USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1939 > Part 22
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JOHN B. BYRNE, Chairman NILS G. ANDERSON DANIEL M. HOOLEY
Board of Park Commissioners
413
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
The Planning Board respectfully submits herewith to the Town of Arlington its annual report for the year end- ing December 31, 1939:
At the regular Town Election Mr. Charles H. Bowker was elected to serve on this Board for a three year term and Mr. Herbert M. Dutcher for one year to complete the unexpired term of Mr. Charles Shedd, resigned. The Board was duly organized for the year with Mr. Harold C. Knight as Chairman and Mr. Hartwell Flemming as Secretary.
Because of the desire displayed by interested parties to promote the construction. of the multi-unit type of hous- ing in Arlington, the Board made a study of this form of housing and its application to our Town. Two such pro- posals were received.
To insure the embodiment in the Warrant that might be presented to the Town Meeting and enacted by that body of such restrictions and requirements as the Board deemed necessary, your Planning Board cooperated with the pro- moters and owners to the extent of working out a proposal which would afford to the Town proper protection. The type of building involved constituted a type of development entirely different from any previously undertaken in Arl- ington.
Multi-unit housing covers a wide range from the so- called "Garden" type with units well separated, its grounds landscaped and provided with other accessories designed to provide desirable living quarters to the more usual variety of multi-family houses.
Of the interested parties, but one filed an article for insertion in the Warrant. Subsequently, the petitioner made application to have this article withdrawn or no ac- tion be taken upon it. In view of this and of other con- siderations resulting from its study of the matter, the Board reported against the adoption of the article.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Consideration of an Apartment House Zone was un- dertaken at the suggestion of a group of residents and an article prepared after considerable study of the require- ments that would be necessary to make such a zone accept- able and of locations where the best interests of the Town would be served.
The experience of other localities in this matter was reviewed and set-backs, heights, court sizes and other perti- nent factors made the subject of such restriction as was deemed necessary to protect the rights of others, to make the apartment layout in keeping with the character of the town and to keep down any fire hazard insofar as the prerogatives of the Board permit.
Subsequent information, however, including that brought out at the hearings showed that further study of the problem was essential and an adverse recommendation was made.
The Planning Board recommended to the Town Meet- ing that a minimum be set on lot sizes, a recommendation which was adopted. This action sets a minimum frontage of sixty feet and a minimum area of six thousand square feet except that lots duly recorded and existing when the by-law became effective were not subject to the revised pro- vision. In general, the adoption of the requirements rel- ative to lot sizes including the revised set-backs prevents in unbuilt areas the creation of lots with extremely small frontages which inevitably produces crowding and tends to- ward undesirable development. This was also done to pre- vent the speculative builder from purchasing two lots and dividing them into three, which was becoming a common practice.
The Board examined a Nuisance Restriction amend- ment to the Zoning By-Law proposed to make the restric- tions covering single residence and general residence zone restrictions more stringent. On this proposal, which was primarily to overcome a dump nuisance, the Board recom- mended, and the Town Meeting agreed that adverse action be taken on the petition, on the grounds that an existing
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REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
article in the By-Laws covered the objection of the peti- tioners and provides all of the necessary control in matters of this nature.
Due to the vote of the Town Meeting in March of 1939, Messrs. Knight and Dutcher continued their services as members of the Incinerator Committee. Chairman Knight also served on the Special Parks and Playground Commit- tee for the second year. Through their connections with these boards, they were able to supply information that the Planning Board had available.
Members of the Board attended hearings of the Board of Appeals on matters pertaining to relief from the provi- sions of the Zoning By-Laws.
Consideration has been given to the parking problem in Arlington Center. The Board met with the Chamber of Commerce at one of their monthly meetings at which this problem was thoroughly discussed. The Board believes that any area set aside for this purpose should not be more than 1000 feet from the main business center. With this in mind, it is of the opinion that when the Russell School is replaced, this land including the playground area could provide an ideal location for a parking lot. Until such time as this is possible, the Board feels that cooperation between the merchants and the Police Department to restrict parking would be to the benefit of the merchants located in the Center and to the people of the Town in general.
A meeting relative to the Town's transportation ser- vice was held with a sub-committee of the Chamber of Commerce at which the present status and means of im- proving the service was discussed. The latest schedules of the Boston Elevated Railway Company covering its car and bus service in Arlington were turned over to the Committee.
A petition was served on the Board to change the zone designations of a small section bordering on Massa- chusetts Avenue at Burton St. to be acted upon at the Special Town Meeting on October 9th. Adverse recom- mendation was necessary because of a faulty instrument.
The previous recommendations relative to the routing
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
of the Middlesex Turnpike have been reviewed in the light of more recent events. The Board still maintains that its original suggestion for the cut-over through the Great Meadows to the Concord Turnpike is the most logical. To route this connecting highway across Arlington Heights appears illogical in view of the grades involved whereby an expensive overpass over Massachusetts Ave., and the Boston & Maine Railroad tracks would be required. How- ever, it is not considered probable that this cut-over will be constructed in the coming year.
Cooperating with the Metropolitan Division of Plan- ning and the State Planning Board, your Board studied and kept informed on the future major highway plans in Metropolitan Boston, particularly those affecting Arling- ton. Of special interest, in addition to the Middlesex Turn- pike mentioned above, are the proposed future extensions of the Concord Pike both east and west, the proposed Ger- ry's Landing Bridge across the Charles River at Soldiers' Field, and the proposed Circumferential Highway.
The Planning Board, cooperating with other Boards, considered the matter of street openings onto the Con- cord Highway and recommended against such action in cases where a traffic hazard would be created.
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD C. KNIGHT, Chairman HARTWELL FLEMMING, Sec'y. SEROVP P. BASMAJIAN HERBERT M. DUTCHER CHARLES H. BOWKER
417
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF THE ROBBINS LIBRARY
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ROBBINS LIBRARY
FOR THE YEAR 1939
Trustees
WILLIAM A. MULLER, Chairman ARTHUR J. WELLINGTON, Secretary MISS M. HELEN TEELE MRS. SARAH R. VAUGHN CYRUS E. DALLIN DR. CHARLES J. WALSH
Librarian MRS. LUCINDA F. SPOFFORD
Librarian Emeritus ELIZABETH J. NEWTON
Assistants
RUTH SAMPSON, Cataloguer and Senior Assistant MARGARET WEBSTER ERSKINE, Reference Librarian ESTHER GANNETT, Classifier
THELMA BRICTSON MONTAGUE, Children's Librarian RUTH FULLER, Head of Circulation
Branch Librarians JEANNETTE FAVREAU, Dallin Branch EVA M. SMITH, East Branch
General Assistants
*PAULINE BENNETT, at Dallin Branch LOUISE CAMPBELL *ALICE E. CUTTER
*Resigned
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
MARIANNA HEMENWAY HELEN HENRY FRANCES MACAULAY RACHEL M. SANTOLIQUIDO
Part-Time Workers MARY BAILEY
CHARLOTTE BAIRD
MARJORIE BATTIS
MARION CHAPMAN ELEANOR DE ROCHE JEANNE DOHERTY BETTY EVANS ELIZABETH GRAY RUTH HENRICKSON JACQUELYN HESSION AUDREY JOHNSON SUSANNE MCGILLVRAY
Janitors
JAMES SULLIVAN, Main Library GEORGE A. CAPES, Dallin Branch *JOHN T. LOFTUS, East Branch JOHN SMITH, East Branch CHARLES L. O'NEILL, Messenger
Curator Robbins Print Collection MRS. KATHRYN M. ACHUFF
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR 1939
The Trustees of the Robbins Library present their report for the year 1939 :
The activities during this year are not marked by any special events. A complete record of what has been ac- complished appears in the report of our librarian, Mrs. Lucinda F. Spofford, printed herewith.
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REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF THE ROBBINS LIBRARY
It may be of interest to note that the circulation con- tinues to make an outstanding record among communities of our size, being 329,355 for the year. Our entire ex- penses for the year amounted to $31,808.16, of which $29,- 600.00 was appropriated by the town, and the balance was income from trust funds.
Again, the Trustees are obliged to report that the library in its effort to fill all requirements is greatly handi- capped by the lack of funds for the purchase of new books. We have but 60,000 volumes, and this number is inadequate to care for our large circulation. It is earnestly hoped that at no distant date this handicap may be removed, either by an increased appropriation from the town, or by gifts from our generous citizens.
The roofs which were damaged by the hurricane (Sep- tember, 1938) have been repaired during the year, the inside of the building has been painted throughout, and the indexing project nearly completed. This work, which en- tailed an expense of $12,312.02, was made possible through the co-operation of the W. P. A. An improvement during the year was the beautifying of our grounds, made possible by a further generous gift to the town by members of the Robbins family.
The Trustees would be grateful if the citizens of the town would avail themselves of the opportunity of enjoy- ing the collection of prints in charge of the able curator, Mrs. Achuff.
The Trustees desire to express their appreciation of the splendid work of Mrs. Spofford and the members of her staff, carried on in a year when there were so many irrita- tions resulting from the repairs to the building.
For the Trustees,
WILLIAM A. MULLER
Chairman
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR 1939
To the Trustees of the Robbins Library :
I herewith submit the report for the year ending De- cember 31, 1939, this being the twelfth report of the present librarian.
"The public library is the most democratic institution provided by democracy for its people. Its service is to all people-old and young, rich and poor, wise and foolish."
For eleven hours a day, six days a week, the service of thought and fact as expressed in print along with the help and guidance of a trained personnel, is freely offered to the people of Arlington.
The taxpayers provided $29,600.00 for the upkeep of this democratic institution.
Income from funds which were given to the library by citizens who visioned what the library would mean to future citizens amounted to $2,208.16, and brought the total amount available for library use $31,808.16.
The library returned to the town $2,314.13 received from fines and other sources.
WHAT THE LIBRARY DID WITH
$31,808.16
Town appropriated $29,600.00
Income from funds 2,208.16
Catalogued 3246 books added by purchase.
Catalogued 217 books added by gift.
Added 796 pamphlets.
Subscribed 245 periodicals and newspapers.
Registered 2008 new borrowers.
Answered thousands of reference questions.
Sent out 7118 pieces of mail.
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REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
Sent 3834 books to schools.
Sent 16804 books by messenger to Branches.
Circulated 329,355 books.
Circulated 550 pamphlets.
Circulated 596 pictures.
Vacationers took 1575 books to summer cottage-and who knows where.
Sent 604 books to fire stations.
HOW MUCH STOCK HAS ROBBINS LIBRARY?
Library has 60,605 books
Library has 3,950 pamphlets.
CIRCULATION STATISTICS-1939
Adult
Juvenile
Center
177,683
48,225
Total 225,908
Dallin Branch
28,985
23,391
52,376
East Branch
13,670
14,032
27,702
Schools
23,369
23,369
Total
220,338
109,017
329,355
Fiction
Non-fiction
Total
Adult
119,471
58,212
177,683
Juvenile
26,592
21,633
48,225
Dallin Branch
34,603
17,773
52,376
East Branch
19,006
8,696
27,702
Schools
9,522
9,752
19,274
J. H. W.
1,250
2,845
4,095
Total
210,444
118,911
329,355
CIRCULATION BY YEARS
Year
Total
Gain
Loss
1928
169,619
29,098
1929
193,665
24,046
1930
210,692
17,027
1931
256,610
45,918
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
1932
308,433
51,823
1933
328,924
20,491
1934
323,993
4,931
1935
321,515
2,478
1936
310,300
11,215
1937
305,915
4,385
1938
348,994
43,079
1939
329,355
19,639
1939 Second largest circulation in the history of the library.
CIRCULATION BY STATIONS
Comparison with 1938
1938
1939
Loss
Center, Adult
184,906
177,683
7,223
Center, Juvenile
50,547
48,225
2,322
East Branch
28,672
27,702
970
Dallin Branch
60,408
52,376
8,032
Schools
24,461
23,369
1,092
Total
348,994
329,355 19,639
STATEMENT OF PROGRESS
The American Library Association adopted what they have chosen to call the "Library's Bill of Rights" in June 1939, and recommended its adoption by governing boards of individual libraries.
"Mindful of the growing intolerance, suppression of free speech, and censorship, affecting the rights of minor- ities and individuals, the Council affirms its belief in the fol- lowing basic policies which should govern the service of free public libraries :"
THE LIBRARY'S BILL OF RIGHTS
"1. Books and other reading matter selected for purchase from the public funds should be chosen because of value and interest to the
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REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
people of the community, and in no case should the selection be influenced by the race or nationality or the political or religious views of the writers.
"2. As far as available material permits, all sides of questions on which differences of opinion exist should be presented fairly and adequately in the books and other reading matter purchased for public use.
"3. The library as an institution to educate for democratic living should especially welcome the use of its meeting rooms for socially useful and cultural activities and the discussion of current public questions. Library meeting rooms should be available on equal terms to all groups in the community regardless of their beliefs or affiliations."
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It is in this spirit that the books for the library have been selected and the Trustees have given the use of the library to the many clubs and organizations during the year. The following clubs have used the hall for 246 meet- ings during the year: Garden Club, Junior Garden Club, Girl Scouts, Junior Woman's Club, Fortnightly Club, School of Economics and Social Science, Camera Club, Daughters of the American Revolution, Americanization Classes, Commu- nity Chest, Hospital Aid, Middlesex Health Association, Various committees of the Arlington Woman's Club, Arling- ton Taxpayers' Association and the Parent Teacher Associ- ation have held their meetings in the library hall during the year. Many library affairs have also been held. Story Hours, Book Fair, Everyland Club, and Sunday Readings and Teas.
The sixth season of Sunday Readings had an average attendance of eighty at the four meetings. In February the Rev. Robert M. Rice gave the audience the benefit of his careful study of Utopias. In March, the "Life of Elihu Root" as reviewed by Prof. Edmund Morgan, and
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Mrs. George B. C. Rugg read several of her charming es- says which have been published in the "Monitor." In April Percy A. Brigham talked informally on "New Eng- land through the seasons" and showed beautiful colored slides which were introduced with quotations of many lines of poetry. In December, a Christmas program was given. Mrs. Walter Vaughn read "Sacred Flame" a legend written by Selma Lagerlöf. A woman's quartet, consisting of Mrs. Thomas Woodworth, Mrs. Edward Shinn, Miss Katharine Yerrinton, and Mrs. Robert Hawkins, with Mrs. C. Fred- eric Evans accompanying, sang choice Christmas carols. The Hall which had been previously decorated by the Gar- den Clubs for their Christmas party made a beautiful set- ting for the last meeting of the year.
With the cooperation of the Art Committee of the Woman's Club, the Gallery at all times contained some ex- hibition of interest.
January-Vitalie Z. Terletzky, an Arlington resident, showed landscape and portraits.
March-Harrington Moore of Medford, Copper Placques.
April-High School Art Exhibit, Drawings, water colors, pastels, commercial drawings.
Aug. and Sept .- Color prints, beautifully framed. Pic- tures gift of Arlington Woman's Club which were later placed in schools.
Oct. and Nov .- Water colors and tempra, loaned by the Massachusetts Art Project.
Nov .- Arlington Camera Club.
Nov .- Ethel Doane; exhibit and lecture on Early American Jewelry.
Dec .- Madonnas loaned by the Boston Art Museum.
Dec .- Water colors and oils by Jessie Burns Parker, a local artist and Arlington Club Woman.
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REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
There are a thousand subjects on which readers have a right to expect information, not the boiled down para- graphs in an encyclopaedia, but carefully written treatises. The librarian likes nothing better than an opportunity to supply such wants. The public interest turns now to poli- tics-to a study of the types of government, to science, to art, and handicrafts, and would think the Public Library a poor device if it could not, in some measure, meet its demand for books.
The average user of the library has no knowledge of the amount of work in detailed form which precedes the appearance of a book on the shelves, of the attentions that must be devoted to it if public property is to be preserved. Ordering, cataloging, preparing for the shelves, registering borrowers, charging out books and getting them back. Many of these processes go on behind the scenes and ac- count for many hours of service on the part of the library staff.
This year the cataloging of 3274 bound periodicals has been completed. At the present time much material of more than ordinary value and timeliness appears in pamph- let form. In 1939, 796 pamphlets have been added and 296 discarded. Total number of pamphlets 3,950.
Much of added work that has been done in the Cata- logue Room has had to do with the W. P. A. project that has been going on in connection with the indexing of the local papers. While the work of indexing and typing has been done by the W. P. A. workers who were assigned to the library since the middle of December 1938, hours of the time of the Classifier, Miss Esther Gannett, has gone into the work of revision. This work has been made very dif- ficult due to the many changes in personnel. Previous to this time, one worker had been doing this work for nine months in 1936. The indexing of the Advocate from 1871 through 1938, the Arlington News from 1932 through 1938, the Enterprise 1898 through 1903, gives the library one more tool to use in looking up local history. In fact, it is the only place where many facts concerning the town can
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
be found. The work of indexing is completed and all that remains to be done is to finish typing the Index. In con- nection with this work many pamphlets of historical inter- est and many lists have been typed by the workers.
Through the Reference Department, the life and prog- ress of the thinking and the doing, the work and the play of Arlington is shown. Quick service by telephone is more and more appreciated. Many have found that calling Arl- ington 0026 makes the Robbins Library a branch office to any business or home.
Herewith follows comments of Mrs. Margaret Erskine, the Reference Librarian.
"More and more the radio is bringing the attention of people to books and libraries. The current popularity of "quiz" or "information" radio broadcasts brought increased use of the Reference books. The program "Americans All- Immigrants All," broadcast during the winter months created a demand for biographical material on our foreign born citizens besides general books on immigration. Opera books were especially popular due partly to the many in- teresting programs on the air.
Books on Latin America and contemporary politics have been and are in great demand. A list "Books for the Long and Calm View," printed in the American Library Association Booklist was made the basis of a world-affairs table exhibit. This list was mostly made up of books on the European War. With boundaries changing so rapidly, with new leaders thrust on the horizon, great desire had been shown to read the "authentic" books or articles. For these people the world-affairs exhibit was arranged with plenty of background material with which to start, atlases, pamphlets and magazines, changed often so that the entire exhibit may be up to date as possible.
Current events are reflected in the search for geogra- phical information. The Central European crisis has of course created a demand for maps of all countries, especially of Czechoslovakia and the Sudeten region, Poland, Russia
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REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
and Finland. Newsmap, a new periodical with maps drawn by experts, is very helpful in answering these ques- tions. Clippings of current events from the Christian Science Monitor, New York Times and the Boston Tran- script have been kept for the Pamphlet file. Speeches and texts of acts, so difficult to locate elsewhere, have also been filed.
Many unusual requests came to the Reference Desk during 1939 some of which were:
Information about poloroid glass.
Industrial purchasing.
Trend of relief in America.
Ways the Constitution might be changed.
Traffic management.
Biblical dramas.
Marine engineering.
It is for those who request this definite type of in- formation for serious study and research that books of a specialized type are needed.
Each day students come from the High School, all seeking knowledge, some from the spur of ambition, others with the yoke of an assignment, but all needing guidance and assistance. On these we have focused our particular attention and library facilities during the year. Reference books have played a very important role in giving them a wider viewpoint, a clear picture and a better understanding on whatever the current subject of the moment.
The Vocational material of which we have an excellent collection, played an important part in the curriculum of the High School student. Books on vocations, pamphlets which number over one hundred, and magazines were grouped together in the High School Room. Here the student may browse to his content and find just what career he is interested in. Vocational Trends and Occupations are two splendid magazines devoted to vocational guidance.
After the school days are over, we find many of the
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
young people still studying, still reaching out for a broader education. Whether it be scientific or artistic, mechanical or domestic, they can find valuable material by competent authorities here at their own library. If we cannot fill their requests, we then turn to the Inter-Library Loan system of borrowing books for our patrons. In 1939, 106 books were borrowed on the following typical subjects :
Lip Reading
Dies and Diemaking Vocational Guidance Remedial Reading Installment Buying Industrial Fire Hazards
Vulcanology Religious Education Thirty-seven books were loaned to nearby libraries.
The work done by the library is not new, but each year some find for the first time the services which the library offers. This year, more books in foreign languages have been borrowed than before. For many who do not read the English language and those learning it, this af- fords a real opportunity. Two hundred and two books were borrowed in six different languages: German, Armenian, Italian, Norwegian, French and Portuguese.
Table exhibits haxe played their part in arousing in- terest in certain books. Special collections of poetry, bio- graphy, travel and garden books have been grouped to- gether at various times." If a good motion picture has defi- nite connection with books and reading, attention has been called to it by scenes from the picture with a list of books.
SERVED THE CHILDREN
Library has 15,884 juvenile books. From this collec- tion 109,017 books were circulated for home use. The importance of the right selection of books for children
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REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
received attention in talks before Clubs, Parent Teacher Associations, and in suggestion and advice given to parents who inquired.
The second full year, the work at the Vittoria C. Dal- lin Branch has shown that the Branch was needed. The Branch librarian in her report stressed the need of more books, books which will answer the increasing number of reference questions and assignments given to school chil- dren. This truly is the work of the library.
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