USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1877-1878 > Part 15
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The increasing use of the Reference Department is also evidence of the knowledge and estimation which the public has of its value; and the Trustees have endeavored to increase the facilities and convenience for study at its alcoves and tables.
The Reading-Room has become a resort for a large number of persons for general reading of magazines and periodicals, it being specially notable that many young men and lads thus spend much of the day and evening, and that all the sources of information which this room affords are highly prized and largely used by the public.
The past year has continued the evidence of former years that the present and future usefulness of the Library has the confidence and regard of those persons in our community whose means enable them to be gen- erous, and by their generosity and desire to promote
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the future intelligence of the public mind, and thus connect their names with those in other cities who have given to such institutions their highest value by perma- nent endowments.
In 1877 the Hon. Alden Speare, then Mayor of Newton, gave to the Library two hundred and fifty dollars, the income of which was to be used by the Trustees for the purchase of books.
In August last the Trustees were notified by the City Treasurer that a further gift of two hundred and fifty dollars had been made by Mr. Speare, on certain condi- tions, in accordance with which the money was waiting their action. The Trustees accepted the gift, and added it to the previous sum. They also voted to name these gifts " The Alden Speare Fund." On the 7th of De- cember last the Trustees received from Mr. Speare the further sum of five hundred dollars on the following conditions : " That the income from the whole sum thus given shall be used for the purchase of works upon manufactures and the mechanic arts, and that prefer- ence be given to works for the Reference Department of the Library ; also that there be added to the present name of the fund the words, " for the Promotion of Manufactures and the Mechanic Arts." These condi- tions being in accordance with the judgment of the Trustees, the gift was accepted, and the same will here- after be known as " The Alden Speare Fund for the Promotion of Manufactures and the Mechanic Arts."
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By these generous and opportune gifts Mr. Speare has established, for a large and increasing class of our young men, the foundation for an endowment which is sure to be increased, and become in the future a benefit to one of the material and important interests of the community, thus giving evidence of the most practical nature of that desire for the promotion of the interests of the city of Newton which has ever characterized his conduct. Mr. Speare has also presented to the Trus- tees, to be placed in " Edmands Hall," photographic portraits of the late Hon. J. Wiley Edmands and the present President of the Board, both of which have been accepted.
On the 8th of December the Trustees received notice, from the executors of the will of the late Mrs. Lydia M. Jewett, of the following bequest: " I give to the Newton Free Library, agreeably to my late husband's intention, - provided they have, or furnish, a suitable place for it, - the 'Transfiguration,' by Raphael, copied from the original picture in the Vatican expressly for my husband in 1860; but, if the Library furnishes no suitable place for this large and valuable picture, then I give it, agreeably to my husband's expressed wish, to the Art Gallery of Amherst College." In accordance with this notice and conditions, the Trustees having provided a suitable and satisfactory place for the pic- ture, it has been received ; and they have the satisfac- tion of saying that its position is favorable for light and adornment of the hall.
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The special interest which Mr. Jewett manifested in the establishment of the Library by liberal gifts to its funds, as well as by his labor and valuable aid in its early history as one of the Board of Managers, is thus perpetuated by the fidelity with which Mrs. Jewett has given effect to his wishes, and permanently connected his name with a department of education to which he ever gave much thought and study ; and the Trustees hope that there has thus been prepared the foundation of an Art Collection and Gallery, which will, by con- stant accessions, become in the near future an attractive and beneficial adjunct of the Library.
Art-culture in education is receiving increased atten- tion generally, and it is the desire of the Trustees that such interest may be manifested in art by our Library as will foster any love for it which may be latent in our community ; and to this end they have, in the selection of books of late, given preference to such as were copi- ously illustrated. Such books are eagerly sought for, and largely read, to the exclusion of much of the light, fictitious literature with which all libraries are so plen- tifully supplied.
The importance of our system of agencies for the distribution of books in all the wards of the city is brought to your notice by the report of the Superin- tendent ; and the Trustees desire to emphasize what he says by referring to the fact, that, of the 81,030 vol- umes given out, 33,709, or forty-two per cent of the
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whole, were distributed through these agencies at a cost for transportation of $310.78. The expenses of this system of circulation are likely to be increased by reason of the room and care required from the persons who perform this work. But the Trustees are quite sure that the system should be maintained, and with such con- veniences as will secure a much larger circulation. The establishment of branches in the different wards, as suggested by the Superintendent, may soon become the most useful and economical method to secure that result.
The subject of catalogues is one of the most impor- tant in connection with our own, as well as all other libraries. Our present work of preparing a card cata- logue is being carried on successfully; but it is a great labor, and much time and expense will be required to complete it.
In considering the requirements of the Library for the current year, the Trustees have been mindful of the desire of the city government to restrict appropriations as much as is consistent with the proper administration of its affairs.
The expenses of the Library are so regular as not to admit of much change. While, therefore, the Trustees feel obliged to ask about the same sum as last year, they will guard all the expenditures against any unne- cessary increase, and, if possible, close the year with a larger balance to the credit of the account than that with which it is begun; and we recommend an appro- priation for the year of $7,500 as follows : -
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For Salaries
. $2,700
Books .
. 1,600
Light and fuel
800
Supply account
. 500
Reading-Room
.
400
Agencies
. 400
Catalogue account
600
Binding
300
Furniture and fixtures
200
$7,500
Respectfully submitted.
GEO. H. JONES,
President.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the Trustees.
IN conformity with the ordinance relating to this Library, I herewith submit, for your consideration, my Annual Report. In the several appendixes accompany- ing this will be found full statistics of each department of the Library work. The past year has been excep- tional, as compared with the two preceding, in being exempt from marked changes in the administration, and disturbing influences of an unusual nature.
It is also distinguished by a large addition of books of higher average value than in former years, and by such additions and improvements in the equipment of the Library as leaves very little to be desired in this respect. The number of volumes loaned during the year is a few hundred less than the highest heretofore reported. Our largest circulation was attained in 1876, when the public interest in the Library was very much excited by its transfer from the Library corporation to the city government, and the loan of books increased 24,000 volumes per annum over the previous year. Since then the circulation has been very little less, and may hereafter be reasonably expected to exceed it. The comparatively small number of works of fiction pub-
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lished, and added to the Library, during the past two years, has left a certain class of our readers, who depend on an abundant supply of new novels, with a meagre stock to draw upon; and thus, in view of the diminished circulation, it may be assumed that a number of these readers have, for a season, ceased to use the Library. The delivery from the Library and its agencies for the past twelve months is as follows : -
1878.
1877. (10 mos.)
1876.
Library ·
47,321
Vols. 40,644
Vols. 50,530
Newtonville
8,081
6,594
8,190
Newton Centre .
6,696
6,468
7,571
Auburndale
6,304
4,832
4,838
Upper Falls
4,360
3,884
4,447
Newton Highlands
3,293
2,139
2,934
West Newton
1,907
1,239
1,649
Lower Falls
2,367
1,267
1,445
North Village
701
956
101
Total circulation
.
81,030
68,023
81,705
.
.
.
Vols.
The agency at North Village was closed in November for want of suitable accommodations, and because of the expense of its maintenance, while the demand for books had diminished full twenty per cent. With this
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exception, our agencies in the several wards continue without change, and appear to give general satisfaction, as the total delivery at these points have increased 2.534 volumes over any previous year. I am very confident that a larger use will be made of our Library whenever more suitable facilities can be afforded dis- tant residents to consult catalogs and bulletins, and to make those numerous inquiries into its resources which it is the duty of every member of the Library staff to answer if the information can be obtained. The amount of service that can be rendered these inquirers by competent library assistants, in indicating the sources of information on such subjects as may excite the public or individual attention, is not to be measured by statistics, but is nevertheless of importance both to the pupils in our schools, as well as older patrons of the Library. It is not to be expected that the gentlemen who volun- teer their services as receivers and distributors of books can give attention to this important feature of a libra- rian's duties, or that their stores will furnish the neces- sary room for consulting the catalogs, bulletins, and manuals that are provided.
There is here an excellent opportunity for our wealthy citizens to show their public spirit, and also leave an en- during memorial behind them, by establishing branches, with reading-rooms in connection, in the several villages, with a fund for their maintenance, under the care of the Trustees of the Public Library. This would afford
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accommodation for a reference library that is needed in every neighborhood ; and, by placing a competent person in charge, the business with the main Library would receive better attention, and be largely in- creased.
For the very satisfactory service that has been volun- tarily rendered by the Library agents during the past year, your Board and the community in general are much indebted.
The analysis of the circulation, shown in Appendix E, exhibits a gratifying result in the diminution of the demand for fiction during the year, while the average circulation has varied little during the past three years. The reduction of nearly four and a half per cent in one year is an unusual experience, and the rate of 67.36 is seldom equalled by libraries of this class. This result has no doubt been effected in part by the transfer of juvenile books on the subjects of history, biography, travels, and natural science, from the alcove of fiction to their respective departments. I have also indicated elsewhere another reason why the call for fiction has been lessened, and that was because it could not be supplied to the usual extent. If this class of readers ceased to use the Library, then their place was filled by others of a more serious turn, as the circulation of the past two years will show; if, however, they still continued to take books, then they have turned their attention to more profitable reading. During the year
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the School Committee published a brief subject catalog of our juvenile works in history, science, and English literature, for the special use of the children in our public schools. While the Library attendants have not observed any increased use of this class of books, and while we know the natural unwillingness of children to be guided in their selections from the Library, still it would be unreasonable to deny to this simple agency some credit for the improvement in the demand for books.
As our juvenile works are not kept apart by them- selves, I am unable to speak positively on this point. I am sure that a careful review of the books added during the year will show such judicious selections of works of a general character and interest, as well as many valuable works in the arts and sciences, that it may be reasonably assumed that many of our readers, being disappointed in securing the desired novel, have made selections from other classes of reading, and were satisfied with the change. In Appendix E the classifica- tion of the year's accessions, as well as present contents of the Library, are shown. Of the total number of books received, 994 volumes were purchased at home and abroad at an expense of $2,013.80; 130 volumes were given, and the binding of pamphlets and files of papers and magazines from the Reading-Room make the total accession for the year 1,200 volumes. The number of volumes given show an increase over
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former years, but are confined to a few donors. From Rev. B. K. Peirce we have received at various times fifty-two volumes, a large part of which were elemen- tary text-books in different branches of study that are frequently called for; also vols. iii. and iv. of the " American Architect and Building News." Through our representative at Washington, Hon. William Claflin, we received 34 volumes of the reports of the surveys in the Territories under the War and Interior Depart- ments, and other government publications. Many of these valuable works would not have reached us, but for his personal application in our behalf. There appears to be a lack of a proper system in the distribution of government publications, which sometimes results in their being sent to persons who can make no proper use of them, and denied to depositories where they will be cared for, and placed for the use of a large number of people. From S. E. Decker, Esq., we have the cur- rent volumes of " Harper's Weekly " and "Bazar," and from George H. Jones, Esq., a volume of photographs of the principal works of art in Florence. Among the purchases of the Library Committee are many impor- tant works, of which a brief mention may not be out of place. These are Smith's Dictionaries of Greek and Roman " Biography and Mythology," also " An- tiquities " and " Geography " and the " Bible " (compris- ing, in all, ten volumes) ; Johnson's Encyclopædia (in four volumes) ; Hitchcock's " Geology of New Hamp-
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s1 ire " (in two volumes). In illustrated works descrip- tive of countries, there are "India" by Rousselet, " Italy " by Trollope, "Switzerland " by Raden,." Lake Scenery of England" by Pyne, " French Pictures " by Green, " Dead Cities of the Zuyder Zee " by Havard, " Fair Lusitania " by C. C. Jackson, " The Atlantic Islands " by Benjamin, " Through the Dark Continent " by Stanley, and " China " by Eden. In the department of fine arts there are the "London Art Journal" (in thirty-eight volumes), " Anatomy of Expression " by Bell (original edition), " Art Embroidery " by Lockwood and Glaister, the " Millais" and "Faed Galleries," " Art in the House" by Falke, "Chinese Ornament " by Owen Jones, " Liber Studiorum " by Turner, "Carved Ivories " by Maskell, " Medallic History of England," " Anatomy for Artists " by Marshall, " Ghiberti Gates " (shown in a series of photographs of its panels) by Shedd, " History of Ceramic Art " by Young.
The practical application of art in construction is shown in " Rustic Work " by Ricauti, " Art Decoration applied to Furniture " by Spofford ; also " Pottery, how it is Made," by Nichols. Among additions to the department of natural science there are " British Moths and Butterflies " by Humphreys, also Hulme's works on " Familiar Wild Flowers, also Flowers, their Natural Growth and Treatment," " Wild Flowers and Grasses " by Meehan, and " American Ornithology " by Wilson and Buonaparte. In the department of travels will
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be found a full set of "Baedeker's Guide Books," " Voyage in the Yacht Sunbeam" by Mrs. Brassey, " Through Holland " by Wood, " Champlain's Voyages," " Over the Pyrenees into Spain," and " Walks in the South of France " by Eyre. Our collection of English drama has been enriched by the addition of Dodsley's " Select Collection of Old English Plays" (in fifteen volumes). In English literature there are Tyler's " His- tory of American Literature," " English Language and Literature " by Weiss, " British Poetry" by Fields and Whipple. In histories are Lamb's "History of New York," Guizot's Histories of " England " and " France," Stanley's "Memorials of Westminster Abbey," West- cott's " Historic Mansions of Philadelphia," Wilson's " Reminiscences of Old Edinburgh." There still re- main to be mentioned " Private Libraries of Provi- dence " by Rogers, "College Book" by Richardson, Perkins's "Tuscan Sculptors," Keller's " Lake Dwell- ings in Switzerland," Tegner's " Frithiofs' Saga " (a large illustrated copy), Cesnola's "Cyprus," and Weber's " Indian Literature," also Count Rumford's works complete ; and Hansard's " Book of Archery " concludes my selections of the most noteworthy of the year's additions.
A recent examination of the Library shows that eleven volumes are missing and unaccounted for since last report, the total value of which is $26.93. Of those reported lost last year, three have been recovered, thus reducing that number to seven. It is
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quite probable that some of those now missing will be hereafter accounted for, and thus reduce this moderate deficit. The task of writing the catalog of the Library upon cards has engaged the attention of the Librarian, with an occasional assistant, throughout the year. Her report shows that she has written 9,626 cards, covering 4,054 volumes, and occupying 848 hours ; making the total statement of this work since the beginning, two years ago, of 14,123 cards, 5,965 volumes, and 1,463 hours. This last statement comprises the accessions for two years, the library of fiction and periodicals, also the reference library, and a portion of the collection of English essays, poetry, and drama. The Librarian's other duties have interfered with the regular progress of this work ; and at the present rate it will require from two to three years more to complete it, unless a compe- tent assistant is provided.
These cards are now distributed into drawers espe- cially provided for them; and it is expected that they will furnish reasonably full information of the contents of the Library, and also that this great convenience will lead to an increased use of the more valuable collec- tions. During the year the desks of the Reading-Room have been re-arranged, in order to secure better light for the readers of newspapers, and the gas-fixtures were changed accordingly. There are now on file twenty- one daily, sixteen weekly, and nine monthly papers ; also twenty-five magazines.
To the editors of " The Newton Journal," " Repub- lican," and " Transcript," we are indebted for files of their respective papers. From Rev. B. K. Peirce we have received full files of nine publications, and others have been given by persons to me unknown. The number of readers is constantly increasing, and general good order has been maintained by the Janitor. The vexa- tious matter of ventilating this room has had the atten- tion of the Committee on Public Property quite recently ; but the ventilators provided have not had a sufficient trial to enable me to decide on their merits. The same committee have also placed a neat, substantial fence on the north side of our grounds, that will serve to check trespassers who have given annoyance in past years. While the addition of book-cases, cabinets, and other furniture during the year, has required a large expendi- ture, it has supplied our most urgent needs, and has provided for the requirements of the Library in this direction for several years to come. Cases and shelving for books have been placed in " Edmands Hall" of suffici- ent capacity for four thousand volumes. A case of drawers for our card catalog has been furnished, which also includes cabinets for our bound volumes of news- papers, and a number of large drawers for the reception of our more costly folios, which require special care.
The changes in the Reading-Room elsewhere referred to, and a large reading-table, are the principal items in the account of " furniture and fixtures." The catalog
*
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of the Library now on sale is confined to books received since July 1, 1871, and comprises the Authors' List and Bulletins Nos. 1 and 2, with No. 3 now in press. It is now over a year since since we could furnish copies of the main catalog, although a sufficient number were reserved for our future use ; and it is certainly a serious hinderance to the usefulness of the Library that we are not able to supply the constant demand for a more com- plete catalog of our collections. In view of the great expense involved in editing and printing a catalog of our Library with the fulness and accuracy of the stan- dard of modern cataloging, I have sought a substitute, which, used in connection with our full card catalog when completed, will, I trust, answer all practical pur- poses. During last summer I called the attention of your Board to a proposition from a committee of the American Library Association to edit, without expense to this Library a subject catalog embracing five thou- sand titles of the best works on all subjects, most of which will be found in our collections.
It is further proposed that such selections shall be carefully revised by specialists in the several depart- ments of literature, science, and art, and the whole liberally furnished with carefully prepared explanatory notes ; and finally, provided your Board assume the cost of composition, paper, press-work, and binding of the first edition, the committee will give the whole matter of publication their careful supervision. and the expense
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thus incurred will be far less than if such a catalog were published in the usual way. The reputation of the committee making this proposal is an ample guaranty that such a publication would be a valuable and unique bibliografy to the extent of the number of titles com- prised ; and also that the notes appended to a large proportion of the titles would, after the careful revision which is promised, at once place this catalog far in advance of any which the skill or means at our command could otherwise secure ; and finally, while it would em- brace a large proportion of the most useful works in our Library with our book numbers, it would also indi- cate such omissions in our collections of standard works as our Library Committee would no doubt purchase at the earliest opportunity. There are at present some nine thousand titles in our Library, of which some four thousand are so seldom called for as to justify referring all inquiries concerning them to the card catalog. To cull out from the whole collection only those works whose literary or scientific value gives them a classical or authoritative reputation is a task requiring the com- bined skill of the scholar and specialist, and the result of such labors will surely be the best manual for all classes of readers. In considering the character of such voluntary service, it should be understood that the committee in question represent an association of libra- rians throughout the country, whose purpose is, by their united labors, to establish standards of all library
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appliances, that the best forms may be secured at the least cost. This work has been in successful operation for the past two years; and the undertaking to compile a model catalog that shall serve the purpose of all libraries of this class clearly comes within the scope of their organization. It will greatly redound to the credit of this Library to be the first to recognize and avail itself of the advantages of this proposal. The registration of borrowers during the year amounted to 938; making the total, since the opening of the Library, 7,775. The new index to the registration, which includes the names only of those persons who have applied for cards or admission to the Library in the last two years, now numbers 4,582 ; and this may be taken as a close approximation to the actual number using the Library.
Although the routine of work during the past year has been free from extraordinary demands on the Library staff, yet it is a pleasant duty to acknowledge the con- scientious performance of its tasks by its several members ; and also my personal obligation for the cheerful co-opera- tion I have at all times received from the Librarian and her assistants in the discharge of my duties, that has, to a large extent, relieved me of many of the cares that were incidental to my position. These ladies are cer- tainly entitled to your approval for the successful progress of the year's work.
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