Report of the city of Somerville 1935, Part 11

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1935
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 408


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1935 > Part 11


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This department maintains its own municipal repair shops for the various lines of work. Most of the maintenance and repair work on the automobile equipment of this department is done in our shop at the City Stables.


TRAFFIC CONTROL


Traffic lines were painted and warning signs erected at schools, playgrounds and dangerous locations. Particular at- tention has been given to the painting of crosswalk lines in the business centers and squares. Parking and No Parking locations were plainly designated and safety zones established. Danger and traffic signs were repainted and street signs erected and repaired.


RECOMMENDATIONS


I recommend that, as far as possible, old brick sidewalks badly in need of repair, be replaced with granolithic. That the annual custom of treating the street surfaces with a tar and


209


STREET COMMISSIONER


sand preparation, which has been discontinued for the last two years, be continued in order to preserve the pavement and that the expense should be included in the general tax rate and not charged, as formerly, as a separate item under street sprinkling.


I wish to extend my sincere thanks to the members of the Board of Aldermen and the men of the department for their support and cooperation.


Respectfully submitted,


WM. J. SULLIVAN,


Street Commissioner.


210


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT


January 30, 1936.


TO THE HONORABLE, THE MAYOR, AND THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN :


Gentlemen :


In compliance with the Revised Ordinances of the City of Somerville, I have the honor of submitting, for your informa- tion the Annual Report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1935.


ALARMS AND LOSSES


Number of First Alarms


636


Number of Second Alarms


7


Number of A. D. T. Alarms


7


Number of Still Alarms


685


Total number of alarms for 1935


1,335


Number of alarms during the year 1934


1,261


Increase in number of alarms during 1935


74


Value of Buildings at risk


$4,378,647.00


Insurance on Buildings at risk


3,004,208.00


Insurance damage on Buildings


89,656.84


Value of Contents at risk


589,730.00


Insurance on Contents at risk


499,500.00


Insurance damage on Contents


27,953.33


Total value at risk


4,968,377.00


Total insurance damage at risk


117,610.17


APPROXIMATE PER CAPITA LOSS


1.17


CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE LOSSES


Size of Fire


Number of Fires


Amount of Losses


Over $10,000


0


$5,000 to 10,000


3


$20,554.26


$1,000 to 5,000


35


66,851.29


$100 to 1,000


59


24,030.15


Under $100


704


6,174.47


Totals


801


$117,610.17


AVERAGE LOSS PER FIRE


$146.81


TYPICAL CLASSIFICATION OF ALARMS


Classification


Jan.


Feb.


Mar.


April May June


July


Aug.


Sept.


Oct.


Nov.


Dec. Total


Fires in Residence Buildings


27


14


24


15


16


20


21


15


13


28


20


21


234


Fires in Other Buildings


19


8


10


10


14


9


14


16


10


22


14


19


165


Chimney Fires ..


3


4


5


2


3


1


0


1


0


5


5


5


34


Rubbish Fires near Buildings


2


1


3


5


9


4


2


6


5


8


3


3


51


Fires in dumps and vacant lots


0


0


4


4


3


0


3


5


0


16


2


9


46


Grass fires


3


0


2


2


3


12


9


7


2


8


6


1


55


Miscellaneous fires out-of-doors


11


8


10


8


9


5


8


9


12


8


9


22


119


Automobile fires


13


2


10


7


6


14


10


7


13


15


20


14


131


False Alarms


2


7


6


0


2


0


1


3


8


1


6


9


45


Smoke Scares and Needless Alarms ...


0


3


2


5


0


2


3


4


1


0


3


6


29


Accidents and Inhalator Calls


10


2


9


1


3


7


15


8


2


5


3


11


76


Miscellaneous Emergency Calls


17


17


26


16


29


18


28


15


18


31


12


26


253


TOTALS


113


66


115


80


111


101


134


107


90


161


105


152


1,335


Fires in Buildings


433


Total Alarms in City


1,082


Out-of-doors Fires


249


Out-of-City Calls


253


Automobile fires on street


119


TOTAL FIRES


801


False Alarms


131


Other Alarms, no fire


150


TOTAL ALARMS IN CITY


1,082


5


14


9


20


11


6


14


2


6


97


6


0


4


211


FIRE DEPARTMENT


TOTAL ALARMS ANSWERED ....


1,335


Out-of-City Calls


ANNUAL REPORTS


212


Engine One


Engine Two


Engine Three


Engine Four


Engine Five


Engine Six


Engine Seven


Ladder One


Ladder Two


Ladder Three


Ladder Four


Bell Alarms answered.


427


249


326


230


191


125


320


262


265


121


323


Still Alarms answered ......


61


187


172


27


50


169


62


91


113


70


19


Miles traveled


617


756


761


382


408


392


630


501


530


295


639


Ft. 21/2 in. hose used


24,050


25,950


30,400


7,450


5,800


7,500


11,700


Ft. 11/2 in. hose used


200


500


550


100


300


500


Ft. 34 in. hose used


20,250


31,600


50,200


10,100


16,250


11,800


2,800


4,926


3,426


1,242


2,298


Extinguishers used


6


32


15


4


6


16


12


18


2


6


Salvage covers used


10


2


35


24


6


7


Covering other stations ..


2


2


4


1


5


Out-of-City Calls


7


38


50


23


71


21


..


12


13


...


...


..


..


..


......


..


..


..


..


..


...


...


..


...


........


Ft. Ladders used


238


48


213


FIRE DEPARTMENT


In Memoriam


LADDERMAN JOSEPH E. EMERY (Retired)


Died at his home Appointed December 11, 1902, as Callman Appointed October 12, 1914, as Permanent A Member of the Department for 28 years.


214


ANNUAL REPORTS


MANUAL FORCE


The manual force consists of one hundred and sixty (160) permanent men. During the year one lieutenant and four privates have been retired at their own requests and their names placed on the pension rolls.


The Roster of the Department is as follows :


1 Chief Engineer


1 Deputy Chief


2 District Chiefs


7 Captains


1 Master Mechanic


18 Lieutenants


111 Permanent Privates 3rd Grade


9 Permanent Privates 2nd Grade


10 Permanent Privates 1st Grade


APPARATUS


The motor apparatus in the Department is as follows :


1-1300 gallon pumper and hose wagon


3-1000 gallon pumpers and hose wagon


1- 900 gallon pumper and hose wagon


2 - gallon pumpers and hose wagon


1 . 500 gallon pumper and hose wagon


4 Combination booster pump and hose wagons 2 Combination chemical and hose wagons


1 85 Foot aerial ladder truck with booster pump


1


75 Foot aerial ladder truck


2 City Service ladder trucks (tiller)


1 Combination city service and chemical truck (In reserve) 1 Flood-lighting and salvage truck


1 Wrecking truck


1 Automobile, Buick Sedan, Chief Engineer's car


1 Automobile, Ford Sedan, Deputy Chief's car


2


Automobile, Ford Sedan, District Chief's car


1 Automobile, Ford Coach, Master Mechanic's car


HOSE


Two and one-half inch rubber lined fire hose:


On hand January 1, 1935 12,800


Purchased during 1935


750


Condemned for fire service 450


TOTAL ON HAND JANUARY 1, 1936 13,100


One and one-half inch rubber lined hose:


On hand January 1, 1935 0


Purchased during 1935


1,400


Condemned for fire service 0


750


215


FIRE DEPARTMENT


TOTAL ON HAND JANUARY 1, 1936 1,400


Three-quarter inch chemical and booster hose :


On hand January 1, 1935 3,200


Purchased during 1935 100


100


Condemned for fire service TOTAL ON HAND JANUARY 1, 1936 3,200


RECOMMENDATIONS


The installation of new Fire Alarm Signal boxes in the vicinity of the following locations :


Mystic Avenue and Moreland Street


Mystic Avenue and Maine Avenue


Garfield Avenue and Edmunton Avenue


Broadway and Cedar Street


Broadway and Adams Street


Broadway and Northern Artery


Cross Street and Northern Artery


Highland Avenue and Trull Lane


Highland Avenue and Lowell Street


Highland Avenue and Cedar Street Curtis Street and Ossipee Road


Somerville Avenue and Beacon Street


Holden Green Joy Street near Washington Street


While the National average of fire losses ($2.39 per capita) has been steadily declining in the past three years, Somerville in 1935 reached the lowest record ($1.17 per capita) since 1919. Varying causes enter into Somerville's (16) year low record which may be partially analized as follows :


1 .- Closer attention to the prevention of fire by our Somerville residents.


2 .- More complete inspection by Fire Department.


3 .- Demolition of dilapidated structures that are serious con- flagration breeders.


4 .- The efficient work of the entire personnel of the Fire De- partment in rapid extinguishment.


The municipal program in connection with Federal payroll funds of demolition of dilapidated structures has effected some reductions in insurance rates.


I recommend that this project be continued as many use- less, non-revenue producing dilapidated structures are still standing, the removal of which would not only assist in lower- ing fire rates, but most likely aid in the reduction of the assessed valuation. Health and the improved appearance of


216


ANNUAL REPORTS


the neighborhood could be added to the above benefits of this program.


ORDINANCES:


Chapter 23 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Somerville relative to the Fire Department is incomplete and not up to date.


I recommend that a new Chapter be adopted incorporating a complete code of regulations covering all hazardous sub- stances, also that the fire district ordinance be amended to include the industrial establishments located in the north- eastern portion of the City.


A new Ordinance should be promulgated requiring that automatic sprinkler equipments, with outside siamese hose connections and controlling valve near the main in the street be required in all buildings, which, by reason of their size, construction or occupancy might act as conflagration breeders.


SCHOOL HOUSE PROTECTION:


Owing to the type and construction of the school buildings and to reduce the life hazard to a minimum, I recommend that a suitable fire detection and notification system be installed throughout these buildings.


WATER MAINS AND HYDRANTS:


In addition to the recommendations of the National Board of Fire Underwriters in their recent report, I recommend the installation of more adequate water supply and hydrants in the vicinity of the High School Buildings.


NEW APPARATUS:


Ladder Trucks Nos. 2 and 3 are city service tiller type trucks 12 and 15 years old respectively, they both have been in several serious accidents during these years of service and I recommend that as soon as the City could financially afford, that these two trucks be replaced with modern aerial trucks.


Engine Company No. 2 Pumper is 20 years old and Engine Company No. 7 Pumper and Wagon are 16 years old which


217


FIRE DEPARTMENT


should be replaced, as all this replacement would require ap- proximately seventy-five thousand dollars, I would suggest that a program covering Two to Four years be arranged to obtain this equipment in order to maintain our high degree of efficient apparatus.


DEPARTMENT REPAIR SHOP:


At the present time, the repair shop is inadequate to ac- commodate our repair work both as to available space and as to equipment, I therefore, recommend that more adequate facilities be provided.


This is also recommendation No. 11 of the National Board of Fire Underwriters in their Report No. 20 on the City of Somerville. At the present time, the repair shop is using a discarded District Chief's Ford car that is six years old and has received considerable abuse, as some type of conveyance is required for this branch of the service, I recommend that a small special delivery truck be purchased for this purpose.


DRILL TOWER EQUIPMENT:


It is expected that the new drill tower will be available for use within the next few months and certain equipment will be necessary such as a large life net and the general appliances used in the fire service. If a new ladder truck is purchased the ladders from the replaced truck can be used at the drill tower.


Respectfully submitted,


J. C. MCNALLY, Chief Engineer.


218


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT


January 1, 1936.


TO THE HONORABLE, THE MAYOR, AND THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, OF THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE :


Gentlemen :


I respectfully submit the annual report of the Somerville Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1935.


ARRESTS


Whole number of arrests made


2,708


Summoned by the Court


182


On Warrants


467


Without Warrants


2,059


2,708


Held for trial


2,476


Delivered to other Departments


222


Released on waiver


10


2,708


Males


2,550


Females


158


2,708


Americans


2,039


Foreign born


669


2,708


Residents


1,917


Non-residents


791


2,708


REPORTS


6,899


6,899


Value of property stolen


$41,952.80


Value of property recovered


$84,637.25


Cases investigated


CHANGES IN THE DEPARTMENT Retired


Captain John A. Ray retired September 30, 1935 Patrolman Charles S. Johnston retired January 29, 1935


219


POLICE DEPARTMENT


Resignation Asst. Matron Mary E. Horgan resigned July 1, 1935


Reinstatements


Patrolman John F. Cruise reinstated August 4, 1935 Reserveman Eugene M. Canty reinstated October 28, 1935


Appointments


Reserveman Eugene M. Canty promoted to Regular Patrolinan, Nov. 21, 1935


Patrolman James J. Higgins appointed Nov. 21, 1935


Patrolman James M. Kilmartin appointed Nov. 21, 1935


Patrolman Frederick A. Landry appointed Nov. 21, 1935 Patrolman Augustine W. Fitzpatrick appointed Nov. 21, 1935 Patrolman Walter J. MacRae appointed Nov. 21, 1935


Patrolman William J. Quinlan appointed Nov. 21, 1935


Patrolman James E. Hughes, Jr. appointed Nov. 21, 1935


Asst. Matron Anna Robinson appointed July 29, 1935


Death of Retired Members


Captain John A. Ray died Oct. 1, 1935 Patrolman Charles S. Johnston died Feb. 7, 1935


Pensioners Retired on Half Pay


Appointed


Retired


Carlton, Ira S.


May 11, 1892


May 9, 1907


Pollard, James J.


Feb. 25, 1893


Feb. 27, 1908


Hilton, Herbert


May 22, 1895


Dec. 21, 1911


Carleton, George H.


Jan. 9, 1883


Mar. 27, 1914


Skinner, Jacob W.


Oct. 23, 1889


Dec. 31, 1917


Drew, Elmer E.


May 22, 1895


July 25, 1918


Goff, Ernest S.


Mar. 22, 1900


July 11, 1919


Allen, Charles W.


Mar. 22, 1900


Woodman, Charles E.


Feb. 8, 1888


Mar. 26, 1920 June 22, 1921 Feb. 9, 1923


Howe, Hudson M.


Mar. 22, 1900


Sept. 14, 1925


Davies, Edward M.


May 22, 1905


Sept. 23, 1927


Heron, Theodore E.


Mar. 26, 1890


Sept. 28, 1927


Kendall, Charles A.


Feb. 25, 1909


Dec. 12, 1929


Groves, Walter L.


June 14, 1906


Oct. 6, 1930


Arnold, Louis F.


Sept. 16, 1902


Oct. 18, 1930


Rice, George L.


May 22, 1895


Apr. 11, 1931


Graves, Frank H.


Apr. 3, 1901 Aug. 6, 1903


Oct. 28, 1932


Harmon, James M.


May 11, 1892


Nov. 22, 1932


Hawes, Albert C.


Jan. 13, 1910


Nov. 22, 1932


Burns, Samuel


Apr. 25, 1894


Dec. 31, 1932


Sudbey, Henry A.


Apr. 3, 1901


Apr. 14, 1934


Morrison, Alexander


Nov. 30, 1911


Apr. 14, 1934


Lacey, Charles F.


May 22, 1919


Apr. 14, 1934


Jones, Frederick G.


Oct. 11, 1906


Sept. 25, 1932


Peters, George A. C.


220


ANNUAL REPORTS


OFFICIAL ROSTER OF THE DEPARTMENT


Chief of Police Thomas Damery


Deputy Chief Charles J. Sharry


Captains


Howard, Ernest


Kennedy, Michael T.


Kenney, William G. Walsh, Thomas P.


Lieutenants


Fitzpatrick, Augustine J.


Fulton, Charles J.


Killourhy, John J.


O'Connell, Daniel M. Sharry, Augustine F. Sharry, Thomas M.


Sergeants


Cavanagh, Francis X.


Lynch, James M.


Cunningham, Hugh R.


Pierce, LeRoy V.


Dwyer, Joseph A.


Reed, Walter


Elliott, Earle W.


Roche, Frank J.


Fitzpatrick, James A.


Roche, Henry W.


Small, Joseph F.


Patrolmen


Allan, George R. Aucoin, Cornelius


Baird, William J.


Baker, John H.


Barrett, John K.


Begley, Cornelius T.


Begley, Francis R.


Berg, Edward L., Jr.


Crossman, Claude L.


Blake, Joseph P.


Crowley, Joseph G.


Blake, William F.


Cruise, John F.


Brennan, Jeremiah G.


Culliton, Edward F.


Cummings, John J.


Burlingame, John F.


Burnett, William R.


Burns, Allan S.


Butman, Edward G.


Cameron, John L. Canavan, Cornelius P. Canty, Eugene M. Carey, Alfred J. Caswell, Lester A.


Chichester, Lawrence J. Cidado, August S. Clark, John J.


Coffey, Harold L.


Collins, Cornelius J.


Corkery, Timothy J.


Courtney, John J.


Cronin, John J.


Crosby, George W.


Brosnahan, John J. Buckley, Timothy


Curran, Joseph F. Curtin, John J.


Dadmun, John A. Dewar, Robert D. Dillaway, John E.


Donovan, Jeremiah F.


Donovan, Thomas A.


Donovan, William H.


Doolin, Patrick J. Dowd, Michael J., Jr.


221


POLICE DEPARTMENT


Downey, Denis Dunleavy, John M. Dwyer, William E.


Ellis, Charles W. Estee, George R., Jr.


Fedele, Joseph F. Fitzgerald, William J. Fitzpatrick, Augustine W. Flanagan, Thomas J. Fleming, Thomas J. Forristall, Edward G.


Gallagher, John J. Gott, Myron S. Griffin, William H. Gullage, George, Jr.


Hagerty, John J. Higgins, Francis E.


Higgins, Francis P.


Higgins, James J.


Holmes, James F. Hopkins, Edward J.


Hourihan, James G. Hughes, James E., Jr. Hughes, John E.


Johnson, William E.


Keane, Edmund J. Kearney, Dennis F.


Kelley, Arthur W. Keniry, Jeremiah Kiley, Edward J. Kilmartin, James M.


Landry, Frederick A. Lyons, Patrick J.


MacDonald, George D. MacRae, Walter J. Mahoney, Thomas F.


Mahood, John T. May, Edward A. McAuliffe, Daniel F. McAvoy, Charles H.


McCabe, Bernard McCauley, George W. McDonald, Stephen D.


McFadden, Alfred J. McGovern, Frederick W.


McGrath, Patrick Mckenzie, John H. McNamara, Thomas F. Mehigan, Garrett F. J.


Moore, Peter Mulqueeney, Dennis G.


Murphy, Daniel F., No. 1 Murphy, Daniel F., No. 2


Nelson, Ludwig


O'Brien, John H. O'Brien, Patrick F. O'Connell, Daniel J. O'Connor, Jeremiah


O'Keefe, John P. L. O'Loughlin, Michael J. Oesting, Walter C.


Phillips, George B., Jr. Powers, James M. Powers, John F.


Quinlan, William J.


Raymond, Elmer E. G.


Reardon, Leo C.


Reid, Garnet L.


Riley, Daniel J.


Robitaille, Alfred E.


Rogers, Francis L.


Ronayne, Pierce P.


Rossi, Ricco J.


Scotti, James V. Shay, John J.


Sheehan, Jeremiah G.


Shepherd, Charles W.


Silva, Frank A., Jr.


Skeffington, Richard H.


Smith, John J. Souza, James Spiers, George


Strangman, George H.


Stokes, Herbert H. Sullivan, Timothy L.


Warner, Chester F.


Young, Harry C.


Matron Helen F. Kammerer


Assistant Matron Anna Robinson


ANNUAL REPORTS


IN GENERAL


The auto accident situation throughout our city for the past year reflects great credit on the personnel of the depart- ment in their efforts toward greater safety to our citizens, resulting in a decrease of more than 100% in fatal accidents and 100% decrease in injury to children from automobiles over the preceding year, also a substantial decrease in the number of reported automobile accidents with the consequent reduction of property loss.


IN CONCLUSION


I wish to thank His Honor the Mayor, the members of the Board of Aldermen and the various Heads of Departments for their cooperation and assistance rendered me and my Depart- ment during the year. I also wish to thank the Superior officers and the Patrolmen of the Department for their cooperation and to assure them that I am very appreciative of the good police work rendered our citizens and our Department during the year.


Respectfully submitted,


THOMAS DAMERY, Chief of Police.


223


PUBLIC LIBRARY


REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES


TO THE HONORABLE, THE MAYOR, AND THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, OF THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE :


Gentlemen :


The sixty-third annual report of the Trustees 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,


ANNA J. COLL, President.


224


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY


BOARD OF TRUSTEES


Miss Anna J. Coll, President


Term Expires January 1, 1936


Rev. David V. FitzGerald, Vice-President


1936


William L. Barber


„,


1937


William H. Dolben


,,


1936


John D. Kelley


1938


William H. McKenna


1937


Douglass B. Foster (deceased January 4, 1935)


1937


Alfred C. Walton (appointed February 14, 1935


1937


John J. Griffin


1938


Charles L. Doherty


1938


COMMITTEES On Administration


The President, Messrs. Kelley, Dolben, Walton and Rev. David V. FitzGerald


On Books and Cataloging


The President, Messrs. Griffin, Barber, McKenna, and Doherty


On Buildings and Property The President and the Vice-President


Secretary of the Board GEORGE H. EVANS


225


PUBLIC LIBRARY


ORGANIZATION OF LIBRARY AND STAFF PERSONNEL


December 31, 1935


CENTRAL LIBRARY


Established 1872 Highland Ave. and Walnut Street


GRADED SERVICE


GEORGE H. EVANS, Librarian NELLIE M. WHIPPLE, Assistant Librarian VIVIAN J. MORSE, Executive Assistant


Division Heads and Special Positions


CORA B. EAMES, Reference Librarian and Second Assistant


MABEL E. BUNKER, Chief Cataloger


DOROTHY E. KENNEDY, Supervisor of Periodicals and Binding


MARY B. BARTLETT, Supervisor of School Division


MYRTLE NICHOLSON, Desk Chief RUTH M. WOODMAN, Assistant Cataloger


MILDRED A. BOWLEY, Reference Assistant


ALICE H. BOYD, Children's Librarian


Senior Asistants


RUTH M. NOURBOURN RUTH HOLMES G. ELINOR SMITH MARY M. NOONAN


SOPHIE MARGOLIS MARGARET M. BOWSER R. VIVIAN SMITH KATHLEEN MARTIN


Junior Assistants


CATHERINE COTTER


EMMA MERLINI


MARGARET HESHION MARGARET O'NEILL


Ungraded Service


Attendants on Part Time


MICHAEL F. COLLINS


MARY CULLINANE


RICHARD M. LOMBARD ALICE LE BLANC


226


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


ELIZABETH CORBIN, Senior Assistant MARION E. SMITH, Senior Assistant BARBARA C. NILES, Junior Assistant


Ungraded Service Attendants on Part Time BARBARA K. COLEMAN HELEN MERRY JOSEPH RUTTLE


EAST SOMERVILLE BRANCH


Established 1912 Broadway and Illinois Avenue


Graded Service


ELSIE K. WELLS, Branch Librarian KATHRYN KENNY, First Assistant GERTRUDE REYNOLDS, Children's Librarian ELEANOR LLOY, Senior Assistant


Ungraded Service Attendants on Part Time


NELLIE M. EGAN GERTRUDE L. WALLACE MARY CULLINANE


ELIZABETH FLYNN


UNION SQUARE BRANCH


Established 1912 Bow Street


Graded Service ALICE G. WORTHEN, Branch Librarian KATHLEEN O. CARNES, First Assistant WINIFRED P. DYKE, Children's Librarian


Ungraded Service Attendants on Part Time


PAULINE E. MAGWOOD KATHARINE J. WHITE KATHLEEN SHEA


227


PUBLIC LIBRARY


WINTER HILL STATION Established 1929


424 Broadway


Graded Service RUTH EATON DALY, Assistant-in-Charge


Ungraded Service Attendants on Part Time


ALICE LE BLANC MARY CULLINANE


228


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN


TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES :


The annual report of the Librarian to the Trustees of the Somerville Public Library, being a part of the sixty-third annual report of the library, for the year 1935, is herewith submitted. It is concerned with the details of administration and the present condition of the library.


Specific statements of the record of the year setting forth in statistical form the use and condition of the library will be found in the appendices. The figures are significant.


As compared with last year home book-loans shrank 153,170, low-water mark for a period of ten years, and a shrinkage in two years of nearly one-third from our high mark, 728,605, recorded in 1933. With available book funds reduced from a high of $19,954 in 1931 to $4,700 in 1935, we were able to add only 3,049 books, the smallest number during any year of the present century. The total reduction of book- stock resulting from the casualties of public usage was 9,338 volumes. In other words our readers wore out more than three times as many books as we were able to add. At the average pre-volume cost of books in 1935, namely, $1.63, it would have required an expenditure of $15,220, distributed among the five library buildings, merely to replace these 9,338 volumes and to maintain unimpaired the present level of the book collection. Operating upon the basis of wearing out three times as much stock as we replace provides food for sober reflection.


Just as it is the business of the Water Department to pro- vide a continuous flow of potable water, so it is the business of the Library Department to maintain a regular flow of books and current information. When the flow of working material in the form of printed matter does not at least equal its normal reductions the library moves backward toward extinction. When additions and reductions are equal it stagnates. When additions exceed reductions it progresses. The annual reduc- tion of the book collection from wear and tear is one of the basic factors for determining the budget item for book pur- chase. The main source of book-wear and loss is from home loans. The records of many years show that this reduction of book-stock remains steadily close to 134 per cent of home loans. Knowing this ratio we are able to forecast reductions rather


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closely. Under existing conditions we are justified in fore- casting for 1936 a book-stock reduction of about 8,500 volumes. To maintain our present level, and bring to a halt a further depletion of our book-stock, we require an appropriation for books adequate for the purchase of at least 8,500 volumes. At going rates this will amount to $13,855 distributed among five buildings.


Second only to the failure of book supply has been the problem of binding, the budget provision for which is of basic and equal importance with salaries and book-purchase. The annual report for 1934 dealt in detail with this problem. When it became apparent that another year was in prospect without an appropriation for binding it was decided to take emergency measures. A room in the basement was turned into a repair shop. Employees who were released from desk work by the declining circulation were organized into a salvage squad. Books requiring major construction operations were segre- gated from those needing only superficial mending, and were sent to this salvage shop. They were there separated into their constituent parts. The hopelessly worn parts were discarded, and the usable parts collated and cleaned. The pages were reassembled, pierced for sewing, sewed through, backed, hinged, and restored to their covers or given new ones. They were then relettered in gold foil, and given a coat of protective lacquer. Already by their daily duties convinced of its urgent necessity, employees assigned to this work attacked the prob- lem with an intelligent interest, and, despite handicaps of in- sufficient apprenticeship in the binding craft and limitations of equipment, became proficient in turning out a rugged if not an artistic product. As the year closed the same processes were being installed in the branches.




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