USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1926 > Part 13
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1700
1894
1
Frances E. Fisher. 176 Williams Ave., E. Lynn
1750
1921
Kdgn.
Marguerite M. Driscoll, 396 Medford Street
1650
1921
Asst.
*Katherine E. Henchey, 95 Thurston Street
1000
1926
...
1889
Charles E. Brainard, Master, 12 Pleasant Avenue
$2025
1890
Margaret A. Orr, 146 Massachusetts Ave., Boston
1300 1924
1
Ida M. Kane, 28 Fellsway West
1750
1905
Grade
Harry F. Hathaway, Master, 29 Albion Street
1890
Grade
Harry F. Hathaway, Master, 29 Albion Street
$3350
1890
* Temporary Teacher
223
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
TABLE 29-Teachers In Service, January 1927-Continued MARTIN W. CARR SCHOOL
Atherton Street Name and Residence
Grade 6
Samuel A. Johnson, Master, 5 Gardner Ter., Allston $3200
1900
1915
6
Grace A. McElhiney, 12 Minot Ave., Brockton
1750
1925
6
Dorothy L. Lundgren, 93 Lowden Avenue
1825
1915
5
Mrs. Hazel F. Quinn, 21 Hamilton St., Wollaston
1700
1915
5
Lillian E. Haskell, 41 Putnam Street
1850
1913
5
Elizabeth S. Foster, 53 Laurel Street
1700
1895
5
Isabella M. Keppe, 22 Belmont Street
1100
1926
4
Alice M. Cumming, 117 School Street
1825
1917
4
Helen Hession, 57 Alpine St., Arlington Heights
1425
1924
3
Margaret M. Brennan, 30 School Street
1825
1917
3
Bessie I. Berry, 38 Wyllis Avenue, Everett
1850
1915
2
Annie B. Russell, 14 Kidder Avenue
1825
1901
2
Mary E. Flanley, 9 Avon Street, Wakefield
1825
1915
1
Mrs. Frances E. Savage, 303 Highland Avenue
1750
1908
1
Mabel R. Ingham, 62 Central Street
1850
1912
(ENOCH R.) MORSE SCHOOL Summer and Craigie Streets
Salary
Began Service
Grade
Frank W. Seabury, Master, 99 Orchard Street
$3350
1911
6
Mrs. Harriette C. Hamilton, 22 Pearson Avenue
1975
1900
6:5
Lennie W. Bartlett, 49 Laurel Street
1750
1893
5
Blanche E. Thompson, 53 Laurel Street
1925
1906
4
Mrs. Sarah K. Lake, 5 Stultz Road, Belmont
1825
1921
4:3
Eva A. Wilson, 34 Benton Road
1825
1917
3
Mrs. Agnes C. Rice, 226 Highland Avenue
1775
1900
2
Mrs. Margaret M. Joy, 264 Brookline Ave., Boston
1750
1925
2
Lena Monroe, 211-A Summer Street
1850
1913
1
Mrs. Helen T. Smith, 43 Paulina Street
1775
1912
1
Alena M. Shea. 8 Holton Street, Medford
1375
1925
Kdgn.
Gertrude Prichard, 5 Webster Street
1750
1920
Asst.
Esther D. Hamilton, 42 Francesca Avenue
1250
1924
GEORGE O. PROCTOR SCHOOL Hudson Street
Salary
Began Service
Grade
Harry F. Hathaway, Master, 29 Albion Street
1890
6
Nora F. Byard, 27 College Avenue
$1850
1884
6
Alice G. Hosmer, 42 Boston Street
1825
1906
5
Mrs. Nettie L. Fay, 15 Pleasant Avenue
1850
1901
4
Ethel F. Morang, 16 Curtis Avenue
1825
1920
3
Edith L. Hunnewell, 41 Mason Street
1825
1894
2
Mary S. Richardson, 347 Boston Ave., Med. Hillside
1750
1906
1
Lucia Alger, 163 Summer Street
1775
1889
GEORGE W. DURELL SCHOOL
Beacon and Kent Streets
Salary
Began Service
Grade
Samuel A. Johnson, Master, 5 Gardner Ter., Allston
1893
4
Abigail P. Hazelton, 28 Whitfield Road
1800
1902
3
Grace E. Packard, 14 Winslow Road, Belmont
1825
1912
2
Alice M. Dicker, 82 Marion Street, East Boston
1775
1912
Salary
Began Service
1893
Eva S. Bent, 10 Steeves Circle
224
ANNUAL REPORTS
TABLE 29-Teachers In Service, January 1927-Continued MARK F. BURNS SCHOOL Cherry Street, near Highland Avenue Name and Residence
Began
Grade
Salary
Service
Frank W. Seabury, Master, 99 Orchard Street
...
4
Mrs. Margaret D. Quarrie, 21 Bay State Avenue
1850
1909
4
Lizzie E. Hill, 93 Gainsboro Street, Boston
1825
1890
3
Annie L. Brown, 4 Saginaw Avenue, Cambridge
1750
1885
3
Margaret Beattie, 401 Washington Street
1750
1914
2
Mary E. Lacy, 73 Cherry Street
1825
1890
2
Ardelle Abbott, 71 Craigie Street
1825
1896
1
Alice E. Morang, 18 Curtis Avenue
1825
1893
1
Ruth E. Andrews, 82 Benton Road
1825
1917
BENJAMIN G. BROWN SCHOOL Willow Avenue and Josephine Avenue
Began
Grade
Salary
Service
6
Mary T. Ford, 3 Goodwin Place, Boston
1975
1911
5
Annie Sanburn, 11 East Newton Street, Boston
1700
1906
5
Margaret Hamblen, 11 Brooks St., W. Medford
1775
1925
5
Mildred S. Flint, 26 Tower Street
1600
1925
4
Anna N. Johnson ,19 Minnesota Avenue
1800
1913
4:3
Helen M. Lawrence, 251/2 Federal St., Beverley
1775
1923
3
Valborg H. Prebensen, 332 Beacon Street
1375
1924
2
Mrs. Grace H. Bliss, 33 Whitfield Road
1850
1900
2:1
Pauline E. Thiesfeldt, 176 Medford St., Arlington
1800
1923
1
Olivia H. Norcross, Wilmington
1825
1914
HIGHLAND SCHOOL Highland Avenue and Grove Street
Salary
Began Service
Grade
Harlan P. Knight, Master, 22 Hamilton Road
1897
6
Grace M. Clark, 10 Vernon Street, W. Medford
2000
1893
6
Margaret McLeod, 16 Curtis Street
1850
1923
6
Eva M. Barrows, 1 Glover Circle
1775
1903
6
Marion Allen, 74 Collins Street, Danvers
1700
1911
5
Catherine A. Burden, 50 College Avenue
1825
1902
5
Mrs. Hazel M. Davis, 38 Harding Ave., Belmont
1775
1919
5
Carrie E. Crockett, 26 Whitfield Road
1825
1923
5
Eleanor B. Casey, 28 Bartlett Street
1250
1925
Kdgn. Asst.
Genevieve Peak, 187 Willow Avenue
1100
1925
S. NEWTON CUTLER SCHOOL Powder House Boulevard, near Raymond Avenue
Salary
Began Service
Grade
Harlan P. Knight, Master, 22 Hamilton Road
$3350
1897
6
Bernice J. Andrews, 10 Locke St., N. Cambridge
2000
1914
6
Mrs. Minnie R. Lougee, 52 Pitcher Ave., W. Medford 1800
1922
6
Mrs. Mabel T. Totman, 163 Summer Street
1700
1893
5
Dorothy Levy, 57 Josephine Avenue
1100
1926
5
Alice A. Libbey, 20 Chandler Street
1850
1919
5
Eugenia Carver, 65 Hudson Street
1800
1922
5
Edith F. Harding, 121 Morrison Avenue
1500
1927
4
Mildred H. Lunt, 45 Packard Avenue
1700
1926
4
Eliza I. Patterson, 65 Hudson Street
1750
1919
4
Stella G. Bucknam. 35 Curtis Avenue
1850
1917
3
Gladys R. Clark, Lowell Road, Concord
1700
1926
3
E. Mildred Milner, 44 Foskett Street
1825
1920
6
Ella H. Bucknam, 26 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston 1750
1897
Mrs. Dorothy C. Huddy, Oakley Terrace, Belmont
1775
1921
Geo. I. Bowden, Master, 92 Monument St., W. Med. $3400
1908
1911
225
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
TABLE 29-Teachers In Service, January 1927-Continued Name and Residence
Began
Salary
Service
3
Mrs. Nettie M. Humiston, 43 Fairmount Avenue
1775
1920
2
Almena J. Mansir, 77 Albion Street
1700
1899.
2
Gladys G. Stone, 41 Marshall Street
1375
1924
2
Pauline Emery, 16 Winter Street
1400
1925
1
Annie H. Hall, 67 Hall Avenue
1750
1906
1
Mary L. McKenna, 294 Lowell Street
1775
1915
1
Eleanor E. Waldron, 135 Powder House Boulevard
1750
1919
Mrs. Dorothea G: Lamb, 90 Curtis Street
1850
1921
Kdgn. Asst.
Hilda Foley, 16 Bodwell Street, Dorchester
1300
1923
LINCOLN SCHOOL Broadway near Teele Square
Grade
Salary
Began Service
3
Eliza H. Lunt, 248 Highland Avenue
1800
1889
4
Mrs. Lillian M. Wentworth, 248 Highland Avenue
1700
1911
2
Olevia M. Woods, 13 Garrison Avenue
1925
1908
1
Dorothy M. Fay, 401 Washington St., Cambridge
1300
1925,
MARTHA PERRY LOWE SCHOOL
Morrison Avenue near Grove Street
Salary
Began Service
4
May E. Small, 104 Orchard Street
1850
1900
4
Stella M. Holland, 34 Francesca Avenue
1825
1903
3
Maude C. Valentine, 1098 Broadway
1700
1901
3
Mrs. Jane M. Taaffe, 159 Morrison Avenue
1800
1888,
2
Katherine E. Hourahan, 94 College Avenue
1825
1892
2
Clara G. Hegan, 100 School Street
1825
1897
1
Octavia A. Stewart, 15 Kenwood Street
1825
1917
1
Selena G. Wilson, 11 Irving Street
1700
1922
EVENING SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
Walter P. Sweet, High
$7.00
Francis A. Ryan, Bell and Cliff
6.00
Mary H. Brown, Practical Arts for Women
6.00
CADETS
Marguerite Connolly, 58 Central Street
Berenice Coyne, 59 Preston Road
Marie B. Damery, 45 Charnwood Road
Ruth Dyas, 101 Pearl Street
Florence V. English, 34 Elmwood Street
Stella Guazzaloca, 78 Lowell Street Barbara Harding, 18 Gilman Terrace
Olive Elizabeth Holmes, 9 Campbell Park
Marie E. Kenney, 12 Waterhouse Street
Hazel Leith, 75 Lexington Avenue
Helena Mary Leyden, 21 Magnus Avenue
Wilfred H. Roberts, 769 Broadway
Helen M. Smith, 19 Prichard Avenue
Florence Sullivan. 50 Dartmouth Street
Edna M. Tuttle, 146 Pearl Street
Grade
Geo. I. Bowden, Master, 92 Monument St., W. Med.
...
1908
Harlan P. Knight, Master, 22 Hamilton Road
1897
........
226
ANNUAL REPORTS
TABLE 29-Teachers in Service, January 1927-Continued SUPERVISORS AND SPECIAL TEACHERS Music
12,
Harry E. Whittemore, 42 Powder House Blvd. 7
1926
6, 1 Mrs. Charlotte D. Lawton, 121 St. Stephen St. Boston 2325
1898
Drawing
9, 1 Elfrida V. Callister, 30 Kimball Rd., Arlington
2150
1925
Penmanship
9, 1 Ruth L. Whitehouse, 82 Benton Road
2050
1915
Sewing
Mary H. Brown, Supervisor, 162 Highland Ave.
*200
1913
6, 5 Mary L. Boyd, 189 Willow Avenue
1775
1888
6, 5 Mrs. Emma J. Wayland, 59 Marshall Street
1700
1900
Manual Training
Harry L. Jones, Supervisor, 137 Powder House Blvd.
+200
1911
Physical Instruction
12, 1 #Ernst Hermann, 105 Tyler Ter., Newton Center
1750
1914
12,
7 §Charles A. Dickerman, 81 Willow Avenue
2500
1925
12. 1 Margaret V. Burke, 1 Pearl Street
1650
1923
12, 1 Alice F. Morgan, 71 Park Street
1375
1925
Atypical
Mary A. Holt, 13 Pleasant Avenue
1825
1899
Mrs. Bertha M. Morton, 62 Highland Avenue
1750
1902
Julia M. Riordan, 165 Albion Street
1950
1914
Alice M. Hayes, 9 Pembroke Street .
1875
1913
§Melda S. Givan, 287 Highland Avenue
1400
1926
§Fernell B. Houghton, 112 Central Street
1600
1926
Sight Saving
Mrs. Amy F. Woodbury, 83 Pearson Road
1950
1917
Thrift
E. Bella Weisman, 17-A Melvin Street
1900
1921
1
Band
Wesley A. Maynard, 40 Vinal Avenue
1700
1925
Americanization
Mary A. Whitney, 10 Dow Street
2025
1916
*Additional to salary as Director of Household Arts Courses
tAdditional to salary as Principal of Boys' Vocational School t Part time
§ Temporary
Name and Residence
Salary $3000
Began Service
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
227
TABLE 30-OFFICERS, ETC., IN SERVICE JANUARY 1927 Name and Residence Superintendent and Secretary
Charles S. Clark, 75 Munroe Street
Salary $6,500
Assistant Superintendent Everett W. Ireland, 138 Powder House Boulevard
3,300
Clerks
Mary A. Clark, 42 Highland Avenue
1,500
Mildred A. Merrill, 26 Cambria Street
1,350
Ruth O. Elliott, 45 Sever Street, Charlestown
1,350
*Marion E. Marshall, 30 Gilman Street
$21 per week
Regina Truelson, 38 Rogers Avenue
$21 per week
Alice I. Amidon, 27 Gorham Street
$15 per week
Bernice A.Tuck, 165 Lowell Street
$15 per week
Attendance Officer
Benjamin R. Jones, 25 Loring Street
2,000
Edith L. Campbell, 3 Maple Avenue
$15 per week
* Leave of Absence
TABLE 31-SCHOOL JANITORS, JANUARY, 1927
School
Name
Residence
Weekly Salary
High School, assistant
Jeremiah M. Brennan
44 Radcliffe Rd. $31.50
High School, assistant
John N. Quirk
64 Marion St. 30.50
High School, assistant Joseph McCormack
206 Washington St. 30.50
High School, assistant Charles Hoyt
60 Vernon St. 34.50
High School, assistant
Thomas G. Pullen
6 Madison St. 30.50
Prescott
James J. Quirk
199 Broadway 33.00
Prescott
Thomas H. Dickinson
5 Berkeley St. 34.50
Hanscom
Joseph A. McNeil
277 Medford St. 32.00
Boys' Vocational
Charles B. Kelley
25 Clark St. 28.50
Bennett
Michael Mullaney
7 Greene St. 34.00
Baxter
Jeremiah Sullivan
60 Newton St. 29.00
Knapp
Maurice T. Mullins
13 Fremont Ave. 36.50
Perry
Dan'l E. Cunningham John J. Kilty
671 Somerville Ave.
34.00
Southern Junior High
William F. Meskill
30 Warren Ave.
37.00
Southern Junior High
James F. Crowley
1 Fremont Ave.
31.00
Southern Junior High
John F. Donovan
31.00
Cummings
John J. Feeney
35 Rossmore St. 8 Oak Place 27.00
Edgerly
Charles P. Horton
26 Everett Ave.
34.00
Glines
Nicholas J. Lacey
327 Washington St.
35.00 37.00
Northeastern
Anthony Farrington
15 Dimick St.
31.00
Northeastern
John F. O'Connell
18 Robinson St.
29.00
Forster
George W. Coombs
196 Central St. 34.00
Continuation
Michael A. Mullin
16 Bowdoin St.
33.00
Bingham
John F. O'Brien
335 Lowell St. 5-A Belmont St.
37.00 40.00
Morse
John W. Cremen
69 Oxford St. 9 Homer Sq.
31.00
Durell
Ellsworth C. Lundgren
03 Lowden Ave.
27.00 30.50
Brown
James J. Cooper
105 Willow Ave.
32.00
Highland
Michael F. King
25 Bowdoin St. Harvard St.
35.00
Western Junior High
George A. Givan
17 Henry Ave.
Cutler
Thomas J. Flynn
4 Charles St. 30.50
Cutler
Walter F. Burns
93 Avon St. 36.00
Lincoln
Joseph Binari
25 Murdock St. 27.00
Lowe
Earl A. March
77 Cordon St.
30.50
Carr
John H. Lane
34.50
Proctor
Vincent J. Burke
Burns
Charles J. Elkins
14 Holyoke Road
34.00
Hodgkins
Patrick A. Delmore James T. Eddy
Western Junior
High
901 Broadway 40.00 33.50
Northeastern
Jeremiah J. Canniff
47 Spencer Ave.
15 Leland St. 29.00
Pope
228
ANNUAL REPORTS
PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
THOMAS M. DURELL, M. D., President, 1928
J. FRANK WELLINGTON, Vice-President, 1929
WILLIAM L. BARBER, 1928 FRANK M. BARNARD, 1929
HERBERT E. BUFFUM, M. D., 1929
ALBERT L. HASKELL, 1928 1
WILLIAM H. DOLBEN, 1927 WILLIAM J. ENNIS, 1927
GEORGE E. WHITAKER, 1927
COMMITTEES
On Administration The President, Messrs. Wellington, Buffum, Haskell, and Dolben.
On Books and Cataloging The President, Messrs. Barber, Barnard, Whitaker, and Ennis.
On Buildings and Property The President and the Vice-President
Secretary of the Board .
GEORGE H. EVANS
229
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ORGANIZATION OF LIBRARY AND STAFF PERSONNEL December 31, 1926
GEORGE H. EVANS, Librarian NELLIE M. WHIPPLE, Assistant Librarian VIVIAN J. MORSE, Executive Assistant
CENTRAL LIBRARY AND LIBRARIAN'S OFFICE Highland Avenue and Walnut Street
GRADED SERVICE Department Heads and Special Positions
COBA B. EAMES, Reference Librarian and Second Assistant
MABEL E. BUNKER, Chief Cataloger
MARY S. WOODMAN, Reviewer and Classifier
DOROTHY EMERSON KENNEDY, Supervisor of Periodicals and Binding. MIRIAM G. HOWARD, School Librarian
MYRTLE NICHOLSON, Desk Chief RUTH M. WOODMAN, Assistant Cataloger Supervisor of Children's Work
MILDRED A. BOWLEY, Reference Assistant
ALICE W. HAMILTON, Children's Librarian
Senior Assistant
MARY R. BATCHELDER, Circulation
Junior Assistants
ESTELLE M. JONES, Circulation BARBARA KLINGENHAGEN, Children's Room
MARION H. HANFORD, Catalog Department
Ungraded Service
MARGARET M. COLLINS, Page UNETTA QUINN, Page EDYTHE T. REYNOLDS, Page
Attendants on Part Time
MARSTON C. SARGENT JOHN J. HAYES
SUMNER C. NOYES PHILIP L. RUSDEN
230
ANNUAL REPORTS
WEST SOMERVILLE BRANCH Established 1909 40 College Avenue
Graded Service
ESTHER M. MAYHEW, Branch Librarian DOROTHY H. TERRY, First Assistant
E. MARION AKERLEY, Children's Librarian
Senior Assistants
IRENE SMITH, Circulation
Circulation
Junior Assistant
BEATRICE M. KENNY, Circulation
UNGRADED SERVICE
Attendants on Part Time
DOLPHIE E. BERG NORMAN BURBANK
JAMES J. CARNEY
DORIS F. GRAVES RUTH JACKSON FRANCES MENDELL
EAST SOMERVILLE BRANCH Established 1912 Broadway and Illinois Avenue
Graded Service
DESIER C. MOULTON, Branch Librarian EVELYN J. EMERY, First Assistant -Children's Librarian
. Senior Assistant
FLORENCE A. BOLSTER, Children's Work
Junior Assistant
ALICE J. UNDERWOOD, Circulation
UNGRADED SERVICE Attendants on Part Time
HELEN BLISH ISABEL CHENEY
PHILOMENA LOMBARDI DOROTHY ROLSTON
231
PUBLIC LIBRARY
UNION SQUARE BRANCH Established 1912 Washington Street and Bonner Avenue
Graded Service
ALICE G. WORTHEN, Branch Librarian
ELSIE K. WELLS, Children's Librarian
ELSIE L. KNOX, Children's Librarian
Senior Assistant
ALICE L. DELANEY, Circulation
UNGRADED SERVICE Attendants on Part Time
BRIDE E. CANTWELL
MARGARET J. CROWLEY
THOMAS M. DUNLAP
M. ABBIE HALL MILDRED C. PERKINS EDNA M. THOMPSON
JAMES ZISSIS
MEMBERS OF THE TRAINING CLASS
INGRID BLOM
RUTH H. EATON
RUTH HYATT
LILLIAN E. KEMELMAN KATHRYN KENNY WENDELL D. Ross
NOTE :- For changes in staff personnel during year see Librarian's Report.
232
ANNUAL REPORTS
Report of the Trustees
To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :
Gentlemen : The fifty-fourth 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 THOMAS M. DURELL, President.
233
PUBLIC LIBRARY
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
Gentlemen of the Board of Trustees :-
The fifty-fourth annual report of the Somerville Public Library, being that for the year 1926, is herewith submitted.
The year has been on the whole one of encouragement and progress. The volume of work has been large, the circu- lation of books only once surpassed, and the accession of new books makes a record in the history of the library. The staff morale has been excellent, and the year's work has run its course untroubled by serious problems.
It has been the policy of your present librarian to re- quire annual reports from Branch librarians and executive heads of departments. While a referendum of the victims of this requirement might cast a shadow upon its popularity, the practice, nevertheless, has numerous advantages. A pe- rusal of these reports can not fail to impress the reader with the devotion and thoughtful planning that these executives put into the management of their departments. The devices to interest children are manifold and ingenious. Reading clubs, story hours, short plays by little players, educational contests, nature observation, certificates for systematic read- ing, exhibitions of art and craft work, books and library visita- tions at the playgrounds are some of them. They require careful preparation and continuous supervision. Executives are never allowed to lose sight of that prime requirement of all good leaders, study of the special abilities of their assis- tants, to develop their powers, and to plan assignments with reference to maximum efficiency and smoothness of operation by the avoidance of temperamental clashes, and the fitting of the right peg into the right hole. The seeker after culture or knowledge, the occupational student, the pursuer of avocations and pleasures, each and all come into peculiar personal rela- tions with the library mentor. No matter how skillful she may be in library technique, the librarian has fallen short of success if she has not learned how to be guide, counselor and friend to every inquiring mind. This missionary passion for help- fulness, this long look ahead, this living vision of the library as a maker of men, women and children,-especially children, into more intelligent citizens effectually emancipates library work from the merely perfunctory, and forever differentiates it from clerical and industrial pursuits.
234
ANNUAL, REPORTS
Early in the year a petition from the entire staff for a flat increase of salary was presented to the librarian. In view of the position taken by the newly elected mayor with reference to general increases of pay in city departments the case seemed hopeless. After a good deal of thoughtful con- sideration the librarian determined upon a new approach to the problem. The cost of living is obviously the prime factor in any quest for income. Therefore an inquiry into the cost of living of the staff personnel seemed to afford a reasonable basis for an appeal, assuming that the results of the inquiry showed a convincing need.
Each employee was furnished with a weekly budget form intended to exhibit the actual amounts paid out each week for the necessary expenses of living, and, in parallel column, current income from salary, such additional items as were received in the form of board, rent, clothing, etc., and the amount, if any, drawn from private sources of income. A staff conference was held to explain the proper methods of deducing the various cost items, particularly those contributed by the family and more or less lost to sight in the general family budget. After the reports had been submitted it was found that considerable discrepancies still existed both in methods of computation and in the interpretation of the classi- fications. A second conference was held at which these dis- crepancies were ironed out, and improvements made in the formula of the budget. The final tabulation of returns dis- closed incontestable and illuminating facts. Thereby we were able to convince the mayor that our case was a deserving one. Our request, however, as finally presented, was greatly modified. Instead of asking for a general flat increase, we asked for readjustments in certain positions. We were met with courteous consideration. Fortunately we were dealing with a man, not only of sincere convictions, but also of an open and reasonable mind. The result was the approval of a scale of readjustments that has given relief where greatly needed, and has stabilized conditions of employment in the library service.
In our annual report for 1925 we called special attention to the depletion of the book collection at the Union Square branch, to the badly soiled condition of those remaining, and also to the fact that many had become superseded by more recent publications. This condition had brought about a decline in the circulation too marked to be accounted for by the ordinary fluctuations incident to library patronage. After giving serious consideration to this problem the Trustees, see-
235
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ing no remedy within the usual resources of the library, adopted the recommendation in the annual report of the librarian to appeal to the city government for a special ap- propriation, in addition to the regular amount for book pur- chase, for the purpose of renewing the branch collection. With a ready spirit of cooperation the city fathers gave us for new books an additional sum of $2,100, making, with the usual appropriation of $1,400, a total of $3.500 for Union Square. With this sum we have been able by careful buying to secure 3,984 volumes, only fourteen less than the number added to the Central library. Both the appearance of the shelves and the efficiency of the service have been transformed. The effect was immediate and marked. The number of loans of books for the year responded with an increase from 61,127, the figure for 1925, to 85,083, a growth of 23,956, or nearly 40 per cent.
Special attention has also been given to the book needs of the East branch. In addition to the appropriation of $1,000 it has been possible to divert to book purchase $151.95 from unused balances in other items, and also to allot for the same purpose $439.11 from the income of special funds, with which the branch has secured 1,218 new books, only three less than the number added to West, which has a 60 per cent. larger circulation. A considerable number of undelivered orders for East will carry the special assistance over into 1927. Due perhaps to the recency of these accessions there has as yet been no perceptible response in circulation. It will be not unnatural to expect an upward movement during the coming months.
Frequent reference has been made in former reports to the value of the work done by our school deposits. During the past year a considerable expansion is to be noted, especial- ly in the parochial schools. The awakening of interest now apparent in the latter is a source of gratification. For several years the parochial school of St. Ann's church has made use of our deposits, and from time to time a limited number of books have been sent to St. Joseph's. During the past year, however, the service has been greatly extended in the latter school. The aggregate attendance in parochial schools is authoritatively placed at 4,408. Properly to supply this new field will require considerable additions to our school rollec- tion. How we shall secure funds for this purpose is a perti- nent and pressing question.
The public wants these advantages, both of school use and local distribution. Our patrons make these wants known
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ANNUAL REPORTS
to us, but these patrons exist only as individuals with indi- vidual voices. As a group they are inarticulate, and the only medium by which these thousands of unorganized li- brary users may make known their wants is through the li- brary itself. It behooves us, therefore, as their official voice to be persistent in presenting their claims.
The topographical peculiarities of our city are too fa- miliar to call for rehearsal. They present the same difficulties to the extension of library service that they do to many other activities. There are two sections that remain with inade- quate service. We should look forward to the extension of library facilities in some form to Winter Hill, and to the populous extreme west-end from the Cambridge line to Med- ford Hillside. The establishment of a lending agency in each of these districts, even though of modest proportions to begin with, should be the goal of our extension policy.
The catalog department has handled 10,421 new books, the best record to date for any single year in the history of the library. The average cost of these books has been $1.34 per volume. In addition there has been the usual amount of revision that forms a part of the routine of every library, of which no detailed records are kept. The single item of cor- rection of records for 6,519 worn out and discarded books may however be mentioned. This is a normal figure for annual wear and tear from everyday use.
A few years ago the legislature enacted a statute permit- ting the lending of books between public libraries. This helpful measure opened the way for the assistance of small and poorly equipped libraries by their stronger neighbors. It also allows libraries in general to draw upon each other for special and technical material which is not commonly found in the usual collection. During the last year our library has made 108 requests for loans from other libraries, and of this number we have been able to secure 48 volumes for the use of our borrowers which otherwise we could not have furnished. On our own part we have lent to other libraries 51 volumes.
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