Report of the city of Somerville 1943, Part 16

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1943
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 452


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1943 > Part 16


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The following tables 1, 2 and 3 are a summary of the work of the department for the year :


260


ANNUAL REPORTS


TABLE 1


Receipts


Month


License


Applications


License


Fees


Cash for


Analyses


^ Cash Paid City


Treasurer


Analyses on Account


Total Income for Department


January


10


$6.50


$0.00


$6.50


$114.00


$120.50


(a) February


36


446.50


0.00


446.50


133.00


579.50


(b) March


35


200.50


0.00


200.50


103.00


303.50


(c) April


46


52.50


0.00


52.50


38.00


90.50


(d) May


568


400.00


0.00


400.00


100.00


500.00


(c) June


180


120.50


0.00


120.50


72.00


192.50


(c) July


23


25.00


0.00


25.00


50.00


75.00


(c) August


3


11.50


1.00


12.50


74.00


86.50


(c) September


3


11.00


0.00


11.00


163.00


174.00


(c) October


5


13.00


0.00


13.00


96.00


109.00


(c) November


1


10.00


0.00


10.00


158.50


168.50


December


....


0.00


0.00


0.00


205.50


205.50


Totals


910 $1,297.00


$1.00 $1,298.00 $1,307.00 $2,605.00


(a) 11 Applications to Mfr. Frozen Desserts, 1 Pasteurizing Application in- cluded.


(b) 8 Applications to Mfr. Frozen Desserts included.


(c) 1 Application to Pasteurize milk included.


(d) 1 Application to Mfr. Frozen Desserts included.


TABLE 2


Examinations


Month


Chemical


Samples


Collected


Bacteria


Samples


Collected


Total


tions


Tests


Samples


Submitted


Microscopial


Examinations


Examinations


January


85


85


170


64


302


74


610


February


73


73


146


58


333


68


605


March


68


99


167


68


387


80


702


April


68


112


180


68


371


95


714


May


69


112


181


68


419


78


746


June


84


113


197


61


257


81


596


July


79


109


188


63


325


78


654


August


87


125


212


77


333


92


714


September


42


73


115


42


485


52


694


October


79


122


201


79


336


91


707


November


59


80


139


59


499


69


766


December


61


85


146


61


552


71


830


Total


854


1188


2042


768


4599


929


8338


Total


Collec-


Sediment


BOARD OF HEALTH


TABLE 3


Inspections


Month


Dairy, R.R.


Milk Stations


& Creameries


Milk &


Ice Cream


Plants


Restaurants


& Stores


Total


Inspections


January


31


22


February


28


12:


43


March


2


26


23


51


April


7


35


26


68


May


6


29


79


114


June


3


33


165


201


July


18


26


24


68


August


14


42


15


71


September


53


25


10


88


October


10


45


6


61


November


7


34


22


63


December


4


32


18


54


Total


129


386


422


937


At the request of the Water Commissioner and the Office of Civilian Defense, 1700 examinations of tap water were made.


Respectfully submitted,


WILLIAM H. WALLIS, Inspector of Milk and Vinegar


This report, a summary of the work performed in the sev- eral sub-divisions of the Board of Health, is respectfully sub- mitted by


DR. W. E. WHITTAKER, Chairman JOSEPH H. MCSWEENEY, M. D. HUGH J. GALLAGHER


Board of Health


261


-


262


ANNUAL REPORTS .


REPORT OF THE LIBRARY TRUSTEES


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


Gentlemen :


The 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.


Respectfully,


Board of Trustees,


KATHRYN E. HUEBER, President.


263


PUBLIC IJBRARY


PUBLIC LIBRARY


BOARD OF TRUSTEES


Term Expired


Mrs. Kathryn M. Hueber, President


January 1, 1942


Mrs. J. Helen Clough, Vice-President


1943


Mr. Louis B. Connelly


1942


Rev. Anthony J. Flaherty


1942


Rev. David Fraser


1943


Mr. William H. McKenna


1943


Mr. John J. Griffin


1944


Mr. John F. McGann


"


1944


Mr. Frederick J. White (deceased September 23, 1943)


1944


COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATION


Mr. William H. McKenna, Chairman


Mr. Louis B. Connelly


Mr. John F. McGann


The President and the Vice-President, ex-officiis.


COMMITTEE ON BOOKS AND CATALOGING


Mr. Frederick J. White (deceased ), Chairman


Rev. Anthony J. Flaherty


Rev. David Fraser


Mr. John J. Griffin


The President, ex-officio.


COMMITTEE ON BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY


The President and the Vice-President


SECRETARY OF THE BOARD John D. Kelley


264


ANNUAL REPORTS


ORGANIZATION OF LIBRARY AND STAFF PERSONNEL December 31, 1943


CENTARAL LIBRARY Highland Avenue and Walnut Street


WEST SOMERVILLE BRANCH 40 College Avenue EAST SOMERVILLE BRANCH Broadway and Illinois Avenue


UNION SQUARE BRANCH


50 Bow Street


WINTER HILL STATION Bingham School, Lowell Street


TEN HILLS STATION 10 Temple Street


JOHN D. KELLEY, Librarian


PROFESSIONAL GRADED SERVICE


VIVIAN J. MORSE Executive Assistant


CORA B. EAMES Reference Librarian and School Aissistant


MILDRED A. BOWLEY Chief Cataloger


MARY B. BARTLETT,


Supervisor of Schools, Deposits, and Children's Work


Central Desk Chief MYRTLE NICHOLSON


Branch Librarians


KATHRYN KENNY West Somerville Branch


ELSIE K. WELLS East Somerville Branch


BARBARA NILES


Union Square Branch


Station Executives


CATHERINE COTTER Winter Hill Station


MARY M. NOONAN Ten Hills Station


First Assistants


RUTH HOLMES Reference Department


ANNA E. CULLEN Catalog Department


JOHN T. MACKEY Temoprary, Circulation Department


IRENE F. WARD Administrative Department RITA FINN On leave, West Somerville Branch


M. PHYLLIS BRINE West Somerville Branch


MARY B. GRAVELLE East Somerville Branch


EMMA MERLINI Union Square Branch


Children's Librarians


ANNE V. HOPKINS


West Somerville Branch East Somerville Branch Union Square Branch Central Library


265


PUBLIC LIBRARY


Senior Assistants


ELIZABETH L. CLIFFORD Central Junior Library


MARY E. CULLINANE Central Circulation Department CATHERINE P. KILLILEA, Central Junior Library and School Dept. KATHERINE J. WHITE Periodical and Binding Department


LILLIAN G. CASEY Union Square Junior Library


ANN F. DENNIS Catalog Department


CLAIRE M. GORMAN Reference Department


JULIA M. LEDDY East Somerville Junior Library


MARGARET B. SCANLAN Reference Department


RUTH D. WARNER West Somerville Branch


Junior Assistants


ELIZABETH W. HENNIGAN Catalog Department


KATHERINE AUSTIN East Somerville Branch


JOHN T. MACKEY Temporary First Assistant


MARY F. WARREN


East Somerville Branch


MARY M. WITHAM


West Somerville Branch


WINIFRED J. MAGUIRE Administrative Department


RUTH BARONI Circulation Department


IRENE M. WESTHOFF


Circulation Department


UNGRADED SERVICE


MARY F. DONAHOE


ELLEN T. HAGAN


MARY A. HENEGHAN


BARBARA LAVERTY


MARGUERITE MIRABELLO


ROSEMARY A. MURPHY


MARY R. PHELAN


VINCENT A. SCHWARTZ


FRANCIS SONNEBERG


266


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN


To the Board of Trustees :


The library stands today in a most confusing situation, with the book business in the midst of the biggest boom the publishing houses have ever experienced, while we are suffer- ing a most severe decline in circulation. This paradox has many answers. At first glance one might say the public is reading more books yet the Public Libraries throughout the length and breadth of the land are attracting fewer patrons. Therefore, it might appear.that Public Libraries are failing in their function of community service. However reasonable this conclusion appears, it does not furnish the complete picture .. We must grant that book sales have increased tremendously due in great part to the holiday season of the year with the scarcity of toys and available gifts for adults. Again the im- proved methods of merchandising and advertising books have had a tremendous effect upon their sales. Attractive titles in pocket editions at the cost of the ordinary magazine have sold beyond the expectation of the wildest dreams of the pub- lishers. Reprints and children's books attractively designed, and at nominal costs, have found their place in every gift package in every home. Yet upon analysis, these tremendous sales are among the popular titles and so if the public desire a book of only moderate popularity, in the vast majority of cases, they must depend upon their Public Libraries. Here is. where the Public Library returns to its true place. It is not our function to merchandise books to increase their popularity -- but rather to give service, to offer to the public the best in books for educational and recreational purposes.


With the prevalent accelerated trend of business due to war production - the extra curricula home activities connect- ed with the war effort - and the severe depletion of manpower by the armed services, it is only natural that our patronage should decrease. However, this being a temporary condition it is imperative that the Public Library prepare itself for that day when peace will return to the earth, business and home conditions return to normaley, and the public, educated as to the value and worth of books, will once again turn to the Public Library in ever increasing numbers.


267


PUBLIC LIBRARY


To this end we have endeavored to put our house in order, Many conditions which have accumulated over a space of years and neglected because of the lack of available assistants have been rectified. Our book stock is in the best shape it has been our pleasure to report. Discarding and revising our ac- tive and inactive stock has continued throughout the year. To Miss Eames, her able assistants, and the Catalogue Depart- ment full credit must be given for this laborious task performed in a most efficient manner without interruption or neglect of their daily routine.


Through the cooperation of Mr. William J. Sullivan, Build- ing Commissioner, glass enclosed cases have been constructed in Wellington Hall to house all Somerville papers which for years have reposed in the lower stacks deteriorating from dry rot and covered with dust and dirt. All these papers have been salvaged, properly bound, and are now available for pub- lic use. In this connection we regret to report we are missing all copies of the Somerville Journal for the years 1877-78 and two editions in 1940. Through the courtesy of Mr. George E. Connor of the Somerville Journal Press we have advertised without success for these editions.


Again we wish to acknowledge the generosity of Mr. Con- nor of the Somerville Journal Press for the amount of publicity given the library. At least once a month complete listings of all new books have appeared in the paper and all publicity releases from the library have received prominent space. Miss Ruth Holmes of the Reference Department deserves the credit for much of our publicity. Her initiative and originality de- serve the highest praise as demonstrated in her article appear- ing under the date of December 9th entitled "Facts You Should Know About The Library" which reads as follows:


"There is a collection of art books covering antiques, furniture, china, drawing technique, costume and the history of art.


"There is a complete file of the Somerville Journal from 1876 to the present.


"There is a Local History collection including family genealogies and town histories, largely non-circulating, but available for consultation in the building.


268


ANNUAL REPORTS


"There is a pamphlet collection, aimed to give up- to-date information on a variety of subjects ; that material may be found there which is not yet printed in book form.


"That all library privileges, except that of keep- ing books over the allotted two weeks period, are free.


"That books may be renewed over the telephone. "That you may use your library card at all the library buildings in the city, not just at the one where you are registered.


"That the Glass Case at the Central Library fre- quently contains exhibits loaned by organizations and individuals throughout the city and that the offer of any usable, interesting exhibit is welcomed. "That 'Service isn't rationed'. This is not exclu- sively the Slogan of Your Public Library, but it is true there as elsewhere. Should there be some- thing you cannot find by your own efforts, feel free to ask any assistant for help. You will not be im- posing on them, their time or their good nature. They are trained and willing, to help you to the best of their ability."


Because of the national emergency the "Scheme of Serv- ice" was revised as follows, "That, during the state of war declared by Congress, the Librarian be authorized to reemploy those staff members who resign by virtue of their marriage to members of the armed forces. No such employment shall be continued beyond either six months after the termination of the service of the husband, or beyond six months after the end of the emergency, except that a married staff member whose husband is in military service outside the Continental United States, or a member whose husband is physically or mentally disabled as a result of military service, may be continued in employment."


The library was most fortunate to receive through the efforts of Mr. William Preble Jones a gift of a map of Som- erville in 1852 from Miss Susan A. Draper. This map drawn by Miss Draper's father is in a remarkable state of preserva- tion and has been framed and displayed in Wellington Hall.


269


PUBLIC LIBRARY


The status of the Board of Trustees remains the same as no appointments were made during the year. This leaves the Board in the embarrassing predicament of having all mem- bers "hold-overs" in office as of January 1, 1944. As Mr. Mc- Gann, as President of the Board in 1942, wrote to the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen in his foreword to the Librarian's Annual Report, "The Board of Trustees is an honest, capable, civic-minded group of citizens whose principal interest is to maintain the high standards of the Somerville Public Library. They can not give their best under the prevailing conditions."


Mr. Frederick J. White, a Trustee since 1939, passed away September 23, 1943. In appreciation of his service the Board of Trustees passed the following Resolutions :


"Whereas, Almighty God in His Wisdom has called Frederick J. White, Trustee of the Somerville Public Library, to his eternal repose; and


"Whereas, By his death the City of Somerville has suffered the loss of a faithful and efficient public servant and fellow citizen whose every public act was for the betterment of our City and for the wel- fare of our citizenry, and his wife and daughter the loss of a kindly, sympathetic, loyal husband and father;


"Therefore, Be It Resolved, That the members of the Board of Trustees of the Somerville Public Library in meeting assembled give this expression of their deep sympathy to his widow and daughter in their hour of bereavement with the trust that the Al- mighty in His Infinite Wisdom will ease their burden of sorrow and that they may be com- fronted with the realization of the high esteem in which their departed one was held by his fellow associates through his unselfish, devoted service, his exemplary character, and genuine friendship; and


"Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of these Res- olutions be spread upon the records of the Board of Trustees ; and


"Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of these Res- olutions expressive of their sincere sympathy be sent to his widow and daughter."


270


ANNUAL REPORTS


As in previous years we again enter our appeal for im- provement of the interiors of the Central Library and the West Somerville, East Somerville and Union Square Branches. To pick out any one location for immediate improvement is a prob- lem as all are in a deplorable physical condition from the lack of paint and proper lighting facilities. The Librarian's office at the Central Library was repainted during the fall but the contrast with the rest of the interior is now more noticeable. We realize to completely renovate all our locations in city owned buildings necessitates a tremendous outlay of money due to the neglect over a number of years. However, it is our fervent hope that some plans might be made to gradually im- prove these buildings.


The ten per cent salary increase was gratefully received by the staff members. We have been most fortunate having lost only three staff members during the year, - Miss Florence Connolly of the Reference Department and Miss Marjorie Holt, Branch Librarian at the West Somerville Branch, resigned to accept other positions. Miss Mabel E. Bunker, Chief Cataloger and a staff member for forty-five years, retired on July 5th. However with one staff member on extended sick leave and another on leave of absence we have been somewhat handi- capped, especially in the closing months of the year with the grippe epidemic, to properly man all locations with a qualified, trained staff. Replacement of staff members has been practic- ally an impossiblity under our salary schedule with the high wages offered in business and other professions. The turn-over among our part time workers has been especially large.


Under the Scheme of Service the following promotions and appointments were made.


Promotions : Barbara Niles, Assistant Central Desk Chief to Branch Librarian; Mildred A. Bowley, Assistant Cataloger to Chief Cataloger; Ann E. Cullen, Senior Assistant to First Assistant with assignment in the Catalog Department; M. Phyllis Brine, Senior Assistant to First Assistant ; Emma Mer- lini, Children's Librarian to First Assistant; John T. Mackey, Senior Assistant to Temporary First Assistant during leave of Miss Rita Finn; Irene M. Westhoff, Non-Professional Grade to Professional Grade, Junior Assistant; Ruth Baroni, Non-Pro- fessional Grade to Professional Grade, Junior Assistant.


Appointments to the Ungraded Service : Mary F. Donahoe, Ellen T. Hagan, Joyce W. Kingston, Barbara Laverty, Gloria


271


PUBLIC LIBRARY


C. Liberatore, Ruth T. Mclaughlin, Marguerite T. Mirabello, Rosemary A. Murphy, Mary R. Phelan, Francis Sonnenberg.


To the members of the staff I wish to express my heart- felt appreciation for the efficient, courteous manner in which they have performed their various duties.


To the Board of Trustees I am indebted for all the advice, counsel, and understanding treatment of the various admin- istrative problems which have arisen during the course of the year.


Respectfully submitted, JOHN D. KELLEY, Librarian


272


ANNUAL REPORTS


AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION FORM FOR UNIFORM STATISTICS


City - Somerville County - Middlesex State - Massachusetts


Name of Library - The Public Library of the City of Somerville


Date of Founding - 1872


Name of Librarian - John D. Kelley


Report for fiscal year ending - December 31, 1943


Governmental unit of support and service - City


Population served (1940 U. S. census) - 102,304


Terms of use - Free for lending, Free for reference Agencies-Central Library


1


Branches-in library buildings 2


in municipal building 1


Stations - in municipal building in rented room


1


1


Others in school rooms 259


in institutions


6


Total 271


CIRCULATION AND USE


Number of volumes or adult non-fiction lent for home use


47,949


Number of volumes or adult fiction


lent for home use


155,514


Number of volumes for juveniles lent for home use


230,777


Total number of volumes lent for home use


434,240


Period of loan for the majority of adult book stock-14 days


Number of inter-library loans - Volumes lent 20


Volumes borrowed 71


Number of reference questions answered - 7,674


REGISTRATION


Total number of registered borrowers


9,059


6,954


16,013


Borrowers registered during year


3,785


3,312


7,097


Registration period - 2 years


BOOK STOCK


Number of volumes December 31, 1942


86,059


28,003


114,062


Number of volumes added during year


5,670


5,922


11,592


Total


91,729


33,925


125,654


Number of volumes withdrawn during year


4,257


2,484


6,741


Number of volumes December 31, 1943 ...


87,472


31,441


118,913


Number of newspapers currently received excluding duplicates


9


Number of periodicals currently received excluding duplicates


.... 172


....


FINANCE


Assessed valuation of city - $113,470,000.00


Rate of library tax levy for fiscal year reported - 82/100 of a mill


273


PUBLIC LIBRARY


RECEIPTS


Local taxation :


Library Department


$77,007.13


Fines included in above


$3,149.99


Dog licenses included in above


4,775.51


Public Buildings Department ...


17,093.58


$94,100.71


Invested Funds:


Income, current year


2,998.11


Balance from previous year


2,092.31


5,090.42


TOTAL


$99,191.13


EXPENDITURES


Salaries: Library Department ...


$58,214.28 9,277.19


$67,491.47


Books: Appropriation


11,735.23


Invested Funds


206.29


11,941.52


Periodicals: Appropriation


631.57


Invested Funds


5.50


637.07 2,018.40


Rent: Public Buildings Department


900.00


Heat and Light:


Public Buildings Department ..


3,666.68


Insurance: Library Department ....


289.87


Public Buildings Department ....


987.55


1,276.42


Other Operating Expenses :


Library Department, Appropria- tion


2,758.73


Invested Funds


32.25


2,790.98


Public Buildings Department ..


2,263.16


5,054.14


TOTAL


$92,985.70


TRANSFERS


From Public Library Department


To Department of Electric Lines and Lights $450.00 375.00


To Public Buildings Department


TOTAL


$825.00


Public Buildings Department ....


Binding


274


ANNUAL REPORTS


BALANCES, December 31, 1943


Library Department:


Appropriation Invested Funds


$534.05


4,846.38


TOTAL


$5,380.43


GRAND TOTAL


$99,191.13


275


RECREATION COMMISSION


REPORT OF THE RECREATION COMMISSION 1943


REV. NAZARENO PROPERZI, Chairman


Term Expires


MARY R. COUGHLIN 1941


MRS. JOSEPHINE HAM 1942


WILLIAM F. HARKINS 1942


MRS. HARRIETT M. HURLBURT


.1941


JOHN T. MACKEY 1941


JAMES J. MCCARTHY 1940


MRS. ANNETTE MURPHY 1942


REV. NAZARENO PROPERZI 1941


HOWARD M. STILES


1941


DR. ANTHONY TRANIELLO


1942


Secretary to the Commission: FRANCIS J. MAHONEY


276


ANNUAL REPORTS


December 31, 1943.


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


The Recreation Commission respectfully submits its An- nual Report for the year 1943. The circumstances of the pres- ent prompt the Commission to have its Report consist of (a) reference to two important pre-existing conditions, and (b) the annual report of this Commission by the Superintendent as in- corporated into the Report of the Commission.


The first of the two important references to pre-existing conditions is as follows :-


No report of this Commission can be clear unless there is clearly kept in mind the underlying fact that, despite its name, the Recreation Commission has not jurisdiction over the City's Recreation facilities. Instead, the jurisdiction is distributed, under the City Charter, among several Departments, of which the City Engineer's Department and the Public Buildings De- partment bear the major responsibility. The Recreation Com- mission has no jurisdiction over facilities which might be styled the chief "tools" of Recreation. Examples are the play areas maintained and controlled by two other Departments; storage places; basins for wading pools, and the municipal bathing beach. Other examples are skating facilities, and reg- ulation in allotment of baseball fields to users.


To offer recommendation calculated to assist in co-ordinat- ing the work of these Departments for Recreation is, we be- lieve, the function of the Recreation Commission. In exercise of this function the Commission calls attention to the facts re- ported by, and recommendations made by, the Superintendent in annual report to the Commission for 1943, incorporated here.


The second reference to facts previously existing is as follows :-


At the close of 1941 and 1942 in Annual Reports this Com- mission called attention to the fact that from 1934 through the


277


RECREATION COMMISSION


first half of 1941 normal appropriations to this Commission had been supplemented by W.P.A. projects in which the major costs has been borne by the Federal Government. But at the end of June, 1941, the W.P.A. project was withdrawn; and thus the Recreation Service lost the Federal funds as well as the Municipal contribution to the project. (The grounds declared by the Federal Government for withdrawing the project was the City's non-compliance with its agreement to furnish spec- ified Sponsor's Contribution.) The withdrawal of this pro- ject left the Recreation Commission during the latter six months of 1941 without funds to carry on its program. The re- sulting lack of counselors led to the disintegration of several Boys' Clubs, several Girls' Clubs, and one unit of the children's Theatre and some other Boys' and Girls' Clubs were also lost because of the unavailability of properly conditioned buildings. Throughout the year 1942 the same conditions prevailed with increasing difficulty as costs rose in the "boom" period and it became more and more impossible to enlist services of capable Recreation leaders without funds. The condition has again continued in 1943; but timely relief, to limited degree, has been experienced through two small supplemental appropria- tions initiated by the Acting Mayor.


The Superintendent's annual report to the Commission, which follows immediately, is a part of this Report of the Commission.


Respectfully submitted for the Recreation Commission by


REV, N. PROPERZI, Chairman


278


ANNUAL REPORTS


ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE RECREATION COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 1943


December 31, 1943.


To the Recreation Commission :


Your Commission does not, of course, ONLY "A NEW DEAL" CAN SAVE THE SERVICE need the Superintendent's formal remind- er here that only "a new deal" - an awakening on the part of Official Somer- ville -- can rescue the Recreation Service now ; a "deal" that includes recognition, by the offices of Mayor and Commissioner of Public Buildings and by the Board of Al- dermen, that THE TIME HAS RUN OUT IN WHICH THE SERVICE CAN BE MAINTAINED WITHOUT FINANCES AND WITHOUT AVAILABLE BUILDINGS AND PREM- ISES FOR ACTIVITIES, solely on the devoted sacrifice of men and women who have given it for twenty years and more.




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