USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1920 > Part 7
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Light, Water, Janitors Supplies, Etc.
New Bedford Gas & Edison Light Co.,
$388.16
Fairhaven Water Co.,
251.36
Fairhaven Iron Foundry,
6.50
Babbitt Steam Specialty Co.,
20.13
DeWolf & Vncent,
5.60
Masury Young Co.,
6.25
C. F. Delano,
1.47
Norris' Paint & Hardware,
3.70
Valentine's Machine Shop,
118.74
New England Telephone & Telegraph Co.,
113.68
N. P. Hayes Co.,
44.13
43
George T. Johnson Co.,
36.00
A. Leonard Bliss,
2.60
Herman H. Hathaway,
8.10
Brightman Bros.,
9.86
H. I. Dallman Co.,
18.52
Green & Wood,
17.51
Orient Spray Co.,
21.00
Akin-Denison Co.,
21.20
Mrs. Emma Eldred,
340.00
Mrs. Chloe Fraits,
126.00
Maude Howland,
39.00
Alice Scott,
180.00
$1,779.56
Repairs.
C. F. Delano,
$12.33
Herman H. Hathaway,
19.52
Albert B. Cook,
208.23
Frank O. Chase,
6.40
New Bedford Typewriter Exchange,
90.50
New Bedford Boiler & Machine Co.,
1.50
Samson Electric Co.,
2.84
Babbitt Steam Specialty Co.,
16.92
Hixon-Electric-Co.,
100.00
F. W. Frates,
1.85
Keystone Office Appliance Co.,
10.70
A. Leonard Bliss,
9.90
James Parkinson,
20.40
Valentine's Machine Shop,
92.06
Herbert W. Bliss,
5.00
B. L. Makepeace,
11.00
Manning, Maxwell & Moore,
20.25
$629.40
Health.
Dr. Arthur V. Pierce,
$ 2.00
Mr. Charles E. P. Thompson, M. D.
122.50
$124.50
44
Sundries.
B. C. Nickerson,
$ 1.50
Alfred Foote, Commissioner,
15.00
Adams Express-American Railway Express,
17.17
Calvin Delano,
185.25
J. F. Corcoran,
28.10
Parson Steam Laundry,
37.73
New England Telephone & telegraph Co.,
72.15
Elmer Stevens,
68.17
Elizabeth G. Weeks,
22.50
Wright & Potter,
1.52
Murray, The Florist,
152.00
William H. Page,
3.50
Emma A. Coombs,
2.00
Fairhaven Star,
4.00
Mary U. Yaffee,
14.70
George C. Dickey,
13.51
F. S. Brightman,
2.00
Frank J. Jameson,
9.89
The Browne Pharmacy,
.63
$651.32
45
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
1920
PEASE FUND.
Receipts : Balance from 1919
$343 92
Expenditures : Transferred, Misc.
$343 92
$343 92
$343|92
EDMUND E. ANTHONY, JR., SCHOOL FUND.
Receipts: Balance from 1919 Div'ns to Dec. 31,1919
Expenditures: Transferred, Misc.
$455 06
$455|06||
$455|06||
$455|06
H. H. ROGERS TRUST FUND.
Receipts : Balance from 1919 Div'ns to Dec. 31,1919
$4624 12
Expenditures: Transferred, Teachers' Salaries
$4624 12
| $4624|12||
$4624 12
THE MILLICENT LIBRARY FAIRHAVEN, MASSACHUSETTS
ANNUAL REPORT
FOR YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1920
2
TRUSTEES OF THE MILLICENT LIBRARY.
Lyman C. Bauldry William E. Benjamin
Edward L. Besse
Mrs. Cara R. Broughton
Morris R. Brownell
Miss Sara B. Clarke
Miss Georgia E. Fairfield
Mrs. Mary B. Winsor
William B. Gardner George B. Luther Harry L. Pope
Henry H. Rogers George H. Tripp Thomas A. Tripp Mrs. Eliza C. White
Officers and Standing Committees, 1921-1922
Henry H. Rogers, President. Thomas A. Tripp, Vice-President. . George B. Luther, Treasurer.
The Librarian Acts as Secretary of the Board.
Book Committee-
Mr. Rogers, Mr. T. A. Tripp, Mr. Pope, Mrs. White, Mrs. Winsor.
Finance Committee-
Mr. Luther, Mr. Benjamin, Mrs. Broughton, Mr. Brownell, Mr. G. H. Tripp.
House Committee-
Mr. Bauldry, Mr. Besse, Miss Clarke, Miss Fair- field, Mr. Gardner.
FORMER TRUSTEES
Miss Ellen H. Akin 1983-1919 George W. Stevens, 1893-1908 Edmund Anthony, Jr. 1902 Mrs. H. H. Stillman, 1919-1920
Mrs. Sarah C. Anthony, 1893-1912
George H. Taber, 1893-1901
James L. Gillingham, 1893-1912
Job C. Tripp, 1902-1917
Frederick B. Lyman, 1904-1909 Charles W. White, Jr. 1902-1904
Mrs. Lizzie F. Nye, 1893-1919
Walter P. Winsor, 1893-1911
Henry H. Rogers, 1893-1909
Don C. Stevens, 1893-1901
3
LIBRARY STAFF.
GALEN W. HILL Librarian
FLORA H. LEIGHTON. In charge of circulation
*EDA M. PERRY. Children's Librarian
ANNIE THOMPSON Cataloger
SARA B. CLARKE. Loan Desk
FRED PFLUG
Page
MARGUERITE KEMP . Page
GEORGE TABER Janitor
OXFORD BRANCH.
ALBIN SILVA In charge FRED PFLUG Assistant
*Resigned September 1920.
4
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR 1920.
To the Trustees of The Millicent Library :
As shown by the annual report of a year ago, 1919 was a record breaking year for The Millicent Library, the total circulation being 9000 books in excess of that of any previous year. The figures for the first four months seemed to indi- cate that 1920 would be another record breaker for the library. Any hope of this was frustrated however by the local scarlet fever epidemic in the spring when the library in common with schools and churches was closed for a period of five weeks from May 9th to June 13th. We were slow in recovering from the effect of the closing and it was not until October that we were on a par with recent years. The last two months of the year have, however, shown circula- tion figures in excess of any previous records for these months.
We have also been handicapped this year by the in- creasing costs and the most noticeable effect has been in the allowance for books. In 1919 we purchased 1207 books at a cost of $1317. This year we have spent $1405. in buying 822 books. Expending more money this year we have been able to purchase only two-thirds as many books. Fiction now averages $2.00 a volume, children's books nearly $1.50, and biographies, histories, books on science, art and tech- nology, books of permanent character, from $3.00 to $10.00. It is difficult to make a limited allowance go very far under these conditions and satisfy a reasonable demand for the new books.
Our greatest loss, and it has been a real handicap, was
5
the resignation of Miss Perry from the staff. Because of the death of her mother in June, she felt that her duty lay in her own home. We were loath to let her go, granting her at first a three months leave of absence and only of necessity accepting her resignation in September. Miss Perry had been in charge of the children's work since 1905. The pres- ent collection of books in the children's room stands as a testimonial to her good judgement in the selection of books for children To the schools of Fairhaven she rendered un- usual service in preparation of graded lists, classroom libra- ries and in the conduct of the course in the use of the library given the upper grades each year. We miss her personally and for her work.
Miss Lois Slocum of New Bedford, a senior at Smith College, made a capable substitute during the summer months and we would have been glad to have had her re- main. We were exceedingly fortunate, however, when Miss Sara, B. Clarke agreed to come in September as a sub- stitute for an indefinite period until we shall be able to fill2. Miss Perry's position. Since she came, Miss Clarke has spent most of her regular hours at the loan desk and Mrs. Leighton has taken over temporarily the work in the child- ren's room.
Accessions and Withdrawals.
We have added to the library during the year 863 books, and 362 were withdrawn and rejected, making a net gain of 501 books and a total of 26,160 books in the library Decem- ber 31st. Mention has already been made of the handicap of increased costs. Of the books rejected a very considera- ble number were books from scarlet fever rooms. These books were returned to the library and destroyed. In the matter of replacement an item of at least $150 is directly chargeable to the epidemic.
Binding costs have been almost prohibitive. We have gotten along with a minimum amount of rebinding and have reduced the number of periodicals bound at present, reserv- ing other volumes for future binding if prices return to nor-
*
1 .-
6
mal. Much new fiction has been purchased this fall in the Huntting resewed binding and this we believe to be a measure of economy in the long run.
More French and Portuguese books have been added and there is a demand for books in Italian which we hope to meet this year.
Circulation.
The home use of books from the main library during 1920 was 49,889, from the Oxford branch, 6476, a total of 56,361 books issued. This represents a falling off of 7352 from the 1919 total and is accounted for in large measure by the epidemic. Six hundred seventy four borrowers were added to the registration file.
Children's Room & Work with Schools.
The number of books from the children's room was 17,676 as against 20,811 last year. In the early fall the shelves were thoroughly gone over and some 200 books marked for rejection. This has relieved the congestion to some extent. Mrs. Leighton also effected some changes in arrangement which have worked to advantage. An exhibit of children's books suitable for gifts and most of them new books was held Nov. 15th to 20th which was generally ob- served as Children's Book Week in libraries and bookstores. Miss Perry gave the usual course in the use of the library to the upper grades last winter and Mrs. Leighton has made up classroom libraries this fall. Books for a more or less permanent collection have been loaned the High School. Fairhaven teachers have borrowed for reference or study 1013 books during the year.
Oxford Branch
The Oxford Branch has continued with the same force in charge. The branch suffered as well as the main library from the enforced closing and shows a proportionate loss in circulation. More books have been added to the collec- ¿ion this fall and the use has increased. The average days
7
circulation for November and December has been 59, practi- cally one book issued every minute the library is open. Some evenings over 80 books are issued.
A Gift To The Library.
In January the library was the recipient of a gift unique in itself and noteworthy for its donor. This was the four volume account in Japanese of the life and adventures of Manjiro Nakahama written by himself. The gift came from Viscount Ishii, former Japanese Ambassador to the United States, now Japan's representative to the League of Nations. The volumes, which represent in a sense a memento of Viscount Ishii's visit to Fairhaven in 1918, are beautifully hound in a silk cloth, the paper is of peculiar texture and the curious illustrations are reminiscent of Nakahama's exper- iences in Fairhaven, on whaling voyages and of his travels in the South Seas. Greatful acknowledgement was made to the donor and the volumes have been placed in the glass case which holds the Samurai sword.
Personal and Other Items.
Changes in staff have already been mentioned. In May Mrs. Genevieve P. Stillman owing to removal from town resigned from the board of trustees and at the Novem- ber meeting, Miss Georgia E. Fairfield was unanimously elected as her successor.
The quarterly bulletin has been issued this year in some- what changed form, a two-column arrangement being used instead of the single line plan. The June number was omit- ted and a double number issued in September.
The Cape Cod Library has accepted the invitation of this library to hold its annual meeting next September in Fairhaven.
Through letters of solicitation the library received the amount of $92.00, somewhat less than its quota, for the American Library Association's Enlarged Program.
In concluding 1 want to call the attention of the trustees
8
to the fact that the library is being carried on with a staff no larger than it had twenty years ago. As the town has grown (the population has more than doubled) the work has grown and the number of people served and the number of books issued have very materially increased. All depart- ments are open twelve hours a day. It has become practi- cally impossible for the person at the loan desk to do any other work. This applies to the attendent in the children's room afternoons and evenings.
While the work of charging and discharging books goes on apparently as it always did to the outsider, certain de- tails of the work have been of necessity neglected. The keeping of the books in their proper order on the shelves is one item. With free access to them it is no small job to keep 26,000 books in exact order and a book out of place is temporarily lost causing embarrasment both to borrower and librarian. More supervision is needed. The inventory begun this fall and postponed because we find no time to continue it at present will, I am sure, show a higher propor- tionate loss than ever before. We have always prided our- selves on our small percentage of books lost. Practically no time is given the librarian or staff for reading and read- ing for book selection is a legitimate and necessary part of library work. We are behind in our work in other ways.
In the light of the situation I want to recommend, if the income for 1921 will warrant it, that a regular children's librarian be secured as soon as possible in Miss Perry's posi- tion and that Miss Clarke, if she will serve, be engaged as an assistant on a part time schedule. If this can be done, I think an arrangement of time and duties can be worked out which will enable us to handle the increasing work more efficiently.
The staff express to the Board of Trustees their sincere appreciation of the very material encouragement given their work this year.
Respectfully submitted,
GALEN W. HILL
January 11, 1921.
Librarian.
CLASSIFIED Accessions, Withdrawals and Circulation
CIRCULATION
ACCESSIONS
With- drawals
Adults
Juvenile
Total
Main Library Oxford Branch Total
New Titles
Added copies
volumes
New Titles
Added copies
and volumes
Adults
Juvenile
Adults
Juvenile
Adults
Juvenile
Fiction
259
123
54
55
491
86
121
1| 26080 3167
10396 || 2748
1175 ||
40399 5016
*Periodicals (unbound
1
48
6
55
12
2
80
311 |
Philosophy
5
1
!
1
3
2
14
5
11
410
903 ||
4
88
1405
Language
3
1
2
6
20
56
560
166
782
Science
9
2
11
6
11
232
258 ||
25
54
569
Useful Arts
13
7
1
51
7
3
.66
292 ||
66
72
1196
Fine Arts
23
5
1
4
33
4
11
507
364 |1
24
51
946
Music
1
.
38
5
7
50
1
23
920
970
6
103
1999
Travel
24
7
7
3
41
7
8
588
497
20
160
1265
History
31
12
44
5
7
517
369 |
30
147
1063
Biography
23
3
1
2
29
1
4
389
149 |
10
25 11
573
Total
-
496
215 ||
77
-
75
=
863
- 137
225
|| 34209 | 35681 || 4422 | 2054 |
56366
362
49890
6476
Includes bound magazine
*Not accessioned
Duplicate pay collection 497 Pictures, pamphlets, etc. 657 High School library 586
o
C:7
2
95
17
2
132
125 ||
1
12
270
Religion
1
2
1
Sociology
35
1
-
1
2
270
102
7
380
Literature
368 # 1481
391
*General Works
112
and
-
10
STATISTICAL REPORT. THE MILLICENT LIBRARY, FAIRHAVEN, MASS. Annual Report for Year Ending December 31, 1919.
Population served (State Census 1915)
7,291
Terms of use: Free for lending and reference.
Total number of agencies: Central library; one branch; one school deposit station.
Days open during year (Central library)
366
Hours open each week for lending.
Hours open each week for reading.
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Vols. at beginning of year
22,560
3,099
25,659
Vols. added by purchase
533
286
819
Vols. added by gift.
22
22
Vols. added by binding material not other- wise counted
18
4
22
Vols. lost and withdrawn.
137
225
362
Vols. at close of year.
22,996
3,164
26,160
Pamphlets, pictures, etc., added.
No record kept
Vols. of fiction loaned.
28,828
11,571
40,399
Total volumes loaned.
38,631
17,735
56,366
Home use from agencies.
586
Other circulation (pictures, clippings ,etc.)
1,154
Number of borrowers registered during year.
674
Total number of borrowers.
2,821
Registration period, three years.
Titles
Copies
Number of periodicals currently received.
97
109
Financial statistics omitted.
84
84
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