USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1877 > Part 10
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ART. 7. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to see that all regulations of the . school are faithfully enforced.
GENERAL REGULATIONS.
ARTICLE 1. From the 1st of April to the 1st of October, there shall be only one session of the Truant School each day, which shall invariably begin at 8 A. M., and close at 12 M. No boy shall be kept out of the school for any purpose whatever, except in cases of emergency in the busy farming season, and every such case shall be recorded as provided in Sec. 3, Article 1, and reported by the Superintendent at the next meeting of the Board of Overseers of the Poor. It shall also enter into the next quarterly report of the teacher. From the 1st of October to the 1st of April, there shall be two daily sessions of the school, from 9 A. M. to 12 M., and from 2 to 4 P. M .; and on no account shall a boy be taken from the school during this season, except by permission previously obtained from the Mayor or some member of the Committee on the Truant School.
ART. 2. The use of tobacco, in any form, by the boys, is prohibited, and both the Superintendent and teacher are held responsible for the enforcement of this pro- hibition.
ART. 3. The teacher shall be employed and the salary fixed by the Committee on the School, subject to the approval of the Board, but no teacher shall be engaged without previously passing a satisfactory examination according to the laws of the Common wealth and the rules of the School Committee of the City of Worcester.
ART. 4. Each pupil, whose deportment and scholarship have been satisfactory for one month, shall be entitled to some privilege or reward not otherwise granted; and continuous good conduct shall be rewarded by a recommendation for pardon one month or more before the expiration of the sentence.
These regulations shall be made known to each boy when he enters the school.
ART. 5. The rate of board per week to be charged by the Superintendent against the teacher and pupils of the Truant School, shall be fixed annually by the Overseers of the Poor at their regular meeting in January, but they may change it at any time they deem it necessary, by a vote of a majority of the members of the Board. The price per hour of the services of the boys shall also be fixed at the same time and in the same manner, subject likewise to the same conditions of change.
GEORGE W. GALE, Clerk.
. .
REPORT
OF THE
Committee on the Truant School.
Gentlemen of the City Council:
The Commmittee on the Truant School respectfully submit the following report, for the year ending November 30, 1877 :
It is the duty of all towns and cities, under the laws of the Commonwealth, to make provision for habitual truants, to the end that they may not be left to wander about the streets or to grow up in ignorance. The educational system of the State contemplates, not only some adequate provision for the training of such children as go to school willingly, but also a care for those who run away ; it is the theory that where all are voters, all shall be taught at least something. Accordingly this school was established in December, 1863, and has been continued successfully, ever since. The original purpose and present design of the school are set forth at length in the report for the year 1872, and need not be repeated here. The Rules and Regulations appended to this report explain the internal work- ing of the Institution.
During the year Miss Emma Parker, who has faithfully served as teacher for ten years retired, and Miss Alma A. Grow succeeded to the position. We trust that she will be equally useful there.
124
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 32.
By comparing the statistics given below with those of former years, it will be seen that the average number of pupils is some- what less, and the cost per capita is correspondingly larger. though the total cost of the school is less. The usefulness of a Truant School is by no means confined to the pupils in attend- ance; its beneficial effects extend to every pupil in the Public Schools who is at all inclined to bad ways. No one reaches this school till remonstrance from parents, teachers and truant offi- cers has been tried in vain : but the remonstrance has weight and is effectual in a very large majority of cases, because the Truant School is open for the incorrigible. That so few com- paratively are sent there, is the best evidence that the system works effectively.
For the boys who reach the school, reformation is the object sought. The fact of truancy implies the absence of parental control; and this, in the midst of temptations, means entrance upon a downward way. Restrained in this school, where, regular habits and attention to duty can be enforced, and brought daily under the influence of a kind teacher interested in his welfare, a boy improves in his habits and in his tastes. It has been gratifying to note the marked improvement of many boys, on their return from this school to the Public Schools. Notable instances of entire reformation are not rare. The teacher who can be the instrument of reclaiming the one who has gone astray, may be entitled to not less credit than she who has guided the willing feet of the ninety-and-nine. It may be that her work is even more like that of the Great Teacher.
STATISTICS.
Number sentenced in 1877, 8
Average number in the school, 1877, 8
Cases of absence, cause. run away, 52
No. cases of tardiness, 0
Cases of corporal punishment, 26
Per cent of deportment, 95.6
Per cent of attendance, 87.8
Cost of board, teacher and pupils, at $2.50 per week, $1,100 77 Clothing, etc., 172 32
-
125
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
Teaching and supervision,
532 68
Total cost,
$1,805 77
Value of boys' labor,
43 00
Net cost,
$1,762 77
Appropriation, .
2,000 00
Unexpended,
$237 23
Average cost per capita, computed on net cost of the average at- tendance, 8,
$220 35
As the number in attendance is liable to increase by one or two, it is recommended that the appropriation for this school be the same as last year.
Respectfully submitted.
A. P. MARBLE, Superintendent of Schools. W. ANSEL WASHBURN, City Marshal. CALVIN HARTSHORN, Chairman on the Farm.
COMMITTEE ON THE TRUANT SCHOOL.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
CITY PHYSICIAN.
To the Honorable City Council :
The City Physician has the honor to submit the following report of the work done in his department, for the year eighteen hundred and seventy-seven :
The number of consultations given during the year, from Jan- uary 4th to December 31st inclusive, is eight hundred and sev- enty-four (874); two hundred and forty-two (242) being office consultations, and six hundred and thirty-two (632) at the houses of the patients. Thirty visits have been made at the City Farm, and thirteen at the Police Office. There have been fifteen cases of accouchment.
One hundred and fifty nine (159) applicants for admission to the Public Schools have been vaccinated, and certificates of vaccination given to several hundred others.
The following deaths have occurred under the observation of the City Physician :
January 15, 1877, Mary Wardell, age 49 years, Phthisis.
March 6, Philena Hector,
33 66 Phthisis.
March 7, William Gun, 66
66
32
Phthisis.
March 30, Angeline Bowler, 66
21 Phthisis.
May 1, Lydia Webber. $6 42
Pelvic Abscess.
May 5, George Walker, 60
2 Acute Tuberculosis.
May 13, Mary Adams, 66
85 Old Age.
May 20, Mary Ann Mahan, 30
66 Phthisis.
127
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
June 10, Flemmie Sherman, 66
7 66 Meningitis.
June 20,
66 Annie Downs,
66
5
66 Diphtheria.
June 29, William Wheelock, 66
38
66 Peritonitis.
July 14, Reginald Vincent,
8 mos. Innutrition.
August 16, John Cregan,
44 years, Phthisis.
August 23,
Andrew Cassidy,
65 Dysentery.
August 24,
James Boag,
68 66 Paralysis.
August 27, James Brophy,
66
65 Valvular Dis. of Heart.
Sept.
4,
66
Thomas Sheehan,
47 Phthisis.
Sept. 22,
Mary Daly,
1
Cholera Infantum.
October 17,
Mrs. Mackin,
70 Old Age.
October 29,
Luke Lavin,
51
Valvular Dis. of Heart.
Dec. 2,
John Kerr,
45
Phthisis.
The City Physician desires here to acknowledge the courtesy and consideration in official relations, shown by Mr. George W. Gale, Mr. and Mrs. Parkhurst of the City Farm, and the other City Officials with whom he has come in contact.
Respectfully submitted.
W. H. WORKMAN,
City Physician.
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
REPORTS
OF THE
DIRECTORS AND LIBRARIAN.
10
DIRECTORS IN 1878.
TERM EXPIRES
JOHN J. POWER,
CHARLES H. DOE,
Jan. 1, 1879
GEORGE E. FRANCIS,
EMERSON WARNER,
1880
PETER C. BACON,
EDWARD H. HALL, 66
1881
NATHANIEL PAINE,
J. EVARTS GREENE,
66 1882
WILLIAM R. HUNTINGTON,
WILLIAM CROSS,
1883
FRANCIS A. GASKILL,
SAMUEL D. HARDING, 66 1884
ORGANIZATION FOR THE YEAR 1878.
PRESIDENT. PETER C. BACON,
SECRETARY AND TREASURER. NATHANIEL PAINE.
COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY.
E. H. HALL, G. E. FRANCIS, W. R. HUNTINGTON, NATHANIEL PAINE, F. A. GASKILL.
COMMITTEE ON THE READING ROOM.
CHARLES H. DOE, J. EVARTS GREENE, J. J. POWER.
COMMITTEE ON THE BUILDING.
EMERSON WARNER, WILLIAM CROSS, S. D. HARDING.
WILLIAM CROSS,
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE. P. C. BACON, J. EVARTS GREENE.
LIBRARIAN. SAMUEL S. GREEN.
MISS SARAH F. EARLE, Assistant Librarian, Green Library. MISS JESSE E. TYLER, Assistant Librarian, Circulating Library.
DIRECTORS' REPORT.
To the Honorable Charles B. Pratt, Mayor, and the City Council of the City of Worcester :
The Directors hereby transmit to the City Council the Annual Reports of the several Standing Committees of its Board for the past year, viz :
The Committee on Finance, the Committee on the Library, the Committee on the Reading Room, and the Committee on the Library Building. Also, the annual reports of the librarian and the Treasurer of the Reading Room Fund.
These Reports have been submitted to, and accepted by this Board, and contain the details of the doings of the Board of Directors for the year, and show clearly the present condition of this Institution. The Board approve of the recommendations contained in these Reports, and respectfully submit them to the City Council.
T. L. NELSON,
President.
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY,
December 21, 1877.
Report of the Librarian
OF THE
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
To Thomas L. Nelson, Esquire, President of the Board of Direc- tors of the Free Public Library.
Following is the eighteenth annual report of the librarian : It is the seventh which I have had the honor to present to the Board of Directors.
The results of the work of the year recorded below are very gratifying, when the difficulties with which we have had to con- tend are taken into consideration.
NUMBER OF VOLUMES IN THE LIBRARY.
The following figures show the number of volumes in the different departments of the library, and the whole number of volumes belonging to it December 1, 1877 :
Green Library, 18,241
Intermediate Department,
8,098
Circulating Department, 16,885
Total, 43,224
133
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
ADDITIONS
have been made to the library as follows, during the past year, that is, from December 1, 1876, to November 30, 1877 :
BOOKS. PAMPHLETS.
Gifts to the Green Library,
4
Purchases from the Green Library Fund,
496
6
500
6
Gifts placed in the Intermediate Department,
342
862
Purchases for the Intermediate Department,
518
38
Volumes of periodicals transferred
from the Reading Room to the Intermediate Department,
174
Gifts placed in the Circulating Department,
17
Purchases for the Circulating Department,
913
1,964
900
It will be noticed that a larger number of volumes has been added to the Green library this year, than during the year before. This circumstance is partly owing to the fact, that in consequence of the smallness of the city appropriation, we have been obliged to popularize the expenditure of the income from the Green library fund, and to use a large portion of it in buying books which would ordinarily have been placed in the intermediate department.
It may also be remarked in this connection that a considerable portion of the income of this fund has been diverted from the use to which it has usually been applied, to the payment of sub- scriptions to periodicals taken in the reading rooms.
This policy, if pursued for any length of time, and the conse- quent failure to add to the library works of reference needed
134
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 32.
by citizens, even when somewhat expensive, would lower the standard of the library in both the intermediate and reference departments.
The number of volumes bought for the intermediate and circulating departments during the current year is 730 smaller than in the previous year.
Many too, of those bought for the former department, are lower priced books than those hitherto purchased for this division of the library.
This decrease in the number and value of purchases is owing to the fact that we have had only $2,223.39 to spend for books this year, instead of $4,700 available for this purpose last year. 128 volumes have been withdrawn from the circulating department of the library the current year, because they were worn out or had become very imperfect.
The ordinary wear and tear of books has become very great during the last few years, and is occasioned by the large use which is now made of them, and the comparative smallness of the number of volumes which we are now adding to this department. The incessant use of the same books makes it necessary also for us to spend a very considerable sum of money every year in rebinding them.
Eighteen books have been lost and paid for in the circulat- ing department during the current year, and six have been lost and not paid for. Two of the latter stand charged to borrowers who have not returned them, and four were found missing when the annual examination of the library was made last October.
Eleven books were lost and not paid for during the year 1875-6.
Two books belonging to the Green library, and five to the intermediate department, have also disappeared the present year. These were all reference books of small size and were stolen from the shelves to which the public have free access. The value in money of these books is trifling, and it therefore seems better to incur these small losses, rather than to abridge the privileges of the public by keeping people from going to the shelves without permission.
135
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
A list of givers is appended to this report. But few of the gifts require special mention.
We have received from the estate of the late Wm. Jennison, Esq., through Mrs. Charles B. Damon, an interesting gift of 36 books and 234 pamphlets. Senator Hoar has, as usual, remem- bered us kindly, and Hon. W. W. Rice has sent us 68 books and 3 pamphlets.
The Department of the Interior has given us 65 books and 18 pamphlets, and several bureaus of the U. S. Government have sent us valuable works.
From the State of Massachusetts we have received 22 books and 7 pamphlets, and valuable books or pamphlets from the New England Cotton Manufacturer's Association, the American Iron and Steel Association, through James M. Swank, Esq., Sec., the Boston Athenaeum, J. O. Halliwell Phillips, of England, Prof. James R. Soley, Pres. Chadbourne, of Williams College, William F. Poole, Esq., of Chicago, Mr. Julius Dexter, of Cincinnati, Edward Atkinson, Esq. and Charles F. Folsom, M. D., of Boston, Judge Julius Rockwell, Mr. Frederick Jackson, of Newton, and Hon. Stephen Salisbury, George Crompton, Esq., Charles H. Morgan, Esq., and Col. John D. Washburn, of this city.
We have received during the year the Hakluyt Voyages, Sowerby's English Botany, 12 volumes, a set of the Revue des Deux Mondes, 170 volumes, and Ersch & Gruber, Allgemeine Encyklopädie, 151 volumes. The last mentioned work was ordered Jan. 1875. The others were ordered by the last Board of Directors. These works have been paid for with portions of the income of the Green library fund, which had been set aside for this purpose, previously to the present year.
USE OF THE LIBRARY.
The number of books given out in the circulating depart- ment during the past year, is 134,544. The number given out in the year previous, is 137,205.
136
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 32.
The books given out during the year just closed were dis- tributed among the several months, as follows:
December, 1876,
12,273
June, 9,234
January, 1877,
14,855
July,
8,935
February,
13,537
August,
8,849
March,
14,642
September,
9,264
April,
11,414
October,
10,408
May,
9,981
November,
£1,152
In all numbering,
134,544
In the use of the circulating department, instead of the large increase which each succeeding year has shown lately, this year exhibits a decrease of 2,661.
This decrease is directly traceable to the failure to make the large additions to this department of the library, this year, which have been made in previous years. It is gratifying to find that, under the circumstances, even so large a use has been made of the library as is indicated in the table given above, and this large use speaks well for the politeness of the attendants in. affording as much assistance as possible to borrowers in the selection of books.
We could have made our circulation this year as large as that of last year, or even larger, had we chosen to add a larger proportion of novels and stories to the library than in former years, but as soon as it became known that our appropriation would be less this year than heretofore, it was determined to treat all borrowers fairly by supplying books for all classes of readers, and to keep up the high standard which we have always maintained in the choice of books to be bought.
The circulating department has been kept open 307 days during 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 438, against 445 of the previous year. During the months of June, July, and August, this daily issue was 346, against 350 the year before. During the months of January, February, and March, the number of books given out daily was 559, the same as the average given in the last report.
137
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The largest number of books issued in any one day is 1,003, the number given out March 3d. The largest number of the year before is 1,062; this number was given out February 5. The smallest number given out in one day is 28, which number is the record of delivery for March 29. The library was only open for one hour on this day, in order to give time for making certain repairs of the heating apparatus, which had become necessary.
The smallest number of books given out on any whole day is 155, which number is the record of delivery for November 2. Only on five days during the year has a smaller number than 200 books been given out.
The number of persons with whom we have opened new accounts during the past year is 2,024. The number in the year 1875-6 is 2,438.
The whole number of accounts of borrowers in the circulat- ing department, December 1, 1877, is 13,688.
The reference department has been used more this year than in any previous year, but during portions of the year it has been inexpedient to keep a strict account of the number of persons to whom books have been given, or of the number of volumes used. It is preferable, therefore, to confine our state- ment to the general remark just made, as there would be an element of considerable uncertainty in any estimate that could be made under the circumstances. It has been arranged, how- ever, that in future, beginning with the new year, December 1, 1877, call slips shall be used, and thus, hereafter, accurate statistics will be readily obtainable.
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 10,915. Of this number 4,430 persons have used the upper room, and 6,485 the lower.
The number of persons who used the reading rooms on Sun- days in the year 1875-6 is 10,756. During the last year 210 persons, on an average, have read in one or the other of the rooms, every Sunday.
. 138
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 32.
The average attendance in the year 1875-6 is 207. The Sun- day showing the largest attendance in the year just closed, is December 17, when 391 persons used the two rooms-172 the upper, and 219 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 1,687, against 1,909 in the previous year. This is an average of 32 persons a Sunday. The average number of persons supplied the year before is 37. Of course, it is under- stood that the reading, furnished upon application, by the officers of the library, is 'additional to that which readers help them- selves to from encyclopædias, dictionaries, papers, reviews, and magazines.
BUILDING.
There is no shelf room left for books either in the reference or circulating department, and no space remains in the rooms occupied by these libraries for new cases or shelves.
It will therefore be necessary for the Board of Directors to give immediate attention to the plans which have been matured by the Building Committee, for utilizing portions of the building hitherto only partially used for library purposes.
ACCOUNT.
The balance of $147.71 which it was stated in the last report remained in my hands November 30, 1876, together with $64.34 received subsequently to that date from the City treasurer, $357.34 collected for fines, and $69.34 proceeds of the sale of catalogues, in all $638.73, has been passed over to the treasurer of the Board of Directors for transmission to the City treasurer.
CONFERENCES OF LIBRARIANS.
At the first annual meeting of the American Library Asso- ciation held in New York the first week in September, it became apparent that this organization is doing a very useful work in the community, and will prove a powerful agent in effecting improvements in the management of libraries.
It seems probable that it will also gradually be able to
139
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
initiate measures which will lessen materially the cost of their maintenance.
It is worthy of note that, as one of the results of the Inter- national Conference of persons interested in the management of libraries, held in London, in October, the most cordial relations exist between the librarians of Great Britain and the United States, and that any measures looking towards improvements in the methods in use in libraries or their more economical adminis- tration, requiring the co-operation of managers of libraries in both countries, on whichever side of the Atlantic the proposi- tions may originate, will receive the careful and respectful consideration of the whole profession.
The Library Journal will be in future the organ of both British and American librarians.
This paper, under the wise conduct of Mr. Melvil Dewey, its managing editor, is rendering very valuable assistance to librarians.
CONCLUSION.
In closing, I wish to thank the Board of Directors and its committees, for the courtesy and consideration they have always extended to me, and to express my appreciation of the great value to the library of the active participation in its affairs which has marked their administration.
Only by earnest co-operation among the friends of an institu- tion, can the best results be secured.
It remains for me to congratulate the Board of Directors on the fact that this library is a great power for good in the community.
It is generally acknowledged to be one of the best libraries to be found anywhere in the United States outside of the largest cities, and the methods employed in its management have met on all sides with enthusiastic approval.
With confidence I appeal to the Board of Directors and the community to maintain this well earned reputation.
SAMUEL S. GREEN,
Librarian.
APPENDIX NO. 1.
GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY.
Books.
| Pamphlets
and Papers
| Pamphlets and Papers.
Adams, C. F., Jr., Allen. Zachariah, Atta California,
1
1 Earle, Stephen C. 1
Editor of the Missouri Republican,
1 1 newspaper.
Essex Institute, Salem,
2
1 1 1
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 1
American Institute of Mining Engin- eers,
1
American Iron and Steel Association, through J. M. Swank, Secretary, Anonymous,
1
9 Tradesmen, New York City,
2
Apprentices' Library, New York City, 1 Arundel Society,
35 Green, James, 63 nos. of magazines; 1 45 newspapers, 3
Astor Library, New York City,
Atkinson, Edward,
7 Green, Samuel S.,
1 Hagar, Mrs. David,
1 Hammond, C. G., 1
Hampton Normal and Agricultural
1 Institute,
Harlow, Wm. T., 33 newpapers, 17
1
Hartford Courant,
, 1 2
Harvard College Library,
6
1 Harzfeld, S. K., 1
1
Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me.
Bowen, Francis,
1
2 cester,
2 Hoar, Geo. F., 7
Homes, H. A., 1
Chadbourne, Paul Ansel,
Hooper, W. R.,
1
Chicago Public Library,
1 Index Association, 1
Childs, George W.
1 Jackson, Frederick, 1
Christern, F. W. 3
Jenks, Charles W.,
1
Jennison, Wm., Estate of, 1 map, 36 234
1
Lawrence Public Library.
5 1
Clark, C. C. P.
1 Leicester Public Library, Lockwood, Brooks & Co., 1 book rack.
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