USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1958 > Part 20
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The Children's Room at the Main Library and Children's Depart- ments at the Branch Libraries provide books and reading guidance for the boys and girls. Children under Senior High School age are entitled to a card if the application is signed by a parent or guardian. Story hours for the younger children are held throughout the winter months:
Main Library: Grades 1-4, Thursday 2:30 and 3:30 P.M.
North Branch: Pre-School, Friday 10 A.M .; Grades 1-4 Friday 3:15 P.M.
East Branch: Grades 1-4, Friday 2:30 and 3:30 P.M.
Reference service is available at the Library or by telephone.
For the convenience of residents in the various parts of the Town there is a weekly exchange of books from all Branch Libraries. A Li- brary card is valid at any Branch or at the Main Library.
Telephone : The Tufts Library - EDgewater 7-1402 North Branch - EDgewater 7-1571 East Branch - EDgewater 7-1677
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EIGHTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY
To the Citizens of the Town of Weymouth:
At the first special town meeting after the annual town meeting the Trustees of Tufts Library propose to take the first steps toward the erec- tion of a new library building.
The reasons for this move are these:
(1) The present main library building was erected nearly seventy years ago. It has long been outgrown by the increasing demands of the library program and does not have room to house the large number of books required by the reading public or for the servicing and handling of them.
(2) The present main library building is a fire and construction hazard and is in constant need for repairs.
(3) The facilities for parking and delivering in Washington Square are meagre.
While there is nothing legal to prevent the erection of a new library building in another part of the town, it is the clear intent of the wills of both Quincy and Susan Tufts that the library should forever be located in Weymouth Landing.
If it were located elsewhere, a new branch library would have to be located in Weymouth Landing at additional expense.
The best available land, from the standpoint of convenience and economy is in that section of Weston Park fronting on Broad Street op- posite the Hunt School. There are other sites in Weymouth Landing which would be desirable, but they are built upon and the town would have to purchase the property and raze the buildings. Such a location is the so-called Edmund Hunt estate on Broad Street, which has been of- fered to the town. The asked price for this property is $47,000. Addi- tional expense would be required for razing four buildings and for drain- ing or filling in a pond. The back land would be of no use to the library.
The disadvantage of locating the new library building in Weston Park is that to put a building on park property would probably require an act of the legislature.
The advantages of locating the library in Weston Park are:
(1) The economy of using land already owned by the town.
(2) That it is a safe location for children.
(3) That it is convenient to a large residential area and not far from the shopping centers.
(4) That the building could be used by some of the activities of the Park Commission, particularly their work with young people and Golden Age groups.
(5) The land is not now being used by the Park Commission to any considerable extent.
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A new main library building should be planned to allow for at least twenty years growth.
Granting a population for the town by 1979 of 55,000 the total area of the floor space required should be 29,535 square feet.
If a land taking of 150 feet on Broad Street was put through, this would allow a building to be erected size 130 feet by 100 feet. This would allow for a driveway and parking space on the east side of the building, while there would be ample access to the park on the west side. The necessary floor space could be obtained by a lower floor, with entrance on the park side, a main floor, with entrance on Broad Street and a mez- zanine floor above.
The Trustees of Tufts Library feel thoroughly justified in advising the erection of a new main library building as soon as possible and hope the towns people and the reading public will endorse the project.
Outside the need for a new library building, the needs of the library are for new books, particularly books for the children. They hope funds will be provided for keeping the North and East Branches open in the evening until nine o'clock. This plan was adopted last year at the main library and has been well patronized.
Respectfully submitted, FRANKLIN N. PRATT
REPORT OF THE TOWN LIBRARIAN
To the Board of Trustees of the Tufts Library:
1958 was a busy year in the Tutfs Library and its branches. The increasing interest in and pressure for more effort along educational lines has resulted in much greater use of library facilities by school pupils from high school seniors down through the lower grades. This has been reflected in larger book circulation and greatly increased use of refer- ence material. Our seating capacity has been severely taxed at the Main Library many evenings by students, leaving the casual adult browser out in the cold - with only the stairs for a seat. We welcome the swelling number of users, but with their coming the problems of a crowded and inadequate Main Library become all the more acute.
Again this year we have tried by various shifts to make more space at the Main Library. We have stored more books in the attic and base- ment, but this results in slower service for the public and more work for the staff. We have moved the catalog department to the Trustees Room, which has proved most advantageous - it is a quieter work area and nearer the public catalog. The work room has been relocated in the area back of the stacks vacated by the catalogers, but this area does not pro- vide enough space for efficient layout of work. The painting of the in- terior of the Main Library last June gave a welcome fresh and clean appearance, but maintenance in a crowded building open and actively used at least twelve hours a day, six days a week, is sometimes a problem.
In spite of these handicaps much activity has taken place at the Main Library - April first the library added an hour a day to its sched- ule and is open until 9 P.M. Monday through Friday; 7,000 more books were circulated from this building in 1958; three Great Books Groups meet reguarly here. In September the library began to loan 16 mm.
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sound films to Weymouth organizations. Thirteen groups had shown films to a total of 1,924 viewers by the end of the year. A week long Art Show was a feature of National Library Week. Story hours, film pro- grams and visits by school classes and youth organizations have brought large groups to the Children's Room.
Where more adequate quarters are available for library service, no- table gains are recorded. The North Weymouth Branch Library, which has just completed four years in the new building, is now circulating nearly eighty thousand books a year, a 60% increase over four years ago. Mrs. Catherine Osborn, Branch Librarian, reports a decided increase in the circulation of non-fiction, large attendance at both the pre-school and afternoon story-hours, and visits from classes of three elementary schools for instruction in the use of the library.
The East Weymouth Branch Library has also had a remarkable gain of 41% in use in the past two years. Mrs. Irene Thompson, Branch Li- brarian, reports that the collection there has been weeded and made more attractive by adding new covers and plastic jackets to the older books.
Expansion continues in the Station Libraries. The Nash's Corner Station moved to new quarters in the Nash School in April. The more spacious room provided by the School Department there has allowed us to increase our book collection at this station library. Adult use has nearly doubled and in this larger school over 15,000 juvenile books were circu- lated this past year. All the Station Libraries report steady gains this year, with Pond Plain, open two days a week, now doing as much busi- ness as one of our regular branch libraries did a few years ago. Taken as a group these extension libraries are the second largest unit of service in the library system, exceeded only by the Main Library.
Our children's book collection is showing the strain of this increased use. Last June the library awarded 1,582 Reading Certificates to school children who read and made reports on at least twenty books. Miss Dor- othy Trussell, the Children's Librarian, points out that we need a sub- stantial increase in book funds to meet increased demands so that we may be able to supply these station libraries and to furnish satisfatcory classroom collections to elementary schools in buildings where there is no station library.
Mrs. Edith Sanborn, Young People's Librarian, reports that she is continuing her visits to 8th grades in June, inviting the graduating 8th graders to use the facilities of the Young Adult Department. Miss Alice Fay, Reference Librarian, says that in addition to the regular inquiries in person and by telephone for general information, she has received many requests by mail for information on Weymouth history and gene- alcgy, one from as far away as Hawaii. She has been able to answer some inquiries by loaning copies of the Weymouth Town History on inter- library loan. Mrs. Edith Payson, the Cataloger, reports a total of 6,452 volumes added, and 1,668 volumes withdrawn, bringing the total library collection to 92,093, or 2 volumes per capita.
Miss Alice Mulready, the Assistant Town Librarian, has been of great help in carrying on the daily operation of the library and in training new helpers. Mrs. Mildred W. Olson, Circulation Librarian, retired in December after fifteen years of service. Mrs. Alice Heggblod was pro- moted to the position of Senior Assistant in charge of Registration and Records. Many of our high school pages who have worked with us for several years went on to college this September, but new pages are now in training.
261
Four staff members participated in a training course in Reference Work held at the Brockton Public Library last spring by the Old Colony Library Club. Miss Fay and I served as instructors for two sessions. All staff members have attended either local or state library meetings during the year, bringing back new ideas and concepts of library service.
The Massachusetts Library Association last May adopted minimum standards of service for public libraries of all sizes. Their recommenda- tions include minimum professional salaries. Although Weymouth meas- ures up to standard in hours of service, book collection, and qualified personnel, Weymouth library salaries fall short of the minimum set. Al- though we now have a full staff, the evidence points to possible difficul- ties in the future unless we can bring the salaries for trained, qualified people up to standard.
Special events of the past year include the first annual National Li- brary Week, which was celebrated in March. The Tufts Library held open house on Sunday, March 16th, both at the Main Library and at the North Weymouth Branch. A display by local artists was featured at the Main Library, with a photography show by the South Shore Cam- era Club the feature at North Weymouth. Both libraries were made attractive by arrangements by the Weymouth Garden Club, with flowers provided by local florists. The Great Books Groups and the Literature Group of the Monday Club served as hostesses. Two windows at the East Weymouth Branch featured science displays on the International Geophysical Year.
In October the Tufts Library sponsored a Tufts Fund lecture with the poet Robert Frost as speaker. Our annal Book Week in November brought 814 pupils to visit the Main Library Children's Room. Branches and Stations also had special activities.
Many individuals remembered the library with gifts of books - a list is appended to this report. We are again indebted to the Weymouth Garden Club for planting the flower beds at the North Branch Library and providing color throughout the growing season.
Both the staff and the trustees have worked willingly to promote better library service this past year, and to them and to you I extend my sincere thanks.
Respectfully submitted, ELEANOR T. COONEY Town Librarian
GIFTS OF BOOKS AND RECORDS TO THE TUFTS LIBRARY - 1958
The Trustees acknowledge gratefully gifts of books and phonograph records from the following persons:
Mr. Richard Bartlett, Mrs. Edith Cavander, Mr. Oberlin Clark, Miss Rose Cody, Mrs. Carol Donovan, Mr. Francis N. Drown, Mr. Evan R. Evans, Miss Christine E. Evarts, Mrs. Caroline K. Harris, Mrs. Jim O. Hill, Mr. Duncan Hines, L. A. King, Mrs. A. McLeod, Mr. Arthur McMil- lan, Mrs. Cora Montagne, Mrs. William Murray, Miss Mary Neiland, Mr. Ernest Remondini, Mrs. Raymond Scott, Mr. George H. Thompson, Mrs. William Veazie, Mr. Joseph Vachon, Miss Joan Ward and Mrs. Vance O. Wilson.
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Friends or relatives gave books in memory of the following people during 1958:
Mrs. Margaret Ritchie Abbott, Lt. Commander Laurence E. MacFawn, Mr. William L. Nolan and Mrs. Alice H. Taylor.
The Trustees also wish to take this opportunity to thank other pub- lic libraries and the various government departments for their publica- tions and the following organizations:
American Institute of Social Science
American Library Association
Austrian Information Service
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Walt Disney Studios
Fairburn Marine Educational Foundation
Gardner Company
Institute of Life Insurance
Rhines Lumber Company
Standard Oil Company
Sterling Publishers
Weymouth Chapter, American Red Cross
Weymouth High School Library
A. Wiesenberger, Publishers
STATISTICAL REPORT OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY - 1958
Date of founding
1879
Population served (Federal Census, 1950)
32,695
(State Census, 1955)
42,747
Assessed valuation of the Town
$113,688,925.00
Total number of agencies consisting of :
Main Library
1
Branches
2
Deposit Stations
5
Schools
17
School collections
97
Number of days open during the year
294
Number of hours per week open for lending and reading
69
INCREASE
Adult
Juve- nile 27,846
Young Adult
Total
Number of volumes at beginning of year
53,857
5,606
87,309
Number of volumes added in 1958
2,421
3,129
902
6,452
Number of volumes withdrawn
939
544
185
1,668
Total number of volumes December 31, 1958
55,339
30,431
6,323
92,093
Record Collection, December 31, 1958
555
344
899
Number of newspapers currently received
9
Number of periodicals currently received
(Titles) 126
(Copies) 282
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USE
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Number of volumes of non-fiction loaned for home use
56,301
116,174
172,475
Number of volumes of fiction loaned for home use
91,866
65,238
157,104
Number of records loaned for home use (included in non-fiction count)
2,560
317
2,877
148,167
181,412
329,579
Number of volumes loaned through school collections
Total number of loans
381,317
REGISTRATION REPORT FOR 1958
Number of borrowers registered to December 31, 1957 Number of new borrowers registered in 1958
Tufts Library (Main
Adult
789
Juvenile
357
1146
North Weymouth
Adult
356
726
Juvenile
370
East Weymouth
Adult
295
Juvenile
352
647
Weymouth Heights
Adult
2
Juvenile
106
108
Lovell's Corner
Adult
14
Juvenile
78
92
Nash's Corner
Adult
48
Juvenile
76
124
Pond Plain
Adult
33
Juvenile
123
156
Homestead
4
79
3,078
Total
Number of registrations expired in 1958 1464
Number of registrations void through
death or removal from Town
397
1,861
Total number of borrowers to December 31, 1958
15,835
Adult
Juvenile
75
51,738
14,618
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CIRCULATION REPORT FOR 1958
Fiction Non-Fiction Total
Grand Total
Tufts Library (Main)
Adult
37,778
30,499
68,277
Juvenile
14,962
23,986
38,948
52,740
54,485
107,225
107,225
North Weymouth Branch
Adult
26,234
13,190
39,424
Juvenile
14,388
25,554
39,942
40,622
38,744
79,366
79,366
East Weymouth Branch
Adult
16,051
7,580
23,631
Juvenile
9,215
14,164
23,379
25,266
21,744
47,010
47,010
Weymouth Heights Station
Adult
1,013
449
1,462
Juvenile
3,477
6,156
9,633
4,490
6,605
11,095
11,095
Lovell's Corner Station
Adult
3,104
1,203
4,307
Juvenile
6,823
10,583
17,406
9,927
11,786
21,713
21,7.13
Nash's Corner Station
Adult
3,580
1,819
5,399
Juvenile
4,755
10,955
15,710
8,335
12,774
21,109
21,109
Pond Plain Station
Adult
3,548
1,327
4,875
Juvenile
7,558
16,710
24,268
11,106
18,037
29,143
29,143
Homestead Station
Adult
558
234
792
Juvenile
4,060
8,066
12,126
4,618
8,300
12,918
12,918
Circulation from books loaned to schools
51,738
Grand Total
381,317
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THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1958
The Tufts Library:
Salaries
$56,508.83
Janitor Service
4,788.76
Books, Periodicals, etc.
10,747.38
Service to Stations
357.25
Bindery
2,177.30
Fuel
894.40
Light
868.95
Maintenance
4,471.74
Miscellaneous
4,177.62
Convention Expenses
114.35
$ 85,106.58
North Weymouth Branch:
Salaries
$12,038.49
Janitor Service
3,409.05
Books, Periodicals, etc.
3,552.01
Fuel
407.88
Maintenance
1,559.52
Light
566.30
Transportation of Books
127.50
21,660.75
East Weymouth Branch:
Salaries
$ 6,558.15
Janitor Service
1,170.78
Books, Periodicals, etc.
2,908.68
Rent
1,800.00
Maintenance
568.47
Light
121.80
Transportation of Books
137.50
13,265.38
Balance to Treasury
.70
$120,033.41
Appropriation Account:
Appropriation March 3, 1958
$118,783.00
Income from Trust Funds:
Joseph E. Trask Fund
$404.64
Augustus J. Richards Fund
160.42
Arthur E. Pratt Fund
97.50
Susanah Hunt Stetson Fund
81.26
William H. Pratt Fund
90.94
Tufts Fund-Books
119.99
Tufts Fund-Reading Room
119.99
$120,032.71
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Tirrell Donation
Walter G. Forsythe Fund
32.50
Alida M. Denton Fund
22.76
16.26
71.65
1,250.41
Total
$120,033.41
WARREN F. ROULSTON Town Accountant
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Charles Henry Pratt Fund
Mary Fifield King Fund
32.50
Annual Report
of the
Public Works Department
AGUSSE
SET-162
WES.
AREEST VINCE
MASSACHUSETTS
WE
YMC
WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
1958
TOWN OF WEYMOUTH DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
Board of Public Works
Joseph M. Nover, Jr., Chairman
John E. McCaffrey, Clerk
George E. Lane
Everett J. McIntosh
Robert G. Ahlstedt
Allan R. Mckinnon
George F. Brady
Superintendent of Public Works Arthur J. Bilodeau
December 31, 1958.
Board of Selectmen, Appropriation Committee and Town Meeting Mem- bers:
The Board of Public Works, authorized by a Special Town Meeting on December 10, 1956, and empowered under Chapter 56, Acts, 1957, by the Massachusetts Legislature, hereby submits its first annual report of organ- ization and operation from April 1 to December 31 1958.
On March 10, 1958, the voters of the Town elected the first Board of Public Works for Weymouth, including George F. Brady and Allan R. Mckinnon for one year terms; Robert G. Ahlstedt and John E. McCaffrey, two year terms; and George E. Lane, Everett J. McIntosh and Joseph M. Nover, Jr., for three year terms. On March 13, 1958, the Board elected Joseph M. Nover, Jr., as Chairman; Allen R. Mckinnon, Vice-Chairman, and John E. McCaffrey, Clerk.
On April 7, 1958, the Board of Public Works selected and appointed Town Engineer, Arthur J. Bilodeau, as the first Superintendent of Public Works for Weymouth. He was given authority to direct and coordinate all activities of the Public Works Department in accordance with policies established by the Board.
During the past nine months, the Public Works Board has reviewed with all committees, boards and department heads, all policies and pro- cedures established over a period of many years in order that they might be reconfirmed or replaced by more productive and more economic meas- ures for the benefit of our home owners and citizens.
Through close co-operation between the Public Works Board, the Superintendent and the several Departmental Superintendents, we have moved steadily and progressively ahead, particularly toward the consolida- tion of administration, personnel, manpower and equipment. A decrease in employee members and the letting of private contracts to replace public works employees in various reconstruction projects reflect a definite degree of savings.
The detailed report, which follows, covering all Public Works activities during 1958, together with proposed plans and programs for 1959, is in- tended for comparisons in costs and to show planned progress on highway, sewer, drainage and other services; also, to indicate clearly the many
271
projects which will be initiated and completed in the various areas ot fhe Town during the next twelve months. These projects have been planned with the thought of holding to a minimum the necessary inconvenience to pedestrian and automobile traffic.
While the major programs are outlined distinctly, there remains a considerable task in the coordination of all public works activities to a point where a peak of financial savings will be realized and the most effi- cient organization will be completed for the purpose of providing more extensive and more economical services for the citizens of Weymouth. The proposed Public Works Building, when erected, will expedite the consoli- dation of all departmental procedures and personnel and will facilitate the attainment of goals to be established by the Public Works Department. Funds have been provided by a recent Town Meeting for preliminary plans for the proposed Public Works Building; also, as a result of Town Meeting action, land for this purpose has already been purchased on Winter Street.
The Board of Public Works extends its appreciation to the Board of Selectmen, Appropriation Committee, the Town Counsel, and to the various boards and committees, for their unselfish and continuous co-operation toward effecting the success of the Public Works Department and its many functions.
The Board of Public Works is appreciative of the fine mutual effort shown by the various Divisional Superintendents and their working forces who have accepted the policies and procedures that have provided more satisfactory, more extensive and less costly services for the citizens of Weymouth.
The Board of Public Works expresses its recognition of the very satis- factory work and accomplishments of the Superintendent of Public Works, Mr. Arthur J. Bilodeau, during the short period of time he has had for the organization, management and operation of the Public Works De- partment.
The members of the Board are grateful for the patience which the people of Weymouth have displayed when faced with certain inconve- niences in 1958, and their acceptance of the progressive action which has resulted in certain major improvements in many sections of the town.
We urge all officers of the town, and each town meeting member, to review carefully all parts of the following report - the First Annual Re- port of the Public Works Department - which is intended not only to show the costs of providing administration, management and operation for public works, but also is intednded and planned for a better under- standing of costs and services necessary for our progressive town.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH M. NOVER, JR., Chairman JOHN E. McCAFFREY, Clerk GEORGE E. LANE EVERETT J. McINTOSH ROBERT G. AHLSTEDT ALLAN R. MCKINNON GEORGE F. BRADY Board of Public Works
272
ANNUAL REPORT 1958 Superintendent of Public Works
December 31, 1958
To the Honorable Board of Public Works Town of Weymouth, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I herewith respectfully submit my first annual report as required by statute.
The Board of Public Works assumed its official duties March 13, 1958, and the office of Superintendent was established April 7, 1958; therefore, at this writing the Board and Department have been functioning nine months.
During this transitional period, the standard services to the town were continued uninterrupted; an ambitious program of building and re- construction was commenced, consolidation and standardization of cer- tain methods and systems were inaugurated.
It is reasonable to expect that the first year's operation of a new principle of government will result in some confusion and shortcomings. With the complete cycle of seasons in one year, the necessary improve- ments make themselves obvious.
It is admitted by this office that trafficwise this year, the general public suffered serious inconvenience. It is only fair to Public Works to bring out the following points.
In the cases of Broad Street and Commercial Street, Public Works inherited a situation whereby the Town Sewer Construction was already in progress on Broad Street, having commenced October 1957, and the Randolph Sewer Trunk Line under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan District Commission, a state agency, was to be constructed in Commer- cial Street. It made good sense to enter both of those streets at the same time for reconstruction, having the streets closed for the one period. Evans Street is a case by itself. No matter what year it was reconstructed, Bridge, Sea and North Streets would serve as a detour. The Southeast Express- way made its obvious impression confusionwise. All of the major streets were affected in the same one year; however, it is concluded with certain relief that for the expense of one year, the condition is now history, and cannot, and will not be allowed to reoccur.
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