USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1950 > Part 22
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Electric book lift or elevator.
Janitor's workshop and room, with lavatory.
We have a janitor's room in the basement. The lavatory is inside, without ventilation, unsanitary and inadequate.
Our boiler is in a pit and the oil tanks are on a high level. This constitutes a fire hazard.
We have three for the staff (two are inside, without ventilation, the third has poor ventilation); none for the public.
We have one large closet. This is not adequate.
We have one small closet.
Closets on each floor for janitor's supplies.
Garage and parking area.
The present office is too small for a second desk and not well located for supervision.
Staff Room equipped with rest room, kitchenette, lavatory and lockers.
Safe large enough to hold especially valuable books as well as records.
We have none. Carrying books over the stairs is arduous and sometimes dangerous.
Boiler room and adequate space for fuel storage.
Adequate lavoratories for staff and public.
Stock lockers for library supplies.
There is no parking area and no space available. No garage.
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At present the town has set aside for the renovation of the Tufts Library building the sum og $18,400. The repairs that are essential if the library is to continue in the present building are estimated to cost $21,870. This includes only necessary wiring, plumbing, and repairs on roof and walls.
If storage stacks are to be built in the attic (an undertaking which the trustees believe to be too risky) and if the second floor is to be re- designed, as recommended by Griffenhagen and Associates, additional sums would be required.
After spending all this money we still would not have provided for gcod library service, as indicated in the items listed in column one above. Possible alternatives: The trustees feel that the town has the following alternatives:
1. To renovate the present library building and continue to utilize it as a main library, which at best would be wholly inadequate for good library services.
Complete renovation of the present building, utilizing all avail- able space for library purposes, has been considered by the trustees. Plans were made and estimates procured four years ago. This renova- tion would include :
1. Basic repairs to the structure.
2. Finishing the top floor for library use, and putting in the second stairway required by law if the top floor is used. The estimate in 1946 was $70,000. Price increases since 1946 would carry this well over $100,000. This does not include book-cases and movable fur- niture; it does not include the repairs, redesigning and refinishing of the first two floors which would be made necessary by putting a second stairway from the top floor to the street.
The trustees estimate the total cost of complete renovation to be more than $150,000.
Completed, the building would still be inadequate for standard library service for a town the size of Weymouth. It would be on three floors, inconvenient for the public, difficult and expensive to adminis- ter. It could not provide for adequate book storage and that problem would quickly become acute again.
For these reasons the trustees feel that renovation of the present structure for continued use as the Tufts Library would be unwise, expensive, and economically unsound.
2. To use the present building, or a part of the building, as a branch library and erect a new main library in another location.
3. To authorize the Town Counsel to clear the title preparatory to selling the present building and site, and erect a new library on a site where there is adequate room for modern library facilities. This alternative is the recommendation of the Board of Library Trustees.
Site for a new library building:
In determining the site for a new Tufts Library building, the trustees believe that the following consideration should have weight:
1. It is the clear intent of the wills of both Quincy Tufts and Susan Tufts that the library should be located in Weymouth Landing.
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2. It has become an accepted tradition in the town and people are ac- customed to having the Tufts Library in Weymouth Landing.
3. The best available land, from the standpoint of economy, is in that section of Weston Park fronting on Broad Street. There are other sites in Weymouth Landing that would be desirable and perhaps more central than land on Broad Street, but they are built upon and the town would have to purchase the property and raze the buildings.
The disadvantages of locating the library in Weston Park are:
a. that it is off the main street and does not have maximum pedestrian traffic.
b. to put such a building on park property would require an act of the legislature.
The advantages of locating the library in Weston Park are:
a. the economy of using land already owned by the town,
b. that it is a safe location for children,
c. that it is convenient to a large residential area,
d. that there could be ample space for parking,
e. that the park would afford a beautiful setting for a public building.
4. Auxiliary library facilities are already provided for residents of North and East Weymouth and the Fogg Memorial Library is located in South Weymouth.
5. Because Weymouth is not a compact community but is composed of a group of vilages, the problem of placing library facilities within the reach of all residents cannot be solved by the location of the Main Library alone.
B. THE NORTH WEYMOUTH BRANCH
The present quarters are inadequate; there is too little floor space and crowded conditions hamper the service.
The building is poorly constructed and not kept in good repair in spite of urgent requests from the trustees.
There is bad drainage and sewerage seeps into the cellar.
The rental of $1140 per year (not including heat or janitor service) means high maintenance costs. This is interest on a sum which might be adequate to build a branch library.
No other suitable quarters for a branch library are available for rent in the locality.
For the above reasons the trustees recommend building a branch library in North Weymouth.
Three alternatives as to the site:
1. Corner North and Shaw Streets; two vacant lots comprising approxi mately 26,000 sq. ft.
Advantages:
a. There is adequate space for the building and for a parking area.
b. It is convenient to a large residential area.
c. It would afford a setting that would make the library an asset to the community.
Disadvantages:
a. It is away from the shopping center and does not have maxi- mum pedestrain traffic.
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b. The owners appear to be unwilling to sell.
2. A Branch Library within the Bicknell School building.
This is a suggestion of the School Department which should be carefully studied before a decision is reached. A similar arrangement has been worked out in some communities, where the school furnishes the room and physical equipment and the public library furnishes the books and the personnel, and the trustees of the public library have jurisdiction over the branch.
It would be important for the branch library to be located on the first floor, to have adequate floor area and its own entrance.
3. Land on the Bicknell School property facing Bicknell Square.
Advantages:
a. It would be in the heart of pedestrian traffic.
b. Parking facilities are proposed in an adjacent area.
c. There is sufficient land area to allow for a branch library with more adequate facilities than could be provided in one room in a school building. A branch library should provide
1. Separate areas within the library for adults and children.
2. Work space and rest room for the librarian.
3. An assembly hall (Usually in the basement) for com- munity gatherings.
Disadvantages:
a. There is heavy traffic through Bicknell Square. This would be largely off-set by the safe approach from the school for children.
C. THE EAST WEYMOUTH BRANCH
The present branch library is more adequate than is the branch at North Weymouth and the landlord is cooperative. Building in this sec- tion could be deferred until more urgent needs are met. The trustees feel however, that the town should look forward to owning its branch library at East Weymouth and suggest the desirability of acquiring a suitable site and holding it until building is feasible. Two possible sites have been considered :
1. Vacant land adjacent to the Weymouth Light & Power Co. on Com- mercial Street; approximately 13,000 sq. ft.
2. Town owned property at the junction of Commercial and Broad Streets.
Either of these sites are well located, central, and would have maxi- mum pedestrian traffic. The first of the two sites would give adequate land areas for future expansion and some parking space. The second is a slightly more convenient location and is already owned by the town, but is very restricted in area.
D. SOUTH WEYMOUTH is served by the Fogg Memorial Library, which is not under our jurisdiction.
E. DEPOSIT STATIONS. The Library now operates stations at the fol- lowing locations:
1. Weymouth Heights in the Adams School. This is satisfactory for present needs.
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2. Lovell's Corner in the Pratt School. This is very overcrowded.
3. Nash's Corner in the Shaw School. This is a basement room, down a steep stairway, and is damp and often cold. We have to move upstairs every summer into one of the classrooms, or our books would mildew.
4. Pond Plain in a private home, 308 Pond Street. The location is good, but it is doubtful if it will continue to be available for our use. This station may have to be relocated in the foreseeable future.
F. BOOKMOBILE. The Library has none, but the trustees have had it under consideration for several years. A travelling branch library could give valuable auxiliary service. It would reach areas not now adequately served; it would replenish the limited book stocks in the stations; it would provide transportation for books exchanged between the main library and the branches and schools, saving the present taxi transportation of books; and it would service new housing developments as the town grows. Such service is desirable because of its mobility.
However, the present main library building is disadvantageous for this service. There is no parking area; no place for loading and unloading; and no garage facilities.
Griffenhagen and Associates have estimated the initial cost at $10,000 and the upkeep at $7,000 a year.
Two full time employees would be required: a driver and a bookmobile librarian.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
The trustees of the Tufts Library recommend that the capital outlay be considered in the following order:
1. A new main library building.
2. A new branch library building at North Weymouth.
3. A bookmobile.
4. A new branch library building at East Weymouth.
5. A survey be undertaken for re-location and enlargement of station libraries as need arises.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY RELATIVE TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF GRIFFENHAGEN AND ASSOCIATES REPORT No. 3 ON TOWN LIBRARIES
This report follows the listing entitled SUMMARY OF RECOM- MENDATIONS, page V in the full report and page 8 in the report of the Appropriation Committee to Town Meeting Members.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
1. THAT THE LIBRARY CONTINUE AND ENLARGE ITS PRO- GRAMS: (See Full Report, page 6) This is, and for many years has been our aim. Film forums, musicals, etc. require an auditorium and facilities lacking in our present building.
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2. PURCHASE OF A BOOKMOBILE: (See Full Report, pages 7 & 13)
A bookmobile for auxiliary service would be excellent provided
a. It is large enough to serve as a travelling branch and is equipped to be a self-contained unit, heated and lighted independently of the motor. The $10,000 suggested for this purpose should be adequate.
b. A driver is provided by the town who will also load and unload the vehicle at the library, and who will have the responsibility for attending to its up-keep. He should also be a person who could assist the librarian in charge with non-professional tasks such as the shelving of books, leaving her freer to give reading and reference aid to the borrowers. The suggestion in the Griffenhagen report that it is only necessary for a driver to move the vehicle to some specified location each day and that such a driver might be provided by another town department. is not practical. The special value of a travelling library is in its mobility. To effect all needed book transportation between the library and its branches and stations, to give service to the various schools as well as the communities that are now remote from library facilities, would require many miles of travel on a carefully worked out schedule each week.
c. A bookmobile librarian of "Librarian I" grade is provided. Whether this be a person presently employed or someone hired for the position, it is important that she be able to give reader aid. She must know both adult and children's literature and give reference service wherever needed.
d. Garage accommodation is provided near the Main Library.
3. REVISED HOURS: (See Full Report, page 7)
SUGGESTED HOURS: 10 A.M. to 9 P.M .; Saturdays 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. "Certain holiday openings in the branches."
The library used to stay open until 9 P.M. and the trustees are ready to consider it again. The change was made to save fuel during World War II and, at the time, use did not seem to warrant the re- opening for the extra hour. However, even if the library does not open to the public until 10 A.M. (and we have borrowers who come in regularly at 9 A.M.) the working day for the library staff should start at 9 A.M. Otherwise the necessary morning work would be extended into the afternoon then the staff is so busy with the public that little else can be accomplished. This would be disadvantageous to the library service. A 9 to 9 schedule need not cost the town more for salaries than a 10 to 9 schedule. It would mean that the afternoon shift would start at 1 instead of 12 o'clock. Opening an extra hour would add to fuel and lighting costs.
Saturday evening closing is becoming common, with all day Satur- day closing in the summer months. Quincy has adopted this schedule and we might do well to consider it.
For the branch libraries to open on holidays seems unnecessary. Saturday opening could be resumed and close the branch on one other day if that would better serve the public. A poll of the borrowers several years ago showed a preference for the present schedule, prin- cipally because so many students use the libraries during the school week but are not studying on Saturdays. The trustees would wish to take another poll of the borrowers before making this change.
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4. COORDINATION BETWEEN THE TUFTS LIBRARY AND THE HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY: (See Full Report, page 7)
The librarian of the Tufts Library has always gladly cooperated with the High School Librarian and during the years when the High School Library was building its book collection, it was regularly sup- plemented by books borrowed from the Tufts Library. In attempting a working coordination the following considerations need to be kept in mind:
a. The High School Library has a different function. It is geared to meet student needs only. The public library must purchase for widely varied needs and also for persons not attending High School who may want or need the same book. If they were in the High School Library only they would not be available to such persons.
b. Our town is too spread out for the High School Library to meet all the needs of High School students whose homes are in other section of the town. They must come to the public library to find material for their school assignments and where duplication occurs it is in response to demand.
5. MERGING THE TUFTS AND FOGG LIBRARIES: (See Full Report, page 8)
The Fogg Memorial Library is a private institution and the trus- tees of the Tufts Library can take no action on this recommendation.
6. DISPOSAL OF OBSOLETE BOOKSTOCK: (See Full Report pages 8 & 9)
The librarian has the authority and does weed out obsolete books, but they must truly be obsolete. This is a slow and careful process. Each book must be considered for
its possible reference value,
its authoritativeness,
its literary value,
its condition,
its replacability.
its intrinsic value as a possible rare edition or valuable Americana.
Weeding a library requires as much book knowledge and good judge- ment as does the purchase of new books.
It is true that if we had storage stacks in the building, one third to one half of our book collection could be removed from the shelves on the main floor of the library, making possible a much more ad- vantageous arrangemnt, but that does not mean that they should be discarded. Such wholesale discarding would decimate the library and the trustees are strongly opposed to such a policy. There are always a large number of slow moving but authoritative books, or books of literary value, which belong in the basic collection of a library.
7. A POLICY OF DISCARDING BOOKS AFTER THREE YEARS OF STORAGE: (See Full Report, page 9)
Such a policy is practical for ephemeral material only. The prin- ciples given above under recommendation No. 6, should still be used in considering each book title.
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8. STORAGE STACKS IN THE ATTIC OR IN RENTED SPACE OUT- SIDE THE BUILDING: (See Full Report, page 10)
Whether we stay in the present building or have a new library, storage stacks are needed inside the library building. Renting quar- ters elsewhere in the town would mean
a. slow service to the public,
b. constant travelling back and forth with loads of books,
c. an attendant at the other end to get books out and put them away.
Storage stacks in the attic would require
a. ascertaining beyond all doubt that the floor will bear the weight,
b. sheathing the attic to keep out plaster dirt from wall and roof,
c. adequate light and heat,
d. forced ventilation for summer use.
Note: Books deteriorate rapidly when exposed to extreme temperatures and to dirt.
9. REDESIGNING THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE MAIN LIBRARY : (See Full Report, page 10)
This part of the library could be made much more attractive (at a cost) if the problem posed in the preceding recommendation were solved. The trustees have been aware of this and have in their files a tentative sketch for such re-designing but the bookcases take the room and none of them can be spared.
10. REPAINTING THE BRANCH LIBRARIES: (See Full Report, pages 11 & 12).
Both branches are housed in rented quarters. The trustees believe that repairs, painting, etc. should be done by the landlords and should not be an expense on the town in addition to the rentals.
Note: The North Weymouth Branch is much more in need of painting and repairs than is the branch at East Weymouth. The Griffen- hagen recommendation is for the work to be done first at East Weymouth.
11. INCREASING THE BOOK BUDGET: (See Full Report, page 9).
The book budget should be larger. The trustees realize this and are asking for a 15% increase for 1951. 20% to 25% of the total bud- get would be a very generous appropriation. The standard recom- mended by the American Library Association for a community the size of Weymouth, gives a rough division of the total budget as
Salaries, exclusive of janitorial services 65%
Books and book binding 171/2% Maintenance (all other expenses) 171/2%
The Tufts Library budget as requested for 1951 divides as follows:
Salaries, exclusive of janitorial services 65%
Books and book binding 111/2%
Maintenance (all other expenses) 231/2%
The discrepency is between books and maintenance (not, as stated in the Griffenhagen Report, between books and salaries), and as long as Weymouth has to keep an old building in repair and pay high ' rentals for branch libraries, maintenance expenditures will be dis- proportionately high.
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12. POOLING PERSONNEL PERFORMING CLERICAL DUTIES: (See Full Report page 5).
Given a properly arranged library building, with adequate work rooms, much of the work that is involved in book processing can be effectively pooled under the supervision of a trained cataloger. Some of this work can be performed by non-professional personnel, but some of it is definitely professional and requires a knowledge of library science.
Circulation (desk work) is not included in book processing. It is professional, not clerical in nature, and does not belong in such a pool.
An Assistant Town Librarian should not be confined to the super- vision of clerical work. Her duties are much wider and involve re- sponsibilities throughout the library system. The position is adminis- trative and professional.
13. A RECOMMENDED STAFF REORGANIZATION: (See Full Report pages 3, 4 and 5.) SUBSTITUTION OF CLERICAL HELP, UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF AN ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN, FOR THE CATALOGING OF BOOKS AND FOR THE CIRCULATION OF BOOKS AT THE ADULT MAIN LIBRARY AND THE BRANCH LIBRARIES.
This would defeat the library's program for good service to the public. Your may build the finest town library in Massachusetts and well planned and equipped branch library buildings; you may pro- vide an expensive bookmobile, but if your library staff does not have the fundamental knowledge of how to use these facilities, if they do not have a wide background knowledge of literature, if they can not intelligently and effectively give reader's aid and interpret the library's resources to the public, you will have a poor library.
IT IS PROPOSED TO USE CLERICAL HELP FOR CATALOGING.
Cataloging is a specialist's job. It includes classification of the books, which also requires special training. It involves the building of a catalog which, through analytics, subject headings, cross refer- ences, notes and analyses of contents, makes available all the resources of the library's book collection. It could not be performed by clerical help. Supervision of clerical help could never do the job and the book collection would become chaotic and the valuable material in it lost to all use. That happened here, and your present cataloger and librarian have had the tremendous task of re-classifying and re- cataloging the entire book stock which the library owned in 1928. They have re-processed 36,430 books in the past twenty-two years and have 5,987 still to handle. It is expensive when work is not done cor- rectly in the first place.
IT IS PROPOSED TO USE CLERICAL HELP AT THE MAIN LIBRARY CIRCULATION DESK AND AT THE BRANCH LIBRA- RIES, DOING AWAY WITH THE POSITIONS OF CIRCULATION LIBRARIAN AND BRANCH LIBRARIAN.
The Circulation and Branch Librarians do much more than charge and discharge books. They are in constant touch with the public, assisting in book selection and guidance. The Circulation Librarian must also do some reference work. The Branch Librarians must do both reference and children's work. These positions are con- sidered professionally as key positions in library service, since these are the people who daily interpret the library services to the public. They are definitely positions of professional grade, classified by Griffenhagen and Associates as "Librarian I".
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The minimum standards of the American Library Association call for "at least one trained and experienced librarian, competent to give reference and reading aid, on duty at all times when a library or branch is open to the public." We have been working up to this standard. To adopt a lower standard now would mean that Wey- mouth would have a poor library, giving poor service. It would cost far more than the estimated saving of $1500 a year in salaries to rectify this situation once the library service goes down.
THE REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Board of Trustees of the Tufts Library and through them to the citizens of the Town of Weymouth:
1950 has been the busiest year in the history of the Tufts Library, with a circulation count of 206,600 loans. This is a gain of 10,693 or al- most 51/2% over 1949. A record of the use of the Main Library showed an average monthly attendance of 5,500 persons, or approximately 66,000 persons who have come to the Tufts Library building during 1950 to bor- row books or to seek information, to read or to study. There is also a marked increase in our reference work with college students, both in the main library and the branches.
MORE BOOKS ARE NEEDED
This increased use of the library means a demand for more books, a demand that we have been unable to meet because the increased price of books has lessened the number we could purchase with our book ap- propriation. We are requesting a larger book budget for 1951, and believe that no other expenditure could be more appreciated by our borrowers.
THE LIBRARY STAFF
The increased use of the library has also placed a larger work load on all staff members. Our library staff is barely large enough to cover all work centers and in any illness or other emergency we are severely handicapped. The salary for one additional person on the library staff is requested in the 1951 budget. It will facilitate the service and effi- ciency which your library can give if this request is granted.
During 1950 we have had one resignation from the library staff, that of Mrs. Betty Lou Arnold, a senior assistant. Mrs. Edith T. Sanborn of East Weymouth joined the staff on November 27th. Mrs. Sanborn is a graduate of the University of Maine and has had teaching experience.
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