USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1942-1946 > Part 10
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Miss Morrill 2
Miss Thompson
4
-
Total 17
Filmstrips
. Miss Callahan 16
Miss Claflin 5
Miss Callahan
362
Mr. Potter
42
Total 404
Miss Gough
3
Mounted Pictures
Total 16
Filmstrips
Mr. Bingley 8
63
MARCY STREET SCHOOL
Exhibits and Literature
Filmstrips
Miss Desmarais 14
Mrs. Campbell 7
Mrs. Campbell
5
Mrs. Chapman 6
Mrs. Cook
2
Mrs. Cook 13
Miss L'Ecuyer
5
Total
9
-
Total 45
Lantern Slides
Mounted Pictures
Mrs. Campbell 125
Mrs. Cook
125
Miss L'Ecuyer 75
Mrs. Chapman 17
Mrs. Cook 13
Miss L'Ecuyer 21
-
Total
116
RIVER STREET SCHOOL
Exhibits and Literature
Metronoscope Rolls
Miss Sousa
2
Miss Randall 14
Miss Sousa
2
Filmstrips
Miss Sousa
3
Total
-
16
Lantern Slides
Miss Randall 25
Mrs. Campbell 65
Total
325
Miss Desmarais 2
-
64
WEST STREET SCHOOL
Exhibits and Literature
Filmstrips
Mrs. Beaudreau 8
Miss Brodeur 2
Miss Carey 3
Lantern Slides
Mrs. Potter
4
Mrs. Beaudreau 100
Total
17
Mrs. Potter 75
Mounted Pictures
Total 175
Mrs. Potter
99
Metronoscope Rolls
Miss Brodeur
68
SUMMARY
Motion Pictures 114
Metronoscope Rolls 111
Motion Picture Showings 439
Lantern Slides 850
Exhibits and Literature 38 Filmstrips 173
Mounted Pictures 908
NUMBER OF FILMS SHOWN IN EACH SCHOOL
High School
43
Girls' Club 2
Charlton St.
2
River St. M. A.
11
Eastford Rd.
2 General Vocational 44
Marcy St.
4 Air-Raid Precaution 27
River St.
2
Charlton, Mass.
2
West St.
2
Sturbridge, Mass.
2
Continuation
3
Respectfully submitted,
RAOUL O. LATAILLE
Miss Carey 2
65
REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
To the Superintendent of Schools:
It is a source of comfort and satisfaction to be able to re- port that the general health of our public school population is at a very satisfactory level. Every effort is being made to main- tain a high standard of health throughout the schools. To this end, individual physical examination of each child was carried out through the first six grades of the elementary schools. In the seventh and eighth grades, our examinations concerned the boys only, as is the case in High School. The girls in the upper grades and in High School are examined by a woman physician. The more serious defects noted in the course of these examinations were reported, in writing, to the parents of the children concerned. Prompt correction was urged in the physical interest of the child. To each child, individually, particular stress was laid on the importance to their health of meticulous dental hygiene and good posture.
Our work also included certification to the fitness of children to return to school after absence for three days or more on account of illness. One hour daily is set aside for the express purpose of examining these children at our office. In this connection, we wish to extend a word of special com- mendation to the teachers for their scrupulous insistence that each child, after such absence, have a certificate from a phy- sician, thus ensuring protection of the other children from pos- sible dangerous contagion.
It is with gratification that we report that emergency calls to the schools for accidents occurring on the premises were very few, and the accidents were generally of a slight nature-a tribute indeed to the diligent supervision of the
66
children by the teachers. In the handling of such accidents, it is our policy, in conformity with instructions from the Superintendent, to render first-aid only and then the child is referred to the family physician for care.
Periodic sanitary inspection of the school buildings has shown, consistently, good hygienic conditions in all the schools. Both teachers and janitors show diligent care in the protection and promotion of the good health of our children.
In our work, we acknowledge most gracious and untiring assistance from our School Nurse, Miss King, who in spite of her many duties has been ever ready to facilitate the carrying out of our duties. This is our opportunity to express our ap- preciation to the School Committee, the Superintendent, Teachers, and Janitors for their gracious help to us in the course of 1942.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM LANGEVIN, M. D.
School Physician
67
REPORT OF PLAYGROUND COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Southbridge:
For the third successive summer, the Town in annual Town Meeting, voted to establish and maintain public play- grounds under the control of the School Committee, and to raise and appropriate from the tax levy the sum of $2,420.
As in previous years, playgrounds were operated at the Dresser Street grounds and at the River Street, West Street, Eastford Road, and Charlton Street schools.
The playground season began on July 13 and ended on August 21. There was a total attendance of 1,196 pupils. To take care of this number, there were five supervisors and twenty-three assistants. Playgrounds were under the general direction of the Superintendent of Schools.
The high light of the season came at the track meet on Dresser Street grounds in which playground champions from all playgrounds competed. The day program was divided be- tween ball games for the older boys, field games for the young- er boys, and arts and crafts for all ages of girls.
The Visual Aids Department furnished movies to each playground at least one day a week.
It is the feeling of the School Committee that these play- grounds are serving a real purpose and merit the continued support of the townspeople.
Respectfully submitted,
ERNEST BOYER
Secretary, Playground Committee
ANNUAL REPORTS
- of the -
TOWN OFFICERS - and -
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
- of the -
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
BRIDGE
MASS
- FEB.15.111
S
THE
EYE OF
NWEALTH
COMMO
THE
Year Ending December 31, 1943
PRINTED BY SPAULDING - MOSS CO .. BOSTON. MASS.
TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1943
TREASURER -- Norbert C. Benoit
CLERK -- Clare P. Boyer
SELECTMEN
Leo J. Cournoyer
Wesley K. Cole
PUBLIC WELFARE
1944
1945
1946
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
Ovide Derosier, Chairman
Hermas Lippe, Clerk
Marie Lariviere
H. H. Michon, Supervisor
ASSESSORS
Charles Normandin -- 1944 Joseph T. Gervais -- 1945
Joseph Lafleche 1946
BOARD OF HEALTH
Hervey L. Desmarais, D.D.S.
1944
William E. Langevin, M.D.
1945
Ralph Racicot, D.D.S.
1946
HIGHWAY COMMISSIONERS
Louis G. Dionne -- 1944
George Lafleche 1945 Alfred Beaulieu -- 1946
WORLD WAR MEMORIAL TRUSTEES
Leopold Lemmelin -- 1944
C . McGregory Wells 1944
Arthur A. Roy -- 1945
James C. Murphy -- 1945
· Oswald Meunier -- 1946
Leo J. Cournoyer
-3-
Napoleon J. Blanchard
Ovide Derosier Hermas Lippe Marie Lariviere
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Ernest G. Boyer -- 1944 - Resigned -- George M. Metras, appointed to Nestor Pontbriand 1944
Arthur Gaumond 1945 Hector M. Leclair -- 1946
finish term. Joseph S. Normand -- 1945 John E. Farland -- 1946
CEMETERY COMMITTEE
George W. Dumas 1944
Wardwell M. Edwards 1945 Daniel T. Morrill . 19 46
CONSTABLES
Ulric Brault
Bernard E. Richard
Joseph Paquin
TAX COLLECTOR -- Mederic Buhamel -- 1945
PLANNING BOARD
Emile Fournier - 1944
Arthur Cabana 1945
Raoul A. Bail - 1946
Arthur B. Laperle -- 1947
J. George Page -- 1948
SEWER COMMISIONERS
Bernard Allard -- 1944
Pierre Benoit 1945 George N. Lafleche 1946
PARK COMMISSIONERS
Norman LeBlanc -- 1944
Hector M. LeClair -- 1945 George Silk -- 1946
MODERATOR -- Valmore P. Tetreault 1944
TREE WARDEN Wilbur Wilson -- 1944
COMMISSIONERS OF TRUST FUND
Ovila A. Proulx 1944
Raymond Varin -- 1945
Ernest J. Lavallee -- 1946
-4-
APPOINTED OFFICERS
TOWN ACCOUNTANT -- Joseph E. Derosier -- 1945
ASST. CLERK SELEC TMEN ) SOLDIERS RELIEF AGENT)
Edward E. LeClair
TOWN COUNSEL -- Rosario S. Normandin
TOWN ENGINEER -- John G. Clarke
SUPT. OF SCHOOLS -- Channing H. Greene
CARE OF TOWN CLOCK -- Fred J. Locke -- Deceased John Hampson -- Resigned John Ferguson
GAME WARDEN -- Alfred Lariviere
POUND KEEPER -- Paul Beauregard
KEEPER OF LOCK-UP -- Ulric Brault Jacob S. Gouin
JANITOR OF TOWN HALL -- Olivier Proulx
ANIMAL INSPECTOR ) PLUMBING INSPECTOR ) MILK INSPECTOR
Joseph A. Chagnon
BUILDING INSPECTOR -- Armand DeAngelis
WIRE INSPECTOR -- Emery Lavallee -- Resigned George L. Despres
SEALER OF WEIGHTS & MEASURES
G. Rudolphe Lariviere
-5-
LIBRARY TRUS TEES FOR THE TOWN
Jacob K. Edwards -- 1944 Dr. Neiro Pioppi -- 1946 FOR THE FUND
Oswald J. Laliberte -- 1945
Mrs. Hamilton K. Smith Arthur Kay
George B. Wells William W. Crawford
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
John J. O'Shaughnessy, Sr. -- 1944
Joseph L. Berthiaume, -- 1946
Seaver M. Rice -- 1945 Clare P. Boyer
MOTH SUPERINTENDENT -- Wilbur Wilson
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Oswald Meunier, Chief George W. Laughnane, Deputy Chief Henry Lavoie, Asst. Deputy Chief James C. Sangren, Supt. of Fire Alarm
FIRE WARDEN -- Oswald Meunier
DEPUTIES
Arthur Caouette Dan Daniels
Albert Servant
Edmond Bellerose Henry Lavoie Joseph Mandville
Thomas Burke Romeo Lippe
FENCE VIEWERS
Edmund Ryan John Serletto
Armand Bonin Etienne Bachand
MEASURERS OF WOOD AND BARK
Thomas L. Hughes Ralph Mckinstry
John J. Hogan
George A. Alley Royce Fitzpatrick
Raymond Mckinstry
FIELD DRIVERS
Ulric Brault
Alfred E. Lariviere Ovila Martin
-6-
SOLDIERS BURIAL OFFICERS
Joseph Congdon
Richard Aucoin
PUBLIC WEIGHERS
George A. Alley Thomas Hughes
Irene Hughes
Basil J. Proulx, Jr.
Wardwell M. Edwards
Jacob K. Edwards Raymond Mckinstry
Ralph Mckinstry
Herman Staves Elmira G. Patterson
Mafalda Comstock Beatrice Homicz
Royce Fitzpatrick
ATTENDANCE OFFICER -- Raoul Lataille
FINANCE COMMITTEE
J. Edouard Demers - 1944
Alva Hyde - 1944
Gedeon Gregoire - 1944 Arthur E. Proulx - 1944
Hector LeClair, Jr. - 1944
Ernest Coderre - 1945
Anthony Deterando - 1945
Peter Graf - 1945
David E. Hobson - 1945
Oswald J. Laliberte - 1945
Myron B. Clemence - 1946
John B. Dragon, Sr. - 1946
Joseph V. Flood - 1946 Omer L. Perron - 1946
Raymond F. Haling - 1946
INSPECTOR OF PETROLEUM -- G. Rudolph Lariviere
DOG OFFICER - Albert Lamarine
INSURANCE COMMITTEE
W. W. Crawford
Emile Martin
Charles Normandin
-7-
JURY LIST -- 1943-1944
Name ---- Occupation
Allard, Roland A. J. - Bus Driver Allard, Ernest G. - Plumber Agard, Charles - H.M.CO.
1
Arpin, Armand, - Checker
Aucoin, Richard A. - Clerk Bachand, Arthur N. . - Mill Hand Bachand, Edward - Carpenter Bachand, Napoleon - Unemployed Barbierri, Sylvester - Bookkeeper Beauregard, Alexander - Clerk Beauregard, Raymond P. - Clerk Belanger, Alpherie - Polisher Benoit, Levi G. - Manager Benson, Arthur J. - Truer Bertrand, Urban G. - Inspector Bibeau, Rodolphe - Machinist Blair, Elmer L., Jr. - Clerk Blair, Alfred - Truck Driver Blais, Napoleon - Glass Moulder Boiteau, Anthony - Polisher Bombardier, Joseph - Steam Fitter Boucher, Edward - Lens Setter Boucher, Raymond - Specmaker
Boulanger, Alfred J. - Optical Worker Bourdelais, Charles - Taxi Owner Brodeur, Antonio - Clerk
Cabana, Arthur - Specmaker Carmel, Felix - Clerk
Caron, Anatole, Jr. - Clerk
Carpentier, William - Merchant
Cartier, Joseph, Jr. - Salesman
Address 327 Hamilton St. 83 Elm St. 11 Lyons St.
116 Plympton St.
419 Main St. 39 School St. 16 Williams St. 2 Cross St. N. Woodstock Road 244 Marcy St. 416 Main St. 27 Worcester St. 862 Lebanon St. 29 Sayles St. 370 Hamilton St. 53 Worcester St. 281 Woodstock Rd. 135 Worcester St. 402 Worcester St. 71 Sayles St. 30 Cohasse St. 159 Worcester St. 127 Everett St. 152 Mill St. 213 Elm St. 114 Pine St. 10 Oakes Ave. 139 South St. 33 River St.
228 Hamilton St. 17 Pleasant St.
-8-
Chamberland, Theodore - Machine Operator Ciesla, Antoni - Contractor Clemence, George H. - Foremen Coderre, Henry F. - Merchant Costa, Sotir V. - Merchant Cournoyer, Aldori - Taxi Driver Cournoyer, H. Norman - Dealer Dauphinais, Adelard - Optical Worker Davis, Steven L. - Factory Worker Desaulniers, Leo - Specmaker Donais, Armand - A.O.Co. Dufault, Joseph - Laborer Dulmaine, Walter - Retired Dupaul, Leon - Foreman
Duquette, George - Specmaker Eno, Arthur J. - Electrician Ethier, Edward - Optical Worker
Fafard, Wilfred - Back Tender Farland, Alfred J. Painter Flood, Henry F. - Clerk Fontaine, Alpha - Optical Worker Garceau, Wilfred - Waiter Gaumond, Armand - Truckman Gaumond, Eugel - Retired Gendron, Albert - Picker Gelineau, Alfred - Retired
Genereux, Louis W. - Clerk
Girard, Wilfred - Fireman Gladu, Charles H. - Developer Graf, Peter F. - Foreman Genke, Louis - Blocker Grenier, William - Def. Worker Gamache, George A. - Mach. Oper.
-9-
99 Cross St. 76 Plympton St. Clemence Hill 560 South St. 308 Main St.
81 Pleasant St. 59 Fiske St. 199 Charlton St.
50 Sturbridge Road Lebanon Hill 444 Worcester St. 156 Mechanic St. 99 Pine St. 250 Marcy St. 736 Lebanon Hill
76 Pine St. 31 River St. 11 Columbia St. 372 Hamilton St. 300 Hamilton St. Y.M.C.A. 14 Worcester St. 711 Main St.
16 Gardner St. 42 Thomas St. 17 Charlton St. 206 Main St. 222 Mechanic St. 36 Cohasse St. 38 Golf St. 9 Rose St. 53 Pleasant St. 105 North St.
Gaudette, Noe J. - Clerk Galipeau, Eugene - Inspector Gravel, Charles - Lens Polisher Hebert, Leo - Grinder Hebert, Armand T. - Finisher Hetu, Louis - Janitor Hill, Emerson H. - Specmaker Holton, Frank B. - Machinist Julian, Joseph - Mail Carrier Jones, Leonard W. - Foreman Karle, Cyril - Supervisor Kurposka, Mitchell - Toolmaker Lafleche, Albert - A.O.Co. LaFrance, Charles - Electrician Laliberte, Oliver - Clerk Landry, Victor - Specmaker Langlois, Paul - Painter Lariviere, Ubald - Machinist
Lavallee, Adelard - Shear Tender
Lavallee, Napoleon A. - Clerk
Lucier, Theodore - Springfield Armory
Lamontagne, Henry - Polisher Lataille, Frank - Optical Worker Latalle, Joseph - Retired LeBlanc, Leon - Spinner
Lemire, Napoleon - Frame Maker LeBoeuf, Roland - Clerk Lepage, Adelard - Foreman
Libera, Joseph - Optical Worker
Lippe, Clement - Specmaker Loranger, Edward - Defense Worker Lynch, Charles - Inspector Lusignan, William - Sub Foreman
9 Curtis St. 46 Fiske St. 158 Charlton St. 48 Fiske St. 55 Coombs St. 48 Dresser St. 472 South St. Lebanon Hill 73 Newell Ave. 25 Harding Ct. 121 Everett St. 65 Crystal St.
42 Worcester St. 38 Pleasant St. 71 Cross St. 100 Worcester St. 64 Crystal St. 165 Mechanic St. 75 Crystal St. 48 School St. 14 Spring St. 9 Rose St. 284 Mechanic St. 39 Henry St.
364 Hamilton St. 30 Taft St.
25 Chestnut St.
122 Litchfield Ave.
9 Ballard Ct. 711 Main St. 127 Pleasant St.
26 School St. 392 Worcester St.
-10-
Maloney, Phillip - A.O.Co. Mitchell, Irving - Clerk Monnette, Moise - Clerk Moriarty, Timothy J. - Mill-oper. Marand, Napoleon - Polisher Mathieu, Isaac - Canvasser Nichols, Thomas - Press-worker
Nadeau, Jean Baptiste - Retired Normandin, Joseph S. - Clerk
Noyes, Gordon - Retired Arsini, Antonio - A.O.Co. O' Shaughnessy, John J., Sr. - Real Estate Paquin, William - Inspector Patneaud, George - Warper Paulhus, Albert - Gate Tender Peloquin, Aime - Unemployed
Peloquin, Felix - Wire Stretcher
Peloquin, Narcisse - Repair Man Peloquin, Philip - Painter
Perron, Omer - Merchant Pezzetti, John - Ins. Agent Plouffe, George E. - Truer Pratt, Walter W. - Farmer Proulx, Charles F. - Carpenter Proulx, Joseph D. - Cook Paul, Wilfred - Truck Driver Paquette, Walter - Foreman Page, Ernest P. - Salesman · Raimondo, Bernard L. - Foreman Renaud, George - Machine Operator St. Germaine, Joseph - Laborer St. Martin, Arsene - Printer St. Martin, Rudolphe - Sub-Foreman
87 Edwards St. 47 Oliver St. 50 Coombs St. 150 Pleasant St. 276 Mechanic St. 50 Coombs St. 29 Fiske St. 386 Main St. 14 Dresser St. 16 Edwards St. 145 Elm St. 164 Hamilton St. 32 Worcester St. 12 Pine St.
199 Charlton St. 67 Charlton St. 27 Coombs St. 62 Green Ave. 216 Everett St. 215 Marcy St. 7 Glover St.
135 Marcy St. 873 N. Woodstock Rd.
81 Wall St. 46 South St. 45 Union St. Brickyard Rd. 431 Hamilton St. 9 Crescent St. 149 Mill St.
120 Sayles St.
95 North St. 70 Dresser St.
-11-
St. Pierre, Rodolphe - Machinist Sansoucy, Leonard - Bookkeeper Santo, Dominic - Foreman Silk, George W. - Clerk Shea, William T. - Draftsman
10 Rose St. 24 North St. 462 Elm St. 723 Main St. 19 Clarke St.
Staves, Arthur - Freight Clerk Stypulkawski, Anthony - Machine Operator Talbot, Ernest - Laborer Tasciotti, Ralph - Knife Maker
37 Franklin Terr. 110 01d Sturbridge Rd.
34 Hamilton St.
Thomas, Gregory - Merchant
113 Cross St. 84 Dresser St. 53 Fiske St. 30 North St.
Tetreault, Eugene - Clerk
Toomey, John F. - Clerk
Trahan, Ovila - Carpenter
16 Clerk St.
Tully, Andrew F. Sr. - Order Clerk
Tavernier, Omer J. - Edger
Varin, Raymond - Foreman
Watson, Edmund - Watchman
Whalen, Robert - Warper
Willet, Loyd F. - Ins. Agent
Ziu, Thomas - Inspector
Carpentier, Noe - Occu. Machinists
Matte, Osa - Ames Worsted
Chapdelaine, Gedeon - Picker Lamothe, Adolphe - Bartender Hebert, Joseph A. - Box Maker Duquette, Albert F. - Grinder Blanchette, Omer - Truck Driver Pratt, W. Willis - Farmer Fountaine, Lucien - Machinist Gauthier, Valmore - Foreman LaFleche, Edmund 0. - Grinder
547 Main St. 10 Lens St. 110 Mechanic St. 26 North St. 62 Mill St. Westwood Parkway 46 Morris St. 246 Mechanic St. 77 Moon St. 191 Worcester St. 104 Worcester St. 5 Moon St. 14 Worcester St. 40 Oliver St. 700 Woodstock Rd. 86 Worcester St. Fiske St. Moon St.
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN
To The Voters of Southbridge:
The following report covers the activities of the Board of Selectmen for the year 1943.
Town Hall repairs were low as only minor repairs were made.
An Honor Roll showing names of Southbridge men in service in the II World War was erected under the Direction of the Honor Roll Committee on the Jacob Edwards Library grounds and Southbridge should be proud of the installation.
Major construction was very light due to war conditions which made it difficult to obtain material.
Your Board wishes to thank the Insurance Committee, Finance Committee, Public Work Reserve Committee, Swimming Pool Committee and all other Town Departments for their cooperation and interest in their various duties.
LEO J. COURNOYER WESLEY K. COLE
NAPOLEON J. BLANCHARD
Selectmen
-13 -.
REPORT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Honorable Board of Selectmen
Southbridge, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit for your consideration my yearly police report ending December 31, 1943.
Complaints made in the District Court by our officers during the fiscal year. Total 574. Males 551, Females 23.
MISCELLANEOUS
Motor Vehicle accidents with personal injuries. C 23
Motor Vehicle accidents with property damaged 26
Motor Vehicle Stolen & Recovered. 9
Motor Vehicle licenses suspended or revoked 26
Persons injured in Motor Vehicle. 27
Parking summons served. 87
Doors & Windows found unlocked. 202
Lodging given to travelers. 127
Persons reported missing. 24
Bicycles reported stolen. 14
Goods stolen & Recovered.
$5944.00
Goods stolen not recovered. 700.47
In behalf of the police officers and myself I wish to thank your Honorable Board and all Town Officials for their consideration during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
ULRIC BRAULT
Chief of Police
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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE JACOB EDWARDS MEMORIAL LIBRARY
TRUS TEES
For the Town
Jacob K. Edwards, Chairman
Dr. Nerio W. Pioppi
Oswald J. Laliberte
For the Edwards Bequest
George B. Wells
Gertrude W. Smith
W. Wesley Crawford
LIBRARY HOURS
Week days -- 10:00 A. M. to 9:00 P.M.
Closed 1944:
January 1 -- New Year's Day
May 30 -- Memorial Day
July 4 -- Independence Day, (Tuesday)
September 4 -- Labor Day
November 11 -- Armistice Day (Until 2:00 P.M. )
November 30 -- Thanksgiving Day
December 25 -- Christmas
-15-
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Trustees of the Jacob Edwards Memorial Library:
With a budget under the standard set by library authorities, as necessary for efficient service, the library staff of three full- time members, as against five considered necessary in 1941, and part-time high school help, maintained a twelve hour day schedule (eleven hours open to the public).
In spite of economies and of the preoccupation of large groups of people with duties which ate into reading time, the year's record shows only a small loss in the number of books borrowed for home use. The use of reference facilities, never very satisfactorily recorded in statistical form, has increased with the adjustment of the high school to its one session day and the return to more normal outside assignments. Although the full-time staff is smaller than it should be, it is fortunate in including a trained reference as- sistant whose duties cover also the building up of the technical, collection, in cooperation with the original sponsors of that new
department. Plans are now under way for a substantial addition to its book and magazine collection and to the furnishings of its room on the ground floor, which it is hoped will attract all technical minded people to a wider use of the department. These additions were made possible by a gift, and do not come out of the regular library budget.
The new reference assistant, Miss Van Nostrand, joined the staff in July and the Children's Librarian went on leave of absence the same month, to return in October for one month before resigning. The work with children has suffered from the lack of one person free to concentrate on their needs, but the good work done by Miss McMaster before she left kept the juvenile figures nearly up to those for 1942.
Conditions in the publishing world have of course affected the library's purchases. With all branches of industry suffering from labor shortage, and with the very drastic cuts in the paper supply, books are slower in coming, and those published more than a year ago increasingly hard to buy. More extensive use has been made of the privilege of borrowing from other libraries to cover the specialized needs that a general public library cannot meet, and this year to get books that would in normal times have been bought, but have now been allowed to go out of print.
The purchase of the United States Catalog, a tool necessary to our proper functioning, makes it possible for us to establish the existence of any book in the English Language in print 1928 or published since that date. While this does not produce the book, it is a satisfaction in itself and a means of intelligent inquiry to sources that might be able to produce it. The reference col- lection has had some valuable additions, and the number of books bought for general reading was only a little lower than in 1942.
All the outside woodwork of the library and the iron fences have been given one coat of paint to forestall the ravages of weather. Much more remains to be done. Lighting in the reading rooms is still inadequate; the heating plant will soon be in need of repairs; the lawn and trees need more expensive care. The building is one to be proud of, and the Trustees responsible for its well being have no desire to let it suffer seriously.
The library staff is very grateful to the "reading public" for its outspoken appreciation of what service we are able to give and as grateful for the lack of criticism of our shortcomings. To
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our non-reading public we owe apology for not extending our service and crying our wares so that all those who help support an institu- tion which should be used 100% might profit by it. When normal times return and an adequate staff is available, we look forward to a more widespread use of the Jacob Edwards Memorial Library:
STATISTICAL RECORD
Library
Jacob Edwards Memorial Library
Date of Founding
1871
Population served
16,825
Days open during year
307
Hours open each week
66
Number of volumes January 1, 1943
27,241
Number of volumes added
1,589
New 1,324) Including 292 books by gift and
Replaced 265) transfer from Rental Collection
Number of volumes discarded
947
Number of volumes December 31, 1943
27,883
Number of registered borrowers (estimate)
6,000 #
Number of volumes lent for home use
88,683
# 4,954 new and reregistered borrowers since June 1941. Some old cards still in use.
Respectfully submitted,
ELEANOR SHANE Librarian
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT
THE JACOB EDWARDS MEMORIAL LIBRARY
1943 Receipts and Expenditures 1944 Budget Estimate
Item
1943 Receipts
1943 Expenditures
1944 Budget
RECEIPTS
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
APPROPRIATION
10,050.00
Refunds to Town
4.80
Less Refund to E. & D. a/c
573.39
9,481.41
MYNOTT FUND
Bal. Jan. 1, 1943
43.56
Receipts
1943
22.50
Disbursements
8.34
8.34
Bal. Dec. 31,'43
57.72
TRUSTEE FUNDS
Bal. Jan. 1,' 43
1,141.31
Receipts
5,348.00
(Edwards Trusts)
Bradford Trust
109.53
-17-
10,054.80
66.06
Misc. Petty Cash
. 93
Int. Spec. Reserve
Disbursements
3,731.24
3,731.24
Trans. Spec. Res.
Operating Balance
Bal. Dec. 31,'43
Spec. Res. Jan. 1'43
2,000.00
1943 Addition
2,000.00
Dec. 31,' 43
4,000.00
Total Receipts
EXPENDI TURES
PAYROLL
Acct.
101)
Librarian and Assistant
102)
103 Regular Employees
104 Part-time Employees
105 Sunday Opening
5,582.98 6,600.00.
BOOKS & PERIODICALS
201
Books
202 Periodicals
250 Book Repairs
3,193.76 3,200.00.
BUILDING OPERATION & MAINTENANCE OF BUILDING & GROUNDS
150 Payroll - Janitor
151 Payroll - Janitors Helpers
301 Fuel
302
Light
303 Water
304 Supplies
305 Removal of Ashes etc.
306 Misc. Expenses
3,018.24 2,700.00
351 Building
150.00
352 Grounds 100.00
250.00 2,950.00
MISCELLANEOUS OPERATING EXPENSES
401) Telephone, Stationery
402) and Postage
403 Desk & Office Supplies
404 Audit
405 Survey
406 Pension
407 Miscellaneous
1,403.66 1,500.00
EQUIPMENT
501 Furniture & Fixtures
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