USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1927 > Part 15
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During the summer vacation carpenters were busy in all school buildings repairing buildings and furniture.
The curtain contract was given to Fred D. Bigelow of Somerville for the replacement of nearly 600 curtains.
80 chairs were recaned by the Massachusetts Institute of the Blind.
Blackboards
Several of the buildings are equipped with paper black- boards, and the surfaces of same have to be renewed exery vear at a cost of several hundred dollars. I would recom- mend that slate blackboards be installed in place of paper blackboards, as the slate boards last indefinitely and the sav- ing on repairs would more than repay the cost of purchasing same.
Sprinklers
During the past year sprinkler systems have been in- stalled in twelve school buildings throughout the basements.
It has been the experience of engineers checking up on fires that 90 per cent of fires start in basements, and we feel now these twelve buildings are adequately protected there being a sprinkler head to every 36 square feet.
The Commissioner hopes to do at least four more of these buildings the coming year.
The buildings which now have the sprinkler systems in the basements are as follows :
Cutler School
Lincoln School
Highland School
Burns School
Bingham School
Carr School
Forster School
Morse School Cummings School
Edgerly School
Prescott School
Pope School Knapp School
Bennett School High School
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ANNUAL REPORTS
Fire Department Buildings
There have been numerous repairs and improvements made in the fire buildings of the city.
As it does not seem probable that Engine No. 4 building will be replaced by a new station in the immediate future this department has repaired and repainted the interior of this building and made minor repairs to meet the temporary need of the men stationed there.
New room fitted up from loft of Hose 5 for dining room and kitchen for the men.
New hot water boilers installed at Hose 3.
New section added to boiler of Hose 7. Boiler at Hose 5 repaired.
The loft at Engine 2 has been fitted over into a dormi- tory making additional sleeping quarters for ten men. Also a new kitchen and dining room has been fitted up on the first floor.
Libraries
The most urgent need of the libraries at the present time is new lighting equipment. During the past year the Commissioner has installed new lighting fixtures in the East Somerville Branch Library.
48 new chairs were supplied for the Reading Room at the Central Library.
Sanitary Buildings
New stalls and stall bottoms have been installed through- out the sanitary stable. Wagon shed repaired and reroofed.
Hignway Buildings
Extensive repairs were made throughout this building.
It is necessary to replace stall floors at least twice a year.
New shed fitted with special door so it may be used for garage.
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COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Hospital
The hospital has been painted and varnished through- out, the beds and tables enameled.
The high wind this winter tore off the piazza roof of the tuberculosis camp carrying same over on the farm land of the City Home. This will mean quite an expense for repairs during the coming year as electric light, telephone system and damage to building itself is considerable besides rebuilding of piazza.
City Home
Many repairs have been made to this building during the past year.
A new refrigerating plant has been installed.
Several new mattresses purchased.
A new rug for the living quarters of the matron.
Roofs of three of the buildings have been reshingled.
A complete new bathroom has been installed in the nurses quarters.
The dining room, kitchen and bathroom have been painted and ceilings whitened, also a room in the matrons quarters.
There is need of an addition of two rooms over present office for new sleeping rooms to accommodate the nurses. Also an addition of five rooms to the present hospital, which could be added to the end of the present hospital at a cost of about $5,000.00.
Police Buildings
Cells have been renovated and painted, and several minor repairs made.
As this building is of antiquated design and wholly in-
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adequate for the needs of the present force the Commissioner recommends that an early consideration of a modern station be contemplated.
It was necessary to find new quarters for the G. A. R. Veterans on account of the tearing down of City Hall Annex. The Commissioner recommended for consideration the old court room. clerks office and judges office as temporary quarters for the G. A. R. and its kindred societies. This was looked into by a Committee of the G. A. R. men who were satisfied with this arrangement. The court room was laid out as a hall and all the G. A. R. hall furnishings were moved in and arranged. The clerks room was fitted out as a card room and the judges office as a kitchen. A new sink was installed and gas ranges connected up.
The arrangements so pleased the veterans that a vote of thanks was sent to the Commissioner.
The entries to the first floor have been kalsomined, painted and varnished throughout.
Park Buildings
Numerous repairs have been made to these buildings during the past year, new toilets have been installed and repairs to shower baths, heating apparatus, electric light fixtures, and repairs in general.
The building at Broadway Park has been relocated, moving it out of the play field. New plumbing fixtures were installed, boilers replaced. new water connections made and a new roof put on the building. The electric lights will be connected up as soon as poles are reset by the Edison Com- pany.
Excessive damage has been done owing to the rough ele- ment which collect about these buildings after they are closed at night. Doors and windows have been broken and forced, toilet fixtures ripped from the walls and broken, electric light fixtures destroyed and tile roofs badly damaged.
Bathhouse
The public bathhouse on the Mystic River at Wellington Bridge was opened and maintained as usual this year.
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COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
About 100 tons of sand were purchased for resanding the beach.
This particular recreation has been a great help to many mothers and children during the hot weather of the past season. It is a common sight to see mothers and children arriving at the beach as early as nine o'clock with their- lunches to spend the entire day. The attendance at the beach during the warm weather has sometimes exceeded 1,000 a day ..
In General
The Building Commissioner has had the co-operation of all branches of the City Government, including His Honor,. the Mayor, the honorable members of the Board of Aldermen and all the city officials, and desires to thank them for their kindly consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE L. DUDLEY,
Commissioner of Public Buildings ..
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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 R. NICKERSON, 1929
FRANK M. BARNARD, 1929
WILLIAM J. ENNIS, 1930
HERBERT E. BUFFUM, M. D., 1929 (deceased )
WILLIAM H. DOLBEN, 1930 ALBERT L. HASKELL, 1928 GEORGE E. WHITAKER, 1930
COMMITTEES
On Administration
The President, Messrs. Wellington, Buffum, Haskell, Dolben and Nickerson
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
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
ORGANIZATION OF LIBRARY AND STAFF PERSONNEL
December 31, 1927
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
CORA 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 HAMILTON BOYD, Children's Librarian
Senior Assistants
MARY R. BATCHELDER, Children's Room RUTH HYATT, Circulation
MARION H. HANFORD, Catalog Department
Junior Assistants
ESTELLE M. JONES, Circulation
RUTH H. EATON, Circulation
Ungraded Service
MARGARET M. COLLINS, Administration UNETTA QUINN, Administration
EDYTHE T. REYNOLDS, Page
Attendants on Part Time
JAMES J. CARNEY
FLETCHER Ross SUMNER C. NOYES
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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
BARBARA KLINGENHAGEN, Circulation BEATRICE M. KENNY, Circulation
Junior Assistant
UNGRADED SERVICE
Attendants on Part Time
DOLPHIE E. BERG DORIS F. GRAVES
NORMAN BURBANK FRANCES MENDELL
EAST SOMERVILLE BRANCH Established 1912 Broadway and Illinois Avenue
Graded Service
DESIER C. MOULTON, Branch Librarian EVELYN J. EMERY, First Assistant
FLORENCE A. BOLSTER, Children's Librarian
Senior Assistant
ALICE J. UNDERWOOD, Circulation
Junior Assistant
UNGRADED SERVICE
Attendants on Part Time
ANNIE D. FORBES PHILOMENA LOMBARDI
DOROTHY SELLERS DOROTHY ROLSTON
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
UNION SQUARE BRANCH Established 1912 Washington Street and Bonner Avenue
Graded Service
ALICE G. WORTHEN, Branch Librarian
ELSIE K. WELLS, First Assistant
ELSIE L. KNOX, Children's Librarian
Senior Assistant
ALICE L. DELANEY, Circulation
Junior Assistant
UNGRADED SERVICE
Attendants on Part Time
BRIDE E. CANTWELL VIRGINIA J. HOFFSES
ISABEL CHENEY MILDRED C. PERKINS WILLIAM SHEA
MEMBERS OF THE TRAINING CLASS
HELEN BLISH KATHLEEN O'BRIEN
GERTRUDE REYNOLDS
RUTH NOURBOURN WINIFRED PEMBER EVELYN ROBINSON
NOTE :- For changes in staff personnel during year see Librarian's Report.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
Report of the Trustees
To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :
Gentlemen: The fifty-fifth 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.
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
Gentlemen of the Board of Trustees:
The fifty-fifth annual report of the Somerville Public Library, being that for the year 1927, is herewith submitted.
It is gratifying to be able to report a new high water mark in the record of work done. The total circulation of 543,559 books for home use is the largest in the history of the library, and is an increase over last year of 61,253, or 13%. This is equivalent to the addition of a small branch. With growth all along the line, the most noteworthy is that of the East Somerville branch, at Broadway and Illinois Ave- nue, which reports an increase of 19,173 volumes circulated, or 28.4%. Such a marked expansion was unforeseen, and no allowance for it was made in the appropriations for 1927. As a consequence the end of the year found us stripped to the bone of our resources. ยท With supplies depleted and book bind- ing far behind we had to practice the most rigid and ingenious economies in order to carry over into the new year. We should not expect to set up a new branch library with a cir- culation of 61,000 without suitable provision of the usual working supplies. But that is in effect just what we did last year because of our failure to predict so large an increase. In 1926 it cost 13.2 cents per book lent to run the library. Assuming, as is reasonable, that the cost of operation in 1927 was not materially different, it is obvious that the increased use of the library placed upon us an unexpected additional burden of expense amounting to $8,052.
Growth brings with it increased wear and tear, as well as need for more books and more supplies. Our appropria- tion for binding, always frugal, was totally inadequate. We were able to bind 4,416 books. 1,718 volumes, retired from circulation to be bound. have had to wait. Unfortunately for the public service these. as usual, are nearly all recent books in constant demand. The problem was aggravated at Union Square by the re-stocking of the branch with about 4,000 new books last year. A book in the publisher's binding can be lent from seven to ten times only before requiring binding. One of the penalties of many new books is much binding, a collateral expense, sometimes lost to sight when buying new books, but one that eventually compels attention.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
Ten year averages of circulation and binding show that we may expect to bind about nine books for every thousand loans. Assuming, as seems reasonable, that we shall circu- late at least as many books in 1928 as we did in 1927, we must expect the year's binding to number 4,887 books. Adding to these the 1,718 books left over from 1927, we find the minimum expectation of binding for 1928 to be 6,605 volumes. This will cost at present rates about $4,227.
The growth noted at Union Square branch last year as a direct result of the re-stocking of that branch has continued, though in not so spectacular a degree. The time has come when we must appoint another general assistant to the branch staff. It is recommended that this be done in connection with other appointments at the conclusion of the course of the present Training Class.
With deep regret we record the death on August 25 of Dr. Herbert E. Buffum, a member of. the Board of Trustees. Dr. Buffum qualified as a member of the Board on September 15, 1914. He was a faithful and enlightened official, regular in attendance at meetings, a strong supporter of the adminis- tration, and always to be found upon the side of progress and liberality. He was particularly devoted to the interests of the library employees. A tribute of appreciation of his personality and services was adopted by the Trustees and in- scribed upon the records of the Board.
The library acknowledges with thanks and appreciation the gift of $1,000 from Mr. Thomas J. Buffum, father of the late Dr. Herbert E. Buffum, given as expressed in the donor's words, "in memory of my dear ones that have passed on; my wife, Mrs. Minnie L. Buffum, our daughter, Miss Eva I. Buffum, our son, Dr. Herbert E. Buffum."
The form of the memorial provided for by this gift has not yet been determined.
Under date of September 9, 1927, a letter from the Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Co. apprised the Trustees that, under the terms of the will of Dr. Buffum, of which the above named trust company are executors and trustees, the library
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
is made a legatee to benefit after the death of certain persons. The provision of the will is as follows.
"(e) The sum of twenty thousand dollars to the Trustees of the Somerville Public Library to be held in trust the net income to be expended semi- annually for any purpose in connection with the li- brary thought best by them, but not however to be expended for any maintenance of the library such as labor or material which should be provided by mu- nicipal appropriation."
During the week of June 20 the library was represented by an exhibit at the commercial and industrial exposition operated by the Somerville Kiwanis Club. On account of the public service nature of our activities the Kiwanis Club gener- ously allotted us exhibit space free of charge. For this we herewith tender our acknowledgments. A very large number of people visited our booth, and a lively interest in our exhibit was apparent. We particularly emphasized the service that the library is prepared to give in the occupational, business, and industrial fields. We distributed to our visitors about six thousand of our "Blue Lists." These brief, pocket lists of library material upon numerous, practical subjects of daily interest appealed to many people. The library is indebted to Mr. Harold T. Dougherty, librarian of the Westfield Athena- eum, for volunteer supervisory work at this exhibit. Our participation elicited many expressions of approval, and we feel that it was good library publicity.
One of the most useful parts of our library system is the daily interchange express service operating between the dif- ferent buildings. It deserves to be better known. Through its operation those citizens living at some distance from the Central library, where the main collection of books is housed, are enabled to tap this central reservoir of information through the nearest branch with promptness and dispatch. It is pos- sible for any citizen by application at a branch, or by tele- phone call to the Central library, to have printed material or itemized information located by our reference or information department, and sent at once to the most convenient branch where it may be used or borrowed according to the nature of the material. An assistant is detailed every morning from each branch to visit the Central library and gather the ma- terial needed to answer such requests, accumulated on the
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ANNUAL REPORTS
day before, as have not at the time been answered by tele- phone. Furthermore the interchange contributes materially to the flexibility of our loan system. A borrower's card issued at any desk of the system is good for the loan of any circulat- ing book of the system no matter where located, and any book may be returned to any desk regardless of where it was bor- rowed.
There is an insidious and harmful tendency in all branch library systems for branches, especially those at considerable distance from the Central library, to feel their separateness, and to lose the larger vision of unity of purpose and practice of the whole service. This unfortunate tendency should be counteracted in every possible way. One helpful antidote, a well-established and accepted policy in our system, is the rather frequent transfer of staff members between Central and branches. Our interchange also contributes toward this im- portant end. Through its operation the system is knit to- gether more closely, the assistant's knowledge of the library's resources is enhanced, and the service rendered by the branch to its community is promoted. The extent to which a branch makes use of the interchange is significant of its spirit of loyalty, cooperation and progressiveness.
Among other things for which 1927 is notable in library annals is the publication of the results of the country-wide survey of libraries made by the American Library Association. This library undertook the task of self examination upon the basis of the voluminous questionnaire furnished. It was la- borious, but profitable. The report of this survey, published in four volumes, is a monumental contribution to the progress of librarianship. It furnishes standards whereby any library can appraise itself in the light of the present accumulation of library technique. The report contains 39 references to the Somerville Public Library, citing various methods in success- ful operation here.
The citation in the above-mentioned report (Vol. 1, pp. 93-94) of our Scheme of Service as a model of its kind leads your librarian to call the particular attention of the Board to the important function it performs in this library. The personnel of the Board has so greatly changed since its adop- tion that only a small minority can recall the difficulties of the trustees and the dissatisfaction among the staff due to the former unsystematic methods of appointment and promotion.
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Scheme of Service did away with these troubles. It was devised to check and eliminate abuses, and to base employ- ment solely upon fitness. It lays down principles accepted as fundamental in our procedure relating to questions of authority, appointment, promotion, compensation, and quali- fications of personality and education. Its provisions have been religiously observed, and its operation has been remarka- bly successful. It is probably the outstanding factor in mak- ing the library the well-oiled machine it is today, in promot- ing the remarkable morale of the staff, and in maintaining the efficiency of our service. By its operation we now have a well-established tradition of impartiality, promotion by merit, complete elimination of personal influence, and a lively sense of the obligation of public service. It deserves the careful study of anyone interested in library administration.
It has been our steady policy to encourage every impulse of our staff members to improve their intellectual equipment. One of the valuable advantages of residence in the Boston metropolitan district is the numerous opportunities for courses of study in almost every conceivable subject. During 1927 50 cultural or professional courses were taken by 29 different members of the staff. In other words over three quarters of our staff voluntarily devoted a portion of their spare time to self-improvement. Six individuals took three courses apiece, and eight individuals two courses apiece. The pursuit of cultural and technical studies by members of our staff has be- come a habit and a tradition. Not only is this an indication of ambition but, quite as important, shows the fruition of the steady teaching of their library mentors that their occupation is a profession to be followed because it is something worth doing, and not merely a means of filling a pay envelope.
Among the eleven different subjects may be mentioned Reference Work, in which one of our staff led a class of 65 with a mark of 96%, Children's Literature, Drama, Business English, Music, American History, Library Administration, and Creative Reading.
Our staff further shows its progressiveness by maintain- ing 100% membership in the Massachusetts Library Club, the active and thriving state professional organization, and by contributing to its various activities. It is also particularly gratifying to the librarian to report 100% membership of the Trustees. The library offered the use of its basement as a
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ANNUAL REPORTS
concentration depot for books collected by the Club in eastern Massachusetts for the devastated libraries of Vermont. As the year ended books for this purpose were beginning to ar- rive.
Among other attentions received from the Department of Public Buildings we especially wish to acknowledge five dozen new chairs, much needed to replace the wear and break- age of fourteen years.
Changes of personnel in the staff during the year have been as follows:
Resignations from the Graded service : Irene Smith, senior assistant, and Ingrid Blom, junior assistant.
Appointments to the Graded service : Ruth Hyatt, senior assistant; Ingrid Blom, Ruth H. Eaton, and Kathryn Kenny, junior assistants.
Promotions in the Graded service in regular course under the provisions of the Scheme of Service: Florence A. Bolster, children's librarian at East; Marion H. Hanford, Beatrice M. Kenny, Barbara Klingenhagen, and Alice J. Underwood to senior assistants.
Employed in the Ungraded service for temporary summer vacation work : Margaret E. Soar, Winifred J. Pember, James J. Carney and Philip L. Rusden.
Graduates of the Training Class in April were: Ingrid Blom, Ruth H. Eaton, Ruth Hyatt, Lillian E. Kemelman, Kathryn Kenny, and Wendell D. Ross.
Admissions to the Training Class in October were: Helen T. Blish, Ruth Nourbourn, Kathleen O'Brien, Winifred J. Pember, Gertrude Reynolds, and Evelyn R. Robinson.
TEN YEAR REVIEW
The passing of 1927 rounds out a period of ten full calen- dar years under the administration of the present librarian. A brief review of this period may be of interest since it has been one of great activity and change. The employment of a
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
new librarian in May, 1917, was almost contemporaneous with the entrance of the United States into the World war. Mem- ories of that crisis are still so vivid that it is unnecessary to be reminded of how all local interests were subordinated to the needs of the nation. It was a time of retrenchment in the expenditure of public funds for peace time purposes, and of concentration upon the determination of winning the war. Our library suffered its full share of poverty and economy. It sent its librarian for some months into a southern naval camp for welfare work among our naval forces. The termina- tion of the war brought serious problems of recovery and re- construction. The first half of the decade under considera- tion was perhaps the most abnormal and critical since the Civil War. The record of our library and the condition in which it emerged from the trying times should be of interest to our citizens.
One of the outstanding problems was that of recruiting our staff with properly trained assistants at a time when the services of women were at a high premium to replace the man power of the nation drafted for war. The solution of this problem was found in the establishment of the library train- ing class. The program of the class was carefully laid out to include instruction and practice in the major subjects of library technology. Fortunately we had a sufficient nucleus of experienced librarians to carry on the program. The first Director was Miss Helen Luitweiler, a graduate of the Library School of Simmons College, and now 1st Assistant in the Lynn Public Library. After a successful first year under her super- vision the direction of the class was taken over by Miss Nellie M. Whipple, our Assistant Librarian, who has since carried it on.
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