USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1867-1870 > Part 50
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By order of the Directors, STEPHEN SALISBURY, President.
Free Public Library, Jan. 10, 1870.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY.
To the Directors of the Free Public Library :
Gentlemen, it is our duty to state briefly what has been done during the year now closing under the supervision of the com- mittee on the library. The statistics of the library will be found in the report of the librarian.
Until the present year, the circulating department has been closed for a month in summer, in order to facilitate the annual examination of books, and to afford a vacation to the librarian and his assistants. Early in the year the board of directors became convinced that it was unnecessary to have this depart- ment closed for so long a time, and instructed this committee not to allow it to be shut up for a longer period than a single week.
We found it unnecessary to close the library at all in sum- mer, and it has remained open every week day during the year, with the exception of legal holidays and the two days immedi- ately succeeding Thanksgiving. The Circulating department has also been kept open more hours during the day than hitherto. Formerly, and even during the early part of the current year, it was closed between the hours of one and two, and of five and six and a half o'clock. In March, however, the directors voted to have this department kept open from nine in the forenoon to eight in the evening. This arrange- ment, as was to be expected, has given great satisfaction.
During the latter portion of last year, the income from the legacy of Dr. Green became available for our purposes, and at the beginning of the present year it became necessary for the directors to consider whether they would adopt some plan to guide themselves in the purchase of books for the consulting department of the library. This matter was thoroughly dis- cussed at some of our earlier meetings, but no rule agreed to. The library committee therefore, while it has followed the
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wishes of the directors whenever they have been manifested, has relied mainly upon its own judgment in the selection of books. It would be improper to give here a list even of the more valuable books which have been bought during the year. It may not be out of place, however, to mention the titles of the following works :
The Massachusetts Spy (Nov. 1791-1863.)
Fergusson's History of Architecture.
Viollet-le-Duc's Dictionnaire raisonné de l'Architecture Fran- çaise du XI e au XVI e siècle.
Motifs Historiques d'Architecture et de Sculpture d'orne- ment par M. César Daly.
Monographia des Halles Centrales de Paris.
Baltiments de Chemins de Fer par Pierre Chabat.
The Iconographic Encyclopaedia.
Rapports du Jury International, publiés sous la direction de M. Michel Chevalier.
The library committee requested our librarian, Mr. Baker, to try, during his recent visit to Europe, to buy certain num- bers of periodicals which were needed to complete sets already in the library. We are glad to be able to state that the desired numbers of the London, Edinburg and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, and of the Gentleman's Magazine were secured through the offices of Mr. Frederick May, our agent in London, and that our sets of these periodi- "als are now perfect from the beginning of their issue. The current number of these magazines can also always be found upon the table in the upper reading room. So much for the Green Library.
Large additions of books have also been made to the circu- lating department. This committee recommends that in future a larger proportion of books of permanent value be added to this department of the library than it has been our custom hitherto to place in it. Such a kind of books, it is true, is freely placed in the library for consultation. They do not there, however, meet entirely the needs of our townsmen, since it is not right to allow books in such a department to be taken
for
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out of the library building. The tastes of all classes of readers should be consulted in purchasing books for the circulating department and all reasonable desires satisfied, yet especial care should be taken to encourage all persons who are inclined to read books of a high order of merit. Provision should therefore be made to enable those so disposed to take books of this kind to their homes. Books can generally be read more comfortably at home than elsewhere, and there are hours in the early morning and late in the evening when a public libra- ry must necessarily be closed. Libraries, too, are commonly closed on Sundays and holidays,-days in which workingmen have more leisure than at any other time.
As this report will probably come under the eye of some of our citizens, this committee would take occasion to renew the invitation to all persons who wish to have access to any books which they cannot conveniently obtain, to make their wants known to the librarian or one of our own number. It is the wish of the directors of the library to put into it such books as the inhabitants of Worcester desire most to read, and it would probably seldom be necessary for this committee to deny the requests of any reader. These requests would at least always receive our careful and prompt consideration, and money would generally be at our disposal with which to buy the desired books.
The Librarian has been engaged for several months in per- fecting a plan for the classification and cataloguing of the Green Library. The committee has desired him to make up his mind deliberately in regard to its feasibility, and he has been unwilling himself to put it into execution until he had time to view it from all points. Mr. Baker is now nearly ready to proceed with the work, and it is the hope of the committee to see in a few months the books in the Green Library so ar- ranged that they may be consulted much more conveniently than at present. This committee also regards favorably a proposition of the librarian to issue a small printed catalogue for this department of the library, prepared after a plan of his own.
The library committee has a liberal sum of money placed at
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its disposal from the annual appropriation of the city and fron the income of the Green Library fund. It may not be amiss, however, to state that a much larger sum could be advantage- ously spent in the purchase of books. The committee is of the opinion that the present arrangement, by which the books of both departments of the library are selected by a single com- mittee, is good, and would not advise that the two departments be supervised by different persons, until the increase in the labor needed in either or both of them may render such a course necessary.
For a list of donations made to the library, during the past year, reference is made to the report of the librarian. It is our duty to thank the donors for their gifts. We do this heartily, both for ourselves and in the name of the users of the library and our citizens generally.
In conclusion, the committee would express renewed confi- dence in the policy of the board which allows the freest access to books and periodicals. Our losses under this system have been inconsiderable, and by it the comfort of readers has been secured.
The care of the library has been in the hands of Mr. Z. Baker and of Misses Emma Eddy and Jessie E. Tyler during the present year, and they have cheerfully and intelligently per- formed all duties laid upon them by the committee on the library.
The clerical duties of Miss Sarah F. Earle have been done to the perfect satisfaction of the committee. Harmony prevails in all the departments of the library, and required work is being quietly and thoroughly done.
For the Committee,
SAMUEL S. GREEN, Secretary.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON READING ROOM.
The Committee on the Reading Room have to report an in- creased use of its privileges by the public, as those privileges become more generally known and appreciated. The aim of our predecessors, to supply the best reading that can be ob- tained at home and abroad, and to keep upon our files, not only the newspapers of our own New England, but those from all the principal cities in the country, has been followed by us. We have also kept in view, as has been done in other depart- ments of the Library, the scientific taste of a large portion of our citizens, and have added to the many scientific journals previously taken, the "Civil Engineer and Architects' Journal," and " Nature, " a new weekly paper published by MacMillan & Co., in London, which gives promise of being a very valuable periodical. Another new London journal has been added to our table, "The Academy, " a monthly record of literature, learning, science and art, which immediately on its appearance was recognized as an oracle and an authority by cultivated people. The demise of the venerable National Intelligencer left us without any Washington newspaper, except the Globe, which is merely a record of Congress, but orders have been given to supply the deficiency. The daily edition of the Prov- idence Journal will hereafter be found upon our files, in place of the semi-weekly, and the Albany Evening Journal will fur- nish us with the news at the capital of our great sister and neighbor State. A weekly paper from Lowell is now furnish- ed, to meet the wants of many who have come hither from that section of the State. The Germans among us are well supplied with reading in their own language, and now, by the kindness of the publishers, the new local organ of the French Canadians, " L'Etendard National, " is added to our files.
We continue regularly to receive several newspapers and magazines by gift. Thus we have the Globe and Revolution
16%
from Hon. George F. Hoar, The Banner of Light from Mr. Harris, the Christian Register from Mrs. M. H. Morse, the (Hartford) Churchman from E. L. Davis, Esq., the Indepen- dent from Geo. W. Russell, Esq., the Liberal Christian from Misses A. and E. Williams, the Universalist and Medical Review from the respective publishers, the Anti-Slavery Stand- ard from Mrs. A. H. Howland, the Advent-Christian Times and the World's Crisis from Samuel Ayres, Esq., the South Carolina Republican from Hon. W. W. Rice, the Woman's Journal from the Librarian, and the Fitchburg Reveille, Worcester Gazette, Palladium and Spy from their respective publishers. We would renew the standing request for the contribution of denominational journals, which our rules for- bid us to purchase.
We enter upon the new year with a handsome balance to the credit of the fund. This surplus we promise zealously and judiciously to reduce, and if the contemplated repairs of the building give us better heat and ventilation, we can show a reading room which shall be a credit to its public-spirited founders and to the city itself.
For the Committee, CHARLES A. CHASE.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON THE BUILDING.
To the Directors of the Free Public Library :
Your Committee after an examination of the Library build- ing last summer, concluded it was best to make only such repairs as were absolutely necessary to prevent waste and keep the rooms in comfortable condition through the year.
Constant use, with the natural operation of time and weath- er, for ten years, render somewhat extensive repairs necessary. The slating and tinning of the roofs should be examined and made perfect. All the woodwork of the outside needs paint- ing, and of the inside, cleaning, painting and varnishing.
The heating arrangements have never been satisfactory. Two large furnaces and several stoves, should be disposed of, and such change made as will secure sufficient warmth and much better ventilation for all the rooms now occupied by thic Library, and for those used by one of the schools. The appara- tus may be so located that by making slight changes in some of the partitions great convenience and comfort would be added to the reading rooms and all the rooms on the basement floor made more available for the enlargement and use of the Library when needed, and at the same time gain space to con- nect with the water pipes, necessary conveniences and closets, secure them from frost and make the drainage from them and also from the front of the building perfect.
The front entrance is not inviting or convenient, the heavy stone work has moved from its foundation and settled, and needs re-setting, if nothing more is done. But your committee hope and trust their successors will be furnished with an appropriation by the City Council of a sum of money suffi- ciently large to make the absolutely necessary repairs and improvements we have named, and also with enough to make the entrance way convenient for the feet to walk in and pleas- ant for the eye to behold.
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Ten years' experience, in the working of one of the first free public libraries, with circulating, consultation and reading room departments, ever established, and a rapid increase of the number of books and of persons to be accommodated, demand changes and improvements in the building first provided for its use. We think they should be made in the coming year, and we believe that with a liberal appropriation of money they can be so made that the present Library Building will be rea- sonably convenient and comfortable, meet the needs of our city for several years, and neither its internal or external appear- ance be offensive to the eye or taste.
There has been expended upon the building in the year 1869 :
For repairing water pipes, 15 26
" carpenter's work, 15 75
$31 01
And there is a small bill for painting that has not yet been pre- sented, and the sum of sixty-eight and forty one-hundredths dollars ($68 40) has been paid for new shelves and re-arranging old ones.
ALBERT TOLMAN,
For the Committee on Building.
Jan. 7, 1870.
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.
To Hon. Stephen Salisbury, President of the Board of Direc- tors of the Free Public Library, Worcester :
The Finance Committee submit the following report of the RECEIPTS and EXPENDITURES on account of the Free Public Library, for the year 1869.
Balance of former appropriation in the Treasury,
Jan. 1, 1869,
$2238 03
City appropriation for 1869,
6000 00
$8238 03
BILLS APPROVED and PAYMENTS thereon, viz : Bills for books,
$2080 05
printing,
77 13
binding,
417 17
carpenter's work on building,
84 15
66
plumbing and water pipes,
15 26
gas,
408 11
water,
15 00
fuel,
87 82
66
Reading Room,
200 00
",.
incidental expenses,
10 05
salaries,
2103 50
-$5498 54
Balance in City Treasury, Jan. 1, 1870,
$2739 49
For the Committee,
E. B. STODDARD, Chairman.
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THE GREEN LIBRARY FUND.
The Finance Committee of the Free Public Library submit the following report of the Green Library Fund, January 1, 1870 :
STATEMENT OF THE FUND JANUARY 1, 1869.
Notes secured by mortgages, $21,261 43
Bank stocks (at value taken from executors,) 6952 00
Worcester City Notes, 2600 00
Cash, 7 81
$30,821 27
STATEMENT OF THE FUND JANUARY 1, 1870.
Notes secured by mortgages, $21,148 50
Bank stock (at value taken from executors,) 6952 00
Worcester City Notes, 2600 00
1-4 of Income for 1869, invested in city note, 557 04
Balance of cash Jan. 1, 1869, 66
7 84
Principal on mortgages paid
112 93
(being accrued interest on same,)
$31,378 31
INCOME FOR 1869.
Interest received by City Treasurer on mortgages,
$1382 92
" City Notes, 190 26
Dividends, " 66 66 " stocks, 655 00
82228 18
Deduct 1-4 income according to will of Dr. Green,
557 04
Leaving cash on hand, uninvested for purchase of books,
$1671 14
BOOK ACCOUNT.
Cash on hand January 1, 1869 for purchase of books, $758 49 " appropriated and expended for books in 1869, 751 01
167
Balance of cash January 1, 1870 appropriated but not expended,
7 48
Balance of income account on hand Jan. 1, 1870, $1671 14
Cash in hands of City Treasurer Jan. 1, 1870, $1678 62
We recommend that the bank stocks should next year be re- duced to par value in the assests.
Respectfully submitted for the Finance Committee,
E. B. STODDARD, Chairman.
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TREASURER'S REPORT.
H. A. MARSH, TREASURER, in account with
THE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, (Reading Room Fund.) DR. To balance received from former Treasurer, Jan. 22, 1869, 227 78
To Interest on U. S. bonds for 1869, 435 41
City of Worcester bonds for 1869, 300 00
Cash received from City Treasurer as per vote of Directors, 200 00
$1163 19
CR.
By cash for newspapers and periodicals, 66 postage,
$645 28
50
Cash balance on hand Dec. 28, 1869,
517 41
$1163 19
INVESTED FUND.
City of Worcester six per cent Bonds,
5000 00
United States, 66 66
5650 00
Total investment,
$10,650 00
Cash,
517 41
Aggregate,
$11,167 41
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY A. MARSH,
Treasurer.
Worcester Jan. 18, 1870.
I have examined the above account of the Treasurer, and find it well vouched and truly stated and have seen the securities for invest- ments in his possession.
E. B. STODDARD, Chairman of the Finance Committee.
Jan. 15, 1870.
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RULES AND REGULATIONS.
The Board of Directors shall be organized at the first regular meet- ng, on the second Saturday in January, by the election, by ballot, of a President and Secretary.
The Secretary shall keep a record of all the proceedings of the Board, and have the custody of its papers. He shall also be ex-officio the Treasurer of the Directors, and shall, if required by the Directors, give bonds to account for all moneys which may come to his hands, and shall invest the same under the direction of the Finance Com- mittee.
Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at the Library, the last Tuesday of every month, at 72 o'clock, P. M.
Special meetings may be called by the President, or by the Secre- tary, when requested by two members of the Board.
The members shall be notified of all meetings, by notices sent to them through the Post Office.
A majority of the Board shall be a quorum for the transaction of business.
No books, periodicals, or other articles, shall be purchased and added to the Library without the authority of the Board.
The reference department of the Library shall be called the Green Library.
In the Annual Report, honorable mention shall be made of all who have in any way contributed to the increase of the Library.
COMMITTEES.
The Standing Committees shall be-
A Committee of five on the Library ;
A Committee of three on the Reading Room ;
A Committee of three on the Building ;
A Committee of three on Finance, to be chosen annually in the month of January, by ballot.
Members of the Standing Committee shall be appointed immediately after the organization of the Board.
The Board shall appoint a Committee at or before the regular meet- ing in December, to prepare the Report required by the City Ordinance to be "laid before the City Council in the month of January."
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COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY.
The Committee on the Library shall attend to the purchase and pre- servation of books and other property, subject to such votes and ap- propriations as the Board may make. They shall make an annual examination of the Library, and report its condition to the Board. They shall also make the necessary regulations for the use of the Li- brary, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
COMMITTEE ON READING ROOM.
The Committee on the Reading Room shall, subject to the approba- tion of the Directors, select and procure the newspapers and other periodicals, and shall make all needful regulations for their use.
COMMITTEE ON THE BUILDING.
The Committee on the building shall have charge of the building, attend to warming, lighting, and ventilating it, to all necessary repairs, and to the general condition of the premises.
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.
The Committee on Finance shall examine all bills brought against the City for expenditures connected with the Library, and, if correct, shall approve them through their chairman for presentation to the City Treasurer. But they shall approve no bill incurred by any Standing Committee without previous endorsement from such Committee. They shall keep a record of all bills approved, and, when called upon by the Board, state the condition of the funds at its disposal. They shall see that the property in the care of the Board is at all times well insured.
LIBRARIAN.
Annually, in the month of January, the Directors shall appoint a Librarian, and fix his salary. He shall be removeable at the pleasure of the Board, and, if required, give bonds in such sum as is considered reasonable, for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office. He shall be accountable to the Directors for the property entrusted to his care, and shall perform the usual duties of his office, subject to such regulations as the Directors may establish. He shall make to the Directors an annual report on the condition of the Library, to be sub- mitted by them to the City Government, should they see fit.
PROVISIONS FOR AMENDMENTS.
These Rules and Regulations may be amended by the affirmative votes of seven members. But no amendment shall be made unless notice of the same has been given at a preceding meeting.
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FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
CIRCULATING DEPARTMENT.
1. All persons fifteen years old and upwards, resident in the City of Worcester, shall be entitled to the use of the Library on subscribing the following agreement :
I hereby certify that I am a resident of the City of Worcester, and in consideration of the right to use the Free Public Library, agree to comply with the regulations that may be provided for its government.
Persons temporarly resident in the City upon sufficient guaranty and recommendation may be allowed, in the discretion of the Libra- rian, to take books out on the the usual conditions.
2. One book may be taken at a time, and kept two weeks, but re- cent additions may be limited to a circulation of one week, at the dis- cretion of the Library Committee.
3. A fine of two cents a day shall be assessed on every book kept over time, payable on its return. No pen or pencil mark shall be made in books. Persons taking books shall be held responsible for their loss or injury ; and when a set is broken by a loss of one, this responsibility extends to the whole set. Should it be necessary to send for a book kept beyond the time allowed, the expense shall be paid by the person keeping it.
4. All books shall be returned two weeks previous to the annual ex- amination, notice of which shall be given at the Library. The fines in this case will be doubled.
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5. Books are not to be exchanged the same day that they are taken out ; nor more than twice a week, except by special permission.
6. Talking aloud and all unnecessary noise in the room are pro- hibited.
7. Persons desiring books which do not belong to the Library, are requested to give their titles to the Librarian, that they may be sug- gested for the consideration of the Library Committee.
8. The Library will be open from 9, A. M., to 8. P. M. On Satur- day, it will be open until 9, P. M.
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GREEN LIBRARY.
1. The Green Library shall be open daily to the public, during the same hours prescribed for the Circulating Department.
2. The public may take down freely any of the books of reference on the North side of the lower floor. Other books will be promptly delivered by the Librarian, on verbal application, and must be returned to him again before leaving the room.
3. Persons may ask for as many books as they require, for purposes of consultation and reading, and are entitled to all proper facilities for their use. Provided, that in case of rare and costly works, the Libra- rian may adopt such additional restrictions as prove necessary.
4. To prevent injury or disarrangement of books, no person will be admitted behind the tables, or in the galleries, unaccompanied by the Librarian or a Director.
5. No person shall use pen or ink in making notes from books.
6. A copy of the manuscript. Catalogue 'when completed, shall be kept in the Library, and be accessible to all.
7. Catalogues of the Circulating Department and the Medical Li- brary shall also be kept in the Green Library, and books from those collections may also be used by the public, subject to the above rules, and to the discretion of the Librarian.
LIBRARIAN AND ASSISTANTS.
1. The Librarian shall have the general charge of the Institution. He shall see that the rooms are properly warmed and lighted, and kept clean and in good order-and that the books are kept in good order and condition ; he shall keep the accounts with borrowers, and shall assist the Library Committee in the selection and purchase of books.
2. The Assistants shall aid in the care and management of the Green Library, and of the Reading Room and the Circulating Depart- ment of the Library, in such manner as the Librarian shall direct, sub- ject to the order of the Board of Directors.
3. A Donation book shall be kept, containing a record of all books presented to the Library ; and the names of the donors shall be conspic- uously inscribed in the books.
4. Neither the Librarian nor Assistants shall ordinarily be required to labor beyond the hours during which the Library is opened to the public. During those hours they shall exert themselves [to give all reasonable accommodation to visitors, and to increase the usefulness of the Institution.
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