USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1927 > Part 7
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To correct the impression that the money which is taken in at the bathing-houses goes to the caretaker, we wish to state that all money for rooms, suits, and towels, and private houses, is kept strict account of and that the entire amount is turned in to the Town Treasurer, weekly. The average amount for the past three years has been over one thousand ($1,000.00) each year.
Lack of parking space is the one great trouble with this excellent bathing site but we expect to correct this, in a small way, by filling in behind the lobster shacks.
The pavilion is always crowded and proves more .popu- lar each season.
STEPHENS FIELD
The driveways at Sandwich Street have been com- pleted.
The bath-house, completed early in the summer, was enjoyed enormously and was of great benefit to the people in the southern part of the town. The bath-house did not make money its first season but we are confident that within a season or two it will take in money enough to pay for itself.
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The filling in of this field is nearing completion and the Park Commission feels that it should publicly thank Mr. Edward K. Morse, of the Health Department, for the courtesy and cooperation which he has shown to the Park Department.
It is one of our great wishes to be able to build a side- walk into the field from the Fremont Street entrance. The department also has plans for a small pond, sur- rounded by trees and shrubbery. As the field is extreme- ly bare looking and has no shade at all, it is terribly in need of just such a cool and shady spot as this pond will be.
BREWSTER GARDEN
The south side of Town Brook is now completed. The setting out of some shrubbery and the erection of a fence has added greatly to the beauty of the Garden. It has been estimated that approximately ten thousand people visited Brewster Garden in the past year.
SOUTH STREET PLAYGROUNDS
This playground is still a very popular spot for the youngsters in its locality.
BURTON PARK
This park received the usual care which is given to it.
BATES PARK
This park badly needs attention on the Allerton Street side and we have made plans to improve it this spring.
NELSON STREET PLAYGROUND
This bath-house brings in very little money compared to the other bath-houses. This is due to the fact that it is used mostly by local people who generally bring their own suits and towels with them. Nevertheless, it is extremely popular and is used constantly by the people in its locality.
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MUNICIPAL CAMP SITE
This camp site is free of charge to campers who do not stay over three days. The Park Commission has been criticized quite frequently for making no charge. The Commission wishes to state that through pamphlets sent to every state in the Union and Canada, by the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, this site has been advertised as a free camp and the Commission does not feel that it should erect a ticket office at the gate, under the circum- stances.
We also have every reason to believe that the campers spend considerable money. From the letters which the Commission receives commenting favorably upon the camp and the treatment received while in Plymouth, the department feels that its policy is good advertising for the town.
Plans have been made to fill in the southerly end of the site this spring in order to properly take care of all the campers who wish to come to Plymouth.
DEPOT PARK .
The shrubbery which has been set out at the end of the park nearest the station has made a decided improve- ment in its appearance.
VETERAN'S FIELD
A bronze tablet was erected at this field in honor of those men who lost their lives in the World War. A large gathering witnessed the unveiling and dedication, the ceremony being given under the auspices of the American Legion and Auxiliary.
The department hopes in time to be able to make this playground a place that the veterans may be proud of, as well as a safe place for the hundreds of children, who enjoy its advantages daily, to play.
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MORTON PARK
During the season of 1927 this bath-house proved more popular than ever. Our figures show that 1,054 rooms, 249 suits, and 346 towels were rented. The diving board, which was secured through the coopera- tion of Mr. Paul Bittinger, drew many people to the pond and was in use constantly.
Near the end of the season a most attractive water pageant was held, which was attended by about two thousand people.
The fact that the pond seems to be extremely. popu- lar in the evening causes us to ask that electric lights be installed.
LOOMIS R. GRANT, MYRON L. SMITH, HENRY T. GEARY,
Park Commissioners.
.
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PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY
The following reports of the librarian and the presi- dent for the year ending Dec. 31, 1927, are respectfully submitted to the tax payers of the town:
It is hardly necessary for the president to make an additional report after the detailed one of the librarian, but I feel that I should endorse some of the recommenda- tions and express our appreciation of the efficient ser- vice rendered by the working force of the library during the past year.
You will see by the librarian's report that we have made quite an increase in the circulation and, as stated in the report last year, the library was sadly in need of additional space. We have arranged to make use of a part of the basement for the children's department .. As the bequest of $10,000 of the late Miss Appleton was: left with the suggestion that it be used for the children's department, we have taken $5,000 of said amount for that purpose.
The directors secured the services of Mr. S. W. Mead, architect, of Boston, to make a plan of the basement which was being used for storage purposes only and show how it could be arranged. After securing plans and spe- cifications, bids were received from various contractors both in Plymouth and out of town, and the contract was finally awarded to Walter E. MacEachern of Arlington, Mass., for the sum of $5,000. His work has been com- pleted as per the specifications and accepted by the archi- tect.
The furnishings for this department have already been ordered and part of the same have been received. The balance is expected in a very short time and we are in hopes to have this department in operation about March 1st.
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The directors feel that this change is very satisfactory and will relieve the congestion and lessen the confusion very much as the children below fourteen years of age will use the basement room from an entrance on the out- side, consequently will not have to pass through the main library at all. This change will necessitate some addi- tional expense and will require additional time on the part of the present library force.
The library, as you will see by the librarian's report, is doing excellent work and your directors feel it is main- tained with efficiency as to the service rendered and that the expense of the same is less than in some other towns of practically the same size.
On account of the additional expense caused by the children's department, it will be necessary to ask the town for a larger appropriation than heretofore. We also feel that we should make a slight increase in the sal- aries. As the library grows the expense will also in- crease and for some time it will probably be necessary to ask for additional appropriations, and I hope the town will prove its appreciation of the library and the work that it is doing by such an increase in the appropriation as the directors feel is necessary.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Edward L. Burgess, President.
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REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR 1927
To the Directors of the Plymouth Public Library :
The following annual report of the Library's varied activities during 1927 is hereby respectfully submitted, and once again it gives the librarian much satisfaction to be able to record the past twelve months as the busi- est and most successful year that the Library has yet ex- perienced.
In spite of the handicaps of insufficient funds and lack of space, under which nearly all public libraries function, our public library, together with all others throughout North America and Europe is growing and developing as rapidly as circumstances will allow. If it were un- necessary to practice such strict economy, to weigh each step so carefully, and to deliberate so seriously about every purchase made, there is probably no estimating how much more might be done, and how much larger a public could be reached. It is interesting to note here that the greatly increased use of the Library is not the result of a large, new population, but is the result of the Library's being more appreciated by the majority of the same population, with probably a slight increase, who were here three years ago.
In order to have a successful public library, and one that justifies its existence in the community, it is necessary, first of all, to have an efficient and progressive Board of Trustees, an adequate building and an up-to-date and varied book collection, one that should equal 5 books per capita (the Plymouth Public Library's collection equals only 1 1-3 books per capita). A book collection that can fill the demands of children and adults, of students in
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school and of those who wish to prolong their education through life, of those who wish to read for the pure joy of it. Of equal importance is the library personnel, a li- brarian and assistants who are intelligent, well-educated and well-trained, who are capable of selecting, of pre- paring the books for, and of interpreting them to the public, and of making the public feel that they will meet with real cooperation and assistance when they come to the Library. Still another important phase in the suc- cess of the Library is the elimination of all unnecessary red-tape, and the granting of as many privileges as pos- sible so that the townspeople will feel that the Library belongs to them, for their real use. Another factor in the Library's continued growth is the bringing of the Li- brary, by means of book deposits, to the school rooms, outlying districts (Long Pond, Cedarville, and Ellis- ville), and the Jordan Hospital.
During 1927 the Library has put forth every effort to meet the requirements outlined above, and has fulfilled its purpose as an integral part of the educational and rec- reational centre of the town's life, as well as its available funds will permit. After having considered the detailed record of the year's work which follows, it is to be hoped that the residents of Plymouth will feel that the Library has proved itself to be worthy of continued and increased support, as the demands made upon it multiply and as it grows in usefulness and scope.
The outstanding feature of our 1927 history, is the near completion of the new Children's Room, made pos- sible by Miss Appleton's generous bequest of $10,000.
The need for it is definite proof of our Library's devel- opment and growth, and the prospect of its readiness in the near future is the solution of our most serious prob- lem. A large part of the basement which was used as a store room has been carefully remodelled, two sides of the building have been excavated, large windows have been installed to admit plenty of air and sun and the most
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up-to-date and attractive equipment has been ordered. An outside entrance will enable the children (under 14) to reach their own room without going into the main library upstairs.
In all, the room which will be in charge of Miss Agnes D. Babcock, Children's Librarian, should be a most de- sirable addition to the Library in every way. At last the children will have a place all to themselves, where they can select and peruse their books at will, with much less restraint than is necessary under the present conditions.
Beginning with April 1, 1927, the State Accountant decreed that all library bills paid by the Town must be paid from the Town House, and as a result, the large amount of work required to keep the Library's finances in order, now has to be done by the Librarian instead of by Mr. Adams who has so generously done all of it in the past.
It has been of great benefit to the Library that there were no changes of staff during 1927, and the appoint- ment of Mrs. George Stephens, Jr., as a regular part- time worker has given the Library some of the much needed extra help. When it is considered how long it takes an untrained assistant to become an efficient li- brary worker, it is a real tragedy for the Library to lose a promising girl because she can get a little more salary somewhere else. The Library should be in a position to prevent such occurrences.
Another step towards bringing the Library to those who cannot come themselves, was taken on August 1st when the public library service was initiated at the Jor- dan Hospital. This sort of service is now rendered by every progressive public library and is considered a very necessary part of the extension program. A deposit of 50 suitable books, both juvenile and adult was taken to the Hospital and arranged on the efficient little book- wagon which had been made for the purpose. The Li- brarian spends one afternoon a week at the Hospital,
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visiting the rooms and wards with the book-wagon, help- ing the patients to select a book which will be the best one for them at that time. The librarian also makes note of all special requests, and sees to it that they are filled immediately. The pleasure and approval with which this service has been met, by both the management and the patients has been a source of much satisfaction to the Librarian, and a most stimulating encouragement to fur- ther efforts. From August 1st until December 31st, 322 books were circulated among the patients.
The branch library which was started at Long Pond, in August 1926, is now an established fact and the books are a source of great enjoyment to the villagers. The deposits are exchanged about three times a year, and Mrs. Randall is still the generous and interested libra- rian. During 1927, 430 books were circulated in Long Pond Village. Plans have already been made for a small branch library to be kept in the house of Mrs. Ernest C. Ellis, at Ellisville, so that the inhabitants of that village may have access to books during the winter months. Books for the Cedarville children are available at the Cedarville School House. The Manomet Public Library furnishes books for the adults in Cedarville.
The circulation of the past year was 90,149, still again the largest in the history of the Library, a gain of 13,840 over that of 1926, and of 35,206 over that of 1924.
The total attendance of 53,075 again exceeded that of any previous year, giving us a gain of 10,338 for 1927. The juvenile attendance of 25,658, almost half of the total, and 6,478 in excess of that of 1926, is convincing proof of the demands made on the Library by the chil- dren, and of how difficult it has been to carry on our work in so limited an area. Neither is there any doubt but that these figures are below the actual attendance, because in the rush hours it is impossible for an assist- ant to keep an absolutely accurate record, the congestion is so great.
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The total circulation consists of 60,251 adult books, 29,146 juvenile, 6,598 of which were circulated by the School deposits, and of 1,355 prints. Of this adult cir- culation 1,420 were current periodicals; 274 were Italian, French, German, Russian, Portuguese, Yiddish, Span- ish, and Polish books. The total non-fiction circulation was 18,105.
104 books were borrowed through the Inter-Library Loan system, books which are either too expensive or of too limited appeal for the Library to buy. The resources of the departmental libraries in Washington, the State House Library, the Division of Public Libraries at the State House, the Boston Public Library and that of Brockton, as well as the Medical, Congregational and New England Historical Society libraries are all avail- able; if they own the desired book, it may be procured for the asking. Deposits in Italian, German, and Yid- dish are borrowed regularly from the Division of Public Libraries, and exchanged when they have been read through.
Another most profitable year of work with the schools has been one of the outstanding phases of our library growth. Arrangements were made during the summer for the instruction of the Junior High School pupils in the use of the Library, but because of many extra duties in the Junior High curriculum, these lessons had to be postponed until the first week of January, 1928. In 1927, 7,661 reference questions were recorded at the Desk, more than twice the 3,452 which were listed in 1926. When it is realized that the majority of these questions are the result of class assignments in home-work, the value of the Library to every school pupil can hardly be overestimated. The library of today is an integral part of the educational system, and should be recognized and supported as such. It is impossible to supply the just demands made upon it by the teachers and pupils, with-
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out the necessary funds with which to employ adequate assistance and to buy the necessary books.
Each year brings increasing demands from the teach- ers for deposits of library books, until in 1927, every room below the Junior High School had its deposit of books. These books are exchanged for a new lot as soon as the first one has been read through. The school cir- culation increased from 2,294 in 1926 to 6,598 in 1927, 674 books were issued to the schools last year.
The interest in the State Certificate reading has grown steadily and spread gradually until in 1927, every fourth, fifth, and sixth grade in town was working for the Honor Certificates, which are awarded by the Mass. Dept. of Education, through the Division of Public Libraries to every boy or girl who has read 20 books on the State Certificate Reading List, five of which must be non-fic- tion.
On Friday, June 24, for the fifth successive year, Miss E. Kathleen Jones, General Secretary of the Division of Public Libraries, State House, Boston, presented the pupils with their Honor Certificates which they had been earning during the year.
At eleven o'clock the pupils who were to receive Certi- ficates, came from the Mt. Pleasant and Burton Schools and assembled with those from the Cornish. An excel- lent program devoted to the dramatization of "Barbara Frietchie," a Flag Drill, piano solos, and the reading of original compositions on "The Book I Liked Best of All" was followed by the presentation of the Certificates, and a most inspiring talk on "Heroes" by Miss Jones.
In the afternoon, the pupils of the Knapp School gave a Library play, and a book play called "Story Terrace," both of which were splendidly done and thoroughly en- joyed by everyone who was fortunate enough to see them. "Story Terrace" is the street inhabited by all the beloved characters in the best children's books, and the invitation
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offered to visit this enchanting spot was surely irre- sistible.
At the Hedge School, several of the stories which the boys and girls had liked best were dramatized and ex- ceedingly well done. The "Pilgrims Going to Church," taken from Faris' "Real Stories from Our History," was most impressive and the sixth grade children of several nationalities interpreted this incident with as much dig- nity as the older men and women who revived this his- toric custom during the Tercentenary celebration.
At both the Hedge and Knapp Schools, Miss Jones ad- dressed the pupils and told them about the origin and purpose of the State Certificate Reading List, after which she presented the Honor Certificates. 101 Honor Certificates were awarded, testifying that 2,020 books were read during the school year for the Certificate read- ing alone. Five of the books must be non-fiction, but it is interesting to note that the majority of the boys and girls read from six to nine non-fiction. In addition to the 101 children who earned their Honor Certificates, many others had made a good beginning toward winning theirs in 1928.
In addition to the demands for library books made by the pupils, the teachers use the Library extensively in preparing their material for class lessons, and for the ouside courses in education which are given each summer and winter in Plymouth by some one of the University Extension professors. Today the phrase "Adult Edu- cation" is heard on every side, and a large number of people are realizing that in order to keep up with this growing and changing world, it is necessary to keep on reading and studying, that one's education never ceases while he is yet alive. In its varied and many-sided activ- ities the Library offers help to all - to the pupil and the teacher, to the student who no longer attends school, to every man and woman who is longing for a good book, either for pleasure or for improvement. The Library
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may be truthfully called "The People's University," and should receive the support which is justified by its serv- ice to the community.
The children's story hour is another source of much pleasure, and is regularly attended. During 1927, 348 children listened to the stories which were told by Miss Babcock, and by Mr. Frank L. Page, head master of the Utica Country Day School.
"Children's Book Week" was observed during the week. of November 13, and a most alluring display of the new children's books interested many adults and children. A unique feature of our 1927 Book Week and the center of attraction was a child's book by a Plymouth author - "Little Sister," by Margaret Kyle.
In 1927, 849 borrowers registered at the Library. Of these 499 were new names, 333 adult and 166 juvenile. 149 temporary residents took out cards in 1927; each summer shows an increased use of the Library by the summer residents and visitors, many of whom express their appreciation of the privilege of using an up-to-date, modern library. The total registration for 1927 was 3,839. Children may have a card at the Library as soon as they are able to write their names in ink.
1,853 books were added to the Library, including new books, gifts, and replacements. 323 books were dis- carded, and there are now approximately 20,197 books in the Library - a small collection for a town of Plym- outh's size. Our library collection should have 5 books to every individual, and we now have about 1 and 1-3 to every individual.
The Literary and Library Extension Committee of the Woman's Club has been of great assistance in collecting and distributing periodicals to the Boys' Club, the Ma- rines, Jordan Hospital, County Farm, the Norwell State Police Barracks, and the open-air hospital at South Han- son. Several deposits of books were sent to the various Boy and Girl Scout Camps during last July and August.
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In concluding this report, the Librarian hopes that the following summary and recommendations will be care- fully considered: that the circulation of 90,149 and the attendance of 53,075 have almost doubled since 1924; that the staff consists of the librarian and three full-time assistants and one part-time worker as it did in 1924; that a new Children's Room which is in the basement, cannot be maintained without one more full-time assist- ant, extra janitor service, more light and more heat; that with the growing and wider use of the Library, more books are needed every year to supply the demands made by the public and the schools; that it will be impossible to maintain the Library and keep it up to the standard which it has now reached without increased support from the Town; that as can be seen from the study of the accompanying table, our income is the smallest of any public library of our size in this part of Massachu- setts, and that our salaries, with one exception, are the lowest; that the American Library Association and Mas- sachusetts Division of Public Libraries recommend one assistant for every 20,000 books circulated, which would give the Plymouth Public Library four full-time assist- ants and one part-time; they also recommend that the in- come of the library should be at least $1.00 per capita, and in that case, our Library should receive about $11,000 from the Town; they insist that every junior assistant who is worthy of a full-time appointment should receive $1,000 as an initial salary, with $50 a year increase until she reaches $1,350 a year; that senior assistants should receive from $1,400 to $1,750 and that heads of depart- ments should receive from $1,800 to $2,000. As a glance at the appended table will reveal, the conditions in our Plymouth Public Library do not compare favorably with other libraries in towns of corresponding size.
Plymouth Nine
February, 1928 Town
Population
Circulation
Circu- lation Per Capita
Hours Open
Appro- priation and Dog Tax
Total Income
Income Per Capita (About 52c |Librarian's Salary from Town)
Number of Assistants
Salary of Full-time Assistants (Began with $540)
| Plymouth
13,176
90,149
6
66
$7,500.00 $9,483.56
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