Town annual report of Andover 1935-1939, Part 7

Author: Andover (Mass.)
Publication date: 1935
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1026


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1935-1939 > Part 7


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 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50


We have had two unusual cases in Andover this year : one being Malaria; the other being Undulant Fever. We found that the patient suffering from Malaria had recently come from the South. Andover has never before had a case of Undulant Fever, but that, like the Malaria case was successfully treated with no after effects either to the patients or those exposed to the diseases. It is well to remind the townspeople at this time that all contagious diseases must be reported under penalty of the law.


All legitimate complaints in the field of sanitation and con- cerning nuisances must come to the Board of Health in written form. When this is done, the Board of Health has made and will


139


continue to make an immediate and thorough investigation to correct any unsanitary conditions. In respect to this field of health work, Andover is a clean town for the most part.


All usual routine inspections were made of bakeries, candy shops, food stores, restaurants, barber shops and beauty parlors and through the co-operation of the managements of these respective business establishments, they were found to be main- tained in good sanitary condition.


I have written at some length in this report for I feel that I have an opportunity in this way to reach a great many of the people of Andover on matters of vital importance to the general good health of the town. May I take this opportunity of thanking the towns- people of Andover for their past co-operation and solicit their help in the future.


Respectfully submitted,


LOTTA M. JOHNSON, R.N.


140


Milk Inspector's Report


To the Andover Board of Health:


I have the honor to submit my second annual report as Inspec- tor of Milk.


During the year 1935 the number of licenses issued were as follows:


Milk and Cream Licenses Dealers and Retailers-44


Oleomargarine Registrations-10


Pasteurization Licenses-6


Wholesale Ice Cream Manufacturers License-1


Retail Ice Cream Manufacturers License-2


resulting in a revenue of $122.00 (one hundred and twenty-two dollars) to the town.


The following number of samples were analyzed during 1935:


Milk-71


Cream-29


with the result that one (1) sample of milk and five (5) samples of cream were found to be below standard, however upon second analysis taken within a week were found to comply with standard.


All distributors were contacted and samples taken.


There were 33 samples analyzed for individuals.


Inspections to premises comprised of 72.


Five containers (bottles) were destroyed due to use for another purpose other than milk or cream.


Several bottles of cream were condemned due to dirty lips on bottles and also due to fact that when opened to take sample cap facing cream was found dirty, this will cause a high bacteria count.


Andover producers and distributors are to be congratulated for the highest test and quality of milk and cream they have given to Andover. All samples were taken unexpectedly and all were far above the standard as far as butterfat and solids are concerned.


Many requests were made for accurate bacteria counts, it is to be hoped that in the future some provision may be found for the purchase of additional equipment for determination of bacteria accurately in milk and cream, at present this will involve an expenditure of between $400 and $500. New methods are con-


141


stantly being developed and if any are approved by the Common- wealth of Massachusetts this expenditure will be greatly reduced in amount.


One has reason to believe the price of milk and cream high but Andover farmer producers must have a living, and although being pressed for high quality milk which he has so nobly given it must be borne in mind that most of the expense involved is in the handling of milk from the time it leaves the farmer until it reaches the consumer.


Years ago distributors poured milk from a twenty quart can into a quart measure which in turn was placed in your own con- tainer; today due to newer and strict legislation there is none of this, since the sale of milk and cream in bulk to consumers is pro- hibited, it must now be placed in a sterilized bottle and be capped by machine, here alone is overhead on equipment and broken or unreturned bottles.


Should you demand pasteurized, Grade A, or any other quality additional legislation is found which further increases the cost through equipment and fees to both state and town in order to use the apparatus.


Therefore please do not blame the farmer producer for the increased cost but to our modern methods of handling and distri- buting milk and cream which were unknown years ago.


In conclusion let it be made known that all milk and cream licenses expire on June 1st 1936 and must be renewed on or before that date. Before any sale of milk and cream is made a license must be obtained for which a fee of Fifty cents is charged. This applies to all hotels, restaurants, tea rooms, stores (all types) and any other establishments selling milk or cream in any form.


Respectfully submitted,


ALFRED C. STACEY, Inspector of Milk


142


Report of Town Physician


January 30, 1936


Board of Selectmen, Andover, Mass.


GENTLEMEN :


I, herewith, submit the annual report of cases seen and treated by the undersigned, in the capacity of Town Physician, for the year ending December thirty-first, nineteen hundred thirty-five.


House Calls 219


Office Calls


116


Maternity


1


Respectfully yours,


JOHN J. HARTIGAN, M.D.


Report of Animal Inspector


January 23, 1936


Board of Selectmen:


GENTLEMEN :


I hereby submit my annual report for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1935.


Number of cattle inspected-824.


Number of swine inspected-365.


Number of sheep and goats inspected-5.


Number of barns inspected-89.


Number of interstate cattle identified and released-61.


Number of dogs quarantined-38.


Number of dogs affected with rabies-1.


Respectfully submitted,


RAY S. YOUMANS, D.V.M. Inspector of Animals


143


Report of Building Inspector


January 27, 1936


Board of Selectmen, Town of Andover, Mass.


GENTLEMEN :


I herewith submit my report from January 1, 1935 to December 31, 1935.


One hundred and fifteen permits were issued.


Dwellings


19


Additions and Alterations


50


Dwellings and Garages


3


Garages (one stall)


22


Garages (two or more stalls)


2


Garages and Conservatory


1


Camps


3


Studio Camp


1


Tool House


1


Barn


1


Hen Houses


3


Hay Shed


1


Pigeon Coop


1


Storage Shed


3


Wood Shed


1


Milk Shed


1


Creamery


1


School and Municipal Purposes


1


115


The buildings were all inspected and were built to conform with the building laws of the Town.


Respectfully submitted,


JOHN J. DRISCOLL Building Inspector


144


Report of Moth Superintendent


January 1, 1936


There was considerably more gypsy-moth work done the past year because of a marked increase in acreage stripped during the feeding season. Much of the control work done in the south dis- trict in co-operation with the State Forestry Division. Many scattered infestations were found in the west part of the Town and a continued program of control must be carried on in this locality. More brown-tail moths were found than for several years, par- ticularly along the Merrimack River in the west part of the Town. The Elm beetle infestation was light being kept under control by the continued spraying. The Tree Department helped to decrease the number of Tent-caterpillars by cutting out the wild cherry. Spraying helped to control this pest.


In addition to the street spraying, private work to the amount of $906.50 has been done. Because of the fact that the tax bills were sent out before the work was completed, no revenue is shown in the report and will not be on the tax bills until this year.


This department needs one new 400 gallon Shade Tree Sprayer, cost delivered $1100.00; one 150 gallon Orchard Sprayer, cost delivered $285.00 and one Ton Truck (good used one) cost $400 .- 00. The cost of rebuilding the Shade Tree Sprayer would be be- tween $700.00 and $900.00. You will appreciate that after having been in service twenty-three years that it is not only a case of overhauling the pump and engine but new sills, tanks and cabs must be installed. We have two XL Arlington Sprayers for Orchard work and can rebuild one for $75.00 using the best parts of both. The ton truck which I am asking for, is to replace the Chevrolet truck bought in April 1928.


To carry on the regular work of the Moth Department I recommend that the sum of $4000.00 be appropriated.


Respectfully submitted,


RALPH T. BERRY, Moth Superintendent


145


Report of Tree Warden


January 1, 1936


The Tree Department has accomplished a good year's work outlined as follows: approximately thirty-five miles of brush has been cut on the following road sides and corners: Gray, Jenkins, Sunset Rock, Porter, Dascomb, High Plain, Chandler, Wildwood, Argilla Roads and Woburn, Lowell, North, Blanchard, Osgood, Haverhill and High Streets.


The usual amount of pruning and removing dead wood from the trees has been done, special attention being given the Elm trees. In co-operation with the Fire Chief limbs interferring with the fire alarm system have been removed.


Cavity work has been done on trees located on the following streets: Poor, Main, Essex, Locke, Central, High, Chestnut, Whittier, Elm, Haverhill, Morton Streets and Maple Avenue.


The department has set out one hundred Norway Maples and three American Elms throughout the Town and removed forty- five dead trees.


To carry out the regular work of the Tree Department for the year 1936 I recommend the sum of $4500.00 be appropriated.


Respectfully submitted,


RALPH T. BERRY, Tree Warden


146


Spring Grove Cemetery


The Trustees of Spring Grove Cemetery submit the following report for the year of 1935:


Extension work outside of regular work was as follows:


Installation of rest room at office.


Improvements inside of garage and tool room.


Installation of 300 ft. curbing.


Treatment of 3100 ft. roads inside of Cemetery with pea stone. 1 acre of land on East Side plowed and seeded with rye to be reseeded in the Spring.


100 young trees, Maple and Linden planted in all parts of Cemetery.


Completion of new set of plans on both East and West Side of · Cemetery.


E.R.A. Projects:


East Side


1 acre of land graded; loamed and seeded.


34 acre of land plowed and stones removed.


Sod has been removed on 34 acre of land and part of stones removed preparatory to grading and reseeding.


Brush has been cut on 10 acres of wood land.


50 Linden trees have been set out in new 4 grave section.


West Side


Foundation for 300 ft. of wall on Woburn Street has been laid.


Eight sections have been spaded and reseeded, approximately two acres of land.


Our plans for 1936 are as follows:


Continuation of improvement of all roads and curbing of all lots in cemetery.


Landscaping and planting of hardy trees where needed.


Completion of work left by E.R.A. and now an accepted project of W.P.A. This includes the laying of stone wall on Woburn Street and unfinished work on East Side of Cemetery.


We again call to the attention of lot owners whose lots are not now under perpetual care the advisability of at once giving this consideration.


147


A copy of Rules and Regulations and general information of your Cemetery was mailed to each lot owner in April.


The interest rate on Cemetery Funds has decreased in the last four years from 5% to 212% which will force us to advance the price of Perpetual Care on sales of lots in 1936.


The Trustees wish to express their appreciation for the kind- ness of the E.R.A. who furnished us with all labor for projects as given above, also to the Board of Public Works for 1000 cubic yards of loam that was given us from the Ballardvale Playground Project.


Total receipts from Spring Grove Cemetery returned to the Town for year 1935-$3526.78.


WALTER E. CURTIS, Chairman FRED E. CHEEVER, Secretary MATTHEW BURNS JOHN M. ERVING SAMUEL P. HULME


WALTER I. MORSE


C. LEROY AMBYE


148


Sealer of Weights and Measures


December 31, 1935


To the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Andover:


GENTLEMEN :


I hereby submit my annual report for the year 1935.


SCALES


Adjusted


Sealed


Condem.


Platform over 5000 lbs.


2


9


0


Platform under 5000 lbs.


28


51


0


Counter 100 lbs. or over


1


2


0


Counter under 100 lbs.


5


55


0


Spring 100 lbs. or over


0


5


0


Spring under 100 lbs.


14


72


8


Computing under 100 lbs.


6


29


0


Personal weighing (slot)


0


22


0


Prescription


0


5


0


WEIGHTS AND MEASURES


Avoirdupois


0


282


1


Apothecary


0


84


4


Liquid Measures


0


78


5


Oil Jars


0


154


0


Gasoline Pumps


8


70


1


Measuring Meters


3


8


0


Kerosene Measuring Pumps


0


16


0


Oil Measuring Pumps


1


12


0


Grease Measuring Devices


0


8


0


Quantity Measures on Pumps


0


50


0


Yard Sticks


0


9


·


0


I have collected from December 1, 1934 to November 30, 1935 one hundred and thirty-two dollars and sixty cents ($132.60).


Respectfully submitted,


LEWIS N. MEARS


149


Wire Inspector


January 3, 1936


Selectmen, Town of Andover, Mass.


Dear Sirs:


I hereby submit report on Wire Inspections covered by me to the amount in excess of $50.00 for year 1935.


Name of Owner Street


Appr. Cost


Charles Coolidge, Jr., River St., Ballardvale


$ 60.00


John Fleming, 37 Maple Ave. 135.00


Henry C. Sanborn, Porter Rd.


200.00


J. W. Barnard (Hiller Co.), 6 Main St.


60.00


Robert Henderson, Tewksbury St.


85.00


Patrick Daly, 77 School St.


60.00


Herbert Veit, 3 Kensington St.


60.00


I. R. Kimball, By-pass (roadside stand)


60.00


D. Bavlesion, Osgood St.


150.00


John McKenna, River-High Sts., Ballardvale


90.00


Mr. Williams, North Main St. (dairy)


350.00


Alice M. Bell, Haggetts Pond Rd.


250.00


Fred Doyle, 80 Chandler Rd.


110.00


Harold Walker, Chester St., Ballardvale


75.00


Essex Savings Bank (Burns Mch. Co.), Park St.


75.00


Mrs. N. L. Bartlett, 63 Central St.


275.00


Frank Pytevof, Chandler Rd.


65.00


Alice M. Dodge, 59 Central St.


200.00


Charles Dufton, Dufton Rd.


70.00


C. A. Hill, Central St.


150.00


S. W. Boutwell, 75 Shawsheen Rd.


50.00


W. R. Sanders, Johnson Rd.


150.00


J. Dane, 30 Cuba St.


65.00


Winthrop White, Andover St.


125.00


Carl Stevens, 2 Beacon St.


125.00


Salvatore Rizzo, 279 South Main St.


100.00


C. DeRosa, 15 Lowell St.


125.00


Burchard E. Horne, Porter Rd.


125.00


Leonard Elliott, 34 Summer St.


100.00


Herbert Lyle, Woburn St.


80.00


-


150


John Shattuck, 4 Whittier Ct. F. W. Brundrett, 189 Lowell St.


90.00


75.00 Carl Stevens, 8 Beacon St. 130.00 Carl Stevens, 4 Beacon St. 85.00 Total Permits-206.


WILLIAM J. YOUNG


151


Town of Andover-Jury List


JUNE, 1935


Abbot, Burton


Farmer


Andover St.


Allen, William A.


Retired


30 Chestnut St.


Anderson, Burtt M.


Plumber


Anderson, John H.


Retired


Bailey, Charles L.


Retired


Bailey, Ralph A.


Salesman


Bancroft, William A.


Meat Business Rocky Hill Rd.


Barnard, Foster C.


Clerk


14 High St.


Barrett, Patrick J.


Ins. Collector


102 Chestnut St.


Barron, William F.


Gas Station Op.


Haggetts Pond Rd.


Beatley, Ralph E. E.


Retired


129 Chestnut St.


Berry, Samuel D.


Farmer


174 High St. 72 Elm St.


Boutwell, Everett S.


Farmer


Haggetts Pond Rd.


Brierly, James


Operator


Tewksbury St.


Buchan, Charles S.


Furniture


81 Central St. Lincoln St.


Buchan, Raymond L.


Retired


Burke, Michael A.


Undertaker


Burns, David F.


Signal Operator


Cannon, Gordon R.


Farmer


54 Salem St. 33 Summer St. High Plain Rd. Lowell St.


Chambers, Milton W.


Farmer


Clark, Dana W.


Civil Engineer


Clark, Thomas T.


Builder


72 Maple Ave. 4 Stirling St. River St.


Colbath, Howard L.


Laborer


Cole, James N.


Athletic Coach


Collins, Luke


Retired


45 Abbot St. 15 Union St. 26 Elm St.


Coutts, William G.


Printer


Crowley, William C.


Druggist Janitor


2 Chapman Ave. 28 Summer St. 6 Washington Ave. Chandler Rd.


Disbrow, George W.


Farmer


Disbrow, Walter A.


Farmer


Chandler Rd. 19 Harding St.


Doherty, Martin


Laborer


152


383 No. Main St. Chester St.


Carlton, F. Tyler


Insurance


Carter, George M.


Farmer


Dea, Thomas P.


Deyermond, Robert V.


Janitor


81 Chestnut St. 94 Poor St. 20 Enmore St. Porter Rd.


Black, David D.


Insurance


Doherty, William J. Doyle, Thomas J.


Contractor


Engineer


Driscoll, John J.


Carpenter


Brush Maker


Chauffeur


Farmer


Rubber Worker


Ford, Herbert W.


Clerk


Forsythe, Samuel B.


Textile Worker 9 Red Spring Rd.


Furness, Sam E.


Cloth Examiner 2 Fletcher St. 47 Union St.


Gordon, Walter N.


Clerk


Hardy, Edward S.


Farmer Haggetts Pond Rd.


Holt, Percy R.


Clerk


134 Main St.


Humphreys, William H.


Clerk


167 Lowell St.


Jackson, Arthur R.


Carpenter


9 Argyle St.


Johnson, Leonard R.


Engineer


22 York St.


Keery, Samuel Livingston, Harold S.


Florist


60 Maple Ave. Abbot St.


Lynch, Joseph P.


Baggage Master


Tewksbury St. Clark Rd.


Mahoney, Timothy J.


Clerk


80 High St.


May, George M.


Painter


South Main St.


Mayo, Archibald J.


Section Hand


40 Enmore St.


McDonald, Frank S.


P. O. Clerk


McDonald, William L.


Bookkeeper


109 Chestnut St. Railroad St. 20 Cuba St.


Milne, David Mitchell, William G.


Machinist


79 Chestnut St.


Morgan, William F.


Brick layer


Morrison, John L.


Retired


Morrissey, William B.


Morse, George E.


Morse, H. Allison


Salesman


Murphy, Michael M.


Machinist


Nason, Harry C.


Carpenter


Noyes, John L. O'Connell, David J.


Farmer Retired


Petrie, George B.


Laborer


Platt, Henry IL.


Overseer


Polgreen, Alan T. Pomeroy, Llewellyn D.


Lawyer


Electrician


41 Whittier St. 27 Summer St. 94 Haverhill St. Andover St. Lovejoy Rd. 95 Chestnut St. 6 Chickering Ct. Center St. 39 Washington Ave. 46 Chestnut St.


153


21 Harding St. Holt Rd. 36 Summer St. 49 Poor St. 3 Hillside Ave. Pleasant St. 1 Sweeney Ct. Andover St.


Flanagan, Charles J. Fleming, Edward H. Flint, Edwin M. Forbes, David A.


McGhie, Gavin H.


Flax Dresser


Fireman


Laborer


72 Morton St. 68 Elm St. 66 Poor St.


Electrician Retired


Reilly, Bernard J. Remington, J. Augustus


Gardener


Agent


Remmes, Joseph T.


Electrician


Ripley, Philip F.


Retired


7 Abbot St.


Roberts, George B.


Salesman


402 No. Main St. 50 Salem St.


· Ryley, James


Clerk


Scholtz, Samuel H.


Superintendent


Ballardvale Rd.


Scott, David M.


Overseer


19 Avon St.


Shaw, Irving R.


Wool Sorter


Andover St.


Sherry, Frank R.


Pattern Maker


Andover St.


Smith, Fred H.


Foreman


89 Maple Ave.


Smith, John M.


Retired


23 Canterbury St. Center St.


Sullivan, Augustine P.


Accountant


9 Walnut Ave.


Sullivan, Patrick


Janitor


12 Chestnut St.


Swenson, John A. S.


Spinner


200 No. Main St.


Thompson, William


Clerk


42 Walnut Ave.


Thornton, E. Burke


Reserve Police


Carmel Rd.


Todd, Henry


Janitor


60 Poor St. River St.


Trow, Henry J.


Truck Driver


Trow, William A.


Merchant


31 Lowell St.


Ward, George D.


Farmer


78 Lowell St.


Weeks, Eugene M.


Salesman


19 Wolcott Ave.


West, Archibald L.


Electrician


21 Pine St.


White, Sidney P.


Farmer


Reservation Rd.


White, Winthrop K.


Farmer


Reservation Rd.


Whiteway, Hayward G.


Carpenter


3 Ferndale Ave.


Wright, Herbert M.


Bldg. Contractor


105 Elm St.


Stark, William D.


Salesman


79 Haverhill St. 348 No. Main St. Woodland Rd.


154


Trustees of Memorial Hall Library


NATHAN C. HAMBLIN


FREDERIC S. BOUTWELL


HENRY G. TYER


BURTON S. FLAGG


FREDERICK A. WILSON PHILIP F. RIPLEY


CLAUDE M. FUESS


Chairman PHILIP F. RIPLEY


Secretary and Treasurer


FREDERIC S. BOUTWELL


Librarian EDNA A. BROWN


Assistants


JULIA E. TWICHELL MARGARET D. MANNING


In Charge of Junior Room EVELYN R. ROBINSON


In Charge of Ballardvale Branch MARTHA D. BYINGTON


Janitor


ARCHIBALD MACLAREN


155


Report of Finance Committee


The following is a list of the Securities owned by the Trustees of the Memorial Hall Library as of January 1, 1936.


The Penn. R. R. Co., 414s July 1984


$6000.00


Bangor & Aroostook R. R., 4s July 1951 5000.00


Pacific Tel & Tel. Co., 5s Jan. 1937


1000.00


Chicago Railways Co., 5s


7500.00


Penn. Co. 4s Aug. 1963


5000.00


The Bell Tel. Co. of Canada, 5s March 1955


3000.00


So. Cal. Gas Co., 41/2s March 1961


5000.00


Boston & Maine R. R. Co., 4-5s Sept. 1941


2000.00


Dayton Power & Light Co., 312s Oct. 1960


1000.00


Boston Elevated Ry. Co., 412s Oct. 1937 No. States Power Co., 41/2s April 1961 Penn. Power & Light Co., 41/2s April 1981 Boston & Albany R. R., 5s Oct. 1963


2000.00


N. Eng. Power Association, 5s April 1948


6000.00


Commonwealth Edison Co., 334s April 1965


1000.00


Kansas Power & Light Co., 41/2s Nov. 1965 City of Detroit, 412s May 1951


5000.00


1000.00


Puget Sound Power & Light, 41/2s June 1950


5000.00


N. Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co., 5s June 1952


1000.00


U. S. Treasury, 3s June 1946-1948


3000.00


Am. Tel. & Tel. Co., 4 shares of stock


571.50


Savings Banks


16005.01


Total $82076.51


FREDERIC S. BOUTWELL, Treasurer


January 25, 1936


This is to certify that the Securities belonging to the Trustees of the Memorial Hall Library, and the income received therefrom, have been checked and are found to be correct.


The expenditures in this department are paid by the Town Treasurer and are examined by the Town Accountant.


BURTON S. FLAGG NATHAN C. HAMBLIN Finance Committee of the Trustees


156


1000.00


3000.00


2000.00


Report of Trustees of Memorial Hall Library


The Trustees of the Memorial Hall Library have voted to adopt the annual report of the Librarian as their report to the town for the year 1935.


157


Report of Memorial Hall Librarian


To the Trustees of the Memorial Hall Library:


GENTLEMEN :


I herewith present the report of the library for the twelve months ending December 31, 1935.


The use of the library this year shows a slight decrease, which is not surprising, since our great expansion in use could hardly continue indefinitely. As it is, the loss is far less than that re- ported by many libraries. We have circulated 83,047 books as compared with 84,681 during 1934, a falling off of 1634 volumes. Since the change is doubtless due to less unemployment and better conditions of business, it is not to be deplored, especially since its very slightness shows that we are keeping as borrowers most of those who came to us in times of stress.


We have also started a new registration of borrowers this year, to relieve congested records, and are greatly pleased to have over 37 percent of the town's population register within twelve months. As it always takes three years to complete this process, the pro- portion of people who have already come to the library is most gratifying.


To a person casually coming for a book to read, library work looks easy. Merely to take a card from a book, stamp a date and write a number, or glance at a date and take a card from the file,- this, to many visitors constitutes the duties of a librarian.


But there is more in library work than meets the casual eye. In an open-shelf building like ours, all the books must be in order all the time, which means keeping every one of over thirty thou- sand books in the exact place it belongs, or else knowing what excuse it has for not being in that place. It means knowing the contents of those thirty thousand books; to be able promptly to find the one which answers the question just asked. If the best book on the subject is out, it means quickly finding the next best. Library work means knowing how to use different kinds of refer- ence books and guides, and being able to interpret them to others.


Library work also means a gift of mind-reading, since people are often strangely reluctant to say exactly what they want. If a boy asks for a book on art, it sometimes takes both tact and in-


158


telligence to discover that what he wishes is a book telling how to draw cartoons. Perhaps the best example of this difficulty which frequently confronts librarians is that of a reader who, years ago, asked for a history of the world, and declined further help. After half an hour, the librarian ventured to suggest that, if there were one especial country in which he was especially interested, the library doubtless had books about it. At this, he announced that he might look at a history of England. He was shown the section devoted to English history, where he remained for some time. Finally asked if there was perhaps a special period of English history which he wished to look up, it came out that what he really wanted was a picture of the armor used in the time of Charles II. It took precisely one moment to give him the book on arms and armor which he might have had an hour earlier.


Library work means a very special and technical knowledge of book selection, of classifying, cataloging, and of the twenty-four processes, by actual count, through which a new book goes before it is ready for use. It means skilful repair of minor injuries, thus prolonging the life of a book before it must go to the bindery for radical treatment. Indeed, three-quarters of the work done in a library is never known to a borrower, any more than the person who cashes a check at a bank, knows the immense amount of routine work which keeps that bank functioning.


The work this year with the schools has been very heavy. Need of two sessions at the Punchard High School has made mornings as well as afternoons a rush of reference questions. In one way, it is easier to have the young people less concentrated, but it has certainly made it more difficult to find time for the necessary behind-the-scenes office work and routine.


Due to a re-arranged programme and the one-session at Stowe school, it developed this year that it was impossible for quite a number of children from the outlying districts to come to the library. After consultation with Mr. Sherman, the library is lending 100 books at a time from the junior room to the Stowe school. There is a definite agreement that these books are solely for the use of the pupils who come to school by bus and are not to be given to children who live nearer the library. These books are all in connection with the school reading lists.




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.