Report of the city of Somerville 1901, Part 20

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 552


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1901 > Part 20


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 | Part 39


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.


263


PUBLIC LIBRARY.


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


265


PUBLIC LIBRARY.


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




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.