USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1876 > Part 31
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It is impracticable to give an extended account of the pur- chases of the year just closed. Perhaps it is sufficient to say
433
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
that a watchful care has been had to study the wishes and needs of the users of the library, and to make a deliberate selection from standard and current publications of the best books in all the departments of knowledge in which citizens are interested, and of writings to minister in a limited degree to the demand for innocent recreation. It seems well, however, to mention by name a few of the most important acquisitions of the year.
The most costly and valuable of these is a full set of the pub- lications of the Arundel Society. Among others are a set of the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, M'Kenney & Hall's History of the Indian Tribes of North America, the Cor- pus Inscriptionum Latinarum issued by the Berlin Academy of Sciences, Bæckh's Corpus Inscriptionum Græcarum, a set of the volumes containing the lectures delivered before the American Institute of Instruction, a set of the Congregational Quarterly, the publications of the Narragansett Club, Humber's Water Sup- ply of Towns, Geological Surveys of some of the States, Unger's Oeuvres, and a very valuable collection of 1,489 pamphlets made by the late Samuel G. Drake, and consisting of funeral discourses and other compositions in the department of American biography.
Most of these works were bought, of course, with the income of the Green Library Fund.
As stated before, we have not felt warranted, in the present state of financial depression, to spend money appropriated by the city from the avails of taxation, for costly works, excepting where urgent reasons could be given for their purchase.
USE OF THE LIBRARY.
The number of books given out in the circulating department during the past year is 137,205. The number given out in the year previous is 122,459. The books given out during the year just closed were distributed among the several months as follows:
December, 1875,
12,106
June,
9,044
January, 1876,
13,890
July,
9,148
February,
13,996
August,
9,136
March,
15,142
September,
9,782
April,
12,582
October,
10,288
May,
10,829
November,
11,262
In all numbering,
137,205
434
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
The circulating department has been kept open 308 days dur- ing the year. That is to say, it has only been closed on five legal holidays, Memorial day, and the fifty-two Sundays of the year. The average daily issue of books has been 445 against 400 of the previous year. During the months of June, July, and August, this daily issue was 350 against 322 the year before. During the months of January, Februry, and March, the number of books given out daily was, in the average, 559 against 482, the record in the last report. The largest number of books issued in any one day is 1,052, the number given out February 5. The largest number of the year before was 939 ; this number was given out February 13. The smallest number of books given out in one day is 190, which number is the record of delivery for June 15. Only on three days during the year has a smaller number than 200 books been given out. This experience duplicates that of last year.
The number of persons with whom we have opened new accounts during the past year is 2,438. The number in the year 1874 and '75 is 2,580.
Full use of the reference department, or Green library, has been allowed every day in the year, excepting the five legal holi- days and Memorial day. On these days, also, books from this department have been procurable for use in the lower reading room upon application to the assistant in attendance there.
In the Green Library room it appears that 27,694 persons have had books given them, or have helped themselves to books to be used in answering their inquiries, or to give them enjoyment. That is to say, 90 persons, on an average, have been assisted to information or put in the way of enjoyment, or have helped themselves to information, or derived enjoyment from the use of books within the library building, every day of the 308 secular days during which the library has been fully accessible during the year. 22,833 persons were reported as having received bene- fit or pleasure from this department during the previous library year. It will be remembered, that in this account, no note is made of the use of periodicals or papers in either of the read- ing-rooms.
435
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
It will be seen from the statement, that the use of the library for purposes of reference has largely increased during the year.
The figures representing the number of persons who have used bound volumes, or have been referred to sources of informa- tion in the reference library during the six years covered by my reports, are, in the order of the years, 7,321; 12,408; 15,672 ; 20,550 ; 22,833 ; 27,694. We may properly repeat the words used in this connection last year, and say that "this is a gratify- ing exhibit, and shows that the policy of liberal expenditure for books, and in attracting curious persons to the library, and afford- ing aid to unpractised students, young and old, has borne a rich fruitage."
The Sunday use of the reading-rooms has continued to increase during the past year. The whole number of persons who have visited them during the hours they have been open, namely, from 2 to 9 P. M., is 10,756. Of this number, 4,496 persons have used the upper room, and 6,260 the lower. The number of persons who used the reading-rooms on Sundays in the year 1874-75 is 10,142. During the last year, 207 persons, on an average, have read in one or the other of the rooms every Sunday. The average attendance in the year 1874-75 is 195. The Sunday showing the largest attendance in the year just closed is October 15, when 389 persons used the two rooms-149 the upper, and 240 the lower.
The whole number of persons supplied with books for reading or study, upon application to the officers of the library, during the year is 1,909, against 2,001 in the previous year. This is an average of 37 persons a Sunday. The average number of per- sons supplied the year before is 38}. Of course it is understood that the reading furnished upon application by the officers of the library is additional to that which readers help themselves to from encyclopædias, dictionaries, papers, reviews, and magazines.
The state of the temperature and atmosphere has much to do in promoting or discouraging the use of the reading-rooms on Sunday. Last spring, warm, pleasant weather began early, and a marked dimunition was noticed in the attendance over that in corresponding months in the previous year.
56
436
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
The use during midsummer was, perhaps, somewhat smaller than during the summer before. But during the cold weather, at the beginning and close of the year, the attendance has been largely in excess of that of previous years ; and the aggregate use shows, as has been already stated, a considerable gain over the previous year.
It is noticeable, too, that a larger proportion of adults have fre- quented the rooms Sundays this year than in previous years.
BUILDING.
It was stated in the librarian's report two years ago, that the space then appropriated to books in the circulating department would be entirely filled during the following year. Last summer I had the book cases moved nearer together, and by this means, and by curtailing somewhat the space used by the assist- ants in the work of covering and repairing books, made room for another case. We have now almost no space left where cases or even shelving can be properly placed. During the coming year it will be necessary, in order to provide for current additions of books, to take room needed for other purposes, and to put cases in places in which they cannot remain permanently, unless means are adopted to avail ourselves of room in other parts of the library building.
The rooms in which the reference department of the library is kept are also full, and we are in consequence working at considera- ble disadvantage in carrying it on.
There is no room in this department either for additional shelving.
Two years ago, the building committee of this board carefully examined the building with reference to the exigency now at hand, and as the result of its investigations, recommended that an hydraulic elevator be placed in the building to enable us to use the basement rooms on the west side for the needs of the circu- lating department, and the large and commodious French roof for storing books belonging to the reference library. The plan recommended is unanimously approved by the board of directors,
437
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
and it is believed that if it is adopted the present library build- ing can be made to answer the requirements of the city for a number of years.
With the concurrence of the building committee of this board, I recently invited the chairman of the building committee of the present city government to call a meeting of the committee at the library building, to consider what plan should be adopted to provide more room for books. An examination of the premises was carefully made, and the result of it is given in the following communication, signed by a majority of the committee, which has just been handed to me.
"To the Committee on the Building of the Directors of the Free Public Library :
Having made an examination of the Public Library Building on Elm street, at your request, with a view to the introduction of an elevator for the pur- pose of making available portions of the building not now used for library purposes, we would report that in the opinion of this committee, the only manner in which the vacant rooms in the Basement and the unfinished Attic can be utilized for the library purposes is by the elevator as suggested, and in our opinion one ought to be put in during the coming season.
(Signed), WARREN MCFARLAND, M. A. LAPHAM, GEO. E. BOYDEN.
Joint Standing Committee on Public Buildings of the City Council. WORCESTER, Dec. 4th, 1876."
The Superintendent of Public Buildings concurs with the committee in the opinion that the problem of getting more room for books would be best solved by putting an elevator into the building. A description of the elevator desired can be found in the present and. two preceding reports of the Building Com- mittee, and it only remains for me to repeat the statement made by the committee : " that, in accordance with careful estimates which have been obtained, one can be put in for a less sum than $2,000."
Having now stated the needs of the library, and shown that they are pressing, I wish to say in addition, that it is my earnest
438
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
desire to co-operate with the City Government in its efforts to secure that economy in the administration of affairs which the times demand; and, further, to state that the executive officers of the library are ready to submit to any inconvenience thought advisable in seconding its efforts.
All that can reasonably be asked at such a time as the present, is that the incoming City Government will give attention to our wishes, and consider the proposed plan in all its bearings. If, after careful consideration of the subject, it thinks it well for us to get along without the elevator for another year, and resort to temporary expedients for the coming twelve months, we shall cheerfully acquiesce in its decision.
It is proper in this connection to call attention to the fact that very little money has been spent upon the library building for several years, either for ordinary repairs or for permanent improvements.
ACCOUNT.
SAMUEL S. GREEN, Librarian, in account with the Directors of the FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, for the year beginning December 1, 1875, and ending November 30, 1876.
Dr
To Balance December 1, 1875,
$59 62
" Fines collected during the year, 451 23
" Amount received from sale of catalogues during the year, 116 25
" Rent, 35 00
Sundry receipts,
17 13
$679 23
Cr.
By Money paid out for library service,
$522 21
" Miscellaneous expenditures,
9 31
" Balance to new account,
147 71
$679 23
( Signed ),
SAMUEL S. GREEN.
Dec. 29, 1876. The above account of the Librarian has been examined by me and found correct.
NATH'L PAINE, Chairman of the Finance Committee.
439
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
LOSSES OF THE LIBRARY.
Our accounts indicate that only four books have been lost during the year, and not paid for by the losers. But the accounts of a library do not represent its losses with perfect exactness. An annual examination exhibits further losses. The annual examination of the circulating department of this library was made during the Fall. It revealed the fact that seven books, besides the four mentioned above, are missing. Thus, while the circulation of the year has been 137,205 books, the losses amount to only 11. Ten books that were lost during the year have been paid for by the losers.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion, I express the hope that the generous support which has been granted us in the past may be continued always. The excellence and stability of the institutions of a republican commonwealth depend upon the education of its citizens. Let us not attack the real prosperity of this city by destroying its source.
Worcester is a centre for educational institutions of a high order. Each one of these, as well as citizens generally, need the presence here of a generously endowed library.
" What constitutes a State ? Not high-rais'd battlement or labour'd mound,
Thick wall or moated gate ; Not cities proud, with spires and turrets crown'd ;
Not bays and broad arm'd ports,
Where laughing at the storm rich navies ride,
Not starr'd and spangl'd courts,
Where low-brow'd baseness wafts perfume to pride.
No : MEN, high minded MEN, With pow'rs as far above dull brutes endued
In forest, brake or den,
As beasts excel cold rocks and brambles rude."
SAMUEL S. GREEN,
Librarian.
APPENDIX NO. I. GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY.
Books.
Pamphlets
and Papers.
Pamphlets and Papers.
Alexander Agassiz, Museum of Comparative Zoology,
Gardner Allis,
1
2
2 Samuel S. Green, Grout & Putnam,
1 1
American Social Science Asso- ciation,
1
Andover Theological Seminary, Anonymous,
Bangs, Merwin & Co.,
J. H. Baxter, Chief Medical Purveyor U. S. A., 2
Benevolent Fund of Obadiah Brown, Providence, R. I., Robert R. Bishop, through San- ford & Co.,
Samuel L. Boardman, 23
Boston, City of, through Ellis Peterson, 6
Sup't of Printing,
2
C. D. Bradlee,
Brazil : Commissioners Inter-
national Exhibition ; 5 maps, 12
9 W. R. Huntington,
1 Sarah L. King, Index Association,
2
Sarah E. Chase,
E. S. Chesborough, Chicago City Engineer, 1
Astor Library,
Robert Clarke,
1 Boston Public Library, 5
Robert Clarke & Co.,
1
Concord Free Public Library,
.
Cobden Club, 3
Free Public Library, Lawrence,
Jeremiah Colburn, 1
Lancaster Town Library,
1
phia, through G. H. Nichols, 45 Wm. F. Cooper,
F. McCrellish & Co.,
C. Cushing,
Dartmouth College,
1
Charles Devens, Jr.,
1
1
Northboro Free Library,
Providence Athenaeum,
Public Library, Indianapolis, Ind.,
J. L. Diman,
Charles H. Doe,
1
Ann B. Earle,
1
Edward Earle,
4
Sarah F. Earle,
Abraham Firth,
27
8 2
St. Louis Public School Library,
1
2 Southbridge Public Library, 1|
3 7 9
3 2
12
Cambridge, City of,
1
1 Joseph Leonard, Libraries :
1
2 4 1 4 1 1
Commissions & Others ; Interna- tional Exhibition, Philadel-
Library of Congress, Library Association, Staf-
ford, Conn.,
Massachusetts State Library, Memorial Hall Library, An- dover, Mass.,
Mercantile Library Associa- tion, San Francisco, Cal., Newton Free Library,
1 1 1 Public Library, Leicester, Mass.,
1
Mass.,
Waltham,
Public Library,
1
Edward R. Fiske,
George E. Francis,
3
3 Ivers Gibbs, Samuel A. Green,
2
8 1
56 Charles Hamilton, Samuel Hart, Secretary of American Philological As- sociation,
3 Hawley, Goodrich & Co., 1 John L. Hayes,
1
4 James Hector, Director of
2 Geological Survey, New
Zealand,
Brooke Herford,
Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio,
1 1 4 3
George F. Hoar,
1 Johns Hopkins University, 6 Henry J. Howland, 7
1
Albert H. Hoyt, Chairman of Committee on preparation of a History of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register,
Alexander H. Bullock,
1
Books.
1
American Antiquarian Society, American Board of Commis- sioners for Foreign Missions, American Institute of Mining Engineers, 1
1 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
A. McF. Davis,
25 1 1 1 1 1
Julius Dexter, President of Zoological Society of Cin- cinnati,
Drew, Allis & Co.,
441
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Books.
[ Pamphlets
and Papers.
Books.
[ Pamphlets and Papers.f
Libraries :
I. N. Tarbox,
15
Watertown Free Public Library,
1|C. O. Thompson,
2
2
Young Men's Mercantile Li- brary and Mechanics In- stitute, Pittsburg, Pa., Mrs. E. W. Lippitt,
4
Bureau of Education, 2
2
Massachusetts, State of, Board of Health,
1
Commissioner of Indian Af- fairs, 1
Bureau of Statistics of La- bor,
1
Department of War,
1
Insurance Commissioners,
2
Department of the Interior,
37
11
Railroad Commissioners,
1
Naval Observatory,
1
School for Idiotic and Fee- ble Minded Youth,
1 Patent Office,
1
Josephine May,
9
1 Paymaster General's Office,
4
D. S. Messinger,
3
Quartermaster General's Of- fice,
27
5
Joel Munsell,
2 16
Surgeon General's Office,
2
University of Vermont,
3
Vassar College,
1
1|J. W. Wallace,
1
1
Wm. B. Washburn,
Oberlin College,
Wellesley College,
Nathaniel Paine,
5 Woman's Journal,
J. L. Peyton,
2 Worcester, City of :
Auditor,
1
City Clerk,
2
1 City Hospital,
3
Wm. Stevens Perry,
1
Worcester County Free Insti- tute of Industrial Science,
2
Wm. Rice,
2 Worcester County Mechanics
1
4
Stephen Salisbury,
2 I. M. Wright,
1
Jeanie L. Southwick,
Yale College,
2
E. Steiger,
1 49 Young Men's Association, Buf- falo, N. Y.,
1
1
368 362
19
Trinity College, Tufts College,
1 2
1 United States :
2
Department of State,
4
Office of Chief of Engineers,
34
Lucius B. Morgan, package of cards.
Signal Office,
15 5
John N. Murdock, Chairman
University of Michigan,
of Committee of arrange- ments for the Centennial Celebration at Leicester, National Association of Wool Manufacturers,
Wm. W. Warren,
1 6
1 1
Perkins Institution and Mas- sachusetts Asylum for the Blind,
Edmund Quincy,
1
St. Lawrence University,
1 Association,
1
James M. Swank, Sec'y Ameri- can Iron and Steel Assoc'n, Swiss Confederation Interna- tional Exhibition, Plates,
APPENDIX NO. II.
GIFTS TO THE READING ROOM.
American Gas Light Journal,
American Journal of Education, American Manufacturer and Iron World,
Berrow's Worcester Journal, Book Buyer, Boston Investigator,
Bulletin of the National Association of Wool Manufacturers,
- Cook's Excursionist, Christian Register, Congressional Record, Churchman, Fitchburg Reveille, Index,
Monthly Record of Scientific Literature, Official Gazette of the U. S. Patent Office, Our Dumb Animals, Patent Right Gazette,
Sherman & Hyde's Musical Review, Southern Workman, Tufts Collegian, Unitarian Review & Religious Magazine, Universalist, Universalist Quarterly, Vox Humana, Watchman, Western, Woman's Journal, Worcester Daily Press, Worcester Daily Spy, Worcester Evening Gazette, Word, World's Crisis, Zion's Herald,
G. Warren Dresser, Editor. J. B. Merwin, Editor. Jackson Bailey, Corresponding Editor.
Charles H. Birbeck, Proprietor. Publishers. Publishers and Members of the Anthropological Society of
Worcester.
The Association. Publishers.
American Unitarian Association.
George F. Hoar.
Edward L. Davis.
Publishers.
Sarah F. Earle.
D. Van Nostrand.
U. S. Patent Office. Publishers. Publishers. Publishers. Mrs. P. S. L. Canfield. Publishers. American Unitarian Association.
Universalist Publishing House. T. E. St. John. George Woods & Co., Publishers. Publishers.
H. H. Morgan, Editor.
Sarah F. Earle.
Publishers.
Publishers.
Publishers.
E. H. Heywood.
Samuel Ayres. Publishers.
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY.
To the Directors of the Free Public Library :
GENTLEMEN :- According to the " Rules and Regulations of the Free Public Library " two sets of duties from year to year devolve upon this committee: Attention to 'the purchase and preservation of books and other property' belonging to the library, and An annual examination of the library.
The committee have held twelve meetings since their last report and authorized the purchase, for the Green Reference Library, of 336 books and 6 pamphlets, at an expense of $1,965.12; for the Intermediate and Circulating . Departments of 2,714 books and 1,968 pamphlets at an expense, with cost of stationery, of $4,792.15. The whole number of volumes now in the library is 40,935.
Copies of lists of books to be voted for have been sent to each member of the committee two days before their meeting, and to each director at least one day before the meeting of the board. Few books have been purchased which were not inclu- ded in these lists and only those for which some new and pressing need had arisen after the preparation of the formal list. This method has secured a careful scrutiny of the lists and has ren- dered the official sanction of the board thoroughly intelligent.
Such is the size of the library that the annual inspection is
57
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
perforce entrusted to the librarian and his assistants, who have discharged the duty in a far more exact and satisfactory manner, than would be possible for the committee. The result of this inspection is given in the report of the Librarian.
Your committee are satisfied that the wants of the public have been supplied to the utmost limit of our means. Imaginary or misleading calls have been kindly and wisely met by a supply for real wants, and quests for knowledge have been rewarded on the one hand and awakened on the other. Inquiries for books which were not on our shelves have secured the instant purchase of such books when within the limits of the committee's jurisdiction. Perfect harmony has prevailed in the cooperation of the librarian and the assistants with the committee. The striking increase from year to year in the number of volumes borrowed from the library or consulted there, affords evidence of increasing efficien- cy in the library as an educating force in this community, and is an ample justification of all expenditures hitherto made in its behalf. As the use of the library increases with amplified resources, the users will more justly prize and more widely disseminate the stores which "mind has through long ages been accumulating there."
For the Committee.
C. O. THOMPSON,
Chairman.
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE READING ROOM.
To the President of the Board of Directors of the Free Public Library :
THE Committee on the Reading Room, in submitting their report for the year ending December 1, 1876, have no innova- tions.to record. Our list of periodicals, American and foreign, already in our judgment reasonably complete, remains substan- tially the same. There are still some newspapers, daily and weekly, which might be added to our files with advantage, but neither the size of the Reading Room nor the income of the Fund warrants any increased outlay. We subscribe at present for a considerable number of the leading journals of this country and Europe, and although certain sections of the United States, particularly the South, are not so fully represented as we could wish, this department of the Library is in a creditable condition and the large use made of it by the public, shows that it is valued.
The Committee, acting in line with the general policy estab- lished long ago by the Board of Directors, have fully recognized the importance to Worcester of her varied industries, and have let no opportunity pass to subscribe for any publication deemed to be of value to manufacturers or mechanics. We have added to our lists during the year The Iron Trade Circular (Ryland's) published in Birmingham, England, and giving extended price lists and general and statistical news valuable to the iron interest ;
446
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 31.
the Supplement to the Scientific American, an experimental addition to the regular issue inspired by the Centennial Exhibi- tion, but which the publishers propose to continue; and the American Architect and Building News, a new illustrated Bos- ton publication. We have also subscribed to the Geographical Magazine, a London authority in that branch of knowledge, and to the Quarterly Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club of Cambridge. We now take the Harvard Lampoon, a college pub- lication, less irreverent than its name would imply, and a second copy of the Springfield Republican, also believed to be on the whole sufficiently harmless in its influences on the adult reader. These additions have all received the sanction of the Board. We have to note the discontinuance for various reasons of the following publications : The Laboratory, the Deutsches Kirchen- blatt, the Biblical Messenger, the Laws of Life and Journal of Health, the Vox Humana, Crotzer's Centennial, and La Repub- lique. The last two of these were gifts from the publishers. We desire to acknowledge as a new contribution the American Gas Light Journal. A full list of the donors during the year in this department will be found in the appendix to the Libra- rian's Report.
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