USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1945-1949 > Part 34
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it the Memorial Hall Library, like many public libraries, achieves its best and most completely realized results. This can be said without violence to and without minimizing in the least the other and important services which the library carries on. It is not difficult to explain. Boys and girls provide an almost natural audience; with less responsibility and freer schedules than their elders, they tend to support good programs enthusiastically and to respond to constructive leadership. The extent and diversity of the Young People's program has grown over the years. There has been an increased use of the room by family groups. Parents no doubt, because of their boys and girls, have been made in- creasingly aware of what the Boys' and Girls' department has to offer and are correspondingly appreciative.
Mention should be made of the young people who use the library. More of them use the library all the time and make effec- tive and mature use of it as they come to know its services and resources. A tremendous help in this process has been the yearly instruction in the use of essential reference tools, given in the fall, to all tenth grade English classes. Growing cooperation on the part of the high school faculty in making known class assign- ments has made the library better able to meet school needs. This past year about one hundred young people took part in an essay contest sponsored by the library on the topic WHAT A PUBLIC LIBRARY MEANS TO A COMMUNITY. The essays showed quite universally a keen appreciation and under- standing of the library. It has not been possible to establish an activity program for this group. Young people just do not have time for additional activities. Occasional events have been planned; it is fun to remember the successful TEEN AGE BOOK SHOW, held in the spring of 1945. Film programs arranged for this group have been very successful at the Ballard Vale Branch Library, but attendance has proved disappointingly small when the same program was put on at the main library.
The best publicity for any library or institution is word of mouth advertising by satisfied and enthusiastic customers and the Memorial Hall Library has had its share of this kind of pub- licity. Conventional channels for publicity have not been ne- glected. The library appreciates the cooperation of the Andover Townsman and the Lawrence Eagle Tribune which have gen- erously printed library news and book comment. Since July 1,
14
the library has appeared every other week in a fifteen-minute broadcast over Station WCCM on the Accent on Andover pro- gram. Book lists of various kinds, book exhibits within and with- out the library, creative staff-reader relationships have all been useful public relations techniques.
A CLASSIFICATION AND PAY PLAN, with two levels of positions, professional and clerical, adopted by the Board of Trustees in 1945, was a positive step in the development of a sound personnel policy.
There have been, of course, many changes in personnel, par- ticularly during the war years. Indeed, anyone who can boast of ten years' service falls into the category of old-timer! This seems a logical point to speak directly about members of the profes- sional staff. Each shares in the total program of the library and in so doing increases the opportunities for bringing the parts of the whole more closely together. Each is an effective interpreter of the library's high purposes and is well aware of the constructive role that the library plays in the life of the community. Every rewarding personal experience is grist to the library's mill and a creative life-in work, avocation or recreation is-excellent am- munition for continued outstanding library service.
Important, too, is the contribution made by the members of the Board of Trustees who hold within their grasp life or death for the library. There is no one on the present Board who was a member in 1939 and in this period it has lost by death or resigna- tion several outstanding members. The community has been fortunate in the quality of the men and women who have served and still serve as trustees and who have contributed so much to the ongoing development of the library.
There has been no wish in this short summary to present the library as moving unfalteringly toward the accomplishment of its goals. On the whole it would seem to have gone forward. Every- thing that has been attempted has naturally not been of equal merit, although intrinsic merit may not always have been lacking. The bookmobile demonstration in 1940 may be a case in point. Certainly equalization of library opportunity is a reasonable thing, yet failure to secure sufficient funds to carry on this service as an integral part of the library's program may have been due to inadequate public education and insufficient thinking through of all that the new service might involve. Ought the library to reconsider this project in the future? There are factors here
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which must be weighed very carefully. With rising costs of public service, it will be necessary to make sure that the results of any extension of service bear some relation to the costs involved and that services at the main library, the dynamo of library energy, in no way suffer diminution.
In this period the library offered full-time service to the An- dover Junior High School Library and a partial service to the Punchard High School Library, neither one of which is carried on at the present time. In no respect need they be considered entirely abortive efforts. The junior high school service brought the library very close to boys and girls who seldom if ever used it and it pointed out very markedly the place of the library in the school. It is to be hoped that the School Department will be able to restore this essential school activity in the near future. The high school service foundered on the rocks of a school schedule, accelerated by the war. On the whole the library believes that it can serve young people more effectively when all its efforts are concentrated at the main library. However, the identification of the library and the school, even through this limited coopera- tive venture, may have served to indicate fresh ways in which the library could meet young people's school needs.
Other things, too, were short lived. A weekly vocational coun- seling service, under the direction of trained counselors, was a casualty of war as was the Friends of the Library organization which lasted in a more or less active fashion but one year. Friends of the Library groups have been most successful when there have been definite projects toward which they could work.
A word or two about physical plant is surely a part of this consideration. Repairs, renovations and alterations have all been carried out in an attempt to make the Memorial Hall Library an attractive place and as functionally modern as a plant seventy- five years old can be. The Ballard Vale Library has also had its share of attention and has been completely done over.
There is and must be a direct relation between library income and library achievement. During this ten-year period the library budget has somewhat more than kept pace with rising costs. Library progress, if any in this time, is in good part traceable to the willingness of the Andover community to appropriate ade- quate funds. The American Library Association recommends a per capita income of $3.00 a year if a city or town is to have excel- lent library service and one of $2.25, if reasonably good service
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is to be achieved. In 1948 the Memorial Hall Library budget of $27,294 broke down into a per capita income of $2.30. Standards such as these proposed by the American Library Association are, of course, not mandatory upon any community. They are helpful, though, as setting standards outside the local community against which to measure local financial support. The Board of Trustees has been concerned to keep operating costs at the most economical level commensurate with good service. In 1948 hours of opening were cut and the use of part-time personnel curtailed in an effort to establish a minimum basis for economical operation.
In 1948 the Memorial Hall Library achieved an important milestone-its seventy-fifth birthday. The simple anniversary program on June 2 was in keeping with the dedicatory exercises in 1872 and the fiftieth celebration in 1923.
These past ten years represent only a small segment in the total life of the library and of its total contribution to the An- dover community. What of the next ten years? It would be a hardy person who would prophesy with any certainty the direc- tion in which our world will go. May it be a world in which libraries continue to be important! There are some tangible things which must be accomplished. The library reading room and the Young People's Library must be fitted out with new furniture. Library lighting, installed in 1927, should be improved. The town should undoubtedly have a new functional library building but since there are more pressing community building needs, it perhaps will not come for some time. Areas for library development have been hinted at. However, it is perhaps well not to have too tightly conceived plans since future needs rarely arrive in exactly the same form in which they have been forseen. This does not, of course, rule out planning and thinking ahead.
The Memorial Hall Library is dedicated to providing the best possible service to the "living citizens of Andover, old and young." It will meet new demands as they arrive, experiment with new ideas and with new techniques concerned with the com- munication of ideas. In essence the whole library program is fundamentally only a very simple thing-to bring together men, women, young people, boys and girls and the books most essential to their fullest development. A simple platform, yes, but not simple of achievement. The next years will continue to tax in- genuity and resource in bringing about a larger fulfillment.
MIRIAM PUTNAM, Librarian
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1948 STATISTICS OF LIBRARY USE
BOOK STOCK
Adult
Juvenile Total
Volumes at beginning of year
34,764
8,551
43,315
Volumes added by purchase
1,487
666
2,153
Volumes added by gift
112
22
134
Volumes lost or withdrawn
773
185
958
Lost volumes found
6
8
14
Total Volumes at end of year
35,596
9,062
44,658
Newspapers and Periodicals currently received
125
Periodicals received by gift
23
USE
Volumes % of total circ.
Volumes of adult fiction loaned
42,933
40
Volumes of adult non-fiction loaned
25,065
23.2
*Number of children's books loaned
36,775
34.1
Number of adult records loaned
2,498
Number of children's records loaned
245
2.7
Number of pictures loaned
160|
Total number of books, records, etc. loaned
107,676
REGISTRATION
Adult Juvenile
Total
Borrowers registered during year
767
310
1,070
Total number of registered borrowers
3,242
1,234
4,476
Circulation per capita (based on 1945 census figures)
9
*Included in this total is 8,984 recorded school circulation. Total books sent on school deposit numbered 5,784 and each of these books was probably used from two to twenty times. The library, however, counts only recorded circulation.
151
Board of Public Works
Andover, Mass. January 1, 1949 .
The Board of Public Works voted to adopt the following report of the Superintendent as its report for 1948 with recommendations for 1949.
SIDNEY P. WHITE, Chairman EDWARD A. DOYLE, Secretary JOHN H. KELLY P. LEROY WILSON
152
Superintendent's Report
To the Board of Public Works: .
GENTLEMEN :
The major activities and developments in the Highway, Water, Sewer and Park Departments during the year which ended De- cember 31, 1948 were as follows:
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
The following table in inches shows the snowfall for the year 1948:
January
42.7
February
20.2
March
14.5
November
1.2
December
5.0
Total
83.6
The snowfall for the year was greater by far than most years, and from November 1947 to March 1948 inclusive the snowfall totaled 118.9 inches.
This year a new 99 H Austin-Western grader which was pur- chased as a result of the Special Town Meeting held December 17, 1945 and two ten-foot plows have been purchased. The plow- ing equipment now consists of seven truck plows, one grader, one tractor, three V-plows for above equipment and two Cletrac sidewalk tractor plows. In addition to this, four private truck plows are hired.
The following roads were treated with "Tarvia Retread": Pasho Street, Alderbrook Road, Brook Street, Greenwood Road, Chandler Road, Canterbury Street, Enmore Street, Dartmouth Road, Princeton Road, Yale Road, George Street, Juliette Street, Topping Road, Lovejoy Road, North Street, Central Street, Bellevue Road, Locke Street, Washington Avenue, Maple Ave- nuc, Andover Street, B.V., Webster Street, Laurel Lane, Carmel Road, Cuba Street, William Street, Kensington Street, Whittier
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Street, Hall Avenue, Abbot Street, Orchard Street, Gray Road, Pearson Street, Lincoln Street, Punchard Avenue, Brown Street, Cabot Road and Pine Street and sections of Bailey Road, Beacon Street, Gould Road, Vine Street, Sunset Rock Road, Wildwood Road, High Plain Road, Beacon Street, Shawsheen Road, High Street, Andover, North Street, Chestnut Street, Salem Street, Red Spring Road, Hidden Road, Haggetts Pond Road, River Road, Main Street, Reservation Road, Poor Street, Cutler Road, Summer Street and Walnut Avenue, using a total of 97955 gallons.
The following roads were treated with asphalt: Jenkins Road, Boston Road, County Road, Lupine Road and sections of Rattle- snake Hill Road and High Plain Road, using a total of 12650 gallons.
Under Article 12, Chapter 90 Maintenance sections of Lowell Street, Route 133 and also a section of River Road were armor- coated with RC-5 asphalt and pea stone. With State and County aid under Chapter 90 Construction, the section of North Main Street from Stimson Bridge to a point about one hundred feet south of the Railroad bridge was resurfaced with a two and one- quarter inch two-course hot-top material by Warren Bros. Roads Company, using a total of 1172 tons.
Under Article 14, sidewalks were constructed at South Main Street near Hidden Road, Hall Avenue on the west side, both sides of Summer Street between Whittier and Avon Streets, both sides of Flint Circle from High Street to two new houses being constructed by Edward P. Hall.
On Chestnut Street between Main and Bartlet Streets, the entire area between the road and the sidewalk was tarred to make a better surface near the new parking meters, and also sidewalk and curbing reconstructed in front of the A. & P. Store for the purpose of installing parking meters and more efficient parking.
Plans for the Stevens Street Bridge were drawn up and bids were taken for same. The low bidder was Monroe-Langstroth, Inc. at a price of $13,305.00. This does not include engineer's fees.
A new garage was built at the Town Yard to house the grader, new Mack truck and tractor. This was built by Alexander Hen- derson at a price of $4,500.00.
The Merrimac Broadcasting Company and the Town of An- dover jointly spent money to build a road up on Wood Hill. As a result, the Town's share being the maximum of $1,000.00, the
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Merrimac Broadcasting Company paid the difference of $5,156.00 completing an excellent road from Haggetts Pond Road to the site of the new radio broadcasting station as well as the location which has been purchased for a reservoir site by the Town. This work was done under contract by George Brox, Inc., the lowest bidder, for a total sum of $6,156.00, under Article 25.
Under Article 26, Shawsheen Road between Essex Street and Cuba Street was widened to thirty feet up the hill where the parked cars caused traffic tie-ups.
The veterans' lots at the corner of Burnham Road and High Street were graded and put into condition so that houses could be built thereon.
To provide for adequate Highway Maintenance for 1949, we recommend an appropriation of $61,300.00.
TRUCKS, GARAGE AND REPAIR SHOP MAINTENANCE
A new 5 H.P. compressor was purchased this year to replace the old compressor in the garage, under Article 19.
To provide for adequate Trucks, Garage & Repair Shop Main- tenance for 1949, we recommend an appropriation of $10,450.00.
WATER DEPARTMENT
Under Article 35, seventeen hundred feet of six-inch cement lined iron pipe were installed in Gould Road extending southerly from the State Police Barracks, leaving a balance of $1,874.59.
Under Article 34, sixteen hundred fifty-five feet of ten-inch cement lined iron pipe were laid in Bailey Road. This line extends to George Flint's farm. At this point a great amount of ledge was encountered and appears to extend for a considerable distance beyond. A balance of $220.12 remains.
Under Article 5 of 1947 and Article 22 of 1948, a twenty-inch suction line was added to augment the fourteen-inch suction at Haggetts Pond Pumping Station providing greater capacity to meet peak demands. This work was done by the Rev-Lyn Con- tracting Company of Lynn at a total cost of $18,185.27.
Under Article 36, nine hundred forty-nine feet of six-inch cement lined iron pipe were laid in Beacon Street from High Plain Road. This work was done under the proviso that three houses be built on this stretch of way, leaving a balance of $1,265.78.
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The main engine room at the Pumping Station was painted at a cost of $242.50 and the coal shed was repaired and reinforced at a cost of $392.15.
During 1948, 505,036,000 gallons of water were pumped at the Haggetts Pond Pumping Station for a daily average of 1,380,000 gallons. The steam turbine was in operation 3312 hours, 55 min- utes and the electric pump 2978 hours and 20 minutes.
To provide for adequate expenditure in the Water Department during 1949, we recommend an appropriation of $49,450.00.
Services in use January 1, 1949
2969
Meters in use January 1, 1949
2939
RECEIPTS
Water Rates
$62,472.54
Water Construction
2,082.88
Paid to Town Treasurer
$64,555.42
COMPARATIVE STATISTICS AS OF JANUARY 1, 1949
Cost per Mil. Gals.
Year
Net Cost of Mainten- ance
Cost of Pumping
by total Mainten- ance
by cost of Pumping
Gallons Pumped
Miles of Main Pipe
1937
28,358.32
*15,113.06
71.04
*37.86
399,170,000
76.58
1938
28,371.42
*14,429.22
75.45
*38.37
376,011,000
77.14
1939
27,830.64
*14,640.99
63.87
*33.60
435,725,000
78.78
1940
27,799.18
*15,256.13
67.04
37.79
414,653,000
79.89
1941
27,796.08
*17,494.91
56.81
*35.76
489,287,000
80.63
1942
30,859.93
*18,211.08
74.13
*43.75
416,314,000
80.77
1943
33,418.32
*19,387.57
85.53
*49.62
390,688,000
80.77
1944
38,043.35
*20,658.91
89.48
*48.59
425,152,000
80.77
1945
43,148.15
*21,916.43
106.30
*53.99
405,883,000
84.90
1946
47,857.73
*22,634.40
107.86
*51.02
443,692,000
88.64
1947
47,200.50
*19,587.05
100.56
*41.73
469,364,000
88.87
1948
49,967.87
*26,340.63
98.94
*52.15
505,036,000
89.69
*Cost at both stations.
SEWER DEPARTMENT
(For Sewer Construction see Engineer's Report.)
To provide for adequate Sewer Maintenance and Construction for 1949, we recommend an appropriation of $6,400.00.
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Under Article 39, 3135 feet of eight-inch sewer line were laid in Burnham Road and in Dufton Road by Lewis & Scott Com- pany and the engineering work was done by Clinton F. Goodwin at a total cost of $24,236.70. The assessment per foot has been established at $3.98.
Under Article 40, 945 feet of six-inch sewer line were laid and 5 manholes constructed in Chestnut Street by the Town Sewer Department at a cost of $3,600.00, and the engineering work was done by Town Engineer, Chas. T. Gilliard. The assessment per foot has been established at $1.91.
PARK DEPARTMENT
In addition to the regular work in the Park Department, under Article 6 the entire infield as well as the skinned area of the baseball diamond was removed and the area built up with loam and the infield resodded. In the spring this area will be rolled and shaped up.
An area south of the football bleachers was graded for a skating rink, further construction and supervision of which thereafter to be undertaken by the Recreation Committee.
A new power mower is need in the Department to replace one purchased in 1940.
The completion of the work at the Ballardvale Playground was effected early in the year. This work comprised of raising the building, laying a cement floor, and necessary grading.
To provide for adequate Park Maintenance for 1949, we recom- mend an appropriation of $6,200.00.
ADMINISTRATIVE, SUPERVISION AND OFFICE EXPENSE
To provide for adequate Administrative, Supervision and Office Expense for 1949, we recommend an appropriation of $16,500.00.
This Department, comprised of accounts transferred from other Departments, was inaugurated March 8, 1948 and the larger appropriation for 1949 will be required for a full year.
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LIGHTING COMMITTEE
The following street lighting changes were made during 1948:
Date Installed
Number, Size, and Location
January 20, 1948
Relocation from pole 1241 to 1240, Central Street
January 22, 1948
Installed two 2500 lumen lights, Chestnut Street
August 13, 1948
Installed one 2500 and three 1000 lumen lights, Vine Street
September 3, 1948
September 3, 1948
Installed four 1000 lumen lights, Holt Road Installed one 1000 lumen light, Orchard St.
September 7, 1948 Installed two 1000 lumen lights, Holt Road September 15, 1948 Installed three 2500 lumen lights, North St. September 15, 1948 Installed four 1000 lumen lights, Webster St. September 15, 1948 Installed one 2500 lumen light, River Road September 15, 1948 Removed one 1000 lumen light, River Road September 16, 1948 Installed one 1000 lumen light, Highland Rd. October 6, 1948 Installed one 1000 lumen light, Wolcott Ave.
October 11, 1948 Installed one 1000 lumen light, Chester St. November 10, 1948 Installed three 1000 lumen lights, Alder- brook Road
December 21, 1948 *Installed four 1000 lumen lights, Wildwood Road
December 27, 1948 *Installed two 1000 lumen lights, Woodland Road
Summary
1000 lumen lights installed 26
2500 lumen lights installed 7 1000 lumen light removed 1
The charges during 1948 for the additional lights installed amounted to $195.82.
The cost for a full year's operation for the added lights above, including Wildwood and Woodland Roads, would be $646.00.
*Note-The lights on Wildwood Road and Woodland Road were installed too late in December to be billed in 1948.
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Other Lights Requested but Not Installed
Abbot Street 1 - 1000 lumen light
Requested 11/24/48
Foster Circle 1 - 1000 lumen light
Requested 11/24/48
Shawsheen Road 1 - 1000 lumen light
Requested 11/24/48
Summer Street
1 - 1000 lumen light
Requested 10/ 7/48
Argilla Road 1 - 1000 lumen light
Requested 10/14/48
Andover Square - 18 - 16,000 lumen M.V. lights
Shawsheen Square - 10 - 16,000 lumen M.V. lights
The additional annual cost to the Town for the operation of these lights will be $1,654.00.
Estimated Annual Cost for Lights Installed and Requested
Number
Size
Annual Cost
63
2500 lumen - underground
$ 3,024
13
4000 lumen - underground
975
86
1000 lumen - underground
3,268
36
2500 lumen - overhead
1,008
631
1000 lumen - overhead
11,358
10
Sodium lights
289
6
1000 lumen-overhead (Installed but not billed in 1948) 108
5
1000 lumen-overhead (Requested but not yet installed) 90
Shawsheen and Andover Squares
Additional annual cost over present lights
1,564
Total Estimated Street Lighting Cost for 1949 $21,684
To provide for adequate lighting for 1949, we recommend an appropriation of $22,000.00.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD R. LAWSON, Superintendent
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Report of Town Engineer
To the Board of Public Works:
GENTLEMEN :
Installation of the Chestnut Street sewer main conformed to the usual procedure :- Plans were drawn and prices obtained for the shovel and for building the manholes. Bids on the brick were obtained and the job was given to the Board of Public Works' employees. This work was completed at the per-foot cost of $1.91, including putting the road back in its original shape. The contract for the digging and the catch basins was given Lewis & Scott, the digging to be at the rate of $90.00 per day and the catch basins at $100.00 each. The brick was supplied by J. E. Pitman, Est. for $25.00 per thousand. All work was engineered by the Town Engineer, Charles T. Gilliard.
Under Article 10, the baseball diamond at the Central Play- stead was rebuilt to conform with the big league diamonds. The elevations were given by the Town Engineer.
Grades were given for the building of a new garage at the bot- tom of Lewis Street for the grader, Mack truck and bulldozer.
More water services were installed in 1948 than any one year in the past. For each of the services put in, two sketches had to be drawn. For each sewer service put in, a sketch had to be drawn on the big plans. For the water and sewer lines put in, a big plan had to be drawn showing every detail and the sketch had to be drawn in the water books.
Many days have been spent bringing up to date plans and drawings and valuable information which has been allowed to accumulate over a period of years due to the lack of time.
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