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On Books and Cataloguing. The President, Messrs. Barber, Buffum, Bryant, Bumpus. On Buildings and Property. The President and the Vice-President.
Secretary of the Board. GEORGE H. EVANS.
Report of the Trustees.
To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :-
Gentlemen,-The forty-fifth annual report of the trustees 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.
174
ANNUAL REPORTS.
ORGANIZATION OF LIBRARY AND STAFF PERSONNEL. December 31, 1917. GEORGE HILL EVANS, Librarian. NELLIE M. WHIPPLE, Assistant Librarian.
CENTRAL LIBRARY AND LIBRARIAN'S OFFICE. Highland Avenue and Walnut Street.
Open daily, except holidays: Week days, 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 & p. m.
DEPARTMENT HEADS AND SPECIAL POSITIONS.
ESTHER M. MAYHEW, Reference Librarian.
EDITH B. HAYES, Chief Cataloguer.
HELEN LUITWIELER, Director of Training Class and Editor of Pub- lications.
.
EDNA C. WOODBURY, Children's Librarian.
MARGARET M. KNEIL, High School Librarian.
BEATRICE E. KELLIHER, School Deposits.
VIVIAN J. MORSE, Librarian's Assistant.
ANNA L. STONE, Periodicals.
MARY S. WOODMAN, Reviewer and Classifier.
Senior Assistants.
Myrtle Nicholson. Helen P. Smith.
Evelyn V. Snow.
Junior Assistants.
Edythe L. Miller. Frances E. Haggens.
Marguerite C. Kelly. Gladys B. Hastings.
L. Eugenie Carter.
UNGRADED SERVICE.
Catalogue Department. Marion L. Fall.
CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT.
Pages.
Lillian McGowan. Mildred L. Ryder.
Attendants and Pages on Part Time.
Edward Burke. Doris Campbell. Lawrence W. Codding.
Alfred R. Dugan.
Roger W. Hodgdon. Lena Kaplan.
Edith Lynch.
175
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WEST SOMERVILLE BRANCH. Established 1909. 40 College Avenue. Open week days, except holidays, 1 to 9 p. m. Saturdays, 9 a. m. to 9 p. m.
LUCINDA F. SPOFFORD, Branch Librarian. Senior Assistants. ANNA B. TRUESDALE, Children's Librarian. SUSAN W. CURTIS (On leave). ABBIE G. GLOVER.
NECTAR M. EKSERGIAN. MILDRED HOLT.
UNGRADED SERVICE. Page. MAE L. GORMLEY.
Attendants and Pages on Part Time.
ROGER B. ESTEY.
DUDLEY MOORE. BERNHARDENA MORRISON.
E. LOUISE SHAW. LILLIAN TRASK. S. LEONE WARREN.
EAST SOMERVILLE BRANCH. Established 1912. 153 Perkins Street. Open week days, except holidays, 2 to 9 p. m. CARRIE L. WILLIAMS, Branch Librarian. Senior Assistants. RUTH S. FALES.
UNGRADED SERVICE.
Attendants and Pages on Part Time.
RUTH O. ADAMS.
GERTRUDE FRENCH.
CECILE MCDONALD. DORIS WADMAN.
UNION SQUARE BRANCH. Established 1912. Washington Street and Bonner Avenue. Open week days, except holidays, 2 to 9 p. m. MABEL E. BUNKER, Acting Branch Librarian. Senior Assistants. HELEN MARTIN, Children's Librarian. ETHEL M. NUTE.
UNGRADED SERVICE. Attendants and Pages on Part Time. BESSIE J. BERMAN. F. ADELAIDE FURLONG. CATHERINE M. MCCAFFREY.
NOTE: For changes in staff personnel during the year, see Librarian's report.
176
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Report of the Librarian.
Gentlemen of the Board of Trustees :-
The Forty-fifth annual report of the Somerville Public Li- brary, summarizing its activities for the year 1917, is herewith submitted. It is also the first report of the present librarian.
Reference to the statistical tables appended to this report shows a healthy growth in the use of the library. The total cir- culation of the Central library and its branches, 418,330, is the largest in its history, and is an increase over 1916 of 27,865. This is the figure for actual loans for home use from the various library buildings in accordance with the American Library As- sociation standard of computation, now very generally adopted by progressive libraries in the United States. This does not in- clude the thousands of volumes lent for home use by teachers from deposits in public and parochial schools. Although these books are in constant use it has not been deemed expedient to impose upon the already busy teachers the additional burden of keeping account of the circulation. Under the former method of estimating 111,804 would be added, bringing the total cir- culation to 530,134.
Central Library.
Mr. Drew B. Hall, Librarian since May, 1911, resigned from the position on May 1. Mr. Hall is now in the United States military service with the rank of Captain. The vacancy was filled on the same date by the election of George H. Evans, Librarian of the Woburn Public Library. Miss Lucy B. Crain, Assistant Librarian, resigned February 1. On April 3, Miss Nellie M. Whipple, who had shared the title of Assistant Li- brarian, with assignment at West Somerville Branch, was made the sole incumbent of that position with assignment at Central. March 3, Miss Hazel M. Graham, Librarian's Assistant, resigned, and also on March 24, Miss Alice G. Higgins, Special Assistant in the children's room. The former position was filled on May 21 by the election of Miss Vivian J. Morse. Other resignations from the salaried staff at Central are those of Misses M. Hope Carpenter, Juliana Donovan, Rose Greenberg, Esther W. Shaw, and Elsie K. Wells. Other appointments at Central hàve been: Miss Edna C. Woodbury, Children's Li- brarian, and Miss Beatrice E. Kelliher, in charge of School De- posits. On October 1 Miss Edith B. Hayes returned to the head of the Catalogue Department after a year's leave of absence. Miss Helen Luitwieler, who in her absence filled the position acceptably, has been appointed Director of the Training Class and Editor of Publications. Miss Helen P. Smith has been pro- moted to Assistant Cataloguer. James G. Geddes resigned
177
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
August 10 to attend the Plattsburgh training camp, and has since received his commission as Second Lieutenant in the United States army.
West Somerville Branch.
The West Somerville Branch shows an increase in circula- tion of over thirteen thousand. Of this seven thousand is in the children's room. The building is seriously overcrowded, espe- cially in the children's room, and the work is thereby greatly hampered. When relief from this condition comes it should be in the form of an added wing to the building, to provide for the children adequate accommodations with separate entrance, and also additional work room facilities. Fortunately the size of the lot and the arrangement of the present interior are pecul- iarly adapted for this solution.
In June Mrs. Lucinda F. Spofford was transferred from Union Square as Branch Librarian to succeed Miss Whipple. On September 23 Miss Susan W. Curtis received a year's leave of absence for the purpose of further study in college. On Octo- ber 15 Miss Mildred Holt, Librarian of the Shute Memorial Library, Everett, Mass., was appointed to the staff of this Branch as Senior Assistant.
East Somerville Branch.
The Carnegie building which is to house the East Somer- ville Branch is still in process of construction and there is no prospect of its being turned over to the library until well into the year 1918. Preliminary arrangements have been perfected for moving into the new building whenever it is ready without interruption of service to the public. Measures have been taken to enhance the attractiveness of the interior by the purchase of four large and superb imported carbon prints of the follow- ing subjects; the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, Italy ; the Interior of Milan Cathedral; the Rheinstein Castle; and a view of the Matterhorn from Zermatt. These were bought from the income of the Pitman Art Fund. Special allowances from the income of available trust funds have been made for the purchase of ad- ditional new books. On April 20 Miss Louise M. Hoxie resigned from the East staff.
Union Square Branch.
During the spring months Union Square Branch was more than doubled in capacity by the addition of a delightfully sunny and commodious children's room. In connection with this were other minor but still important improvements which combine to make this Branch most attractive. In June Miss Mabel E. Bunker, First Assistant at West Somerville Branch, was transferred to Union Square Branch as Acting Branch Li-
178
ANNUAL REPORTS.
brarian. In November the staff was further strengthened by the appointment as Children's Librarian of Miss Helen Martin, who brings to the position a promising equipment of technical training and experience.
High School Department.
The report of the High School Librarian indicates a grow- ing sense among both teachers and pupils of the value of the li- brary as an adjunct of the educational establishment. During the school sessions of 1917 the attendance in the High School Library was 22,215, and 6,122 books were lent to pupils. The High School owns about 4,000 volumes, while the library has on deposit there 372 volumes. For temporary use 1,342 volumes were lent in deposits from the Central library to this depart- ment during the year. Lectures on the general use of the li- brary, and of reference books in particular, have been given from time to time.
In no part of library work is the contact between librarian and user more intimate. At no other period of their lives are the users so plastic and impressionable. At no time do the groping attempts of the individual at self-expression so urg- ently need wise and sympathetic guidance. The personality of the librarian must count here more heavily than any other factor of her equipment. It is her high privilege to be at once a friend, a mentor, and a guide. Given a real vision of this work the incumbency of such a position can hardly fail to breed a deep and impelling sense of personal responsibility and ob- ligation.
School Deposits.
October 1 Miss Beatrice E. Kelliher took charge of School Deposits. During the brief period before the end of the year she has placed a deposit of books in every class room of the graded schools except two, and three deposits in parochial schools. The total number of books thus deposited is 5,664. Miss Kelliher has in addition visited fifty-three rooms, and has done a sur- prising amount of cataloguing and other systematizing work upon the collection of school deposit books.
The establishment of the new Junior High schools presents to the library another problem. There are no books now avail- able for deposit in the Junior High buildings. How the library can supply this need except by special appropriation by the city is not apparent. This gap between the graded schools and the High School should not long be left unbridged.
The Question of Promotion.
The year 1917, as we have seen, has been fruitful of changes in the staff personnel. Aside from the many always to
179
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
be expected in the ranks of the part time employees there have been ten resignations in the salaried staff. The opportunities for advancement thus offered are naturally, and quite properly, a source of interest to members of the staff, and of speculation re- garding the basis upon which appointments are made. In fill- ing vacancies it is the policy of the Trustees and the Librarian to promote assistants already in the employ of the library. Before going outside to make appointments possibilities of pro- motion within the staff have, in each case, been carefully can- vassed.
Promotion implies growth,-something more than the mere performance of routine duties. While faithfulness de- serves, and we believe receives, substantial recognition, ad- vancement to positions of more exacting responsibilities calls for additional personal and professional equipment at each step. The transition to a greater place in the scheme of affairs is not by the single executive act called promotion. It is by the growth of the individual which the act of promotion recognizes. The assistant ambitious for promotion will do well to ponder this essential factor of her own growth. She may well ask herself some of the questions that will certainly be asked about her. Is she well fitted by natural aptitude and educa- tional and technical training for the particular work involved ? Has she shown by her daily work, attitude, and growth the ca- pacity for greater responsibility and more exacting intellectual demands ? Has she such a mastery of the tools of her profession as to enable her to inspire confidence in the quality of her work and in that of the library as an educational institution? Has she shown in the discharge of her present duties initiative, re- sourcefulness, and the energy that is not satisfied with present results, but is ever reaching out for more and better ? Can she convert ideas into action? Has she shown the ability to deal tactfully with the public, and to avoid friction with her asso- ciates ? In matters involving discretionary power over other em- ployees has she the breadth of vision to make decisions not de- termined by personal likes and dislikes ? Has she the quality of leadership, the power to dominate and to direct without offense, to plan the work of others and get it done, to recognize and turn to account the special abilities of others ? As in other walks of life these are elements of success in the library field.
The Library Training Class.
On September 27, an examination for admission to the ap- prentice class was held under the auspices of the Massachusetts Free Public Library Commission. Three candidates were ad- mitted, one of whom withdrew at the end of a month on account of delicate physical condition. The class is in session
180
ANNUAL REPORTS.
for a term of six months during which period the pupils give their time and services for the instruction and training they re- ceive. The training consists of lectures, demonstrations, exami- nations and other written work, actual practice work in the various departments of the library, visits of inspection to other libraries, and a considerable amount of outside reading and study. Upon completion of the course those pupils whose work has been satisfactory become eligible for appointment to the library staff in case of vacancy. The library does not guarantee employment. Pupils are accepted with this understanding. The class is under the immediate direction of Miss Helen Luit- wieler.
The work is not devoted solely to the training of appren- tices. A very important feature is the supplementary or con- tinuation courses for assistants already in the service. This provides a means for the individual to increase the range and efficiency of her work, and for the library to maintain a higher average standard of staff service. Assistants who have availed themselves of the opportunity in the following subjects are: Miss Fales in Cataloguing and Classification, Miss Hastings in Classification, and Misses Eksergian, Nicholson, and Snow in Reference. The salutary effects of this work are already felt in renewed interest and efficiency.
The Book Bulletin.
One of the last acts of Mr. Hall before his resignation was the recommendation of a radical change in the Book Bulletin. This was later accomplished through the agency of the Book Committee. The Bulletin in its much improved form is now is- sued monthly, except in August and September, and is ready for distribution promptly on the first day of each month.
War Measures.
In common with all people and institutions, the library has been affected in various ways by war conditions. The mem- bers of the staff have given freely of their time and money for various good causes. They subscribed to the first Liberty Loan to an amount of $1,600. The library was the natural center around which were grouped the activities of the Soldiers' Camp Libraries drive. The President of the Board of Trustees was Chairman of the committee of citizens for that campaign. The library staff contributed to the fund $90. Somerville people gave through the library for the use of soldiers and sailors about two thousand volumes and an un-numbered quantity of magazines. The Librarian takes this opportunity of placing upon record due acknowledgments for these gifts.
Toward the latter part of December we became affected by
181
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
the fuel shortage. On December 21, by direction of the Mayor and the President of the Board of Trustees, all library build- ings in the city began to close for the day at 4 p. m., and to omit Sunday afternoon opening. In order partly to compen- sate for evening closing the Branches at the same time began to open for the day at 9 a. m. Before this report is in print more radical conservation measures may be necessary.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE H. EVANS, Librarian.
The Public Library of the City of Somerville. APPENDIX A. Statistics of Use and Growth, 1917. Circulation.
Central
West
East 33,603
Union 26,917
Total
Volumes circulated, adults
133,148
91,588
285,256
Volumes circulated, juvenile .
47,198
37,883
17,849
30,154
133,084
Total circulation (A. L. A. rules)
180,346
129,471
51,452
57,071
418,340
Accessions.
Volumes in library (January 1, 1917)
93,368
10,411
3,330
3,227
110,336
Volumes added
4,774
1,772
1,565
1,758
9,869
Volumes transferred to .
35
78
123
292
528
Volumes restored
50
4
1
4
59
Total added
4,859
1,854
1,689
2,054
10,456
Volumes withdrawn
3,216
682
406
490
4,794
Volumes transferred from
492
23
2
11
528
Volumes lost
.
175
61
9
9
254
Total loss
3,883
766
417
510
5,576
Net gain
976
1,088
1,272
1,544
4,880
Volumes in library (December 31, 1917) .
94,344
11,499
4,602
4,771
115,216
Registration.
1,595
1,213
403
738
3,949
182
ANNUAL REPORTS.
New borrowers registered Valid borrowers' cards, i. e. registered or re- newed within two years .
13,977
.
.
183
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
APPENDIX B.
American Library Association Form for Uniform Statistics.
Annual report for year ended December 31, 1917.
Name of Library, The Public Library.
City or town, Somerville; State, Massachusetts.
Population served (1917 Draft Estimate)
90,000
Terms for use-Free for lending. Free for reference. 238
Total number of agencies.
Consisting of-Central Library
3 Branches (separate buildings)
1 Station High School Department 228 School Rooms 4 Institutions.
Number of days open during year (Central Library) 303 for lending, 355 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 time em- ployees to make whole units) December 31, 1917 ....
38
Number of volumes at beginning of year.
110,336
Number of volumes added during year by purchase. ..
10,038
Number of volumes added by gift or exchange
150
Number of volumes added during year by binding ma- terial not otherwise counted ..
268
Number of volumes withdrawn during year
5,576
Total number at end of year. 115,216
Adult. Juvenile.
Number of volumes of fiction lent
for home use. 90,760 25,816
116,576
Total Number of volumes lent for home use .. 285,256
133,084
418,340
All books except 7 day and juvenile (2 weeks) lent for one calendar month.
Number of borrowers registered during year
3,949
Total number of valid cards December 31 (used within two years).
13,977
Number of newspapers and periodicals currently received, 192 titles, 550 copies.
184
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Receipts From:
Local Taxation :
Library Department
$33,953 19
Public Buildings Department
10,920 00
Endowment Funds : Total credit
1,989 01
Fines
1,471 55
Other sources: Dog licenses
2,575 26
$50,909 01
Payments For:
Books
$9,059 72
Pictures
118 60
Periodicals
1,366 57
Music
279 30
Binding
2,513 .66
Salaries, library service
23,643 65
Other maintenance
2,437 86
Public Buildings Department:
10,848 00
Janitor service, heat, light, etc., Balance
72 00
Balance from Appropriation .
3 32
Balance from Endowment funds
566 33
$50,909 01
BOARD OF HEALTH. 1917.
RALPH F. HODGDON, M. D., Chairman. ROBERT M. LAVENDER. WARREN C. BLAIR.
Clerk and Agent to Issue Burial Permits. LAURENCE S. HOWARD.
Agent. GEORGE I. CANFIELD.
Medical Inspector. FRANK L. MORSE, M. D.
Entered Medical Officers' Reserve Corps, U. S. Army, August 14, 1917. Granted indefinite leave of absence.
Acting Medical Inspector. *C. CLARKE TOWLE, M. D.
Acting Bacteriologist. *HERBERT E. BOWMAN, Ph. G.
Inspector of Animals and Provisions. CHARLES M. BERRY, V. S.
Inspector of Milk and Vinegar. HERBERT E. BOWMAN, Ph. G.
Milk Collector. GEORGE E. PLIMPTON.
Plumbing Inspector. DUNCAN C. GREENE.
* From August 14, 1917.
186
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Report of the Board of Health.
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH, City Hall Annex, January 1, 1918.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-
Gentlemen,-We respectfully submit the following as the fortieth annual report of the Board of Health in which, is pre- sented a statement, tabulated, and otherwise, of the sanitary condition of the city and the business of the board for the year ending December 31, 1917.
Nuisances.
A record of nuisances abated during the year, in compli- ance with notices issued by the board, or under the board's di- rection, is presented in the following table :-
Animals kept in cellars
3
Blacksmith shops whitewashed
10
Cellar, water in .
16
Cellars filthy .
30
Defective garbage houses
29
Dirty milk utensils
8
Factories unsanitary
11
Garbage thrown in yards
34
Hens running at large
2
Manure pits offensive
15
Milk rooms, screens not on .
2
Plumbing unsanitary .
25
Privy vaults ordered removed
3
Roosters being kept
17
Rubbish on vacant land
29
Stables occupied without license
36
Stables not connected with sewer
13
Stables whitewashed
55
Stables ventilated
5
Stores and utensils dirty
24
Tenements unsanitary
9
Unlicensed animals
12
Unclassified
80
Water-closets, foul odors from
7
Water-closets without water
9
Water pipes burst
1
Water turned off, house not tenantable
3
Yards filthy
161
Total
.
682
Complaints referred from 1916
63
Complaints received during 1917
619
4
Fish box unsanitary
20
Hens being kept without permit
Stores (bakeries) whitewashed
9
682
187
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Complaints referred to 1918
29
Nuisances abated 1917
653
Second, third and fourth notices sent on nuisances 92
Received during 1917
619
Total notices sent
711
In addition to the above, 263 dead animals have been re- moved from the public streets, and many nuisances have been abated on verbal notice from the agent, without action by the board, of which no record has been made. Each spring the whole city is examined, and cellars, yards and alleyways where rubbish and filth have collected are required to be cleaned.
Glanders .- Twelve cases of glanders have been reported during the year. Prompt action was taken in every case, and nine of the horses were killed, three being released from quar- antine by order of the cattle commissioners.
Permits.
The record of permits to keep cows, swine, goats and hens, and to collect grease is as follows :-
Cows .- Eleven applications were received for permits to keep fourteen cows, ten of which were granted to keep thirteen cows, and one refused to keep one cow.
Swine .- Twenty-one applications were received for per- mits to keep forty-nine swine, eighteen of which were granted to keep forty-three swine. The fee is one dollar for each swine.
Goats .- Nine applications were received for permits to keep ten goats, eight of which were granted to keep nine goats. The fee is one dollar for each goat.
Hens .- One hundred and forty-two applications for per- mits to keep 2,723 hens were received. One hundred and twenty permits to keep 1,884 hens were granted, and twenty-two per- mits were refused.
Grease .- Twelve applications were received for permits for fourteen teams to collect grease, which were granted. The fee is two dollars for each team.
Melting and Rendering .- Three parties have been licensed to carry on the business of melting and rendering, under the provisions of the revised laws of 1902, chapter 75, section 111, for which a fee of one dollar is charged.
Massage and Manicure .- Eight persons have been licensed to practice massage and manicure. The fee is one dollar for each license.
188
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Stables.
No person has the legal right to erect, occupy or use any building in this city, as a stable, without obtaining a license from this Board for such occupancy. Each application is re- ferred to the Agent of this Board and no license is granted un- less all regulations of the Board are.complied with. The fol- lowing is a record of applications received and licenses granted :-
Applications pending from 1916
Applications received during 1917
48
169
Licenses granted
106
Licenses refused
40
146
Licenses pending
23
Board of Infants.
Twenty-two parties, whose applications were first ap- proved by this board, have been licensed by the state board of charity to care for forty-four children in this city, under the provisions of chapter 83 of the revised laws of 1902.
Deaths.
There were 1067 deaths and sixty-seven stillbirths in the city during the year, as specified in the following table, which shows a decrease of deaths under the previous year of fourteen.
Deaths at Somerville hospital during the year .
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