sycamore st.
600
1899
2
Amy W. Freeman,
31 Vinal ave.
400
Carrie F. Hathaway,
BINGHAM.
15 Parker st., Charlestown. Stoneham.
70 Austin st., Cambridge.
256
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Table 29 .- Teachers in Service January, 1902 .- Continued.
Grade.
NAME.
Residence.
Salary.
Beginning of Service.
BENJAMIN G. BROWN.
6
ANNIE G. SMITH, Principal,
67 Washington st., Malden.
$775
1901
5
Grace J. Alexander,
34 Victoria st.
650
1900
4
Edna M. Proctor,
32 West Cedar st., Boston.
650
1901
3
Lucy M. Curtis,
130 Sycamore st.
650
1899
2
Alice A. Beckwith,
13 Brastow ave.
650
1897
1
Ida M. Record,
11 Forster st.
650
1899
HIGHLAND.
9
GEORGE E. NICHOLS, Master,
182 Highland ave.
$1,900
1877
9
M. Alice Paul,
122 Orchard st.
725
1879
8,9
S. Adelaide Blood,
700
1882
7
Grace M. Clark,
10 Vernon st., West Medford.
650
1893
6,7
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
Cora B. Wheeler,
39 Chester st.
650
1896
3
Alice T. McNamara,
650
1895
2
Jane M. Taaffe,
650
1888
2, 1 1
Clara G. Hegan,
100 School st.
600
1897
WM. H. HODGKINS.
9
ARTHUR L. DOE, Master,
85 Chandler st.
$1,900
1896
9
Alice M. Winslow,
33 Wallace st.
725
1896
8
Edith W. Emerson,
Arlington.
650
1896
7,8
Alice S. Hall,
Arlington.
650
1896
7
Eva E. Whiting,
212 Huntington ave., Boston.
650
1901
6
Mrs. Gertrude W. Leighton,
650
1896
6
Berthe M. Mason,
39 Burnside ave.
650
1894
5
Flora A. Burgess,
Arlington Heights.
650
1901
3, 4
Katherine M. Fox,
Stoneham.
650
1896
3
Ida May Pettee,
21 Cottage ave.
650
1899
2
Grace H. Morse,
58 Bow st.
650
1900
1
Mrs. Marion I. Noyes,
15 Park ave.
650
1896
1
Almena J. Mansir,
77 Albion st.
650
1899
Ass't
Maude C. Valentine,
1098 Broadway.
200
1901
LINCOLN.
4
MAY E. SMALL, Principal,
122 Orchard st.
$725
1900
3
Charlotte F. Mott,
154 Charles st., Boston.
650
1886
2
Eliza H. Lunt,
50 Curtis st.
650
1890
1
Martha A. Jencks,
2 Kenwood st.
650
1899
EVENING SCHOOL PRINCIPALS.
ALBERT L. WARE, Drawing.
CHARLES R. MURRAY, Prescott.
JOHN S. EMERSON, Bell.
FRED C. BALDWIN, Forster.
CHARLES E. BRAINARD, Highland.
650
1894
5
Daisy G. Adams,
84 Irving st ..
35 St. James ave., Boston. 159 Morrison ave.
650
1892
Katherine E. Hourahan,
12 Grove st.
650
1897
Phœbe A. Mathews,
34 Bow st.
Washington st., Ayer.
20 Chapel st.
257
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
Table 29 .- Teachers in Service January, 1902 .- Concluded.
Grade.
NAME.
Residence.
Salary.
Beginning of Service.
SPECIAL TEACHERS.
MUSIC.
6-1
S. Henry Hadley, Charlotte D. Lawton,
46 Pearl st. 60 Bow st.
$1,700 900
1869 1898
9-1
Mary L. Patrick,
Newtonville.
$1,000
1895
SEWING.
8-5
Mary L. Boyd,
60 Bartlett st.
$650
1888
8.5
Emma J. Ellis,
54 Marshall st.
600
1900
8-5
Bertha M. Paul,
23 Monmouth st.
600
1900
PENMANSHIP.
9-1
Wm. A. Whitehouse,
94 Summer st.
$1,200
1895
TABLE 30. - OFFICERS IN SERVICE DECEMBER, 1901.
NAME.
Residence.
Salary.
Beginning of
Service.
SUPERINTENDENT.
Gordon A. Southworth,
40 Greenville st.
$3,000
1893
CLERK.
Cora S. Fitch,
273 Medford st.
$650
1901
TRUANT OFFICERS.
Lemuel H. Snow, Jairus Mann,
81 Benton road. 80 Porter st.
$1,100 50
1886 1872
DRAWING.
258
ANNUAL REPORTS.
TABLE 31. - SCHOOL JANITORS, DECEMBER, 1901.
SCHOOL.
Name.
Residence.
Salary.
Latin High, S
Joseph Young.
51 Oxford St.
$1,000 00
English High, S
Lewis G. Keene.
54 Prescott St.
1,200 00
Prescott, S, 12 .
George A. McGunnigle.
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.
380 00
Bell, S, 12 .
F. S. Dickinson.
1 Putnam St.
830 00
Cummings, F, 4
William T. Higgins.
82 School St.
380 00
Knapp, S, 13
John C. Sampson.
11 Fountain Ave.
890 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.
55 Poplar St.
380 00
Forster, S, 13
James L. Whitaker.
146-R Sycamore St.
720 00
Forster, S, 13
John H. Kelley.
11 Richdale Ave.
900 00
Glines, S, 14
Roy C. Burckes.
249 School St.
950 00
Bingham, S, S
John F. O'Brien.
5 Richardson St.
600 00
Morse, F, 12
Charles Gale.
10 Brastow Ave.
830 00
Durell, S, 4
·
Charles Gallaway.
160 Hudson St.
600 00
Highland, F, 12
E. P. Cook.
241 Elm St.
830 00
Lincoln, S, 4
·
W. B. Higgins.
82 School St.
480 00
Hodgkins, S, 12
Andrew B. Colesworthy.
33 Simpson Ave.
890 00
Hanscom. S, 6 .
Albert Gilman.
66 Glen St.
600 00
Carr, S, 15 .
·
James W. Rich.
206 Highland Ave.
1,080 00
Perry, S. 6
·
Henry C. Bradford.
72 Boston St. 600 00
Brown, S, 6
John F. Richardson.
23 Appleton St. 600 00
Baxter, S, 6
·
William Winterbottom.
2 Bolton St.
600 00
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.
.
Albert C. Taylor.
46 Oxford St.
540 00
Burns, S, 4
.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
OF THE SOMERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1901. Trustees.
CHARLES A. WEST. JOHN B. VIALL. J. FRANK WELLINGTON. CHARLES S. SOULE.
HOWARD D. MOORE. IRVING G. HALL. FREDERICK W. PARKER. EDWARD C. BOOTH, M. D.
GEORGE W. PERKINS.
Officers.
CHARLES A. WEST
President.
SAM WALTER FOSS .
Secretary.
Committees.
Building and Grounds - Viall, Perkins, and Hall. Administration - Wellington, Soule, and Parker.
Books and Catalogues - West, Viall, Booth, Wellington, Moore, and Hall.
Finance - Perkins, Hall, and Parker.
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.
NELLIE M. WHIPPLE. CHARLES F. SHEPARD. GARDNER STACY. DAVID COUNTWAY. JOSEPH STORY.
Janitor.
CHARLES A. SOUTHWICK.
PUBLIC LIBRARY ACCOUNT.
Receipts and Expenditures for 1901.
CREDIT.
Balance from 1900
$3 03
Dog tax .
2,952 60
Annual appropriation
14,000 00
Fines, etc.
421 98
J. O. Hayden (dog tax)
10 00
Dodd, Mead, & Co.
$ 40
Total
DEBIT.
Books and periodicals
$5,650 69
Binding
1,454 16
Cards
141 65
Printing
407 90
Stationery
61 05
Salaries
8,183 88.
Agencies
191 66
Repairs
28 21
Express
357 31
Postage
39 08
Telephone
88 45
Labor
75 82
Pictures
35 95
Disbursements
90 27
Ice
36 10
Hall
15 00
Supplies
24 74
Premium on West End Railway bonds
287 50
Balance carried to 1902
.
221 59
Total
$17,391 01
Isaac Pitman Poetry Fund.
CREDIT.
Balance from 1900
$39 89
Interest for 1901
54 86
Coupon
20 00
Total
$114 75
DEBIT.
Books of poetry purchased in 1901
$28 53
Accrued Interest on Bonds purchased .
58
Balance carried to 1902 .
85 64
Total
$114 75
Isaac Pitman Art Fund.
CREDIT.
Interest from October to February
$55 56
Coupon
80 00
Total
$135 56
DEBIT.
Art Works purchased in 1901
$114 45
Accrued Interest on Bonds purchased
2 20
Balance carried to 1902
18 91
Total
$135 56
$17,391 01
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES.
To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :-
Gentlemen,-The twenty-ninth annual report of the Trustees of the Public Library is herewith respectfully submitted.
It is with mingled feelings of pleasure and satisfaction that vour Board are able to report that the Library has continued dur- ing the past year to serve our citizens with satisfaction and profit, and has afforded to them increasing privileges and oppor- tunities which have not hitherto been available.
The ever present alertness and watchfulness on the part of our very efficient Librarian have resulted in the opening of new avenues by which our readers and patrons have been able to take advantage of the opportunities furnished by the facilities at hand, and to which attention had not previously been drawn. After three years of diligent and painstaking labor on the part of the cataloguer and her assistants, the card catalogue has been com- pleted. In addition, there has been placed in the agency at West Somerville a nearly complete card catalogue of books added to the library since 1895. This has proved to be a great con- venience to the residents of this section, living as they do at a distance.
During the past year, owing to a liberal appropriation by the city government, the new stack room, giving an added capacity for over 40,000 books, has been fully furnished and will certainly prove a valuable addition to the facilities for accom- modating the public. The completion of this new room, which has been so long anticipated, has necessitated the moving and rearranging of the entire collection of books with the end in view of giving the public free access to the entire circulating contents of the Library. The details for this radical departure in the management have now been completed, and at the beginning of the new year our citizens can examine the books at hand with the same freedom that they can in their own homes. It is antici- pated that this privilege will be appreciated, and a largely in- creased circulation will become apparent at once.
The opportunities afforded in the Children's Room for free access to all juvenile works has been a source of great pleasure to them, and has materially tended to increase the circulation of books for home use in this department. An increased interest is also shown in the books and periodicals which are read and ex- amined by the children at the tables. It is gratifying to note the continued prosperity of this department, particularly on Sunday
262
ANNUAL REPORTS.
afternoons, when the capacity of the room is often taxed to its utmost. The reading room adjoining, where may be found the leading dailies and weeklies, continues to be largely attended.
The Music Department has grown greatly in popularity, and no other class of books in the Library, with the exception of works of fiction, is in greater demand. A valuable collection of books pertaining to music has recently been added, for the selec- tion of which the thanks of the Board are due to Mr. S. Henry Hadley.
A close co-operation with the schools has been maintained, with the most gratifying results to teachers and scholars alike. The drawings done in our public schools have several times been on view, and these have instructed and entertained the public more than any other art exhibits of the year, and perhaps aroused more interest than all of the other exhibits combined.
An increasing demand for books at the agency at West Som- erville has been a pleasing evidence that the Library and its op- portunities are becoming more and more appreciated by our citizens. With the limited means at our command it has been a problem to formulate a plan to better serve the residents of this section. Some complaints have been received that requests for books were not filled ; this is due to an insufficient supply of cur- rent fiction. Three hundred books have been placed at this agency, which has in a great measure accommodated the people and has been appreciated.
A request has been made that a branch library and reading room shall be established in the vicinity of Davis square. This request has been referred to a special committee, and the subject is now being considered by them. Your Board fully recognize the desirability of extending such privileges, and it is perhaps needless to say that the subject will receive their careful and thoughtful consideration.
The Department of Art and the collection of poetry have re- ceived material additions during the past year from purchases made with the income received from the Isaac Pitman funds.
In consequence of the great demand for the popular books of the day, and the inability to supply a sufficient number of copies to answer all requests, it was decided to limit the use of the books in greatest demand to four days, in place of the long- established regulation of seven days. The experiment has proved successful and in a measure has been a relief. No one not connected with a library can understand how difficult it is for a card holder to obtain a popular book. As many as twenty copies of an individual work have been purchased to satisfy this demand. It is one of the most perplexing problems confronting the Librarian and his assistants.
A system of house-to-house delivery has been inaugurated, and at the present time fifteen boys are engaged in the work.
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Most of the routes covered may be considered successful, as the plan has been much favored by people who have not before patronized the Library in consequence of their inability to reach the Library, or their lack of knowledge of what was theirs for the asking. The plan has been so recently adopted, statistics are not yet available. All expenses connected with this method of dis- tribution are met entirely by the card holders, and so far to their complete satisfaction.
With the numerous changes adopted and made necessary, it may be fairly considered that the Library has passed through a period of transition, and the changes and improvements have so far resulted satisfactorily.
The Trustees feel warranted in looking forward to the new year with every prospect of growth and prosperity.
CHARLES A. WEST, President.
December 31, 1901.
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.
To the Trustees of the Somerville Public Library :-
I herewith submit the Librarian's twenty-ninth annual report. Below is a statement in detail relative to the various departments :-
The Cataloguing Department.
The Cataloguing Department, under the supervision of Miss F. Mabel Norcross, is confronted with a steadily increasing amount of regular work each year. Last May, after the expira- tion of three years' work, our new card catalogue was com- pleted. This statement, of course, is meant only in a relative sense, for a card catalogue is never finished. Much work will still continue to be put into this catalogue from time to time. A library is never thoroughly catalogued until all the contents of all its books are practically available to the public through its card catalogue. Many of the contents of valuable books remain unknown, even when the books are catalogued under subject, author, and title. The work of cataloguing the contents of im- portant books is one that might occupy much of the attention of our Cataloguing Department if there were sufficient time for such work. This is a need that has been felt in many libraries for a long time. It seems that there will soon be a possible oppor- tunity for work of this nature to be done. The National Library of Congress is perfecting a project of co-operative cataloguing which, when carried into actual operation, will enable the cata- loguer to devote much time that is otherwise employed to this necessary work. The cards of all current copyrighted books, and in fact most other works, are printed by the Library of Congress, and will be supplied to libraries at a price only slightly in excess of cost. When the cataloguer is thus relieved of the drudgery of this clerical work, much more time and attention can be bestowed upon a systematic building-up of a comprehen- sive and exhaustive catalogue.
During the past year our old card catalogue has been trans- ferred to West Somerville Agency, with Mr. James Wilson at Davis square. Since its removal to this Agency, this catalogue has been brought up to date, and it is now an author, title, and subject catalogue of all the books in the Library published since 1895, with the exception of juvenile books from 1895 to 1899. This catalogue is greatly appreciated by the West Somerville community, and I wish that similar catalogues might be gradu- ally prepared for our other agencies. This catalogue as at present housed is in an awkward and inconvenient case of heavy
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drawers, and badly overcrowded. A moderate-priced cabinet with more portable trays should be purchased at an early date.
A compact, compendious list of selected books for the people who find it inconvenient to visit the Library is one of our pressing needs. A list of this sort is something that will be much needed by our delivery boys, if this delivery system attains to the dimensions which we hope for it. Such a list should con- tain the best fiction and the books most in demand in the other various classes of the Library. I should advocate bringing this list out as cheaply as possible, arranged by classes for conven- ience of reference. It should be given away only to actual users of the library, or sold for a nominal sum.
In addition to our general card catalogue, a complete cata- logue of the books in the Reference Department has been finished, and is housed in a small cabinet in the Reference Room. The card catalogue for the Children's Room, upon which we have been at work for many months, is now very near completion. The Library now, as far as its card catalogue system is con- cerned, is very well equipped.
The list for the monthly bulletins each month is prepared by the cataloguer. Since September these bulletins have been printed by the Library Bulletin Company, of Boston, under an arrangement by which they are sent by mail directly to the homes of the people. Five hundred in addition are also printed for free distribution in the Library. This system, as far as can be learned, is very gratifying to the patrons of the Library. Much more work has been put into our bulletins of late than formerly. A compact review of many of the best books, either original or clipped from the standard critical publications, is now a feature of our bulletins.
In addition to the regular work of the Cataloguing Depart- ment, seven or eight hundred documents and pamphlets which have been in the Library a long time uncatalogued have at length been catalogued during the past few months. Miscella- neous gifts of books, reaching several hundred in number, from Charles W. Sawyer and others have also been catalogued.
Below are the statistics of books withdrawn from the Library, books added to the Library, and books bound by the Library during the year :-
Books Withdrawn.
Number of books worn out
880
66 66 66 lost by general readers
21
66
66 66 in schools 9
burned on account of infectious exposure . 24
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