USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1915 > Part 14
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CADET TEACHERS.
Ethel M. Gross, 7 Lowell Circle .
$200
1915
Agnes M. Keating, 44 Tower Street
200
1915
Dorothy L. Lundgren, 50 Harrison Street
200
1915
Mary L. McKenna, 294 Lowell Street .
200
1915
Florence W. Schroeder, 268 Summer Street .
200
1915
Helen M. Farr, 8 Atherton Street
200
1915
Bessie Thorpe, 16 Park Place
200
1915
SPECIAL TEACHERS.
MUSIC.
13-7. 6-1.
James P. McVey, 103 Hammond Street, Cambridge .
$1,700
1915
Mrs. Charlotte D. Lawton, 11 East Newton Street, Boston
1,000
1898
9-1.
Clara M. Gale, 7 Westwood Road
1,100
1911
SEWING.
8-5.
Mary L. Boyd, 74 Heath Street
800
1888
8-5.
Mrs. Emma J. Ellis, 54 Marshall Street
800
1900
8-5.
Charlotte Holmes, 24 Cambria Street .
800
1913
8-5.
Jennie Williston, 3 Monmouth Street .
500
1913
9-1.
Ruth L. Whitehouse, 333 Broadway
750
1915
MANUAL TRAINING.
Harry L. Jones, Supervisor, 137 Powder House Boulevard
+200
1911
9,8.
Kathinka Fessman, 68 Warrenton Street, Boston
850
1912
9, 8.
Joseph S. Hawthorne, 18 Forster Street
1,000
1915
9,8.
Eva G. Hardy, 64 Avon Street .
850
1912
PHYSICAL INSTRUCTION
9-1.
Ernst Hermann, 9 Humboldt Street, Cambridge
1,000
1914
ATYPICAL.
Mary A. Holt, 72 Boston Street
.
850
1910
Bertha M. Martindale, 21 Highland Avenue
850
1913
*Additional to salary as Principal of Girls' Vocational School.
tAdditional to salary as Principal of Boys' Vocational School.
.
.
PENMANSHIP.
.
DRAWING.
Mary H. Brown, Supervisor, 85 Rockview St., Jamaica Plain
*200
1913
HARRY L. JONES, High
HARLAN P. KNIGHT, Master, 22 Hamilton Road
1914
199
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
TABLE 30 .- OFFICERS, ETC., IN SERVICE JANUARY, 1916.
NAME AND ADDRESS.
Salary.
SUPERINTENDENT AND SECRETARY.
Charles S. Clark, 75 Munroe Street . .
$3,500
CLERKS.
Justin W. Lovett, 29 Cambria Street
1,300
Mary A. Clark, 42 Highland Avenue
800
Mildred A. Merrill, 26 Cambria Street
650
ATTENDANCE OFFICER.
Benjamin R. Jones, 25 Loring Street .
1,350
TABLE 31 .- SCHOOL JANITORS, JANUARY, 1916.
School.
Name.
Residence.
Weekly Salary
High School, S
.
John H. Kelley
7 Madison St.
$25.00
High School, assistant
Andrew R. Burke
337 Lowell St.
14.00
High School, assistant
.
John N. Quirk
202 Somerville Ave.
14.00
High School, assistant
Jeremiah J. Sullivan
60 Newton St,
14.00
High School, fireman
Charles Hoyt
18 Trull St.
16.00
Prescott, S, 12
.
George A. McGunnigle
88 Glen St.
17.00
Hanscom, S, 10
Charles F. Rose
15 Brastow Ave.
15.00
Boys' Vocational, F, 4
George H. Clapp
35-A Franklin St.
12.00
Bennett, S, 12
.
Israel Winterbottom
46 Laurel St.
14.00
Knapp, S, 12
John H. Lane
5-A Belmont St. Everett St.
14.00
Pope, S, 12
John J. Kilty
662 Somerville Ave.
17.00 17.00
Cummings, F, 4
Lewis G. Keene
56 Prescott St.
16.00
Edgerly, S, 12 .
Charles P. Horton
22 Everett Ave.
17.00
Glines, S, 14 .
tRoy C. Burckes
249 School St.
18.25
Glines
Michael A. Mullin
16 Bowdoin St.
17.00
Forster, S, 18 .
George W. Coombs
30 Tufts St.
18.00
Forster, assistant
Jerry M. Brennan
9-A Glenwood Rd.
14.00
Bingham, S, 16
John F. O'Brien
347 Lowell St.
21.00
Carr, S, 16
.
69 Oxford St.
17.00
Proctor, S, 8
Charles T. McGrath
320 Lowell St.
14.00
Durell, S, 4
Ellsworth C. Lundgren
50 Harrison St.
12.00
Burns, S, 8
*Daniel E. Cunningham
23 Fitchburg St.
15.00
Brown, S, 10
James J. Cooper
105 Willow Ave.
15.00
Highland, S, 12
E. Parker Cook
398 Highland Ave.
16.00
Hodgkins, S, 14
Chauncey B. Phelps
25 Joseph Street
17.00
Cutler, S, 12 .
Daniel Campbell
85 Lexington Ave.
20.00
Cutler, Assistant
Walter M. Burns
23 Avon St.
14.00
Lincoln, S, 4 .
Thomas F. O'Day
134 Lowell St.
14.00
Lowe, S, 8
John F. Richardson
190 Morrison Ave.
15.00
Girls' Vocational, assistant
*George W. Hooper
166 Lowell St.
14.00
Buildings heated by steam are marked "S," by furnace "F."
The numbers show the number of rooms.
The high school is heated from the Central heating plant.
* Temporary.
Leave of absence.
467 Somerville Ave.
17.00
Baxter, S, 6
17.00
Perry, S, 6
*George B. Phillips
Bell, S, 12
William Meskill
53 Partridge Ave.
.
.
*Albert F. Rich
206 Highland Ave. 23.00
Morse, F, 12
Maurice T. Mullins
13 Fremont Ave.
15.00
High School, assistant
Michael Mullaney
John W. Cremen
.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS.
Trustees.
THOMAS M. DURELL, M. D. J. FRANK WELLINGTON. FREDERICK W. PARKER.
WILLIAM L. BARBER.
CHARLES L. NOYES, D. D.
W. DUDLEY YATES. HERBERT E. BUFFUM, M. D. GILES W. BRYANT, M. D.
DAVID H. FULTON.
Officers.
THOMAS M. DURELL, M. D.
President
J. FRANK WELLINGTON
Vice-President
DREW B. HALL
Secretary and Librarian
Committees.
Administration-Wellington, Parker, Noyes, Fulton; the President. Books and Catalogues-Barber, Yates, Buffum, Bryant; the President.
Buildings and Grounds-The President and the Vice-President.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES.
To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :---
Gentlemen,-The forty-third annual report of the trus- tees of the public library is herewith respectfully submitted ; being the report of the librarian and tables of statistics of operation.
Very respectfully, The Board of Trustees, by THOS. M. DURELL, President.
Adopted at the Annual Meeting March 7, 1916.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Central Building, Highland Avenue.
Week days, holidays excepted, 9 a. m. to 9 p. m. Sundays, reading and reference only, 3 to 6 p. m. Children's room, school days, 3 to 8 p. m .; other week days, 9 a. m. to 8 p. m.
Branches.
Week days only, holidays excepted.
WEST SOMERVILLE, 40 College Avenue-1 to 9 p. m.
Saturday, 9 a. m. to 1 p. m., also.
EAST SOMERVILLE, 153 Perkins Street, 2 to 9 p. m. UNION SQUARE, Washington Street and Bonner Avenue- 2 to 9 p. m.
SOUTH AGENCY, 518 Somerville Avenue.
THE STAFF AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1915. GRADED-PROFESSIONAL.
i
DREW B. HALL, Librarian.
LUCY B. CRAIN, Assistant Librarian, in charge of circulation, of staff personnel, and of "Central," and supervising children's work. NELLIE M. WHIPPLE, Assistant Librarian in charge of West Som- erville Branch.
Edith B. Hayes, Chief Cataloguer.
Alice G. Higgins, Special Assistant in the Children's Room.
Esther M. Mayhew, Reference Librarian.
Lucinda F. Spofford, Branch Librarian, Union Square.
Carrie L. Williams, Branch Librarian, East Somerville.
Mabel Williams, High School Librarian.
Mabel E. Bunker, Assistant Branch Librarian, West Somerville. Bessie L. Duddy, Secretary and Accounts. (Resigned June 19th.) Hazel M. Graham, Secretary and Accounts.
Helen Luitwieler, Classification and Reference.
Anna L. Stone, Cataloguing.
Mary S. Woodman, Classification.
Senior Assistants.
Susan W. Curtis, West Somerville.
Juliana Donovan, Union Square.
Nectar M. Eksergian, Cataloguing.
Ruth S. Fales, West Somerville. Rose Greenberg, East Somerville.
Ethel M. Nute, Union Square.
Esther W. Shaw, Registration and Binding. .
Helen P. Smith, Circulation.
Anna B. Truesdale, Children, West Somerville.
Elsie K. Wells, East Somerville.
Edna C. Woodbury, Children.
1
Junior Assistants.
Bertha F. Kerner. M. Hope Carpenter. Myrtle Nicholson.
203 .
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
UNGRADED-CLERICAL.
Typewriters. Marion L. Fall.
Mary Morgan.
Harold C. Fitz. Margaret T. Desmond.
Mae L. Gormley.
Pages. Lillian McGowan Hazel Moore. Raymond Morrison.
High School Attendants and Pages on Part Time.
Lawrence W. Codding Roger Estey.
Hazel Cloyes. L. Eugenia Carter.
Donald P. Geddes.
Evelyn G. Smith.
Ronald A. Moore.
Lucy M. Lannigan.
Edna D. Atwood.
Bessie Berman.
Frances E. Haggens.
Gertrude French.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.
To the Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Somer- ville :--
Gentlemen,-The forty-third annual report of the Li- brarian is herewith submitted, being that for the year 1915.
Buildings.
The increased facilities of the new Central building for comfortable and extended library use have continued to prove themselves, especially the facilities for serious reading and study. On the administrative side it is proving more economical than the old building, so that the appropriation and expenditure has not been increased. Although the new building does not necessitate an increase, a few thousand more dollars is highly desirable to meet requests for addi- tional books and more copies of those in serious demand. The wails of the children's room and staff quarters were painted in oils during the year by the building commissioner and it is his intention, we understand, to treat likewise the main floor next year. Such tinting would complete and add much to the finest building in the city.
In previous reports I have urged that proper provision be made for children at each of the branches. "Nowhere in the city's activities would a few hundreds (not thousands) of dollars do so much for the pleasure and good of the com- munity." The truth of this statement is more widely appre- ciated than ever before. If the expressions at the library desks mean anything, the people would vote overwhelm- ingly to give both adults and children a better chance by freeing adult rooms from children.
This situation is especially acute in the very small room at East Somerville, which is about the size of two large parlors ; being 17 by 35 feet. The smallness of the shelf space and seating capacity make it more extravagant to administer than any other building; the satisfaction received by the citizens less ; and the difficulty of maintaining order greater. It ought to be transferred immediately to more suitable quarters; and I think the facts as to Somerville's population, which will be had officially in the forthcoming report on the State Census of 1915, will give a basis from which to urge a new building. At Union Square, space could very easily and economically be had by removing some parti- tions and renovating the rear room of the floor which it now occupies. For a sum in the neighborhood of one thousand dollars, changes could be made which would add a space 36 by 57 feet to the room 34 by 34 feet, now available. Proper
205
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
adjustment of partitions and loan desk would make it possi- ble to serve the same number of readers comfortably in the two rooms with very little, if any, additional help.
Circulation.
The plan for extending and liberalizing the use of books was given its final form during the sunimer. In 1911 the first elements of the plan to be put into operation were a reserve system, methods of renewing books by mail, tele- phone or in person, and the extension of the number limit on non-fiction to any reasonable number. In 1912 the time limit on non-fiction was extended from a fortnight to a calendar month, and all card holders were given the privileges pre- viously enjoyed only by "specials," for the librarian believes that what is good for one person may be appreciated and properly used by all. To guard against unreasonable delay to a second user who wanted a book that was out, the right to "recall" any volume after two weeks was retained. In 1913 re-registration of borrowers, begun at the end of 1912, was largely completed; so that positive identification of the person to whom a number had been assigned is pos- sible, the "floating" cards in the hands of unauthorized per- sons were rendered useless and the legitimate card holders were properly protected in their use of the library. Prepara- tion for occupying the new building, and the actual settling in it, made the adoption of further extensions in 1913 and 1914 seem unwise. This year has seen the final extensions of number and time limits on standard fiction. (See "Rules and Regulations," Appendix F.)
Use.
The use of these facilities of buildings and books has been more widespread than ever before. Nearly five thou- sand new borrowers have added their names to the register, making a total of 23,940 names since October, 1912; of these persons 15,126 have actually used their cards within the last two years. They have taken home, actually charged to them personally from the library desks, 422,456 volumes, which does not include estimates of any deposits or room use. A test not commonly applied is the number of books actually out at any one moment; on November 9 the number of volumes so charged was 13,123, the great majority of which were for month periods, the remainder for one week loans.
Departments.
The several departments have continued their work along the lines of the last few years, The newest one, the High
206
ANNUAL REPORTS.
School Library, has increased in its influence, both as a fac- tor in the high school work and as a connecting link between that large body of 2,000 juvenile citizens and the public li- brary. The children's work at Central and the Branches has made substantial progress toward better self-control on the part of the children and better service on the part of the library in guiding reading. The influence of the moving pic- ture has become a seriously disturbing one, and its power can be appreciated when it is realized that the citizens of Somerville are paying five dollars a year each to the "movies," totaling a sum ten times as great as the amount they ap- propriate for the library.
The catalogue revision, begun nearly four years ago, is mainly completed. Straightening out the difficult lingering questions and the finding of the last book are rather slow processes. To completing the catalogues of the Branch col- lections, attention must, if possible, be given immediately.
The reference work everywhere has gained, both in quantity and in quality. As careful attention is now given to getting the right novel as to getting the right answer to a "reference" question. .
The reports of the heads of the several departments which follow, show the aims and accomplishments of the year's work in somewhat greater detail.
In General.
In the library affairs of the state, the library has been actively represented, as heretofore. The librarian has con- tinued upon the executive committee of the Massachusetts Library Club and is with some frequency consulted on library matters by librarians and trustees ; and has been requested by the Free Public Library Commission of the State several times to appear before legislative committees. The com- mittee of the club for improving children's work throughout the state has received much support from members of this staff, as chairmen of the general committee and of one of its sub-committees ; this work, which has just begun, seems to me to promise important results. Two of the branch libra- rians attended the American Library Association conference in Berkeley, California, and generous representations of the staff have been present at the three meetings of the Massa- chusetts Club.
Several important members of the staff have resigned during the year. In a staff where adjustment of person to duties and of duties to full capacity of the person are so exact as in this staff, such retirements occasion more than the ordinary re-adjustment, and are therefore to be much
207
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
regretted. The uncomfortable hours and severe conditions of library work necessitate compensation rather above the "market price." As has been urged at various times in the past two years, increases in certain grades of salary are ex- tremely desirable, if not necessary, and no more than just.
As in the past, you gentlemen have this year watched carefully over the interests of the institution, and though there have been an unusual number of matters claiming your attention, the present result, I think you must realize, is worth while.
Very respectfully, DREW B. HALL, Librarian.
December 31, 1915.
208
! 1
ANNUAL REPORTS.
EXECUTIVE REPORTS.
Staff Personnel, Juvenile Supervision, and General Circulation.
The Staff.
Four of the senior assistants have resigned this past year, two to be married, one for a business position and one on account of ill health. The Librarian's secretary, who for fifteen years had given most faithful and efficient service, resigned in June to be married. These resignations have made some changes in the assignment of responsibility and routine work necessary, but the willingness of the assistants to fill in the gaps has been most gratifying.
In January, two Somerville young women were added to the staff from the apprentice class of 1914.
During the summer and fall, temporary positions were given three Simmons graduates, two of whom would have been given regular appointments had not Brooklyn and New York offered them larger salaries.
Among the ungraded assistants, there have been many changes. Boys, who have been in the library for some time, felt the desire to get into positions which promised more to future advancement. The attendants and pages, who are girls and boys attending the high school, leave us upon grad- uating for other lines of work or higher schools. The in- creased interest among the high school students in library work has been shown by the number applying for positions, some with the idea of continuing in library work. This is partly due to the talks given by the high school librarian on the use of the library and the development of a real library in the high school building.
Two Albany students spent the month of March in the library observing and getting general practice work. A young woman from Switzerland who was anxious to learn something of libraries and library methods in this country was also given an opportunity to get some practical experi- ence in the various departments.
During October, November and December, two appren- tices were given instruction in general work. One of the young women is a college graduate and the other had served for some time as an attendant in one of the branches.
School and Children's Department.
The children's work throughout the system has increased this last year both in circulation of books and in the use of the libraries as a place for reading and reference work. The Central children's room has shown the effect of an assistant in charge who knows children and juvenile books. The cir-
209
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
culation has materially increased and the use of the room for school reference work has more than justified the expendi- ture of money for the small reference collection, but we feel the need of more books.
The problem of discipline has been given much thought and a reasonably quiet room, with seventy-five or more chil- dren at one time reading and selecting their books, is the result. We feel that a closer co-operation exists between the children and the library assistants. In general, the chil- dren show more respect for the library and are beginning to appreciate what we can do for them. This is largely due to having one or two assistants who know the books in the room and are able to interest the children in them.
At the West Somerville Branch, special attention given to the children has proved most valuable. Not only children, themselves, are constantly appealing to the children's worker for help in selecting their books but parents are more and more relying upon her for assistance in choosing books to read to their children. The work is handicapped, however, by the lack of space both for books and tables and chairs. Often, there are fifty children in the room with only twenty- eight chairs.
The East and Union Branches are devoting much time and energy to work with children and more and more have felt the need for a person who can give all of her time to them. The overcrowded condition of the rooms makes dis- cipline doubly difficult. While there is much reference work done among the school children, we feel there is a great op- portunity for more if there could be a librarian in charge of the children's work; it is impossible for one person to do full justice to both adults and children at the same time.
During the summer, a special collection of books suit- able for the use of playground teachers was kept in the Cen- tral children's room. Two assistants, one from the Central Library and one from the Union Square Branch, told stories three times a week on the playground. The carefully se- lected program of fairy tales, mythological and hero stories was prepared for these story hours. While this proved a successful experiment, it is doubtful whether the library will feel justified in taking the time and strength of assistants for this work another year at its own expense.
School visiting has been done this year by the super- visor and two other assistants. We feel that this is an im- portant part of the school work, as it gives us a closer in- sight into the needs of the teachers and an opportunity to acquaint the teachers with the resources of the library. Often, too, an opportunity is given to speak directly to a group of children about the library and books. During school
210
ANNUAL REPORTS.
hours, classes have come with their teachers both to the Central Library and the Union Square Branch for book talks and instruction in the use of books for reference. Several times, similar talks have been given in the schoolroom by assistants from the library.
At the end of the school year, we realized that hundreds of books were showing the wear and tear of the years of service and that newer titles and fresher books must be added to the school library. Funds at the disposal of the library did not permit replacing all of the books and, conse- quently, the school deposits were only twenty-five instead of forty books as in previous years.
The picture collection suitable for school circulation has enlarged and will be added to, from time to time, as the de- mand from the teachers increases. We have also sent to the schools the "available sets" from the Library Art Club.
Intermediate Work.
The intermediate work, begun last year, has progressed slowly because of the lack of time to devote to it.
At the close of the high school, when many of the boys and girls come to the public library, a librarian is assigned to it and again for two hours later in the afternoon. A small section in the book room is used for books especially suited and attractive to the older boys and girls. Lists have been compiled on "Camping and Woodcraft," "School and College." "Adventure and Adventurers" and other subjects. The in- creasing number of boys and girls who voluntarily ask for help in their book selection shows the need of a person es- pecially adapted for this work.
High School Library.
The co-operative work of the public and high school libraries has made some definite advancement this past year. The high school library is now entirely devoted to real library work, the pupils using it voluntarily from all depart- ments rather than as a part of assigned work. This has made the discipline easier and afforded a better opportunity to introduce the pupils to a wider range of literature.
The beginning of this school year, a permit system was installed allowing boys and girls to go during school hours to the public library for reference questions which could not be answered in the high school library.
High school pupils are using the public library more freely for reference work and general reading. We are hop- ing before the end of the school year to give some instruc- tion in classification and the use of simple reference books.
211
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Circulating Department.
The circulation rules have been further extended this past year, and with the exception of new fiction, the time limit of all adult books has been made one month. Each adult borrower may now have, at one time on his card, one seven-day book, one unbound periodical and any reasonable number of other books.
The time limit on all juvenile books still remains two weeks and the children are restricted. for their own use, to one juvenile fiction and one juvenile non-fiction. (Appen- dix E.)
LUCY B. CRAIN.
Reference Department.
The reference work has increased during the year 1915, especially in the use of the bound periodicals for debating material and topics of current interest.
Books have been reserved on special shelves on the fol- lowing subjects : California, Christmas, Civics, The European War, Hallowe'en, Abraham Lincoln, Social Service, Some Noted Biography, Thanksgiving, and Teachers' Training Class.
Through the special loan of reference or other restricted books, 916 volumes have been loaned.
Through the inter-library loan system, forty volumes were borrowed from the Boston Public Library.
Questions answered for the year, 1915 :-
Reference 7,009
General Information :
14,006
By telephone . 244
Total 21,259
Through the daily reference interchange with the branches 5,947 volumes have been sent to answer questions not satisfactorily handled by their collections.
To make the reference work more efficient, the follow- ing recommendations are made :-
Music Department : A title list of songs.
Literature : A complete set of the volumes indexed in "Grainger's Index to Poetry," for reference use only.
Better editions of the American and English poets.
Technical books: There has been an increase in the use of the books in the Technical department and I would recom- mend the purchase of more volumes of the following sub- jects : Engineering (Mechanical and Locomotive) ; Wireless Telegraphy; Automobiles; Stenography ; Commercial Law ; Bookkeeping and Accounting; Business Correspondence, and Salesmanship.
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