USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1875-1877 > Part 21
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92.2
792.9
735.9
92.6
Bigelow. ..
281.1
260.2
91.4
278.6
250
90.3
264.9
239.5
90.8
247.1
219.9
89.4
Underwood .
142.1
119.8
83.5
149
131.5
88
152.9
134
87.4
145
125.7
86.6
Lincoln ....
25.9
23.2
37.5
33.7
89.8
37.6
32.7
86.9
34.4
30.8
89.5
Jackson. .
197.4
171.5
87.1
213.4
181.6
85
212.7
192
86.1
205.4
180.3
87.8
....
District No. 4
646.5
574.7
87.9
678.5
596.8
88.3
668.1
598.2
87.8
631.9
556.7
88.3
661.6
590
88.5
High .. .
244.6
229.1
93.7
236.8
218.2
92.1
229.3
210.6
91.8
224
207.7
92.8
244.4
228.5
93.4
Total
2596.3 2349.4
91.3
2659.4 2413.4
91.2
2665
2409.8
91
2583.5 2359.9
91.9
2684.4
2453.8
91.5
107
SECRETARY'S REPORT.
SCHOOLS.
Whole No.
Attendance.
Attendance.
Whole No.
Attendance.
Attendance.
Whole No.
Attendance.
Attendanee.
349.6 233.5
313.9
90
Prospect ..
210
189.8
90.2
93
75.7
69.3
77
86.4
79.1
93
....
......
Oak Hill .
23
19.8
91.3
19.9
18.3
91.9
15.4
92.8
176.1
159.8
91.5
.
Hamilton .
103.5
99.9
93.3
107.2
102.8
379.1 223.3
205.5
Hyde .
67.7
61.3
217.4
93.8
...
......
..
.
Davis
.
.
.
.
.
89.5
...
Average
Average
Per cent
Attendance.
89.9 92.3 92
District No. 2
108
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
SCHOOL APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1877.
General Appropriation for Support of Schools . $68,000.00
Balance unexpended Dec. 31, 1877 . 6,346.13
Received from Dog Tax 1,308.72
$75,654.85
Amount paid to Superintendent and Teachers $64,074.88
Amount paid to Janitors
3,817.95
Amount paid for Fuel .
3,823.59
71,716.42
Balance unexpended Dee. 31, 1877 .
$3,938.43
Appropriation for Industrial Drawing $1,200.00
Balanee unexpended Dec. 31, 1876 .. 21.06
$1,221.06
Amount expended
$434.75
Amount transferred to School Ineidentals
786.31
$1,221.06
Appropriation for School Incidentals
$9,000.00
Amount transferred from Industrial School
786.31
$9,786.31
Amount expended
9,782.69
Balanee unexpended Dee. 31, 1877 .
$3.62
Appropriation for Conveyance of Pupils to the High School . Amount expended .
$900.00
900.00
Appropriation for Evening Sehools
$650.00
Amount expended
$622.29
Amount overdrawn Dee. 31, 1876
9.92
632.21
Balance unexpended Dec. 31, 1877 .
$17.79
Net balance unexpended Dec. 31, 1877
$3,959.84
RECAPITULATION.
Expenditure for Support of Schools .
$72,773.46
Expenditure for School Incidentals
9,782.69
Expenditure for Conveyance of Pupils to the High School .
900.00
Total Expenditure for 1877 $83,456.15
Total Expenditure for 1876
86,533.64
Reduction in 1877 .
$3,077.49
Expenditure for 1874
$97,353.65
Expenditure for 1875
96,649.23
$194,002.88
Expenditure for 1876
$86,533.64
Expenditure for 1877
83,456.15
169,989.79
Reduction in 1876 and 1877
$24,013.09
ISAAC HAGAR, Secretary.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TRUSTEES
OF THE
NEWTON FREE LIBRARY,
NEWTON, MASS.,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1877.
WT
LIBERTY AND UNION
FOUNDED
8
9A CITY
NG
N
BOSTON: AMIDON & WASHBURN, PRINTERS, 221 WASHINGTON STREET. 1878.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 1877.
AT LARGE.
JAMES F. C. HYDE. Term expires 1882.
GEORGE H. JONES .*
JOHN S. FARLOW.
Term expires 1881. Term expires 1880.
BRADFORD K. PEIRCE. Term expires 1879.
JULIUS L. CLARKE.
Term expires 1878.
FROM THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
WILLIAM W. KEITH. Term expires 1878.
FROM THE BOARD OF COMMON COUNCIL.
WILLIAM I. GOODRICH. Term expires 1878.
* Elected to fill vacancy caused by the death of Hon. J. Wiley Edmands, January 31st, 1877.
Organization for the Year 1877.
PRESIDENT. GEORGE H. JONES.
SECRETARY. FREDERICK JACKSON.
COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY.
PRESIDENT, ex-officio. BRADFORD K. PEIRCE. JOHN S. FARLOW. JULIUS L. CLARKE.
COMMITTEE ON THE BUILDING.
PRESIDENT, ex-officio. WILLIAM W. KEITH.
JAMES F. C. HYDE. WILLIAM I. GOODRICH.
SUPERINTENDENT. FREDERICK JACKSON.
LIBRARIAN.
HANNAH P. JAMES.
ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN. CAROLINE B. JACKSON.
NEWTON FREE LIBRARY, January 14th, 1878.
HIS HONOR WILLIAM B. FOWLE,
Mayor of the City of Newton.
SIR: I have the honor to transmit to you herewith the second Annual Report of the Trustees of the Free Library, prepared in obedience to the third section of article second of the Ordinance of 1876, relating thereto.
Respectfully Yours,
FREDERICK JACKSON,
Secretary of the Board of Trustees.
TRUSTEES' REPORT.
To HIS HONOR THE MAYOR, AND CITY COUNCIL OF NEWTON : -
The Trustees of the Newton Free Library have the honor to present their report for the year ending December 31, 1877. The report for the previous year, prepared by the Hon. J. Wiley Edmands, then President of the Board of Trustees, presented the condition of the affairs and requirements of the library with all the force and clearness which ever characterized the labors of that eminent gentleman, and so fittingly brought to your consideration the various topics of interest upon which its success and usefulness depends, that it seems more consonant with the opinion of the board, that your attention should be again called to that report, as the best exponent of the views of the present board which can be submitted. The Board of Trustees would fail of doing justice to themselves, did they not give expression to the high estimate placed upon all the work of their late president, the Hon. J. Wiley Edmands, whose death occurred January 31, last, only eighteen days after the
10
annual meeting, at which he was unanimously re- elected chairman of the board, and at which meeting he presided with his usual vigor. An expression was made by the board, in appropriate resolutions, the evening after his death; but as the weeks and months have passed since that event, we have had constant reminders of the loss our library, in common with all the interests of our city, has sustained.
From the time in 1866, when Mr. Edmands first gave serious consideration to the establishment of a Free Library in Newton, to the time of his decease, it is known to most of the present trustees that his interest, confidence, and support, were never inter- mitted, and that to this steady and firm support, all other work was subsidiary.
In strict justice to his memory, we therefore desire to record in this report our sense of his love for Newton, and his desire that the same influences of education, and moral and Christian culture, which have made our city what she is, should be perpetuated.
His choice of instrumentality, was in accordance with that sound judgment which ever characterized all his decisions, and if those who come after, and enter into his labors, emulate his spirit, the elements of that progress and success are secured, which will perpetuate not only our sense of his noble work, but the permanent benefits to which we believe he looked in the distant future.
11
Three weeks previous to the death of Mr. Edmands, our beautiful library was seriously damaged by fire, and the distribution of books, for the first seven months of the year seriously interrupted, but by the prompt and judicious action of the Committee on Public Property, it was speedily restored to its for- mer condition, while many improvements were made by the committee, and the property is now believed to be secure against a recurrence of such a dis- aster.
During the year, the superintendent has visited, as one of a delegation from the Libraries of the United States, the institutions of like nature in Europe, and attended as a delegate the sittings of a Library Congress in London. While this journey of the superintendent was undertaken for his own gratifi- cation, and at his own cost, our library has been largely benefitted, and it would be a source of satis- faction to the trustees if some recognition of this can be made. The report of the Superintendent fully sets forth the present condition and future require- ments of the library, and the Trustees commend its suggestions to the favorable consideration of the City Government.
We recommend an appropriation of $6,500 beyond the balance now standing to the credit of the library, estimated as follows:
12
Salaries, .
$2,600 00
Books,
1,600 00
Light and Fuel, 725 00
Supply account, .
700 00
Shelves, Cases, and Repairs,
600 00
Catalogue account,
600 00
Reading Room,
400 00
Agency account,
325 00
Binding,
250 00
.
$7,800 00
Of which twelve hundred ninety-eight 98 dollars are 100 now on hand.
Respectfully submitted.
GEORGE H. JONES,
President of the Board of Trustees.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE TRUSTEES: -
In conformity with the requirements of the ordinance relating to the Newton Free Library, I herewith sub- mit my second annual report. I refer you to the several appendixes annexed for the statistics of the year's work, while I will confine myself to such points as need further elucidation.
The year just passed has been marked by a new experience in library management, which has serious- ly interfered with the discharge of its duties.
On the fifth day of January last, a fire broke out, in the furnace cellar on the west side, caused by over- heating a closed cold air box, and from thence mounted to the roof, where it was finally extinguished by the Fire Department, and the interior of the building thoroughly drenched with water. About one-fourth of the books in the library were hastily removed to neighboring houses, and a small number of these were damaged and lost; the balance remaining in the building escaped injury. Credit is certainly due the Fire Department for the care displayed in using the water and preventing unnecessary damage to the building and contents. The damage done to the books
14
and furniture was on the whole very slight, consid- ering the excitement attendant on their removal, and the opportunity to show the public regard for the library was eagerly improved by numerous citizens who rendered careful assistance wherever needed. The loss in books amounted to five volumes only, and the damage to bindings was repaired at an expense of twenty-five dollars.
This event closed the library for thirteen days; during which time I engaged quarters in Elmwood street for the storage of books and furniture removed during the fire. On the 18th of January the library was re-opened for the delivery of books. The repair of the damages was promptly taken in hand by the Committee on Public Property. I was again obliged to close the library during the last two days in Jan- uary, owing to disturbance caused by the repairs in the library hall.
The delivery of books was again interrupted on June 16th and resumed August 1st. In this interval the books were called in and the entire library taken from the shelves and stacked, while the interior of the building was frescoed throughout, the furnaces re- constructed, and repairs of various kinds attended to. The changes made in the hot air and smoke flues, cold air boxes, and in the furnaces, were under the advice of a practical builder, approved by the under- writers, and there is now every reason to feel well assured that the building will not suffer further risk
15
from its heating apparatus. The introduction of water into the building has given us an additional safeguard against fire. In each furnace cellar there are fifty feet of hose attached to the water pipes, ready for instant use.
The successive interruptions in the delivery of books here noted will readily account for the deficit in the yearly circulation as compared with last year. In a community so widely distributed as Newton, much time will be lost in making known the fact of the re-opening of the library on the several occasions, and the habit of reading, once checked, is not readily resumed.
I think it is fair to assume, after taking these facts into consideration, that the circulation for the ten months of actual service is quite equivalent to the rate of delivery of the previous year.
The circulation is divided as follows :-
1877.
1876.
Delivered at the Library,
40,644 vols.
50,530 vols.
66
66 Newtonville Agency,
6,594
8,190
66
66
66 Newton Centre "
6,468
66
7,571
66
66
66
Auburndale 66
4,832
66
4,838
66
66
Upper Falls 66
3,884
4,447
66
66
66
Highlands
66
2,139
66
2,934
66
66
66
Lower Falls
66
1,267
66
1,445
66
66
66 West Newton 66
1,239
66
1,649
66
66
66
North Village
956
101
Total circulation for the year ending Dec. 31,
68,023 vols.
81,705 vols.
16
There has been sent during the year 1,040 postal notices to delinquent borrowers, twenty one per cent less than last year for the same circulation. The fines collected amount to $226.58, showing a de- crease of fourteen per cent from the previous year. These statements show the advantage gained by prompt notification to holders of books over due. The reduction in the number of delinquents, as well as in the collection of fines, indicates that the average term of retention of books is being brought closer to the regulation limit.
I am able to report an improvement in the class of books drawn from the library during the past year. By reference to appendix E, it will be seen that the per cent of fiction and juvenile reading is stated at 71.78, while the year previous the rate was 73.97.
Last spring I secured a number of copies of " Best Reading," by F. B. Perkins, and marking therein the titles of the books we have, placed them beside our catalogues at the library and agencies for public use. This is an excellent manual of the best works on numerous topics entered under subject headings only, and thus meets to some extent the urgent need of a classified catalogue of our library. It is quite probable that the improvement above noted may be partly credited to the adoption of this aid to borrow- ers. The preparation of a card catalogue has been placed in the hands of the Librarian. The inter-
17
ruptions of the past season have seriously interfered with the execution of this work, but she has neverthe- less catalogued, with fulness and care, the accessions of the year, the library of reference and a portion of the department of fiction. Her report shows that she has written 4,497 cards, comprising 1,911 vol- umes and has been engaged 615 hours in the work. It will be necessary to provide at once cases of drawers for the reception of these cards, as they will not be available for public use until that is done. I am confident that the character of the reading will steadily improve as the card catalogue comes into use.
The plan of distributing books through the agen- cies continues without change. Although we are very much indebted to our several agents for its successful operation thus far, I think the time is near at hand when better facilities should be pro- vided at Newton Centre and Auburndale, for the users of the Library to consult catalogues and ex- change books. Under our present management we are not able to control our agents in their methods of discharging the business of receiving, delivering, and returning books, collecting fines, and assisting persons desiring to use the Library. The delivery at the points mentioned is already quite large, and whenever we can secure suitable rooms with atten- dants at these points, the use of the Library will
2
1
18
certainly be increased far beyond the point now attainable.
The accessions for the year comprise 719 volumes purchased here, and also 150 volumes imported, the total expense of which is $1,370.13. Our foreign purchase includes a small collection of choice books in French and German. There have been received as gifts from several persons 111 volumes, and the binding of files of magazines and papers from the reading-room, and pamphlets, adds 91 volumes to the list, making the total addition to the Library for the past year 1,072 volumes. The most valuable gift of the year was presented by William B. Fowle, Esq., consisting of a large folio volume of photo- graphs, comprising views of cathedrals, chateaux, and other public buildings in France. We have also been generously remembered by the Rev. B. K. Peirce, who has added at various times 21 volumes to the Library, and the " American Architect and Building News " for the past year.
Our periodical department has received from S. E. Decker, Esq., 17 volumes of illustrated journals. We have also received a bound file of the Newton " Republican " and last year's issues of the Newton " Journal," from their respective editors.
Our accessions of the year are marked by the addition of several finely illustrated works, as well as by a large instalment of numbers needed to com-
19
plete our sets of English reviews. A series of the " Collections and Reports of the Massachusetts His- torical Society " is certainly one of the most impor- tant additions of the year.
The increasing attention paid to art education has induced the Library Committee to provide several standard works illustrating ornamental and practical design, etching, and the use of water-colors. The works of Owen Jones, Racinet, Hamerton, Penley, Hope and others, give our' Library a much-needed reinforcement in this direction.
I wish once again to call the attention of the friends of the Library to the fact that it is becoming the repository of historical and official papers relat- ing to Newton and vicinity, and to request that they place at its disposal any written or printed matter of the above character which they are willing to part with. Our collections are quite incomplete, and some of the publications needed can hardly be pur- chased, while there are doubtless copies of the desired papers stowed away in the attics of Newton that will eventually be sent to the paper-mill unless this appeal is regarded. Among the papers desired are the "Memoirs of Rev. Joseph Grafton," the pamphlet published on the occasion of erecting a monument to the first settlers of Newton, printed in 1852, and the Report of the Selectmen of Newton for the year ending March, 1851, also for years pre-
20
vious to 1849. Any correspondence treating of pub- lic affairs of this section in past years, old plans of real estate ;- all such matters have their proper place in the Public Library, and are quite likely at some future day to solve perplexing questions by means of their record. It will be noted that 10 volumes are unaccounted for at the recent examination of the Library. Of these, five are known to have been lost during the hasty removal from the building at the time of the fire, while there is no record of the loan of the remainder. It is not improbable that some of these may yet find their way back, while the balance must be charged to the loss account, in which addi- tions are quite sure to appear each year. As they belong to the cheapest grade of books, the money value is quite small.
The Register shows an increase during the year, of 682 names, making the total 6,837. It is not to be supposed that this number of persons is now using the Library, as changes constantly occurring by death and removal, have certainly largely reduced it. In order to obtain an approximation to the actual number of borrowers, I have had a new registration file commenced, in which the slips of those recently reg- istered, and those having their cards renewed, are entered.
The Reading-Room has continued without change since the last report. There are now on file, twenty-
21
one daily, fourteen weekly, and eight monthly papers; also, twenty-one magazines. Seven of the above weekly papers are given by the Rev. B. K. Peirce, and three others from several persons.
I wish to call your attention to the necessity of better methods of ventilating this room, as during its present condition many persons are unable to use it. It is certainly to be regretted, that it was not found practicable to remedy this evil during the progress of repairs last summer.
The over-crowded condition of our shelves, should be relieved by the addition of new alcoves. Space can be secured on the floor of Edmand's Hall, for five cases by a re-arrangement of those now in use, without marring the symmetrical appearance of the room. The objection that may arise to this close arrangement of book cases, is the partial loss of light from the east and west, that is needed at the reading tables, and the delivery desk. This may be remedied at some future day, by placing windows on either side of the clock, that will admit abundant light on the librarian's desk, and into the centre of the room, where it is already much needed.
I would recommend that a light iron fence be placed on the north side of the Library lot, for the purpose of preventing the injury now done by tres- passers. For a few years past, it has seemed to serve the convenience of many persons, old and young, to
22
cross the Library grounds and neighboring yards, instead of keeping on the highway; and this evil is likely to increase unless checked in the manner suggested.
The matter of bringing the Public Library into closer connection with the schools, is one that is en- gaging the attention of men prominent in educational circles, and certainly deserves the consideration of all persons who are desirous of seeing a higher degree of usefulness developed in these institutions. It is fre- quently said, that libraries and schools are engaged hand in hand in the great work of educating and elevating the race, but those most familiar with the practical workings of both, can see but little truth in this metaphor; and can also see, that there is a good work to be done in bringing them into closer relations with each other. It has seemed to me that if the teachers in the public schools were supplied with an abridged catalogue of the Library, in which the best works in a few departments were entered under subject headings only, that they would then be able to assist their scholars in selecting books, at an expense of very little time or trouble to themselves. It is not probable that a large portion of any class would be thus dependant on the teacher at once, but it may be expected that the best scholars would be sure to appreciate such aid and profit by it, thus deriving greater benefits from the use of the Library, than they
23
would otherwise be likely to obtain. Any person who has noticed the aimless way in which most young persons use the catalogue in selecting numbers, and the frequency with which they will take home books that they have no idea of reading, and would not have chosen had they known anything about them beforehand, will readily see that it is time the elders used their wits in preventing some of these disap- pointments. There is one teacher in our schools who has already undertaken this very work, but who pursues it under some disadvantages, for want of a suitable book list.
It may be urged that such duties are more properly incumbent on the parent than the teacher, but I am sure the latter have special advantages for this work, in first being as a rule a better judge of the child's mental capacity and possibly its tastes, and also in knowing something of the relation that should exist between the scholar's reading and his studies.
Such a catalogue may be abridged from the one now used, and should be confined to history, travels, biography, applied and theoretical science, and also a judicious selection from the best writers of fiction. There are numerous popular treatises in the above classes, designed for young persons, that present their subjects in an attractive form, and make them intelli- gible to the ordinary reader. It might hereafter be deemed desirable to add to the curriculum of our
24
schools, a course of reading collateral with some of the studies pursued. If a class in history were to read certain works treating of the country and epoch under consideration, they would be likely to find their interest therein greatly increased, while their remem- brance of persons and events would be more firm and lasting. Likewise, in geography, the narratives of travellers would at once fix in their minds, the pecu- liar features and customs of the several countries and peoples. The study of the sciences might be more easily comprehended and far more interesting, through an acquaintance with some of the lives and works of Faraday, Stephenson, Proctor, Darwin and many others, instead of being confined as it generally is to the text books in use. Nor should the eager demand for imaginative reading be disregarded, but on the other hand it should be properly administered to, but with careful discrimination. Historical fiction often leads one to a serious study of the subject, and at least gives one some idea of personages and events, that might not be otherwise obtained. Poetry, essays, and drama, should be included, and would furnish an ample store of the finest compositions in all languages.
There are obvious limitations to a catalogue of this character, which distinguish it from those prepared for general use. In the composition of every public library there is a large proportion of books which for many reasons are not suitable for young persons, and
25
they should therefore be omitted from the proposed school catalogue.
The edition of our catalogue published seven years ago is now quite exhausted, and those in use are not arranged on the plan submitted. Our card catalogue, when completed, will only serve those who can visit the library to consult it, and I fear the day is distant when we shall be able to print a new edition of it. I ask your consideration of the plan of preparing a catalogue as above set forth.
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