Town of Arlington annual report 1958, Part 21

Author: Arlington (Mass.)
Publication date: 1958
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 414


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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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