USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1956 > Part 17
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COMMUNITY ACTIVITY
The planning staff maintains an effective liasson between the administrative and other city departments, as well as with civic agencies active in renewal. Mr. Myer and Mrs. Ford are members of the Community Council Committee on Urban Renewal, and attend meetings of the East Somerville and Ward III Neighborhood Associations. Recently they were delegates to the ACTION Regional Renewal Clinic held at M. I. T.
The resources of the Planning office are available to the public at all times and the staff has been of assistance to the Urban Redevelopment Authority in its study of the problems of renewal.
The staff's work with the neighborhood associations, the League of Women Voters and the Community Council has
261
PLANNING BOARD
demonstrated that Somerville's citizens are determined on a program of improvement of Somerville's declining neighbor- hoods and are equally determined to understand the causes and cure of the blight which has deteriorated these neighbor- hoods.
The Planning Board wishes to commend the cooperative effort and loyalty of the planning staff, and to extend its sincere appreciation to Mayor Donovan, the Honorable Board of Aldermen and many others for their continued interest in and support of planning progress in Somerville.
Respectfully submitted,
EARL W. LANDRY, Chairman.
262
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
ORGANIZATION OF LIBRARY AND STAFF PERSONNEL
December 31, 1956
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas F. Garrity, President January 1, 1957
Dr. Guy H. Wayne, Vice-President January 1, 1957
Mr. George K. Coyne January 1, 1959
Mr. John J. Griffin January 1, 1959
Mr. Arthur G. Helmund
January 1, 1958
Mr. William H. McKenna
January 1, 1958
Dr. Charles E. Rosenthall January 1, 1958
Mrs. George J. Wyse January 1, 1959
COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATION
Mr. Arthur G. Helmund, Chairman
Mr. William H. McKenna
Dr. Charles E. Rosenthall
The Vice-President, Dr. Guy H. Wayne, ex-officio
The President, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas F. Garrity, ex-officio
COMMITTEE ON BOOKS AND CATALOGING
Mr. John J. Griffin, Chairman
Mr. George K. Coyne
Mrs. George J. Wyse
The President, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas F. Garrity, ex-officio
COMMITTEE ON BOOKS AND PROPERTY
The President and the Vice-President
SECRETARY OF THE BOARD
John D. Kelley, Librarian
ORGANIZATION OF LIBRARY STAFF PERSONNEL
December 31, 1956
John D. Kelley, Librarian
263
PUBLIC LIBRARY
PROFESSIONAL GRADED SERVICE
John T. Mackey
Assistant Librarian
Gloria F. Graham
Executive Assistant
Ruth Holmes
Anna E. Cullen
Reference Librarian Chief Cataloger Supervisor of Schools
Rita D. Adams
Barbara C. Niles
Supervisor of Periodicals and Binding
Emma Merlini
Hospital Librarian Music Librarian
Kathryn Kenny
East Branch Librarian
Mary M. Noonan Teele Square Branch Librarian
Ruth D. Warner
West Branch Librarian Desk Chief
Barbara T. O'Neill
Station Executive
Lillian G. Casey
Joan E. Brunet
Children's Librarian
11
11
Elizabeth W. Hennigan
First Assistant 11 11
Rita F. O'Rourke
Catherine M. O'Malley
11
Katherine V. Nolan
11
11
Lois E. MacDonald
Senior Assistant
I. Marguerite Sawin
Alice P. Burkhart
A. Marion Johnian
11
11
Eleanor A. Long
11
11
Thelma G. Donovan
Junior Assistant 11
John A. Mclnerny
Diane B. Wilder
Anne M. Russell
11
11
Lillian F. Hixenbaugh
11
11
Margaret E. Durkin
Mary F. Baker
Ann M. Coleman
11
Elizabeth A. Malcolm
Shirley A. McCauley
UNGRADED SERVICE -- Non Professional
Helen McCarthy Mary T. Sullivan Kathryn D. Fralick Margaret T. Kelly James P. Forte Mildred C. Murphy
Althea L. Murphy
PART TIME ATTENDANTS
Margaret J. Jones Mary J. Lynch Ann Barrett Robert M. Bates William Collins Mary R. Conley
11
Marion M. Torino
Margaret E. Ronayne
11
11
11
11
11
Marilyn F. Legere
Myrtle Nicholson
264
ANNUAL REPORTS
Brenda M. Coughlin
John H. Kelley Thomas B. Kelley Janet M. Layte Patricia A. Meskell Edna F. O'Brien Joanna M. Preston Laura M. Reid
Kathryn E. Rogers
RESIGNED DURING YEAR
Eugene F. Allen
Non-Professional Part Time Attendant
Marjorie A. Barrett
Catherine T. Barrow
Judith Boyle
Carol A. Dangora
Jo Ann L. Esterbrook
Dympna Flavin
Walter P. Foley, Jr.
Robert Grant
Frances Lavoie
Junior Assistant Part Time Attendant
Marion M. Mackinnon
11
Ruth E. McCarthy
Elizabeth W. Mckay
11
11
11
Maureen T. Murphy
Joseph T. O'Hare
11
11
Virginia A. O'Hare
Junior Assistant
Saralee Preziosi
11
Brenda A. Smith
Part Time Attendant
Maureen Splaine
11
Mary Ann Stackpole
Barbara A. Sullivan
Children's Librarian Part Time Attendant
Geraldine H. Sullivan
11
11
11
11
"
11
11
Gail A. Manning
11
11
265.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
To the Honorable the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
Dear Sirs:
The Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Somer- ville Public Library is herewith respectfully submitted and appended thereto, and forming a part of it, the Annual Report of the Librarian, which details the growth and operation of the Library for the past year.
Very respectfully, RT. REV. THOMAS F. GARRITY, President, Board of Trustees.
266
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Board of Trustees:
I herewith submit my Twentieth Annual Report with mixed emotions-pride in the accomplishments of my administration during the past twenty years as demonstrated by the tremen- dous increase in patronage and the complimentary enthusiasm of so many of our borrowers for our services obtained through the cooperative efforts of cur loyal staff. As I look to the future a feeling of apprehension presents itself, first the constant deterioration of our physical properties through neglect of maintenance since the construction of our buildings, and secondly our inability to attract prospective staff members with sufficient educational qualifications because of our low salary standards.
If in this report | appear to be critical, I trust my state- ments will be interpreted only as an honest report of facts. It is alarming when one realizes that the City of Somerville was presented by Mr. Andrew Carnegie and the Carnegie Foun- dation, the Central Library, the West and East Branches with the stipulation that they be used exclusively for Library pur- poses and that the City of Somerville adequately maintain each building. An inspection of these properties today presents a sorry sight. The Central Library, which without question is visited daily by more persons than any other city building, is a spectacle, with water seeping through the front walls, plaster and paint continually falling to the floor and the floor covering a serious hazard with holes every few feet around the main reading room. The West Branch, a dark, dismal, anti- quated and inadequate setting, which requires complete refur- bishing and the East Branch a most attractive building spoiled because of the lack of paint and kalsomine. The Administra- tion of Mayor William J. Donovan and Public Works Com- missioner Walter Manning has done much to correct some of our serious deficiencies but it is a case of "too little too late." In preparing the City's annual budget, requests for necessary repairs and replacements were submitted to Mr. Manning which at conservative estimates would cost between $35,000 to $40,000, a moral obligation on the City of Somerville to fulfill the stipulations of the building grants.
As time marches on, the lack of educational qualifications of our staff becomes more evident. As stated before, because of our low salary standards, it is impossible to attract applicants with qualifications other than a high school diploma, and
267
PUBLIC LIBRARY
furthermore, the lack of the authorities to cooperate with the Board of Trustees recommendation for increments for staff members who desire to continue their education by taking college courses which would enhance their value to our insti- tution is a matter of concern. Unfortunately they fail to realize that free public libraries are institutions of fundamental value in this complicated and rapidly developing world, particularly in the world's greatest democracy. Libraries are storehouses of knowledge and knowledge is the basic tool of civilization. Reluctant as we are to admit it, Somerville has become a highly materialistic community in which, partly of necessity, we have concentrated far more on the economy than on what might be called culture and the "finer things of life." We are concerned with the fact that reading and the resultant growth in knowledge and ability to think are valuable, not only in increasing our productive power, hence our wealth, but also in the enjoyment of life and in effective understanding and cooperation with others which are secrets of long range success in this changing world-for individuals and for our entire society.
To be effective, our library, an informal educational insti- tution requires traditions of impartiality and independence, a wide range of services for the young and old, the highly skilled and the beginners, it must maintain high educational. and professional standards. It requires the literature of the day and of other days reaching back to the classics of antiquity, books on the humanities, the sciences and technology, books on hobbies and specialties, on doing things, making things, books especially concerned with human relations and their great possibilities for good and evil. We take our public library too much for granted and have failed to support adequately and utilize fully the basic democratic ideal of an educated citizenry, with those who learn to read in the schools contin- uing to use this method and tool of learning in a lifetime of educational growth and increased understanding through the use of books, reference material, records and periodicals made available through the tax support of our community.
Itøis interesting to note that our patronage is still on the increase. Notwithstanding the confusion caused by the two sessions of High School which resulted in an increase of morning patrons, the conditions in the afternoon and especially in the evening necessitated the rearrangement of the reading tables to permit the addition of more tables and chairs. We have never experienced as large an attendance, which defi- nitely taxed all our facilities to the limit. If these conditions
268
ANNUAL REPORTS
continue some other arrangement will be necessary for the Music and Periodicals Departments to provide additional space for our evening patrons who in general are High School and College students who require proper equipment to accomplish their study assignments. Unfortunately, because of the physi- cal arrangement of the Central Library, there is no available space, so in future, consideration must be given to the con- struction of a balcony around Wellington Hall which could provide quarters for our Genealogy, Art and Music Departments and study cubicles for our patrons.
The number of our registered borrowers is at the highest figure since 1942. On the other hand though our circulation figures show only a slight increase over a year ago, due to the marked decline in the circulation of books of fiction, the trend is definitely toward the more serious type of books in the non-fiction category. The increased use of our facilities by the businessmen of our city is encouraging. It now appears feasible to increase our collection in this field to better service this demand.
The past year has brought to the Music Department a continued and steady progress in our efforts to acquaint the population of Somerville with the best of music. 19,813 records were circulated which is amazing when one realizes that the 78 RPM records are being circulated less and less while the 45 RPM and the 331/3 RPM records are much more popular. One 45 or 331/3 RPM record contains about the same amount of material found on four 78 RPM records. A survey of our borrowers presents an interesting variety of reasons for borrowing records. One of our most faithful is a young Coast Guardsman who weekly takes out records of religious music to play for his ship's Sunday services. Another took records for a home wedding, others borrow for patients in hospitals, for use with home movies, for tape recordings, for recreational work with children and for just listening. We are awed by the consistant lack of breakage or the general misuse of records. Considering the fragility of phonograph records we maintain an excellent record of careful use by the public. The constant use of our most unattractive listening booths continue but we are the recipient of justifiable com- plaints for the lack of adequate sound proofing, ventilation, peeling walls and decrepit floor covering. The operas continue to be the most popular item, with non-musical recordings a favorite, language records are in great demand and the dra- matic albums running a close second.
The acquisition of a new stamping machine which prints
269
PUBLIC LIBRARY
the author, title and call numbers on the backs of books permits our Bindery Department to turn out more professional work. Also the placing of plastic clear covers on the current magazines in the Reading Room was greatly appreciated by the public.
It was recently said, "When the Hospital Librarian gets the right book . . . to the right patient . .. at the right time . it is as good as a transfusion." Our service to the hos- pitalized sick, the aged and the "shut-ins" continues to be a source of great consolation and satisfaction, it also is one of our best mediums of public relations for no other service we render is more appreciated. We are indebted to Mr. Thomas Conway of the Building Department for his cooperation in constructing slotted topped, locked boxes for the return of books at the Somerville Hospital. Mr. Blumsack, Assistant Administrator of the Central Hospital has promised to furnish similar equipment at his institution. These boxes have elim- inated one of our greatest difficulties, the disappearance of books when a patient leaves the hospital. If one could only witness the satisfaction of patients for this service more consideration would be given to our needs for transportation in this work. Our heartfelt thanks are extended to my assistant, Mr. John Mackey, Mr. Frank Creamer, a custodian at Central and various members of our staff who have gratuitously chauf- feured Miss Merlini on her calls to the various Rest Homes and to the homes of "shut-ins." With the use of a station wagon the work of this department could be greatly enhanced. We were honored to have Miss Merlini elected Treasurer of the Massachusetts Library Association Hospital Library Group and her appointment as Chairman of the Publicity Committee.
Again we urge, but this time with a slight degree of en- couragement, a change of location of the Union Square Station. The present location is a reflection on the City of Somerville and to the Library system.
An interesting experiment under the guidance of Miss Ruth Warner, Branch Librarian at West, was performed with outstanding success. A Junior Book Review Group was organ- ized to read and present written reviews of new children's books. A special section was set aside for the collection and all reviews were pinned on the bulletin board. The over- whelming response of the children and their parents to this innovation proved its value.
We have often wondered what was the reaction of the
270
ANNUAL REPORTS
public to the Library system. This spring because of an erroneous report in the press stated that the East Branch Library was to be closed gave us the answer. The avalanche of personal calls, telephone calls and letters made us aware of the appre- ciation of the library, particularly when the public might be deprived of the privilege.
The extracurricular activities of our staff are often over- looked yet they demonstrate their loyalty to our library system. I quote from the annual report of Miss Mary Noonan, Branch Librarian at Teele Square, "Living near Teele Square are two families whose home life is negligible because their parents run stores-an Italian Variety Store and a Chinese Laundry. These four children who 'live' in the library had never heard of a May Party. Miss Joan Brunet and Mrs. Marion Torino made paper hats, streamers and banners and with a few other regular borrowers marched up and down Broadway and through the center of Teele Square-traffic was stopped for the 'United Nations May Party.' The whole affair took perhaps one hour but created tremendous good will among the small children and adults in the square at the time."
We have included in our annual budget sufficient money to microfilm the historically valuable Somerville Journals and Somerville Journal Press. It is our fervant hope that this money will be appropriated to perpetuate the only copies of these papers in existence. If this money is available, Post 19 of the American Legion is considering the presentation to the Library of a Film Reader as a community service and as a demonstration of their appreciation of the historic significance of these papers.
Mr. George K. Coyne, Mr. John J. Griffin and Mrs. George J. Wyse were reappointed for another three year term as Trustees. Mr. William P. Mclaughlin, Jr., resigned as a Trustee and Vice-President of the Board upon his removal to Melrose. Rev. Dr. Guy H. Wayne was elected Vice-President as Mr. Mclaughlin's successor.
Staff changes were as follows:
Resignations
Eugene F. Allen
Roberta Grant Virginia A. O'Hare Saralee Preziosi
Barbara A. Sullivan
271
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Appointments
James P. Forte
Non Professional
Kathryn D. Fralick
Margaret T. Kelly
11
Helen McCarthy
11
Althea L. Murphy
Mildred C. Murphy
Mary T. Sullivan
Promotions
Joan E. Brunet
Children's Librarian at Central
Marion M. Torino
Senior Assistant, 2nd year
Eleanor A. Long
Senior Assistant, 1st year
Thelma G. Donovan
Junior Assistant, 3rd year
John A. Mclnerny
Margaret E. Ronayne
Margaret E. Durkin
Junior Assistant, 2nd year
Lillian F. Hixenbaugh
Anne M. Russell
Diane B. Wilder
Junior Assistant, 1st year
Ann M. Coleman
Roberta Grant
Elizabeth A. Malcolm
Shirley A. McCauley
Whatever success I have achieved in my 20 years of service, I owe to the cooperation of the outstanding, unselfish service rendered to our community by the various members of the Board of Trustees under whom I have served. I am in a position to state that I do not believe any group has given more of their time or energy without compensation or political ulterior motives for the benefit of our citizenry and the better- ment of our community. Much has been accomplished in making our library system a valuable asset to the City of Somerville and much more can be done in the future with your advice and counsel. I shall always be indebted for your con- fidence.
Our loyal staff deserves the highest praise. Working con- ditions and financial rewards have not compensated them for their efforts but a spirit of loyalty to our Library system, which cannot be duplicated, prevails.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN D. KELLEY,
Librarian.
11
Mary F. Baker
"
"1
11
,
"1
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 of the fiscal year ending: December 31, 1956
Governmental unit of support and service: City
Population served (1950 census) 102,254
Terms of use: Free for lending-Free for reference
Agencies
Central Library
1
Branches in library buildings
2
Branches in rented rooms
1
Stations in rented rooms
2
Others, in schools
268
in institutions 9
TOTAL 283
Circulation and Use
Number of volumes of adult non-fiction lent for home use
53,655
Number of volumes of adult fiction lent for home use 96,511
Number of volumes of juveniles lent for home use 227,511
Total number of volumes lent for home use
377,677
Period of loan for the majority of adult book stock
14 days
Number of inter-library loans: Volumes lent
29
Volumes borrowed
13
Number of referece questions answered 10,034
Total number of records lent for home use.
19,813
Registration
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Total number of registered borrowers ....
9,238
8,062
17,300
Borrowers registered during year
4,624
4,335
8,959
Registration period: 2 years
Book Stock
Adult
Juvenile
Number of volumes Dec. 31, 1955 ..
93,981
50,334
Total 144,315
Number of volumes added during year
5,206
6,389
11,595
Number of volumes withdrawn during year
3,561
4,809
8,370
Number of volumes Dec. 31, 1956
95,626
51,914
147,540
Number of newspapers currently received excluding duplicates
12
Number of periodicals currently received excluding duplicates
147
FINANCE
Assessed valuation of the city-$133,335,000.00
273
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Receipts
Local taxation
Library Department
Fines included in above
$4,850.53
Dog licenses included in above 4,212.20
Invested Funds:
Balance from 1955
Income during 1956
$2,025.02 1,053.44
3,078.46
TOTAL
$182,483.92
Expenditures
$144,204.17
Books: Appropriation Funds
1,357.76
22,969.09
Music
839.77
Periodicals
1,348.90
Binding
301.64
Insurance
Other operating expenses
8,673.03
TOTAL
$178,336.60
Transfers To Other Departments
From Personal Service Account to Law De- partment
$725.00
From Personal Service Account to Sanitary Department
1,200.00
From Special Bonus Account to Sanitary Dept. 350.00
$2,275.00
Balance December 31, 1956
Library Department
. Appropriation-Services
151.29
Appropriation-Ordinary Maintenance
.33
Trust Funds
1,720.70
$1,872.32
GRAND TOTAL $182,483.92
$179,405.46
Salaries: Library Department
$21,611.33
274
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS
January, 1957
To the Honorable the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
Gentlemen:
The Board of Election Commissioners respectfully submits the following report for the year 1956.
REGISTRATION
Before the State Primary in September, registration was held in the office at City Hall, beginning on January 2 and continuing until Friday August 17, from 8:30 to 4:30 P.M. every day except Saturday. Also Thursday, August 2; Friday, August 3; Tuesday, August 14; Wednesday, August 15; Thurs- day, August 16; from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. and on Friday, August 17th, from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.
Outside sessions were as follows:
Monday, August 6 Cutler Schoolhouse, Powder House Blvd.
Monday, August 6 John A. Dickerman Schoolhouse, Cross St.
Tuesday, August 7 Morse Schoolhouse, Summer St.
Tuesday, August 7 Western Junior High School, Holland St.
Wednesday, August 8 Carr Schoolhouse, Atherton St.
Wednesday, August 8 Perry Schoolhouse, Washington St.
Thursday, August 9 Bingham Schoolhouse, Lowell St.
Thursday, August 9 Healey Schoolhouse, Meacham St.
Friday, August 10 Knapp Schoolhouse, Adrian St.
Friday, August 10 Southworth Schoolhouse, Myrtle St.
Monday, August 13 Brown Schoolhouse, Willow Ave.
Monday, August 13 Southern Junior High School, Summer St.
Three thousand five hundred seventy-seven names were added to the voting list.
After the State Primary, September 18, 1956, registration began September 24 in the office at City Hall and continued until Friday, October 5, from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. except Saturday. Evening sessions at City Hall were Monday, October 1; Tuesday, October 2; Wednesday, October 3; Thursday, Oc- tober 4, from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. And Friday, October 5, from 8:30 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.
275
BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS
Outside sessions were as follows:
Monday, September 24 Cutler Schoolhouse, Powder House Blvd.
Monday, September 24 John A. Dickerman School, Cross St.
Tuesday, September 25 Morse School, Summer St.
Tuesday, September 25 Western Junior High School, Holland St.
Wednesday, September 26 Carr School, Atherton St.
Wednesday, September 26 Brown School, Willow Ave.
Thursday, September 27 Bingham School, Lowell St.
Thursday, September 27 Healey School, Meacham St.
Friday, September 28 Durell School, Beacon St.
Friday, September 28 Southern Junior High School, Summer St.
Two thousand five hundred sixty-five names were added to the voting list making a total of 50,774.
276
ANNUAL REPORTS
REGISTERED VOTERS
Registered Voters Oct. 1955
Revised Lists June 1956
Registred Voters Oct. 1956
Votes Cast Nov. 6
Ward
Precinct
Men
Women
Men
Women
Men
Women
1956
1
1
681
651
611
568
694
656
1182
1
2
589
627
533
580
579
644
1048
1
3
550
572
518
522
577
593
992
1
4
625
658
579
584
659
699
1183
.1
5
666
665
610
631
699
727
1262
3111
3173
2851
2885
3208
3319
5667
2
1
587
492
369
320
403
355
674
2
2
556
566
518
517
578
594
1042
2
3
430
461
403
419
449
486
804
2
4
625
667
572
615
641
691
1191
2
5
632
680
576
635
657
731
1235
2
6
541
533
467
471
543
538
946
3371
3399
2905
2977
3271
3395
5892
3
1
619
694
576
633
634
692
1174
3
2
548
650
490
596
557
699
1114
3
3
648
744
600
696
678
766
1268
3
4
588
709
559
680
617
753
1217
3
5
454
674
433
644
489
718
1052
2857
3471
2658
3249
2975
3628
5825
4
1
743
791
696
730
.778
815
1408
4
2
507
520
469
482
530
565
984
4
3
660
804
629
756
695
859
1385
4
4
749
862
693
802
780
896
1489
4
5
710
760
642
675
745
805
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