USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1928 > Part 6
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THE CIRCULATION WORK
Statistical summaries of the circulation work show that 107,342 volumes have been loaned from the main library, the Oxford and East Fairhaven branches. Of this circu- lation 32,101, or 29% is juvenile. Oxford has contributed a circulation of 16,152, or 15% of the whole. The gain in books circulated is 12,029, or over 1,000 volumes per month, with a percentage gain of 12.6. Of this gain, the main library contributed a circulation of 5,326 volumes, Oxford branch, 6,457 volumes and East Fairhaven, 246 volumes. The Oxford branch is open approximately three and one- half hours a week against eighty-four hours at the main library, and in this length of time open has shown the largest gain. This is surely an indication of the need of the branch in the Oxford section. The strike in New Bedford may have been the cause of the increased reading, but at any rate, our figures show that the same high standard has been maintained since the strike was settled. The gain at Oxford over 1927 is 65%, and in two years time, the circulation has more than doubled itself.
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In connection with these statistics, there should be noted the following additional ones: 1,002 pictures circulated, 77 pamphlets, 1,180 duplicate pay books, and 3,603 books from the High School library. With these, the total is 113,204.
The registration for the year was 1,376 persons re- gistered with a total for the three year period of 3,950, or approximately 36% of the population.
TOTAL CIRCULATION AND GAIN FOR FIVE YEARS
1928
1927
1926
1925
1924
79802
80035
87230
95313
107,342
6 %
.2 %
8 %
9 %
12 %
Percent gain over preceding year
BOOKS BORROWED BY PATRONS OF THE OXFORD BRANCH DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS
(The Branch is opened approximately 31/2 hours a week)
1924-8064
1925-6853
1926-5535
1927-9695
1928-16152
44% of the Oxford circulation for 1928 is juvenile.
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BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE
The expenditure for repairs to the building during 1928 was negligible. During the summer, two much needed lights were installed, one over the duplicate pay collection table, and the other in the opposite corner.
More heat is being obtained from the furnace by the use of chestnut instead of pea coal. There is still need of direct radiation, especially in the Children's and the Reading Room.
Soon it will be necessary to consider the replacement of two of the rugs which are quite badly worn.
In March, insurance was placed on the Library building and its contents.
THE BOOK COLLECTION
1,335 books have been added during the year. Of these, 859 were for the adult collection, and 476 for the juvenile. Of the total, 751 are new titles, while 584 are replacements. 239 juvenile books and 163 adult books have been withdrawn, some having been lost and paid for, but most of them worn out. The total number of volumes now in the possession of the library is 31,570.
The collection of books has been changed at Oxford as the need has arisen. The change consists of replacing a portion of the books with a fresh supply from the main library. In addition, new books are being sent constantly to the branch. East Fairhaven branch has also been sup- plied with different books from time to time. An inventory of the fiction at Oxford, and of all the books at East Fair- haven was taken during the summer months.
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
The complete revision of the Duplicate Pay collection
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has proved very popular. During the fall, all the old books were removed, and new ones added. The collection now num- bers 28, and more will be added as fast as desirable books for this collection are on the market. Our aim is to withdraw a book and place it in the general collection, just as soon as it pays for itself, or its popularity wanes. In the place of a book removed, a new one will be added. It happens not infrequently that the pay collection table is empty. In every case, we have one or more copies of the same title on the regular shelves.
The nucleus for a collection to be called the Gold Star collection has been exhibited and the books circulated. Only worthwhile books will be placed in the collection and each book will have a gold star on its binding. Many of the books will be new and attractive editions of the classics, such books as Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe", Cooper's "Spy", and Palgrave's "Golden Treasury". These books will appeal to many adults who have not read them, and some will enjoy reading them again. It is hoped that High School students will find them of particular interest.
38 classroom collections have been sent to the six schools. This year, beginning in September with the open- ing of school, each book sent out was equipped with a special book card, the purpose of which is to make record keeping simpler for the teachers, and to provide the library with circulation statistics for these collections. Already several teachers have reported that they find the system an improve- ment, and a help to them.
GIFTS
Outstanding among the gifts of the year, besides the books and pamphlets recorded in the statistics, are three autographs. Special acknowledgment should be made in this report to Miss Abby S. Howland for a Roosevelt auto- graph, to Miss Rachel Howland for a book containing Woodrow Wilson's own personal bookplate with his auto-
10
graph in facsimile, and to Mr. Thomas A. Tripp for a letter bearing Cleveland's signature. With the exception of auto- graphs of Mckinley and Harding, the collection of the presidents is now complete.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
One of the chief activities of the year was the obser- vance of Children's Book Week, November 11-17. Much publicity was given to this week through the general press, and signs were placed in some of the local windows. Through the medium of the schools, the teachers were invited, and the children asked to tell their mothers about the Tea on Thursday of that week. New books, some of them loaned through the courtesy of the H. S. Hutchinson Company of New Bedford, were displayed in the Trustees and Children's Room during the week, and on Thursday afternoon, the fireplace was lighted, and about forty-five mothers and teachers dropped in for a cup of tea and a friendly chat with other mothers and teachers. New books were ex- amined much to the satisfaction of everyone. The Tea was a success, and we hope that if another one is held sometime in the future, we may have even more mothers and teachers present. The librarian wishes to take this occasion to express her appreciation to the staff for their assistance, and to three members of the Board of Trustees, Mrs. Pease, Miss Dana, and Miss Clarke, who gave much of their time and energy to make the afternoon a successful one.
A new edition of the "Dedication of the Memorial to Henry Huttleston Rogers" has been printed.
Several exhibits of books have been made, and through this medium, the public's attention has been called to many good books which would otherwise have remained unnoticed on the shelves.
The displays in the glass case in the Reading Room have been changed from time to time.
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STAFF
The principal change in staff has been in the change of your librarian. I am sure it was with regret that the Trus- tees and staff of this library, and members of this com- munity saw Mr. Louis Felix Ranlett leave Fairhaven to take up work elsewhere. I wish to record my deep appreciation to Mr. Ranlett for his many helpful suggestions at the time of my arrival in June.
Mr. Albert R. Clish, succeeding Mr. Wilfred H. Graves as principal of the East Fairhaven School has assumed charge of the East Fairhaven branch.
Philip Gidley has taken the place of Harold B. Dutton, Jr. as page at the main library and assistant at the Oxford branch.
During the spring and summer, Miss Annie Thompson, a former member of the staff, Miss Miriam Owen, and Miss Anna Peters served as substitute workers.
Miss Florence Wilkinson attended the three weeks summer library course at Simmons College, the library al- lowing her time for this work.
Members of the staff have attended meetings of the Massachusetts, the Cape Cod, and the Old Dartmouth Library Clubs.
As your librarian, I wish to express my appreciation to The Trustees of this Library, all of whom have manifested the most friendly and helpful spirit since my arrival here, and to the staff, for their cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
AVIS M. PILLSBURY,
January 8, 1929.
Librarian.
Statistical Report
THE MILLICENT LIBRARY, FAIRHAVEN, MASS. American Library Association Form of Statistics. Annual Report for the Year Ending December 31, 1928.
Name of library-The Millicent Library
Town-Fairhaven, Mass.
Librarian-Avis M. Pillsbury
Date of founding-1893
Population served (Census 1925)
10,827
Assessed valuation of town .$11,936,740
Terms of use, Free for lending and reference.
Total number of agencies
10
Consisting of-Central Library
3 stations (Oxford Branch, East Fairhaven Branch, High School Library) 6 schools (38 classroom collections)
Number of days open during year (Central Library) 366
Hours open each week for lending 84
Hours open each week for reading 84
BOOK STOCK
Total
Vols. at beginning of year
30,637
Vols. added by purchase
1,290
Vols. added by gift
21
Vols. added by binding material not otherwise counted 24
Total volumes added 1,335
13
Volumes lost or withdrawn
402
Total volumes at end of year
31,570
Periodicals currently received (Titles, 121, Copies 159) ..
Publications issued (4 bulletins, 1 annual report) ....
5
USE
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Vols. of fiction loaned
61,066
22,744
83,810
Total vols. loaned
75,241
32,101
107,342
Per cent of fiction of total vols. loaned .. 81%
70%
78%
Circulation per capita
9.9
Circulation per registered borrower
27.07
Pictures, photographs, clippings, etc. loaned
1,079
REGISTRATION
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Borrowers registered during year
812
564
1,376
Total of registered borrowers
2,417
1,533
3,950
Registration period, three years.
Per cent registered borowers of population served
... .36%
Vols. placed in collections in schoolrooms are counted in cir- culation on the day they are moved from Central Library, and no record of use at the school is recorded.
Classified Accessions, Withdrawals and Circulation, 1928
ACCESSIONS
With- drawals
CIRCULATION
Main Library
Oxford Branch
East Branch
Total
Class
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Total
Adult
Juvenile
Adult
Juvenile
Adult
Juvenile
Fiction
527
323
850
289
53,547
16,173
7,519
5,078
1,493
83,810
1 Periodicals
000
35
1
36
321
118
2
441
Philosophy
100
9
9
1
239
7
1
247
Religion
200
12
4
16
25
493
738
35
399
98
1.763
Sociology
400
2
16
18
12
127
734
553
95
1,509
Science
500
9
14
6
410
176
14
74
17
691
Useful Arts
600
50
5
55
10
992
227
46
54
19
1,338
Fine Arts
700
22
17
39
1
800
449
14
68
20
1,351
Music
780-789
10
3
13
203
189
1
14
8
415
Literature
800
32
31
63
27
1,552
1,579
24
554
152
3,861
Travel
910-919
32
21
53
11
1,334
771
113
113
36
2,367
History
900
30
5
35
10
635
617
50
14S
65
1,515
Biography
B-920
52
15
67
5
1,055
279
114
103
17
1,568
Total
859
476
1335
402
66,265
22,889
8,976
7,176
1
2,036
89,154
16,152
2,036
- 107,342
1-Not accessioned.
2-Includes bound magazines.
3-Part of books property of Migh School.
Duplicate Pay Collection 3 High School Library Pictures, pamphlets, etc.
1,079
Total
113,204
4,273
746
1,041
7
6,067
2 General Works
2
18
0
399
284
86
300
37
30
57
Language
=
1,180
3,603
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