USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1950-1954 > Part 37
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Library resources were taxed to capacity, from January to June, as some four hundred high school young people descended upon us for help in completing their English re- search papers. It was an exhilarating experience and shows one very important way in which the library serves young people. Surely these young people must have gained concrete evidence of the wealth of material in their public library. This fall the project has been continued on a smaller scale with what we believe will be even more constructive results.
READING TRENDS IN 1953
It is always fun to try to isolate reading trends, although the methods and result may be far from scientific. 1953 may be recalled as the year when the "female of the species" was thoroughly studied, documented, its superiority attested to
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with the result that it probably remains as complex and un- documentable as before. It was a year that saw an immense sale of paper covered books which may mean a larger aud- ience for books than had been thought. Readers in general were dissatisfied with the fiction provided them. Only 47% of all the books issued to adults this last year was fiction which may be an indication of this dissatisfaction. Best sellers continued to find a ready public but library readers sought out, also, the worthier, if less publicized, books. People continued to seek help for more effective living in time of tension. Books by Fulton Oursler, Norman Vincent Peale and Bishop Sheen reached a wide audience although a smaller, but not less appreciative reading public, found stimulation in such books as Two ROADS TO TRUTH, MAN'S SEARCH FOR HIMSELF, THE COURAGE TO BE. People sought stability, too, through creative activity and made unusually high demands upon the library's craft and hobby books and all types of how-to-do-it books from how to paint in oil to how to waterproof the basement. Andover's building boom found its counterpart in the large number of people who bor- rowed books on every aspect of home building, from the se- lection of site and house plans, to the last detail of furnishing and decorating. The calibre of books borrowed for home use has never been higher, in recent years at least, and seems to indicate that despite television and the one hundred and one other distractions, books remain essential and that while people may read fewer books than before, those that they do read are of higher quality.
THE LIBRARY AND AUDIO-VISUAL AIDS
The enthusiasm which greeted the inauguration of the library's lending collection of framed prints exceeded our expectations. It was launched one January Sunday after- noon at an Open House at which Bartlett H. Hayes, Jr., Cur- ator of the Addison Gallery, spoke and a lovely color film FRENCH TAPESTRIES VISIT AMERICA was shown. The prints have been in almost continuous use ever since. Eight prints from Botticelli to Rouault, were purchased from a gift to the library by the Andover Evening Study Program as were the
170
six additional prints, chosen by popular poll, added this last fall.
The print collection is but one, if important, example of the library's interest in audio-visual materials in the library program.
In cooperation with the Film Council of America, this library undertook last September to serve as a preview cen- ter for the monthly showing of educational 16mm films in various subject fields. The purpose of this project is to pro- vide an opportunity for community leaders to see films, to evaluate them and later, if desired, to book them for showing to their own groups. The Stevens Memorial Library, North Andover has joined us in promoting this service which, we believe, should be valuable for both communities.
This year, too, a limited number of film strips and slides, mainly for boys and girls, has been added to the library's resources. This material is carefully selected and an attempt made to avoid duplication with the elementary school collec- tion. A file case, especially built for our needs, has enabled us to enlarge our picture collection and to house it more effectively.
Again this year, the library cooperated actively with the Andover Committee for United Nations Week, serving as an information center and providing UN films and film strips for community use.
DISCUSSION GROUPS CONTINUE
Discussion groups have continued to be an important part of the library's activity, providing as they do an oppor- tunity for the discussion of significant books and the stimu- lation which comes from clash of minds and ideas. Now in its third year, the Great Books group began the fall with renewed interest on the part of its participants. With several other educational agencies in the community, the library helped to promote a discussion series on World Politics, developed under the auspices of the American Foundation for Political Education. One group was held in the spring at Cooley House, Phillips Academy ; a second at the Memo- rial Hall Library in the fall.
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It has been a great joy to be able to house our discussion groups, small story hours and film showings in a proper setting. Last summer, an unused storeroom was turned into an attractive meeting room, easily seating some forty or fifty people, effectively lighted, painted a soft gray with a note of color added by a window drapery and maroon table tops and chair seats. This room can be set up at a moment's notice for a film showing or discussion group. It has delight- ed us to have groups call up this fall to reserve the "red and gray" room and we hope that this use by community organ- izations will increase.
THE LIBRARY HOLDS OPEN HOUSE
Open House in November proved once again a delightful occasion as some two hundred people crowded into the main reading room to hear Munro Leaf talk delightfully about the joys of reading and to look over the new books, A group of puppeteers from our Young People's Library provided the program for the third annual Open House at the Ballardvale Branch putting on a series of fairy tale plays with which they had already delighted several hundred boys and girls at the main library the previous fall.
THE LIBRARY SERVES BOYS AND GIRLS
The work of the Young People's Library has purposely been left until the end of this report in order to give it the prominent place it deserves in any appraisal of the library's total program. Film and story hours, summer reading and activity programs, pre-school story hours, the normal day- to-day guidance in the selection of books have all continued in high gear. In addition, the part-time service to the Cen- tral Elementary School Library, undertaken first in the fall of 1952, has continued on a similar basis.
INCREASED USE TAXES LIBRARY FACILITIES
Room use over the past five years has shown a steady increase likewise the number of activities offered to boys and girls and the number of books sent to schools in class- room collections. Like the schools the Young People's Libra- ry is feeling the impact of the increased number of boys and
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girls, particularly of elementary school age, but increasingly, of all ages through junior high school. Increased use of the room for reference and school projects has put an additional tax on resources and facilities which have never been ade- quate. We must consider - and in the immediate future - how we can best meet the needs of an overcrowded room. This fall we set aside a portion of the boiler room, as an overflow for boys and girls doing quiet reference work, a make-shift arrangement at best. A few weeks ago we had preliminary drawings made which would provide an addition to the pre- sent building and which, besides doubling the present area of the Young People's Library, would give us much needed additional office and work space and a quiet adult reference room. However, we have not studied the problem and possi- ble solutions sufficiently to make a definite recommendation at this time.
EXTENSION OF SERVICE TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
We have long felt that perhaps the most effective over-all library service to boys and girls could be provided by center- ing all community library services in the Memorial Hall Library. We believe that it would result in the most effective, economical use of present books and staff resources. Conse- quently we have included in our 1954 budget, with the whole- hearted approval of the School Department, an item for an additional professional librarian, an added sum for books, which will make it possible for us to extend considerably our service to the Central Elementary School Library and to the other elementary schools as well.
STAFF CHANGES
There have been an unusually large number of changes in library personnel. Edward I. Erickson was appointed to the Library Board to fill the vacancy occasioned by the re- signation of E. Dean Walen. Archibald D. Maclaren, library custodian for thirty-three years retired and was succeeded by Mark Surette. Our Secretarial assistant, Carolyn B. Ben- droth resigned the first of September and her place was filled by Mrs. Gertrude Hart. Sheila M. C. Taylor came to us as Catalog and Reference Librarian from the County
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Library, Driffield, East Yorkshire. This position will have to be filled about the first of June since Miss Taylor's ap- pointment was for one year only.
BOOKS MAKE THE WHOLE MAN
We should like to bring this report to a close by returning once again to the importance of the book and the individual in the library pattern. With all the discoveries in medical science to extend human life, it is refreshing to come upon an editorial which suggests that to read books is also to live longer. We should like to quote a brief portion. "What ever the limitations of a book, it is remarkably sound proof though it is beautifully audible to the inner ear. But the virtues of a good book transcend silence. A good book is an adventure in sharing but it is also an intensely personal experience. It offers fruitful solitude-sometimes in the heart of a crowd. It gives a man a chance to knit himself together."
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1953 STATISTICS OF LIBRARY USE
BOOK STOCK
Adult
Juvenile 10,893
Total 48,771
Volumes at beginning of year
37,878
Volumes added by purchase
1,367
854
2,221
Volumes added by gift
64
2
66
Volumes lost or withdrawn
1,042
486
1,528
Lost volumes found
1
2
3
38,268
11,265
49,533
Newspapers & periodicals currently received Periodicals received by gift
USE
Volumes
% of total Circulation
Volumes of adult fiction loaned
33,921
29.2
Volumes of non-fiction loaned
28,729
24.7
*Number of children's books loaned
38,451
33.2
Pamphlets and Periodicals
8,239
07.1
Number of adult records loaned
4,638
Number of children's records loaned
1,634
05.8
Pictures
518
Total number of books, records, etc.
loaned
116,130
REGISTRATION
Adult Juvenile Total
Borrowers registered
639
311
950
Total number of registered borrowers 3,270 1,755
5,025
Circulation per capita (base on 1950 census figures) (12,437)
9.4
182
31
*Included in this total is 6684 recorded School circulation. Total books sent on school deposit number 8979 and each of these books was probably used from two to twenty-five times. The library, however, counts only recorded circulation.
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Board of Public Works
Andover, Mass. January 1, 1954
The Board of Public Works voted to adopt the following report of the Superintendent and Engineer as its report for 1953.
SIDNEY P. WHITE, Chairman ALEXANDER H. HENDERSON, Secretary P. LEROY -WILSON VICTOR J. MILL, JR. ERNEST N. HALL
176
Report of Superintendent and Engineer
To the Board of Public Works:
ยท GENTLEMEN :
As in the previous year, we respectfully submit a combined report covering the construction, maintenance and engine- ering phases of various departments for the calendar year of 1953.
In addition to performing all engineering work for the Board of Public Works, engineering assistance and advice has been furnished to various Town Departments when re- quested. This office has worked with the Board of Selectmen, the Police Department, the Building Inspector and the School Department in response to their several requests. Private individuals, engineers, contractors, builders and others cal- ling on us for opinions or advice have been assisted as much as is consistent with the limitations and regulations of this office.
At the request of the Board of Selectmen, work on the Shaw Property was continued. The rear land was regraded and paved, to furnish a suitable public parking area with a capacity of 70 vehicles. The paving work was completed in June; but delays in installing the necessary protective fen- cing and lighting held up the official opening of the area until mid-August.
Further work for the Selectmen's office consisted of pre- paring specifications and furnishing supervision for the in- stallation of 300 L. F. of 84" chain link fencing at the Town Dump; preparing plans and collecting prices for traffic con- trol work in Elm Square; laying out lots for public sale on town land located on Red Spring Road and on Greenwood Road; and resetting one of the town boundary markers on the Andover-Tewksbury line near the Shawsheen River.
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Several sketches have been made for the Police Depart- ment to assist them in the location of stop signs and warning lights.
Plans, specifications and supervision were furnished to the School Department to effect the paving of the school parking area and the widening of the Bartlet Street driveway en- trance. This construction work was done by N. Heffron & Son of Lawrence for the net amount of $3,501.01.
Much time was spent with various engineers, surveyors and real estate developers in reviewing their proposals and explaining the town's requirements relative to the develop- ment of new streets and subdivisions. Insofar as was possi- ble, inspections were made of all construction work per- formed on new ways which might become town ways in the future.
Miscellaneous advice and estimating assistance has been given to private individuals who wished to prepare special articles for the town meeting.
HIGHWAY
. The following table in inches shows the snow fall for the year 1953:
January
18.2 Inches
February
6.4 Inches
March
Trace
April
3.5 Inches
November
Trace
December
Trace
Total 28.1 Inches
The snowfall for the season November 1952 to April 1953 inclusive totaled 29.6 inches.
The following road surfaces were treated with tarvia and honed : Gray Road, Shipman Road, Wolcott Avenue, Whittier Street, Judson Road, Locke Street, Bancroft Road, West Knoll Road, Orchard Street, Alderbrook Road, Porter Road, Torr Street, River Street, Lowell Junction Road, Brook Street, Ridge Street, Fleming Avenue, Dufton Road, Top-
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ping Road, Corbett Street, Sherbourne Street, Magnolia Avenue, Poor Street, Ayer Street, Kensington Street, Can- terbury Street, Shawsheen Road Lincoln Circle, Beech Cir- cle, Stevens Street, Cutler Road, Argilla Road, Dascomb Road, Osgood Street, Gleason Street and Webster Street; also sections of Salem Street, High Street, Carmel Road, Summer Street, Highland Road, Chestnut Street, Wildwood Road, Hidden Road, Central Street, Abbot Street, Andover Street, Phillips Street, Essex Street, Beacon Street High Plain Road, Reservation Road, Greenwood Road and North Street. A total of 99,228 gallons of tar were applied.
In addition, under special articles on street surfacing, a total of 12,108 gallons of tar and asphalt were applied.
In accordance with the 1953 Town Meeting a parcel of land was acquired from Elmer O. Peterson for the purpose of widening a curve on Greenwood Road. The road was later widened at this point and widened at the Lowell Street end to complete the general widening of this road. Finally, the entire length from Lowell Street to High Plain Road was given two treatments of road tar, making Greenwood Road hard surfaced thruout its entire length.
Miscellaneous work has been done in conjunction with State engineers on that portion of Main Street lying between Dwight Street and Wheeler Street. As the result of surveys and hearings, this 2400 foot stretch of Route 28 has been taken over by the State as a State Highway and a contract has been let for the reconstruction of this road as a divided highway. It is expected that the actual reconstruction will be started in March 1954.
With the complete removal of the old West Parish School the remaining work on last years Beacon Street job was com- pleted. The cut-off was paved and sidewalks in the vicinity were finished.
In the early Spring the Canterbury Street grade lowering job was completed. This was a project carried over from 1952 and cost $1,440.13.
That portion of Whittier Street lying between Bartlet Street and Whittier Court was widened to improve the par- king facilities near the Auditorium. As part of this job, a
179
new driveway was constructed from Whittier Street to the school area parking lot. This work, together with that done by the School Department on the Bartlet Street driveway, has greatly improved the safe flow of traffic in this vicinity. The cost of this work was $3,110.67.
Highway surface drainage has been constructed as fol- lows: Holt Road opposite Bancroft Road and onto land of Haselton, 122 L. F. of 10" C. C. P .; Holt Road near Orchard Street to replace a stone culvert, 32 L. F. of 24" R. C. C. P .; Lowell Street thru land of Grasso, 140 L. F. of 10" C. C. P. to complete drainage at "Shawsheen Hylands" commenced last year ; Wolcott Avenue front of #14, 19 L. F. of 8" V. C. P. to replace broken pipe; William Street 340 L. F. of 12" V. C. P. and 40 L. F. of 12" R. C. C. P. to extend the existing storm drain westerly to #40 William Street. The William Street drain was installed under Article #35 and cost 1,128- .98.
Bituminous sidewalks have been constructed in various parts of the town. Improvements were made on Harding Street, High Street from Walnut Avenue to Burnham Road, Railroad Avenue, Andover Street in Ballardvale.
A section of the sidewalk on the South side of Phillips Street was regraded and surfaced with stone dust and the area to the curb regraded and loamed.
Considerable repair work consisting of hot-top replace- ments was done on cement sidewalks in Shawsheen Village on the following streets: York, Carisbrooke, Argyle, Arun- del, Stirling, Kensington, William and Lowell. This work was done under Article 19, at a cost of $4,694.40 and using 247 tons of hot-top material.
Article 21 covered work done with Chapter 90 Mainte- nance funds wherein the Town supplied two thirds and the State one third of the cost of $3,000.00. Sections of Lowell Street and River Road were armor-coated with RC-5 As- phalt and 1/2" pea stone. Also, several cement guardrail posts on River Road were replaced.
BRIDGES
All the bridges under the control of the Board were in- spected during the late Summer and found to be safe for
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their posted load limits.
The open deck bridges on Central Street and Stevens Street were flushed down at the end of the sanding season to remove sand and salt from horizontal surfaces and thus better protect the paint.
All railing and fencing was painted on these two bridges; but none of the load carrying members were painted.
WATER SYSTEM
No major improvements or replacements were made to the water system this year. However, one job performed by B. P. W. forces is noteworthy in that it involved an under- water installation using ball and socket pipe. At the rear of the Watson Park Co. plant in Lowell Junction a new 6 inch ball and socket line was made up on shore and winched a- cross the bottom of the Shawsheen River to high ground on the other bank. The old line which crossed the river on a di- lapidated timber bridge was cut at two points and the new pipe tied in to it to complete the by-pass of the bridge.
The total length of the new line is 223 feet, of which 96 feet is under the river proper and 108 feet in trench thru marshy land flooded during high water.
The abandoned pipe remains on the timber bridge and it is recommended that the pipe, the bridge, and the piers, be removed at the earliest opportunity.
Total B. P. W. installation of water mains for the year are as follows :
Waston Park by-pass
C.L.C.I.
223.0 L.F.
6" Usiflex
High Plain Road (E. End)
96.0 L.F.
6" C.L.C.I.
Moraine Street
331.2 L.F. 6" C.L.C.I.
Railroad Street (S. End)
753.8 L.F. 6" C.L.C.I.
Vine Street (W. End)
221.0 L.F. 8" C.L.C.I.
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Several water mains of 6 inch C.L.C.I. pipe have been con- structed during the year by private interests in the course of developing real estate subdivisions. These mains have been inspected and tested under the supervision of the office insofar as possible, and location measurements were taken for record purposes. Work of this nature is somewhat diffi- cult to control since it is done privately, and much depends on the willingness of the owners and contractors involved to cooperate with this office. It is to the interest of the town to have such inspections and measurements made since near- ly all private ways ultimately become public highways.
The 200 H.P. General Electric motor which drives the De- laval pump at Haggetts Pond Station was returned from the repair shop and installed on February 20, 1953. Tests run on that date showed that all repairs were mechanically and electrically satisfactory.
This motor had been damaged by lightning on August 5, 1952 and had been out of service since that date. It was ne- cessary to remove the motor to the shop of Roland B. Glines Co. in Lawrence where the stator was completely rewound with new materials. Much of the delay in this repair job centered around difficulties in obtaining the necessary cop- per products for the rewinding. Insurance carried by the town covered the entire amount of repair work and rigging charges.
The condition of our water supply continues to be some- what serious in that more water is taken from Haggetts Pond than is yielded by its watershed. However, due to the wetness of the year 1953 there has been a decided increase in the average daily yield. Precipitation for the year amount- ed to 47.05 inches as measured by the Essex Company in Lawrence. The 69 year average including 1953 is 40.78 in- ches. This excess of 6.27 inches over normal helped to reduce the net loss from the pond; but still did not furnish enough available water to hold our supply even with the demand.
On the first day of the year the pond was at elevation 113.82. Full pond is considered to be at elevation 117.65. Snow and Spring rains caused the pond to rise so that by late March the pond became as full as the outlet dikes would
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allow. (about elevation 116.92). This level was maintained until May 1st when drought conditions, coupled with the heavy Summer demand, caused the level to start lowering. The pond surface lowered steadily until October 24th when it reached it lowest point for the year at elevation 111.54. On the last day of the year the pond level was elevation 112.88 or 111/4 inches lower than it was at the start of the year.
This drop in water level represents a net loss in storage of about 63 million gallons for the year, or 0.173 M.G.D. The total pumpage for the year was 617.917 million gallons, or 1.693 M.G.D. The difference between these average figures gives an approximation of the yield of the watershed during a wet year, 1.5 M.G.D., which is less than the average daily demand.
The year 1953 saw two disturbing records established. On July 1st the daily pumpage was 4.2 million gallons. This was the first and only time to date that the daily demand has reached or exceeded 4.0 M.G. On October 24th the water level was 731/4" below full pond for an all time re- cord, the lowest previous mark being 72" below full pond.
Late in the Fall the Board caused the eroded outlet dikes at Haggetts Pond to be reinforced and raised to their old heights. This should allow the formerly wasted Spring run- off to be conserved, and the pond brought up to its theore- tical full elevation of 117.65. This top 9 inches of pond re- presents about 50 M.G. of storage.
The total recorded pumpage at Bancroft Road Station for the year was 112.402 million gallons, or an average of 307,- 950 gallons per day. This total volume of water represents re-pumpage for the High Service System, and is 18.2% of the total pumped at Haggetts Pond. This is an increase of 7.20 M.G. compared with the volume for 1952.
RECEIPTS
Water Rates
Water Services and Miscellaneous
$81,702.94 688.00
Paid to Town Treasurer
$82,390.94
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WATER SYSTEM SUMMARY, for year ending December 31st
Year
Received from Water Rates
Net Cost of Maint. incl. pumping
Direct Cost of Pumping
by total mainten.
by direct pumping
Received per Million Gals.
Annual Pumpage Haggetts Station (Million Gals.)
No. of service pipes in use
No. of Meters in use
No. of Hydrants
Miles of Main Pipe
1940*
$52,241.14
$27,799.18
$15,256.13
$67.04
$36.79
$125.99
414.653
2653
2587
728
79.89
1941
57,702.22
27,796.08
17,494.91
56.81
35.76
117.93
489.287
2729
2663
739
80.63
1942
55,259.54
30,859.93
18,211.08
74.13
43.75
132.74
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