USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1957 > Part 20
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In our capacity as a Board of Public Works we have dictated policy on street construction, the installation of water mains, storm water drains and sanitary sewers. We have adopted numerous orders for takings in respect to such construction and have levied assess- ments against property owners for the betterments received. Weekly reports on the activities of the Public Works Department are presen- ted to the Board by the Town Manager and perused by the members for possible suggestions to improve the efficiency of the services provided to the Town's residents. Under Chapter 718 of the Acts of 1956 the Legislature floated a $200,000,000.00 bond issue for the construction of State highways, with the provision that $15,000,000.00 be apportioned among the 351 cities and towns of the Commonwealth on a pro rata basis and that such sums be used only for street construction or reconstruction. Arlington's share of these funds amounted to $115,229.94 and the Board recommended the reconstruc- tion of portions of Hillside Ave., Florence Ave., Acton Street, Gray. Street, Park Ave. Ext. and Park Circle at a cost of $63,000.00 Consideration is being given to future projects under this program and a recommendation will be made to the 1958 Annual Town Meeting for the improvement of public streets which can be taken care of with the available balance of funds.
238
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Weekly meetings were held concurrently under the triple functions of the Board, with the exception of July and August, when bi-weekly meetings were held during the vacation season. Other meetings were held on occassions when conditions indicated special sessions. The Town Manager was present at all regular meetings reporting on matters which had been referred to him for investigation and imparting information on the Administrative functions of the Town. This procedure enabled the Board to keep abreast of the Town's needs and to make suitable recommendations or to adopt workable policies for any particular problem on circumstance requiring an equitable solution.
In conclusion the Board wishes to extend its sincere appreciation to the Town Manager, all Boards and Commissions, its Executive Secretary and its staff for their loyalty and assistance in carrying out their responsibilities to the Town.
THOMAS R. RAWSON GEORGE A. HARRIS MARCUS L. SORENSEN FRANKLIN W. HURD JOSEPH P. GREELEY
Board of Selectmen
239
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF ROBBINS LIBRARY
Annual Report of the Robbins Library for the Year 1957
TRUSTEES Robert J. Brosnan - Chairman Mrs. Molly F. Yood - Secretary Hugh A. Mallon, Jr. *Robert H. Marsh Mrs. Margaret H. Spengler ** J. Milton Washburn, Jr.
LIBRARIAN Miss Judith E. Stromdahl
STAFF
Ruth Sampson - Assistant Librarian Dorothy L. Hart - Reference Librarian *Margery Gray - Head, Circulation Department ** Joan A. Perks - Head, Circulation Department *Patricia J. Hunter - Cataloguer Elizabeth L. Phelan -Children's Librarian Alyce L. Davis - Music Librarian Esther McQuaid - Young People's Librarian Ann Anderson - School Librarian Helen W. Thompson Branch Librarian Dallin Branch
East Branch
Evelyn Colcord - Branch Librarian - ** Anna M. Angwin Margaret M. Bowser Muriel G. Chandler Dolores V. Cleland Jane M. Coffin Anne 1. Enquist * Angela Hux Marilyn E. Kenney Margaret Morash
** & *Shirley Needham Margaret O'Brien Alice D. Peggs
** Rose M. Rothenberg Hazel M. Thurber Louisa Irva Tilton ** Peter E. Weil ** Madeleine B. Woodbury PART-TIME ASSISTANTS Antoinette W. Brask *Sara-Margaret DePew *Dorothy L. Dodworth Audrey J. Hoeg Virginia Rudd Ruth Rudsen ** Celeste Vincent
CUSTODIANS George A. Capes - Senior Custodian Florey Corelli Normand J. Paradis John Loftus
*Resigned ** Appointed
240
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ROBBINS LIBRARY
To: Town Manager Edward C. Monahan
Dear Mr. Monahan:
We submit herewith the Report of the Trustees of the Robbins Library for 1957, which gives an account of the activities of the year.
In October, Mr. Robert H. Marsh resigned from the Board. His faithful and interested service in the Library deserves recognition. To fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Marsh's resignation, Mr. J. Milton Washburn, Jr., was appointed to the Board.
The people of Arlington again made increased use of library facilities and services with the result that circulation was the highest in the history of the Library. The steady gain in circulation shown every recent year reflects with great credit on Arlington's fine library service.
Staff shortages continue to be a problem. During the year several staff members resigned, including two key department heads, the Head of Circulation and the Cataloger. However, thanks to the co- operation of the Town Manager, the Personnel Board, the Finance Committee, and the annual Town Meeting, some reclassifications of positions within the Pay and Classification Plan were carried out' which helped toward alleviating this problem.
It is hoped by the Board that a gradual reclassification program can be carried out to a point where salary inequities will no longer exist. This is necessary and most desirable, if the present high standard of library service to the Town is to be maintained.
The long range program of making necessary improvements and repairs to library buildings, put into effect with the cooperation and assistance of the Town Manager and the Finance Committee continued.
The relighting program continued with the installation of new lights in the Music Room of the main library, the Catalog Room of the main library, several stack and work areas of the main library, and the Dallin Branch.
The parking area was black-topped and lighted. The retaining wall at the Dallin Branch was repaired. The painting contract for repainting the entire main library was awarded, and the work is now in process and will shortly be completed.
A new committee for developing a long range program for the Robbins Print Collection hopes to complete its work in the first part of 1958. It is then hoped that the town will be able to take more advantage of this very comprehensive print collection.
241
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
In June, the Library was pleased to participate in the One- Hundred-Fiftieth Anniversary of the founding of the Town of Arlington. A beautiful display on the front lawn of the main library depicting the home of Arlington's first Junior Library and the Junior Library of today was erected for all the townspeople to view.
In September, the School Library program developed in 1956 by a sub-committee consisting of members from the Board of Library Trustees, the School Committee, and the Town Manager, and unani- mously approved by the full Boards of the Library Trustees and the School Committee, was put into actual operation.
The first School Librarian was added to the Library Staff and began her duties at the Thompson and Dallin Elementary School Libraries. In addition, the Hardy Elementary School Library was organized and furnished with personnel from the Library Staff. Next year it is planned to organize two more elementary school libraries.
Much credit for the successful launching of our School Library Program goes to the very faithful sub-committee for it diligent efforts, our fine Librarian and our Superintendent of Schools and their respective staffs. The town is certain to reap the benefits of this program which will assist the children of Arlington in furthering their educational development through the proper selection of books.
Of interest to the town is the request of the Trustees for expert. library planners to make a complete survey of the present library plant to determine how to best combat the problem caused by lack of space. The Trustees expect to have some definite recommendations for consideration in 1958 on this complex problem.
The Trustees wish to thank the Town Manager, Mr. Monahan, for his cooperation and assistance throughout the year.
The Trustees are highly grateful to the Librarian, Miss Juditli E. Stromdahl and the entire Staff of the Library for their faithful service and assistance throughout the year. Arlington can continue to be proud of its fine Libraian and Staff whose devotion to library service is reflected in the outstanding job and accomplishments rendered by them to the Town of Arlington in 1957.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT J. BROSNAN, CHAIRMAN Board of Library Trustees
242
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Report of the Librarian for the Year 1957
Public Libraries are being challenged, in these days of rapid and comprehensive change, as never before. The social, political, techno- logical, and intellectual developments are combining to produce an audience potentially far more apt to use the library than ever before -- for information, for further self-education and for cultural exper- ience and development.
What then, is a Public Library? To some people it is a building, ofttimes a beautiful one at which they can point with pride; to some it is an awesome place haunted by scholars and bookworms; and to others it is "an open door to knowledge and a fuller life for everyone .... the young student and the mature scholar ... the home- maker and business man ... the sportsman and gardener and music lover ... the child learning how to live and the older adult learning how to enoy life longer ... ," in other words, a service to people.
Apparently many of the citizens of Arlington subscribe to this last point of view, for in 1957, they made greater use of the library than ever before. The circulation of books and periodicals increased by 27,154 volumes, and record albums by 973 items, pictures by 559 and films by 195. The following table will show the circulation picture of the past two years:
CIRCULATION - BOOKS AND PERIODICALS
COMPARISONS:
1957
1956
GAIN
LOSS
Main Library
Adult Dept.
136711
126113
10598
YP Dept.
30255
27939
2316
Junior Library
57423
53289
4134
Dallin Branch
Adult Dept.
20228
21406
1178
YP Dept.
6243
6142
101
Junior Dept.
26069
23792
2277
East Branch
Adult Dept.
39560
38016
1544
YP Dept.
7324
5993
1331
Junior Dept.
33419
31631
1788
Schools - Junior
24015
19647
4368
Hospital - Adult
2579
2704
125
TOTALS
383826
356672
28457
1303
Total
Gain
27154
CIRCULATION OF OTHER MATERIAL
1957
1956
GAIN
Record Albums
13409
12436
973
Pictures
2039
1480
559
Films
281
86
195
TOTALS
15729
14002
1727
TOTAL CIRCULATION OF ALL MATERIAL-399555
243
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
In order to serve the growing informational and cultural needs of the public, the library book collection must be a dynamic one reflecting change and anticipating the future. It must be the stock- pile and reservoir of knowledge, the source of learning and growth. This means that new and recent material continually must be acquired by the library
During the past year 3,387 new titles were added to the Robbins Library book collection, as well as 1,776 duplicates and replacements and 3,265 branch copies, a total of 8,428 volumes. In addition 430. items were added to the pamphlet files in the Reference Department, 347 to the picture collection, and 164 catalogs to the college catalog collection.
The Public Library should serve all the people. In Arlington 20,152 children and adults have become library patrons. During the year 3,323 borrowers were registered, cards for 2,891 were cancelled as expired, 208 cards were surrendered because of removal from the town, death or other reasons, and cards for 1,480 borrowers were renewed for another three year period. In other words, forty-two per cent of the citizens are registered borrowers of the library.
Libraries contain the world's best ideas. It is to the library the people go for self-education, for information and research, for help to solve problems of many kinds. During the past year 17,423 requests for assistance were recorded; of this number 8,043 were straight. reference questions and the remaining 9,380 were requests for Readers' Advisory Service. Answering reference questions involves a variety of activity on the part of the Reference Librarian. It might mean locating material in a reference book for the high school or college student, or introducing the inquirer to the Reader's Guide. to Periodical Literature for supplementary material, or exploring the pamphlet file for recent information or searching through the books in the stacks for some obscure information. The Readers Ad- visers work is also challenging and stimulating, involving as it does, informal conferences with borrowers to determine interests and to supply materials needed for both pleasure reading and serious study.
It has often been said that the public library should be a vital part of the life of the community. During the past year the Robbins Library has cooperated with many groups and participated in many community activities. Examples of this cooperative effort include the One-Hundred-Fiftieth Anniversary celebration of the Town, the Cyrus E. Dallin exhibit for the new Dallin School at its dedication exer- cises, the Girl Scout project "Living Pictures of Famous Paintings" during which over 1,000 Girl Scouts visited the library and used its reference material, and bibliographies prepared for clubs. The Library Halls have been provided as meeting places for many groups. The Junior Library Hall was used on 310 occasions, the hall at Dallin: Branch on 86 occasions, and the basement room at East has also been used by numerous groups during the year.
Work with children and young people are two of the most important phases of library service. An active program in each of these areas was carried on at both the main library and the branches. Thirty-eight story hours, nineteen music concerts, and thirty-seven movie showings were presented to the children during the winter months and during July and August the Reading Clubs attracted 652 boys and girls. The Read, View, Talk Club for the High School group held 17 Meetings. Individual reading guidance was given to both!
244
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
children and young people, book lists were compiled and distributed and book talks presented.
Public Libraries and School Libraries are part of a net-work of library facilities and should work together to provide co-ordinated and complete service for children and young people. During the past year, 92 classroom deposits were sent to the schools from the Junior Li- brary, many classes visited the library and its branches for instruc- tions in the use of the library and its reference materials, for book talks and reading orientation. These classes came from the elementary schools, the Vocational High School, the Junior High Industrial Arts, and the St. Agnes Parochial School. Librarians visited classrooms giving talks; they spoke at assemblies at the Junior High Schools; they gave talks at PTA meetings.
Perhaps the most exciting projects in connection with the work with the schools was the planning, organization and establishment of the new elementary school libraries, carried on as a joint program between the School Department and the Robbins Library. Libraries, staffed by trained personnel, were established in the Dallin, Thomp- son, and Hardy Schools. The public library and the school library have related functions, one serving the child in his school life, the other in his community life and the services of the two agencies complement each other. Through the cooperative planning program established in Arlington, costs for this project are kept at a minimum. Library quarters and funds for books are provided by the School Department, while the Library supplies the School Librarian, orders and processes the books and operates the units.
The following items may be of interest:
With 1957, the renovated East Branch completed five years of service to the people of East Arlington. Circulation in these five years has increased from 65,962 in 1953 to 80,303 in 1957. Ten years ago when located in a basement room of the Crosby School the circulation was 21,323 volumes.
As of December 31, 1956, the collection of Record Albums num- bered 1976. During the year, 97 albums were withdrawn from the collection and 301, including 24 gifts, were added. As has previously been noted the circulation of these records in 1957 totaled 12,436, albums and 391 borrowers used the earphones in the Music Depart- ment.
Inventory of the book collection was practically completed for the entire system. This was the first complete inventory taken in: over ten years.
5059 reserves were processed for borrowers who wished specific books held for them and 94 books were borrowed from other library systems to fill special requests.
91 visits were made to the Symmes Arlington Hospital and during these visits 2579 books were circulated to staff and patients.
As usual, book deposits have been sent to Fire Stations, Rest Homes, Camps, Churches, study and other groups.
Many gifts of books and magazines have been received during the year from individuals and groups.
245
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
Local artists have hung their paintings in the art corridor; hobby and craft exhibits have been loaned by interested patrons.
During the year several professional library groups met at the Robbins Library. Included were Children's Librarians and the Massa- chusetts Library Film Cooperative. In addition several special meet- ings for librarians and trustees of greater Boston, sponsored by the Massachusetts Library Development Committee, were held in the Junior Library Hall.
In retrospect, Arlington should be congratulated on the farsight- edness of the people responsible for the beautiful library building which was erected in 1892 and for the Junior Library which was added in 1931. But the town cannot rest on past achievements. The past is a bridge to the future. Citizens everywhere recognize the need for new schools, and added equipment and personnel, and rightly so. But a truth which most citizens fail to recognize is the fact that as schools grow, as educational facilities are expanded, as more young people enter college, as the community grows, so the demands on the libraries are increased.
The Robbins Library building is no longer adequate; the library's growing needs must be recognized and provision made for expansion of its facilities.
Arlington is fortunate in its Board of Library Trustees, appointed by the Town Manager. Recognizing the growth and trends in library functions and services, the Board has expended every effort to have the library fulfill its role in the community.
Arlington is fortunate in another respect. To have a Town Manager who sympathizes with and cooperates in an expanding library program is of greatest importance. It is he, who, in the overall picture, is responsible for the successful operation of the department. To Mr. Monahan, and the Board of Trustees, the Librarian is very grateful for help and consideration during 1957.
In many ways 1957 has been an outstanding year in the history of the Robbins Library. It was surely the library's biggest andi busiest year. The members of the Staff who, after all, carry on the library program, working directly with the public, deserve the warmest praise for continuing in the face of pressures due to understaffing, lack of working space, and crowded shelf conditions.
To them, and the custodians whose work in the care of and appearance of the buildings is of vital importance to the library program, the Librarian herwith expresses her appreciation.
Respectfully submitted,
JUDITH E. STROMDAHL Librarian
246
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
STATISTICAL REPORT
Population served 47,148
Total Volumes in Book collection, December 31, 1957 .. 118,225
Total Circulation;
Books, Periodicals, Records, Films, Pictures 399,555
Total Registered Borrowers, December 31, 1957 20,152
APPROPRIATION
Personal Services
$125,316.16
Books, Periodicals and Bindery
29,700.00
Record Albums
1,500.00
All Other
20,635.00
Capital Outlay
8,805.00
Out of State Travel
300.00
TOTAL
$186,256.16
EXPENDITURES
Personal Services
$125,288.17
Books, Periodicals and Bindery
29.693.50
Record Albums
1,491.64
All Other
20,621.12
* Capital Outlay
16,557.12
Out of State Travel
244.37
TOTAL
$193,895.92
* Balance Capital Outlay carried over from previous year
Respectfully submitted,
JUDITH E. STROMDAHL Librarian
247
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1957
To the Citizens of Arlington:
The year, 1957, may prove to be an important milestone along the road of public education in the United States because of two developments :
First, the forcible integration of Southern Schools by Federal authority.
Second, the orbiting of the Soviet satellite.
Although the former may affect our nation more seriously in the long run, the latter had more of an immediate impact in most educational circles outside the Deep South. Disclosure of our scien- tific deficiencies has brought our entire educational system under severe and searching criticism. The immediate result, as might be expected, has been increased emphasis on the teaching of the physical sciences and on the promotion of science as a career field.
A less dramatic, but perhaps in the long run more important result of this educational soul-searching has been a renaissance of acceptance of the values of classical scholarship along with some loss of face by the "life-adjustment" advocates. Arlington's public school system has always tried to capitalize on the virtues and avoid the vices of both approaches to education. Our secondary students may elect as many as five years of foreign language prior to gradu- ation; the student of mathematics and science can choose among chemistry, biology, physics, solid geometry, trigonometry, and ad- vanced algebra. The Arlington High School Class of 1957 made 203 applications for college of which only 11 were rejected. This same class made one of the finest records in the National Merit Scholar- ship contest of any New England public or private secondary school.
First rate education continues to be expensive. Over the last three years (1955-57), the school budget increased by almost $500,000 (equal to about $7.00 on the real estate tax rate) without any sub- stantial expansion of services or curriculum. The bulk of the expan- sion represents salary increases, additional teachers, and the opera- tion of two new grammar schools plus that ubiquitous cost-booster, inflation. Continuing prudent financial management is indicated by the following comparative figures for cities and towns nearby:
School Tax Rates and Total Tax Rates for 1957
As reported by the Massachusetts
Teachers Association
Cities
Total
School
Percent
Arlington
$ 70.40
23.79
34 %
Belmont
48.00
21.77
45 %
Braintree
66.80
33.74
51 %
Cambridge
59.40
15.58
26 %
Concord
78.40
35.63
45%
Dedham
54.60
22.54
41 %
Lexington
52.00
18.37
35 %
Malden
69.80
25.18
36 %
Medford
54.80
18.74
34 %
!
248
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Melrose
59.80
26.37
44 %
Natick
55.60
27.06
49 %
Needham
52.00
21.75
42 %
Newton
49.20
18.54
38 %
Norwood
56.00
16.90
30 %
Somerville
71.20
22.63
32 %
Stoneham
62.00
23.74
38 %
Wakefield
62.80
36.26
58 %
Waltham
49.50
19.56
40 %
Watertown
59.80
22.80
38 %
Wellesley
51.90
24.51
47 %
Weymouth
50.00
20.00
40 %
Winchester
55.60
24.66
44 %
The evidence continues to show that the Arlington taxpayer gets an excellent return for each educational dollar spent.
Another continuing problem is the high level of real estate taxes and the low level of teachers' salaries. Arlington's salary schedule ranks near the best in the State, but it still pays an experienced (10-year) teacher less than most college graduates receive immedi- ately after graduation. Unhappily, little relief is in sight, at least from the State. Political forces are so evenly divided that neither the proponents of a sales tax nor those who advocate increased income taxes can muster the necessary votes. Meanwhile, in this State, tax rates in the $70., $80. and even $90. brackets become more common, and the end is not yet apparent.
Physical Facilities
Completion of the Dallin and Thompson Schools has eased the elementary school housing congestion, although a major problem continues at the secondary level. Contracts for the main portions of the High School Addition were not let during 1957. The earliest possible occupancy date for these buildings is September, 1959. Serious overcrowding has existed at both Junior High Schools for the year 1957-1958. Anticipated enrollment growth assures that this problem will be with us again next year, with the remodelled Lowe Audi- torium's 13 classrooms merely easing the present crush at the Senior High School. Meanwhile, the lack of High School gymnasium has compelled the elimination of almost all our indoor physical education program at the High School.
The Committee, for some time, has noted with concern the lack of challenging programs in many public schools, including our own, for the truly gifted child. However, lack of space in the junior and senior high schools, until now, has been a major deterrent. Present plans call for the initiation of such a program in September, 1958, pending final approval of a comprehensive program recently submitted by the Superintendent and described more fully by him in the Super- intendent's report.
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