USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1948 > Part 10
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Something new is added
Occasionally, new equipment is a "MUST." We delight in the new catalog cases, two 60-drawer units, on order 22 months before we received them in February. Both the staff and the public find these more convenient to use, and the single drawers make it far less dangerous than the over- crowded old style heavy double-tray units.
With 3 new desks and a rearrangement, coupled with a removal of a section of stacks in the left rear of the main floor, working conditions and space were greatly improved. It also released one desk badly needed at the Oxford Branch.
194
Many interior repairs are sadly needed, too many to be discussed here. Although "a stitch in time saves nine," one must first have the needle.
P. S.
If, after reading the foregoing section, you are still puzzled as to what goes on in YOUR LIBRARY, we suggest that a week's volunteer service will change your mind completely.
Also, if you like figures, detailed tabulated reports will be found on the last 5 pages.
When You Have A Grouch !
Perhaps you don't have them, although we are inclined to think almost everyone has one once in a while. Perhaps the library staff does, too, but, we hope not very often. A willing staff tries to give service with a smile. We are noted for our friendliness, and if we fail to please, we hope you'll remind us. May we suggest that when you have a grouch you telephone or come to the library and ask for a humorous book. We'll find one for you, and will guarantee that you'll feel better.
AIDS For BUSINESS MEN
CALL YOUR LIBRARY 2-5342
WATCH YOUR
OOD PRESSURE MISTER!
FREE SERVICE
195
Sometimes We Groan !
Yes, we have staff changes, too. They are inevitable. We dislike these breaks. They disturb the continuity of the work. Assistants move on to more lucrative positions, or resign for other reasons, such as marriage or health. On August 1st, we lost Miss Rita E. Steele, one of our capable workers for four years, to the Dartmouth College Library, where the salary schedule is considerably higher. With regret, in mid-December, we lost Miss Agnes A. Rennie, on account of poor health. For family and business reasons, Mrs. Phyllis Sprague was unable to continue substitute work during the summer months when it was most needed. Luckily, Mrs. Carol Moore, a teacher with some previous library experience, helped out admirably for a few weeks. Student helpers come and go, usually because of better paid part-time work after school. The newest helper is Marion Smith, an enthusiastic, willing worker, whom we are fortunate to have. After several months search follow- ing Miss Steele's resignation, and finally in response to our ad in the Library Journal, we secured as an assistant, a graduate of the Library School of the New Jersey College for Women, Mrs. Josephine S. Levering. She came in late October and assumed cataloging duties following Miss Rennie's resignation in mid-December.
A tough problem
To maintain a fully qualified staff is one of a librarian's greatest worries. An efficient staff must have qualifica- tions according to a definite standard. With salaries skyrocketing and many larger libraries offering wages according to the American Library Association's revised standards, it has become increasingly difficult to attract professional librarians to the small town library. Ranking along with the school system, progressive libraries carry out programs to meet community needs. It is urgent that a certain proportion of the staff be professionally trained. More and more this is becoming recognized as an economy measure, too, in the over-all production of good work. Teachers are expected to be trained. The public accepts the fact, yet, regarding library work, they often think of it as work that any reasonably intelligent person can do. This is true of part of the work. Yet, another fact remains-that untrained people, no matter how good, are limited in the
196
work they can do without supervision, and this supervision sometimes takes almost as much time as to do it in the first place. A certain proportion of the work is highly special- ized, requiring the application of methods and ideas, and the ability, especially in the reference field, to draw from the reservoir of knowledge built up through a liberal or higher education. To train for library work requires a long intensive course of study, recognized by many as one of the stiffest offered. Actually, the professional librarian spends more years to complete her initial training than does the teacher.
In these days, young people are thinking twice about taking up an occupation that requires so much and brings so few returns when compared to other occupations. The result is now a serious shortage of librarians.
An in-training program for a proportion of the staff who cannot meet professional qualifications has much to be said for it, if, but only IF, such people have enthusiasm for their work, are willing to learn even if it sometimes requires study on their part, and maintain an open-minded spirit that makes their job a matter of pride rather than "just-a-job-period." Such workers bring good results and make an admirable contribution.
Thank You !
The librarian is grateful to all who have in one way or another served the library. Some of these people have already been mentioned. Newspaper editors and reporters have assisted, as have town officials. The Trustees have worked hard to preserve the high standard of the library, and have shown a particular awareness of the needs, show- ing consideration also to a staff who in turn has worked faithfully. The words-"THANK YOU" are meant to convey the librarian's deep feeling of appreciation.
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You Can Make The Library Tick
Not only by giving it your financial support, but by making use of its friendly service is one of the ways in which you can help to make the Millicent Library an effectual one.
Your contribution of ideas-your continued use of it, is what makes the library tick.
Citizens, the Millicent Library exists for you, for your children, for your grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, bringing you the best contributions to literature of your greatgrandfathers, of your grandfathers, of your fathers, and of your children.
We look to the future hopefully.
Respectfully submitted,
AVIS M. PILLSBURY LIBRARIAN
January 18, 1949
LI
THE
IBRARY
F
RH
AVEN, MASS
198
Statistical Reports Pages 200-204 1948
Statistical Report
THE MILLICENT LIBRARY, FAIRHAVEN, MASS.
American Library Association Form of Statistics
Annual Report for the Year Ending December 31, 1948
Name of Library-The Millicent Library.
Town-Fairhaven, Mass.
Librarian-Avis M. Pillsbury.
Date of Founding-1893.
Population served (Census 1945)
12,072
Assessed valuation of town
$12,300,210
Terms of Use-Free for lending and reference.
Total number of agencies Consisting of-
12
Central Library
7 Stations (Oxford Branch, *Edmund Anthony School De- posit, East Fairhaven School Deposit, Job C. Tripp School Deposit, High School Library, King's Daughters Home, Our Lady's Haven) 5 Schools (97 classroom collections)
Number of days open during year (Central Library) 304
Hours open each week for lending 63
Hours open each week for reading
63
BOOK STOCK
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Volumes at beginning of year
36,444
7,288
43,732
Volumes added by purchase
921
348
1,269
Volumes added by gift
100
16
116
Volumes added by binding material not otherwise counted
7
7
Total volumes added
1,028
364
1,392
Volumes lost or withdrawn
895
603
1,498
Total volumes at end of year
36,577
7,049
43,626
Periodicals currently received (Titles 140, Copies 159)
Publication issued (1 annual report)
* January to June only
200
USE
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Volumes of fiction loaned
28,506
14,323
42,829
Total volumes loaned
44,094
18,556
62,650
Percentage of fiction of total volumes loaned
64.6%
77.18%
68.36%
Circulation per capita
5.18
Circulation per registered borrower
22.38
Pictures, photographs, clippings, etc., loaned
226
REGISTRATION
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Borrowers registered during year
641
315
956
Total of registered borrowers
1,972
827
2,799
Percent registered borrowers of population served
23.18%
Volumes placed in classroom collections are counted in circulation on the day they are moved from Central Library, and no complete record of use at the school is recorded.
201
Table 1 CLASSIFIED BOOK STOCK
BOOK STOCK CHANGES IN 1948
TOTAL BOOK STOCK
ACCESSIONS
WITHDRAWALS
CLASS
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Adult
Juvenile
Total
*General works 000 Philosophy
32
16
48
5
5
2,629
133
2,762
Religion
200
33
11
44
2
8
10
1,175
93
1,268
Sociology
300
91
19
110
104
27
131
2,917
320
3,237
Language
400
11
25
36
9
21
30
238
166
404
Science
500
24
9
33
63
29
92
1,077
295
1,372
Useful arts
600
08
8
106
265
26
291
2,559
227
2,786
Fine arts
700
74
6
80
63
69
2,646
223
2,869
Literature
800
96
12
108
46
20
66
3,470
471
3,941
History
900
46
3
49
14
10
24
2,633
219
2,852
Travel
910-919
69
8
77
73
50
123
2,525
398
2,923
Biography
B-920
70
8
78
37
10
47
3,531
294
3,825
Total non-fiction
Total fiction
667 (47.9%) 361 (25.9%)
125 (9%) 239 (17.2%)
792 (56.9%) 600 (43.1%)
198
396
594
26,136 (59.9%) 10,441 (23.9%)
2,848 (6.5%) 4,201 (9.7%)
28,984 (66.4%) 14,642 (33.6%)
GRAND TOTAL
1,028 (73.8%)
364 (26.2%)
1,392 (100%)
895
603
1,498
36,577 (83.8%)
7,049 (16.2%)
43,626 (100%)
100
23
23
16
16
736
9
745
* Includes bound magazines
202
697
207
904
Table 2
1948 DISTRIBUTION OF CIRCULATION
Fiction
Non- Fiction
Total
| Grand Total
Total gain or loss over 1947
% Contribution to Total
Non- 1 Fiction | Fiction | Total
MAIN LIBRARY
Adult
Juvenile
25,677 11,800 784
13,812 3,603
39,489 15,403 784
+ 2,492 + 3,460
Dup. Pay Total
55,676
61.08%
27.79%
88.87%
OXFORD BRANCH
Adult
1,583 675
429 196
2,012 871
418
Juvenile Total
2,883
3.6
1.
4.6
ANTHONY SCHOOL Juvenile
390
73
463
463
- 935
.62
12
.74
EAST FAIRHAVEN SCHOOL Juvenile
1,357
280
1,637
1,637
+ 235
2.16
.45
2.61
OXFORD SCHOOL Juvenile
. . .
.
. . .
-1,307
. . .
HIGH SCHOOL
Adult
462
1,347 81
1,809 182
+
37
Total
1.15
2.17
3.32
TOTALS
Adult
28,506
15,588 4,233 19,821
44,094 18,556 62,650
62,650
+ 2,893
45.5 % 22.86 68.36
24.88% 6.76 31.64
70.38% 29.62 100.
Percent
68.36%
31.64%
100%
100%
..
. .
203
. .
Juvenile
.....
101
- 27
1,991
+ 1,891 + 1,002
Juvenile
14,323
Grand Total
42,829
.
...
- 424
- 220
.
Table 3
CIRCULATION 1948
Main Library
Oxford Branch
An- thony School
E. Fair- haven School
High School
Dupli- cate Pay
Total Adult
Total Juvenile
GRAND TOTAL
CLASS
Adult
Juvenile
Adult
Juvenile
Juvenile
Juvenile
Adult
Juvenile
Adult
1-Periodicals
3,935
160
392
4
4,327
164
4,491
2-General works 000
50
14
4
26
4
54
44
98
335
16
351
Religion
200
280
182
1
2
2
1
2
1
283
188
471
Sociology
300
696
465
3
22
11
52
20
719
550
1,269
Language
400
186
917
22
8
53
1
187
1,000
1,187
Science
500
367
328
41
18
42
31
398
429
827
Useful arts
600
1,469
289
3
19
11
32
21
1,493
351
1,844
Fine arts
700
1,434
233
9
1
1
15
13
1,456
250
1,706
Literature
800
1,496
210
14
4
37
574
14
2,070
279
2,349
History
900
753
194
4
14
7
36
82
839
251
1,090
Travel
910-919
1,435
234
6
12
3
8
247
2
1,688
259
1,947
Biography
. B-920
1,267
323
7
19
8
355
64
1,629
414
2,043
Pamphlets
110
38
110
38
148
Total non-fiction
13,812
3,603
429
196
73
280
1,347
81
15,588
4,233
19,821
Fiction
25,677
11,800
1,583
675
390
1,357
462
101
784
28,506
14,323
42,829
GRAND TOTAL
39,489
15,403
2,012
871
463
1,637
1,809
182
784
44,094 |
18,556
-
62,650
54,892
2,883
1,991
1. Not accessioned
Pictures, clippings, etc.
209
Stereoscopes
17
2. Includes bound magazines
Total
226
1
Philosophy
100
334
16
204
Index
Page
Accounting Officer
Analysis of Appropriation Accounts 32
Balance Sheet 10
Cash Receipts and Payments 13
Assessors' Department 50
Auditor's Report
43
Building Inspector 68
Fire Department
59
Health Department
60
Animal Inspector 62
Health Nursing Service 64
Inspector of Slaughtering 62
Milk Inspector 63
Highway Department 66
Information About the Town
3
Millicent Library
171
Park Department 75
Planning Board 57
Police Department
78
Public Welfare Department
Aid to Dependent Children 55
Old Age Assistance 56
Public Welfare 54
Retirement Board 74
Page
School Department 87
School Committee Report
90
Superintendent's Report 95
High School Principal
100
School Nurse
106
Expenditures
116
Sealer of Weights and Measures
69
Selectmen 8
Sewer Department 65
Shellfish Inspector 71
State Audit
43
Tax Collector
47
Town Clerk
Births 127
Marriages
132
Deaths
137
Town Meeting Members
163
Town Meetings 1948
141
Town Officers
4
Treasurer
Cash Account 36
Debt and Interest 1949
38
Outstanding Debt 1948 37
Tax Titles
42
Trust Funds 1948 39
Tree Warden 77
Trust Fund Commissioners 42
Water Commissioners
73
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