USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1951 > Part 20
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In view of the extensive school building plan and sewer construction, the Trustees are reluctant to ask the Town for a new building at this time, but the fact must be faced that the building has seen its best days and is inadequate for modern needs. The location is in a congested area, with little convenient parking space. The stacks are not sufficient to hold new books which must be purchased to meet the demands of the reading public. An increasing amount must be appropriated each year to keep the building in repair. In view of these facts, the Trustees again recommend that as soon as possible the Town consider selling the building and land and erect- ing a new library building on another site.
Another problem confronts the Library at the North Weymouth Branch. Patronage at this branch is increasing by leaps and bounds, but it is housed in a poorly constructed building, and is so crowded that future growth is almost out of the question. The branch needs three times the space it now occupies for future growth.
The School Department has invited the Trustees of Tufts Library to sit down with them and work out an arrangement whereby the branch library and a school library might be located in the proposed addition to the Bicknell School. Such a consolidation would entail a great many problems. The Trustees would like to co-operate with the School Depart- ment, but in a branch library they must consider the needs of all ages, as well as those of junior high school age. A combined school and branch library would require at least four times the floor space we now have at the North Weymouth Branch. To accommodate the adult reading public, the branch library should be near the street and on the ground floor. The School Department might not be able to spare this area in the new addition, or place the library where the location would be convenient to the public. There would be problems of personnel and salary differentials. There would be little parking space near the building. There would be conflicts of hours when the building was in use both by the school and by the public. We are advised by State library authorities that such a con- solidation has not generally been a success in cities and towns that have tried it.
Therefore, the Trustees recommend, if the suggested consolidation plan cannot be worked out, that land be purchased and a branch library building be erected in North Weymouth. It would be in the interest of the Town to own their own building in that part of the Town, rather than paying rent.
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The other branch and deposit stations are functioning satisfactorily. With the co-operation of the School Department, a new deposit station is proposed in the new Homestead School building, if there is demand for it.
In the summer of 1951 the Assistant Town Librarian, Mrs. Connors, was offered and accepted a position as school librarian in the new South Junior High School at a salary increase of $700. This was a great loss to the Tufts Library, for Mrs. Connors was a trained librarian and her place was hard to fill. The Trustees could not meet the increase in salary in the scope of their budget or without disrupting the entire library salary scale.
The Town Meeting of 1951 wisely voted to exempt the Tufts Library employees from the salary provisions of the Griffenhagen Plan. The Trustees recommend that a thorough study be made of library salaries, and if those at Tufts Library are not sufficiently remunerative to hold our valued employees or attract our Weymouth high school or college girls who would like to enter the library profession, that an upward revision be made.
The Tufts Library has suffered a great loss in the death of Doctor Clarance P. Whittle. He was a member of the Board of Trustees for 47 years, and its President for 44 years. The library was always very near his heart. He had a profound knowledge of library practice, and his de- cisions, whether large or small, were always for the best interests of the Town. Weymouth has lost a great public servant. The Trustees take up with humility the work he laid down. His place will be hard to fill.
FRANKLIN N. PRATT,
President pro tem.
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:
100 YEARS OF FREE BOOKS FOR MASSACHUSETTS
"One hundred years ago, on May 24, 1851, the Governor of the Com- monwealth of Massachusetts approved an act of the State Legislature which gave power to all the cities and towns of the State to establish and main- tain free public libraries for the use of the inhabitants thereof. Massa- chusetts thus became a pioneer in fostering and developing an institution of learning peculiarly American." (Quoted from the Proclamation by Governor Paul A. Dever.)
AND 73 YEARS OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY
Under this law, in the year 1879, and due to the far-sighted generosity of Quincy and Susannah Tufts, the Tufts Library became a reality for the people of Weymouth.
In recognition of this centennial, the present Governor of the Common- wealth, Paul A. Dever, proclaimed as Public Library Week, May 20-27, 1951. Libraries throughout the Commonwealth had special observance of the week, and the Tufts Library had "Open House" on the afternoon and evening of May 23rd. The Weymouth Garden Club co-operated and placed lovely floral arrangements throughout the building. There was fine music from our new record collection, and many expressions of appreciation from our visitors.
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Again, on the evening of May 25th, an "Open House" for the trustees of libraries in surrounding towns was held at the Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy. Two Trustees of the Tufts Library represented Wey- mouth at that gathering.
WEYMOUTH HAS GROWN. SO HAS THE TUFTS LIBRARY
In 1951, 9,632 people borrowed 216,332 books, magazines, and records. "This averages almost one book every two weeks by each and every one of these 9,632 borrowers. More people read more books than ever before in Weymouth.
They had on the library shelves over 68,000 books to choose from, and more than 3,000 of these were new in 1951.
Seven thousand two hundred and fifty-one books were sent from the library to the schools and distributed through 74 classrooms. These books were read by the boys and girls 31,605 times. We appreciate very much the help of the School Department in transporting these books between the li- brary and the schools. The library awards an Honor Certificate for reading to every boy and girl who reads twenty books from the graded collections sent from the library to the schools. Three hundred and eighty of these Honor Certificates were awarded at the close of school last June.
MUSIC IN THE LIBRARY
The collection of recorded music is still small, but it is growing in popularity as well as in size. Two thousand one hundred and six records were circulated in 1951 from our little library of 256 records. We now have albums of both 78 revolutions per minute and the long playing records and we have a record player equipped with ear phones so that music may be listened to in the library without disturbing the readers. In buying records, the library seeks to get the finest recordings of great music. This year the Vocational School has made for the Tufts Library a cabinet especially planned and built to hold the records safely.
YOUTH IN THE LIBRARY
The Children's Library has had an active year. Library cards were given to 352 new youthful borrowers in our Children's Room, besides 624 who received their cards through the library branches and stations. This is a total of 976 new juvenile readers in 1951. The boys and girls throughout the Town borrowed 103,836 books, 57,794 of them from the Children's Room, 31,605 through the classroom libraries sent to the schools, and the balance from the branch libraries and stations.
Until the close of the school year in 1951, classes in the use of the library and reference tools were held in the Children's Room for all the seventh grades. This work was carried by our Children's Librarian, Mrs. Ruth Connors, and her resignation in September left the library short- staffed, so that it was not feasible to resume the class instruction in Sep- tember. It had been our hope and expectation to continue this service until the three Junior High Schools are equipped to take it over.
Story hours are conducted in the Children's Room each Friday after- noon from October through April. There has been an average of 34 children per week at the story hours during 1951. All boys and girls in grades one to six are invited to come to the Main Library Children's Room on Friday afternoons after school for stories.
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BRANCH LIBRARIES
The North and East Weymouth Branch Libraries are busy crowded places. Both of them report an increase in circulation and in registra- tions. The crowded condition is especially bad at the North Weymouth Branch, where every inch of space is utilized, and in the busy times there will often be two persons trying to use one chair. North Weymouth is a rapidly growing section, and the library should be three times the size of our present quarters to give even reasonably good service to the community. The need for a new branch library is urgent, but no change should be made that would not give the community adequate space for a good library, located close to the street where there is maximum pedestrian traffic.
MORE BOOKS NEEDED
The increase in the use of the library brings with it a larger demand upon our book resources. More books are needed to meet the reading needs of adults; the greatly expanded program of book distribution through classroom libraries; and the development of library service for young people of High School age. More books means an increase in the book budget, for the advancing price of books has effectively cut the purchasing power of our budget.
PERSONNEL
There have been several changes in the library staff during 1951.
In the Spring, Mrs. Ruth Connors, our Children's Librarian through the past five years, was appointed Assistant Town Librarian, with special responsibility for the Adult Reference Work and the development of the reading and reference interests of the young people of High School age, and Miss Dorothy Trussell was promoted from Assistant Children's Li- brarian to Children's Librarian. Miss Alice Mulready was promoted to Assistant Reference Librarian and Mrs. Kathy Mahoney to the position of Assistant Children's Librarian. In August, Mrs. Connors resigned to accept the position of Librarian in the new South Junior High School, and Mrs. Truax, who has been Reference Librarian, requested the Trustees to relieve her of that responsibility and place her on part-time, with a continuance of her present supervision services of our four little library stations. This loss of two of our Department Heads gravely crippled the library staff, and the Trustees appointed on a temporary basis Mrs. Eleanor T. Cooney to the position vacated by Mrs. Connors. Mrs. Cooney is a graduate of Sim- mons College Library School, and has had experience as an Assistant in the Jones Library in Amherst and as Librarian of the Public Library in Littleton, New Hampshire. She is now living in Cohasset.
One happy change in the library staff occurred when Miss Catherine Condrick, our North Weymouth Branch Librarian, was married. She is now Mrs. Timothy Osborn, and we wish her much happiness.
In the middle of May, the janitor of the Main Library, John Galvin, became ill, and on July first tendered his resignation. The Trustees have hired as custodian of the building Mr. John A. Johnson, who has had experience in janitorial work in Gilchrist's store. The librarian and staff appreciate the good service he has given since his appointment.
SUMMER HOURS
For the first time, the Tufts Library was kept cpen on summer evenings Monday through Friday. It was closed all day on Saturday. The librarian felt that this would give better service to the community, as well as sim- plify the summer schedule, and make possible free week-ends for the
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library staff, but she was not prepared for so large a public response in terms of increased use of the library. The summer evenings more than compensated for the Saturday closing. In July and August, when schools were closed and many people were away, our circulation of books increased by 621 loans over the corresponding months in 1950.
MAINTENANCE
A major repair job is necessary on the brick work, high up on the north- east tower of the library building. Some bricks have fallen out and others are loose. The Trustees have arranged to have this work done as soon as weather permits.
LIGHT TO READ BY
Adequate lighting for the library is very much needed and is gradually being installed. A section over the main charging desk, one over the card catalog and a portion of the installation needed in the Children's Room have been installed. In 1952, we hope to extend the fluorescent lighting into the Reading Room and at the top of the stairs at the Main Entrance.
THE MARY FIFIELD KING BEQUEST
Under the will of Mary Fifield King, the Tufts Library has received a bequest of $2,000.00. This is unrestricted, and the Trustees are at present devoting the interest to the purchase of recorded music for our circulating record collection.
IN MEMORIAM
As the year 1951 drew to a close, the Tufts Library suffered a grave loss in the death of Dr. Clarance P. Whittle, member of the Board of Trustees of the Tufts Library since 1904, and President of the Board since 1907. His constant interest, his wise counsel and friendly guidance will be deeply missed. Under his leadership, the library service has been quad- rupled. The Tufts Library and the Town of Weymouth have lost a true and loyal friend. Out of respect for his memory, the library flag was displayed at half-mast and the library was closed at the time of his funeral.
Your Librarian, at this time, wishes to express her appreciation of the support and interest and furtherance of good library service which Dr. Whittle has given her throughout the years of her service.
She also desires to thank you, the present Board of Trustees of the Tufts Library, for your backing and guidance, and to express her satisfac- tion that the jurisdiction of the Tufts Library has been left in your hands by the vote of the Town Meeting. And to a loyal staff, she would express appreciation for their wholehearted support and assistance throughout 1951.
Respectfully submitted, CHRISTINE E. EVARTS, Town Librarian.
GIFTS OF BOOKS TO THE TUFTS LIBRARY, 1951
The Trustees acknowledge gratefully gifts of books from the following persons :
Mrs. Albert Bell, Mr. C. S. Bluemel, Mrs. John Butler, Mr. Edward Chalke, Mrs. Ruth Cuff, Mr. H. Y. Duncan, Christine E. Evarts, Mr.
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Louis Frederick, Mr. Wilfred Krabek, Sr. M. Margaret Loretto, Rev. Burton A. Lucas, Mary R. Martin, Mr. Edward R. Maul, Miss Antoinette Scudder, Mr. Stanley Shaw, Mr. Gerald Smith, Mrs. Frank South, Mr. Arthur St. Cyr, Mrs. Ruth Ward.
The Trustees also wish to take this opportunity to thank other public libraries and the various government departments for their publications, and the following organizations and schools:
American Express Company
American Steel Institute
Austrian Government
F. J. Barnard Co.
Corning Glass Works
Foundation for Economic Education
General Motors Corporation
International Business Machines Corporation
Jordan Marsh Company
Louisa Humphrey Book Club
Macmillan Company
National Committee for a Free Europe
New England News Company
Pond School, Grade 8
Quincy Lodge of B'nai B'rith
Randen Foundation
South Shore Nature Club
Standard Oil Company
State Street Trust Company
Town of Weymouth
U.S. Brewers' Foundation, Inc.
Weymouth Historical Society
STATISTICAL REPORT OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY
1951
Date of founding 1879
Population served (Federal census 1950)
32,695
Assessed valuation of the Town
$70,804,598.00
Total number of agencies consisting of :
1
Main Library
Branches 2
4
Schools
15
Classroom collections
74
Number of days open during the year
290
Number of hours per week open for lending and reading 66
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Deposit Stations
INCREASE
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Number of volumes at beginning of year
49,810
16,975
66,785
Number of volumes added in 1951
1,735
1,465
3,200
Number of volumes withdrawn
1,022
472
1,494
50,523
17,968
68,491
7
107
titles
121 copies
USE
Number of volumes of non-fiction loaned for home use
34,969
39,788
74,757
Number of volumes of fiction loaned for home use
75,421
64,048
139,469
Number of records loaned for home use
2,106
2,106
Total number of loans
112,496
103,836
216,332
Number of volumes loaned through School Collections
31,605
TUFTS LIBRARY REGISTRATION RECORDS FOR 1951
Number of borrowers registered to December 31, 1950
9,238
Number of new registrations in 1951
1,941
Tufts Library (Main)
Total
Adult
540
Juvenile
352
892
North Weymouth
Adult
175
Juvenile
228
403
East Weymouth
Adult
195
Juvenile
188
383
Weymouth Heights
Adult
19
Juvenile
109
128
Lovell's Corner
Adult
6
Juvenile
51
57
Nash's Corner
Adult
15
Juvenile
14
29
Pond Plain
Adult
15
Juvenile
34
49
Total
1,941
238
Total number of volumes December 31, 1951 Number of newspapers currently received Number of periodicals currently received
Number of borrowers to December 31, 1950 Number of borrowers registered in 1951
9,238
1,941
11,179
Number of registrations expired in 1951
957
Number of registrations void through death or removal from Town
590
1,547
Total number of borrowers to December 31, 1951
9,532
BOOK CIRCULATION 1951
Fiction
Non- Fiction
Total
Grand Total
The Tufts Library
Adult
29,334
23,574
52,908
Juvenile
42,989
14,805
57,794
72,323
38,379
110,702
110,702
North Weymouth Branch
Adult
21,112
6,881
27,993
Juvenile
8,641
10,138
18,779
29,753
17,019
46,772
46,772
East Weymouth Branch
Adult
14,929
4,062
18,991
Juvenile
6,541
7,610
14,151
21,470
11,672
33,142
33,142
Weymouth Heights Station
Adult
2,500
1,146
3,646
Juvenile
2,344
2,357
4,701
4,844
3,503
8,347
8,347
Lovell's Corner Station
Adult
2,421
579
3,000
Juvenile
1,747
2,387
4,134
4,168
2,966
7,134
7,134
Nash's Corner Station
Adult
2,219
387
2,606
Juvenile
987
1,522
2,509
3,206
1,909
5,115
5,115
Pond Plain Station
Adult
2,906
446
3,352
Juvenile
799
969
1,768
3,705
1,415
5,120
5,120
Grand Total
216,332
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THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1951
Tufts Library :
Salaries
$31,324.27
Janitor Service
3,356.20
Books, Periodicals, etc.
4,815.54
Service to Stations
561.69
Insurance
21.22
Bindery
990.57
Fuel
828.43
Light
521.09
Maintenance
2,614.42
Convention Expenses
80.34
Miscellaneous
1,596.57
$46,710.34
North Weymouth Branch:
Salaries
$3,791.43
Janitor Service
729.17
Books, Periodicals, etc.
1,201.42
Rent
1,140.00
Fuel
232.30
Light
55.70
Maintenance
186.62
Transportation of Books
53.00
Sundries
5,92
7,395.56
East Weymouth Branch:
Salaries
$ 3,222.90
Janitor Service
425.00
Books, Periodicals, etc.
1,110.93
Rent
1,500.00
Light
57.84
Maintenance
348.94
Transportation of Books
52.00
Sundries
13.04
6,730.65
Total Expended
$60,836.55
Balance to Treasury
2,719.38
Balance to 1952 Account
78.55
Total
$63,634.48
Appropriation Account :
Appropriation, March 5, 1951
$62,694.00
Income from Trust Funds:
Joseph E. Trask Fund
$325.12
240
Augustus J. Richards Fund
130.00
Arthur E. Pratt Fund
82.50
Susannah Hunt Stetson Fund
68.76
William H. Pratt Fund
69.94
Tufts Fund - Books
89.58
Tufts Fund - Reading Room
89.58
Tirrell Donation
27.50
Francis Flint Forsyth Fund
27.50
Alida M. Denton Fund
17.50
Charles Henry Pratt Fund
12,50
940.48
$63,634.48
EMERSON R. DIZER, Town Accountant.
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ANNUAL REPORT WEYMOUTH CIVIL DEFENSE COMMITTEE
Honorable Board of Selectmen Town of Weymouth East Weymouth, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
Herewith is presented a report of the Civil Defense Committee for the activities of the year 1951:
Your group organized in 1950 and proceeded to lay a foundation for an organization which would be prepared to render aid in the event of hostile action or attack on our community.
The function of such a group would be the training and instruction of volunteer personnel to perform emergency service mainly to prevent injury, to allay panic, to maintain order as far as would be possible, to combat fire, to detect and guard against delayed effects of missiles, pro- jectiles, contamination and radiological dangers, to render first aid and preliminary medical care and hospitalization, and to feed and clothe, and in many cases shelter any victims of enemy violence. Other functions would be to direct evacuation from areas of danger, to remove or safeguard wreckage, including the demolishing of damaged buildings and to care for bodies of any deceased victims of attack.
We have proceeded along the lines of other nearby communities and have provided a basic group which has familiarized itself with the condi- tions that could exist and some of the suggested remedies. We have par- ticipated in some test maneuvers and will take part in future tests already in preparation.
Office headquarters have been provided in the Town Hall. Operation Headquarters have been set up and partially equipped in the form of a Report Centre which is in the basement of the Police Station. In the event of any attack, all operations will be directed from this Report Centre, with provision that, in the event this location is in a damage area, another location already selected will be used.
Training for rendering first aid has proceeded very well under the direction of Weymouth Chapter of the American Red Cross. Several first aid courses have been completed, and the extensive plan which is being carried on through the School System has made great progress, and by Spring of 1952 it is expected that the entire corps of teachers and those pupils above the seventh grade will have completed their prescribed course.
An emergency communication group was organized early in the pro- gram. About thirty amateur radio enthusiasts, modestly calling themselves "Hams," volunteered their personal services and the use of their valuable personally owned equipment. They conduct two regular drills every week and have participated with excellent results in the area tests thus far conducted. Their work, we hope, will be enlarged upon installation of emergency equipment in the Report Centre and Fire, Police and Medical Headquarters.
Plans are developed for the creation of three Field Hospitals at the Bicknell, High and Nevins Schools, these to tie in to a Base Hospital using the facilities of the South Shore Hospital. Staff members have been assigned to each station, and as soon as supplies and equipment are pro- vided, these units will be ready for actual duty.
242
Chemical and radiological defense and defense against special weapons are progressing rapidly, and the procurement of equipment will also greatly increase their effectiveness,
We are endeavoring to train and equip many wardens, both men and women, but response to the call has been slow.
As we proceed, complete plans for evacuation, mass feeding, trans- portation of victims, housing and rescue work will be developed.
We are particularly proud of the progress of our auxiliary police force. Few communities have reached the stage of training and development we have in Weymouth. All have taken first aid and complete police training courses and are now engaged in marksmanship practice. They have volun- teered for active police work on various occasions and acquitted themselves well.
Volunteers for fire fighting in the auxiliary fire force have not been numerous. Those that have offered their services have undergone excellent training, but we are severely in need of more men.
In general, while these are many phases calling for more personnel and further drilling, we feel that Weymouth is making progress that com- pares favorably with other communities. The need appears to many to be quite far away, and that has retarded volunteer assistance. The Federal and State Divisions have been very slow in their development, their plans have not been made clear, and we have not as yet received the definite training instructions from those sources that we might reasonably expect, and without their guidance we cannot reach that state of readiness that the Town might reasonably expect.
We have been most fortunate to have the technical assistance and guidance so generously provided by Mr. Russell Cowing of East Weymouth, a member of the State Technical Staff who served as an official observer at the Bikini Atom Bomb Tests and who has been very willing to give our groups the benefit of his experience and technical advice.
In conclusion, may I say that there are many vacancies in our staff. We need many hundreds more workers and will be happy to receive word of their willingness to serve in order to give our people the best possible help should enemy action make our services necessary,
Respectfully submitted,
ALFRED C. SHEEHY, Director.
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MEMORIAL DAY COMMITTEE REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1951
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