USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1910-1914 > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
Article 17 .- To see if the town will appropriate money for an electric light opposite Abbott Village schoolhouse, on petition of James A. Eaton and others.
Article 18 .- To see if the town will appropriate a certain sum of money for the extension of its water system from Andover Street down Woburn Street to the residence of Fred Tousignant, on petition of Thomas Brear and others.
Article 19 .- To see if the town will vote to change the name of the road leading east from Main Street near the residence of Ellsworth Pierce, from "D'Arcy " to " Converse Road," on petition of Ellsworth Pierce and others.
Article 20 .- To see if the town will appropriate the sum of seven thousand (7000) dollars for the purchase of a Combination Chemical Truck, operating and maintaining the same, on petition of the Board of Fire Engineers.
Article 21 .- To see if the town will instruct the Board of Public Works to consider the advisability of the extension of the Sewer System to Abbott and Marland Villages,. together with an estimated cost of the same, and report at the next annual town meeting or a special meeting called therefor.
Article 22 .- To fix the pay of the firemen for the ensuing year.
· Article 23 .- To determine the method of collecting the taxes for the ensuing year.
Article 24 .- To authorize the Town Treasurer to hire money for the use of the town in anticipation of taxes for the current year upon the approval of the Selectmen.
Article 25 .- To determine what disposition shall be made of unexpended appropriations.
119
Article 26 .- To act upon the report of the Town Officers.
Article 27 .- To determine the amount of money to be raised by taxation the ensuing year.
Article 28 .- To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting.
The polls may be closed at 2 o'clock P.M.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon, to the Selectmen at the time and place of meeting.
Given under our hands at Andover this twentieth day of February in the year one thousand nine hundred and twelve.
HARRY M. EAMES, WALTER S. DONALD, SAMUEL H. BAILEY. Selectmen of Andover.
I20
MEMORIAL HALL LIBRARY
THIRTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Trustees respectfully submit to the Town their annual Report for 1911 ; also the Report of the Librarian, which explains in detail the work of the Library during the year.
The accompanying statements of Income and Expenses and Condition of Funds of the Trustees of Memorial Hall are called to the attention of the voters of the town, that they may act intel- ligently upon the appropriation of $2500.00, which is asked for by the Trustees and recommended by the Selectmen.
It will be noticed that while the expenses of the past year were kept within the income, there is still a deficit of $705.48. This amount represents the balance of the sum which has been bor- rowed and used in preceding years for maintenance from the unexpended income of funds not applicable for this purpose. This amount must be paid back to the funds from which it was bor- rowed.
The Trustees recommend the following appropriations for the coming year :
For Maintenance of Library, $1500 00
For partial payment of loan, 500 00
For necessary changes and repairs on grounds about the building, 500 00
Respectfully submitted,
E. KENDALL JENKINS,
C. C. CARPENTER, FREDERIC S. BOUTWELL, JOHN ALDEN,
GEORGE F. SMITH,
ALFRED E. STEARNS, BURTON S. FLAGG,
Trustees.
I2I
TRUSTEES OF MEMORIAL HALL LIBRARY
RECEIPTS
Balance from last year,
$ 52 88
Income from Investments,
2710 56
Appropriation by the Town,
2000 00
Dog Tax,
723 37
Trustees Phillips Academy,
210 75
Gifts,
8 65
Sundry Items,
I22 02
Money borrowed,
500 00
$6328 23
FUNDS
Maintenance,
$45000 00
Book,
13800 00
Art Room,
7700 00
Cash,
1309 76
$67809 76
I22
In account with THE TOWN OF ANDOVER, MASS.
EXPENDITURES
Salaries,
$2784 19
Books, periodicals and newspapers,
808 83
Lighting and heating,
373 89
Bookbinding,
285 04
Repairs,
48 70
Sundries,
217 82
Note paid,
500 00
Cash on hand,
1309 76
$6328 23
INVESTMENTS
Town of Andover notes,
$25000 00
Bangor & Aroostook R. R. 4's,
11000 00
Boston Elevated Ry. 4's,
10000 00
Boston & Maine R. R. 4's,
2000 00
Boston Elevated Ry, 47/2's,
1000 00
Savings Banks,
13500 00
· Mortgage on Real Estate, Cash,
4000 00
1309 76
$67809 76
123
Statement of Income and Expenses of the Trustees of Memorial Hall Library for the Year Ending January 31, 1912
INCOME
Maint.
Book Funds $558 48
Cornell Funds $349 08
Total $2710 56 1500 00
Town Appropriation,
1500 00
(For deficit in part),
500 00
500 00
Dog Tax,
723 37
723 37
Gifts
3 65
5 00*
8 65
Sundries,
116 83
215 94
332 77
$4646 85 $779 42 $349 08
$5775 35
EXPENSES
Maint.
Book Funds
Cornell Funds $104 07
Total $2784 19 808 83
Books, periodicals, etc.,
163 15
645 68
Lighting and heating,
278 05
95 84
373 89
Book binding,
285 04
285 04
Repairs,
48 70
48 70
Sundries,
216 72
I IO
217 82
$3671 78 $645 68
$201 0I
$4518 47
Surplus,
$ 975 07 $133 74 $148 07
$1256 88
Statement of Condition of Funds and Unexpended Income in the Hands of Trustees of Library, January 31, 1912
Unex. Inc.
Maintenance
John Byers Book Fund,
Funds $45,000 00 10,000 00
27 33
Edward Taylor Book Fund,
500 00
3 66
W. C. T. U. Book Fund,
100 00
3 42
Phillips Donation Fund,
1,200 00
221 9I
Phillips Donation Fund, Female Teachers,
2,000 00
463 51
John Cornell Permanent Fund,
5,000 00
302 63
John Cornell Purchase Fund,
2,700 00
927 84
Gifts for special purposes,
64 94
$66,500 00
$2,015 24
Income from Investments,
$1803 00
Salaries
$2680 12
124
DISPOSITION OF FUNDS
Town Notes,
$25,000 00
Bonds,
24,000 00
Savings Banks,
13,500 00
Mortgage,
4,000 00
$66,500 00
Loan to Maintenance,
705 48 $
Cash on hand,
1,309 76
$2,015 24
FREDERIC S. BOUTWELL, Treas.
Examined and found correct.
BURTON S. FLAGG GEO. F. SMITH
Auditors
125
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
To the Trustees of the Memorial Hall Library.
GENTLEMEN :- I herewith submit the report of the library for the twelve months ending December 31, 19II.
The year just past tells our usual story of daily usefulness to the community ; we have no especially new or remarkable accom- plishments to record. The number of books issued, (32621 vol- umes) is practically the same as for 1910 and for a town the size of Andover represents a circulation of about 5 books per capita. This compares favorably with the circulation of other libraries of similar size. But though there is no doubt that Andover ap- .preciates its library, there are still too many people who do not avail themselves of its privileges nor realize how much of both pleasure and profit it can furnish them. Each family in town should have at least one member whose name is enrolled on our lists.
It is interesting to note again an increase of about 200 volumes in the district delivery. During the spring we ordered a number of books on practical farming and agriculture for the express use of the outlying parts of the town. These have been greatly ap- preciated ; nine or ten are called for every fortnight as a regular thing, and there seems an almost equal demand for books ott housekeeping and domestic economy.
The routine work throughout the year has been of the usual nature. Few people not actually employed in libraries have any conception of the amount of merely mechanical work required to keep things running, nor how much depends upon the accuracy with which details are attended to. The new books which are pur- chased every month are not hap-hazard choices, but represent the constant keeping in touch with new publications, much careful
I26
consideration of reviews, of an author's previous work, the needs of the library and the wishes of the community. It is a genuine gratification to report the many pleasant tributes paid to us about the books we purchase and to note the almost " clean sweep " made of the new ones within a day after they are ready for circulation. The beautifully illustrated works of travel which we had an oppor- tunity to pick up through publishers' sales at reduced prices, met with especial appreciation. It would be very desirable if we had a fund for the purpose of technical books. There is a constant demand for these, and they are so expensive and so quickly become out-dated that it is a problem how to keep this side of the library in usable shape. From the remarks of appreciation we are con- stantly receiving, it seems a certainty that the books chosen by the trustees are the type our readers care about. Seventy-three of those purchased this year were added at the request of different individuals. It is interesting to note that only two of these were works of fiction; the rest varied from philosophy to science and biography. Of course, we do not fill the demand for fiction,- no library can do that, but we mean always to spend a generous proportion of our income for clean wholesome stories that have some literary merit as well.
It is not merely the choice of books that takes time, but after they have come from the bookseller, their preparation for use is no small matter. Each volume is put through seven or eight processes, before, duly marked with the library's ownership and ready for circulation, it is placed on the shelves.
Books cannot be used and remain new. In the course of the year we mend hundreds of volumes that are not quite dilapidated enough for a visit to the bindery. It is astonishing how quickly a pile is sent in from the loan desk with loose illustrations, a date slip that needs renewal, or a torn page to be repaired. Even with all this mending done in the library, our bindery bills mount up. There is another side to this, however; books that need mending and binding are books that are being constantly used, so we should consider the necessary repairs in the light of disguised blessings. And after a book is once rebound, it always gives better service.
I27
We have ordered this year a number of books, chiefly fiction and juveniles, from the Huntting Company of Springfield. This firm obtains from the different publishers unbound sheets of new publications and produces them in reinforced bindings. The additional cost per volume is small and the books, with few exceptions, are wearing well. In one or two cases, the pages have shown a tendency to break near the reinforced backs, but this is due to poor paper used by the publishers, not to any fault of the binding.
Our reference work continues heavy and it is a pleasure that the town feels it may call upon us for any information desired. People sometimes apologize for " bothering us," not realizing that our time during library hours is entirely at the disposal of anyone who wishes to know anything we can help him find. Library work at best, is a series of interruptions and no one need hesitate to come on the score of troubling us. That the library does fill a real need in this way is proved from the many and varied inquiries made of us. Changes of methods and a fewer number of required debates, have somewhat lessened the reference use of the library by the Punchard School pupils during the past year. On the other hand, we do a constantly increasing work with the students of Phillips Academy. Most of the material for the debates and essays for which they come to us, is contained in our valuable files of periodicals and these we require them to use in the reading-room. On no condition do we allow these books to be taken from the library. The result is that our accommodation. for readers is frequently over-taxed, but as the boys come for serious work, their presence does not disturb other people.
Our story hour for children was carried through the winter successfully. This coming year we are to try a new plan. Since the trustees' room is the only available place to have the stories and so few children could be crowded in, we decided to try the experiment of telling the stories at the Guild. They will be wholly under library management; the Guild merely places a large room at Miss Twichell's disposal, and the children will go there instead of coming to the library. The distance is so short
I28
and the interests of the Guild and library are so united in a desire for the welfare of the children that it seems as if the experiment should work well.
One gift of the year is both important and unusual. Rev. Charles C. Carpenter, for so many years connected with the " Congregationalist," has with great trouble and much labor, collected and had bound in five large volumes, the pages of the " Conversation Corner " for the period of twenty years covered by his editorship. While intended then and now, primarily for the children, these books have an interest reaching beyond the young people. Many of the letters written during those years to " Mr. Martin " were composed by Andover children who are now men and women. These correspondents will be greatly inter- ested to read their childish communications. Aside from this personal value, the volumes contain an immense amount of mis- cellaneous information not easily accessible elsewhere. Mr. Carpenter has furnished each with a very comprehensive index so that its resources may easily be consulted. The work has been done for the children, but since the volumes can never be duplicated it seems best to allow them to be used only under careful supervision.
We have as usual to express our thanks for gifts of other books, flowers and plants. The donors of books are listed else- where; we think the givers of flowers know how much all who come to the reading-room appreciate our summer flower show and our winter conservatory. Even during the terribly hot weather in July when most gardens were burned to a crisp, some surviving blossoms found their way to the library and more than a few friends looked in to express regret that the devasta- tion of the gardens was being reflected in the reading-room.
The congested quarters of the library make it necessary for the comfort of all concerned that visitors should be careful not to disturb other people. We have no signs requesting silence, for most of our users understand that conversation is out of place. It ought never to be necessary to remind any one of this unwritten law, but there are a few frequenters of the library who are careless. The children take such pains to be quiet that
I29
one would think none of the older visitors would set them a bad example. Perhaps the offenders, since they are always the same persons, have not quite understood that a library is never a place for desultory conversation. Especially during the afternoon and evening, such thoughtlessness is a real annoyance to others. Con- versation in a low voice with the person at the desk, is of course, a necessity, but whispered remarks, and those only when unavoid- able, should be indulged in elsewhere in the room.
Our record for the year is quiet and uneventful through force of circumstances. There is still a great deal for us to do, which we can do - when we are given the chance! We have plenty of land for an addition to the present building. If an extension could be made at the north, space would be provided for a library that is being unmercifully cramped in its present quarters, and the Cornell Art gallery could be placed in a more accessible and safe location. At present, only the young and physically vigorous can climb those stairs. To many of the older people, who would keenly appreciate the pictures, the art gallery in its present place, might just as well be at the top of the Bunker Hill monument.
Ballardvale, moreover, is anxious to have greater library privi- leges, and has already asked for the establishment of a branch. This of course, involves considerable expense and can probably be done only by a special vote of the town. It may be necessary to begin such an undertaking by establishing a deposit station, open certain hours each week, sending down books from the main library and exchanging the whole collection at stated intervals. In many towns such an arrangement has been made to begin with and has later developed naturally into a full fledged branch with its own permanent collection of books. Ballardvale's request should certainly receive due consideration in our plans for the future, for there are more people from that vicinity who borrow books under present conditions, than from any of the other out- lying sections of town.
Miss Lincoln, in her hopeful outline of possible progress for the Village Improvement Society, speaks of a children's room for the library as something the society might help to bring about. It is something that the children of the town really need. They have
I30
only a corner of the main reading-room where they cannot have the freedom a place all their own would give them. We need this children's room ; we need a great deal more space for books ; we need more accommodation for readers; we need to impress upon every person in the community that Andover, a town of acknowledged intelligence has, during the past year, forced a lib- rary that is capable of greater helpfulness and that should grow in order to keep pace with the growing demands upon it - simply to mark time!
Respectfully submitted, . EDNA A. BROWN, Librarian.
131
STATISTICS OF LIBRARY
Number of books issued for home use,
32,621
Books sent to the districts, 2,006
Percentage of fiction circulated,
70
Percentage of non-fiction circulated,
30
New borrowers registered, 1911,
319
Actual number of cards in use,
2,551
Books added by purchase,
549
Books added by gift,
95
Total accessions,
644
Books worn out, lost and paid for, etc.,
71
Total number of books in the library,
19,490
Volumes rebound,
404
Volumes bound, (periodicals, etc.),
78
GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY
Gifts of books and pamphlets are acknowledged from state and government departments, from other libraries, from societies, the Andover Village Improvement Society, the Sociological depart- ment of the November Club, the Phoebe Foxcroft Phillips Chapter of the D. R., and from the following individuals :
Dr. C. E. Abbott ; Miss C. H. Abbott; C. K. Bancroft; Miss M. E. Bancroft; F. S. Boutwell; Rev. C. C. Carpenter ; Miss J. B. Carpenter ; Miss L. F. Clarke; Mrs. N. F. Flint; Mrs. F. E. Gleason ; E. H. Gosse ; A. H. Hall; Miss Ethel Hazlewood; Miss S. C. Hervey ; J. B. Hutchinson ; Mrs. F. H. Messer ; Rev. Fred- eric Palmer; G. L. Raymond; Mrs. George Ripley; Miss Isabel Starbuck ; Mrs. J. P. Taylor.
I32
LIST OF PERIODICALS AND NEWSPAPERS TAKEN FOR THE READING ROOM
American journal of sociology.
American monthly review of reviews.
Atlantic monthly. Blackwood's magazine. Book review digest. Catholic world.
Century.
Christian Endeavor world, (gift).
Congressional record, (gift).
Contemporary review.
Country life in America.
Craftsman. Cumulative book index. Dial. Edinburgh review.
Education.
Elementary school teacher.
Everybody's magazine, .(gift).
Forum. Garden magazine, (gift). Harper's bazar.
Harper's magazine.
Harper's weekly. House beautiful, (gift).
International studio, (gift).
Ladies' home journal. Library journal. Life. Literary digest. Littell's Living age. London weekly Times. McClure's magazine. Massachusetts magazine, (gift). Nation.
I33
National geographic magazine.
New England homestead. North American review. Outing. Outlook. Popular electricity.
Popular mechanics.
Popular science monthly.
Practical engineer.
Public libraries.
Readers' guide to periodical literature.
St. Nicholas.
Scientific American.
Scribner's magazine.
Survey.
Technology review, (gift).
Official gazette, (gift).
World's work.
Youth's companion.
Andover Townsman.
Boston Advertiser.
Boston Herald.
Boston Transcript.
Christian Science Monitor, (gift).
Lawrence Telegram. New York Times.
I34
INFORMATION FOR USERS OF THE LIBRARY
The Memorial Hall Library is open every day except Sundays and legal holidays from 9 to 12.30 in the morning, and from 3 to 9 in the afternoon and evening.
Any resident of Andover over ten years of age may have a library card upon filling out an application blank. Children in grades below the Punchard School, are required to have their applications endorsed by both parent and teacher.
All grown people are allowed to take two books, provided that one only is fiction. This privilege is also given to the Punchard pupils. Teachers are permitted to draw ten books strictly for school use. These books are subject to the ordinary rules of the library.
Books are issued for fourteen days, the date upon which the book is due being stamped plainly on the " date due " slip at the time of issue. A book kept overtime incurs a fine of two cents for every day overdue. A few of the books most in demand are issued for seven days only. All these are labelled upon the book pocket, " Seven day book." Books lost or damaged must be paid for.
Fiction is not renewed or reserved for anyone. Books other than fiction may be renewed if no one else has asked for them, and if a work other than fiction is specially desired for any serious purpose, notice of its return to the library will be sent on request.
The shelves of the whole library are open to all grown people. The books are arranged according to subjects, and it is often much more satisfactory to go to the shelves and examine.the books than to depend upon the catalogue.
The only complete index of the contents of the library is the card catalogue. The printed catalogue of the books was issued ten years ago, and is out-of-date, besides containing the names of many books which are no longer in the library. The new books are listed at intervals in the weekly paper, and cumulated in the yearly library report, but the only complete record is the card
I35
catalogue. This catalogue is arranged alphabetically like a dictionary. To find whether any given book is in the library, look for it under the surname of the author, or under its title. The right hand drawers of the case contain a second arrange- ment of cards where the books are entered according to the subjects of which they treat.
The new books purchased each month are placed for some weeks in a special case on the north side of the reading room, so that the most recent additions to the library may be found there. The library buys only a limited amount of new fiction, but it tries to fill the wants of the community in regard to other books desired. People are invited to suggest for purchase the titles of books they wish.
The library staff is always glad to answer questions or in any way to help visitors find what they want.
1
I36
NEW BOOKS ADDED IN 1911
GENERAL REFERENCE BOOKS
9.17.446 B67d 203 H28
902 L32
920.04 W62 317 W89
Boston, Mass. Directory, 19II.
Hastings, James, ed. Encyclopedia of religion and ethics, v. 3.
Larned, J. N. comp. History for ready reference, v. 6, 7.
Who's who, 19II.
World almanac, 19II.
PERIODICALS
305 A5I
American journal of sociology, v. 16.
051 R32
American monthly review of reviews, v. 42, 43.
051 A88I
Atlantic monthly, v. 106, 107.
052 B56
Blackwood's Edinburgh magazine, v. 188, 189.
Boston evening Transcript, 1910.
071 B65 051 C28 051 C38 052 C76
Century, v. 81, 82.
705 C84
Craftsman, v. 18, 19, 20.
805 D5I
Dial, v. 50.
052 E21
Edinburgh review, v. 21I, 212.
370.5 E25 370.5 E39 051 F77 716 GI6 051 H23
*Garden magazine, v. II, 12, 13.
Harper's magazine, v. 121, 122.
071 H23
Harper's weekly, v. 54.
705 H8I 705 161 020.5 L61
*International studio, v. 41, 42, 43, 44. Library journal, v. 35.
051 L7I
Littell's living age, v. 266-270.
051 MI3
McClure's magazine, v. 35, 36.
Nation, v. 91-92.
National geographic magazine, v. 20.
New England magazine, v. 42, 43.
North American review, v. 192, 193.
071 N21 910.5 N21 051 N42 051 N8I *Gifts
Catholic world, v. 91, 92, 93.
Contemporary review, v. 98, 99.
Education, v. 31.
Elementary school teacher, v. II. Forum, v. 44, 45.
*House beautiful, v. 28, 29.
I37
799.5 094 C51 O94 621 P8I 505 P8I 020.5 P96 605 S416
Outing, v. 56, 57, 58. Outlook, v. 96, 97, 98. Popular mechanics, v. 14, 15.
Popular science monthly, v. 77, 78.
Public libraries, v. 15. Scientific American, v. 102, 103, 104. Scribner's magazine, v. 48, 49.
Survey, v. 24, 25, 26. World's work, v. 21.
ETHICAL AND RELIGIOUS BOOKS
(Purchased chiefly from the Phillips Fund.)
Abbott, Lyman. Seeking after God.
Ames, E. S. Psychology of religious experience. Begbie, Harold. Souls in action.
Bennett, E. A. How to live on 24 hours a day.
Bennett, E. A. Human machine.
Bennett, E. A. Mental efficiency.
Black, Hugh. Comfort.
Black, Hugh. Happiness.
Bowne, B. P. Essence of religion.
252 B68 240 B8Im Brown, C. R. Modern man's religion. 266 C25 Carver, W. O. Missions and modern thought.
267.3 C42
Chesley, A. M. Social activities for men and boys.
261 F74 248 G86
Grenfell, W. T. A man's helpers.
180 H99
Hyde, W. DeW. Five great philosophies of life.
174 H99
Hyde, W. DeW. ed. Vocations. IOV.
237 J65
Jefferson, C. E. Why we may believe in life after death.
266 J7I
Jones, J. P. Modern missionary challenge.
222 J76
Jordan, W. G. Comment on Deuteronomy.
220.9 K41g
Kent, C. F. Great teachers of Judaism and Chris- tianity.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.