USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1922 > Part 11
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Privileges provided at the public expense for the common use, should be exercised by every one with due regard for the equal right of others. This seems perfectly obvious, but apparently there are some who do not realize it, or who carelessly or selfishly disregard it. To show how mis-use of privileges operates to restrict them, these further com- ments by the librarian are significant:
"Not long ago the Chief of Police returned 13 books found in one house. These were books which had been taken from the shelves without having them recorded as provided in the rules for bor- rowers. It has been the custom to allow non-resident pupils in our schools full library privileges. Last June two High School pupils from North Reading took two volumes of recent fiction, and it was only by the help of the librarian in North Reading and the aid of the police in that town that in the fall one of these books was returned and the fine (which amounted to two dollars) was collected. The pupil who took the other book had moved away, and the volume was not recovered. Con- sequently it has seemed best to limit non-resident pupils to books actual- ly required in school work."
With respect to books taken from the open shelves without having them recorded at the charging desk, it may be said that a certain num- ber are always lost in this way in every library having shelves openly accessible. On the whole the value of volumes lost, may be considered a charge against the open-shelf privilege, and worth incurring in view of the advantages to readers in general of that privilege, which enables them to examine the books freely. The thing to be deplored, after all, is not so much the expense incurred by the loss of books in this way, as the disregard of rule on the part of young persons who are the principal offenders, and whose lack of sense of the observance of law and dis- regard of the rights of others is shown by their conduct. There are other libraries in which the evil reaches greater proportions than with us, but in any community where the young readers come from order- loving families, it should not exist at all.
The librarian also reports:
"The number of requests for books to be reserved made it advisable to have a printed postcard notice prepared which the person requesting reservation might receive when the books became available. Since these · postcard notices cost the library about one and a half cents each, a charge of two cents is made for them, where formerly no charge was im- posed. But the result has been that an increased number of reserva-
203
tions has been requested, many borrowers seeming less reluctant to avail themselves of a privilege which they pay for. During the year 379 notices were sent out."
"Of the books given to the library, 40 were gifts from Howard Bag- ness, a High School pupil who was leaving town; nine were given by Robert Cain, another boy who is much interested in the library."
Needless to say, it is more pleasant to record instances of this kind on the part of young readers than to comment on the disappearance of books from the open shelves. The librarian remarks further as to gifts:
"Ten volumes were received from Mr. R. P. Burgess. Thanks are also due Mr. George Fisher who each month has given a copy of the Scientific American magazine, and to the proprietors of the Reading Chronicle who continue their gift of two copies of the paper, one for the reading tables and one to be preserved in our files.
"Nine volumes have been borrowed from the Boston Public Library, through the inter-library loan arrangement which enables the courtesy, for the use of borrowers here, who needed for a short time some book, not fiction, which our library did not contain or was unable to purchase."
"Library Hall has been used during the year by the Woman's Club Parliamentary Law Class; the Girls' Scout Council, and the Scout lead- ers' class; for the library story hours for children; and for the annual meeting of the directors of the Reading Home for Aged Women."
"In September the Woman's Educational Association (of Massachu- setts) lent to the library a set of pictures of the Great War, which were placed upon public exhibition for several weeks."
"For Children's Week, November 12 to 19, posters were displayed in the schools, and there was a brief 'story hour' on the thirteenth for girls and on the fourteenth for boys. As usual, the attention of teachers and children being called to the library, an increased attendance followed, and a number of new cards, larger than the average, were issued during the week."
"In September, when the list of books added to the library from February to August was issued in print, copies were sent to the teachers, with the offer to reserve for class use books upon any special subject, suggesting also that when a large class needed material upon a subject covered by only a limited supply of books such reservations would give all equal opportunity."
This plan was followed in connection with a class from the junior high school and the success of the arrangement warrants its continua- tion.
REVIEW OF PURCHASES
During the year we have devoted especial attention to the reading of young persons, graded to conform, somewhat, to the respective grades in the public schools. Among the books recently bought for children are certain standard works, especially illustrated, to add to a small col-
204
lection of fine books intended to promote reading in the library build- ing. Among them are: Burgess' "Bird Book and Animal Book"; Hughes' "Tom Brown's School Days"; Teasdale's "Rainbow Gold" (poems) ; Cooper's "Last of the Mohicans"; De Foe's "Robinson Crusoe", etc.
Books for adults include not only carefully selected novels but many important new books classed as "Sociology"; (Bryce's "International Relations"; Parker's "Working with the Working Woman"; Williams' "Horny Hands and Hampered Elbows"; and others).
"History"-(Paxon's "Recent History of the United States"; Pow- ell's "Asia at the Cross Roads"; Holderness' "Peoples and Problems of India"; Smith's "Oxford History of India"; Vantyne's "Causes of the War of Independence"; and others).
Many exceedingly interesting books have been added under "Travel"-(Alden's "Isle of Vanishing Men"; Hunt's "Rising Temper of the East"; Foster's "Adventures of a Tropical Tramp"; Smith's "14,000 Miles through the Air"; Stefansson's "Northwest Course of Empire").
"Biography" has included lives of Danton, Hugo Munsterberg; Moses Greeley Parker, and others; the recently published Life of Cardinal Gibbons, Reminiscences of Chauncey Depew, Letters of Franklin K. Lane, etc.
Books have been bought to aid teachers, relating to various aspects of pedagogy and child training; upon wireless telegraphy, radio, house- hold economy, health, industrial operations, etc. and many important books in general literature, poetry, essays, etc.
The titles of new books bought are listed in the library as soon as the volumes are ready for circulation and eventually they appear in print in the "Chronicle".
We have mentioned a few titles here simply to indicate the wide range of our purchases. We have tried to meet the needs, to arouse the interest, of readers of every class, as far as possible, within our financial limits. The librarian is always ready to display the new books, to help borrowers in making selection, or to list for possible pur- chase any book which may be recommended by patrons of the library.
USE OF THE LIBRARY
Volumes borrowed for home use
40,899
Increase over previous year
1,663
Largest monthly circulation, April
3,869
Smallest, June 2,939
Number of new borrowers registered 484
Whole number new borrowers registered during last five years 3,333
Number of days open during year
248
Average daily circulation, home use 164
Largest issue any single day, Feb. 18
396
Smallest, August 16 11
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RECEIPTS OF THE LIBRARY
These include :
Fines, etc., collected (for over-detention of books, chiefly) $227.53
Waste paper, etc., sold
1.10
Cash on hand, Jan. 1, 1922 6.09
$234.72
Paid to Town Treasurer
225.00
Balance on hand $ 9.72
Reference work, that is, the use of books for study at the library and the use of the reading rooms for books and periodicals cannot be recorded definitely, and of course is not included in the foregoing sta- tistics of circulation. The use of the library is constantly increasing, and this is desirable. The library is an important educational institu- tion, and ought to be used up to its limit. To promote such use is the constant effort of the Trustees and the Librarian. Anything less than full use is an economic waste. But enlarged use means somewhat larger expense for service. This we believe will be recognized, and cordially provided for by our citizens. The building is now open only two hours less in each week than are the grade schools. And the outside time re- quired from the librarian, that is, service time beyond the number of hours the library is actually open to the public is probably as great as that required from the teachers, at least from those in the lower grades. The assistant librarian is not required to render such addi- tional service, but is most efficient and helpful at all times. Her present pay amounts to about thirty-three cents an hour, less than is paid for the most ordinary unskilled labor. Comparison is invited to the pay of the librarian with that of the teachers. The teachers have ten weeks' vacation in each year. The librarian and assistant have three. Tak- ing these inequalities into account, and remembering also the constant increase in the burden of service by the enlarged public use of the library, we recommend an enlarged appropriation for salaries, until an adequate maximum is reached. This increase we suggest may be pro- gressive and adjusted so as not to fall in any one year.
Additional service is also required from minor assistants who are paid by the hour for actual time employed.
We need only add the well-known and we think generally recog- nized fact that the library has value to the town not easily estimated, not merely as an adjunct to the schools, but in its place as a unique municipal institution, in whose privileges all our people share. Putting it on a purely financial basis, everybody's real estate is worth more by reason of the maintenance of a good public library here.
And at present the combined salary list (librarian, assistant libra- rian, minor assistants and janitor) is but little more than the amount paid to one minor grade school teacher only, and no more than paid to one grade teacher in many schools.
206
Again we repeat what in effect we have said in other reports, in order that it may not be forgotten when our budget is considered :
The library expense now or if enlarged to the extent we may recom- mend is virtually negligible when considered with reference to the to- tal expenses of the town. Whatever has in the past caused our tax rate to increase (or whatever may cause such an increase in the future) is not materially affected by the annual cost of maintenance of the library: This should be remembered in considering the burden of taxa- tion and the library's position relative to it.
It should be remembered also that of the entire expense of the lib- rary, only a part actually goes into the tax levy. The cost, as entering into that levy, is reduced by the amount of dog tax refunded into the Treasury offsetting an equivalent amount of the library appropriation ; and by receipts of the library itself (from fines, etc.) paid into the treasury, so that in any year the sum of a thousand dollars or so ap- pears in the treasury (but does not directly appear in our expense state- ment) offsetting an equivalent amount of the library cost, and under our present methods of accounting diminishing the apparent library burden, to that extent.
In 1922 the total tax levy (all town expenses) was $317,000. There was raised by direct taxation for the library $3800, or about one and two-tenths percent of total. The tax rate was $31.00 per thousand of taxable property. Applying the percentage of library appropriation to this rate, we have 37 and two-tenths cents representing the direct cost of the library out of the total tax rate per thousand. But, as we have said, indirectly the cost of the library was reduced by the amount of the dog tax refund and fine money turned into the treasury, these sums, $1,020 in 1922, offsetting an equivalent amount of our direct appropria- tion, reducing it to $2,780, and this is equivalent to about 27 cents out of the $31 per thousand tax rate. This relatively small cost of the library as a part of the expenses of the town has not materially changed in recent years.
BUDGET FOR 1923
Our budget of requirements for the coming year, based upon our present basis of expenditure and upon an increased appropriation for repairs, as hereinbefore mentioned and for service, which we believe justified for the reasons we have stated, is:
Fuel, light and water
$ 425.00
Printing and supplies
75.00
Books, periodicals, binding, etc.
1,500.00
Repairs, etc.
1,000.00
Miscellaneous expenditures
50.00
Total maintenance
$3,050.00
Salaries
2,050.00
Total appropriation required
$5,100.00
·
207
We estimate the receipts of the department to be turned into the treasury of the town at $225. The dog tax refund, which under the statute is applicable to the expense of the library, but which under our method of accounting is credited as a treasury receipt will be about $800. These two treasury credit items really offset, as we have stated an equivalent amount of library appropriation.
CONCLUSION
We record here our recognition of the continued faithful and effi- cient services of Miss Bertha L. Brown, Librarian, Miss Grace Abbott, assistant, and those of Mr. Stinchfield, our janitor.
Two vacancies are to be filled at the Town Meeting, the terms of Miss Fannie C. Whittemore and Mr. Frank C. Carter, expiring.
Respectfully submitted, HORACE G. WADLIN, Chairman, ARTHUR N. MANSFIELD, Secretary, RALPH S. KENEELY, FRANK C. CARTER, FANNIE C. WHITTEMORE, EDITH BANCROFT, Trustees.
Adopted as the Report of the Trustees:
January 26, 1923.
208
REPORT TRUSTEES OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY
The Trustees are pleased to submit the annual report of the Superin- tendent which covers in detail the receipts and disbursements of the de- department. Attention is particularly called to the requirements for care and improvements for the year 1923.
GALEN A. PARKER, Chairman
PHILIP H. TIRRELL, Secretary ALFRED W. DANFORTH FRANK L. EDGERLEY
WILLIAM S. KINSLEY
W. E. TWOMBLY
Trustees of Laurel Hill Cemetery.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT
Trustees of Laurel Hill Cemetery,
Gentlemen :-
In submitting my second annual report as Superintendent of Laurel Hill Cemetery, I feel that in fairness to myself, I should mention some of the difficulties we have had to contend with, which has prevented more work for the permanent improvement of the cemetery being done.
The sleet storm of November, 1921, damaged the trees to such an extent that over twenty cords of four foot wood was salvaged from broken limbs and trees that were damaged beyond repair. This re- quired the expenditure of money to purchase extra tools, and $461.00 for labor. It also required additional labor to clean up, preparatory to grass cutting.
As the Finance Committee did not recommend an additional $500. for this purpose as requested, it had to come out of our regular appro- priation.
Heavy rains washed the avenues so badly that, with the money available, it was impossible to repair them properly.
Grass cutting cost much more than usual due to the unusual amount of rain during the summer months.
.
209
All this in addition to our regular maintenance work, had reduced our appropriation to such an extent, that in June, $1400 had to be transferred from the Cemetery Reserve Fund to the General Fund. Of this amount $531.34 was used for new lots and graves, the rest for gen- eral maintenance.
We are badly handicapped by the law that prohibits the use of the receipts of this department, as it is almost impossible to estimate the amount of money needed to do private work a season ahead. There might be ten or a hundred or more lot owners, order and agree to pay in advance, for having their lots re-graded and seeded, at a cost of from twenty to fifty dollars each. Two-thirds of the cost of this work represents loam, lime, fertilizer and seed, the other third, labor, all of which has to be paid for out of our maintenance appropriation. If the money received for this work could be used for other private work, we could handle all orders placed during the season.
During the past season, fifty five lot owners placed orders for re- grading and seeding. We were able to do fourteen. The other forty- one were refused as there was no money available for this work. This was unfortunate, not only for the individual, but for the Town as every improvement to a lot is an improvement to the cemetery as a whole.
I would like to recommend that $2500 be raised and appropriated to create a working fund to be used only for work of this nature. It would never have to be raised again, as any money used from it could be replaced annually from the receipts of the previous year.
In making recommendations for work to be done the ensuing year I realize that many of the things that seem to be absolutely necessary, must be postponed until some future time. However I will mention a few that to me, seem the most important, leaving to your judgment,. how much we can hope to accomplish during the coming year.
A drainage system for the north side of the cemetery is absolutely necessary for this reason :
We have very few single graves available, and there seems to be but one place in the cemetery where it is possible to construct the number needed. It is a strip that was formerly an avenue extending from the tool house along the north line to Main St. As this is the natural out- let for all the surface water from Highland St., and most of the water from the section west of the hill in which the receiving tomb is located, it would not be safe to use it for graves until a catch basin is installed near the tool house and a pipe line laid to connect with the one across Main St.
This will require 611 feet of drain pipe and will cost $650 including cost of laying and catch basin.
Next in importance is the macadam avenue from the south gate on Main St. to the receiving tomb which is very much in need of re- surfacing and if it is not attended to this year it will have to be re- built and will require a large outlay of money.
210
The cost of re-surfacing as estimated by the Highway Dept. is $200.
Some provision should be made to improve the appearance of the "Old Cemetery", as its neglect is the subject of much unfavorable com- ment, not only on the part of citizens of this town, but from visitors from out of town. The remains of the founders of this town, as well as thirty veterans who fought for it during the Revolution are lying there and its appearance does not reflect any great amount of credit to the Town of Reading.
In bringing these improvements to your attention, it is my opinion that if any of this work is done this coming year, money should be appropriated for it in addition to our regular maintenance appropria- tion. The new construction work started last fall, should be finished in order to keep ahead of the demand for new lots, and any money in the Cemetery Reserve Fund will be needed for that purpose.
During the past year I have had to depend on the other depart- ments of the town for tools and equipment to a certain extent and they have all assisted me in every way possible. I am particularly indebted to Mr. Collins of the Board of Public Works, Mr. Crowe of the High- way Dept. and Mr. Donegan of the Moth Dept. for their interest and co-operation for which I wish to extend my thanks.
In conclusion I wish to thank the Board of Trustees for the help and encouragement they have given me during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
ALFRED E. GOODWIN, Supt.
FINANCIAL REPORT LAUREL HILL CEMETERY
Annual Appropriation, March, 1922 $2500.00
Receipts for 1921 1624.59
$4124.59 $4124.59
Receipts, labor on Perpetual Care Lots
1100.00
Receipts, labor on Veteran Sailors' and Soldiers' lots
669.87
Re-imbursement, Royal Indemnity Insurance Co.
25.12
Transferred from Cemetery Reserve Fund
1639.08
$7558.66
1
Construction
New Lots
Tools and
Equipment
General
Maintenance
Gas and Oil Truck
Truck
Repairs
Office
Expense
Total
Terey N. Sweetser
$208.25
$208.25
Atlantic Marine Exchange
29.12
29.12
Mass. Bd. Public Works
4.00
4.00
Henry Carroll
390.00
390.00
Cert. Spark Plug Corp.
6.00
6.00
N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co.
58.82
58.82
P. J. Seaman
6.00
6.00
S. H. Davis Hdw. Co.
30.63
30.63
Arco Tire Co.
62.07
62.07
Jason Zwicker estate
120.00
120.00
Municipal Light Board
161.57
12.50
174.07
The Barrett Co.
5.75
5.75
Francis Bros.
37.54
37.54
Henry A. Feindel
46.07
46.07
Hodson Bros.
2.07
2.07
Reading Motor Co.
16.88
16.88
Frank W. Moulton
4.00
4.00
The Dyer Co.
23.80
23.80
Cummings Ex. Co.
4.50
4.50
Am. Railway Ex. Co.
.86
.86
Stand. Tire & Rubber Co.
41.57
41.57
Construction
New Lots
Tools and
Equipment
General
Maintenance
Truck
Gas and Oil
Truck
Repairs
Office
Expense
Total
The Metcalf Store Reading Garage A. E. Goodwin
.80
.80
95.27
95.27
1.87
8.07
7.93
17.87
Adams, Cushing & Foster
2.95
2.95
Joseph Breck & Sons
10.10
28.00
38.10
W. E. & J. F. Twombly
69.40
69.40
Thomas Hemsworth
5.00
5.00
James Webb
20.00
20.00
The Raymond Syndicate
15.53
15.53
J. B. Hunter Hdw.
51.00
51.00
M. E. Andrews
5.18
5.18
Reading Tire Shop
24.50
24.50
F. E. & F. I. Emery
41.00
41.00
O'Brien Bros.
5.00
5.00
Dana Perkins
15.00
15.00
Reading Water Works
58.70
58.70
Dr. E. D. Richmond
7.00
7.00
M. F. Charles
3.05
3.05
Pay Roll
272.99
3763.32
1775.00
5811.31
$531.34
$445.66
$4362.85
$107.77
$186.89
$1924.15
$7558.66
213
Care of Lots, etc.
Amount receivable January 1, 1922
$ 184.72
Charged in 1922:
Opening graves
652.00
Foundations
262.97
Re-seeding lots
404.04
Grass cutting
609.09
Sale of wood
91.00
$2203.82
Receipts, 1922
2002.71
Amount receivable December 31, 1922
$ 201.11
Perpetual Care
Lots put in Perpetual Care 1922:
H. E. Cummings
Lot 689-690
$ 200.00
Emma L. Roby
265
100.00
Maria L. Winchester
66
253 (add.)
25.00
Arthur W. Temple
66 370
150.00
Sarah B. Turner
492
100.00
Emma G. Johnston
66
959
100.00
Josie Lee
1008
100.00
Emma D. Newell
160
100.00
Margaret E. Moore
996
100.00
Nancy Pinkham
828
100.00
Wilmot K. Pratt est.
1027
100.00
Mary L. Hussey
66
465 (add.)
25.00
Clara Cox
1004
100.00
Charles D. Smith
1016
100.00
Frank F. Simpson
995
100.00
Etta F. Rich
530
150.00
Lucy W. Parker
562 (add.)
25.00
Edward F. Mellen
728
100.00
Mary I Poland
150.00
George L. Pratt
572-591
200.00
A. Louise Todd
233 (add.)
50.00
Myra A. Kimball
703
100.00
Ella J. Parker est.
39-662
200.00
Rachel J. Bennett
S. Graves 250-251
50.00
Ward C. Mansfield
Lot 983
100.00
Previously put in Perpetual Care, 268 Lots and Graves. . $ 2625.00
25,410.15
$28,035.15
214
Lots and Graves
New Lots Graded and Seeded, 1922: 23 Lots, value 20 Single Graves
$ 4425.00
500.00
4925.00
Lots and Graves Sold, 1922:
. 10 Single Graves
$ 144.00
14 Lots
1850.00
$ 1994.00
Less allowance paid for two single graves
20.00
$ 1974.00
Balance in Cemetery Reserve Fund January 1, 1922
242.19
$ 2216.19
Transferred to Cemetery Account
1639.08
Balance in Cemetery Reserve Fund December 31, 1922
$ 577.11
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REPORT OF CUSTODIAN OF VETERANS' GRAVES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :-
I herewith submit my first annual report as Custodian of Veteran Soldiers' and Sailors' Graves.
Number of lots and graves re-loamed and seeded 1922 25
Number of lots and graves not needing re-seeding 15
Number of lots and graves in "New Cem." uncared for 77
Number of lots and graves in "Old Cem." uncared for 48
Total number of Veteran graves without care 165
During the past year, in addition to the twenty-five lots that have been re-seeded, the grass was cut once, just before Memorial Day, on all the Veteran lots in the cemetery.
I would recommend that the following work be done during the season of 1923.
One third (23) of the lots in the New Cemetery be re-loamed and seeded, leaving the other two-thirds for the two following years.
Grass kept cut on the lots re-seeded last year, also that the grass be kept cut and fertilizer used on the fifteen lots that do not need re-seeding.
Grass cut once just before Memorial Day on all other Veteran lots.
I have made no recommendations for the improvement of the graves in the Old Cemetery other than cutting the grass for this rea- son :
The Old Cemetery consists of eleven lots and 709 (recorded) single graves. Of this number seven receive care, the rest being in a deplor- able condition and have been for years. A single grave occupies a space three feet by nine feet, and as the forty-eight Veteran graves are widely scattered any care bestowed ou them would hardly be no- ticeable amid such surroundings.
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