USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1915 > Part 15
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212
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Fine Arts : Books on Decoration and Design; Costumes ; Mechanical Drawing.
Vertical File: For the care and use of pamphlets, clip- pings, bulletins, programmes, lists and leaflets which have proved useful for daily information calls; in this file to be placed material to furnish the up-to-date information unavail- able in books and unindexed in magazines.
ESTHER M. MAYHEW.
Catalogue Department.
This department has handled 12,945 volumes this year. Of this number 7,215 were new books added and 5,730 were old books reclassified.
The revision of juvenile books was begun March 1st and completed in September. This meant not only the handling of 1,542 volumes, but preparing cards for each title for the book room and children's room catalogues. We have prac- tically, finished the reclassification which was begun in Sep- tember, 1912.
From January, 1914, there were two card catalogues in the book room, one of the revised books and one of the unre- vised books. In August the process of combining these was completed, making one complete catalogue of all the books in the system. This catalogue contains 136,944 cards.
Dr. E. C. Booth gave the library fifty volumes on various subjects.
EDITH B. HAYES.
The Children's Room at Central. 1
During the year 1915 the aim has been to advance the work of the children's room along two lines-first, to help the children towards a love for literature as a further step beyond the mere desire to read, and second, to create among the users of the room a greater respect for the library as a public institution with a clearly defined use to be made of it by citizens.
The first needs felt for accomplishing these objects were a better collection of books and a better knowledge, on the part of the assistants, of the contents of the books. Both are a necessary equipment for improving the quality of the circulation and in regulating discipline.
During the year, 1,447 books were added to the chil- dren's room with especial attention to building up the ref- erence collection, which now numbers 202 volumes, and to making more complete the classes of science, nature study, useful arts, biography, history and geography. In fiction, titles have been replaced which kept breadth of interest and
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PUBLIC LIBRARY.
variety for the collection while only those new stories have been added which stood the test of critical reading. The total number of volumes, obtained by actual count of the revised shelf list in December, is 4,917.
From December, 1914, to June, 1915, a series of eighteen meetings was held for assistants who are working with chil- dren in order to give them some instruction in children's lit- erature. The general principles of book selection were dis- cussed and a list of standard stories for children was taken as a basis for book reviews during the winter. The classes of books considered were picture books, heroic biography, folk tales, stories for girls, stories of school life and athletics, editions of King Arthur, collections of poetry, adventure, United States history, Indians in history and legend. An ex- amination was held in May for all who attended the meetings.
The children's room has been the scene of many en- counters during the year with boys who were making a wrong use of the library, the worst feature of their abuse of library privileges being their lack of respect for an institu- tion which might be of service to them. In almost every in- stance the lack of control over these boys has been greatest when they were not library members.
In a room open only to card holders the amount of time and energy spent on matters of discipline is relatively small, . leaving a greater opportunity for library rather than police work. The policy of allowing every boy and girl whether he is willing to assume the responsibility of library member- ship or not to enter the children's room imposes a question- able expense upon the room, since the number of workers has to be related to the total attendance rather than to the total circulation. The use of the children's room as a ren- dezvous for "boy-crazy" girls has been nearly done away with, by making very clear to them that there would be no tolerance of their continuing in a wrong way of using the library.
As a help to children in choosing books for the summer vacation, a reading list was prepared, printed and distributed in June. At the sanie time. mounted pictures calling at- tention to the books on the list were posted on the bulletin boards with much resulting pleasure to the boys and girls and noticeable effect on the circulation of the books.
In the summer the illustrated material which had been accumulating as a nucleus for a picture file was sorted, the pictures were cut and classified and the mounted pictures at the branches were transferred to the Central collection. On January 1, 1916, there were 1,884 mounted pictures in the collection, of which 1,156 are of the stock size and filed
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
in the new cabinet in the children's room. A shelf list has been made of these and guide cards are being placed in the file. All requests which cannot be filled are kept as a basis for further extension of the range of subjects covered.
An effort was made during the spring to give instruction to school pupils in the use of the library. Classes of seventh and eighth grade pupils from the Bell, Vocational and Ed- gerly Schools with a total attendance of 216 came to the library for school reference work and talks on the use of the library. Instruction was given also to classes of the seventh and eighth grades at Forster School. During the fall visits have been made at Bell, Cummings, Glines, Fors- ter, Bingham, Carr and Proctor Schools, covering eighty- four classrooms, in order to plan with the teachers for their school libraries.
From November 22 to December 18 an exhibition of children's books for boys' and girls' own libraries was held in the lecture hall with a special invitation to teachers to attend on the first two opening days. There were about 200 books chosen as those most worth ownership and a list of these was printed and distributed. The use of this exhibition was in the main by those who were intending to buy books for Christmas gifts to children and who came for suggestions be- fore going to the bookstores. Although the total attend- ance was small, it represented so satisfactory a use of the exhibition that the library's effort seemed really to have been of some service to the community.
The children's room was closed a week, September 15 to 22, while the walls and ceiling were being tinted. During Christmas week three new pictures, reproductions of Ab- bey's paintings, were hung there. The children have been especially appreciative of the two scenes from Pennsylvania history, and rarely have to be told what historical episodes they illustrate. With the addition of a few good pictures and pieces of pottery, the room will be sufficiently decorated.
On the whole, the work of the children's room during the year has gained focus. The library has something worth while to offer to boys and girls. The problem for the com- ing year is to make it vital to a larger group of the children of Somerville.
ALICE G. HIGGINS.
High School Library.
Besides the steadily increasing reference work carried, and the supervision of the room, talks have been given to twelve groups of seniors and freshmen on the use of the li- brary and the catalogue. These talks illustrated by charts
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PUBLIC LIBRARY.
were followed by a problem to be done at the public library. The lectures were a success, but are not yet recognized as regular school work. Such recognition is the next step.
The high school librarian was appointed a member of the Vocational Guidance Committee of the high school, in view of the fact that she was taking the University Extension course with Mr. Bloomfield; and through the public library had a broad view of developments on this line.
During the February vacation several high school li- braries were visited in New York City and Brooklyn, and many new ideas and much inspiration received. A full re- port of the visit has been filed.
At the end of the school year, in May, a statement of the progress made and of needs for the future was handed to the school authorities. Throughout the summer months, at ir- regular intervals, these needs were re-presented.
The walls of the room were retinted during the sum- mer; ceiling whitened; new book shelves put in; the tables, desks, and woodwork done over. The improvement is greatly appreciated by teachers and pupils.
A permit system has been introduced with success. The librarian issues all permits, and is thus able to prevent over- crowding during any one period. The public library permit · is a great benefit, especially to debaters.
At a joint conference of library and school authorities in November, arrangements were made for putting the use of the school library on an entirely voluntary basis ; a definite sum of money was promised for books and periodicals from the school department; and a plan for freshman lectures was outlined, to be followed by detailed instruction to small groups in the school library.
The accessions to the library have been noticeably in- creased. The school department has added fifty volumes, in- cluding books of permanent value to the school; namely, reference, debating and vocational guidance. Twelve periodi- cals have also been subscribed for. The public library has purchased, especially for high school use, one hundred ten volumes. The book ordering has been done by the high school librarian after consultation with department heads of the high school. These books have been the direct means of opening new fields of work and of proving the serious intent and worth of such a department in the school.
More assistance will be absolutely necessary if the work increases as it now promises. There is an unlimited field for the development of the cultural side of the work,-book se- lection, and the encouragement of the reading habit. The teachers are more eager for this than any other one thing the new arrangement offers; and already the public library
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
is giving extra hours, almost doubling the time contracted for, not to mention the assistance given in preparing books for the shelves, and the reference work done through the in- terchange.
MABEL WILLIAMS.
Intermediate Work.
The need of an assistant to guide and care for the boys and girls too old for the children's room had been felt, and a year ago the intermediate work was organized to meet this want. There is a two-fold purpose in it: To guide the chil- dren in the selection of books and the use of the library, and to supplement the work done by the High School Librarian.
An assistant is scheduled every afternoon from 1.30-2.30 and from 3.30-5.30, as this is the time when the greatest number of boys and girls of this age come to the library. Since January, 1915, 1,621 questions have been answered, varying from requests for cross stitch designs and the best western story to material for high school debates. Lists of books suitable for these boys and girls have been prepared on the following subjects: Adventure and Adventurers ; After School-What! ; Boy Life; Camping and Woodcraft; Girl Life; and School and College Stories.
We have a collection of about 100 books by some of the best known authors, and it is our desire that a child, after reading these, will seek others. At present we are unable to do as much individual work as we wish, because we should have more books in one place, and one or two tables, where we can help each reader quietly and to much better advan- tage than is possible at present.
HELEN LUITWIELER.
West Somerville Branch.
During the past year the activities of the West Somer- ville Branch Library have continued. Of the 10,425 books in the library, 1,116 have been added the past year.
Since the revision of the books and the catalogue was started, 5,000 books have been handled through the various processes required. To finish it rapidly, the cataloguing de- partment has made arrangements to give the full time of three persons.
One of the most important functions of a branch is to assist the reader and the student in the search for books and information. During the past year, 13,000 questions have been handled on the floor ; while 2,062 books have been sent from Central to meet their needs. Working men and women who come only at evening are glad of assistance in selecting books relating to their work; while there is a constant call
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PUBLIC LIBRARY.
for good short stories, cheerful books for the invalid, stories of adventure and the sea. For the sake of reaching those peo- ple whom it is difficult to get to come to the Branch, we hope to do some systematic advertising in the stores and shops. This would establish a personal relation that would be ex- ceedingly helpful to the Branch.
Special attention has been given to the "special shelf" where desirable books on various subjects have been placed, as, Trades and Professions; Summer Sports; Gardening ; Out-of-door Stories; Travel and Biography.
The opportunities afforded in the children's room with a special assistant have been much appreciated. An in- creased interest is shown in the books and periodicals which are read by the children at the tables. Many of the books in that department have been discarded and replaced by new titles. The books for the younger readers as well as the fairy have been placed by themselves and the children have used them constantly, while some books for the intermediate grade have been placed together. The need of enlargement of room is again emphasized.
The thing in the daily routine of a library that most in- fluences the public is the management of the issuing and charging of books. The past year an enlarged delivery desk has been installed which has given us better facilities to han- dle the large number of books issued with less congestion.
NELLIE M. WHIPPLE.
East Somerville Branch.
Particular attention has been given during the year to increasing the number and variety of children's books. Many new titles and replacements of standard books have been purchased to make a well rounded selection. An increase of nearly 1,000 in the juvenile circulation is the immediate re- sult. Except for lack of shelf room the collection could be further enlarged to the advantage of the children.
A new catalogue case makes it possible to have the card catalogue in an accessible place, and after a complete revision under the direction of the catalogue department it will be of great assistance both to the public and to the assistants in charge. -
The need of larger rooms increases with the growing use of the reading room. It will never be possible to provide a quiet reading place for the older readers while the entire space permits less than thirty chairs and the children fre- quently number from forty to fifty. But if it must do duty temporarily, it is gratifying to have it as pleasant and com-
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
fortable as additional light and fresh paint and paper can make it.
CARRIE L. WILLIAMS.
Union Square Branch.
On the fourth of March, 1916, the Union Square Branch completes its fourth year of service, and it has justified its existence.
The ordinary reader, the man or woman of fairly good education, who reads for entertainment or profit, will rarely go far to get his book. For the gangs of boys, who have no particular place to go, the branch is a place to spend a few profitable hours. To get and hold such readers is the busi- ness of the branch library.
This year we have accomplished the usual amount of work. We have spent much time in helping people get their first impressions and initiating them into the mysteries of the library, and have tried to raise the standard of reading; for "Reading is an art, an uplifting, consoling and educative art."
An attempt has been made to co-operate more fully and completely with the schools and to be more helpful to those who are new to our country.
During the year we have continued to have calls for books in foreign languages; Italian and Russian books being the most called for. Our Italian magazine, in spite of its de- layed arrival, due to the war, is much used both for read- ing room and home use.
The library as an institution of no creed, an institution free to all people, is the best fitted to carry out the work of instruction in the history and traditions of our country and enable the foreigner to meet the new conditions. The chil- dren of these newcomers are much easier to reach than the parents, due without doubt, to their connection with our public school system, and to the inability of the parent to speak the language; and to the early traditions to which they still cling. A great many books reach the home only through the children. The father may come to the library to find out how to become an American citizen. Later it may be that a little one will come and say: "I have brought my mother to get a book." It is at this time that the librarian wishes for more books in the language, "book with pictures" and more time at her disposal. Our needs in this respect are :-
1
1. Space where foreign books can be kept together.
2. A room free from children; "a real grown up room."
3. A librarian who has much time to spend in welcom- ing, instructing and encouraging these new citizens.
Through the reading room the library has special oppor- tunities to direct the "misfits" who come to the library for
.
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PUBLIC LIBRARY.
clues to better occupations, and to help the young men or women who do not know what occupations are open to them.
In our efforts to co-operate with the schools and to pro- mote worth-while reading, every schoolroom in the Union Square district has been visited. Some teachers have asked to have compiled lists of books suitable for home reading.
During the summer one of the librarians told stories on the Bennett School playground. From this, the Saturday morning story hour has been started at the Branch with these aims in view: To improve conduct, to familiarize the chil- dren with good books, and to establish more personal and helpful relations between children and the staff.
The Union Square Branch could never have reached its present efficiency or have circulated as many books had it not been for the daily interchange of books from the Central collection. The interchange circulation represents a higher quality than the room circulation and also shows the growing confidence in our ability to meet needs.
If the Branch is to promote good reading and interest people in books there must be available plenty of good fiction, drama, biography, books of travel and popular science, books of popular appeal.
The Branch needs books, plenty of books ; not little used books, but a live collection and appropriations large enough to allow of the buying of plenty of new books; space to have the roon arranged more homelike; space so that the adult readers can be comfortably seated and not at tables overcrowded with children.
Nowhere can a comparatively small sum be expended with more telling. effect than in equipping the unused portion of the "Old Prospect Hill Schoolhouse" for library use. No- where in the city would the expenditure reach more homes or bring more hope and uplift.
LUCINDA FIELD SPOFFORD.
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THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE. APPENDIX A. Statistical Report for 1915.
Volumes in library, January, 1915
Central. 95,183
West. 10,391
East. 1,800
Union. 2,735
Total. 110,109
Volumes added
4,936
1,116
586
577
7,215
Volumes transferred from
9
160
31
Volumes
withdrawn
6,751
929
231
564
8,475
¥1,638
34
324
20
*1,260
Total volumes January 1, 1916
93,545
10,425
2,124
2,755
108,849
Volumes circulated-Adult
142,466
90,438
39,561
41,625
314,090
Volumes circulated-Juvenile
41,064
27,605
15,701
24,006
108,376
Total volumes circulated
183,530
118,043
55,262
65,631
422,466
Estimated circulation "old basis"
97,516
Total circulation "old basis"
.
·
2,176
1,470
546
726
4,918
issued or renewed within two years.
Decrease.
ANNUAL REPORTS.
519,982
Registration
·
Valid borrowers' cards, i. e.
15,126
Volumes transferred to .
186
7
7
Volumes gained
.
APPENDIX B. Financial Statement, 1915.
Central.
West.
East.
Union.
Total.
Materials :-
Books
$4,654 91
$1,089 04
$429 57
$432 62
$6,606 14
Music
27 69
11 91
1 00
40 60
Periodicals
680 25
317 81
120 85
143 25
1,262 16
Binding
1,159 32
506 45
247 12
349 63
2,262 52
Total Books
$6,522 17
$1,925 21
$797 54
$926 50
$10,171 42
Power :-
Services
$16,635 10
$4,325 60
$2,035 60
$1,979 04
$24,975 34
Tools :-
Printing and Stationery .
298 30
35 90
8 35
18 85
352 40
Express, Postage and Tele-
phone
265 78
158 31
143 68
155 90
723 67
Catalogue Supplies and Sundries
1,081 73
53 24
14 83
19 02
1,168 82
Totals
$24,803 08
$6,498 26
$3,000 00
$3,099 31
$37,391 65
And in addition $457.02 for books from Funds; making a total for printed matter. For janitorial service and care of buildings under the Commissioner of Public Buildings, $6,627.70 was expended.
$10,628 44 1
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PUBLIC LIBRARY.
".
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
APPENDIX C.
American Library Association Form for Uniform Statistics.
Annual report for year ended December 31, 1915.
Name of Library, The Public Library.
City or town, Somerville; State, Massachusetts.
Population served (State Census in 1915)
86,854
Terms for use-Free for lending. Free for reference.
Total number of agencies :-- Consisting of-Central Library
3 Branches (separate buildings) 1 Station 40 Other agencies; 23 school buildings, and 17 institutions, etc.
Number of days open during year (Central library)
304 for lending, 356 for reading.
Hours open each week for lending (Central library)
72
Hours open each week for reading (Central library) 75
Number on staff (library service, adding part "timers'
to make whole units). 42
Number of volumes at. beginning of year.
110,109
Number of volumes added during year by purchase. 7,063
Number of volumes added by gift or exchange.
12
Number of volumes added during year by binding material not otherwise counted . 140
Number of volumes withdrawn during year 8,475
Total number at end of year. 108,849
Adult. Juvenile. Total.
Number of volumes of fiction lent for
home use ..
217,115 65,069 282,184
Total number of volumes lent for home use .. 314,090 108,376 422,466
All books except 7 day and juvenile (2 weeks) lent for one calendar month.
Number of borrowers registered during year. 4,918
Total number of valid cards December 31 (used within two years)
15,126
Registration period two years.
Number of newspapers and periodicals currently received, titles, 585 copies.
210
Receipts From
Unexpended balance :-
Local taxation
$40,302 23
State grants.
Endowment funds.
888 62
Membership fees ..
*Fines and sales of publications
1,512 82
Duplicate pay collection
Gifts
*Other sources : Dog licenses.
3,284 95
Total
$45,988 62
*These items are covered into the treasury of the City, which figures its appropriation to include them.
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PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Payments For
Maintenance :-
Books
$7,103 76
Periodicals
1,262 16
Binding 2,262 52
Salaries, library service.
24.975 34
Other maintenance and incidentals.
2,300 29
The following five sums aggregating $6,627.70 were expended by the Commissioner of Public Buildings from separate appropriations :-
Janitor salaries and wages
2,841 40
Rent
240 00
Heat
1,072 87
Light
. .
1,703 41
Buildings supplies, etc.
.. 770 02
Total expenditures
44,531 77
Balances: Endowment income to 1916.
557 71
Appropriation transferred by City Government to other accounts.
899 14
$45,988 62
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APPENDIX D. Trust Funds Accounts-1915.
RECEIPTS.
EXPENDITURES.
Bal. from 1914.
Income, 1915
Total.
Central.
West.
East.
Union.
Total.
Balance to 1916.
Cutler
$29 90
$45 98
$75 88
$75 88
Hunt Art (objects)
44 89
114 01
158 90
$55 40
$55 40
103 50
Hunt Book
:49 16
494 51
543 67
118 13
$50 22
$98 84
$95 13
362 32
181 35
Pitman Art (books)
35 58
180 70
216 28
68 61
68 61
147 67
Pitman Poetry
18 30
45.18
63 48
26 09
26 09
37 39
Wilder Children
3 68
8 24
11 92
· ...
·
. .
· . ....
11 92
Totals
$181 51
$888 62
$1,070 13
$268 23
$50 22
$98 84
$95 13
$512 42
$557 71
ANNUAL REPORTS.
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PUBLIC LIBRARY.
APPENDIX E.
Rules and Regulations.
HOME USE. Books and periodicals may be taken from the library only when charged on a borrower's card, which must also be presented when the books are returned, so that the charge may be canceled.
BORROWER'S CARD. Any resident upon registering by sign- ing the required application and agreement is entitled to a bor- rower's card. The parents of minors (juveniles) under eighteen must signify their consent in writing by endorsing the application.
Immediate notice in writing of a change of address must be given, and of the loss of a card. The registered owner of a card is in all cases responsible for books taken and charges incurred on his card. Cards should not be loaned.
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