USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1958 > Part 21
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Occupation
Rigger, Boston Naval Shipyard, Charlestown
Reporter, F. W. Dodge Corp., 858 Park Sq. Bldg., Boston
Salesman, Self-employed, 19 Exeter Street, Arlington Civil Engineer, Chas. A. Maguire & Asso., 14 Court Square, Boston
Salesman, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 247 Fourth Ave., N. Y.
Checker, J. P. Squire Co., 165 Gore Street, Cambridge Upholsterer, Englander Corp., Mystic Valley Pkwy., Medford Candy Maker, Deran Confectionery Co., 134 Cambridge St., Cambridge
Tobacconist, Robbins Tobacco Co., Davis Square, Somerville Scientist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge Carpenter, Aberthaw Construction Co., Boston
Manager, Tillotson Rubber Company, Inc., Needham Heights Painter, Chelsea Naval Hospital, Chelsea
Maintenance, Raytheon Mfg. Co., Bedford
Sales Engineer, Capitol Engineering Co., 75 Rogers St., Cam- bridge
Accountant, A & P Tea Co., 151 Northern Avenue Boston Florist, M.T.A. Shop, Everett
Civil Engineer, Merritt Chapman & Scott, 290 Madison Ave., N.Y.
Trucking, Nicholas Sacca & Sons, 38 Amsden Street, Arlington Milling Machine Operator, Hood Rubber Co., Watertown Accountant, C. Pappas Co., Inc., 540 E. Street, Boston Stitcher, Trimount Clothing Co., 18 Station Street, Roxbury Manager, Frostmaster Corp., 195 Broadway, Arlington Executive, Otis Elevator Co., 130 Clarendon St., Boston Manager, Rice & Sciabia Ins. Agency, 6 Beacon Street, Boston Engineer, I.B.M., 573 Boylston Street, Boston
LIST OF JURORS
249
Name
*Scribner, Ralph W.
*Scabury, Ralph H.
*Seavey, Ralston G.
*Sefton, Edward E.
Address
7 Amherst Street
52 Aberdeen Road
35 Williams Street
28 Allen Street
Segool, Herbert
*Sewell, John M. Jr.
*Sexton, Ralph W.
*Seymour, Peter J.
*Shahbazian, Charles
*Sharkey, George Shaw, John F.
*Shepherd, David E. Sheves, George A. Shilliday, Robert W. *Sills, Herbert
*Simeone, Joseph J. S.
*Simonds, Ronald D.
*Simpson, George A.
39 Hilton Street 61 Harlow Street 310 Appleton Street 21 Highland Avenue 94 Beacon Street
70 Bellington Street 281 Park Avenne 75 Coolidge Road 63 Hamlet Street
11 Pelham Terrace "! Bailey Road
15 Arrowhead Lane 277 Broadway
107 Grafton Street
Skinner, George E. Sliney, Joseph L. Small, James R. Smallcombe, David X. *Smart, Chandler W.
*Smith, Davis A. *Smith, James E.
*Smith, Richard G. *Smith, Walter J. *Snow, John R.
24 Amherst Street 15 Inverness Road 27 Acton Street
Occupation
Accountant, Columbian Nat'l Life Ins. Co., 77 Franklin St., Boston
Salesman, Glendale Fuel Co., 47 Medford St., Charlestown Painter, Naval Shipyard, Charlestown
Sheet Metal Worker, Aircraft Gas Torbine Div., Tremont St., Everett
Chauffeur, Roberts Express, 28 Travis Road, Allston Salesman, Pitcher & Company, Inc., 67 Rogers Street, Cambridge Engineer, F. S. Payne Co., 75 Richdale Avenue, Cambridge Shoe Repairman, Park Square Bldg., 31 St. James Ave., Boston Grocer, Atlantic Market, 17 Marshville Avenue, Hancock Manager, Sears Roebuck & Co., Boston
Bank Clerk, National Shawmut Bank, 40 Water Street, Boston President, American Dynamics Corp., 146 Main St., Maynard Spray Painter, James A. Kiley Co., 15 Linwood St., Somerville Telephone Worker, N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co., 6 Bowdoin Sq., Boston Manager, Saks Fifth Ave., 611 Fifth Avenue, New York Chef, Simeones Restaurant, 21 Brookline St., Cambridge Machinist, M.I.T., Lincoln Lab., Lexington
Equipment Specialist, Supply Dept., Naval Shipyard, Charles- town
20 Prescott Street 93 Warren Street 25 Norfolk Road 34 Spy Pond Parkway 60 Florence Avenue 29 Boulevard Road 68 Arlmont Street
Electrician, Carr Fastener Corp., 31 Ames St., Cambridge Salesman. Prudential Ins. Co., 385 Concord Avenue, Belmont Supervisor, B. F. Goodrich, Nichols Avenue, Watertown Insurance Agent, Self-employed
Salesman, The United Sales Co., 99 Bedford Street, Boston Truck Driver, Mckay Fuel Oil Co., Willow St., Somerville Insurance, Patterson, Wylde & Windeler Inc., 40 Broadway, Boston
Maintenance, W. W. Grainger Inc., 118 So. Oakley Blvd., Chicago Salesman, Alice & Peter Gawryck, 192 River Street, Cambridge Engineer, First National Stores, Middlesex Ave., Somerville
250
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Name
Somers, George E. Sopas, Manuel F. Jr.
*Spellman, William J. *Spillane, Dennis E.
*Stanley, George S. *Staples, William F. *Stinchfield, Eben K. Jr. *Strong, Robert C.
Address
136 Scituate Street 15 Pine Street 62 Brattle Street
17 Bacon Street
45 Henderson Street 10 Appleton Place 44 Decatur Street 43 Irving Street
*Sullivan,.Thomas F. *Suttie, William R.
*Swanton, Robert J. Sweedy, Henry J. *Swymer, George S.
*Tashjian, John M. *Tavilla, Paul *Tee, William Kirby $ Thayer, Philip S. *Thompson, Harry D. *Thompson, John R.
26 Gloucester Street 51 Academy Street 20 Devereaux Street 20 Hopkins Road 10 Cypress Road
324 Appleton Street
21 Harlow Street
60 Teel Street 78 Beacon Street
42 Alpine Street
76 Brooks Avenue 30 Waldo Road 21 Chandler Street
77 Henderson Street
Occupation
Printer, Hearst Corp., 5 Winthrop Square, Boston Contractor, Antone Rego Co., 15 Pine Street, Arlington Truck Driver, Retail Stores Inc., Cambridge Operator, M.T.A., 31 St. James Avenue, Boston Stripper, Trimount Plastics, 71 Dudley St., Arlington Buyer, Tracerlab, Inc., 1601 Trapelo Road, Waltham Manager, Vulcan Steel Co., 61 Moulton Street, Cambridge Salesman, Boston Office, Wheeling Corrugating Co., Wheeling, West Va.
Welder, Manning, Maxwell & Moore Inc., 65 Gore St., Watertown Mechanic, Quincy Market Cold Storage & Whse., 178 Atlantic Ave., Boston
Clerk, Boston & Maine R. R., 150 Causeway Street, Boston Salesman, Esso Standard Oil Co., 135 Clarendon St., Boston Personnel Manager, Brown Durrell Co., 75 Cambridge Pkwy., Cambridge
Marine Engineer, Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston President, P. Tavilla Co., Inc., 1 North Market St., Boston Real Estate, C. W. Whittiere Bros., 82 Devonshire St., Boston Biochemist, Arthur D. Little, Inc., 30 Memorial Drive, Cambridge Clerk, Swift & Co., 174 Somerville Avenue, Somerville Electrical Designer, Stone & Webster Eng. Corp., 49 Federal St., Boston
Steam Fitter, Boston Edison Co., 39 Boylston Street, Boston Printer Foreman, The Box Craft Co., 270 Albany St., Cambridge Engineer, Glendale Coal & Oil Co., 47 Medford Street, Charles- town
Chauffeur, Badger Mfg., 230 Bent Street, Cambridge Truck Driver, First National Stores, Somerville Machine Operator, B. F. Goodrich, Watertown
Dept. Manager, William Filenes & Sons, Boston Substation Operator, Boston Edison Co., Boylston St., Boston
251
LIST OF JURORS
*Thurber, Harold J. *Tirico, James A. *Titilah, Robert
*Toomey, Thomas F. *Torpey, James P. Traynor, Joseph C. *Tructman, William *Tuff, Donald H.
73 Brooks Avenue 24 Blossom Street
54 Beverly Road 26 Egerton Road 8 Brewster Road
Name
*Tufts, Francis H.
*Tully, Joseph L.
*Vannicola, Carlo M.
*Varnum, George E.
*VerKampen, Edward C.
36 Coleman Road
23 Chandler Street
32 Eliot Road
3 Freeman Street
19 Cleveland Street
*Vincent, John Vitale, Eugene *Vouros, Charles G.
*Walsh, Robert B.
*Walton, Dean F. Ward, Charles J.
*Ward, James F.
*Ward, Leaman E.
6 Clark Street 22 Richardson Avenue 815 Concord Turnpike
63 Marathon Street 33 Bowdoin Street 28 Whittemore Street 7 Lafayette Stroct
47 Burch Street
*Ware, Preston Wedge, Paul H. Jr. Welch, Francis H.
285 Gray Street
424 Massachusetts Ave. 35 Spy Pond Parkway
103 Lake Street 49 Brattle Street 38 Forest Street S Berkeley Street 241 Cedar Avenue 95 Everett Street 175 Pleasant Street 40 Alfred Road 64 Cleveland Street
*Willey, Robert H. * Williams, Paul G.
37 Decatur Street
54 Wyman Street
Occupation
Trust Accountant, Choate, Hall & Stewart, 30 State St., Boston Director, John C. Dowd, Inc., 212 Park Sq. Bldg., Boston
Self-employed, Owner, Letter Service, 686 Mass. Ave., Cambridge Electrician, Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston
Machinist, Elliott Addressing Machine Co., 143 Albany St., Cambridge
Maintenance, Whiting Milk Co., 570 Rutherford Ave., Charlestown Barber, Angelo Coronite, 662 Adams Street, Dorchester Service Station Manager, 205 Broadway, Somerville
Investigator. Markel Service Inc., 230 Boylston St., Boston Estimator, Post Products Inc., 253 Auburn St., Auburndale Clerk, Simplex Wire & Cable Co., 79 Sidney St., Cambridge Foreman, Gillette Safety Razor Co., South Boston
Salesman, The Brunswick Balke Collender Co., 1041 Com. Ave., Boston
Accountant, Gulf Oil Corp., 31 St. James Ave., Boston Builder, Walsh Body & Trailer Inc., 97 Prospect St., Somerville Purchasing Agent, Wilbur Restaurants, 1083 Washington St., Boston
Plumber, Frank T. McDonald, 103 Franklin St., Allston Proprietor, Arlington Wadely Co., 51 Brattle St., Arlington Stock Clerk. Raytheon Mfg. Co., 124 Galen Street, Watertown Salesman, Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Illinois Proprietor, Trimont Motors, 1280 Cambridge Street, Cambridge Salesman, Surpass Leather Co., 104 South Street, Boston Dealer, W. H. White Motor Co., 975 Mass. Avenue, Arlington Plumber, Stanley R. Robbins Co., 267 Pleasant St., Watertown Self-employed, Wilfert Bros. Woodworking Co., 22 Prentiss Rd.,
Arl.
Bartender, Joe O'Brien's, 706 Broadway, Somerville Maintenance Man, New England Tel. & Tel. Co., Boston
252
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
*Wellinger, James J. *Wesinger, Charles E. *Weymouth, Frank E. *White, Arthur K. * White, George J.
*White, Raymond A. White, William H. Jr. Wigandt, Arthur P. * Wilfert, David P.
Address
Name
*Wilson, Fred E. *Wilson, John S.
*Wilson, Thomas
*Wilson, Walter G. *Winchenbaugh, Leslie F. *Winning, John N.
Address
35 Brand Street 42 Grafton Street 8 Aerial Street 48 Foster Street
41 Grafton Street 2 Daniels Street
Occupation
Machine Operator, Sanborn Co., 175 Wyman Street, Waltham Elevator Operator, Hotel Touraine, Boston
Barber, Scotty's Barber Shop, 21 Mystic Street, Arlington
Steam Fitter, Lappin Bros., Malden
Projectionist, Capitol Theatre, Arlington
Salesman, Manning, Maxwell Watertown
& Moore, Inc., 65 Grove St.,
Wood, Robert A. Worth, Gerald S. *Wright, Allen L.
136 Thorndike Street 56 Waldo Road 23 Alpine Street
Young, John
27 Lewis Avenue
*Zammarchi, Alfred L. *Zartarian, Robert Z. *Zdonik, Stanley B. Zeff, Leo H. Ziolkowski, Edward S.
48 Trowbridge Street 24 Cheswick Road 174 Lake Street 14 Brunswick Road
15 Fordham Street
Buyer, Forest Fruit Store, 1765 Mass. Avenue, Cambridge Manager, Universal C/L & Dist. Co., 124 Kneeland St., Boston Chemical Engineer, Stone & Webster, 49 Federal St., Boston Proprietor, Zeff Supply Co. Inc., 36 Bromfield St., Boston Mechanic, Clark & Cooke, 38 Harvard Avenue, Medford
LIST OF JURORS
* The star indicates persons whose names appear on Jury List and will continue for 1959, unless disqualified under the provisions of Chapter 234 of the General Laws.
253
Clerk, William Filenes Sons Company, Boston Manager, Stop & Shop, 393 D Street, Boston
Tax Clerk, Boston Safe Deposit Trust Co., 100 Franklin St., Boston
Assistant Manager, R. H. Stearns Co., 140 Tremont St., Boston
254
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Report of the Board of Health
Mr. Edward C. Monahan Town Manager Arlington, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Monahan:
We respectfully submit the following summary of the activities of the Board of Health for the year 1958, which reports the services rendered by the Department, together with the reports on vital statisics.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul F. Burke, D.M.D., Chairman Carl E. Barstow, M.D. Ralph L. LaValle Arlington Board of Health
Personnel of Department:
J. Philip Bower, Agent and Clerk
Margaret H. Wheatley, Principal Clerk
Mary G. Stone, Public Health Nurse
Justin E. Comeau, Milk and Sanitation Inspector
Lawrence S. Fagan, Dentist
Catherine E. Yates, Dental Assistant
L. Curtis Foye, M.D., Bacteriologist and Physician
Samuel Femia, Dog Officer
1958 FINANCIAL REPORT
Personal Services $ 25,666.00
General Expense 2,630.00
Garbage Disposal 80,000.00
Communicable Diseases
10,000.00
Mosquito Control
2,000.00
Premature Baby Care
2,500.00
Transfer from Reserve Fund 230.00
$123,026.00
EXPENDITURES
Personal Services $ 23,420.22
Collection of Garbage
80,095.02
Mosquito Control Project 2,000.00
Premature Baby Care
2,088.75
Capital Outlay
230.00
255
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
Communicable Diseases:
Hospitalization for Tuberculosis:
Middlesex County Sanatoriumn Ambulance Service
$3,513.00
25.00 $3,538.00
Hospitalization for Measles with Encephalitis Antirabic Clinics
893.39
Vaccine
310.81
Expense
316.71 627.52
Miscellaneous Expense
24.00
Total for Communicable Diseases 5,082.91
General Expenses:
Maintenance of office
227.18
Maintenance of auto
75.80
Dental Clinic Supplies
193.11
Milk Inspection
242.50
Telephone
342.40
Car Rental
381.44
Miscellaneous
159.10
1,621.53.
Total Expenditures $114,538.43.
RECEIPTS
Licenses Issued :
Manufacture of Frozen Desserts or Ice
Cream Mix (Retail)
$ 20.00
Manufacture of Frozen Desserts or Ice
Cream Mix (Wholesale)
100.00
Massage and Vapor Baths
2.00
Massage and Vapor Baths (Establishment)
2.00
Collection of Meat Trimmings
12.00
Sale of Oleomargarine
31.00
Sale of Milk
67.00
To operate Pasteurizing Plants
20.00
Cesspool and Septic Tanks
12.00
Day Nurseries
6.00
To pick up garbage
2.00
Receipts from licenses $ 274.00
Receipts from Dental Clinic 709.50
Receipts from Communicable Disease
3,176.15
TOTAL RECEIPTS $4,159.65
Total Expenditures
Total Receipts
$114,538.43 4,159.65
Net cost to operate
$110,378.78
Cost per Capita
2.34
Including debt and maintenance of Middle-
sex County Sanatorium
$ 58,355.12
Net cost to operate
110,378.78
$168,733.90
Cost per Capita 3.59
256
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Cases reported during the year 1958
Cat Bite
2
Chicken Pox
203
Diphtheria 0
Dog Bite
140
German Measles 310
Gonorrhea
0
Hepatitis, Infectious
0
Measles
726
Meningitis
3
Mumps
146
Salmonellosis
5
Scarlet Fever
45
Septic Sore Throat
4
Syphilis
10
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
9
Tuberculosis, Other Forms
2
Total
1,605
Tuberculosis Report
Total number of cases as of December 31, 1958 96
Deaths during year 1958 3
Case removals during year 1958 4
New cases reported during year 1958 11
Contacts X-rayed during year 1958 33
Persons residing in Arlington and having a legal settlement in Arlington were hospitalized in Tuberculosis Sanatoria as follows:
Middlesex County Sanatorium 11
Rutland State Sanatorium 2
Persons residing elsewhere and having a legal settlement in Arlington were hospitalized as follows:
Middlesex County Sanatorium 3
Persons residing in Arlington and without a legal setlement in Arlington or in any Community in the Commonwealth, hospitalized through this Board as follows:
Middlesex County Sanatorium 1
Persons residing in Arlington with settlement elsewhere within Middlesex County hospitalized as follows:
Middlesex County Sanatorium 1
Rutland State Sanatorium 1
257
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT ON CLINICS CONDUCTED BY BOARD OF HEALTH
DIPHTHERIA PREVENTION BY IMMUNIZATION (Five Year Comparative Figures)
Year
Number of Children Immunized
Percentage below Age 5 of those
Percentage
between
Age 5-10 Diphtheria
of those
Immunized
Immunized Cases
Deaths
1954
9
78
22
0
0
1955
20
92
8
0
0
1956
35
63
37
1
0
1957
1
100
0
3
0
1958
14
65
35
0
0
DENTAL CLINIC
Report on work performed during 1958
Total number of patients
535
Total number of operating hours
474
Total number of sittings
1419
Total number of operations
2493
Extractions - Permanent
0
Deciduous
50
Fillings - Permanent
444
Deciduous
1333
Treatments - Prophylactic
666
Total number of Dismissals
533
CLINICS FOR VACCINATION OF DOGS AGAINST RABIES
Clinics were held April 21, 22, 23 and 24, 1958
Total number of dogs vaccinated
1161
REPORT OF MILK AND SANITATION INSPECTOR
Licenses Issued :
For Sale of Milk and Cream
134
For Sale of Oleomargarine
62
Inspections:
Milk Plants
9
Milk Vehicles
83
Milk Analyses:
Samples taken for analysis
96
AVERAGE
FAT SOLIDS BACTERIA COLIFORM PHOSPHATASE
Grade "A"
4.28
12.84
750
.00
Negative
Homogenized
4.02
12.61
8,082
.03
Negative
Regular
4.00
12.64
3,583
1.67
Negative
School
3.78
2,813
.00
Negative
Store
4.03
12.69
3,625
2.25
Negative
258
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Inspections :
Food stores inspected and re-checked 655
Eating establishments 623
Complaints and re-calls on complaints 46
Public Rest Rooms 65
Barber Shops 24
Store rear inspections
81
Bakery and donut shops
126
Catering business
6
Ice cream and dairy bars
13
Bakery vehicles 29
Town dump and water way study
4
Candy store and manufacturing
35
Bowling alleys 23
Service stations
36
Investigations,
Rodent Control 8
Sewerage
Fly Control (all eating establishments and food stores)
4
SERVICES RENDERED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
Assisted in the physical examinations at the parochial schools, also assisted in dental examinations. Weighed and measured all pupils in both parochial schools, and conducted hearing and vision tests. Gave professional advice and rendered first aid assistance as needed.
Regular visits were made to the private and nursery schools operated in the Town.
Made visits, as required, to the homes of people with histories of reportable disease.
Attended lectures as part of In-service Education, which were conducted under the auspices of the State Department of Public Health, and a conference of Tuberculosis Workers. Also attended at Simmons College a "Work Conference" and a course on "Funda- mentals of Public Health Nursing".
Statistics on these examinations and services are reported in monthly reports to the Board of Health.
REPORT OF SLAUGHTERING INSPECTOR
No inspections were made in the Town of Arlington during the year ending December 31, 1958.
MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS
LICENSES AND PERMITS ISSUED WITHOUT FEE CHARGE To keep poultry 4
To hold rummage sales 23
To act as Funeral Directors 15
Burial permits 425
259
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
BIRTHS AND DEATHS OF ARLINGTON RESIDENTS DURING 1958
Total number of deaths
585
Total number of births
1326
Age of oldest persons dying in Arlington (1958) Male 101 years
Female
97 years
Infant Mortality 24
SHOWING THE FIVE PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF DEATH IN ARLINGTON DURING 1958
DISEASE
NUMBER OF DEATHS
Number per 1,000 of population
Heart Disease
214
4.5
Cancer
84
1.7
Cerebral Hemorrhage
54
1.1
Pneumonia
54
1.1
Accidental
22
.46
260
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Annual Report of the Robbins Library for the Year 1958
TRUSTEES Mrs. Molly F. Yood - Chairman Robert J. Brosnan Hugh A. Mallon, Jr. Mrs. Margaret H. Spengler J. Milton Washburn, Jr.
LIBRARIAN Judith E. Stromdahl
STAFF
*Ruth Sampson - Assistant Librarian Dorothy L. Hart - Reference Librarian Joan Perks Caterino - Head, Circulation Department ** Emily Woo - Cataloguer
Elizabeth L. Phelan - Supervisor of Children's Library Activities * Alyce L. Davis - Music Librarian Esther McQuaid - Young People's Librarian Helen W. Thompson - Branch Librarian - Dallin Branch Evelyn Colcord - Branch Librarian - East Branch Ann Anderson - School Librarian * Anna M. Angwin * * Adelaide M. Bennett Margaret M. Bowser Muriel G. Chandler Dolores V. Cleland Jane M. Coffin Anne I. Enquist Marilyn E. Kenney ** Elinor S. Leonard Margaret Morash
Margaret O'Brien Alice D. Peggs
** Heather A. Phalen * Hazel M. Thurber Louisa Irva Tilton * Peter E. Weil Madeleine B. Woodbury
PART-TIME ASSISTANTS Audrey J. Hoeg Rose M. Rothenberg Virginia Rudd Ruth Rusden M. Louise Sullivan Celeste Vincent
CUSTODIANS George A. Capes - Senior Custodian Florey Corelli Normand J. Paradis John Loftus
* Resigned
** Appointed
261
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
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 1958:
The Board of Trustees served under the able Chairmanship of Mr. Robert Brosnan until September when the undersigned was elected.
The concerted effort of all the Trustees toward the achieve- ment of certain goals led to the fulfilment of some and progress toward attainment of others.
The painting of the interior of the entire library with the ex- ception of the gallery proceeded and was completed in the spring. Draperies for the Children's Room and shades for the Young People's Room and stack area were purchased from Trust Funds. The Garden Club in appreciation for the courtesies extended to it graciously presented the library with draperies for the Auditorium. The windows in the Reference Room were repaired.
In March, National Library Week was observed. Many organi- zations were invited to Open House and shown the many facilities of the library. Exhibits were arranged, special historical collections were on view, paintings were hung in the corridor. Many took ad- vantage of the invitations and great interest in and appreciation of the services were evidenced.
The School Library Program continued. Teachers realize the broader scope their educational programs can achieve with the use of the libraries. A greater interest in books has been aroused in the children. The Crosby and Bishop Schools now have libraries. The Dallin and Thompson Schools continue to share the services of one librarian, the Bishop, Hardy and Crosby Schools have a librarian only one day a week.
Personnel continues to be a problem. At the present time there are three vacancies on the staff.
After forty-one years of devoted service, Miss Ruth Sampson, Assistant Librarian retired. The gratitude of the Trustees was in a small measure expressed to her at a dinner given in her honor at the Wayside Inn to which Trustees and staff members, past and present, subscribed. A tangible evidence of their appreciation was a Paul Revere Bowl which was presented to her at that time.
Of primary interest is the survey made of the Library by Mr. Philip McNiff and Mr. John Humphry, experts in library problems.
Because space in the library has been at a premium for many years and because the turnover in staff has been a continuing problem, Mr. Philip McNiff and Mr. John Humphry were hired to make a survey of the library. The survey indicated many changes that could be made in the existing building and with the staff to
262
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
expedite the efficiency of work. They have suggested that all work areas be confined to the basement so that flow of work be smooth and continuous, that the Young People's room be moved to the present catalog room, that an elevator be installed so that present unused gallery can be converted into a Music and Art Room. They also suggested removing the partition from the present music room and extending the flooring to the second floor stack. They predicted that with the ever increasing use of the library even with the above changes and the added space, an addition to the present main build- ing would be needed in approximately ten years. They felt that the present staff was adequate to satisfy minimum library requirements, but that until the salaries of the professional help are raised, the Robbins Library will serve as a training ground for other libraries with better salary schedules.
With these objectives in mind the Trustees have set their sights for the ensuing years so that the good service now rendered to the public can be made even better.
This is a fitting time to extend the thanks of the Trustees to Miss Stromdahl and the Staff for carrying out their work so efficiently, so effectively and so graciously.
Respectfully submitted,
Mrs. Alfred Yood
Chairman
Board of Library Trustees
263
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
Report of the Librarian for the Year 1958
WAKE UP AND READ
The slogan of the National Library Week observance of March 1958 aptly points up the need for a "better-read, better-informed" America. The printed word, the very basis of education, has taken on new significance. The existence and vitality of a free society, built, as it is, on the opinions and decisions of the many rather than the few, depends upon the extent to which all the people have formed the habit of finding out, of intelligently weighing alter- natives, of reading to be informed. Limited horizons are dangerous. Books offer an opportunity to explore; new ideas and viewpoints result; horizons are enlarged. Good libraries prepare the people for what the future might hold.
According to the recent survey submitted by the library ex- perts, Messrs. Humphry and McNiff. "the Robbins Library is an outstanding example of the American institution known as the Public Library .... It is obvious that the town has been convinced .... that adequate support of its public library is essential in a progressive community".
WAKE UP
The people of Arlington apparently are awake and alert, for during the year, 3,159 new borrowers registered at the main library and its two branches; 1,742 of this number were adults, 244 young people, and 1,173 boys and girls. As of December 31, 1958, 20,428 residents possessed library cards, or in other words, about 43% of the total population were library users. During the year 167 cards were surrendered for various reasons such as removal from Town, death, etc., and records for 2,881 borrowers whose cards had ex- pired and had not been renewed, were removed from the files.
AND READ
Citizens of Arlington did read during the past year. A total of 395,063 books, pamphlets, and periodicals were borrowed from the main library and its branches during 1958. This is a net gain in circulation of 20,431 volumes over the preceding year, as the fol- lowing figures will show.
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