Report of the city of Somerville 1930, Part 23

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1930
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 574


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1930 > Part 23


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77


Property found, no value given


77


Robbery and attempts to rob


23


Runaway children found


8


Runaway horses captured


1


Sidewalks and streets dangerous from snow and ice


61


Sudden deaths


21


Suspicious persons


84


Stray bullets


10


Stray dogs and other animals


186


Lost children found


330


Fires, needless alarm for


345


CHIEF OF POLICE


Stray dogs and other animals found 11


Street lights reported


1,280


Sidewalks, streets and cellars flooded


3


Summons served for witnesses and defendants to ap- pear in court in other places


1,710


Threats


0


Tree dangerous


31


Trespass


38


Violations of city ordinances


163


Water pipes leaking


107


Windows broken


46


346


ANNUAL REPORTS


OFFICIAL ROSTER OF DEPARTMENT


Chief of Police Thomas Damery


Captains


1-Michael T. Kennedy


2-John A. Ray


3-Ernest Howard 4-Charles J. Sharry


Lieutenants


1-James M. Harmon


2-William G. Kenney


3-Thomas P. Walsh 4-Robert T. Blair


5-Augustine J. Fitzpatrick


Sergeants


1-Frank H. Graves 5-John J. Killourhy


2-James M. Lynch


6-Thomas M. Sharry


3-Charles J. Fulton


7-Augustine F. Sharry


4-Daniel M. O'Connell 8-Joseph A. Dwyer


9-Hugh R. Cunningham


Patrolmen


1-Samuel Burns 31-Michael J. O'Loughlin


2-John A, Dadmun


32-Charles W. Shepherd


3-George L. Rice 33-John J. Shay


4-Myron S. Gott 34-Edward G. Butman


5-Henry A. Sudbey


35-John P. L. O'Keefe


36-Alfred E. Robitaille


37-Allan S. Burns


38-William H. Donovan 39-George R. Allan


40-Jeremiah Keniry


41-Edward F. Culliton


42-Alfred J. McFadden


43-James A. Fitzpatrick 44-Elmer E. G. Raymond 14-Walter Reed 15-Dennis G. Mulqueeney


16-Patrick J. Doolin


17-Edward J. Hopkins


18-Patrick McGrath


19-Bernard McCabe


20-Harry C. Young


21-Robert D. Dewar


22-Peter Moore 23-Albert Hawes


24-Walter C. Oesting


25-John L. Cameron 26-Francis P. Higgins 27-John J. McCahey


28-Alexander Morrison


29-Jeremiah O'Connor 30-Timothy Buckley


46-Chester F. Warner 47-George D. MacDonald 48-Charles F. Lacey


49-William E. Dwyer


50-Charles H. McAvoy 51-James F. Holmes 52-Earl W. Elliott 53-Michael J. Dowd, Jr. 54-Patrick J. Lyons


55-Thomas A. Donovan 56-Thomas J. Flanagan 57-Timothy J. Corkery 58-Henry W. Roche 59-John H. Baker 60-John J. Courtney


ยท


6-Thomas F. McNamara


7-Charles S. Johnson


8-Claude L. Crossman 9-John J. Cummings


10-Edmund J. Keane


11-Dennis Downey


12-George A. C. Peters


13-Louis J. Belzarini


45-Frank J. Roche


347


CHIEF OF POLICE


61-Pierce P. Ronayne


97-Thomas F. Galvin


62-Joseph P. Blake


98-Walter L. McDonough


63-Frank A. Silver, Jr.


99-John H. Mckenzie


64-Dennis F. Kearney 100-William R. Burnett


65-LeRoy V. Pierce


101-Alfred J. Carey


66-John J. Smith


102-William J. Baird


67-Francis R. Begley


68-Francis X. Cavanaugh


69-Joseph F. Small


105-James G. Hourihan


70-Edward F. Forristall


106-William H. Griffin


71-August Cidado


107-William E. Johnson


72-James Souza


108-Ludwig Nelson


73-Garnet L. Reid


109-John J. Hagerty


74-Jeremiah F. Donovan


110-George H. Strangman


75-Daniel J. Riley


111-George Gullage, Jr.


76-George R. Estee, Jr.


112-Thomas F. Mahoney


113-Cornelius T. Begley


114-Edward A. May


115-Edward L. Berg


80-Stephen D. McDonald


81-Patrick F. O'Brien


82-Jeremiah G. Sheehan


118-Joseph G. Crowley


84-Daniel F. McAuliffe


120-Ernest J. Lenhart


85-George B. Phillips


121-John K. Barrett


86-Ricco J. Rossi


122-Frederick W. McGovern


87-John J. Cronin


123 -- George W. Crosby


88-John M. Dunleavey


124-John E. Hughes


89-Harold L. Coffey


125-Edward J. Kiley


91-James M. Powers


127-Lester A. Caswell


92-Cornelius P. Canavan


128-Jeremiah G. Brennan 129-Francis L. Rogers


93-George W. McCauley


94-Garret F. J. Mehigan


130-John H. O'Brien


95-Daniel J. O'Connell


131-John T. Powers


96-Arthur W. Kelley


132-John E. Dillaway


133-Thomas J. Flemming


Matron Mina T. Weeks


Assistant Matron Ida M. Justice


Pensioners Retired on Half Pay


Ira S. Carlton, patrolman


May 9, 1907


James J. Pollard, patroiman


Feb. 27, 1908


Herbert Hilton, patrolman Dec. 21, 1911


George H. Carlton, sergeant Mar. 27, 1914


Jacob W. Skinner, patrolman Dec. 31, 1917


Elmer E. Drew, patrolman Ernest S. Goff, patrolman July 11, 1919


July 25, 1918


Charles W. Allen, patrolman


Mar. 26, 1920


June 24, 1921


Charles E. Woodman, lieutenant Frederick G. Jones, patrolman Feb. 9,1923


Hudson M. Howe, patrolman


Sept. 24, 1925,


116-Cornelius Aucoin


117-Leo C. Reardon


83-John J. Gallagher


119-William J. Fitzgerald


90-Joseph F. Curran


126-John T. Mahood


77-John J. Brosnahan 78-George Spiers 79-Charles W. Ellis


103-Joseph F. Fedele 104-William F. Blake


348


ANNUAL REPORTS


Charles W. Reick, patrolman


June 25, 1927


Frank C. Hopkins, patrolman Edward M. Davies, patrolman


June 25, 1927


Sept. 23, 1927


Sept. 28, 1927


Dec. 17, 1928


Dec. 12, 1929


Walter L. Groves, patrolman


Oct. 6, 1930


Louis F. Arnold, patrolman


Oct. 18, 1930


Theodore E. Heron, patrolman Edward M. Carter, patrolman Charles A. Kendall, chief


349


CHIEF OF POLICE


CHANGES IN THE FORCE


Retirement


Walter L. Groves retired and placed on pension October 6, 1930. Louis F. Arnold retired and placed on pension October 18, 1930.


Deaths


Retired pensioner, Frank C. Hopkins, died November 8, 1930. Retired pensioner, Daniel G. Simons, died May 13, 1930. -


Promotions


Augustine J. Fitzpatrick, promoted to lieutenant, January 23, 1930. Hugh R. Cunningham, promoted to sergeant, March 13, 1930.


Appointments


Thomas F. Mahoney, appointed patrolman Jan. 9,1930


Cornelius T. Begley, appointed patrolman Jan. 9,1930


Edward A. May, appointed patrolman Jan. 9,1930


Edward L. Berg, appointed patrolman Jan. 9,1930


Cornelius Acoin, appointed patrolman Jan. 9,1930


Jan. 9,1930


Leo C. Reardon, appointed patrolman Joseph J. Crowley, appointed patrolman April 24, 1930


April 24, 1930


William J. Fitzgerald, appointed patrolman Ernest J. Lenhart, appointed patrolman April 24, 1930 John K. Barrett, appointed patrolman April 24, 1930 Frederick W. McGovern, appointed patrolman April 24, 1930 George W. Crosby, appointed patrolman Sept. 2,1930 John E. Hughes, appointed patrolman Sept. 2, 1930 Edward J. Kiley, appointed patrolman Sept. 2,1930 John T. Mahood, appointed patrolman Sept. 2,1930 Lester A. Caswell, appointed patrolman Dec. 23, 1930 Jeremiah G. Brennan, appointed patrolman Dec. 23, 1930 Francis L. Rogers, appointed patrolman Dec. 23, 1930 John H. O'Brien, appointed patrolman Dec. 23, 1930 John F. Powers, appointed patrolman Dec. 23, 1930 John E. Dillaway, appointed patrolman Dec. 23, 1930


Thomas J. Fleming, appointed patrolman


Dec. 23, 1930


POLICE SIGNAL SERVICE


Number of duty calls made by the officers and patrolmen 290,222 Telephone calls made by the officers and patrolmen 69,102


White Combination Ambulance and Patrol Service


Number of runs made conveying prisoners to the station 1,053


Number of prisoners conveyed 1,193


Number of sick and injured conveyed 50


Number of miles run, conveying prisoners, sick, injured, etc. 5,040.5


350


ANNUAL REPORTS


Reo Combination Ambulance and Patrol Service


Number of runs made in conveying prisoners to the station .. ...


24


Number of prisoners conveyed 24


Number of sick and injured conveyed 548


Number of miles run conveying prisoners, sick, injured, etc ..... 2,906.3


Touring Car Reports


Number of prisoners conveyed to the station


8


Number of sick and injured conveyed 11


Cadillac Ambulance Service


Number of runs made conveying sick, injured, etc.


435


Number of miles run conveying sick, injured, etc 1872


351


CHIEF OF POLICE


REPORT OF POLICE MATRON


THOMAS DAMERY, Chief of Police, Somerville, Mass.


Dear Sir :-


The following is the report of those committed to my care during the year ending December 31, 1930.


Arson


1


Abandonment of minor child


1


Assault and battery


10


Breaking glass


1


Common brawler


1


Concealing leased property


1


Disturbing peace


2


Drunkenness


32


Fornication


1


Fraud conveying real estate


1


Idle and Disorderly


1


Infanticide


1


Injury personal property


1


Keeping disorderly house


1


Larceny


19


Lewdness


1


Lewd and lascivious cohabitation


7


Lost children


35 2


Neglect of parent


1


Operating auto under influence of liquor


2


Runaway


2


Safe-keeping


8


Stubborness


6


Unlawful apporpriation of auto


1


Unlawful use of electricity


1


Uttering indictments


3


Violation liquor law


14


Violation motor law


2


Violation Parole Law


1


Warrants


Respectfully submitted,


MINA T. WEEKS,


Matron Police Department.


Neglected children


352


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE LIQUOR SQUAD


THOMAS DAMERY, Esquire Chief of Police, Somerville, Mass.


Dear Sir:


I herewith submit a report of the activities engaged in by the Liquor Squad from January 1, 1930 to December 31, 1930 inclusive.


Arrests


Drunkenness


28


Violation of Liquor Laws


99


Violation of Automobile Laws


1


Violation of Gaming Laws


4


Warrants served


6


Assault and Battery on a police officer


2


Larceny


2


Fornication


1


143


Dispositions in District Court


Liquor Fines paid


$7,450 00


All other fines


310 00


Jail sentences, No Appeal (total 7 months)


2


Jail sentences, Appealed (total 102 months)


16


Not Guilty


1


Suspended sentences (total 39 months)


7


On file


3


Default


1


Held for Grand Jury


3


Dispositions in Superior Court


Liquor Fines paid


$4,175 00


Jail sentences (total 58 months)


7


Not Guilty


7


Cases pending


3


On file


6


Dismissed


1


Samples analyzed by Department of Health


120


Complaints investigated


475


Search Warrants served


105


Gallons of liquor seized


1,977


Houses padlocked


2


Sale of junk from raids


$45 90


Respectfully submitted,


CHARLES J. SHARRY, Captain of Police.


353


CHIEF OF POLICE


AUTOMOBILE AND TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT REPORT, 1930


THOMAS DAMERY, Esquire Chief of Police


Dear Sir :-


I herewith submit a report of the Traffic Division and the Automobile Department for the year ending December 31, 1930.


Roster


Captain in charge


1


Sergeants


1


Motorcycle officers


5


School officers


1


Officers on fixed posts


14


Relief officers


1


Officers in automobie department (one inspector of licenses)


2


Traffic Violations


Number of persons stopped for violations of automo- bile laws


1,562


Number of persons warned for violations of automo- bile laws 1,435


Number of persons arrested, and summonsed, and


convicted for violations of automobile laws ......


127


School Officers Report


Number of schools in the city visited 29


Number of talks to children in the schools


589


Number of children talked to in the schools 14,865


Automobile Accidents


Injuries to persons


806


Fatal injuries (adults 9, children 3) 12


There were 210 less injuries to persons and 4 less fatalities in which automobiles were involved than in year 1929.


Somerville with its 110,000 population is one of the most thickly congested cities of its size in the United States and the statistics of accidents in this city have been most favor- ably commented upon by the National Safety Council as well as our local safety Councils.


Under date of December 13, 1930 the United States De- partment of Commerce reports that in comparison with other


354


ANNUAL REPORTS


cities of 100,000 population, Somerville has the second lowest death rate where automobiles have been involved.


Very favorable comment has also been aknowledged by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.


Automobile Department


Number of licenses granted by the Board of Aldermen for the purchase and sale of automobiles :-


First class


16


Second class 16


Third class 8


Number of purchases, sales and transfers by second hand dealers 6,721


Number of purchases, sales and transfers by in- dividuals


1,841


Number of automobiles stolen in Somerville


400


Number of automobiles stolen in Somerville and re- covered


392


Number of automobiles stolen in Somerville and not recovered


8


Number of automobiles stolen in other cities and towns and recovered in Somerville


249


Number of tags filed for violations of automobile laws 3,010


Number of investigations made for the Registrar of Motor Vehicles


660


Respectfully submitted,


ERNEST HOWARD,


Captain of Police.


355


CHIEF OF POLICE


IMPROVEMENTS


There have been many changes during the year for the betterment of the department; the most important of which was the establishing of a permanent traffic division which now consists of a Captain, one Sergeant and three Patrolmen. The appointment from this division of a steady officer whose duty it is to visit the schools daily and teach safety to the school children, and in this connection we have enjoyed the hearty co-operation of the entire school authorities. The necessity for the establishing this department and the value derived therefrom may be aptly demonstrated in the fact that there has been a substantial reduction in the number of deaths from automobile accidents, and also a large reduction in the number of persons injured and the amount of property damage result- ing from automobile accidents, and the number of accidents recorded were considerable less than the previous year, and this during a year of greatly increased automobile traffic, ow- ing to Tercentenary and various other celebrations in the city.


The introduction of a New Inhalator and the training of officers to properly operate the same, the value of which was very substantionally demonstrated on our first call for the use of same, where our ambulance on June 28, responded to a call where a man on Alpine Street, had barricaded himself in his home and attempted suicide by gas poisoning, on the arrival of the officers the man had actually been unconscious for some time, and after twenty-five minutes persistent work on the part of the officers with said Inhalator, consciousness was again restored to the patient who was then rushed to a hospital and a life was saved.


The putting in service in the department of a new Cadil- lac Ambulance which is the most-up-to-date and thoroughly equipped ambulance obtainable as well as being the finest looking motor vehicle in the city, and is used exclusively for the conveyance of sick and injured persons, as a result of its use the department has received many complimentary letters and telephone calls from citizens and physicians praising the quality of service rendered by the amublance and its staff.


The introduction in the garage of new equipment for the proper care of our motor vehicles the need of such equipment having been long felt up to this year.


The furnishing of an additional automobile for the use of the Sergeants and the adjustment of their duties so that provision has been made for two Sergeants in motor cars con- stantly patrolling the city during the night shifts, thereby


356


ANNUAL REPORTS


furnishing additional protection to our citizens and their property.


And last a course of instruction and training for new men entering the department, so that they may be fitted to as- sume the duties of a police officer when they are started on police service. This very necessary instruction and training being something not afforded new men in the department up to this year.


RECOMMENDATIONS


That a modern police building be constructed to replace the present structure that is now inadequate, unsanitary and dangerous ; also a suitable garage, the present quarters being unfit for the proper housing and care of our motor equipment, same being so crowded that department cars are being ga- raged out of doors.


The installation of a system of flash lights in the various squares of the city and other points for the purpose of notify- ing officers to get in immediate touch with the police station, in cases of emergency.


I also recommend that the monument in Union Sqare be removed to some other location and a traffic tower be located on that site for the better handling of traffic in Union Spuare.


IN CONCLUSION


I wish to thank His Honor, the Mayor, the members of the City Government and the various heads of departments for their splendid co-operation and assistance rendered my de- partment during the past year, such co-operation and assist- ance being of invaluable aid to me in handling the many prob- lems of my department.


Also I wish to thank every member of my department for his loyalty and co-operation all through the year, which was one of the most trying years the department has experienced owing to the Tercentenary celebrations which involved a tre- mendous amount of extra and arduous work on the part of the entire department, to which extra demands the men as a whole responded nobly, and as a result of such attitude and assistance the department has experienced a very success- ful year from a police standpoint, and for that attitude and as- sistance, I am duly appreciative.


Respectfully submitted,


THOMAS DAMERY, Chief of Police.


357


PUBLIC LIBRARY


REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES


To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :


Gentlemen: The fifty-eighth annual report of the Trustees of the Public Library is herewith respectfully sub- mitted ; being the report of the librarian and tables of statis- tics of operation.


Very respectfully,


THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES,


By THOS. M. DURELL, President.


358


ANNUAL REPORTS


PUBLIC LIBRARY


BOARD OF TRUSTEES


THOMAS M. DURELL, M.D., President, 1931 WILLIAM L. BARBER, Vice-President, 1931


J. FRANK WELLINGTON, 1932 ANNA J. COLL, 1933 (Deceased Oct. 25) (Appointed Dec. 16)


FRANK R. NICKERSON, 1932 ALBERT L. HASKELL, 1931


WILLIAM H. DOLBEN, 1933 REV. DAVID V. FitzGERALD, 1933 FRANK M. BARNARD, 1932


COMMITTEES


On Administration


The President, Messrs. Wellington, Haskell, and Dolben


On Books and Cataloging


The President, Messrs, Barber, Barnard, Nickerson, and Rev. D. V. FitzGerald


On Buildings and Property The President and the Vice-President


Secretary of the Board GEORGE H. EVANS


359


PUBLIC LIBRARY


ORGANIZATION OF LIBRARY AND STAFF PERSONNEL December 31, 1930 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.


MADELEINE R. BURRILL, 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


ESTELLE M. JONES, Circulation WINIFRED J. PEMBER, Circulation ELEANORE FLYNN, Circulation


...... .... Circulation MARION H. HANFORD, Catalog Department HELEN T. BLISH, Junior Library


Junior Assistants


Special Assistants MARGARET M. COLLINS, Administration UNETTA R. QUINN, Administration EDYTHE T. REYNOLDS, Catalog


Ungraded Service Attendants on Part Time


JAMES J. CARNEY JOHN J. COLLINS


DEXTER B. MARTIN ELEANOR SHANAHAN


360


ANNUAL REPORTS


WEST SOMERVILLE BRANCH


Established 1909


40 College Avenue


Graded Service


ESTHER M. MAYHEW, Branch Librarian DOROTHY H. TERRY, First Assistant BEATRICE M. KENNY, Children's Librarian


Senior Assistants GERTRUDE REYNOLDS, Circulation RUTH NOURBOURN, Circulation


..... ...... Circulation


Junior Assistants


..... ...


... ...


Ungraded Service Attendants on Part Time


DOLPHIE E. BERG NORMAN KNOX HELEN MERRY DONALD PERRY


DOROTHY VALENTINE


EAST SOMERVILLE BRANCH


Established 1912


Broadway and Illinois Ave.


Graded Service ELSIE K. WELLS, Branch Librarian ALICE J. UNDERWOOD, First Assistant


MARY B. BARTLETT, Children's Librarian


Senior Assistants KATHRYN KENNY, Circulation


Junior Assistants


Ungraded Service Attendants on Part Time


NELLIE M. EGAN KATHLEEN MARTIN


GERTRUDE L. WALLACE


M. KATHLEEN SCANLON ELEANOR LLOY AUDREY LANGILL


361


PUBLIC LIBRARY


UNION SQUARE BRANCH


Established 1912 Washington St. and Bonner Ave.


Graded Service


ALICE G. WORTHEN, Branch Librarian ALICE L. DELANEY, First Assistant KATHLEEN O'BRIEN, Children's Librarian


Senior Assistants


...... .. ..


...


Junior Assistants


... ... ...... .... ...... ......


Ungraded Service


Attendants on Part Time


MILDRED C. PERKINS


HELEN F. KAMMERER


WILLIAM J. O'BRIEN


ELEANOR M. MARTIN KATHLEEN SHEA THELMA L. HOWARD


WINTER HILL STATION


Established 1929


424 Broadway


RUTH H. EATON, Assistant-in-Charge


Members of the Training Class


DOROTHY E. BENJAMIN SOPHIE MARGOLIS


ELIZABETH CORBIN DOROTHY E. SEYMOUR


MARION E. SMITH


Note: For changes in staff personnel during year see Librarian's Report.


362


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN


Gentlemen of the Board of Trustees :


The fifty-eighth annual report of the Somerville Public Library, being that for the year 1930, is herewith submitted.


Detailed statements of the work of the year will be found in the appendices setting forth in statistical form the use and growth of the library. A few high points hidden in columns of figures may be mentioned. It was not to be expected that the abnormal rate of increase of 1929 would be maintained. Nevertheless there has been growth. The total number of home book loans, 573,929, is the high water mark to date, and is a per capita circulation of 5.5. 9,566 borrowers have registered during the year. Our active registration list on December 31 is 19,230, a gain in total figures of 631. The registration term of this library is two years as compared with the more usual three-year term. Such variations make comparisons of the work of different libraries difficult and misleading. The total of our registrations for the last three years is 28,165. The number of volumes added to the library is 12,834, and the withdrawals 8,258, making the total number of books on De- cember 31, 133,786. The ratio of reductions to use of books is .014. This is a reasonable figure and must be regarded as one of the items of the overhead expense, or cost of doing business.


Winter Hill Station, experimentally established in 1929, has completed its first full year. Restricted to open hours of three afternoons and one evening a week, with only one per- son in attendance in a single small room, it reports a circula- tion of 21,976, thoroughly establishing its claims for per- manency, and for a promising future. During the year the Station was moved into a more suitable room in the same house. As a step toward better service an extension of open hours and the employment of a part time attendant is now under consideration.


On April 22 regular book loan service to the staff and patients of the Somerville hospital was inaugurated. Previous attempts in this direction have been unsuccessful for lack of proper space and equipment. Suitable storage space and pro- tection for books and records is a prior condition to the suc -- cessful operation of library institutional service. The grate- ful acknowledgment of the library is due the Somerville Rotary club for the presentation of a book case and hospital book truck which have completely solved this problem. A represen- tative of the library visits the hospital on Tuesday and Fri-


363


PUBLIC LIBRARY


day afternoons. She makes the rounds of the rooms and wards bringing the books directly to the bedside on a noiseless truck. 1,143 book loans have been made to patients and hospital staff since the work began in April. It is the opinion of the Super- intendent of the hospital that the service is of marked value. We are indebted to Miss Elizabeth Reed, Librarian of the War- ren Library of the Massachusetts General Hospital, for help- ful suggestions relative to methods and the proper type of books for hospital use.


Beginning on February 2 Sunday library service was again instituted at the Central library and at the West Branch. The hours are from 2 until 9 p. m. These two build- ings are so located as to take care of the needs of the two ends of the city. It is reasonably urged that many adults, busy during the week with their usual occupations, or attending sessions of college and other advanced schools, may use the library to great advantage on Sundays. On the other hand it would seem that six days in the week are ample to supply juvenile needs. Therefore the service is planned for adult read- ers, although children coming with a serious purpose have not been turned away. There have been repeated expressions of appreciation for the opportunity for quiet study undisturbed by the natural restlessness of children. So far the experiment has been more successful than previous attempts at Sunday opening. The total attendance at the Central library has been 7,047 with a circulation of 4,770 books and a registration of 118 borrowers. At the West Somerville branch the attendance has been 4,221 with a circulation of 2,642 books and a registra- tion of 59. Undoubtedly the prevailing condition of unemploy- ment has favorably influenced Sunday attendance, as it clear- ly has that of week days. Hard times in business and industry are always busy times in the library.


Early in the year two scholarships, each entitling the holder to a year's graduate professional study in an accredit- ed library school, were offered for nation-wide competition. As a matter of local interest it seems proper to record that the successful contestant for the E. P. Dutton scholarship of $1,000 is a member of our staff, Miss Eleanore Flynn. She has elect- ed to attend the graduate School of Library Service of Colum- bia University, and this library was glad to give her a leave of absence for that purpose.




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