USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1931 > Part 13
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The total number of volumes added to the library system in 1931 is 13,664, distributed as follows:
Central Library, 5,681. West Somerville Branch, 2,652. East Somerville Branch, 1,901. Union Square Branch, 2,751. Winter Hill Station, 679.
This represents a book outlay of $19,923.00 at an average of $1.45 per volume. This is a type of expenditure that can never be intelligently reduced to contract or mass handling. Each book is in effect a separate purchase. Much time and thought is devoted to its examination, the elimination of the unfit, and the selection of the worthy. There is also the prob- able use of the volume by the reading public and the value of its contribution toward a well-rounded collection. Finally there is the question of economy of purchase. To accomplish all these ends the library drafts the judgment, not of any one person, but the united judgment of many book-wise experts.
Improvement to the physical condition and equipment of the various buildings have been unusual in variety and extent. At the Central Library a long step has been made toward the replacement of clock service which has been for years an out-
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
standing need. Moving and remodelling the shelving of the Reference Department and the acquisition of a modern effici- ency desk for the Information station has afforded an increased ease and convenience to the work of this division. Likewise the Catalog and Junior Library divisions have had additions to their catalog cabinets, in some cases replacing furnishings so antique that no one now living knew them in their youth.
The West Somerville Branch has been thoroughly reno- vated, having had its interior walls washed, repaired and painted for the first time in the life of the 20-year old building. The recent addition of a bronze rail in the center of the steps to the front entrance has elicited many expressions of gratitude especially from those of advancing years.
The East Somerville Branch has secured the completion of the partition separating the staff room from the public reading room. This partition, provided in the original plans, though of a different type, is a long needed improvement, giving com- plete separation and privacy of one room.
Building expenditures at Union Square Branch wait upon the decision regarding the building of a new post office.
The Winter Hill Station, still in a rented room, has been moved into somewhat better quarters in the same house. The situation here is not satisfactory, but relief and further ex- pansion is contingent upon finding a library home that will properly combine the requirements of location, accommoda- tions, and growth.
For building improvements we extend our grateful ac- knowledgments to the Commissioner of Public Buildings.
The entire collection of books, wherever located, has been cleaned by vacuum process under a special appropriation se- cured by the Mayor, entirely outside the regular appropriation made to provide the usual budget requirements as approved and submitted by the Board of Trustees.
December 31, 1931, brings to a close a period of two de- cades of considerable interest to this library. On January 1, 1912, the Trustees put into effect the graded Scheme of Service governing employment upon the staff of the library. Its pur- pose is set forth in the preamble to the Scheme as follows: "It aims to eliminate influence and favoritism, and to insure ap- pointments and promotion solely for fitness. It is believed that a premium is thereby placed upon training, ambition, good breeding and devotion to the ideals of public welfare that re-
240
ANNUAL REPORTS
sults in the highest type of disinterested service." The Scheme of Service sets up a definite and systematic code of standards for admission to the service, for advancement, and for salaries. There have been slight modifications of the details of the plan from time to time, as experience has indicated the possibility of perfecting its operation. It states as a general and funda- mental principle that "The Staff shall be appointed, promoted, and retained for educational and technical qualifica- tions, and efficiency, only". It also provides that "No relative or member of the family of a Trustee shall be employed in any capacity". It lays down a complete program for equal treat- ment of all employees in the application of the Scheme.
This plan of employment has now been in operation 20 years. It has been invaluable in protecting and maintaining the library's standard of service. During that period the prin- ciples thus prescribed have been scrupulously observed. There has never been an exception nor an evasion. There never has been an appointment nor a promotion into which personal or political influence has entered in the slightest degree, or any consideration other than the fitness of the individual through ability and training. For better or for worse the operation of this principle has been a predominating factor in the manage- ment of the library service during the last score of years.
In the voluminous report of the nation-wide survey of American libraries, made by the American Library Association and financed by the Carnegie Foundation, this Scheme of Ser- vice is cited as a model of its type.
For information of our citizens we insert a chart which briefly summarizes the organization of the library as it is af- fected by the Scheme of Service.
The question is being asked whether such a period of economic depression as the present one is reflected in the use of the library. The answer is emphatically "Yes". It is observ- able that in recent months the number of men who resort to the library has greatly increased. They are young men or men in the prime of life who would usually be engaged in the day time in their ordinary occupations. They come to the library for comfort, for forgetfulness of worry and discouragement in reading, and for study to improve themselves in their occupa- tions. This condition has also been evident in the growing registration and in the increase of home loans of books. One of the most helpful expenditures of city money in hard times is for the benefit of these men who are taking the opportunity
SCHEME OF SERVICE CHART Illustrating Organization of Personnel and Grade Appointments and Promotions
Administrative Grade Administrative and Executive Management
Librarian Assistant Librarian Executive Assistant
Grade 1
Department Heads
Specialized, and
Executive Positions
Reference Librarian Chief Cataloger Branch Librarians Supervisor of Work with Children
Note: The position of Second Assist- ant Librarian is a supplementary responsiblity assigned by the Trus- tees to a Grade 1 Executive
Grade 2
Promotion to Grade 1 by examination and experience rating The arrangement of the following divisions is not based upon precedence
Senior Assistants
Specialized, and Directive Work
Administration Division in charge of Executive Assistant
Office Business and
Book Order
Reference Division in charge of Reference Librarian Readers' Advice Information and Bulletin
Catalog Division in charge of Chief Cataloger Cataloging and Book Processes
Central Loan Division in charge of Central Desk Chief Circulation of Books
Periodicals and Binding Division
Branches Division
Central Junior Division
School and De- posits Division
in charge of Supervisor of Periodicals and Binding
in charge of Branch Libra- rian or Station Executive for each unit
in charge of Central Children's Librarian Work of the
in charge of School Librarian Outside Service
Receipt and care of Periodicals and Prepara- tion of Binding
Local
Junior Library with Children
and School Deposits
Grade 3
Promotion to Grade 2 by examination and experience rating
Junior Assistants
Routine, understudy
and
non-specialized work
Third year Junior Assistants Second year Junior Assistants
First year Junior Assistants
Training Class Staff recruits under instruction
Training Class Students
Community Service
Not members of the Staff until appointed to Grades.
26 weeks of organized instruction and practice upon regular library schedule. Appointment to staff by examination and experience rating.
241
PUBLIC LIBRARY
to make themselves more valuable when the opening comes for a new position.
The challenge of the times plays no favorites. The library as a social institution must submit to the acid test. If it has used to good purpose the years that are gone it will pass the test, but it is too late to get ready now. If it has made itself secure in the respect and esteem of the people, if by its useful- ness it has made itself a necessity, if it is prepared through the building of an effective organization of trained and intelligent personnel and a competent leadership to make its contribution to the needs of the times in a helpful and constructive program,. then its place in the social order is secure. The years of un- remitting care bestowed upon the training of our staff, together with their fine record of loyalty to the ideals of a helpful public service, inspire the hope that in the day of adversity our library will vindicate its claim for an essential place in community. life.
On December 11, 1931, notice was received from the City Clerk of a communication from the executor of the will of the late J. Frank Wellington to the effect that the library had been made the beneficiary of a bequest under the provisions con -- tained in the following paragraphs of the aforesaid will.
"Second : I hereby cancel and revoke Paragraph Fourteenth of my said will and in place thereof I substitute the following :
I give to said City of Somerville the sum of four thousand dollars to be known as the J. Frank Welling -- ton Library Fund to be held in trust by it and the net income only of said Fund to be expended as follows :
One half of said income shall be expended under the direction of the Trustees of the Somerville Public Library in their discretion for the purchase of new books, but upon the express condition that the annual appropriation of the City of Somerville for the pur- chase of new books shall not in any year be diminished by reason of this gift, as it is not my intention to re- lieve the city of any part of its appropriation for the purchase of books, but to enable the library to secure in addition to and beyond what it would otherwise be able to do from the usual appropriation.
The other one-half part of said yearly income shall be expended by the Librarian for the time being of said Library in his discretion, for special library pur- poses for which funds are not usually available by city
242
ANNUAL REPORTS
appropriation, such as special equipment, staff wel- fare expenses incidental to special library activities, promotion of high standards and professional fitness, and similar extraordinary expenses, it being my inten- tion not to relieve the city of any part of its normal support of the library, but rather to provide service and conveniences in addition to and beyond those that the city may reasonably be expected to supply."
At the time of submitting this report the acceptance of the bequest is before the Committee on Finance of the Board of Aldermen.
The following appointments and promotion have been made during the year: Appointed from the Training Class to the position of Junior Assistants, Dorothy E. Benjamin, Eliza- beth Corbin, Sophie Margolis, Dorothy G. Seymour, and Marion E. Smith ; promoted from Senior Assistant to School Libra- rian, Estelle M. Jones.
The following resignations have been received and ac- cepted : Madeleine R. Burrill, School Librarian, Eleanore Flynn and Marion H. Hanford, Senior Assistants, all of whom have accepted more responsible positions in other libraries.
The usual custom of omitting personal allusions in an official report is suspended in noting the resignation of Miss Mary S. Woodman. Miss Woodman's service of 33 years was begun near the end of the administration of John S. Hayes, as Librarian, antedating by a short time the appointment of Sam Walter Foss. She has therefore seen the administrations of four different librarians, and her experience has been compre- hensive and varied. She is the first of the staff to qualify under the new Somerville Retirement System. The esteem in which she is held by associates of many years was eloquently attested by a remarkable gathering of library friends to present her with a substantial token of regard, and to wish her Godspeed.
The vacancies occasioned by the resignations noted above are already taken care of by the operation of the Scheme of Service which provides for promotion from lower grades that are themselves recruited from the Training Class.
The appended statistics for the year 1931 are submitted as a part of this report.
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. H. EVAN, Librarian.
APPENDIX A Statistics of Use and Growth Circulation
Central
West
East
Union
Winter Hill 15,150 ยท 13,921
Schools 86 81,964
Total 377,854 253,065
Volumes circulated, juvenile ..
44,344
35,446
36,756
40,634
Total circulation (A. L. A. rules) ...
188,207
134,969
99,755
96,867
29,071
82,050
630,919
Accessions
Central
West
East
Union
Winter Hill
Total
Volumes in library, Dec. 31, 1930
91,949
18,109
10,136
11,809
1,783
133,786
Volumes added
5,681
2,652
1,901
2,751
679
13,664
Volumes transferred to ..
45
30
25
7
1
108
Volumes restored
59
3
5
0
1
68
Total additions
5,785
2,685
1,931
2,758
681
13,840
Volumes withdrawn
2,935
1,096
854
1,623
80
6,588
Volumes transferred from
47
1
26
3
31
108
Volumes lost
1,585
106
587
945
9
3,232
Total reductions
4,567
1,203
1,467
2,571
120
9,928
Net gain
1,218
1,482
464
187
561
3,912
Volumes in library, Dec. 31, 1931
93,167
19,591
10,600
11,996
2,344
137,698
Registration
Central
West
East
Union
Winter Hill
Total
Borrowers registered December 31, 1930
7,318
5,301
2,842
3,105
664
19,230
Expirations in 1931
3,671
2,582
1,465
1,618
328
9,664
Registrations in 1931
3,964
2,904
1,484
1,706
509
10,567
Borrowers registered Dec. 31, 1931
7,611
5,623
2,861
3,193
845
20,133
Expenditures in Library Department
Per capita expenditure for library service ...... $0.798
Expenditure per book lent
$0.131
PUBLIC LIBRARY
243
Volumes circulated, adult
143,863
99,523
62,999
56,233
244
ANNUAL REPORTS
APPENDIX B
American Library Association Form for Uniform Statistics.
Annual Report for year ended December 31, 1931.
Name of library: The Public Library of the City of Somerville, Mass.
City: Somerville State: Massachusetts.
Name of librarian: George Hill Evans.
Date of founding: 1872.
Population served: (1932 World Almanac) ...... ....... 103,908
What government unit served: City.
Assessed valuation of city $123,051,300 00
Assessed valuation is what per cent of true cash value: True cash value.
Rate of tax levy for library purposes .808 of a mill
Terms of use: Free for lending.
Free for reference.
Total number of agencies
359
Consisting of Central Library
1
Branches (in separate buildings) ... 3
Station
1
High School
1
School Rooms
342
Clubs
3
Institutions 8
Number of days open during year (Central Library) ....
343
Hours open each week for lending (Central Library)
79
Hours open each week for reading (Central Library))
79
Hours service per week required of staff: Graded
41
BOOK STOCK
Number of volumes at beginning of year ...
Adult 107,425 7,071
Juvenile 26,361 6,385
Total 133,786 13,456
Number of volumes added by gift or ex- change
138
6
144
Number of volumes added by binding ma- terial not otherwise counted
59
5
64
Number of volumes added by lost books re- stored
39
29
68
Number of volumes transferred to
79
29
108
Total
114,811
32,815
147,626
Number of volumes lost or withdrawn
5,199
4,621
9,820
Number of volumes transferred from
89
19
108
Total number at end of year
109,523
28,175
137,698
Number of volumes added by purchase . ..... ...
245
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Number of volumes in Reference Department Number of volumes in Children's Department
6,080
28,175
MISCELLANEOUS STOCK
Number of newspapers and periodicals cur- rently received :
Titles
228
Copies
549
Number of publications issued during year
10
USE
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Number of volumes of non-fiction lent for home use
79,007
85,475
164,482
Number of volumes of fiction lent for home use
298,847
167,590
466,437
377,854
253,065
630,919
Total number of volumes lent for home use Number of volumes lent through School Deposit collections
86
81,964
82,050
Per cent fiction lent of total volumes lent ....
79%
66.2%
73.9%
Circulation per capita
6.07
Number of pictures, photographs and prints lent for home use
1,636
REGISTRATION
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Number of borrowers registered during year
5,554
5,013
10,567
Total number of registered borrowers
10,960
9,173
20,133
Registration period, years
2
Per cent registered borrowers of population served
19.3%
STAFF
Library
Janitor
Service
Service
Number of individuals on payroll
61
6
Full time equivalent of above individuals .....
47
6
246
ANNUAL REPORTS
FINANCE
Receipts From
Local taxation:
Library Department
$77,012 48
Public Buildings Department
17,675 00
Invested funds
1,100 27
Fines
2,388 87
Other Sources (dog licenses)
2,350 65
$100,527 27
Unexpended balance from previous year:
Invested funds
689 96
Total
101,217 26
Payments For
Maintenance:
1. Library Operating Expenses
Librarians' salaries
$52,454 84
Books
19,954 00
Periodicals
1,196 01
Binding
3,840 41
Supplies, stationery, printing, etc.
2,318 56
Furniture, equipment, etc.
890 76
Telephone, postage, freight, express
1,988 35
Other items
365 69
Total
83,008 62
2. Building Operating Expenses
Janitors, mechanics, wages, etc.
$10,565 91
Cleaning supplies and equipment
144 16
Building repairs and minor alterations
361 73
Rent
650 00
Heat and light
4,807 16
Other items
951 53
Total
17,480 49
Total maintenance expense
$100,489 11
Extraordinary Expenses
0.00
Unexpended Balance:
Library Appropriation
$ 18 41
Invested funds
515 20
Public Buildings Appropriation
194 51
728 12
Grand Total ........
$101,217 23
Maintenance expenditure per capita
0.96
247
RECREATION COMMISSION
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE RECREATION COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 1931
To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville.
Gentlemen :
The Annual report of the Recreation Commission of the City of Somerville for the year 1931, being the thirteenth in the series, is herewith submitted.
In the report for 1930 special attention was called to five definite objectives toward which the commission was direct- ing its efforts. These objectives are, briefly stated, the develop- ment and stabilization of a technically trained staff of employ- ees, expansion in the number and variety of activities, increase in the number of centers, expansion to an all-year program, and extension of the program to provide for the needs of the adult population. Measurable progress has been made during the year just elapsed toward these goals, for the details of which the reader is referred to the report of the Director here- with appended. Particular attention is directed to that por- tion of his recommendations dealing with the development of a permanent, trained staff.
The Commission has welcomed to its membership Dr. Soter G. Zaharoolis, newly appointed by His Honor, the Mayor, for the usual term of two years expiring January, 1933.
The annual report of the Director is herewith transmitted as a part of the annual report of the Commission.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE H. EVANS, Chairman.
248
ANNUAL REPORTS
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 1931
December 31, 1931.
To The Recreation Commission :-
At the beginning of this Annual Report to your Commis- sion by the Director, I respectfully emphasize the point of view from which it is prepared. This point of view may be explained as follows :
The year 1931 is the first full year of the full-time organ- ization under your Commission. This full year had been pre- ceded by a fraction of a year under a full-time Director as the executive agent of the Commission to lead the corps of work- ers. It was on May 1, 1930, that your Commission discontinued the hitherto strictly part-time basis of employment. A year ago the Annual Report of your Director contained a complete and detailed setting-forth of the existing situation in the trans- itional year of 1930. At that time, the point of view emphas- ized was the point of view born of the transition. This present report for the year 1931 respectfully emphasizes the sequence between the two annual reports for 1930 and 1931. For pur- pose of sequence this present Report assumes knowledge of, and in some items refers to, the main features of the preceding one.
In the previous (1930) report it was pointed out that "naturally following upon (the change calculated to lead grad- ually into a full-time, all-year community-wide system) have come
"The extension of the program of Recreation activ- ities under the Commission ;
"The extension of the executive, administrative and supervisory duties of the Director ; with employ- ment of the Director for full-time, all-year service instead of part-time service as previously ;
"Increase in organization and personnel of the staff of Recreation Leaders."
The same (1930) report expresses the Director's duties under the changed situation :- "to take executive lead in ap-
249
RECREATION COMMISSION
plying, to the foundation for a future community-wide system, the results of the past well-organized and fruithful work; and to continue the effectiveness of the previous carefully-built or- ganization." At the time of this 1930 report, only eight monthts under the changed organization had elapsed; and at the time of this present report only twenty months have passed. It seems, therefore, appropriate to keep in mind the same central idea which has just been quoted. Similarly it seems appro- priate that the present report be largely a summary of the more recent development along these lines of thought and en- deavor that were summarized in the report for 1930.
Before directly summarizing the features of the work for the year, it seems wise to explain and emphasize two impor- tant underlying facts. One deals with an important feature of the existing organization that might otherwise easily be mis- apprehended. The second affects the subject of finances.
The possible misapprehension could arise from the expres- sion, "full-time organization", which is used above, and which is frequently used in describing the recent change involving employment of a full-time Director. It should be kept in mind that the only full-time, all-year-round persons employed under your Commission are two: namely, the Director, who serves also as Secretary to The Commission; and one Secretary- Stenographer who serves jointly the Commission, the Secre- tary, and the Director. All other employes of the Commission are part-time employes in the sense that they serve (a) a few hours each week for the major part of the year, as in the case of Saturday Play Leaders, or (b) for less than two months of concentrated season-the case of the Summer Play Leaders ; or (c) several hours a week for limited seasons, as in the case of the After-School Athletic Supervisors and Leaders and in the case of the Managers and Leaders of the Evening Recreation Centers and Gymnasiums, whose season is less than six months in length. Later in this report some considerations are sub- mitted as to the advantages and disavantages of this arrange- ment. The present purpose is to eliminate any misunderstand- ing or misapprehension. The part-time organization has not given way to a full-time organization.
Taking up the second important underlying fact, mention- ed for clearness in statements to follow, let it be recalled that the conduct of a year's program in Municipal Recreation is largely influenced and controlled by the funds appropriated and available for the program. Accordingly, a Report for the year 1931 must be largely concerned with explanation as to how has been applied the difference in money between the re-
250
ANNUAL REPORTS
spective appropriations for the years 1930 and 1931. This dif- ference is approximately $6500. Since the year 1931 is the first full year of the so-called full-time organization, it should be noted that the increase, amounting to less than 24%, is offset by the fact that twelve full months of the full-time or- ganization are covered in this year, in contrast to eight months only, of the full-time organization, for the previous year. To assume that there has been a $6500 increase over the previous year's appropriation, for application within the same field for a corresponding period, would be to approach the year's work with a mistaken view and would also make impossible any un- dertanding of the present Report. In fact the increase has been largely absorbed by certain expansions carefully worked out under your Commission during the latter part of the previous year, 1930, not calling for financial expenditure during the earlier part of the year, but requiring for 1931 financing for twelve months as against only the closing months of 1930.
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