USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1925 > Part 10
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1925 > Part 10
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Our city is especially fortunate in the possession of branch libraries so completely equipped and so efficiently staffed. The policy of the trustees and librarian has been to make each of these buildings as far as possible a library in every respect complete for the service of its own community. The special features upon which this service is based are as follows :
EIGHT POINTS OF A SOMERVILLE BRANCH
(1) Independent, separate budget and appropriation making the branch entirely self-supporting;
(2) Permanent, separate building entirely controlled by the trustees for library purposes only ;
(3) Permanent collection of books with separate ref- erence and children's collections ;
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
(4) Separate children's room ;
(5) Staff and work rooms;
(6) Separate and permanent staff, the standard min- imum force consisting of branch librarian, 1st as- sistant, children's librarian, one or more se- nior or junior assistants, and part time attendants. as needed ;
(7) Open every week day and evening at least seven hours ;
(8) Daily express interchange service between all buildings.
Inquiry will show that the foregoing are standards for cities of the first class. Even in the face of such an unfor- tunate calamity as the total destruction of the Central library by fire our branches would carry on complete and uninter- rupted service as usual. This would appear to be the ul- timate test.
In this connection it may not be amiss to direct the at- tention of our citizens to the important work that the library carries on in conjunction with the public schools. The li- brary maintains a carefully selected collection of books, num- bering approximately nine thousand, for the purpose of pro- viding circulating school room deposits. During the year just ended there have been circulated from this collection, distributed in 223 deposits, 66,135 volumes in the homes of pupils. The return, as measured by the use of books per unit of expenditure, is the largest shown by any department of the library. The public school is the only agency where- by contact with the whole or approximately the whole juven- ile population can be secured. The fundamental purpose is not primarily to assist the schools, but to penetrate the home of the child, to demonstrate the delights and profits of reading to children who then if ever acquire the reading habit. For this reason the one condition to which the library does not make exception is that the school room deposit shall be used for home loans. We hope by this means to plant the seeds of a taste for reading and for the best in literature; to in- troduce books into homes not otherwise reached; to reveal the permanent availability of the public library in after years as a workshop and continuation school, and a source for the materials of culture; to teach pupils how to use books as tools ; to implant in their minds the idea, which shall per- sist in the later years of adult citizenship, that the public library is an institution which as a matter of course is to
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ANNUAL REPORTS
be supported as a part of the educational establishment of the city; and finally to supplement the educational work of the schools by supplying collateral material for both pupil and teacher. During the course of the year the school li- brarian, with the cordial cooperation of the superintendent of schools and the executives serving under him, brings to the library in convenient groups under the leadership of teach- ers the entire upper class of the junior high schools. These pupils are instructed in the use of the library, its catalog, the arrangement of its books, and the use of the better known works of reference. This instruction is emphasized by practical examples, and tests. More than one thousand pupils are given this course, which is continued by further instruction when they enter the high school. Even those who complete their school work with the junior high acquire at least an elementary understanding of the use of the library and its contents, that will be a potential asset for after years.
The year upon which we are now entering is one of especial significance in library history. In 1876 the famous survey by the United States Bureau of Education published its voluminous report upon the library situation in the United States. In the same year was founded the Library Journal, the first and perhaps still the leading organ of the profession. Most significant of all was the founding of the American Library Association. Probably no single factor in the library history of the last fifty years has been so in- fluential in determining the direction and progress of our work. This influence has been exerted through its large and active membership, its well-attended annual conventions, and especially its professional publications which have largely determined the standards of modern library practice. The semi-centennial year now at hand will be suitably observed by the A. L. A. with a special program of activities that will tend to give a still further stimulus to library service. In order to finance this work it will be necessary to raise a fund of $30,000 or more. Every library in the country is invited to make a contribution toward this fund ranging upward from a minimum of $25 from small libraries. Already some of the larger libraries have indicated their intention to give as much as $1000.
Two standards for determining a normal contribution have been suggested. First, that the library shall contri- bute one tenth of one per cent. of its annual appropriation. Second, that members of the staff shall contribute, as far as their circumstances permit, the amount of one day's pay each. The librarian is informed that a ruling has already been
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
made to the effect that this library can not legally contribute money from its appropriation for any purpose. Needless to say we desire to maintain a reputation as a progessive li- brary. The second plan seems our only hope of securing a creditable sum, namely to give an opportunity for our staff to contribute upon the basis suggested, one day's pay each. Several have already indicated their intention of doing this. It will not be placed upon anybody as an obligation, but will be offered as an opportunity to participate in a national pro- fessional activity.
An interesting and valuable piece of work that has been under way for a considerable period and is now approaching completion is the compilation of a textbook of professional and technical methods prevailing in this library under the title, Approved Library Methods of the Somerville Public Li- brary. This is a step by step description of all the numerous policies, rules, and processes involved in the control and management of our library system. It provides not only a complete method, but an approved authority to be followed by employees in the discharge of whatever duty or process is incumbent upon them. Every employee, either in an ex- ecutive or a special position, has been provided with such a portion of the entire textbook as applies to her particular work, and copies of the complete compilation are available for reference to all members of the staff.
On March 10 the library received a gift of $400 from Miss Sarah L. Graves of New York City, formerly a resident of Somerville, "this gift being in grateful memory of her teacher and principal, Mr. Henry H. Babcock." "The in- come is to be devoted to the purchase of new books and pe- riodicals. It is Miss Graves' desire that the Library be en- abled thereby to make purchases in addition to and beyond that which it would ordinarily be able to make with its reg- ular appropriation, it being understood that the possession of this particular fund shall not be taken into consideration in the annual appropriation as made and that the amount there- of shall not be thereby diminished."
The library has also received "a bequest of income from the remainder trust of $3000 under the will of Edward C. Booth." This trust is to be administered by the Old Colony Trust Company from whom the income will be received when and as it shall become available. This income is not restrict- ed but may be used for general library purposes at the dis- cretion of the Trustees.
Among the several economies and restrictions of library service consequent upon the reduced support and increased
174
ANNUAL REPORTS
costs resulting from the World War was the closing of the Central children's room in the evening. This threw a seri- ous additional burden upon the reference department, as it was necessary to take care of a considerable volume of work coming in from the junior high schools in the evening. Not only did this work interfere with the service to the adult users of the library, but it added an element of disturbance and crowding which reduced the attractiveness of the library to the older readers. It is, therefore, with much satisfac- tion that we now feel ourselves able with the beginning of 1926 to resume the normal service in the children's room. Dur- ing the school year the Central children's room will be open daily from 2 until 9 p. m. and in addition on Saturday morn- ings. During the long summer vacation the hours will be from 9 a. m. to 6 p. m.
In October 1924, by instruction of the Board, the Li- brarian addressed a request to the Public Buildings Depart- ment for the replacement of chairs at the Central library, the number of which had been so depleted by the wear of the past ten years that the public seating capacity had been seri- ously reduced. Not having been able to secure these replace- ments the request was repeated on April 14 and on December 10, 1925 by further instruction of the Board.
For some time there has been a growing need at the Central library of additional protective shelving for the ac- commodation of books which by reason of value, or of certain special features, can not properly be placed on the open shelves. All the shelving provided for that purpose in the original plan of the building has been filled, and a rapidly increasing overflow must be accomodated. The librarian is, therefore, by authorization of the Board asking the Depart- ment of Public Buildings to enclose a small section of the stack for this purpose.
It is hoped that both of these much needed improve- ments may be given attention at an early date.
Changes of personnel in the staff during the year have been as follows:
Appointments to the Graded service: Ruth M. Wood- man, 1st Assistant at East; Florence A. Bolster, Evelyn J. Emery, Angela Q. Marchese, and Ethel B. Lewis, Senior As- sistants ; Hilda O. Eastman, Irene Smith, Frances Brown and Helen L. Hosmer, Junior Assistants.
Resignations from the Graded service: Katherine E. Hunt, Chief Cataloguer; Elsie K. Wells, Acting Branch Libra-
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
rian at East; Elsie G. Umpleby, Reference Assistant; Marion J. Meserve, School Librarian; Edna L. Hartwell, Children's Librarian at East ; Maurene Chenoweth, Margaret Wentworth, Angela Q. Marchese, C. Evelyn Bamford, and Decima I. Doyle, Senior Assistants.
Promotions in the Graded service in regular course under the provisions of the Scheme of Service: Mabel E. Bunker to Chief Cataloger; Desier C. Moulton to Branch Li- brarian at East; Alice W. Hamilton to Children's Librarian at Central; Irma P. Traphagen to 1st Assistant at Union Square; E. Marion Akerley to Children's Librarian at East; Elsie L. Knox to Children's Librarian at Union Square; Elsie G. Umpleby to Reference Assistant; Miriam G. Howard, Elsie G. Umpleby, Margaret Wentworth and C. Evelyn Bam- ford to Senior Assistants.
Appointments to the Ungraded service : Edythe T. Rey- nolds; and in addition there were employed for temporary summer vacation work: Anna C. Keating, Mary Goodhue, Basil R. Mills, and Marston C. Sargent.
The annual library training class was selected from a list of about forty applicants. Of those whose applications were received in time, thirteen were deemed eligible to take the examination. Six pupils were desired for the training class, and exactly that number received a passing rank in their examinations. After the final rating was determined the sealed envelopes containing the names of the candidates were opened, and not until then were the successful ones known. Of these six, five were Somerville girls.
The appended statistics of operation for the year 1925 are submitted as a part of this report.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE H. EVANS,
Librarian.
The Public Library of the City of Somerville APPENDIX A Statistics of Use and Growth Circulation
Volumes circulated, adult ..
Central 117,666
West 79,953
East 43,415
Union 29,678
Schools 1,498
272,210
Volumes circulated, juvenile
42,547
30,358
19,824
31,449
64,637
188,815
Total circulation (A. L. A. rules)
160,213
110,311
63,239
61,127
66,135
461,025
Accessions
Central
West
East
Union
Total
Volumes in Library, Dec. 31, 1924
88,610
14,610
6,747
7,156
117,123
Volumes added
4,279
1,615
858
1,307
8,059
Volumes
transferred to
0
11
5
17
33
Volumes restored
44
5
0
2
51
Total additions
4,323
1,631
863
1,326
8,143
Volumes withdrawn
2,176
733
427
896
4,232
Volumes transferred from
29
0
0
33
Volumes lost
505
273
106
138
1,022
Total reductions
2,710
1,010
533
1,034
5,287
Net gain
1,613
621
330
292
2,856
Net loss
Volumes in library, Dec. 31, 1925
90,223
15,231
7,077
7,448
119,979
Registration
Central
West
East
Union
Total
Borrowers registered Dec. 31, 1924
6,868.
4,946
2,556
2,544
16,914
Expirations in 1925
3,461
2,500
1,232
1,203
8,396
Registrations in 1925
3,585
2,446
1,255
1,164
8,450
Borrowers registered Dec. 31, 1925
6,992
4,892
2,579
2,505
16,968
Expenditures in Library Department
Per capita expenditure for library services ........ $0.576
Expenditure per book lent
$0.125
..
..
ANNUAL REPORTS
176
Total
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
APPENDIX B
American Library Association Form for Uniform Statistics
:
Annual report for year ended December 31, 1925
Name of library: The Public Library of the City of Somerville, Mass. State: Massachusetts
City: Somerville
Name of Librarian: George Hill Evans
Date of founding
1872
Population served (latest estimate)
100,000
Assessed valuation of city
$104,769,800 00
Rate of tax levy for library purposes : .68 of a mill
Terms of use: Free for lending
Free for reference
Total number of agencies
229
Consisting of Central Library 1
Branches
3
High School Department 1
School Rooms 222
Institutions 2
Number of days open during year (Central Library) 303
Hours open each week for lending (Central Library) 72
Hours open each week for reading (Central Library ) 72
INCREASE
Number of volumes at beginning of year
117,123
Number of volumes added during year by purchase
7,816
Number of volumes added during year by gift or ex- change
139
Number of volumes added during year by binding ma- terial not otherwise counted
104
Number of volumes added during year by lost books restored
51
Number of volumes lost or withdrawn during year
5,254
Total number at end of year
119,979
USE
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Number of volumes of fic-
tion lent for home use
204,161
111,184
315,345
Total number of volumes lent for home use
272,210
188,815
461,025
Number of pictures, photo-
graphs and prints lent for home use
3,224
REGISTRATION
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Number of borrowers reg- istered during year ....
4,697
3,753
8,450
Total number of regis-
tered borrowers ....
9,233
7,735
16,968
Registration period, years
2
178
ANNUAL REPORTS
Number of periodicals and newspapers currently re-
ceived :
Titles
247
Copies
565
Number of publications issued during year : Bulletins
8
Other
0
Number of staff, library service
42
Number of staff, janitor service
6
FINANCE
Receipts from :
Local taxation:
Library Department
$52,284 62
Public Buildings Department 14,220 79
Invested funds
829 79
Fines
2,406 84
Other sources (dog licenses )
2,383 54
Total
72,124 79
Unexpended balance from previous year
(invested funds)
351 16
Grand Total
$72,475 95
Payments for:
Library Operating Expenses :
Librarians' Salaries
$39,885 20
Books
10,101 11
Periodicals
1,334 89
Binding
2,366 82
Supplies, stationery, printing, etc.
1,950 84
Furniture, equipment, etc.
00
Telephone, postage, freight, ex-
1,654 62
Other items
389 40
Total
$57,682 88
Building Maintenance Expenses:
Janitors, mechanics, wages, etc.
$7,956 45
Cleaning supplies and equipment
239 53
Building repairs and minor alterations
1,033 85
Rent
000 00
Heat and liglit
3,685 43
Other items Total $13,727 63 $71,410 51
Total Maintenance Expenses
Balance from Appropriation, Library Dept. $2 09
Balance from Invested Funds
570 98
Balance from Appropriation, Public Build- ings Department 492 37
Maintenance expenditure per volume of circulation $0.133
Maintenance expenditure per capita $0.714
812 37
press
179
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE CITY OF SOMERVILLE
School Committee Rooms, December 28, 1925.
Ordered, that the annual report of the Superintendent of Schools be adopted as the annual report of the Board of School Committee, it being understood that such adoption does not commit the Board to the opinions or recommenda- tions made therein; that it be incorporated in the reports of the City Officers; and that 1,000 copies be printed separate- ly
CHARLES S. CLARK, Secretary of School Board.
180
ANNUAL REPORTS
School Committee, 1925
HARRY M. STOODLEY
JOHN J. HAYES
Chairman Vice-Chairman
Members EX-OFFICIIS
JOHN M. WEBSTER, Mayor . .
76 Boston street JOHN S. SMITH, JR., President Board of Aldermen, 52 Sydney street WARD ONE
JOHN J. HAYES,
FRANCIS J. FITZPATRICK,
WARD TWO
CHRISTOPHER J. MULDOON, . DANIEL H. BRADLEY,
. 88 Concord avenue . 19 Concord avenue
CHARLES W. BOYER, . . 66 Avon street . 59 Vinal avenue
OSCAR W. CODDING, .
WARD FOUR
WALTER E. WHITTAKER,
KATHERINE C. COVENEY,
WARD FIVE
. 283 Highland avenue . 64 Hudson street
WARD SIX
WALTER FRYE TURNER, . . 15 Highland road WALTER I. CHAPMAN, . 18-A Central street
WARD SEVEN
EDWIN A. SHAW, . . 63 College avenue . 94 College avenue .
HERBERT CHOLERTON,
.
Superintendent of Schools CHARLES S. CLARK
Office: City Hall Annex, Highland avenue. Residence: 75 Munroe street.
The Superintendent's office will be open on school days from 8 to 5; Saturdays, 8 to 10. His office hour is 4 o'clock on school days, and 8.30 on Saturdays.
Superintendent's Office Force
Mary A. Clark, 42 Highland avenue. Mildred A. Merrill, 26 Cambria street. Marion E. Marshall, 30 Gilman street. Ruth O. Elliott, 4 Lincoln Place.
Beatrice M. Hersom, 62 Highland avenue. S. Regina Truelson, 38 Rogers avenue. Bernice F. Parker, 11 Dickson street.
Board Meetings
January 5 March 30 June 29 November 30 December 28
January 26 April 27
February 16 May 25
September 28 October 26
8.15 o'clock
10 Wisconsin avenue . 2 Austin street
WARD THREE
135 Walnut street 73 Marshall street
HARRY M. STOODLEY,
MINNIE S. TURNER, .
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Standing Committees, 1925
Note .- The member first named is chairman, District I. - Hayes, Fitzpatrick, Muldoon. PRESCOTT, HANSCOM, BENNETT
District II. - Muldoon, Bradley, Fitzpatrick. KNAPP, PERRY, BAXTER
District III. - Boyer, Codding, Bradley.
POPE, CUMMINGS
District IV. - Whittaker, Coveney, Boyer. EDGERLY, GLINES
District V. - Stoodley, Miss Turner, Whittaker. FORSTER, BINGHAM
District VI. - Turner, Chapman, Stoodley. CARR, MORSE, PROCTOR, DURELL, BURNS, BROWN
District VII. - Shaw, Cholerton, Turner. HIGHLAND, CUTLER, LINCOLN, LOWE
High Schools. - Shaw, Bradley, Hayes, Codding, Whittaker, Stoodley, Chapman.
School Accommodations .- Hayes, Boyer, Bradley, Coveney, Miss Turn- er, Turner, Cholerton, Mayor Webster, President Smith.
Teachers. - Cholerton, Miss Turner, Fitzpatrick, Muldoon, Codding, Whittaker, Chapman.
Finance. - Codding, Stoodley, Fitzpatrick, Bradley, Whittaker, Turner, Cholerton, Mayor Webster, President Smith.
Text Books and Courses of Study .- Chapman, Muldoon, Hayes, Cod- ding, Coveney, Miss Turner, Shaw.
Industrial Education. - Boyer, Turner, Hayes, Muldoon, Coveney, Miss Turner, Shaw.
Health, Physical Training and Athletics. - Fitzpatrick, Whittaker, Bradley, Boyer, Stoodley, Chapman, Cholerton.
Rules and Regulations. - Muldoon, Coveney, Fitzpatrick, Boyer, Stood- ley, Turner, Shaw.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE:
Herewith I submit the report of the conditions of the schools for the year now closing which, under the practice of your Board, the Superintendent is required to make each year. As this report serves the purpose of a report of the School Committee as well as of the Superintendent of Schools, I have provided the usual statistical information so that cit- izens may be informed fully about the operation of the schools.
MEMBERSHIP
The total number of pupils in the membership of the schools in December, exclusive of the Continuation Schools, was 15,203. This is an increase of 350 pupils over the mem- bership of last year and is a larger gain than was made dur- ing that year. The membership in the elementary schools, in- cluding kindergartens, is 363 pupils larger than last year but there has been a small falling off in the membership of the high and junior high schools, a loss of 20 in the high school and 11 in the junior high schools. There was a gain of 15 in the membership for the Vocational School for Boys. These changes in membership of pupils have been too small to make any material effect upon school conditions.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Every child attending the elementary schools in Som- erville is provided a seat and a full-day schooling. This should be a cause for gratification to the parents of our chil- dren. While some of our school buildings are old they are, in the main, pleasant places for our children and are well provided with furniture and other classroom furnishings. In one respect, however, immediate improvement should be made. There are rooms which are too dark on cloudy or stormy days. Such a condition can work a great injury to the eyesight of pupils. A sufficient provision of artificial lighting should be made so that these schools can be made light enough for the children to do their work in safety on the darkest of days. While there have been seats enough for all the pupils this year, attention should be given to the likelihood that in the near future additional school facilities will be needed in the northwestern part of the city and in the
183
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
eastern part of the city. The rapid growth in the popula- tion of the former and the prospect of new homes being con- structed upon the Ten Hills Farm Property indicate that additional school accommodations will soon be needed for those sections of the city.
The building situation of the high school continues un- satisfactory. During the year, the Public Property Com- mittee of the Board of Aldermen, after carefully examining the high school building, came to the conclusion that a sub- stantial addition should be made to it but as the year closes no definite action has been taken to start such a work. It is necessary, therefore, for me to call attention again to this need. The work of the school is seriously hindered by lack of sufficient room. At the present time, every room is oc- cupied so constantly that the only opportunity that now remains for increasing undertakings or for the accommodation of additional pupils is to use rooms for such work during the afternoon. The school must undertake certain additional activities in the near future even though to do so it becomes necessary to resort to afternoon classes. This undesirable expedient, however, will not satisfactorily meet the needs of the school for the reason, among others, that it is unwise to make interior alterations such as would be demanded to provide suitably for new activities until it is definitely known whether any alterations will be made to the present building. Neigh- boring communities have been confronted with the problem of providing suitable accommodations for high school pupils and many new and expensive high school buildings have, as a consequence, been erected in this region during recent years. Wherever such new and modern buildings have been provided, the community has evinced pride in the accomplishment and has called attention of neighboring towns and cities to its new high school building as a monument to civic devotion and enterprise. Our high school is the city's chief contribu- tion to the development of the youth of secondary school age. If this contribution is insufficient the youth must bear the loss. Therefore, it is important that suitable enlargement of the high school be undertaken in the near future.
COST
What do the public schools cost the people of this city? What part of the revenue of the city is this cost? How does the conduct of the schools compare with other communities of the State in cost and in efficiency? Do the schools cost too much ? What are the chief elements of the cost of the schools? While these questions are pertinent at any time they are
184
ANNUAL REPORTS
especially so now as another financial year closes. There is prevalent everywhere a tendency to criticise the cost of government and to include the cost of education in such crit- icism. According to this criticism, the conduct of the schools requires too much money to be raised for its support by public taxation. A good deal has been said in public and private discussion to the effect that education has too ambitious a program, covers too much ground, and attempts too much for children. The remedy for this condition is never clearly stated by the proponents of this view. Beyond a general clamor for reduction in cost of education, there is little discussion of the means by which an educational program adequate for the needs of the community can be carried on with any substantial reduction of cost. In the meantime, various influences are at work whose inevitable and sure tendency is to increase the cost of education. The first of these is the demand of the parents that their children shall have as good educational opportunities as are given to the children of other communities. There is no mistaking the existence of this sentiment. Parents in every community demand that their high school shall provide as good train- ing for their pupils as is given by high schools of other communities. They demand that the children below the high school shall have good teaching, adequate provision of books and supplies, and that they shall be given the varying experi- ences wich today are deemed essential to the proper develop- ment of youth through the agency of public schools. The second influence is the increasing cost of everything that comes from the market of the world, including the cost of personal service. The third element is the effect of increasing scientific knowledge concerning the human mind. This element shows its influence in the demand for variations in provisions for the training of pupils to meet variations of need which in- creased professional knowledge discloses. So important are some of these variations that the legislature has, by law, com- pelled communities to make them. . Instances of such varia- tions are vocational education, continuation school, provision for special instruction for retarded pupils, physical training, manual training, household arts, Civics, United States His- tory, etc. Lest the communities under the impulse of saving money at the expense of education should fail to provide these elements of education, the State has made them all com- pulsory by legal enactment. These, then, are general con- ditions affecting the cost of education which bear upon all communities and which are so much a part of the undertak- ing as to be beyond the power of a community to control materially.
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