* ■%

;^ '-» <r: ,%■ t- 'f

^^v te.

'. '-i 1,

(#■' .tV|, 'i/- \f^.

'^' ^ ■ /^;' '

J*-..; J.

^. 1^. ifi^ '*i fo- j.^

ir ft ]V' ^^ i^^'

(DOCUMENT 15 - 1981)

ANNUAL REPORT

of the

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

For the Year Ending June 30, 1980

TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

ARTHUR F.F.SNYDER President

PAUL PARKS Vice President

MICHOF. SPRING

JAMES V.YOUNG

PHILIP J. McNIFF Director, and Librarian

4 CITY DOCUMENT NO. 15

To the Board of Trustees of the Boston PubUc Library:

As Director, and Librarian, I have the honor to submit my report for the year July 1, 1979, to June 30, 1980.

In this year of mounting energy costs and increasingly severe budget constraints, the Library nonetheless wit- nessed positive developments in acquisitions, services, and modernized systems. In this latter area it should be pointed out how the Library's adoption of this decade's technology is contributing to heightened efficiency and cost-saving in record keeping, cataloging, information retrieval, and public service.

Most significant in this use of the latest technology is the installation of the new DEC System 2020, an advance supported by a grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. This computer allows the Library to move its bibliographic support systems from a commercial time-shared Digital Equipment Corporation PDP 10 to a dedicated in-house time-sharing system. This move was critical to further development of the biblio- graphic software and to make extensive on-line biblio- graphic data-file interaction financially viable. The Li- brary administration hopes that the dedicated control system will eventually facilitate the transition from manual-based catalog systems to in-house and remote information retrieval.

In addition, with the installation of three IBM term- inals, the Library moved to having on-line access to bor- rower related information. This move accelerated the search of the borrower registration file, master delinquen- cy file, and master circulation file. The result is faster, con- siderably more efficient service to the public. This public numbers at this time 317,669 library card holders.

Other expedited service which can be credited to advances in technology occurred in the Microtext Depart- ment with the installation of new readers, reader/printers, and a Duplifiche printer and developer.

FY79/80 saw the major Research Library catalog project, funded by a Title II-C grant from the U.S. Office of Education, moving toward completion. The project has as its goal the total rehabilitation of the more than 7

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 5

million cards in the Research Catalog and ultimate listing on microfiche.

In another federally funded grant, the National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grant, the Library was proud to reach its mandated three-to-one match several months ahead of schedule.

GENERAL LIBRARY SERVICES

Despite reduced staff in Central and branches, the Library maintained a high level of service to individuals and groups from pre-school child to senior citizen. In the face of impending cutbacks and the obvious need for current statistics, the Library updated studies of each branch unit in terms of staffing, population served, ethnic makeup, book stock, circulation count, and operation costs (salaries, books, heat, light, telephone, etc.). In addition, each branch conducted a four-times-a-day use survey during the second weeks of November, February, May, and August. One consistent finding among branch units was the diminution of night-time use by patrons.

Like the branch libraries, the Central Library proceeded with necessary evaluation of service, specifically with an in-depth study of periodicals. Considered in the study were problems of room arrangement, the binding of current periodicals, the evidence of much theft and mutila- tion, the use and relevance of certain periodical titles. As a result of this study, recommendations were made to drop many specialized /scholarly titles and to plan for more re- stricted use of current serials.

The activities calendar of the Central and branch li- braries was highlighted with several key annual lectures and events. In the first annual Marjorie Gibbons Lecture, South Boston Branch hosted a lecture by Capt. Albert Swanson on Castle Island. The 2nd Annual Mildred Kaufman Program at Roslindale Branch was devoted to a slide sequence on the Boston Ballet, a special interest of Mildred Kaufman. Book award programs were held at South End and North End Branch Libraries. Retired child- ren's librarian Martha Engler delighted young guests at the 4th annual South End program with storytelling. Speaker for the 32nd Annual Mary U. Nichols program at North

6 CITY DOCUMENT NO. 15

End Branch was Dr. Anthony Cortese, Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Quality Engineering for Massachusetts.

Black History Month was observed in many ways: in Mattapan Branch Library, author Robert Hayden spoke on endeavors to resurrect some of America's greatest persons from obscurity; the branch also sponsored a dem- onstration/The Art of Black Dance and Music"; Uphams Corner Branch offered special film screenings on such Black notables as Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X; Grove Hall featured films and storytel- ling for adults by Linda Eubanks; Dudley Branch observed the month with "Cinematic Black History Experience." In the Central Library Dr. Walter J. Leonard, President, Fisk University, lectured on "Some Missing Pages in American History: The Black Contribution to American Life."

Activities and special programs and events in the Library were diversified in content and appeal. For the senior citizen or Never-Too-Late audience the range of programming moved from Social Security to literature to travel to the process of aging. To cite examples of such programming: traveler Stephen McCloskey spoke on "A View of Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia"; Mark William Sheehan, Director of Development for Earthwatch, gave a rare view of African wildlife in "On Safari"; Ruth Harriet Jacobs, Professor of Sociology, Boston University, dealt with "Life after Youth: Ten Ways of Being an Older Person."

With equal diversity and awareness of patron's inter- ests, branch libraries and Central reached out to children, teenagers, and adults. For children there were story hours, puppet shows, holiday celebrations, play production, film events — with books and reading always major elements around which each program was designed. Children cele- brated the Chinese New Year with a traditional dragon dance, decorated eggs for Easter, and learned about farm animals from a 4H agent for Suffolk County.

Several lively programs were offered to young adults with films frequently integrated into teen events. Codman Square Branch conducted workshops for teenagers in cooperation with the Roxbury Comprehensive Commun-

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 7

ity Health Center; the Young Adult Room at Central spon- sored its popular annual Creative Writing Workshop with guests: author Hila Colman, poet Elizabeth Galloway, and book reviewer Floyd Kemske.

The vitality and relevance of branch library program efforts deserve emphasis here. West End Branch Library sponsored two series (Summer and Fall) titled"Moving into Poetry." In these literary encounters, groups of adults explored the creative arts as inspiration for their own writing which they pursued (and shared) with diligence and delight. As Paula Posnick, the staff member directing the activity, described the series, "It encourages people to find and explore the many facets of themselves."

Adams Street Branch sponsored a program on "Understanding Your Aging Parents"; Jamaica Plain presented a psychologist from Massachusetts Mental Health speaking on "Educational Testing and Your Child"; Orient Heights held energy workshops; Egleston Square Branch Library featured an officer of the New York Housing Authority on protecting oneself from mugging; Faneuil Branch conducted a chess tournament; North End offered a presentation on wills and trusts; Parker Hill Branch joined with Affiliated Hospitals Center, Inc. to present "A Heart to Heart Talk" on heart disease. In deference to the multilingual backgrounds of many patrons, branch library programs were offered sometimes in other languages, with Spanish presentations, for exam- ple, at several libraries including Connolly, South End, Uphams Corner, and Egleston Square.

Major programs in the Central Library brought a suc- cession of distinguished speakers to the Lecture Hall. In a remarkable two-day conference, "The Sacco-Vanzetti Case: Developments and Reconsiderations — 1979," scho- lars came together "to assess the relevance and signifi- cance" of the Felicani Archive and other recently released papers. Donated to the Library by his sons, Anteo and Arthur, the Felicani Archive consists of thousands of papers assembled during the years of the historic trial by Aldino Felicani, who served as Treasurer of the Sacco- Vanzetti Defense Committee.

8 CITY DOCUMENT NO. 15

The eighth annual Maury A. Bromsen Lecture in Hu- manistic Bibliography brought the preeminent historian of photography, Beaumont Newhall, to the Library podium. Dr. Newhall lectured on "Photography and Book Illustra- tion." The 15th annual Albert H. Wiggin Symposium as- sembled a knowledgeable group of panelists. Dr. Clarisse A. Poirier (Merrimack College), Katie Kenneally (Law Clerk to the Justices, Massachusetts Superior Court), and Martha Davidson (picture researcher and art historian). The panelists centered their discussion on the Library's pic- torial archives.

In the seventh William Addison Dwiggins Lecture, publisher David Godine presented an illustrated talk, "The Life and Works of Rudolph Ruzicka, Illustrator and Designer." This major annual lecture, co-sponsored by the Library and the Society of Printers, marks the anniversary of the gift of the Dwiggins collections to the Library in 1974. Ruzicka illustrated many books including Whitehill's history of the Boston Public Library with "rare distinction and typographic understanding."

This year marked the launching of a program and special collection which promises much influence in the area of public education. In conjunction with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center for Mental Retardation in Waltham, the Library acquired an extensive book collection, supplemented with films, related to mental retardation. To mark the beginning of this important cooperative program. Dr. Raymond D. Adams, Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, spoke on "Contem- porary Approaches in the Study and Care of the Mentally Disabled."

The programs here enumerated have proved instruc- tive, sometimes unique, always an important dimension in library service. Also necessary to pinpoint here is the continuing evidence of the Library's interrelationship, involvement, partnership, reachout with community agencies, with colleges and universities. In addition to representing the creative voices and authorities behind books, the Library turns to contemporary contributors to knowlege in its programming. To cite a few cooperatively planned and sponsored programs: with the Boston Society

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 9

of the Archeological Institute of America, the Library presented Dr. Peter Wells, Assistant Professor of Anthro- pology^ Harvard University. Dr. Wells delivered an illustrated lecture on "Excavating in Iron-Age Bavaria." Moving to a more recent time frame, the Massachusetts Historical Society and the Library co-hosted the William Ellery Channing Bicentennial Lecture. Noted historian Henry Steele Commager addressed himself to the subject, ' Our Age is an Age of Moral Revolution."

In still other jointly sponsored programs: Irish poet Desmond O'Grady gave a reading of his works (with the Eire Society); Paul Raabe, Director of Herzog August Bib- liothek spoke on rare books (with The Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries). In other co-sponsored programs the Library joined forces with the American Lung Association, New England College of Optometry, Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Street Feet Workshop, Tufts University Psychiatric Unit, Boston Edison Company, Consulate of Chile, Masaryk Club of Boston and the Czechoslovakian Embassy, Child Study Association, Consulate of Denmark, Boston by Foot, the People's Theater of Cambridge.

FY79/80 saw the continuation of the Writer in Society series, originally developed as part of the National Endow- ment for the Humanities Learning Library. Guest speakers for these perceptive lectures on belles lettres were David Macaulay, "Buildingbooks: How an Author-Illustrator Puts a Book Together"; Millicent Bell, "The Life of John P. Marquand: A Fable of American Success"; Doris Kearns Goodwin, "The Johnson and Kennedy Biographies: A Study in Contrasts"; Ifeanyi A. Menkiti,"The Black Poet in Africa and America"; Isaac Asimov, "Escape to Reality"; John P. Roche, "The Scholar in Politics"; Robert Pinsky, "An Explanation of America"; and Boston's own poet, "An Evening with David McCord."

In branches and the Central Library, programs and exhibits gave testimony that the city was celebrating a birthday. Jubilee 350. Charlestown Branch joined Boston by Foot to present an architectural history, the "Four Shapes of Boston"; also at Charlestown, Bradley Clarke,

10 CITY DOCUMENT NO. 15

President of the Boston Street Railway Association, described three centuries of transit in a slide lecture. Fields Corner Branch sponsored a series of panel discussions on "Dorchester in the 80's" with focus on delivery of health care, the cultural scene, the press, housing, and business. West End Branch directed attention in its programming to key sites in the history of Boston — including the Public Garden and the Harrison Gray Otis House. Several Jubilee 350 programs highlighted the calendar of the Central Library, among them "Dearo Family," a musical about Irish immigrants in the North End.

Much of the Library's program activity was built around spoken presentations — lectures, panel discussions, conferences; but music and the arts were also featured, pro- jected through concert and exhibit formats. Among the concerts offered were performances by the Radcliffe Choral Society, Chorus pro musica. New England Conservatory Chamber Singers, the Yale Russian Chorus, Boston Conservatory of Music, and the Longy School of Music. Other musical events featured Daniel Spiegelberg, French concert pianist from Geneva, and cellist Roberto Gonzalez and pianist Oscar Gacitua from Chile.

Many exhibitions served to interpret and enhance library collections and events. Exhibitions included: "Isaac Asimov: 20th Century Renaissance Man"; "Medicine in Boston, 1630-1980"; "Drawings and Prints by Paul Hogarth, Naoko Matsubara and Barbara Westman";"Six Centuries of Book Binding"; "Working in Boston, 1920 -1970"; "Judaism and Christianity in the Catacombs of Rome"; "Toys, Games, and Books for the 19th/early 20th century Child"; "Three Centuries of Constantinople, 1600- 1900"; "John Quincy Adams: Pioneer of German-American Literary Studies"; "Space Revisited (celebrating the 19th an- niversary of the Apollo Lunar Landing)"; "Americans in the 20th Century"; "David McCord: The Art of the Broadside"; "The Pilot of Boston" (on the occasion of the 150th anni- versary of Boston's nationally-known newspaper. The most extensive exhibition was the annual Children's Books International which assembled more than 3,000 books from more than thirty nations. Interpreting the exhibit was a colloquium probing the conference theme of children and poetry.

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 11

This fiscal year marked the return of a permanent ex- hibition to public view. Cleaned and restored, the diorama of ten scenes from the Arabian Nights was created many years ago by Louise Stimson of Concord. Each exotic min- iature scene depicts one tale told by Queen Scheherazade to King Shahriyar — as she charmed her way to survival.

RESEARCH LIBRARY

The rehabilitation of the Research Library catalog moved toward completion in its editing/maintenance phases with 1981 targeted as the date for the photoduplica- tion phase.

The departments of the Research Library uniformly reported substantial increases in use and service in the face of diminishing staff and space. Humanities Reference noted a 7. 2% rise in telephone reference and a 10% increase in in-person service, with October and April the busiest months. Tours (including 6 groups of regional librarians) and exhibit preparation occupied much staff time.

The Microtext /Newspaper Department continued, despite staffing and space shortages, in its multi-service capacities: in Microtext, the delivery of microforms to patrons, reference activity, photocopy center, patent reproduction center, and consultant service; the Newspaper Room in its delivery service to patrons in their diverse needs. An unseen role of the department relates to conservation /preservation — binding, wrapping, or micro- filming newspapers for future researchers.

Acquisition of microfilm materials in FY79/80 streng- thened library resources in many disciplines. To illustrate the range of acquisitions, among them: Greenwood Press's ]azz Periodicals; English Cartoons and Satirical Prints, 1320-1832 (Somerset House); Historical American Build- ings Survey (Library of Congress); National Women's Party Papers, 1913-1972 (Research Publications); Indian Claims Commission (Greenwood Press); Marburger Index (Bildarchiv Foto Marburg and Reinisches Bildarchiv). The Marburger Index is an overwhelming pictorial archive of everything of merit in Germany — buildings, paintings, sculpture, artifacts.

As of this year the holdings of the Music Department

12 CITY DOCUMENT NO. 15

nudged the 100,000 figure (actually 99,713, not including rare collections such as the Walter Piston and Handel and Haydn Society collections which are in the Rare Books and Manuscripts Department). In addition to servicing this significant music library and providing extensive reference assistance, the department cooperated in the production of a Boston area composer's directory.

The Fine Arts Department devoted much time to col- lection development, working to fill in retrospectively major gaps in research materials. Major efforts were directed to strengthening holdings in exhibition catalogs, serials, specialized bibliographies, reference works, and microfiche items. Staff projects in the department included shelf reading of the LC portion of the collection, assisting in collection of data for the Artist and the Child catalog, retrospective indexing of one-man shows in Boston, continuing compilation of the Boston Art Archives and indexing of materials for inclusion in the Boston Architec- ture Index.

This year Fine Arts acquired many significant items through purchase and donation. A major gift included a portfolio of 43 prints by Boston-born artist Irwin Hoffman. The gift has since been expanded to include 73 watercolors, most of Hoffman's sketchbooks, and numer- ous books, journals, photographs, and exhibition cata- logs. Several gifts were received by the Department related to architecture: files surveying downtown Boston from the Boston Landmarks Commission; surveys of Massachusetts from Massachusetts Historical Commission; and their arch- itectural holdings from the library of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities.

Beyond attention to internal organization, processing, cleaning, labeling, shelving of materials and services to researchers, the Rare Books and Manuscripts Department was involved in numerous other activities: receiving, checking, and storing the Treasure Collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society; preparing an exhibition catalog for The Artist and the Child; preparatory work for the Boston Public Library as host institution of the ALA/ACRL Rare Book Section Preconference; contribu- ting to exhibitions of other institutions; and preparing a

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 13

series of exhibitions (cited under Exhibits).

FY79/80 brought a substantial number of significant rare acquisitions to the Department. Among them: Taxae cancellarie sequunt {Rome, ca.l490); Pierre de Rosnel's Le Mercure Indien ou Le Tresor des Indes (Paris, 1672); Samuel Pepys' The Portugal History (London, 1677); El triunfo de la Cruz de Cristo by Girolamo Maria Francesco Matteo Savonarola (Valladolid, 1548); Voltaire's Merope (London, 1749); also, important Lincolniana items includ- ing a rare leaflet (item #1 in Monaghan's Bibliography of Lincoln) which Lincoln presented to the Illinois Legislature when he served as a member of the Finance Committee.

Science Reference this year acquired a microfilm and a microfiche reader which has made it possible to service all patent-related reference tools in the Science Reference Department. Program activities of the department included sponsorship of a Workshop on Patents and Patent Searching in cooperation with U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; a medical history program on the occasion of the annual meeting of the American Association for the History of Medicine— with Dr. Philip Cash speaking on "Health Problems of the Continental Army at the Seige of Boston" and J. Worth Estes speaking on "Medical Skills in Colonial Boston"; and preparation and execution of program and bibliography on mental retardation in conjunction with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Institute on Mental Retardation. The department mounted exhibitions on the lunar landing and on the history of medicine (described in Exhibits).

In FY79/80 Government Documents was responsible for the completion and distribution of the important tool. Government Publications in Microform in the Boston Public Library /A Partial List, June, 1980. The Department also conducted a workshop, "Sources of Marketing Information," in cooperation with the U.S. International Trade Administration. The need for additional shelving space became urgently apparent in FY 79/80.

Activities within Interlibrary Loan centered around making the service more efficient and educating users of this service. To this end several orientation tours and meetings with members of Eastern Region libraries were

14 CITY DOCUMENT NO. 15

conducted. The Department surveyed its responses to ILL requests from Massachusetts public libraries in one-week periods within each of four three-month time slots, ana- lyzing the books requested in terms of location and availa- bility. The Department found its services assisted and expedited by the distribution of the General Library book catalog and COM Supplements, resulting in more than 50% of requests now bearing call numbers.

Social Sciences Department undertook a major project this year: a bibliography of books, periodicals, newspaper articles (1930-80) on Boston history, events, personages. Also in process is a chronology of Boston events. Sound Archives continued its inventory of holdings, now counted at 192,344. This department also developed a closer working relationship with the Audiovisual Department in terms of evaluating and sharing collections.

PUBLICATIONS

Library publications were numerous and diverse this year. Among the booklists and bibliographies: "What's Up? Science and Science Fiction for Those Who Love It and Those Who Wish They Did," compiled by Mary Jo Campbell; a new edition of the popular "Boys and Girls with Hang-Ups," compiled by Catherine Clancy, Paula Todisco, and J. Ron Brown; "Special People — Getting to Know Them: Resources on Mental Retardation," an annual reading and film list with Introduction by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, compiled by Lilla Costello, Jane Manthorne, Ruth Marshall, Marilyn McLean, Euclid Peltier, and Beverly Spencer under the chairmanship of Suzanne Gray; "Black Is— 1980," an annual list in celebra- tion of Black History Month, compiled by Gwendolyn M. Crockett, Elaine P. McLean, and Karen L. Williams; "Children's Books for Year-Round Giving," prepared by Irenemarie H, Cullinane; "Books about China," compiled by Paula Hayes and May Lo and published in Parents Choice and Episcopal Times; a supplement to "Children with Handicaps," prepared by May Lo; "Books to Think By" (reading recommendations for grades 7-12), compiled jointly by staff members of the Children's and Young

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 15

adult sections. General Library. Once again the staff of the General Library put together a timely, comprehensive an- notated list for the reading program of the Massachusetts Federation of Women's Clubs.

A highpoint in the Library's publication program this year was three books representing lecture series of the National Endowment for the Humanities Learning Library courses: Humor and Social Change in Twentieth-Century America by Joseph Boskin; From Common School to Magnet School, edited by James W. Fraser, Henry L. Allen, and Sam Barnes; and Boston's Workers: A Labor History by James R. Green and Hugh Carter Donahue. Each of these volumes contributes — as did the lectures on which they are based — to interpretation of singular forces or changes in American history.

EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM

Significant in FY80 was the passage by the General Court and the signing by Governor Edward King of legis- lation to increase the state appropriation for the regional library systems beginning in FY81. This long-awaited funding suggested an increased awareness in legislative/ executive leadership of the needs and services of the regional systems.

In the Audiovisual Center improvements in service were provided by enlarged stack and work area, made possible in part by a federal Library Services and Construction Act grant; a cumulated list of feature films available for public library programs; and improved time management in personnel assignments. Interlibrary Loan service from the Headquarters Library showed an increase statistically, reflecting changes and improvements in a number of activities within the Headquarters Library. These include catalog searching, shelf checks, improve- ments in the reserve process, and follow-up on orders in Book Receipts.

A wide range of activities was undertaken by Eastern Region staff in an equally wide range of formats. More than one hundred and fifty appointments involved staff in field visits; office interviews and consultations; attend-

16 CITY DOCUMENT NO. 15

ance at conferences and conventions; planning and participation in workshops; and speaking engagements. In addition, staff sliared in the preparation and distribution of booklists prepared in /by member libraries and arranged tours of the Headquarters Library for member librarians.

BOSTON LIBRARY CONSORTIUM

In 1979-1980 the Boston Library Consortium presen- ted two major program series. The Preservation series of five programs included lectures by Paul Banks of the Newberry Library, Chicago, and Gay Walker, Yale University; a hands-on workshop by Doris Freitag, Harvard University; a tour of the New England Documents Conservation Facility in Andover; and a showing of related films. The second series featured workshops on AACR2 (Anglo-American Catalog Rules, 2nd edition.) The first workshop brought Paul Winkler to Boston to deliver a tutorial. Winkler is co-editor of the second edition of the catalog rules and is Principal Descriptive Cataloger at the Library of Congress. Subsequent programs were directed to Consortium catalogers as well as public service and acquisitions personnel.

Other Consortium activities included an update of policy relating to reciprocal borrowing; provision of an editorial function for the Consortium office; adoption of a serials petition procedure; and exploration of applications of automation to library systems in a cooperative setting. The U.S. Congressional Committee Prints on microfiche was selected for purchase as part of the Joint Acquisition Program.

BUILDINGS

Three branch libraries figured in building construc- tion or renovation this year. The Lower Mills Branch, pre- sently under construction, should be completed on schedule in September 1980. The Library joined with Public Facilities this year in preliminary discussions relating to a program for the addition to West Roxbury Branch. In still another branch-related program, the Library — with the assistance of the Boston Housing Authority and Public Facilities — decided on a location

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 17

(first floor. Old Colony Housing Project) and plans for a library reading center in the Washington Village area.

A matching grant was received this year from the Massachusetts Historical Commission to support a feasibility study for the restoration/rehabilitation of the McKim building. The next step will entail advertising for architectural firms to submit programs and cost estiriates for such a study.

FY79/80 represented a year of continuing, stringent efforts in energy conservation with substantial cutbacks in energy usage in Central and branch libraries.

PERSONNEL

Staff activities beyond the Boston Public Library were directed to many fields. Kate Waters served as Chairperson of the oral history project of the Round Table of Children's Librarians, member of the Horn Book Council, and speaker at the Springfield Public Library on the subject, "Where are they? Young Adults and Libraries." Ms. Waters also served as panelist in a program on controversial literature for young adults, co-sponsored by Simmons College Center for the Study of Children's Literature and Lincoln-Sudbury School Libraries. Paula Posnick accepted a part-time teaching assignment at Lesley College titled "Creative Programming Incorporating Pub- lic Library Materials." Edwin G. Sanford described methods used in tracing one's family history in "Genealo- gy— Your Greatest Adventure," at an Egleston Square Branch program; Mrs. Suzanne Gray spoke on the Boston Public Library at the Alliance of the Unitarian Church in Sharon; Mrs. Gray also served as group facilitator at a Special Library Association Roundtable on "Research Strategy /Reference Interview: A Challenge in Communi- cation."

Many staff activities related to acquisitions and processing. As a member of several professional associa- tions, Martha Dukas participated in key conferences and programs related to Asian, African, and Middle Eastern materials. Stephen Yusko was actively involved in meetings of the New England Chapter of the Music Library Association and served as Chairman of the Continuing

18 CITY DOCUMENT NO. 15

Education Committee. As background to the Boston Public Library's move to an automated acquisitions program, Joe Raker attended the ALA preconference on acquisitions and also visited the University of Massachu- setts to study their system. John Pelose served as Chairper- son for "AACR2 and You," sponsored at the Boston Public Library by the Technical Services section of the Massachu- setts Library Association; he also joined with Liam Kelly in a presentation on OCLC and Boston Public Library systems, a program also sponsored by MLA Technical Services. Gunars Rutkovskis served as panelist in a Baltic Studies conference in Washington, D.C. He was also involved in various meetings with representatives of area ethnical groups on library acquisition of their publica- tions.

In other staff activities Rose Moorachian and Jane Manthorne addressed the annual conference of the Rhode Island Library Association; J. Ron Brown spoke on "Coming of Age in Novels for Adolescence" in a program jointly sponsored by Simmons College Center for the Study of Children's Literature and Lexington Public Library. Tess Cederholm continued to be active on several art /architectural fronts including service as Treasurer of ARLIS/NA (Art Library Society of North America), Director of the City Conservation League, and Vice-Presi- dent of Massachusetts Committee for the Presentation of Architectural Records. Amy Rolnick served as Chairper- son of YACBRG (Young Adult Cooperative Book Review Group).

Staff members of the Library contributed much to current literature as editors, authors, compilers, or translators. Irenemarie H. Cullinane served as Editor of the Friends of IBBY (International Board of Books for Young People) Newsletter; Judith Friedman as translator from the German of G. Mestwerdt's Atlas of Colposcopy (W.B. Saunders) and Operative Obstetrics by Gerhardt Martius (Stratton-Thieme); Suzanne Gray contributed reviews to American Reference Books Annual; Eva Murphy was author of several articles in The Dictionary of North Carolina Biography jjay Daly, formerly with the Boston Public Library and presently Director of the

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 19

Lincoln Public Library, published his first novel Walls (Harper & Row); J. Ron Brown served as Editor of'Adult Books for Young Adults" in Bowker's School Library Journal with the following staff members as contributing reviewers: Mary Jo Campbell, Catherine Clancy, Sylvia Pascal, Amy Rolnick, Paula Todisco, Kate Waters; staff of Dudley Branch contributed a weekly book review column to the Bay State Banner and staff of Brighton /Allston/ Faneuil wrote a weekly news column in the Brighton Citizen.

Several staff presentations were made in radio/TV programs. In Woman '79 (Channel 4, WBZ-TV) Sharon King interviewed children's librarians on how they can help parents develop reading skills in their children. Participating in five daily sessions were Lilla Costello, Jackie Hogan, Lucille LePage, Jane MacFarlane, and Jerrie Norris. Raymond Agler described the Pilot anniversary ex- hibition on WELL Students from Randolph High School interviewed J. Ron Brown on services offered to young people by the Boston Public Library. Marilyn McLean was featured by both Boston and Quincy radio stations in a description of the foster friends program at the Cardinal Cushing School and Training Center (formerly St. Coletta's) in Hanover.

These examples of staff contribution to various professional fields serve only as selected demonstrations of the range of staff expertise and contribution.

This year witnessed many changes in staffing through promotion and retirement. Paula Todisco was named Branch Librarian of East Boston /Orient Heights; Mrs. Helen Maniadis, Branch Librarian of South Boston /Wash- ington Village. J. Ron Brown became Young Adult Specialist and Beverly Hall Spencer, Senior Reader and Information Librarian, in General Library. Among this year's retirees, seven staff members worked more than two hundred and sixty-five years in the Boston Public Library: Stephen L. Baxter, Bindery Foreman, more than 34 years; Frank P. Bruno, Chief, Book Delivery, more than 51 years; Anne Crowley, Children's Librarian, more than 42 years; Catherine A. Farrell, Principal Accountant, more than 35 years;Thomas P. Geoghegan, Superintendent of Library

20 CITY DOCUMENT NO. 15

Buildings, almost 20 years; Elvira G. Lavorgna, Reference Librarian in Fine Arts, more than 41 years; Louisa S. Metcalf, Senior Reading & Information Librarian for over 42 years.

In special ceremonies this year the University of Mass- achusetts granted an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, to Library Director Philip J. McNiff. The citation is included in full here, reaching — as it does — beyond the honored individual to do honor to the Boston Public Library, as well:

An alumnus of Boston College, Philip ]. McNiff held major positions in the Harvard Library before becoming Director of the Boston Public Library in 1965. To these great research institutions he has given and is giving wise and dedicated leadership. At Harvard he helped to develop the concept of the undergraduate library, and the Lamont Library, the first of its kind, became a model for the whole country. At the Boston Public Library he has developed programs for the old and young, opening for them exciting new worlds to be explored through books. To "Phil" McNiff, librarianship means serving the entire constituency of the library. He has always put the needs of the users first, and has instilled this principle in all who have had the privilege of working with him. His vision has not been local; his friends include librarians around the world with whom he has worked on library problems that call for. national and international cooperation. This honorary degree expresses the gratitude and appreciation of this academic community which benefits greatly from the Boston Public Library under the directorship of Phil McNiff — doyen of Boston's librarians.

Other honorary degree recipients on this occasion were Florence Luscomb whose life is called a "journey to create a just a peaceful world"; Andrew Young, a man of three, but overlapping worlds; and I.M. Pei, who "not only shapes our environment but creates the best in architec- ture."

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 21

TRUSTEES

This year marked the culmination of more than fifty years of dedicated service from four Trustees who completed their service on the Board: Msgr. Edward G. Murray, who served from 1958-1979; Augustin H.Parker, 1961-1979; Patricia H.White, 1972-1980; Frank B-Maher, 1973-1980. Named to succeed these retiring members were Paul Parks, Arthur F.F. Snyder, James V. Young, and Micho F. Spring.

With the submission of this annual report, we note a year of increasing austerity and diminishing staff and funding; but we note, as well, the undiminished commitment of this great library to public service and scholarship.

PHILIP J. McNIFF Director, and Librarian

22 CITY DOCUMENT NO. 15

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY Table 1. Circulation

BOOK CIRCULATION

Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal

1978 1979 1980

Central Library 848,320 809,992 755,733

Adams Street 53,482 57,470 57,609

Allston 32,890 28,976 26,395

Bookmobile Service* 50,835 37,445 37,900

Homesmobile — — 33,194

Brighton 67,869 68,606 68,361

Charlestown 38,956 41,658 43,347

Codman Square 21,013 33,247 40,158

Connolly 28,179 28,231 27,079

East Boston 41,512 41,524 41,694

Egleston Square 22,896 23,218 24,049

Faneuil 31,162 30,924 31,117

Fields Corner 71,429 69,334 66,510

Grove Hall 24,478 25,419 31,829

Hyde Park 83,894 88,090 84,940

Jamaica Plain 42,938 45,968 46,308

Lower Mills 29,042 30,185 25,458

Mattapan 20,461 18,288 20,084

North End 30,453 28,500 28,373

Orient Heights 33,101 31,345 30,793

Parker Hill 20,461 19,475 19,933

Roslindale 71,770 70,652 71,940

South Boston 60,563 57,906 55,402

South End 27,086 24,986 22,305

Uphams Corner 28,593 t 26,773 28,242

West End 44,131 44,242 46,495

West Roxbury 115,211 123,224 124,115

Hospital Library Service 19,457 19,668 17,001

Multilingual Library — _ 17,516

Total Branches 1,181,569 1,195,973 1,194,759

Total, Entire Library 1,979,054§ 1,998,965 1,950,492

* Suspended service March 30, 1977— March 6, 1978

t System of tabulating circulation changed to conform with other

branch libraries § Library System shut down February 6 to 12, 1978 (blizzard)

Sunday service was suspended March 14, 1977 to February 19, 1978.

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 23

NON-BOOK CIRCULATION

Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal

1978 1979 1980

Films 48,916 57,096 48,756

Recordings and Audio Cassettes.. 70,072 61,871 64,732

Total 118,988 118,967 113,488

INTERLIBRARY LOAN

Books 20,180 15,863 14,689

Photocopies — 126,391 130,674

Table 2. Growth of the Library BOOKS

General Library:

Volumes added 176,573 117,944 119,394

Volumes withdrawn 8,987 18,337 10,352

Total on Hand 1,950,853 2,050,460 2,159,502

Research Library:

Volumes added 68,768 78,398 69,719

Volumes withdrawn 34 400 —

Total on Hand 2,521,831 2,599,829 2,699,548

Total Book Stock 4,472,684 4,650,289 4,829,050

24 CITY DOCUMENT NO. 15

BOOK AND NON-BOOK HOLDINGS

Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal

1978 1979 1980

PRINT MATERIALS:

Volumes 4,472,684*

Serial subscriptions —

Special Collections:

Rare Books —

Rare manuscripts,

letters, etc —

Letters, books, etc.

on Prints —

Patents: USA —

Patents: Foreign —

Sheet Maps —

Government Documents —

NON-PRINT MATERIALS

Cassettes 19,561

Audio-Recordings 225,238

Films, 16 mm 8,016

Filmstrips 577

Slide Sets (including

lantern slides) 4,884

Videotapes —

Video Cassettes —

Reel-to-Reel Tapes —

Art Prints 59,254

Picture Collection 494,615

Postcards 138,065

Negatives 2,430

MICROFORMS Microcards (including

aperture cards) 52,491

Microfiche (sheets) 422,286

Microfilm (reels) 87,852

Microfilm (master

negatives) 2,430

Microprints(boxes) 4, 800

* This count excludes Rare Books

* * Includes Rare Books

— Inventory of this item not previously reported I This is a partial total, inventory incomplete

4,650,289*	4,829,050 *
—	16,464
—	250,000
—	750,908
	2,607
—	4,209,857
—	2,178,696
—	302,500
—	2,030,022
19,035	22,900
234,246	238,472
8,437	9,760
588	621
14,884	17,934
—	489
—	161
—	1,902
59,254	162,915
494,615	597,371 T
138,065	148,999
2,430	40,603

52,491	52,481
492,932	583,120
93,152	100,407
2,430	40,603
4,992	5,312

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 25

Table 3. Cataloging Statistics

Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal

1978 1979 1980

Volumes processed 245,341

New Titles cataloged 55,793

Original cataloging 8,288

NUC cataloging 5,044

LC cataloging 35,208

Rare Book cataloging 1,900

Films 419

Recordings 7,485

Cassettes 975

Sound Archives —

Table 4. Binding

.96,342	189,113
54,069	50,608
10,794	7,596
9,637	4,340
32,165	38,022
688	876
421	1,323
828	362
38?	256
9,055	5,860

Volumes Bound 63,700 55,027 48,369

26

CITY DOCUMENT NO. 15

o ■-I

w

3 Q.

H o

H

o

r H m n

O

t/i

c

3 cTtE

K-, O

3 3

-Ik., .

3 > m

o

H

o

*T3 ^

>:^ rt

to

00

>c^

Ol

I—"

cn

00

oo

o

1—1 O

VI VI

V]

oo

o o

Cn

a

cn

I—"	o	1—' OJ	cn K)	M VI bJ O 00 -o
VI VI	00 N>	1— ' o o	Vj C»J OJ	b^ OJ 00 VI VI NJ
o o	O O	o o	o o	o o o o
to				to K)
	Is) cn	-o	cn 1—1	l-i o OJ N) Cn 00
h-i s	1>J 00	VI Cn	l>j o 0^	Cn 00 g2
o o	O O	8	8	88

r^ r^ ^

3 3^

-IT, ,

^ >< 2^ o cn 3

t" -• .— 1 w n 3

00 O O

m n ^

ST ^ 3

5a "^ O

01

n 3

O D-

^ n

2; o

3

qs 0

O T)

3 n.

cr

^3 o 0) C 3 1^

cr •-I &)

CD

bo					1— I
OJ tsJ	h- 1	VI 0^	1—1 h-i 0	00 >-i	OJ to h-l
1—1 oo 00	VI N) OJ	(—1 VI 0	1—1 00	0 00 0	0 cn 0
ts) 10	h-l cn	00 cn	Cn tSJ	to OJ	VI

ts)

h- 1

h- 1 cn

00

0

h- 1 cn

VI 00

VI

OJ

1—1

0

cn 0

0- 0 0

0

00

cn to

0 0

to

0

Cn

h-1

1— 1 cn

K-1

f— 1

0

h-1 ts)

►—I

to to

VI

OJ VI

OJ

0

00

h- 1 cn

VI

•—1

00

to

1— I

0 0

8

0 0

H

o

^ Ox-

o' n ^

3 D. !S Qj_ a, •■

?^'

cn

to		to 0
h-1 h-1	cn cn 0	OJ h-1
OJ to	0 to h-1	4^ h-1 h-1
h-1 cn	h-1 cn	8
to VI		to
cn h-1 cn	cn cn 00	cn VI
'vi h-1 h-1	VI VI	b OJ 4:^
8	8	8
to VI		to VI
bo h-i	cn VI 0	to 0 0
OJ Cn to	Cn VI VI	VI VI Cn
0 0	0 0	0 0

H a;

5^

m

X

n

rt

3

h^ n?

h- 31

h- s §2.

BOSTON PUBLIC UBRARY

3 9999 06315 054 2

h i i f; •

^^i ^ 4 M

'^l M

!> t i

i ti '-^

' 1; #:

^ ^1 '«^

4 .-1 i i .^'^

ti m

-.1 t 'i;

X .€ '€ '€

'4 m

^*; * i- 'fc

■ii ii li '^ '.jK

Fi €?■ ii

f ^ v,„ .

. ^ .^ J #f "^ '^ '%