Town of Arlington annual report 1928, Part 17

Author: Arlington (Mass.)
Publication date: 1928
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 414


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307


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE


to relieve the Cutter School should be provided at the earliest possible date.


How much the High School needs additional accommoda- tions and will need greater accommodations for the near future can be seen by a study of the following table:


Est. Est.


Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall of of of of of of of of


of


1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 Elementary Schools 2228 2481 2698 2823 3054 3259 3512 3769 4038


Jr. High Schools


874


855


875 1041


1203 1353 1439 1579 1719


High School


564


562


647


763


801


808


938 1050


1200


Totals


3666 3898 4220 4627


5058


5420 5889 6398 6957


Est. Est.


The above table shows that the Junior High enrolment of any year is almost exactly reflected in the High School enrol- ment four years later. This means that in 1932 the High School enrolment will probably be between 1,400 and 1,500 students.


After the new High School in 1930 and the new school in the Brattle section in 1931, it will be necessary to provide an addition to the Junior High School Center building for 1931 or 1932 so that the students at that school may have facilities com- parable to those of other Junior High Schools, also in order that the temporary use of the Kirby dwelling house may be discon- tinued.


It is difficult to foretell the building needs in chronological order after 1932. This will depend on what section or sections of the Town a rapid building development may strike. Already the Crosby and Hardy Schools are overcrowded and each will have four classes in basement or other unsatisfactory classrooms in September, 1929. A beginning should be made at once to plan for relief for these two schools. The other elementary schools, Locke, Parmenter and Russell, will each have one more class than classrooms next fall.


For the first time since the 6-3-3 plan of organization be- came effective, the Junior High School section of the depart-


308


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


ment will have an adequate number of classrooms, with a little room to spare in each of the three schools. This is so slight a margin, however, that the strain of overcrowding will be felt again in a very few years.


I wish to express to townspeople and patrons of the schools my appreciation of their consideration in the many matters brought to my attention, to the members of the School Commit- tee my gratitude for their helpful counsel and support, and to the employees of the department my admiration for their skilful assistance and loyalty in carrying forward our mutual task.


Through the medium of the closing words of this report, I wish to urge all citizens of the Town, and especially those who have children in school, to bring freely to the principals of the schools, or to me as Superintendent, any questions, misunder- standings, or dissatisfactions they may have. We may not always be able to give satisfaction, but at least we can always accomplish a better understanding.


Respectfully submitted,


(Signed) CHESTER A. MOODY, Superintendent of Schools.


309


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE


The following tabulations of membership and attendance are a part of the Annual School Report, as required by vote of the Town.


ATTENDANCE STATISTICS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1927-1928


SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS


GRADES


Enrolled for Year


Average


Membership


Average


Attendance


Percent.


ance


High School


X-XI-XII.


843


782.3


739.1


94.47


JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, CENTER


IX


245


239.9


229.7


95.74


VIII


228


219.8


210.8


95.90


VII


231


224.6


215.0


95.72


Industrial Arts


69


57.7


48.9


84.74


Parmenter ings)


Build-


Continuation


1


6.3


5.5


87.30


774


748.3


709.9


94.87


JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, WEST .


IX


169


165.2


159.9


96.79


VIII


220


213.7


205.2


96.02


VII


192


190.7


183.5


96.22


581


569.6


548.6


96.31


CROSBY SCHOOL:


Edith J. Mitchell .


VI


38


38.7


36.9


95.34


Hazel G. Beckett . .


VI


39


38.3


37.0


96.60


Mary G. McCusker .


V


34


31.9


30.6


95.92


Bessie Ryder .


31


29.5


27.9


94.57


Mary E. Burns


30


29.1


27.6


94.84


Shirley L. Cook.


IV


30


29.0


27.9


96.20


Helen Knowles


IV


30


28.4


27.8


97.88


Mary E. Polk


IV


24


26.7


24.9


93.25


Mary M. Farley


III


31


28.9


26.9


93.07


Sara M. Henderson


III


32


32.4


30.7


94.75


Hazel C. Webber .


II


32


29.2


26.9


92.12


Gertrude L. Toomey


II


35


34.5


32.0


92.75


Marion B. Johnson. . Edith F. Grant


II


31


29.0


26.6


91.72


I


30


27.7


25.1


90.61


Mildred Lougee.


32


31.0


27.9


90 00


Annie W. Cobb.


33


30.4


28.2


92.76


Catherine E. Cody .


30


25.5


23.2


90.98


Catherine E. Cody . .


27


22.9


20.8


90.82


Anne McKenzie .


Special . .


. . .


12


9.8


9.5


96.93


581


552.9


518.4


93.76


V.


V .


I I.


Sub-primary .


Sub-primary .


Daily


of Attend-


(Including Junior High School unit at old


310


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


ATTENDANCE STATISTICS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1927-1928


SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS


GRADES


Enrolled


for Year


Average


Membership


Average


Attendance


Percent


Attendance


CUTTER SCHOOL:


Alice G. W. Daniels .


VI


30


30.8


29.1


94.48


Francese S. Curtis


VI


30


30.9


29.9


96.76


Mae F. Merrill


VI


32


31.6


29.9


94.62


Hazel B. Hurd .


V


35


35.5


34.1


96.05


Edna M. Smith


V.


32


36.3


33.8


93.11


Margaret D. Coombs


IV-V


34


35.3


33.2


94.05


Doris Farnum


IV


34


35.4


33.7


95.19


Louise Barber


IV


36


35.4


33.8


95.48


Doris B. Irvine.


III


32


30.9


28.7


92.88


Hazel E. Ripley


III


30


31.0


29.1


93.87


Margaret E. Miller


III


27


25.4


24.0


94.48


Arline Avery


II


39


37.3


33.8


90.61


Mary L. Forster


II


34


37.5


34.5


92.00


Jane M. Lynch


II


41


37.6


34.6


92.02


Marion Strobel


I


38


37.4


33.5


89.57


Pauline Berry . Ida C. Hunt .


I ..


36


35.4


31.5


88.98


Gladys I. Sawyer


Sub-primary. .


31


27.6


26.2


94.92


Gladys I. Sawyer


32


28.5


27.1


95.08


Agnes Foley.


9


9.9


9.2


92.00


648


646.1


602.0


93.17


HARDY SCHOOL:


Norine McKenney .


VI


26


23.5


22.8


97.02


Anne R. O'Keefe.


VI


25


23.6


22.2


94.06


Helen M. Fogg .


VI


27


25.4


23.6


92.91


Anna M. Holland.


29


28.6


26.7


93.35


Margaret B. Condon


V


31


28.9


27.7


95.84


Alice W. King.


V


30


28.0


26.2


93.57


Catherine E. En- right


IV


38


36.1


33.7


93.35


Esther T. Wakefield


IV


37


34.4


31.7


92.15


Esther M. Thomas


III


37


35.4


32.9


92.93


Caroline Casella ..


III


37


33.9


31.7


93.51


Frieda H. M. Mikels


II


36


36.0


33.9


94.16


Elizabeth L. Holton


II


40


33.1


30.1


90.93


I


30


33.6


29.8


88.69


I


31


33.5


29.8


88.95


Marion L. Smith. . .


I


42


31.9


26.5


83.07


Dorothy Bodwell


Sub-primary .


35


25.4


21.8


85.82


Dorothy Bodwell


Sub-primary .


39


31.0


25.5


82.25


Anna D. Shaw


Special


.


11


11.7


10.6


90.59


581


534.0


487.2


91.23


I


36


36.4


32.3


88.73


Sub-primary . . Special.


S. Evelyn Stewart .. Ellen E. Sweeney . .


Daily


of


311


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE


ATTENDANCE STATISTICS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1927-1928


SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS


GRADES


Enrolled


for Year


Average


Membership


Average


Attendance


Percent


of


LOCKE SCHOOL:


Helen Roberts. .


VI


35


34.6


33.6


97.10


Bertha Richards


VI


32


31.4


29.8


94.90


Ellen Pollock. .


VI


33


32.1


30.9


96.26


Florence W. Crom- well .


V


37


38.8


35.1


90.46


Miriam Braley


V.


36


36.1


34.3


95.01


Edna MacArthur .


IV


42


39.5


37.4


94.68


Gladys G. Levesque


IV


39


38.5


36.5


94.80


Carrie L. Horr.


III


35


31.5


29.7


94.28


Amy D. Young


III


33


30.6


28.7


93.79


Juliette H. Howard


II


36


35.7


33.5


93.83


Lillian M. Lyons. .


II


35


34.2


31.5


92.10


Marjorie F. Hazle- wood.


I


27


24.9


22.8


91.56


Helen P. Rhodes.


I


32


29.6


26.6


89.86


Myrtle M. Davis . . .


I


30


28.9


26.2


90.65


Dorothea Johnson.


Sub-primary


18


16.8


14.9


88.69


Dorothea Johnson ..


20


18.0


16.3


90.55


Lillian W. Balcom


11


13.2


12.4


93.93


531


514.4


480.2


93.35


PARMENTER SCHOOL: Vera E. Rogers


VI


26


24.7


23.9


96.76


Grace Croneis .


V.


29


28.0


26.9


96.07


Mildred A. Evans.


IV


25


23.4


21.9


93.58


June E. Simmons .


III


32


32.6


30.1


92.33


Grace B. Tibbetts.


II


31


29.3


26.8


91.46


Helen M. Dow


I.


29


32.6


28.9


88.65


Mary G. Lane.


Sub-primary .


28


21.3


18.9


88.73


200


191.9


177.4


92.44


Daily


Attendance


Sub-primary . Special .


312


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


ATTENDANCE STATISTICS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1927-1928


SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS


GRADES


Enrolled


for Year


Average


Membership


Average


Attendance


Percent


Attendance


PEIRCE SCHOOL:


Agnes V. Eaton. .


VI


25


24.9


23.8


95.58


Marguerite J. Alley


VI


24


24.8


23.6


95.16


Frances Moran .


V.


39


42.6


40.6


95.30


Alice R. Charter .


IV


25


25.1


24.1


96.01


Dorothy A. Brown


IV


23


25.4


24.2


95.27


Grace L. Snow .


III


39


39.3


35.9


91.34


Greta N. Gilchrest .


II


29


28.3


26.0


91.87


Agnes M. McCabe .


II


29


28.5


26.4


92.63


Helen M. Warren. .


I


30


30.1


27.2


90.36


Marie A. Sheehan.


I ..


28


28.2


25.3


89.71


Esther Boyce. .


22


20.7


18.1


87.43


Esther Boyce.


20


17.3


14.7


84.97


Beth Easter


Special


7


7.1


6.6


92.95


340


342.3


316.5


92.46


RUSSELL SCHOOL:


Caroline L. Minott


VI


37


34.3


32.1


93.58


Daisy K. Kelsey


VI


39


33.6


32.0


95.23


May S. Thatcher


24


22.8


21.8


95.60


Kathryn A. Beaton


V.


23


23.4


22 .. 4


95.72


Effie M. Pottle.


IV.


35


30.9


29.3


94.82


Lisle M. Collins


IV.


33


28.3


26.0


91.87


Gladys Costello.


III


34


33.1


30.8


93.05


Mabel C. Pond


III


33


30.7


29.1


94.78


Lottie C. Bailey


II


26


26.2


23.8


90.83


May P. Browne.


II


26


25.3


23.4


92.49


Grace E. Fettretch


I


27


24.2


22.1


91.32


Mary A. Chater


I.


27


23.1


19.9


86.14


Mary G. Lane


Sub-primary .


22


20.6


17.5


84.95


Dorothea E. Meloy


Special


9


8.5


7.9


92.94


395


365.0


338.1


92.63


Totals and Averages.


5,474


5,246.8


4,917.4


93.7


Daily


of


..


Sub-primary . . Sub-primary


.


COMPARATIVE TABLE OF AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP (Year ending June)


Year


High School


Junior High Center


Junior High East


Junior High West


Crosby


Cutter


Hardy


Locke


Par- menter


Peirce


Russell


Totals


1924


543.2


494.7


357.7


766.7


455.7


653.0


198.0


334.6


3,803.6


1925


616.7


494.8


368.5


887.1


469.1


502.0


195.7


187.0


390.7


4,111.6


313


1926


721.7


606.2


420.6


532.6


527.6


1367.3


525.4


|186.9


219.8


369.1


4,477.2


1927


767.1


675.4 *


507.6


521.7


574.3


495.4


561.2


189.1


269.4


401.3


4,962.5


1928


782.3


748.3 *


569.6


552.9


646.1


534.0


514.4


191.9


342.3


365.0


5,246.8


+1928


937.3


317.9


436.7


658.1


550.7


727.9


584.6


523.4


220.9


417.2


368.4


5,742.9


.


*Including Junior High School unit at old Parmenter buildings.


+Fall Term.


ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ROBBINS LIBRARY


FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1928


Trustees WILLIAM A. MULLER, President ARTHUR J. WELLINGTON, Secretary and Treasurer MISS M. HELEN TEELE MRS. THERESE N. TURNER CYRUS E. DALLIN DR. CHARLES J. WALSH


Librarian MRS. LUCINDA F. SPOFFORD


Librarian Emeritus ELIZABETH J. NEWTON


Reference MRS. ANTOINETTE W. BRASK


Cataloguing RUTH SAMPSON


Young People's Department +HELEN THOMPSON LUCILE ORFORD


Circulation EDITH A. WHITTEMORE


+Resigned


314


315


REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF THE ROBBINS LIBRARY


General Assistants ESTHER GANNETT +LOUISE MUIR


Part-Time Workers ALICE NELSON ELIZABETH TISDALE EVELYN GLEASON WILLIAM CRONIN


Janitor JAMES SULLIVAN


Heights Branch *M. MACIE SEABURY JEANNETTE FAVREAU


Janitor JOHN HERON


East Branch EVA M. SMITH


Janitor PATRICK REDDAN


Messenger PROCTOR MICHELSON


*Resigned +Part time


316


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ROBBINS LIBRARY


To the Citizens of the Town of Arlington:


The Trustees of the Robbins Library in submitting their report for 1928 do so with the full realization that they must now speak of the activities of a new library and one which meets the wants of a new Arlington. The library of five years ago and the Arlington of that day were youths which have now grown to manhood, and expect and demand a very different service from that of the past. A glance at the report of our Librarian, Mrs. Spofford, who has served so satisfactorily during the past year, shows the great increase in circulation, and while the necessary expenses to meet these results have amounted to $24,217.23 for the year, a much larger amount than ever be- fore expended, the Trustees fully realize that even this large amount will not be sufficient for the immediate future, and we shall be obliged to request an appropriation from the Town which with the income from our Trust Funds will give us a total of $30,000 to $35,000 for annual expenses.


Our Librarian in her report has referred to the necessity of better accommodations for the children, and to meet this need the Trustees are obliged to ask for an appropriation this year of not less than $125,000, that necessary repairs may be made on the present building and an addition constructed which will give a children's reading room and small hall for lectures and readings. Those of us who attended Arlington schools in our youth remember what the library of that day meant to us, and now if the members of a much larger family are to enjoy the same privileges, we must provide the means.


Respectfully submitted,


WILLIAM A. MULLER, Chairman, CYRUS E. DALLIN, M. HELEN TEELE, THERESE N. TURNER, DR. CHARLES J. WALSH, ARTHUR J. WELLINGTON,


Trustees.


-


317


REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF THE ROBBINS LIBRARY


ROBBINS LIBRARY FINANCIAL STATEMENT 1928


Receipts :


Trust Funds Income Balance January 1


$955.25


Town Appropriation, 1928.


$17,925.00


Dog Tax from County .


2,398.39


Income from Funds, 1928:


Henry Mott . $263.25


Nathan Pratt


443.57


Timothy Wellington


5.05


Elbridge Farmer


2,479.41


3,191.28


23,514.67


Expenditures: Salaries


$13,451.27


Books and Periodicals $4,287.50


Binding


2,237.20


Binders and Misc. Supplies


84.24


Pictures and Pamphlets


49.05


6,657.99


Maintenance of Buildings and


Grounds:


Fuel


$576.55


Light .


592.95


Repairs to Building.


490.57


Maintenance of Grounds .


91.65


Miscellaneous Supplies and Ex-


pense .


120.24


New Furniture and Equipment : Special Desk .


1,107.50


Typewriter and Chairs


119.25


Repairs, Furniture and Equip- ment .


69.45


3,168.16


Other Expenses:


Telephone .


$124.45


Postage, Office Supplies, Blank


Forms, etc.


733.89


Laundry


17.80


Ice .


16.56


Taxi and Car fares


7.80


Express and Trucking . .. . 41.19


941.69


24,219.11


Trust Funds Income, Balance Dec. 31, 1928 $250.81


$24,469.92


318


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


ROBBINS LIBRARY ART FUND 1928


Principal of Fund.


$25,000.00


Accumulated Income, January 1,


1928


10,897.33


$35,897.33


Receipts


Interest on:


Schouler Court Purchase $20.00


Liberty Bonds, Fourth Issue .


127.50


Arlington Savings Bank Deposit 1,668.62


1,816.12


$37,713.45


Payments


Paid Town for Box Rent


10.00


$37,703.45


Investments


Three Liberty Bonds, Fourth Issue . $3,000.00


Arlington Savings Bank, Book No.


20095


34,703.45


37,703.45


CYRUS E. DALLIN, WILLIAM A. MULLER, M. HELEN TEELE, THERESE N. TURNER, DR. CHARLES J. WALSH, ARTHUR J. WELLINGTON, Trustees.


CHARLES A. HARDY, Treasurer. CLARENCE NEEDHAM, Accountant.


REPORT OF LIBRARIAN


To the Board of Trustees:


I respectfully submit my report for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1928.


The past year has been one filled with increased activities. The circulation of books reached 169,619, a gain of 29,098 over last year. This raised the per capita circulation from four to five per capita. The greatest increase came at the main desk at the Central Library, where the gain was 19,197. The rest has been made at the Heights and East Branches, where their work has nearly doubled. The following tables show the circulation at the various stations.


CIRCULATION 1928


Adult


Juvenile


Total


Central


97,491


39,630


137,121


East


6,889


10,464


17,353


Heights


6,998


8,147


15,145


Total


111,378


58,241


169,619


CIRCULATION FOR SIX YEARS


1


Central


East


Heights


Total


Yearly Gain


1923


50,481


7,408


4,139


62,028


Loss of 501


1924


75,348


9,098


5,139


89,585


27,557


1925


88,392


8,516


5,248


102,156


12,571


1926


101,610


11,601


6,563


119,774


17,618


1927


118,954


12,359


9,208


140,521


20,747


1928


137,121


17,353


15,145


169,619


29,098


The vacation privilege was used by an increasing number of appreciative people. Five hundred and twenty-three books were lent in this way.


319


320


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


REFERENCE WORK


During 1928 over 28,000 persons used the Reference Room for purposes of studying or reading. More than half of these were students from local colleges and normal schools as well as the high school. A great deal of the reference libra- rian's time was devoted to answering students' questions, directing them to reference books, and finding books for them in the stacks. Numerous requests were received for debate material, oral themes, theses and reports.


In the summer when there were fewer reference ques- tions, book lists and bibliographies were prepared. The Arling- ton Heights Study Club and the Kensington Park Study Club sent in their programs so that bibliographies could be made up for them. Throughout the year considerable reference work was done with the members of the women's clubs.


During the past year the following much-needed reference books were purchased:


American Newspaper Annual and Directory


Americana Encyclopedia


Boston Directory


Cambridge Directory


Century Dictionary


Firkins. Index to Plays


Hazeltine. Anniversaries and Holidays


Pageant of America


Shepard. Historical Atlas


Standard Catalog for High School Libraries


Warner's Library of the World's Best Literature


The pamphlet file purchased in 1927 was fitted out last year, and we now have a total collection of seven hundred pamphlets. During the year this material has become increas- ingly important.


Work on the picture collection, for which there has been a long-felt need, has been started, and it is hoped that a suitable file can soon be purchased. If we are to continue to fill the


321


REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF THE ROBBINS LIBRARY


increasing demands made upon us, more money must be spent on reference books and picture material.


Throughout the year interesting exhibits have been on view in the small reading room. Collections of minerals and of birds were lent to us by the Children's Museum of Cam- bridge. During the summer we had an attractive travel exhibit, consisting of posters, pictures, pamphlets, and books. From the Children's Museum of Jamaica Plain we borrowed an African exhibit, also one showing the processes of the cotton and silk industries. Photographs of scenes in Africa were lent to us through the courtesy of Mr. Earl B. Forrester of Arling- ton. The contest posters of the American Legion of Arlington were also exhibited in the Library and attracted considerable attention.


During 1928 collections of books have been sent regularly to the Telephone Exchange. Books were also sent to the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts for use in their summer camps.


To meet the requests for special books which the library does not own, 84 books were borrowed through the Inter- library Loan System. Of these 33 were borrowed from the Boston Public Library, 48 from the Division of Public Libraries, and 1 each from Newton, Watertown, and Somerville Public Libraries.


. Of the new borrowers registered in 1928 there were 1,508 at the Central Library, 250 at the Heights Branch, and 187 at the East Branch - a total of 1,945. This shows a gain of 123 over the number for 1927.


1924


1925


1926


1927


1928


REGISTRATION


1,324


1,567


1,795


1,822


1,942


Good Book Week was observed by an exhibit of books in the small reading room. This included new editions, new titles of the season's output, and a special group of books of interest to parents. Mrs. Winifred Rugg, who has delighted many by her talks on books, was present one afternoon ready to answer questions regarding books.


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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


WORK WITH CHILDREN


The total juvenile circulation at Central, East, and Heights was 58,241 .. While handicapped by the lack of many things that go to make a modern Children's Room in a present-day library, many children have enjoyed the privileges offered them. The circulation in the Central Children's Room was 39,630.


During the summer months a series of nine story hours was conducted by Miss Alice Stewart, of Watertown, as story teller. These were held in the morning at the Central Library. This arrangement was very satisfactory as it took care of many children who were in town during the warm summer days. One hundred and ninety children attended these story hours. In the fall they were resumed and held in the late afternoon. The first story hour of the fall had an attendance of 100, while the room in the basement will accommodate only 50. The seven story hours of the fall series have been attended by 325.


Children who were away during the summer took out 102 books on the vacation privilege.


Through the co-operation of the teachers in stimulating the reading from the State Certificate Reading List we have issued 236 certificates and 26 honor certificates. The honor certificates are rewarded after the child has read twenty books from the approved list, five of which are non-fiction.


The book collection was increased by the addition of books bought with the $500 which was given by an Arlington woman who appreciates the value of good books for children and their influence in her own life.


The imperative need is a room of adequate size, properly equipped to carry on the work with children; also adequate books to be used by assistants who can form direct contacts with the children and guide their reading.


Classes from Junior High Center were given talks on reference books. As yet the work with schools is an unsolved


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REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF THE ROBBINS LIBRARY


problem. Individual teachers are co-operating and the spirit of all shows an appreciation of what little the library does to meet their needs and those of the school children. The ques- tion of an adequate book collection and an assistant who has the time to give to this work leads to the need of sufficient funds to carry on this very important part of a library's activi- ties.


CATALOGUING


During the year 3,495 books have been catalogued - an addition of 1,383 over the previous year. Of these 105 were reference books and 363 were gifts. Six hundred and fifty books were withdrawn, making a gain of 1,845 in the number of books. Besides the regular activities of the cataloguing room, for nearly four months a special cataloguer worked on and com- pleted the recataloguing of the fine arts books. During the summer the shelves of the Children's Room were read for missing books. Somewhat over two hundred books in the adult department were recased and 3,538 were rebound during the year.


BRANCHES


The Branch at East Arlington, which is in the basement of the Crosby School, has circulated an increasing number of books. The following table shows the circulation for the last three years.


1926


11,601


1927


12,359


1928


17,353 Increase of 4,994 over 1927


Much could be done to stimulate a growing interest in reading with a room of the right type and adequate book funds.


At the Heights Branch, which is in a very small room in the Locke School, there has been a greater use of the library by children. Herewith follows the circulation for the past three years.


1926


6,563


1927


9,208


1928 15,145 Increase of 5,937 over 1927


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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


A telephone was installed during the summer, the walls were repainted, and an electric fan was added to help the ven- tilation of a very badly arranged room. The location of the room in the school building and the small space makes the room in every way just a makeshift. It is only a question of a short time before the demands for better library facilities will have to be met.


THE STAFF


The year brought some changes in the personnel of the staff. Miss M. Macie Seabury, who for thirty-seven years was Branch Librarian at the Heights, was forced to resign in June on account of ill health. In March Miss Helen Thomp- son gave up her position as a full-time Children's Librarian to serve on part time. Miss Jeannette Favreau, a Simmons College graduate, came to us during the same month and took charge of the work at the Heights as well as working at the Central Library. Miss Esther Gannett was made a member of the staff in January. Miss Lucile Orford has been an assis- tant in the Children's Room since July.


Encouragement has been given the staff members who have desired to take either cultural or technical courses for their intellectual development. Courses in current literature, cataloguing, decorative arts, geology, Browning, shorthand and typewriting, and English were taken by various members.


The staff was represented in varying numbers at the several Massachusetts Library Club Meetings, New England Meeting at Portland, the Round Table of Children's Libra- rians, and several literary lectures in Boston. The Librarian spoke on books and the library at several meetings in Arling- ton and gave book talks in Boston at the Y. W. C. A., at Attleboro, and at the meeting of the New England Library Clubs at Portland.


The Librarian was welcomed on the evening of April 26 at a public reception which was held in the large reading room. Mr. Charles Belden, Director of the Boston Public Library, spoke on the great opportunities of a library and Miss Lydia


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REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF THE ROBBINS LIBRARY


Masters, Librarian of the Watertown Library, told what Water- town has done for its libraries.


In March the Trustees honored Miss Elizabeth Newton, who had served faithfully and well for fifty years as Librarian and for three years as Associate Librarian, by making her Li- brarian Emeritus.


THE BUILDING


The most noticeable change of the year was the new charging desk. The need of this has been felt for years, but the increased circulation made its installation imperative. Four bookcases were built at the end of the stacks for exhibi- tion purposes. Gas fixtures were removed from the stacks and the reading rooms. A telephone was placed in the Libra- rian's office.




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