USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1951 > Part 11
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Biography, next to current periodicals which always leads, was the most popular non-fiction class, and it gained 11.6% over 1950. Unexplained is the 14.2% gain in the reading of history.
These are hopeful signs.
The chart on opposite page gives more facts in a nutshell !
219
Light
on the
Subject
For a town the size of Fairhaven The American Library Association recommends
the following per capita standard :
$1.50 for limited service $19,146.
$2.25 for reasonably good service $28,719.
$3.00 for superior service $38,292.
To show how we measured up, the library operated on $25,592.64 in 1951. This included 17.74% of our total budget for extraordinary painting needs, and to meet this cost we operated on a near emergency program, cutting every expense to the bare bone, as already outlined in greater detail on page 216 of this report. Our total per capita expenditure for the year was $2.00, of which 88 cents per capita came from town appropriation and the remainder of $1.12 from library funds.
Public libraries are recognized as second only to the schools in offering educational facil- ities, supplementing the town's school program and providing for adult education programs as well. There is however, a tremendous differ- ence between the cost of the two, the school system being compulsory, which MUST provide for the education of every child. A public library system, free also to every citizen, is more or less excellent, good, mediocre, or bad, ac- cording to the support it receives, and its service depends upon its income. By law the school requires adequate funds, and its 1951 needs in Fairhaven were 36.25% of the tax dollar. The law does not dictate whether the library shall be supported adequately, and its support is left
to the individual town. The Millicent Library has been able to meet part of its expenses from its own funds and so re- quired from the town but slightly over 0.787% of each tax dollar, for which we believe a really fine service has been provided. We are grateful, too, for the fine spirit in which the town has given us this greatly needed support to help us carry on. We are content to give nothing less than our best, up to the limit of our resources, and it is with this spirit that our staff members carry on, even though, as compared with others of similar training in the educational field, they are still on a lower salary level than recom- mended library standard dictates.
An analysis of our receipts and expenditures follows:
FINANCES 1951
December 31, 1950, Balance Cash on Hand
$190.71
Receipts
Fines and Duplicate Pay Books
$443.36
Income from miscellaneous sources
47.32
Commonwealth of Mass. (Trust Fund)
2,500.00
Fairhaven Water Company
9,600.00
From Reserve Fund
1,808.45
Town of Fairhaven
11,336.00
25,735.13
$25,925.84
Payments
Salaries : Library Staff
(45.1 %) $13,344.93
Building Staff
( 7.04%)
Retirement & Social Security Books
(12.5 %)
3,200.26
Periodicals
( 2.18%)
559.23
Book binding
( .23%)
59.85
Library of Congress cards
( 1.06%)
272.08
Major repairs
(17.74%)
4,540.00
Maintenance : Building supplies, Lights,
Gas, Telephone, Fuel, Insurance, Water
( 8.5 %)
2,167.74
Library supplies, Annual report,
School bus, New equipment
( 4.61%)
1,180.79
$25,592.64
Balance Cash on Hand December 31, 1951
333.20
$25,925.84
Balance in Reserve Fund December 31, 1951
$500.00
221
( 1.04%)
267.76
They Never Forget
FRITE
See credit note verso of front cover
The children always remember. They come a-flying to the Story Hours. Publicity is hardly needed, for young- sters ask about our forthcoming program each year even before we make the seasonal announcements.
THEY LIKE THEM.
We held the usual ten Story Hours during the summer, averaging each week, as nearly as we could ascertain, 141 energetic youngsters listening eagerly to fascinating stories told by good friends, most of whom have come back season after season to help us with the entertaining. These people included : Miss Jeanne Adshead, Mrs. Louis Ander- son, Mrs. Eldred E. Besse, Mrs. Beth Chollar, Mrs. Harold E. Kerwin, Miss Elsie-Lee McCarthy, Mrs. J. Milton Rex. The school bus, engaged as usual, brought from the North Fairhaven section 312 boys and girls, while the East Fair- haven and Sconticut Neck groups came 606 strong to the second session of the weekly Story Hours. 492 from the
222
Here's the circus coming to town
ONE OF MANY STORY HOURS
center brought the total to 1,410 for the summer period, and to this we added 75 more children who came to the November Book Week Story Hour, which was a delightful dramatic skit done for the entertainment of the boys and girls by Mrs. Eldred E. Besse, 96 children came to the two December Story Hours, at which movies were shown.
SUMMER CIRCUS.
As usual, a reading club was part of the summer plans. Bozo the clown was introduced at the beginning of the season and stood guard in the Children's Room during the summer, wearing the merit badges earned by the book seekers. It's amazing how the youngsters catch on! They soon learn that it's the type of reading they do that counts. 63 boys and girls registering in the Circus Book Club read 689 books, an average of almost 11 books each. All grades up to the eighth were represented in the member- ship, the 5th taking the lead with 19, the 3rd and 4th had 10 each, the 2nd and 6th had 8 each, the 7th attracted 5, the 8th 2, and one 51/2-year-older registered for the first grade. The 6th grade members reported the largest number of books read-161, the 5th read 140, and the 3rd 115, followed by the 4th, 8th, 2nd, and 7th in this order.
36% of the books read were non-fiction, and of this 44.3% was biography alone. This is over double the per- centage of biography read in 1950's summer club. Authors have been doing a grand job in makng the life of some great man or woman come alive for a child.
DO THEY LIKE OUR BOOKS?
We like to tell of one of the older boys who was so intrigued by one of the books he borrowed that he came to the librarian and asked if he could have that book for his own by swapping 12 books from his personal collection for it.
THE LIBRARY GOES TO SCHOOL, TOO.
The school work is another link in our chain when considering the children. To 6 schools we loaned 74 col- lections consisting of a total of 2,484 books, on which the teachers reported a circulation of 7,299. In late March the seventh graders were given the usual instruction on the use of the library.
223
It's Important
WHAT THE LIBRARY DOES FOR THE PUBLIC
WHAT THE PUBLIC DOES FOR THE LIBRARY
These factors are what make good PUBLIC RE- LATIONS. The public has taken singular interest during 1951. The librarian has heard several times expressions from the public, such as: "Why not have a public drive of some sort to help out on some needed equipment for the library?" or "What about a Friends-of the-Library plan?" or "Why can't a room be fixed up in the basement for the kiddies?"-and anyone seeing the crowded room during the Story Hour period could hardly fail to echo this need.
OF COURSE THEY'RE INTERESTED!
These are good signs. The public is helping now to pay for the library through an annual appropriation, which supplements the library's other income. So why shouldn't they be interested? But active interest, with a punch be- hind it, is doubly appreciated.
WE TAKE OFF OUR HATS TO:
A special committee of the Fairhaven Lions Club, with Mr. Domingo Benton as chairman and Mr. Joseph Souza in charge of publicity, has set the wheels in motion to buy a tape recorder and possibly other audio-visual material for the library. Announcements were made to the children at a late December Story Hour regarding plans for their participation in a paper drive for this purpose. We await the outcome with great interest and gratitude.
HURRAH FOR THE GIRL SCOUTS!
Contributing also to our program have been two groups of girls from the Girl Scouts who have given time to help us with various odd tasks. We are grateful to these girls of the Senior Service, Troop 20, and Cloverleaf Troop 93, a North Fairhaven Senior Troop.
224
STARTING YOUNG
To make her troop better acquainted with the library, Mrs. Alfred Belliveau brought her Brownies from St. Joseph's School, giving the librarian an opportunity to en- tertain them briefly by telling a story.
Some members of the Fairhaven Junior Improvement Association, through one of its leaders, Miss Elsie-Lee McCarthy, have expressed interest in undertaking a project for the library.
GOOD TO LOOK AT
Exhibits added to the public's enjoyment. Products of Mr. Gerhard Steele's bird-carving hobby have been twice displayed during the year. This hobby of his took firm root, he says, as a result of books and, in particular, one book which he borrowed from the library-"The Audubon book of bird carving." Mrs. Reginald Pierce very thoughtfully sent some cotton bolls from Raleigh, North Carolina. These made an instructive display, and for this thought we are grateful to her. Pictures of famous ships drew attention also.
IT'S ALWAYS FUN!
Approximately 65 people attended our Book Week Tea in November, a yearly library occasion for a festive and friendly community get-together over new books. Mrs. Alfred P. Wilbor and Mrs. James H. C. Marston poured.
THANK YOU, ALL
From a long list of donors we received during the year 119 books. Most of them were books of real usefulness and, we would say gratefully, not the ordinary kind from the attic that unfortunately nobody wants to read and which would be nothing more than "dead wood" on our shelves should we add them.
225
A cedar tree of unusual shape, donated by Miss Mabel L. Potter, became our lovely 1951 Christmas tree and added much to the Christmas atmosphere in the library.
In so many ways people have helped during the past year. The newspapers-The Fairhaven Star and the New Bedford Standard-Times-and their reporters and photog- raphers, including one of our own townspeople, Mrs. William Wallbank, expressing unusual interest in our program, have helped with their publicity. The radio stations WBSM and WNBH always have kindly aired news for us on occasions. To all of these we would say "Thank you."
Future Plans
WHY, OF COURSE! WE ALL HAVE THEM!
So that no one can possibly miss knowing about our "NEW LOOK," February 1952 has been designated in our plans as a month to "Renew acquaintanceship with the Millicent Library." To participate in our program and to learn how we can serve better, we invite most cordially each individual citizen in town.
EVERYONE'S INVITED !
CHALLENGE AHEAD!
All the earmarks are present for a progressive 1952. We welcome the approaching year.
AVIS M. PILLSBURY, Librarian
January 15, 1952.
226
STATISTICAL REPORTS 1951 Pages 228 - 232
Statistical Report
THE MILLICENT LIBRARY, FAIRHAVEN, MASS.
American Library Association Form of Statistics
Annual Report for the Year Ending December 31, 1951
Name of Library-The Millicent Library.
Town-Fairhaven, Mass.
Librarian-Avis M. Pillsbury.
Date of Founding-1893.
Population served (Census 1950) 12,764
Assessed valuation of town $13,611,010.
Terms of Use-Free for lending and reference.
Total number of agencies 11
Consisting of-
Central Library
4 Stations (Oxford Branch, High School Library King's Daughters Home, Our Lady's Haven)
6 Schools (74 classroom collections)
Volumes placed in classroom collections are counted in circulation on the day they are moved from the Central Library, and no complete record of use at the school is recorded.
Number of days open during year (Central Library) 303
Hours open each week for lending 63
Hours open each week for reading 63
228
BOOK STOCK
Adult
Juvenile
Total 46,611
Volumes at beginning of year
38,219
8,392
Volumes added by purchase
840
694
1,534
Volumes added by gift
118
1
119
Volumes added by binding material not otherwise counted
0
0
0
Total volumes added
958
695
1,653
Volumes lost or withdrawn
131
153
284
Total volumes at end of year
39,046
8,934
47,980
Periodicals currently received (Titles 142, Copies 162)
Publication issued (1 annual report)
USE
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Volumes of fiction loaned
22,713
13,572
36,285
Total volumes loaned
38,933
18,951
57,884
Percentage of fiction of total volumes loaned
58.3%
71.6%
62.7%
Circulation per capita
4.5
Circulation per registered borrower
22.3
Pictures, photographs, clippings, etc., loaned
58
REGISTRATION
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Borrowers registered during year
515
268
783
Total of registered borrowers
1,785
808
2,593
Percent registered borrowers of population served
20.3%
229
Table 1 CLASSIFIED BOOK STOCK
BOOK STOCK CHANGES IN 1951
TOTAL BOOK STOCK
ACCESSIONS
WITHDRAWALS
CLASS
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Adult
Juvenile
Total
*General works 000 Philosophy
23
23
3
3
2,730
135
2,865
100
21
1
22
790
8
798
Religion
200
33
7
5
5
10
1,258
117
1,375
Sociology
300
83
54
137
7
10
17
3,146
476
3,622
Language
400
1
29
30
2
2
246
269
515
Science
500
28
32
60
15
18
33
1,143
339
1,482
Useful arts
600
119
23
142
1
16
17
2,882
252
3,134
Fine arts
700
102
18
120
4
3
7
2,896
261
3,157
Literature
800
58
10
68
6
15
21
3,520
461
3,981
History
900
70
19
89
28
1
29
2,766
255
3,021
Travel
910-919
61
8
69
9
6
15
2,697
420
3,117
Biography
B-920
78
20
98
33
1
34
3,722
466
4,188
Total non-fiction
677 (41%) 281 (17%)
221 (13.3%) 474 (28.7%)
898 (54.3%) 755 (45.7%)
111
77
188
27,796 (58% ) 11,250 (23.4%)
3,459 (7.2%) 5,475 (11.4%)
31,255 (65.2%) 16,725 (34.8%)
GRAND TOTAL
958 (58%)
695 (42%)
1,653 (100%)
131
153
284
39,046 ($1.4%)
8,934 (18.6%)
47,980 (100%)
* Includes bound magazines
230
V
-
Total fiction
20
76
96
40
Table 2
1951 DISTRIBUTION OF CIRCULATION
% Contribution to Total
Fiction |
Non- Fiction
Total
| Grand Total
1 Non- Fiction | Fiction | Total
MAIN LIBRARY
Adult
20,958
14,575
Juvenile
12,929 480 34,367
3 19,735
35,533 18,086 483 54,102
54,102
59.4%
34.1%
93.5%
OXFORD BRANCH
Adult
Juvenile
Total
1,066
410 176 586
895 757 1,652
1,652
1.8
1.
2.8
HIGH SCHOOL
Adult
790
1,232
2,022 108 2,130
2,130
1.5
2.2
3.7
-
TOTALS
Adult
22,713
16,220 5,379 21,599
38,933 18,951 57,884
57,884
62.7%
28. 9.3 37.3%
67.2 32.8 100. %
Percent
62.7%
37.3%
100%
·
.
·
.62
Total
852
46 1,278
39.2 23.5
Juvenile
13,572
Grand Total
·
36,285
5,157
Dup. Pay Total
485 581
Juvenile
231
Table 3
CIRCULATION 1951
Main Library
Dupli- cate Pay
Oxford Branch
High School
Total Adult
Total Juvenile
GRAND TOTAL
CLASS
Adult
Juvenile
Adult
Adult
Juvenile
Adult
Juvenile
149
5,101
1-Periodicals
4,557
149
395
2-General works
000
101
14
3
1
104
15
119
Philosophy
100
315
24
1
6
321
25
346
Religion
200
394
126
5
11
405
131
536
Sociology
300
688
956
45
12
700
1,001
1,701
Language
400
110
915
35
110
950
1,060
Science
500
400
345
1
23
19
420
368
788
Useful arts
600
1,728
289
15
40
1,768
304
2,072
Fine arts
700
1,517
267
5
44
1,561
272
1,833
Literature
800
1,168
197
3
3
22
588
6
1,762
225
1,987
History
900-909
930-999
833
237
4
10
97
934
247
1,181
Travel
910-919
1,196
305
4
5
271
35
1,841
1,373
3,214
Biography B-& 920 Pamphlets
2
Total non-fiction
14,575
5,157
3
410
176
1,232
46
16,220
5,379
21,599
Fiction
20,958
12,929
480
485
581
790
62
22,713
13,572
36,285
GRAND TOTAL
35,533
18,086
483
895
757
2.022
108
38,933
18.951
57.884
53,619
1,652
2,130
Pictures, clippings, etc.
53
1. Not accessioned
2. Includes bound periodicals
Stereoscopes
5
Total
58
1,340
319
1,659
9
144
5
1,566
1,333
2
2
4,952
232
Index
Page
Accounting Officer
Analysis of Appropriation Accounts 37
Balance Sheet 12
Cash Receipts and Payments 16
Assessors' Department 59
Auditor's Report
50
Building Inspector 88
Fairhaven Water Co. 114
Fire Alarm Superintendent
76
Fire Department 74
Health Department 78
Animal Inspector 82
Health Nursing Service 83
Inspector of Slaughtering 80
Milk Inspector 81
Highway Department 86
Information About the Town
3
Jury List-Women 42
Millicent Library 209
Park Department 95
Planning Board 73
Police Department 104
Public Welfare Department
66
Aid to Dependent Children
69
Old Age Assistance 70
Veterans' Benefits 72
Registrars of Voters 64
Retirement Board
Page 94
School Building Committee 117
School Department 119
School Committee Report 122
Superintendent's Report 126
High School Principal 132
School Nurse 136
Expenditures
147
Sealer of Weights and Measures 90
Selectmen
9
Sewer and Water Commissioners 85
Shellfish Inspector 92
State Audit
51
Tax Collector
55
Tax Title Report
49
Town Clerk
Births 158
Marriages
164
Deaths 168
Town Meeting Members
199
Town Meetings 1951
172
Town Officers
4
Treasurer
Cash Account 43
Debt and Interest 1952 45
Outstanding Debt 1951 44
Trust Funds 1951 46
Tree Warden 103
Trust Fund Commissioners 48
****
The pen etching used on the frontispiece of this cover was created by Kenneth R. Vining and drawn by artist Milton K. Delano and presented to the town.
This is one of ten etchings depicting Fairhaven's past - present - and future.
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