USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1937 > Part 16
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Any book will be reserved at the request of a borrower, who will be notified as soon as the book is available. A charge of one cent is made for this service.
A fine of two cents a day will be incurred for each day's detention of a book after it is due. When a book is sent for by the librarian it will be at the expense of the borrower.
For the convenience of residents living in different parts of the town books are exchanged through the Stations as follows:
Lovell's Corner, W. B. Chalke & Sons Tuesday
South Weymouth, Fogg Memorial Library Tuesday
South Weymouth, Alfred S. Tirrell Tuesday
East Weymouth, East Weymouth Branch Thursday North Weymouth, North Weymouth Branch Thursday Weymouth Heights, Adams School Thursday
(*) Telephone: Main Library, Weymouth 1402
East Weymouth Branch, Weymouth 1920-W
IN MEMORIAM
WILLIAM F. HATHAWAY, M. D.
Trustee of the Tufts Library
1906 - 1933
ABBIE L. LOUD
Librarian of the Tufts Library .
1907 1928
ALICE BATES BLANCHARD Assistant in the Tufts Library
1902 - 1922
THE TUFTS LIBRARY
Te
THR LOREN'S
CHILD
ROOM
Office
F
ON
CAT
CATA- LOG
Key
To
ROOM
Entire Library
Trustee's
Room
NON- FICTION
READING
WHO
REFERENCE ROOM
STREET
WASHINGTON
READ
EACH WEEK DAY 9 A. M. TO 9 P.M.
OPEN FOR ALL
SAN D
AND
STREET
Werk and &
COMMERCIAL
190
191
FIFTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY
With the close of the year 1937 The Tufts Li- brary has completed fifty-nine years of service to the people of Weymouth, and the Trustees herewith sub- mit their annual report.
In the early years of its service the library had one small room and it started with approximately 2400 books. Today it has a book collection of 51,347 vol- umes and distributes these books through seventeen agencies scattered over the town:
The Main Library The North and East Weymouth Branches The Deposit Station at Weymouth Heights Three Delivery Stations, and Class Room Deposits in ten schools.
In the first years the library was open only a few hours each week. In 1894 the hours were increased to thirty-four, and for a quarter of a century this re- mained unchanged. In 1929 the trustees voted to open the library from 9 A. M. to 9 P. M. every week day, so that library service is now available to the people of Weymouth twelve hours a day or seventy-two hours a week.
And every day in 1937 some portion of the more than 8,000 people who are using the Tufts Library had an average of 588 books charged for home use. Every day they came to the library with questions:
"What have you on ?" "Where can I get "How do I find "May I have a list of books on this or that subject?"
"May I have my books renewed?"
"May I have such and such a book saved for me?"
"And will you notify me when it comes in?"
The librarians welcome these questions and many more besides, for it is their aim to extend in every way possible the usefulness of the library.
And the usefulness of the library has grown in 1937. 3,660 more books were loaned for home use than in the previous year. More people have used the refer- ence books in the library, and more material has been sent to the schools for use there. And the use of the books has been an increasingly purposeful one. Our recreational reading is practically the same as last year, while the reading of books of non-fiction, the more serious and purposeful reading, has gained 6%.
Considering the adult books only, the gain in this type of reading is 8.3% .
USES OF THE LIBRARY
GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY
192
EFFECT OF CUT MADE IN BOOK FUNDS IN 1933.
887.32
---
---
1432
Each shelf
$ $5.47
THE
Loss IN
1434
1
represents
$1,042.02
1435
Normal
$1,196.85
193 6
year's
3 0
$ 1,236.94. Loss IN
1937
pur J
S 4
Los:
Loss over the five year period
-
ximately 3,290 Booka .: A
193
BOOKS
THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE LIBRARY
SERVICE FOR ALL SECTIONS OF THE TOWN
THE LIBRARY AND THE SCHOOLS
All this means a greater wear and a consequent de- pletion of the book stock. And this is very serious, for the books are the capital investment, the life blood of a library. It is normal to expect an annual depletion from wear, but this should be more than compensated by the acquisition of new and up-to-date material. In 1933 the library book budget was cut $700.00 in the interests of economy. This cut has never been restored, and $700.00 a year for five years would buy about 2,150 books. The library is poorer today by 2,150 books than it would be if this cut had not been made. It is poorer by more than 1,250 books, for interest rates have fallen and the income from invested funds has been nearly halved. The trustees ask a partial restoration of this book cut in the 1938 budget, for they believe that it is not a true economy to allow our book collection to become depleted.
Some sections of the town have much more ade- quate service than others, and the trustees have pet- itions from Weymouth Heights and from Lovell's Cor- ner to increase the library facilities at those centers. These are reasonable requests and the trustees hope that they may have the means to respond to them. They also realize the desirability of more adequate quarters at North Weymouth. The North Weymouth Branch is the only part of the library system where there has been a circulation loss in 1937, and North Weymouth has a loss of 10%. Why should this sec- tion of the town lose when every other section of the town gains in the use of the library? For one thing the branch needs more new books. And it needs larger, more adequate quarters for both books and public.
The response of the people in East Weymouth to the improved quarters for that branch has been definite and gratifying. East Weymouth has gained 101/2% in circulation during 1937.
Exact figures for book circulation and registrations for all departments of the library are shown in the appendices following this report.
There has been a very active co-operation during 1937 between the children's department of the library and the elementary schools in Weymouth. The library has sent 1,566 books into the schools where there has been a class room circulation of 8.193. The teachers are using the State Certificate Reading Lists furnished by the library for book report work with the children, and the library awards the certificates to the children. At present the library is unable to meet the requests for the books on these lists from all the schools that desire them. Additional copies of these very worth- while titles are greatly needed.
The children's librarian has visited class rooms in seven schools as listed below, giving book talks in the upper grades and telling a story to the little folks. Interest in the library and in reading is stimulated by such visits.
194
SCHOOL VISITS IN 1937
Abigail Adams School, Grades 3, 4, 5, & 6.
Center School, Grades 1, 2, 3, & 4. Hunt School, All grades but the 8th (16 rooms).
Pond School, Grades 4, 5, & 6. Pratt School, All grades. Shaw School, Grades 7 & 8.
Washington School, Grade 6.
More effective than the visit of the librarian to the class room is a visit of the entire class with its teacher to the library, for the child then has an intro- duction to the Children's Room and all its treasures and has opportunity to handle the books. During Good Book Week in 1937, when there was an especial- ly attractive display of books in the Children's Room, every grade of the Sacred Heart School except the 1st and 2nd, visited the room with its teachers. The Children's Librarian gave each group a short book talk or told a story and the children then scattered through the room to browse among the books. This type of educational work is important and the library would like to extend it to other schools.
ACTIVITIES
OF THE CHILDREN'S ROOM
Story hours, exhibits, and reading contests have all stimulated the boys and girls to wholesome inter- ests. A number of girls wrote original poems which were sent through the library to one of the children's magazines. Soap sculpture has been a popular hobby, and one of our exhibits was of forty-two sculptures made by Weymouth boys and girls. Thirty-five of these were sent to the National Soap Sculpture Com- petition in New York city.
Other exhibits loaned to the Children's Room in " 1937 include the following :
A silver cup won by the spelling champions of the Hunt School in a radio contest. These eighth grade boys and girls went to New York City and competed in the national spelling contest at Radio City.
Three generations of dolls loaned by the children's librarian.
Modern dolls of several nations loaned by Jean Huntress.
Tayanita Camp Fire exhibit of handicraft.
Dutch and Russian dolls loaned by Mrs. Mar- garet Roberts.
Ivory soap sculptures loaned by Proctor and Gamble.
Three wood carvings loaned by Miss Martha Loud.
Seven scenes from books made by Grade VI Pond School.
195
Twenty travel posters made by Grade VI, Hunt School.
A pre-historic panel loaned by Miss Eleanor Garvin.
Boy Scout exhibit, showing miniature quarry and samples of rocks and minerals, loaned by Troop Two, East Weymouth.
The library appreciates these very much and the Trustees extend their cordial thanks to those who have helped in this way to bring new interests to the chil- dren.
MAINTENANCE OF THE LIBRARY BUILDING
A small amount of repair work has been necessary for the up-keep of the library building during 1937. Some of the electric wiring has had to be brought up to date because of short-circuiting, and an unsafe tim- ber under one of the large plate glass windows has been replaced. Two electrically controlled humidifiers in the main room of the library are proving beneficial to both people and books. Paper absorbs so much moisture that the air in this large room, where more than 25.000 volumes are shelved was abnormally dry. The introduction of a moderate amount of moisture will mean longer lives for the books and a much more comfortable and healthful atmosphere.
The trustees feel that before another year passes the exterior trim of the building and some of the in- terior must be painted. The paint has worn and peeled until the wood is weathering. It has been hoped that this might be done as a W. P. A: project and so save the town a proportion of the cost.
PERSONNEL CHANGES
There have been several changes in personnel dur- ing 1937. Miss Ruth Stoddard and Miss Dorothea McPartland, part time assistants at the North and East Weymouth Branches, left the service last spring and their places were filled by Miss Ruth Kai of North Weymouth and Miss Catherine Condrick of East Wey- mouth. Miss Ruth B. Reed and Miss Alice M. Peers both resigned to be married, and Miss Ruth Loefler and Miss Ruth Nickerson have been added to the staff. Miss Loeffler is a graduate of the Sacred Heart High School and has had one year at St. Joseph's College. Miss Nickerson is a graduate of the Weymouth High School and has had part time experience as an assistant in the Fogg Library.
The library has been most generously remembered during the year by gifts of flowers in their season, and some large and exceptionally fine plants were presented to the Children's Room. A beautiful silver-leaf ivy was given by Mrs. Joseph Lutton and a fern and flower- ing begonia by Miss Gladys Rolfe. Both the staff and the public appreciate the beauty that flowers bring to the library.
The library has also been the recipient of many gifts of books during 1937. 241 volumes have been given by 35 of the friends of the library. These are
GIFTS
196
accepted with great appreciation, and the trustees wish to express their sincere thanks to the donors. Further acknowledgement is made in a list appended to this report. The trustees also take this opportunity to ex- press their thanks for the bulletins, reports, and book lists generously sent to the Tufts Library from other public libraries.
IN MEMORIAM
On October 23rd Miss Abbie Loud, who gave twenty years of her life as librarian of the Tufts Li- brary, slipped quietly away from us. She has left us the heritage of her years among us, her spirit of service, and the tangible assets in our book collection, built up through her many years as librarian. In her honor, and in deep respect and loving memory, the flag was displayed at half mast and the library was closed for the hour of her funeral.
Also in April of this year, Miss Alice B. Blanchard died. She was the sister of the first librarian of the Tufts Library, Miss Caroline A. Blanchard, and was herself an assistant in the Tufts Library from 1902 to 1922. Her interest in the library was a vital one, and her courageous spirit an inspiration to all with whom she came into contact. For the hour of her funeral, too, the library was closed and the flag displayed at half mast.
As the year drew to its close the library lost one of its former trustees, Dr. William F. Hathaway, who served Weymouth as a physician through many long years, and who served on the Board of Tufts Library as trustee from 1906 to 1933. Again as a mark of honor and respect the library flag flew at half mast and the library was closed for the time of the funeral service.
FUNCTION OF THE LIBRARY TODAY
Our country and our community are faced today with grave economic and political problems. We need knowledge and wisdom to meet these problems intelli- gently; we need to know what has happened in the past and what is happening throughout the world today. We need vocational guidance for our young people, and we need to understand the thinking minds of the world. Public library service offers that information to the people. Libraries are not luxuries. They are es- sential to the recreational and educational life of the community, and the Tufts Library seeks to give intel- ligent and enlightened service to the people of Wey- mouth.
Respectfully submitted,
CLARANCE P. WHITTLE. Chairman.
By order and in behalf of the Trustees.
: 1
197
DONORS OF BOOKS TO TUFTS LIBRARY, 1937
American Technical Society
American Theosophical Society
Anonymous 7 Books Blanchard, Alice B. A copy of her own book to the East Weymouth Branch Carleton, Mrs. Adelaide L. 4 Books to East Weymouth Branch Clapp, Mrs. Wendell 22 Books
Commonwealth of Massachusetts 8 Books
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Commissioner of Education
Doubleday. Doran & Company, Publishers
"An East Weymouth Friend"
106 Books to East Weymouth Branch For East Weymouth Branch
Elkington. Elizabeth
Fenner & Beane. Manufacturers Gowdy, Violet 2 Books
Harvard Alumni Association
Howe Caverns, Inc.
Huntoon. Mrs. Benjamin
24 Books
Johnson, Gardiner
Library Book House
Little Brown & Company, Publishers
Lord, Stimson
Loud, Jane E. An 11 volume set in memory of Charles Arthur Loud
Mitchell. Mrs. T. A.
National Industrial Conference Board
Power, Michael
For East Weymouth Branch For East Weymouth Branch
Resendes, Joseph Richardson. Charles E. 27 Books of Music
Sixth Grade of Pond School
A Book for the Children's Room
Smithsonian Institution 2 Books
Talcott, J. Frederick
Taylor, Mrs. Alice
10 Books 4 of these are from the library of Judge James Humphrey
United States Bureau of the Census 4 Books Viscose Company, Manufacturers Wheat Flour Institute 3 Books
Wilbur, R. L. & Hyde, A. M. Worthman, Mrs. A. P.
198
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION FORM OF STATISTICS For the Year Ending December 31, 1937
Population served (Census of 1930)
20,882
Assessed valuation of the town
$46.942,627.00
Total number of agencies, consisting of
Main Library
1
Branches
2
Deposit Station
1
Delivery Stations
3
Schools
10
Number of days open during the year
302
Total valuation of library property
$104,600.00
Number of volumes at beginning of year
50,400
Number of volumes added by purchase
2,040
Number of volumes added by gift
290
Number of volumes added by binding
9
Number of volumes lost or withdrawn
1,392
Number of volumes at end of year
51,347
Number of volumes of fiction lent
124,978
Total number of volumes lent
176,959
Number of borrowers registered
8,070
Number of new borrowers registered in 1937
1,178
Number of periodicals received :
141 titles; 187 copies
Receipts from
Payments for
Town appropriation
$20,948.00
Books & Periodicals $ 3,686.06
Endowment funds
952.02
Binding
954.54
Salaries, library service janitor service
12,545.79
Heat
443.25
Light
401.59
Rent (Branches)
1,680.00
Other expenses
2,187.51
Unexpended balance
1.28
$21,900.02
$21,900.02
APPENDIX A Circulation by Classes from Tufts Library and Branches
Main
North Weymouth
East Weymouth
Weymouth Heights
Grand Total
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Adult
Juvenile
E- Total
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Adult
Juvenile
Total E
General Works
158
3
161
5
1
6
9
3
12
3
3
175
7
182
Philosophy
662
14
676
77
9
86
149
7
156
49
49
937
30
967
Religion
372
171
543
16
23
39
131
124
255
18
6
24
537
324
861
Social Sciences
1,783
3,265
5,048
69
1,332
1,401
180
1,788
1,968
49
660
709
2,081
7,045
9,126
Language
153
5
158
172
10
182
Natural Science
845
891
1,736
34
194
228
109
301
410
35
163
198
1,023
1,549
2,572
Useful Arts
1,985
1,260
3,245
118
374
492
288
665
953
36
98
134
2,427
2,397
4,824
Fine Arts
2,126
2,668
4,794
36
629
665
178
965
1,143
75
692
767
2,415
4,954
7,369
Literature
1,702
570
2,272
140
96
236
432
305
737
113
59
172
2,387
1,030
3,417
History
755
619
1,374
96
81
177
174
161
335
19
74
93
1,044
935
1,979
Travel
2,184
996
3,180
416
239
655
565
373
938
238
197
435
3,403
1,805
5,208
Biography
1,700
787
2,487
336
168
504
525
348
873
235
68
303
2,796
1,371
4,167
Periodicals
4,877
776
5,653
1,677
336
2,013
2,409
536
2,945
153
36
189
9,116
1,684
10,800
Pamphlets
317
1
318
4
5
9
321
6
327
Fiction
49,976
13,491
63,467
15,863
6,749 22,612 23,992
7,705
31,697
5,363
1,839
7,202
95,194
29,784
124,978
Total
69,595
25,517 95,112 18,883 10,231 29,114 29,164 13,291 42,455
6,386
3,892 10,278
124,028
52,931
176,959
Number of Volumes Distributed through the Several Delivery Stations
Precincts
Delivery Stations
Loans
4
Alfred S. Tirrell
3,838
5
Fogg Memorial Library
1,667
7
W. B. Chalke & Sons
3,055
8,560
8,193
*
Number of Volumes Distributed through Schools
199
.
19
5
24
200
APPENDIX B
Registrations
Number of borrowers registered December 1936
7,083
Number of new registrations during 1937 :
Tufts Library
Adult
349
Juvenile
225
57+
East Weymouth Branch
Adult
194
Juvenile
145
339
North Weymouth Branch
Adult
109
Juvenile
101
210
Weymouth Heights Station
Adult
9
Juvenile
46
55
1,178
Number of renewed registrations during 1937
1,351
Number of registrations which expired in 1937
1,155
8,457
Number of registrations void thru death or removal from town
99
8,358
Number of registrations held because of fines
288
Number of borrowers registered December 31, 1937
8,070
9,612
201
THE FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1937
Salaries and Wages:
Librarian and Assistants Janitor
$9,100.06 1,596.00
$10,696.06
Books and Periodicals
2,821.65
Transportation of Books
238.00
Binding Books
954.54
Fuel
443.25
Light
336.36
Maintenance of Building
954.79
Other Expenses :
Insurance
13.60
Convention Expenses
50.00
Telephone, printing, supplies, etc.
701.30
764.90
North Weymouth Branch :
Librarians
780.08
Rent
660.00
Books and Periodicals
461.03
Maintenance of Building
93.49
Light
29.27
Transportation of Books
37.00
Sundries
.50
2,061.37
East Weymouth Branch :
Librarians
853.65
Janitor
216.00
Rent
1,020.00
Books and Periodicals
403.38
Light
35.96
Maintenance of Building
44.99
Transportation of Books
52.00
Sundries
1.84
2,627.82
Total Expended Balance to Treasury
1.28
TOTAL
$21,900.02
Appropriation, March 1, 1937
$20,948.00
Income from other sources:
Tufts Fund - Books
62.50
Tufts Fund - Reading Room
62.50
Joseph E. Trask Fund
360.60
Augustus J. Richards Fund
142.48
Susannah Hunt Stetson Fund
75.00
Tirrell Donation
30.00
Francis Flint Forsythe Fund
30.00
Arthur E. Pratt Fund
90.00
Charles Henry Pratt Fund
15.00
William H. Pratt Fund
83.94
TOTAL
$21,900.02
December 31, 1937
EMERSON R. DIZER, Town Accountant
$21,898.74
17,209.55
202
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF MEMOIAL DAY
Weymouth Post No. 79, American Legion, East Weymouth, Mass.
To the Citizens of the Town of Weymouth:
At the Annual Town Meeting held March 1st, 1937 it was voted under Article 1, Item 34, that a committee of nine be appointed from the various veterans and heredity organizations, in accordance with the provisions of General Laws (Tercentenary Edition), Chapter 40, Section 5, Clause 12, by the Moderator, who shall designate the Chairman.
The following committee was appointed: Henry B. Vogel, Honorary Chairman, Commander Reynolds Post 58, G. A. R .; Thomas J. MacDonald, Chairman, Commander of the Ralph Talbot Chapter of the Disabled Amer- ican Veterans of the World War; Thomas F. Major, Jr., Commander of the Weyomuth Post No. 79, American Legion; Louis Cipullo, Senior Vice Com- mander of the Ralph Talbot Chapter of the Disabled Veterans of the World War; Arthur A. Cicchese, Senior Vice Commander of the Weymouth Post No. 79, American Legion; Ellis L. Williams, Commander of the Wessa- gussett Post 1399, V. F. W .; Herbert Leslie, Senior Vice Commander of the Wessagussett Post 1399, V. F. W .; Ernest A. Smith, Commander of the James L. Bates Camp, Sons of Union Veterans; Mrs. Clara B. Wooten, Presi- dent of Dorothea L. Dix Tent No. 32 of the Daughters of Union Veterans.
The Committee organized and the first meeting was held at the Town Hall, East Weymouth, April 1st, 1937. Five additional meetings were held during April and May. All meetings were well attended and very harmonious.
Commander Vogel asked that the program of the day be carried out in the same manner as last year, and wished to convey to the Committee his sincere regrets for bis inability to attend meetings due to illness.
By vote of the meeting held May 4th, Ellis L. Williams, Commander of Wessagussett Post 1399, V. F. W., was named Chief Marshal and Henry B. Vogel. Commander of Reynolds Post 58, G. A. R., was named Honorary Chief Marshal. As in previous years the parade formed at Hurley Square (Thomas Corner) at 7:45 a. m. Monday, May 31st, and paraded over the usual route to various cemeteries throughout the Town, where services and the decoration of graves were conducted by veterans. The veterans marched into the cemeteries and upon command dispersed and covered graves. The potted plants, held by the veterans during the playing of the' hymn. were placed on the graves at the roll of the drums. The veterans stood at atten- tion during the volley, saluted at the first note of Taps, and held salute through the final note of echo. These exercises were repeated at eight cemeteries in all parts of Weymouth.
Leaving Fairmont Cemetery. the parade proceeded to a position in front of Commander Henry B. Vogel's home, where honors were paid to the only surviving member of Post 58, Grand Army of the Republic. It then proceeded to Commercial Square and then to the Civic Center, where exercises were held under the direction of Reynolds Post 58, G. A. R., with Ellis L. Williams, Acting Chairman of the Memorial Day Committee. Those participating in the parade included all Veteran Organizations, Town Officials with Town Colors, Auxiliaries, Hereditary Organizations, Patriotic Societies. Boy and Girl Scouts.
Music was furnished by Weymouth Post No. 79, American Legion Band. Weymouth Post No. 79, American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps, Boy Scouts of America Drum Corps, and the Fife and Drum Corps of the Sacred Heart Church.
203
A flag and potted plant was placed on each veteran's grave, while Memorial Monuments and Squares throughout the Town were decorated in a suitable manner.
Every member of the Committee wishes to express his appreciation to the Police Department for the very efficient manner in which traffic was handled, and also to the Fire Department and various Veteran Organizations and Auxiliaries for their co-operation and untiring efforts in the observance of Memorial Day May 31st, 1937.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS F. MAJOR, JR.,Secretary Memorial Day Committee.
REPORT OF PLUMBING INSPECTOR
South Weymouth, December 28, 1937.
Board of Health, Town of Weymouth :
I herewith submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1937.
During the year there have been issued 456 permits for plumbing (two of which were cancelled) requiring 538 inspections. Received for permits $896.00.
There has been installed in old and new buildings the following fixtures:
183 Bathtubs
3 Showers
216 Lavatories
36 Automatic Storage Heaters
264 Closets
1 Soda Fountain
280 Sinks & wash trays
114 Range boilers
2 Dental chairs
3 Urinals
6 Traps
making a total of 1108; the estimated value of which is $71,237.00.
The number of old and new buildings in which plumbing was installed are as follows :
47 New one family houses 1 New fire station
295 Old one family houses
2 Old filling stations
59 Old two family houses
3 New filling stations
9 Old three family houses
1 New bank building
9 Old four family houses
1 New office building
1
1 Old seven apartment house 32 Old business blocks & stores
1 Old fourteen apartment house
1 Old school
5 Old churches
1 Old nurses' home
3 Old dance halls
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