USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1915-1920 > Part 5
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 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
13600 00
255 09
Book Funds, Special
3200 00
341 34
Cornell Fund, Permanent
5000 00
241 20
Cornell Fund, Purchase
2700 00
1084 85
Special
64 94
Total
$71100 00
$4306 64
105
INVESTMENTS
Bangor & Aroostook R. R., 4s
$11000 00
Boston Elevated Co., 4s
10000 00
-
Chicago Railways Co., 5s
9962 50
Montreal Tramways Co., 5s
9962 50
Michigan State Tel. Co., 5s
4981 25
Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co., 5s
1000 00
Boston Elevated Co., 412s
1000 00
Boston & Maine R. R., 4s
2000 00
Boston & Albany R. R. Co., 41/2s, Equip. Trust
2981 10
Savings Banks
13500 00
Mortgage on Real Estate, 5%
4000 00
Am. Tel. & Tel. Co. 4 shs.
571 50
Principal, Cash
141 15
Total
$71100 00
Income cash on hand
$4306 64
Principal cash on hand
141 15
Total cash on hand
$4447 79
FREDERIC S. BOUTWELL, Treas.
We certify that we have examined and found correct the above statements as of January 20, 1915, whereby all securities held against the several funds have been examined and the income accruing from same accounted for.
All disbursements are supported by receipts in proper form and the cash on deposit as shown has been verified and found correct.
BURTON S. FLAGG GEORGE F. SMITH
Auditors
106
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, 1914.
The circulation for the year is 41130 volumes as opposed to 35737 last year. Of this number, 33138 books were issued at the main library and 7992 at Ballardvale. This record for a town of 7300 people shows a very satisfactory average per person and considering the branch alone, a truly remarkable use.
The constant development of the work at Ballardvale and the evident satisfaction and pride taken by the village in its library is proof that a wise step was taken in establishing it. The branch now has 837 volumes belonging to it and 143 loaned from the main library. These loans are now less frequently exchanged. Some new books are furnished each month and so far as possible the requests of readers are met. The juvenile books are con- stantly in demand, and one year has proved that the children of Ballardvale are more careful in the treatment of the library books than the children of Andover. Of two copies of the same book, that sent to the branch circulates more times before having to be rebound and is then in cleaner condition, than the one provided for the Memorial Hall Library.
The plan when starting this branch was to let it gradually become a reading-room, if the desires of the community de- veloped in that direction. This fall, with the coming of colder weather, the branch librarian reported a decided tendency in people to linger and read. To meet this need, another table and more chairs were provided. An electric light was also placed at the top of the steep side steps that form its chief ap- proach.
There seems no doubt that the Ballardvale branch is now an established and vital part of our library and no reason why it should not continue to do good work for years. The circulation may not always remain at the height reached during its first popularity; it will probably drop somewhat and find its fixed
107
normal, as is the case with all libraries. A few Ballardvale people still prefer to take their books from the main library and these are mostly families having children who come up daily to the High School, or men who want technical and scholarly works that a branch naturally would not have. The percentage of fiction borrowed is much larger than in Andover, but as the collection of books increases, they will doubtless be used for other purposes than recreative reading alone. But in furnishing the village with good and wholesome fiction only, we may con- sider the establishment of this branch more than justified.
Another plan outlined in last year's report has been carried out. This was to provide more adequate service for the three outly- ing district schools. Four traveling libraries have been purchased, each containing twenty-five books, with no duplicates. With the co-operation of the School Department, these libraries are to be loaned for stated periods to these distant schools. The sloyd classes are to provide shelves for their accommodation and the School Department will attend to their transportation. These libraries were ready for use on November first, but will not be placed in use until the winter term. With each library were provided some books especially for the use of the teacher. These collections will be valued by the school children who are prevented by distance from ready use of the library. The selection was carefully made, and while helpful and instructive, the books are all those that have been proved by actual experi- ence to be liked and enjoyed by children.
The gifts of the year include several hundred volumes left us by the will of Miss Margaret Gray. Most of these books duplicated works already on our shelves, but were of use for Ballardvale. The most valuable among them was an unbound file of the International Studio. These have been bound and placed in the Memorial Hall Library. At Ballardvale, four little girls, the "October Club", contributed two dollars with the request that four books be purchased for the children's shelves. Other gifts have been made, books, money, and many plants and flowers,- always appreciated. Pansies that blos- somed out of doors in December were our last garden flowers for the season.
108
In the report for 1913, attention was called to the difficulty of protecting our young people from harmful literature, both books and periodicals. Our periodical list contains only such publications as are above criticism on the score of sensationalism or questionable fiction or pictures. Practically all appear upon the "White List of Periodicals" approved by the Massachusetts Library Club.
:
Our juvenile books are chosen with the greatest care. The parents of Andover may feel absolutely sure that their children will obtain from the library no questionable story, for a book has to pass searching tests of material, style, ethics and good taste before it is admitted to our juvenile shelves. This collection now numbers about two thousand and it is our purpose to keep it small but select. The children are growing up all the time and new books, that is, new titles, are not so much in demand in this department, because the old favorites remain and the children themselves are always new, every year. We have constantly to replace standard juvenile authors, and we buy the best of the new stories, and books showing how to make and do things. Our teachers' fund also permits us to purchase books that are helpful along the lines of school studies, history, science, etc. We have withdrawn from the shelves this year a number of juvenile books. This is partly from lack of room, but largely because these children's books of an older generation, often otherwise unobjectionable, are not accurate in the scientific or historical information they convey. The use of this department is satisfactory; the proportion of children's books circulated being about one-third of the total number. The reference use of the library is large, particularly with the High School.
It is probable that the European war, expected to clear away so many difficulties and to adjust so many delicate balances, is going to have a pronounced influence upon the character of the fiction published. People are now occupying their brains with other problems than debatable stories or unpleasant discussions. English writers have been the chief offenders in this respect but American ones have not been far behind. The whole tone of the English-speaking press has changed during the last four months. With something really big to attract attention, with
109
pressing economic questions to adjust, there has been less "muck- raking". Moreover, at a time when no state or individual will spend money without forethought, it will be less easy for ques- tionable fiction to get on the market. There has already been an improvement in our press publications and it seems likely that this change will continue.
To meet the marked and natural interest in a contest in- volving so much of the so-called civilized world, we have pur- chased a dozen or more books bearing on international relations. These have received steady use and there is a wide-spread revival of interest in European history and geography.
It is hoped another year to replace in the reference room some works that are out-dated and past their helpfulness.
On April first, Mr. Ballard Holt, who had served the town for practically forty years, first as librarian of the Memorial Hall, and after the re-organization of the library, as caretaker, resigned his position. The faithful service of Mr. Holt was appreciated by the many Andover people who knew him during his long period of public work.
We have now, only to present our annual story of over- crowded shelves and a reading-room too small for the number of people who use it. Not only that, but of a heating-apparatus inadequate through age and wear to the needs of the building. During the cold weather last February, we were obliged to close one day because the best efforts of the janitor failed to get the library thermometer above thirty-nine degrees. During even a moderately cold snap, a temperature of around fifty is not uncommon, and under such conditions people complain because we cannot keep the reading-room properly ventilated.
By weeding out all little-used or out-dated books, by ceasing to bind periodicals of which we have always kept a file, and by relegating to an already packed attic, sets that ought to be more accessible, we can still purchase the new books that the com- munity has a right to expect from us. But the question is, how long can we keep on buying books when we sometimes have to move three hundred in order to put one in its proper place on the shelf?
Not long ago, a member of the school committee said to us:
110
"I have always found the town of Andover ready to respond to any reasonable request. When we asked for more money to pay our teachers, we got it. The trouble with you is, that you have never asked the town for the funds you need."
It is true that we have not, and it is also true that the town meeting of Andover is made up of reasonable citizens. They are taxpayers to be sure, but let them consider what they are getting for the money invested in the library. There are 7300 people in Andover. This year, the town contributed for our support $2300,- about thirty-four cents per capita. for twelve months! In return for this absurdly small sum, each individual had the free use of about 20000 volumes, 1000 of which were new during the year, with over fifty current periodicals and papers, to say nothing of expert service in finding information upon any desired subject.
Has any tax-payer in Andover invested thirty-four cents - for the year - in any other method that brings in returns in like proportion, to him and to his children? Is it unreasonable to think that our town would respond to a request that, once answered, would not be repeated for a generation to come?
Respectfully submitted,
EDNA A. BROWN
Librarian
111
STATISTICS OF THE LIBRARY
Number of books issued for home use at Memorial Hall,
Number issued at Ballardvale
33138 7992
Total,
41130
Books sent to the districts,
1668
Percentage of fiction circulated,
70
Percentage of non-fiction circulated,
30
New borrowers registered, 1914,
359
Actual number of cards in use,
2285
Books added by purchase,
805
Books added by gift,
234
Total accessions,
1039
Books withdrawn, worn out, lost and paid for,
191
Total number of books in library,
21817
Volumes rebound,
423
Volumes, bound, periodicals, etc.
128
BALLARDVALE
Number of books issued for home use,
7992
Percentage of fiction circulated,
84
Percentage of non-fiction circulated,
16
Number of cards in use,
308
GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY
Gifts of books and pamphlets are acknowledged from state and government departments, from other libraries, from so- cieties, the Andover Village Improvement Society, Phillips Academy Library, the October Club, and from the following individuals:
Mrs. J. R. Ashton; Miss G. H. Averill; Miss E. F. Brown; S. T. Byington; Miss J. B. Carpenter; E. W. Chapin; F. J. Firth; Miss M. E. Gray; David Hewes; Prof. E. Y. Hincks; Mrs. H. E. Kendall; Dr. G. H. McCollum; W. A. Mowry; Alfred Rip- ley; George Ripley ; William Shaw; Mrs. J. H. Smith; Mrs. J. P. Taylor; Miss J. E. Twichell.
112
LIST OF PERIODICALS AND NEWSPAPERS TAKEN FOR THE READING ROOM
American monthly review of reviews.
Atlantic monthly.
Blackwood's magazine. Bookman. Book review digest.
Catholic world. Century.
Country gentleman.
Christian Endeavor world, (gift).
Congressional world, (gift).
Country life in America.
Craftsman.
Cumulative book index.
Education.
Elementary school journal.
Forum. Garden magazine, (gift) ..
Guide to nature, (gift).
Harper's magazine.
House beautiful, (gift).
Independent.
International studio, (gift). Ladies' home journal. Library journal. Life.
Literary digest. Littell's living age. London weekly Times.
Missionary review of the world.
Modern mechanics and Popular electricity. Nation.
National geographic magazine. Nineteenth century. North American review. Outing. Outlook.
113
Popular mechanics. Popular science monthly. Practical engineer. Public libraries. ' Punch, (gift).
Readers' guide to periodical literature. St. Nicholas.
School arts magazine. Scientific American. Scribner's magazine. Survey. Technology review, (gift).
Official gazette, (gift).
Woman's Home Companion. World's work.
Youth's companion.
Andover Townsman.
Boston Advertiser.
Boston Herald.
Boston Transcript. Christian Science Monitor, (gift).
Lawrence Telegram. New York Times.
114
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 labeled upon the book pocket, "Seven day book". Books lost or damaged must be paid for.
Seven day books are not renewed or reserved for anyone. Other books may be renewed if no one else has asked for them, and if a work not 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 surname of the author, or under its title. The right hand drawers of the case contain a second arrange-
115
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.
116
NEW BOOKS ADDED IN 1914
State and government documents such as the Massachusetts Acts and Re- solves, Manual of the General Court, etc., and annual reports regularly received and kept on file in the library for reference are not listed. Duplicates purchased for Ballardvale or for the traveling school libraries are also not included.
040 A51
American Library Association. Index to general litera- ture, supplement 1900-1910.
Boston, Mass. Directory, 1914.
*Mass .- Attorney general. Official opinions, 1905-12. New Standard Dictionary.
Who's who in America, 1914-15. World almanac, 1914.
PERIODICALS
051 A881
Atlantic monthly, v. 112.
052 B56
Blackwood's Edinburgh magazine, v. 194.
051 C33
Century, v. 87, 88.
052 C76
Contemporary review, v. 104.
705 C84
Craftsman, v. 25, 26.
052 E21 051 F77
Edinburgh review, v. 217, 218. Forum, v. 50.
716 G16
*Garden magazine, v. 18, 19.
051 H23
Harper's magazine, v. 127-129.
705 H81
*House beautiful, v. 34, 35.
705 I61
*International studio, v. 51-53.
020.5 L61 051 L71
Littell's living age, v. 279-281.
071 N21
Nation, v. 97.
910.5 N21 052 N62
Nineteenth century, v. 75.
051 N81
North American review, v. 198.
799.5 094 051 094
Outing, v. 63, 64.
Outlook, v. 105-107.
621 P81
Popular mechanics, v. 20, 21.
505 P81
Popular science monthly, v. 83.
020.5 P96
Public libraries, v. 18.
* Gifts
117
917.446 B67d 345.42 M380 423 S785 920.07 W62 317 W89
GENERAL REFERENCE BOOKS
Library journal, v. 38.
National geographical magazine, v. 24, pt. 2, 25, pt. 1.
051 R23
Review of reviews, v. 48.
St. Nicholas, v. 41.
Scientific American, v. 109.
Scribner's magazine, v. 54. Survey, v. 30, 31. World's work, v. 27, 28.
ETHICAL AND RELIGIOUS BOOKS
(Purchased chiefly from the Phillips Fund)
172.4 A58
Angell, Norman. The great illusion.
Banks, E. J. Bible and the spade.
Brown, C. R. Quest of life.
Cabot, R. C. What men live by.
225.5 F91
*Firth, F. J. ed. Holy gospel; a comparison of the Prot- estant and Roman Catholic versions.
173 G92
Gruenberg, S. M. Your child to-day and to-morrow.
266 H55
Hill, J. L. The immortal seven.
612 H76
Hood, M. G. For girls and the mothers of girls.
193 K13
Kant, Immanuel. Critique of pure reason.
268 S63g
*Slattery, Margaret. Girl in her teens.
267.6 W46
*Wells, A. R. Expert endeavor.
GENERAL ECONOMICS
174 A42
Allen, F. J. The law as a vocation.
325 A63
Antin, Mary. They who knock at our gates.
362 C16
Cannon, I. M. Social work in hospitals.
320 D68
Dole, C. F. The American citizen.
658 D97
Dwyer, I. E. The business letter.
396 L36
Laughlin, C. E. The workaday girl.
396 N27
Nearing, Scott. Woman and social progress.
374 R25w
Reely, M. K. comp. Selected articles on world peace.
328 R541
Roberts, K. L. comp. Club woman's handybook.
194.4 R76
Rousseau, J. J. Social contract.
396 S95
Sumner, H. L. Equal suffrage.
320 W15
Wallas, Graham. Human nature in politics.
396 W37
Weaver, E. W. Vocations for girls.
331.4 W86
Woods, R. A. Young working girls.
BOOKS ON EDUCATION
(Purchased from the Phillips Fund for Books for Teachers)
Ayres, L. P. Laggards in our schools.
371.9 A97 372.5 B153 Bailey, H. T. Art education. 371 B46 Betts, G. H. New ideas in rural schools.
371 B46r Betts, G. H. The recitation.
118
051 S147 605 S416 051 S434 305 S96
051 W89
220.9 B22 252 B81q 131 C11
370.1 B62
Bloomfield, Meyer. Vocational guidance of youth. Campagnac, E. T. Teaching of composition.
372.6 C15 371.4 C67
Cole, P. R. Industrial education in the elementary school.
372.6 C77
Cooley, A. W. Language teaching in the grades.
370 C89
Cubberley, E. P. Changing conceptions of education.
371 C89
Cubberley, E. P. Improvement of rural schools.
370 D51i
Dewey, John. Interest and effort in education.
370 E42e
Eliot, C. W. Education for efficiency.
370 E42t
Eliot, C. W. Tendency to the concrete and the practical in modern education.
370 E53
Emerson, R. W. Education.
373 E92
Evans, G. W. Teaching of high school mathematics.
370 H38
Henderson, C. H. What is it to be educated?
371.9 H87
Huey, E. B. Backward and feeble-minded children.
371.1 H99
Hyde, W. DeW. Teacher's philosophy.
Kilpatrick, W. H. The Montessori system examined.
372 K55 373 L58
Lewis, W. D. Democracy's high school.
371.9 M27
Maennel, B. Auxiliary education.
377 P18
Palmer, G. H. Ethical and moral instruction in schools.
371.1 P18
Palmer, G. H. Ideal teacher.
371.1 P42
Perry, A. C. Status of the teacher.
371.1 P94
Prosser, C. A. Teacher and old age.
371 S664e 370.1 S77
Snedden, David. Problem of vocational education.
372.7 S96
Suzzallo, Henry. Teaching of primary arithmetic.
372.4 S96
Suzzallo, Henry. Teaching of spelling.
371.1 T27
Terman, L. M. The teacher's health.
370 T39
Thorndike, E. L. Individuality.
371.4 T75
Trowbridge, A. W. The home school.
370.1 W40
Weeks, R. M. The people's school.
BOOKS FOR THE HOME AND FARM
646 A43
Allington, S. M. Practical sewing and dressmaking.
Bolte, J. W. Backyard farmer.
Child, G. B. The efficient kitchen.
635 C81
Corbett, L. C. Garden farming.
649 D37
Delano and McIsaac. American Red Cross textbook on hygiene and home care of the sick.
Fabre, J. H. C. Life of the fly.
595.7 F11 710 F25 646 G36 395 H14g
*Farwell, P. T. Village improvement.
Gifford, M. K. Needlework.
Hall, F. H. Good form for all occasions.
Haynes, William. Practical dog keeping.
636.7 H33 645 H91 746 K68f
Hunter, G. L. Home furnishing.
Klickmann, Flora, ed. Home art book of fancy stitchery.
119
635 B63 643 C43
Smith, W. H. Evolution of Dodd.
796 L72 636.5 M22 684 M13 641 N31 745 P931 636.5 R560 749 S52 634.9 C42
Little, R. D. Tennis tactics. Macleod, Alice. Pigeon raising.
McClure, Abbot. Making built-in furniture.
Neil, M. H. Canning, preserving and pickling.
Priscilla fancy work instruction books. 4v. Robinson, J. H. Our domestic birds.
Shackleton, Robert. Charm of the antique. Cheyney and Wentling. Farm woodlot.
GAMES AND AMUSEMENTS
613.7 B63
Bolton, Florence. Exercises for women.
Castle, Vernon. Modern dancing.
Curtis, H. S. Play and recreation for the open country.
*Hanks, C. S. Hint's to golfers.
391 H74
Holt, Ardern. Fancy dresses described.
796 ₽22
*Park, William. Game of golf.
796 T21
*Taylor, J. H. Golf; impressions, etc.
793 T79
BOOKS ON MECHANICAL AND FINE ARTS
716 A21
Adams, H. S. Flower gardening.
716 A95
Averill, Mary. Japanese flower arrangement.
728 B631
Book of little houses.
792 B81
Browne, Van Dyke. Secrets of scene painting and stage effects.
759.4 B81
*Brownell, W. C. French art.
781 D27
Davenport, F. Elements of harmony and counterpoint.
621 H16
Halsey, F. A. Methods of machine shop work.
745 H52
Hicks, A. M. Craft of handmade rugs.
740 K81
Koch, G. W. Pencil sketching.
750 M78
*Moore, George. Modern painting.
694 N87
Noyes, William. Design and construction in wood.
751 P79
Poore, H. R. Pictorial composition.
Pray, L. L. Taxidermy.
579 P89 927.3 S42g 537 S52
*Scott, Leader. Ghiberti and Donatello. Shafer, D. C. Harper's beginning electricity.
740 S74
*Speed, Harold. Practice and science of drawing.
750 S93
*Sturgis, Russell. Appreciation of pictures.
Talbot, F. A. Lightships and lighthouses.
Verrill, A. H. Harper's wireless book.
White, Mary. More baskets and how to make them.
LITERATURE, ESSAYS AND POETRY
809 A56 822 B17 843 B430
Andrews, Charlton. The drama to-day. Barker, Granville. Three plays. *Bazin, Rene. Les Oberle.
120
627.9 T14 654 V61 745 W58m
Tucker and Ryan. Historical plays of colonial days.
793 C27 790 C94 796 H19.
808 B43
Bennett, E. A. The author's craft.
*Chantepleure, Guy. La folle histoire de Fridoline.
*Chapin, E. W. Evenings with Shakespeare.
Clark, B. H. Continental drama of to-day.
*Crandall, C. H. Representative sonnets.
*Favre de Coulevain. Sur la branche. Fowler, N. C. Stories and toasts for after dinner. Galsworthy, John. The mob.
822 G13s
Galsworthy, John. Plays.
822 G35
Gibson, W. W. Daily bread.
821 G35f
Gibson, W. W. Fires.
818 G79r
Grayson, David. Friendly road.
809.2 H13
Hale, E. E., Jr. Dramatists of to-day.
822 K38s
Kennedy, C. R. Servant in the house.
822 K38t
Kennedy, C. R. The terrible meek.
822 K42
Kenyon, Charles. Kindling.
810.9 L85
Long, W. J. American literature.
822 M19s
Mackaye, Percy. Sanctuary.
822 M19t
Mackaye, Percy. Thousand years ago.
822 M22
MacMillan, Mary. Short plays.
421 M31
Manly and Powell. Manual for writers.
821 M37e
Masefield, John. Everlasting mercy, etc.
821 M37s
Masefield, John. Story of a round-house, etc.
817 M38
Masson, T. L. comp. Best stories in the world.
809.2 M85
Moses, M. J. American dramatist.
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.