USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1879-1880 > Part 14
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93.8
Hamilton
94.2
91.2
96.8
94
91.4
97.1
97.7
94.6
96.7
93.5
97.6
District No. 2
293.3
274.7
94.5
306.3
287.6
95
308.4
292.6
96
297.2
281.4
95.7
306.3
287
94.8
Peirce .
151.7
141.5
93.3
146.1
139.1
94 9
140.5
131.9
93.7
135
128.4
95.1
Davis
181.1
165.3
91.4
198.4
182.7
92.6
203.2
189.2
93.5
203.1
187.9
92.9
Franklin
114
107.8
93.9
123
113.8
92.9
130.7
121.8
93.1
133
125.1
93.9
Adams
141.4
129
91
148.9
131.7
88.4
149.8
135.5
90.3
146.1
133.2
91.2
Claflin .
144.7
130.6
89.4
154
139.5
90.6
162
149.8
92.5
156.3
139.8
89.2
District No. 3
732.9
674.2
91.8
770.4
706.8
91.9
786.2
728.2
92.6
773.5
704.4
92.5
770.2
705.6
91.6
Bigelow
298.6
269.1
90.2
298.4
267.6
90.9
287.4
252.8
87.9
271
236.6
87.1
Underwood
138.3
118.3
85.5
165.2
141.6
84.5
172.6
150.1
87.3
169.1
145.7
86.3
Lincoln
36.2
32.6
90.5
41.9
38.6
92.1
40.2
37
92
42.4
37.7
88.9
Jackson
213.7
185.4
86.6
244
208
84.8
247.7
206.7
84.2
239.5
202.7
84.9
District No. 4
686.8
605.4
88.2
749.5
655.8
88.1
747.9
646.6
87.9
722
622.7
86.8
717.5
626.8
87 5
High
249.9
224.7
89.9
238.6
216.7
90.8
226.1
203.4
89.9
217.8
199.5
91.6
253.2
232.7
91.9
Total
2713.2 2444.6
90.8
2814.9 2544.8
90.9
2807.1
2550.6
91.5
2710.1 2439.6
91.5
2791.7
2540.9
91
-
.
-
-
.
.
.
.
.
-
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
211.1|
193.3
91.9
207.7
Prospect
Thompsonville
36.5
33.6
92.1
36
32.9
91.3
20.3 37
35.5
15.3
82.2
·
-
-
-
105
SECRETARY'S REPORT.
SCHOOLS.
Average
Attendance.
Attendance.
Whole No.
Attendance.
Average
Per cent
Average
Attendance.
88.4
193.6
201.2 96
-
.
106
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
SCHOOL APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1879.
General Appropriations for Support of Schools $72,150 00
Received from the Dog Tax . 1,014 30
73,164.30
Amount transferred to Repairs and Incidentals
1,380 29
$71,784 01
Amount paid to Superintendent
$2,700 00
Amount paid to Teachers
60,601 75
Amount paid to Janitors .
3,968 00
Amount paid to Secretary
300 00
Amount paid for Fuel .
3,806 01
Amount expended
71,375 76
Balance unexpended
$408 25
Appropriation for Repairs and Incidentals $8,000 00
Amount transferred from General Appropriation
1,380 29
$9,380 29
Amount expended
9,380 29
Appropriation for Evening School
$500 00
Amount expended
426 53
Balance unexpended
73 47
Appropriation for Industrial and Mechanical Drawing
$300 00
Amount expended
227 50
Appropriation for Conveyance of Pupils to and from the High School,
$900 00
Amount expended
850 00
Balance unexpended
50 00
Total balance unexpended
$604 22
Expenditures for 1879
$82,260 08
Expenditures for 1878
83,208 63
Balance unexpended
72 50
ISAAC HAGAR, Secretary.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TRUSTEES
OF THE
NEWTON FREE LIBRARY,
NEWTON, MASS.,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1879.
E
LIBERTY AND UNION
3
FOUNDED 1
3
IN
M
88.A CITY1873
A
BOSTON: PRESS OF W. L. DELAND AND SON, Congress Building, 4, Post Office Square. 1880.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 1879.
AT LARGE.
BRADFORD K. PEIRCE
TERM EXPIRES 1884.
JULIUS L. CLARKE .
TERM EXPIRES 1883.
JAMES F. C. HYDE
TERM EXPIRES 1882.
GEORGE H. JONES TERM EXPIRES 1881.
JOHN S. FARLOW
TERM EXPIRES 1880.
FROM THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
GEORGE D. ELDRIDGE TERM EXPIRES 1880.
FROM THE BOARD OF COMMON COUNCIL.
NATHAN MOSMAN . TERM EXPIRES 1880.
ORGANIZATION FOR THE YEAR 1879.
PRESIDENT. GEORGE H. JONES.
SECRETARY. GEORGE D. ELDRIDGE.
COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY.
PRESIDENT, ex officio. BRADFORD K. PEIRCE. JOHN S. FARLOW. JULIUS L. CLARKE.
COMMITTEE ON THE BUILDING.
PRESIDENT, ex officio.
GEORGE D. ELDRIDGE.
JAMES F. C. HYDE. NATHAN MOSMAN.
SUPERINTENDENT. BRADFORD K. PEIRCE.
LIBRARIAN. HANNAH P. JAMES.
ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN. CAROLINE B. JACKSON.
JANITOR. JAMES J. TOWER.
ORGANIZATION FOR THE YEAR 1880.
PRESIDENT. GEORGE H. JONES.
SECRETARY. JULIUS L. CLARKE.
COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY.
PRESIDENT, ex officio. BRADFORD K. PEIRCE.
JOHN S. FARLOW. JULIUS L. CLARKE.
COMMITTEE ON THE BUILDING.
PRESIDENT, ex officio. NATHAN MOSMAN.
JAMES F. C. HYDE. JAMES R. DEANE.
SUPERINTENDENT. BRADFORD K. PEIRCE.
LIBRARIAN.
HANNAH P. JAMES.
ASSISTANT LIBRARIANS.
CAROLINE B. JACKSON.
MARIE L. CLAPP.
JANITOR. JAMES J. TOWER.
TRUSTEES' REPORT.
To his Honor the Mayor and the City Council of Newton.
THE Trustees of the Newton Free Library have the honor of presenting for the year ending Dec. 31, 1879, the following Report :
The full and complete Report of the Superintendent made to the Trustees, and herewith submitted with their cordial endorsement, renders an extended one from them unneces- sary.
The courtesy which has been extended to the Trustees by the city government hitherto, gives them confidence in pre- senting the necessities of the Library for the ensuing year, and in supplementing the Report of the Superintendent, by asking your special attention to some items of adminstration and expenditure.
DISTRIBUTING AGENCIES.
The necessity and value of this method of placing the books within reach of all the citizens of our city, render necessary better accommodations at the points of distribution, and more frequent and systematic transit to and from those points. A proper system requires a daily distribution, which will require the time of a man with his team, at a cost, includ- ing the pay of those in charge at the agencies, of at least $1,200 per year, whereas the present system costs $400. The Trustees do not feel authorized to make a change which will require an addition to the appropriation asked for, of at least $800, without an expression of approval by the city govern- ment.
-
8
SHELF ROOM.
An increase of shelf capacity is quite necessary, and the Trustees would urge this requirement upon your early con- sideration. This need was anticipated when the Library was opened, and the Trustees then reported that the alcoves were so arranged that the shelf room could be doubled, and thus make room for some 30,000 volumes in all. The Superin- tendent now reports that we have 15,548 volumes, and that additional room is required as soon as consistent. A library worthy the name, must place upon its shelves new works as published, to a reasonable extent ; its readers are on the alert for such books; and while there is much that should not be bought, the increase of that which is good, is material and necessary, and should be provided for. The Trustees are confident that no worthless, and few objectionable books are on its shelves, and that no circulating library has a larger proportional number of valuable works for reference or gen- eral reading than ours, and we desire that the youth, the adult, and those of mature age, can be sure of finding that which will interest and instruct upon any subject which is to them of special value.
No definite estimate has yet been made of the cost of such additions as are requisite, but approximately it may be stated at $1,200.
VENTILATION.
With the increase of numbers of persons in both the Library and Reading-Room, more gas is consumed, and the imperfect ventilation of the lower story has thus become a matter of serious complaint, and requires early improvement so far as is possible.
The Trustees have no special plan for the accomplishment of this difficult matter, and hope for the attention of the Committee on Public Property to it at an early day.
9
INTERIOR ADMINISTRATION.
The reference of the Superintendent to the work of the Librarian is timely, and if his suggestions are acted upon, a large part of the work upon the preparation of new books for circulation, and upon catalogue work, must be performed by an assistant, so that Miss James can devote time to answer- ing questions, and giving such help to the youth, and others, as they may desire in the choice of books, and which she is eminently qualified to give.
It is quite necessary also that some portion of her time should be given to the detail of the Superintendent's duties as it is quite too much to expect that he should take so much of his valuable time and labor from his professional duties, The increased expenditure for this purpose is included in the estimate for the ensuing year.
WEST NEWTON ATHENAEUM.
The correspondence had with the West Newton Atheneum, to which the Superintendent refers, has not been resumed since the subject was referred back from the city government to the Trustees, "with full power," nor are the Trustees aware that the Athenaeum desires any further negotiation.
As the Library of the Athenaeum would be a large and valuable accession to the City Library, and as in the judg- ment of the Trustees of the latter, the union of the two would be of advantage to both, the Trustees of the City Library were very desirous that, as in the case of the Newton Centre Library Association, such an union might be consummated. As, however, the wishes of the Athenaeum were in effect to make it a Branch Library, this did not, and does not now seem to come under our legitimate action without some posi- tive instruction from the city government. Should the Athe- næum desire at any future time to make such a union as comes within the sphere of duty of the Trustees of the City
10
Library, the latter do not doubt their ability to so arrange for an interchange of books, as, that the Athenæum shall be secure in the full benefit of the City Library.
The Trustees regard it as a duty to call the attention of the city government to the true function of a public library, which is demonstrated by those who are making the subject of complete education a study, and which has been specially voiced at the Conventions of Librarians and educators referred to by the Superintendent. The public library should no longer be regarded as a show-case of books, nor a hugh collection of everything printed, to feed morbid appetites, but the place where can be found everything in literature which will interest, instruct, and educate our youth for the duties of life, and afford to mature minds aid in culture and improve- ment ; when the public library meets such requirements it becomes the complement and supplement of the public school and other educational institutions. The Trustees believe the Newton Library as fully meets these conditions as any one of its size and age in our country, and that under the fostering care of the city government it will steadily increase its present usefulness ; with this end constantly in view, the Committee for the purchase of books, have selected, and will continue to select, the best class of reading, and such works for reference as are most valuable to the professions, to students, and to mechanics and artisans. If in accordance with this estimate of the true function of the Library, the appropriation asked for seems excessive, the Trustees desire that a due regard may be had for the foregoing considerations.
ALDEN SPEARE FUND.
The income from this fund has been, up to Dec. 31, 1879, $79.18, of which there has been expended $70.45 in accordance with the conditions of the donor.
The Trustees have carefully estimated the amount of appropriation necessary for the ensuing year, and have fixed
11
upon the lowest sum which will meet the requirements, and respectfully ask that $7,500 be appropriated.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
GEO. H. JONES,
President Board of Trustees.
ESTIMATE IN ITEMS FOR 1880.
Salaries
$3,300
Reading Room
350
Incidentals
225
Repairs
75
Printing, etc.
70
Binding
275
Gas and Coal
700
Agency express
400
Blanks, etc. .
120
Furniture, etc. .
100
Postage, etc.
15
Books .
2.000
Total
$7,630
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the Trustees of the Newton Free Library.
GENTLEMEN : - In submitting to you, according to the requisitions of an ordinance of our city, an annual report for the year just ended, I must express my regrets that my able predecessor, Mr. Frederick Jackson, who has so efficiently and skilfully managed the Library for the previous five years, and had acquired so much invaluable experience, felt called upon to resign the office of Superintendent. My many other duties rendered my acceptance of the position, otherwise grateful to my tastes and in the line of my studies, a matter of great reluctance, and have prevented my meeting my own apprehension of what so responsible a supervision requires, and ought to receive, at the hands of the executive officer.
There have been few incidents to distinguish this year from the previous one. The administration of the Library has been attended with no uncommon difficulties. The only change in its personal force has been the addition of Miss M. L. Clapp,-a lady of considerable experience in Library work-who has aided in the preparation of the catalogue, and will be able, hereafter, to relieve the Librarian of most of the office details, and permit her to give more of her personal attention to the patrons of the Library.
A favorable change, meeting the wishes of those residing in Newton Centre, has been made in the agency of that ward, and the agency at North Village, which had been closed for a year, has been re-opened, and is now successfully adminis- tered.
The Auburndale Book Club, which ceased to keep up its
13
organization after the establishment of the City Library, for- warded its remaining books- about one hundred and fifty - through Rev. Milton P. Braman, D. D. and G. B. Knapp Esq., as a donation to the Free Library. These volumes have been added to our list, or exchanged for others, where they were duplicates.
We have been in often consultation, during the year, with the Trustees of the West Newton Athenaeum, hoping to secure some satisfactory arrangement by which those of our citizens heretofore largely dependent upon that Library, might be able to avail themselves more fully of all the advantages of the Free Library. . We trust ere long, such a plan mutually ad- vantageous to the proprietors of the Athenæum and the Trus- tees of the city institution will be devised.
During the previous year we commenced the preparation of an exhaustive card catalogue, which would open, as a full index, all the treasures of the Library to its patrons. When this is once completed it can be readily printed, and thus sup- ply a full catalogue up to the time of its issue, of the books, their authors, and their subjects. But as this work could not be hurried, and the previous catalogue and bulletins were far behind the later acquisitions of the Library, and even these were exhausted, a very imperative necessity was felt, especially for the wards where agencies supply the books, for a new catalogue, at as early a day as possible. My predeces- sor referred to an important work of this description-a sub- ject catalogue-embracing five thousand titles of the best works in all departments of literature, then in course of preparation by the American Library Association. This work, when completed will be an admirable index, especially serviceable to new libraries, just about to fill their shelves ; but the necessary delay incident to its preparation and publi- cation, and the fact that when completed it would contain books that we have not yet obtained, and leave as many others uncatalogued upon our shelves, assured us that it would not meet the existing and pressing demand for some adequate
14
key to unlock at once our own stores of literature, to our cit- izens throughout the different wards. At the request, there- fore, of the City Council, for which an appropriation was made, the Librarian has prepared a popular catalogue of all the books, under their author's names, arranged also under subjects, according to the latest suggestions of the most ex- perienced of our public Librarians. The work is now rapidly passing through the press, and will be ready for delivery in a few weeks. It is not a complete catalogue of subjects, but it is so thoroughly classified that little difficulty will be found in discovering, by its aid, the contents of our shelves, upon any given theme, and it will prove to be, we think, one of the best of its kind. Where further information than it affords is needed, recourse can be had to the card catalogue, in the Library, which will move rapidly on to its completion. This already embraces all the books bought within two years, and a considerable portion of the previous volumes. This cata- logue, as those that have examined it understand, is really quite a full index to all the books in the Library, with the exception of periodicals. While ordinary catalogues have only one entry for a book, this has as many as the volume contains distinct subjects. These cards, under their appro- priate letters, are placed in drawers, alphabetically arranged ; the whole forming a large cabinet, accessible to visitors in Edmands Hall. The Librarian is always ready to explain the nature, and the mode of availing one's self of its advan- tages. The new index to periodical literature, now in prepa- ration under the supervision of Mr. William F. Poole, of the Chicago Public Library, aided by a large number of Libra- rians in England and America, is now approaching comple- tion, and is to be soon published by Messrs. Houghton, Os- good, & Co., of Boston. It will bring the work down to January 1, 1880. This will open up to eager students a vast storehouse of short, but carefully prepared essays upon all the leading subjects which have been under discussion throughout Christendom during the last quarter of a century.
15
Our Library is quite rich in this material, and opportunities for increasing this department are not overlooked.
During the year we have been able to secure larger acces- sions to the Library than during any year since it came un- der the care of the present Board of Trustees, and the books obtained have been chiefly of the highest character, while the demands for popular and juvenile reading have not been for- gotten. With the income of the Speare Fund, contributed by Hon. Alden Speare, a very fine collection of volumes, ac- cording to the terms of the gift, "for the Promotion of Man- ufactures and the Mechanic Arts," have been purchased, as the foundation of a broad selection ultimately, of such impor- tant works. During the year, by purchase, 1,516 volumes have been added to the shelves of the Library, and 173 by donations. Two missing books have been restored ; making the total accessions 1,691. There has been but one volume lost the present year, and 117 worn out by long use ; which, subtracted from the above figures, leave our net increase at 1,573. Last year the actual increase was 1,039. The total number of volumes now in the Library is 15, 548. It is quite a singular fact, that the first book lost from our shelves, Sept. 5, 1867, has been returned within a few weeks. It was found in the Providence railroad station, laid away and for- gotton by the gentleman discovering it, until the present time. When it came to light, it was at once forwarded to the Library.
Among the donors to the Library during the past year, we notice the gift of 17 volumes by Mr. S. E. Decker, 13 by Mr. John T. Banchor, 4 from Rev. G. W. Shinn, and the same number from A. C. Fearing jr., 3 from Mr. Frederick Jackson, and 2 each from I. F. Kingsbury, Samuel P. May, and W. W. Keith. A number of gentlemen have contributed single volumes ; a donation of books was received from Mrs. J. W. Hayes, and 29 have been received from the Superin- tendent of the Library. Valuable Congressional documents have been secured through the kind offices of Ex-Governor Claflin.
16
Of the additions made, 381 are classified under the head of Prose Fiction and Juvenile Works; 213 as Essays, Poetic, and Dramatic volumes ; 92 Literary periodicals ; 134 Geo- graphical volumes and Travels ; 160 Biographical and Relig- ious works ; 170 Historical ; 199 volumes upon the Natural Sciences ; 31 upon Political and Social Science ; and 120 vol- umes for the Reference library - a division of subjects which, we think, must strike our citizens as giving a fair proportion to the various departments of the Library. We have kept abreast of the current publications of the day, and have pro- vided duplicates where volumes of special interest have been issued.
It is an interesting and encouraging fact that we continue, slowly indeed, to decrease the average of fictitious reading among our patrons ; and this is not to be attributed to a lack of provision of the best class of these works, but to a growing taste in the community for something more substantial. The percentage of novels, which in the majority of public libraries reaches about seventy-five, on a scale of one hundred, falls with us this year as low as 65.3, and during some months has ranged at 62.5. As a confirmation of the emphatic remarks, made at the late Conference of Librarians by C. F. Adams, jr., Esq., as to the value and popularity of the bound volumes of Harper's Monthly Magazine, in a public library, we can tes- tify that there is scarcely a work upon our shelves that pre- serves such a hold upon our young readers as a set of these magazines, and many of the volumes are fairly worn out in honest service.
The additions of books during the year have about filled all the available space, and portions of our volumes have al- ready to be placed upon shelves in a storage room adjoining the Reading-Room. It will be indispensable that we have, at an early day, an increase of shelving-room. A beautiful de- sign by A. B. Meacham, Esq., which has been submitted to the Board, shows how an additional line of alcoves, above the present, on the west side of Edmands Hall, can be constructed
17
without changing any of its permanent features, or, in the least, detracting from its graceful appearance, or injuring the light of the alcoves. If this plan were carried out, our shelv- ing-room would be increased by about one-half of the pres- ent capacity.
During the year the appreciation of the Reading-Room has been shown by a marked increase of its visitors. Its files have been sustained, and new periodicals have been added. It now affords a wide opportunity for the perusal of the is- sues of the newspaper press from all parts of the country, and of the leading English and American monthlies and quarter- lies. Several German, French, and Spanish periodicals have also been regularly supplied to its files by the Superintendent. We have striven to meet the suggestions of our citizens as to the hours during which it was desirable to have this room accessible to the public. Attention is now being given to the question of its ventilation, which has been the chief occa- sion of complaint in this department during the fall and winter.
The Library and Reading-Room have been open every day during the year, with the exception of the Sabbath and legal holidays. The circulation of books, as last year, has fallen off several thousand volumes. It is a singular fact that the same limitation of circulation has occurred in other pub- lic libraries. Much of this, with us, however, is due to our inability to supply catalogues and bulletins of our late very interesting purchases. This has been specially true in the wards of the city supplied by agencies. From these con- stant and earnest inquiries have come for lists of our new books Some of this falling off, doubtless, arises from the fact that we have not loaded our shelves with the class of sensational novels, new and old, which find such an amazing circulation in the libraries where they are provided for their patrons. We do not consider this an occasion for lam- entation, while it is a source of congratulation that the circu- lation of substantial works has largely increased.
18
At the late Conference of Librarians, held in Boston, last July, Dr. James Freeman Clarke remarked, at the opening of a short address, that, in his youth, " a library was regarded as a prison where books were to be confined. The Librarian was the Jailer answerable for their safe-keeping; readers and bor- rowers were regarded with distrust, as those who might injure the books, or, perhaps, never return them. All sorts of pre- cautions, therefore, were taken to keep these pestilent bor- rowers at a safe distance." But now, he rejoiced that he had been permitted to listen to Librarians who think it a part of their duty to encourage readers to take out books, and to help them to find what they want. Referring to this sentiment Prof. W. P. Atkinson, speaking on the same occasion, remark- ed : "There cannot be a doubt that we are discovering along with their immensely increased powers of usefulness there is coming a corresponding enlargement of capacity for mischief ; that to make a working library, something more -much more - is necessary than simply to pile books together ; that libraries cannot be left to run themselves any longer ; that with enlargement of sphere and increasing complications of machinery there have come increased responsibility, and a vastly increased demand for skill, and knowledge, and judg- ment in the management of so potent an instrumentality." It was the growing apprehension of this responsibility that occasioned, some four years since, the calling of the first Congress of Librarians for mutual consultation and for the arrangement of annual national or international sessions. , The second meeting of this body was held in Manchester, Eng- land, and awakened much interest. Our Library was well represented on the occasion by our late efficient Superintend- ent. Full reports of the proceedings and the papers read were published, forming a very valuable volume. The third session of the Conference was held, as noticed above, in Boston, last summer, and was by far the most interesting and important of them all. It drew to its sessions the leading Librarians of the country, many of the Trustees of public libraries, and a
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