USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1958 > Part 15
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2. Portable equipment includes 2 power rollers, a street striping machine, 4 compressors, two trailer pumps, two trail- ers, 1 concrete mixer, 6 power mowers, 1 material spreader, 1 flexible sewer cleaning machine, four generators, 10 pumps, a power roller, 1 3/5ton roller, portable saw, five gasoline chain saws, pipe threading machine, electric pipe cutter, band saw, and drill press, plus all types of ladders, hand tools, jacks, bars, floodlights, etc.
3. Rolling stock consists of the following:
17 dump trucks
13 load packers
12 Pick up trucks
11 trucks with specialized service bodies
5 Walter snow fighters
1 Walter snow fighter with crane
4 rack body trucks
4 street sweeping vehicles
2 tractor plows
2 snow-go loaders
2 Hough payloaders
2 power wagons
2 low boy trailers
1 Ingersall Rand trailer
1 tow truck
1 jeep
1 station wagon
230
ANNUAL REPORTS
This report summarizes our maintenance and rehabilitation program for the year. We have accurate and detailed records of all department activities and will be pleased to enlarge on any items or activities you may desire.
I trust this report covering the highlights of the year 1958 will meet with your approval and satisfaction.
Respectfully yours,
WALTER J. MANNING, Commissioner of Public Works
231
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
ROBERT
PROPOSED SOMERVILLE INCINERATOR
232
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE VETERANS GRAVES REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT
March 20, 1959
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
Gentlemen:
We are submitting herewith the Annual Report for 1958 of the Veterans Graves Registration Department.
During the year no repatriated servicemen's bodies were returned to their native City of Somerville.
The Veterans' Memorial Cemetery at Clarendon Hill and the Cemetery on Somerville Avenue were visited on occasions and the individual veterans' graves were decorated with wreaths and flags on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. A record is being maintained regarding the death of Somerville veterans as the information arrives at this office.
Very truly yours,
FRED F. RUSSO, Graves Registration Officer
EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR 1958
Personal Services $750.00
Ordinary Maintenance 96.00
233
FIRE DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
March 2, 1959
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
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, 1958:
ALARMS AND LOSSES
Number of First Alarms 763
Number of Second Alarms
8
Number of Third Alarms
4
Number of A.D.T. Alarms
19
Number of Still Alarms
504
Accidents, Ambulance and Emergency Calls ..
2145
Number of Alarms for the year 1958
3443
Number of Alarms for the year 1957
4291
Decrease in the Number of Alarms during the the year 1948 848
Value of Buildings at Risk
$2,761,750.00
Insurance on Buildings at Risk
3,170,240.00
Insurance Damage on Buildings
259,288.54
Value of Contents at Risk
2,075,763.00
Insurance on Contents at Risk
1,634,500.00
Insurance Damage on Contents
316,859.17
Total Value at Risk
4,837,513.00
Total Insurance Damage
576,147.71
Approximate Per Capita Loss
5.76
CLASSIFICATION OF ALARMS
Fires in Residence Buildings
241
Fires in Other Buildings
123
Chimney Fires
3
Fires in Rubbish, Near Buildings
72
Fires in Dumps, Vacant Lots
47
234
ANNUAL REPORT
Grass Fires
34
Miscellaneous Fires - Out of Doors
92
Automobile Fires
114
False Alarms
248
Smoke Scares
Needless Alarms
100
Accidents, Inhalator Calls
346
Miscellaneous Emergency Calls
336
False Telephone Calls
16
Out of City Calls
196
Ambulance Calls
1463
TOTAL
3431
Second Alarms
8
Third Alarms
4
TOTAL
3443
TIME PERIOD OF ALARMS
8:00 A. M. To 4:00 P.M. 733
4:00 P.M. To 6:00 P.M. 287
6:00 P. M. To 9:00 P. M. 369
9:00 P. M. To Midnight 313
Midnight To 8:00 A. M. 266
1968
MANUAL FORCE
The Manual Force consists of Two Hundred and Twenty- Nine (229) Permanent Men and One Senior Account Clerk and Stenographer. During the year, 1 District Chief, 1 Lieutenant, and 4 Fire Fighters were pensioned. Two Fire Fighters died.
The Roster of the Department is as follows:
1 Chief Engineer
3 Deputy Fire Chiefs
4 District Fire Chiefs
1 Master Mechanic
4 Assistant 'Mechanics
7 Fire Captains
25 Fire Lieutenants
7 Assigned to Ambulance
167 Fire Fighters - 4th Year
4 Fire Fighters - 3rd Year
6 Fire Fighters - 2nd Year
1 Senior Account Clerk and Stenographer
230 Total
235
FIRE DEPARTMENT
"In Memoriam" JOSEPH P. FLYNN Fire Fighter
Appointed April 23, 1942
Died
May 23, 1958
As a result of exertion and smoke inhalation in the performance of duty at Third Alarm - Box 23 - May 18, 1958
JOHN P. CRONIN Fire Fighter
Appointed
May 1, 1930
Died
December 31, 1958
FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU
Permits Delivered In 1958
14,706 Renewal Permits for Storage of Oil @ .25
$3,676.50
568 Original Permits for Installation of Heaters and Storage of Oil @ .50
284.00
46 Miscellaneous (Tank Removal, Tar Kettles, Blasting, etc.) @ .50 23.00
$3,983.50
Inspection of premises was made on the delivery of renewal permits and original installations.
I respectfully recommend the purchase of the following equipment:
A Hose Wagon to replace Engine 1's Hose Wagon. Present wagon was placed in service July 31, 1928.
A Hose Wagon to replace Engine 3's Hose Wagon. Present wagon was placed in service September 12, 1929. A Combination Light and Rescue Wagon for Central Station. Present Wagon was placed in service June 15, 1932. A 1000-Gallon Pump for Engine Company 6. Present Pump was placed in service May 31, 1932.
The problem of inspecting premises for Fire Prevention, the checking on complaints relative to fire hazards, the inspec- tion for the storage of inflammable fluids in dwellings and business establishments, and the issuing of approximately 16,000 renewal permits annually for the storage of fuel oil, is one requiring detailed supervision and direction by an officer.
The placing in service and operation of modern fire equip- ment requires that the members of the department be thor-
236
ANNUAL REPORT
oughly trained in the use of this apparatus and equipment. At the present time, this work is performed by the various com- manding officers, thereby leading to different methods of operating and handling the new equipment, and a lack of continuity of the training program.
I recommend that two Captains be appointed-one to su- pervise the Fire Prevention Bureau and one to be Drill Master.
Again-I recommend that the Fire Department transmitter be located on another frequency. At present, the Fire and Police Departments use the same frequency, and this has re- sulted in the delay in receiving and transmitting important Fire Department messages. The sets now in use by the Fire Depart- ment can be used, with minor adjustments.
I recommend that consideration be given to the complete modernization or replacement of the following Fire Stations:
ENGINE 1 - Central Fire Station Built in 1894
ENGINE 2 - Cross St. & Broadway Built in 1895 ENGINE 4 - Highland Ave. & Grove St. Built in 1873
To His Honor the Mayor, the members of the Honorable Board of Aldermen, the Officers and Members of the Fire De- partment, all municipal departments who so ably assisted this department - and to the citizens of the City, I extend the thanks of the department for their support and co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES H. O'HARA, Chief Engineer
237
POLICE DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
January 1, 1959
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
Gentlemen:
I respectfully submit herewith the Annual Report of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1958.
ARRESTS
Whole number of arrests
4915
On Summons
2293
On Warrants
433
Without Warrants
2189
4915
Held for Trial
4707
Delivered to other Departments
164
Released on Waiver
44
4915
Males
4502
Females
413
4915
Foreigners
142
Non-Residents
1303
Minors
846
Drunkenness - Released
1164
POLICE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL
The personnel of the police department consists of one hundred and sixty-three (163) permanent men and two (2) police matrons. Lieutenant Thomas J. O'Brien was promoted to Chief of Police. During the year Captain Earle W. Elliott and Patrolman Cornelius Aucoin passed away. Acting Chief Hugh R. Cunningham and Acting Deputy Chief Joseph F. Small were pensioned.
238
ANNUAL REPORT
RANKS IN THE DEPARTMENT ARE AS FOLLOWS
1 Chief
2 Captains
9 Lieutenants 11 Sergeants
140 Patrolmen
OFFICIAL ROSTER OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
December 31, 1958
Chief of Police
Thomas J. O'Brien
Captains
LeRoy V. Pierce
Henry W. Roche
Lieutenants
Joseph G. Crowley John J. Smith Leo J. Gormley Thomas L. McGahan
James M. Kilmartin Raymond J. Gleason John E. Hughes Dennis F. Kearney
John T. Mahood William F. Wills Cornelius J. Collins John F. Burlingame William F. Blake James L. Smith
James F. Holmes Patrick J. Lyons Edward G. Forristall James Souza Jeremiah F. Donovan John J. Brosnahan George Spiers Charles W. Ellis Joseph F. Curran George W. McCauley Garrett F. J. Mehigan Daniel J. O'Connell Arthur W. Kelley Joseph F. Fedele William E. Johnson
Sergeants
Thomas F. Mahoney® John W. Murphy John F. Powers Fred A. Cammon Thomas L. Hall
Patrolmen
George Gullage, Jr. Patrick F. O'Brien Jeremiah G. Sheehan George B. Phillips Ricco J. Rossi John M. Dunleavey Harold L. Coffey William J. Fitzgerald Frederick W. McGovern: George W. Crosby Edward J. Kiley Lester A. Caswell Francis L. Rogers John H. O'Brien Herbert H. Stokes
239
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Daniel F. Murphy John J. Clark Augustine W. Fitzpatrick Walter J. MacRae William J. Quinlan James E. Hughes John F. Heafey Howard F. Hallion John J. Tanner
Walter C. Barletta
Donald N. MacElree
Medardo A. Muzzioli
Vincent D. Hartnett James C. Mearls
Andrew L. Dennehy
Alfred J. White
Vincent J. Izzi Earl S. Hemenway, Jr.
John Cunha, Jr. Felix J. Manfra
Edward W. Kelley
Joseph L. Mearls
Clifford McQuilken
John T. Canty #2
William J. Downey
Ernest A. DiNisco
Robert J. Brady
Robert P. Ryan
Joseph A. Murphy
Samuel J. Boike
Vincent J. McDonough
David T. McKenna
William B. White
John F. Burns
Charles W. Moran
John C. DeLellis
John J. Fitzgerald
Benjamin J. Callahan, Jr.
Walter F. Willwerth
John J. Donovan James F. Downing
Raymond F. Peck James J. Carroll Robert J. Lungo
Francis J. Keane
John J. Fothergill
Allan L. Collins
Allan S. Mosher
William B. Ward, Jr.
Gerald D. Bugden
James E. Keating
Charles A. Cecere
George L. Gordon
John P. Dwyer
John J. Zonghetti
Edward J. Lepore
James J. Ryan, Jr.
Thomas M. Hickey
. James F. Tatosky William E. Connolly Joseph J. Hurley
Salvatore F. Salemme James C. Baird Harold A. MacDonald
William S. McDonough
Charles T. McCarthy William A. Kinsley, Jr.
William J. Shine
Thomas J. Sullivan
Wallace E. Foskett
Leo J. Letendre
Nicholas J. Masiello Walter J. Donovan John J. Bacci Henry E. Ramsdell William C. Breen William A. Silk Charles B. Winn Daniel P. Murphy
James R. O'Leary William J. Duffy James J. Higgins
Matrons
Marcella D. Yates
Margaret M. Brussard
Glen B. Nicholas Ernest C. Faulkner
William J. Kelley John F. Donovan
James F. Ryan Joseph R. Estee
Christopher C. Cullinan
Cosmo DeVellis
John J. Mahoney
William J. Heafey
Thomas W. McGovern
William F. Lynch
James F. DeFuria Albert J. Daly
Charles P. Meehan Joseph M. Desmond
James P. Ryan Edward L. Fahey
Thomas F. Doody Carmine L. Perna Albert E. Dempsey
John R. Ambrogne Robert E. Doyle William L. Bavin John T. Canty #1
240
ANNUAL REPORT
IN CONCLUSION
I wish to thank His Honor the Mayor, members of the Board of Aldermen, heads of various Departments and all mem- bers of the Police Department for their loyal support, coopera- tion and assistance during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS J. O'BRIEN, Chief of Police
241
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
January 1, 1959
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
Gentlemen:
The following report is respectfully submitted as the Annual Report of the Board of Assessors for the year ending December 31, 1958.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE - 1958 RECAPITULATION
A-CITY-All appropriations since the 1957 Tax Rate was fixed
1. Total to be raised by taxation
$12,746,910.17
2. Total appropriations to be taken from Available Funds:
(a) in 1958
$22,495.83
(b) in 1957
259,808.18 282,304.01
$13,029,214.18
3. Deficits due to Abatements in excess of overlay of prior years:
(a) in 1947
$168.50
(b) in 1949
59.91
(c) in 1950
611.31
(d) in 1951
1,282.11
(e) in 1952
3,490.64
(f) in 1953
5,411.36
(g) in 1954
5,914.88
(h) in 1955
17,685.36
(i ) in 1956
32,254.00
74,688.12
B-STATE: Tax and Assessments:
1958 Estimates
1957 Underestimates
1. State Audit Municipal Ac- counts
$4,959.29
2. State Examination Retirement System
597.14
3. Smoke Inspection Service
1,625.37
$43.76
4. Additional State Assessments
1,343,625.23
2,729.38
$1,350,807.03
$2,773.14
1,353,580.17
242
ANNUAL REPORTS
C-COUNTY: Tax and Assessments:
1. County Tax .. $429,932.76 $35,442.12
2. Tuberculosis Hospital Assess- ment 151,423.10
$581,355.86
$35,442.12 616,797.98
D-OVERLAY OF CURRENT YEAR
301,517.52
$15,375,797.97
E-GROSS AMOUNT TO BE RAISED F-TOTAL ESTIMATED RECEIPTS AND AVAILABLE FUNDS:
1. Income Tax
$652,944.84
2. Corporations Taxes
464,458.95
3. Reimbursement a/c Publicly Owned Land
965.00
4. Old Age Tax-Meals
46,712.82
5. Motor Vehicle & Trailer Ex- cise
864,495.66
6. Licenses
127,430.72
7. Fines
27,042.15
8. Grants & Gifts
26,634.94
9. General Government
19,904.68
10. Protection Persons & Property
4,505.52
11. Health & Sanitation
14,198.62
12. Highways
1,290.64
13. Charities
172,478.99
14. Old Age Assistance
840,803.93
15. Veterans' Services
49,160.99
16. Schools
85,717.43
17. Libraries
5,264.58
18. Recreation
294.40
19. Public Service Enterprises (Water)
718,856.13
20. Interest
16,123.69
21. State Assistance for School Construction
32,176.46
22. Disability Assistance TOTAL ESTIMATED RECEIPTS
$4,275,608.85
23. OVERESTIMATES OF PREVI- OUS YEAR TO BE USED AS AVAILABLE FUNDS:
(a) County Tuberculosis Hos- pital
$3,617.43
(b) Metropolitan Parks
8,461.28
(c) Metropolitan Transit Auth.
15,063.67
(d) Metropolitan Transit Auth. Principal Payments
2,254.07
$29,396.45
$411,178.99
TOTAL ESTIMATED RECEIPTS AND AVAILABLE FUNDS ...
G-NET AMOUNT TO BE RAISED BY TAXATION ON POLLS AND PROPERTY
$4,716,184.29
$10,659,613.68
24. AMOUNTS TO BE TAKEN FROM AVAILABLE FUNDS ..
104,147.71
243
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
H-Number of Polls: 28,935 @ $2.00 each $57,870.00
J-Total Valuation:
Personal Property
$7,744,000.00 613,324.80
Real Estate
$126,116,400.00
9,988,418.88
$133,860,400.00 $10,659,613.68
TOTAL TAXES LEVIED ON POLLS
AND PROPERTY
$10,659,613.68
TAX RATE - $79.20
The Board of Assessors wishes to thank the other departments for the co-operation extended during the year, particularly the Legal De- partment.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD T. BRADY, Chairman WILLIAM J. MORAN HAROLD W. WELLS GORDON FAULKNER JOHN B. CARR
244
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
ORGANIZATION OF LIBRARY AND STAFF PERSONNEL December 31, 1958
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mr. John J. Sheehan, President
January 1, 1960
Mrs. Mary J. Noone, Vice-President
"
1961
Dr. George K. Coyne
1959
Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas F. Garrity
1960
Mr. Arthur G. Helmund
11
1961
Mr. William H. McKenna
1961
Mrs. George J. Wyse
1959
COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATION
Mr. Arthur G. Helmund, Chairman
Mr. William H. McKenna
Mrs. George J. Wyse
The Vice-President, Mrs. Mary J. Noone, ex-officio
The President, Mr. John J. Sheehan, ex-officio
COMMITTEE ON BOOKS AND CATALOGING
Dr. George K. Coyne Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas F. Garrity The President, Mr. John J. Sheehan, ex-officio
COMMITTEE ON BUILDING AND PROPERTY
The President and the Vice-President
SECRETARY OF THE BOARD John D. Kelley, Librarian
ORGANIZATION OF LIBRARY STAFF PERSONNEL
December 31, 1958
John D. Kelley
Librarian
245
PUBLIC LIBRARY
PROFESSIONAL GRADED SERVICE
John T. Mackey
Assistant Librarian
Gloria F. Graham
Executive Assistant
Ruth Holmes
Reference Librarian
Anna E. Cullen
Chief Cataloger
Rita D. Adams
Supervisor of Schools and Deposits
Barbara C. Niles Supervisor of Periodicals and Binding
Emma Merlini
Hospital Librarian Music Librarian
John A. Mclnerny
Kathryn Kenny
Branch Librarian, East Branch
Mary M. Noonan
Branch Librarian, Teele Square Branch
Ruth D. Warner
Branch Librarian, West Branch Desk Chief
Barbara T. O'Neill
Station Executive, Union Sq. Station
Lillian G. Casey Station Executive, Ten Hills Station Joan E. Brunet Children's Librarian, Central Library
Elizabeth W. Hennigan
First Assistant
Catherine M. O Malley
11
Katherine V. Nolan
Alice P. Burkhart
A. Marion Johnian
Lois E. MacDonald
Senior Assistant
I. Marguerite Sawin
Thelma G. Donovan
Margaret E. Ronayne
Margaret E. Durkin
Anne M. Russell
Lillian F. Hixenbaugh
Mary F. Baker
Junior Assistant
Ann M. Coleman
Elizabeth A. Mclnerny
Shirley A. McCauley
Helen McCarthy
Mary T. Sullivan
Kathryn D. Fralick
Margaret T. Kelly
Mildred C. Murphy
Althea L. Murphy
Ann Barrett
Agnes B. Killeen
Irene T. Herlihy
Margaret A. Quigley
UNGRADED SERVICE - Non Professional
Edna F. O'Brien Alice E. Hennigan
PART TIME ATTENDANTS
Margaret L. Jones
Gail P. Clark
Mary R. Conley
Margaret P. McKenna Patricia A. Meskell Jean L. Milewski Nancy C. O'Neill Kathryn R. Rogers
Angelina L. Errico Patricia A. Estee Charles V. Grew, Jr.
Priscilla J. Sotiros
John H. Kelley Thomas B. Kelley Marie P. Lawless
Patricia J. Stackploe Mary E. Sweeney Mary T. Tuccelli
11
Myrtle Nicholson
246
ANNUAL REPORT
RESIGNED DURING YEAR
E. Edwina Addison
Non Professional Part Time Attendant
Robert Bates
"1
Laura M. Bullock
Thomas B. Card
Lorraine Fitzgerald
11
11
11
Sally B. Herlihy
Mildred H. Johnson
Non Professional Part Time Attendant
John F. Mack, Jr.
Joseph J. O'Brien
"
John O'Hear
Civitina E. Spinosa
Marion M. Torino
Diane B. Wilder
Senior Assistant Junior Assistant
247
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,
JOHN J. SHEEHAN,
President, Board of Trustees
248
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Board of Trustees:
According to the dictionary a library is a building where a' collection of books is kept. Though true to the physical aspect of a library this definition says nothing of the principal func- tion of the library - service to the individual person. Libraries are the last great stronghold of the individual, for where else can a person go without prerequisites to pursue his ideas, his dreams, even his material ambitions. The library is the greatest counterforce to the stultifying influence, on the human spirit, of automation and group control.
The three great dictators of our age are mass communica- tion, mass education and mass persuasion. Little room is left for the individual. Homes are fashioned for group living, schools are built to promote group participation, and office buildings are planned with auditoriums, lounges and club rooms to encourage group dynamics. Even in education, the trend as witnessed on certain television stations, is toward mass teaching, with a teacher at one end of a microphone and an unquestioning audience at the other.
The death of individualism represents a serious loss to civilization, for men can only create in solitude. None of the major achievements in science or the arts were made in a crowd. Edison did not discover his electric light in a discussion group. Ford did not build his "Tin Lizzie" in a public forum. It was a lone eagle who worked out the principles of celestial navigation which would take him across the Atlantic Ocean.
The library, by its very nature, is the greatest defense against the tyranny of the masses. Its major product, the book, was written by an individual and intended to appeal to the individual.
Alfred Stefferud in his book entitled, "The Wonderful World of Books" writes, "Now more than ever a reminder is needed that books can instruct and help us in a competitive world, in which more knowledge is needed to keep up with scientific developments; that we need their advice on the problems and worries besetting us in education, in politics and foreign affairs, in domestic issues and economics, in agricul- ture and in social matters; that they can provide fun and relaxation and inspiration in our distraught times; that in a world of television, radio, automobiles, of getting and spending
249
PUBLIC LIBRARY
and laying waste our powers, books can give us perspective and depth and fulfillment."
Though statistics are resorted to as a practical means of measuring the worth of a library, and tables indicating the number of books circulated in a year or the number of borrowers registered show only a small part of the services rendered in a community. The library deals with the nation's greatest source of power - the minds of people and therefore cannot measure all the intangible benefits it has to offer. Also, our greatest function - service to the individual cannot be estimated for we furnish the place to think - the medium to learn - and the opportunity to discover. Only in this way can the library play its proper part in our democracy, which is based on the premise that man is an individual and that, as such, his rights must be preserved.
With these thoughts in mind, we are greatly disturbed by the trend of the financial support to our library. It is the in- controvertible truth that unless we receive adequate finances to maintain our book collection the Somerville Public Library cannot continue the high standards for which it has become noted throughout the state. The year 1958 was definitely a black spot on our records. Our annual appropriation for books and supplies was $5065.00 less than for the year 1957. As a result we purchased approximately 500 less books in 1958 than the previous year while on the other hand we had a gain of 839 more borrowers and a book circulation increase of 25,757. This condition cannot continue without dire results which could be a sad reflection upon the fair name of our city.
To further emphasize the situation - with the new phi- losophy in education of making the students obtain more information concerning their subject matters, beyond the class room curriculum, they find their only source is the library. Conditions have become almost intolerable in the afternoons and evenings with the influx of students seeking assistance. Though eighteen additional chairs have been added to our al- ready limited facilities there are lines of students standing waiting to grab the first vacant chair. These rushes of class assignments can and do swamp and make inadequate the com- bined resources of school libraries, home libraries and the facilities of the Somerville Public Library. The growth in size and with the expansion of school requirements and magnitude of school demands for library services could easily absorb the entire public library budget in the service to the schools. As the current is running, school library services in this and other
250
ANNUAL REPORTS
communities are becoming more of a school responsibility and less that of the public library which must maintain its adult and general reference services.
The physical condition of the interior of the Central Library becomes more disturbing each year. The need for painting and the replacement of the floor covering is no longer a mere source of pride but an absolute necessity. Commissioner Manning of the Public Works Department, aware of the urgency, asked for an appropriation in this year's budget to alleviate the condition but the Board of Aldermen saw fit to eliminate the item. It is hoped these disgraceful conditions will be corrected this year. On the brighter side, the relocation of the Union Square Station was a welcomed relief. The wisdom of the change was definitely evident in the first days of operation by the large increase in patronage and in circula- tion. Circulation increased during the month of December from 1400 the previous year in the old location to 3300. We now have the space and facilities to service the people in this area.
Though the refurbishing of the Central Library has our number one priority, the need for additional parking area out- side the building is urgent. If the area between the Soldiers Monument and the library was hot topped the present condi- tions could easily be corrected. Equally needed is the painting of the exterior of the East Branch and a new lighting project at the West Branch.
The acceptance of a new salary schedule for the staff placed us in a more favorable position permitting us to attract recruits as well as cutting down the tremendous staff turn-over which we have suffered in previous years. However, with the revision of the Police and Fire Departments salary by the Board of Aldermen, it is hoped that His Honor, the Mayor will up- grade our schedule.
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