USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1887 > Part 14
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It has been the uniform practice for many years, to select the President of the Board to perform that duty.
With the deepest regret the Directors depart from the usage of the past.
It is their sad duty to make formal announcement to you of the loss of their late President, Hon. Francis H. Dewey, who died in this city, December 16, 1887.
At a special meeting of this Board held on the following day, a memorial, herewith transmitted, was adopted which expresses our appreciation of his services to the Library and of our loss.
We had expected that the hand of our honored President would for the last time before he completed his term of service, as a member of this Board, write our annual report. But
"A greater power than we can contradict Hath thwarted our intents."
That hand, the ever ready servant of his active and ingenious mind, has performed its last work and the quick and practiced intelligence that would so easily have grasped and so clearly have presented the various details and the true scope of our work has forever ceased its human activity.
240
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 42.
In the shadow of this loss, we can only, hastily and imperfectly present the one paramount need of the Library.
The reports of the Standing Committees, together with the admirable report of the Librarian show the work of the year, but they cannot show the results of that work-those we believe are to be found in every school and in nearly every home in our city.
By them we are reminded afresh of the value and usefulness to all classes, of this great agency of cultivation and enjoyment.
Our Library has been converted from a passive to an active educational instrumentality. This change, amounting almost to a revolution, has taken place in library management generally throughout all the centres of civilization and it is gratifying to feel assured, as we certainly may, that our own Library stands well to the front in vigor, intelligence and skill of management as well as in the more important qualities of progressiveness and adaptability to the needs of our people.
But the liberal support and energetic administration that have combined to raise this institution to its present pitch of excellence and to make it absolutely indispensable to the Worcester of the present and of the future have brought us to a most important crisis in its history.
The accommodations and facilities afforded by the existing library building are inadequate and unsuitable to a degree that calls loudly for a change and advance. This is a demand, not of sentiment, but of utility.
When our building was erected, few persons had any notion of the rapidity with which libraries would grow or of the multi- farious uses to which they would be put to-day. The same mis- take made in Worcester in erecting a building only of moderate size without any provision for its enlargement, was made every- where.
A new building for our Library is imperatively required. The library has completely outgrown its present quarters. Every department is crowded and cramped for room.
More room is needed for the storage of books ; more space for reading-rooms; greater facilities for the accommodation of stu-
241
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
dents and for different classes of investigators whose age and inquiries differ ; enlarged quarters for the Executive officers of the Library ; a room in which to keep and display our large and increasing collection of books illustrating the fine arts, and one of ample size for a lecture room.
It becomes more evident with each year that a temporary makeshift would be but poor economy.
The Directors in a special communication during the past year called your attention to this subject, and they now feel that they would be utterly neglectful of their duty if they failed to state earnestly and emphatically their conviction upon this matter, or if they refrained longer from pressing upon you the importance and necessity of immediate action in securing at least a suitable lot, on which to erect a building that shall be not only ample and properly adapted for present needs, but also capable of answering the requirements of the rapid growth of our City, and the wide expansion of its educational interests which may be confidently expected in the years to come.
With increased facilities, an immensely greater work can be done by the Library than it is doing to-day.
The Librarian has projects in mind which, with facilities afford- ed for carrying them out, will bring this community with greatly increased frequency and closeness into contact with the best sources of information and of enlightened entertainment.
The Directors congratulate you and the citizens of Worcester upon retaining the services of Mr. Green as Librarian, though constantly sought elsewhere. Both he and his assistants continue to serve the city with a diligence and devotion that deserve not only entire approval but the warmest commendation.
In behalf of the Directors,
FRANCIS A. GASKILL, JOHN O. MARBLE, Committee. E. H. RUSSELL,
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 42.
memorial.
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE CITY OF WORCESTER, MASSA- CHUSETTS.
We, the Directors of the Free Public Library, desire to place on record our sincere appreciation of our late President, Hon. Francis H. Dewey, who, "in such an hour as we thought not," has been taken from us.
We delight to recall our pleasant association with him in this Board, his cordial and cheery greeting, his earnest, thoughtful and constant efforts in behalf of our library, the prudent and sagacious counsel with which he sought to protect its interests and increase its usefulness, the promptness with which he met every appointment, the absolute fidelity with which he per- formed every duty, the alertness and activity of mind, and the clearness of statement which contributed so noticeably to the adoption of the wisest measures.
The library has profited by his acute business sagacity, and has been aided by his intelligent scholarly judgment.
We can say with earnestness that among all the presidents of this Board none have exceeded President Dewey in loyalty to the library, or in satisfaction at its upbuilding and enlargement.
We had hoped, that though his term of office was so soon to expire, we should still have had his counsel and assistance, and we therefore feel as if our library must bear almost a double loss.
In his death each of us feels a personal bereavement, and we extend to his family our warmest sympathy in their deep sorrow.
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
OF THE
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
To the Board of Directors of the Free Public Library :
The annual report of the Librarian has usually been addressed to the President of the Board of Directors. To-day the chair at the head of our table, which the President occupies, is empty. No words of mine can add to the eloquent speech of that vacant chair.
It reminds us of the faithfulness and ability with which Judge Dewey filled the position of President of the Board of Direct- ors, and makes us regret keenly that we shall never meet again on earth the pleasant-mannered and wise gentleman who has for the last five years presided over our deliberations.
The present is the twenty-eighth annual report of the Libra- rian, and the seventeenth which I have prepared.
The tables which usually form a part of this report will be found at its close. They show the receipts and expenditures of the library, its accessions, the number of volumes used by read- ers and students, and the extent of the use of the reading- rooms on Sunday, and record such other facts in the history of the library the past year, as it is our custom to call attention to.
There has been a slight apparent diminution in the use of the library, for purposes of reference, the past year. The cause of this seeming decrease in use is to be found in the fact that owing to the crowded state of the upper reading-room it has recently been found advisable to encourage teachers and scholars to take out books to use in school and at home, which with
244
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 42.
more room at our disposal we should have been happy to have had them use in the library building.
Much of the work done in connection with the schools must continue to be done in the library building, and it is therefore very important in the interest of all persons concerned, scholars, teachers, and the general public, that more ample accommoda- tions should be provided, and that the space allotted to reading rooms for students, readers of magazines, and literary and scientific papers, and for children and grown-up persons, should be divided into as many rooms as will best further the objects and promote the advantage of various kinds of inquirers and ·readers.
There has been an increase in the use of the circulating department during the past year, and the use of the books in both the circulating and reference departments and of the magazines and papers in the two reading-rooms has been very large in the year just closed.
The whole number of volumes given out to readers and stu- dents the past year is 198,000. This use is divided among the different departments as follows : Circulating department 137,- 015 ; reference department 59,319 ; Sunday reference use 1,666. 12,637 persons have used the reading-rooms on Sunday during the past year.
It should be borne in mind that no statistics are here given to show the use of the books of the circulating department by scholars and teachers. Books that are taken out by teachers, on teachers' and pupils' cards are charged as other books, but they are used many times in school-houses and in the homes of pupils and instructors.
The school use has continued to increase during the last year, but the plans in use have been slightly modified so as to avoid the possibility of seeming to interfere in the least with the preroga- tives of the School Board.
Teachers are enthusiastic in regard to the advantages to them- selves and their pupils which both are receiving in the free use of books allowed them by the rules of the library.
Reference books, as this term is usually understood, are not
245
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
provided by the library for use in school-rooms. Books of this kind are furnished to the schools by the School Committee.
The whole number of volumes in the library is 70,350, an increase during the year of 3,441 volumes. These figures would have been larger if we had not disposed of 778 dupli- cates and deducted that number from the numbers representing the total number of volumes in the library and the increase during the year.
The City Council will be asked to appropriate $4,500 to buy books with the coming year in addition to the amount asked for to aid in doing a portion of the school work. This is a small sum to use in meeting the reasonable wants of citizens ; such wants as we have led them to believe that we are ready to attend to. Investigation increases apace and new subjects arise which excite attention. New books are being continually pub- lished treating of fresh subjects of interest, or adding to our knowledge respecting matters that are old or regarding them from new points of view. If there is to be life in a library it must constantly buy new books. It must buy, too, no incon- siderable numbers of them.
In conclusion I wish to say that it will be impossible to pro- vide places for the books to be added to the library in the immediate future unless a new library building shall be erected at once.
During the last three years the library has disposed of large numbers of duplicates in order that it might use the room occupied by them.
It has no more to dispose of and I estimate that after resort- ing to all economies of space that are practicable we shall have left in the present building room for only about one year's growth of the circulating department.
No more room can be given to this department without seri- ously abridging privileges now enjoyed by the public. None of the rooms now occupied by the reference library or the reading- rooms is available. Additional room will be needed in a few years for the accommodation of the books of the reference library. The upper reading-room, as already stated, is even now wholly
17
246
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 42.
inadequate in size to our wants. The lower reading-room is none too large. The working-room of the librarian and assistants should be very much enlarged. An art-room and a lecture-room as also rooms for students who need opportunities to pursue in- vestigations without disturbance from noise are very much needed. It may be even said that they are indispensable.
A list of persons and institutions to whom we are indebted for gifts is appended to this report. We wish to extend hearty thanks to the friends who have so kindly remembered us. Especial gratitude is due to the Boston Athenæum for its great kindness during the past year, as in previous years, in lending us books for the use of citizens of Worcester. We have to thank several other libraries, also, for assistance rendered to us.
Following is my account of money collected for fines, etc., with the signatures of the two surviving members of the Finance Committee which were attached to it after examination of the account by those members of the Committee :-
CITY OF WORCESTER, FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, December, 1887.
We have examined the Librarian's account from December 1, 1886, the date of the last settlement, and find that it stands as follows :-
Cash balance in librarian's hands, December 1, 1886, $221 27
Received for fines,
from sale of copies of the printed catalogue and of lists of additions, 111 21
504 78
from deposits of persons not regularly allowed to take out books, 25 00
as payments for books lost or mutilated, 6 30
from sale of worn out books, waste-paper, etc., 4 05
66 from Treasurer of the Green Library Fund for books, as per bill, 285 00
$1,157 61
Paid in return of deposits, $27 00
for books which had been found and returned after having been paid for because lost, 2 19
" W. S. Barton, City Treasurer, 894 88
$924 07
Balance in librarian's hands, December 1, 1887, 233 54
$1,157 61
JONAS G. CLARK, Members of the A. G. BULLOCK, Finance Committee.
247
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY. ·
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
RECEIPTS.
Municipal appropriation,
$15,000 00
Income from invested funds :- Green Library Fund, Reading-room Fund,
$1,582 26 478 24
$2,060 50
Receipts from dog licenses,
3,961 16
", fines,
504 78
66 sale of catalogues,
111 21
Payments for missing and damaged books, Sundries,
4 05
$21,645 81
· Cash on hand at last report :-
Green Library Fund,
$1,609 24
Fines, catalogues, etc.,
221 27
Reading-room fund,
1
69 91
1,900 42
$23,546 23
EXPENDITURES.
BOOK ACCOUNT.
Books :-
Green Library Fund,
$1,918 18
City appropriation,
5,772 57
Periodicals :- Green Library Fund, City appropriation, Reading-room Fund,
$27 79
429 87
478 24
Binding,
BUILDING ACCOUNT.
Repairs and additions,
$1,644 49
Furniture and fixtures,
298 75
Fuel,
305 18
Lights,
763 83
.
$7,690 75
$935 90
981 85
Insurance,
4 11
248
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 42.
SALARY ACCOUNT.
Administration (including wages of janitor),
$6,286 43
Cataloguing,
580 50
Extra service,
1,398 94
SUPPLY ACCOUNT.
Printing catalogues,
$163 59
Blanks and stationery,
176 31
Postage,
117 23
Sundries :- Water for elevator, etc.,
Printing report,
Freight (foreign and domestic), expressage, and minor running expenses (including $2,
the amount returned to depositors in excess of the amount received from them), 295 71
458 80
Paper covers (covering paper),
52 00
$21,854 55
Cash on hand December 1, 1887 :-
Green Library Fund,
$1,245 53
Reading-room Fund,
209 71
Money received from fines, sale of catalogues, etc., 233 54
$1,688 78
$23,543 33
Amount of city appropriation transferred to the Sink-
ing Fund,
2 90
$23,546 23
ACCESSIONS.
Increase of volumes by purchase :-
Green Library,
177
Intermediate department,
617
Circulating department,
2,842
3,636
Increase of volumes by gifts :-
Intermediate department,
349
Circulating department,
75
$124 64 38 45
424
249
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Increase of volumes by binding periodicals :-
Green Library, Intermediate department, Circulating department,
12
214
25
251
Increase by placing unbound periodicals in the library :- Intermediate department, 1
Number of missing volumes restored since last report :- Circulating department,
4
Number of volumes withdrawn since last report :- Green Library (change caused in binding),
2
Intermediate department,
778
Circulating department,
79
Number of volumes missing since last report :- Green Library, 2
859
Circulating department,
14
16
875
Net increase for the year,
3,441
Number of volumes in the library as last reported :- Green Library,
21,887
Intermediate department,
15,525
Circulating department,
29,497
66,909
Total number of volumes in the library,
70,350
Increase of unbound pamphlets by purchase : - Intermediate department,
61
Increase of unbound pamphlets by gifts :- Intermediate department, 401
1,174
Number of newspapers subscribed for :- Reading-room fund and City funds, 108
37
Number of magazines subscribed for :- Reading-room fund and City funds,
109
Green Library fund, 9
118
Number of magazines given to the Reading-room,
13
Number of pamphlets withdrawn,
Number of newspapers given to the Reading-room,
4,316
250
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 42.
CIRCULATION.
Number of days the Circulating department was open,
306
Number of days the Reference department was open, 358
Number of days the lower Reading-room was open, 365
Number of volumes delivered for home use, 137,015
Number of volumes delivered for reference use,
59,319
Average daily use (home and reference), (Circulating department, 448 ; Reference department, 193), 641
Largest daily use (home and reference), February 12,
1,286
(Largest in Circulating department, February 19, 1,070 volumes ; in Reference department, April 4, 451 volumes).
Smallest daily use (home and reference), June 30, 237
(Smallest in Circulating department, June 30, 172 volumes ; in Reference department, September 7, 22 volumes).
Number of books lost and paid for *.- Circulating department, 4
Number of books lost and not paid for :- Circulating department, 10
Number of books worn out and withdrawn,
79
Number of notices to delinquents,
6,240
Number of volumes bound,
1,896
Number of names registered during the year,
1,701
Total number of names registered (a new registry made July 1, 1873), 30,175
SUNDAY USE.
The Reading-rooms are open from 2 to 9 P. M.
Number of persons using the upper room,
4,448
Number of persons using the lower room,
8,189
Total number, 12,637
Average number of persons per Sunday using the rooms,
243
Largest Sunday attendance, January 9,
427
Smallest Sunday attendance, July 3,
74
Number of volumes delivered (for use within the building), 1,666
Average number of volumes delivered per Sunday, 32
SAMUEL S. GREEN,
Librarian.
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
APPENDIX.
GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY.
DONORS.
Books.
Pamphlets
DONORS.
Books.
Pamphlets
Aberdeen, Scotland, Public Li- brary,
Adams, Charles K., Ithaca, N. Y. Adams, Herbert B., Baltimore, MỞ.,
Albany Young Men's Associa- tion for Mutual Improve- ment,
American Antiquarian Society, American Board of Commis- sioners for Foreign Mis- sions, 3 folded sheets, 1 card,
American Congregational Asso- ciation,
American Institute of Mining Engineers,
1
Boston, City Messenger,
American Missionary Associa- tion,
2
American Unitarian Associa- tion,
1 1
Amherst College, Amherst,
1
Bowen, Clarence W., New York City,
2
Anonymous, 1 folded sheet, 3 newspapers, 1 sheet,
1
Apprentices' Library Company, Philadelphia, Pa.
Arundel Society, London, Eng., 2 folded sheets.
Brookline, Public Library,
2 Brooklyn Library, Brooklyn, N. Y., Brown, Marie A., London, Eng., 1 folded sheet.
2
1 Brown University, Providence, R. I.,
Buffalo Library, Buffalo, N. Y.,
1 Cambridge. England, Public Free Library,
1 Cambridge, Mass., Public Li- 1 brary,
1 Canfield, Mrs. Penelope S. and Miss Penelope W. S.,
4
Bigelow Free Public Library, Clinton,
2
Billings, John S., Washington, D. C.,
1 Birchard Library, Fremont, Ohio.,
1
1 1 1
3
Bliss, Eugene F., Cincinnati, O.,
1 Boston, City of, Boston, City Council,
Boston, Public Library, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me.,
1
Amory, Thomas C., Boston, Andover Theological Seminary, Andover,
1 Braun Ad. & Cie., Paris, France, 1 14 Bridgeport, Conn., Public Li- brary,
1
Brighton, England, Free Li- brary,
1 1
2 Astor Library, New York City, Aubin, Gideon, 1 folded sheet. Baker, Walter & Co., Dorches- ter 1 Ball, Phinehas, Ballou, Maturin M., Boston, 1
Barrow-in-Furness Free Public Library, Belknap, Wm. w., Keokuk, Iowa,
Bell, Charles H., Exeter, N. H., Berry, John M., 1 newspaper, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze, Florence, Italy, 41
1
Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale Vittorio Emanuele di Roma, Rome, Italy.
1
2 Birmingham, England, Free Li- braries Committee, Blanchard, Frank S. & Co., 1 sheet,
1 2 1 1 3 2 1 3 8 2
2 Bowdoin College Library, Bruns- wick, Me.,
1
2 2 1 122 1
6
251
252
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 42.
DONORS.
Books.
Pamphlets
DONORS.
Books.
Pamphlets
Cardiff Free Library, Museum and Science and Art School, Cardiff, Wales,
Caspar, C. N., Milwaukee, Wis., Chace, Mrs. George I., Provi- dence, R. I.,
Chalmers, Patrick, Eng., London,
1
Dundee Free Library, Dundee, Scotland,
1
1 Editors of W PI,
1 1
1 Engineering, Publishers of, Enoch Pratt Free
Library, Baltimore, Md.,
2
5 Estes & Lauriat, Boston, 1
4 Fairbanks & Co., 1 newspaper. 1 Farnham, J. M. W., Shanghai, 1 China,
1 Faxon, Henry H., Boston,
2 Field, B. Rush, Easton, Pa.,
1 Flanders, Dana J., Boston,
1
1 Fletcher Free Library, Burling- ton, Vt.,
1 Forbes, R. B., Boston,
1 Foster, Emma E., Friends' Free Reading Roomn 1 and Library, Germantown, Pa.,
1
College of New Jersey, Prince- ton, N. J.,
Columbia College, New York City,
Columbia College Library, New York City, Concord, Mass., Free Public Li- brary,
Concord, N. H., Public Library, Connecticut Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1
Connecticut Agricultural Ex- periment Station, New Haven, Conn.,
Goodell, John M., Goulding, Alfred,
1 8 3
Coolidge, A. H., Leicester, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.,
1
1 Grand Army of the Republic, Worcester, Grand Rapids, Mich., Public Li- brary,
1
Corporation of the City of London, 1
Dana, John A.,
Dante Society, Cambridge,
5
1
Davis, A. M. F., Cambridge,
4 Green, James, 4 folded sheets, Green, Samuel A., Boston, Green, Mrs. Samuel F.,
8 14 1
Davis, Joshua W., Boston, 1 folded sheet,
Day & Morse,
Demarest, David D., New Brunswick, N. Y.,
1 Hall, Edward H., Cambridge, 2
1
Detroit, Mich., Public Library, Dewey Francis H., 1
Dove, P. Edward, London, Eng., Drew, Allis & Co., 15
1
1 1 7
Cincinnati, Ohio, Public Library, Clarke, Robert & Co., Cincin- nati, O.,
Cobden Club, London, Eng., Colby University, Waterville, Me.,
2 Gage, William Leonard, Hart- 4 ford, Conn.,
1 Gale, George H. G., West Point, N. Y.,
2
2 Garver, Austin S., 2 card photo- graphs.
2 Gebhard, Arthur H., Elberfeld, Germany,
2
2 General Society of Mechanics 1 and Tradesmen, New York City,
1
1 Georgetown College, District of Columbia, 1
1
5 Great Yarmouth, England, Free Library,
1
Davis, Charles H., 2
1 Green, Samuel S., 2 folded
1 sheets, 3 28
Greene, J. Evarts,
1
1 Hammond, B. F., 1 Hampton Normal and Agricul- tural Institute, Hampton, Va.,
1 1
Chicago, Ill., Public Library, Chicopee, Town Library,
Chamberlain, D. H., New York, Chamberlain, Mellen, Boston,
Chemical Society, Washington, D. C.,
Childs, George W., Philadel- phia, Pa.,
Green, Andrew H., New York City,
1
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
DONORS.
Books.
Pamphlets
DONORS.
Books.
Pamphlets
Harlow, William T., Harper & Brothers, New York City, Harrison, J. B., Philadelphia, Pa.,
1
Ladies' Commission on Sunday School Books,
1
1 1
Hartford Library Association, Hartford, Conn.,
1
1 Lancaster, Mass., Public Library, Lawrence Free Public Library, Leavitt, George A. & Co., New York City,
1
5 Leeds, England, Free Public Li- brary and Museum,
1 Leicester Academy,
3 Leicester Public Library, Leominster, Town of,
1 Library Company, Philadelphia, Pu.,
1 Lincoln, Edward Winslow,
2 Liverpool, England, Free Public Library,
1 Lynn Public Library, Maimonides Library, New York City,
1 Malden Public Library,
1 Manchester, England, City of, Manchester, N.H., City Library,
Hoar, George F., U. S. S., 2 folded sheets,
10
9 Manufacturers' Record Co., Bal- timore, Md.,
1
1 Marble, Albert P., Mason, Joseph, 35
25
Hopedale Public Library,
Howe, Archibald M., Boston, Howland, Henry J.,
Howland, Joseph,
Huntington, William R., New York City,
Indian Rights Association, Phila- delphia, Pa., 16 photographs. Indianapolis Public Library,
Jewett, John Howard, 1 news- paper.
Massachusetts Emergency and Hygiene Association,
1
9 Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
3
Johnson, Robert H., 2 folded sheets. Kansas State Board of Agricul- · ture,
1
Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, Kan.,
1 Maverick National Bank, Boston, 1 1
Kelly, H. A.,
1 May, Samuel, Leicester, Mears, David O.,
1 15 4
Kerr, Charles H. & Co., Chicago, I., Kimball, F. E., 1
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