USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1925 > Part 8
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The library responded to the call of the Merchant Marine library association and collected a large number of books.
BRANCHES AND SCHOOLS
Circulation Circulation
Dodgeville
2,654 South Attleboro 7,141
Hebronville 5,006 Washington School Branch 6,378
Schools 7,308
South Attleboro and Washington School branches show an increase in circulation which is noted this year. The South Attleboro branch is the only one that has been open through the year, as the other branches being in school houses have been closed during the school vacation. To enable the people of these sections of the city to enjoy
109
ANNUAL REPORT
the use of the books through the summer season they were granted our vacation privilege. Though inadequately supplied with books their resources have been kept interesting and useful by volumes ex- changed each month from the central library.
The whole matter of book supply is always dependent on the amount that can be expended for this purpose and where the demand is large it, inevitably falls below the material available.
Dodgeville This branch has been open the usual number of times with Miss Dorothy Richardson in charge. The closing of the mill has made some difference in the number of adults using the library. This branch, we feel, will always do much more effective work with children than with adults. It was opened in 1916, in co-operation with the Dodge- ville Social Center, with a circulation of 891. In 1925 the circulation was 2,654.
Hebronville Mrs. Dorothy Poland has continued to render efficient service to the people of this community. Owing to loss of books, doors have been placed on the bookshelves.
Washington School Branch. The work here continues to increase, which shows the appreciation of the people in the community. There is great need for more space for books if we are to serve adequately this growing community. The work we have done is very meager and has given the people only a chance to prove just how much they do want the use of books.
At the close of the school year, Mrs. Sally Greene who had so generously given of her time and energy gave up the work. At the opening of school, Miss Mary Money was sent to do the work and the hours were changed to just afternoon opening. A carefully planned schedule was made out by the principal, Mrs. Clayton, so that the various rooms might have a chance to get books with the minimum amount of confusion. From three-thirty o'clock the room is for adults. The evening closing has worked a hardship for some. However, until we have a room with comfortable chairs and adequate tables there will not be a great number of adults who will come to spend time at the library. Sufficient financial support is necessary before this can be a reality.
South Attleboro There has been an increase in the circulation com- parable with the size of the room and the collection of books.
The Mother's club continues to show its interest, members have furnished magazines. During the fall, $15.00 was raised and presented to the Branch for a picture. On November 17th, the club held an open meeting in the library and served tea. At that time an exhibition of children's books for Christmas purchase was shown and the librarian gave an informal talk on "Worth while books for children."
Four story hours were held during the summer months. These were in the form of little travelogues. Miss Margaret Kanaly, the branch li- brarian, telling the travel story and Miss Dorothy Richardson in charge of the Central Children's room, furnishing the lighter part of the pro- gram.
Reading for the State Certificate was encouraged with satisfactory results.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Schools
The circulation from the schools was 7,308. High School, 4,028. Grade Schools, 3,280.
With our present branches, only the Briggs Corner and Tiffany Schools are served by the school deposits. Teachers have taken on their teacher's cards from the children's room for supplementary reading use 1,225 books.
Children's Room
A circulation of 52,862 from the children's room shows that the de- partment has been a busy one throughout the year. This is an increase of 5681 over the year 1924.
Three exhibits of more than usual interest have been held in the room. Indian bead work and implements borrowed from the children's museum and supplemented by articles of local Indian history. Philip- pine baskets loaned by Mrs. Benjamin Taylor and Chinese embroideries, mandarin coats and vases were shown through the courtesy of the Pierian club.
The meaning of the several holidays was emphasized by book dis- plays and posters.
The experiment of sending books once a week to the Capron play- ground was tried during the playground season. The circulation was small and under present conditions did not justify the expenditure.
The books approved for those reading for State certificates con- tinue to be eagerly asked for. This reading which started October, 1924, has extended to all parts of the city. It has proved a great incentive to the reading of non-fiction. Children from the fourth to the eighth grades have eagerly taken part in the reading.
From October, 1924, to Nov. 14, 1925, 75 honor certificates and 594 small certificates were issued. This means that 2,970 books were. read and reviewed by 231 children.
Good Book Week was observed by an exhibit of new editions and the most desirable of the season's output of children's books.
The library bought and distributed to those who would make good use of the material, copies of the pamphlet "Bookshelf for Boys and Girls.'
As a fitting close to the week, on Saturday afternoon, November 14th, a play, "The Feast of Adventure" was given. The play, which was acted by the holders of honor certificates, had forty-two characters, both book and historical,
Invitations were sent to all holders of certificates, their parents, teachers and principals. That the enthusiasm was not confined to the grammar grades alone was shown by the fact that the ushers were all high school pupils. Children from all parts of the city were brought together in this common interest. The costuming of the play was done for the most part by the children themselves. The furniture of the stage setting was furnished by the Atherton Furniture Company. For the last hour, Mrs. Margaret Powers of Boston told stories.
The circulation of juvenile books reveals the fact that at least our young people appreciate the library. The patronage of these youthful readers must presage a wonderful future for the public libraries of our city.
Gifts
We have as usual to acknowledge useful and valuable gifts from our various townspeople.
Several gifts of the more popular books have enabled us to send
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ANNUAL REPORT
some of these books to our branches and have set free just that much money for the purchase of more books.
So many people, if this matter was brought to their attention, would be glad to share their treasures in order that they might be enjoyed by the many. New books are as necessary to a library as a fresh stock is to a business concern.
Two hundred and ninety-seven books have been added to the chil- dren's room by the gift of Mrs. Gertrude Hunton Sweet. Books were received from Mrs. Raymond Horton, Mrs. Joseph L. Sweet and W. L. King to the number of 138.
The Attleboro Public Library Music Fund was enriched by a gift of $50.00 from the Chaminade Club.
Books of special interest are always needed and in recognition of that fact, the Etario Club gave a check for $10.00.
Dr. Charles Mooers presented some very interesting and valuable material, having to do with the history of Attleboro as well as posters of the World War, copies of old newspapers and interesting old prints. One of the articles of interest is a roll of parchment paper, yellow with age, which contains the names of the subscribers to the fund for raising At- tleboro's quota for the Civil War. There are two lists of these names, one dated December 19, 1863, and the other dated February 9, 1864.
Staff
ยท The year with its increased circulation would not have been possi- ble but for the zeal and interest of each member of the staff.
Few changes and very little sickness have marred the efficiency of the library this year. Miss Margaret Kanaly, junior assistant and in charge of the South Attleboro branch since its opening, resigned in November to become librarian of the Fletcher Library, Ludlow, Ver- mont.
Miss Mary Money, a part-time worker, was made an attendant and serves the library full time.
We have been very fortunate in being able to retain two of our part-time workers even after their graduation from high school. Thus, there have been fewer new people to train.
As often as the pressure of work permitted, staff meetings have been held. At these meetings, book reviews have been given and refer- ence and circulation problems have been discussed freely.
During the vear, every person on the staff has attended one or more library meetings. The librarian or some assistant has attended the meet- ings of the Massachusetts Library Club, Old Dartmouth Club, New Eng- land meeting at Swampscott, and joint meetings of the Cape Cod and Old Dartmouth clubs. Miss Money attended the four-day Library Insti- tute at Hyannis. Miss Richardson has been present regularly at the Round Table of Children's Librarians held in the Boston Public Library. The examination given by the Massachusetts Library Commission to the library assistants was taken by Miss Richardson and passed with a creditable mark.
The Librarian has spoken before the Pierian, Round Table, Unity Class, Girl Scouts, Taunton Mothers' Club and has taken active part on many civic committees.
It is with satisfaction that I acknowledge the faithful service rend- ered by the assistants of the library and express my appreciation of the loyal co-operation of both staff and trustees.
Respectfully submitted,
MRS. LUCINDA FIELD SPOFFORD,
Librarian.
CIRCULATION BY MONTHS AND CLASSES
1925
051
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
910
920
T. N. F.
Fict.
Total
January
308
79
55
835
18
226
244
240
544
201
220
415
3385
9412
12797
February
266
61
65
839
12
216
211
254
562
234
212
435
3367
8920
12287
March
353
59
81
1037
20
288
263
339
654
296
281
486
4157
10164
14321
April
264
54
48
878
20
216
211
236
462
222
237
336
3184
9478
12662
May
263
55
39
863
5
201
204
255
523
198
253
264
3123
9019
12142
June
229
32
50
844
6
211
140
198
417
208
288
213
2836
8894
11730
July
193
43
31
658
12
91
117
184
275
67
144
96
1911
7058
8969
August
198
38
26
632
10
88
106
133
204
46
93
97
1671
6956
8627
September
244
37
31
602
12
146
139
203
262
121
109
116
2022
6431
8453
October
274
54
63
875
11
244
195
311
523
275
277
260
3362
8878
11240
November
294
47
99
999
11
242
202
341
572
254
284
280
3625
8678
12303
December
236
46
56
1276
7
272
170
250
531
298
282
244
3668
8625
12293
Totals
3122
605
644
10338
144
2441
2202
2944
5529
2420
2680
3242
36311
102513 138824
ANNUAL REPORT
112
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ANNUAL REPORT
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION FORM OF LIBRARY STATISTICS
ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1925
Name of Library-Attleboro Public Library.
City-Attleboro, Mass.
Librarian-Mrs. Lucinda F. Spofford.
Terms for use-Free for lending. Free for reference.
Agencies-Central Library, 4 branches in 3 school buildings and one rented building, 2 school buildings (11 classrooms).
Number of days open during year-304 for lending; 340 for reading.
Hours open each week for lending (Central Library) 66
Hours open each week for reading (Central Library) 72
Number of staff (library service, adding part-time employees to make whole units) December 31, 1925
10
Adult Juvenile Total
Number of volumes at beginning of year.
26,645
Number of volumes added during the year by purchase
1,051
980
2,031
Number of volumes added during the year by gift or exchange
138
297
435
Number of volumes added during the year by binding material not otherwise counted
15
15
Lost and missing volumes restored
57
57
Number of volumes withdrawn during the year
872
794
1,666
Total number of volumes at end of year
27,517
Number of volumes of fiction lent for home use
85,962
36,311
138,824
Number of volumes lent for home use
85,962
36,311
138,824
Number of new borrowers registered during new year
962
Number of newspapers and periodicals currently received
132 titles
152 copies
MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS
Largest issue in one month-March, 1925
14,321
Smallest issue in one month-September, 1925 8,453
Number of Sundays Library was open
34
Number of Sunday visitors 2,379
Per capita circulation (estimated population, December, 1925) 7
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ANNUAL REPORT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
To His Honor, the Mayor, and Municipal Council : Gentlemen :----
Submitted herewith is the eleventh annual report of the Public Works Department of the City of Attleboro for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1925. There seems to be no let up in sight for the activities in which this department is interested. The motor vehicle is responsible, of course, not only for the highway expansion expenditure, but, through its convenience, for the development. affecting the work of our other divisions. A street widening and improvement program affecting Park Street, South Main Street, Dunham Street, and Morey Street is signifi- cant of the trend of the times as applied to this community.
Our water pipe line extensions are testimony to a building develop- ment particularly heavy in the south part of the city. Ultimately this development will demand sewer and drainage extensions, as well as lighting and street laying out improvements. As this department exer- cises jurisdiction in emergencies, as well as our regular work on public highways, sidewalks, street lighting, oiling, street signs, numbering, street cleaning, drainage, sanitary sewer and appurtenances, and has the operation of the water system, its care and upkeep beginning with the storage reservoir, and including the filter beds, pumping station, stand pipe, and distributory system, it can be seen readily how the present era is a busy one for the department. In addition to the above mentioned duties, the maintenance and supervising of the A. B. C. Street Railway, Municipally owned, is included among our responsibilities.
Before introducing the detail, as written and tabulated below, I feel that a true measure of the efforts of the department can be taken by a comparison since the war of the direct ratio between our gross expendi- tures and the gross tax levy, as applied year by year. When the con- ditions faced by the department are borne in mind, I feel that consider- able credit reflects upon the entire personnel for the results obtained as measured by the ratio spoken of. I further wish to call your atten- tion, bearing in mind all of the conditions a modern community has to meet in this age, to the department record as compared by its final re- sults against the other municipal expenditures.
Such efforts as we in this department have made could only have been successful with real co-operation from the Chief Executive and the Honorable Municipal Council.
PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE
For the year 1925 there can be no change recorded in the personnel of the Public Works Office. The change of auditors from Mr. Lindsey to Mr. Winslow to Mr. Randall with the accompanying changes in the ordinance governing auditors caused considerable inconvenience in the routine of our office. It made a great deal more work for the young ladies therein; and whereas Mr. Lindsey signed monthly our balance statement, since August of the past year we have had no such checkup. It seems to me that the operation of this department should be aided and made easy because of the very nature of our work. There is an utter lack, of course, in this service of aiming at a large gross profit. Therefore it would seem to me most reasonable that red tape should be eliminated and a positive system as simple as could be worked out in- stalled for the practical benefit of all concerned. This, of course, would
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ANNUAL REPORT
warrant detailed study by men who are familiar in minute detail with the problems of our department.
The recommendation recorded below to safeguard the engineer's records would in my opinion work with a scheme, as outlined in last year's report, for an administration building at a consolidated yard on Forest Street. I have no reason to change my opinion covering a con- solidation of divisions as being of primary benefit if administered from a single yard properly laid out adjacent to a railroad and supplied with modern equipment.
ENGINEERING DIVISION
During the year 1925, the continuity to be expected in recording street acceptances was maintained, the details being worked out by our Engineering Division. Hodges Street, between Mechanic Street and the branch railroad, was accepted on survey made in 1924. Barrows Street between Washington Street and Newport Avenue, was included to ac- commodate the plan of the School Committee, placing the new Lincoln school properly on a plat. South Main Street, Park to Mill Streets, and County Street along the Murray Church property were laid out in ac- cordance with the widening schedule. A building line on part of this lay-out is recorded to take care of the Eden and Blake buildings. Jef- ferson Street was extended to meet Dennis Street and was recorded clear over to Third Street to straighten out a faulty record. Dunham Street, Union to Pine Streets, Morey Street, Park to Maynard, and other detailed work of this kind was also taken care of. Street surveys were made on Brown Street from Washington Street to the State line for this department by an engineer familiar with the records in that locality. Also there was a study plan gotten out for street line layout on Park Street between County and Pine Streets. South Main Street between Knight Avenue and the city line was surveyed for highway pur- poses. Details of the Briggs Hotel layout were surveyed and drawn up to be used in conjunction with the proposed changes therein.
In addition to the engineering work required for our drainage and sewer construction program and for our highway construction program, a survey and plan was made of Olive Street between Robert Street and the river bridge for the purpose of relieving the bad drainage conditions at the Robert and Olive Street intersection. Small isolated drainage studies have been made at locations where minimum expenditure might be advantageous. The inspection of the Callahan contract and the Men- don Road grading contract was taken care of under the direct super- vision of this division.
The successors to the late Frank Westcott, of North Attleboro, took up some city survey work for us in the Hebronville and Oak Hill Ave- nue sectors of the city, and progress, as outlined by the Engineer, has been reported satisfactory all things considered. It may be wise to men- tion at this time that the areas chosen for the activities this year had heretofore caused considerable difficulty to the assessors because of the entire lack of record surveys accessible. For the same reason it is ex- pected that considerable benefit will also be obtained from this work by this department.
Besides the activities outlined above, line and grade were given by this division for all of the outside work which warranted it, such as the sewer work, drain work, curb work new and reset, sidewalk detail and layout, highway construction work, and water division work when de- sired or requested. Many other miscellaneous tasks, such as number- ing houses, checking sewers, etc., were also taken care of.
In spite of the repeated request of the Superintendent nothing has
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ANNUAL REPORT
been done up to this time to properly protect and insure against loss the mass of plans, prints, and records in the office of our engineer. This to my mind is a matter of grave importance and warrants immediate attention.
RESURFACING
During the past year under this account considerable profitable progress was made by co-ordinating not only jobs performed under this account, but also some of those under other accounts. On Hodges Street between Mechanic Street and across the intersection with Elizabeth Street a light stone penetration was laid early in the year. The drain- age, which had been put in prior to this season, will enable us at a very low unit cost per square yard of pavement to obtain a reasonable life and low maintenance for the work mentioned. The type of pavement, as worked out, is similar to Hayward Street, and has the same advan- tages in foundation as mentioned in repaving Hayward Street. The labor written off amounts to $552.59, and the material, $1,948.58, making a total of $2501.17. Three thousand two hundred and fifty-seven square yards were obtained and include the surface between gutters, and the intersections and returns.
On Railroad Avenue extending from the end of Simpson's job to Park Street a heavy stone penetration was laid using Barber asphalt. This is a natural asphalt product much more expensive than the fine base products, but in my opinion it has several advantages which war- rant the added expenditure in places such as mentioned herein. The job as worked out for this small piece of Railroad Avenue was co-or- dinated so that the street was not closed to traffic except for part of one afternoon when the hot penetration material was being sprayed. The sum of $627.47 for this job balanced against 326 square yards gives indeed a reasonable cost for the type and kind of work at the location mentioned.
A third stone road job was the penetration on West Street at the Braid Mill curve. This work consisted of a wide banked curve laid on a heavy stone base, and in a location subjected to heavy rapidly moving traffic. The labor charge of $367.21, and material charge of $709.56, giv- ing a total of $1,076.77 for 570 square yards of work is indicative of the heavy excavation needed at this point to obtain the proper grade for base. The material excavated was used to good advantage in places ad- jacent thereto.
One of the definite problems which absorbed considerable of this account was the working out and moving of the major portion of the material on the new Mendon Road layout between Robinson Avenue and the State line. This project carried a small appropriation which was used for purposes noted above. The taking having actually been completed, a contract was awarded, after advertising, to the Dickinson Teaming Company for removing material from the major cut. A steam shovel and trucks, owned by McCormick of East Providence, completed this work at a very reasonable saving in the grading charges to the city. Some of the material excavated was used to good advantage in build- ing up some bad fill shoulders on Brown Street and on Leedham Street. The low contract price upon which the award was made was 79c per cubic yard. This is indeed a low price as measured against similar tasks of the same size. In addition to the $1871.25 spent on this contract, the city forces did some grubbing and blasting which amounted to $197.31 for the labor and team charge, and a miscellaneous charge of $16.40 car- ried some small overhead distribution. Further work in the coming year will be done to make this new alignment and grade usable for traffic
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ANNUAL REPORT
twelve months in the year, and I am confident that ultimately this road with the co-operation of the Town of Cumberland, in Rhode Island, will be utilized as a cut-off saving distance, grade, and curvature over the Washington Street and Highland Avenue way to the Blackstone Valley from South Attleboro and points southeasterly. As soon as this layout is in workable order, sufficient time and money should be spent to main- tain its improvement in accordance with its growth and development.
An additional major problem, considerable of which is handled under this account, is the continuous program to eradicate mud holes and im- prove our gravel roads so that loaded vehicles may use them twelve months in the year. On Pike Avenue considerable gravel was placed and during the high water in the spring we had a chance to use the steam roller to set it. On Richardson Avenue, during the winter and spring, and again in August, gravel was placed to improve what had been known as bad mud stretches in the spring of the year, and after this gravel was set, it was dragged, dried out, and oiled The heaviest kind of traffic was directed over this road during the year owing to the de- tour made necessary by the State work at Plainville. It seems out- rageous that our light gravel ways should be subjected to such condi- tions without having some means of obtaining recompense for damages from the State Highway Division. However, in this instance, the loca- tion of Richardson Avenue being so far removed from the location of the work responsible for the traffic, the claim while valid in all respects, as our investigation has shown, did not appeal to the powers that be.
On Slater, and Smith Streets, considerable gravel was spread most of which was obtained at a very reasonable cost by means of using our loader and trucks in a gravel bank near the Rehoboth line.
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