USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1910-1914 > Part 6
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Article Ist .- To choose a Moderator for one year, Town Clerk Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, one member of the Board of Selectmen for three years, one member of the Board of Assessors for three years, one member of the Board of Health for three years, three members of the School Committee for three years, one Trustee of Memorial Hall Library for seven years, one Park Commissioner for three years, two members of the Board of Public Works for three years, one Tree Warden for one year, three Auditors of Accounts for one year, three Constables for one year, one Highway Surveyor for one year, one Trustee of Cornell Fund for three years, five Trustees of Punchard Free School for three years, Fence Viewers, Field Drivers, Surveyors of lumber, Pound Keeper, and any other officers the town may determine to choose.
Article 2nd .- To take action on the following question, "Shall License be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town?"
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Article 3rd .- To determine what sums of money shall be ap- propriated for Schools, School-houses, School-books and Supplies, Highways and Bridges, Macadamized Roads, Sidewalks, Remov- ing Snow, Horses and Drivers, Street Lighting, Town Officers, Police, Public Works (Maintenance, Construction and Sinking Funds), Fire Department (Maintenance and Fire Alarm), Town House, Almshouse, Repairs on Almshouse, Relief out of Alms- house, State Aid, Soldiers' Relief, State Tax, County Tax, Interest on Bonds, Funds and Notes, Redemption of Water Bonds, and School-house Bonds, Printing and Stationery, Miscell- aneous, Memorial Day, Insurance, Spring Grove Cemetery, Hay Scales, Park Commissioner, Tree Warden, Public Dump, and other town charges and expenses.
Article 4th .- To see if the town will vote to purchase a certain tract of land situated in Andover, containing six acres and seventy-one and one-half (71 I-2) sq. rods, lying easterly of and adjoining Town's School-house land, and bounded beginning at the northwest corner by the Punchard School land and the southerly end of a private way leading to Whittier St., and thence running south 2 I-2° east by the School lands and wall to lands of the Trustees of Phillips Academy 36 rods and 22 links ; thence north 74° east by land now or late of said trustees and by the wall and land of Shea 23 rods and 5 links; thence north 29º east by the wall and lands of Dwane, Connelly, Lynch and others 28 rods and 2 links; thence north 23º west by the wall and lands of Williamson 5 rods and 6 links ; thence north 88 1-4° west by the wall and land of Cunningham 565 ft. to the point of beginning. Also the fee of the private way above named extending from Whittier St. to the northwest corner of the above described land on a straight line past lands of Brown and Shattuck and Shattuck and Cunningham about 15 rods and bounded on the west by the School land, subject to all the rights of said abutters thereon to use the same; and to appropriate the sum of $976.70 for the pur- chase price thereof.
Article 5th .- To see if the town will accept the relocation of Main Street from a point at the junction of Main and School
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Streets to a point at or near the residence of James C. Sawyer, also a relocation of Dwight Street in its relation to Main Street, all according to a plan presented by the Board of Selectmen. Also to see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to enter into an agreement with the Trustees of Phillips Academy, for an exchange of land to carry out changes as planned, and to ap- propriate whatever sum of money is necessary for carrying out such work, said appropriation to be taken from the money to be paid to the town as Street Railway Excise and Franchise taxes.
Article 6th .- To see what action the town will take towards appropriating the sum of $500. for re-opening and putting in proper condition the Abbott School-house for school purposes. That it would be better for the welfare of the children and the public in general as regards a higher estimate of the value of property in that immediate vicinity, on petition of John W. Henderson and others.
Article 7th .- To see if the town will vote to ratify and confirm a vote of the town authorizing an issue of $10,000.00 Andover Sewer Loan bonds adopted under Article 18th of the warrant for the last annual town meeting, on petition of Board of Public Works.
Article 8th .- To see if the town will vote to authorize the issue of $30,000.00 of Water Loan bonds, the proceeds to be used for the extension and improvement of the water system, on petition of Board of Public Works.
Article 9th .- To see if the town will instruct the Board of Public Works to extend the water main from Lowell Street through Argilla Road to Andover Street, on petition of Albert Kimball and others.
Article Ioth .- To see if the town will instruct the Board of Public Works to extend the water main on Abbot Street into Spring Grove Cemetery and provide a suitable place to draw water from the same, and appropriate a sum of money therefor, on petition of John H. Soehrens and others.
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Article IIth -- To see if the town will instruct the Board of Public Works to extend the water main from "Chicken Hill" on Andover Street to the residence of Joseph Stanley on said street, on petition of George M. Henderson and others.
Article 12th .- To see if the town will instruct the Board of Public Works to extend its water main from the corner of Woburn and Andover Streets to the residence of Charles C. Stickney, on petition of Charles C. Stickney and others.
Article 13th .- To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of fifteen hundred dollars to complete the macadam between the house of Rufus Bailey and Laurel Lane on the River Road, on petition of George Goldsmith and others.
Article 14th .- To see if the town will vote to change the name of the street now called "Reservoir Street" to "Bancroft Road," the said street having gone by the latter name for many years until a recent date, on petition of George F. Cheever and others.
Article 15th .- To see if the town will vote to discontinue the road leading from North Street easterly to the River Road, on petition of Albert A. Hardy and others.
Article 16th .- To see if the town will vote to establish and maintain an electric light on Shawsheen Road opposite the Grange Hall, on petition of Samuel H. Boutwell and others.
Article 17th .- To see if the town will vote to extend the duties of the Finance Committee so as to read as follows :
This Committee to examine into and carefully consider all appropriations recommended by the Selectmen; before the Annual Town Meeting: and report such changes in said appropriations as in their judgment the best interests of town require; also carefully examine into and report upon all articles in the Town Warrant that require the expenditure of money.
Article 18th .- To see if the town will accept the provisions of Section 2, Chapter 104 of the Revised Laws relating to the erec- tion of buildings.
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Article 19th .- To see if the Town will appoint a committee to consider the Town By-Laws and report with their recommend- ations at a future town meeting.
Article 20th .- To see if the Town will vote to maintain an Evening School in Abbott Village, and appropriate a sum of money therefor not to exceed two hundred dollars, on petition of the School Committee.
Article 2Ist .- To determine the method of collecting the taxes for the ensuing year.
Article 22nd .- To determine what disposition shall be made of unexpended appropriations-
Article 23rd .- To act upon the report of the Town Officers.
Article 24th .- To fix the pay of the firemen for the ensuing year.
Article 25th .- 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 26th .- To determine the amount of money to be raised by taxation the ensuing year.
Article 27th .- To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting.
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 twenty-third day of February, in the year one thousand nine hundred and ten.
HARRY M. EAMES, WALTER S. DONALD, SAMUEL H. BAILEY, Selectmen of Andover.
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MEMORIAL HALL LIBRARY
THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Trustees of the Library would call the attention of the town to the Librarian's report which gives a complete account of the work of the Library during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, E. KENDALL JENKINS, JOSEPH A. SMART, FREDERIC S. BOUTWELL, C. C. CARPENTER, JOHN ALDEN, GEORGE F. SMITH, ALFRED E. STEARNS,
Trustees.
ANDOVER, MASS., Feb. 8, 1910.
Frederic S. Boutwell, Treasurer of Trustees of Memorial
RECEIPTS
Balance from last year,
$ 323 73
Income from investments,
2889 42
Gifts,
30 00
Dog tax,
757 92
Town appropriation,
1000 00
Money borrowed,
800 00
Sundry items,
159 38
$5960 45
FUNDS
Maintenance,
$45000 00
Book,
13800 00
Art Room;
7700 00
Cash,
784 64
$67284 64
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Hall Library, in account with the Town of Andover, Mass.
EXPENDITURES
Salaries,
$2513 41
Lighting and heating,
551 51
Books, periodicals and newspapers,
III2 21
Bookbinding,
365 86
Repairs,
66 48
Note paid,
300 00
Sundries,
266 34
Cash on hand,
784 64
$5960 45
Invested as follows :-
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,
13500 00
Mortgage,
4000 00
Cash,
784 64
$67284 64
ANDOVER, January 31, 1910.
This certifies that we have examined and verified the above account.
JOSEPH A. SMART, GEORGE F. SMITH,
Committee.
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REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
To the Trustees of the Memorial Hall Library.
GENTLEMEN :- I herewith submit the report of the library for the year ending December 31, 1909.
The close of this year sees the completion of the reaccessioning of the library. The books have been thoroughly gone over and the out-of-date, worn, and otherwise superseded volumes have been withdrawn. The total number of books now in the library is 18118. This of course shows a smaller number than before the reorganization, but the shelves are no longer encumbered with dead and useless volumes. A large proportion of these withdrawals was made in the scientific classes where books on steam engineering and mechanics dated in the early sixties have given way to twentieth century publications. This thorough examination of the contents of the library has been of great practical value since the weak points have been brought to light. The list of books added during the year shows many titles which have been purchased to fill especial needs of this nature.
There is a great demand from boys and young men for works on popular mechanics, light science and handicrafts of all kinds. We are scarcely able to get books enough to fill these requests, and there are also demands for works of a more thoroughly scien- tific nature, for technical publications on zoology, anatomy, and similar subjects. These more scholarly treatises are always very expensive and make large inroads on the book fund. A recent anonymous gift of a number of books on chemistry and physics has been of great assistance, but it would be a fortunate thing for the library and the community if some interested person should sometime provide a fund for the purchase of scientific books.
The past year has seen a great improvement in our collection of educational works. The Lieutenant-Governor Phillips fund for the purchase of books for teachers has enabled us to build
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up a department of which we may be proud. These books have been placed together in an alcove where teachers may consult them and include not only pedagogics and theoretical teaching, but practical application and methods.
The gift of twenty-five dollars from Miss Mary Byers Smith for the purchase of books of interest to young women and mothers resulted in the addition of about thirty volumes on home making, nursing, sewing, cooking, amusements for children and other domestic topics. This addition gives the library a really good collection along these lines, and in the fall a partial list was compiled. This was printed and distributed by Mrs. Bernard Allen to the Mothers' Clubs of Andover.
Our French and German collection which at the beginning of the year numbered over one hundred volumes, all gifts from dif- ferent people in town, has been increased by further gifts, and by the expenditure of twelve dollars from the book fund. Through the kindness of a friend of the library this sum was expended in Paris where about thirty volumes were purchased. These books are appreciated and their use is increasing.
We believe that a library should provide books on all practi- cal subjects for students, but we also think that it legitimately provides amusement and recreation. There has been in the past few years much discussion about fiction versus non-fiction. To read the periodicals devoted to library affairs one would think a librarian existed largely for the purpose of inducing fiction lovers to read something else. We think that people should read what interests them and that tired men and women have a perfect right to rest themselves by reading stories, Our list of fiction purchased during the year is a fair proportion of the total addi- tions. We have only tried among the avalanche of novels pro- duced by the publishers to choose books which are wholesome and possessed of some literary merit. We should be glad to receive gifts of good novels from people who have purchased them for their own reading and do not care to keep them per- manently.
The circulation this year is less than last which was to be expected, since that of 1908 was abnormally large considering
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the number of card-holders and the population. The number of volumes issued (31,839) represents more nearly the normal circulation of a town the size of Andover. The circulation of a library is in a sense, the record of its work, but the number of books issued is never the total story of its accomplishment, nor the whole measure of its usefulness to the community. The countless questions and inquiries answered day after day, the topics looked up for clubs, the help given for school debates and theses, the care spent upon the choice of books, the lists prepared for holidays and special anniversaries, the mere remembering of the tastes of individuals,-all enter largely into the success of the institution.
The story-hour for last year was very successful, and has been again started for this winter. It is to be regretted that there is room for so few children. Only eighteen can come at a time, while the stories could easily be told to fifty,-and fifty wish to come,-were there any place to have them. The only room available is the trustees' room and it has proved impossible to get more than eighteen children comfortably into it. It is unfortu- nate that the library building cannot be enlarged sufficiently to provide a separate room for the children. There are few com- munities now which have not realized and met this need. Until we have more room we cannot do for the children what might be done and what other libraries are doing.
Lack of funds and space also keeps us from developing the work with the schools. Had we more books we could send them to the outlying schools whose children cannot possibly come to the library. This is greatly desired by the schools in certain dis- tricts, but to meet this need properly we must have an adequate collection of books for that purpose and for no other. Would the town at its next meeting give us an additional appropriation of three hundred dollars to be spent in the purchase of duplicate books to be circulated in the more distant schools, it would be a great step forward and one tremendously appreciated. We can- not do it from our limited book fund, it would not be just to the rest of the town, and a special appropriation is needed for this purpose alone.
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In May the Massachusetts Library Club held its meeting in Andover, the principal speaker of the day being Dr. Samuel Crothers. The attendance both of townspeople and visitors was very large and it was one of the most successful meetings in the history of the organization.
During the spring, the Andover Village Improvement Society enlarged and replanted the flower bed in front of the library. It was planned under the direction of a landscape gardener and the shrubs were especially chosen for the situation. It is expected when they are well started that they will act as a screen to the library interior against the summer glare from the street as well as greatly improving the appearance of the grounds.
The Phoebe Foxcroft Phillips Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution has given to the library a subscription to the Massachusetts magazine to date from its initial number in 1908. This is a periodical devoted to local history which promises to be of great value.
We have received other gifts of books and periodicals from societies and individuals and as usual the many flowers and plants which make the library pleasanter for everyone. It is nothing unusual during the summer for people to step in, not always for a book, but merely to see what is going on in the gardens of An- dover. Visiting librarians from less favored communities never fail to seem a little envious of us in this respect.
In the three years just past, we have made many changes and improvements which have met with appreciation from the town. In the face of these readjustments it is perhaps difficult for An- dover to realize that further advances are possible and that the work can still be extended and increased. In order to do it there must be more money and more space. The expenses of keeping the building in repair are yearly increasing, and the library is surely and certainly outgrowing its space. The question of pro- viding for its further development is a matter worthy of the serious and immediate attention of both the trustees and the town.
Respectfully submitted,
EDNA A. BROWN
Librarian.
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STATISTICS OF THE LIBRARY
Number of books issued for home use,
31839
Books sent to the districts,
1697
Percentage of fiction circulated,
68
Percentage of non-fiction, 32
New borrowers registered, Jan. I-Dec. 31, 1909,
456
Cards cancelled, removals, etc.,
I56
Actual number of cards in use,
2284
Books added by purchase,
599
Books added by gift,
215
Total accessions,
814
Books, withdrawn, worn out, lost and paid for, etc., 76
Total number of books in library,
18118
Volumes rebound,
327
Volumes bound, (periodicals, etc.)
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GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY
· Gifts of books and pamphlets are acknowledged from state and government departments, from other libraries, from societies, the Andover Theological Seminary, the Andover Village Improvement Society, the Phoebe Foxcroft Phillips Chapter of the D. R., the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Lawrence, and from the following in- dividuals:
John Alden; F. A. Andrews; Miss Gertrude Averill; Mrs. Augustus Bachelder; C. K. Bancroft; E. T. Brewster; H. N. Casson; Miss M. E. H. Dern; Mrs. G. W. W. Dove; F. C. Floyd; Miss Katherine French; Mrs. F. E. Gleason; S. M. Griswold; J. B. Hutchinson; Miss Alice Kendall; Miss E. J. Lincoln; Mrs. Selah Merrill; G. L. Ray- mond; Mrs. George Ripley; G. B. Ripley; Miss Isabel Starbuck; Hon. E. J. Sherman; Rev. F. R. Shipman; Miss M. B. Smith; Rev. F. A. Wilson.
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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.
Edinburgh review.
Education.
Elementary school teacher. Forum.
Garden magazine, (gift).
Guide to nature, (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). Masters in art.
Nation.
National geographic magazine. New England homestead. New England magazine. North American review. Outing. Outlook.
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Popular mechanics.
Popular science monthly. Public libraries. Putnam's monthly.
Readers' guide to periodical literature.
St. Nicholas. Scientific American. Scribner's magazine. Survey. System.
Technology review, (gift).
Official gazette, (gift).
World's work.
Youth's companion.
Andover Townsman.
Boston Advertiser.
Boston Herald.
Boston Transcript. Boston Traveler.
Christian Science Monitor, (gift).
Lawrence Telegram. New York Times.
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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 eu- dorsed 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 over- due. 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 catalogue. This catalogue is arranged alphabetically like a dictionary. To find whether any given book is in the library, look for it under the sur- name of the author, or under its title. The right hand drawers of
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the case contain a second arrangement 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.
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NEW BOOKS ADDED IN 1909
GENERAL REFERENCE BOOKS
Addis and Arnold. Catholic dictionary.
282 A22 207 A552g Andover Theological Seminary. General catalogue, 1808-1908.
463 A64
Appleton's new Spanish-English and English-Span- ish dictionary.
320 F8I Foster, Ellsworth, ed. Cyclopedia of civil govern- ment.
203 H28 Hastings, James, ed. Encyclopedia of religion and ethics. v. I.
016.3 H27
Hasse, A. R. comp. Index of economic material in public documents of Massachusetts.
Hazeltine, M. E. ed. Anniversaries and holidays.
Hazlitt, W. C. comp. English proverbs.
Hopkins and Bond. Scientific American reference book.
016.79 MI6
McFadden and Davis. Selected list of plays. Massachusetts yearbook, 1909.
917.44 M38
917.3 U58p
U. S .- Census bureau. Century of population growth, 1790-1900.
929.2 H34
U. S .- Census bureau. Heads of families at the first census in 1790 in Massachusetts.
917.3 U58m
U. S .- Census bureau. Marriage and divorce, 1867- 1906.
PERIODICALS
051 R32
American monthly review of reviews, v. 38, 39. Andover Townsman, v. 22.
071 A552
051 A881
Atlantic monthly, v. 102, 103.
052 B56
Blackwood's Edinburgh magazine, v. 184, 185.
051 C28 051 C33
Century, v. 76, 77, 78.
052 C76
Contemporary review, v. 94, 95.
705 C84
Craftsman, v. 15, 16.
Edinburgh review, v. 207, 208.
Education, v. 29.
Elementary school teacher, v. 7, 8, 9.
052 E21 370.5 E25 370.5 E39
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