USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1941 > Part 5
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63
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Public Library
To the Trustees of the Attleboro Public Library:
The close of the year 1941 marks not only the end of a calendar period but the beginning of a new year. This new year, as never before in the history of our country, brings with it fears, anxieties, doubts, sorrow and sacrifice. It will demand work, thought, strength, courage and faith to an extent as yet un- fathomed. A summary of the activities of the past year is worthless, therefore, unless it provides in addition to any analysis of things present, some indication of awareness of things to come.
For some years it has been a major administrative policy to work for better staff coordination and for the development not alone of skill in the performance of technical duties, but for a broadening of interests, an increase of knowledge and cultural sensitivity, and a keener alertness to events and human problems. The unifying of certain procedures and processes and duties during the past year is internal evidence of better coordination of libarary activities. More de- monstrable is this STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS 1941 which has been prepared by the entire staff. Summaries, interpretations, criticism of procedure and indication of shortcomings, and plans for strengthening and vitalizing the activities of the library in the years to come are herewith presented as a coopera- tive undertaking.
The Public Library has a two-fold purpose:
To provide A. Information B. Recreation for the entire community.
It functions by providing for home use and reference-Books, magazines, maps, newspapers, pamphlets, pictures, and talking books for the blind. It maintains branch service at-
Hebronville Community Cottage-Thurdsays South Attleboro Village Library-Tuesdays and Fridays Tiffany School Portable-Tuesdays Washington School Portable-Thursdays Sturdy Memorial Hospital-Tuesdays and Fridays Deposit collections at School buildings and Fuller Memorial Sanitarium
The above statement indicates little more than the place of activity. Some amplification is needed to give flesh to the skeleton.
Two new projects were undertaken with the purpose of providing better service to the community. With the closing of the school at Dodgeville and the transfer of pupils to Hebronville it became necessary to make provisions to partially compensate for the lack of library service in this locality. An effort was made to strengthen the collection at Hebronville, and permission was granted by the city to use the portable building in the rear of Tiffany School. On Jan- uary 28, the Tiffany Branch was opened and in the following eleven months, 7,393 volumes were borrowed by 308 borrowers, only 61 of whom are adult. Pamphlet and picture files have been started, a small basic reference collection has proved invaluable for those who use the branch as a place of study, and interest in special displays of books and posters have testified to the wisdom of providing a library station, which despite leaky roof, non-too-stable underpinning, and a definitely unreliable furnace, does give library service where only class-room deposits were formerly available.
644
ANNUAL REPORT
The other major undertaking is practically unnoticeable on the surface yet, although but recently completed, has provided a foundation for much-needed consultation and floor duty in the Children's Room and organized the juvenile book stock to eliminate conflict of the needs of the various branches and schools with the service to boys and girls at the main library. In addition to a complete rechecking of all former inventories and a more convenient shelving of books for schools and branches, the transfer to the children's room of the juvenile shelf list now makes it possible to attend to, in one place, all the processes of accession- ing and cataloging of children's books, without the necessity of time-consuming trips up and down stairs for the verification of records and the duties incidental to cataloging.
Another task, as yet uncompleted, is the merger of the collection of Federal and State documents with the pamphlet and verticle file collections. With the increasing demands for information and data that is issued chiefly under govern- ment sponsorship, the usual practice of keeping all United States public docu- ments as a separate collection has proved unwieldy. Now all pamphlet material is being brought together under the subject treated, and this arrangement gives greater accessibility to the public and makes for quicker service by the staff.
Revision of the genealogy file was done in the spring, and material more closely sub-divided by family and locality. Ever-increasing use of this collection by out-of-town visitors speaks for the value of the work which has been done by Marion Pierce Carter and the library committee of the D. A. R. Mrs. Carter has been most generous in procuring personally, as well as through the com- mittee, a collection of books, pamphlets, and manuscripts which will be of ever- increasing worth as the years go by. The collection of local history in particular could be developed as a source of constant aid to schools and newspapers if provision could be made for an assistant to carry on the organizing and filing of material at regular intervals.
In terms of building repairs and maintenance, no extensive work was at- tempted. However, emergency attention was given to a portion of the heating system and some plumbing, and the walls of the front hall were repaired and redecorated. Some new equipment was purchased to take care temporarily of seriously overcrowded stacks, and to replace items worn out by more than the quota of service. Wherever possible trade-in-arrangements were made.
The handling, sorting and filing of many thousands of documents, pamphlets, clippings, and pictures is one phase of library work which usually astounds the layman by the complexity of what at first glance would seem a simple clerical task. Thousands of items must be checked for a variety of uses, often very temporary, but none-the-less vital to an information service. They must be classified to tie up with other material on 'related subjects and yet treated in such a way that no particular time or expense is involved in discarding when they have served their usefulness.
Problems of elimination are closely related to those of selection. In the flood of publications on current affairs, it is essential to discriminate between those having a very real value because of their timeliness, but which are likely to be quickly superseded, and those which are of more permanent value to the collection. How much of the budget should be spent for instance to duplicate BERLIN DIARY, INSIDE SOUTH AMERICA, YOU CAN'T DO BUSINESS WITH HITLER, YOUR INCOME TAX, EUROPE IN THE SPRING, OUT OF THE NIGHT when there is a less voluble, but just as great a need for VOCA- TIONAL MATHEMATICS, AIRCRAFT NAVIGATION MANUAL, MA- CHINISTS AND TOOLMAKERS HANDY BOOK, OVERSTREET'S- OUR FREE MINDS, WRISTON'S-PREPARE FOR PEACE, DISASTER FIGHTERS, EDUCATION FOR SOCIAL UNDERSTANDING, MAKING AND MOULDING PLASTICS, FEEDING THE FAMILY?
65
ANNUAL REPORT
Several years ago the decision was made to give up any notion of a well- rounded collection in all subjects, and concentrate on a few sections which could be made distinctive by discriminating selection.
The classes chosen as best representing both the industrial and cultural interests of the community were those in technology, design and music. Since 1939, 769 volumes of adult technical and scientific books have been added; 10,803 circulated. In the field of fine arts and music, 676 books were added; 8,094 circulated. An effort has been made to secure books in these classes which will cover various degrees of skill and training and experience. Two years ago especial attention was given to providing trade and technical manuals suited to the needs of apprentice workers. The demand for this type of material since the inauguration of Defense Programs far exceeds the available copies, and the library may very well curtail purchases in other fields to keep this section up- to-date.
Although the total number of books withdrawn for home use during the past two years is less than in 1939, telephone inquiries have increased and calls for data on a wide range of subjects has made it necessary to check up on the up-to- dateness of reference books. Revised editions of both the Americana Encyclopedia and the Britannica are being purchased, and there is a grave need for new trade directories.
Many calls for information are of a nature that can best be handled by reference to current periodicals. In the fall the magazine list was rechecked, some items dropped and new titles added to cover technical information in fields where developments are so rapid that it is tomorrow's data which is required. The periodical list totals 190 titles, many of which are gifts from local individuals or organizations. People have been most generous also in presenting back numbers of magazines.
The South Attleboro Branch in particular regularly receives many gifts that could not possibly be supplied by Library subscription.
A glance at past records brings to mind how much this matter of gifts has meant in the development of the Attleboro Library. Because of the generosity and thoughtfulness of many persons, the book collection has been built up, especially that in the children's section which has gifts which provide often 50% of the books for some years. Individual donations have often brought much needed duplicates or special editions, while magazines and travel folders, and Sunday supplements provide the basis for the picture collection. Flowers, plants, and Christmas bowls have provided decoration and given pleasure to all who come to the building. Even "gifts" of criticism are useful, for though results may not be immediately discernable, efforts are made to correct errors, and to improve the quality of work.
A valuable check on fitness for the job has been provided by the Massa- chusetts Library Association which offers graded certificates to those who can fulfill the qualifications of education, experience, and performance. Six staff members have been certified in various grades, and efforts are being made to qualify for higher ranking. Other staff activities in the professional field have been participation in district library meetings, and 100% attendance at the meet- ing of the American Library Association held in Boston in June, when several staff members served as aides. In addition to book talks, the Librarian con- ducted classes for two weeks in Reference Work and Book Selection at the Sum- mer Library Institute sponsored by the University of New Hampshire, and served again on the Literature Committee of the Massachusetts State Federation of Women's Clubs, and as President of the Old Dartmouth Library Club.
Letting the community know what the library offers is one of the prime tasks of librarianship, and one which is proverbially ill-done. Thanks to the
66
ANNUAL REPORT
generosity of the Attleboro Sun and the Pawtucket Times, Attleboro has been regularly informed of new books added to the main collection. The Children's Librarian has monthly prepared annotated lists of books for boys and girls. Information relative to branch activities has been reported by assistants in charge, additions to the music collection are reported periodically, and various staff members have collaborated in preparing book lists and exhibits. Effort has been made to key exhibits to events taking place in the community, to holi- day observances and to significant happenings as reported in the press.
One of the chief criticisins against libraries in the past has been their tendency to live in an Ivory Tower. Many times that criticism has been justified, but all too often few people take the trouble to see whether or not they might find that tower a pleasant place to visit-if only to see what their taxes have helped main- tain. With the world in chaos, perhaps an ivory tower (or basement) might have some virtue after all.
The Attleboro Public Library houses a vast collection of information on items from A-Z. In it may be found information on-
Aeronautics
Quantity cookery
Bookkeeping
Radio
Carpentry
Science
Defense
Taxes
Engineering
Unemployment
Finance
Ventilation
Gardening
War
Heat
X-rays
Industry
Youth
Jewelry
Zoning
Knitting
Labor
Manufacturing
Nutrition
Occupations Patents
It can supply facts to help discount false rumors. It provides records, from which we may gain historical perspective as an aid to understanding the present, and help avert the easy tendency toward a revival of witch hunting. It can help promote sanity by providing reading just for fun, or for the pursuance of a hobby. It helps in the study of languages-Spanish is growing steadily in importance. It can act as a clearing house for information on various agencies and as a meeting place for committees. It may serve as a place for spending leisure when other forms of recreation may be given up. The library provides a place where no questions are asked concerning race, religion, or income, or political opinion, but where the thoughts and music and laughter of all ages are to be had for the asking.
Morale has been defined as a person's confidence to cope with whatever the future may bring. By providing information and recreation to help develop and maintain that confidence, the public library is given not only priority privilege, but a challenge.
The Attleboro Library accepts that challenge as expressed by Archibald MacLeish, the Librarian of Congress-"Keepers of books, keepers of print and paper on the shelves, librarians are also keepers of the records of the human spirit, the records of men's watch upon the world and on themselves".
Respectfully submitted,
Lucile Palmer Cavender, Librarian.
67
ANNUAL REPORT
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Edwin F. Leach, President Mrs. Winthrop Barden, Secretary Raymond F. Horton, Treasurer Miss Edith Claflin Mrs. Arthur Conro
Mrs. William Gregory Mrs. Charles Holden Dr. Frederick V. Murphy Hayward H. Sweet
THE STAFF
Lucile Palmer Cavender, Librarian Virginia J. Cate, Junior Assistant Grace C. Freese, Senior Assistant Ruth W. Gendron, Children's Assistant Dorothy I. Hannaford, Assistant Librarian Alice I. Kingman, Junior Assistant
Angela B. Lewis, Senior Assistant
Kathleen S. MacKell, Children's Librarian
Marion Moore, Junior Assistant
PART-TIME ASSISTANTS
Bertha C. Bigney Phyllis Edwards Barbara A. McGregor
PAGES
Howard Peach Charles Stobbs Frank Westerberg
Janitor William P. Barrett
68
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Inspector of Buildings
To HIS HONOR THE MAYOR
and Municipal Council,
Gentlemen :-
Following is the report of the Inspector of Buildings for the year 1941. During the year 283 permits were issued amounting to $381,796.00, divided as follows January
Shingle.
( 1) $ 205.00
February
One Family Dwellings
( 3)
8,750.00
Garages .
. ( 1)
300.00
Manufacturing Plant.
.( 1)
2,400.00
Minor Buildings.
.( 1)
50.00
Alterations.
( 7)
4,875.00
$ 16,375.00
March
One Family Dwellings
( 6)
33,350.00
Garages .
.( 3)
600.00
Shingle
.( 8)
2,090.00
Alterations
( 8)
3,100.00
Raze.
.( 1)
39,140.00
April
One Family Dwellings
( 6)
20,800.00
Garages .
( 4)
600.00
Minor Buildings.
.( 3)
160.00
Shingle.
( 8)
1,550.00
Alterations.
( 4)
3,800.00
26,910.00
May
One Family Dwellings
( 7)
27,400.00
Garages
.( 1)
250.00
Manufacturing Plant.
( 1)
30,000.00
Minor Buildings
.( 3)
440.00
Shingle.
(5)
935.00
Alterations
( 7)
16,000.00
Raze. .
( 2)
June
One Family Dwellings
. ( 5)
22,300.00
Garages .
.( 3)
950.00
Manufacturing Plant.
.( 1)
30,000.00
Minor Buildings.
.( 2)
825.00
Shingle
.( 8)
2,035.00
Alterations.
(13)
4,945.00
Move.
( 1)
Raze. .
( 2)
July
One Family Dwellings
( 3)
6,500.00
Garages .
( 4)
1,700.00
Minor Buildings.
.( 3)
1,000.00
Shingle.
( 1)
350.00
Alterations
( 4)
3,018.00
Replacement after Fire.
( 1)
7,000.00
Raze.
( 2)
19,568.00
August
One Family Dwellings
( 4)
11,400.00
Minor Buildings
( 2)
125.00
Shingle.
( 1)
100.00
Alterations
.( 7)
2,375.00
14,000.00
75,025.00
61,055.00
69
ANNUAL REPORT
September
One Family Dwellings.
( 3)
10,500.00
Garages .
( 9)
1,800.00
Minor Buildings
( 4)
1,900.00
Shingle.
(12)
1,875.00
Alterations
(15)
13,600.00
Store
( 1)
2,000.00
Church.
( 1)
8,000.00
Raze.
( 2)
39,675.00
October
One Family Dwellings
( 5)
17,000.00
Garages .
( 2)
650.00
Minor Buildings
. ( 3)
243.00
Shingle
( 2)
300.00
Alterations.
(12)
3,195.00
Pump House.
( 1)
1,000.00
22,388.00
November
One Family Dwellings
( 2)
6,200.00
Garages.
( 7)
1.470.00
Minor Buildings.
( 4)
310.00
Alterations.
( 6)
1,725.00
Shingle
( 5)
690.00
Move.
( 1)
10,395.00
December
One Family Dwellings
.( 5)
17,500 00
Garages .
. ( 2)
560.00
Minor Buildings.
( 4)
460.00
Manufacturing Plant.
.( 1)
30,000.00
Power and Heat Plant
( 1)
5,000.00
Shingle.
( 2)
200.00
Alterations
( 8)
3,340.00
Raze.
( 5)
57,060.00
For the Year 1941
One Family Dwellings
(49
$181,700.00
Garages .
(36)
8,800.00
Manufacturing Plants
( 4)
92,400.00
Minor Buildings.
(29)
5,513.00
Shingle
(53)
10,330.00
Alterations
(92)
59,973.00
Power and Heating Plant
( 1)
5,000.00
Store
( 1)
2,000.00
Church.
( 1)
8,000.00
Pump House
.( 1)
1,000.00
Fire Replacement.
( 1)
7,000.00
$381,796 00
Raze.
(14)
Move
( 2)
283
The total number of permits issued in 1940 was 292 amounting to $614,- 434.50. The total for 1941 was 283 amounting to 381,796.00, making a difference of 9 permits and $232,434.50, most of this difference was in the erection of the new School Building.
Very truly yours,
Fred A. Clark, Inspector of Buildings
70
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Park Commissioners
To the Board of Park Commissioners, Attleboro, Mass .:
I, herewith, submit my seventeenth annual report as Superintendent of Parks for the year ending December 31, 1941.
This Spring the Public Works Department, with their equipment and W. P. A. men finished the oiling of the Park roads and parking lot southwest of the Zoo building. The catch basins and stone drywells took care of all surface water perfectly.
The bleacher seats had to be torn down, new timbers put in, and about one- half of the cross-pieces that held up the seats had to be replaced with new 4 x 4. The whole structure then received a much needed coat of paint.
The Casino building which had not been painted on the inside for sixteen years was renovated, painted and varnished.
The Fourth of July celebration and Fireworks, sponsored by the City and American Legion drew a record crowd. Everything worked as scheduled and all went home happy and contented.
The ball field and tennis courts were in steady demand all season. After the baseball season the High School football players used the field for practice sessions up to Thanksgiving Day week. We again seeded the field in order to have green grass next summer.
As usual, outside of Capron Park, we took care of the Common, Angell Park, Blackington Park and the Triangle at Herbonville. In addition to raising over one hundred bushels of vegetables for our animals at the Zoo, we also manured, cultivated and weeded about two thousand small tree seedlings that are growing at the City Infirmary Farm.
The Capron Park Playground and Swimming Pool had an increase in attend- ance over last year, possibly because there is more room for play at Capron Park than at the new Briggs Playground.
The Pond was cleared of snow and on all days suitable for skating the entire surface was gone over with sharp shovels to make same as smooth as possible. Hockey playing is now strictly prohibited for the safety of the smaller children. There is a well lighted room for all to use while putting on their skates. The rest rooms at the Zoo building are also open, and with the colored lights around the pond, skating at Capron Park is safe and satisfactory.
As Superintendent, I recommend that the Newell Shelter be repaired this year. It will require a new Cement railing, repairing of the Tile roof, new gutters and conductors, cement walls washed, primed and painted, and a seven foot cement apron all round the building.
I wish to express my thanks to His Honor, the Mayor, and to the Park Commissioners for their help and cooperation at all times. Also the Chief of Police and Officers for the fine way they handled parking and traffic on all occas- sions that their help was needed at the Park. Also the Playground Supervisors for their interest in the health and welfare of the children around the park play- ground.
John E. Anderson, Superintendent.
71
ANNUAL REPORT
CAPRON PARK PLAYGROUND Summer of 1941
Capron Park Playground opened on the 30th of June and ran for seven weeks. During that time the activities were many and varied. There were two baseball leagues, and older and younger boys league, paddle tennis, horse shoes, swimming, soccer, basketball, softball, and a tennis team for boys. The girl's activities were less strenuous; swimming, paddle tennis, basketball, soft ball, knitting, sewing and embroidery.
Each Thursday noon a weenie roast was held. Each Tuesday and Thursday afternoons swimming lessons were given. On August 12th, the annual Field Day-Water Sports Events were held; prizes and medals being given out. Weekly horse shoe and paddle tennis tournaments were held during the summer and at the end of the season a play off with the winners receiving medals. For the smaller children, checkers, tiddlewinks. parcheesi, and similar games were pro- vided.
The attendance in the swimming pool varied with the weather. One very hot day ninety seven girls and seventy-one boys went in. The average daily attendance was sixty-five. The number attending the swimming lessons was very large. At least thirty boys and girls and many times as many as fifty.
At the end of the season all the boys were treated to the Braves-Chicago Cubs baseball game in Boston. Over one hundred left in two busses from Capron Park.
The supervised activities closed after a successful season.
Janet Taylor Malanson Charles A. Markman Playground Supervisors.
Report of the Recreation Commissioners
During the season of 1941 many improvements were accomplished on the different playing fields. This was in part, made possible by the addition of three members to the Recreation Board. who gave a great deal of time and study to the needs of the playgrounds.
The equipment at Horton Field has been completely overhauled and is now in first class condition. Finberg Field and Dodgeville Field were kept in as good condition as possible for whatever junior games might be played.
This was done with very little outlay of money, it being the opinion of the board that any major project on these fields could be promoted to a better ad- vantage in 1942-1943.
A great deal of study has been given to the development of Hayward Field in the near future which prompted the request for additional funds. It is the general opinion that the football field should parallel the North fence and be as close to the fence as possible and yet leave room for the erection of bleachers. Before starting the program, however, a complete plan will be submitted for check and approva.l The Briggs Playground has proven its worth this year and has justified its being. During the summer this playground is without doubt the busiest spot in the city.
The report of the Instructors follows.
May we ask for continued cooperation from the interested citizens during the coming year. The work of recreation among the younger people will without any doubt become more vital during the next few years. We must keep the young- sters normal. This will be increasingly difficult and will require a great deal of hard work on the part of the Recreation Commissioners during the coming year.
Wm. A. Blackburn, Chairman.
72
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT FOR THE BRIGGS PLAYGROUND
The Playground season opened at the Briggs Playground around the 20th of June under the direction of William Madden, Margaret Manchester, and a number of employees under the jurisdiction of the City's W. P. A. However, when the W. P. A. projects were discontinued the Recreation Board appointed James Cassidy as an additional supervisor.
Mr. Cassidy and Madden had charge of all the boy's activities, namely, swimming, tennis, and softball. In the sport of softball, the boys played two games and won both-the first with Coach Tozier's Finberg boys and the second with Capron Park. In tennis the boys competed against Capron Park-the first match was lost, but on the return match the Briggs boys won by a sizeable score. For all city boys the Playground offered two different tournaments-one for contestants from 12 to 16 years of age and one for those over 16 years of age.
Miss Manchester was in charge of all the girls' activities-namely, tennis, swimming and softball. Like the boys the girls had their tennis tournaments and their softball games. Again this past season they played against Capron Park in tennis and made an extremely good showing.
In early July the Supervisors planned a Water Carnival. This was a great success. Many city officials and members of the Recreation Board were present and thus acted in the capacity of judges. It was the desire of the supervisors that the children should demonstrate their aquatic ability which in most cases had been the outcome of daily attendance at the Playground swimming pool. Medals for the occasion were donated by the Metals and Crafts Company.
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