USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1882-1886 > Part 55
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There were received from the Horticultural and Agricult- ural Society nearly two hundred volumes, ninety-three of which were catalogued, the remainder consisting of reports and duplicates of books already in the Library. A vote of thanks has been entered upon the records of the Library.
It was found, upon cataloging the books in the Library, that there were a large number of books which were dupli- cates, and also a considerable number so worn as not to be worth cataloging. Most of those were of minor value, but a few of them should be replaced the coming year. It was also found that a number of valuable works were not in a condition to be catalogued on account of velumes that were missing ; an early effort should be made to supply the miss- ing volumes.
The Librarian's report will show the number of each class.
The change of method in the giving out of books by the card system, although found unavoidable by the growth of the library and increased demands upon the Librarian, has involved an increased expense to the library of about twenty- five dollars yearly. An assistant is also very much needed to return books to shelves and assist in taking down books from shelves. Many of the shelves are above the reach of one standing upon the floor, and, during the hours that the library is open to the public, the Librarian has found it utterly impossible to place books returned to the library upon the shelves during the busy hours when the library is open, and many times the public are obliged to go without
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books because they are not in their places upon the shelves. The Librarian employs an assistant, paid from her small sal- ary, to assist her at the desk, but this assistant should be in addition to what she already has. An active boy would be the best for this purpose, and would probably cost about fifty dollars per year.
FINANCES.
The following are the expenses, partly estimated, that will be required to support the Library for the coming year : Salary of Librarian, $400 00
Repairs and binding of books,
100 00
Covering paper and sundries,
60 00
Library assistant,
50 00
Cards and slips,
35 00
Card catalogue,
50 00
Purchase of books, .
360 00
$1,055 00
RECEIPTS.
Dog tax,
$466 56
Hurd fund,
.
100 00
Flint fund,
60 00
Fines and other receipts from Library,
30 00
Town appropriation,
400 00
$1,056 56
The following comparision with three of the Libraries in the State, of the comparative work and cost of this Library, in the year 1885, may be of interest. The means of com- parison with smaller Libraries were not accessible to the Trustees :
180
Expenditures. Vols. in Library.
Circulation.
Cost per book on circulation.
1
Newton,
$8,625.24
23,309
83,938
$ .10
Taunton,
5,711.32
24,320
56,137
.10
Malden,
2,867.41
10,724
40,02 I
.07
Wakefield,
*933.47
8,408
30,666
.03
*During the past year the income of the Library was still further reduced.
The practice of Libraries in former ages was to hoard books and knowledge for the benefit of the few, but to-day libraries have become the means whereby the poorest may successfully run in the race for knowledge-and "knowledge is power." There are no means in operation at the present time for educating the masses, outside of the common schools, that give so large results for the money expended as public libraries, for the best thought and the ripest scholar- ship, along with the widest knowledge in all the domain of history, and art, and science, in fact everything which con- cerns man in his relations to the world and to humanity are here brought together and offered to "whosoever will, with- out money and without price." With such a power for good in 'a community there can be no mistake in broadening and deepening its influence by such careful supervision, and liberal treatment, as will place it in the best possible position for, accomplishing the largest and most enduring results. The hope of the future lies in the broadest and best educa- tion for the masses.
READING ROOM.
The Reading Room has been in successful operation since 1883 and has proved to be an attractive and helpful resort to many of the citizens of this town; we wish many more might avail themselves of its privileges and benefits. All of the leading magazines and papers of the day can be found upon its tables, as well as the Daily Congressional Record,' Patent Office Report and other reading matter, while its
181
tables may be used for the reading or examination of those valuable books belonging to the library which are not allowed to be given out for general circulation. Since the Reading Room has been opened, 78 bound volumes of the leading magazines upon its tables have been given to the Beebe Town Library, thus aiding very materially the work of the Library in supplying the best and choicest literature of the day. A list of the periodicals upon its tables will be found in the report. The Trustees recommend, that the town appropriate the sum of $400 and the proceeds of dog tax for the support of the Library, and $175 for the support of the Public Reading Room for the ensuing year.
In behalf of the Trustees,
R. H. MITCHELL,
Trustee. .
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182
REPORT OF CATALOGUE COMMITTEE,
At the annual Town Meeting held in April, the town appropriated the sum of four hundred and ninety dollars for the preparation and printing of a catalogue for the Beebe Town Library, and at a subsequent meeting it was voted that one hundred and fifty dollars of the money received from the sale of catalogues, might be used for the same pur- pose, making six hundred and forty dollars at the disposal of the Trustees for catalogue purposes. Upon the organi- zation of the Trustees Messrs. Mitchell, Place, Grant and Tyler were appointed a committee to have charge of the preparation and printing of the work.
Upon consulting persons whose business is the prepara- tion of catalogues, it was found impossible to hire the work done, the preparation alone costing considerable more than the town appropriation, and it was decided to attempt the work without professional assistance, the Librarian and others being employed to do most of the clerical work. Upon examination of the system in use it was decided that it would be necessary to adopt new methods of classification and numbering, both of which are now familiar to all. The library was closed from the last of June until about the first of October, when it was opened to the public as fast as advance sheets of the catalogue were received. The work was completed and placed in the hands of the committee about January 1st, 1887. Up to the 17th of February one hundred copies had been sold and the proceeds turned over to the Town Treasurer. Proposals were advertised for printing the catalogue, and the work was awarded to C. W.
183
Eaton, his being the lowest bid-one dollar and thirty cents per page, including binding and paper covers.
During the months of July and August one of the mem- bers of the committee, Rev. R. D. Grant, was absent upon his annual vacation ; and about September 1st the committee met with an irreparable loss, Dr. C. A. Place removing from here to Medford; his clear judgment and cultivated tastes, and his wide knowledge of books and literature rend- ering his presence on the committee well nigh indispensable.
After the work was ready for the printers, Rev. R. D. Grant was given charge of the proof reading, and to his earnest labors much of the success of the work is due. The committee are also greatly indebted to the Librarian, Mrs. H. A. Shepard, whose intelligent co-operation and interest in the work, together with her assistants, Miss Mabelle W. Newman and Miss E. M. Tyler, greatly aided in forwarding and assisting the work of the committee.
While the catalogue is not what the committee would have been glad to have had it-a perfect catalogue-they feel that considering the disadvantages under which they labored-their own inexperience and insufficient appropria- tion to hire skilled labor-they have been fairly successful in preparing a catalogue that will serve as a basis for future work in that direction.
Many of the questions that were connected with the com- mittee work are discussed in the Library Report and need no mention here. A statement of expenses is appended to this report, all of which is respectfully submitted.
R. H. MITCHELL,
For the Committee.
184
RECEIPTS.
Town Appropriation, April, ·
$490 00
66 August 2nd, 150 00
$640 00
EXPENSES.
Bills paid, as per Auditors' report, . $540 00
Balance due C. W. Eaton, on acc't, . . 68 42
Due R. H. Mitchell, as per bill, 27 00
Balance unexpended, .
4 58
$640 00
185 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT,
Number of volumes catalogued,
.
8,159
Books added since completion of Catalogue, 114 Duplicates of books in Library, . 276
Government and other Reports not cat- alogued. 116
Books not catalogued on account of mis- sing volumes, 46
Total number of volumes in the Library, 8,711
Added by purchase during the year,
243
number catalogued of do- nation from the Wake-
field Horticultural and Agricultural Society, . 93
donation from United States, 37
State of Mass., 4
E. S. Barrett, Esq., Concord, Mass., 1
Magazines from Reading Room,
bound,
32
410
Persons having signed Application Cards, since re-opening of the Library, Oct., 1886, . 1,063
Number of cards on which books have been charged, 1,060
Number of books delivered since Oct. 1886,
9,382
Number delivered during February 1887, .
2,768
Number of books worn out, .
158
rebound,
98
Duplicates returned to United States, 60
HARRIET A. SHEPARD,
Librarian.
WAKEFIELD, March 1, 1887.
186 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
BEEBE TOWN LIBRARY.
C. W. EATON, Treasurer of Trustees, in account with BEEBE TOWN LIBRARY.
DR.
To Town Appropriation, .
$300 00
Dog Taxes, refunded Town by County, 409 73
Interest on Hurd Fund, 100 00
Interest on Flint Fund, 60 00
Received for books lost, 1 45
Fines collected, .
11 90
Balance of last year.
. 7 74
$890 82
CR. .
By cash paid H. A. Shepard, librarian, salary one year, to March 1, 1887, $400 00
for purchase of books, 379 77
Repairs of books, ·
21 25
Writing and copying. 22 57
Printing. .. 36 75
Express charges, 2 20
Sundries at Library, . . 9 .00
Stationery and postage, 2 36
Record books, and catalogue, special, .
5 75
Paper, tin trays and dating stamp,
6 35
Carpenter work, 1 50
3 32
Balance on hand,
$890 82
187
PUBLIC READING ROOM.
DR.
To Town Appropriation, . ·
$175 00
Balance from last year, · 16 83
$191 83
CR.
By cash paid for
Magazines and newspapers, .
$144 56
Binding magazines, .
17 50
Printing and advertising, 2 00
Post Office box, .
2 00
Rubber chair tips,
10 00
Repairing furniture and shelving, . 8 50
Balance on hand, .
7 27
$191 83
NEW CATALOGUE OF LIBRARY.
DR.
To Town Appropriation,
$490 00
Amount received from sale of Cat-
alogues, as per vote of town, 50 00
$540 00
CR.
By cash paid for
Preparation of Catalogue, . $125 70
Rubber stamps and numbers, 4 50
Sundries for Catalogue Committee, 6 72
Advertising,
7 63
Slips and cards, .
18 75
Printing and binding 1000 Cata- logues, in part, (Total price $445.42)
376 70
$540 00
CHESTER W. EATON, Treasurer of Trustees.
-
188
PERIODICALS ON THE TABLES OF THE READING ROOM.
QUARTERLIES. North American Review. MONTHLIES.
All the Year Round.
American Agricultu ist.
American Antiquarian. Atlantic.
Hall's Journal of Health.
Blackwood.
Harper's. Outing.
Carpentry and Building.
Penn's School Journal.
Century. Chambers' Journal.
Popular Science.
Poultry World. St. Nicholas.
FORTNIGHTLY. Literary World.
WEEKLIES.
American Architect. American Bee Journal. Boston Pilot.
New York Sun. New York Tribune. Patent Office Reports.
Christian at Work.
Popular Science News.
Forest and Stream.
Puck.
Frank Leslie's Illustrated.
Scientific American.
Harper's Bazaar.
The Nova Scotian.
Harper's Weekly.
Harper's Young People,
Independent.
*The State. Stoneham Independent. Texas Siftings. Wakefield Citizen and Banner.
John Swinton's Paper.
Wakefield Record.
Judge.
Weekly Telegraph.
London Graphic.
Woman's Journal.
Metal Worker.
Youth's Companion.
*Donated by G. H. Maddock, Esq.
DAILIES.
Boston Herald. Boston Journal.
Congressional Record. New York Graphic.
The Public Reading Room is open every week-day even- ing and Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, and is
FREE TO ALL.
1
Chautauquan.
Eclectic. Godey's Lady's Book.
Irish World.
189
ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS.
No Committee on Appropriations having been chosen at the last annual meeting, the Auditors present the following estimates of the amounts required by the different depart- ments, as asked for by the Boards in charge of such Depart- ments the past year.
Payment of Town Debt ( last year nothing) $3,000 00
Interest on Town Debt, . · 3,200 00 Support of Schools, (last year $16,500), 17,000 00 School Contingent Fund, . 1,300 00 .
School Text Books and Supplies,
· 1,200 00
Poor Department, all receipts and 5,000 00 .
Fire Department, · · 2,000 00
Street Lamps, (last year $1,400) 1,500 00
Town House Expenses, (last year $1,700)
2,000 00
Highways and Bridges, .. 5,000 00 .
Concrete sidewalks, crossings and gutters, 1,000 00
Salaries of Town Officers, (last year $2,875 ) 3,025 00
Miscellaneous expenses, . 3,000 00
Beebe Town Library, the dog tax and (last year $300.)
400 00
Reading Room, · 175 00
Hydrant Service (as per contract )
3,720 00
Total,
. $52,520 00
The increase in salaries of Town Officers of $150 is the extra amount asked for Police service. The reasons for other increased appropriations are given in the Department reports. The above list has been made up for the informa- tion and convenience of the voters, and necessarily without any recommendation from the Auditors.
190 AUDITORS' FINAL STATEMENT.
During the year ending Feb. 28, 1887, the Selectmen have drawn 874 orders, amounting to $54,038.96, the vouchers for which have been examined monthly. At the close of the year we audited the accounts of the Road, and Park Com- missioners, Trustees of Library and Reading Room, Cata- logue and Fish Committees, Overseers of the Poor, Board of Health and Collector of Taxes,. aud found them correct and with proper vouchers. The figures of the above ac- counts showing the financial transactions of all the town departments, except the Treasurer's, will be found in our report, (pages 56 to 107). The Treasurer's report follows, (pages 108 to 117) and thus brought together we believe they can be more readily perused by the voters than form- erly. We have also examined the accounts of Thomas J. Skinner, Treasurer, verifying all the receipts and finding proper vouchers for all payments, and we certify that he has a cash balance on hand of $1,431.78, as shown by his report (page 109). Our recommendation of last year in regard to the disbursement of money, being now made by the Selectmen, (see their report page 123), we presume will be adopted by the incoming Board, and need not be renewed by us. Our wish, expressed a year ago, for shorter department reports, has borne fruit in the present smaller volume, which we think will reward a careful study by the voters of the town and promote intelligent action in the future.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN M. CATE, WALDO E. COWDREY, WILLIS S. MASON, - Auditors,
WAKEFIELD, March 19, 1887. .
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191
CONTENTS AND INDEX.
PAGES.
List of Town Officers, .
3 and 4
List of Jurors,
5
Records of Town Meetings,
6 to 38
Town Clerk's Statistics,
40 to 55
Auditors' Report. Financial reports and exhib- its of Departments,
56 to 107
Assessors' Report, .
95 and 96
Treasurer's Report,
· . 108 to 117
Reports of
Selectmen, . 118 to 123
Overseers, . 124 to 126
Road Commissioners,
. 127 to 132
Engineers,
. 133 to 136
Board of Health,
. 137 to 139
Fish Committee, .
. 140 to 142
Police and Night Watch, . . 143 and 144
School Committee, . 147 to 171
Trustees of Library and Reading Room, . 173 to 181
Catalogue Committee, Librarian,
. 182 to 184
.
·
185
Annual Appropriations, .
.
.
· 189
Auditors' Final Statement,
. 190
.
.
.
.
.
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APP 2 9
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