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THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRAKY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


THE         QUESTION         MARK 
Putlished  by  the  Boston  Public  Library  Professional  Staff  Assoc:" aticn 
Vcluire  VITI,   Number  1 JanuarvJ,95l^ 


Piiblications  Committee:     Barbara  P.  Cotter,   George  M„    Pahud,  Sarah  Richman,  Aura  G. 

Watson,  Edna  G,   Peck,  Chairman 


Publir:ation  date ; 
The  fifteenth  of  each  month 


Deadline  for  submitting  material- 

The  tenth  of  each  month 

— ^ 


A  REMINDER 

BPLPSA  Acnual  Meeting,  January  23. 
Polls  open  from  9  a.m.  to  2  p.m» 


PERSONAL  NOTES 


New  Employees 


Mary  B,  Clarke,  Book  Stack  Service. 

Mrs  Mary  E.  Cooney,  Office  of  Records, 
Files,  Statistics. 

Mts  Grace  H.  Gonzalez,  General  Reference, 

Patricia  0.  Leonard,  Open  Shelf. 

Daniel  J.  Koury,  Music,  formerly  part- 
time, 

Charles  Meehan,  Teachers,  formerly  part- 
time  in  Open  Shelf. 

Transfers 


r-?ITQR'S  COR.NER 

With  this  issue  of  The  Question  Mark 
the  present  Publications  Committee  com- 
pletes its  year  of  service  to  the  Asso- 
ciation. Irurixig   the  year  there  have  been 
published  twelve  issues  of  The  Question 
Mark.  As  individual  committee  members 
weT-ave  appreciated  the  opportunity  our 
work  has  afforded  for  us  to  meet  together, 
to  exchan^je  ideas,  and  to  become  better 
acquainted. 

In  our  work  as  a  committee  we  have  en- 
deavored to  present  for  your  criticism, 
information,  and  enjoynient  all  profes- 
sional and  social  events  pertinent  to  the 
library  staff.  We  have  not  even  hoped  to 
achieve  the  impossible  ideal  of  pleasing 
all  of  the  people  all  of  the  time,  but 
we  have  tried  to  "^e   objective  in  our  edi- 
torials and  inclusive  in  our  news  items. 
What  we  have  failed  to  do  has  not  been 
with  intent;  what  vie  have  done  has  been 
accomplished  through  the  cooperation  ef 
staff  members  who  have  provided  us  with 
articles,  items,  and  ideas.  In  the  final 
analysis  it  miust  be  recognized  that  the 
Publications  Committee  plays  but  a  minor 
r«le  in  the  continued  well-being  of  The 
Questi'<n  Mark.  The  unending  task  of 
mimeographing,  assembling,  and  distribu- 
ting the  publication  is  done  by  the  Office   „   „    won    t  ^        x-   o*-^-^ 
of  Records,  Files,  Statistics.  To  the    ^  ^^  ^ary  M.  Scanlon,  Information  Office, 
staff  of  that  office  the  Association  owes  "'^°  ,1®  ^!}  Texas.  ,  „,  ^  i 

a  deep  debt  of  gratitude.  The  Publica-   ^  ^^^^J^^  J-  .^^^^^^^  Science  and  Technology 
tions  Committee  at  this  time  would  like  to^^^partment,  to  accept  a  position  with  the 
say  a  public  "Thank  You"  to  them  and  t.    National  Company,  Engineers  and  Manufac- 
all  staff  members  who  through  the  past 
have  given  so  generously  •£   their  time  and 
talents  to  keep  The  Question  Mark  abreast 
of  the  times. 

With  all  good  wishes  from  the  c«ntimued 
vitality  of  our  periodical! 


Mrs  Harriet  F,  Heath,  from  East  Boston 
to  Open  Shelf. 

Hope  B.  Brown,  from  Open  Shelf  to  Adams 
Street . 

Rita  Doherty,  from  Book  Stack  Service  to 
Book  Preparation. 

Resignations 


THE  PUBLICATIONS  COMMITTEE 


turers,  Maiden,  Mass. 

Catherine  H.  Evans,  Cataloging  and  Classi- 
fication Department,  Division  of  Reference 
and  Research  Services,  to  work  in 
Washington, 

Claire  C,  Spellman,  Cataloging  and  Classi 
fication  Department,  Bi vision  of  RefereiKie 
and  Research  Services,  to  work  in 
Washington, 

Ruth  J.  DuCliarne,  Trus-bees  Office,  to 
accept  another  posit.ion. 


-^- 


STORK  EVENTS 

Mr  and  Mrs  Wallace  Herrington  announce 
the  birth  of  a  son  on  January  I;,  1953 > 
Kenneth  Charles.  Young  Kenneth  weighed 
7  lb.  7  oz.  at  birth,  Mrs  Herrington 
(ifeiry  Lyons)  was  formerly  an  assistant  in 
the  Information  Office. 

ENGAGEMENTS 


The  engagement  of  Marion  Siraco,  Charles- ■£,  Nagle  and  Mrs  Frances  Kelley,  former 


town  Branch,  to  Frank  Dubrowski  of  Dor- 
chester, was  announced  recently. 

Announcement  has  been  made  of  the  en- 
gagement of  Nancy  C,  Stipurko,  Mattapan 
Branch,  to  William  J,  Kiernan  of  West 
Roxbury.  Mr  Kiernan  is  a  senior  at  Holy 
Cross,  and  is  Editor-in-Chief  of  the  Holy 
Cross  Purple,  the  college  literary 
magazine. 

ITILSON  -  VENEZIA  liffiDDING 


At  9   a.m.  on  Saturday,  January  10, 
Patricia  Wilson,  Book  Preparation  L«part- 
ment,  became  the  bride  of  Michael  J, 
Venezia  of  South  Boston  at  St.  Iifatthews 
Church  in  Dorchester.  The  bride  wore  a 
full-length  white  lace  gown  and  a  lace  cap 
trimmed  with  pearls  with  a  finger-tip  veil. 
She  carried  a  white  prayer  book  with  white 
camellias  and  streamers  of  white  sweet 
peas.  A.  Gertrude  Barry  of  the  Personnel 
Office,  the  maid  of  honor,  wore  a  Nile 
green  marquisette  net  gown  and  hat  and 
carried  a  prayer  book  vvlth  pink  variegated 
camillias  with  streamers  of  pink  sweet 
peas. 

After  the  reception,  which  was  held  at 
the  Furnace  Brook  Country  Club  in  Wollas- 
ton,  t^e  couple  left  for  a  wedding  trip 
to  New  York  City.  Mr  and  Mrs  Venezia  will 
make  their  home  in  Dorchester.  Mr   Veneziaj 
who  is  in  the  Navy,  is  on  a  Military  Leave | Hackett . 
of  Absence  from  the  General  Reference 
Department. 


THE  SOCIAL  WHIRL 

One  of  the  first  of  the  pre-Christmas 
parties  took  place  on  December  l5,  when 
Mrs  Edith  S.  Trocki,  Office  of  Records, 
Files,  Statistics,  who  has  been  Correspond- 
ing Secretary  of  the  BPLPSA  for  two  years, 
was  guest  of  honor  at  a  luncheon  at  the 
Town  Room,  Sheraton  Plaza  Hotel.  The  staff 
of  her  office  was  joined  by  friends  from 
other  parts  of  the  Library  and  by  Mrs  Paul 


staff  members.  The  warm  good  wishes  of 
the  group  were  extended  to  Mrs  Trocki  ver- 
bally, as  well  as  tangibly  in  the  form  of 
personal  gifts.  She  left  on  leave  of    .  ' 
absence  the  next  day, 

S.M.U. 


Fifty  friends  of  Katherine  J,  Gorham 
gathered  in  the  Monaco  Room  of  the  Hotel 
Lei  ox  on  December  l6  to  surprise  Miss 
Gorham  who  thought  she  was  to  attend  a 
threesome  birthday  luncheon.  She  received 
with  admirable  poise  and  graciousness  the 
well  wishes  of  her  friends  Qn  her  approach- 
ing retirement  at  the  end  of  the  year. 
The  guest  of  honor  was  presented  with  a 
black  suede  handbag  and  a  sum  of  money. 

Miss  Gorham  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Cataloging  and  Classification  Department, 
Division  of  Reference  and  Research  Services 
for .over  fifty  years.  Her  entire  service 
in  the  Library  has  been  spent  in  the  same 
department.  An  expert  in  the  field  of 
classification.  Miss  Gorham  has  partici-  . 
patgd  in  the  development  of  the  Library's 
own   Shurtleff  classification  and  in  the,, 
change-over  to  the  Library  of  Congress 
classification. 

The  highly  successful  luncheon  was  ar- 
ranged by  a  departmental  committee  con- 
sisting of  May  L,  Crosby,  Esther  Lissner, 
Palmira  Piciulo,  Harry  C.  Fletcher,  Mrs 
Elizabeth  R.  Dalton,  Mrs  Jfercella  G.  _. 
McQonville,  and  the  chairrran,  Alice  E. 

M.C.O'C. 


-JHHHHHHHHH*- 


BEST  VnSHES  FOR' A  SPEF-'-Y  RECOVERY 


TO 


Marion  C.  Kingman,  Branch  Librarian, 
South  End,  63  Perrin  Street,  Roxbury  19. 

Mary  E,  Connor,  Assistant,  Brighton, 
Ull  Washington  Street,  Brookline  I46, 


Ellen  G,  McGrath  came  to  the  B.P.L.  as 
a  military  substitute  in  April  19hh   work- 
ings in , the  Cataloging  and  Classification 
Department,  Division  of  Home  Reading  and 
Community  Services.  Yfhen  her  time  expired 
she  left,  only  t^j  find  herself  missing 
friends  made  here.  So,  she  returned,  and 
worked  for  a  short  time  in  the  Branch 
Issue  Department  and  at  the  West  End  Branch 
Library 


-3- 


In  October  19h^   the  Information  Office 
was  fortunate  in  stimulating  her  interest 
in  work  at  the  information  desk  just 
enough  to  have  her  "give  it  a  try."  It 
seems  redundant  to  say  that  Miss  McGrath 
did  stay  and  that  she  graced  the  position 
It  is  impossible  to  judge  how  many  friends 
she  mads  of  members  of  the  staff  and  the 
public. 

Vfe  in  the  Information  Office  literally 
hated  to  have  her  go.  We  have  had  fun 
together.  The  members  of  the  public  be- 
moan the  fact  that  she  had  gone.  Members 
of  the  entire  Library  staff  ask  for  her 
constantly  and  tell  us  they  miss  her. 
All  will  be  glad  to  know  that  Miss  McGrath 
will  return  to  Boston  after  a  short  vaca- 
tion, and  it  is  sincerely  hoped  that  she 
will  be  a  frequent  visitor  at  the  Library. 

The  orchid  corsage  and  the  bouquet  of 
red  roses  which  were  given  to  Miss  McGrath 
on  December  Id,   the  day  she  was  guest  of 
honor  at  a  luncheon  at  Joseph's,  have 
long  since  tTithered,  The  good  wishes 
for  her  happiness  will  live  forever. 


E.B.B. 


* 


On  Monday  evening,  December  29,   Patricia 
Wilson,  Book  Preparation  Department,  was 
given  a  surprise  bridal  shower  at  her 
home.  The  bride-to-be  received  many  beau- 
tiful and  useful  gifts  for  her  new  home 
from  her  relatives  and  friends.  Dainty 
little  cream  puff  sandwiches  and  fancy 
cookies  and  cakes  were  served.  The  din- 
ing room  was  decorated  in  pink  and  white 
with  green  and  white  favors.  A  doll  which 
Miss  Wilson  had  as  a  child  was  dressed  as 
a  bride  and  used  as  a  center-piece. 


Mrs  Sara  Lyon,  Branch  Librarian,  Hyde 
Park  Branch  Library,  who  retires  at  the 
end  of  this  month,  was  guest  of  honor  at 
a  luncheon  at  the  Hotel  Lenox  on  Wednes- 
day, January  7,  In  the  Monaco  Room,  fes- 
tive with  gaily  decorated  tables,  were 
son©  fifty  of  Mrs  Lybn's  friends  who 
gathered  for  this  special  occasion, 

John  J.  Connolly  was  distinguished  for 
his  courage  in  being  the  only  male  present. 
Edith  Guerrier,  Supervisor  Emeritus,  and 
Branch  Librarians  Emeriti,  Mo  Florence 
Cufflin,  Katherine  S,  Regan,  Elizabeth  P. 
Ross,  Mary  M.  Sullivan,  Rebecca  E.  Willis, 
and  I'jirs  Margaret  C,  Donaghue  returned  to 
celebrate  with  the  group  of  Branch  Librari 


ans,  Chiefs  of  Departments,  and  Supervi- 
sors paying  tribute  to  Mrs  Lyon.  The 
presentation  by  Mrs  Ada  A.  Andelman  of  a 
Florentine  wallet,  containing  money  for  a 
gift  of  litrs  Lyon's  own  choice,  highlighted 
the  happy  reunion  and  farewell. 

Mrs  Lyon's  vivacity,  youthful  appear- 
ance, and  range  of  interests  belie  retire- 
ment for  many  years  to  come;  thus,  once 
again,  reminding  us  that  years  are  no  in- 
dication of  the  cessation  of  activity,  A 
life  already  crammed  with  countless  serv- 
ices and  friendships  can  only  go  on  in  the 
futxire  to  years  quite  as  satisfying  and  as 
rewarding. 

The  patrons  of  Hyde  Park  Branch  Library 
who  have  come  to  know  and  appreciate  Mrs 
Lyon  for  her  tremendous  vitality,  intel- 
lectual curiosity,  and  her  enjoyment  of 
the  people  she  served  so  well,  will  feel 
a  definite  loss  as  she  goes  on  to  the  years 
of  leis\ire  ahead  which  will  now  allow  a 
closer  association  with  her  daughters  and 
grandchildren,  Bon  Voyage,  Mrs  Lyon,  and 
many,  many  years  in  which  to  enjoy  all  the 
pleasures  and  interesting  experiences  pos- 
sible through  yo\ir  new-found  freedom. 

M.K.H. 

Q.M.'S  FIRST  EDITOR  VISITING  USA 

Honor  McCusker,  who  resigned  as  Curator 
of  English  Literature  on  the  staff  of  the 
Rare  Book  Department  on  September  8,  19li7, 
returned  to  the  United  States  in  December 
for  a  t\Yo-months '  leave  before  re-assign- 
ment to  her  new  post  as  head  of  the  United 
States  Information  Service  Library  at  New 
Delhi,  India.  Miss  McCusker  has  been  head 
of  the  U.S.I.S.  Library  in  The  Hague  for 
two  years  and  more  recently  of  the  U.S.I.S. 
Library  in  Rome,  which  tour  of  duty  she  has 
just  completed.  She  virill  be  remembered  as 
one  of  the  founding  mothers  and  first  edi- 
tor of  The  Question  Mark. 


^h 


CONGRATULATIONS 

The  staff  extends  congratulations  to 
Miss  Helen  Schubarth,  Auditor,  virho  will 
receive  a  substantial  beq\ip^^  under  the 
will  of  her  cousin,  the  late  r.harlfts  F.. 
Aldrich,  Boston  banker, 

*«-;Ki-;;-jH;-«-;Hf 


-k- 


NOTES  OF  THANKS 


Dear  Friends, 


I  do  want  you  to  know  how  very 
much  I  appreciate  the  cards,  notes,  and 
flowers  I  have  received  from  so  many  of 
you  at  Central  and  in  the  Branch  Libraries 
I  might  say  your  kindness  almost  made  be- 
ing ill  a  pleasure  1 

Seriously  though,  you  did  a  very  great 
deal  to  brighten  up  some  dull  December 
days  and  I  do  want  to  thank  you. 

Hiy  warm  wishes  for  a  happy  New  Year  to 
you  all. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Mary  V,  Doyle 


To  the  Publications  Committee  of  The 
Question  Markt 

Our  sincere  thanks  for  your 
generous  commendation  of  the  efforts  of 
the  staff  of  the  Exhibits  Office. 

We  accomplish  our  work  only  with  the 
fine  and  continuous  cooperation  of  the 
several  Departments  as  we  ask  it  from 
month  to  month.  An  exhibit  of  the  size 
we  attempt  to  plan  and  mount  at  the  pre- 
sent time  is  a  somewhat  intricate  process. 
The  Christmas  exhibit,  for  example,  re- 
quired the  aid  of  the  carpenters,  the 
painters,  the  electricians,  tho  custodians, 
Klary  Sands,  the  Stock  Room,  the  Informa- 
tion Office,  Open  Shelf  Department,  Young 
People's  Room,  Business  Office,  Branch 
Issue,  Fine  Arts  Department,  Music  De- 
partment, Rare  Book  Department,  Printing 
Department,  Bindery  Department,  Book  Stack 
Service,  and  even  the  people  in  the  Coffee 
Shop  delayed  closing  for  a  few  minutes  on 
occasions  when  we  worked  in  the  evening. 
Marguerite  Connolly  of  the  Director's 
Office  should  be  mentipned  particularly, 
for  typing  "thank  you''  letters  to  those 
friends  of  the  Library  who  permit  us  the 
use  of  their  properties,  Edith  W,  Fisher 
of  Cambridge  has  appeared  on  television 
and  is  talking  to  the  Never  Too  Late  Group 
along  with  allowing  us  to  show  her  crechea 
A.llan  R,  Crite  made  eleven  block  prints  as 
a  gesture  of  friendship  to  the  Library 
where,  as  he  terms  it,  he  has  spent  ha^^py 
years . 

We  have  forgotten  some  person  and  some 
department  who  have  worked  vfith  us  and 


will  be  ambarrased  to  discover  the  ommi- 
sion.  However,  the  next  exhibit  will  stem 
out  on  a  different  branch  of  the  tree  of 
library  life  and  we  will  approach  it  with 
the  confidence  of  kno^/Ving  that  the  members 
of  the  staff  will  do  a  fine,  even  if  un- 
sung, job.  Looking  back  over  the  three 
years  the  Exhibits  Office  has  been  in  ex- 
istence is  satisfying  and  a  bit  thrilling 
to  realize  how  many  times  we  have  been  so 
warmly  received  in  the  work  shops,  depart- 
ments and  offices  of  the  Library,  The 
Science  and  Technology  Department  has  of-  . 
fered  us  ideas  for  a  dozen  different  ex- 
hibits, most  all  of  which  we  shall  use 
sometime  in  the  future.  We  thank  you  one 
and  all  and  hope  that  when  a  larger  work 
area  has  become  available  to  us  we  may  re- 
turn the  courtesies  to  all  departments  and 
Pranch  Libraries. 

The  Exhibits  Office 

TAKE  A  BOW 

This  month  the  Publications  Committee 
would  like  to  note  the  exceptionally  fine 
job  done  by  the  young  ladies  who  served 
on  the  Christmas  Tea  Committee,  under  the 
Chairmanship  of  Sheila  W,  Pierce,  The 
Women's  Lounge  vra.s  very  attractive,  the 
mistletoe  adroitly  placed,  the  food  was 
up  to  the  usual  BPL  standards,  and  a  gra- 
cious air  of  gocd  fellowship  prevaded  the 
entire  afternoon.  Take  a  bow,  young  ladie. 
from  your  fellow  employees  for  a  difficult 
task  expertly  carried  out. 

BRANCH  LIBRARIAN  HONORED 

On  Thursday,  December  11, the  New  Eng- 
land Women's  Division  of  the  American 
Je\Tish  Congress,  at  a  meeting  held  at  the 
Hotel  Beaconsfield,  Brookline,  presented 
a  citation  to  Miss  Fanny  Goldstein  in  re- 
cognition of  the  completion  of  thirty  years 
as  Branch  Librarian  at  West  End  and  of  her 
outstanding  contribution  to  the  promotion 
of  Jewish  Culture  in  America. 

•!HHHH(-JH«-JHHi- 


-5- 


PRESIDENT'S  NOTES 

On  Friday,  January  23,   1953 >  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  B.P.L.P.S.A.  will  be  held. 
At  this  meeting  the  reports  of  the  offi- 
cers and  committee  chairmen  will  be  read 
and  discussed.  They  indicate  the  accom- 
plishments of  the  year  and  show  the  will- 
ingness of  our  membership  to  work  for  the 
benefit  of  our  Association.  As  President, 
I  Yiant  to  express  my  thanks  to  the  Execu- 
tive Board,  the  chairmen  of  the  various 
committees,  and  membership  who  have  helpec 
the  Association  function  successfully  in 
1952. 

■K- 

The  Executive  Board  and  the  members  of 
the  Committee  on  Personnel  Morale  have 
been  meeting  with  the  Director,  at  his 
invitation,  and  discussing  the  report  of 
that  Committee.  The  meetings  were  most 
harmonious  and  it  is  hoped  will  prove 
fruitful.  Certainly,  better  contacts  wil] 
be  established  and  more  information  ex- 
changed, which  is  according  to  the  latest 
writings  on  business,  the  proper  way  to 
proceed.  There  is  necessarily  some  need 
for  withholding  inf orration,  but  there  is 
also  need  for  more  exchange  of  informa- 
tion. Recent  magazine  articles  call  at- 
tention to  this  need.  For  example,  se- 
crecy is  called  the  big  crime  in  Washing- 
ton (What  really  Corrupts  Washington: 
Secrecyl  Look,  5/20/52)  and  the  example 
of  the  Pitney  Bowes  Company  in  laying  all 
the  cards  on  the  table  and  answering  all 
questions  has  helped  curtail  labor  trouble 
(Readers'  Digest,  Sept.  1952).  Their  motto 
"What  People  don't  know  hurts  everybody" 
contradicts  the  old  dictum  but  seems  to 
work  in  that  plant. 

The  following  members  of  the  Association 
have  agreed  \o  serve  on  the  Balloting  Com- 
mittee on  Friday,  January  23,  1953s 

Mrs  Barbara  Cotter,  Chairman,  Super- 
visor's Desk,  (B^S). 

Walter  Bluhm,  Periodical  and  Newspaper. 

Mrs  Alice  Chisholm,  Cataloging  and 
Classification,  (HR^j:C3). 

Mary  Ellis,  Cataloging  and  Classifica- 
tion, (R&RS). 

Jennie  Femino,  North  End. 

Mary  Ann  Gelsomino,  Cataloging  and 
Giccalfif ation,  (R/«/RS). 

Lra  Colomba  Gnesi,  Branch  Issue. 

Irene  Mains,  Mt.  Bowdoin. 

William  F,  O'Hara,  Book  Purchasing 

Mv„  Flora  Roussos,  West  End 

William  Scannell,  statistical 


If  a  library  girl  named  Mary  Smith  mar- 
riee  a  man  named  Brown,  she  may  legally 
change  her  last  name,  but  in  the  minds  of 
her  friends  she  always  will  be  Mary  Smith, 
Accordingly,  slate  of  candidates  for  of- 
fice is  given  below  v^ith  maiden  names  in 
bracketts  and  departments. 

President; 

B.  Joseph  O'Neil,  First  Assistant,  Per- 
iodical and  Nt'wspaper 
Frances  C,  Lepie,  Branch  Librarian, 
Mt .  Bowdoin 
Vice  President: 


Mildred  Kaufman,  Children's  Librarian, 

Mattapan 
Mrs  Julia  (LaRocca)  Miller,  Bookmobile 

Librarian,  Bookmobile  II 
Recording  Secretary; 

Duilia  Capobianco,  Second  Assistant, 

East  Boston 
Jean  L.  Eaton,  Probationary  Assistant, 

Fine  Arts 
Corresponding  Secretary: 

M.  Jane  Manthorne,  Second  Assistant, 

Open  Shelf 
Gilda  Rossetti,  Assistant,  Kirstein 

Business  Branch 
Treasurer : 


Harry  C.  Fletcher,  Assistant,  Cataloging 
and  Classification  Department,  Divi- 
sion of  Reference  and  Research  Services 

Mrs  Bertha  (Schultz)  Keswick,' Assistant ;, 
Branch  Issue 
Executive  Board; 

Elinor  E.  Day,  Branch  Librarian, 
Dorchester 

Nura  Globus,  First  Assistant,  West  End 

Mrs  Rose  (Conti)  Leavitt,  Assistant, 
West  Roxbury 

Louis  Rains,  Assistant,  Science  and 
Technology 

Sidney  Weinberg,  Assistant,  Science 
and  Technology  (Patent  Room) 


■   The  resignation  of  tlrs  Edith  S.  Trocki 
:  created  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  Cor- 
'  resDonding  Secretary,  which  has  been  filled 
'by  the  appointment  of  Agnes  C.  Lucchesi, 
.  Office  of  Records,  Files,  Statistics. 
'  'tiss  Lucchesi,  having  worked  with  Mrs 
•  Trocki,  ia  faniliax'  with  the  duties  of 
I  that  office • 

1  G.L.B. 


riKHKSHKS- ■»-!!■ 


-C- 


GREETINGS  FROM  FORPER  STAFF  MEMBERS 

The  following  letter  iS  from  Berit 
I^rabertsen  who  spent  September  19^0- 
Jime  19^1  as  a  voluntary  worker  observ- 
ing the  methods  of  the  Boston  Public  Li- 
brary through  arrangements  nsde  with  the 
Vice-librarian  of  the  Bergen  (Norway) 
Public  Library: 

Bergen,  l6/l2-52. 
To  the  Personnel  of  the  Boston  Public 
Library : 

Dear  all  of  you] 

I  hope  you  still  remem- 
ber me,  even  if  I  haven't  written  for  so 
long,  I  have  been  very  busy  this  fall, 
taking  some  courses  in  what  they  in  Eng- 
land call  political  thoughts,  and  Latin. 
All  this  in  order  to  study  Philology  at 
the  University  in  Bergen.  Besides  I  am 
still  at  the  University  Library  as  I 
didn't  go  to  the  Library  School  this  year 
either.  I  may  try  next  year  to,  ^  every- 
body seems  to  be  sure  that  they  will  take 
me  in  next  fall. 

The  work  here  is  so  interesting.  Lately 
I  have  been  working  on  rare  books  and  manu- 
scripts, and  on  an  index  of  all  publica- 
tions of  the  Museum  of  Bergen  (now  the 
University  of  Bergen). 

We  didn't  have  much  of  any  summer  here 
in  Bergen,  and  nov/  the  winter  is  here, 
with  ^ust  a  few  hours  day-light»  It  is 
very  distressing  and  we  will  all  feel 
relieved  when  the  light  turns  at  Christ- 
mas-time, 

Our  Christmas-sales  don't  start  before 
December,  so  it  is  very  hectic  the  last 
month.  The  stores  are  now  open  till  7 
o'clock  in  the  evening.  The  streets  are 
full  of  lit-up  Christmas  trees,  it  looks 
very  lovely.  We  just  sent  a  big  Christ- 
mas tree  to  Newcastle  yesterday,  the  one 
in  London  also  is  a  Norwegian  one. 

There  here  has  been  an  awful  lot  of  new 
books  published  this  fall  as  always.  One 
has  to  be  reading  all  the  time  to  be  able 
to  keep  pace  with  the  writers.  Unfortu- 
nately I  haven't  been  able  to  read  much 
fiction  lately,  for  the  time  being  I  am 
enjoying  Guareschi:  The  little  world  of 
Don  Camillo,  which  was  translated  into 
Norwegian  last  spring. 

I  would  like  to  come  over  to  Boston  to 
v/ish  you  all  a  merry  Christmas,  but  I  have 
to  do  it  by  letter  instead. 


With  my  best  wishes  for  the  New  Year, 
may  it  bring  peace  into  the  world! 

Leva 

Berit  Lambertsen 


The  following  are  excerpts  from  a  letter 
I'eceived  by  Mrs  Frances  Kelley,  formerly 
of  the  Book  Selection  Department,  Divisioji 
of  Home  Reading  and  Community  Services, 
from  Nancy  Dickson  Boylan,  who  before  her 
marriage  was  also  a  member  of  that  depart- 
ment. According  to  Mrs  Boylan 's  observa- 
tions it  may  be  that  the  27.8  percent 
noted  in  the  December  editorial  who  left 
"to  accept  positions  elsewhere",  -  along 
v*rith  the  80  percent  who  left  for  the  same 
reason  in  this  month's  listing  of  resigna- 
tions -  may  wish   they  were  back  within 
the  B.P.L.  fold, 

...How  very  nice  that  you're  about  to 
become  one  of  those  ladies  in  retire- 
ment! I  don't  know  how  B.P.L.  will  get 
along  without  your  m.emory  catalogue  of 
books  published  and  citizenry  outraged 
annually. . . 

Speaking  of  outraged  citizens,  I  must 
confess  I  received  a  shock  last  spring 
when  I  happened  to  be  out  on  assignment 
for  ray  current  job.  Passing  a  corridor 
in  the  Vfeldorf  where  the  ALA  convention 
was  in  progress,  amidst  a  display  I  pounced 
happily  on  THE  QUESTION  MARK,  Iimgine  my 
surprise  to  find  another  tea  party  in  pro-f 
gressi  Particularly  since  I've  regarded 
myself  as  in  hot  water  job-wise  only  since 
I  left  B.P.L.  Sorry,  but  I  can't  help 
thinking  you've  never  had  it  so  goodl 

Starting  out  after  college  at  B.P.L.  I 
made  the  mistake  of  imagining  that  employ- 
ment to  be  typical  of  libraries  throughout 
the  country.  After  my  marriage  in  the 
summer  of  1950  and  my  subsequent  first- 
hand look  at  the  library  situation  else- 
where, I  became  increasingly  grateful  for 
the  opportunities  at  B.P.L.  For  instance, 
in  Chicago,  although  closed  shelves  neces- 
sitated my  directing  a  library  employee  in 
her  collation  search,  I  wasn't  eligible 
for  anything  but  pushing  books  on  wagons 
because  I  lack  a  library  science  degree, 
Boston  is  an  oasis  for  the  liberal  arts 
college  graduate  who  earno&t.ly  des-ires  -bo 
work  in  the  world  of  books;  who  often 
can't  afford  to  finance  her  own  further 
study.  Your  pay  was  higher  than  I  en- 


-7- 


countered  elsewhere  in  libraries;  likewise 
your  35  hour  week  was  unique. 

I've  got  that  now,  though  it's  by  no 
means  standard  in  the  business  world.  But 
I  haven't  got  B.P.L.,  and  here  are  a  few 
of  the  reasons  why  I  still  miss  it,  I  wa 


The  Library  had  just  cause  to  be  proud 
when  the  Cecilia  Society  presented  Bach's 
B  ?1inor  Mass  at  Jordan  Hall  on  Monday  eve- 
hired  a  year  ago  September  and  told  to  re-|ning,  January  $,   1953i  Three  staff  mem- 


port  October  first.  lily  organization,  I 


discovered  the  following  summer,  was  under  ally  fine  musical  performance.  Paul  Tib- 


a  union  contract  to  give  2  weeks'  vacation 
instead  of  one  only  if  I'd  been  there  on 
September  15  of  the  previous  year,  IVhere 
I  work,  you  have  to  work  15  years  befoi\2 
you  get  the  month's  vacation  I  enjoyed  at 
B.P.L. 

No  one  is  allowed  to  compute  his  own 
time  sheet  in  my  department.  He  is  marked 
in  or  out  by  an  elderly  man  whose  memory 
frequently  deserts  him.  Corapartmentaliza- 
tion  rules  out  any  complaints*  I  do  not 
enjoy  a  half-day  off  for  Christmas  Shop- 
ping nor  holidays  nearly  every  month  nor 
a  host  of  other  exceptions  you've  come  to 
think  of  as  The  Rule. 

When  I  leave  for  my  lunch  hour,  I  have 
in  my  section  of  town  only  the  company 
cafeteria  for  ray  choice  —  one  hard 


-!HH«;-i!-;v<-kHB«-»- 


DIRECTOR  HOLDS  IiffiETINGS  WITH  THE  SPECIAL 
COMITTEE  ON  PERSONNEL  MORALE 


boiled  egg  is  25^.  There  are  nc  refrigerafgave  outstanding  performances, 
tion  facilities  nor  places  to  hea^  food, 
no  place  to  lie  down  and  rest  in  a  build- 
ing with  5>0G0  employees  (other  than  the 
medical  department  I ) ,  Simple  courtesies 
such  as  shelves  for  purses  in  the  ladies 
rooms  are  unknown.  The  organization's 
library  contains  few  worthwhile  volumes, 
none  current;  one  writing  desk  with  no 
ink;  the  room  is  used  during  lunch  hours 
by  the  office  boys  for  a  jazz  session, 

I  could  say  more,  much  more.  But  let  me 
only  say  that  vfhat  shocked  me  most  about 
some  of  the  letters  in  The  Question  Mark 


was  that  they  left  none  of  their  "causes 
open  to  question.  The  epirit  of  careful 
inquiry  desirous  of  correction  had,  it 
seemed  to  the  reader  nov/  "outside,"  been 
replaced  by  passionate  personal  self- 
defense.  And  what  has  always  distin- 
guished B.P.L,  in  my  memory  has  been  tne 
esprit  de  corps,  the  desire  of  personnel 
to  be  of  service  to  the  public.  To  bor- 
row a  motto  from  my  Alma  Mater,  "Not  to 
be  ministered  uxito,  but  to  minister." 
Ifey  it  ever  be  so4 

Affectionately, 

Hancy  Dickson  Boylan 
651  East  Ih   objeet. 
Apt,  11-D 
New  York  9,   ^w  Ioi-4j 


LIBRARY  STAFF  MEfffiERS  PARTICIPATE 
IN  MUSICAL  EVENT 


bers  took  an  active  part  in  that  exception- 


betts.  Cataloging  and  Classification  De- 
partment, Di'^ision  of  Home  Reading  and 
Community  Services,  vras  the  bass  soloist j 
Jean  Northrup,  Children's  Section,  Open 
Shelf  Department,  vras  oboe  soloist.  Miss 
Northrup  accompanied  vn.th  oboe  obligate 
one  of  the  arias  sung  by  Jfr  Tibbetts. 
George  M.  Pahud,  Music  Department^  provided 
a  bassoon  obligate  to  another  of  Mr  Tib- 
be  tt's  arias. 

The  Library  might  even  bask  in  a  bit  of 
reflected  glory  in  the  fact  that  James 
Pappoutsakis  was  the  flute  soloist.  He  is 
the  brother  of  Michel  Pappoutsakis  of  the 
Cataloging  and  Classification  Department, 
Division  of  Reference  and  Research  Services. 

In  the  overflow  audience  were  several 
staff  members.  All  report  that  our  artists 


It  is  generally  well-known  that  within 
the  last  month,  the  Director  has  held  three 
meetings  -kvith  the  Executive  Board  and  the 
Special  Committee  on  Personnel  Morale, 
These  meetings  were  no  casual,  brief  get- 
togethers  but  long  (the  first  meeting  lasted 
over  five  hours ) ,  arduous ,  down-to-earth 
discussions.  Such  opport\inities  for  ex- 
change of  ideas  cannot  fail  to  have  a  bene- 
ficial effect.  It  is  hoped  that  this  com- 
mittee in  conjunction  with  the  Executive 
Board  will  have  a  detailed  report  to  present 
to  the  membership  at  the  annual  meeting  and 
that  this  report  may  be  printed  in  the  Febru 
ary  issue  of  The  Question  Mark  in  order  to 
give  all  members  an  opportunity  to  study  it 
thoroughly, 

■}H{-;kh:-4;-k-;hh<' 
VISITORS 

Mrs  CouDtancia  dc  Jesus,  Chief,  General 
Reference  Division,  Bui'oaii  of  Public  Li- 
braries, I'fanila. 


-8^ 


REVISION  OF  SICK  LEAVE 
ABSENCE  ANNOUNGET) 


Under  date  of  December  30,  19^2,  the  Di-bution. 
rector  released  a  notice  outlining  there- 
vision  in  the  allowances  for  absence  be- 
cause of  illness.  According  to  this  revi- 
sion, allowances  for  leaves  of  short  ill- 
nesses will  be  separate  from  the  allow- 
anoes  for  vacations.  Up  to  twelve  work 
days  for  short  illnesses  will  be  made  an- 
nually for  all  full-time  employees  who 
have  been  in  the  service  for  six  consecu- 
tive months.  Leaves  of  absence  for  long 
illnesses  will  remain  as  previously  set. 


VICTORY  AT  SEAS  EXHIBIT  OPENS  VJITH 
FORMAL  CEREMONIES 


books,  has  been  printed  through  the  cour- 
tesy of  WBZ   and  the  Headquarters  First 
Naval  District  and  is  availabe  for  distri- 


L.S.M. 


•shh(-iV;hk;-)H{-* 


THE  B.P.L.  ON  RADIO  AND  TV 


exhibit 
John 
New  York 


Brief  formal  ceremonies  marked  the  oper>- 
ing  of  the  "Victory  at  Sea"  exhibit  in  the 
Main  Lobby  of  the  Central  Library,  on 
Sunday,  January  U,  at  four  o 'clocks  With 
enlisted  men  standing  at  attention  at  the 
foot  of  the  main  staircase,  the  Director 
of  the  Library  and  the  Commandant  of  the 
First  Naval  District,  in  turn  extended 
the  greetings  of  the  Library  and  the  Navy 
to  the  throng  of  spectators  assembled  in 
the  lobby.  Following  the  presentation  of 
a  copy  of  "Victory  at  Sea,  the  Story  of 
the  U«  S.  and  Allied  Naval  Operations  dup- 
ing the  Critical  Years  from  1939-1952," 
to  the  Library  by  the  Commandant,  the 
Director  concluded  the  ceremonies  by  cut- 
ting a  wide  blue  ribbon  in  the  form  of 
a  giant  V  on  the  staircase. 

Planned  by  the  Library,  in  cooperation 
with  Headquarters  First  Naval  District, 
and  Station  WBZ,  in  connection  with  the 
prize  winning  NBC-TV  program.  Victory  at 


In  connection  with  the  Library's 
on  the  ''J'/hite  House  Redecorated,  fir 
Fitzgerald  of  Scalamandre'  Silks  of 
came  to  Boston  to  appear  on  a  series  of 
radio  and  television  programs. 

On  December  10,  at  12:30  p.m.  I^Ir  Fitz- 
gerald was  interviewed  by  Bill  Hahn  on 
WJAC-TV  in  an  8-minute  advertising  spot  for 
the  radio  program.  At  1:00  p^m.  Ifr  Fitz- 
gerald also  spoke  over  ViT^AC  as  a  guest  on 
the  "Yankee  Hometown  Food  Program"  with 
Ruth  M^gglebee,  Woman's  Editor,  Boston  Re- 
cord American,  and  Bill  Hahn  of  WNAC  and 
WNAC-TV. 

On  December  12,  Jfr  Fitzgerald  made  three 
appearances.  At  9:00  a.m.  Polly  Huse  of 
WBZ-TV  interviewed  him  on  her  "Domestic 
Diary"  program.  He  was  Nelson  Bragg 's 
guest  over  WCOP  at  12:1^  p.m.  and  at  i;  :00 
p.m.  he  v/as  on  Nell  Gabriel's 
WBJiS. 


vol-ume  "History  of  Naval  Operations  in 
World  War  II"  by  Samuel  Eliot  Moris on,  tte 
exhibition  celebrates  the  magnificent 
achievement  of  the  Navy  in  World  War  II. 
Striking  paintings  by  Dwight  Shepler, 
Mitchell  Jamieson,  William  Draper,  and 
Albert  Murray,  from  the  official  navy 
series,  "Operation  Palette",  and  combat 


for  the  display  of  books,  ship  models, 
and  other  articles  in  the  exhibit  cases 
in  the  main  lobby  and  corridors  and  in  the 
Open  Shelf  Department.  A  brochure  de- 
scribing the  exhibit  and  program,  and  con- 
taining a  selected  reading  list  of  related 


program  over 


* 


J,tLSs  Elna 


On  December  8,  at  8:30  p.m. 
Sherman  and  the  Beacon  Recorder  Consort 
made  a  tape  recording  with  Daisy  Meadows 
for  WNAC.  The  program  was  presented  on 
Thursday  morning,  December  11,  as  a  preview 
to  their  performance  in  the  Lecture  Hall 
that  same  evening,  A  transcription  of  the 
program  has  been  presented  to  the  Library 


Sea,  which  is  based  on  the  official,  multdfor  inclusion  in  its  collection  of  record- 


ings and  is  available  for  use  in  planning 
programs  or  for  personal  interest  and  en- 
joym.ent. 


Miss  Edith  Fisher,  of  Cambridge,  whose 
collection  of  creches  was  again  on  exhibit 


photographs  provide  a  pictorial  background  this  December,  was  the  guest  of  Polly  Huse 


on  "Domestic  Diary"  on  Monday,  December  15, 
at  9:00  a.m.,  over  WBZ-TV. 

The  following  day  Ifrs  Huse  again  played 
hostess  to  a  Library  benefactor  in  the  per- 
son of  Mrs  Beryl  &iiley-Jones  whcpe  il- 
lustrations for  the  children's  story 


-9- 


Mouse  Manor,  by  Edward  M.  Eager  were  on 
exhibit  in  the  Puvis  de  Chavannes  CJallery 
during  December. 


Nelson  Bragg,  the  Liggett  Rexall  Re- 
porter, interviewed  Virginia  Haviland, 
Readers  Advisor  for  Children,  on  Wednes- 
day, Pecember  17,  at  12:1$  p.m.  Miss 
Haviland  spoke  about  new  children's  books 
which  would  be  suitable  for  Christmas 
gifts. 


In  connection  with  his  annual  presenta- 
tion of  Dickens'  Christmas  Carol  in  the 
Lecture  Hall,  Mr  Edward  F,  Payne  gave  a 
shortened  presentation  for  Polly  Huse  ova' 
WBZ-TV  on  Friday,  December  19,  at  9:00a.in. 

Mr  Payne  also  made  a  tape  recording  vith 
Daisy  Meadows  which  was  presented  on 
Christmas  Day  over  WNAC,  at  9:l5  a.m. 

On  Sunday,  December  21,  at  3  p.m., 
WGBH  also  observed  the  26th  rendition  of 
the  "Christmas  Carol"  by  lir   Payne  by  a 
re-broadcast  of  the  25th  performance.  Tile 
recording  of  this  w^as  made  directly  from 
the  Lecture  Hall  in  1951. 

On  Wednesday,  December  2li,  at  9:00  a.m., 
four  children  from  the  Boston  public 
schools,  whose  Christmas  art  work  was  on 
exhibit  in  the  Open  Ghelf  Department,  ap- 
peared on  Polly  Huse's  "Domestic  Diary" 
over  WBZ-TV,  They  showed  some  of  their 
drawings  and  sang  Christmas  carols.  At 
the  close  of. the  program  Polly  gave  each 
child  a  gift.  She  also  paid  tribute  to 
"Elizabeth  Boudreau"  and  "Tom  Manning"  for 
their  cooperation  in  making  the  program 
possible. 


Lieutenant  Commander  Bernard  S.  Solomon, 
U.S.N.R.  appeared  on  "Domestic  Diary"  ova: 
Vi[BZ-TV  on  Monday,  January  ^,   at  9:00  a.m., 
in  connection  with  the  Victory  at  Sea  ex  - 
hibit  currently  being  displayed  in  the 
Central  Library, 


■»■ 


Polly  Huse's  guest  at  9:00  a.m.  on  Thurs- 
day, January  8,  on  WBZ-TV.  He  gave  a 
short  demonstration  of  his  work,  showed  a 
few  completed  pieces  of  sculpture,  and  al- 
so some  of  the  items  which  are  being  ex- 
hibited in  the  Puvis  de  Chavannes  Gallery 
through  January  30. 

On  Monday,  January  12,  at  12:15  p.m., 
in  connection  with  the  current  exhibition 
in  the  Puvis  de  Chavannes  Gallery,  Eliza- 
beth McLean-Smith,  Chairman  of  Exhibitions 
for  the  New  England  Association  for  Con- 
temporary Sculpture,  was  interviewed  by 
Nelson  Bragg  at  the  Liggett  Drug  Store  at 
the  corner  of  Boylston  and  Berkeley  Streets 
The  program  is  carried  Mondays,  Wednesdays, 
and  Fridays  on  WCOP. 


Donald  Born,  Professor  at  Boston  Univer- 
sity School  of  Public  Relations  and  Com- 
munications, Radio  Columnist  of  WBUR,  and 
Television  euterpreneur  of  the  "New  Eng- 
land Alnanac"  on  WBZ-TV  has  been  working 
closely  with  the  Information  Office  in 
collecting  visual  material  for  his  pro- 
gram. As  a  result,  each  Friday  morning, 
at  9:30  a.m.,  he  gives  a  courtesy  credit 
i announcement  "To  the  Trustees  of  the  Best or 
Public  Library," 

Professor  Born  also  helped  the  Library 
tell  its  story  by  interviewing  Commander 
Solomon  on  his  weekly  program  on  '5l^BUR, 
"This  I  Like",  Sunday,  January  h,   at 
5:30  p.m. 


Arch  MacDonald,  radio  and  television 
commentator  at  WBZ  and  WBZ-TV  has  a  vreekly 
TV  program  called  "Into  Focus".  In  Christ- 
mas week  he  devoted  his  whole  program  to 
the  Louis  Prang  Christmas  card  story.  He 
gave  the  B.P.L.  full  credit  for  the  program 
suggestion  and  for  lending  the  material 
from  its  collection. 

Similar  credits  have  been  given  by  com- 
mentators on  WNAC-TV  and  WBZ-TV  at  frequent 
intervals.  The  same  has  been  true  of  radlc 
commentators . 


Peter  Abate,  Sculptor,  Teacher  of  Sculp- 
ture at  the  Boston  Museum  School,  and 
President  of  the  New  England  Association 
for  Contemporary  Sculpture,  apD eared  as 


-10- 


GIFTS  TO  THE  LIBRARY 

Joseph  Salerno,  Director  of  the  New 
England  Regional  Amalgamated  Clothing 
Workers  Union,  CIO,  presented  10  copies 
each  of  the  biographies  of  Sidney  Hill- 
nan  by  Jean  Gould  and  fetthew  Josephson 
to  the  Library  on  Monday  morning,  Janu- 
ary 5»  Mr  Lord  accepted  the  gift  for 

Library  which  came  in  appreciation  of 
Helen  Hirson's  work  with  labor  groups 
organizations  in  Boston. 


the 
Mrs 
and 


■}HHHH«HHi-:Hi- 


EGLESTON  SQUARE  BRANCH  LIBRARY 

Work  is  progressing  rapidly  on  the  new 
Egleston  Square  Branch  Library,  at  20U6 
Columbus  Avenue,  Roxbury,  It  is  expected 
that  this  building  will  be  ready  for  oc- 
cupancy in  the  spring  of  this  year.  It 
will  be  the  first  branch  library  to  be 
entirely  air-conditioned. 

CENTENNIAL  ANNIVERSARY 


1952 


The  Trustees  of  the  Library  have  en- 
gaged Tamblyn  and  Brown  Inc.  of  New  York 
City  to  aid  in  the  preparation  of  the 
Centennial  Anniversary  of  the  Library  and 
in  arranging  a  fund  raising  campaign  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Library. 

Services  of  Tamblyn  and  Brown  began  as 
of  January  1,  19^3  and  will  continue 
through  until  Jfay  of  195U.  Mr  Alexander 
E.  Macintosh,  President  of  Tamblyn  and 
Brown,  Inc.,vri.ll  have  direct  supervision 
of  all  phases  of  activities.  He  will  be 
assisted  for  the  present  by  Mr  Harold  B. 
Allen,  a  Vice  President,  Mr  George  W. 
War ton,  and  Mr  John  B,  MacMurdo. 

All  of  the  arrangements  for  the  Centen- 
nial Anniversary  and  the  campaign  for 
funds  will  be  in  the  name  of  the  City  of 
Boston  and  the  Trustees  of  the  Boston 
Public  Library,  of  course,  and  not  in  the 
name  of  Tamblyn  and  Brown  Inc.  Details 
of  the  arrangements  will  be  presented  to 
the  staff  of  the  Library  from  time  to  time 
as  they  come  into  being. 


NEW  BOOKS  IN  THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 


Fiction 

Christie,  Agatha 

Murder  with  mirrors. 

New  York,  Dodd,  Mead,  1952 
Ferber,  Edna 

Giant, 

Garden  City,  N.Y,,  Doubleday, 
Frison-Jloche,  Roger 

The  lost  trail  of  the  Sahara. 

New  York,  Prentice-Hall,  1952 
Hartog,  Jan  de. 

The  distant  shore. 

New  York,  Harper,  1952 
Hemingway,  Ernest 

The  old  man  and  the  sea. 

New  York,  Scribner,  1952 
Johnson,  Pamela  H. 

Catherine  Carter. 

New  York,  Knopf,  1952 
Petracca,  Joseph 

Cone  back  to  Sorrento. 

Boston,  Little,  Brown,  1952 
Queffelec,  Henri 

Island  priest. 

New  York,  Dutton,  1952 
Waltari,  Mika  T, 

A  stranger  came  to  the  farm. 

New  York,  Putnam,  1952 
Waugh,  Evelyn 

Men  at  arms. 

Boston,  Little,  Brown,  1952 


Non-Fiction 


Allen,  Frederick  L. 

Thr  big  change. 

New  York,  Harper,  1952 
Balsan,  Consuelo  (Vanderbilt) 

The  glitter  and  the  gold. 

New  York,  Harper,  1952 
Bankhead,  Tallulah 

Tallulah, 

New  York,  Harper,  1952 
Douglas,  William  0, 

Beyond  the  high  Himalayas. 

Garden  City,  N.Y.,  Doubleday,  1952 
Flores,  Maria 

The  woman  with  the  -mhip. 

Garden  City,  N.Y.,  Doubleday,  1952 
Hopper,  Hedda 

From  under  my  hat. 

Garden  City,  N.Y,,  Doubleday,  1952 
Martin,  John  J. 

World  book  of  modern  ballet. 

Cleveland,  World  Pub,  Co.,  1952 


-11- 


Mauldin,  William  H. 

Bill  Sfeuldin  in  Korea, 

New  York,  W.  W.  Norton,  1952 
Myers,  Robert  M, 

From  Beo-'jmlf  to  Virginia  Woolf . 

Indianapolis,  Bobbs -Merrill,  19^2 
Smith,  Harry  Allen 

Smith's  London  journal. 

Garden  City,  N.Y.,  D.-'nblsday,  195^^ 
Wins low,  Ola  E. 

Meetinghouse  Hill. 

New  York,  Macmillan,  1952 


On  December  l6  the  story  hour  group  en- 
joyed an  old-fashioned  carol  sing.  Ella 
Adams  of  the  staff  played  many  traditional 
pieces  at  the  piano.  However,  it  was 
"Rudolph  the  Red-Nosed  Reindeer",  sung 
with  much  gusto,  which  was  the  hit  of  the 
afternoon. 

Jamaica  Plain 


H^/de  Park 


BRANCH  NOTES 

City  Point 

Arrivals  and  departures  here  since  last 
April  with  attendant  parties  and  presents 
have  been  too  niimerous  to  keep  up  with, 
so,  to  start  the  year  well,  we  first  say 
a  "Happy  Nevj-  Year"  to  the  "sweet  girl 
graduates"  -  Rosemarie  Ryan  and  Jean 
Evans  -  who  left  us  in  May  and  June  for 
full-time  positions  in  the  business  and 
teaching  world j  then  to  Geraldine  Fitz- 
gerald, Gilda  Tecce  and  Mary  Crosby, 
"guest  members"  who  in  turn  served  us 
through  a  depleted  summery  to  Marie 
Hastie  who  left  our  Children's  Room  in 
October  to  take  care  of  West  End's  chil- 
dren -  may  she  have  as  many  young  friends 
there  as  she  left  here;  and  finally  to 
Helen  3,  Mirphy.  City  Point  and  HSM 
have  been  almost  synonomous  for  so  many 
years  that  it  hardly  seemed  possible  to 
her  or  to  us  that  she  vrould  be  no  longer 
here;  but  v/e  are  glad  that  she  is  virith 
her  very  true  friend,  Mrs  Helen  O'Leary, 
vfith  whom  she  had  shared  so  many  happy 
years  here  in  the  past.  We  bade  farewell 
to  Miss  Murphy  at  the  Darbury  Room  on 
December  6,  amidst  flowers  and  music,  not 
to  mention  good  food  and  fellovirship,  with 
our  best  wishes  in  a  black  leather  lined 
pocketbook  v/hich  Miss  Murphy  assured  us 
she  v^ould  "wear,  not  usei" 

And  now,  to  the  future,  a  Tirarm  ass\ir- 
ance  of  our  welcome  to  the  new  members 
of  our  "family" :  Christine  Celia  and 
Felicia  Langdon,  Mrs  Bertha  Parnes,  and 
Patricia  Andrews,  Roberta  Haley  and  Anne 
Santella,  We  all  enjoyed  together  our 
Christims  festivity  with  table  alight  witt 
Christmas  and  Enrrjiilrh  candles  and  wished 
that  we  might  all  be  together  for  another 
year  -  at  leasti  Please  -  1953  -  no 
more  changes i 


Open  House  was  held  on  Thursday,  Decem- 
ber 18,  from  three  to  six  o'clock  for  the 
second  consecutive  year.  A  festive  air 
prevailed  throughout  the  Branch  as  Friends, 
patrons  and  neighbors  drank  coffee  and  vi- 
sited vfith  one  another  to  exchange  holiday 
greetings.  It  vras  very  pleasant  to  renew 
old  acquaintance  with  two  ex-branch  li- 
brarians of  Jamaica  Plain  and  former  as- 
sistants at  the  Branch  who  are  now  Branch 
Librarians.  The  tempting  array  of  goodies 
was  provided  by  the  members  of  The  Friends 
of  the  Library.  Good  food  -  good  drinks  - 
good  friends. 


Mattapan 


Theodora  B.  Scoff,  Branch  Librarian,  who 
is  vacationing  in  Miami,  reports  that  she 
is  spending  much  of  her  time  with  Nfery 
Golden,  formerly  of  Mattapan,  now  resident 
in  Florida,  Miss  Golden  has  been  working 
in  the  Accessions  Department  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  Miaiai  Library,  and,  her  friends 
will  be  pleased  to  know,  has  been  feeling 
(very  well  since  her  move  South, 


The  only  public  or  private  building  in 
New  England,  we  feel  sure,  which  has  had 
wide-open  windows  and  whirring  electric 
fans  this  week  has  been  the  Mattapan  Branch 
Library.  It  is  not  that  the  metabolism  of 
our  staff  differs  so  radically  from  that 
of  all  other  Bostonians;  it  is  that  every 
winter  since  1937  some  strange  malady  has 
ifflicted  our  coal  furnace,  the  chief  symp- 
tom of  which  is  a  great  effusion  of  coal- 
gas.  We  have  therefore  had  our  choice  of 
shutting  the  furnace  off  completely,  re- 
sulting in  no  heat,  but  at  least  no  coal- 
gas;  or  of  running  the  heat,  thus  produc- 
ing coal-gas,  thus  necessitating  the  fans 
and  open  ■ffindov;s,  thus  producing  the  same 
effect  as  if  we  had  no  heat,  BUT  with  the 
added  attraction  of  the  unconquerable  coal- 
gas.  Our  health  may  be  menaced,  but  our 
life  is  never  dull. 


-12- 


Phillips  Brooks 

The  Music  Appreciation  Group  will  be 
studying  twentieth  century  composers  for 
the  rest  of  the  school  year*  It  cannot 
be  ascertained  ahead  of  time  which  oom- 


Children's  Room  under  the  sunervision  of 
:Mrs  Ifary  La  Follette. 
I  Marion  C.  Kingman,  Branch"  Librarian, 
jwelcomed  the  adults  at  the  evening  Open 
jHouse  observances.  Student  Nurses  from 


posers  will  receive  full  attention  by  the  jthe  Massachusetts  Memorial  Hospital  sang 


group.  Also,  the  composers  will  not  be 
studied  in  chronological  order,  but  only 
as  sufficient  recordings  of  their  works 
are  available. 

The  first  meeting  served  as  an  intro- 
duction to  the  course  of  study,  Debussyte 
Premiere  Rhapsodie  as  one  example  of  im- 
pressionistic music  of  the  turn  of  the 
centxary  was  counterbalanced  by  Stravin- 
sky's Three  Pieces  for  clarinet  solo,  il- 
lustrating the  neoclassical  movement. 
Some  members  disliked  what  they  heard, 
and  others  took  to  itj  but  all  were  ex- 
cited about  going  on  with  the  study  of 
more  modern  composers  than  have  hereto- 
fore been  investigated  by  the  Jihisic  Ap- 
preciation Group. 

The  first  step  in  acquainting  the  chil- 
dren with  twentieth  century  composers  was 
to  have  them  read  short  biographies  and 
compile  a  list  of  the  composers  thuS  dia- 
povered.  Then  a  bulletin  board  display 
Tivas  iiB.de,  the  group  members  aiding  in  its 
composition  wherever  practicable.  As 
many  of  the  composers '  names  as  possible 
were  made  a  part  of  the  music  bulletin 
board.  Those  7^0  worked  on  the  project 
and  those  who  now  see  it  have  become  very 
interested  in  finding  out  about  those 
people  with  such  "funny  names." 

South  End 

The  Open  House  observances  of  the  Chil- 
dren's Room  were  well  received  by  hosts 
of  young  readers  on  Thursday  afternoon, 
December  18,  1952.  The  Hyde  School 
Chorus,  a  selected  group  of  fifteen  girl^ 
under  the  direction  of  Josephine  Ricard, 
sang  traditional  and  new  carols  with 
sweetness  and  a  moving  emotional  quality. 
Officers  and  members  of  the  South  End 
Reading  Club  participated  in  the  program 
and  served  as  ushers  and  hostesses.  One 
member  was  Master  of  Ceremonies  and        The  annual  Christmas -Ha nukkah  Good  Will 
brought  the  greetings  of  the  library  stafE  Party  was  held  on  Thursday  evening  Decem- 


ja  group  of  traditional  and  modern  carols 
'to  the  delight  of  an  appreciative  audience. 

Eighteen  members  of  the  South  End  Read- 
; ing  Club,  accompanied  by  two  members  Of 
the  Children's  Room  staff,  attended  a  film 
shoviTing  at  the  Children's  Museum  on  Satur- 
day afternoon  of  the  holiday  week.  This 
outing  proved  convincingly  that  children 
respond  enthusiastically  to  educational 
programs  geared  to  their  interests.  The  , 
Reading  Club  members  found  the  Museum  tour 
and  games  so  absorbing  that  they  begged  to 
be  allowed  to  stay,  even  though  the  hour 
of  closing  was  fast  approaching.  They  are 
looking  forward  to  other  trips  in  the  near 
future . 

•«- 

The  first  Doll  Show  was  held  in  the 
Children's  Room  on  Tuesday  morning,  Decem- 
ber JO,  19^2.  The  youngsters  listened  with 
rapt  attention  to  a  talk  by  the  Msses 
Grace  and  Jfeirie  Turner,  teachers  in  the 
Louisa  May  Alcott  and  Girl's  Trade  Schools, 
on  "Dolls  and  Doll  Collecting." 

As  owners  of  over  eight  hundred  dolls, 
the  Misses  Turner  have  shared  and  are 
sharing  some  of  their  dolls  with  the  Bostor 
Public  Library,  as  well  as  the  South  End 
Branch . 

An  opportunity  to  see  examples  of  story 
book,  character,  and  historic  dolls  height- 
ened the  interest  of  the  children  in  the 
talk.  They  were  particularly  captivated 
with  "Goldilocks  and  the  Three  Bears,"  and 
"Alice  in  Wonderland"  and  the  "White  Rabbit 
Prior  to  the  talk,  each  little  girl  proudly 
exhibited  her  ovm  doll,  which  she  had  been 
asked  to  bring  with  her.  Lollipops  were 
distributed  to  both  youngsters  and  dolls 
at  the  close  of  the  program. 

West  End 


Mrs  Faith  Stenning  led  the  Reading  Club 
and  the  audience  in  carol  singing.  The 
program  ended  with  the  telling  of  a  mod- 
ern Christmas  story,  "Azor  and  the  Blue- 
eyed  Cow,"  by  Mrs  Barbara  C.  Elam,  Acting 
Children's  Librarian.  Candy  was  distri- 
buted to  the  children  by  members  of  the 
Reading  Club  assisted  by  the  staff  of  the 


ber  18.  The  formal  program  opened  with 
Fanny  Goldstein,  Branch  Librarian,  giving 
a  few  introductory  remarks  about  the  Branch 
Cantor  Bernard  Radin  lit  the  Hanukkah 
candles,  while  chanting  the  traditional 
ritual.  The  Hanukkah  message  was  given  by 
Rabbi  Samuel  Perliian,  the  new  Director  of 
Hillel  House  at  Boston  University. 


-13- 


Dr  Frederick  M,  Eliot,  President  of  the 
American  Unitarian  Association,  stressed 
that  Christmas  is  the  time  of  brotherly- 
love  between  all  men.  The  musical  portion 
of  the  program  was  furnished  by  two  Staff 
members  —  Mrs  Flora  Roussos  and  David 
Goldman.  Mrs  Roussos  sang  a  couple  of 
carols  and  accompanied  the  whole  group  in 
the  singing  of  the  more  familiar  ones, 
Mr  Goldman  played  some  froelichs  and 
Israeli  folk  songs  on  the  accordian. 

The  highlight  of  the  evening  was  the  pre-j 
sentation  to  the  West  End  Branch  Library 
of  an  Estey  four  octave  organ  by  Patrick 
F.  McDonald,  Trustee.  It  was  formally 
accepted  by  Milton  E.  Lord,  Director. 

A  delightful  evening  was  ended  with  a 
sumptuous  kosher  collation,  provided  by  ' 
the  hostess  and  prepared  by  the  members 
of  the  Staff. 

Mrs  Jfercela  V.  Avancena,  the  Librarian 
of  the  National  Teachers  College,  in  the 
Philippines,  who  visited  Branch  Libraries 
under  the  direction  of  Elizabeth  M.  Gordor^ 
Deputy  Supervisor  in  Charge  of  Work  with 
Children  wrote  the  following  interesting 
paragraph  in  a  letter  addressed  to  Mss 
Goldstein: 

"I  have  just  finished  the  formal  report 
on  my  observations  in  your  country,  and 
of  the  120  single-spaced  pages  that  con- 
situte  the  whole  and  describe  the  work- 
ings of  30  libraries,  9  are  devoted  to 
the  splendid  work  of  your  own  Boston  Public 
Library.  I  shall  always  have  a  fondness 
for  your  quaint  city,  all  the  more  because 
you  have  been  very  kind  to  one  who  wanderoi 
on  to  your  premises  without  authority  or 
introduction. 

I  hope  you  will  soon  find  both  the  time 
and  opportunity  to  come  over  and  visit  our 
shores  as  I  did  yours.  When  that  time 
comes,  please  to  remember  our  address  and 
drop  in  on  us  for  a  visit." 

•«■ 

A  Christmas  party,  held  in  the  Lecture 
Hall  on  December  12,  was  the  occasion  for 
a  gay  get-together  in  honor  of  the  fifteen 
successful  participants  of  the  Book  Week 
Contest.  A  book  donated  by  Miss  Goldstein 
was  awarded  as  first  prize  to  Devra  Zeltan 
of  the  fifth  grade  in  the  Peter  Faneuil 
School.  Christmas  stories,  carols  and  re- 
freshments were  enjoyed  by  the  guests-of- 
honor  and  the  regular  Story  Hour  group. 

•JHKHS-SBHHHH*- 


SOAP  BOX 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must  be 
accompanied  by  the  full  name  of  the  Asso- 
ciation member  submitting  it,  together 
with  the  name  of  the  Branch  Library,  De- 
partment, or  Office  in  which  he  or  she  is 
employed.  The  name  is  withheld  from  pub- 
lication, or  a  pen  name  used,  if  the  con- 
tributor so  requests.  Anonjmious  contribu- 
tions are  not  given  consideration.  The 
author  of  the  article  is  known  only  to  the 
contributor  and  to  the  Editor-in-Chief, 
The  contents  of  articles  appearing  in  the 
Soap  Box  are  personal  opinions  expressed 
by  individual  Association  members  and 
their  appearance  does  not  necessarily  indi- 
cate that  the  Publications  Committee  and 
the  Association  are  in  agreement  with  the 
views  expressed. 


To  the  Editor: 

The  editorial  in  the  December  Question 
Mark  crystallizes  the  thinking  of  many 
staff  members.  To  improve  the  situation 
and  attract  capable  librarians  from  other 
libraries,  I  suggest  more  democracy  in  our 
"family"  life. 

Pan 


Dear  Soap  Box  Editor: 

No  one  who  has  been  a  member  of  the 
bibliothecal  staff  for  even  so  short  a 
time  as  the  past  year  can  be  unavrare  of  thft 
number  of  resignations  which  the  BPL  has 
received  from  employees  who  have  left  "to 
accept  positions  elsewhere".  It  took  a 
brave  person,  however,  to  "put  it  on  the 
line",  and  so  well,  in  last  month's  Ques- 
tion  Mark. 


Congratulations  to  you — whoever  you  are. 
You  did  a  wonderful  job. 


To  the  Editor,  for  the  Soap  Box: 

I  should  like  to  enlarge  upon  a  statement 
made  in  the  Editor's  Corner  of  The  Question 
Mark  of  December  19^2  to  the  effect  that 
The  Library  is  very  generous  with  its 


-lU- 


scrambled  schedules  to  fit  the  need  of  the 
student". 

All  of  us  in  the  Library  are  glad  when 
an  assistant  is  ambitious  enough  to  con- 
tinue his  education  by  means  of  outside 
courses  and  in-service  training  courses. 
I  believe  however,  that  the  student  should 
be  obliged  to  fit  his  schedule  to  his  li- 
brary schedule,  and  not  the  library  sub- 
ordinate its  schedule  to  that  of  the  stu- 
dent. Moreover,  the  senior  assistants  in 
a  department  are  continually  being  called 
upon  to  shift  their  schedules  for  students 
who  "fold  their  tents  and  scram"  once 
their  education  has  been  completed.  It 
is  not  efficient  department  scheduling, 
or  good  public  service,  to  have  assistants 
popping  off  to  attend  mid-morning  and  mid- 
aftemoon  classes. 

Courses  should  be  taken  on  mornings  or 
on  days  off,  and  assistants  who  work  reg\i- 
lar  schedules  should  not  always  have  to 
change  their  schedules  to  accommodate  the 
need  of  the  student  employee. 


To  the  Soap  Box  Editor: 

The  editorial  in  the  December  issue  of 
the  Question  Mark  reflected  the  all  too 
often  heard  criticism  among  the  staff  of 
the  inadequacies  in  the  quality  of  our 
supervision  at  various  levels.  The  ex- 
cerpt from  Supervising  Library  Personnel 
by  Adra  Fay,  quoted  in  the  Morale  Com- 
mittee 's  report,  served  to  omrihasize  what 
is  perhaps  at  the  root  of  these  short- 
comings -  "the  failure  to  understand  and 
respect  the  human  element  involved  in 
supervision",  a  failure  resulting  too  of- 
ten from  the  absence  or  deficiency  of 
those  qualities  so  essential  in  a  good 
supervisor,  impartiality,  open  mindednesSj 
tact,  integrity,  judgment,  decisiveness. 
Since,  as  Miss  Fay  states,  it  is  the  su- 
pervisor (in  the  broadest  sense  of  the 
word)  who  has  the  strongest  influence  up- 
on attitudes  developed  in  library  assist- 
ants" ,  why  should  not  more  tangible  evi- 
dence be  required  of  every  aspirant  to  a 
supervisory  position  as  to  his  abilities 
and  capacities  in  this  direction  than  is 
at  present  the  case?  Perhaps  we  terminate 
our  in-service  training  at  too  low  a  level 
Might  it  not  pay  rich  dividends  to  declare 
a  moratorium  on  scholarships,  since  the 
tendency  has  been  often  noted  for  the 
recipients  to  "up  ?-nd  leave"  so  frequently 


after  reaping  their  benefits,  and  apply 
the  funds  as  an  experiment,  toward  insti- 
tuting periodic  courses  or  workshops  in 
siipervision  (to  be  conducted  by  experts 
in  management  training),  a  practice  not 
uncommon  in  business  and  industry,  which 
every  supervisory  and  aspirant  to  such  a 
position  would  be  required  to  take.  Or, 
if  impractical,  since  the  entire  staff 
would  benefit  from  improved  supervision 
perhaps  the  Professional  Staff  Association 
could  point  the  way. 

Q.E.D. 


To  the  Soap  Box  Editor: 

In  the  Editor's  Corner  of  the  December 
issue  of  the  Question  Iferk  there  appears 
a  presentation  "v^iich  has  as  its  theme 
"our  staff  morale  is  not  too  good". 

The  Editor  begins  by  calling  attention 
to  "two  startling  facts".  One  is  that 
during  the  first  eleven  months  of  the  cur- 
rent year  72  full-time  bibliothecal  3t>- 
ployees  left  the  service.  The  other  is 
that  the  reason  heading  the  list  was  "to 
accept  positions  elsewhere". 

What  is  there  "startling"  in  this?  A 
list  of  the  reasons  for  leaving  was  given 
showing  that  19  women  members  of  the  staff 
who  were  married  left  in  order  to  remain 
at  heme,  13  moved  from  Boston,  k   entered 
convents,  h   went  into  military  service, 
k   entered  schools  and  colleges,  3  left 
to  be  married,  2  left  to  travel,  1  left 
because  of  ill  health,  and  2  gave  no  rea- 
son. Except  for  the  two  for  whom  no  rea-. 
son  for  leaving  was  given,  was  it  "star« 
tling"  that  the  other  $0  mentioned  above 
left  the  Library?  There  is  no  reason  to 
believe  that  these  individuals  left  be- 
cause of  unsatisfactory  viorking  conditions 
or  for  the  reasons  suggested  in  the  third 
paragraph  of  the  presentation. 

As  for  the  20  individuals  vjho  left  "to 
accept  positions  elsev;here"  the  evidence 
in  the  individual  cases  does  not  indicate 
that  it  was  necessarily,  or  evon  primarily., 
for  the  reasons  indicated  in  the  third 
paragraph  of  the  editorial  that  they  left. 
An  analysis  of  the  20  new  jobs  which  these 
20  individuals  accepted  reveals  that  in 
most  instances  it  was  a  compliment  to  the 
Boston  Public  Library,  as  well  as  to  the 
individuals  themselves,  that  these  people 
could  obtain  positions  elsewhere  which 


-15- 


generally  represented  advancement  and  in- 
creased remuneration.  How  unfortunate  it 
■would  be  if  the  Boston  Public  Library  did 
not  have  on  its  staff  individuals  whom 
other  employers  would  engage.  The  20  in- 
dividuals in  question  represent  a  turn- 
over of  h%   in  the  total  bibliothecal  staff 
as  opposed  to  the  unrealistic  percentage, 
namely,  27.8^  of  the  total  resignations 
quoted  in  the  editorial.  Four  per  cent 
is  not  a  startling  figure.  The  occur- 
rence of  vacancies  is,  of  course,  not 
unique  to  the  Boston  Public  Library, 

The  Editor  goes  on  to  inquire  whether 
we  are  "making  our  Library  sufficiently 
appealing  in  salary,  working  conditions, 
credits  and  equivalents  to  attract  work- 
ers from  other  large  libraries".   Inquiry 
is  made  whether,  for  instance,  a  chil- 
dren's librarian  from  Letroit  can  trans- 
fer to  Boston  "as  a  children's  librarian 
or  does  she  have  to  go  through  the  throes 
Of  examinations,  delayed  credits,  and 
work  her  way  up  from  the  bottom  all  over 
again" .  The  answer  is  that  she  doe$  not 
have  to  work  her  way  up  from  the  bottom, 
and  that  she  can  be  given  equivalents  for 
her  educational  background  and  her  pro- 
fessional training  and  experience  for 
which  she  can  offer  evidence  of  an  ac- 
ceptable equivalence  to  the  Boston  Public 
Library's  examinations  —  and  this  with- 
out the  necessity  of  examinations.  The 
Library  has  today  on  its  staff  a  Chil- 
dren's Librarian  who  so  qualified,  and  it 


has  recently  taken  into  its  employ  another  paragraph,  "yfho  'use'  the  Library  to  com- 


who  is  similarly  eligible  to  be  appointed 
as  a  Children's  Librarian.  Is  not  the 
Editor  therefore  contrary  to  fact  in  the 
fourth  paragraph  in  implying  that  we  are 
"being  a  little  superior,  perhaps  too 
superior  for  our  own  good,  in  assuming 
that  a  worker  in  a  library  comparable  to 
Boston  cannot  assume  a  position  in  Boston 
on  a  par  with  the  one  held  in  another 
library,  given  a  reasonably  short  time 
'to  learn  the  ropes'"? 

The  Editor  goes  on  to  say  that  "there 
are  rumors  that  our  staff  morale  is  not 
too  good",  and  to  inquire  "where  does  the 
fault  lie?"  Again  the  Editor  says  that 
"this  question  naturally  implies  that  all 
staff  members  are  to  some  extent  respon- 
sible for  staff  morale" J  but' "it  is  in- 
teresting to  note,  however,  that  on  the 
sime  day  (November  2li,  1952)  tvro  well- 
known  commentators  noted  that  staff  mo- 
rale seeps  dovm  from  the  top,  never  up 


from  the  bottom",  Robert  C.  Ruarck  is 
stated  to  say  in  the  Boston  Traveler  that 
"the  fault  is  nearly  always  at  the  top", 
and  "something  is  basically  wrong  with 
the  brass,  high  and  low,  if  the  ranks  get 
unruly" ;   and  mention  is  made  that  Henry 
J,  Taylor  said  in  substance,  over  a  nations 
broadcast,  that  "the  tone  of  a  staff  — 
in  morale,  vrork  and  general  well-being  — 
is  always  determined  by  those  in  authority". 
But  neither  Mr  Ruarck  nor  Mr  Taylor  made 
these  as  isolated  statements.  These  sen- 
tences are  instead  parts  of  the  whole  in 
each  instance.  One  has  only  to  read  Mr 
Ruarck 's  column  in  full  to  find  that  the 
main  theme  is  primarily  that  the  "unruly" 
ranks  need  to  be  cracked  dovm  upon  by  the 
top  "brass".  This  is  something  quite  dif- 
ferent from  implying,  as  does  the  Editor 
in  ansvirer  to  the  question  "where  does  the 
fault  lie",  that  staff  morale  is  the  re- 
sponsibility almost  solely  of  "the  top," 
Likewise  one  has  only  to  read  Mr  Taylor's 
broadcast  in  full  to  find  that  quoting  him 
to  the  effect  that  "the  tone  of  a  staff  , ^ , 
is  always  determined  by  those  in  authority" 
places  an  incorrect  emphasis  upon  what  he 
was  saying  in  his  broadcast.  By  quoting 
these  statements  from  Mr  Ruarck  and  Mr 
Taylor,  whether  v/ord  for  word  or  on  sub- 
stance, and  taken  from  the  full  text  of 
their  presentations,  the  Editor  comes  close 
to  contributing  «■  to  disturbing  staff  morale. 
Finally,  what  aoout  the  young  people,  men 
tioned  by  the  Editor  in  the  next-to-last 


plete  their  education,  accept  scholarships 
from  the  Library  and  once  educated  prompt- 
ly 'fold  their  tents  like  the  Arabs '  — 
and  scram"?  The  Editor  suggests  that  the 
Library  require  "that  these  assistants  who 
have  been  given  special  consideration  for 
educational  purposes  guarantee  the  Library 

set  minimum  of  three  years  of  service  be- 
fore seeking  employment  elsewhere" .  The 
question  arises  as  to  why,  before  making 
such  a  suggestion,  the  Editor  did  not 
check  the  facts.  The  facts  are  that  out  of 
the  35  individuals  who  have  been  awarded 
scholarships  by  the  Library,  lU  have  re* 
signed  and  only  3  had  not  given  at  least 
three  years  of  service. 

Actually  one  can  not  help  but  wonder 
whether  the  Editor's  Comer  in  the  December 
issue  did  not  itself  contribute  additional- 
ly to  the  "rumors  that  our  staff  morale  is 
not  too  good."  Most  of  the  presentation 
was  closer  to  rumor  than  to  fact, 

Elizabeth  Wrlglit     . 
Supervisor  of  Personnel 
lU  January  1953 


-16- 


To  the  Editor  of  the  Soap  Box: 

In  the  December  issue  of  the  Question 
Mirk  a  "Soap-Box"  correspondent  asked  why 
no  sign  had  been  placed  at  the  site  of  the 
nev  Erleston  Square  Branch  Library  to  in- 
fo?: a  the  public  of  the  nature  of  the  buildj-^nd  signs  were  posted  wherever  possible 
ing  operations  in  progress  there.  The 


other  television  station  WBZ-TV  carried  it 
on  the  National  Shairoiut  Bank  telecast  of 
local  news. 

In  addition  to  taking  the  aforesaid  stgs, 
notices  about  the  strike  v.'sre  distributed 
to  each  unit  of  the  Library  f jr  posting. 


question  was  both  proper  and  pertinent. 
The  Library  was  aware  of  the  desirability 
of  having  a  «ign,  and  the  architects  of 
the  new  building  were  asked  to  prepare  one. 
They  did  their  part  well  —  almost  too 
well,  it  was  thought.  They  prepared  a 
design  which  included  considerable  infor- 
mation plus  a  blown-up  photograph  of  a  mo- 
del of  the  building.  The  trouble  was  this: 
there  had  been  a  political  campaign  in 
which  elaborate  signboards  appeared  here 
and  there  advertising  public  improvements 
in  progress.  These  had  become  something 
of  a  controversial  matter,  and  accordingly 
it  seemed  best  to  stick  to  stark  simpli- 
city. So  the  architects '  brave  effort 
was  rejected  (with  thanks,  of  course),  and 
a  new  sign  was  decided  upon.  It  is  un- 
fortunate that  delay  thus  ensued.  The 
sign  was,  however,  finally  placed  at  the 
site  of  the  new  Egleston  Square  Branch 
Library  on  Tecember  29,  1952. 

FRANCIS  X.  MOLONEY 
Assistant  to  the  Director,  in- 
Charge  of  Business  Operations 


To  the  Editor  of  the  Soap  Box: 

In  the  last  issue  of  the  Question  Mark 
there  appeared  a  letter  which  stated  that 
the  Library  had  done  "almost  nothing"  to 
notify  its  patrons  of  the  current  strike 
by  drivers  against  the  contractor  who 
rents  trucks  and  bookmobiles  to  the  Librar^s 

The  facts  are  as  follows : 

On  November  20,  1952,  immediately  upon 
receipt  of  word  that  the  truck  drivers  had 
struck  that  same  morning,  a  news  release 
Mas   sent  to  all  metropolitan  dailies,  all 
national  news  services,  and  all  radio  out- 
lets notif  jring  the  public  of  the  strike  and 
indicating  that  both  bookmobile  service  aari 
delivery  service  would  be  interrupted. 

Three  of  the  metropolitan  dailies  carried 
the  news  release  and  all  radio  stations 
carried  the  nevYs.  Television  station  WNAC- 
TV  carried  spot  announcements  and  used  a 
picture  of  orig  of  the  bookmobiles,  and  the 


at  bookmobile  stops  on  the  first  day  of  the 
strike.  Approximately  UO  schools  at  which 
regular  stops  are  made  vrere  immediately 
notified  by  telephone  of  the  strike  as  7re?Ll 
as  various  business  houses  and  stores  v^hose 
staffs  use  the  bookmobile  service. 

On  November  28,  19^2,  a  second  news  re- 
lease was  sent  to  all  metropolitan  dailies, 
all  national  news  services,  all  weekly  news- 
papers, and  all  radio  outlets.  This  re- 
lease stated  that  the  labor  dispute  bettveen 
the  drivers  and  the  trucking  company  had 
not  been  settled.  It  stated  that  books 
borrowed  from  either  bookmobile  could  be 
retiirned  to  the  Central  Library  or  to  any 
Branch  Library,  but  that  members  of  the 
public  should  return  books  to  the  Branch 
Libraries  from  which  they  were  borrovred 
and  Central  Library  books  to  the  Central 
Library  building. 

Many  of  the  local  nei^re papers  carried 
this  news  release,  but  insofar  as  is  known 
none  of  the  metropolitan  dailies  carried 
the  release. 

The  Library  did  indeed  take  action  to 
notify  its  patrons  of  existing  conditions. 
Unfortunately,  the  Library  has  no  funds 
with  which  to  buy  space  in  the  press  for 
public  notices;  nor  can  the  Library  assure 
that  newspapers  will  print  releases  sent 
to  them.  There  was  not,  hov/ever,  a  "lack 
of  action"  on  the  part  of  the  Library,  as 
stated  by  the  writer  to  the  Soap  Box  of 
the  December  issue. 

JOHN  J.  CONlvIOLLY 
Assistant  to  the  Director,  and 
Chief  Executive  Officer 
lU  January  1953 


* 


To  the  Editor  of  the  Soap  Box: 

Congratulations  on  the  editorial  in  the 
December  Question  Mark.  Its  many  pertinent 
questions  seem  to  put  a  finger  on  the  rea- 
son for  much  of  the  low  staff  morale  in 
the  library  today.  The  obstacles  to  em- 
ployment and  advancement  far  outvi'eigh  the 
inducements  to  come  irvfeo  or  re.iuain  iu  the 


-17- 


library.  Nvunerous  examinations  and  class 
dist incisions  are  but  a  few  of  the  many- 
reasons »  Thus  within  a  few  years  the  in- 
dividual who  arrives  overflowing  with  en- 
thusiasm and  a  "Let's  make  this  the  best 
department  (or  branch)"  attitude  either 
seeks  fields  where  advancement  and  remu- 
neration are  more  certain  and  rapid  — 
or  she  becomes  a  dreary  "shelf -sitter"  in 

the  system ^who  shrugs  and  says  "Why 

bother" • 

Shelf -sitter 

-!HHi-;i-;;-»-;,4'c-}H'r 
CARE  LETTERS 


Beneficiary: 


Friends  in  America, 


Landeswaisenhaus 
Schwaeb.Gm.uend 


Through  the  Care-Unesco  Children's  Book 
Fund  we  have  got  the  following  books  which 
you  have  sent  us : 

1.  April's  Kittens  by  Clare  Turlay 

Newberry 

2.  Mike  Ifulligan  and  his  Steam 

Shovel  by  Virginia  Lee  Burton 

3.  Johnny  and  the  Birds  by  Jan  Munn 
Ue  The  Golden  Book  of  Poetry  by 

Jane  Werner 

5.  The  Big  Snow  by  Berta  and  Elmer 

Hader 

6,  The  Five  Chinese  Brothers  by 

Claire  Huchet  Bishop  and  Kurt 
Wiese. 
We  are  very  glad  now  to  possess  these 
books  in  our  library.  Ten  of  our  children 
go  to  a  high-school  and  a  group  of  about 
fifteen  boys  and  girls  learn  the  English 
in  our  home-school,  ?/hen  they  will  be 
returned  from  the  holidays  we  shall  show 
them  these  books.  Then  they  will  enjoy 


We  thank  you  very  much  for  your  parcel 
with  the  encharming  booKs. 

Sincerely, 
E,  Holgwarth 

The  substitue  Headmaster  of 

the  Orphan 's-House, 


Mchko,  Ifey  19,  19^2 


Dear  Friend: 


Many  warm  spring  greetings  from  these 
distant  backwoods  of  Finland,  and  my  very 
sincerest  thanks  for  the  package.  It  was 
simply  wonderful  to  receive  such  a  pack- 
age I  It  was  the  very  first  one  I  had  ever 
receivedi  We  are  beginning  to  have  quite 
a  family.  There  are  eight  of  us  now,  five 
children  and  three  adults.  We  have  three 
boys,  the  eldest  eight  years  old,  the  other 
two,  four  and  three,  and  now  last  March 
we  had  the  twins,  both  girls.  They  were 
very  small  at  birth  but  have  now  grown  and 
are  beginning  to  be  of  normal  weight.  They 
are  a  lot  of  work  vrtien  one  has  to  do  everyr 
thing  oneself  but  one  can  only  do  one's 
best.  Then  we  have  our  grandpapa,  my  hus- 
band's father,  who  also  needs  help  in  ao 
many  ways.  But  if  I  can  keep  ray  health 
we  will  get  along  all  right  with  God's 
help.  We  live  near  rapids  a  kilometer  and 
a  half  from  the  Russian  boundary.  This  is 
a  tiny  village  badly  bombed  during  the  war, 
but  it  has  its  good  points  along  vdth  its  , 
disadvantages, 

I  am  36  years  old  myself,  rather  small  [ 
in  size.  My  husband  is  older,  56  already,  '■ 
and  he  was  beginning  to  get  worried  because 
we  had  to  wait  so  long  for  children  but 
what  could  one  do  about  it.  The  coming  of 
the  tTirins  was  quite  a  surprise  to  us.  The 
girls'  names  are:  Ulla  Marjatta  and  Pirjo 
Anneli,  The  boys'  names:  Eino  Juhani, 


very  much. 

By  reading  and  regarding  these  books  th^Vaino  Olavi,  and  Kimmo  Tapani, 
will  be  able  to  understand  your  country, 
its  people  and  countryside  much  better. 

The  books  with  pictures  are  best  fit  to 
vinderstand  your  country  and  your  customs. 

The  finest  of  these  books  is  Mike  Mul- 
ligan. April's  Kittens  is  a  very  funny 
book. 

German  books  virhich  are  read  by  all  our 
children  are  "Grimms  Marchen"  und  "Der 
Struwwelpeter" , 


Vfell,  I  must  close  now  and  go  nurse  the 
girls  so  that  I  can  go  to  bed.  The  others 
are  sleeping  already.  My   husband  is  away 
on  weekdays.  He  works  at  a  lumber  camp. 
At  present  they  are  floating  the  logs, 
Sundays  he  is  at  home. 

Again  I  want  to  express  my  very  best 
thanks  for  the  package. 


Gratefully  yours, 

Anni  Tikka 
Mohko,  Mustakorpi 
Finland 


¥^ 


uestion 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


^^*>., 


THE   QUESTION   MARK 
Published  by  the  Boston  Public  Library  Professional  Staff  Association 
Volune  VIII,  Number  2  February  1953 


Publications  Committee:  Gerald  L.  Ball,  Geraldine  S.  Herrick,  John  J,  McCafferty, 

Sarah  JL  Usher,  Charles  J.  Gillis",  Chairman 


Publicat ion  da te : 
The  fifteenth  of  eaub  month 


Deadline  for  submitting  material : 
T'he  tenth  of  each  month 


ESITQPJS  COTW.?. 

This  number  of  The  Question  Mark  is  is- 
sued under  the  aegis  of  a  newly  formed 
Publications  Committee.  We  are  aware  of 
the  high  standards  set  by  our  predecessors, 
both  in  reportage  and  in  the  initiation 
and  selection  of  articles.  We  will   do  our 
best  to  continue  the  fair  and  impartial 
policies  of  The  Question  Markv  To  help  us 
in  this  endeavor,  we  ask  the  members  of 
the  Professional  Staff  Association  (and 
especially  the  Staff  Representatives)  to 
continue  their  cooperation  in  supplying  us 
■wath  the  material  which  has  made  the  QM 
the  one  central  source  of  current  informa- 
tion -  one  that  appeals  to  the  new  staff 
members  just  as  much  as  it  does  to  the 
veteran  members. 

The  columns  of  the  QM  are  open  to  all 
members  of  our  Association,  with  limita- 
tions only  as  to  space  and  the  policy  es- 
tablished by  the  Executive  Board  injanuaiy 
1950»  (This  policy  deserves  re-publica- 
tion and  can  be  found  in  a  separate  arti?- 
cle  in  this  issue.)  So,  we  call  upon  all 
professional  'brains',  budding  poets,  up- 
holders of  justice,  and  unvocal  humorists 
to  enrich  our  efforts  to  turn  out  a  well- 
rounded  paper. 

The  first  objective  of  our  Association 
is  "to  foster  professional  librarianship.' 
This  aim  has  been  furthered  admirably  by 
the  QjM  editors,  and  by  the  officers  and 
committees  of  the  Association.  This  has 
been  attested  by  projects  such  as  the 
Institute,  the  Workshop,  and  by  the  Hart- 
zell  Lectures,  to  name  a  few  outstanding 
successes.  Surveys  and  inquiries  have 
been  conducted  with  lasting  benefit  to  the 
Association,  Professional  articles  are 
regularly  contributed  to  the  QM,  along 
with  notices  of  professional  activities. 
All  in  all,  our  first  objective  is  well 
m  Vjand, 

The  second  objective  is  "to  further  the 
cc-nmon  interests  and  welfare  of  the  pro- 
fee) 'ionai  staff,"   The  interpretation  of 


this  phrase  has  aroused  mixed  feelings 
among  the  members,  judging  from  the  dis- 
cussion of  the  objective  at  the  last 
annual  meeting.  The  meaning  of  the  word 
"welfare"  and  its  implications  is  now  undei 
study  by  a  special  committee  so  vre  will 
refrain  from  editorial  comment  at  this  tim.e 

The  third' objective  is  "to  promote  great- 
er efficiency  in  library  service."  After 
a  lengthy  study  of  Association  activities 
it  appears  that  this  objective  has  not  re- 
ceived due  consideration.  If  this  target 
is  to  be  hit,  we  must  raise  our  sights. 
What  can  be  done  by  small  groups  and  by 
individuals?  We  will  receive  suggestions 
for  the  furtherance  of  the  "third  objec- 
tive" with  a  feeling  of  small  accomplish- 
ment (and  trepidation).  However,  we  will 
give  such  suggestions  our  zealous  atten- 
tion, with  the  hope  that  out  of  such  ac- 
tivity will  come  benefits  to  the  library 
and  to  the  professional  staff. 

Let  the  Centennial  year  1953  mark  an 
advance  in  all  fields  and  not  just  a  mark 
on  a  calendar. 

C, J .G. 

■!KHBHf-;i"«-5BH«- 


February  19. 


February  27. 


CALENDAR  OF  E\^NTS 

JILA  meeting  at  the  Sheraton 
Plaza 

BPLPSA  reception  for  1953 
officers,  in  the  Lecture 
Hall  at  8:30  P.M. 


March  2.  SLA  Boston  Chapter,  at  the 
Godfrey  L,  Cabot  Company, 
38  Memorial  Drive,  Cambridge. 
(Note  change  of  date  I ) 


•$;-!HHKHHi-;HHi- 


-2- 


EDITQRIAL  POLICY 

Reprinted  from  The  Question  Mark, 
Volume  V,  No.  2,   Page  1  (February  1950) 

With  x,his  issue  of  The  Question  Mark, 
we  share  with  you  one  nev;  policy.  There 
has  always  been  some  question  about  fre- 
quency of  issue  and  an  editorial  policy. 
Beginning  with  the  next  issue  we  will  try 
to  live  up  to  the  following  criteria  of 
editorial  policy. 

1.  There  should  bfi  an  editorial  in 

sach  issue  of  The  Question  Mark. 

2.  The  editorials  should  be  centered 

around  any  subject  of  interest  to 
the  Association  as  a  whole  as  ex- 
pressed in  Article  II  of  the  Con- 
stitution, namely,  that  it  shall 
be  the  object  of  the  Association 

(a)  to  f'^ster  professional  li- 

brarians hip 

(b)  to  further  the  common  inter- 

ests and  welfare  of  the  pro- 
fessional staff 

(c)  to  promote  greater  efficiency 

in  library  service. 
These  precepts  have  been  formulated  by 
the  Executive  Board  in  response  to  a  re- 
quest from  the  old/new  Publications  Coin- 
mittee . 


■M-;;-!f 


HHf-X- 


PERSONAL  NOTES 


New  Employees 


Tynne  Saari,  from  Allston  to  Neponset. 

Mrs  Gl'^ria  Seidenherg,  from  Charlestown 
to  Allston, 

¥irs  Mary  E.  Obear,  from  Bookmobile  I  to 
Adams  Street. 

Resignations 


Margaret  R.  Bowers,  West  Roxbury,  to  be 
married. 

Mrs  Jfeiry  T.  Welby,  West  End,   to  remain 
at  home, 

Robert  B.  Flanagan,  Fine  Arts,  to  accept 
another  position. 

William  J.  Gurney,  Audio-Visual  Center. 

Mrs  Patricia  W.  Venezia,  Book  Preparation, 
to  remain  at  home. 

Urs   Harriet  F„  Heath,  Open  Sheli",  to 
accept  a  teaching  position  in  the  Newton 
Public  School  system* 

Engagements 


Mildred  Fischer,  Jamaica  Plain, to 
Samuel  Maloof .  A  June  wedding  is  planned, 

Florence  Karcauskas,  Book  Stack  Service, 
to  Ernest  B,  Naudzuinas  on  February  1 ,   1953* 

Stork  Events 


Mary  A,  Burns,  Trustees'  Officej  formerly 
part-time, 

Ruth  E,  Winn,  Roslindale",  formerly  em- 
ployed at  South  End. 

I>irs  Maureen  Eriksen,  Egleston  Square > 
formerly  part-time,  Bookmobile  I, 

Anne  B,  Doherty,  Charlestown. 

George  Mansour,  Fine  Arts. 

Dorothy  L,  Dodv;orth,  South  End. 

Transfeie 

Mary  T.  Crosby,  from  Codman  Square  to 
Jeffries  Point, 

Louis  Goddardj  from  Jeffries  Point  to 
School  Issue. 

May  C.  McDonald,  from  School  Issue  to 
Charlestown, 

Mildred  Presentfe,  from  Neponset  to 
Codman  Square. 


Mr  and  Mrs  Harold  Tibets  announce  the 
birth  of  a  son,  Harold  Francis,  Jr.,  on 
January  13. 

Mrs  Tibets  is  better  known  as  "Ronnie 
Tibets"  of  Book  Stack  Service. 

Mr  and  Mrs  Edward  Gurnett  announce  the 
birth  of  a  daughter,  Anne  ferie,  on 
January  2?. 

Jtrs  Gurnett  is  the  former  Julia  Manning 
of  Rare  Book. 

■}KHHH'r-;HKHH(- 

BEST  WISHES  FOR  A  SPEEDY  RECOVERY 
TO 

All  staff  members  on  the  sick  list. 


The  Latest  Stork  Event 


Mr  and  Mrs  Daniel  Hughes  announce  the  biiih 
of  a  son,  on  February  2.  Young  Dan  weighed 
5  lb.  8  oz.  at  birth.  Jirs  Hughes  (formerly 
Louis  Cheverie)  was  an  assistant  in  fc^ .. 
Open  Shelf. 


-3- 


TAKE  A  BCW 

In  this  issue  of  The  Question  Mark,  in 
which  her  talents  are  eviUent  not  only  in 
the  cover  with  which  she  won  the  cover  de- 
sign contest  a  few  years  ago,  but  also  in 
the  flyer  which  has  been  incorporated  as 
a  final  page,  the  pjblications  Committee 
unanimously  asks  Mildred  R.  Somes,  Book 
Preparation,  to  TAKE  A  BOW.  Hearty  thanks 
to  her  for  the  consistent  cheerfulness 
with  which  she  greets  all  requests  for 
more  art  work  and  for  the  excellence  of 
her  announcements  of  B'^'LPSA  activities. 
Long  may  her  pencils  stay  sharp  and  her 
ideas  flow  freelyi 


QUARTER  CENTURY  CLUB 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Quarter 
Century  Club,  held  on  January  21,  the 
follov/ing  members  were  elected  for  the 
year  1953: 

President:  James  P.  J.  Gannon 
Vice  President:  Bradford  M.  Hill 
Treasurer:  Mrs  Grace  M.  Caution 
Secretary:  Charles  J.  Gillis 

The  Treasurer  will  accept  19^3  dues  at 
the  convenience  of  the  members, 

WHY  DON'T  YOU  BELONG  TO  A.L.A.? 

As  Chairman  for  Boston  on  the  A.L.A. 
Membership  Committee,  I  ask  your  coopera- 
tion in  answering  the  baffling  question: 
■Why  do  not  people  who  have  chosen  Library 
work  as  a  profession  support  the  national 
professional  organization?  Approximately 
one-third  only  of  the  B.P.L.'s  profes- 
sional people  are  paid-up  members  of  A.L.A 
at  the  present  time. 

The  first  answer  which  comes  always  is 
that  the  dues  are  too  high.  That  is  an 
understandable  reason.  Yet,  money  always 
seems  to  be  found  for  joining  in  a  year  in 
which  an  assistant  wishes  to  attend  an  an- 
nual conference  and  combine  attendance 
with  travel.  If  so  much  more  money  can 
be  found  in  a  year  in  which  additional 
travel  expenses  are  involved,  why  can't  it 
be  found  in  years  in  which  only  dues  are 
involved? 


In  order  that  I  may  make  a  constructive 
report  to  the  A.L.A.  Membership  Committee;, 
will  you  please  send  me  your  answer  to  the 
question:  Why  don't  YOU  belong  to  AcL.A.? 
All  ans'./ers  will  be  considered  oonfidenuial. 

3APJVH  M.  USHER 
A.L.A,  Membership  Committee 

VISITORS 

Pr  Guillermo  Feliu  Cruz,   Curator,   The 
Medina  Collection,  Director  of  International 
Exchange,  The  National  Library  of  Chile. 

Waltraut  Bender,  Librarian,  Regensbnrg 
Branch,   Bavarian  State  Library. 

Marga  Poehmer-Plitt,  Librarian,   Branch 
Library,   Hamburg. 

Lr  Herbert  Fenske,   Head  Librarian, 
Hamburg-Wilhelms'jwg    District  Library, 
Hamburg . 

Dr  Herman  Sauter,  Chief  Librarian, 
Pfaelzische  State  Library,  Speyer. 

^HH;-;;-JHKi-;Ki-> 

"GRATEFUL  GRABS" 

Another  contribution  has  been  received 
from  a  retired  staff  member  for  the  general 
fund  of  the  association  in  appreciation 
for  receiving  The  Question  Mark.  Several 
such  contributions  have  been  received 
lately.  They  are  welcome  not  only  for  the 
financial  support  of  the  association,  but 
also  it  is  encouraging  to  know  that  our 
"graduates"  are  still  interested  in  staff 
activities  and  that  they  appreciate  the 
staff  periodical. 

THAMS 

May  I  take  this  opportunity  through 
The  Question  Mark  to  extend  to  the  staff 


my  sincere  thanks  for  the  many  good  wishes 
that  have  so  graciously  been  expressed 
to  me. 

Helen  Schubarth 


4i- 


A.L.A.  yOTABLB  BOOKS  PROJECT 

As  in  previous  years,  the  Boston  Public 
Library  was  invited  to  participate  in  the 
Notable  Books  Project  of  the  American 
Library  Association,  19^2,  The  National 
Chairman  this  year  was  Katharine  E.  Grum- 
rine,  Head  of  the  Central  Lending  Divi- 
sion, Carnegie  Library  of  Pittsburg.  Of 
the  103  libraries  and  individuals  invited 
to  participate,  US  submitted  voting  lists c 
The  entire  number  of  titles  submitted  on 
the  first  report  by  those  participating 
was  $67,     Of  these, 

$1   titles  received  12  or  more  votes 

66  titles  received  5-11  votes 

118  titles  received  2  -  i;  votes 

232  titles  received  1  vote 

These  ^6?  titles  were  classified  numeri- 
cally by  the  National  Committee  and  re- 
turned to  the  local  committees  for  recon- 
sideration. The  final  list  is  being 
printed  for  distribution. 

The  following  staff  members  comprised 
the  Boston  sub-committee  of  the  A.L.A, 
Notable  Books  Committee: 

Mrs  Geraldine  Altman,  Jamaica  Plain 

Harry  AndreT\rs,  Bi^anch  Issue 

Mrs  Marjorie  Bouquet,  Office  of  Chief 

Librarian,  Div.  of  R  and  RS 
Nura  Globus,  West  End 
Eleanor  Halligan,  Statistical 
Ruth  Hayes,  Adams  Street 
Charles  Higgins,  General  Reference 
Rosalie  Lang,  History 
Mrs  Grace  Loughlin,  Open  Shelf 
Louisa  Metcalf ,  Open  Shelf 
Mrs  Julia  Miller,  Bookmobile  II 
Paul  Moynihan,  Genral  Reference 
Dorothy  Nourse,  East  Boston 
Pauline  Vfelker,  West  Roxbury 
Edna  Peck,  Chairman,  Book  Selection, 

Div.  of  HR  and  CS 

•i;-K-)HHi-;;--;BHHc- 
NEVER  TOO  LATE  GROUP 

The  annual  report  of  the  Board  of  Recre- 
ation of  the  City  of  Boston  for  ijhe  year 
ending  December  31,  19^2,  contains  an 
article  on  "Recreation  for  our  senior 
citizens."  One  section  of  the  report  is 
of  special  interest  to  the  B.P.L.  staff. 
In  part  this  statement  reads,  "We.  .  .  . 


call  attention  to  the  splendid  program 
at  the  Public  Library  known  as  the  'Never 
Too  Late  Group'  which  will  soon  celebrate 
its  third  anniversary.  This  group  ?^e5t5 
every  Thursday  afternoon  at  2  P.M.  in  the 
Lecture  Hall  at  the  Central  Library.  A 
fascinating  and  varied  program  is  enjoyed 
throughout  the  year,  consisting  of  panel 
discussions,  book  reviews,  symposiums, 
hobby  demonstrations,  special  movies,  and 
musicales  and  trips  in  warmer  weather  to 
such  places  of  interest  as  Science  Park, 
the  museums,  and  industrial  plants,  A 
planning  committee,  composed  of  members  of 
the  group,  meets  monthly  at  the  library 
to  suggest  programs  and  speakers.  Start- 
ing with  85,  the  'Never  Too  Late  Group' 
now  numbers  over  300,  is  still  growing 

Like  everything  the  library 

undertakes,  this  outstanding  public  ser- 
vice is  a  credit  to  its  leadership." 

CATHOLIC  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION 
NEW  ENGUND  UNIT 

Catholic  Book  Week  will  be  February  22- 
28,  1953,  but  Boston  being  ahead  of  every- 
one else,  celebrated  it  Tvlth  a  Book  Fair 
and  Forum  on  Valentine's  Day,  February  ll;, 
from  2:00  to  6:00  p.m.,  in  New  England 
Mutual  Hallo  This  has  now  become  a  nation- 
al affair,  sponsored  by  the  Catholic  Li- 
brary Association,  but  we  at  the  B.P.L,, 
are  always  proud  of  the  fact  that  the  idea 
began  in  Boston,  in  1937,  and  that  the  first 
Committee  was  assembled  by  Charles  L, 
Higgins,  General  Reference,  Members  of  the 
original  committee  who  are  serving  this 
year  are:  Mary  Alice  Rea,  Book  Purchasing^ 
Chairman  (Miss  Rea  was  the  secretary  of  the 
first  committee);  Anna  L«  Manning,  Chief 
of  ■*.  Teachers;  Mary  L.  Oilman,  Branch 
Librarian,  City  Point;  and  Alice  Waters, 
Open  Shelf. 

Nevf  B.P.L.  members  on  this  year's  com- 
mittee include:  Paul  V.  Moynihan,  General 
Reference;  Richard  Waters  and  William 
Casey,  Open  Shelf,  as  well  as  local  book- 
men from  parish  and  college  libraries  and 
publishing  houses. 

Speakers  on  the  afternoon  Forum  included 
Marie  Killilea,  author  of  Karen;  Monsignor 
Matthew  P.  Stapleton,  Vice-Rector  of  St.     j 
John's  Seminary;  Dr.  Alba  Zizzamia,  trans-   \ 
later  of  Ricciotti's  Life  of  Christ, 
National  Catholic  Welfare  Conference  cor-    j 


-s- 


respondent  to  the  United  Nations ;  and 
Brassil  Fitzgerald,  author  of  Onward 
fe  Casey, 

M.A.R. 

GIFT 


Asher  J.  Shuffer,  sales  nanager  for  the 
P..C.A.  Victor  record  division  of  the 
Eastern  Corporation,  presented  a  copy  of 
the  recording  of  the  newly-released 
"Guadalcanal  ferch"  to  the  Library  on 
Tuesday,  February  3.  The  selection  is 
from  the  Richard  Rodgers  score  for  the 
NBC  documentary  film  Victory  at  Sea  vAich 
is  being  shown  over  WBZ-TV  on  Sundays,  at 
3:00  p»m.  This  particular  recording  was 
released  on  the  last  day  of  the  Victory 
at  Sea  exhibit  at  the  Library.  John  J. 
Connolly,  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  the 
Library,  accepted  the  gift* 

■jh«h«~;hh«m{-* 

THE  B.P.L.  IN  PRINT 

The  Sunday  Herald,  February  1,  had  under 
"Letters  from  Readers"  a  provocative  lettar 
entitled  No  need  to  be  lonely,  written  by 
Margaret  Munsterberg,  Rare  Book.  She  re- 
commended the  BPL  for  Sunday  afternoon 
enjoyment  and  content. 

■X- 

On  February  8,  in  the  Editorial  and  News 
Feature  section  of  the  Boston  Sunday  Globe 


there  appeared  an  article  by  Virginia 
Bright  entitled  "Boston  Children's  Weekly 
Platter  Party j  Public  Library's  Musical 
Treat."  The  article  described  the  Ifusic 
Appreciation  Program  for  children,  which 
is  being  conducted  in  the  Audio-Visual 
Center  on  Thursday  afternoons. 

An  item  on  Boston's  three  musical  li- 
braries appeared  in  the  Boston  Sunday  Post 
magazine  for  February  8,  Written  by 
William  Phelps,  it  is  entitled  "Stacks  of 
Melody,"  and  includes  several  paragraphs 
about  the  Wusic  Lftpgjftiiifcriit  and  the  Audio- 
Visual  Center. 


THE  3.P.L.  ON  RADIO  AND  TV 

Elizabeth  B^  Boudreau,  Chief,  Information 
Office,  interviewed  Arthur  W,  Heintzelman, 
Keeper  of  Prints,  on  Friday,  January  16, 
over  WB'iS,  Mr  Heintzelman  spoke  of  the 
Contempcrary  Amorican  Print  gift  for  the 


National  Museum  in  Jerusalem. 


Lee  M.  Friedman,  President  of  the  Library's 
Board  of  Trustees,  appeared  as  a  guest  on 
the  "Our  Believing  ?'orld"  program  over 
TiTBZ-TV,  on  Sunday,  January  18. 


On  Thursday,  January  22,  over  WBZ-TV, 
Arthur  W,  Heintzelman  appeared  on  Polly 
Huse's  "Domestic  Diary"  with  the  artist, 
Rubin,  Tvhose  paintings  were  among  those 
at  the  Institute  of  Contemporary  Art's 
Seven  Israeli  Painters"  exhibit.  Mr 
Heintzelman  and  Mr  Rubin  spoke  about  the 
Boston  Public  Library  presentation  of 
Contemporary  American  Prints  to  the  Israeli 
exhibit  at  the  Institute, 


On  Thursday,  January  29,  Fanny  Goldstein, 
West  End,  interviewed  Dr  Glatzer  over 
station  WB^G,  in  connection  with  the  publi- 
cation of  his  latest  book  on  Franz  Rosen- 
zweig. 


On  Friday,  January  30,  Commander  Dvdght 
C.  Shepler,  U.S.N.R.,  was  the  guest  of  Polly 
Huse  on  WBZ-TV,  in  connection  with  the 
Victory  at  Sea  exhibit  at  the  Central  Li- 
brary, Commander  Shepler,  a  combat  artist 
for  the  Navy  in  World  War  II,  spoke  about 
and  showed  some  of  the  paintings  he  did 
during  his  tour  of  duty. 


Jean  Northrup,  Assistant  in  the  Children's 
Section  of  Open  Shelf,  was  intervievred  by 
Nelson  Bragg  over  WCOP  on  Monday,  Febru- 
ary 2,  The  program  that  day  featured 
activities  for  children,  so  Miss  Northrup 
spoke  of  the  Music  Appreciation  Program 
for  children  virhich  she  is  conducting. 


-6- 


TALK  BY  STAFF  MUBER 

On  January  22,  19^3*  upon  invitation  of 
the  Superintendent  of  Schools  in  Cambridge, 
Mildred  Kaufnian,  children's  librarian  at 
T5attapan,  served  with  Mildred  Mahoney  of 
the  tessachusetts  Commission  against  Dis- 
crimination and  Viola  Leventhal  of  the 
Anti-Defamation  League  on  a  panel  discus- 
sing resource  materials  in  huican  relations. 
Miss  Kaufman  described  resources  in  chil- 
dren's books  for  human  relations  and  dis- 
cussed the  reading  program  as  a  source  of 
material  in  teaching  human  relations*  The 
panel  was  part  of  the  "Workshop  on  Human 
Relation  for  School  Administrators",  a 
series  of  conferences  held  at  the  Profes- 
eiori^l  Library  of  the  Cambridge  School 
Department,  to  introduce  a  new  curriculum 
in  hvunan  relations  for  grades  one  through 
twelve • 

THE  SOCIAL  mmL 

On  January  21,  Mrs  Sara  A,  Lyon  was  re- 
tired from  the  service  of  the  Boston 
Public  Library  after  serving  as  Librarian 
at  Hyde  Park  for  the  past  tvrenty-tiio  years, 
Mrs  Lyon  had  formerly  held  positions  at 
North  End  and  Tyler  Street.  On  January  17 
she  was  a  guest  of  her  staff  members  at  a 
luncheon  at  Patten's  Restaurant.  At  this 
time  she  was  presented  with  gifts  and  a 
colonial  bouquet  of  spring  flowers. 


May  MacDonald  was  dinner  guest  of  the 
Department  on  January  23 j  at  the  Town 
House.  In  early  January,  Mss  MacDonald 
left  the  department  to  take  the  posj  tion 
of  acting  Children's  Librarian  at  Charles- 
town.  For  several  years  she  had  been  with 
School  Issue,  starting  at  the  old  Tyler 
Street  location. 

The  staff  met  at  the  Town  House  vtiere 
they  had  a  special  table  reserved  for  them. 
Miss  MacDonald  arrived  looking  very  chic 

and  gay  in  a  black  and  white  outfit,  and 
wore  a  Trifari  brooch,  Yirhich  was  a  gift 
from  the  staff.  Everyone  had  a  wonderful 
time  o 

The  staff  also  pave  liLss  IfecDonald  a 
quick  and  impromptu  party  at  the  department 
the  day  she  left.  There  were  light  re- 
freshments and  quite  a  few  good  jokes o 
In  all,  it  was  a  good  send-off  for  Miss 


MacDonald  who,  in  the  midst  of  the  small 
but  secret  preparations,  let  it  be  known 
that  she  was  hungry  and  anxious  to  eat. 

The  people  of  School  Issue  were  reluc- 
tant and  sorry  to  have  Miss  MacDonald 
leave,  and  wished  her  every  success  and 
happiness  in  her  new  position. 


On  Monday,  February  2,  1953  several      | 

members  of  the  Open  Shelf  staff  gathered 
at  the  Sheraton  Plaza  for  an  informal 
luncheon  in  honor  of  Wilfred  Lahaie. 
This  affair  served  to  convey  to  Mr  Lahaie 
the  congratulations  and  sincere  good 
wishes  of  his  fellow  workers  on  the  oc- 
casion of  his  entrance  into  the  Order  of 
the  Cistercians  of  the  Strict  Observance 
at  the  Trappist  Monastery,  Spencer, 
Massachusetts, 


On  February  11,  1953,  the  staff  of  the 
Cataloging  and  Classification  Department, 
Div,  of  HR  and  OS,  enjoyed  a  superb  luncteon 
tendered  them  by  Ethel  Mo  Hazlewood,  Chief 
of  the  Department.  The  Wedgewood  Room, 
Hotel  Vendome^  will  be  remembered  by  all 
as  the  scene  of  a  most  delightful  party. 

■iHHC-5*«-J«HHH(- 

'■lYHERE  ARE  THEY  NOW" 


The  Chrisi.riias  Season  is  a  remembering 
timec  The  namerous  Christmas  cards  of 
former  staff  members  with  their  messages 
of  new  babies  and  new  successes  remind 
us  of  how  many  young  people  have  worked 
here  at  Eajr,  Bostono  Each  year  the  Christ- 
mas posters  accumulated  through  the  years 
bring  back  fond  memories.  The  impish 
choirboys  ox  Ursula,  the  roguish  cherubs 
of  tery,  the  bow  bedecked  angels  of  Julia, 
the  demxire  madonnas  of  Tony,  the  "night 
before  Christmas"'  posters  of  Shirley,  the 
wee  elves  of  Helen ^  and  the  starry-eyed 
snowmen  of  Gertrude,  all  are  part  of  the 
festivities. 

Since  the  New  Year  is  a  time  of  stock- 
taking and  a  round  dozen  years  of  work  la 
worthy  of  at  least  a  fleeting  survey,  I 
have  studied  a  bit  ^he  history  of  personnel 
in  the  twelve  years  I  have  been  at  East 
Boston.  The  two  recent  articles  in  The 
Question  Mark  on  sx.aff  morale  indicate  that 
this  cursory  survey  may  be  of  interest  to 


-7- 


the  staff. 

During  the  past  twelve  years,  twenty-flare 
new  full-time  and  sixty  part-time  assist- 
ants have  begun  work  here.  Nineteen  of 
these  entered  on  or  after  Jaraiary  19h$» 
Of  these  eighty-five  persons,  only  four 
had  ever  worked  in  the  Boston  Public  Li- 


brary before.  Three  of  these  were  "extras''assistants  are  interesting.  Three  are  full- 


to  work  in  a  bookstore,  after  a  very  fleet- 
ing library  career.  Five  of  these  new 
persons  left  the  Boston  Public  Library 
shortly  after  they  were  transferred,  five 
of  them  \\d.thin  a  few  months  of  leaving  here. 
Only  one  full-time  worker  left  to  study. 
The  careers  of  some  of  the  part-time 


beginning  their  careers  as  full-time  as- 
sistants and  one,  re-entering  the  library 
after  her  nBri'iage,  had  formerly  worked 
in  the  stacks.  Of  these,  aside  from  one 
regular  and  seven  extras,  on  the  present 
staff,  only  six  are  still  in  the  Boston 
Public  Library,  Three  of  these  are  former 
part-time  workers  now  employed  full-time. 

There  were  plenty  of  other  staff  changes 
during  these  twelve  years.  Not  one  person, 
janitor,  policeman,  or  assistant  has  sur- 
vived the  years.  In  fact  several  positjois 
have  been  filled  several  times :  we  have 
had  four  first,  or  acting  first  assistant^ 
four  Childrens'  librarians,  and  f if a  seoond 
or  acting  second  assistants.  Besides  the 
six  assistants  who  began  work  here  and  are 
still  in  the  system,  there  are,  if  my  fi- 
gures are  correct,  thirteen  other  profes- 
sional librarians  who  were  here  in  the 
past  twelve  years.  This  total  of  nineteen 
is  not  large.  Thus  the  total  number  of 
assistants  who  have  worked  with  me  and  are 
no  longer  in  the  system  totals  seventy- 
eight  plus  one  janitor  and  six  cleaning 
women.  With  the  present  staff  the  grand 
total  of  staff  is  one  hundred  and  seven- 
teen. 

''Wiy  did  the  staff  leave?  IVhere  are  they 
now?  Most  of  the  former  full-time  girls 
are  busy  housewives  and  mothers.  This  is 
natural  as  most  of  our  new  assistants  have 
been  very  attractive  girls  with  exceptional 
abilities  and  charming  personalities.  In 
fact  ten  of  them  were  already  married  and 
two  had  children  before  entering  the  li- 
brary! Two  others  were  engaged  to  be  mar- 
ried before  they  entered  the  library  and 
three  girls  were  married  while  here.  All 
of  the  married  women  worked  while  their 
husbands  were  in  service,  or  studying  in 
college,  or  interning  as  doctors,  so  that 
It  was  very  evident  their  stay  Yrould  be 
brief.  It  was — but  some  girls  made  out- 
standing contributions  to  our  work.  Two 
young  women  left  to  become  mothers,  one 
because  her  husband  was  killed  in  Korea, 
Three,  one  hired  only  for  the  summer,  left 
to  return  to  teaching.  Two  who  were  li- 
brary school  graduaives  left  for  better 


time  workers  in  the  Boston  Public  Library, 
Our  "extra"  alumni  number  a  doctor,  an 
honor  graduate  of  Harvard  will  receive  his 
M.  D,  in  June,  a  priest,  a  nun,  a  college 
professor,  several  school  teachers,  a  col- 
lege librarian  and  civil  engineer.  Several 
are  still  students  and  one  is  in  the  Air 
Force  in  France,  The  majority  of  the  girls 
are  housewives  and  the  "extra"  grandchil- 
dren are  numerous. 

Besides  training  all  these  new  workers, 
East  Boston  has  carried  out  several  activi- 
ties during  these  twelve  years.  The  branch 
celebrated  its  seventy-fifth  birthday  with 
appropriate  ceremonies.  ¥fe  have  the  honor 
of  having  the  first  Friends  of  the  Library 
Group  in  Boston  and  have  been  the  fortunate 
recipient  of  the  first  moving  picture  pro- 
jector, phonograph  and  tape  recorder  in 
the  branch  system.  Since  March  19h7 ,   we 
have  a  regular  weekly  movie  program  for 
six  months  each  year.  Our  activities  have 
included  seven  Open  House  Celebrations, 
eight  school  art  exhibits,  eight  teas  for 
the  teachers,  three  adult  art  exhibits, 
one  hobby  show,  annual  celebration  of  Book 
Week  and  Spring  Book  Festival,  special 
film  programs,  special  birthday  and  other 
celebrations. 

Where  are  they  now — at  home  in  Florida, 
California,  New  York,  Louisiana,  Connecti- 
cut or  Massachusetts.  Why  did  they  leave? 
Most  never  expected  to  say  more  than  a 
year  or  two.  What's  wrong  with  our  person- 
nel? We  picked  the  winners,  many  already 
ear-marked  for  the  oldest  career  for  wo- 
men. Library  work  was  only  a  stop-gap  but 
the  majority  made  a  definite  contribution. 
Perhaps  the  most  disturbing  thing  to  me  in 
this  survey  is  the  lack  of  personnel  trained 
for  promotion.  The  system  is  -wasteful,  in 
time  spent  training  new  persons  detailed 
library  routine.  When  I  think  what  has  been 
done  with  a  constantly  changing  staff,  I 
wonder  how  we  did  it.  How  much  more  we 
could  have  done  with  less  turn— over  of  staff. 
Unfortunately  the  situation  is  not  improv- 
ing, for  we  have  had  eight  staff  changes 
in  19^2  in  full  time  staff.  Three  of  these 
were  new  professional  workers,  two  of  them 


positions  in  other  libraries  and  one  girl,  are  no  longer  in  the  system.  To  my  mind 


-8- 


the  personnel  problem  at  East  Boston  is 
typical  of  the  Boston  Public  Library  for 
we,  while  the  first  branch  library  in  the 
United  States,  are  not  first  in  changing 
starf  J, 

Dorothy  Fo  Nov.rse 

■fHs-;Hi-;BHHHe-}f 

PRESIDENT'S  NOTES 


On  behalf  of  all  the  ncwly-elocted  of- 
ficers and  E:-:ecutive  Board  I  would  like 
to  thank  you  for  the  confidence  you  have 
expressed  in  us  during  the  recent  elec- 
tion. You  may  be  assured  that  we  are 
aware  of  our  responsibilities  and  that  we 
ViTill  do  our  utmost  to  serve  joa  faithfully 
and  well.  The  response  from  those  members 
who  have  been  asked  to  serve  as  committee 
chairmen,  committee  members  and  as  staff 
representatives  has  been  most  encouraging 
-  my  sincere  thanks  to  them  for  their  co- 
operation, I  urge  each  member  to  give 
every  assistance  possible  to  their  repre- 
sentatives and  committeemen  who  have  undei^j^n  Paris,  The  Keeper  of  Prints,  Arthur 
taken  extra  duties  to  serve  all  of  us» 


The  year  ahead  with  its  Centennial  Celebrar 
tion  should  be  an  inspiration  to  the 
Association  to  makes  its  activities  truly 
expressive  of  its  vrorthy  aims  -  profes- 
sionalism, efficiency  and  the  common 
interests  and  welfare  of  the  bibliothecal 
staff  -  and  this  will  require  whola-heartBc 
efforts  from  each  and  every  one  of  us . 

To  all  those  members  of  the  staff  who 
are  eligible  to  join  the  Association  and 
have  not  yet  done  so,  I  extend  a  hearty 
and  cordial  invitation  to  become  members, 

A  gentle  reminder  -  dues  for  1953  are 
now  payable  and  it  is  suggested  that  the 
dues  (50^)  be  paid  promptly  to  the  staff 
representatives  who  will  forward  the  dues 
(well-wrapped)  together  with  the  names 
of  the  paid-up  members  and  the  name  of 
the  unit  to  the  Treasurer,  Harry  Fletcher, 
Cataloging  and  Classification  Department, 


of  a  collection  of  116  contemporary  American 
prints  to  David  Goitein,  Minister  Pleni- 
potentiary of  the  E^-iibassy  of  letael. 
Governor  Christian  a,  Herter,  expressed 
his  great  in'-^crest  in  thin  phase  of  the 
work  of  the  Boston  Public  Library  in  a 
short  address  after  the  acceptance  of  the 
gift  by  Mr  Goitein.  Mr  Lord  introduaed 
James  G.  McDonald,  first  Ambassador  of  the 
United  States  to  Israel,  who  spoke  of  the 
interest  in  the  arts  in  Israel,  James  S» 
Plautj  Director  of  the  Institute  of  Con- 
ii..ipc rr^y  Art;  whose  exhibition  of  Seven 
Faintavd  of  Israel  opened  that  evening, 
also  '-.-id  a  few  woic'.s.  Others  among  the 
distinguished  guests  in  the  gallery  were 
the  Trustees  of  the  Boston  Public  Library, 
the  Officers  of  the  Library,  Officers  and 
memberb  of  the  Institute  of  Contemporary 
Art,  three  of  the  "Seven  Painters  of  Israel', 
and  most  impoj'tant;,  the  artists  themselves 
without  whom  there  would  have  been  no  gift. 

The  background  of  these  prints  is  note- 
worthy. In  19U9  America  was  invited  to 
participate  in  the  Exposition  Interna- 
tionale de  la  Gravure  Contemporaine,  held 


Division  of  Reference  and  Research  Services.-the  staff,  Arthur  W.  Heintzelman,  Keeper 

of  Prints,  Muriel' C,  Rcbinson,  First 


B.J.O'N. 


*-!HH«"}H(-)Hf>W 


PRINTS  FOR  ISRAEL 


On  January  21  at  k   Poin«  in  the  Albert 
H.  Wiggin  Gallery,  Milton  E,  Lord, 
Director,  made  the  formal  presentation 


W.  Heintzelman,  served  as  chairman  of  the 
jury  of  selection  which  chose  forty-two 
prints  by  leading  printmakers.  After  the 
exhibition  at  the  Petit  Palais,  the  group 
was  shown  throughout  Germany  for  a  period 
of  two  years. 

On  the  return  of  the  exhibition  to  the 
United  States  it  was  suggested  that  these 
artists  be  asked  if  they  \?ould  be  willing 
to  donate  their  work  to  the  Israel  Govern- 
ment as  a  gesture  of  good  will  which  would 
establish  the  foundation  for  a  growing 
permanent  collection  of  American  prints 
in  the  National  Bezalel  Lifuseum  in  Jerusalem. 
The  idea  was  so  successful  that,  through 
the  efforts  of  the  Print  Department  of  the 
Boston  Public  Library,  this  original  group 
of  fifty  artists  was  extended  to  one  hun- 
dred and  eight  printmakers  who  generously 
contributed  examples  of  their  work.  In- 
cluded in  this  group  are  three  members  of 


Assistant,  and  Paul  B,  Swenson, 


•jhh;-«-^-)«hhb«- 


-9- 


CIVIL  DEFENSE  Ng.YS 

Aaron  Starr,  representing  Francis  X. 
Moloney,  who  is  in  charge  of  the  Library's 
Civil  Defense  Program,  and  John  W»  Tuley, 
Co-ordinator,  attended  a  meeting  for  all 
key  personnel  in  Boston  Civil  Defense  on 
Tuesday,  January  20,  at  the  RKO  screening 
room,  122  Arlington  Street,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  viewing  the  new  Columbia  full- 
length  picture  entitled  "Invasion  U.S.A." 
Sarah  M.  Usher,  Chairman  of  the  Library's 
Civil  Defense  Planning  Committee,  saw 
the  picture  during  its  recent  showing  at 
the  RKO  Boston  Theater.  She  joins  Mr 
Tuley  and  Mr  Starr  in  strongly  urging 
every  member  of  the  staff  to  watch  for 
further  showings  at  local  theaters  and  to 
make  it  a  "must"  to  see  this  graphic 
demonstration  of  what  an  enemy  invasion 
of  the  U.S.A.  would  be  like  in  this  A- 
Bomb  era. 

AN  ACTIVE  RETIRED  STAFF  MEMBER 

News  of  retired  staff  members  is  always 
interesting,  but  when  their  activities 
include  service  to  the  Boston  Public  Li- 
brary, the  news  is  particularly  note- 
worthy. Harry  S,  Bradstreet,  a  former 
mLiLitary  substitute  in  the  Patent  Room, 
and,  at  present,  an  active  member  of  the 
Planning  Committee  of  the  Never  Too  Late 
Group,  addressed  the  Group  on  My  Experi- 
ences  in  British  Columbia  in  1907  and  1917 


on  January  29  in  the  Lecture  Hall.  In  his 
usual  engaging  and  well-poised  manner, 
Mr  Bradstreet  reminisced  about  the  depres- 
sion of  1907  and  how  it  brought  him, 
paradoxically,  good  fortune  from  his  min- 
ing adventures  in  British  Columbia.  The 
return  visit  in  1917  was  not  as  success- 
ful financially  but  it  was  worthwhile  as 
a  pleasure  trip.  Vicariously,  the  audi- 
ence derived  much  pleasure  from  Mr  Brad- 
street's  experiences,  enlivened  by  his 
humor  and  dry  wit.  The  development  of 
British  Columbia  was  brought  up-to-date 
by  the  showing  of  the  motion  picture, 
British  Columbia  -  Canada's  Pacific  Gate- 
way.. 

Helen  F,  Hirson 


CARE 

The  CARE  Committee  is  arranging  to  send 
a  number  of  packages  to  the  Netherlands. 
The  recent  disaster  there  should  remind 
us  of  the  great  need  of  those  who  are  less 
fortunate  than  we. 

What  can  be  done  depends  on  each  one  of 
you.  Please  continue  to  give,  and  give 
generously, 

Marie  Has tie 

Minna  Steinberg 

Walter  J.  Bluhm,  Chairman 

NEW  BOOKS  IN  THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 
Fiction 

Cloete,  Stuart 

The  curve  and  the  tusk. 

Boston,  Houghton  Mifflin,  1952 
Coles,  Manning,  pseud. 

Alias  Uncle  Hugo, 

Garden  City,  N.Y.,  Doubleday,  19^2 
Keyes,  Frances  P, 

Steamboat  Gothic, 

New  York,  Messner,  19^2 
Tasaki,  Hanaraa 

The  mountains  remain, 

Boston,  Houghton  Mifflin,  19^2 
Wentworth,  Patricia,  pseud. 

Ladies'  bane, 

Philadelphia,  Lippincott,  19^2 

Non-Fiction 

Amory,   Cleveland 

The  last  resorts. 

New  York,   Harper,   19^2 
Bendiner,  Alfred 

Music  to  my  eyes. 

Philadelphia,  University  of  Pennsylvania 

Press,   1952 
Bennett,  Paul  A,,  ed. 

Books  and  printing. 

Cleveland,  World  Pub.  Co.,   19^1 
Brown,   John  M. 

As  they  appear. 

New  York,   McGraw-Hill,   1952 
Green,  Martyn 

Here's  a  how-de-do. 

New  York,  Norton,  19^2 
Hall,  James  N. 

My  island  home. 

Boston,  Little,  Brown,  19^2 


-10- 


Hamburger,  Philip  P. 

J,  P,  Marquand,  Esquire. 
.Boston,  Houghton  Mifflin,  19^2 
Hokinson,  Helen  E. 

There  are  ladies  presents 

New  Yorkj  Dutton,  19^2 
Kennan,  George  F. 

American  diplomacy,  1900-1950, 

Chicago,  University  of  Chicago  Press,  ig?l 
The  New  Yorker 

The  New  Yorker  twenty-fifth  anniversary 

album,  1925-1950. 

New  York,  Harper,  1951 
Rickard,  John  A, 

An  outline  of  ancient,  medieval  and 

modern  history. 

New  York,  Barnes  &  Noble,  19U2 


lEDLINGS 


dels,  photography,  ceramics,  crocheted  and 
knitted  articles,  leather  work,  hooked  and 
braided  rugs  and  airplane  models  are  ex- 
pected to  be  on  display. 


Mattapan 

The  Florida  fever  has  made  considerable 
inroads  here.  No  sooner  had  our  Branch 


Librarian  /"eturned  from  Miami  than  our 
First  Assistant  set  out  for  the  same  place. 
We  hope  Miss  Richman's  atay  will  be  as  en- 
joyable as  Miss  Scoff  reports  hers  to  have 
been. 


West  End 


On  Thursday  evening,  January  15,  the 
Sisterhood  of  the  Beth  Jacob  Hebrew  School, 
held  their  monthly  meeting  at  West  End. 
Mary  Ellis,  Cataloging  and  Classif icatioriA  group  of  about  forty  women,  many  of  whom 
Department,  Div.  of  R  and  RS  became  the    had  used  the  library  as  children,  were 
bride  of  Bruce  Lebert  on  Friday,  February  welcomed  by  Miss  Goldstein,  the  Librarian. 
13  at  three  o'clock  at  St.  Francis  de  Sales  a  coffee  hour  followed  her  talk,  during 


I 


Church,  Charles town. 


* 


G.  Elizabeth  Fitzgerald,  of  Tyler  Street, 
became  the  bride  of  Lawrence  Cabot  Howard 
Saturday,  February  II4,  The  ceremony  took 
place  at  St.  Luke's  Church  in  Brighton 
and  a  reception  followed  at  her  home  in 
Brooklineo 

Mrs  Howard  is  a  former  member  of  the 
Cataloging  and  Classification  Department, 
Div.  of  R  and  RS,  Mr  Howard's  home  is  in 
Iowa.  He  is,  at  present,  working  on  his 
Doctorate  at  Harvard  University. 

■«-iB«-;K!-SHHKH{- 

BRANCH  MOTES 


East  Boston 

All  staff  members  who  have  vrorked  at 
East  Boston  and  all  interested  friends  are 
cordially  invited  to  the  Eighth  Open  House 
and  the  Second  Hobby  Show  on  Monday  eve- 
ning, March  ninth,  from  seven  to  ten  o*eloefeLIFE  AND  THOUGHT. 
Under  the  direction  of  the  "Friends"  a 
special  program  of  music  and  dancing  by 
East  Boston  artists  will  be  held  in  the 
Lecture  Hall  at  eight  o'clock.  An  enthu- 
siastic interest  in  the  hobby  show  is  ex- 
pected since  the  neighborhood  has  so  many 
fine  craftsmen.  Jewelry  making,  ship  mo- 


which  she  was  assisted  by  Marie  Hastie 
and  Nura  Globus, 


On  Saturday  afternoon,  January  2U,  The 
Saturday  Evening  Girls,  a  club  formed  • 
many  years  ago  in  the  North  End  Branch 
Library  by  Edith  Guerrier,  Supervisor  of 
Branch  Libraries,  Emeritus,  held  their 
annual  meeting  at  West  End,  A  surprise 
testimonial  in  the  form  of  an  illuminated 
scroll  was  presented  by  the  club  to  Miss 
Goldstein,  honoring  her  for  the  completion 
of  thirty  years  of  service  as  Branch  Li- 
brarian at  West  End, 


On  Sunday  afternoon,  January  25,  Profes- 
sor Nahum  N.  Glatzer  of  Brandeis  Univer- 
sity was  honored  by  the  Boston  Jewish 
Book  Month  Committee  at  a  reception  and 
tea  on  the  occasion  of  the  publication  of 
his  latest  book,  FRANZ  ROSENZlfv^IG,  HIS 

Mr  George  Alpert, 
President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
Brandeis  University,  was  Chairman  and  intro- 
duced Professor  Glatzer  to  the  capacity 
audience. 

An  exhibit  of  uncommon  literary  and  hu- 
man appeal  commemorating  the  work  and 
personality  of  Franz  Rosenzweig,  the  great 


-11- 


Jewish  writer  and  thinker,  was  arranged  ly 
Miss  Goldstein  in  cooperation  with  Pro- 
fessor Glatzer,  the  Trustee  of  the  Rosen- 
zweig  archives. 

A  stimulating  and  detailed  review  by 
Miss  Goldstein,  of  Dr  Glatzei^-s  book,  ap- 
peared in  ohe  Jewish  Advocate  on  Janu- 
ary 22,  i9i:;3. 

■5Hai-;;-)H,-)K-;>-«- 

SEEN  AND  HEARD  AT  MA  '■lUYINTER  MEETING 

February  3-7,  1953 

Edgewater  Beach  Hotel,  Chicago 

1.  Board  and  Committee  meetings  numbered 
163,  "corridor  conferences "twice  that 
figure. 

2.  The  195U  ALA  Conference  will  be  held 
in  Minneapolis. 

3.  The  ALA  Federal  Relations  Committee 
reported  that  the  Library  Services  Bill 
will  be  introduced  into  the  83d  Congress 
in  the  near  future.  It  is  a  bill  to  pro- 
mote the  extension  of  public  library 
service  by  the  several  states  to  rural 
areas  now  without  such  service  or  with 
inadequate  service, 

k'     The  Board  of  Education  for  Librarian- 
ship's  1953  program  will  be  (1)  to  visit 
for  accrediting  purposes  the  four  un- 
accredited graduate  library  schools  and 
as  invited  by  the  college  or  university 
president  the  library  schools  on  the  ac- 
credited list  #iich  now  have  graduate 
programs  to  be  evaluated  under  the  1951 
standards  and  (2)  to  continue  to  explore 
the  possibilities  of  developing  coopera- 
tive programs  of  accrediting  with  regional 
accrediting  associations. 

5«  Library  Trends,  the  new  publication 
of  the  University  of  Illinois  Library 
School,  will  devote  its  July  19Sh   issue 
to  the  field  of  personnel. 

6.  The  American  Heritage  Project  has 
plans  for  the  extension  of  demonstrations 
in  1953-195^4.  into  6  more  states,  2  regions 
and  20  additional  libraries.  Young 
People's  Programs  on  a  demonstration  basis 
are  planned  for  2  additional  libraries. 

7.  A  little  book  entitled  The  Vfonderful 
World  of  Books  edi+j-.d  by  Alfred  Steffernd 
and  published  this  ■n,<xitJi  received  atten- 


tion at  the  Council  meeting  and  was  for 
sale  in  a  pocket  edition  in  the  exhibi- 
tion area.  Twelve  prominent  librarians 
have  contributed  chapters  to  this  compila- 
tion on  reading,  books,  and  libraries, 

8.  Robert  L.  Gitler,  Director  of  the 
Japan  Library  School,  was  flo^ATi  in  frcm 
Japan  to  make  a  report  to  the  ALA  Council. 
Established  undex-  the  sponsorship  of  the 
ALA  and  the  U.S.  Department  of  the  Array 
and  financed  by  a  gr^n^  from  the  Rockefel- 
ler Foundation  the  school  was  opant)d  i.n 
April  1951  at  Keio  University  in  ToKyo,- 
The  faculty  is  fr-^m  the  United  States,  . 
course  outlines  are  in  Japanese  and 
English,  and  teaching  is  done  through 
interpreters.  Ilr  Gitler 's  report  will 
appear  in  the  ALA  Bulletin. 

9.  The  Chairman  of  the  Intellectual 
Freedom  Committee  co-nplimented  the  Direc- 
tor and  the  Boston  Public  Library  on  the 
successful  conclusion  to  the  censorship 
struggle  with  the  Boston  Post. 

10.  The  Fund  for  Adult  Education  of  the 
Ford  Foundation  has  made  available  some 
$500,000  in  1953  for  a  program  of  grants 
for  training  in  adult  education.  These 
grants  will  take  the  form  of  internships, 
scholarships,  and  fellowships.  Priority 
is  given  to  four  fields,  one  of  which  is 
libraries.  Releases  announcing  the  pro- 
gram and  procedures  will  be  made  in  pro- 
fessional journals  in  the  near  future. 

11.  Pauline  O'Melia,  former  BPL  Children's 
Librarian,  is  on  leave  from  Florida  State 
University,  School  of  Library  Training 

and  Service,  to  study  for  a  doctorate  at 
Columbia  Teachers'  College, 

12.  Last  but  not  least,  Elizabeth  Gordon, 
the  other  BPL  staff  member  attending  the 
meetingiwas  seen  after  several  days 
emerging  from  a  meeting  of  supervisors 

of  children's  work," 

Elizabeth  Wright 

■»-!!-iH«-;H;-«-X-JHt 


SOAP  BOX 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must  be 
accompanied  by  the  full  name  of  the  Asso- 
ciation member  submitting  it,  together 
with  the  name  of  the  Branch  Library,  De- 
partment, or  Office  in  which  he  or  she  is 
employed.  The  name  is  withheld  from  pub- 
lication, or  a  pen  name  used,  if  the  con- 
tributor so  requests.  Anonymous  contribu- 
tions are  not  given  consideration.  The 
author  of  the  article  is  known  only  to  the 
contributor  and  to  the  Editor-in-Chier, 
The  contents  of  articles  appearing  in  the 
Soap  Box  are  personal  opinions  expressed 
by  individual  Association  members  and 
their  appearance  does  not  necessarily  indi-j- 
Gate  that  the  Publications  Committee  and 
the  Association  are  in  agreement  with  the 
views  expressed. 


To  the  Soap  Box  Editor: 

The  editorial  on  morale  which  appeared 
in  the  December  issue  of  The  Question 
Mark  appeared  to  many  members  of  the 
staff  to  be  a  sincere  effort  to  pin  point 
some  of  the  factors  contributing  to  poor 
morale  in  the  Library,  which  is  more  than 
mere  scuttlebutt,  as  evidenced  by  the 
Morale  Committee's  report  apnearing  in  the 
same  issue  of  the  publication.  As  the  in- 
dividual responsible  for  the  comments  ex- 
pressed in  the  editorial  is  a  veteran 
member  of  the  staff,  who  in  her  profes- 
sional capacity,  and  as  past  president  of 
the  Professional  Staff  Association,  has  had 
wide  contacts  and  knowledge  of  conditions 
throughout  the  system,  to  dismiss  her 
statements  as  "a  presentation  closer  *to 
rumor  than  to  fact",  as  -was  done  in  a  re- 
ply to  the  editorial,  by  the  Supervisor 
of  Personnel,  in  the  January  Question 
tfark,  was  scarcely  a  fair  or  adequate 
answer.  While  the  interpretation  of  sta- 
tistics regarding  resignations  from  the 
Library  during  the  period  studied  may  be 
questioned,  it  is  fairly  obvious  that  fi]l- 
ing  vacancies  with  qualified  personnel 
has  not  kept  pace  in  recent  years  with  the 
resignations  of  well-trained,  valuable 
members  of  the  staff.  To  assert  that  it 
is  a  compliment  to  the  Library  that  many 
individuals  resign  to  accept  better  posi- 
tions elsewhere  may  be  true,  but  one  won- 
ders if  in  business  and  industry  more 


thought  would  not  be  given  to  the  impor- 
tance of  retaining  valuable,  trained  em- 
ployees (especially  if  the  professional 
training  has  been  completed  while  in  the 
service  of  the  organization)  by  establish- 
ing incentives,  and  recognizing  exceptional 
qualifications.  Certainly  the  time  lag 
in  granting  equivalences  is  a  question  to 
be  considered  in  this  connection. 

As  to  the  Editor's  statements,  quoted 
from  Robert  Ruark  and  Henry  J.  Taylor, 
that  "staff  morale  seeps  down  from  the 
top,  never  up  from  the  bottom",  and  that 
"something  is  basically  wrong  with  the 
brass,  high  and  low,  if  the  ranks  gets 
unruly",  these  are  cardinal  principles  of 
any  enlightened  philosophy  of  personnel 
administration.  The  assertion  by  the  Super- 
visor of  Personnel  that  these  statements 
were  quoted  out  of  context  in  no  way  in- 
validates the  ideas  expressed, 

V/hile  the  dislocation  of  schedules  caused 
by  employees  studying  on  library  scholar- 
ships is  certainly  not  a  major  cause  of 
poor  morale,  the  question  of  long  range  re- 
turns to  the  Library  in  terms  of  improved 
service  might  well  be  questioned,  in  view 
of  the  fact  that  during  the  eleven  year 
period  that  scholarships  have  been  granted 
kO%   of  those  benefiting  from  them  have  left 
the  service  of  the  Library.  It  might  well 
be  argued  that  in  view  of  these  defections, 
the  money  spent  on  scholarships  for  a  few 
could  have  been  applied  to  refresher  coursea.. 
etc,  from  which  a  greater  number  of  staff 
members  would  have  profited. 

However,  the  answers  given  by  the  Super- 
visor of  Personnel  to  the  points  raised  in 
the  editorial  are  less  open  to  debate  than 
the  general  tone  of  the  letter  as  a  whole,  I 
It  is  generally  assumed  that  one  of  the 
primary  functions  of  a  personnel  officer  is 
to  hear  and  consider  grievances  objectively, 
and,  to  conciliate,  or  as  one  authority  on 
the  subject  has  put  it,  to  "oil  up",  inso- 
far as  possible,  the  machinery  of  staff- 
management  relations.  Little  evidence  of 
this  was  apparent  in  the  letter  in  ques- 
tion. Rather  the  attitude  was  one  -  to 
quote  Mr  Ruark  in  context-that  "the  \inruly 
ranks  need  to  be~cracked  down  upon  by  the 
top  brass," 

Ergo 


* 


-13- 


To  the  editor  of  the  Soap  Box: 

In  the  December  issue  of  The  Question 
Bferk,  the  "Editor's  Corner"  was  devoted 
to  an  attempt  vo   ascertain  some  of  the 
reasons  why  the  morale  of  many  Boston 
Public  Library  staff  members  seems  to  be 
at  a  low  ebb  these  days .  As  Question 
Mark  readers  will  remember,  a  January  1953 
"Soap  Box"  article  ansvrering  this  editori- 
al concerned  itself  primarily  with  a  re- 
futation of  the  statistical  figures, 
ideas  and  quotations  contained  in  that 
editorial.  Near  its  conclusion,  the 
ai^icle  stated  that  the  1952  Editor  came 
''close  to  contributing  to  disturbing 
staff  morale," 

Apparently  the  author  of  this  article 
feels  that  we  should  not  worry  about  los- 
ing employees  to  other  institutions  which 
offer  them  "advancement  and  increased 
remuneration".  By  citing  the  fact  that 
we  have  one  Children's  Librarian  who  came 
from  another  library  and  assumed  a  rank- 
ing position  here  without  being  forced  to 
take  Boston  Public  Library  professional 
examinations  and  another  Children's  Li- 
brarian "eligible"  for  appointment  under 
these  conditions,  the  writer  feels  that 
she  has  proved  that  such  advancement  is 
a  general  ruleo  But  even  if  we  were  to 
accept  these  suggestions  and  others  con- 
tained in  the  article  as  a  successful 
discrediting  of  the  questions  raised  by 
the  December  editorial,  is  it  fair  to 
label  as  agitation  an  editorial  written 
in  a  sincere  attempt  to  improve  a  sensi- 
tive situation? 

That  staff  morale  is  low  is  not,  actual- 
ly, a  "rumor"  at  all.  Long  before  the 
Pecember  issue  of  The  Question  Mark,  un- 
rest and  dissatisfaction  among  staff  mem- 
bers had  become  generally  evident.  The 
existence  of  a  Professional  Staff  Associa- 
tion Morale  Committee  appointed  within 
the  last  year  reveals  that  many  people 
felt  our  morale  could  be  improvedo 
Otherwise,  why  have  such  a  committee? 

By  now  most  of  us  realize  that  the 
problems  underlying  this  situation  are 
complicated  and  concern  many  different 
facets  of  library  functioning a  Those  of 
us  who  seek  a  solution  to  these  problems 
are  far  from  being  agitators.  Fear  that 
others  among  us,  besides  the  1952  Quegfcion 
Mark  editorial  board,  may  be  labelled  as 
such  will  not  help  to  raise  our  morale. 
Since  they  are  formulated  by  human  beings, 
administrative  procedures  and  personnel 


policies  are,  we  realize,  liable  to  error. 
As  staff  members  we  are  not  perfect  either = 
But  errors,  vjhether  in  judgment  or  reason- 
ing, fact-finding  or  action,  can  be  under- 
stood and  corrected  if  and  only  if  we  can 
discuss  them  freely  enough  to  see  the  many 
sides  of  every  question,  maturely  enough 
to  admit  our  human  fallibility,  and  intel- 
ligently enough  to  avoid  substituting 
rationalization  for  a  sincere  search  for 
truth.  Within  our  library  vralls,  there 
really  isn't  anyone  Tiriio  would  like  to 
stifle  such  free  discussion,  is  there? 


To  the  Soap  Box: 

There  have  existed  for  some  time  vacan- 
cies of  certain  positions  which  will  have 
to  be  filled  in  the  near  future.   If  the 
"point"  system  is  used  to  select  candi- 
dates for  these  positions,  what  can  be 
expected  to  happen  to  staff  morale? 
This  writer,  for  one,  can  hazard  a  guess. 
Morale,  expressed  on  a  percentage  basis, 
will  drop  a  few  more  "points". 

The  point  system  of  choosing  a  candidate 
is  widely  used  in  federal  employment,  in 
the  armed  services  and  by  large  corpora- 
tions. It  is  used  by  these  large  organi- 
zations mainly  for  recruiting  purposes, 
that  is,  for  screening  large  numbers  of 
new  job-seekers,  individuals  whose  abili- 
ties are  an  unknown  quantity.  For  such  a 
purpose  the  point  system  represents  a 
compromise  -  a  substitute  for  judgment 
based  on  personal  knowledge.  But  once 
hired,  no  such  irccorsonal  estimate  of 
ability  is  continued  because  there  is  no 
"system"  that  can  compete  with  the  balanced 
judgment  of  a  good  supervisor,  one  who  has 
had  an  opportunity  to  observe  the  abilities j 
willingness,  initiative  and  personality 
of  a  potential  candidate. 

In  an  organization  with  only  a  few  hun- 
dred workers  and  one  where  promotions  can 
be  expected  only  after  long  years  of  ser- 
vice, it  should  not  be  necessary  to  intro- 
duce a  system  of  promotion  which  assumes 
that  the  recommendation  of  a  supervisor 
counts  as  nothing,  and  depends  almost 
entirely  upon  unknwon  quantities*  For 
example,  a  degree  is  a  degree  and  is  not 
subject  to  question  -  the  degree-holder 
did  the  required  amount  of  work  and  study. 
Whether  the  degree-holder  was  in  the  top 
tenth  of  his  class  or  in  the  middle  third 
does  not  show  up  in  his  total  of  "points". 


-lU- 


It  has  been  established  scientifically 
that  machines  can  calculate  faster  than 
the  human  brain,  but  machines  cannot 
think I  The  newest  clerk  in  an  office  can 
add  "points"  up  to  one  hundred  -  but  the 
ansvrer  is  seldom  one  hundred  percent  cor- 
rect -  factor  X  (the  human  element'!  is 
missing. 


* 


To  the  Soap  Box  Editor: 

May  I  express  not  only  my  feelings,  but 
the  feelings  of  many  members  of  the  Staff, 
on  one  of  the  proposed  moves  of  the  Li- 
brary? 

We  are  told  that  the  Bates  Hall  Catalog 
is  to  be  placed  in  the  Abbey  Room.  In 
our  opinion  this  room  is  too  beautiful  to 
be  cluttered  up  with  anything.  The 
Supervisor's  enclosure  is  bad  enough,  but 
when  those  old  broken-down  catalogs  are 
there — well,  vrords  fail  me.  Even  all  new 
furniture  would  spoil  the  room. 

Very  often  there  is  a  real  need  for  a 
change,  but  must  grandeur  and  beauty  be 
sacrificed?  Why  not  use  the  area  to  be 
abandoned  by  the  Registration  and  Issue 
Departments  for  the  catalogs? 


To  the  Soap  Box: 

Believing  that  each  individual  should 
consult  primary  material  in  matters  of 
importance,  I  am  submitting  the  text  of 
the  so-called  "Barnes"  Act  so  that  all 
may  have  an  opportunity  to  read  it. 
The  last  meeting  of  the  Association  indi- 
cated that  it  might  be  of  interest. 

NASSAC-IITSETTG  MION  -  REGISTRATION 

(Chapter  6l8  of  the  Acts  of  19k6   as  re- 
vised by  Chapter  39ii  of  the  Acts  of  19U9 
constitutes  the  MASSACHUSETTS  UWION- 
REGISTRATION  LAW,  revised) 

AN  ACT 

To  provide  that  labor  unions  shall  file 
certain  statements  and  reports  mth  the 
Commissioner  of  Labor  and  Industries, 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  people,  and  by 
their  authority  as  follows: 

Section  1  No  person  or  association  of 
persons  sl-iall  operate  or  maintain  a  labor 


union  unless  and  until  there  has  been  filed 
with  the  Commissioner  of  Labor  and  In- 
dustries a  statement  in  writing  signed  by 
the  president  and  the  secretary  of  such 
labor  union,  setting  forth  the  names  and 
addresses  of  all  officers  of  such  union, 
the  aims  and  objects  of  said  union,  the 
scale  of  dues,  initiation  fees,  fines  and 
assessments  to  be  charged  to  the  members, 
and  the  salaries  paid  to  the  officers. 

Section  2  The  president  and  secretary 
of  each  labor  union  having  a  membership 
of  more  than  fifty  shall  file  annually 
with  the  commissioner  of  labor  and  indus- 
tries, in  such  form  as  the  commissioner 
may  prescribe,  a  report  showing  the  total 
of  its  receipts  of  any  kind  and  the  sources 
of  such  receipts,  and  the  disbursements 
made  by  it,  during  its  last  fiscal  year. 
If  any  labor  union  files  a  financial  state- 
ment with  the  department  of  labor  of  the 
United  States,  the  filing  of  a  duplicate 
of  such  statement  with  said  commissioner 
shall  be  sufficient  to  meet  the  require- 
ments of  this  section. 

Section  3  The  Commissioner  shall  have 
the  power  to  require  by  summons  the  attend- 
ance and  testimony  of  witnesses,  the  pro- 
duction of  books,  papers,  and  documents, 
and  to  administer  oaths. 

Section  h     The  Comjnissioner  of  Labor 
and  Industries  shall  keep  a  record  of  all 
statements  and  reports  submitted  to  him 
under  the  provisions  of  this  -chapter^  all 
of  which  shall  be  open  to  public  inspec- 
tion. He  shall  report  to  the  attorney      i 
general  instances  of  neglect  or  omission    \ 
on  the  part  of  any  person  or  association 
of  persons  to  comply  with  the  provisions 
of  this  chapter  for  the  enforcement  of 
penalties  therefor. 

Section  5  Whoever  violates  either  sec- 
tion one  or  section  two,  or  whoever  know- 
ingly makes  or  files  a  statement  or  re- 
port under  section  one  or  section  two, 
which  statement  or  report  is  false  in  any 
material  representation,  shall  be  punished 
by  a  fine  of  not  less  than  fifty  or  more 
than  five  hundred  dollars. 

M.F.D. 


-15- 


To  the  Soap  Box  Editor: 

Recently,  on  a  cold  January  evening, 
while  writing  about  one  of  our  early 
begetters  in  these  here  ensuing  verses, 
I  remembered  the  many  times  I  had  trodden 
on  his  gilded  name  imbedded  in  the  floor 
of  the  Front  Lobby,  and  like  all  men  en- 
gaged in  serious  research,  I  wanted  to 
check  at  once  the  exact  spot.  So  I  put 
my  overcoat  on  and  walked  over  to  the 
Library  ( i  live  nearby) .  Unfortunately 
lihe  large  dark  mats  had  already  been 
spread  on  the  floor  for  the  season,  and, 
besides  I  had  fractured  my  left  elbow 
some  weeks  before,  so  when  I  began,  one- 
armed,  and  overcoated,  to  lift  up  one 
corner  of  the  mat,  I  got  some  very  curi- 
ous gazes  from  the  people  in  the  Lobby, 
as  if  I  were  one  of  those  derelicts  men- 
tioned in  a  recent  Examining  Committee 
Report.  (Editor's  Note*.  19^0-51  report, 
page  IC)  So  I  went  upstairs  and  put  my 
problem  to  John  McCafferty  who  was  on 
duty  in  the  General  Reference  Eepartment 
that  evening,  and  he,  brisk,  hatless, 
and  coatless,  and  looking  every  yard  the 
Library  official,  came  right  down  with 
me,  and  helped  me  lift  up  the  mats  and 
uncover  the  name.  To  the  spectators  we 
immediately  began  to  look  like  people 
engaged  in  a  very  laudable  Yankee  activi-tj^ 
perhaps  looking  for  a  lost  dime,  and  they 
not  only  stopped  their  hostile  staring, 
but  almost  indicated  approval  and  desire 
to  help.  So  I  want  to  record  here  my 
great  appreciation  to  Mr  McCafferty,  who 
is  not  only  a  sturdy  and  courteous  and 
cheerf\il  answerer  of  all  sorts  of  abstruse 
•questions  which  come  his  way  all  day,  but 
an  expert  lifter-upper  of  Library  mats 
as  well. 

Harry  Andrews 


THE  BPL,  OR  WAPLIN  BEBOPPED 

38. 
Lib'ry  surface  has  been  spanned, 

Now  its  spirit  understand: 
See  behind  the  stone  and  brick. 

What  made  it  and  what  makes  it  tick; 
Call  to  mind  the  early  thought. 

All  the  labor  that  was  wrought. 
First  the  dream  and  then  the  deed, 

Oak  spriJing  froin  acorn  seed. 


39. 

"An  institution,"  the  saying  ran, 

"Is  lengthened  shadow  of  one  man." 
But  BPL  idea  was  shared; 

I&ny  were  the  ones  who  cared; 
Many  were  the  pioneers. 

Battled  ignorance  and  fears ; 
Thought  and  planned  and  labored  well, 

To  create  this  BPL. 

iiO. 
Summon  hither  shade  by  shade. 

Them  who  contributions  made; 
Them  who  talked  and  begged  and  raved, 

Them  -who   gave  and  helped  and  slaved; 
Them  yiho   canvassed  all  the  city. 

Or  merely  sat  on  a  committee; 
Them  who  helped  with  bricks  and  straw, 

Them  who  squared  things  with  law, 

Ui. 

Shade  the  First  is  now  on  stage. 

He  belongs  on  foremost  page; 
He  it  was  in  grand  appeal. 

Fired  Boston's  youth  with  zeal; 
His  Contagious  energy 

Atomized  all  lethaj-gy; 
Nimble*minded,  eloquent. 

Converts  made  wherever  he  went. 

U2. 
Veritriloqjaiam  got  him  faoa, 

Impersonations  won  acclaim; 
Kings  and  emperors  applauded, 

Thespian  arts  were  hugely  lauded; 
Books  and  libraries  his  passion. 

Hoped  to  bring  them  into  fashion; 
Man  of  charm  and  grace  and  whimsy, 

I  read  all  this  in  J.  P.  Quincy. 

U3. 
But  brass  is  brass  in  every  age, 

To  some  he  was  an  outrage; 
Charlatan  to  "Boston  Proper", 

Foreigner  and  interloper; 
Spoke  with  accent  and  grimace, 

Mobile,  animated  face; 
Gestures  helped  him  in  his  say  - 

' Tain't  the  Anglo-Saxon  way. 

But  the  young  they  congregated. 

Liked  what  Frenchy  advocated; 
Listened  gravely  and  saluted, 

Whereazzed  and  resoluted; 
And  persuaded  nearly  all, 

That  the  guy  was  on  the  ball. 
Mayor,  counoil  said  OK  - 

The  BPL  was  on  its  way. 


-16- 


h5. 
City  Hall  made  home  for  tomes, 

He  had  brought  from  Paris  homes; 
Books  were  few  but  chosen  well. 

Nucleus  of  BPL; 
Honor's  due  and  much  applause, 

This  primal  mover  in  our  cause. 
Doff  your  hats  to  spirit  rare  - 

ALEXANDRE  VATTEMARE. 

Shade  the  Second's  quite  a  change. 

He  had  quite  a  different  range j 
Native  of  the  oldest  stock, 

Ancestors  on  Plymouth  Rock; 
Scholar-statesimn  of  renown, 

Famed  in  every  U.S.  town; 
President  of  Thursday  Club, 

Foremost  citizen  of  Hub. 

U7. 
The  Gods  had  marked  him  from  the  start. 

To  play  a  grand,  exalted  parti 
Harvard  grad  at  seventeen. 

Highest  honors  ever  seen; 
Brattle  Square  pulpit  won, 

Great  Buckminster  outshone; 
Preached  with  eloquence  and  grace, 

With  boyish  down  still  on  face. 

U8. 
Even  after  fifty  years 

Some  recalled  with  unshamed  tears. 
How  the  graceful  young  patrician. 

Held  them  spellbound  like  magician; 
How  his  ■roice  had  stirred  the  throng, 

Sweet,  mellifluous,  and  strong; 
Men  repented  wasted  days, 

Sinners  swore  to  mend  their  ways. 

U9. 
Harvard's  Greek  professor  next. 

Expert  in  recondite  text; 
Editor  and  critic  too 

On  North  American  Review; 
Decade  spent  in  Congress  halls, 

Oratory  still  enthralls ; 
Honors  came  at  faster  rate, 

Soon  was  Governor  of  state. 

50. 

Envoy  to  St.  James's  Court, 

Amiaassador  of  finest  sort; 
Learned,  eminent,  benignant. 

He  could  quick  become  indignant. 
If  one  tried  to  treat  off-hand. 

His  well-beloved  native  land. 
After  term  in  England  spent. 

He  "was  Harvard's  president. 


51. 

Secretary  then  of  State, 

Tried  his  best  to  stem  the  hate. 
Which  becoming  raging  flood, 

Was  at  last  resolved  in  blood. 
Stayed  in  Senate  season  brief. 

And  returned  home  in  grief; 
Toured  the  country  thereupon, 

In  behalf  of  Washington. 

52. 

Then  retired  from  his  labors, 

Well-beloved  by  friends  and  neighbors; 
Taught  the  rest  of  life  entire, 

What  had  alvrays  stirred  his  fire : 
Safeguard  freedom's  institutions. 

But  no  bloody  revolutions; 
Keep  tradition  with  no  flaw. 

Have  both  liberty  and  law. 

■53 » 

He  knew  the  bane  of  humankind 

Were  corrupters  of  the  mind; 
Knew  the  peril  to  the  state. 

From  ignorant  electorate; 
Preached  that  greatest  boon  to  nation. 

Was  more  and  better  education; 
Only  those  shall  be  free. 

Who  understand  this  Liberty. 

5U. 

But  the  higher  education 

Was  denied  to  most  of  nation; 
Colleges  were  scarce  and  new. 

Open  only  to  the  few; 
Even  learned  Boston  town. 

Second  Athens  in  reneim. 
Offered  chances  few  or  none. 

After  Public  School  vras  done. 

So  this  great  and  famous  man 

Joined  with  others  in  a  plan: 
Thought  that  Boston's  greatest  need, 

Was  a  place  for  men  to  read; 
Sort  of  buffer  state  of  knowledge. 

Between  the  High  School  and  the  College; 
Could  anything  do  this  so  well 

As  a  people's  BPL? 

56. 

And  he  wrote  to  Boston's  Itayor, 

Man  of  understanding  rare: 
Urging  with  persuasive  skill, 
What  a  void  this  plan  would  fill; 
Offered  minus  recompense. 

Vast  array  of  documents; 
Books,  advice,  and  help  as  well. 

For  the  start  of  BPL. 


-17- 


57. 
Thought  the  building  should  be  neat, 

Convenient,  studious  retreat; 
So  great  would  be  the  people's  pride, 

That  all  its  needs  would  be  supplied 
From  eager,  generous  donations  - 

No  need  of  vast  appropriations. 
Like  A.L.A.  in  Fifty-Two, 

Books  were  basic  in  his  view. 

Scholar,  Patriot,  gentle  n:an, 

Noblest  of  the  Yankee  clan; 
Sweet  persuasion  served  him  well, 

To  get  support  for  BPL; 
Labored  long  without  cease, 

President  of  first  Trustees; 
Thus  the  BPL  began, 

Under  aegis  of  great  nan. 

59. 
His  services  grew  more  and  more, 

From  '52  to  '6ii. 
His  passing  like  a  shadov,r  fell. 

On  Boston  and  the  BPL. 
Mount  Auburn  holds  his  dust, 

But  his  fame  will  never  rust. 
Incalculable  is  the  debt 

We  owe  EDWARD  EVERETT. 


LATE  FLASH 


Mr  and  Mrs  Robert  Oxley  announce  the 
birth  of  a  son,  Douglas  Gordon,  on 
January  2U.  Mrs  Oxley  is  the  former 
Ursula  Von  Zarsk  of  East  Boston. 


-;hh!-7k;-!;-;«h«(- 


COMITTEE  CHAIRMEN  FOR  1953 

Program 

Edna  G,  Peck,  Book  Selection,  Divi- 
sion of  Home  Reading  and  Community 
Services 

Entertainment 

May  C,  McDonald,  Cha^lesto^^^l 

Constitution 

Leonard  J.  Macmillan,  Book  Purchasing 

Membership  and  Hospitality 

Mrs  Veronica  M.  Lehane,  Memorial 

Publications 

Charles  J.  Gillis,  Cataloging  and 
Classification,  Division  of  Home 
Reading  and  Community  Services 

Staff  Library 

Grace  M.  Marvin,  Book  Purchasing 

House  Committee  for  Women 

Catherine  M.  McDonald,  Personnel  Office 

House  Committee  for  Men 

Donald  L.  Newman,  Office  of  Records, 
Files,  Statistics 

Care 

Walter  J.  Blvihm,  Periodical  and  News- 
paper 

Hartzell  Memorial  Lecture 
Madelene  P.  Holt,  Neponset 

Concessions 

Paul  R.  Smith,  Book  Purchasing 

Pensions 

Louis  Polishook,  Patent  Room 

Special  Services 

M.  Catherine  Robbins,  Business  Office 

Publicity 

G.  Florence  Connolly,  Fine  Arts 


-18- 

HIGHLIGHTS  OF  THE  M.  L.  A. 

MID-WINTER       MEETING 
SHERATON  PLAZA,    BOSTON,   MASSACHUSETTS 

THURSDAY,  FEBRUARY  19,  1953 


9:15  A.M.  Registration  (50(i) 

10:00  A.M,  Panel 

Topic:  The  Far  East  Today  nVAL  ROOM 

11:00  A.M.  SECTION  MEETINGS 

Public  Library  Group    "  THE  FOYER 

Topic:  From  Purchase  to  Use;  an  informal 
discussion  of  pictures,  pamphlets, 
recordings  and  films o 

College  Library  Group  PARLOR  G 

Topic:  Glimpses  Into  Other  Lands 

Institutional  Librarians  PARLOR  131 

Topic:  Reading  for  Rehabilitation 

Round  Table  of  Children's  Librarians         HUB  ROOM 
Topic:  Let'S  Talk  About  Cnildren's  Books 
in  Series 

Round  Table  of  Librarians  for  Young  Adults     PARLOR  133 


Topic:  The  Library,  Youth,  and  the  Community 


1:00  P.M.  Luncheon 


THE  BALLROOM 


Topi-:  Hew  Romania  Lost  Her  Freedom 
Speaker:  Her  Royal  Highness 

Princess  Ileana  of  Romania 


2:00  P.M.  Business  Meeting 


7fie13.^L.1^S.A. 


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J  %.?Ae^ril^.      ~ 


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hr  1955 


KRIDAY,    FEBRUARY    27,1953 
FILM   SHOWING   IN   LECTURE.    HAL  L,  8*.50  RM. 

Reception  and  Refreshments  in  Teachers'  Pepartment 

PROGRAM  COMMITTEE 

Nura  Globus,  Chairman 
Margaret  A.  Morgan  Sarah  M.  Usher 

Elizateth  J.  Obear  Irene  J.  Wadsworth 


PLEASE  POST 


TO 


hesiion 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


THE   QUESTION   MARK 
Published  by  the  Boston  Public  Library  Professional  Staff  Association 
Volume  VIII,  Number  3  March  19g3 

Publications  Committee:  Gerald  L.  Ball,  Geraldine  S.  Herrick,  John  J,  McCafferty, 

Sarah  M.  Usher,  Charles  J.  Gillis,  Chairman 


Publication  date ; 
The  fifteenth  of  each  month 


Deadline  for  submitting  material: 
The  tenth  of  each  month 


EDITOR'S  CORNER 

Public  library  employees  are  people  - 
but  people  set  apart  from  the  great 
majority  of  workers  who  are  "private" 
employees.  These  two  groups  are  essenti- 
ally different,  not  as  people  but  in  the 
conditions  and  pressures  under  which  they 
serve.  While  a  private  employee  is  re- 
sponsible only  to  his  immediate  superior, 
■the  public  library  employee  is  responsiblej, 
to,  and  is  judged  by,  every  member  of  the 
public  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 
This  judgment  by  the  members  of  the  public 
very  often  takes  the  form  of  criticism 
of  the  service  rendered  or  criticism  of 
the  person  offering  the  service.  In  many 
cases  this  criticism  is  unjust  -  to  the 
library  and  to  the  employee. 

Public  libraries  are,  in  one  sense, 
business  organizations  that  have  no 
commodity  to  sell  except  the  service  they 
render.  Since  service  is  the  only  yard- 
stick by  which  the  library  is  measured, 
it  behooves  every  employee  to  keep  in 
mind  the  fact  that  he  is  constantly  pil- 
ing up  credits  and  debits  for  the  library. 
Once  this  fact  is  realized,  he  must 
accept  more  responsibility,  he  must  keep 
his  standards  of  performance  at  a  high 
level  and  do  more  than  is  required  of 
the  private  employee. 

On  the  other  side  of  the  ledger  is  the 
responsibility  of  the  general  public  to 
the  library  employee.  Pride  in  a  job 
well  done  is  not  enough  in  our  material- 
istic society  -  adequate  remuneration 
should; be 'the  reward  for  top  performance. 
This  subject  has  been  under  investigation 
by  the  Morale  Committee  (along  with  other 
morales -building  questions)  and  is  one 
that  is  fundamental  to  the  whole  problem 
of  library  service.  We  will  not  attenpt 
to  anticipate  the  findings  of  the  Commit- 
tee 's  report  w5riich  will  deal  with  the 
specific  problems  of  the  Boston  Public 
Library.  The  magnitude  of  the  problem 


is  nation-wide  and  has  been  dealt  with  in 
many  ways.  The  problem  of  salary  scales 
for  public  libraries  -  salary  scales 
which  will  be  adequate  in  relation  to 
those  of  private  industry  -  is  one  which 
has  not  yet  been  solved. 

As  library  employees  we  can  help  our- 
selves and  our  public  by  maintaining  the 
highest  standards  of  efficiency  and 
integrity,  by  understanding  the  limita- 
tions and  advantages  of  our  jobs,  by 
educating  the  public  in  the  belief  that  it 
is  good  business  to  require  top  performance 
in  library  service  and  that  this  service 
must  pay  adequate  salaries  to  attract  ai^d 
hold  top  people, 

C .J  >G, 

■)HH<-;HHBi-^-;;-5s- 

PERSONAL  NOTES 

New  Employees 

John  W,   Hoffman,  Audio-Visual, 

Margaret  J,  Drago,  Adams  Street. 

Anne  B,  Doherty,  Charlestown,  formerly 
part-time . 

Marjorie  E.  Hicks,  Uphams  Corner. 

Lawrence  K.  Vezin,  Open  Shelf. 

Joseph  J.  Foley,  Book  Preparation, 
formerly  employed  in  Shipping. 

Geraldine  R,  Cudmore,  Cataloging  and 
Classification  Department,  Div.  of  HR&CS, 
formerly  of  the  Book  Stack  Service, 

M.  Henry  Karsh,  Audio-Visual. 

Transfers 

Mrs  Patience-Anne  Lenk,  from  Connolly 
to  the  Children's  Section, Open  Shelf. 

Mrs  Marie  J.  Benner,  from  Bookmobile  II 
to  Connolly. 

Mrs  Aura  G.  Watson,  from  Charlestown  to 
Bookmobile  II. 


-l- 


Madeline  V,  Mcfenus,   from  Open  Shelf 
to  Bookmobile  lie 

Dorothy  L.  Dodsworth,  from  South  End 
to  West  End. 

Hope  B.   Brown,   from  Adams  Street  to 
Charlestoiwio 

Resignations 

John  F,  Buckley,  Book  Preparation. 

Ifery  B.  Clarke,  Book  Stack  Service,  to 
accept  another  position, 

Mrs  Claire  S.  Grushey,  Kirstein  Business 
Branch,  to  remain  at  home. 

Wilfrid  D,  Lahaie,  Open  Shelf,  to  join 
the  Order  of  Cistercians  of  the  Strict 
Observance,  St.  Joseph's  Abbey,  Spencer, 
Mass. 

Mrs  Bernadette  F,  0 'Callahan,  Roslindale, 
to  live  in  Virginia. 

Stork  Events 

Mr  and  Mrs  Vincent  Puglisi  announce  the 
birth  of  a  daughter,  Rene  Phyllis,  on 
January  28,  Mrs  Puglisi  is  the  former 
Pauline  Uccello  of  the  Cataloging  and 
Classification  Department  for  Reference 
and  Research  Services. 

Mr  and  Mrs  Jack  Trocki  have  anno\inced 
the  birth  of  twins — Joseph  Julius  and 
John  Francis — on  February  18,  Mrs  Trocki 
was  formerly  Edith  Sliney,  Office  of 
Records,  Files,  Statistics, 

Mr  and  Mrs  Donald  Gillis  announce  the 
birth  cf  a  daughter,  Judith,  on  Iferch  8. 
Mrs  Gillis  is  the  forusr  Patricia  Morley 
of  the  Office  of  Division  of  Home  Reading 
and  Ccmmunity  Services, 

Mr  and  Mrs  Donald  Koslow,  Kirstein 
Business  Branch,  have  announced  the  birth 
cf  a  daughter  on  March  9, 

Wedding 

Mary  J.  Bradley  of  Bookmobile  I  became 
the  bride  of  John  J,  Dowd  at  three  o'clock 
Sunday  afternoon,  February  22 o  The 
ceremony  took  place  at  St.  Mary's  Church 
in  Charles town,  and  a  dinner  reception 
followed  at  the  Knights  of  Columbus  Hall, 
The  bride  was  lovely  in  white  satin  and 
the  net  yoke  of  her  gown  was  embroidered 
with  seed  pearls.  Her.  finger-tip  veil 
TTas  caught  by  a  coronet-style  headpiece, 
and  she  carried  a  narcissus  bouquet. 


The  bride  was  given  in  marriage  by  her 
father  and  her  sister  attended  her  as 
maid  of  honor.  The  brother  of  the  groom 
acted  as  best  man.  Jilany  of  the  bride's 
friends  from  the  library  staff  were  pre- 
sent at  the  event.  The  couple  flew  to 
New  York  City  for  a  brief  wedding  trip 
before  the  groom  returned  to  duty  in  the 
U.S.  Eferine  Corps  in  North  Carolina. 

THE  SOCIAL  WHIRL 

The  Director  and  the  Chief  of  Book 
Selection,  Home  Reading  Services,  were 
invited  to  represent  the  Boston  Public 
Library  at  a  cocktail  party  given  in 
honor  of  Sfiss  Eleanor  Ruggles,  author 
of  the  recently  published  Prince  of 
players,  at  the  Ritz  Carlton  Hotel  on- 
Thursday,  February  26. 

-«• 

A.  Gertrude  Barry  was  the  guest  of  honor 
at  the  Sheraton  Plaza  Hotal  on  Friday, 
March  6,  when  the  staff  of  the  Personnel 
Office  celebrated  her  engagement  to 
Mr  Bernard  F.  Dcherty  of  the  Binding 
Department.- 


ALUMNI  NOTES 

Francis  X.  Scannell,  formerly  of  the 
Reference  Division  in  the  Boston  Public 
Library,  has  resigned  from  the  Detroit 
Public  Library  to  became  Coordinator  of 
Libraries  for  the  State  of  Michigan. 
His  new  address  is  State  Library, 
Lansing  13,  Michigan. 


A  tea  was  held  at  the  West  Roxbury 
Branch  Library  on  February  17,  in  honor 
of  Carrie  L,  Morse,  Branch  Librarian 
Emeritus,  to  celebrate  her  ninetieth 
birthday.  The  guests  included  Geneva 
Watson,  Branch  Librarian  Emeritus,  a 
few  of  Miss  Morse's  personal  friends,  and 
the  Branch  staff.  A  decorated  birthday 
cake  and  two-toned  pink  carnations  carried 
out  the  color  scheme  for  the  occasion. 
After  the  presentation  of  the  gift  of  a 
white  and  gold  stole,  slides  of  old  West 
Roxbury  were  shown.  These  recalled  with 
pleasure  many  of  the  places  and  people 
Miss  Morse  had  known  in  the  community  in 
which  she  was  born  and  served  for  so  many 
vpaT9 


-3- 


BON  VOYAGE 

Accompanied  by  her  father  and  sister, 
Laura  Abate,  Office  of  the  Division  of 
Reference  and  Research  Services ,  is  fly- 
ing to  Rome  on  April  },   to  be  there  for 
Easter  Sunday^  7/hiile  Mr  Abate  visits  in 
Rome,  his  daughters  will  travel  through 
France  and  Switzerland,  The  entire  trip 
will  take  two  months. 


■«• 


Winifred  Root,  Kirstein  Business  Branch, 
sails  on  April  first  on  the  Ryndam,  Her 
travels  through  France,  Holland,  and 
possibly  Belgium  will  include  a  visit 
with  her  brother  in  The  Hague.  She  will 
be  gone  seven  weeks. 


Paul  Tibbetts,  Cataloging  and  Classifi- 
cation Department,  Div.  of  HR&CS  will 
sail  aboard  the  Liberte  on  April  30,  with 
other  members  of  The  Cecilia  Society  on 
a  good-will  tour  of  France. 

RETIREMENTS 

On  Gatuday  afternoon,  February  28,  1^3, 
the  Staff  of  the  Connolly  Branch  Library 
and  many  former  library  associates  of 
Mrs  Susan  W.  Renfrew,  gathered  together 
at  JOSEPH'S  for  a  luncheon  in  honor  of 
her  retirement. 

It  was  with  considerable  surprise  and 
regret  that  members  of  the  Staff  learned 
of  Mrs  Renfrew's  retirement.  Her  genuine 
en-^.husiasm  for,  as  well  as  her  active 
participation  in,  her  library  work, 
together  with  all  her  varied  social 
undertakings,  belie  the  fact  that  the 
calendar  has  spoken. 

The  luncheon  was  particularly  festive, 
with  colorful  jonquils  and  purple  iris, 
and  decorative  place  cards.  The  guest 
of  honor  was  presented  with  a  Jefferson 
"Golden  Hour"  clock  for  her  new  home 
which  is  being  built  in  Florida.  She     i 
expects  to  spend  her  winters  in  Florida   j 
and  the  suroraers  in  Cambridge,  Massachusetts 
and  Vermont. 

Margaret  A.  Morgan,  Branch  Librarian, 
spoke  briefly  of  the  sense  of  loss 
Connolly  feels  in  no  longer  having  Mrs 
Renfrew's  able  and  discerning  assistance.  | 
Elizabeth  Ross,  Branch  Librarian  Emeritus,! 
Godman  Square,  read  a  clever  and  amusing 


poem  which  she  had  composed  for  the 
occasion. 

All  of  Mrs  Renfrew's  library  associates 
will  miss  her  a  great  deal.  She  is  at 
present  basking  in  the  Florida  sunshine, 
and  we  hope  warmed  with  the  many,  many 
good  wishes  sincerely  offered  to  her 
upon  the  completion  of  her  service  with 
the  Boston  Public  Library. 

Officer  EdT\'ard  Egan,  assigned  to  the 
Boston  Public  Library  for  almost  twenty 
years,  retired  February  28, 

On  Friday,  February  27,  Mrs  Anne  Vinni- 
combe  retired  from  Library  Service,  after 
working  19  years  in  Book  Purchasing. 
Besides  being  a  very  productive,  efficient, 
persevering  worker,  Mrs  Vinniconbe  was 
also  noted  for  her  extra-cheery  disposi- 
tion. She  brightened  the  day  for  all 
her  co-workers  in  many  ways.  She  added 
to  the  friendly  atmosphere  of  the  depart- 
ment with  the  fresh  flowers  she  brought 
in  every  day.  Everyone  that  came  in 
contact  with  Mrs  Vinnicombe  became  her 
steadfast  friend,  for  she  gave  her 
assistance  readily  to  others. 

Mrs  Vinnicombe  is  a  direct  descendant 
of  Henry  Wadsworth  Longfellow  and  she  is 
devoted  to  his  poetry  and  his  historical 
background.  Her  stories  of  Longfellow 
were  interesting  and  informative.  Her 
knowledge  of  foreign  languages  is  pro- 
ficient. She  it  was  "nho  deciphered 
many  a  foreign  communication  that  led  to 
better  relationships  between  this  library 
and  our  foreign  dealers. 

Mrs  Vinnicombe 's  position  can  be  filled, 
but  Mrs  Vinnicombe  cannot  be  replaced. 
Good  Luck,  Mrs  Vinnicombe. 

G.D.H. 

MISS  RUGGLES  SPEAKS 
AT  DIVISION  MEETING 

At  the  regular  monthly  meeting  of  the 
officers  of  the  Home  Reading  and  Com- 
munity Services,  Miss  Eleanor  Ruggles, 
author  of  the  recently  published  Prince 
of  players,  was  the  guest  speaker.  Despite 
the  acclaim  her  book  is  receiving — front 
page  laudatory  reviews  in  practically  all 
the  literary  periodicals,  chosen  as  Book 
of  the  month  for  March  and  purchased  by 
Twentieth  Century  Fox  for  filming — 
Miss  Ruggles  seems  refreshingly  untouched 


'h- 


by  all  the  fanfare.  She  is  a  delightful 
person  and  a  charming  speaker.  She  told 
the  group  some  of  her  research  experiences 
and  concluded  by  reading  very  effectively 
one  small  portion  from  the  text  of  Prince 
of  players .  Following  the  meeting,  Mi'sa 
Ruggles  was  the  luncheon  guest  of  the 
Adult  Book  Review  Committee,  Mrs  A.  Andei- 
man,  Mrs  M.  C.  Javelin,  and  Miss  Fanny 
Goldstein. 

DATE-LINE  FLORIDA 

Members  of  the  staff  who  are  now  or 
have  been  lately  in  sunny  Florida  are: 

Elizabeth  M,  Gordon 

John  J.  Connolly  and  family 

J.  Loring  McNally 

Edward  Maynard 

Patrick  Kennedy 

Abraham  B.  Snyder 

Mrs  Susan  B,  Renfrew 

NEWEERY-CALDECOTT  AWARDS 

Hi  Ho  come  to  the  party I  And  we  did 
just  that  at  k   o'clock  on  Monday,  March 
9th,  to  hear  announced  the  Newbery  and 
Caldecott  winners  for  1952  at  the  same 
hour  that  the  a-v\'a.rds  were  made  in  New 
York  City,  We  too  in  the  Children's 
Room  had  voted.  Miss  Armstrong  was  the 
fortunate  one.  She  guessed  both  winners 
and  the  first  of  the  runners  up  for  each. 
Miss  Haviland,  a  member  of  the  Newbe-^y- 
Caldecott  Committee,  was  hostess.  Miss 
Armstrong  rated  a  sundae  with  all  the 
fixings  and  the  rest  of  the  Staff  de- 
licious ice  cream.  The  winners  and 
runners  up  are  as  follows : 

Newbery  Award 

Ann  Nolan  Clark  —  Secret  of  the  Andes 


(Viking) 


Runners -up 


E.  B,  White  ~  Charlotte's  Web  (Harper) 
Eloise  McGraw  —  Moccasin  Trail 

(Coward) 
Ann  Weil  —  Red  Sails  to  Capri  (Viking) 
Alice  Dalgliesh  —  The  Bears  on  Hem- 
lock Mountain  (Scribner) 
Genevieve  Foster  —  Birthdays  of  Free- 
dom (Scribner) 


Caldecott  Award 

Lynd  Ward  —  The  Biggest  Pear  (Houghton) 

Runners -up 

Jfercia  Brown  —  Puss  in  Boots   (Scribner) 
Robert  McClcskey  —  One  Morning  in 

Maine   (Viking) 
Fritz  Eichenberg  —  Ape  in  a  Cape 

( Hare our t) 
Margaret  Floy  Graham  —  The  Storm  Book, 

by  Charlotte  Zolotow  (Harper) 
J\iliet  Kepes  —  Five  Little  Monkeys 

(Houghton) 

THE  B.P.L.  ON  RADIO  AND  TV 

In  connection  with  the  5lst  annual 
meeting  of  the  American  Jewish  Historical 
Society  at  the  Library  in  February, 
Rabbi  Isidore  S.  Meyer,  librarian  and 
editor  of  the  Society  came  to  Boston  and 
appeared  on  several  radio  and  television 
broadcasts  which  were  arranged  for  him 
through  the  Information  Office :  Thurs- 
day, February  12,  over  WBZ-TV,  and  WBMS 
and  February  13,  over  WCOP. 

Alfrieda  M,  Mosher,  cultivation  secre- 
tary of  the  International  Institute  of 
Boston,  whose  collection  of  crosses  was 
featured  in  the  Lenten  exhibit  In  the 
north  and  south  corridors  during  February, 
appeared  on  WBZ-TV  Ash  Wednesday, 
February  18. 

■«■ 

Charles  Angoff ,  author  of  In  the  morn- 
ing light  was  interiT-ewed  by  Fanny 
Goldstein  over  W^^'OM  Sunday,  March  15. 

\/ 

On  Thursday,  March  5,  Miss  Goldstein 
inter^riewed  Eleanor  Ruggles  author  of 
Prince  of  players  over  WBI/IS, 

On  Sunday,  March  8,  over  WVOM,  Nahum 
N.  Glatzer,  Professor  of  Jewish  History 
at  Erandeis  University,  distinguished 
author  of  ■  Frana  Rosenzweig,  His  Life 
gnd  Thought  and  the  new  Passover  Haggadah 
was  interviewed  by  Fanny  Goldstein, 

OVERHEARD  IN  OUR  ELEVATOR 

Old  Lady  (to  operator)   "Will  this  take 
me  to  the  Geeanogical  Department?" 

J • 6 .L. 


-5- 


THE  B.P.L.  IN  PRINT 

The  Boston  Sunday  Globe  for  February 
1$  carried  a  feature  story  about  the 
Library's  display  of  Arosrican  books  of 
Jei'Tish  interest  J  highlighting  the  Bay 
Psalm  Book,  The  story  was  accompanied 
by  a  photograph  of  Lee  M.  Friedman^ 
Trustee,  and  Rabbi  Isidore  Meyer  examin- 
ing one  of  the  Library's  copies  of  this 
valuable  book. 

Reviews  of  Charles  Angoff 's  new  book 
In  the  Morning  Light  by  Fanny  Goldstein 
appeared  in  the  Boston  Sunday  Globe, 
February  22,  and  in  the  Boston  Jewish 
Advocate  of  Thursday,  March  12, 

CONGRATUUTIONS 
TO 

Milwaukee  Public  Library  on  its  75th 
Anniversary, 

■}(• 

First  issue  of  the  "United  Staff  News'! 
a  combined  operation  of  the  Staff  Associa' 
tions  of  Brooklyn,  New  York  and  Que ens - 
borough  Public  Libraries. 

East  Boston,  featured  on  the  March  1953 
blotter  distributed  by  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Boston  as  part  of  its  "First  in 
Boston"  series  •  The  first  branch  build- 
ing is  pictured, 

TAKE  A  BOW 

Many  thanks  to  the  CARE  Committee  of 
1951  and  1952  under  the  chairmanship  of 
May  McDonald,  assisted  by  Marie  Hastie 
and  Emilia  Lange,  The  novel  and  clever 
ideas  produced  by  this  committee  con- 
tributed greatly  to  the  success  of  this 
worthy  cause,  TAKE  A  BCW,  CARE  Committee, 

GIFTS 

The  exhibition  of  water  colors  by  the 
Israeli  painter,  Mordechai  Avniel,  which 
took  place  at  the  West  End  Branch  from 
January  23  to  February  5,  had  an  unusual 
and  profitable  outcome  for  the  Branch. 
Morris  Shapiro,  a  trustee  of  Brandeis 
University,  and  a  personal  friend  of  the 
Mayor  of  Haifa,  Israel,  purchased  a 
watercolor  of  Haifa  and  presented  it  to 
West  End,  hoping  that  it  would  be  a 
symbolic  cultural  link  between  Israel  and 
the  Jewish  community  of  Boston, 


A  Port  of  Boston  in  the  New  England 
Economy  1930-1950,  by  Francis  X.  Kennedy, 
was  presented  to  the  Library  by  his 
father,  James  S.  Kennedy,  Book  Stack 
Service.  The  author  is  a  former  staff 
member, 

PRESIDENT'S  NOTES 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Executive 
Board  in  1953  there  was  read  a  preliminary 
and  partial  report  from  the  Committee  to 
Investigate  the  Implications  of  Register- 
ing the  Association  with  the  Commissioner 
of  Labor  and  Industries  under  the  Barnes 
Act,  In  the  report  it  was  recommended 
that  the  Committee  be  "enlarged  to  seven 
members  in  order  to  explore  properly  the 
implications  of  such  registration,"  and 
"that  the  Association  be  registered  under 
Chaper  6I8  of  the  General  Laws  Barnes 
Act  as  soon  as  feasuble  in  order  to  conform 
with  the  law,"  Since  this  recommendation 
was  based  on  informal  opinions  of  per- 
sons whose  names  could  not  be  used,  the 
Executive  Board  instructed  the  Committee 
to  obtain  a  written  opinion  from  the  City 
Law  Department.  It  was  also  decided  that 
since  the  Barnes  Act  ties  in  with  the 
Resolution,  re:  polling  the  membership 
about  the  interpretation  of  Article  II  (b) 
of  the  Constitution  as  including  questions 
of  hours,  wages,  classification  of  wages, 
etc,  which  was  originally  tabled,  it  should 
still  be  held  up  until  more  information 
is  obtained.  When  it  was  learned  that 
the  City  Law  Department's  services  were 
not  available  to  a  staff  association  a 
special  meeting  of  the  Executive  Board 
was  called  on  20  February  and  it  was 
voted  to  have  the  President  instruct  the 
Committee  1)  to  try  to  obtain  a  written 
legal  opinion  based  on  the  Association's 
Constitution  and  a  history  of  its  activi- 
ties as  to  Tflhether  the  Association  is 
now  required  to  register  under  the  Barnes 
Act,  or  whether  an  affirmative  vote  on 
the  interpretation  of  Article  II  (b) 
would  require  this  registration,  and  2) 
if  this  were  not  possible  to  try  to  ascer- 
tain the  cost  of  such  an  opinion. 

One  of  the  original  members  of  the 
Committee,  Mrs  Mary  Blute  LaFollette, 
South  End  Branch  Library,  has  left  the  ' 
Library  on  a  six-months'  leave  of  absence. 
The  following  members  of  the  Staff 
Association  have  kindly  agreed  to  serve 
on  the  Committee  to  assist  Mrs  Irene  H. 
Tuttle  and  Pauline  Winnick: 


_^- 


Kenneth  C,  Barnes j  Periodical  and 

Newspaper 

G,  Florence  Connolly^  Fine  Arts 
Moorfield  Storey,  Jr.,  Rare  Book 
ScL^rah  M-,  Usher,  Office  of  Records, 

Files ;  and  Statistics 

Pauline  A.  Walker,  West  Roxbury  Branch 

There  have  been  requests  from  Associa- 
tion members  for  personal  subscriptions 
to  'y\if!   QueoTJon  Mark.  Because  of  the 
cleriuc.1  work  involved  if  the  mailing 
list  --should  reach  any  large  proportion, 
it  has  been  recommended  that  instead  of 
personal  subscriptions,  wider  distribu- 
tion should  be  tried.  In  addition  to  the 
one  issue  sent  to  each  unit,  there  will 
be  sent  one  extra  copy  for  each  additional 
floor  in  each  unit  or  one  extra  copy  for 
uTiits  having  more  than  10  Association 
members,  two  extra  copies  for  units  hav- 
ing more  than  20  Association  members, 
etCo  Please  cooperate  with  your  staff 
representatives  who  have  the  responsibili- 
ty of  receiving,  distributing  and  main- 
taining files  of  The  Question  Mark. 

B.J.O'N. 

PSA  rOUBLE  FEATURE  EVENING 

On  Friday  evening,  February  27,  the 
BPLPSA  held  the  first  social  meeting  of 
1953 »  In  the  Lecture  Hall  over  seventy 
members  gathered  to  meet  the  new  officers 
and  view  three  of  the  best  films  from  tha 
Audio-Visual   Section  collection. 

President  O'Neil  was  introduced  by 
the  M.C.  of  the  meeting,  Nura  Globus. 
Mr  O'Neil  gave  a  warm  welcome  to  all 
present  and  thanked  the  members  of  the 
Program  and  Entertainment  Con-iraittees, 
who  were  responsible  for  the  su.cce3s  of 
the  occasion.  He  also  thanked  Mrs  Javelin 
for  her  part  in  arranging  the  film  pro- 
gram. Other  officers  of  the  PSA  were 
then  introduced  by  Miss  Globus. 

The  film  program  was  moving  and  stimu- 
lating? "Miracle  on  Skis'*  is  a  revelation 
of  courage  over  adversity _,  beir:g  the 
story  of  two  lo^-amputees  who  mane.ged 
to  become  expert  skiers  in  spite  of  their 
handicaps.  "Moor's  Pa vane"  is  a  ballet 
based  on  Shakespeare's  Othello s  IV^isic 
and  color  are  very  fine©  *'Porapeii  and 
Vesuvius"  was  the  third  film  shown. 
This  color  film  is  informative  of  the 
life  and  architecture  of  ancient  Pompeii. 


After  the  film  program  everyone  was 
invited  by  Miss  Globus  to  go  to  the  former 
Children's  Room  where  the  Entertainment 
Committee  provided  punch,  homemade  cookies 
and  delicious  tiny  eclairs.  Curing  this 
period  of  refresknent  the  m.em.bers  had  an 
opportunity  to  meet  the  new  officers o 
At  about  ten  o'clock  the  meeting  was  over« 

WHY  SHOULD  I  JOIN  MY 

Faof^,ss  ional  f;  ?.nLY? 

A,  The  organizations  have  worthy  goals: 

(1)  To  advance  the  interest  of  tb£  pro- 
fession of  librarianship  (for  welfare), 

(2)  To  elevate  the  character  of  the  pro- 
fession of  librarianship  (for  status), 

(3)  To  promote  the  cause  of  libraries 
(for  professional  service). 

B.  The  organizations  give  valuable 
services:  (l)  They  provide  leadership 
in  policy  making.   (2)  They  promote 
legislation  for  improving  library  services, 
(3)  They  conduct  research  into  library- 
needs  and  finances,  trends  and  methods 

in  librarianship,  (h)   They  promote  a 
public  relations  program  for  correctly 
interpreting  needs  and  services  to  the 
lay  public. 

0,  The  organizations  have  worked  for 
me  many  years.  They  have  "put  a  floor" 
under  the  profession.  I  owe  my  loyalty 
and  service  to  further  that  program, 

^JWiAT  IS  MY  DUTY  TO  MY 
PROFESSIONAL  FAMILY? 

A.  To  join  all — local,  state  and 
national. 

B.  To  attend  meetings  of  the  organiza- 
tions, 

C.  To  think  critically  and  offer 
constructive  suggestions  on  professional 
policies. 

D.  To  keep  informed  on  all  current 
civic  and  professional  issues* 

E.  To  extend  sincere  loyalty  to  all 
my  colleagues  r, 

F.  To  reflect  pride  in  my  profession- 

G.  To  cooperate  in  setting  and  main- 
taining ever  higher  professional 
standards. 

H.  To  serve  the  community  sincerely. 


ALA  Membership  Committee 


WELCOME  TO  NCT  MEMBERS  OF  BPLPSA 

Margaret  F,  Ambrose,  Roslindale 
Barbara  E,  Cotter,  Connolly- 
Anne  B.  Doherty,  Charlestovm 
Mrs  Mairreen  Eriksen,  Egleston  Square 
John  J,  Hallahan,  Open  Shelf 
Girard  D,  Hottleman,  Book  Purchasing 
Doris  R.  Kelleher,  Cataloging  and 

Classification,  Div.  of  R&RS 
Mary  Z,  Lynch,  Book  Stack  Service 
Irene  M,  McCarty,  Book  Stack  Service 
Mary  M.  Mehlnan,  Brighton 
Helen  K.  Murphy,  Book  Stack  Service 
Joan  M.  Sughrue,  Registration 

VISITORS 

Mr  Trevor  Parfitt,  USIS  Library, 
London. 

In  cooperation  with  the  Ifessachusetts 
Schools  Student  Government  Exchange 
Program  the  Library  arranged  for  a  visit 
of  ten  students  from  the  Milton  High 
School  and  the  Girls  Latin  School  of 
Boston  and  their  faculty  advisors  on 
Monday,  March  9»  On  March  16  a  group 
from  the  Stoneham  High  School  and  the 
Dorchester  High  School  for  Girls  with 
their  faculty  advisors  also  visited  under 
the  same  program*  These  students  had 
an  opportunity  to  observe  some  of  the 
behind-the-scenes  activities  of  the 
Library. 

The  program  was  arranged  under  the 
supervision  of  John  J.  Desmond,  Jr» 
Commissioner  of  Education,  and  Thomas  J. 
Curtin,  Director  of  American  Citizenship, 
of  the  Massachusetts  Department  of 
Education. 

LENTEN  READING 

An  encouraging  sign  of  the  times  is  the 

popularity  and  public  interest  in  the 

Lenten  Reading  Section  in  Open  Shelf. 

This  display  of  reading  matter  of  a 

spiritual  rature  contains  volumes  which 

range  in  depth  from  simple  homilies  and 

brief  lives  of  the  saints  to  the  more 

abstract  vrorks  of  Aquinas,  Augustine  and 

Niebuhr.  An  attempt  is  made  to  supply 

as  wide  a  variety  as  possible  in  order 

that  the  casual  browser  and  the  serious 

student  may  both  find  items  of  interest. 

At  a  time  when  the  reading  tastes  of  the 

public  is  often  felt  to  be  on  a  low  plane, 

it  is  gratifying  to  have  this  suspicion 

dispelled  by  a  definite  trend  toward  such 

worthwhile  material.     .„  „  „ 

ff.T.  Casey 


MASSACHUSETTS  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION 
MID-WINTER  tlEETING  FEB.   19 
SHERATON  PLAZA  HOTEL 

General  Session 

The  mid-winter  meeting  opened  on  an 
international  note  with  a  discussion  of 
The  Far  East  Today,  by  William  K.  Beech, 
foreign  correspondent  and  Nieman  Fellow 
at  Harvard  University,  and  Dr  Douglas 
Paauw,  Research  Assistant  with  the  center 
of  International  Studies  at  M.I.T.  Doubl- 
ing for  two  other  scheduled  participants 
who  were  unable  to  be  present  because  of 
illness,  the  speakers  focused  their  dis- 
cussion on  a  summary  of  the  present 
Administrations  unfolding  Far  Eastern 
policy,  and  the  necessity  for  a  sjTnpathetic 
understanding  by  the  western  powers  of 
the  basic  forces -at  work  in  that  whole 
troubled  area  today.  Recently  returned 
from  a  six-year  assignment  in  Korea  and 
Japan,  Mr  Beech  described  our  policy  as 
essentially  one  of  gradual  disengagement, 
with  a  withdrawal  of  American  troops  from 
Korea,  and  French  troops  from  Indo-China 
the  ultimate  goal.  Releasing  these  forces, 
he  pointed  out,  will  correct  the  present 
badly  balanced  distribution  of  western 
strength,  and  permit  the  building  up  of  a 
"mobile  reserve"  which  may  be  used  in  the 
event  of  Soviet  aggression  anywhere  in 
the  world.  Estimating  that  at  present 
70^  of  the  Korean  front  is  now  manned  by 
ROK  troops,  Mr  Beech  described  them  as 
excellent  soldiers  •v\^o  can  fight  as  well 
as  our  own  troops  if  they  have  adequate 
support.  While  he  recognized  that  the 
Koreans  have  a  powerful  incentive  to  fight 
in  U.S.  support  of  their  republic,  the 
speaker  was  less  certain  that  a  native 
army  can  be  built  up  in  Indo-China  because 
of  French  reluctance  to  make  concessions 
to  their  independence  in  recent  years. 
As  the  policy  he  outlined  is  essentially 
a  long  range  one,  he  foresaw  no  spectacu- 
lar developments  in  the  immediate  future, 
but  emphasized  a  long  continuing  need  for 
logistical  support  in  these  two  areas. 

Singling  out  South  East  Asia  as  the 
most  critical  region  in  the  Far  Eastern 
picture,  Dr  Paauw  questioned  whether  its 
national  aspirations  can  be  resolved  with- 
in a  democratic  framework,  because  of  the 
social,  economic,  and  political  backwardness 
of  the  people.  The  solution,  he  emphasized, 
is  primarily  educational — ^both  of  the 
people  of  the  east  and  the  west.  Pointing 
to  the  vast  gulf  between  the  educated 
leaders  and  their  underprivileged  peoples 


-8- 


he  declared  mass  participation  in  the 
fight  for  independence  is  essential  if 
totalitarianism  is  to  be  averted.  Unless 
these  problems  are  resolved  in  a  democra- 
tic way,  with  a  sympathetic  understanding 
on  our  part,  he  concluded  that  the  out- 
look for  the  western  world  is  a  gloomy 
onee 

L.S.M. 

College  Library  Group 

After  a  shift  of  meeting  place,  the 
group  settled  in  the  Oval  Room  of  the 
Sheraton  Plaza  for  its  spring  meeting. 
Barbara  Hubbard  of  Mt.  Holyoke  College 
Library,  the  chairman,  told  of  the 
College  Library  Group  and  then  introduced 
the  speakers, 

Margot  J,  Jacobsen  of  Halden,  Norway, 
now  connected  with  UNESCO  in  New  York, 
related  in  detail  the  development  of 
libraries  and  library  schools  in  Norway, 
and  how  the  attempts  of  the  Nazis  to 
prune  Norwegian  collections  of  Anti- 
Nazi  literature  were  frustrated  by  having 
such  books  destined  for  burning  suddenly 
"disappear".  Later  she  reported  on  the 
library  training  program  by  which  the 
"aspirant"  combines  work  and  study, 

Marina  G,  Dayritt,  University  of  the 
Philippines,  now  a  student  at  Simmons 
Library  School,  told  of  the  libraries  in 
that  country,  and  related  their  favor- 
able prospects  for  future  development. 
She  disclosed  the  loss  of  the  valuable 
library  collections  at  the  University 
during  the  Japanese  occupation,  and 
explained  the  ways  by  which  some  of  that 
material  is  being  replaced. 

Douglas  W.  Bryant,  Administrative 
Assistant  Librarian  of  Harvard  College 
Library,  spoke  of  the  International 
Library  Association  and  its  work  through 
affiliated  governmental  bureaus « 

The  final  speaker,  Rae  C,  Kipp, made  a 
strong  plea  for  the  new  Gift  Coupon 
Promotion  Project  of  UNESCO  by  which 
communitites  order  needed  library 
materials  to  be  supplied  by  the  libraries 
of  this  country  through  UNESCO,  She 
stressed  the  need  of  audio-visual  materLala 
as  well  as  books.  Because  this  work  is 
done  through  groups  rather  than  by 
individuals,  the  progress  is  accelerated, 

G.L.B, 


Public  Library  Group 

Topic — An  Informal  Discussion  of 
recordings,  pamphlets,  pictures,  and 
films:  Mrs  Muriel  C.  Javelin,  moderator. 

The  first  item  discussed  was  Recordings 
and  how  a  collection  may  be  acquired, 
Worcester  appealed  to  its  citizens  and 
received  donations  of  both  records  and 
money.  The  money  received  from  rentals 
has  been  the  chief  method  of  increasing 
the  collection.  They  have  no  Lt^'s  only 
33  1/3 's  and  78 's  and  they  purchase 
locally  by  sending  out  bids.  By  purchas- 
ing locally  they  have  no  shipping  or 
packing  expenses  and  facilitate  replacing 
defective  records, 

Springfield  reported  that  it  has  a 
working  collection  of  records  consisting 
of  33  1/3 's  and  78 's  and  have  a  small 
budget  for  the  purchase  of  records  but 
no  rentals.  It  purchases  from  the  Now 
York  record  dealers,  receives  discount, 
and  buys  on  an  approval  basis.  The  re- 
cords are  processed  like  books, 

Fitchburg  stated  that  it  did  not  now 
charge  rentals  and  did  not  wish  to  do  so 
if  it  could  be  avoided.  They  have  all 
three  sizes  in  their  collection,  musical 
and  non-musical  records.  They  are 
purchased  locally.  No  classification  is 
used  in  processing  the  records,  they  are 
cataloged  under  the  composer. 

Boston  Public  Library  is  one  of  the  li- 
braries which  as  yet  is  not  charging  a 
rental  fee,  Boston  does  not  buy  any  speed 
but  33  1/3 's   has  no  hS^s   but  does  have 
78 's  T/^ich  were  bought  a  few  years  ago. 
Boston  also  has  several  albums  of  selected 
jazz  which  in  time  may  be  considered 
Americana, 

Two  points  were  brought  out  in  the 
discussion  of  Pamphlets : 

1.  .Greater  use  would  be  made  of  pamphlets 
if  divided  into  a  Vertical  File  group  and 
another  group  to  be  processed  as  books, 

2,  Pamphlets  should  be  classed  accord- 
ing to  subject.  In  Springfield  as  in 
Boston  many  are  cataloged  and  circulated 
like  books. 

The  third  item,  Pictures,  is  a  special 
feature  of  library  service  in  Attleboro. 
The  picture  collection  almost  r\ms  away 
with  the  circulation}  more  of  them  are 
circulated  than  books  because  of  the 
nature  of  the  industries  of  the  town. 


-9- 


The  subjects  called  for  are  almost  en- 
tirely in  some  branch  of  art, 

Springfield  reported  no  picture  col- 
lection; Fitchburg  has  a  small  collection 
used  only  by  student-teacher  groups  from 
State  Teachers'  College e, 

The  general  use  of  Films  throughout  the 
state  seems  to  be  confined  to  use  in  li- 
brary programs  rather  than  circulation, 
Fitchburg  P.L.  is  the  only  library  in 
llassachusetts  that  has  circulated  films 
and  IVIrs  Hyatt  does  not  recommend  it  for 
small  libraries,  Springfield  has  just 
begun  to  undertake  this  service,  Som.e 
members  of  the  panel  suggested  that  the 
circulation  of  films  should  be  done  on  a 
cooperative  plan  (Library  plus  Dept.  of 
Education)  or  regional  cooperation  fi- 
nanced by  state  aid.  This  very  informa- 
tive meeting  was  terminated  with  a  ques- 
tion period  on  practical  containers  for 
circulating  records,  tracing  damage  to 
records,  etc» 

Mrs  Javelin  was  an  excellent  leader  of 
the  group,  managed  to  control  discussion 
of  most  pertinent  points  with  a  mininum 
of  time,  and  also  provided  a  mimeographed 
outline  for  reference  during  the  meeting, 

A.H. 

Institutional  Librarians 


The  meeting  of  Institutional  Librarians 
opened  with  a  short  business  meeting. 
The  main  report  presented  for  the  first 
time  the  Volunteer  Library  Service 
"Patch",  an  attractive  woven  emblem, 
three  inches  by  two  inches,  which  is 
earned  after  fifty  hours  of  voluntary 
service.  The  first  volunteer's  patch 
was  awarded  to  a  retired  hospital  li- 
brarian, now  giving  voluntary  service. 

The  guest  speaker,  Mrs  Olive  Wheeler, 
discussed  Reading  for  Rehabilitation  by 
describing  her  experiences  in  the  Bedford 
Veterans  Administration  Hospital, 
Building  70,  vhere   the  patients  are  all 
women  with  mental  illness.  To  encourage 
reading,  Mrs  Wheeler  conducts  a  Wednesday 
Discussion  Group  in  the  homelike  atmos- 
phere of  the  library.  Programs  consist 
of  book  reviews,  current  events,  reading 
one-act  plays,  and  short  excursions. 
Whenever  possible,  the  participation  of 
patients  is  encouraged.  The  purpose  of 
the   project  is  stimulating  "a  reason  for 
reading." 


As  for  the  books,  popularity  favors 
philosophy,  history,  "how  to",  cocking, 
and  metaphysics.  Non-fiction  and  fiction 
are  about  evenly  divided.  Surprisingly, 
books  like  the  Jalna  series  and  authors 
like  Thirkell  are  not  popular.  Disturbsd 
patients  are  concerned  with  comjnunism. 
Requests  for  controversial  subjects  are 
referred  to  the  physicians  and  sometimes 
to  the  chaplains.  Only  new  magazines 
are  offered  to  patients, 

Mrs  '".Tieeler  believes  patients  like  books 
because  they  seldom  throw  themi  She 
derives  much  satisfaction  from  library 
service  because  she  has  observed  that  the 
patients  who  read,  are  the  patients  who 
get  discharged. 

In  the  question  period,  the  hospital 
librarians  who  serve  mentally  normal 
patients  agreed  on  a  policy  of  selecting 
books  that  help  pass  time  quickly  and 
pleasantly,  rather  than  books  that  edu- 
cate patients. 

Appreciation  of  Mrs  V/heeler  was  expressed 
by  honoring  her  -with  the  second  Volunteer 
Service  Patch. 

H.F,H. 

Round  Table  of  Children's  Librarians 

The  Round  Table   of  Children's  Librarians 
held  its  mid-winter  meeting  in  conjiinction 
with  the  New  England  Children's  Book 
Clinic,     Pauline  Winnick,  chairman  of 
the  Round  Table,   introduced  D'Arcy  Harcourt 
chairman  of  the  Children's  Book  Clinic, 
as  moderator  of  the  discussion  vrtiich  dealt 
with  the  topic,   "Let's  talk  about  chil- 
dren's books  in  series". 

The  panel  was  composed  of  two  reviewers 
of  children's  books,  two  booksellers, 
two  children's  librarians,  and  two 
publishers'  representatives. 


The  topic  was  particularly  pertinent 
because  of  the  great  numbers  of  books  in 
series  which  have  been  published  during 
the  past  year.  The  spirited  discussion 
raised  a  great  many  questions  concerning 
series  books:  Do  authors  write  their 
best  for  series?,  Can  children  afford  to 
give  their  limited  reading  time  to  series 
books?.  Should  librarians  buy  material, 
which  is  perhaps  second-rate,  in  order 
to  satisfy  a  demand? 


-10- 


It  was  interesting  to  note  that  the 
panel  seemed  to  be  in  agreement  on  two 
points;  namely,  that  series  books  are 
very  popular  with  children,  and  through 
sheer  numbers  the  series  seem  destined 
to  kill  themselves  off» 

M.C.W. 

Round  Table  of  Librarians 
For  Young  Adults 

A  stimulating  discussion  on  Youth,  the 
Library,  and  the  Community  was  heard  by  a 
large  group  of  interested  librarians. 
Ujnder  the  able  direction  of  Mona  Adshead 
of  the  Merriam  Public  Library,  Auburn, 
a  diverse  and  well-qualif led  panel  dis- 
cussed the  factors  which  are  keeping 
young  adults  from  using  the  library  more 
than  they  do» 

The  panel  agreed  that  although  such 
factors  as  homework,  after-school  jobs, 
and  organized  outside  activities,  such 
as  clubs,  sports,  and  the  recreation 
centers,  found  in  many  communities  were 
things  which  librarians  could  not,  and 
probably  would  not,  want  to  interfere- 
with,  there  remained  opportunities  to 
connect  reading  with  the  immediate  needs 
and  interests  of  the  young  adult;  to 
have  trained  and  sympathetic  assistants 
to  work  with  them;  to  make  efforts  to 
learn  about  the  school  curriculum  and  to 
supplement  rather  than  duplicate  school 
libraries;  and  to  try  to  work  through 
parents  to  make  them  realize  the  impor- 
tance of  reading  in  family  life.  The 
panel  felt  that  the  influence  of  televi- 
sion and  comic  books  could  best  be  over- 
come by  providing  better  material  and 
making  the  young  adult  aware  that  it  is 
available.  Basilla  E,  Neilan's  lively 
talk  brought  out  the  point  that  many 
delinquents  get  their  ideas  from  reading 
the  ubiquitous  pocket  books,  not  from 
seeing  television;  and,  therefore,  the 
library,  in  pro\'iding  good  reading,  is  a 
powerful  potential  in  combating  delinquen- 
cy. She  also  remarked  that  the  best 
advertisem.ent  a  library  can  have  among 
young  adults  is  word  of  mouth  passed  from 
one  satisfied  young  adult  to  his  friends. 

The  meeting  closed  with  a  buzz  session 
in  which  the  various  groups  discussed, 
among,  other  topics,  what  libraries  can  do 
to  institute  programs  to  interest  young 
adults,  what  the  library  can  do  about 
comic  books,  and  how  far  it  is  wise  or 


possible  for  parents  to  control  the  read- 
ing habits  of  young  people. 

R.M. 

HOW  ROmNIA  LOST  HER  FRE1:D0M 
Luncheon  address  by 
Princess  Ileana  of  Romania 

Princess  Ileana  was  introduced  to  a 
capacity  audience  of  ffessachusetts  li- 
brarians by  Richard  J.  Sullivan  of  the 
Lowell  Public  Library.  He  informed  the 
audience  that  the  Princess  was  a  great- 
granddaughter  of  Queen  Victoria,  a  cele- 
brated patron  of  Romanian  hospitals,  and 
an  able  nurse.  Of  late,  she  is  best 
known  as  the  author  of  I  live  again. 

The  Princess  prefaced  her  talk  by 
voicing  her  appreciation  of  and  paying 
tribute  to  librarians  as  a  class.  She 
said  that  librarians  hold  in  their  hands 
the  education  of  the  free  peoples  of  to- 
day. She  was  impressed  by  the  fact  that 
words  play  such  a  great  role  in  this 
materialistic  society,  "Words  matter  so 
much  and  printed  words  matter  so  much 
more." 

Princess  Ileana  then  gave  a  jiostalgic 
picture  of  Romania,  from  the  time  when 
the  region  was  a  Roman  colony  (it  derives 
its  name  from  this  period)  to  the  happy 
days  just  before  the  Second  World  War. 
The  reign  of  her  father,  Ferdinand,  was 
a  particularly  happy  time  for  Romania, 
Vforld  War  II  passed  as  the  Princess  con- 
centrated on  her  hospital  work,  an  impor- 
tant career  amid  the  casualties  of  war. 
After  Hitler  came  the  Communists,  in- 
filtrating the  disrupted  country,  A  hard 
core  of  Communists,  estimated  at  less  than 
one  thousand  by  the  Princess,  seized  the 
communications  of  Romania  and  then  were 
able  to  take  control  of  the  machinery  of 
government , 

Staying  long  enough  to  observe  the  re- 
sults of  the  new  regime  in  her  country, 
the  Princess  reports  that  the  people  have 
lost  the  power  to  resist.  They  learn  to 
live  vdthout  freedom — to  live  without 
trust  in  their  fellowman. 

Her  conclusions  are:  there  can  be  no 
compromise  with  Communist  thinking;  Com- 
munism is  the  most  demanding  religion  that 
ever  existed;  Communism  does  not  admit  of 
any  other  religion  than  itself;  Communists 
and  the  free  peoples  of  the  world  are 
engaged  in  a  battle  between  darkness  and 
light — we  are  all  in  this  battle  and  we 


-11- 


inust  not  lose  it  by  default,  we  must  not 
vegetatei     We  raust  fight  for  all  we  be- 
lieve in. 

C.J.G. 

Business  Meeting 

The  meeting,  presided  over  by  Philip 
McNiff,  President,  was  attended  by  a 
larger  number  of  members  than  is  usually 
the  case  at  business  meetings. 

After  the  reading  and  acceptance  of  the 
Secretary's  report,  the  President  reported 
on  state  affiliation  with  A.L.A.  Owing  to 
a  need  for  clarification  of  the  rules  and 
regulations  applying  to  state  and  regional 
affiliation  with  A.L.A. ,  the  matter  was  to 
have  been  considered  at  the  mid -winter 
meeting  of  A.L.A.  As  soon  as  word  comes 
through  on  this,  an  announcement  will  be 
made  in  the  MLA  BULLETIN. 

In  connection  with  the  Treasurer's 
report,  attention  was  called  to  the  publi- 
cation of  the  latest  Handbook  of  M.L.A. 
members  and  the  expense  involved  in  such 
an  undertaking. 

The  President  reported  on  two  censor- 
ship bills  which  had  come  before  the  Gen- 
eral Court  at  this  session — Senate  286, 
authorizing  the  Tistrict  Attorney  to  take 
certain  action  in  the  matter  of  obscene 
books  and  magazines,  and  House  773,  which 
would  provide  for  the  establishment  of  a 
Decency  Review  Board  in  the  Department  of 
Public  Safety.  By  vote  of  the  Association 
the  M.L.A.  Executive  Board  registered 
opposition  to  both  of  these  bills :  Mr 
McNiff  on  Senate  286  and  Hu^  Downey  on 
House  773 •  Neither  bill  was  reported  out 
of  committee. 

In  the  June  1950  issue  of  The  Question 
Mark  there  appeared  a  long  report  on  the 
Conway  Plan — regional  service  in  Franklin 
and  Hampshire  Counties  over  an  experi- 
mental period  of  two  years,  made  possible 
by  a  gift  of  |36,000  from  Jfarshall  Field. 
That  period  has  now  elapsed  and  the  Divi- 
sion of  Library  Extension  is  including  in 
its  budget  funds  for  continuing  and  aug- 
menting this  service  for  35  small  cities 
and  towns  in  western  Massachusetts.  Let 
ters  to  legislators  from  individuals  and 
organizations  in  support  of  this  plan  are 
neededt  The  M.L.A.  Executive  Board  voted 
at  its  last  meeting  to  recommend  to  the 
members  of  the  Association  that  the 
Association  go  on  record  as  endorsing 
this  undertaking,  believing  that  its 


accomplishment  would  be  the  first  major 

advance  in  regional  library  service  in 

Massachusetts  since  the  establishment  of 

bookmobile  service  in  the  early  1930s. 

The  vote  taken  was  unanimously  in  favor  of  . • 

endorsement, 

Alice  Cahill  of  the  Division  of  Library 
Extension  spoke  of  the  resolution  passed 
by  the  Trustees  of  the  Greenfield  Public 
Library  nominating  one  of  their  members, 
Channing  L.  Bete,  to  receive  an  A.L.A. 
Trustees '  citation  at  the  annual  meeting 
in  June.  By  unanimous  vote,  the  M.L.A, 
went  on  record  as  endorsing  the  nomination. 

The  President  called  attention  to  the 
great  need  for  books  by  the  Boxboro  Public 
Library  where  there  had  recently  been  a 
fire. 

William  T.  Wietzel  announced  that  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  M.L.A.  has  been 
scheduled  for  May  lU  and  15  (Thursday  and 
Friday)  at  the  Berkshire  Inn,  Great 
Barrington.  The  weaker  for  the  dinner 
meeting  on  the  li|th  will  be  Carle  ton  E. 
Johnson,  who  has  spent  more  than  twenty 
years  in  southern  Africa,- 

S.M.U. 

■iHH(-»HHHB{-;;-«- 

IN  BRIEF 

One  of  the  inevitable  consequences  of 
selective  book  selection: 

There ' s  a  lot 
Not  bought 

J,  Hallahan 

LORD  MILTON 

A  couple  of  years  ago  Milton  Lord  of  the 
Boston  Public  Library  attended  a  meeting 
in  Montreal  and  registered  at  the  Mount 
Royal  Hotel,  When  Edgar  S,  Robinson, 
librarian  of  the  public  library  of  Vancouver, 
British  Columbia,  called  the  hotel  and 
asked  for  Mr  Lord,  the  desk  clerk  insisted 
that  no  Milton  Lord  was  registered.  Finally, 
in  desperation,  Mr  Robinson  went  to  the 
hotel  and  appealed  to  the  manager  for  help. 
They  carefully  checked  the  registrations 
but  without  success.  Finally  a  bright 
young  man  behind  the  cashier's  window 
volunteered,  "Oh  yes  J  Lord  Milton  registered 
yesterday  morning." 

Wilson  Library  Bulletin 

Iferch  1953 


-12- 


NEW  BOOKS  IN  THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 
Non-Fiction  -  Library  Science 

A.L.A.  catalog,  19U2A9 

Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 

1952. 
Malcles,  Louise  N. 

Les  sources  du  travail  bibliographique. 

vol.  2  in  2  vols. 

Geneve,  E.  Droz,  19^0 
Pennsylvania,  University.  Library 

Changing  patterns  of  scholarship  and  the 

future  of  research  libraries. 

Philadelphia,  University  of  Pennsylvania 

Press,  19^1 
Ranganathan,  Shiyali  R,,  rao  sahib 

Library  catalogue,  fundamentals  and 

procedure. 

Madras,  Madras  Library  Association,  1950 
Syracuse,  N.T.  Public  Library. 

Gold  Star  list  of  American  fiction.  1952 

Syracuse,  N.Y.,  Syracuse  Public  Library, 

1952 
U.S.  Library  of  Congress.  Descriptive 

Cataloging  Pivision, 

Rules  for  descriptive  cataloging,  in 

the  Library  of  Congress,  Supplement 

19i;9/5l  Washington,  U.S.  GcTernment 

Printing  Office,  1953 


DEPARTIvENT  NOTES 

Klrstein  Business  Branch 

Already  hard  hit,  the  Business  Branch 
has  just  sustained  two  more  losses.  Mrs 
Claire  "Sandy"  Grushey  resigned  from  the 
service  to  await  a  blessed  event.  Her 
efficiency  and  unfailing  good  nature  have 
endeared  her  to  us,  and  we  feel  that  she 
can  never  be  quite  replaced.  A  party 
was  held  in  her  honor  at  the  home  of  Rita 
Desaulnier.  Rita's  sister,  Louise, 
showed  colored  pictures  of  the  European 
trip  she  took  with  Rita  last  summer. 
Sandy  was  presented  with  a  car  bed  for 
the  expected  infant.  Followed  a  sumptu- 
ous collation,  music,  singing,  and  conver- 
sation. 

Thomas  Gaines  is  leaving  to  join  one 
of  the  services;  He  hopes  for  the  Navy, 
but  the  competition  is  keen,  and  there 
is  danger  that  the  Army  might  snatch  him 
frtsn  under  the  Navy's  very  nose.  He  has 


made  a  secure  place  for  himself  in  our 
hearts,  and  we  shall  miss  his  gentle 
smile  and  even  disposition.  He  was  enter- 
tained at  a  high  tea,  i.e.,  ice-cream 
and  such,  and  presented  with  a  toilet  kit. 


BRANCH  NOTES 

Brighton 

We  welcome  back  after  a  long  illness, 
Mary  E.  Connor. 

We  send  best  wishes  for  a  speedy  recovery 
to  Katrina  M.  Sather,  Branch  Librarian, 
who  is  recuperating  at  the  Allertin 
Hospital  in  Brookline. 

East  Boston 

Open  House 
A  capacity  audience  enjoyed  a  fine  pro- 
gram of  East  Boston  talent  at  the  eighth 
Open  House  on  Monday  evening,  March  9. 
The  entertainment  arranged  by  the  Friends 
of  the  East  Boston  Branch  Library  and  the 
staff  was  a  rich  variety  of  types  of  music 
and  dancing.  After  short  addresses  by 
Dorothy  F,  Nourse,  Milton  E.  Lord;  and 
Albert  West,  President  of  the  Friends, 
the  audience  listened  to  a  tape  recording 
made  by  eight  boys  and  girls  who  had 
arranged  hobby  exhibits  in  the  Children's 
Room.  The  machine,  presented  by  the  group 
in  November,  also  was  used  to  record  the 
musical  numbers  of  the  program.  Two 
artists  of  former  years,  the'^violinist 
Angelo  Alabiso  and  Matilda  Cerulli, 
soprano,  delighted  the  audience  with 
classical  selections.  Three  Conservatory 
students,  Joseph  Zarba,  pianist,  Claire 
Tierney,  mezzo-soprano,  and  John  Guazzerotti, 
bass  baritone,  were  very  special  features 
of  the  evening.  Mr  Zarba  played  excerpts 
from  his  composition  "Art  through  the 
Ages"  while  Miss  Tierney  and  Mr  Guazzerotti 
sang  solos  and  a  duet  "II  Cuore"  from 
"Cosi  Fan  Tutte".  Entertainment  in  the 
lighter  vein  was  represented  by  Robert 
Spinazola  who  demonstrated  pantomine 
dancing  in  two  lively  numbers  and  by  flute 
duets  by  George  DiLorenzo  and  Fiore  Aiello. 
The  Camp  Mothers'  Club  of  Central  Square 
Center  sang  several  folk  songs  and  danced 
the  tarantella  as  a  climax  to  a  delight- 
ful evening.  Punch  and  frosted  cookies 
were  served  in  tJie  Children's  Room,  festive 
with  forsythia  and  spring  flowers. 


-13- 


On  the  same  evening  the  second  Hobby 
Show  opened  in  the  Adult  Roonia  Forty  men 
and  v/omen  participated.  In  addition,  the 
Photography  Club  of  Good  Vfill  House  had 
a  remarkable  exhibit  of  pictures  taken 
and  developed  by  its  members.  Hooked 
and  braided  rugs,  a  crocheted  table  cloth, 
silk  quilt,  blocked  organdy,  a  handmade 
christening  dress,  painted  tiles,  copper 
and  leather  work,  exquisite  embroidery, 
many  painted  glass  and  metal  articles 
made  up  an  impressive  display.  A  spice 
cabinet  fashioned  from  wood  and  book 
ends  in  the  shape  of  cannon  added  a 
masculine  touch.  Pictures  in  oil  and 
watercolors  and  many  fine  examples  of  art 
photography  are  in  the  show.  Collections 
of  minerals,  minature  books  and  auto- 
graphed books  represent  other  types  of 
hobbies.  A  ixnique  and  different  hobby 
is  a  Christmas  tree  made  from  wishbones. 
Baskets  sewed  together  from  Christmas 
cards  add  a  cherry  note.  In  all  there 
are  ninety  items  on  exhibition.  East 
Boston  has  many  clever  and  generous 
hobbyists • 

Parker  Hill 

Rita  Reidy,  a  part-time  assistant  has 
been  offered  the  choice  of  tv/o  scholar~ 
ships  for  college  studies.  One  from 
Stonehill  College  located  at  North 
Easton,  Massachusetts;  the  other,  from 
Archbishop  Gushing  Junior  College  which 
is  located  in  Brookline,  She  has  decided 
to  accept  the  latter, 

Roslindale 

Mrs  Bernadette  0  'Callaghan  was  guest 
of  honor  here  on  Friday,  February  27 j  at 
a  luncheon  given  by  her  fellow  staff- 
members.  A  gift  of  money  and  a  corsage 
of  nylon  flowers  were  presented  to  Mrs 
0 'Callaghan,  who  is  leaving  to  join  her 
husband  in  Washington  E.G.  Her  friends 
all  wish  her  every  happiness  in  her  new 
home  but  she  will  be  greatly  missed  by 
all. 

* 

Roslindale  welcomes  back  to  the  service 
Ruth  Winn,  formerly  at  South  End. 

-;«■ 

Several  letters  have  been  received  by 
the  staff  from  a  former  member,  Mrs 
Josephine  Shaw,  Ti\ho  is  now  in  France  with 
her  husband.     She  is  teaching  first  grade 
children  of  the  Air  Force  personnel  at 
Nancy,  France. 


South  End 

The  South  End  Reading  Club  presented  a 
program  of  Brotherhood  on  Thursday  evening 
February  26,  1953,  in  the  Children's 
Room  to  many  enthusiastic  parents  and 
friends . 

The  affair  opened  with  a  few  words  of 
greetings  and  announcements  of  coming 
events  by  Marion  C.  Kingman,  and  Mrs 
Barbara  C,  Elam.  Then  the  program  was 
turned  over  to  the  members  of  the  Reading 
Club,  who  performed  most  admirably.  The 
narrator  throughout  the  entire  performance 
was  Nicholas  Haddad,  He  presented  the 
skit  entitled,  "This  is  Our  America," 

The  program  reflected  the  cooperative 
spirit  and  feeling  of  brotherhood  which 
exists  here  in  the  South  End,  Refresh- 
ments were  served  at  the  close  of  the 
program. 

West  End 

Mrs  Flora  Roussos  and  Mrs  Mary  Welby, 
who  have  recently  resigned,  were  guests 
of  the  staff  at  a  luncheon  party  at 
Patten's  Restaurant,  Saturday  afternoon, 
February  28,  Each  of  the  girls  received 
a  remembrance  gift, 

Mrs  Flora  Roussos,  Sub-Professional 
assistant  since  September  19U6,  resigned 
from,  service  to  remain  at  home  and  to 
pursue  her  vocal  work. 

On  Sunday,  March  8,  the  Business  and 
Professional  Group  of  Boston  Hadassah 
presented  Fanny  Goldstein  with  a  beauti- 
fully illustrated  copy  of  the  Saul  Raskin's 
Book  of  Psalms  printed  in  Hebrew,  Yiddish, 
and  English  and  a  scroll  honoring  her, 

Charles  Angoff ,  well-known  editor, 
author  and  former  user  of  West  End  whose 
most  recent  book  In  the  Morning  Light  has 
just  been  published,  was  guest  of  honor 
at  a  "Meet  the  Author"  program  Sunday 
afternoon,  March  15,  Professor  Alvin 
Sloane,  Associate  Professor  of  Engineer- 
ing at  M.I.T.,  presided  over  the  meeting 
at  which  l!r  Angoff  talked  on  the  "Oppor- 
tunities and  Problems  of  the  Jewish- 
American  Writer" ,  A  large  and  enthusiastic 
audience  included  many  of  the  former 
school  friends  and  associates  from  Mr 
Angoff 's  earlier  days  in  Boston's  West 
End,  Refreshments  were  served. 


-Hi- 


An  extremely"  interesting  and  informati've 
display  of  "New  England  Minerals"  loaned 
to  West  End  by  the  Boston  Mineral  Club 
may  be  seen  through  March  21.  The  many- 
samples  of  minerals  in  the  raw  and 
polished  stages  have  already  been  much 
admired  and  commented  on  by  the  library's 
patrons 0  The  material  was  obtained 
through  the  interest  and  cooperation  of 
Jacques  Moon,  part-time  employee  and  a 
geology  major  at  Boston  Universityc 

Bookmobile  II 

Ore  of  thj-ee  top  awards  in  the  annual 
Science  Fair  at  Monsignor  Ryan  High 
School  went  to  Lillian  Lynch,  a  part-time 
worker,  Lillian  distilled  used  motor 
oils  to  prove  that  the  gasoline  content 
increased  with  the  mileage  in  some  motor 
01.1 3  A  She  also  tested  this  used  oil  for 
acidi-'.-y,  flash  point  and  viscosityj  terms 
strange  tc  some,  but  very  real  and  im- 
portant to  car  owners.  As  a  result  of 
Lillian's  distinguished  award  she  will 
be  asked  to  participate  in  a  Diocesan 
Fair  to  be  held  at  Boston  College  on 
March  27  and  28,  and  the  Massachusetts 
Science  Fair  held  at  M..I.T.  in  April* 
Such  awards  are  not  a  novelty  to  Lillian 
for  she  won  similar  honors  last  yeair  in 
the  same  field  of  competition,.  So  with 
saich  valua'uxe  knowledge  in  mechanical 
workings  it  is  certainly  appropriate  that 
Lillian  should  be  on  the  staff  of  the 
locomotive  branch  of  the  Library. 

■JSH^■5HHHKt•!Ki• 

BO 310  N  GFJ.PTER 
SPECUL  LIBRARIES  ASSOCIATION 

MjTa  E.  VJhite,  will  be  hostess  to  the 
Boston  Chapter  of  SLA  at  its  next  meet- 
ingj  liarch  23,  at  7:30  p.m.,  in  North- 
eastern University  Library. 

Er  Carl  Stephexv  Ell,  president  of  the 
University  will  welcome  members.  "A 
SOCIOLOGIST  LOOKS  AT  THE  LIBRARY  PROFES- 
SION," will  be  the  topic  of  Dr  John 
Donovan,  Associate  Professor  of  Sociology 
at  Boston  College,  and  principal  speaker 
of  an  interesting  programme  prepared  by 
Arlene  Hope,  and  the  Education  Committee. 

Dinner  will  be  served  at  6:l5  in  the 
Students  Center  Building.  The  next  meet- 
ing will  be  April  27  in  Worcestero 

M.A.R. 


LATE  FUSH 

Mr  and  Mrs  Joseph  M,  Lynch  announce  the 
birth  of  twins — a  son  and  a  daughter — on 
Maroh  11.     Mts  Lynch  is  the  former  Rita 
Carr  of  the  Director's  Office. 

■ji- 

Mr  and  Mrs  Gerald  K.  Goolkasian  announce 
the  birth  of  a  daughter,  Eleanora  Eliza- 
beth on  February  19*  Mrs  Goolkasian  is 
the  former  Sleanora  Fiorio  of  Book 
Purchasing r 


SOAP  BOX 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  m\ist  be 
accomoanied  by  the  full  name  of  the  Asso- 
ciatj on  member  submitting  it,  together 
with  tiie  nane  of  bhe  Branch  Library,  De- 
partmnr.'t  or  Office  in  which  he  or  she  is 
empl.^yad.  The  name  is  withheld  from  pub- 
lication, or  a  pen  name  used,  if  the  con- 
tributor so  requests.  Anonymous  contribu- 
tions are  not  given  consideration.  The 
author  of  the  article  is  known  only  to  the 
contributor  and  to  the  Editor-in-Chief. 
The  contents  of  articles  appearing  in  the 
Soap  Lex  are  personal  opinions  expressed 
by  individual  Association  members  and  their 
appearance  does  not  necessarily  indicate 
that  ohe  Publications  Committee  and  the 
Association  are  in  agreement  with  the  views 
expressed. 


To  the  Soap  Box: 

The  editor  is  to  be  congratulated  on  his 
fine  editorial  in  the  February  issue  of 
The  Q-.i.estion  tiark.  There  is  indeed  a 
stroiijr:  tende'ioy  on  the  part  of  the  staff 
to  looG  sight  of  the  Association's  third 
objective.  We  become  so  immersed  in  our 
problems  as  staff  members  that  we  tend 
to  fciget  that  our  primary  object  as  a 
staff  is  "to  promote  greater  efficiency 
in  library  service"  to  the  end  that  the 
taxpayer  may  receive  an  adequate  return 
in  liliraiy  service  on  his  tax  dollarr 
Espeoiilly  do  those  who  work  ''behind  the 
scenes  '  tend  t-o  forget  the  public*  "Cut 
of  sigiit,  out-  of  mind"  is  too  often  the 
case© 

We  all  admit  that  it  would  be  gratifying 
if  we  had  a  salary  increase.  It  is 
generally  recognized  that  in  the  overall 
salary  picture,  library  workers  as  a  group 


-15- 


are  woefully  underpaid »  There  is  no  one 
on  the  staff  who  could  not  use,  just  to 
absorb  the  soaring  cost  of  living,  a 
salary  increase;  it  would  be  gratifying 
if  appointments  to  vacant  positions  could 
be  made  in  a  normal  time  so  that  there 
would  not  be  great  gaps  on  the  body 
bibliothecal,  gaps  which  too  often  re- 
sult in  open  sores  which  irritate  not 
only  the  part  effected  but  the  body  as 
a  whole;  it  would  be  gratifying  if  the 
building  were  equipped  with  elastic  walls 
to  make  room  for  our  growing  activities 
and  to  allow  for  sufficient  expansion  so 
that  the  office  workers  could  have  enough 
elbow  room  to  do  an  adequate  job;  it  would 
be  gratifying  if  all  the  staff  members 
were  perfect  (or  would  it  be  only  deadly 
dull?) c  But  since  these  things  are  not 
so,  it  may  be  as  in  chess  if  we  each 
make  the  strategic  move,  other  moves 
will  follow  naturally  and  it  virould  seem 
that  the  strategic  move  is  for  each  one 
to  do  the  best  job  within  the  limits  of 
personal  capabilities  to  the  end  that  the 
public  may  be  given  the  best  possible 
library  service.  In  the  final  analysis 
the  library  stands  or  falls  in  the  com- 
munity not  because  of  its  beautiful 
architectural  qualities  but  because  the 
people  of  the  community  find  within  its 
walls,  understanding  and  appreciation  of 
the  needs  of  even  the  most  inarticulate 
patron  and  a  sincere  effort  to  meet  those 
needs  on  the  part  of  every  staff  member 
from  the  humblest  workers  to  the  top 
executives.  It  may  seem  unnecessary  to 
note  that  a  staff  among  whose  members  there 
is  mutxHl  understanding  of  professional 
problems  and  mutual  respect  for  individu- 
al contributions  to  the  profession,  will 
be  the  staff  best  equipped  to  give  ade- 
quate service  to  its  public. 

E.G.P. 


To  the  Soap  Box: 

The  1952  World  Almanac  contained  an 
error  in  its  table  of  the  holdings  of 
public  libraries  in  large  U.S.  cities, 
listing  the  BPL  as  o^ming  632,706  volumes 
(a  little  more  than  the  Providence  or 
Springfield,  Mass,  Public  Libraries)  and, 
as  far  as  users  of  the  World  Aliranac  are 
Concerned,  the  23d  ranking  public  library 
in  the  country  in  this  respect.  This 


error  was  commented  on  frequently  in  my 
department  throughout  the  year,  and  now 
with  the  arrival  of  the  1953  World  Almanac, 
we  notice  that  it  is  repeated.  In  view 
of  the  tremendous  circulation  of  the 
World  Almanac  and  its  reputation  for 
accuracy  and  authority,  this  should  have 
been  brought  to  the  attention  of  its 
editors  last  year.  Was  it? 

ALERT 


SAVE  THESE  DATES 


May  Hi,  15.  1953 


L. 


A. 


Annual  Meeting 

Berkshire  Inn 
Great  -Barrj.ngt6n,  Massachusetts 


DO 


YOUR 


SHARE 


WITH 


CARE 


-l'^- 


BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 
Officers  and  Committees-  19^3 


President 
Vice  President 
Corresponding  Secretary 
Recording  Secretary- 
Treasurer 


B.  Joseph  O'Neil 
Mildred  Kaufman 
M.  Jane  Jfetnthorne 
Duilia  Capobianco 
Harry  C,  Fletcher 


Executive  Board 


Edward  X,  Casey 
Elinor  E.  Cay 


Mary  F,  Daly 
Louis  Rains 


Standing  Committees 


Constitution  Committee 
Leonard  J,  Macmillan,  Chairman 
Mrs  Geraldine  M.  Altman 
George  M,  Pa hud 
Mrs  Porothy  M.  Lovett 

Entertainment  Committee 

May  C.  McDonald,  Chairman 

Mldred  Adelson 

Anne  Doherty 

Emilia  Lange 

Mayy  T.  Mannlx 

Mrs  Evelyn  B,  J&rden 

Marion  Siraco 

Irene  J.  Wadsworbh 

Membership  and  Hospitality 

Mrs  Veronica  M.  Lehane,  Cha irnan 

Ruth  S.  Cannell 

Martha  C,  Engler 
Agnes  C,  Lucchesi 

Men's  House  Committee 
Donald  L,  Newman,  Chairman 
William  Casey 
*«-Bernard  Doherty 
Paul  Mulloney 
^John  W.  Tuley 

Program  Committee 
Edna  G,  Peck,  Chairman 

Mrs  Margaret  W.  Haverty 
Winifred  Root 
Dorothy  P.  Shaw 
Pas quale  Vacca 


Book  Purchasing 

Jamaica  Plain 

Music 

Kirstein  Business  Branch 


Charlestovm 
Jamaica  Plain 
Charles town 
Print 

Parker  Hill 
Bookmobile  I 
Charlestown 
School  Issue 


Memorial 

Office  of  Division  of  Home  Reading 

and  Community  Services 

South  Boston 

Office  of  Records,  Files,  Statistics 


Office  of  Records,  Files,  Statistics 

Open  Shelf 

Bindery 

Science  and  Technology 

Fire  Control 


Book  Selection,  Division  of  Home  Reading 

and  Community  Services 

Jamaica  Plain 

Kirstein  Business  Branch 

Periodical  and  Newspaper 

Dorchester 


-17- 


Publications  Coirjnittee 
Charles  J.  Gillis,   Chai r man 

Gerald  L.   Ball 

John  Jc  McCafferty 

Sarah  M.  Usher 

Mrs  Geraldine  S.  Herrick 

Staff  Library  Committee 
Grace  Marvin,  Chairman 
Mrs  Mary  C.  West 
Harry  Andrews 
Edward  X.  Casey 

Marie  Cashman 
Ellen  C.  Peterson 


Cataloging  and  Classification,  Division 

of  Home  Reading  and  Community  Services 

Book  Purchasing 

General  Reference 

Office  of  Records,  Files,  Statistics 

Phillips  Brooks 


Book  Purchasing 

Open  Shelf  (Children's  Section) 

Branch  Issue 

Cataloging  and  Classification, 

Division  of  Reference  and  Research  Services 

Open  Shelf 

North  End 


Women's  House  Committee 
Catherine  M.  MacDonald,  Chairman 
Mrs  Rosemaiy  Mo  Corcoran 

Jean  L.  Eaton 
Pearl  G,  Lewis 
-iHfBarbara  M.  Salowitts 
■»Mrs  Louise  C,  Wall 


Personnel  Office 

OfficG  of  Division  of  Home  Reading 

and  Community  Services 

Sciene  and  Technology 

General  Reference 

Accounting 

Buildings 


Special  Committees 


^Barnes  Act^ 

I.Irs  Irene  H.  Tuttle^  Chairman 

Pauline  Winnick 

Kenneth  C,  Barnes 

G.  Florence  Connolly 

Sarah  M.  Usher 

Pauline  A.  Walker 

Moorfield  Storey,  Jr. 


South  Boston 

Open  Shelf 

Periodical  and  Newspaper 

Fine  Arts 

Office  of  Records,  Files,  Statistics 

West  Roxbury 

Rare  Book 


CARE  Committee 

Walter  J.  Bluhm,  Chairman 

Minna  Steinberg 

Marie  T.  Hastie 


Periodical  and  Newspaper 
Cataloging  and  Classification,  Division 
of  Reference  and  Research  Services 
West  End 


Centennial  Committee 
Muriel  C,  Javelin,  Chairman 

Iferjorie  A,  Brown 

Edward  X,  Casey 

Mrs  Margaret  V/.  Haverty 
Ruth  M.  Hayes 
Felicia  J.  Langdon 
Pearl  Smart 
Loraine  A,  Sullivan 
Martin  F,  Waters 
Pauline  Winnick 


Office  of  Division  of  Heme  Reading  and 

Community  Services 

Cataloging  and  Classification,  Division 

of  Reference  and  Research  Services 

Cataloging  and  Classification,  Division 

of  Reference  and  Research  Services 

Jamaica  Plain 

Adams  Street 

City  Point 

Personnel  Office 

Science  and  Technology 

History 

Open  Shelf 


-18- 


Concession  Committee 
Paul  W.  Smith,  Chairman 
William  R.  Lewis 
Frank  P.  Bruno 
-Chester  R,  Walsh 
-;HK}eorge  W.  Patterson 

Bertha  V.  Hartzell  Memorial  Lecture 
Madalene  D,  Holt,  Chairman 
Elinor  E„  Day- 
Mrs  Geraldine  3.  Herrick 
Evelyn  Levy 
May  C.  JfeicDonald. 
Mrs  Bertha  V.  Kesvack 
Irene  J.  Wadsworth 


Book  Purchasing 
History 
Patent  Room 
Bindery 
Buildings 


Neponset 
Porchester 
Phillips  Brooks 
Egleston  Square 
Charlestown 
Branch  Issue 
School  Issue 


Pension  Jommittee 
Louis  Poliahook,  Chairman 
Max  Anapolle 
Catherine  M.  IfecDonald 


Patent  Room 

Periodical  and  Newspaper 

Personnel  Office 


Publicity  Committee 

G.  Florence  Connolly,  Chairman 

Helen  H.  Savakian 

Eleanor  Halligan 

Special  Services  Committee 

M.  Catherine  Robbins,  Chairman 


Fine  Arts 
InforiTBtion  Office 
Statistical 


Business  Office 


*  Representative  of  the  Boston  Public  Library  Maintenance  Employees  Union, 

■Jf-K-  Representative  from  other  groups  not  represented  in  the  Association  or  the 
Union, 


™ 


uestion 


MA^ 


THE  BOSTON  PUBUC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


THE   QUESTION   MARK 
Published  by  the  Boston  Public  Library  Professional  Staff  Association 


Volume  VIII,  Number  k 


April  19^3 


Publications  Committee:  Gerald  Lo  Ball,  Geraldine  S,  Herrick,  John  J.  McCafferty, 

Sarah  M.  Usher,  Charles  J.  Gillis,  Chairman 


Publication  date ; 
The  fifteenth  of  each  month 


Deadline  for  submitting  material; 
The  tenth  of  each  month 


EDITOR'S  CORNER 

If  the  Soap  Box  can  be  considered  a  baro- 
meter indicating  the  highs  and  lows  of 
staff  morale  (that  is,  many  criticisms 
indicating  low,  and  few  critical  letters 
indicating  high)  then  last  month  could  be 
interpreted  as  an  all-time  high  for  staff 
morale.  However,  our  investigators  report 
that  the  unusual  situation  could  be  diag- 
nosed as  a  case  of  mass -hypnotism.  Rumor 
had  it  that  the  forth-coming  salary  sched- 
ules would  rectify  all  inequities,  settle 
all  difficulties.  This  state  of  mind  is 
more  conducive  to  the  delightful  feeling 
that  all  is  right  with  the  world  than  it 
is  to  the  arduous  labor  of  drafting  a 
devastating  letter  of  criticism. 

Two  weeks  have  passed  since  the  official 
release  of  the  bibliothecal  salary  scales 
and  our  barometer  still  shows  morale  at  a 
high  point.  The  approbation  of  the  bib- 
liothecal staff  has  been  almost  unanimous. 
The  progression  from  step  to  step  (the 
vertical  scale)  is  a  great  improvement 
over  the  scale  now  in  use.  The  increments 
vrithin  grades  (the  horizontal  scale)  will 
provide  a  lift  to  the  morale  of  those  who 
have  found  themselves  in  the  same  grade 
for  imny  years,  vrlth  no  expectation  of 
promotion* 

The  Publications  Committee  feels  that 
the  Trustees  and  the  Library  Administra- 
tion deserve  congratulations  for  the 
preparation  and  adoption  of  this  classifi- 
cation which  more  nearly  places  the  Boston 
Public  Library  on  a  par  with  the  other 
leading  libraries  of  the  United  States. 

Charles  J.  Gillis 


■M-!«HHHH,'-^-i;-«- 


Do  You  Still  tki&'l 


rHHHbV-Hi-ii-rrJi- 


CALENDAR  OF  EVENTS 

April  27.  Special  Libraries  Association 
meeting  at  Clark  University, 
.  Worcester.  For  particulars, 
consult  Mary  Alice  Rea,  Book 
Purchasing. 

May  2.  Third  Annual  Film  Festival, 

Sheraton  Plaza  Hotel,  9  a.m.  to 
UOO  p.m.  For  particulars,  con- 
sult Mrs  Muriel  C.  Javelin. 

May  6.  Third  Annual  Bertha  V.  Hartzell 
Memorial  Lecture.  See  poster  on 
last  page. 

May  lU-l^o  Annual  meeting  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Library  Association, 
Berkshire  Inn,  Great  Barring- 
ton, 

PERSONAL  NOTES 

New  Employees 

Mrs  Ifery  V,  Curado,  Egleston  Square, 
formerly  part-time  with  Bookmobile  II. 

Rosemary  D.  Cross,  South  End,  formerly 
part-time  t 

Mrs  Blanche  G.  Campagnoni,  Book  Stack 
Service. 

Claire  M.  0 'Donne 11,  Book' Stack  Service, 
formerly  part-time. 

Millicent  A.  Hamer,  Dorchester. 

Joan  B.  Silverier,  South  End. ' 

Mrs  Melanie  H.  Bellah,  Rare  Book. 

Katherine  I.  LaMontagne,  School  Issue. 

Frances  S.  Freedman,  Fine  Arts. 

Florence  L.  Samperi,  Book  Stack  Service. 

Transfers 

'Marie  A.  Strachan,  from  Book  Stack  Ser- 
vice to  Book  Preparation. 

Gladys  L.  Murphy,  from  Connolly  to 
Roslindale . 


-2- 


Mrs  Jfery  E,  Obear,  from  Adams  Street  to 
Bookmobile  lo 

Rose  L,  LaConca,  from  Book  Stack  Service 
to  Kirstein  Business  Branch. 

Resignations 

Mrs  Flora  W.  Roussos,  West  End,  to  de- 
vote more  time  to  her  singing. 

Mrs  Alison  Bishop,  Rare  Book,  to  remain 
at  home. 

Mrs  Julia  Gumett,  Rare  Book,  to  remain 
at  home. 

Stork  Events 

Mr  and  ffrs  Jonathan  Bishop  have  announced 
the  birth  of  John  Eleazar  on  ferch  10, 
lUrs   Bishop  was  formerly  a  member  of  Rare 
Book, 

Mr 'and  Mrs  Ben  Watson  Melvin,  Jro, 
announce  the  birth  of  a  son,  Ben  Watson 
Melvin  III,  on  March  17,  Wxs   Melvin  was 
Elizabeth  Hershey  of  the  Personnel  Office 
staff  from  September  of  1950  to  September 
of  1951. 

Mr  and  Mrs  Robert  Harris  have  announced 
the  birth  of  Michael  Walter  on  March  20. 
'Ifr  Hartis  was  formerly  a  member  of  the 
staff  of  Book  Stack  Service. 

Mary  Toomey  Welby  (Mrs  Frank  Welby) , 
formerly  of  West  End, gave  birth  to  a 
baby  daughter  on  Tuesday,  March  31* 

TAKE  A  BOW 

Rosalyn  S,  Warner,  Children's  Librarian, 
Rosiindale,  has  "taken  a  bow"  publicly 
ahd  we  would  like  to  record  that  event  as 
The  Question  l\fark  "Take  a  Bow*'   for  the 
Oftirent  issue. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Longfellow  Home  and 
School  Association  on  Thursday  evening, 
March  19,   Charles  0.  Ruddy,  Headmaster, 
in  addressing  a  large  audience  of  parents 
and  teachers,   introduced  Miss  Warner  to 
the  group  and  spoke  of  the  outstanding 
work  done  by  her  in  that  school  district. 
He  cited  the   fact  that  in  the  Longfellow 
School  there  is   one  hundred  per  cent  li- 
brary participation  as  every  child  is  a 
library  card-holder  and  credit  is  given 
on  individual  school  repolrt  cards  for  the 
reading  of  library  books o     Mr  Kaddy  spoke 
of  Miss  Warner's  keen  interest  in  the 
children  as  individuals  and  told  how  she 


continually  brought  inspiration  and  impetus 
to  them  for  extra-curricular  reading  on 
all  subjects.     His   remarks  revealed  the 
fact  that  there  must  exist  in  this  district 
a  fine  spirit  of  cooperation  between  the 
School  and  the  library.     liLss  Warner     Take 
a  Bow"  also  from  your  fellow-workers  a 
We,  too,   appreciate  the  fine   job  you  are 
doing. 

C0NGRATUI.ATI0N5 

Hugo  Bedau,  part-time  assistant  at  West 
End,  has  been  awarded  one  of  Harvard 
University's  most  coveted  fellowships,  a 
year's  graduate  study  at  Oxford  University 
in  Ehgland,     He  leaves  with  his  wife  and 
baby  girl  early  in  June. 

■«■ 

Fanny  Goldstein,  Branch  Librarian  at 
West  End,  has  been  appointed  to  the  nation- 
al Ame--ican  Jewish  Tercentenary  Committee 
which  will  draw  up  the  plans  for  the  obser- 
vation in  I95I1  of  the  300th  anniversai'y  of 
the  settling  of  Jews  in  the  United  States. 

Chosen  as  one  of  three  judges  to  make 
the  Isaac  Siegal  Memorial  Award  for  Jewish 
Juveniles  published  in  1952,  Fanny  Goldstein 
again  seeks  to  advance  the  interests  of 
Jewish  literature  through  her  active  par- 
ticipation in  the  Jewish  Book  Council  of 
America, 

* 

Fanny  Goldstein  has  accepted  an  invita- 
tion to  act  as  American  Consultant  for 
the  new  book  "Who's  Vftio  in  World  Jewry", 
now  being  compiled  in  Israel. 

NOTES  FROM  ALUMNI 

"I  get  my  ?  regularly  and  I  await  it 
every  month  most  eagerly." 

"I  love  to  read  The  Question  Mark.  It. 
keeps  me  in  touch  with  the  Library," 

•«■ 

Word  has  been  received  at  Rosiindale 
from  Mrs  John  0 'Callahan,  who  is  now  in 
Virginia  with  her  husband  who  is  in  the 
U.S.  Army  a     Mrs  0 'Callahan  has   joined  the 
staff  of  the  U.S.  Ifevy  library, 

A  suggestion  that  articles  if  signed  at 
all  be  signed  with  full  names  rather  than 
initials  to  make  identification  of  con- 
tributors easier. 
Editor's  Note:     Present  members   of  the 


Soaff  have  often  expressed  a  desire  to 


-3- 


"knov/  who  wrote  whafg  So,,  in  future  ful 
names  of  contributors  will  be  used  vmless 
a  contributor  has  a  valid  objection. 

BEST  mSHES  FOR  A  SPEEDY  RECOVERY 
to 

Harry  Andrews,  Branch  Issue,  P.O.  Box 
296,  Back  Bay  Annex,  Boston  17^ 

Irene  Bennett,  Book  Preparation,  11 
Eastman  Street,  Dorchester  2$. 

Mrs  Betty  Dalton,  Cataloging  and  Clas- 
sification, Div.  of  R  and  RS,  U  Napier 
Park,  Dorchester, 

Frances  Ferson,  Binding,  7^7  Hyde  Park 
Avenue,  Roslindale  31* 

William  P,  Hickey,  former  Buildings, 
St.  Elizabeth's  Hospital,  Room  321;. 

IE  WELCOME  BACK  AFTER  LONG  ILLNESSES 

Katherine  G.  Sullivan,  General  Refer- 
ence. 

Kathleen  Woodworth,  Fine  Arts. 

THE  B.P.L.  IN  PRINT 

William  Phelps,  a  feature  writer  for 
the  Boston  Sunday  Post,  spent  most  of 
Monday  and  Tuesday,  torch  30  and  31, 
visiting  various  departments  of  the  Li- 
brary for  material  for  the  last  article 
in  his  series  on  libraries  in  Boston. 

On  page  553  of  the  March  issue  of  the 
Wilson  Library  Bulletin  there  is  an 
article  about  the  gift  to  the  Library  of 
labor  recordings  from  the  Northeast 
Region  of  the  Jsvdsh  Labor  Committee, 
which  includes  a  photograph  of  Joseph  B. 
Greenfield  of  Chelsea,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee,  Mrs  Heltn  F.  Hirson,  and 
John  J.  Connolly. 

The  April  1  issue  of  the  Library  Journ- 
al published  a  photograph  of  John  J. 
Connolly  receiving  an  RCA  recording  of 
the  Gviadalcanal  March  in  connection  with 
the  Victory  at  Sea  exhibit  which  was  on 
display  at  the  Library  during  the  month 
of  January. 

THE  B.P.L.  ON  RADIO  AND  T.V. 

On  Thursday,  March  19,  Elizabeth  B. 
Boudreau  and  Robert  Treyz  of  Boxborough 
appeared  on  WBZ-TV.  They  made  an  appeal 
for  books  for  the  Boxborough  Public  Li- 
brary which  was  recently  destroyed  by 
fire. 


.     Polly  Huse  on  her  program  "Domestic 
Diary",  WBZ-TV,  on  Bferch  2U,  made  use  of 
the  Fine  Arts  Department's  collection  of 
reproductions.     She  showed  prints  such 
as-  The  Millinery  Shop  by  Degas,  as  a 
preview  of  modern  Easter  hats. 

-X- 

Mrs  Muriel  C.  Javelin  was  interviewed 
over  WERS-FM  (the  Emerson  College  broad- 
casting station)  on  March  26.  Marie  Dunn 
and  Nancy  Valine ourt,  students  of  the 
Radio  Division  at  the  College,  questioned 
Mrs  Javelin  about  the  Library's  audio- 
visual activities. 

if 

On  March  27,  Edward  I5uir,  New  England 
Representative  for  the  Great  Books  Founda- 
tion, was  Nelson  Bragg 's  guest  on  WCOP. 
lir  JMir  talked  about  the  leader  training 
course  which  began  at  the  Huntington 
Avenue  YMCA  on  April  7  and  about  current 
Library  Great  Books  Discussion  Groups. 

On  April  I4,  Paul  V.  Moynihan  appeared 
on  WNAC-TV  singing  with  the  choir  of 
Sto  Paul's  Church. Cambridge. 

THE  SOCIAL  Y/HIRL 

The  Hyde  Park  staff  were  supper  guests 
of  Mrs  Sara  A,  Lyon,  retired  branch  li- 
brarian, on  March  6.  A  pleasant  meal 
was  followed  by  happy  reminiscing.  Present 
also  was  Jeannette  Pepin,  former  children's 
librarian.  All  thoroughly  enjoyed  the 
fine  food  and  warm  hospitality. 

•if 

On  March  2U,  a  party  was  held  at  Connolly 
in  honor  of  Gladys  Murphy  on  the  occasion 
of  her  transfer  to  Roslindale.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  staff  presented  a  gift  to  her 
as  a  token  of  their  very  best  wishes  for 
her  future  success. 

■«■ 

April  2  was  a  red-letter  day  at  Connolly. 
Just  one  year  ago  that  day,  Margaret  A. 
Morgan  was  sent  there  as  Branch  Librarian. 
To  celebrate  her  anniversary  her  staff 
surprised  her  with  a  delightful  arrange- 
ment of  spring  flowers.  She  was  also  the 
guest  of  honor  at  a  tea, 

B.E .C  g 

On  Tuesday  evening,  April  7  a  farewell 
party  for  Mrs  Muriel  Figenbaum  Robinson 
(Print)  was  held  at  the  home  of  Anna 
L.   lifeinning  in  West  Roxbury.     The  guest 
of  honor  is   leaving  the  library  service      y 
in  May  to  make  her  home   in  New  Zealand. 


-li- 


The  guests  played  an  original  variation  of 
bridge  created  by  the  hostess.  As  a  com- 
pensation, a  delicious  collation  followed 
which  the  guests  thoroughly  enjoyed. 
Among  those  present  was  one  of  our  former 
staff  members,  Mrs  Ruth  Ross  of  Ipswich, 
who  worked  in  Bates  Hall  Reference  while 
in  the  library  service,  A  pair  of  gold 
earrings,  set  with  moonstones,  was  pre- 
sented to  Muriel,  with  warmest  wishes  for 
her  future  happiness  in  her  new  homeland. 

Grace  M.  Marvin 

Mrs  Geraldine  S.  Herrick,  Branch  Li- 
brarian, Phillips  Brooks^ was  the  guest  of 
the  Adult  Book  Selection  Committee  at 
the  Home  of  Dorothy  F.  Nourse  on  Thursday, 
April  9.  Dr  and  Ibrs  Herrick  plan  to 
leave  for  a  European  trip  in  Mayo  The 
dinner  was  up  to  the  usual  high  standards 
maintained  by  Miss  Nourse  in  the  culinary 
(and  other)  departments.  The  piece  de 
resistance  of  the  delicious  meal  was  a 
miniature  boat,  equipped  with  life  savers, 
gallantly  holding  its  course  on  a  deep 
green  gelatin  sea,  with  whipped  cream 
waves  lashing  its  starboard.  Following 
the  dinner,  the  members  of  the  group  had 
an  opportunity  to  test  their  familiarity 
with  new  book  titles  by  filling  in  the 
spaces  provided  in  "%  European  Tour", 
a  "literary  masterpiece"  prepared  by  the 
hostess •  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the 
Herrick  tour  will  not  follow  too  closely 
the  resulting  outline,'  The  prize,  ^i^ich 
went  to  the  guest  of  honor,  was  a  simu- 
lated book  containing  several  pound  notes, 
ready  for  spending  for  something  "extra 
special"  in  the  British  Isles,  It  was 
decided  that  the  entire  staff  should  go 
abroad  so  that  everybody  could  give 
everybody  else  a  party  similar  to  this 
delightful  "Bon  Voyage"  occasion, 

BUMPS  AND  mUISES 
■On  Saturday  evening,  April  11,  about 
30  members  of  the  library  staff,  plus 
their  friends,  invaded  the  precincts  of 
the  Roll-land  Skating  Rink  in  Norwood. 
All  types  of  skaters,  from  shaky  begin- 
ners to  confident  experts  (?).  were  repre- 
sented. Regular  habitues  of  the  Rink  were 
treated  to  fanciful  exhibitions  of  skat- 
ing never  before  presented.  Despite 
assorted  bumps  and  bruises,  everybody 
enjoyed  themselves  and  returned  home 
discussing  plans  for  a  bigger  and  better 
party  in  the  near  future. 

Shirley  V.  Anderson 


SOFTBALL  AT  B.P.L. 
This  year,  as  was  the  case  last  year, 
B.P.L.  will  be  represented  by  a  Softball 
team.  Last  year  the  team  was  not  formed 
until  late  in  the  season  and  as  a  con- 
sequence, did  not  have  time  to  take  part 
in  a  full  schedule  of  games.  This  year, 
however,  the  team  hag  already  completed 
spring  training  and  it  is  expected  that 
a  full  schedule  will  be  met.  Among  those 
who  played  last  year  and  who  will  play 
this  year  are  Paul  Smith  (2B),  Vfelter 
Harris  (OF),  Arthur  Lindsay  (3B),  Girard 
Hottleraan  (P),  all  of  Book  Purchasing, 
Daniel  Kelly  (C)  Audio-Visual,  Donald 
Nei/vman  (IB)  Records,  Files,  Statistics,- 
Paul  'iiulloncy  (LF),  Science  and  Technology, 
and  Gerald  '^fehoney  (SS).  Book  Stack  Service, 
Games  are  usually  played  on  the  Boston 
Common  Softball  Field  with  the  starting 
time  between  ^:13'  and  5: 30.  Scheduled 
games  will  be  posted  on  the  Staff  bulletin 
board.  The  first  game  is  at  Tech  Field 
in  Cambridge,  Saturday,  April  I8,  versus 
Sigma  Chi  Fraternity  of  M.I.T.,  at  2P.M. 

Girard  D,  Hottleman 

PRESIDENT'S  NOTES 

When  the  original  Special  Committee  on 
CARE  was  formed  contributions  were  ac- 
cepted for  "'relief  packages"  for  "library 
workers"  abroad.  As  a  result  of  staff 
inquiries,  especially  after  the  recent 
floods  in  Holland  and  England,  the  As- 
sociation's CARE  pro'^ram  has  been  reviewed 
and  now  contributions  may  also  be  received 
for  cash  grants  and  relief  to  non-librarians 
whenever  recommended  by  CARE  headquarters. 
Walter  Bluhm,  Periodical  and  Newspaper, 
chairman  of  the  Special  Committee  on  CARE, 
reports  that  CARE  headquarters  has  indi- 
cated that  the  greatest  need  for  relief 
now  exists  among  the  civilian  victims  of 
war  in  Korea  and  among  the  refugees  from 
behind  the  Iron  Curtain  who  have  nanaged 
to  escape  into  western  Germany.  Please 
remember  these  poor  unfortunates  when 
it  is  "time  to  share  with  CARE". 

if 

At  the  request  of  the  Executive  Board 
Louisa  S,  Metcalf,  Open  Shelf  has  agreed 
to  be  a  nominee  for  the  Steering  Committee 
of  the  Staff  Organizations  Round  Table  of 
the  American  Library  Association 


-5- 


The  Executive  Board  at  a  Special  Meet- 
ing on  1  April  approved  the  sending  of 
a  letter  to  the  Mayor  and  to  the  members 
of  the  City  Council  urging  favorable 
action  on  a  supplementary  budget  to  pro- 
vide the  necessary  appropriation  to  put 
into  effect  the  salary  schedule  adopted 
for  the  Bibliothecal  Library  Service 
by  the  Trustees  of  the  Library. 

B,  Joseph  O'Neil 

ROUND  TABLE  OF  CHILDREN'S  LIBRARIANS 

The  annual  Spring  Book  Review  meeting 
•mas  held  Thursday  morning,  April  9,  in 
the  Brookline  Public  Library  lecture 
hall,  with  Pauline  Winnick,  chairman, 
presiding. 

A  brief  business  meeting  vras  followed 
by  a  talk  on  the  "Pennies  for  Pinocchio" 
project  by  the  chairman  of  the  fund, 
Evelyn  R.  Robinson,  Consultant,  School 
Libraries  and  ViTork  with  Children  and 
Young  People,  Division  of  Library  Exten- 
sion, Ifessachusetts  Department  of  Educa- 
tion, and  a  plea  for  Children's  Library 
Association  membership  by  Dorothy  N. 
Shumaker,  librarian.  Junior  Department, 
Morrill  Memorial  Library  of  Norwoodo 

Elizabeth  M«  Gordon  presented  the  guest 
reviewer,  Ruth  C,  Barlow,  Children's 
Librarian,  Fairfield  Memorial  Library, 
Fairfield,  Connecticut,  and  reviewer  of 
children's  books  for  the  Christian 
Science  Monitor,  former  head  of  the 
Children's  Department  of  the  Flint, 
Michigan)  Public  Library,  producer  of  a 
notable  children's  radio  program  in 
Shreveport,  Louisiana,  and  author  of 
Lisbeth  Holly,  and  Fun  at  Happy  Acrea* 

Miss  Barlow  reviewed  informally  and 
delif^htfully  about  fifty  of  the  new  bocks 
for  children,  emphasizing  those  of  in- 
tegrity and  appeal,  reading  effective 
excerpts,  calling  attention  to  fitting 
and  beautiful  illustrations  and  expertly 
characterizing  each  volume,  indicating 
those  of  general  interest  or  of  specific 
value . 

Following  Miss  Barlow's  thoroughly 
enjoyable  and  very  helpful  reviews, 
opportunity  was  given  for  brief  examina- 
tion and  personal  discussion  of  the  books, 
kindly  lent  by  the  Personal  Book  Shop. 
Luncheon  at  Novak's  followed  adjournment 
of  the  meeting, 

Elizabeth  M.  Gordon 


tttA  LOANS  FOR  PROFESSIONAL  STUDIES 
IN  LIBRARY  SCIENCE 

The  Education  Committee  of  the  Jfessa- 
chusetts  Library  Association  announces  an 
interest-free  loan  plan  for  qualified  li- 
brary school  students.  Loans  up  to  $300. 
may  be  granted  to  legal  residents  of 
Massachusetts.  For  further  information 
write  to: 

Rachel  Cartland 
Chairman,  Education  Committee 
Massachusetts  Library  Association 
Brockton  Public  Library 
Brockton,  Massachusetts 


RECENT  MATERIAL  OF 
PROFESSIONAL  INTEREST 

Staff  Participation  in  Management,  by 
Amy  Winsloxv  (Director.  Enoch  Pratt  Free  Li- 
brary, Baltimore)  Wilson  Library  Bulletin 
27:6214-28  April  19^31 

TELEVISION  SYMPOSIUM 

A  Symposium,  Securing  Educational  Tele- 
vision  Channel  #k!,  called  by  the  Massa- 
chusetts  Civic  League,  was  represented  by 
seventy  civic  and  educational  organizations 
in  the  state,  including  the  Library. 

H,  Shippen  Goodhue,  of  the  League,  re- 
quested the  representatives  to  assist  in 
arousing  public  support  of  educational 
television  and  of  the  group  applying  for 
Channel  #2. 

Ralph  Lowell,  Lowell  Institute  Co-opera- 
tive Broadcasting  Council,  expressed  the 
Council's  interest  in  broadening  its 
representation  and  then  applying  for 
Channel  #2.  Senator  Christopher  H,  Philllj 
Chairman  of  the  Special  Commission  on 
Educational  Television,  announced  that  the 
Commission  plans  to  report  to  the  State 
Legislature  the  first  week  in  May.-  Thus 
sufficient  time  would  be  permitted  for 
debate  prior  to  the  June  2  dateline  for 
filing  an  application  to  the  FCC. 

Representing  the  National  Citizens  Com- 
mittee for  Educational  TV,  Donald  W,  Dresde 
reported  on  the  progress  of  other  cities. 
The  Fund  for  Adult  Education  has  pledged 
to  match  the  state  contribution  toward 
the  construction  of  a  station.  Plaus  wei^ 
announced  for  an  interim  committee  of  one 
delegate  from  each  organization  to  meet 
in  two  weeks. 

Helen  F,  Hirson 


-6- 


NEYf  SWITCHBOARD  INSTALLED 

On  Wednesday,  March  2^,   at  7:00  a.m., 
the  Telephone  Company  completed  installa- 
tion of  a  new  semi-automatic  dial  tele- 
phone system  for  the  Central  Library. 
The  new  system  makes  it  possible  for  de- 
partments in  Central  to  reach  each  other 
by  dialing  the  desired  extension  number 
without  having  to  go  through  the  switch- 
board. The  operator  thus  handles  only 
calls  coming  into  the  Library  from  outside 
the  building  and  calls  to  the  outside 
being  made  by  individuals  or  departments 
having  restricted  lines.  The  new  system 
is  similar  to  having  a  complete  telephone 
exchange  within  the  Central  Library 
building. 

If  there  is  anyone  who  wishes  to  visit 
and  learn  more  about  the  new  system, 
please  call  the  Information  Office,  231, 
for  an  appointment.  An  appointment  is 
necessary  since  the  switchboard  quarters 
can  only  accommodate  a  few  people  at  a 
time. 

NON-RESIDENT  BCRRO'.'KNG 

On  April  1  the  Registration  Department 
became  a  part  of  the  new  Central  Charging 
Records  and  moved  to  new  quarters  on  the 
first  floor  of  the  Library.  Plans  have 
been  made  to  re-register  borrowers  as 
their  present  cards  expire,  so  that  re- 
registration  of  borrowers  will  extend  over 
a  two-year  period. 

For  the  first  time  in  its  history,  the 
Library  began  on  April  1  the  issuance  of 
cards  to  non-residents  upon  payment  of 
fees.  Although  the  granting  of  cards  to 
non-residents  on  a  fee  basis  had  been 
noted  by  the  newspapers,  no  special  pub- 
licity was  prepared  in  connection  with  the 
April  1  changes,  inasmuch  as  the  procedures 
are  new  and  it  did  not  seem  wise  to  stimu- 
late more  business  than  could  be  handled 
adequately.  It  is  planned  to  have  addi- 
tional newspaper  publicity  about  the  new 
arrangements,  in  the  near  future.  The 
response  to  date  on  the  part  of  the  public 
has  been  moderate,  and  members  of  the 
staff  assigned  to  registration  work  have 
been  able  to  process  the  new  registrations 
and  issue  the  new  identification  cards 
without  delayo  The  Library's  last  re- 
registration  took  place  more  than  thirty 
years  ago,  so  that  it  is  obvious  how  great 
was  the  need  for  streamlining  a  registra- 
tion procedure  -rtiich  had  become  uravieldy 


through  changes  and  additions.  Under  the 
the  new  plans  all  registration  procedure 
for  branch  libraries  will  be  handle  by 
Central  Charging  Records,  the  only  excep- 
tion being  that  Branch  Libraries  will 
take  registrations  and  fees  for  forwarding 
to  Central  Charging  Records  and  will 
deliver  library  cards  to  borrowers  vtien 
they  are  received  from  Central  Charging 
Records . 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  during 
the  first  week  of  operation  Central  Charg- 
ing Records  (exclusive  of  branch  library 
work)  registered  1?5  adult  non-resident 
borrowers  and  collected  fees  amounting  to 
$196,  During  this  same  period  U30  adult 
residents  were  registered. 

The  first  non-resident 's  card  was  issued 
at  9:0$  a.m^  on  April  1  x.o  Alden  B.  Hoag, 
Boston  Herald  editorial  "iirriter,  whose  home 
is  in  Medway.  A  non-resident  in  Pit'tsfield 
holds  the  record  for  greatest  distance 
from  the  BPL,  Inquiries  have  been  received 
from  persons  interested  in  solving  their 
gift  problems  through  purchase  of  Boston 
Public  Library  non-resident  cards  for 
relatives  and  friends.  Through  the  mail 
one  person  sent  hie  request  for  a  non- 
resident's card  for  five  years,  together 
with  his  check  for  $l5l  . 

CIVIL  DEFENSE 

There  has  been  published  recently, 
"sponsored  as  a  public  service  by  WCOP", 
and  "Edited  exclusively  for  Residents  of 
Boston  and  distributed  thru  the  coopera- 
tion of  public  spirited  citizens  of  this 
area",  a  GREATER  BOSTON  CIVIL  DEFENSE 
MANUAL.  This  36-page  pamphlet,  profusely 
illustrated,  besides  giving  specific  in- 
fornation  on  what  is  being  done  through- 
out the  City  of  Boston,  includes  general 
information  on  various  phases  of  Civil 
Defense,  On  page  8,  under  the  heading 
Business  and  Industry  in  Civil  Defense, 
the  Public  Library's  activities  are 
described, 

* 

David  P.  O'Keefe,  Senior  Building 
Custodian,  has  been  appointed  Deputy 
Coordinator,  Central  Library,  to  fill  the 
vacancy  caused  by  the  retirement  of  Patrick 
A.  Kennedy, 

* 

Representing  the  Library  Department, 
John  W.  Tuley,  Coordinator,  attended  a  two- 
hour  meeting  on  Jferch  31,  at  Civil  Defense 
Headquarters.  At  the  meeting,  called  and 


-7- 


presided  over  by  Joseph  L.  Jfelone,  Direc- 
tor, Boston  Civil  Defense  Department,  the 
Nevada  atom  bomb  test  was  discussed  and 
appraised,  and  slides  taken  on  March  17, 
1953  >   were  shoini.  It  is  interesting  to 
note  in  this  connection  that  the  March 
thirtieth  issue  of  LIFE  contains  several 
pages  of  pictures  on  this  test. 

A  thought  for  those  with  an  apathetic 
attitude  to\7ard  Civi,l  Dofense 

TIE  BOMB 

(From  "Freedom  from  Fear",  editorial  in 

NEW  ENGUND  JOURNAL  OF  JffiDICINE,  August  7, 
1952.) 

This  period  of  uneasy  "peace"  is  a  time 
for  labor  and  a  time  for  prayer.  Men 
work  to  protect  themselves  and  their 
neighbors  against  the  avoidable  panic 
with  its  consequent  unnecessary  death  and 
paralysis  of  the  ability  to  recover;  they 
pray  that  the  sacrifice  of  their  lives  and 
dearest  hopes  will  not  be  required  of 
them — and  no  less  that  fear,  of  the  known 
and  unknown,  will  not  cause  them  to  be 
found  wanting  if  trial  and  crisis  occur. 
The  alternative  to  chaos  and  the  shame 
of  defeat  is  the  will  to  act  and  thus  to 
survive . 

NEIV  BOOKS  IN  THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 
Non-Fiction 

Berelson,  Bernard 

Content  analysis  in  communication  re- 
search, 
Glencoe,  111,,  Free  Press,   1952 

Best  cartoons  of  the  year,  1952. 
New  York,  Crown  Publisher,   1952 

Koestler,  Arthur 

Arrow  in  the  blue;  an  autobiography. 
New  York,  JfecMillan,  1952 

Non-Fiction  -  Library  Science 

American  Library  Association.     Committee 
on  Conference  Reports. 
Annual  conference  suirimary  reports,   in- 
cluding meetings  of  pre-conferences. 
1952. 
Chicago,   1952 

Craster,  Sir  Herbert  H.E, 

History  of  the  Bodleian  Library,   18U5- 

19U5. 

Oxford,   Clarendon  Press,   1952 


New  York  (State)   Governor's  Committee  on 

State  Aid, 

Library  service  for  all, 

Albany,  1951 
Ohio  Library  Trustees  Association. 

Library  trustees  manual. 

Coliunbus,  Ohio,  1952 

BRANCH  NOTES 

Hyde  Park 

Easter  postcards  dating  back  to  the 
early  1900 's  are  being  featured  in  the 
exhibit  case.  They  are  the  property  of 
Ella  M.  Adams  of  the  staff,  'V'tiose  penchant 
for  things  of  the  past  lends  welcome  color 
and  a  trace  of  nostalgia  to  the  library. 
In  the  same  display  are  Easter  egg  faces — 
with  an  amazing  and  appealing  range  of 
millinery  concocted  by  Miss  Adams  from 
odds  and  ends  of  ribbon,  paper,  candies, 
flowers  and  feathers. 


SOAP  BOX 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must  be 
accompanied  by  the  full  name  of  the  Asso- 
ciation member  submitting  it,  together  with 
the  name  of  the  Branch  Library,  Department 
or  Office  in  which  he  or  she  is  employed. 
The  name  is  withheld  from  publication,  or 
a  pen  name  used,  if  the  contributor  so 
requests.  Anonymous  contributions  are  not 
given  consideration.  The  author  of  the 
article  is  known  only  to  the  contributor 
and  to  the  Editor-in-Chief.  The  contents 
of  articles  appearing  in  the  Soap  Box  are 
personal  opinions  expressed  by  individual 
Association  members  and  their  appearance 
does  not  necessarily  indicate  that  the 
Publications  Committee  and  the  Association 
are  in  agreement  with  the  views  expressed. 


To  the  Soap  Box: 

A  recent  notice  has  informed  us  that 
Branch  Issue  and  School  Issue  are  to  be 
merged  to  form  a  new  department  to  be  known 
as  Central  Book  Stock  for  Home  Reading  and 
Community  Services.  This  name  is  entirely 
too  long  and  w©  think  that  it  should  be 
shortened  to  Book  Stock  Service.  Then, 
we  could  have  a  Book  Stack  Service  and  a 
Book  Stock  Service  in  the  building  and 
could  made  the  following  changes  in  the 
present  names  of  other  Library  activities 


— o— 


in  line  with  this  development,  thereby 
establishing  a  new  uniformity  in  BPL 
nomenclature: 

OLB  NMIE  NEW  NAME 

Coffee  Shop Book  Snack  Service 

Women's  Lounge Book  Yack  Service 

Mr  Carpenter  <. Book  Took  Service 

Approval  Table Book  Look  Service 

Book  Selection Book  Pick  Service 

Staff  Hospital Took  Sick  Service 

Stack  Deliveries. .. .Book  Stuck  Service 
Reserve  Collection. .Book  Shock  Service 

Time  Tray Tick  Tock  Service 

Interlibrary  loans.. Book  Swap  Service 

Sheila  W.  Pierce 
John  McCafferty 


To  the  Editor  of  the  Soap  Box: 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  I  didn't  take 
up  one  line  of  space  in  the  March  Issue 
of  QM,  and  in  view  of  the  further  fact 
that  I  am  tetrametring  this  time  the  most 
important  single  individual  in  our  early 
history,  I  hope  it  will  be  found  possible 
to  squeeze  in  this  entire  instalment, 
though  I  admit  it's  rather  long,  I  woiild 
be  lacking  in  respect  to  the  subject  as 
well  as  to  my  fellow  members  of  the  staff, 
if  exigencies  of  space  should  make  me 
appear  to  be  presenting  here  a  truncated 
Founder . 

If  anything  in  the  following  verses 
should  seem  to  fall  rather  flat,  in  senti- 
ment or  expression,  I  hope  it  will  be 
kindly  attributed  to  the  fact  that  I  wrote 
most  of  them  in  a  horizontal  position. 
I  want  to  take  this  opportunity  (and  moro 
space)  to  thank  all  those  in  the  Library 
who  sent  cards  of  sjonpathy  and  other 
remembrances,  as  well  as  those  who  took 
time  out  to  visit  me  at  the  hospital* 
They  helped  considerably  to  get  over  an 
uncomfortable  time,  but  there  was  one  bad 
feature  to  it :  the  quantity  of  mail  and 
the  visitors  made  the  hospital  authorities 
think  they  had  snagged  themselves  a  real 
live  VIP,  and  charged  accordingly. 

One  last  note:  In  stanza  8?  I  speak  of 
the  Eddis  portrait.  In  the  copy  of 
Wadlin  I  used,  in  the  index  under  the 
Founder's  name,  the  painter's  name  is 
given  as  ENNIS,  Now  I  have  never  met  a 
single  EDDIS,  but  I  do  on  the  other  hand 
know  a  very  nice  ENNIS,  and  to  give  her  a 


vicarious  gratification,  I  hope  Mr  Wadlin 
had  a  cold  when  he  wrote  about  the  painter 
in  the  text,  and  that  the  index  entry  is 
correct.  Perhaps  Mr  Storey  will  reach  up 
and  lock  at  the  picture,  or  if  it  is  too 
high,  perhaps  Mr  McCafferty  will  climb  up 
on  catalog  section  KL-LIB  and  make  sure. 

Harry  Andrews 

The  BPL 

60, 
Shade  the  Third  emerges  now. 

Handsome  face  and  noble  brow; 
Thoughtful,  mild,  kind,  serene. 

Regal  air,  gentle  mien; 
Knew  much  sorrow,  tasted  joys. 

But  all  his  manner  breathes  of  poise; 
Look  at  him  and  mark  him  well- 

FOUNDER  of  BPL. 

61. 
Born  in  seventeen  eighty  ei^t. 

In  little-known  part  of  state; 
Early  settler  blood  in  veins. 

Their  highvrays  country  lanes; 
Puritans  in  his  descent 

Had  not  yet  their  vigor  spent; 
Labored  hard  without  sigh. 

Life  was  plain,  but  thought  was  high. 

62. 

The  villagers  in  hardy  toil 

Eked  a  life  from  friendless  soil; 
A  softer  age  would  think  things  rough. 

But  few  the  wants,  there's  soon  enough; 
Sturdy,  modest,  self-reliant. 

To  others'  wishes  oft  compliant; 
But  on  themselves  made  stiff  demands. 

Virtue  such  respect  commands. 

63, 

Everywhere  in  this  young  nation, 

Respect  was  great  for  education; 
This  little  town  had  its  school, 

Where  all  were  taught  by  strictest  rule; 
Bare,  cold  the  place  they  met. 

Central  heating  was  not  yet; 
The  poorer  lads,  as  best  they  could. 

Had  to  bring  their  own  wood. 

6h. 

Village  life  was  unexciting. 

Distant  prospects  seemed  inviting; 
Keen  ambition  gripped  the  boy. 

Talents  found  no  employ; 
Meagre  patrimony  took, 

And  his  country  home  forsook; 
Bade  goodbye  to  early  scene. 

Came  to  Boston  at  fifteen. 


\ 


u9- 


■65. 
Boston  was  a  thriving  city, 

Wealthy,   generous ,  and  grittyj 
Vessels  broi.:ii5ht  fr-om  every  port 

Luxuries  of  every  sort^ 
Money  came  from  coirmerce  base. 

But  C  in  Culture  was  upper  case; 
Schools,  lyoe.ams,  clubs  galore. 

Lectures  crowded  to  the  door. 

66, 
The  lad  he  made  a  nice  appearance, 

Met  indulgence  and  forbearance; 
Found  work  with  Mr  Gray, 

Greatest'  merchant  of  the  day; 
Proved  he  had  in  large  degree, 

Intelligence,  integrity; 
Twin  possessions  de  rigueur 

In  every  job,  we  all  concur. 

67. 

Wanted  to  improve  his  mind, 

Yifith  reading  of  the  better  kind; 
But  no  library  was  free 

For  mere  workingmen  like  he; 
Athenaeum  was  for  members. 

His  room  too  poor  for  extra  embers; 
Sad  and  strange  it  is  to  tell, 

Boston  had  no  BPL, 

68. 
Books  arrived  from  many  lands. 

But  they  were  in  private  hands ; 
Presses  published  quite  a  few^ 

Mainly  for  the  well-to-do; 
Private  libraries  in  town 

Catered  only  to  their  own; 
Ordinary  Joes  no  doubt. 

They  just  had  to  do  without. 

69, 
Later,  when  a  merchant  prince, 

How  he  would  recall  and  wince. 
How  he  thirsted  for  all  knowledge. 

But  could  not  afford  the  college; 
How  no  library  was  there. 

To  supply  the  mental  fare; 
Fled  the  wintry  outdoors, 

Reading  stealthily  in  stores. 

70. 
Spent  a  decade  hard  at  work, 

As  lowly  counting-house  clerk; 
Started  once  his  own  place, 

But  found  it  unequal  race; 
War  at  sea  hurt  ships  that  sailed. 

Little  enterprises  failed; 
Then  by  Mr  Gray  was  sent, 

Affairs  abroad  to  represent. 


71. 
Luck  he  met  virith  good  and  ill, 

Of  reverses  had  his  fill; 
Often  thought  himself  a  flop. 

But  knew  there's  alv/ays  room  on  top; 
For  twenty  years,  he  would  recall. 

Fought  the  world  with  back  to  wall; 
But  success  was  his  at  last. 

Compensating  for  the  past, 

72. 

Made  a  name  for  probity, 

Widsom  and  ability; 
Genial  manner,  honest  air, 

Ways  superlatively  fair; 
Won  respect  and  admiration 

From  leading  men  of  every  nation; 
In  Baring  Br9thers  famous  bank, 

Partner  made  of  equal  rank. 

73. 
Famous,  honored,  of  vast  estate. 

Home  a  mecca  for  the  great; 
Gracious  hospitality 

For  men  of  every  quality; 
Particularly  tried  to  please 

Countrymen  from  overseas ; 
In  all  his  permutations  great. 

Clung  in  thought  to  old  Bay  State. 

71;. 
Then,  in  eighteen  fifty  two, 

Boston  was  obliged  to  woo 
Baring  Brothers  overseas 

For  a  water-loan  ease; 
City  documents  were  sent, 

Boston's  case  to  represent; 
One  of  virhich,  of  expert  sort. 

Was  Ticknor's  Library  report. 

75. 
In  language  forcible  and  clear, 

Ticknor  spoke  for  all  to  hear. 
Why  a  library  was  needed, 

Why  its  building  should  be  speeded; 
What  benefits  accrue  to  all. 

When  breach  is  made  in  ignorance  wall; 
What  evil  bastions,  ramparts  fell. 

When  city  had  a  BPL. 

76. 
Boston's  scheme  of  education 

Was  as  fine  as  most  in  nation; 
Best  instruction  methods  used. 

Arts  and  learning  wide  diffused; 
But  they  who  could  afford  no  college, 

Lost  all  hope  of  further  knowledge; 
This  city  of  the  brave  and  free, 

Had  no  Public  Library 


-10- 


77. 
The  ci-devant  Bay  Stater  read, 

And  the  water-loan  was  spedj 
But  the  Ticknor  vfords  they  lingered, 

As  the  documents  he  fingered; 
And  he  saw  himself  again, 

As  the  century  began; 
In  Boston  minus  rich  relation, 

With  no  means  for  education. 

78. 
The  world  of  books,   that  magic  land. 

Was  barred  by  want's  restraining  hand; 
Though  he  climbed  to  top  of  nation. 

Without  fancy  education. 
Yet  he  never  quite  forgot 

The  lesson  poverty  had  taught: 
Books  and  libraries  must  be  free 

To  all  a  nation's  citizenry. 

79. 
Though  long  expatriate, 

His  heart  -tjas   still  with  old  Bay  State; 
And  he  was  resolved  to  see 

The  Boston  poor  fare  better  than  he, 
V/hen  he  was  ambitious  lad. 

And  no  books  were  to  be  had; 
Laggard  Boston  he'd  compel 

To  speed  the  birth  of  BPL. 

80. 
So  he  wrote  a  famous  letter. 

Saying  he  was  Boston's  debtor; 
And  he  wished  to  make  amends 

For  kindness  got  from  Boston  friends; 
Liked  Report  made  by  Trustees, 

And  would  they  let  him,  if  they  please. 
Contribute  to  the  project  planned 

A  nice  and  round  fifty  grand. 

81. 
He  attached  a  string  or  two. 

Explaining  what  he  had  in  view; 
An  ornament  this  place  must  be, 

Large  and  fine,  a  sight  to  see; 
Spacious  J  lofty  rooms  inside, 

To  fill  the  citizen  with  pride; 
Warm,  well-lighted  roomy  hall. 

And  always,  always  free  to  all» 

82. 
The  Boston  poor  must  get  to  feel. 

The  realm  of  books  has  had  new  deal; 
No  matter  what  their  private  hells. 

This  place's  as  good  as  those  for  swells; 
Men  will  treat  as  extra  grace 

Membership  in  such  a  place; 
Highest  praise  for  lads  will  be. 

That  they  frequent  the  Library. 


83. 

Boston  heard  with  jubilation. 

Of  this  magnificent  donation; 
City  fathers  quickly  tried 

Such  a  building  to  provide; 
His  gift  was  funded  by  Trustees, 

Income  used  for  books'  increase; 
The  Londoner  thought  this  too  slow. 

Library  must  faster  grow, 

8U, 
His  envoys  combed  all  Europe's  nooks. 

To  fill  the  BPL  with  books ; 
These  he  bought  from  every  land. 

And  spent  another  fifty  grand. 
In  gratitude  our  first  Trustees 

This  benefactor  thought  to  please: 
Gave  him  name  which  suits  him  well- 

FOUNDER  of  BPL. 

85. 
I  confess  without  shame, 

I  hold  in  reverence  his  name; 
And  often  in  a  raa.iner  bold. 

Discussion  with  his  statue  hold: 
How  reality  of  today 

Squares  with  hopes  of  yesterday; 
And  come  to  know  fairly  well. 

His  latest  views  on  BPL. 

86. 

What  he  thinks  of  Sunday  closing, 

Innovations  we're  proposing; 
What  departments  need  enlarging. 

All  about  the  three-week  charging; 
Morale  in  Library  at  large. 

Caliber  of  some  in  charge; 
What  critics  use  discrimination. 

And  who  just  needle  th 'Administration. 

87. 
To  ray  unglassed  and  aging  eye, 

The  EDDIS  portrait  hangs  too  high, 
I  would  dearly  like  to  see 

Honor  done  him  in  large  degree; 
Spread  his  fame  in  every  way, 

His  date  of  birth  a  holiday; 
Let  PPL'r's  question  be, 

I  wonder  what  he'd  think  of  me. 

88. 
He  thought  about  us  more  and  more. 

Until  his  death  in  '61;; 
His  body  lies  in  Kensal  Green, 

London  grave  can  still  be  seen. 
Stand  and  cheer  this  generous  man. 

All  our  greatness  he  began; 
Spirit  which  the  heart  elates, 

Grand  and  peeric;=>s  JOSHUA  BATES. 


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Superintendent  of  Work  -with  Young  People 
New  Yoik  Public  Library,  New  Yoi'k  City 

WLDNILSDAY,       MAY  6,1953      AT    8  30   P.M 

Former  Teachers  Eepartment,  Boston  Public  Library 


\/^ 


ALL  MEMBERS  OF  THE  STAFF,  AND 
INTERESTED  FRIENDS,  ARE  CORDIALLY 
IN'/ITED  TO  ATTEND  THIS  LECTbRE 


/iel  104 kpVLev(yM  unit  l/c  /ieAA^e.f| afte^  f/i&  lectiuie 

THE  COMMITTEE  FOR  THE  BERTHA  V.   HARTZELL  MEJiORIAL  LECTURE 

Madalene  D.   Holt,   Chairirsn 

Elinor  E.  Day  Geraldine  S,  Herrick  Evelyn  Levy 

May  C,  MacDonald  Berbha  5,   I^eswick       Irene  J,  Wadswcrth 


PLEASE  POST 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


MAY  1953 


•     •  •     T  H-  E     ,  y  U  E  S  T   I  0  N       MARK 

Published  hy  the  Boston  Public  Library  Professional  Staff  Association 


Volume  VIII,   Number  $ 


May  19^3 


Publications  Committee:  Gerald  L«  Ball,  Geraldine  S,  Herrick,  John  J.  McCafferty, 

Sarah  M,  Usher,  Charles  J.  Gillis,  Chairman 


Publication  date; 
The  fifteenth  of  each  month 


Deadline  for  submitting  material: 
The  tenth  of  each  month 


EDITOR'S  CORNER 

In  the  March  number  of  the  Los  Angeles 
Public  Library  "Broadcaster"  (The  publi- 
cation of  the  lAPL  Staff  Association)  the 
editorial  was  devoted  to  a  eulogy  of  a 
well-knovm  staff  member  on  her  retire- 
ment, A  piece  of  this  kind  ordinarily 
would  not  cause  notice  outside  of  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  Library.  How- 
ever, the  editor  made  the  following  obser- 
vation: ",,.  If  she  had  made  her  many  con- 
tributions  to  the  world  of  letters  as  a 
member  of  the  faculty  of  a  university  she 
would  have  been  honored,  on  her  retirement 
with  the  title  emeritus.  It  seems  unfor- 
tunate that  such  recognition  of  scholarly 
accomplishment  is  limited  to  academic 
circles.  Public  libraries  might  well 
bestow  upon  their  retired  leaders  a  title 
which  not  only  renders  them  the  honor 
they  richly  deserve,  but  may  even  continue 
in  an  advisory  capacity,  their  official 
connections  with  the  institution  they 
have  served  so  well.  Public  libraries 
have  no  such  tradition  -  perhaps  it  is 
time  for  them  to  develop  one,,," 

We  at  the  Boston  Public  Library  are 
proud  to  be  able  to  state  that  the  de- 
velopment of  such  a  tradition  began  in 
our  institution  as  early  as  December, 
1929.  On  that  date  Frank  C.  Blaisdell 
was  honored  with  the  title  of  Assistant 
Librarian,  Emeritus,  Since  that  time 
forty-six  other  officers  of  the  Library 
have  been  also  honored. 

The  title  of  "emeritus"  is  not  an  empty 
one  to  those  who  receive  it,  A  feeling 
of  continued  recognition  is  received  with 
the  letter  of  award,  a  feeling  of  still 
belonging,  even  after  being  separated  froni 
official  duties  by  the  retirement  laws. 
Many  of  our  "emeriti"  have  had  years  of 
hap»py  association  with  the  Library,  both 
in  semi-official  and  social  affairs, 
because  of  tMs  tr&dition, 

Charles  J.  Gillis 


CALENDAR  OF  EVENTS 

May  21,  Round  Table  of  Children's  Li- 
brarians, meeting  at  Thomas 
Crane  Public  Library,  Quincy. 

May  29.  BPLPSA,  business  meeting,  lecture 
hall,  at  9  a»in« 

June  1,  Fifth  Annual  Mary  U,  Nichols 
Book  Prize  Awards,  North  End, 
8:00  p.m, 

June  21-26,  ALA  Annual  Conference,  Los 
Angeles,  California, 

June  22-25.  SLA  Annual  Convention, 
Toronto,  Canada 


PERSONAL  NOTES 


New  Employees 


George  T.  Armstrong,  Office  of  Records, 
Files,  Statistics. 

Mrs  Rita  A.  Collins,  Connolly. 

James  G.   Griffin,  Book  Stack  Service. 

Mrs  Alleen  M.  Wiggins,  Memorial. 

James  A.  Mackie,   Science  and  Technology, 
formerly  part-time. 

Constance  O'Keefe,  Roslindale. 

Transfers 


Mrs  Barbara  P.  Cotter,  from  the  Office, 
of  the  DiAx  of  R  and  RS  to  Hospital  Library 
Service, 

Mrs  Maiy  G,  Langton,  from  Memorial  to 
Hospital  Library  Service, 

Arthur  L,  Lindsay,  from  Book  Purchasing 
to  Exhibits. 

Isabel  M.  Martino,  from  Open  Shelf  to 
Hospital  Library  Service. 

Donald  L,  Newman,  from  Office  of  Records, 
Files,  Statistics  to  Book  Purchasing. 

Elizabeth  A,  Sarjeant,  from  Codman  Square 
to  Hospital  Library  Service, 


-2- 


MP3   Pauline  U.  Puglesi,  Cataloging  and 
ClassiMcation,  Div  of  R  and  RS,  to  re- 
main at  home. 

Mr-j   M,  Louis  Hughes,  Open  Shelf,  to 
remain  at  home. 

Ireno  M.  McCarty,  Book  Stack  Service, 
to  aooept  another  position. 

Car»uf!llft  0»  Lemon,  Memorial,  to  teach 
in  tho  Detroit  Public  School  System, 

Mrs  Maur--?on  E,  Eriksen,  Egleston  Square 
to  remain  at  home. 

Gerard  J.  Mahoney,  Book  Stack  Service, 
to  enter  Armed  Forces . 

Marjorie  E,  Hicks,  Uphams  Corner,  to 
accept  another  position. 

Marriagga  ~ 

T^olores  Ctsta,  Bookmobile  I,  to  Dominic 
P.  Cerulli  o'»  April  15,  1953 « 

Franc ina  E,  Copeland,  North  End,  to 
Franklin  E,  Gelzer  on  April  18,  1953. 

Katheriie  T.  Melavin,  Business  Office, 
tff  Hajvvy  W,  Murphy  on  May  9,  1953. 

BEST  IT  SHES  FOR  A  SPEEDY  RECOVERY 
To 

Katrina  M.  Sather,  Brighton,  35  Selden 
Street,  D«;rehe«ter  2U, 

Mary  T.  C.  Monnix,  Phillips  Brooks,  21 
Vermont  Street,  West  Roxbury  32 o 

Etta  Lasker,  Codman  Square,  I4.8  Selden 
Street,  Dorchester  21;. 

Mrs  Anna  Braekett,  South  End,  219  Gold 
Street,  South  Host on  27. 

TO  WELCOIffi  BACK  AFTER  LONG  ILLNESSES 


Irene  Bogn^tt,  Book  Preparation, 
Frances  Person,  Binding 

BON  VOYAGE 
To 

Mrs  Edith  H.  Bailey,  Branch  Librarian, 
Emeritus,  who  loft  recently  by  plane  on 
•the  C'.rst  lap  of  her  journey  around  the 
warld.  Sho  Tri.  11  stay  in  New  Delhi,  India, 
while  her  daughter,  Ruth,  a  former  BPLer, 
is  attending  3.  eonference  there. 

George  Johnson,  formerly  Fine  Arts,  who 
is  on  a  Eui-'op'iS.n  trip  v^iich  will  be  cli- 
iaxefi  by  attendance  at  the  coronation. 


Jean  B.  Lay,  Cataloging  and  Classifi- 
cation, Div  of  HR  and  CS,  who  sails  from 
Quebec  on  May  21,  on  the  Scythia.  She  will 
attend  the  coronation  and  then  travel 
through  England,  Irela^id,  Scotland,  and 
Wales, 

Dr  and  Mrs  Asbury  Herrick,  North  End, who 
sail  on  Itay  20  on  the  Queen  Elizabeth 
from  Pier  90,  North  River,  New  York,  They 
will  visit  England,  Belgium,  Holland, 
Germany,  Switzerland,  Italy,  and  France, 

Mr  and  Mrs  Walter  Robinson,  (Muriel 
Figenbaum,  Print) ,  who  will  sail  on  June  6, 
from  Vancouver,  B.C.,  on  the  Aorangi  to 
make  their  home  in  New  Zealand. 

THE  SOCIAL  WHIRL 

On  Thursday  evening,  April  30,   the  three 
Book  Selection  Committees  of  the  Div  of 
HR  and  CS  went  on  a  trek  to  Toll  House 
to  spend  their  hard-earned  dimes  on  the 
good  things  in  life.  In  honor  of  the 
occasion  Mr  Sun  himself  came  out  of  his 
long  retirement  and  shone  down  upon  the 
cavalcade  as  it  journeyed  southwardo 
Contrary  to  the  character  in  Dahl's 
cartoon,  no  one  suffered  shock  at  Mr  Sun's 
appearance  and,  may  we  add,  neither  did 
any  one  suffer  loss  of  appetite »  At  Toll 
House,  the  con^any,  twenty-two  strong, 
enjoyed  life  from  onion  soup  to  "Mary 
Janes" ,  As  Miss  Peck,  ensconsed  at  the 
head  of  the  table,  beamed  benignly  on  her 
brood,  strains  of  Happy  Birthday  were 
heard  and  a  small  but  festive  birthday 
cake  on  a  musical  merry-go-round  was 
placed  in  front  of  her.  Was  it  Miss 
Peck's  birthday?  We  do  not  know  but 
everyone  does  have  a  birthday  sometime 
during  the  year  and  this  did  seem  a  most 
opportune  moment  for  Miss  Peck's, 

The  cars  which  returned  from  Toll  House 
were  filled  with  satisfied,  if  too-well 
fed,  females  but  it  was  noted  that  many 
appeared  as  usual  in  the  Coffee  Shop  the 
next  day. 

A  "bon  voyage"  party  for  Jean  B,  Lay 
of  Cataloging  and  Class if ication>Di»  of 
HR  and  CS ,  was  held  on  Sunday,  May  3,  at 
the  attractive  abode  of  Edna  G.  Peck. 
Sarah  M.  Usher  starred  as  co-hostess  with 
Miss  Peck. 

At  7  p.m.  a  delicious  collation  was 
served  to  the  nineteen  people  present,  who 


-3- 


had  met  to  wish  Miss  Lay  a  very  happy  and 
successful  tour  of  the  British  Isles,  the 
highlight  being  attendance  at  the  Corona- 
tion. 

The  guest  of  honor,  decorated  with  a 
corsage  of  pink  camellias,  was  given 
several  "pound  notes"  to  spend  in  London 
next  June,  This  money  was  in  a  decora- 
tive bill -fold  designed  by  the  artistic 
Mildred  Somes,  In  accepting  her  gift, 
Miss  Lay  made  an  amusing  little  speech 
which  was  received  with  applause. 

It  was  an  evening  long  to  be  remembered 
for  its  food,  fun,  and  delightful  hospi- 
tality. 

« 

Monday,  May  U,  at  five  o'clock,  Doris  H, 
Kelleher  of  Cataloging  and  Cl»ssification, 
Div.  of  R  and  RS  was  given  a  shower  in  the 
Women's  Lounge  in  honor  of  her  approach- 
ing marriage  to  John  H.  Walsh,  Jr. 

A  bouquet  of  bills,  artistically 
fashioned,  was  presented  to  Miss  Kelleher 
by  the  members  of  her  department.  The 
wedding  is  to  take  place  on  May  l6  at 
St.  Edward's  Church,  Brockton. 

VISITOR 

S.  Janice  Kee,  Executive  Secretary, 
Public  Libraries  Division,  A.L.A. 

TAKE  A  BOW 

The  Publications  Committee  nominates 
"Marty"  Murphy  for  TAKE  A  POW  honors  for 
the  month  of  May.  During  the  long  months 
in  which  the  new  front  elevator  was  being 
installed,  there  were  few  moments  during 
each  day  when  the  back  elevator  was  not 
crowded  with  a  varied  assortment  of  staff 
members,  public,  book  trucks,  books,  and 
bundle  s.  Through  it  all  "Marty"  main- 
tained a  calm,  unruffled  exterior — always 
the  perfect  gentleman,  who  knew,  even  as 
Miss  Scoggin,  that  The  Saving  Grace  is  a 
sense  of  humor, 

MUSICAL  NOTES 

Daniel  Koury  and  Phillip  Batstone,  Music 
have  recently  had  performances  of  their 
works  heard  at  the  Boston  University 
College  of  Music  concerts  and  over  radio 
station  WBUR-FM. 

George  Pahud,  Music,  is  playing  bassoon 
with  the  "May  Pops"  Orchestra,  for  five 
weeks. 


Jean  Northrop,  Open  Shelf,  was  oboist 
with  the  orchestra  of  the  "Oklahoma" 
company  during  its  recent  Boston  engage- 
ment. 

Henry  Santos,  Audio -Visual,  pianist, 
made  his  debut  in  Jordan  Hall,  April  25. 

CONGRATULATIONS 

Pauline  Winnick,  Readers  Advisor  for 
Young  Adults,  was  recently  initiated  into 
the  Delta  Kappa  Gamma   Society,  National 
Honor  Society  for  Women  Teachers,  founded 
in  part  to  pay  tribute  to  women  who  have 
given  distinctive  service  to  any  field  of 
education,  including  librarianship.  Mrs 
Beryl  Robinson,  Children's  Librarian, 
East  Boston,  was  electad  to  the  same 
society,  nearly  two  years  ago.  Congratu- 
lations to  both I 

WELCOME  TO  NBa^  MEMBERS  OF  BPLPSA 

Christine  J.  Celia,  City  Point 

Mrs  Mary  E.  Cooney,  Office  of  Records, 

Files,  Statistics 
Delores  Costa,  Bookmobile  I 
Rosemary  D.  Cross,  South  End 
Geraldine  R,  Cudmore,  Cataloging  and 

Classification^ Div.  of  R  and  RS 
Margaret  J.  Drago,  Adams  Street 
Mrs  Lucia  S,  Faulkner,  West  Roxbury 
Shirley  A,  Gildea,  Information 
Marjorie  E,  Hicks,  Uphams  Corner 
Janice  G.  Lane,  Office  of  the  Div,  of 

HR  and  CS 
Mrs  Mary  Lebert,  Cataloging  and  Classifi- 
cation, Div.  of  R  and  RS 
Julia  A.  Lenzi,  Adams  Street 
Patricia  Leonard,  Open  Shelf 
Margaret  L,  Mahoney,  Information 
Thomas  J.  Nolan,  Periodical  and  News- 
paper 
Linda  M,  Pagliuca,  North  End 
Mrs  Janet  Quint,  Allston 
Lawrence  Vezin,  Open  Shelf 
Ruth  E,  Winn,  Roslindale 

LAST   C  A  L  L!  1  i 

Join  ALA  nowi 

Attend  the  Conference  in  June J 

See  Sarah  M.  Usher 
Office  of  Records,  Files,  Statistics 


=il- 


,   THE  B.P.L.  ON  RADIO  AMD  T.V. 

On  Thursday,  April  16,  over  WBZ-TV 
Mrs  Irene  Tut tie,  Branch  Librarian, 
South  Boston  told  about  the  collection 
of  wooden  dolls  which  were  being  exhibited 
at  the  Branch  during  the  month  of  April* 

Donald  Born,  Professor  of  English  at 
Boston  University  College  of  General 
Education,  and  host  on  WBZ-TV's  "New 
England  Almanac"  program,  credited  the 
Library  for  the  photostats  and  original 
copies  of  old  New  England  newspapers, 
which  he  used  on  his  program  for  Friday, 
April  2it. 

THE  STAJ'F  AFIEIH 

Elizabeth  B.  Boudreau,  Chief  of  the 
Information  Office,  was  guest  speaker 
at  the  Ripley  School  Mothers'  Tea  in 
Melrose  on  Wednesday,  April  29,  She 
spoke  about  the  Library's  new  non-resi- 
dent privileges  and  the  coming  Centen- 
nial, 


PRESIDENT'S  NOTES 

The  Committee  on  the  "Barnes  Act",  in 
carrying  out  the  instructions  of  the 
Executive  Board  to  obtain  a  written  le- 
gal opinion  as  to  whether  the  Association 
is  required  to  register  as  a  labor  union 
or  would  be  required  to  register  if 
Article  II  (b)  of  the  Association's 
Constitution  were  construed  and  inter- 
preted as  including  questions  of  hours, 
wages,  classification  of  employees  and 
working  conditions  of  all  full-time 
bitliothecal  employees  of  the  Boston 
Public  Library,  requested  an  opinion 
from  the  Commissioner  of  Labor  and  In- 
dustries. The  reply  received  from 
Raymond  F.  0 'Connell,  Counsel,  Office  of 
the  Commissioner  of  Labor  and  Industries, 
gave  the  opinion  that  it  was  not  neces- 
sary for  the  Association  to  register  aa 
a  Labor  union  since  an  organization,  such 
as  the  Professional  Staff  Association, 
dealing  with  a  branch  of  a  municipality, 
does  not  have  the  same  powers  as  the 
usual  labor  union  and  was  not  intended 
to  be  included  under  the  provisions  of 
the  Act,  even  if  Article  II  (b)  of  the 
Constitution  were  expanded. 


Congratulations  to  Jfedalene  D,  Holt  and 
the  Bertha  V,  Hartzell  Memorial  Lecture 
Committee  and  to  Ifey  C.  McDonald  and  the 
Entertainment  Committee  for  their  splendid 
job  in  arranging  such  an  enjoyable  evening 
at  the  Third  ffeirtzell  Memorial  Lecture. 

We  regret  that  the  nomination  of  Louisa 
S,  Metcalf  to  the  SORT  Steering  Committee 
could  not  be  effected  because  of  a  pro- 
vision in  the  Constitution  of  SORT  which 
states  that  "No  affiliated  organization 
shall  be  represented  on  the  Steering 
Committee  for  more  than  two  consecutive 
terms,"  Since  Bradford  M.  Hill  will  have 
just  completed  two  consecutive  terms  for 
the  Boston  Public  Library  Professional 
Staff  Association,  any  nominee  from  the 
BPLPSA  would  not  be  eligible  to  serve 
during  the  coming  year, 

B,  Joseph  O'Neil 

THIRD  ANNUAL 
BERTHA  V.  HARTZELL  MEIORIAL  LECTURE 


An  audience  of  about  one  htmdred  and 
fifty  Association  members  and  invited 
guests  attended  the  Third  Annual  Bertha 
V,  Hartzell  Memorial  Lecture,  which  took 
place  on  May  sixth  in  the  Wiggin  Gallery. 

B,  Joseph  O'Neil,  president  of  the 
Association,  after  graciously  welcoming 
the  audience,  turned  the  meeting  over  to 
Madalene  D.  Holt,  Chairman  of  the  Bertha 
V,  Hartzell  Memorial  Lecture  Committee 
for  1953«  She  introduced  the  speaker  of 
the  evening,  Margaret  C,  Scoggin,  Superin- 
tendent of  Work  with  Young  People  &  Schools, 
New  York  Public  Library,  and  currentl^r 
conducting  a  course  in  literature  for 
young  adults  at  Simmons  College,  Miss 
Scoggin  had  chosen  for  her  subject  "The 
Saving  Grace." 

Out  of  her  experience  as  a  "practical 
librarian"  and  her  own  stimulating  phi- 
losophy of  librarianship,  Miss  Scoggin 
interpreted  "the  saving  grace"  as  a  sense 
of  humor,  from  which  is  gained  a  needed 
sense  of  proportion  and  sense  of  balance. 
She  spoke  of  its  importance  to  librarians — 
and  to  anyone  in  these  troubled  times, 
"Where  humor  flourishes  there  can  be  no 
dictator . " 

The  Librarian,  she  again  pointed  out, 
needs  perspective  and  balance,  must  be 
willing  to  enjoy  differences  in  taste  and 


-5- 


to  be  among  the  public  rather  than  set 
over  the  public,  We  should  be  "the  light 
that  illumines,  not  the  heat  that  de- 
stroys." 

Light  verse  and  light  fiction,  she 
believes,  have  their  place  in  the  li- 
brary. She  made  a  plea  f.or  the  "blessed 
absurdity"  of  the  pun,  the  cartoon,  and 
the  nonsense  verse. 

Throughout  her  talk  Miss  Scoggin  drew 
from  her  wide  knowledge  of  books  an  il- 
luminating array  of  quotations  aptly  to 
prove  her  points,  moving  from  the  humor 
in  children's  classics  to  the  less  pro- 
perly acclaimed  humor  of  Mutt  and  Jeff, 
the  Little  Willy  stories,  etc.,  and  to 
recognized  humorous  writers  for  adults. 
In  stressing  the  importance  of  identify- 
ing ourselves  vrith  young  people  in  their 
delight  in  the  Mutt  and  Jeff  variety  of 
humor,  she  drew  herself  and  her  audience 
into  a  recognition  of  their  own  apprecia- 
tions at  that  age. 

At  the  close  of  the  talk  refreshments 
were  served  by  the  Entertainment  Com- 
mittee, under  the  chairmanship  of  May  C, 
McDonald. 

Virginia  Haviland 

THE  CATHOLIC  LIERARY  ASSOCIATION 
1953  ANNUAL  CONFERENCE 

The  1953  conference  of  the  Catholic 
Library  Association  was  held  in  Columbus, 
Ohio  at  the  Deshler-Wallick  Hotel  from 
April  7-10,  Attending  the  conference 
were  librarians  of  Catholic  schools 
and  colleges,  seminary  librarians,  parish 
librarians,  and  a  few  people  from  public 
libraries • 

Following  the  pattern  of  most  confer- 
ences of  library  associations,  the  CIA 
presented  general  sessions,  luncheon 
speakers,  general  business  sessions,  and 
meetings  of  the  various  sections.  It  was 
at  the  meetings  of  the  individual  sections 
of  the  Association  that  one  could  readily 
see  the  need  for  having  a  Catholic  Li- 
brary Association,  In  Catholic  colleges 
and  in  seminaries  many  problems  arise 
over  the  cataloging  and  classification 
of  Catholic  theological  books  and 
periodicals,  and  it  is  through  annual 
meetings  that  the  problems  can  be  dis- 
cussed through  papers  read  and  round 
table  fonams. 

At  the  general  business  session  it  was 
vote<f  to  continue  oublication  of  a  hand- 


book for  the  Association.  The  purposes 
of  a  handbook  would  be  to  give  the  con- 
stitution and  the  organiza;tional  frame- 
work and  procedure  of  the  Association, 
Assurance  of  continued  subscription  to 
the  Catholic  Periodical  Index  was  asked 
and  the  need  for  new  subscribers  was 
stressed. 

During  the  conference  there  were  op- 
portunities for  visiting  the  library  of 
the  Ohio  State  University,  the  Ohio  State 
Library,  and  a  branch  of  the  Columbus 
Public  Library,  Because  of  extensive 
renovations  and  alterations  now  in  pro- 
cess the  main  library  of  the  Columbus 
Public  Library  was  not  on  the  visitors' 
itinerary.  Ohio  State  University  is  one 
of  the  largest  universities  in  America; 
all  its  departmental  buildings  are  lo- 
cated on  the  campus  in  Col\imbus#  The 
library  with  its  adequate  stack  areas, 
new  lighting  and  furniture  and  convenient 
arrangement  of  departments  proved  a  very 
pleasant  place  for  visiting  librarians 
to  tour,  with  sometriaat  envious  spirit. 

The  next  annual  conference  of  the 
Catholic  Library  Association  will  be  held 
in  Philadelphia. 

Paul  V,  Mojmihan 

ROUND  TABLE  OF  LIBRARIANS  FOR 
YOUNQ  ADULTS 

The  spring  meeting  was  held  in  the  li- 
brary of  the  Brookline  High  School  on 
Thursday  morning.  May  7.  The  first  order 
of  business  was  the  election  of  officers, 
among  whom  was  M,  Jane  Manthorne  of  Open 
Shelf  who  will  serve  on  the  Executive 
Board.  Evelyn  Robinson, Division  of  Li- 
brary Extension,  urged  the  members  of 
the  group  to  try  their  hands  at  writing, 
both  for  the  professional  journals,  since 
there  is  a  demand  for  information  in  the 
field  of  young  adult  work,  and  for  the 
publishing  houses,  since  there  is  an  even 
greater  demand  for  good  young  adult  books. 
The  main  speaker  was  Edna  Q,  Peck,  Chief 
of  Book  Selection,  Div.  of  HR  and  CS,  who 
discussed  book  selection  for  young  adults 
in  her  customary  competent,  entertaining, 
and  informative  manner.  Miss  Peck  parti- 
cularly emphasized  the  advisability  of 
keeping  in  mind  the  interests  of  the  young 
adults  vihen   books  are  being  considered  for 
them,  and  explained  to  the  meeting  the  jpoli- 
cies  and  procedures  followed  in  the  BPL. 
Luncheon  at  Novak's  followed  adjotirnment 
of  the  meeting. 


-^- 


miRD  ANNUAL  FILM  FESTIVAL 

Representatives  from  all  the  New  Eng- 
land states,  New  York",  and  even  Ohio, 
registered  at  the  Third  Annual  Film 
Festival  of  the  Film  Council  of  Greater 
Boston,  held  at  the  Sheraton  Plaza  Hotel, 
Boston,  on  May  2,  19$3»  Among  the  re- 
gistrants were  representatives  from  a 
variety  of  industries,  including  film 
producers,  film  distributors,  and  dealers 
in  audio-visual  equipment?  educators  from 
public  and  parochial  schools,  other  pri- 
vate schools,  and  colleges;  librarians; 
social  service  workers;  city*  state,  and 
national  government  employees;  hospital 
personnel;  program  chairmen  from  women's 
clubs,  parent-teacher  associations,  and 
other  organizations;  clergymen  and  other 
religious  workers;  and  representatives 
from  the  Fine  Arts  and  Science  Museums, 
as  well  as  from  other  art  groups.  In 
addition  to  several  staff  members  from 
the  Boston  Public  Library,  there  were 
library  representatives  from  Andover, 
Brookline,  Leominster,  Mlton,  Quincy, 
Springfield,  Worcester;  Stamford, 
Connecticut,  and  Greenwich,  Connecticut » 

From  nine  to  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning 
guests  enjoyed  the  coffee  hour  and  viewed 
the  audio-visual  exhibits. 

By  ten  o'clock  the  screenings  were  unda- 
way.  For  weeks  four  hard-working  selec- 
tion committees  -  Adult  Education,  The 
Arts,  Classroom,  and  Industry  -  had  been 
previewing  some  two  hundred  and  fifty 
films  in  preparation  for  the  final 
showing  of  fifty-seven  films  at  the 
Festival, 

Members  of  the  Film  Preview  Committee 
of  the  Boston  Public  Library  actively 
participated  in  the  planning  of  the 
Festival,  Pauline  A,  Walker,  Branch 
Librarian,  West  Roxbury,  was  the  Chair- 
man, cind  Mrs  Muriel  C.  Javelin,  Deputy 
Supervisor  in  Charge  of  Work  with  Adults, 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Adult  Educa- 
tion Selection  Committee.  Mrs  Phyllis 
Barclay,  Children's  Librarian,  Uphams 
Corner,  was  the  Chairman,  and  Evelyn 
Levy,  Branch  Librarian,  Egleston,  was  a 
member  of  The  Arts  Selection  Committee. 
Ifery  A.  Hackett, .Branch  Librarian, 
Parker  Hill,  Ruth  M.  Hayes,  Branch  Li- 
brarian, Adams  Street,  Margaret  A,  Morgan^ 
Branch  Librarian,  Connolly  with  Euclid 
Peltier  and  John  Hoffman  of  Audio-Visual 
as  Co-Chainnen,  and  Mrs  Muriel  C,  Javelin 
as  Chairman  served  on  tiie  Arrangements 


and  Registration  Committee. 

Presiding  at  the  luncheon  was  Council 
President,  Edward  Palmer,  New  England 
Telephone  and  Telegraph  Company,  Reverend 
Cornelius  Sherlock,  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  Archdiocese  of  Boston,  offered 
the  invocation.  The  hi^  point  of  the  day 
was  the  talk  by  Dr  Arthur  A.  Allen  and 
Dr  Peter  Paul  Kellogg  of  the  Laboratory 
of  Ornithology  of  Cornell  University  who 
were  introduced  by  the  Festival  Chairman, 
Mac  Bougere,  Radio  Corporation  of  America, 
Choosing  as  their  subject  Stalking  Birds 
with  Color  Camera  and  Microphone,  these 
nationally  famous  ornithologists  described 
their  experiences  in  photographing  bird 
life  and  in  recording  many  varieties  of 
sounds  0  They  demonstrated  with  color 
slides  and  recordings  various  bird  songs 
in  high,  mediiim,  and  low  keys,  as  well  as 
frog  sounds,  and  the  sound  of  a  thunder- 
storm. An  experimental  color  motion 
pict\u"e  with  magnetic  sound  included  such 
interesting  shots  and  sounds  as  a  rviffed 
grouse  drumming  with  its  wings,  the  song 
of  a  Florida  mocking  bird,  the  dance  of 
the  prairie  chicken,  and  the  meadow  larks 
feeding  their  young — ^all  in  their  natural 
surroundings.  The  speakers  explained  the 
use  of  their  parabolic  microphone  which 
separates  vranted  soimds  from  those  not 
wanted  and  brings  to  close  range  the  sounds 
and  songs  of  birds  at  a  great  distance  from 
the  mike,  Dr  Allen,  expert  in  wild -life 
photography,  and  Dr  Kellogg,  an  outstanding 
sound  engineer,  are  a  remarkable  team. 
Not  only  have  they  built  up  one  of  the  most 
unusual  libraries  of  nature  soTinds  and  wild- 
life pictures  in  the  world,  but  parts  of 
Dr  Allen's  footage  and  many  of  Dr  Kellogg's 
sounds  have  been  used  in  notable  Hollywood 
productions, 

John  D.  Brown,  Director  of  Public  Cele- 
brations, representing  His  Honor  the  Mayor, 
presented  to  the  two  speakers  handsome 
brochures  which  are  given  to  honored  guests 
of  the  City  instead  of  the  Keys  to  the  City. 

The  Festival  audience  came  early  and 
stayed  throughout  the  -day.  At  the  film 
sessions  each  viewer  rated  each  film 
individually  on  its  own  merits.  The  bal- 
loting was  extremely  close  in  many  in- 
stances -vrfiich  indicated  that  all  films  were 
considered  worthy  Festival  choices* 

On  Tuesday  evening.  May  26,  1953> 
announcement  of  First  and  Second  Award 
winners  will  be  made  publicly  at  an  Awards 
dinner  at  the  Sheraton  Plaza  Hotel  in 
Boston,  In  recognition  of  the  fact  thdt 


-7- 


only  films  of  high  quality  were  shewn  at 
the  Festival,  producers  and  sponsors  of 
all  films  used  will  be  presented  with 
either  an  Award  of  Merit  or  a  First  or 
Second  Award.  Dr  Paul  Wagner,  Executive 
Director  of  the  Film  Council  of  America, 
will  speak  on  The  Future  of  the  l6mm 
Motion  Picture «  Further  information  on 
the  dinner  may  be  obtained  from  the 
Council  Secretary,  Mrs  Muriel  C,  Javelin, 
Boston  Public  Library, 

There  were  many  complimentary  comments 
about  the  Film  Festival  program  which 
was  printed  in  the  Boston  Public  Library 
Printing  Department.  Special  thanks 
are  also  due  to  the  Office  of  Records, 
Files,  Statistics  for  mimeographing 
ballots  and  other  needed  notices. 

Muriel  C.  Javelin 

ALA  REPRESENTATIVE  TOURS 
NEW  ENGLAND 

S»  Janice  Kee,  Executive  Secretary  of 
the  A.L.A.  Public  Libraries  Division, 
spent  the  morning  at  Central  Library,  on 
Monday,  May  11.  She  arrived  promptly  at 
nine  o'clock  in  order  to  visit  the  course 
in  Branch  Libraries,  since  the  subject 
for  the  day  was  Adult  Education,  Fol- 
lowing an  appointment  with  the  Director, 
she  was  taken  on  a  hasty  tour  of  the 
building.  She  then  dashed  over  to  the 
Division  of  Library  Extension  for  a 
meeting  with  Mrs  George  Wallace,  Trustee 
of  the  Fitchburg  Public  Library, 

A  very  small  group  from  the  Boston 
Public  Library  attended  a  luncheon  at 
the  Salmagundi  Restaurant,  planned  in 
Miss  Kee's  honor  by  the  Massachusetts 
Division  of  Library  Extension  and  at 
which  she  brought  official  greetings  from 
ALA,  The  BPL  was  allotted  a  limited 
"quota"  in  order  that  other  librarians 
in  the  Greater  Boston  area  might  have  an 
opportunity  to  meet  Miss  Kee. 

This  is  the  first  time  for  many  years 
that  a  representative  from  ALA  headquar- 
ters has  made  an  extensive  tour  of  the 
New  England  area.  Although  the  primary- 
purpose  of  Miss  Kee's  trip  was  to  visit 
State  Library  Agencies,  she  also  visited 
public  libraries  wherever  possible. 


Muriel  C,  Javelin 


PANEL  TALK 

On  April  l6,  branch  librarians  from  the 
South  Boston  area  gave  a  panel  talk  to  the 
South  Boston  Neighborhood  Council  on  the 
various  library  facilities  available  to 
the  people  of  the  district.  Mary  Oilman, 
City  Point,  described  the  organization  of 
a  branch  library;  Mrs  Eleanora  Chaplik, 
Washington  Village,  spoke  about  the  book 
collection;  Mrs  Evelyn  Green,  First 
Assistant,  City  Point,  discussed  activi- 
ties; and  Mrs  Irene  Tuttle,  South  Boston, 
talked  about  the  new  viewpoint  in  library 
work  and  new  departments  and  services  at 
the  Central  Library.  Library  publications 
and  booklists  were  distributed  to  members 
of  the  Council. 

Irene  H.  Tuttle 

A  BRIEF  QUOTATION  OF  INTEREST 

The  following  brief  quotation  from  Ify 
Host  the  World,  the  third  and  last  volume 


of  George  Santayana's  fascinating  auto- 
biography "Persons  and  Places,"  may 
interest  some  members  of  the  staff  because 
of  its  connection  with  the  decoration  of 
the  (Central  Library  building  on  Copley 
Square : 

(The  author  tells  of  returning  to 
Gibraltar  in  I89I  and  crossing  to  Tangiers 
with  some  steamer  acquaintances,  one  of 
whom  was  John  Sargent.).  "He  was  then  at 
work  preparing  his  decorations  for  the 
Boston  Public  Library,  and  intent  on  find- 
ing figures  and  especially  costumes  suit- 
able for  his  Hebrew  Prophets;  and  in  Spain 
ie   wished  to  re-examine  the  dressed  wooden 
images  of  the  Mater  Dolorosa,  in  view  of 
a  Madonna  that  he,  neant  to  introduce  into 
lis  design  for  the  other  end  of  the  same 
lall.  His  appreci.tion  of  these  sc  Spanish 
images  appealed  to  rie.  Without  being  a 
Dre-Raphaelite,  he  had  altogether  outgrown 
Protestant  shyness  in  religious  art,  and 
felt  the  deep  passion  in  it.  Nevertheless 
we  saw  nothing  in  Tangiers  that  was  more 
than  curious.  .  .  We  saw  some  Jewish 
houses,  not  being  admitted  into  the  Moslem 
ones;  and  while  Sargent  and  the  others 
bargained  for  all  sorts  of  treasures,  I 
bought  a  pink-and-gold  cloak,  that  for 
years  afterwards  decorated  my  wall,  and 
that  Sargent  said  was  Venetian  stuff  woven 
with  half  moons  expressly  for  the  Oriental 
narket," 

Margaret  Mixnsterberg 


-8- 


MELAVIN-MURPHY 

At  11:00  a.m.  on  Saturday,  May  9> 
Katherine  Melavin  of  the  Business  Office 
became  the  bride  of  Harry  Murphy  of 
Charlestovm  at  St,  Ambrose  Church  in 
Dorchester,  The  bride  wore  a  full-length 
gown  of  ivory  satin  and  a  Juliet  cap  with 
a  finger-tip  veil.  She  carried  a  mixed 
bouquet  with  a  white  orchid  in  the  centejj 
Miss  Melavin 's  sister  Doris  was  her  only 
attendant  and  she  wore  a  pink  gown  of 
net  over  satin  with  matching  headpiece. 
On  her  arm  she  carried  a  spray  of  deep 
pink  lilacs. 

After  the  reception,  which  was  held  at 
the  Beaconsfield  Hotel,  the  couple  left 
for  a  wedding  trip  to  New  York  City, 
Mr  and  Mrs  Murphy  will  make  their  home  in 
North  Weymouth, 

ARNAVETS  -  ROSTER  19^3  -  195U 

Commander  —  Charles  J,  Gillis 
Vice-Commander  —  Louis  N,  Rains 
Adjutant  &  Quartermaster  —  James  P,  J. 

Gannon 
Chaplain  —  Samuel  Green 
Officer-of-the-day  —  Henry  F,  Barry 
Trustees  —  Charles  L.  Higgins 

Thomas  J,  Daly 
Historian  —  William  Di  Rosario 
Serjeant-Major  —  Martin  F,  Waters 
Patriotic-Instructor  —  Louis  Polishook 
Bugler  ~  John  T.  Kyle 
Sentinel  ~  Charles  F,  Weider 

CARE 

The  following  is  a  quotation  from  a 
letter  recently  received  by  the  Chainnan 
of  the  Special  Committee  on  CARE  from 
Paul  J.  Caron,  New  England  Representative 
for  Public  Relations} 

"...Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  convey,  the 
appreciation  of  CARE  to  all  the  members 
of  the  Professional  Staff  Association 
for  this  spletidid  contribution  to  the 
CARE  Book  Fund  Program.,," 

Keep  up  the  good  work.  Remember  to 
CARE  I 

Special  Ccwnmittee  on  CARE 

■<HH?-K-»^HKHf-R- 


CIVIL  DEFENSE 

Daylight  Air  Raid  Test 

All  units  throughout  the.  Library  System 
reported  full  cooperation  of  staff  and 
public  during  the  Daylight  Air  Raid  Test 
on  Thursday,  May  7.  One  hundred  and 
thirty  members  of  the  staff  in  Central 
Library  were  on  Civil  Defense  duty. 

This  was  the  first  test  in  which  volun- 
teers for  Information  and  Counseling 
Services  have  had  to  report  for  duty. 
An  analysis  of  the  73  volunteers  is  of 
interest: 

30  reported  for  duty 
9  reported  as  Wardens  or  First  Aiders 
15  were  needed  in  their  departarents 

or  branch  libraries 
19  were  not  scheduled  to  work 

Thursday  morning  or  were  attending 
the  Round  Table  of  Librarians  for 
Young  Adults,  and  did  not  report 
for  Civil  Defense  duty. 
There  were  38O  members  of  the  staff  and 
119  members  of  the  public  in  the  Central 
Library  and  60  people  from  the  street  took 
shelter.  In  branch  libraries  there  were 
122  staff  members  and  127  members  of  the 
public  in  the  buildings. 

Under  date  of  May  8,  19^3,  the  following 
letter  was  received  from  Joseph  L,  Malone, 
Director,  Boston  Civil  Defense  Department; 

"The  City  of  Boston  Department  of  Civil 
Defense  wishes  to  extend  to  you  and  those 
associated  with  you  its  thanks  and  apprecia- 
tion for  your  contribution  of  time  and 
effort  in  the  interest  of  Civil  Defense, 

"We  realize  how  busy  our  key  personnel 
and  their  assistants  are  and  we  are  most 
appreciative  of  their  willingness  to 
accept  additional  responsibilities  in 
Civil  Defense  in  Boston,  Their  splendid 
cooperation  guaranteed  the  success  of  our 
city-wide  test  on  May  7,  1953. 

"I  know  that  the  success  of  the  test 
yesterday  must  have  brought  to  all  a 
feeling  of  satisfaction  in  a  job  well 
done,  Congratulationsi" 

Know  Your  Blood  Type 

The  Boston  Public  Library  Civil  Defense 
Planning  Committee  made  the  following 
recommendation  on  May  5>  1953^ 


-9- 


"That  arrangements  be  made  with  the 
Civil  Defense  Headquarters  for  the  under- 
taking of  a  voluntary  blood  typing  pro- 
gram in  the  Library  so  that  all  full --time 
and  part-time  memoers  of  the  staff  -who 
so  desire  may  be  given  the  opportunity 
of  having  their  hlood  tested  and  receive 
identification  cards  cho/ing  Blood  Type 
and  Rh  Factor;  that  the  program  be  under 
the  supervision  of  Mrs  Wollent^  and  that 
it  be  carried  through  as  soon  as  possiblei' 

On  May  11;,  1953:;  "this  recommendation 
was  approved  by  Francis  X,  Moloney,  in 
Charge  of  the  Library's  Civil  Defense 
Program.  Plans  for  putting  it  into  effect 
will  be  given  to  the  staff  through  of- 
ficial notices. 

Sarah  M,  Usher 

BRANCH  NOTES 

Jeffries  Point 

The  book  reviews  which  members  of  the 
Jeffries  Point  Blue  Ribbon  Story  Club 
have  been  writing  have  been  a  source  of 
entertainment  to  the  staff  as  well  as  a 
means  of  enlightenment  to  our  young 
readers.  The  children  who  belong  to  the 
Blue  Ribbon  Story  Club  have  a  choice  of 
appraising  the  books  they  read  by  either 
writing  a  comment  on  the  book,  or,  if 
they  are  of  a  more  artistic  bent,  by 
drawing  a  picture  to  convey  their  impres- 
sion of  it.  Both  the  reviews  and  the 
drawings  have  shown  much  ingenuity  and 
imagination. 

Not  content  with  simply  singing  the 
praises  of  the  books,  our  young  reviewers 
insist  that  the  other  boys  and  girls 
read  the  stories  too,  and  tell  them  so 
in  no  uncertain  terms.  Another  favorite 
method  used  by  literary-minded  club 
members  is  to  describe  ?.  highly  precari- 
ous story  situation  and  leave  the  outcome 
gravely  in  doubt.  We  seem  to  have  no 
lack  of  budding  super-salesmen  in  our 
neighborhood] 

The  Blue  Ribbon  Story  Club  has  been 
active  at  the  Jeffries  Point  Branch 
since  February  12  and  will  hold  its  con- 
cluding meeting  for  the  season  on  June  S, 

Neponset 

On  April  28  at  300  in  the  afternoon 
the  Library  had  its  last  movie  of  the 
season.  This  was  attended  by  approxi- 
mately 95  enthusiastic  children  from 


grades  3-5.  In  the  movie  entitled  "Sing 
a  song  of  Friendship"  the  children  joined 
eagerly  in  the  singing  adding  a  new  note 
to  our  film  program. 

The  first  vreekly  pre-school  story  hour 
for  the  tiny  tots  took  place  on  Monday 
May  h.y   1953  at  10  o'clock.  The  children 
listened  attentively  to  the  stories  told 
by  the  Children's  Librarian  and  joined 
in  singing  games  to  vary  the  program. 

On  Friday  afternoon  May  8  at  3:30 
o'clock  the  ten  children  who  had  attained 
their  gold  star  for  reading  at  least  ten 
books  in  the  "Discoverers  and  Explorer? 
Club"  were  present  at  a  party,  RefreEh- 
ments  were  aerved  (which  disappeared  like 
hot  cakes)  and  games  were  played,  A  good 
time  was  had  by  all, 

Phillips  Brooks 


On  the  evening  of  April  l6  Virginia 
Haviland,  former  branch  librarian  and  now 
Readers  Advisor  for  Children,  returned 
to  Phillips  Brooks  to  show  her  charming 
color  slides,  with  a  gay  commentary  on 
the  pQflces  visited.  "Islands  -  North  and 
South"  was  the  title  given  the  "divertisse- 
ment", and  it  afforded  the  thirty-five 
spectators  a  welcome  change  from  the 
horribly  rainy  evening,  with  the  colorful 
glimpses  of  the  northern  islands  of  Nova 
Scotia,  Prince  Edward  Island  and  Cape 
Breton  to  the  warmer,  sunny  scenes  of 
Bermuda,  and  the  West  Indies,  The  members 
of  the  audience  were  equally  pleased  with 
the  voyage  by  proxy,  and  the  chance  to 
greet  Miss  Haviland,  We  all  look  fojrward 
to  more  pictures  of  the  trips  we  hope  she 
will  take  in  the  future. 

South  End 


It's  Circus  time  all  the  time  during 
the  month  of  May  in  the  Children's  Room. 
Circus  and  animal  stories  are  enclosed  in 
a  circus  ring  on  one  of  the  tables.  Large 
figures  of  circus  animals,  clowns,  and  a 
lion  trainer  attract  the  eye  as  soon  as 
one  enters  the  room.  The  Clown  has  a 
gleam  in  his  left  orbj  the  lion  trainer 
a  smug  air;  the  monkey,  a  "Curious  George" 
smile.  We  are  very  proud  of  these  figures 
and  the  young  artist  who  brought  them  to 
life  so  quickly  and  with  so  much  animation- 
■Ruth  Horgan,  a  student  in  the  junior 
year  at  the  State  Teachers'  College  of 
Boston.  The  dra;d.ngs  have  met  the  supreme 
test,  too,  for  our  most  exacting  judges, 
the  children,  declare,  in  incredulous 
wonderment,  "They  look  realj"  We  welcome 


-10- 


visitorsj  we  urge  those  of  you  who  cannot 
attend  "Barnum  &.  Bailey's  Greatest  Show  or 
Earth"  to  come  to  OUR  Circus — come  to  the 
circus  at  the  South  End I 

* 

A  special  highlight  of  the  Children? s 
Room  this  month  is  a  poster  of  "Our 
Favorite  Stories",  book  reviews  written 
by  the  children  themselves,  in  Grades 
3-5»  The  reviews  are  original,  brief, 
and  most  inviting*  A  third  grader  liked 
"Peter  Pan"  because  "It  made  him  happy 
when  he  read  it'' —  "His  name  is  Michael 
and  his  brother's  name  is  John  just  like 
the  boys  in  the  gtory,"  A  fifth -grade 
girl  enjoyed  "Little  Women"  because  "she 
had  a  feeling  that  she  was  living  right 
id.th  them  in  the  family." 

■«■ 

During  May,  the  Branch  is  cooperating 
with  the  "Clean-up,  Fix-up,  Paint-up" 
poster  contest  sponsored  by  the  South 
End  Planning  Council  and  the  South  End 
Businessmen's  Association,  The  posters 
are  the  creative  efforts  of  boys  and 
girls  in  the  junior  high  and  high  schools 
of  the  district.  Many  are  imaginative 
and  colorfulj  all  emphasize  very  forcibly 
the  theme.  The  President  of  the  South 
End  Businessmen's  Association,  Allan  W, 
Pierce,  distributed  certificates  to  the 
prize  winners  on  Thursday  afternoon. 
May  lU,  1953,  but  the  posters  will  be  on 
exhibit  for  the  entire  month. 

West  End 

Jacque  Moon,  B.U.  geology  major  and 
part-time  assistant  at  West  End,  has  left 
the  library  service  to  take  a  position  in 
Greenland  for  the  Summer,  He  plans  to  be 
married  soon  after  his  return  in  the  fall, 

•«• 

May  10  marked  the  anniversary  of  the 
ruthless  burning  of  books  in  Germany  when 
the  Third  Reich  tried  to  eradicate  freedom 
of  thought  from  the  minds  of  men.  It  is 
of  interest  to  recall  this  day,  twenty 
years  later,  and  to  note  that  practically 
all  of  the  books  which  were  burned  in 
those  holocausts  are  still  available  on 
the  shelves  of  the  Judaica  Collection  at 
West  End. 

Free  thought  survives  tyrants. 


DEPARTt^NT  NOTES 

Book  Purchasing 

The  members  of  Book  Purchasing  were 
sorry  to  lose  Grace  Marvin  when  the 
approval  service  was  taken  over  by  Book 
Selection  because  it  is  felt  that  approvals 
are  more  a  function  of  selection  rather 
than  the  purchase  of  books.  Miss  Marvin 
was  presented  with  a  gift  and  the  fol- 
lowing opus  written  by  two  fellow  workers: 
P.  "Longfellow"  Smith  and  G,  "Whittier" 
Hottleman,  members  of  the  ASLV  school  of 
poetry. 

You  took  your  books 
To  your  new  lair 
But  you  left  behind 
Your  broken  down  chair 

I  guess  you  know 
That  your  removal 
Did  not  meet 
With  our  APPROVAL 

But  here's  a  token 
Of  our  esteem 
And  of  Friendship's 
Lasting  gleam 

Just  a  necklace 
It's  not  very  much 
But  we  hope  its  enough 
To  keep  us  in  touch 

We've  got  earrings  too 
So  just  "sit  tight" 
We'll  send  them  along 
Tomorrow  night. 


-11- 


SOAP  BOX 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must 
be  accompanied  by  the  full  name  of  the 
Association  member  submitting  it,  to- 
gether with  the  name  of  the  Branch  Li- 
brary, Department. or  Office  in  which  he 
or  she  is  employed.  The  name  is  with- 
held from  publication,  or  a  pen  name 
used,  if  the  contributor  so  requests. 
Anonymous  contributions  are  not  given 
consideration.  The  author  of  the  article 
is  known  only  to  the  contributor  and  to 
the  Editor-in-Chief,  The  contents  of 
articles  appearing  in  the  Soap  Box  are 
personal  opinions  expressed  by  individual 
Association  members  and  their  appearance 
does  not  necessarily  indicate  that  the 
Publications  Committee  and  the  Association 
are  in  agreement  with  the  views  expressed. 


To  the  Soap  Box: 

In  the  section  on  changes  and  transfers 
in  June,  it  will  be  announced  that  I  have 
been  transferred  to  a  branch.  But  it 
occurs  to  me  that  some  members  of  the 
staff  might  like  to  know  my  new  address 
now,  I  was  told  on  Tuesday  May  12,  U8 
hours  before  I  was  due  back  after  my 
leave  of  absence  that  I  was  being  sent 
to  the  Mt.  Bowdoin  Branch,  I  hope  that 
the  many  friends  I  have  made  in  this 
building  the  past  26  years  will  continue 
to  keep  in  touch  with  me. 

Harry  Andrews 

To  the  Soap  Box  Editor: 

The  recent  appointments  have  once  more 
throwii  the  floodlight  of  inquiry  upon  a 
problem  which  would  seem  to  need  careful 
study  and  scmitiny.  As  conditions  now 
exist  there  is  a  discrepancy  of  1600  be- 
tween the  maximum  salary  of  a  Branch  Li- 
brarian and  that  of  a  Children's  Librarian, 
This  figure  is  based  on  the  recently 
announced  proposed  salary  schedule.  Prior 
to  this  the  discrepancy  was  $700,  Does 
not  such  a  discrepancy  lead  naturally  to 
the  draidng  off  of  Children's  Librarians 
into  the  ranks  of  the  Branch  Librarians? 

If  a  young  person  comes  into  the  library 
trained  as  a  Children's  Librarian,  works 
successfully  In  that  field  for  several 


years,  and  likes  children,  why  should  she 
be  enticed  into  a  job  for  which  she  is 
not  specially  trained  or  interested? 
Naturally,  anyone  in  his  right  mind  would 
prefer  a  salary  increase  of  $600  or  $700— 
but  why  should  such  a  discrepancy  exist?.; 
Why  could  not  the  Children's  Librarians 
receive  a  maximum  almost  equivalent  to 
that  of  Branch  Librarians  and  thus  remove 
the  temptation  to  transfer  from  a  position 
for  which  they  are  especially  qualified 
and  where  they  are  desperately  needed? 
This  does  not  mean  that  Children's  Librari- 
ans should  not  be  considered  as  potential 
Branch  Librarians  if  they  express  a  desire 
to  transfer  to  that  position,  but  if  the 
children  are  not  to  be  deprived  of  some 
of  their  best  librarians,  the  bait  held 
up  ($600-$700  is  quite  some  bait)  should 
not  be  so  great. 

Branch  Librarians  who  have  the  overall 
responsibility  for  a  branch  library  should 
receive  a  remuneration  in  proportion  to 
their  position.  Children's  Librarians 
also  have  a  vital  place  in  a  public  li- 
brary. Their  salary  should  come  sufficient- 
ly within  the  range  of  that  of  branch 
librarian  so  that  they  will  think  twice — 
yes,  even  thrice — before  they  leave  their 
chosen  field  of  work  to  assume  the  added 
responsibilities  of  branch  librarianj 
otherwise,  the  lack  of  Children's  Li- 
brarians will  continue  indefinitely. 

Undoubtedly  this  condition  exists  in 
libraries  all  over  the  country — and  may 
this  not  account  at  least  in  some 
measiire  for  the  dearth  of  Children's 
Librarians?  Could  not  Boston  pioneer  in 
this  field  by  making  the  two  positions 
more  equitable  financially  and  thus  begin 
a  trend  toward  keeping  some  of  our  fine 
Children's  Librarians  in  their  special 
field  of  work? 

CONCERNED 


-12- 


AS  ONE  EXECUTr/E  SEES  IT  . 

(From  The  PROSPECT,  published  by  the 
Sales  Managers  Club  of  the  Boston  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce,  April,  19^3.) 

"...as  everybody  knows,  an  executive 
has  nothing  to  do.  That  is  except: 

"To  decide  what  is  to  be  donej  to  tell 
somebody  to  do  it,  listen  to  the  reasons 
why  it  should  not  be  done  in  a  differ- 
ent way,  and  to  prepare  arguments  in 
rebuttal  that  shall  be  convincing  and 
conclusive. 

"To  follow  up  to  see  if  the  thing  has 
been  done;  to  discover  that  it  has  not 
been  done;  to  inquire  why  it  has  not 
been  done;  to  listen  to  excuses  from  the 
person  who  should  have  done  it  and  did 
not  do  it;  and  to  think  up  arguments  to 
overcome  the  excuses. 

"To  follow  up  a  second  time  to  see  if 
the  thing  has  been  done;  to  discover  that 
it  has  been  done  but  done  incorrectly; 
to  point  out  how  it  should  have  been 
done;  to  conclude  that  as  long  as  it  has 
been  done,  it  may  as  well  be  left  as  it 
is. 

"To  consider  how  much  simpler  and 
better  the  thing  would  have  been  done 
had  he  done  it  himself  in  the  first 
place;  to  reflect  sadly  that  if  he  had 
done  it  himself  he  would  have  been  able 
to  do  it  right  in  twenty  minutes,  but 
that  as  things  turned  out  he  himself 
spent  two  days  trying  to  find  out  why 
it  was  that  it  had  taken  somebody  else 
three  weeks  to  do  it  wrong,  but  to 
realize  that  such  an  idea  would  have  had 
a  highly  demoralizing  effect  on  the 
organization,  because  it  would  strike 
at  the  very  foundation  of  the  belief 
of  all  employees  that  an  executive  has 
really  nothing  to  do," 

MR  HEINTZELMAN  HONORED 

Arthur  W.  Heintzelman  was  the  honored 
guest  at  a  luncheon  given  by  the  Rotary 
Club  of  Boston  on  Wednesday,  May  13,  in 
the  Georgian  Room  of  the  Hotel  Statler. 

President  Aaron  Marshall  Jones  intro- 
duced Mr  Heintzelman  as  the  distinguished 
Keeper  of  Prints  who  has  brought  national 
and  international  prestige  to  the  Boston 
Public  Library  and  the  City  of  Boston; 
who  is  renowned  as  an  etcher  whose 
artistic  reputation  is  known  equally  in 
the  United  States  and  Europe;  who  has 


given  the  City  valuable  service  by  his 
many  civic  activities  and  untiring  efforts 
to  promote  and  create  a  better  under- 
standing of  the  arts  as  a  critic  to  the 
student,  advisor  to  the  collector,  and 
interpreter  to  the  lajmian;  and  who  has 
made  the  Print  Department  in  the  Boston 
Public  Library  a  vital  force  not  only  in 
this  city  but  throughout  the  United  States, 
South  America,  and  Europe, 

CIVIL  DEFENSE  LETTER 
RECEIVED  MAY  15 

Dear  Mr  Tuley: 

May  I  at  this  time  thank  you  for  send- 
ing me  a  copy  of  your  air  raid  test  report. 
It  is  an  excellent  report  in  every  way 
and  reveals  the  extensive  cooperation  of 
all  public  libraries  in  the  Civil  Defense 
Program  in  Boston. 

Please  extend  to  those  vAio  assisted  in 
the  Civil  Defense  effort  of  our  Boston 
public  libraries  our  thanks  and  apprecia- 
tion as  well  as  the  congratulations  they 
so  richly  deserve,  I  know  that  the 
success  of  the  test  must  have  brought  to 
all  a  feeling  of  satisfaction  in  a  job 
well  done. 

Sincerely, 

JOSEPH  L.  MALONE,  Director 
Boston  Civil  Defense  Department 


FURTHER  EVENTS  OF  INTEREST 


May  18, 


May  23. 


May  26, 


SLA,  Boston  Chapter,  meeting 
at  Perkins  Institution, 
Watertown,  at  7:30  p.m. 
Note  change  of  date, 

CLA,  Boston  Chapter,  biennial 
meeting  with  election  of 
officers,  2:30  p,m.,  Adams 
Street  Branch  Library. 

Film  Council  Awards  Dinner, 
Sheraton-Plaza  Hotel,  For 
information  consult  Mrs  Muriel 
C.  Javelin. 


Lament  of  a  little  Box 


Nobody  seems  to  care, 

Nobody  seems  aware         '■^. 

Of  a  little  box  that's  standing  there* 

No  Pandora  box  am  I, 

For  out  of  me  no  troubles  fly, 

But  also  -  and  alas  I  -  no  hope. 

And  that  is  why  I  stand  and  mope. 

If  I  could  only  be  protean 

And  turn  into  a  South  Korean 

With  haggard  hand  outstretched  in  want, 

Or  one  who,  hollow-eyed  and  gaunt, 

Escapes  the  iron  bar  and  flees 


To  no-man's  land  of  refugees  -  y'^^^  A 


To  offer  these  a  little  ease 

The  Care-less  passer-by  would  stop 


O'  -,c> 


And  nickels,  dimes  and  quarters  drop, 
And  fill  me  to  the  very  top. 

But  emptiness,  absorbing  space, 
I  can't  help  thinking  a  disgrace. 


Care(e)itas 


ra 


uesiion 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


JUNE  1953 


THE   QUESTION   MARK 
Published  by  the  Boston  Public  Library  Professional  Staff  Association 


Volume  VIII,  Number  6 


June  1953 


Publications  Coinmittee: 


Gerald  L.  Ball,  Geraldine  S.  Herrick,  John  J.  McCafferby, 
Sarah  M,  Usher,  Charles  J.  Gillis,  Chairman 


Publication  date; 
The  fifteenth  of  each  month 


Deadline  for  submitting  material; 
The  tenth  of  each  month 


PERSONAL  NOTES 


New  Employees 


EDITOR'S  CQRNHl 

The  advent  of  summer  causes  a  psychologi- 
cal slowing  down  to  even  the  most  energetic 
of  us.  The  pleasant  prospect  of  vacation 
time,  the  added  daylight  for  leisure  ac- 
tivities, the  joy  of  week-ends  at  the  sea- 
shore or  in  the  gSrden — these  things  tend 
to  distract  one  from  the  importance  of  the 
job  in  hand.  But  summer  is  also  a  time 
for  leisurely  retrospection. 

Let  us  look  back  on  the  hundred  years  of 
the  Library,  and  its  service  to  the  resi- 
dents of  Boston,  It  has  built  a  solid 
foundation  of  scholarly  achievement  and 
dependable  service.  In  its  early  years  the 
Library  was  ever  in  the  vanguard  of  li 
brarianship.  The  men  who  guided  its  destiry 
were  foremost  in  their  field — daring  in- 
novators, indeed,  three-quarters  of  a  cen- 
tury ago,  who  claimed  the  public  library 
as  the  "university  of  the  people." 

In  later  years,  more  conservative  leaders 
were  at  the  helm  and  the  departures  from 
the  well-trodden  paths  of  librarianship 
were  infrequent.  The  testing  of  untried 
paths  was  done  by  other  libraries,  while 
the  BPL  followed  the  crowded  high-road  of 
traditional  service.  There  were  expansions 
of  service,  yes,  by  adding  new  branch  li- 
braries, but  the  new  branch  libraries  dis- 
pensed the  same  quality  of  service. 

About  twenty  years  ago,  this  long-time 
trend  started  to  change,  gradually  at  firsrl^ 
then  ever  more  rapidly,  until  today  we  can 
say  again  that  the  BPL  is  in  the  vanguard 
of  librarianship.  This  overhauling  of  the 
leaders  in  the  field  has  been  a  struggle 
which  has  been  felt  by  most  of  us. 
shaken  many  of  us  out  of  our  former  state 
of  complacency  and  has  aroused  a  sense  of  Resignations 
competence  and  competition  known  to  few  li-Mrs  Muriel  C.  Robinson,  Print,  to  live  in 


labor  unions,  and  fine  exhibits. 

In  this  Centennial  Year  plans  are  in  the 
making  which  will  keep  the  BpL  in  the  fore- 
front of  librarianship  for  many  years. 
Let  us  do  our  utmost  t.o  help  those  plans 
reach  their  fruition, 

Charles  J,  Gillis 


Isabella  M,  Porter,  History. 
David  J.  Shedd,  Book  Stack  Service. 
Edwin  J.  Kelley,  Jr.,  Kirstein. 
Lawrence  J.  Sindoni,  Book  Stack  Service, 
Sydney  L,  Shwom,  Codman  Square,  formerly 

part-time  at  Mattapan. 
Paul  B.  Swenson,  Print,  formerly  part-time, 
Kathleen  B.  Hegarty,  Office  of  the  Div.  of 

R  and  RS,  formerly  part-time  at  Brighton, 
Mary  L,  Devolder,  West  Roxbury. 
Mary  E.  Grant,  West  End. 
Ann  M.  Allen,  Egleston  Square,  formerly 

part-time  at  Dorchester, 

Transfers 


Grace  M,  Marvin,  Book  Purchasing  to  Book 

Selection, 
Harry  Andrews,  Branch  Issue  to  Allston. 
Mrs  Lucia  S.  Faulkner,  West  Roxbury  to 

Memorial. 
Marie  T.  Hastie,  West  End  to  Parker  Hill, 
Mrs  Elizabeth  F.  Howard,  Tyler  Street  to 

Mattapan. 
Ethel  Kimball,  Allston  to  Connolly. 
Mrs  Veronica  M.  Lehane,  Memorial  to  West 

End, 
Eleanor  O'Leary,  Dorchester  to  Memorial, 
It  has  Ruth  E.  Winn,  Roslindale  to  Tyler  Street. 


brarians  fifty  years  ago. 

It  has  resulted  in  services  not  dreamed 
of  by  the  forerunners  of  the  profession: 
loai  service  for  recordings  and  films, 
bcokmobiie  service  for  outlying  areas,  ex- 
tension service  to  hospital  patients  and 


New  Zealand, 
Mrs  Melanie  H.  Bellah,  Rare  Book, 
)lrs  Grace  E.  Hughes,  Cataloging  and  Classi- 
fication, Div.  of  R  and  RS,  tobe  at  home, 
^rs  Lois  G.  Goddard,  School  Issue,  to  move 
to  Florida, 


-2- 


Engagements 

Maurice  Rahilly,  formerly  of  Audio- 
Visual,  now  serving  a  one-year  internship 
at  the  State  Department  Library  in  Wash- 
ington, has  announced  his  engagement  to 
Patricia  Kane»  Miss  Kane  is  a  teacher  in 
the  Boston  school  system. 

Mary  T,  C.  Mannix,  Branch  Librarian  at 
Phillips  Brooks,  recently  announced  her 
engagement  to  James  E,  O'Neill,  Mr  O'Neill 
is  a  Field  Manager  for  the  Catholic 
Digest, 

Elinor  E.  Day,  Dorchester,  has  announced' 
her  engagement  to  William  Conley,  West 
End.  The  wedding  will  take  place  on 
August  15,  1953. 

Rosemary  D,  Cross,  East  Boston,  has 
announced  her  engagement  to  James  Cola- 
russo.  The  wedding  will  take  place  on 
June  20,  1953. 


BON  VOYAGE 

TO  EUROPEAN  TRAVELLERS 

Susan  Shelvin,  Audio-Visual,  who  sailed 
on  June  11,  on  the  lie  de  France,  from 
New  York.  She  will  spend  the  summer 
months  attending  music  festivals  in 
France,  Spain,  Italy,  Germany,  and  Eng- 
land. 

Helen  Schubarth,  Auditor,  and  Mrs  Ann 
Lasbury,  Post  Card  Counter,  who  fly  from 
Idlewild  Field,  New  York,  on  Monday, 
June  15,  for  a  five-weeks'  tour  of  the 
Scandinavian  countries.  Landing  in 
Copenhagen,  they  will  spend  some  time  in 
Denmark  and  Sweden,  After  a  boat  trip  up 
the  coast  of  Norway,  they  will  fly  home 
from  Oslo. 

Zoltan  Haraszti,  Keeper  of  Rare  Books, 
who  sails  on  the  S,  S.  Mauritania  from 
Pier  90,  North  River,  New  York  City,  on 
June  20,  He  will  travel  in  England  and 
France,  and  while  in  Italy  will  visit 
his  neice  who  is  married  to  an  Italian 
professor  and  makes  her  home  on  the 
Italian  Riviera . 

G.  Florence  Connolly,  Fine.  Arts,  who 
sails  on  the  S.  S,  Georgic,  from  New  York, 
on  June  2U,  as  a  member  of  a  Harvard 
Travel."  ng  Seminar,  The  group  will  study 


Romanesque  architecture  in  France  during 
this  eight-weeks'  trip, 

BON  VOYAGE  TO  A.L.A.  ATTENDANTS 

Milton  E,  Lord,  Director 
Mildred  R,  Adelson,  Jamaica  Plain 
May  L.  Crosby,  Cataloging  and  Classifi- 
cation, Div,  of  R  and  RS 
Mary  F,  Daly,  Statistical 
Mary  L,  Oilman,  City  Point 
Virginia  Haviland,  Open  Shelf 
Madalene  D,  Holt,  Neponset 
Muriel  C,  Javelin,  Div,  of  HR  and  CS 
Mildred  Kaufman,  Memorial 
Emilia  M.  Lange,  Print 
Catherine  M,  MacDonald,  Personnel 
Ruth  V,  Marshall,  Teachers 
Donald  L,  Newman,  Book  Purchasing 
Euclid  J,  Peltier,  Audio-Visual 
Mary  Alice  Rea,  Book  Purchasing 
Tynne  Mc  Saari,  Neponset 
Helen  H,  Savakian,  Information 
Ruth  M.  Stenstreem,  Cataloging  and 
Classification,  Div.  of  R  and  RS 
Elizabeth  L,  Wright,  Personnel 

THE  SOCIAL  WHIRL 

A  surprise  shower  was  tendered  Rosemary 
D,  Cross,  Assistant  in  the  Children's 
Room,  South  End,  on  Friday  evening. 
May  5,  at  the  home  of  Anne  M.  Connolly, 
Adult  Librarian.  Miss  Cross'  co-workers 
showered  her  with  gifts  of  delicate 
bridal  lingerie,  an  Indian-patterned 
blanket,  and  a  lovely  glass  dish.  Deco- 
rations for  the  room  and  the  unique 
umbrella  centerpiece  were  made  by  Miss 
Connolly's  sister.  Snapshots  were  taken 
of  this  mixed  happy  'n  sad  occasion, 
which  also  marked  Miss  Cross'  transfer 
to  another  branch. 

On  Saturday  evening.  May  13,  a  group 
of  the  "younger  set"  enjoyed  a  second 
evening  of  roller  skating  at  Roll-land, 
Norwood.  Only  one  minor  tumble  is 
remembered.  In  fact,  the  participants 
were  in  such  good  glee  that  they  concluded 
the  evening  at  the  Italian  Kitchen  in 
T^edham  where  they  gave  their  Jaws  exer- 
cise while  they  rested  their  feetl 

On  May  21  at  5  p»m,  in  the  lounge  a 
shower  was  tendered  two  prospective  brides 
of  the  Book  Stack  Service,  Jean  Moritz 
and  Florence  Karcauskas.  Florence  was 
the  recipient  of  a  pair  of  lovely  lamps 


-3- 


and  Jean  vras  delighted  with  a  personal 
gift  for  her  trousseau.  Among  the  guests 
•was  another  bride-to-be,  Betty  McLaughlin 
formerly  of  the  Book  Stack  Service,  now 
working  at  Parker  Hill.  Betty^too,  was 
presented  with  a  wedding  gift  from  the 
friends  who  miss  her  very  much.  Refresh- 
ments were  served  in  the  lunch-room  and 
a  happy  evening  was  enjoyed. 

At  the  College  Club  on  Commonwealth 
Avenue,  on  Saturday,  May  23,  Alice  M, 
Jordan  was  hostess  to  a  nvimber  of  her 
former  Library  co-workers  and  friends. 
Miss  Jordan  still  keeps  up  an  active 
interest  in  work  with  children. 

On  Monday,  June  8,  Helen  Schubarth  and 
Mrs  Ann  Lasbury  shared  honors  at  a  Bon 
Voyage  luncheon  at  the  Town  Room, 
Sheraton  Plaza  Hotel,  Some  twenty  co- 
workers had  gathered  to  wish  them  well 
on  their  trip  to  the  Scandinavian  coun- 
tries. Christine  Hayes  came  in  from 
Natick  to  join  in  the  festivities,  and 
was,  as  usual,  a  most  welcome  addition 
to  the  party, 

WEDDINGS 

The  sun  shone  brightly  on  May  l6  for 
the  Kelleher-Walsh  wedding  in  Brockton, 
Doris,  of  Cataloging  and  Classification, 
Div.  of  R  and  RS,  made  a  lovely  bride  in 
her  gown  of  imported  Chantilly  lace  over 
satin  with  -viiich  she  wore  a  veil  of 
illusion  held  by  a  full  crown  of  seed 
pearls  and  rhinestones.  She  carried 
white  roses  on  a  prayer  book, 

Helen  Kelleher,  sister  of  the  bride, 
was  maid  of  honor,  dressed  in  orchid 
nylon  tulle  over  taffeta  with  matching 
cummerbund  and  bolero.  The  other  three 
attendants  wore  identical  gowns  of  mint 
green,  azure  blue,  and  petal  pink.  They 
carried  white  marguerites  and  a  crown  of 
fresh  flowers  in  their  hair. 

Following  the  wedding  breakfast  and 
reception,  which  was  held  at  a  South 
Easton  Inn,  Mr  and  Mrs  John  H  .  Walsh,  Jr 
left  for  their  wedding  trip  to  New  York 
city.  The  bride  wore  a  gray  suit  with 
boxy  jacket,  a  red-trimmed  white  sailor 
hat,  and  red  and  white  accessories. 

Mrs  Walsh  graduated  from  Simmons  Col- 
lege in  1952,  Mr  Walsh  attended  Bentley 
School  in  Boston,  and  is  now  employed  by 
the  Brockton  Edison  Company,  The  couple 
will  live  at  32  Milton  Street,  Brockton, 


On  Saturday,  May  23,  at  2  p.m.  Louise 
Miraldi  of  General  Reference  was  married 
to  John  La  Fontaine  of  Brockton  at  St 
Theresa's  Church  in  Everett,  Miss  Miraldi 
was  attended  by  her  sister,  Mrs  Walter 
Rysko.  A  reception  was  held  at  Carl's 
Duck  Farm  in  Saugus,  after  which  Mr  and 
Mrs  La  Fontaine  left  for  a  wedding  trip 
to  Vermont,  They  are  now  living  in  Boston^ 

On  Sunday,  May  31jat  3:30  p,m,  at  St, 
Joseph' s  Church  in  Roxbury,  Jean  Moritz 
of  Book  Stack  Service  became  the  bride  of 
Harold  Gilbert  of  Boston.  The  bride 
looked  beautiful  in  a  white  tulle  gown  ■ 
with  a  short  train,  while  the  maid  of 
honor  was  gowned  in  yellow  tulle.  The 
wedding  party  enjoyed  a  happy  reception 
at  the  home  of  the  bride's  aunt,  after 
which  they  left  for  a  honeymoon  in  Canada, 

On  Saturday  morning,  June  6, at  a  Mass 
at  St,  Peter's  Church  in  South  Boston, 
Florence  Karcauskas  of  Book  Stack  Service 
became  the  bride  of  Ernest  B,  Naudziunas 
of  Boston,  The  bride  looked  lovely  in 
a  ballerina  length,  organza  and  lace 
gown.   Her  sister,  who  was  maid  of  honor, 
was  gowned  in  blue  lace.  After  the  recep- 
tion, which  was  a  gala  affair,  the  bride 
and  groom  left  for  a  wedding  trip  in  the 
White  Mountains, 

At  5  p.fi.  on  Sunday,  June  7,  Barbara 
May  Salowitts,  Accounting,  became  the 
bride  of  Harold  Bloom  of  Dorchester.  The 
bride  wore  a  ballerina -length  vrtiite  satin 
gown  triraned  with  lace  and  a  seed-pearl 
coronet  with  a  finger-tip  veil.  She 
carried  a  white  prayer  book  with  a  white 
orchid  and  streamers  of  Stephanotis,   A 
cousin  of  the  bride  came  on  from  New  York 
to  be  the  maid  of  honor.  She  was  dressed 
in  a  shaded  pink  chiffon  ballerina  dress 
and  carried  an  old-fashioned  bouquet  of 
roses  and  baby's  breath. 

After  the  reception,  which  was  held  at 
the  bride's  home,  the  couple  left  for  a 
wedding  trip  to  the  Catskill  Mountains, 
New  York,  Mr  and  Mrs  Harold  Bloom  will 
nake  their  home  in  Dorchester, 

VISITORS 

Dr  Fernanda  Ascarelli,  Director,  Library 
3f  Modern  and  Contemporary  History,  Rome, 

Mr  S,  S,  Saith,  Librarian  of  the  Ministry 
3f  External  Affairs  of  the  Government  of 
India, 


— Ij— 


THE  STAFF  IN  PRINT 

M,  Therese  Campbell,  alumna  of  Catalog- 
ing and  ClaBsification,  Div,  of  R  and  RS, 
was  the  author  of  the  Boston  POST'S  short 
story  for  March  18,  19$3-"Hunch  Button, 

WELCOME  TO  NEW  MEMBERS  OF  BPLPSA 

Mary  Burns,  Trustees'  Office 
Joseph  Foley,  Book  Preparation 
Grace  Gonzalez,  General  Reference 
Daniel  Koury,  Music 
Julia  A,  Lenzi,  Adams  Street 
Louise  Miraldi,  General  Reference 
Constance  O'Keefe,  Roslindale 

NEWS  OF  THE  HARTZELLS 

Harlan  House 
Cornell  College 
Mount  Vernon,  la. 

Dear  Miss  Holt, 

I  am  very  sorry  to  be  so 
tardy  in  acknowledging  your  gracious 
letter,  even  though  Karl  sent  our  regrets. 
We  want  you  to  put  the  enclosed  check 
towards  the  expenses  for  this  year's 
lecture,  as  a  "Thank  you"  from  us  to  all 
of  you  loyal  friends  who  are  keeping 
alive  Mother  Hartzell's  memory, 

Karl  had  to  go  to  Kansas  City,  Mo,, 
to-day  (about  300  miles)  to  speak  to  a 
very  active  alumni  group.  He  will  return 
tomorrow  night  in  time  for  a  Faculty 
Meeting-,  no  doubt  very  tired,  but  I  thini 
the  little  change  of  scene  will  do  him 
good. 

You  may  have  read  in  the  Times  that 
Cornell's  president,  Dr  Russell  D,  Cole, 
was  stricken  on  February  13th  with  an 
acute  coronary  thrombosis.  He  has  not 
recovered  fully  yet  -  is  in  Florida  now, 
after  a  long  stay  in  the  hospital  -  but 
hopes  to  be  here  for  commencement. 

In  the  meantime,  the  college  is  being 
run  by  an  Administrative  Committee,  with 
"Dean  Hartzell"  as  Chairman.  Karl  is 
learning  lots,  believe  me,  and  this  will 
certainly  be  a  rich  and  rewarding  experi- 
ence, if  he  can  keep  his  health  and  his 
sense  of  humor.  It  is  Cornell's  Centen- 
nial year,  which  makes  things  even  more 
hectic.  How  proud  "Mama  B,"  would  be  if 
she  could  see  what  a  fin6  job  her  dear 
son  is  doing'.  The  students  are  crazy 
about  him  -  the  faculty  have  grast  confi- 


dence in  him-and  the  trustees  seem  to 
find  him  most  acceptable. 

The  only  group  which  isn't  completely 
satisfied  is  his  own  family  -  who  see 
very  little  of  him.  But  we  hope  to  go 
to  Wisconsin  for  2  weeks  in  June  and  to 
Colorado  for  2  weeks  in  August  (Cornell 
has  2  six  weeks'  sessions  of  Summer 
School)  when  "Daddy"  can  relax  and  play 
a  leisurely  game  of  tennis  and  golf  and 
read  some  "Who-dunits" 1 

This  week-end  Cornell  is  having  its 
55th  May  Music  Festival  -  the  oldest 
Festival  west  of  the  Mississippi  with 
artists  like  Harszowski  Thurs,  night, 
Jennie  Tourel  Friday  and  the  Chicago 
Symphony  Sat.  We  are  looking  forward 
to  it  very  much.  You  can  imagine  that 
arranging  the  details  for  such  an  affair 
takes  endless  hours  of  planning  -  many 
people  from  Iowa  have  been  coming  yearly 
for  the  last  30~U0  years I  Then  we  catch 
our  breath  before  commencement. 

Our  boys  just  love  it  out  here  -i  and 
are  growing  like  weeds.  Drew,  who  was  lli 
in  March,  is  now  6'1"  tall  and  still 
growingi  He  is  very  musical,  playing 
piano  and  clarinet.  The  twins  are  9  3/U 
full  of  "beans"  -  very  ardent  Cub  Scouts 
and  not  so  ardent  piano  students.  There 
is  a  Conservatory  of  Music  at  Cornell 
■vdiich  awards  Bach,  of  Music  and  Bach,  of 
Music  in  Education  degrees,  in  addition 
to  the  regular  A,B, 

We  are  located  in  a  large  house  on  the 
side  of  a  hill  -  with  a  beautiful  view 
across  the  Cedar  River  Valley,  I,  among 
other  New  Englanders,  was  happily  surprised 
to  see  how  hilly  this  part  of  Iowa  is. 
The  twins  and  Drew  enjoyed  coasting  and 
skiing  this  winter  for  the  first  time 
(Long  Island,  where  we  lived  before, 
was  very  flat). 

Well  -  I  am  rambling  on  and  on  -  but 
thought  you  and  the  other  girls  might 
like  to  know  a  little  about  our  new  home, 
and  especially  Karl's  job  as  Academic  Dean, 
When  you  have  passed  this  around  to  any 
friends  interested  would  you  please  see 
that  Editha  Ewing  gets  it  -  I  haven't 
written  her  in  agesi  There  are  so  many 
College,  High  School,  Grade  School,  Church 
and  Community  Affairs  to  attend  -  plus 
the  usual  3  meals  a  day,  etc,  etc. 

With  all  good  wishes. 


May  5th  '53 


Most  sincerely, 
Anne  Lomas  Hartzell 


-5- 


ARMED  SERVICES  NEWS 

Charles  Hanson  of  the  Air  Force' visited 
the  Library  during  a  recent  furlough. 

AM  AN  9OI-2I4-6I 

Sq  VP-h  N.A.S. 

Oak  Harbor 

Whidbey  Is.  Washington 

May  12,  1953 
Bindery  Dept, , 

Hello  and  how  are  you  all?  Here  I  am 
3110  miles  from  Boston,   I  am  in  Patrol 
Squadron  I4  and  our  home  base  is  Ault 
Field  up  here.  There  are  h   patrol 
squadrons  and  one  French  Naval  Airforce 
patrol  squadron  up  here.  Later  on  this 
year  our  squadron  is  going  either  to 
Japan  or  Korea  to  replace  or  relieve 
another  patrol  sq. 

The  N.A.S,  is  out  on  a  small  island  in 
Puget  Sound  and  is  divided  into  two  parts 
by  the  town  of  Oak  Harbor -one  part  is  the 
Seaplane  base  and  the  other  part  is  the 
Ault  Field  where  our  sq.  is  based. 

The  nearest  cities  are  Mt,  Vernon, 
Everett,  Bellingham,  Bremerton,  Seattle, 
Tacoma  and  in  Canada,  Victoria,  New 
Westminster  and  Vancouver,  B.C.  Juneeu, 
Alaska  is  also  nearby.  Only  way  to  get 
there  is  by  ship  or  plane.  In  the  near' 
future  I  am  planning  to  visit  British 
Columbia;  Lewiston,  Idaho;  Portland, 
Ore^n  and  Crescent  City,  California. 

I  left  Boston  U:00  p.m.  Sunday  April  26 
and  was  in  Seattle  at  12:30  p.m.  Monday. 
We  made  stops  at  Philadelphia,  Chicago, 
Fargo,  N.D.  and  Miles  City,  Montana. 
The  roughest  part  of  the  flight  was  over 
the  Rockies  in  Montana  and  Idaho  and  the 
Cascades  in  Washington,  Hello  to  every- 
body. It  is  time  to  report  to  the  hanger 
for  duty.  Goodbye  for  now. 

Bill 

(William  Willwerth) 
(Book  Preparation) 
■«■ 

29  May  1953 
Dear  Charles, 

I  dearly  love  to  get  the  "Question 
Mark"  and  read  it  avidly  each  month  how- 
ever it  has  been  coming  to  me  by  very 
devious  routes.  You  people  still  have 
the  old  BOQ  address  where  I  stayed  when 
I  first  arrived  in  Norfolk,  and  although 
they  have  my  forwarding  address,  I  usually 
get  the  Question  Mark  marked  "Moved  due  to 


orders"  "Moved  without  address"  "Address 
unknown"  or  some  other  strange  thing, 
fortunately  my  friends  in  the  BOQ  snoop 
in  the  mail  boxes  and  bring  it  in  to  me. 
Once  however,  it  got  as  far  as  Great 
Lakes,  Illinois,  where  a  Wave  who  used  to 
know  me  here  found  it  and  forwarded  it 
back  to  Norfolk,  Anyhow,  the  Postal 
Officer  (an  ensign  with  a  desk  in  my 
office)  handed  me  the  enclosed  card  and 
told  me  he  thought  it  was  high  time  I 
let  you  people  know  where  I  am,  I  think 
everyone  does  except  whoever  has  charge 
of  the  addressograph  file. 

Things  are  peaceful  down  here,  with  no 
news  of  note  at  the  moment,  and  the  only 
thing  in  the  offing  a  projected  change  of 
command  party  to  be  held  in  July  when  our 
Captain  leaves.  It  will  probably  be  the 
party  of  parties  as  our  skipper  is  uni- 
versally liked  here,  and  also  he  loves 
parties,  so  already  people  are  laying 
the  groundwork  for  this  one,  I  expect 
to  see  you  all  before  too  long  as  I  am 
coming  to  Boston  in  the  middle  of  June, 
I  figures  not  everyone  would  be  gone  to 
A.L.A.,  also  I  wanted  to  get  my  leave 
while  the  getting  was  good. 

Yours, 

Sally  Flannery 
S.W.  Flannery,  USNR 
U.S.N.  Communicntion  Sta .  Norfolk 
U.S.  Naval  Base 
Norfolk  11,  Virginia 

■SH;-i!-»-JHHHBf-«- 


-6- 


IN  MMORIAM 
ALICE  VESTA  STEVENS 

Alice  Vesta  Stevens,  Chief  of  the  Branct 
Issue  Department,  Emeritus,  who  passed 
on  in  Wellesley,  May  20,  1953 >  was  a  mera 
bar  of  the  library  staff  from  July  3,   1855 
to  July  30,  1938.  She  came  to  the  library 
soon  after  her  graduation  from  Wellesley 
College;  and  when  she  entered  the  service, 
the  Branch  Department,  as  it  was  then 
called,  was  in  its  initial  stages.  For 
several  months  she  worked  without  re- 
muneration, after  which  she  was  appointed 
as  a  regular  full-time  member  of  the 
department  to  which  her  entire  library 
service  was  to  be  given.  Miss  Stevens 
was  a  perfectionist — a  hard  worker  who 
brought  to  every  phase  of  her  work  a 
quality  of  meticulous  devotion  rarely  to 
be  found  in  anyone.  Of  a  somewhat  re- 
served nature,  she  was  never  widely  known 
among  her  library  associates;  but  hers 
was  a  most  generous  disposition,  and  to 
those  few  to  whom  she  gave  her  friendship 
she  was  at  all  times  loyal  and  devoted. 
She  was  a  great  reader,  and  read  with 
keen  appreciation  of  the  best  in  litera- 
ture. She  was  a  lover  of  beauty  wherever 
it  was  to  be  found,  but  especially  as  it 
was  expressed  in  music  and  flowers,;  Her 
garden  in  Wellesley  yielded  many  lovely 
blooms,  which,  from  time  to  time  she 
shared  with  those  who  worked  with  her. 
She  was  a  regular  attendant  at  the  weekly 
concerts  of  the  Boston  Symphony  Orchestra, 
and  was  a  devotee  of  grand  opera.  Her 
failing  eyesight,  during  recent  years, 
must  have  been  a  great  trial  for  a  person 
of  her  vivid  nature,  and  one  can  only  be 
glad  that  as  her  physical  sight  grew  too 
dim  fully  to  observe  the  beauty  of  materi- 
al things,  her  spiritual  eyes  were  so 
quickly  opened  to  behold  the  greater  wonr  '^ 
ders  of  Heaven  and  eternity.  Nevertheless; 
many  of  us  who  knew  her  best,  and  admired 
her  many  fine  qualities,  will  find  it 
hard  to  believe  that  she  is  no  longer 
nctive  in  her  home  in  Wellesley;  but  we 
can  rejoice  to  know  that  for  her  the  truth 
of  these  lines  has  now  been  fully  realized 

"To  Heaven,  the  place  of  His  Abode 
He  brings  my  weary  feet: 
Shows  me  the  glories  of  my  God, 
And  makes  my  joy  complete," 

Bessie  L,  Doherty 


PRESIDENT'S  NOTES 

In  aocoi'dance  with  the  resolution 
adopted  at  the  November  1902  business 
meeting  and  amended  at  the  January  1953 
meeting,  instructing  the  Executive  Board 
to  contact  the  Director  and  Trustees  to 
inquire  as  to  what  action  has  been  taken 
on  the  recommendations  in  the  report  of 
the  Special  Committee  on  Staff  Morale, 
the  Ebcecutive  Board  has  directed  the 
President  to  send  a  letter  to  the  Director 
inquiring  about  progress  on  this  item  and 
requesting,  in  particular,  favorable 
action  on  a  method  of  appointment  which 
would  take  into  account  the  factors  re- 
lating to  appointments  enumerated  in  the 
report  of  the  Special  Committee  on  Staff 
Morale  and  in  the  report  of  the  meetings 
with  the  Director  on  the  report  of  that 
committee , 

In  a  notice  issued  by  the  Director  on 
9  April  l°5l,  entitled  Appeal  Procedures 
for  Bibliothecal  Bn.ployees,  an  open  method 
and  a  panel  method  were  proposed  in  addi- 
tion to  the  long-established  procedure 
through  superior  administrative  officers 
of  the  Library,  The  panel  method  provided 
that  the  bibliothecal  employees  (acting 
through  their  formal  organization  or 
organizations  comprising  a  substantial 
majority  of  their  number)  might  hame  five 
individuals  (and  an  alternate  for  each) 
to  serve  on  the  appeal  board  for  one  year 
beginning  from  May  1st,  The  Professional 
Staff  Association  is,  therefore,  selecting 
five  members  and  alternates  to  serve  on 
this  panel  until  next  April  30. 

Acting  on  the  suggestion  of  many  of  its 
members  that  the  Professional  Staff 
Association  present  a  gift  to  the  Library 
on  the  occasion  of  the  Library's  Centen- 
nial, the  Executive  Board  has  authorized 
the  formation  of  a  committee  to  raise 
funds  and  select  an  appropriate  gift  on 
behalf  of  the  Association, 

The  following  members  have  consented  to 
act  as  delegates  of  the  BPLPSA  at  the  SCRT 
business  meeting  at  the  ALA  convention  to 
vote  for  candidates  for  the  SORT  Steering 
Committee: 

Mildred  Kaufman,  Chairman 

Mildred  Adelson 

Ruth  V.  Marshall 

Euclid  J.  Peltier 

Ruth  Stenstreem 

B,  Joseph  O'Neil 


-7- 


EXHIBIT  OF  PUBLIC  SERVICES 

"Public  Servants  Week",  by  proclamation 
of  Governor  Herter,  was  the  week  of  June 
1-6.  As  part  of  the  observance  of  this 
week,  an  exhibit  was  held  at  thq  First 
Corps  of  Cadets  Armory,  June  h,$>6.  In- 
cluded were  exhibits  by  many  state  and 
local  agencies,  sponsored  by  Massachusetts 
State  Council  of  the  American  Federation 
■of  State,  County  and  Municipal  Rnployees. 

The  Boston  Public  Library  was  representee 
by  a  thirty-foot  booth  >dij<5h  displayed  a 
few  of  the  important  services  given  by 
the  Library.  One-half  of  the  booth  was 
given  over  to  a  well-conceived  display  of 
the  books  available  in  the  Division  of 
Home  Reading,  each  book  brilliant  in  its 
plastic  jacket,  and  arranged  by  the  Exhi- 
bits Office,  The  phonograph-record  listen- 
ing and  borrowing  service,  demonstrated  by 
Library  representatives,  proved  popular 
and  a  surprise  to  many  Boston  residents. 
One  of  the  fine  reproducing  machines  from 
Open  Shelf  was  available  with  loudspeaker 
and  ear-phones. 

The  other  half  of  the  booth  was  devoted 
to  the  art  of  fine  book-binding  as  prac- 
ticed in  our  bindery.  Examples  of  leather 
bindings  and  of  gold-tooling  were  demon- 
strated while  the  audiences  gathered  arounc 
the  bindery  workers  to  watch  and  ask 
questions. 

The  Massachusetts  Departments  of  Educa- 
tion, Civil  Defense,  and  Correction,  the 
Boston  Park  Department,  State  Planning 
Commission  and  the  National  Cluard  were 
other  agencies  represented. 

FIFTH  ANNUAL 
MARY  U.  NICHOLS  BOOK  PRIZE  AWARDS 

The  Fifth  Annual  Mary  U.  Nichols  Book 
Prize  Awards  took  place  on  Monday  evening, 
June  first,  at  North  End.  Ably  presided 
over  by  John  A.  Scanga,  as  in  past  years, 
the  well-planned  meeting  moved  along 
amoothly  and  was  enjoyed  by  a  very  friendly^ 
interested  audience. 

After  greetings  by  Ellen  Peterson, 
former  Branch  Librarian  who  had  graciously 
returned  to  officiate  in  place  of  the 
newly-appointed  Branch  Librarian,  Mrs 
Geraldine  S,  Herrick,  who  is  in  Europe 
with  her  husband,  the  presentation  of  the 
prizes  was  made  by  the  Director,  Milton  E, 
Lord.  He  first  welcomed  many  of  the -grow- 
ing body  of  those  who  have  received  awards 


in  the  past  and  who  were  seated  together 
at  the  front  of  the  room.  He  then  paid 
fitting  tribute  to  Mary  U.  Nicholsj  re- 
called the  circ\imstances  under  which  the 
prize  awards  came  into  being;  and-  outlined 
the  improvements  to  be  made  in  the  build- 
ing in  the  next  year.  The  two  recipients 
of  the  prizes  "awarded  annually  to  the 
North  End  boy  and  to  the  North  Ehd  girl 
who  in  their  senior  year  at  a  North  End 
high  school  have  excelled  in  their 
English  studies"  were  Louis  A.  Sasso  who 
had  chosen  ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  AMERICAN  HIS- 
TORY, edited  by  Richard  B,  Morris,  and 
Kathleen  Gennazi  who  chose  THE  HOLY 
BIBLE  (Confraternity  Version).  Both 
voliunes  had  been  handsomely  bound  in  the 
Binding  Department  of  the  Boston  Public 
Library  and  bore  copies  of  the  bookplate 
specially  designed  by  Arthur  W.  Heintzelman 
Keeper  of  Prints, 

The  chief  speaker  of  the  evening, 
Dr  Ernest  Siciliano,  prefaced  his  remarks 
by  paying  tribute  to  the  Branch  Librarian 
vrfiom  the  Italians  of  the  North  End  had 
taken  into  their  lives  and  who  had  re- 
ciprocated by  giving  to  them  unstintingly 
of  her  energy,  her  time,  and  her  talents. 
He  spoke  of  the  glorious  heritage  that  is 
the  Italians  from  two  distinctly  different 
sources;  First,  from  the  great  men  and 
women  who  have  won  fame  and  honor  in  their 
chosen  fields,  and  secondly  from  the 
humble  parents  who  have  come  to  a  new 
country  and  have  labored  to  give  to  their 
children  high  ideals  by  which  to  live. 
His  sincerity,  his  sense  of  humor,  and  his 
hofiest  presentation  made  him  not  only  a 
delightful  speaker,  but  a  very  happy 
choice  for  this  particular  occasion. 

The  Qirls  Glee  Club  from  the  Julia 
Billiart  High  School  sang  three  times 
during  the  evening,  which  ended  with  a 
few  remarks  by  Reverend  Francis  T,  Sulli- 
van, spiritual  adviser  at  the  school. 
The  staff  served  delicious  refreshments 
during  th6  social  hour  which  followed 
the  program. 

Thus,  in  a  friendly,  informal  atmosphere 
was  the  memory  of  Mary  U,  Nichols  and  her 
work  brought  once  more  to  mind— l>lary  U. 
Nichols  who  had  given  without  reservation 
of  her  strength;  who  had  accomplished  her 
work  with  never  an  attempt  to  attain 
personal  glory;  and  who  had  laft  the  scene 
of  her  activities  an  unqualified  success 
in  the  hearts  and  minds  of  those  who  knew 
her  best  and  appreicated  her  most  sincerely. 

Sarah  M.  Usher 


-8- 


INAUGURATION  OF  HOSPITAL  LIBRARY  SERVICE 

On  June  2,  England  had  its  coronation, 
but  the  Boston  Public  Library  had  a  grand 
opening.  For  on  that  day  the  Hospital 
Library  Service  at  the  Boston  City 
Hospital  was  launched,  dedicated,  or  what 
you  will. 

The  room,  the  former  Ward  H  in  the  Old 
Medical  Building,  was  painted,  polished, 
and  resplendent  with  flowers  sent  by 
friends  and  associates.  The  Hospital 
dining  room,  with  the  aid  of  the  ladies 
of  the  Friends  of  the  Hospital,  provided 
delicious  refreshments — coffee,  punch, 
sandwiches,  cakes,  cookies,  etc. 

A  blue  satin  ribbon  stretched  between 
the  ranges  of  books,  with  its  streamers 
labeled  on  one  side  Boston  City  Hospital 
and  on  the  other  Boston  Public  Library. 
Dr  James  Collins  acted  as  M.C.  and  intro- 
duced Dr  James  W.  Manary  who  welcomed  the 
guests  on  behalf  of  the  Hospital. 
Milton  E.  Lord,  Director,  then  gave  a 
brief  outline  of  what  the  Library  hopes 
to  do  and  asked  the  cooperation  and  help 
of  the  hospital  staff  to  guide  it  in  its 
new  undertaking,  Patrick  F,  McDonald, 
President  of  the  Library's  Board  of 
Trustees,  also  spoke  briefly,  as  did 
Dr  Thomas  J.  Giblin,  the  Secretary  of  the 
Hospital  Trustees. 

The  ribbon  was  cut  and  we  were  on  our 
way,  but  the  main  order  of  business  for 
that  day,  at  any  rate,  was  meeting  people, 
eating,  and  getting  to  know  each  other. 

Barbara  P.  Cotter. 

MLA  ANNUAL  MEETING 
GREAT  BARRINGTQN,  May  lU  and  15 

Virginia  Kirkus,  pillar  of  book  selec- 
tion to  libraries,  big  and  small,  as  well 
as  to  book  stores  here  and  abroad,  is 
president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  a 
small  Connecticut  town  library,  and  in 
this  capacity  has  an  opportunity  to  give 
her  service  an  acid  test.  She  believes 
that  the  accent  of  the  library  should  be 
on  books  and  people,  and  its  prime  pur- 
pose "to  keep  people  reading,  trash,  if 
necessary,  but  good  trash  rather  than  bad" 
Secondly,  granting  that  there  are  never 
enough  new  books  in  the  library,  there 
are  enough  good  books  on  the  shelves,  and 
she  would  keep  these  circulating.  In  her 
library  there  is  a  collection  of  "gold 
star  books",  with  each  book  chosen  and 


recommended  by  one  of  the  neighbors,  and 
the  personal  element  in  this  device  proves 
very  effective  circulating  them. 

Mrs  Kirkus  assessed  current  trends  in 
the  book  field  as  follows: 

War,  fiction.  Immediately  following 
World  V.'ar  II  we  had  such  novels  as  The 
naked  and  the  dead  and  From  here  to 
eternityl  These  books  were  marked  by 
extremely  free  speech  and  behavior,  but 
their  validity  was  attested  by  servicemen. 
Moreover  they  show  latent  traits  that 
exist  in  all  of  us  and  should  be  so  under- 
stoodr  However,  Herman  Wouk  demonstrated 
that  a  good  war  novel  is  possible  without 
constant  four-letter  words.  Using  the 
Wouk  approach  we  have  Battle  cry  by  Leon 
Uris^  a  dramatic  picture  of  the  Marines  in 
action,  and  Far  from  the  customary  skies, 
by  Warren  Eye star,  a  live  story  of  the 
Navy  written  from  fundamental  knowledge. 

Historical  fiction.  The  modern  histori- 
cal novel  is  no  longer  necessarily  on 
escape  from  realism.  Much  scholarship 
has  gone  into  its  making,  and  this  is 
notably  so  in  the  recent  trend  toward  the 
historical  novel  with  a  religious  back- 
ground. This  trend  is  exemplified  in 
Costain's  Silver  chalice,  Prescott's 
Man  on  a  donkey,  Simon"^  Golden  hand,  and 
Nathaniel  Weinreb's  forth-coming  The 
Babylonians. 

Books  about  pleasant  people,  and  others. 
Pleasant  people  are  not  easily  found  in 
the  modern  novel.  Witness  the  villa iness 
who  nearly  spoils  Steinbeck's  superbly 
written  East  of  Eden.  Hemingway's  old  man 
and  boy  reveal  themselves  appealingly  in 
The  old  man  and  the  sea,  Frances  Parkin- 
son Keyes  is  a  writer  of  "good  trash",  a 
careful  craftsman  and  thorough  researcher, 
Upton  Sinclair's  Lanny  Budd,  the  adult's 
Superman,  sparks  a  series  of  readable 
adventures  that  appeal  to  our  surface 
remembrance  of  the  immediate  past.  Echo- 
ing grove,  Rosamond  Lehmann's  current 
novel  of  marital  infidelity,  handles  a 
ticklish  subject  with  good  taste  and  re- 
flects post-war  times  in  England,  King- 
fishers catch  fire  by  Rximer  Godden  (a 
favorite  author  of  Mrs  Kirkus)  features 
a  woman  who  lives  an  imaginary  personality 
all  her  life  and  runs  away  from  situations 
she  can  not  handle. 

There  is  much  popular  non-fiction  this 
year  to  edge  people  over  to  more  solid 
fare.  Annapurna ,  The  gea  around  us  (which 
Mrs  Kirkus  has  read  three  times)  Silent 
world  and  Undersea  adventure  appeal  to  an 


-9- 


urge  in  all  of  us,  Louise  Baker's  Snips 
and  snails  is  really  amusing,  while  Per sis 
is  my  heart  and  This  many  splendoured 
thing  bring  us  the  strange  and  remote 
countries  interpreted  through  personal 
experience.  With  the  reader  in  serious 
mood  to  read  about  what  goes  on  in  his 
world  one  can  offer  him  Lilienthal's  Big 
business,  Allen's  Big  change,  Dean'-s 
Foreign  policy  without  fear,  Douglas' 
North  of  Malaya,  and  Magidoff's  The  Krem- 
lin versus  the  people. 

Virginia  Kirkus'  service  handles  from 
3^00  to  UOOO  books  per  year,  many  in 
galley  proof.  She  has  a  staff  of  five, 
reads  about  800  books  a  year  herself. 
The  books  must  be  read  fast,  but,  such  is 
the  responsibility  of  the  Kirkus  prestige, 
perfunctory  opinions  are  out.  Each  re- 
viewer tries  to  put  herself  in  the  place 
of  the  market  for  which  the  book  is  in- 
tended— rental  shelves,  libraries,  stu- 
dents, general  trade,  and  assess  the  book 
for  that  market.  In  the  case  of  fact 
books  they  must  have  sufficient  backgro\ind 
to  understand  the  author's  purpose, 
appraise  his  viev^oint,  handling  of  con- 
troversial issues,  and  how  his  book  dif- 
fers from  others  already  in  the  field, 
Kence  she  tries  to  assign  books  accord- 
ing to  the  varying  ba<;kgrounds  and  pre- 
dilections of  her  staff. 

Marion  Abbott 

CATHOLIC  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION 
NEW  ENGLAND  UNIT  MEETING 

The  Spring  meeting  was  held  at  Adams 
Street  on  May  23.  As  this  was  the  annu- 
al meeting,  the  necessary  reports  were 
presented. 

Rev.  John  A.  Broderick,  Chairman,  re- 
viewed briefly  his  two  years  of  service. 
He  also  commented  on  the  Catholic  Li- 
brary Association,  stressing  certain 
puposes  of  the  organization,  such  as  the 
value  of  the  Catholic  Periodical  Index, 
which  the  Association  publishes,  and  the 
dissemination  of  good  literature  through 
a  Catholic  Book  Week  program.   One  point 
he  emphasized  was  that  a  well-rounded 
librarian  should  not  confine  his  activi- 
ties to  one  professional  organization, 
but  should  be  an  active  member  in  several 
different  groups, 

Mary  Alice  Rea,  Program  director,  out- 
lined the  various  programs  of  the  year. 


She  urged  all  persons  interested  in  good 
literature  and  library  work  to  become 
members  of  the  Association  and  to  work 
■  actively  for  its  promotion. 

Mrs  Genevieve  Boisclair  Galick  of  the 
Massachusetts  Division  of  Library  Exten- 
sion chose  for  her  topic  Are  librarians 
basic?  She  compared  salaries  and  require- 
ments in  towns  and  cities  in  Massachusetts 
and  suggested  more  individual  considera- 
tion and  flexibility  in  library  personnel 
appointments. 

After  the  meeting  adjourned  the  members 
and  guests  enjoyed  a  social  hour.  The  new 
Adams  Street  was  admired  and  the  hospitali- 
ty and  graciousness  of  Ruth  Hayes,  Branch 
Librarian,  and  her  staff  added  greatly 
to  the  success  of  the  meeting. 

Anna  L,  Manning 

ROUND  TABLE  OF  CHILDREN'S  LIBRARIANS 

The  Spring  meeting  took  place  on  May  21 
at  the  Thomas  Crane  Library  in  Quincy. 
The  program  opened  with  a  coffee  hour. 
Pauline  Winnick,  Chairman,  conducted  the 
business  meeting.  After  the  regular  re- 
ports were  read,  there  was  a  discussion 
concerning  the  time  of  the  Caroline  M, . 
Hewins  Lecture  at  the  Fall  conference. 
It  was  voted  to  have  it  on  Friday,  Octo- 
ber 2,  at  three  o'clock  as  in  the  past. 

An  insurance  representative  from  the 
Lester  E,  Burdick  Company  spoke  on  group 
insurance  for  the  Round  Table  members. 
The  following  slate  of  officers  was  pre- 
sented and  accepted:  Chairman,  Dorothy 
Shumakerj  Treasurer,  Rachel  Bodinej  and 
Secretary,  Elizabeth  Phelan. 

Following  the  business  meeting,  Gertrude 
Allen,  author  of  "Everyday  Birds,"  spoke 
briefly  to  the  group. 

Mrs  Phyllis  L.  Barclay,  Children's  Li- 
brarian, Uphams  Corner,  gave  a  delightful 
presentation  of  her  views  on  the  subject 
"Problems  in  selecting  films  for  children," 
At  the  beginning  she  emphasized  the  fact 
that  films  should  be  used  for  the  value  in 
themselves,  not  just  as  boosters  in 
circulation.  Children-' s  Librarians  should 
work  just  as  hard  in  developing  in  chil- 
dren tastes  in  films  and  music  as  they 
have  been  doing  with  their  storytelling. 

She  found  in  her  work  on  the  film  com- 
mittee that  there  was  no  set  standard  of 
quality  by  any  producer.  There  were  good 
films  and  poor  ones.  In  her  opinion  the 


-10- 


fairy  tale  received  the  worst  treatment. 
Sometimes  the  puppets  appeared  to  lose 
vitality  vrtiich  might  be  due  in  part  to 
the  slow  dialogue.  In  fact  the  narrative 
of  some  films  had  a  patronizing  tone, 
J.  Arthur  Rank,  an  English  producer, 
seemed  to  be  the  most  noteworthy  film 
maker  with  the  three  pictures — "Circus 
Boy,"  "The  Mysterious  Poacher,"  and  "Chil- 
dren of  the  New  Forest"  to  his  credit, 
Walt  Disney  had  done  a  fine  piece  of  work 
in  "Seal  Island". 

In  choosing  films  it  should  be  important 
to  visualize  how  a  child  of  ten  would 
feel  about  the  film.  Many  awards  in  the 
field  of  children's  literature  have  not 
been  given  for  the  books  which  the  child 
reader  would  choose.  Librarians  have  a 
real  responsibility  in  film  selection. 

In  carrying  out  programs  Mrs  Barclay 
felt  that  films  should  be  combined  with 
other  features  as  music,  stories,  or 
book  reviews.  "Sing  a  Song  of  Friendshif?' 
was  a  film  which  could  be  used  very  well 
in  this  type  of  entertainment, 

/:S  Mrs  Barclay  brought  her  talk  to  a 
conclusion,  she  spoke  of  her  belief  in 
the  use  of  films  in  library  work.  Her 
closing  remark  was,  "Films  build  a  bridge 
to  the  world  of  tomorrow  for  the  children 
of  today,"  A  special  showing  of  the 
film,  "Steps  of  the  Ballet"  was  the  final 
feature  of  a  very  stimulating  morning's 
program. 

Beatrice  Frederick 

ELIZABETH  BCWEN  SPEAKS 
AT  BOSTON  UNIVERSITT" 

Several  staff  members  availed  themselves 
of  the  invitation  extended  by  Boston 
University  to  hear  an  address  given  by 
Elizabeth  Bowen,  English  novelist,  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Graduate  English  Club, 

Miss  Bowen,  who  was  graciously  intro- 
duced to  the  audience  by  Bill  Reid  of  the 
English  Department,  was  in  Boston  on  her 
way  to  New  York  where  she  was  to  deliver 
an  address  before  the  American  Academy  of 
Arts  and  Sciences,  Gowned  in  grey  with 
black  accessories,  she  presented  the 
typical  appearance  of  the  successful 
English  novelist  which  an  American  audi- 
ence most  fully  appreciates.  Despite  an 
obvious  hesitancy  in  speech  she  completely 
held  her  audience  during  her  entire 
address. 


Miss  Bowen  spoke  on  "The  Technique  of 
the  Novel,"  making  use  of  her  own  experi- 
ences. She  pointed  out  the  fact  that  the 
novel  is  "a  free  form"  called  into  being    , 
only  two  hundred  years  ago  in  a  search     | 
for  something  less  rigid  than  the  drama j 
and  that  each  author  must  make  his  or  her 
own  place  on  the  field  by  personal  experi- 
ment. She  then  asked  and  answered  three 
questions:  first-^-^ich  is  of  primary 
importance,  plot  or  characters?  The  two, 
she  claims,  are  inseparable.  The  core 
of  the  novel  is  the  situation;  character 
and  plot  exist  only  to  egrve  the  situation. 
Second— how  great  is  the  importance  of 
dialogue?  The  dialogue  must  be  a  structu- 
ral part  of  the  plot  and  should  not  exist 
only  to  illustrate  characters  and  serve 
as  a  resting  place  in  the  plot, 
Third~how  much  should  the  writer  be 
bound  by  ideas  of  style  and  form  without 
seeming  to  be  too  rigid  and  artificial? 
The  author  must  guard  against  the  tendency 
"to  squeeze  the  process  of  life  into  a 
standard  form  and  style."  Style  should 
never  become  just  a  veneer,  it  should  be 
integrated  with  the  plot  and  characters. 
Miss  Bowen  gave  several  definitions  of 
style,  among  them  "an  attempt  to  dissolve 
language"  and  "being  capable  of  producing 
so\mds  in  the  wind,"  or  again,  "Style  is 
a  nervous,  intense  animal  which  can  be 
controlled," 

In  conclusion  Miss  Bowen  stated  that 
the  novel,  in  which  situation,  characters, 
plots,  dialogue,  style  and  form,  are  all 
adequately  integrated  must  first  and  last 
be  a  work  of  the  imagination.  By  care- 
fully allowing  characters  to  be  only  as 
articulate  as  they  would  actively  be  in 
life,  an  author  can  reveal  through  dialc^ae 
many  of  the  psychological  factors  motivat- 
ing the  speech  and  actions  of  his  charac- 
ters, 

CONGRATULATIONS  TO  THE  WINNERS 

A.L.A.  Grants 

$100  each  toward  the  expense  of  attendance 
at  the  Annual  Conference  of  the  American 
Library  Association  in  Los  Angles^  June 
1953: 

Mildred  R,  Adelson,  Jamaica  Plain 
Mary  F,  Daly,  Statistical 
Mildred  Kaufman,  Memorial 


-11- 


Ruth  V.   Marshall,   Teachers 
Euclid  J,  Peltier,  Audio-Visual 

Scholarship  Awards 

$100  each  for  study  at  library  schools 
during  the  twelve-month  period  dating 
from  June  1$,  1953: 

Gracemarie  V.  Alfe,  North  End 

Joseph  H,  Center  Scholarship 
William  T.  Casey,  Open  Shelf 

Daniel  Sharp  Ford  Scholarship 
Donald  M,  Koslow,  Kirst'eih  Business  Branch 

Francis  Skinner  Scholarship 
Eunice  R.  Werner,  Audio-Visual 

2aniel  Trea dwell  Scholarship 

BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
CENTENNIAL  AMIVERSARY 

At  a  brief  ceremony  in  the  Mayor's 
Office  at  City  Hall  on  the  morning  of 
June  3)  Ralph  M,  Binney,  Vice  President 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Boston  and 
former  President  of  the  Boston  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  was  appointed  General  Chairman 
of  the  Centennial  Commission  of  the  Bos- 
ton Fublic  Library.  Officiating  at  the 
proceedings  were  His  Honor  John  B.  Hynes, 
Mayor  of  the  City  of  Boston,  Patrick  F, 
McDonald,  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  the  Library,  Milton  E.  Lord, 
Director,  and  other  prominent  Bostonians 
interested  in  celebrating  the  lOOth 
anniversary  of  the  establishment  of  the 
first,  free  circulating  library  in  any 
American  city.  Mayor  Hynes  and  Governor 
Christian  A.  Herter  will  be  Honorary 
Chairmen  of  the  Centennial  Commission. 

Plans  for  the  celebration  are  being 
made  under  the  direction  of  a  Centennial 
Commission  of  600  outstanding  citizens  of 
the  city,  state,  and  nation,  and  were 
outlined  at  the  staff  meetings  held  dur- 
ing the  month  of  May.  They  have  been  put 
into  print  in  a  thirteen-page  pamphlet 
being  distributed  to  the  staff.  This 
publication  answers  the  questions:  What? 
Why?  Where?  When? 

Summer  Recipe 

Seek  the  cool  breezes  to  escape  summer 
heat,  but  have  a  warm  heart  for  CARE. 

CARE  Committee 


THE  B.P.L.  ON  TV 

On  Wednesday,  May  13,  Alton  Hall  Black- 
ington  of  the  WBZ-TV  "Yankee  Scrapbook" 
program  quoted  a  statement  which  Arthur 
W.  Heintzelman  made-  about  the  artist  Jack 
Frost,  who  was  the  subject  of  the  program 
that  evening.  At  the  same  time  he  devoted 
a  few  moments  to  identifying  Mr  Heintzelman 
and  his  work  at  the  Library.  Mr  Blacking- 
ton  also  used  a  photograph  of  Mr  Heintzel- 
man in  his  visual  presentation. 

The  Coronation  exhibit  now  on  view  in 
the  Open  Shelf,' lower  level,  and  first 
floor  corridors  came  in  for  some  advance 
publicity  when  Polly  Huse  interviewed 
Thomas  J.  Manning,  Chief  of  the  Exhibits 
Office,  and  Allon  Barker,  Information 
Officer  of  the  British  Consulate  General, 
on  Wednesday  May  27,  over  WBZ-TV.  Items 
from  the  exhibit  were  shown  and  the  plans 
for  the  Coronation  were  discussed, 

CIVIL  DEFSKSE 

Blood  Typing  Program 

Although  the  disaster  at  Worcester  the 
night  before  had  made  heavy  demands  upon 
laboratory  technicians,  the  arrangements 
made  between  the  Civil  Defense  Agency  and 
the  Library  some  weeks  ago  for  blood 
typing  on  June  10  were  carried  through  on 
schedule.  It  is  most  gratifying  to  record 
that  U08  employees  of  the  Library  reported 
for  the  blood  type  test. 

The  Buildings  Department  men  cooperated 
with  Mrs  Edna  M.  Wollent,  R.N.,  in  arrang- 
ing the  furniture  in  the  Training  Class 
Room  according  to  the  plan  provided  by  the 
blood  typing  unit  so  that  the  work  could 
be  done  with  the  least  expenditure  of  tinie 
and  effort.  The  Personnel  Office  arranged 
for  girls  to  be  on  duty  at  two  typewriters 
in  the  Staff  Library  preparing  the  identi- 
fication cards.  Incidentally,  a  duplicate 
set  of  cards  is  now  on  file  in  the  Staff 
Hospital  and  should  prove  most  useful  in 
cases  of  emergencies  in  the  Library. 

Mrs  Wollent  and  John  W.  Tuley,  Coordina- 
tor, were  on  the  job  all  during  the  day 
and  deserve  credit  for  the  success  of  the 
program. 

Francis  X.  Moloney,  in  charge  of  the 
Library's  Civil  Defense  Program,  and  the 
members  of  the  Civil  Defense  Planning 
Committee  join  Mrs  Wollent  and  Mr  Tuley 


-12- 


in  expressing  their  appreciation  to  the 
staff  for  its  cooperation  in  the  blood 
typing  project. 

Greater  Boston  Civil  Defense  Manual 

Copies  of  this  manual  have  been  dis- 
tributed to  each  unit  in  the  Library- 
System.  Several  extra  copies  are  avail- 
able should  they  be  needed.  Application 
for  them  should  be  made  to  Mr  Tulsy, 

Sarah  M,  Usher 

MR  AND  MRS  CARPENTER  ENTERTAIN 

On  Thursday  evening,  June  11,  Mr  and 
Mrs  Albert  L.  Carpenter  entertained  the 
staff  of  the  Office  of  the  Division  of 
Home  Reading  and  Community  Services  at 
their  home  in  Jamaica  Plain.  A  delicious 
buffet  supper  was  served  in  the  garden, 
and  it  was  the  unanimous  opinion  of  the 
guests  that  the  party  was  one  of  the 
nicest  ones  any  of  them  had  ever  attended, 

BELIEVE  IT  OR  NOTl 

The  story  is  told  of  a  Librarian  of 
Congress  who  misplaced  thousands  of 
dollars  of  library  funds  by  employing 
twenty  dollar  bills  as  bookmarks.  So 
with  members  of  o\ir  public  and  their 
cherished  budget  money. 

Last  week  the  Open  Shelf  Department  re- 
ceived harried  phone  calls  from  a  truly 
desperate  mother.  Her  daughter  had  de- 
posited fori»y  dollars  in  a  collection  of 
Francis  Thompson's  poems — an  Open  Shelf 
Book — and  had  returned  the  volume  to 
Allston.  Then  telephones  buzzed:  Open 
Shelf,  Allston,  Shipping  and  back.  Sched- 
ules of  returned  hooks  were  consulted, 
hands  searched  dubiously  in  pockets  of 
Thompson  Books. 

Unbelievably,  the  funds  were  found 
after  two  days  of  unknown,  quiet  repose 
on  shelf.  Deep  within  a  book  pocket, 
folded  into  a  tiny  square.  Two  ten 
dollar  bills  and  four  fives.  As  a  result 
a  young  lady  graduated  in  proper  garb 
from  Girls'  Latin.  She  had  saved  the 
forty  dollars  after  a  whole  year  of  part- 
time  work.  Her  graduation  savingsl 


BRANCH  NOTES 

Brighton 

The  active  Children's  Room  was  the  re- 
cent scene  of  several  festivities  in 
honor  of  Children's  Spring  Book  Festival. 
Boys  and  girls  of  the  district  enjoyed 
story  hours,  film  programs,  a  contest  and 
a  play.  For  several  weeks  children  of 
grades  one  through  six  designed  and  made 
their  own  bookmarks  which  they  entered  in 
the  Bookmark  Contest.  The  bookmarks  are 
now  on  display  on  two  small  trees  decorat- 
ing the  Children's  Room,  Winners  of  the 
contest  were  announced  at  a  special  pro- 
gram, and  books  were  awarded  as  prizes. 

Highlight  of  the  celebration  was  the 
presentation  of  a  one-act  play,  "The  King 
in  the  Kitchen" ,  before  a  capacity  crowd 
of  250  children.  Menibers  of  the  newly- 
formed  Brighton  Library  Dramatic  Club 
range  in  age  from  six  to  ten.  The  talent- 
ed cast  of  actors  and  actresses  under 
the  direction  of  Mary  Mehlman,  assistant 
in  the  Children's  Room,  also  presented 
the  play  to  their  parents  and  teachers 
at  an  evening  performance.  Following  this 
performance,  refreshments  were  served  to   J 
the  guests  and  members  of  the  cast.       ' 

The  above  is  the  conventional  account 
which  might  appear  in  the  social  column  of 
any  well-regulated  newspaper.  But  no 
newspaper  ever  gives  the  full  account — 
those  behind-the-scenes  reports  which 
make  each  activity  unique  and  not  infre- 
quently amusing.  Such  was  the  case  with 
the  unwritten  sequel  to  "The  King  in  the 
Kitchen"  which  might  well  be  called  "The 
Staff  in  the  Kitchen."  Having  concocted 
a  punch  mixture  from  Good  Housekeeping, 
we  decided  to  go  the  food  experts  one 
better  by  garnishing  said  mixture  with 
mint  leaves.  As  we  began  to  serve  it  one 
of  the  small  actors  approached,  "Pardon 
me,  miss,"  he  whispered,  "but  I  think 
some  weeds  accidentally  fell  into  this 
stuff I" 

Connolly 

A  highlight  of  the  Spring  Book  Festival 
was  a  talk  by  the  charming  authoress, 
Marguerite  Dickson,  on  Wednesday  afternoon, 
May  13.  The  warmth  and  friendliness  of 
her  manner  as  she  spoke  to  over  fifty 
teen-agers  made  her  seem  one  of  them  in 
understanding.  Yet,  as  she  confided  to 
the  staff,  she  is  approaching  her  eighti- 
eth birthday.  Encouraging  the  girls  to 


-13- 


write  themselves,  she  advised  them  to  plan 
a  definite  time  each  day  for  the  task. 
Many  left  at  the  conclusion  of  her  talk 
intent  on  a  writing  career;  all  left  vdth 
autographs  carefully  tucked  away  in  ap- 
preciation and  admiration  of  an  authoress 
whose  stories  they  enjoy  so  much. 

Another  interesting  venture  undertaken 
in  observance  of  the  Festival  was  an 
"Open  House,"  Thursday  evening,  May  21. 
The  Keen  Teens  and  Corjiettes,  together, 
presented  a  special  program  to  interest 
new  members.  The  Presidents  of  both 
clubs  spoke  briefly  to  the  one  hundred  and 
forty  girls  present  about  past'  events, 
present  rules,  and  future  plans. 

Following  that,  four  recent  college 
graduates — a  social  worker,  a  teacher,  a 
secretary,  and  a  recent  bride — partici- 
pated in  a  Career  panel  discussion. 
Later,  they  were  besieged  by  questions 
from  their  interested  young  audience, 
Cne  particularly  "keen"  teen  asked  the 
teacher  if  the  bachelor's  degree  she  had 
mentioned  as  being  so  necessary  for  her 
career  kept  her  from  getting  married! 
Due  to  lack  of  time,  questions  had  to  be 
terminated  to  present  awards  to  the  best 
readers  of  the  Clubs  and  to  present  a 
short  entertainment.  Three  members, 
expert  at  toe,  ballet,  and  tap  dancing 
performed  in  costume. 

Then,  the  club  members,  wearing  red 
satin  "hostess"  ribbons,  served  delicious 
punch,  cookies,  cake,  fudge,  and  candy 
to  their  classmates,  who  eagerly  asked 
when  would  there  be  another  "Open  House" 
and  could  they  please  be  interviewed  the 
following  week  for  membership. 

On  Friday  afternoon,  June  5>  "The  doll 
who  came  alive" ,  adapted  from  the  book 
by  Enys  Tregarthen,  was  presented  by  the 
Magic  Strings  Puppet  Club.  This  climaxed 
the  weekly  puppet  shows  offered  through- 
out the  year.  Two  hundred  sixty-seven 
little  girls  and  their  dolls  appeared  to 
attend  the  performance.  Every  imaginable 
kind  of  doll  was  present — from  well-worn, 
much-loved  baby  dolls  and  dolls  in  satin 
gowns  too  beautiful  to  be  played  with, 
to  dolls  sent  from  overseas.  All  were  in 
their  party  best,  except  for  one"  who  came 
with  curlers  in  her  hair.  The  performance 
was  a  great  success  to  all  but  one  little 
girl  who  asked,  "IVhere's  the  eats?" 


East  Boston 


On  Wednesday  evening,  June  3,  the  staff 
attended  a  dinner  party  at  the  home  of 
Dorothy  F.  Nourse,  in  honor  of  Mrs  Beryl 
Robinson  and  Mrs  Donna  Maxson  who  were 
leaving  the  branch.  After  enjoying  the 
delicious  chicken  dinner  followed  by 
brownie  pie  and  demi-tasse,  Mrs  Robinson 
and  Mrs  Maxson  were  presented  with  gifts 
from  their  fellow  workers  who  wished  them 
good  luck  in  their  new  positions.  The 
delightful  evening  was  over  much  too 
quickly. 

-)? 

On  Wednesday  afternoon,  June  10,  a  party 
was  held  at  the  branch  for  three  extras — 
Michael  Siraco,  who  graduated  from  Burdett 
College,  Joan  MacLean,  who  graduated  from 
the  East  Boston  High  School  and  won  the 
Emma  B,  Harvey  Scholarship,  and  Janet 
Rubico,  who  graduated  from  Girls'  High 
School  were  guests  of  honor.  After  enjoy- 
ing the  cake  and  ice  cream,  each  graduate 
was  presented  with  a  small  gift  from  the 
members  of  the  staff. 

Summer  Reading  Club  activities  began 
on  Friday,  June  5,  with  a  Pre-Birthday 
Party,  which  included  a  program  of  folk 
dances  presented  by  children  of  the  Cen- 
tral Square  Center,  and  the  playing  of 
a  tape  recording  made  by  the  winners  of 
the  third  annual  Spring  Butterfly  Contest. 
Put  on  display  for  the  first  time  was  a 
huge  birthday  cake  in  three  tiers,  large 
enough  to  hold  one  hundred  candles  for  the 
birthday  of  the  Boston  Public  Library, 
plus  eighty -four  candles  for  the  birthday 
of  the  East  Boston  Branch.  Children  will 
earn  candles  for  the  cake  by  reading,  and 
a  gala  Birthday  Party  will  be  held  in 
August,  Cookies  in  the  shape  of  candles 
were  distributed  to  the  children  as  a 
happy  climax  to  the  Party, 

Phillips  Brooks 

On  Thursday  evening.  May  21,  Phillips 
Brooks  celebrated  its  twenty-second 
anniversary.  The  program  was  sponsored 
by  the  Friends  of  the  Library  and  featured 
four  speakers  representative  of  community 
organizations.  Betty  Hogan,  President  of 
the  CYOj  Mrs  Orlando  Caruso,  President  of 
the  Hemenway  PTA;  Thomas  Connors,  President 
of  the  Readville  Improvement  Association 
and  George  Noonan,  Commander  of  the 
American  Legion  Post,  spoke  on  the  topic, 
"The  Future  of  Readville." 


-m- 


A  short  business  meeting  of  the  Friends 
was  held  in  which  the  officers  for  the 
coming  year  were  elected  and  the  treas- 
urer'^s  and  secretary's  reports  were  read. 
Entertainment  for  the  evening  was  provided 
by  the  children's  puppetry  class,  which 
presented  "Beauty  and  the  Beast."  James 
Horner,  President  of  the  Friends,  then 
invited  the  gathering  of  eighty-five 
people  to  enjoy  the  refreshments  and  a 
social  hour.  Mrs  John  Enos  and  Mrs  Pat- 
rick Ferzoco  were  co -chairwomen  of  the 
Friends'  hospitality  committee,  Mrs 
Christopher  Goode,  chairwoman  of  the  mem- 
bership committee,  was  on  hand  to  accept 
new  members  into  the  Friends. 

The  program  was  planned  and  introduced 
by  Mrs  Laurelle  W.  Cole;  the  puppet  play 
directed  by  Mrs  Phyllis  R.  Kallman,  It 
was  a  pleasure  to  have  as  guests  the 
former  branch  librarians,  Virginia  Havi- 
land  and  Edna  G.  Feck.  Mary  T.  G,  Mannix, 
newly  appointed  Branch  Librarian,  was 
formally  introduced  to  the  Friends. 

Uphams  Corner 

The  Spring  Book  Festival  was  held  on 
Wednesday  afternoon,  May  20.  The  Chil- 
dren's Room  was  gaily  decorated  with 
springtime  friezes,  colorful  posters,  and 
bouquets  of  variegated  flowers.  The  cen- 
ter of  attractions  was  the  maypole,  with 
its  festively  costvmied  girls  and  boys 
pointing  out  the  new  spring  books. 

This  exhibit  was  a  new  venture  for  Up- 
hams Corner.  The  public  was  invited,  and 
many  interested  parents,  teachers  and 
children  came.  They  examined  our  displays, 
took  some  of  the  many  lists  that  were 
placed  at  strategic  spots,  and  enjoyed  the 
refreshments. 

Washington  Village 

On  Tuesday  afternoon,  May  19,  teachers 
from  the  John  A.  Andrew,  John  B.  O'Reilly 
and  Michael  J,  Perkins  schools  were  guests 
at  a  gala  Spring  Book  Festival  Tea  held  in 
the  Children's  Room.  Lynd  Ward's  charming 
book  festival  poster  made  a  colorful  back- 
drop for  bright  tea  tables,  gaily  adorned 
with  a  maypole  and  fresh  cut  flowers,  and 
heaped  with  delicious  sandwiches,  dainty 
eclairs  and  other  fancy  desserts. 

Attractive  children's  books  of  particu- 
lar interest  to  teachers  were  arranged 
by  age  and  grade  level  on  special  table 
displays,  and  the  teachers  appreciated  the 
titles  suggested  to  them.  Pictures  were 


taken  to  remind  us  of  a  lovely  afternoon, 
which  has  highlighted  in  particular  the 
cooperation  and  pleasant  relationship 
existing  between  the  library  and  our  local 
schools, 

DEPARTMENT  AND  OFFICE  NOTES 

Information 


In  the  Treasure  Room  on  Monday,  May  11, 
"Miss  Printers'  Devil  of  1953",  Betty 
Baugh  of  the  University  of  Kentucky,  was 
photographed  as  John  J.  Connolly  showed 
her  the  leaf  of  the  Gutenberg  Bible. 

At  the  Governor's  Office  late  that 
afternoon,  Miss  Baugh  and  Governor  Herter 
were  photographed  looking  at  a  facsimile 
of  the  Bay  Psalm  Book,  which  was  borrowed 
from  the  Library. 

Leslie  C.  S,  Barber,  British  Consul 
General,  came  to  the  Library  on  Monday, 
June  1,  to  view  the  Coronation  exhibition 
which  was  being  installed.  He  was  met 
by  the  Director,  Members  of  the  press 
were  on  hand  and  photographs  were  made  of 
the  two  gentlemen  examining  material  in  one 
of  the  display  cases. 

Interesting  Quotes 

One  of  our  authors  showed  us  a  hand- 
somely printed  little  note  he  received, 
along  with  some  proofs,  from  a  well-knovm 
and  respected  printer.  It  advised  him 
that  he'd  save  himself  trouble  and  money 
if  he  used  the  proper  proofreading  marks. 
The  note  concluded  with  a  list  of  symbols 
headed  "Proof  Readers'  Marks." 

THE  PLEASURES  OF  PUBLISHING,  May  19^3 
Published  monthly  by  Columbia 
University  Press 
■«• 

A  Columbia  professor's  wife,  arriving  at 
a  campus  box  office  to  take  her  turn  at 
selling  tickets  to  a  performance  for  chil- 
dren, was  just  in  time  to  overhear  this 
exchange  between  the  lady  she  was  relieving 
and  a  six-year-old  boy: 

"How  much  is  a  ticket?" 

"Ten  cents."  The  boy  took  out  a  dime, 
than  hesitated. 

"How  long  is  the  show?" 

"Forty-five  minutes • " 

He  shook  his  head  and  moved  away, 

"Can't  go.  My  span  of  attention  is  only 

twenty  minutes." 


-15- 


An  informant  at  the  University  of 
Washington  tells  us  that  Buschk's  book 
called  Sex  Habits  is  filed  (in  accordance 
with  a  suggestion  of  the  Library  of  Con- 
gress) in  their  library  under  Applied  ■ 
Science, 

THE  PLEASURES  OF  PUBLISHING,  June  1953 
■«• 

Thinkers  help  other  people  to  think, 
for  they  formulate  what  others  are  think- 
ing. No  person  writes  or  thinks  alone; 
thought  is  in  the  air  but  its  expression 
is  necessary  to  create  a  tangible  spirit 
of  the  times. 

Elbert  Hubbard 

FRCM  the  Newsletter,  Massachusetts 
Teachers  Federation, 

Doris  Almy,  Director  of  Public  Relationsj 
and  Editor  of  the  Newsletter,  includes 
items  of  exhibits  and  events  at  the  Li- 
brary in  the  publication. 


SOAP  BOX 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must  be 
accompanied  by  the  full  name  of  the  As- 
sociation member  submitting  it, "together 
with  the  name  of  the  Branch  Library,  De- 
partment, or  Office  in  which  he  or  she 
is  employed.  The  name  is  withheld  from 
publication,  or  a  pen  name  used,  if  the 
contributor  so  requests.  Anonymous  con- 
tributions are  not  given  consideration. 
The  author  of  the  article  is  known  only 
to  the  contributor  and  to  the  Editor-in- 
Chief.  The  contents  of  articles  appear- 
ing in  the  Soap  Box  are  personal  opinions 
expressed  by  individual  Association  mem- 
bers and  their  appearance  does  not  neces- 
sarily indicate  that  the  Publications 
Committee  and  the  Association  are  in 
agreement  with  the  views  expressed. 


To  the  Soap  Box: 


not  forget  him  has  already  been  realized, 
and  the  specialized  assistance  that  he 
gave  so  unstintingly  through  the  years 
will  be  deeply  missed.  The  qualities  of 
a  good  librarian  which  he  possesses  to  so 
unusual  a  degree — a  deep  love  and  know- 
ledge of  books,  together  with  an  equal 
desire  for  sharing  them  resulted  in  the 
kind  of  service  to  the  public  which  is  all 
too  rarely  given.  His  exceptional  know- 
ledge of  the  combined  resources  of  the 
Reference  Division  and  the  Branch  Issue 
Department  was  doubtless  unmatched  in  the 
Library,  and  was  of  inestimable  value, 
in  the  latter  key  department,  to  the 
branch  libraries  especially,  with  their 
limited  resources,  and  necessarily  limited 
knowledge  of  the  Central  Library  collec- 
tions. To  his  now  assignment,  however,  he 
will  bring  an  unusual  background  for  serv- 
ing the  public — if  in  a  less  ample  field — 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  opportunity 
of  working  for  a  time  directly  with  the 
public  will  bring  new  satisfactions  and 
opportunities. 

Pro  Bono  Publico 

To  the  Soap  Box  Editor: 

The  absence  of  Harry  Andrews  in  the 
Central  Library — who  belonged  to  more  than 
one  department--leaves  a  regrettable  void. 
His  consistent  concern  with  each  person's 
request  and  his  superior  sleuthing  to 
provide  pertinent  material  from  even  the 
remotest  regions  will  long  he  missed. 
May  he  know,  though,  that  his  public, 
viierever  and  whatever  it  may  be,  will  be 
fortunate  to  have  his  knowledge  and  his 
service. 


Appreciative 


To  the  Soap  Box  Editor: 


While  one  of  the  branches  has  obtained  a 
valuable  addition  in  the  person  of  Mr  Harry 
Andrews,  the  branch  system  in  general  will 
Word-  of  Mr  Andrew's  transfer  from  Branchmiss  the  unique  service  which  he  provided 

for  its  patrons.  VJith  his  extraordinary 
knowledge  of  books,  their  contents,  and 
their  location,  he  could  always  be  depended 
upon  to  provide  just  the  right  material — 
Dromptly,  We  take  this  opportunity  to  ex- 


Issue  Department  to  a  branch  library  came 
as  something  of  a  shock  to  those  many 
individuals  in  both  the  Home  Reading  and 
Reference  Divisions  who  through  the  years 
had  depended  so  heavily  on  his  assistance 
and  had  come  to  consider  his  name  almost 


syrionymous  with  Branch  Issue, 

His  hope  expressed  in  his  note  in  the  May^nd  to  wish  him  well  in  the  future. 
Question  Mark  that  these  individuals  will 

The  Staff  of  Jamaica  Plain  Branch 


tend  our  thanks  for  the  invaluable  assis- 
tance he  has  always  rendered  so  willingly 


-16- 


HEAR  YEJ       HEAR  YE] 


The  Coffee  Shop  will  be  closed 
during  the  week  of  July  27,  19^3 
in  order  to  allow  Mr  Adelstein 
and  his  help  to  take  a  vacation. 

The  Coffee  Shop,  freshly  re- 
painted, will  reopen  August  3> 
1953. 


CONCESSION  COMMITTEE 


¥^ 


uestion 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


JULY  1953 


THE   QUESTION   MARK 
Published  by  the  Boston  Public  Library  Professional  Staff  Association 


Volume  VIII,  Number  7 


July  19^3 


Publications  Committee:  Gerald  L.  Ball,  Geraldine  S,  Herrick,  John  J.  McCafferty, 

Sarah  M.  Usher,  Charles  J.  Gillis,  Chairman 


Publication  datet 
The  fifteenth  of  each  month 


Deadline  for  submitting  material; 
The  tenth  of  each  month 


EDITOR'S  CORNER 

Now  that  we  have  made  a  little  advance 
in  the  eternal  search  for  the  almighty 
dollar,  it  is  fitting  that  a  little 
thought  be  given  and  some  action  taken 
toward  helping  our  fellow  employees.  We 
have  a  very  high  regard  for  the  people 
we  work  with,  and  there  is  nothing  that 
we  wouldn't  do  for  each  other.  Unfortu- 
nately, with  the  exception  of  temporary 
aid  when  someone  is  burned  out,  that  is 
the  way  we  go  through  the  years  literally 
doing  nothing  for  each  other. 


PERSONAL  NOTES 

New  Employees 

I^s  Rhea  L,  Freeman,  Uphams  Corner, 

Mrs  Evelyn  B,  Herboldsheimer,  Dorchester, 

Bernadine  J,  Grace,  Uphams  Corner,  formerly 

part-time. 
Wilma  A.  Lyons,  Book  Stack  Service, 
Raymond  D,  Jennings,  Book  Stack  Service, 

formerly  part-time  in  Fine  Arts, 
Mrs  Laura  H,  Reyes,  Roslindale, 
Richard  J.  Kilduff ,  Kir stein  Business 

formerly  part-time  in  the  Book  Stack 

Service, 


There  is,  however,  an  excellent  way  tha 4 Josephine  A,  Waldron,  Office  of  Records,^ 


we  can  get  together  and  do  some  tangible 
good 8  It  is  by  becoming  members  of  a 
blood  bank.  It  means  making  arrangements 
externally  and  internally:  externally 
with  the  Red  Cross  for  the  setting  up  of 
a  club,  a  system  of  release,  and  a  sche- 
dule for  donations j  internally  by  having 
a  committee  appointed  to  draw  up  a  form 
giving  the  name  of  the  employee  and  the 
members  of  his  family.  Later,  appoint- 
ments will  be  made  for  the  depositing  of 
blood  to  be  drawn  upon  when  needed,  which, 
unfortunately,  is  often  very  sudden, 
and  iinexpected.    Two  members  of  tne 
committee  vdll  be  authorized  to  release 
the  blood  when  it  is  needed,  and  will  be 
responsible  for  seeing  that  it  is  re- 
ceived only  by  those  who  are  entitled  to 
it. 

Please  give  some  thought  to  this,  as  it 
is  one  of  the  very  powerful  ways  in  -which 
we  can  assist  our  fellow  workers  whea 
they  or  members  of  their  immediate  family 
sorely  need  help. 

Gerald  L,  Ball 


■JHHHHHHHBH*- 


Files,  Statistics,  formerly  part-tme  in 

the  Book  Stack  Service, 
Edward  J,  Cullinana,  Egleston  Square, 
Doris  M,  Scott,  Codman  Square, 
Louise  M,  Fogarty,  Uphams  Comer,  formerly 

part-time  at  Washington  Village, 
Gilda  Tecce,  Hyde  Park,  formerly  part-time 

at  North  End, 
Donald  P,  Crowley,  Book  Purchasing, 
Ana stasia  Efthemeou,  Print, 
Beverly  C,  Pettengill,  Mt.  Bowdoin. 
Vera  L,  Cheves,  Branch  Issue,  formerly 

part-time, 

['  obert  C,  Woodward,  History,  formerly 
part-time, 
ransfers 


jracemarie  V,  Alfe,  North  End  to  East 

Boston« 

Rosemary  D,  Cross,  South  End  to  East  Boston, 
^oda  Blacker,  Jeffries  Point  to  Mattapan, 
Mary  E,  Brigante,  Uphams  Corner  to  Allston. 
Elizabeth  F.  Howard,  Mattapan  to  Jeffries 

Point, 
Donna  C,  Maxson,  East  Boston  to  School 

Issue, 

Mary  M,  Mehlman,  Brighton  to  Mattapan, 
Janet  B,  Schlein,  Mattapan  to  Brighton, 
Dorothy  L,  Dodworth,  West  End  to  North  End 
Helen  L.  Lambert,  Uphams  Comer  to  Eglesi:.on 

Square • 


-2- 


Resignations 

Mrs  Margaret  M,  Sagar,  Hyde  Park,  to  re- 
main at  home, 

Mrs  Edith  S.  Trocki,  Office  of  Records, 
Files,  Statistics,  to  remain  at  home. 

Elsa  N.  Shore,  Cataloging  and  Classifica- 
tion, Div  of  R  and'RS, 

Barbara  Gilson,  History,  to  study  secre- 
tarial subjects. 

Marriages 

Florence  E.  Karcauskas,  Book  Stack  Ser- 
vice, to  Ernest  B,  Haudziunas  on 
June  6,  1953. 

Jean  A,  Moritz,  Book  Stack  Service,  to 
Harold  Gilbert  on  May  31,  1953, 

Elizabeth  B.  McLoughlin,  Parker  Hill,  to 
William  Svirsky  on  June  13,  1953 

Rosemary  D,  Cross,  East  Boston,  to  James 
Colarusso  on  June  20,  1953. 

Er^agements 

Elizabeth  Serjeant,  Hospital  Library 
Service,  has  announced  her  engagement 
to  John  Bernier  of  Baltimore,  The  wedding 
is  planned  for  next  April, 

BON  VOYAGEJ 

Beatrice  Coleman,  Book  Stack  Service, 
and  Anna  Mapning,  Teachers,  sailed  on  the 
Mauretania,  July  8,  and  will  travel 
through  Ireland,  England,  Scotland  and 
France, 

BEST  WISHES  FOR  A  SPEEDY  RECOVERY 

Aaron  Starr,  Business  Office 

Girard  D,  Hottleman,  Book  Purchasing 

George  Pahud,  Music 

THE  SOCIAL  WHIRL 

From:  Commanding  Officer  First  Amphibi- 
ous BPL  Chowder,  Chatter  and  March- 
ing Society, 

To:    Commanding  Officer  Question  Mark, 

Subject:  Bottle  Report. 

Time:     1?  June  1953. 

Place:    Duxbury  Beach,  Massachusetts, 

Code:     Not  only  code  but  cloudy  too, 

1100  First  wave  hits  beach  after 
bribing  native  parking  lot 
attendants, 

1130     Successive  waves  of  combat  troqps 
land.  Defense  perimeter  set  up 


100  yards  from  beachhead.  Sup- 
plies moved  up  to  line.  Labor 
Bottalion  includes  veterans  Paul 
Mulloney,  Gates  Cariani,  Bill 
Lewis,  and  Ed  (Muscles)  Casey, 

llU5     Camp  established.  Fire  obtained 
by  rubbing  two  dry  librarians  to 
gether.  First  and  last  time 
there  were  two  dry  librarians  on 
the  beach, 

1150  Patrols  sent  out  under  command 
of  Jean  Eaton,  CBW  (Chief  Bird 
Watcher). 

1200     Heavy  firing  heard.  Scouts  re- 
port it  is  the  sound  of  beer 
cans  being  punctured, 

1205  Mulloney  and  Lewis  return  to  canp 
with  freshly  bathed  clams.  Clams 
put  over  fire  to  steam,  Mulloney 
and  Lewis  sent  to  recreation  area, 

1210     Chow  broken  out,  Frankforts, 

rolls  and  fingers  scorched  over 
fire. 

1215     Clams  steaming.  Bob  Woodward 

boiling — somebody  requisitioned 
his  beer, 

1230     First  contingent  of  clams  dis- 
patched. Clam  demolition  squad 
highly  successful,  Vanda  Cari- 
ani distinguishep  herself  as 
chief  butterf ingers . 

1300     Enemy  clouds  shower  troops  with 

heavy  rain.  Retire  to  previously 
parked  cars.  Green  troups  sent 
home  with  junior  officers, 

lliOO     Enemy  attack  turns  to  light 

harassing  action.  Main  troops 
retvirn  to  camp  and  reestablish 
contact  with  rear  guard.  Clams 
re-heated  and  eated, 

llj.30     Troops  continue  hea-v.y  •  eating. 
Some  signs  of  chow  fatigue, 

15C0     Cis  Ritter  captured  and  carried 
into  water  but  rescued  before 
black  velvet  britches  make  con- 
tact with  surf. 

1515     75  mm,  watermelon  opened  up. 

1530     More  ammunition  brought  up  to 
the  line  and  placed  on  ice, 

15U5     George  Adelman  becomes  first  ace 
by  knocking  off  ten  cans, 

1600     All  enemy  action  ceases.  Sun 

almost  comes  out,  Louis  Ugaldi 
emerges  from  folding  foxhole 
and  attacks  clams  barehanded, 

1630     Chow  running  low  but  ammunition 
in  plentiful  supply  despite 
heavy  rate  of  fire. 


-3- 


l6ho 


1700 
1715 

1730 

I7li5 
1800 


Mary  Mellman  court-martialed 
for  dereliction  of  duty. 
Charged  with  losing  the  can 
opener.  Charges  dismissed 
when  court  sits  on  case  and 
locates  missing  item, 
Helen  Beeman's  command  de- 
serts, 

Ed  Casey  suffers  frost- 
bitten hand.  Surgeon  ampu- 
tates beer  can.  Casey 
awarded  Piirple  Lips  citation^ 
Bob  Woodward  entertains 
troops  with  his  rendition  of 
the  WILLIAM  TELL  OVERTURE. 
Casualties  collected  and 
escorted  to  cars. 
Troops  return  to  bases. 


Enclosure  A,  Recommended  for  citations: 

Carroll,  Phillip  With  a  disposition  as 
sunny  as  his  curls  he  absorbed  an  amount 
of  sand  above  and  beyond  the  call  of 
duty. 

Lewis,  William  Despite  a  severe  case  of 
immersion  hand,  Captain  Lewis  continued 
to  pass  the  ammunition, 

Myers,  Francis  Unflinchingly  and  with 
high  courage  he  fed  his  brood  toasted 
marshmallows.  Anybody  can  toast  marsh- 
mallows — but  between  the  toes, 

WEDDINGS 

The  former  Julie  Serjeant  was  one  of  the 
loveliest  of  June  brides  at  a  Nuptial  Mass 
in  St,  Gregory's  Church,  Dorchester,  when 
she  pledged  her  vows  to  John  Hallahan  of 
Open  Shelf,  on  Saturday,  June  27th,  One  of 
her  most  attractive  attendants  was  her 
sister  Elizabeth,  a  member  of  the  staff  of 
the  new  Hospital  Library  Service, 

Mildred  Fischer,  Jamaica  Plain,  and 
Samuel  Maloof  were  married  on  Sunday, 
July  5,  at  a  candlelight  ceremony  at 
Snmanuel  Church,  West  Roxbury.  The  bride, 
looking  radiant,  wore  a  white  satin  gown 
and  finger-tip  veil.  After  a  reception  at 
the  Beaconsfield  Hotel,  Mr  and  Mrs  Maloof 
left  for  a  wedding  trip  to  Lake  George. 
They  will  make  their  home  in  Somerville, 

■JKHHKfTHHHc-'/i' 


VISITORS 

Miss  Hanna  Deicke,  Chief  Librarian, 
Public  Library,  Goettingen. 

Miss  Maria  Gress,  Chief  Librarian, 
Heidelberg  City  Library, 

Henry  J,  Gartland,  Asst.  Dir,  of  U.S. 
Veterans  Administration  Library  Service. 
Mr  Gartland  is  a  former  member  of  the  staff 
and  wishes  to  be  remembered  to  all  his 
library  friends. 

ALUMNI  NOTES 


June  25,  1953 
Peterborough,  N.H, 


Dear  Miss  Usher, 


AgaTn  I  bring  to  you  all,  gratitude  and 
appreciation  for  the  tribute  that  has 
been  once  more  given  to  Mary's  memory. 

The  account  of  the  party  made  it  sound 
truly  a  friendly  and  happy  period  of  tine  . 

The  words  written  of  her  were  so  fine 
and  true,  that  one  could  almost  see  the 
pleased  happy  little  smile  that  she  used 
to  wear — altho  all  the  time  she  was 
doubtlessly  thinking  that  she  should  have 
done  much  more. 

May  peace  and  attainment  be  with  you  all 
throughout  the  coming  year. 

Most  sincerely, 

Katie  Nichols 

■«• 

Elizabeth  P.  Ross,  Librarian  Emeritus 
of  Codman  Square,  and  her  sister,  left 
on  June  27,  on  a  trip  to  Tulsa,  Oklahoma 
to  attend  the  wedding  of  her  nephew, 

•M- 

William  J.  Mulloney  left  on  his  annual 
visit  to  Colorado  on  July  3,  He  will 
visit  his  daughter  Mrs  George  Bradford, 
the  former  Helen  Mulloney  of  Book  Stack 
Service,  and  his  son  William,  Jr.  Mr 
Mulloney  will  return  to  Boston  in  the  fall, 

LIBRARY  IN  PRINT 

M.  Therese  Campbell  has  done  it  again] 
Another  short  story  in  the  Boston  Post  for 
Saturday,  July  h   (no  lessl)  —  Laughter's 
Miracle . 


-;HH;--;;-;i-<HHs;-«- 


-u- 


Truman  Nelson,  author  of  The  Sin  of  the 
Prophet,  has  finished  a  manuscript  about 
the  Theodore  Parker  Collection,  which  is 
to  be  used  during  the  Centennial  celebra- 
tion, 

John  Knox  of  the  Associated  Press  is 
preparing  an  article  on  the  Newspaper 
Room  which  will  receive  nation-wide  dis- 
tribution in  connection  with  the  Centen- 
nial, 

Dr  Frederick  Gillis,  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Boston  Public  Schools, 
is  preparing  an  article  on  BPL  services 
available  to  educators  and  parents.  This 
will  be  published  in  School  and  Society, 
the  top  national  magazine  for  educators, 

THE  B.P.L.  ON  TV 

On  June  29,  Mrs  Lois  Livingston  of  the 
English-Speaking  Union,  was  a  guest  on 
Polly  Huse's  program  over  WBZ-TV.  She 
spoke  about  and  displayed  some  of  the 
seals  which  the  English-Speaking  Union 
has  lent  to  the  Library  for  exhibit  dur- 
ing the  month  of  July. 

■jf- 

Dr  James  Ma nary.  Superintendent  of  the 
Boston  City  Hospital,  and  Mrs  Mary  G. 
Langton,  Hospital  Library  Service,  were 
intervievjed  by  Arch  MacDonald  on  "Into 
Focus,"  July  6.  Through  the  generosity 
of  Dr  Manary,  feleven  photographs  showing 
the  Hospital  Library  Service  in  action 
were  made  available  to  tell  the  story  of 
the  development  of  this  newest  Library 
service. 

On  the  same  day,  Mark  Bortman,  chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Historic  Places  of  the 
Greater  Boston  Chamber  of  Commerce,  ap- 
peared on  WBZ-TV  with  Polly  Huse  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Boston  Historic  Festival, 
Mr  Bortman  drew  particular  attention  to 
the  exhibits  at  the  Library, 

ARMED  SERVICES  NEWS 

FFC  David  T.  Sheehan,  on  leave  from 
Book  Stack  Service,  was  an  honor  graduate 
of  U.S.  Seventh  Army  non-com  academy  at 
Munich,  Germany.  He's  assigned  to  Ii03d 
Engineers  Base  Depot,  Kaiserlautern, 


■$HHt-;isi-x-;HHHs- 


PRESIDENT'S  NOTES 

A  Special  Committee  on  Book  Selection 
Policy  has  been  appointed  with  the  approval 
of  the  Executive  Board.  The  duties  of 
this  committee  are  to  outline  recommenda- 
tions for  book  selection  procedures  and 
policies  for  the  Boston  Public  Library 
and  to  submit  "a  report  to  the  Executive 
Board,  The  following  members  have  indi- 
cated a  willingness  to  serve  on  this  com- 
mittee: 

Charles  L,  Higgins,  General  Reference, 
Chairman 

Ruth  Hayes,  Adams  Street 

Bradford  Hill,  Periodical  and  Newspaper 

Evelyn  Levy,  Egleston 

Harriet  S\d.ft,  Rare  Book 

It  is  proposed  to  divide  the  field  into 
four  areas,  book  selection  for  children, 
book  selection  for  young  adults,  book 
selection  for  adults,  book  selection  for 
reference  and  research  purposes,  with  a 
separate  sub-committee  working  in  each  of 
these  fields.  It  has  been  suggested  that 
the  committee  consider  conducting  a  panel 
discussion  by  prominent  personalities  on 
book  selection,  and  publication  of  the 
committee  report  and  the  panel  discussion. 
The  committee  id.ll  welcome  further  sug- 
gestions from  the  membership. 

As  the  time  for  the  Centennial  celebra- 
tion approaches  let  us  remember  that  we, 
as  individuals,  are  largely  responsible 
for  the  public  relations  of  the  Library, 
Well-stocked  bookshelves,  streamlined 
procedures,  modern  lighting,  equipment 
and  furniture  have  their  place  in  creating 
and  maintaining  among  our  patrons  and  the 
general  public  a  favorable  attitude-  towards 
the  Library*  But  few  things  are  more 
effective  than  a  pleasant  manner,  a  posi- 
tive approach  and  an  evident  willingness 
to  serve,  A  friendly  greeting  and  a  warm 
smile,  a  little  extra  effort  to  provide 
service,  an  expression  of  regret  when  we 
are  not  able  to  help  are  things  that 
people  appreciate,  remember  and  associate 
with  the  Library,  The  Library  is  not  only 
a  building  and  a  collection  of  books:  it 
is  the  individuals  comprising  the  staff 
who  give  it  form  and  being.  Each  one  of 
us  is  the  Library  ■vAien  we  serve  our  patrons. 
Relations  with  the  public  are  essentially 
person-to-person.  Let  us,  you  and  I,  do 
the  best  we  can  for  each  individual  vho 
requires  our  services  so  that  each  patron 
feels  satisfied  that  we  have  his  interests 


-5- 


at  hearto  Such  public  relations  will  re- 
dound to  the  advantage  of  all  concerned 

B,  Joseph  O'Neil 

CENTENNIAL  COMMISSION 

John  B,  MacMurdo  of  the  Centennial  Com- 
mission has  asked  the  staff  of  the  Boston 
Public  Library  to  participate  in  the 
development  of  Centennial  Celebration 
plans  through  a  group  known  as  the  Centen- 
nial Research  Committee,  The  Centennial 
Research  Committee  is  being  coordinated 
through  the  Office  of  Reference  and 
Research  Services.  The  Committee  would 
welcome  ideas  and  suggestions  for  news- 
paper and  magazine  articles,  radio  or 
TV  programs,  speeches,  exhibits,  etc. 
from  other  meniiers  of  the  staff.  If  you 
can  offer  any  suggestions,  please  get  in 


who  was  for  many  years  a  business  man  in 
the  Brighton  district  .  ,  .  John  J.  Devlin 
was  graduated  from  Massacnusetts  institute 
of  Technology  in  1911.  He  enlisted  in  the 
Army  as  a  First  Lieutenant  in  the  Officers 
Reserve  Corps,  August  11,  1918  and  went 
overseas  with  the  301st  Engineers  in 
June,  1918,  holding  the  rank  of  Captain 
as  a  member  of  the  staff  of  Lt,  Gen, 
Robert  Lee  Bulla rd.  He  was  officially 
commended  for  his  conduct  in  action,  and 
wore  the  Victory  Medal  with  three  battle 
stars.  He  returned  from  overseas  duty 
in  June  1919.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
engineering  staff  of  the  firm  of  Maxwell 
and  Moore  at  the  time  of  his  death  in 
Larchmont,  N.Y.  October  10,  1931>  aged 
k3   years.  He  was  a  member  of  John  P. 
Mitchell  POvSt,,  American  Legion,  and 
numerous  other  patriotic  and  Engineering 
Societies,  Arrangements  for  dedicating 
the  Major  John  J.  Devlin  Square  are  in 


touch  with  the  appropriate  sub-committee 

chairman,  or,  if  uncertain  as  to  the  field]  charge  of  Brighton-Allston,  Post  17 j 

in  which  the  topic  might  properly  fall, 

with  the  Office  of  Reference  and  Research 

Services,  The  chairmen  responsible  for 


the  various  areas  are  as  follows: 

Exhibits— Elizabeth  M,  Gordon,  Deputy 
Supervisor  in  Charge  of  Work  with  Chil- 
dren. 

Children' s  Work — Mrs  Beryl  Y,  Robinson, 
Egleston  Square. 

General  Topics — ^Esther  Lissner,  Catalog- 
ing and  Classification,  Div  of  R  and  RS, 

Yough  Adults — A.  Phyllis  Freeman, 
Mat tap an. 

Adults— Mrs  Grace  B.  Loughlin,  Open  Shel 

Reference  and  Research — Louis  Rains, 
Science  and  Technology, 

News  Items  and  Notes — Priscilla  S, 
MacFadden,  Fine  Arts. 

Miscellaneous— B.  Joseph  O'Neil,  Periodi 
cal  and  Newspaper, 


MAJOR  JOHN  J.  DEVLIN  MEMORIAL 


American  Legion," 

The  daughter  of  Major  Devlin,  Marie 
Devlin  is  a  member  of  the  staff  of  Book 
Selection,  Home  Reading  and  Community 
Services, 


A  VISIT  TO  A  LADY  WHO  IS  MY  COUSIN 

Let  me  sit  in  your  kitchen. 

Let  me  see  the  seven  o'clock  evening 
sun  on  the  wall. 
Let  me  rest  and  hear  you  talk. 

There  is  much  peace  for  a  tried  soul. 


The  follomng  are  excerpts  from  an 
article  which  appeared  in  the  Brighton 
Citizen,  June  11,  1953» 

'*0n  a  motion  offered  by  President 
Francis  X.  Ahearn,  the  Boston  City  Council 
has  voted  to  name  the  square  at  the  corner 
of  Parsons  Street  and  Washington  Street, 
Brighton  in  honor  of  Major  John  J.  Devlin, 
a  hero  of  World  War  I. 

Major  Devlin  died  in  October  1931  from 


Nothing  is  there  to  disturb,  and  the 

tried  soul  shall  gain  rest. 
Not  unlike  a  visit  to  church  will  it 

be  to  sit  in  your  kitchen, 
'Sooth  my  outer  nerves,  so  that  strength 

will  come  to  the  tried  soul. 
Let  me  stretch  my  hand  and  touch  the 

clean  scrubbed  wooden  table. 
Let  me  taste  the  tea  that  quickens  my 

pulse. 
Let  me  hear  your  soft  voice  explain  the 

intricacies  of  some  old,  old  story. 
Let  me  rest  in  the  activity  of  former 

times  J  the  noise  and  excitement  of 

which  will  be  muted  in  the  telling. 


a  service  connected  disability 

Major  Devlin  was  the  son  of  James  H,  Devlin  ^g^  j^g  ^g  ^j^  Eternity, 

Let  me  die  while  we  sit  and  talkl 

Paul  V.  Moynihan 


Talk  on  into  the  night  in  your  soft, 

clear  voice. 
The  night  is  Eternity;  the  daylight  is 

Time,  ' 


-6- 


MATERIAL  OF  PROFESSIONAL  INTEREST 

Butler,  Pierce.  Librarianship  as  a 
Profession,  Library  Quarterly,  October 

1951,  pp.  23^^wr, 

Stating  at  the  outset  that  all  librarians 
believe  librarianship  is  a  profession  in 
the  same  category  as  medicine,  law,  and 
engineering,  Mr  Butler  describes  this 
belief  as  an  emotional  conviction  rather 
than  a  rational  conclusion.  Because  in 
Mr  Butler's  eyes  "we  can  adduce  neither 
evidence  nor  argument  to  justify  our 
opinion,"  this  article  was  written  by  him 
to  clarify  our  ideas  about  the  essential 
nature  of  a  profession. 

Some  interesting  reasons  are  assigned 
as  causes  for  our  vagueness  about  pro- 
fessions and  professional  work.  The  very 
word  "professional"  can  be  an  obstacle  to 
our  understanding.  The  thief  \ho   makes  a 
clever  steal;  the  plumber  who  does  raliabfe. 
work;  the  golf  player  who  has  risen  above 
an  amateur  level  of  playj  a  musician  to 
whom  music  has  become  more  than  an  avoca- 
tion: to  these  people  the  adjective  "pro- 
fessional" is  continually  applied.  This 
word  has  come  to  mean  many  things.  In 
this  essay  Mr  Butler  uses  the  word  "pro- 
fession" with  this  limitation:  the  pro- 
fessionalism in  librarianship  will  cor- 
respond to  that  of  a  physician,  a  lawyer, 
or  an  engineer,  but  not  to  the  profession- 
alism of  a  craftsman  or  an  artist. 

Another  obstacle  to  the  librarian's 
attaining  a  more  solid  realization  of  the 
professionalism  in  his  work  iSj  according 
to  Butler,  the  inclination  over  the  years 
past,  "to  imitate  the  outward  forms  of 
the  other  professions  before  attaining 
the  corresponding  internal  development," 
This  inclination  in  Butler's  estimation 
has  been  a  factor  ...  in  many  of  the  past 
departures  of  American  librarianship," 

As  an  example  of  this  inclination  Mr 
Butler  attributes  the  establishment  of 
library  schools  in  part  to  "the  idea 
that  librarianship  should  have  its  pro- 
fessional schools  because  the  other  pro- 
fessions have  them,"  although  it  is 
stated  in  the  essay  that  the  pioneers  of 
library  schools  did  aim  primarily  at 
providing  vocational  training.  The  early 
library  schools  were  founded  in  an  era 
when  librarians  were  very  much  concerned 
with  library  technology,  "the  niceties 
of  cataloging  and  classification,"  Con- 
sequently a  core  curriculum  was  then 
crystalized  which  even  today  resists  dis- 
solution and  makes  educational  reforms 


more  difficult  than  they  should  be,"  In 
Mr  Butler's  estimation  the  early  library 
schools  in  their  effects  did  not  completely 
satisfy  the  founders'  desires. 

Two  other  examples  of  a  "departure  in 
librarianship  grounded  in  a  mistaken  con- 
ception of  professionalism"  are  "the  pre- 
mature organization  of  librarians"  into  the 
American  Library  Association,  and  "the 
recurrent  clamor  for  certification,"  In 
the  space  of  half  a  page  in  his  essay  Mr 
Butler  lets  his  pen  run  freely  in  very 
candid  vein  as  he  states  his  concept  of 
the  American  Library  Association.  Some- 
where in  the  middle  of  this  description 
he  speaks  of  A,L,A.  as  having  always  been 
"what  the  American  Medical  Association 
would  be  if  it  enrolled  druggists,  nurses, 
and  hospital  clerks  as  well  as  physicians, 
gave  them  all  an  equal  vote,  and  evaded 
ill-advised  majority  decisions  by  politi- 
cal manipulations."  Mr  Butler's  provoca- 
tive statements  on  certification  I  quote 
in  full, 

"Hitherto,  this  movement  (certification 
of  librarians)  has  been  comparatively 
innocuous  because  it  has  been  unsuccessful. 
Here,  again,  an  imitative  measure  is 
advocated  on  delusive  presuppositions. 
Even  though  the  practice  of  medicine,  law, 
and  engineering  is  rightfully  limited  to 
those  who  can  pass  a  qualifying  examina- 
tion, it  does  not  follow  that  the  same 
restriction  should  at  present  be  imposed 
upon  librarians.  In  all  those  other  pro-   j 
fessions  a  distinctive  and  almost  esoteric  ' 
scholarship  has  long  since  been  developed 
and  is  universally  recognized.  But  the 
same  thing  is  not  true  of  librarianship. 
Here,  if  a  group  of  practitioners  were 
asked  to  enumerate  the  necessary  qualifi- 
cations, there  would  be  almost  as  many 
prescriptions  as  there  were  prescribers," 

At  this  point  Mr  Butler  restates  his  con- 
tention that  the  librarian's  lack  of  full 
recognition  of  librarianship  as  a  profes- 
sion is  due  to  the  librarian's  having 
hitherto  "thought  too  much  of  the  formal 
and  too  little  of  the  functional  charac- 
teristics of  both  his  own  and  the  other 
learned  professions."  The  remainder  of 
his  essay  is  devoted  to  tracing  the 
"general  functional  pattern"  in  these 
vocations  and  attempting  to  identify  the 
same  pattern  in  library  work,  Following 
this  procedure  Mr  Butler  believes  he  is 
establishing  the  professional  character 
of  librarianship, 
(to  be  concluded) 

Paul  V,  Moynihan 


-7- 


EGLESTON  SQUARE  OPENS 

Boston  opened  another  beautiful  library 
on  Wednesday  afternoon,  July  9t   at  three 
o'clock,  when  Mayor  John  B,  Hynes  official- 
ly cut  the  ribbon  at  the  Egleston  Square 
Branch  Library,  The  Director,  Milton  E, 
Lord,  introduced  Patrick  F,  MacDonald, 
President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  who 
outlined  briefly  the  growth  of  the  Branch 
Library  System  from  the  opening  of  the 
first  Branch  in  East  Boston  to  the  pro- 
posed opening  of  a  new  Branch  in  the 
South  Boston  area  and  he  invited  all  to 
Join  in  celebrating  the  library  centennial 
anniversary.  Mayor  Hynes  was  enthusiastic 
about  Boston's  first  air-conditioned  li- 
brary, and  invited  all  to  use  the  facili- 
ties provided  in  order  that  Boston  might 
continue  as  an  intellectual  and  spiritual 
center.  He  expressed  the  hope  that  some 
young  person  present,  would,  through  the 
inspirations  afforded  by  the  library, 
become  a  truly  great  man,  Mr  Lord  spoke 
of  the  delightful  experiences  awaiting 
the  people  of  the  district  in  the  furnish- 
ings, books,  films  and  records  available 
in  this  finest  of  Branch  libraries. 

Visiting  spiritual  and  civic  leaders 
from  the  community  as  well  as  the  people 
of  the  district  were  greatly  pleased  with 
every  detail  of  the  beautiful  furnishings 
and  equipment  of  the  Branch, 

Eveljm  Levy,  Branch  Librarian,  and  her 
staff  were  most  charming  hostesses  to  more 
than  four  hundred  guests  to  whem  they 
served  delicious  punch  and  cookies, 

Ruth  M,  Hayes 

THANKS 

Cecelia  N,  McCarthy,  Charlestown,  wishes 
to  thank  the  following  Branch  Librarians, 
Adult  Assistants,  Adult  Librarians  and 
friends  who  so  kindly  contributed  to  the 
re-establishment  of  her  home  recently  de- 
stroyed by  fire: 

Annie  Reis,  Lower  Mills 

Mary  L,  Oilman,  City  Point 

Elinor  Day,  Dorchester 

Marjorie  Obenauer,  Mt.  Pleasant 

Anna  and  Ruth  Brennan,  Mt,  Bowdoin 

Gertnide  Bergen,  Lower  Mills 

Helen  Connell,  Lower  Mills 

Agnes  D.  McDevitt,  Marion  K,  Abbot,  Aura 
Watson,  Mary  L,  Dennison,  Dorothy  G, 
Donohue, 

Thank  you  very  much. 

Cecelia  N,  McCarthy 


PSA  CENTENNIAL  GIFT  COMMITTEE 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Centennial 
Gift  Committee  was  held  on  Wednesday, 
July  1,  The  nature  of  the  gift  to  be  pre- 
sented to  the  Library  by  the  Professional 
Staff  Association  was  discussed  and  it 
was  decided  that  it  should  be  useful  and 
durable.  The  suggestion  that  met  with 
unanimous  approval  was  a  silver  service, 
decorated  xd.th  the  Library  seal  and  with 
an  inscription  identifying  the  Association 
as  donor.  The  service  would  be  available 
for  functions  held  in  the  Central  Library 
and  Branches, 

Announcement  of  the  method  to  be  used 
in  raising  the  sum  needed  for  its  purchase 
will  be  made  by  the  Committee  at  a  later 
date, 

Mrs  Geraldine  M,  Altman 

Charles  J.  Gillis 

Jean  M.  Hayes 

Priscilla  S.  MacFadden 

Thomas  J.  Manning 

Pauline  A,  Walker 

Pauline  Winnick 

Mrs  Ada  A.  Andelman, 
Chairman 

DIRECTOR  SPEAKS  AT  GRADUATION 

Mr  Lord,  who  was  Valedictorian  of  the 
1915  class  at  Lynn  Classical  High  School, 
returned  there  as  guest  speaker  at  the 
Graduation  exercises  on  June  12. 

CIVIL  DEFENSE  CITATION 

On  Thursday,  July  2,  at  11:00  a.m.,  a 
citation  for  meritorious  work  in  Civil 
Defense  was  presented  to  the  Boston  Public 
Library  by  the  City  of  Boston  Department 
of  Civil  Defense,  The  presentation  was 
made  by  Joseph  L,  Malone,  Director  of 
Civil  Defense,  to  Milton  E,  Lord,  Direc- 
tor of  the  Boston  Public  Library, 

Among  those  present  at  the  ceremony  were 
John  J,  Connolly,  Assistant  to  the  Direc- 
tor and  Chief  Ebcecutive  Officer  of  the 
Library;  John  W,  Tuley,  fire  prevention 
inspector  and  Coordinator  of  the  BPL  Civil 
Defense  Program;  and  Sarah  M.  Usher,  chair- 
man of  the  Planning  Committee  for  the  BPL 
Civil  Defense  Program, 

(see  back  cover) 


-8- 


ALA  CONVENTION  HIGHLIGHTS  -  1^53 

The  72nd  annual  convention  of  the  Ameri- 
can Library  Association  was  held  June  21- 
June  27  at  Los  Angeles,  California,  Of 
the  more  than  3200  registrnnts  in  attend- 
ance, nineteen  were  BPL  staff  members. 

For  most  Convention  business,  the  Hotels 
Biltmore  and  Statler  were  the  main  scenes 
of  activity,  with  the  three  general  meet- 
ings being  held  at  Los  Angeles'  Philhar- 
monic Auditorium,  At  the  Biltmore  there 
had  been  set  up  an  exhibits  area  in  which 
over  one  hundred  exhibitors — publishers 
and  library  equipment  and  supplies  manu- 
facturers— displayed  the  latest  in  books 
and  furnishings  for  libraries. 

Flora  B,  Ludington,  Librarian,  Mt.  Holy- 
oke  College,  who  had  served  as  First  Vice 
President  and  President -Elect  in  1952-$3^ 
succeeded  retiring  President  Robert  B, 
Downs.  Many  staff  members  will  remember 
Miss  Ludington.  as  Hart zell  Memorial  Lectur- 
er here  at  BPL  in. 1952.  Chosen  as  First 
Vice  President  and  President-Elect  for 
1*553-511  was  L.  Quincy  Mumford,  Director, 
Cleveland  Public  Library.  Mr  Mumford  will 
become  President  in  195U,  succeeding 
Miss  Ludington,  Elected  Second  Vice  Presi- 
dent was  Laura  K.  Martin,  Associate  pro- 
fessor in  Library  Science,  University  of 
Kentucky, 

In  addition  to  the  three  general  meet- 
ings there  was  a  wide  program  of  special- 
ized activities — committees  on  Adult 
Education,  Audio-Visual  Aids,  Personnel, 
Administration,  Children's  Work,  etc. — 
COTimittees  in  subject-fields — Documents, 
Science,  Music,  Business  and  many  others, 

"Book-burners  and  book-burning"  was 
certainly  the  liveliest  item  treated  dur- 
ing the  week.  President  Eisenhower's  re- 
marks in  his  Dartmouth  Commencement  ad- 
dress had  focused  worldvd.de  attention  on 
the  issue  th?t  is  still  making  the  head- 
lines. The  ALA's  stand  as  given  by  Presi- 
dent Downs  and  by  the  Special  Committee  on 
Book  Selection  in  Defense  of  Liberty  was  a 
re-affirmation  of  the  Association's  tradi- 
tional attitude.  A  letter  from  President 
Eisenhower  read  to  the  membership  made 
another  plea,  for  the  maintenance  of  "Free- 
dom to  read." 

The  general  theme,  of  this  year's  meeting 
was  "America  Looks  West."  The  western 
flavor  of  much  of  the  program  aimed  at  an 
assertion  of  the  rising  social  and  cultural 
importance  of  the  rapidly-growing  West. 


America  will  look  somewhat  more  eastward 
in  195U  when  next  year's  convention  will 
be  held  at  Minneapolis,  Minnesota, 

John  J,  McCafferty 

Editor's  Note;  There  will  be  fur-j:her 


coverage  of  ALA  by  some  of  our  returned 
conventioners  in  the  August  issue. 

NEW  BOOKS  IN  THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 
Non-fiction  -  Library  Science 

National  Council  of  Teachers  of  English, 

Books  for  you. 

Chicago,  1951 
Stefferud,  Alfred,  ed. 

The  wonderful  world  of  books, 

Boston,  Houghton  Mifflin,  1953 

The  following  books  are  imports  from  Eng- 
land and  India, 

i. 
Collison,  Robert  L, 

The  cataloguing,  arrangement  and  filing 

of  special  material  in  special  libraries, 

London,  Aslib,  1950 
Collison,  Robert  L, 

Information  services,  their  organization 

and  administration. 

London,  J.  Clarke  ,  1952 
McColvin,  Lionel  R. 

Reference  library  stock;  an  informal 

guide , 

London,  Grafton,  1952 
Palmer,  Bernard  I, 

The  fundamentals  of  library  classifica- 
tion. 

London,  Allen  &  Unwin,  1951 
Ralph,  Richard  G. 

The  library  in  education. 

London,  Turnstile  Press,  19U9 
Ranganathan,  Shiyali  R, ,  rao  sahib 

Library  tour  19i;8j  Europe  and  America, 

irpressions  and  reflections, 

Delhi,  Indian  Library  Association,  1950 
Savage,  Ernest  A. 

A  librarian's  memories;  portraits  and 

reflections. 

London,  Grafton,  1952 


-9- 


Fiction 

Duggan,  Alfred  L, 

The  little  emperors. 

New  York,  Coward-McCann,  1953 
Greene,  Graham 

The  shipwrecked. 

New  York,  Viking  Press,  1953 
Lowndes,  Marie  A, 

The  lodger. 

New  York,  Longmans,  Green,  19U0 
Maclnnes,  Helen 

I  and  my  true  love. 

New  York,  Harcourt,  Brace,  1953 
Mason,  Van  Wyck 

Golden  Admiral, 

Garden  City,  N.Y. ,  Doubleday,  1953 
Rawlings,  Marjorie  (kinnan) 

The  sojourner. 

New  York,  Scribner,  1953 
Sackville-West,  lion,  Victoria  M, 

The  Eastor  parxy. 

Garden  City,  N.Y.,  Doubleday,  1953 
"Wright,  Richard 

The  outsider. 

New  York,  Harper,  1953 
Young, Jefferson 

A  good  man, 

Indianapolis,  Bobbs -Merrill,  1953 

Non-F lotion 

Baker,  Louise   (Maxwell) 

Snips  and  snails. 

New  York,  McGraw-Hill,  1953 
Cousins,  Norman 

Who  speaks  for  man? 

New  York,  Macmillan,  1953 
Helm,  MacKinley 

Spring  in  Spain, 

New  York,  Harcourt,  Brace,  1952 
Henrey,  Mrs.  Robert 

The  little  Madeleine,'  the  autobiography 

of  a  young  French  girl. 

New  York,  Button,  1953 
Herzog,  Maurice 

Annapurna,  first  conquest  of  an  8000- 
meter  peak  (26,U93  feet) 

New  York,  Dutton,  1953 
Merton,  Thomas 

The  sign  of  Jonas, 

New  York,  Harcourt,  Brnce,  1953 
Miller,  Betty  B.  (Spiro) 

Robert  Browning,  a  portrait 

New  York,  Scribner,  1953 
Pearson,  Hesketh 

The  man  Xilhistler, 

New  York,  Harper,  1953 


Randall,  Ruth  (Painter) 

Mary  Lincoln;  biography  of  a  marriage, 

Boston,  Little,  Brown,  1953 
Ross,  Ishbel 

Proud  Kate,  portrait  of  an  ambitious 

woman. 

New  York,  Harper,  1953 
Ruggles,  Eleanor 

Prince  of  players;  Edwin  Booth 

New  York,  W.  W.  Norton,  1953 
Sandburg,  Carl 

Always  the  young  strangers. 

New  York,  Harcou.rt,  Brace,  1953 
Sone,  Monica  (Itoi) 

Nisei  daughter, 

Boston,  Little,  Brown,  1953 
Thornton,  Francis  B, 

Sea  of  glory;  the  magnificent  story  of 

the  four  chaplains. 

New  York,  Prentice-Hall,  1953. 

DEPARTMENT  NOTES 
Exhibits  Office 


If  you  looked  at  Filene's  windows  during 
the  fortnight  June  26-July  U,  you  would 
have  seen  a  number  of  familiar  items;  first 
editions  of  local  authors  of  the  past  cen- 
tury from  Rare  Book,  bust  of  Longfellow 
and  Whittier  which  have  graced  Bates  Hall 
for  many  years,  the  Webster  Bowl  from  the 
Treasure  Room,  and  the  Bowditch  Desk,  all 
of  which  were  on  display  in  a  cooperative 
effort  between  the  Exhibits  Office, 
Filene's  and  the  Greater  Boston  Chamber 
of  Commerce  in  observance  of  the  Historic 
Boston  Festival, . 

BRANCH  NOTES 

East  Boston 

The ■ branch  received  a  gift  of  a  moving 
picture  camera  as  part  of  the  Centennial 
celebration  of  the  Boston  Public  Library, 
The  Friends  of  the  East  Boston  Branch 
Library  who  have  been  raising  funds  tinder 
the  leadership  of  Albert  West,  President, 
presented  the  Cin^-Kodak  very  informally 
on  June  l8th.  Because  of  the  vacation 
season,  it  was  decided  to  have  a  formal 
ceremony  in  the  fall  when  the  branch  has 
been  refurbished  with  new  lights  and  fresh 
paint.  This  fine  gift  was  raised  by  the 
Friends  from  funds  donated  by  civic-minded 
individuals  and  organizations. 

It  is  fitting  that  the  first  Friends 
group  in  the  Boston  Public  Library  System 
should  make  the  first  gift  of  the  Friends 


-10- 


groups  in  this  Centennial  year.  In  19U7 
this  group  donated  the  firt  moving  pic- 
ture projector  and  electric  phonograph 
given  to  a  branch  library.  Later  a  beaded 
screen  for  the  movies  was  presented.  Last 
November  a  Webster-Chicago  tape  recorder 
was  given  to  the  branch.  This  is  an  out- 
standing achievement.  More  important  than 
these  valuable  gifts,  is  the  interest  and 
cooperation  of  this  generous  group  of 
true  Friends. 

Jeffries  Point 

Khoda  Blacker,  who  was  recently  trans- 
ferred to  Mattapan  was  entertained  at  the 
Town  House  on  Tuesday,  June  30,  After  an 
enjoyable  dinner  Miss  Blacker  was  presarfcec 
with  a  lovely  aquamarine  pin  as  a  parting 
gift  from  her  former  fellow-workers  of 
Jeffries  Point, 

■«• 

On  June  l8th  the  Jeffries  Point  Circus 
Reading  Club  wound  up  its  activities  with 
a  gay  party.  The  members  were  first 
introduced  to  a  niimber  of  circus  books 
that  they  would  enjoy,  after  which  many 
games  were  played.  The  youngsters  were 
quite  vocal  in  their  enthusiasm  for  the 
games,  especially  a  pantomine  quiz  of 
circus  performers  with  the  members  show- 
ing considerable  imagination  in  devising 
clues,  Reading  certificates  were  then 
presented  to  all  members  who  had  made  at 
least  six  visits  to  the  library  in  the 
course  of  the  club.  As  the  children  left 
the  library  they  were  given  cheerful  nap- 
kins filled  with  candies.  A  good  time 
was  had  by  all, 

■«• 

The  Centennial  Summer  Reading  Club 
started  off  with  a  bang  at  Jeffries  Point 
as  the  idea  of  the  100th  Birthday  celebra- 
tion was  taken  up  with  enthusiasm  by  the 
boys  and  girls  of  the  district.  For  each 
oral  book  report,  a  member  earns  a  paper 
candle  bearing  his  name  and  the  name  of 
the  book  he  has  read,  -triiich  is  then 
mounted  on  the  large  and  beautiful  birth- 
day cake  set  up  over  the  mantelpiece  above 
the  fireplace.  Although  the  first  meeting 
of  the  club  did  not  take  place  until 
July  6,  the  cake  had  already  become  quite 
crowded  with  bright  candles.  The  staff 
hopes  that  this  initial  interest  in  the 
club  will  continue  throughout  the  summer 
despite  the  many  other  tempting  neighbor- 
hood activities. 


Summer  Story  Hours  are  held  every 
Wednesday  at  11  a.m.  during  July  and 
August.  The  children's  workers  also  have 
a  regular  schedule  of  story-telling  at 
the  Wood  Island  Park  Day  Camp  which  is  rvin 
by  the  Good  Will  House.  These  programs 
are  particularly  successful  as  they  are 
held  out-of-doors  in  the  delightful  atmos- 
phere of  Wood  Island  Park  i^riiich  is  a  com- 
bination of  green  shady  grove  and  sunny 
beach.  The  enthusiastic  audience  usually 
numbers  about  75>  children"  from  the  ages 
of  7  to  12  who  look  forward  to  the  weekly 
visits  of  the  Jeffries  Point  story  tellers. 

Mattapan 

An  eyewitness  report  of  the  destruction 
wrought  by  the  Worcester  tornado  was 
brought  back  to  Mattapan  by  staff  member 
Nancy  Stipurko,  Nancy,  who  stayed  in 
Worcester  on  June  9  to  attend  her  fiance's 
graduation  from  Holy  Cross,  saw  the  tornado 
sweep  across  the  hills  on  the  Brookfield 
side  of  the  city.  Although  newspaper 
reports  and  photographs  graphically  de- 
picted the  horror  this  most  terrible  of 
nature -s  weapons  created,  the  story  as 
told  by  an  associate  brought  us  closer  to 
the  scenes  of  tragedy  and  desolationn 

■«• 

Good  reading  for  vacation  time  relaxation 
is  the  theme  of  the  summer  display  at 
I^ttapan,  Koda chrome  pictures  (courtesy 
of  Trans-World  Airlines)  coupled  with  book 
jackets  invite  the  armchair  traveller  to 
tour  the  world  in  his  own  backyard. 

■»■ 

In  the  Children's  Room  attention  is 
focused  on  the  summer  reading  club  list  of 
books  selected  in  conjvmction  with  the 
Library's  centennial  celebration,  Keynot- 
ing  the  bulletin  board  displays  are  those 
stories  which  have  been  children's  favorites 
since  the  library  was  founded— Little  Women, 
TomSawyer,  Doctor  Doolittle— as  well  as 
newcomers  such  as  Madeleine  which  seem 
likely  to  win  equal  favor. 


North  End 


The  model  of  the  Ducal  Palace  at  North 
End  has  joined  Paul  Revere 's  house  and  the 
Old  North  Church  as  one  of  the  special 
attractions  of  the  district.  Among  the 
recent  visitors  to  the  Library  to  see  the 
Palace  was  a  womnn  from  a  St.  Louis  museum, 
g  group  of  students  from  Cambridge,  and  a 
social  worker  who  brought  eleven  children 


I 


1 


-11- 


with  her.  They  were  all  charmed,  and 
impressed  by  the  model. 

Since  the  recent  opening  (across  the 
street  from  the  Ncrth  End)  of  the  Boston 
Hostel  of  the  American  Youth  Hostels,  the 
library's  guide  books  and  maps  of  Boston 
and  New  England  have  been  consulted  con- 
stantly by  these  bicycling  visitors. 
They  too  find  the  Ducal  Palace  model  of 
special  interest, 

CARE  Committee  reports 
Letters  of  appreciation 

Waarde,  Holland, 

Dear  friend, 

A+'ter  a  long  time  of  evacuation  about 
all  the  inhabitants  of  our  village  are 
rs"burned  from  their  places  of  exile.  At 
first  our  fellow-villagers  and  ourselves 
were  dispersed  in  8?  municipalities, 
An.i  yet  the  need  of  my  people  here  is 
great.  Certainly  you  have  seen  in  the 
ciA?riia -house,  or  by  photos,  how  much  of 
our  properties  and  estates  are  ruined. 

But  in  spite  of  all  we'll  begin  anew. 
The  dike,  that  has  to  protect  us  against 
t^.c  water,  is  mended  and  June  8th  we  might 
return  to  our  homes. 

We  are  very  grateful  to  your  countrymen 
and  yourself  for  the  brilliant  food-packet 
that  we  might  receive  from  your  country 
so  soon  after  our  return, 

Ilany  countries  helped  us  in  our  greatest 
needs,  but  you  and  your  country  did  aid 
us  in  an  original  and  practical  way.  We 
thank  you  cordially  for  your  kindness  and 
we  hope  that  our  God  and  Heavenly  Father 
will  provide  also  in  all  your  needs  and 
will  bless  you  and  your  fellow-countrymen 
with  His  great  blessings  in  Jesus  Christ, 
our  Lord  and  King, 

With  many  greetings  from  Holland 
Yours  truly, 
(Signed)  Oden  Boer,  Reformed  Church 

Waarde,  Holland. 

Good  friend, 

Here  the  need  is  great  after  all  the 
de/estated  disaster  of  the  fivst  February 
19ij3.  Very  much  has  been  destroyed  or 
driven  away.  In  spite  of  all  we'll  begin 
anew.  Now  the  dike  has  mended  and  June 
8th  WG  might  retiu'n  to  our  home. 


Our  emotion  was  great,  that  we  might  re- 
ceive the  brilliant  food-packet  from -your 
country  so  soon  after  our  return,  "We 
know,  that  many  countries  have  helped  us 
in  our  greatest  need,  but  what  you  have 
done,  .just  at  the  time  that  we  needed  it 
so  badly,  has  struck  us  very  much^  We  are 
grateful  to  you  and  your  fellow-countryr.ien 
and  hope,  that  the  friendship  between  your 
and  our  country,  which  has  come  to  uttering 
so  striking  now,  may  be  permanent. 

With  many  thanks  fiom  Holland., 
Yoi:.rs  grate;?ully, 
(Signed)    H,  G.  Foley 

The  above  letters  were  received  from 
recipients  of  CARE  packages  from  the 
Association 

Walter  J„  Bluhm,  Chairman 


tCAP  BCl 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must  be 
accompanied  by  the  full  name  of  the  Asso- 
ciation mei-iiber  submitting  it,  together 
with  the  name  of  the  Branch  Library,  De- 
partment, or  Office  in  which  he  or  she  is 
employed^  The  name  is  iNdthheld  from  p\ab- 
lication,  or  a  pen  name  used,  if  the  con- 
tributor so  requestSc  Anonymous  contribu- 
tions: are  not  given  consideration.  The 
author  of  the  article  is  known  only  to  the 
contributor  and  to  the  Editor-inrChief « 
The  contents  of  articles. appearing  in  the 
Soap  Box  are  personal  opinions  esqsressed 
by  incividual  Association  members  and 
their  appearance  does  not  necessarily  indi- 
cate that  the  Publications  Committee  and 
the  Association  are  in  agreement  with  the 
views  expressed. 


To  the  Editor: 

As  original  members  of  the  Boston  Public 
Library  Chowder,  Chatter  and  Marching 
Society  we  feel  that  it  is  about  time  to 
expose  for  the  mischievpus  and  libelous 
fabrications  they  really  are,  those  in- 
accurate and  often  impertinent  accounts  of 
the  Society's  activities  which  have 
appeared  in  the  QUESTION  MARK.  We  are  of 
the  opinion  that  the  Society  has  been  held 
up  to  ridicule  unjustly.  We  realize  the 
difficulty  of  proving  the  falsity  of 


-1-2- 


general  implications  vdthout  basis  in 
fact.  Therefore,  we  shall  confine  this 
expression  of  our  indignation  to  answer- 
ing those  direct  accusations  that  have 
been  made  both  in  print  and  verbally 
about  the  Society  and  its  members.  For 
the  sake  of  brevity  we  shall  present  our 
defense  through  questions  and  answers, 

Q.  Is  it  not  a  fact  that  all  Library 
toss -pots  are  members  of  the  Society? 

A,  Certainly  not.  There  are  several 
solitary  drinkers  who  do  not  belong, 

Q,  Is  it  not  true  that  the  Society  has 
featured  un-American  dishes  at  its 
functions? 

A,  No,  Sir,  Spaghetti  and  fudge  sauce 
or  chocolate  covered  oysters  may  be 
indigestible  but  they  are  one  hundred 
percent,  true  blue  Yankee  Doodle  dishes 

Q,  Is  it  not  true  that  vodka  has  been 
served  at  Society  meetings? 

A,  The  Society  does  not  serve  drinks. 
Individual  members  order  or  bring  their 
own  particular  preferences,  but  the 
Society  maintains  that  it  is  beyond 
the  scope  of  the  "Social  Welfare" 
clause  of  its  constitution  to  dictate 
either  the  kind  or  amount  of  medicine 
to  be  taken  by  the  members.  It  may 
interest  the  Senator  to  know  that  the 
official  Society  libation  is  composed 
of  equal  parts  Kickapoo  Joy  Juice  and 
library  paste. 

Q.  No.  vodka? 

A,  No,  thanks,  Bourbon  and  branch 
water  will  be  fine, 

Q,  Is  it  not  a  fact  that  members  of 
your  club  are  now  or  have  been  in  the 
employ  of  an  institution  charged  with 
harboring  quantities  of  unlabelled 
propaganda? 

A,  The  Society  has  no  control  over  the 
policies  of  the  Institution,  However, 
the  Society's  own  policy  concerning 
labelling  is  that  nothing  should  be 
poured  from  an  unlabelled  bottle. 

Q.  Just  what  are  the  aims  and  purposes 
of  your  organization? 

A.  We  believe  that  librarians,  given 
half  a  chance,  can  and  should  be  human. 
Our  purpose  is  to  develop  in  our  mem- 
bers those  latent  human  qualitiea  that 
find  no  means  of  expression  during 
working  hours.  We  urge  our  members 
to  keep  before  them  the  Society's  motto 
"Illegitimatl  Non  Carborundum". 


Prunella  and  Philomena  Farfel 


To  the  Editor  of  the  Soap  Box: 

Shade  the  Fourth's  no  shade  at  all. 

Not  yet  gone  beyond  recall; 
Emeritus  alumna  she. 

Librarian  of  high  degreej 
Gentlewoman  firm  yet  kind. 

Fine  of  person,  fine  of  mind; 
Sprightly,  spirited  and  gay, 

A  CfflANDE  DAME  in  every  way. 

Knew  her  job  and  did  it  well, 

A  pillaress  in  BPLj 
Living  shame  to  them  who  drone. 

That  the  Yankees  are  all  done; 
Myself  will  testify  with  thanks, 

That  most  I  know  I  got  from  Yanks } 
And  though  I'm  risking  Donald's  ban, 

Confess  I  am  a  Yankee  fan. 

When  I  finished  my  stint  on  Mr  Bates  for 
the  April  issue,  I  bethought  myself  with 
sympathy  of  the  quiet,  generous,  captive 
audience  of  QM,  who  so  patiently  received  I 
all  my  endless  tetrameters,  and  decided  to 
reward  them,  not  excessively,  by  stopping 
altogether,  but  in  the  manner  of  the  Lucky 
Strike  HIT  PARADE  show  on  Saturday  nights 
by  giving  them  an  EXTRA,  I  thought  I  would 
interrupt  the  parade  of  great  shades  in  our 
early  history,  and  bring  forward  on  the 
stage  one  who  was  indeed  no  longer  with  us 
at  the  Library  but,  who  was  notable  in  our 
more  recent  history,  and  was  still  alive. 
Since  most  of  whatever  virtues  as  Librarian 
I  may  myself  possess  I  derive  from  that 
lady,  I  fixed  on  Alice  Stevens  as  the  live 
"graduate"  to  bring  on  as  relief  from  the 
great  dead.  I  had  written  the  above      | 
stanzas,  and  was  planning  a  visit  to 
Wellesley  to  get  some  biographical  details 
of  her  early  life,  when  I  received  a  tele- 
phone call  at  Alls ton  informing  we  that 
Miss  Stevens  had  died  early  that  morning, 
and  had  thus  joined  the  great  shades  after 
all.  So  now,  if  I  am  ever  to  write  of  her 
in  verse  again  at  all,  it  will  hav=;  to  be 
in  her  proper  chronological  order,  perhaps 
in  i960,  at  the  rate  I  am  going.  But  I 
should  like  to  say  a  few  words  in  prose 
^bout  the  great  lady  who  is  now  dead. 

Miss  Stevens  was  the  most  truly  dedicated 
Librarian  I  ever  knew  ,  so  that  the  Library 
became  her  entire  life,  and  all  her  private 

mere  afterthought  and  appendage. 
That  famous  principle  propounded  by  her 
forebears,  that  PUBLIC  OFFICE  IS  PUBLIC 
TRUST,  she  took  so  seriously,  that  she 


evei lives 


'13- 


thought  it  applied  not  only  to  Governors 
and  Presidents  and  Senators  and  Mayors, 
but  to  head  Librarians  and  stack  workers, 
to  clerks  and  runners  and  cleaning  women. 
Not  a  "modern"  librarian  in  the  sense 
of  Library  schools,  Library  "literature, 
ALA.  conventions,  seminars  and  institutes, 
she  brought  with  her  when  she  came  to 
BPL  a  fine  intelligetje,  a  good  education, 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  fundamentals  of 
her  job,  great  energy  and  industry,  and 
a  most  extraordinary  fund  of  integrity. 
She  did  an  enormous  lot  of  work  herself, 
and  inspired  equal  exertion  in  many  of 
the  people  up.der  hor  charge.  Those  will- 
ing to  be  trained  learned  the  craft  of 
librariap.ship  from  her,  and  held  it  as 
possession  forever  after.  She  had 
delicately  organized  sensibilities,  rich- 
ness and  complexity  but  not  coii^licated- 
r.ess  of  nature,  excellent  tastes  in  things 
and  arts  and  people,  humane  and  generous 
impulses,  and  profound  insight  into  viiat 
was  truly  important.  She  was  an  expert 
knower  of  right  from  wrong,  and  often 
insisted  on  people  adhering  to  her  notion 
of  the  right,  but  in  all  matters  of  pri- 
vate taste  or  opinion  never  sought  to 
impose  her  orthodoxies  or  heterodoxies 
or.  others.  Though  she  had  great  reserve, 
she  also  had  great  magnanimity,  and  re- 
sponded with  all  the  splendid  warmth  of 
her  very  real  humanity  whenever  she  felt 
hei'self  "involved"  and  knew  that  her  aid 
was  really  needed.  She  gave  all  her 
loj"alties  and  all  her  devotion  to  this 
Library,  even  at  the  expense  of  her 
best  private  interests,  including  her 
health.  She  was  the  "grand"  lady,  with 
all  of  the  virtues  and  some  of  the  faults 
which  go  with  that  calling — a  frequent 
inperiousness  which  doesn't  fit  too  well 
in  e  democratic  society,  and  an  innocence 
and  naiveness  which  people  today  lose  in 
grammar  sphool.  It  was  amusing  to  see 
her  constant  amazement  at  the  wickedness 
of  others,  sinpe  she  was  never  tempted 
that  way  herself.  She  had  a  romantic 
belief  in  the  endless  perfectibility  of 
human  nature,  and  it  was  amusing  and 
disturbing  to  see  the  indefatigable 
assiduity  with  which  she  persisted  in  try- 
ing to  fashion  into  a  purse  what  was  obTi- 
ously  and  forever  a  sow's  earo  '. 

For  those  of  us  who  knew  her  and  re-  - 
spected  her,  the  Library  underwent  a 
sharp  and  permanent  contraction  when  she 
left  it  in  1938,  And  now  that  she  is  dead, 


the  v^iole  world  is  the  less,  I  am  g]ad 
that  though  thus  inadequately  I  am  left 
to  report  her  and  her  cause  aright. 
And  I  like  to  think  that  in  the  celestial 
club  of  BPL'rs  where  merit  alone  counts, 
and  truth  always  prevails,  Miss  Stevens 
was  met  by  a  special  delegation,  lifted 
over  the  "stile  of  pearl"  brought  into 
the  company  of  Everett  and  Ticknor  and 
Bates  and  Capen  and  Jewett  and  Swift  and 
Chase,  and  "Empress"  Theodosia  of  the 
old  Ordering  Department,  and  welcomed  with 
"Well  done  thou  good  and  faithful  Alicei' 

Harry  Andrews 


To  the  Editor  of  the  Soap  Box: 

In  hot  humid  weather,  worirlng  conditions 
in  Bates  Hall,  History,  and  General 
Reference  are  intolerable.  Can  we  look 
forward  to  some  relief  one  of  these  years? 

A  member  of  General 

Reference 


BIBLIOTHHIAPY 

A  now  medium  has  been  added  to  the 
Hospital  Library  Service— "Projected 
Books."  Recent  books  of  fiction,  biograpty, 
travel,  sports  and  humor  are  being  sup- 
plied on  film  to  patients  unable  to  hold 
the  bound  volumes.  This  film  can  be 
projected  from  a  bedside  machine  onto 
the  ceiling  of  the  patient's  room  so  that 
the  patient  can  read  from  a  reclining 
position. 

About  one  hundred  and  seventy  books- 
on-film  are  now  being  processed  and  id.ll 
be  available  to  aid  in  the  therapy  of  the 
Hospital  Library  Service, 


UTE  FLASH 

Stork  Event 

Mr  and  Mrs  Paul  W.  Smith  announce  the 
birth  of  a  daughter,  Paulette,  on  June  30, 


Mr  Smith 
ing. 


is  an  Assistant  in  Book  Purchas- 


^H;-JHHH;-«-»">*i'<- 


CITY  OP  BOSTON  DEPARTMENT  OP  CIVIL  DEFENSE  CITATION 


WHEREAS  the  President  of  the  United  States  on  December  6^  19^0 ^ 
did  issue  a  proclamation  stating  the  existence  of  a  national 
emergency  which  requires  that  the  military,  naval,  air,  and 
civil  defense  of  the  nation  be  strengthened  as  quickly  as  possible 
so  that  we  may  be  able  to  repeal  the  threats  now  imminent  against 
our  lives,  liberty,  peace,  security,  and  the  fulfillment  of  solemn 
obligation  to  the  United  States;  and 

WHEREAS  the  General  Court  by  enacting  Chapter  639  of  the  laws  of 
the  Commonwealth  did  legalize  the  establishment  of  Civil  Defense 
organizations  at  state  and  local  levels  in  the  interest  of  public 
safety;  and 

WHEREAS  the  Governor  of  the  Commonwealth  on  December  l6,  19^0* 
declared  by  proclamation  that  a  state  of  emergency  did  exist  by 
reason  of  the  fact  that  the  peace  and  seeurity  of  the  Commonwealth 
are  endangered  by  the  imminent  threat  of  belligerent  acts  of  the 
enemies  of  the  United  States;  and 

WHEREAS  business,  industry,  and  patriotic  organizations  in  response 
to  these  declarations  have  pledged  their  cooperation  to  provide 
the  additional  man  power  and  woman  power  necessary  for  civil 
defense  during  this  period  of  national  emergency;  and 

WHEREAS  the  Boston  Public  Library  promptly  responded  to  the  request 
of  local  authorities  for  assistance  in  civil  defense  by  pledging 
its  membership  as  a  group  and  as  individuals  to  serve  in  civil 
defense  in  the  City  of  Boston  and  organized  its  facilities  in  a 
manner  worthy  of  commendation  and  praise; 

NOW,  THEREFORE,  the  City  of  Boston  Department  of  Civil  Defense 
hereby  awards  this  citation  of  merit  in  the  hope  that  it  will 
inspire  continued  efforts  and  active  participance  in  the  interest 
of  Civil  Defense  in  Boston, 


JOHN  B.  HZNES 
Mayor  of  Boston 

SAMUEL  J.  POPE,  Chairman 
Mayor's  Advisory  Coxincil 


JOSEPH  L.  MALONE  ,  Dirfl«tor 
Boston  Civil  Defense 


™ 


uesiion 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


AUGUST  1953 


T  ;:  E  Q  u  E  s  I  T  c  ;j  m  a  k  k 

Published  by  the  Boston  Public  Library  Professional  Staff  Association 


Volume  VIII.  Number  8 


August  19^3 


Publications  Committee;  Gerald  Lo  Ball,  Geraldine  So  Herrick,  John  Je  McCafferty, 

Sarah  Mn  Usher,  Charles  Jo  Gillis,  Chairman 


Publication  date; 

The  fifteenth  of  each  month 


Deadline  for  submitting  material i 
The  tenth  of  each  months 


EDITOR'S  CORNER 

Perhaps  not  everybody  likes  to  travel, 
but  it  appears  that  most  Librarians  do© 
Observant  readers  of  The  Question  Mark  wHL 
have  noticed  over  the  years  the  recxirrent 
salutes  of  "bon  voyage"  and  "welcome  home" 
accorded  members  of  our  staff  embarking 
upon  or  returning  from  vacation  trips. 
Even  so,  it  is  quite  likely  that  for  each 
of  these  lucky  travelers  there  are  probably 
a  half-dozen  envious  stay-at-homes  left 
behind  in  wistful  dream.  Some  of  these, 
with  frugality  and  self-sacrifice,  may  be 
able  to  make  the  dream  come  true,  but  too 
many  others,  burdened  by  expenses  that 
cannot  be  trimmed,  can  only  look  forward 
to  a  lifetime  of  brooding  over  colorful 
and  exciting  travel  folders,  before  with 
regretful  sigh,  setting  sail  for  Nantasket. 

There  can  be  no  question  about  the  satis- 
faction and  the  benefits  that  come  of  tra- 
velingo  History  shows  us  how  Renaissance 
training  insisted  upon  the  "grand  tour"  in 
the  making  of  a  gentleman,  how  the  sons  of 
wealthy  Americans  in  our  early  history 
took  leisurely,  often  years-long,  vaca- 
tions in  Europe  before  coming  home  to  begin 
brilliant  careers  in  literature  and  the 
arts.  But  even  greater,  perhaps,  is  the 
pure  pleasure,  the  excitement,  the  thrill 
of  travel— and  this  ought  to  be  no  less  an 
incentive.  It  has  never  been  satisfactorily 
established  whether  it  is  better  to  amuse 
or  to  instruct  oneself,  and  here  one  can 
do  both. 

To  many  of  you,  it  may  come  as  a  surprise 
that  there  are  actually  some  people  wi 
to  stake  you  to  that  dreamed-of  trip.  In- 
vestigation will  show  a  respectable  number 
of  opportunities  for  fellowships  providing 
aid  for  librarians  studying  and  working 
abroado  These  are  aimed  almost  exclusively 
at  the  girls,  incidentally.  Another  source 
of  aid  could  be  the  Fulbright  program,  if 
you  can  find  your  spot  in  one  of  the  fol- 
lowing categories;  students,  trainees, 


teachers,  guest  instructors,  professors 
and  leaders  in  fields  of  specialized 
Imowledge  and  skills  So  far,  interna- 
tional exchange  in  Library  work  seems  to 
have  been  on  rather  a  high  level,  but 
this  is  the  same  exchange  program  that 
sees  elementary-school  teachers  enjoying 
the  benefits  of  travel  and  working  abroad* 
Whether  or  not  lower-level  library  workers 
can  ever  hope  to  profit  by  the  Fulbright 
program  might  be  discovered  if  more  of 
them  inquired  about  the  matter.  Very 
often  things  are  accepted  as  so  because 
they  seem  soo  Nobody  from  this  Library 
has  gone  abroad  on  a  grant  (while  dozens 
of  Boston  schoolteachers  have)  so  maybe  .. 
it  is  ass\imed  that  nobody  ever  willc  Who 
knows,  perhaps  the  chance  could  be  inves- 
tigated to  some  staff  member's  very 
pleasant  surprise.  And  then,  for  the 
girls,  there  are  definitely  opportunities 
to  shoot  ato  Maybe^  then,  we'll  all  be 
able  to  go  to  Paris  next  year— insofar  as 
such  absence  does  not  interfere  with  the 
service  to  the  public,  of  course, 

John  J.  McCafferty 

CALENDAR  OF  EVENTS 


September  30, 
October  1  and  2. 


New  England 
Library  Association 
Meeting,  New  Ocean 
House,  Swampscott 


PERSONAL  NOTES 


^^New  Employees 


Catherine  M.  Doherty,  Office  of  Records, 
Files,  Statistics 

Angela  A,  Sacco,  Allston,  formerly  em- 
ployed part-tjjue  at  Charlestown 

Carolyn  Ac  Linehan,  Connolly 

Marie  Larkin,  Book  Preparation,  formerly 
employed  part-time  at  Mt.  Pleasant 


-2- 


MarriagSs 

Doris  M,  Scott,  Ccdman  Square,  to  Andrew 
F.  Brimmer  on  July  18. 

Resignations 

Mi's". Rita  A»  Collins,  Connolly,  to  remain 

at  homeo 
I-irs  Patience  W.  Lenk,  Open  Shelf,  to 

remain  at  home* 
Agnes  C.  Lucchesi,  Office  of  Records, 

Files,  Statistics,  moved  to  Arizona. 
M,  Elizabeth  Grant,  West  End,  to  accept 

another  position, 
Sylvia  ¥/ood,  Allston,  to  accept  another 

position, 
llargaret  J,  Drago,  Adams  Street,  to 

accept  another  position, 

BIRTHS 

Mr  and  Mrs  Richard  A,  Janes  have  an- 
nounced the  birth  of  a  daughter,  Georgia 
Ann,  in  June,  Mrs  Janes  is  the  former 
Elirabeth  Adams  of  Rare  Book.  Since 
leaving  the  BPL  she  has  been  employed  at 
■the  State  Department  Library  in  Washington, 
D.  C,  from  which  she  is  at  present  on 
leave  of  absence, 

Mr  and  Mrs  William  Tc  Casey,  Open  Shelf, 
have  announced  the  birth  of  a  second 
daughter  on  August  10  at  3:30  p.m, 

ALUMAE  KDTES 

Abe  Kalish.  oB'.vacation  from  the  State 
Department  Library,  Washington,  D,  C, 
has  made  several  calls  on  his  former 
colleagues  in  the  BPL,  His  son  can 
testify  to  the  allure  of  the  new  Chil- 
dren's Section, 

Allan  Angoff,  assistant  director  of  the 
New  York  University  Office  of  Publications 
and  Printing  for  the  past  year,  hajs  been 
named  associate  editor  of  the  press.  He 
was  managing  editor  of  Tomorrow  magazine 
from  19U6  to  1951  and  prior  to  that  was 
associate  editor  of  Creative  Age  Press, 
Mr  Angoff  is  a  former  member  of  the  staff 
of  Cataloging  and  Classification  (Div,  of 
R.  &  R.S,),  Mrs  Angoff  is  the  former 
Florence  Adelson,  School  Issue. 

BON  VOYAGE 
to 
Fanny  Goldstein,  West  End,  who  sails  on 
the  S.^S,  Constitution  from  New  York  on 
August  21,  connercting  at  Naples  with  the 


Stf  S,  Jerusalem,  and  going  on  to  Israel 
where  she  will  spend  an  extended  vacationc 

WE  CONGRATULATE 

Virginia  Haviland,  Readers  Advisor  for 
Children,  who  was  elected  vicr.  chairman 
and  chairman-elect  of  the  National  Chil- 
dren's Library  Association,  at  its 
meeting  in  June,  One  of  the  pleasant 
duties  of  the  vice-chairmanship  is  serving 
as  chairman  of  the  Newbery-Caldecott 
Committee, 

Dorothy  L,  Judge,  part-time  assistant 
in  the  Information  Office,  who  was 
recently  granted  the  Seriah  Stevens 
Scholarship  by  the  Longfellow  Home  i^d 
School  Association  of  Roslindale.  Mise 
Judge  plans  to  attend  Boston  State 
Teachers'  College  in  the  fall, 

VISITORS 

Stuart  Perry,  City  Librarian,  Wel- 
lington, New  Zealand. 

Mildred  L,  Batchelder,  Executive 
Secretary,  A»L,A,  Division  of  Libraries  ■ 
for  Children  and  Young  People, 

THE  B.P.L.  ON  TV 

The  Library's  exhibit  on  "50  Years  of 
Powered  Flight"  has  been  discussed  on 
two  of  Polly  Huse's  programs  over 
WBZ-TV— on  July  20,  by  Al  Alabiso,  public 
relations  director  of  the  Logan  Inter- 
national Airport;  on  August  3^  by  Lee 
Court,  chairman  of  the  Aviation  Committee 
of  the  Greater  Boston  Chamber  of  Commerce 
and  display  director  at  Filene's.  In- 
cidentally, Mr  Court  is  the  gentleman 
who  cooperated  with  the  Library's  Exhibit  ■ 
Office  in  preparing  the  exhibit  placed 
in  Filene's  Tdndows  during  the  Boston 
Historic  Festival. 

Arthur  Riley,  aviation  editor  of  the 
Boston  GLOBE  and  president  of  the  Aero 
Club  of  New  England,  also  discussed  the 
exhibit  when  he  appeared  on  WNAC-TV  as 
Louise  Morgan's  guest  on  July  22, 

THE  B.P.L.  IN  PRINT 

The  Boston  Daily  Record  for  Friday, 
July  31,  carried  a  two-col\imn  photograph 
of  a  young  visitor  in  the  Children's 
Section,  Open  Shelf,  as  she  was  admiring, 
the  artistic  efforts  of  the  Child  Life 


-3- 


magazine  poster  contest  winners,  which 
are  currently  on  exhibit. 

On  Wednesday,  August  5,  a  picture  story 
entitled  "Tell  Me  a  Story"  by  Gordon 
Converse  of  the  Christian  Science  Monitor 
about  the  BPL  story  hours  at  Playland  on 
the  Common,  was  given  international  pub- 
licity as  it  appeared  on  the  right  half 
(5  columns  wide)  of  the  first  page  of  the 
second  section  of  the  Monitor. 

By  coincidence  the  Boston  Daily  Record ' 
for  Thursday,  August  6,  used  the  same 
"Tell  Me  a, Story"  caption  for  the  photo- 
graph they  used  of  the  Library's  story 
hour  in  the  children's  wards  at  City 
Hospital, 

In  connection  with  the  exhibit  of  prize- 
winning  photos  in  the  Boston  Press 
Photographers'  Association  at  the  Library 
in  July,  the  'Record  for  July  7,  carried  a 
picture  of  9   year  old  Leon  Day  of  Boston, 
camera  in  hand,  looking  hopefully  at  the 
exhibit. 

The  "Observant  Citizen"  column  in  The 
Boston  Sunday  Post  for  August  2  carried 
the  complete,  item  about  the  exhibit  of 
prize-winning  posters  in  the  Child  Life 
magazine  contest  which  are  currently  on 
view  in  the  Children's  Section,  Open 
Shelf. 

M'L  CEWENNIAL 

The  Centennial  Commission  has  released 
■News  Letter,  n\mber  one,  August  1953. 
This  has  been  distributed  not  only  to 
Conmission  members  but  to  each  full-time 
and  part-time  member  of  the  staff  of  the 
Library.  Attractive  in  design,  this  pub- 
lication is  intended  to  give  up-to-date 
information  on  progress  being  made. 

COFFEE  BREAK 
(Inscribed  on  one  wall  of  the  coffee 
shop  at  Republic  Studios,  California) 

Come  and  rest  awhile.  Mark  6;31 

Let's  go  for  coffee.  And  we  do  that. 

Enjoy  a  pleasant  chat 

About  the  news,  ball  games  and  jokes. 

Say  hello  to  a  lot  of  folks. 

Then  back  again  to  the  treadmill. 

To  tackle  the  job  with  refreshed  vail. 

There's  nothing  that  will  pick  you  up 

Like  a  brief  recess  and  steaming  cup. 

Relax,  take  ten,  try  to  forsake 

Your  tension  with  a  -  coffee  break. 


THE  SOCIAL  WHIRL 
A  Farewell  and  a  Debut 

On  Monday,  July  20,  Agnes  C.  Lucchesi, 
Office  of  Records,  Files,  Statistics, 
was  guest  of  honor  at  a  luncheon  at  Nino 
Biagi's.  Twenty  of  her  friends  from  Cen- 
tral had  gathered  for  her  last  luncheon 
in  Boston  prior  to  leaving  for  Phoenix, 
Arizona,  where  she  and  her  family  will 
make  their  home.  Miss  Lucchesi  was  pre- 
sented with  a  U.S.  Savings  Bond,  a  shoul- 
der bag,  and  a  corsage  with  all  good 
wishes  for  her  new  life  so  far  from  New 
England.  Among  those  present  were  Mrs 
Ifery  Nagle  and  Mrs  Edith  Trocki,  former 
members  of  the  Record  Room  staff. 

Following  the  luncheon,  Jack  Trocki 
brought  Jackie  and  Joey,  the  healthy, 
happy,  good-natured  Trocki  twins  to  the 
BPL  for  their  first  peek  inside  a  public 
library — and  they  seemed  to  like  it  I  The 
hospital,  having  no  patients  at  the  moment, 
was  quickly  turned  into  a  reception  room 
and  the  Trocki  family  "received"  most 
graciously.  Donald  Newman,  formerly  of 
the  Record  Room,  came  down  in  the  hope  of 
signing  the  twins  up  for  the  Red  Sox 
Cheering  Squad,  but  they  never  once  de- 
monstrated their  lung  power  J 

FubgQ  BPLers  ? 

On  August  5,  present,  past,  and  future 
BPLers  in  the  John  Carroll  family  were  in 
Central,  Mrs  Carroll  formerly  worked  in 
Fine  Artsj  Daddy  is  still  very  actively 
at  work  as  Supervisor  in  the  Div.  of  R. 
and  R.S.J  and  John,  Jr,  and  Philip,  the 
very  attractive  and  active  sons,  seemed 
to  like  thier  first  glimpse  inside  the 
Library  and  it  is  to  be  expected  that  they 
will  be  taking  entrance  examinations  at 
the  earliest  possible  date. 

On  the  same  day,  Julia  Manning  Gurnett, 
formerly  of  Rare  Book,  brought  her  charm- 
ing red-headed  daughter,  Anne  Marie,  and 
she  had  the  opportunity  of  meeting  the 
Carroll  boys.  Maybe  that  will  be  the 
beginning  of  another  Library  romance,  who 
knows? 

In  the  morning  of  the  very  same  day 
fcfr  and  Mrs  Francis  Scannell  brought  their 
pelightful  family  to  visit  old  friends. 
The  two  boys,  Christopher  and  Joel,  came 
in  with  Daddy  to  say  "Hello",  but  the 
young  daughter,  Elizabeth,  stayed  in  the 


4- 


quiet  of  the  car  with  her  mother,  the 
former  Mary  A,  Donovan,  History,  Mr 
Scannell,  formerly  of  General  Reference, 
is  now  Coordinator  of  Libraries  for  the 
State  of  Michigan. 

Friends,  particularly  in  Fine  Arts 
where  Mrs  Murtagh  worked  when  she  was 
Vera  Calbury,  and  in  Book  Stack  Service 
where  Patrick  Murtagh  now  works,  were 
happy  to  have  a  visit  recently  from  Mrs 
Murtagh  and  four-year-old  Kathleen.  It 
is  ho]f)ed  that  next  time  brother  Tom  will 
come  along,  too. 

Editor's  Note;  If  there  were  other  mem- 
bers of  the  Library's  younger  generation 
who  visited  the  Central  Library  recently, 
we  welcome  them,  too  I  Those  listed  above 
are  the  only  ones  vHno  were  brought  to 
our  attention, 

Elinor  Day  Feted 

Elinor  E,  Day,  Dorchester,  who  had  been 
invited  by  Dorothy  F,  Nourse  to  attend  an 
Esplanade  Concert  on  July  15,  following 
dinner  at  the  Nourse-Holt  apartment,  was 
completely  surprised  to  find  that  the 
dinner  was  being  given  for  her  in  honor 
of  her  approaching  marriage  by  a  committee 
representing  the  Division  of  Home  Reading 
and  Community  Services,  Following  a  deli- 
cious dinner  in  the  true  Nourse  tradition, 
and  the  testing  of  wits  by  one  of  the 
Nourse  literary  games,  the  bride  was  pre- 
sented with  a  bag  and  cash  gift  with  best 
wishes  from  the  group. 

Miss  Day  was  again  invited  to  attend 
an  Esplanade  Concert'  on  July  22,  but  this 
time  she  fo\md  herself  guest  of  honor  at 
a  shower  at  the  apartment  of  Virginia 
Haviland,  Friends  from  Central  and 
several  branch  libraries  in  which  she  had 
worked  before  going  to  Dorchester  were 
present  to  see  her  open  the  large  "Bride's 
Book"  (published  at  East  Boston L)  which 
contained  miscellaneous  gifts  for  the 
bride  and  her  future  home.  After  the 
group  had  been  tested  by  a  second  version 
of  the  Nourse  literary  game,  it  was  re- 
warded with  delicious  refreshments.  The 
best  wishes  of  her  friends  went  with  the 
bride — and  may  she  some  day  really  get  to 
an  Esplanade  Concert  I 

-;«■ 
Remember  I 

It's  not  too  hot  to  CARE 


PRESIDENT'S  tPTES 

The  Centen^iial  Gift  Committee,  feeling 
that  a  gift  to  t  he  Library  on  the  oc- 
casion of  its  Centennial  should  come  from 
the  library  employees  as  a  whole  rather 
than  from  one  group,  has  asked  the  Presi- 
dent to  invite  the  other  library  employee 
groups  to  join  mth  the  Professional 
Staff  Association  in  the  Centennial  Gift 
to  the  Library.  Accordingly,  the  Presi- 
dent, with  the  approval  of  the  Executive 
Board,  has  invited  the  other  groups,  the 
Amavets,  the  Employees  Benefit  Association, 
the  Maintenance  Employees  Union  and  the 
Quarter  Century  Club,  to  participate  with 
the  Professional  Staff  Association  in 
this  worthy  project. 

Thus  far  we  have  had  replies  from  the 
Arnavets  and  the  Employees  Benefit  Asso- 
ciation. The  Arnavets  have  given  the 
idea  a  hearty  approval  but  since  virtually 
all  their  members  are  also  members  of 
other  Boston  Public  Library  employee 
or garni zat ions  they  are  taking  no  further 
action  as  an  organization.  The  Employees 
Benefit  Association  has  asked  that  they 
have  representation  on  the  committee,  and 
has  been  invited  to  appoint  an  appropriate 
number  of  members  to  the  Centennial  Gift 
Committee. 

B.  Joseph  O'Neil 

AU  -  LOS  ANGELES 
Audio-Visual  Workshop 

My  field  being  Audio-Visual,  the  Pre- 
Conf erence  and  Audio-Visual  Tforkshop  was 
of  great  interest.  Held  in  Founders  Hall, 
on  the  beautiful  campus  of  the  University 
of  California,  it  consisted  of  three  days 
and  nights  of  talks  by  leaders  in  the 
field,  demonstrations  of  new  equipment, 
experimental  programs,  and  the  always 
fascinating  workshop  groups. 

The  workshop  group  I  attended  consisted 
of  librarians  working  with  Audio-Visual 
materials,  and  those  librarians  planning 
to  go  into  the  A-»V  field  in  the  near 
future.  Each  person  had  different  ex- 
periences and  problems,  which  made  the 
meetings  very  lively. 

I  discovered,  much  to  my  surprise,  that 
we  here  in  Boston  are  very  progressive  in 
the  A-V  Field,  many   of  the  suggestions 
for  expanding  and  improving  an  A-V  De- 
partment were  about  activities  in  which 
we  are  already  engaged,  or  at  least  had 
tried  out  in  the  past.  For  instance,  our 


-5.. 


children's  programs  in  branch  libraries 
are  running  along  srflfiothlyj  while  young 
adult  programs  are  getting  started 
gradually.  This  experience  came  in  handy 
for  me  when  these  subjects  TS-e  discussed* 

One  of  the  conclusions  arrived  at  in 
t;'C3e  discussions  was  that  programming 
must  become  an  important  part  of  the 
A-V  Departmentt  This  must  be  done  in 
alliance  with  other  departments  of  the 
library.  The  Adult-Education  Department, 
working  hand  in  hand  with  leaders  of 
outside  civic  groups  and  organizations, 
gets  the  ball  rolling.  This  department 
then  plans  a  program,  utilizing  the 
facilities  of  the  A-V  Department,  in- 
cluding films,  recordings,  slides,  etc., 
with  the  aid  of  staff  members  of  other 
departments  of  the  library.  YiTith  books 
as  the  final  goal,  these  programs  should 
consist  of  materials  and  speakers  who 
will  stimulate  the  audience  into  a  v/ider 
use  of  the  library's  books  and  other- 
resources.  An  important  point  brought 
out  here  was  that  the  staff  members  who 
deal  with  the  public  should  be  thoroughly 
aquainted  vdth  the  Audio-Visual  materials 
owned  by  the  library. 

If  only  information  is  desired,  the 
A-V  Department  should  act  as  an  infor- 
mation center  v^here  all  information  on 
A-V  materials  can  be  obtained.  This 
calls  for  personnel  well  trained  and  in- 
formed in  all  phases  of  the  A-V  field 
Ttrrking  in  that  department. 

Other  high  points  of  the  workshop  groups 
were  the  discussions  of  Film  Circuits, 
Policies  Governing  the  Loan  of  Films, 
Controversial  Films,  and  Film  Strips, 
The  discussion  on  Film  Circuits  was  most 
interesting  to  me  as  my  knowledge  of 
them  was  limited.  Many  of  the  libraries 
in  the  Yifest  and  Midwest  are  participants 
in  these  circuits  vfhich  have  one  library 
as  a  center,  and  subscriptions  to  packaged 
programs  on  a  short-loan  basis.  These 
have  both  advantages  and  disadvantages; 
the  main  advantage  being  an  economical  one. 

Another  fascinating  program  prepared  for 
us  Yias   a  demonstrated  television  program 
produced  by  the  University  of  California's 
A-V  Department.  This  consisted  of  a  short 
play  ViTTitten  for  libraries,  to  be  used  in 
Educational  TV  programming  for  increasing 
the  use  of  library  resources. 

One  of  my  activities  outside  of  the 
Conference  which  may  be  of  interest  vras 
a  ^jersonal  intervieTf  with  Cecil  B,  DeMille 
at  the  Paramount  Studios.  I  found  him 
to  be  a  most  interesting  and  modest  man. 


He  was  sincerely  interested  in  the  work 
we  are  doing  ivith  films,  and  the  role 
of  the  library  as  a  communication  center, 
I  also  found  time  to  visit  the  Disney 
Studios,  and  see  several  of  the  new  un- 
released  True  Adventure  series;  to  attend 
a  previevf  of  MGM's  new  film  "Julius 
Caesar" ;  besides  visiting  several  motion- 
picture  studios,  and  watching  films  in 
production, 

I  feel  that  in  addition  to  gaining  a 
wealth  of  information  from  the  conference, 
the  workshop  discussion,  exhibits  and 
demonstrations,  we  of  Boston  were  also 
able  to  contribute  a  good  deal  to  the 
Audio-Visual  meetings  from  our  short, 
but  extensive  and  rapidly-expanding  work 
in  the  field. 

Ed  Peltier 

Public  Documents  Committee 

Covering  the  whole  range  of  human 
knowledge.  United  States  Government  pub- 
lications are  of  the  utmost  importance 
as  primary  source  materials.  It  seems 
as  though  no  important  piece  of  research 
can  be  accomplished  without  reference  to 
theme  There  are  about  2^0  government 
agencies  and  bureaus  issuing  publications. 
Considering  these  factors  it  is  indeed 
strange  that  there  is  still  a  considerable 
number  of  librarians  lacking  basic  know- 
ledge concerning  these  publications,  thoir 
content  and  their  acquisition. 

Every  library  should  obtain  the  "Monthly 
Catalog  of  Government  Publications"  so 
that  the  librarians  may  check  it  and  order 
the  new  materials  as  they  are  is sued » 
Most  material  is  usually  obtainable  from 
the  Government  Printing  Office  at 
Washington.  However,  some  very  important 
publications,  including  census  materials 
and  publications  relating  to  small  busi- 
ness enterprises,  may  be  obtained  from  the 
local  Field  Office  of  the  U.S.  Department 
of  Commerce  (Boston  Field  Office  -  26l 
Franklin  Sto).  An  important  ten -year 
index  to  the  "Monthly  Catalog  of  Govnrn- 
ment  Publications"  will  be  issued  this 
Fall, 

Many  librarians  are  not  cognizant  of  the 
fact  that  even  when  they  buy  government 
publications  they  pay  only  for  the  print- 
ing and  binding  and  not  one  cent  toward  . 
the  exhaustive  research  and  compilation 
involved. 

One  of  the  most  important  of  the  govern- 
ment publications,  the  "Statistical 


^^ 


Abstract  of  the  United  States"  issued 
annually,  summarizes  figures  abstracted 
from  Til   govcrranent  and  1|2  non"go  vernment 
series c  A  very  n^rcial   feature  of  this 
publication  is  the  bibliographical  refer- 
ences to  the  source  material,  noted  page 
by  pa 5;3, 

Two  other  publications  which  should  be 
in  every  library  and  branch  library  are 
the  "Historical  Statistics  of  the  United 
Statesj  1739-19^0",  an  extremely  valuable 
reference  and  research  source,  and  the 
"Congressional  Record",  the  daily  record 
of  congressional  debate,  which  should 
be  readily  available  to  the  citizen  so 
that  he  may  know  at  first  hand  what  is 
actually  being  said  and  presented  by  his 

representatives*      „    „  ^  , 
^  Mary  F,  Daly 

Personnel  Clinic 

The  Personnel  Clinic  proved  to  be  of 
interest  not  so  much  as  to  methods  and 
procedures  but  as  a  stimulant  to  self- 
analysis  for  those  in  supervisory  posi- 
tions of  the  basic  philosophies  held  by 
them  in  their  supervisor  relationships 
■vrith  employees.  Everyone  would  welcome 
smooth  relationships  plus  superior  work 
accomplishments,  I  believe  it  vras 
adequately  illustrated  that  it  is  the 
underlying  philosophy,  not  the  varying 
methods  of  record  keeping,  formulas, 
rules  and  regulations,  or  even  \vage  scales^, 
that  is  most  important  in  bringing  about 
the  desired  results o 

Mary  F,  Daly 
SORT  Meetings 

As  chairman  of  the  delegation  rep- 
resenting the  B„P,L. P.S.Ac  at  the  SORT 
Steering  Committee  election,  it  was  my 
very  pleasant  duty  to  attend  the  SORT 
meetings  at  the  A.L.Ac  Conference  in 
Los  Angeles  on  June  23  and  June  25c 

"With  pardonable  pride,  I  listened  to  the 
many  laudatory  references  to  our  ovm 
staff  association  and  to  the  part  it  has- 
played  in  establishing  precedents  for 
other  staff  organizations  tliroughout  the 
nation^  During  the  business  meeting 
which  preceded  the  election,  many  questir3 
concerning  our  organization  and  its  work 
were  directed  to  me  from  the  floor.  It 
vras  very  heartwarming,  3000  miles  from 
home,  to  hear  names  of  fellow  members, 
such  as  Edna  G.  Peck  and  Bradford  M.  Hill_, 
commended  for  their  contribution  to  SORT. 


B.P.L»P.S,Ae  will  also  be  pleased  to 
learn  that  both  of  the  candidates  nomi-» 
nated  by  us,  Marion  Phillips  of  Min- 
neapolis Public  Library  and  Frances 
Covington  of  Enoch  Pratt  Free  Library, 
v/ere  elected  to  the  Steering  Committee « 

Besides  the  election,  the  business 
meeting  included  an  inquiry  into  the 
following  tliree  questions  s 

(1)  The  nujnber  of  libraries  having 
staff  association  meetings  on 
library  timeo 

(2)  The  number  of  staff  associations 
vfhich  include  cleaning  ana  main- 
tenance workers o 

(3)  The  number  of  staff  associations 
having  formal  contact  vdth  their 
trustees,  that  is,  attendance  at 
trustees'  meetings. 

The  major  part  of  the  meeting  was  de- 
voted to  an  informal,  lively  discussion 
of  the  three  prize -ivinning  projects  in  the 
SORT  IDEAS  contest  for  staff  association 
activities?  (1)  The  St,  Louis  Public 
Library  Staff  Association  tax  increase 
campaignj  (2)  Los  Angeles  Public  Library 
staff  findings  project  involving  a  de- 
tailed questionnaire  on  personnel,  and 
(3)  Ner/ark  Public  Library's  "Operation 
Survival"  in  ivhich  experienced  employees 
set  up  a  lecture  series  to  help  their 
young  assistants  pass  civil  service  ex- 
aminations »  The  work  of  the  three  groups 
was  stupendous  and  truly  inspiring. 

At  the  open  SORT  meeting  on  Thursday, 
June  27  .   1953,  the  formal  presentation 
of  the  IDEAS  awards  v^-as  made,  followed  by 
a  brief  summary  describing  each  project, 
Mrs  Helen  Trimble,  stylist  from  Desmond's, 
a  very  fashionable  department  store  in 
Los  Angeles,  discussed  fashion  ideas  for 
librarians  and  illustrated  her  talk  v/ith 
most  attractive  models  shoiTing  advance 
fall  fashions o  The  chief  speaker  of  the 
afternoon  was  Mrs  Muriel  M,  Morse, 
Assistant  General  l!hn3.ger   of  the  Los 
Angeles  City  Civil  Service  Commission, 
who  spoke  most  expertly  on  "The  Idea  of 
Civil  Service," 

Jlildred  Kaufman 

Erie  Stanley  Gardner 

on 

Escape  Literature 

Man  turns  to  escape  literature  because 
it  satisfies  a  need— the  need  to  at  least 
play  the  part  of  the  self-reliant.  His 
owTi'  personal  problems,  v/hich  he  may 


consider  overnrhelming,  are  temporarily  put 
aside.  As  the  "escape"  story  progresses 
he  becomes  engrossed  and  identifies  him- 
seK  Tdth  the  fictional  character  of  the 
hero — the  self-reliant  one.  T/lTien  through 
this  self-reliance,  courage  and  initiative 
the  fictional  problems  are  solved,  not 
only  satisfactorily  but  gloriously,  he 
puts  dovm  the  book  vdth  a  sense  of  accom- 
plishment. Refreshed  and  often  retaining 
a  sense  of  confidence  as  the  result  of  his 
unconscious  identification  of  himself  with 
the  hero,  he  faces  his  ovm  problems  with 
a  renewed  vigor.  The  reading  of  "escape 
literature"  many  times  is  an  instance  of 
"intellectual  problem  drowming"  of  a 
problem  the  individual  cannot  bring  him- 
self to  face  immediately.  Good  "escape 
literature"  does  help  the  individual  as 
it  revivifies  and  stimulates  his  mind 
helping  him  acquire  vicariously  certain 
elements  of  character  necessary  to  his 
well-being  as  a  person  of  decision  and 
character. 

It  should  be  emphasized  that  the.  selec- 
tion of  "escape  literature"  is  especially 
important  because  it  does  indeed  have  the 
power  to  unconsciously  affect  the  char- 
acter of  the  individual.  The  best  "escape 
literature"  should  contain  realism  both 
as  to  background  and  style.  The  use  of 
words  and  background  should  be  authentic. 
Mr  Gardner  pointed  out  that  certain 
author's  in  the  field^due  to  meager  knov/- 
ledge  of  the  subject  or  laxity  in  de- 
termining dictionary  meanings  of  words , 
have  been  responsible  for  some  grave  though 
at  times  amusing  mistakes  being  per- 
petuated. 

Mary  F,  Daly 

Adult  Education 

In  July  1952,  a  grant  from  the  Ford 
Foundation  Fund  for  Adult  Education  made 
possible  an  A.L.A.  survey  of  adult  edu- 
cation activities  of  the  public  libraries 
and  state  library  extension  agencies  in 
the  United  States.  Copies  of  the  Survey 
were  sent  to  all  libraries  in  communities 
of  over  2,500  population  in  an  endeavor 
to  learn  what  v/as  being  done  to  help 
adults  and  young  adults  (16-21  years  of 
age)  in  continuing  education.  The  Survey 
was  concerned  primarily  ¥;ith  three  areas; 
1.  the  services  the  library  provides  to 
other  adult  education  agencies j  2,  the 
services  the  library  provides  to  com- 
munity groups;  and  3.  the  library's  own 


programs  and  activities.  (For  an  ac- 
count of  this  project  see  A.L.A.  Bulletin, 
May,  1953). 

The  Public  Libraries  Div,  program  was  in 
the  nature  of  a  work  conference  in  four 
sessions,  planned  by  the  Division  and 
its  Adult  Education  Section,  to  explore 
and  discuss  the  findings  and  the  broad 
implications  of  the  Survey  .which  was  com- 
pleted by  U,096  libraries.  The  opening 
session  of  the  workshop  was  a  discussion 
of  what  libraries  have  to  offer  to  the 
Adult  Education  movement.  Although 
attention  was  given  to  recommendations 
for  a  clarification  oft  he  general 
functions  and  philosophy  of  Adult  Edu- 
cation, the  emphasis  was  on  the  need  for 
action  first  and  philosophy  second.  The 
gradual  recognition  of  the  importance  of 
Adult  Education' in  the  library's  program 
from  1920  to  the  present  was  discussed; 
the  roles  of  the  large  and  small  libraries 
were  presentedj  and  the  major  issues  of 
the  Survey  were  briefly  outlined.  Al- 
though the  importance  of  individual 
service  was   not  under-estimated,  this 
particular  survey  was  concerned  with 
group  services  only.  No  attenpbwas  made 
to  discuss  the  questionnaire  as  such,  the 
validity  of  the  findings,  not  the  in- 
cidental effects  of  the  survey.  It  was 
suggested  that  further  studies  might  well 
include  evaluations  and  measurement  of 
standards,  and  re-evaluation  of  Adult 
Education  activities » 

Following  the  general  meetings,  ap- 
proximately twenty  small  discussion  groups 
met  in  two  sessions  to  s  tudy  the  statis- 
tical facts  and  findings  of  the  Survey, 
to  search  for  implications  in  what  United 
States  libraries  do  or  don't  do,  and  to 
make  recommendations  for  the  future  use 
of  the  Survey. 

With  John  Cory  of  the  New  York  Public 
Library  as  Moderator,  a  panel  from  the 
workshop  recorders  reported  to  a  second 
general  session  the  com.bined  thinking  of 
the  various  discussion  groups.  The  major 
issues  covered  were;  training  needed  in 
adult  education  group  leadership  tech- 
niques, use  of  audio-visual  materials, 
the  general  functions  and  philosophy  of 
adult  education,  library  co-operation 
with  other  agencies,  and  recommendations 
for  continuing  the  study  of  the  Survey. 
A  panel  of  librarians  commented  critically 
on  each  of  the  issues  as  presented  by 
the  recorders.  Since  this  meeting  is  to 
be  fully  covered  in  a  special  A.L.A.  re- 
port, the  Survey  findings  will  not  bo 


-8- 


elaborated  upon  here.  Tliat  there  is 
nation-Tade  interest  in  the  Survey  was 
evidenced  by  the  very  large  attendance  at 
this  last  session  and  by  the  spirited 
discussion  from  all  sections  of  the  floor. 
This  T«as  one  of  the  first  attempts  to 
include  a  vrorkshop  as  a  part  of  the  con- 
ference work  rather  than  as  a  pre-con- 
ference  session.  That  it  was  eminently 
successful  was  due  in  large  part  to  the 
careful  pre-conference  planning  of  all 
the  details o 

It  may  be  interesting  to  B.P.L.P.S.A. 
members  to  know  that  there  will  be  further 
discussion  of  the  Survey  and  its  implica- 
tions for  NeviT  England  at  the  fall  meeting 
of  the  New  England  Library  Association. 

Muriel  C.  Javelin 

;      WIJ   BOOKS  IN  THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 

Non-Fiction— Library  Science 

American  Library  Association. 

Annual  conference  summary  reports,  19^3* 

Chicago,  1953 
American  Library  Association.  Board  on 
Personnel  Administration t 

Salaries  of  library  personnel,  19^2. 

Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 

1953. 
Bliss,  Henry  E. 

A  bibliographic  classification.  2d  ed. 

VoIII-IV. 

New  York,  Wilson,  1952 
Mohrhardt,  Charles  M. 

Public  libraries. 

New  York,  1952 
Ranganathan,  Shiyali  R.  rao  sahib. 

Library  book  selection. 

Delhi,  Indian  Library  Association,  1952 

Fiction 

Angoff,  Charles 

In  the  morning  light. 

New  York,  Beechurst  Press,  1952 
Ferguson,  Ruby 

Ap-  icot  sky. 

Boston,  Little,  Brovm,  1953 
Fowler,  Helen  M, 

The  intruder. 

New  York,  Morrow,  1953 

Non-Fiction 

Han,  Suyin,  pseud. 

A  many-splendored  thing, 
Boston,  Little,  Brown,  1952 


DEPARTIffiNT  NOTES 


Atidio -Visual 


On  June  20,  in  the  AME  Bethel  Church, 
New  Bedford,  Leola  N,  Waters  was  married 
to  Henry  J,  Santos,  Jr.,  Audio-Visual. 
Acting  as  best  man  was  Jack  Usher, 
formerly  both  a  classmate  of  the  groom 
at  BU  College  of  Music  and  part-time 
assistant  in  Open  Shelf.  Audio-Visual 
was  represented  by  Mchel  Kildare. 
FolloT/ving  the  reception,  Mr  and  Mrs 
Santos  left  on  a  motor  trip.  Mrs  Santos 
is  a  teacher  of  music  and  her  husband 
is  doing  graduate  work  in  music  at  BU, 
and  will  do  some  teaching  at  Perkins 
Institute  for  the  Blind  during  the  coming 
year. 


BRANCH  NOTES 


Charles town 


Mrs  Ylarren  Strangmen,  a  Ftiend  of  the 
Charlestovm  Branch  Library,  entertained 
a  large  group  of  friends,  including  the 
branch  staff,  at  her  home  on  Cordis 
Street,  on  Friday  evening,  June  19.  The 
occasion  was  a  surprise  shower  for  Mrs 
Cecelia  McCarthy  who  T/as  the  recipient 
of  a  variety  of  attractive  and  practical 
gifts  for  her  newly  renovated  horaee  In 
a  fire  on  January  29,  damage  to  Mrs 
McCarthy's  house  and  its  furnishings  was 
considerable;  her  fellow-workers  and  many 
friends  outside  the  library  rejoice  that 
she  now  is  back  in  her  own  home  which  has 
been  attractively  restored  and  re-furnisted, 
yiTS   Strangman's  party  afforded  an  op- 
portunity for  all  the  library  staff  to 
enjoy  vievang  many  new,  interesting 
paintings  by  Alva  Glidden,  a  cousin  of 
Mrs  Strangman,  and  a  long-time,  generous 
friend  of  Charles town  Branch. 

lUrs   Mary  K.  Harris,  Branch  Librarian, 
vras  hostess  to  s  ome  25  guests  on  Friday 
evening,  July  17,  at  an  outdoor  party 
held  in  her  garden  on  Cordis  Street,  The 
branch  library  staff  and  some  members  of 
their  families  were  present;  the  occasion 
was  a  surprise  shower  for  tvro  staff  mem- 
bers. Marion  Siraco  was  presented  gifts 
in  honor  of  her  engagement  vjhile  Jean 
Dinsraore,  v&io   is  to  be  married  on  Sep- 
tember 5,  was  given  a  bridal  shower.  It 
was  a  warm,  clear  evening,  and  the  gar- 
den with  flowering  plants  and  soft  pink 
lights,  provided  an  ideal  setting,  Pic- 
tiiTes  were  taken  and  an  album  recording 
high-lights  of  the "party  has  been  pre- 


-9- 


sented  to  each  ftrides-to-be,     Gayly  de- 
corated tables  were  laden  with  a  variety 
of  fancy  sandwiches ,  home-made  cakes  and 
candies,  while  iced  lemonade,  fruit  punch, 
and  ice-cream  added  a  cooling  note. 
Before  the  party  ended,   the  guests  gathered 
in  Mrs  Flarris '   living  room  where  Nancy 
Buckley  played  the  piano  and  all  joined 
in  singing  a   few  new  and  many  of  the  old 
familiar  songs. 


Memorial 

R  r'^vning  from  paradise,  designated  on 
world  rifc.ps  as  the  Hav;aiian  Islands,  Mil- 
dred Kavfman,  Branch  Librarian,  has  been 
regaling  the  staff  with  her  tales  of  the 
mid "Pacific. 

On  the  flight  from  New  York,  Miss  Kaufraar 
was  met  at  Chicago  by  a  group  of  reporters, 
who,  it  developed,  were  there  to  get  pic- 
tures of  the  junior  Ifrs,  Eisenhower  and 
her  children,  who  happened  to  be  on  the 
same  flight,  not  of  Miss  Kaufman. 

The  A.L.A.  meeting  at  Los  Angeles  was 
not  all  work.  There  was  a  trip  to  the 
Paramount  Studio  to  watch  Danny  Kaye's 
new  picture  in  progress,  and  there  was 
the  chance  to  see  the  building  of  gon- 
dolas for  Bob  Hope's  new  picture.  Back 
to  Venice. 

Then,  fabulous  Hawaii,  where  Miss 
Kaufman  basked  on  the  sands  at  ¥faikiki 
and  Black  Sands  Beach,   rode  the  waves  in 
an  outrigger  canoe  accompanied  by  one  of 
Bob  Crosby's  children,  and  explored  a  lava 
hole  complete  with  stalactites  and  stalag- 
mites.    Perhaps  most  exciting  of  all  T«as 
a  trip  through  a  fern  forest  where  the 
way  was  made  tvith  a  machete  and  quicksand 
oozed  on  either  side.     On  a  tour  of  Pearl 
Harbor,  made  possible  through  special 
arrangement  with  the  Navy,  Miss  Kaufman 
had  the  chance  to  stand  on  the  gun  turrets 
of  the  Arizona ,  the  only  parts  of  the  ship 
still  remaining  above  water. 

Miss  Starr,  a  staff  member  of  the 
Honolulu  library,  provided  a  personally 
conducted  tour  of  the  Oriental  sections 
of  the  city  to  view  the  Chinese  and 
Japanese  shrines.     Of  course,  no  tour 
vjould  be  complete  vri-thout  seeing  the   Hula 
dancers,  and  they  are  everywhere.     In 
addition  to  these  there  are  the   "Bon" 
dancers.     They  are  Japanese  Buddhists  who 
perform  out  of  doors   evenings  during  the 
month  of  July  in  honor  of  the  dead. 

At  Laie  there  was  a  "hukilau",  or  fishing 
festival,   in  the  Samoan  sett]e  ment  vjhere 
the  hiG;h  point  of  the  proceedings  was  a 


dance  virith  knives  and  spears — not  alivays 
carried  in  th^  hand,  but  hurled  over  and 
around  the  dc.n:srs., 

On  Mount  Ki.lauea,   one  of  the  peaks  of 
Mauna  Loa,  Miss  Kaufman  vras  the  luncheon 
guest  of  "Uncle  George"  LycurgvS;,  who  is 
to  Havraii  whit  royaV&y  is  to  Britaino     He 
is  the  proprietor  of  the  Volc-ino  House, 
ivhich  by  his  ovm  reckoning  is  located 
at  the  only  drive-in  volcano  in  the  world* 
Not  only  vras  the  luncheon  a  treat,  but 
"Uncle  George"  was  persuaded  to  pose  for 
a  picture  with  his  guests j 

Another  trLp  vras  to  the  Dole  pineapple 
plant  where  fresh  ice-cold  pineapple   juice 
replaced  the  expected  tepid  vrater  in  the 
bubblers.     Not  bad  at  all. 


Roslindale 

A  farewell  party  vjas  held  on  Friday, 
July  31,  for  Dorothy  Cornelly  who  en- 
tered the  Notre  Da.ne  de  Namur  >cynvent 
inWaLtham,  Mass.. or;  August  2.     Miss 
Connelly  has  endeared  herself  to  her 
fellow-vrarkers  in  her  year  and  a  half 
of  service  as  an  extra.     She  TfrLll  be 
greatly  missed  but  we  all  v/ish  her 
complete  happiness  in  her  new  vocation. 

Washington  Village 

January,  1953  marked  the  fifth  year  for 
the  meetings  of  the  Discussion  Group 
under  the  leadership  of  Etta  Kessell, 
The  topic  of  study  vjas  Woman  in  the 
Modern  Novel.  Every  person  expressed 
pleasure  in  reading  the  selected  books, 
especially  Hardy's  Tess  of  the 
D'Urbervilles,  Bennett's,. 6 Id  Wive's  Tale. 


It  is  interesting  to  note  that  Tolstoy's 
Anna  Karenina  was  least  liked.  The 


enthusiasm  aroused  by  these  discussions 
proved  an  impetus  to  further  reading 
this  summer,  such  as  the  works  of  Charles 
Dickens,  Austen,  Bronte  and  other  classics. 
They  are  all  looking  forvrard  vn.th  eager- 
ness to  beginning  the  fall  season. 

Our  last  meeting  in  June  consisted  of 
a  conducted  tour  of  the  Central  Library 
through  the  courtesy  of  Henry  Myers.  Many 
of  the  women  had  never  seen  the  library, 
and  the  Abbey  and  the  Treasure  Rooms 
vrere  special  sources  of  delight.  They 
vrere  also  charmed  with  the  nevr  Open 
Shelf  Department  and  the  Children's 
Section,  promising  to  return  for  a  more 
lengthy  visit  with  all  the  family.  Mrs 
Anne  Dolan,  Audio-Visual,  graciously 
showed  a  film  on  The  Typical  Family  of  the 
Brooklyn  Public  Library,  vrhich  proved 


enlightening. 


-10- 


.  From  the  opinions  voiced  it  is  evident 
the  group  enjoyed  not  only  their  literary 
experiences',  but  also  getting  to  know  and 
naking  friends  with  their  neighbors,  as 
well  as— their  Library. 


SOAP  BOX 

Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must  be 
accompanied  by  the  full  name  of  the  Asso- 
ciation member  submitting  it,  together 
with  the  name  of  the  Branch  Library,  De- 
partment, or  Office  in  -vtiich  he  or  she  is 
employed.  The  name  is  withheld  from  pub- 
lication, or  a  pen  name  used,  if  the  con- 
tributor so  requests.  Anonymous  contribu- 
tions are  not  given  consideration.  The 
author  of  the  article  is  known  only  to  the 
contributor  and  to  the  Editor-in  Chief. 
The  contents  of  articles  appearing  in  the 
Soap  Box  are  personal  opinions  expressed 
by  individual  Association  members  and 
their  appearance  does  not  necessarily  indi- 
cate that  the  Publications  Committee  and 
the  Association  are  in  agreement  with  the 
views  expressed. 


To  the  Editor: 

From  the  "Report  of  the  Examining 
Committee  of  the  Boston  Public  Library 
to  the  Trustees  of  the  Library"; 

"The  Committee  (Subcommittee  on 
Personnel)  renews  the  following  recom- 
mendations originally  in  the  report  of  the 
1950-1951  Subcommittee . . . 

1.  That  further  study  be  given  to  the 
modification  of  the  present  arrangements 
for  promotional  appointment.  This  might 
involve  discontinuing  the  limiting  of 
promotional  selections  to  the  top  three  on 
the  list  of  eligibleso,, 

2.  That  a  certain  niimber  of  points  be 
assigned  to  personality  in  the  present 
evaluation  sheet  used  in  making  promotioral 
appointments." 


Without  discounting  the  thoroughness 
of  the  study  which  led  to  the  above 
recommendations,  nor  the  possible  value  of 
certain  aspects  of  these  jrecommendations, 
possible  results  must  always  be  studied. 
The  fullest  interpretations  of  such  pro- 
posed changes  might  almost  eliminate  the 
structure  on  which  the  basis  of  promotion 


now  rests.  There  can  be  little  debate 
that  proper  person?!  qualities  are  very 
important  to  successful  Y^rork  accomplish- 
ment, particularly  in  supervisory  posi-- 
tions.  However,  ratings  of  personality, 
as  such,  are  quite  difficult,  and  have 
not  met  with  too  much  success  unless 
they  have  followed  some  such  criteria  .-/j.- 
as  the  follov/ing: 

1.  An  individual's  personality  rating  ^ 
is  generally  considered  "excellent" 
unless  there  is  substantiated  evi- 
dence to  the  contrary. 

2.  Negative  ratings  of  personality  must 
be  the  result  of  positive  evidence. 

3.  The  individual  given  the  negative 
rating  must  be  so  informed, 

h*     Personality  ratings  concern  only 
the  personal  qualities  directly 
affecting  the  individual's  work,  his 
contact  vith  fellovir  employees,  and 
his  contact  with  the  public  if  he 
works  with  the  public. 

5.  Points  as  such  are  not  given.  Per- 
sonality defects  are  discussed  and 
have  effect  only  in  regard  to 
evaluation  of  persons  accredited  as 
possible  applicants  for  a  particular 
position,  YJhat   might  be  a  persona- 
lity defect  for  one  type  of  posi- 
tion, might  well  be  considered  in 
the  opposite  category  in  another 
instance. 

6,  Full  consideration  must  alv/ays  be 
given  to  the  fact  that  individual 
personalities  change.  Most  studies 
show  that  personjiel  supervisors 
now  strive  to  correct  temporary 
personal  difficulties  and  work  with 
the  individual  in  an  effort  to 
eradicate  them. 

Further  study  should  be  given  to  the 
possible  results  of  substituting  an  open 
list  for  the  present  system  of  selecting 
from  the  top  three  elegible.  The  present 
system  has  been  in  operation  for  some 
time.  Many  of  the  inequities  that  have 
existed  in  the  past  have  been  corrected. 
An  open  list  no\f  might  result  in  those 
who  are  in  line  after  having  worked 
towards  the  top  of  the  list  being  placed 
lower  on  the  list.  Would  a  change  result 
in  those  7/ho  may  have  acquired  additional 
points  in  unrelated  fields  or  categories, 
receiving  a  promotion  rather  than  the 
person  virorking  xvith  and  having  special 
knowledge  in  the  particular  field  vjhere 
the  promotion  has  occurred? 

Some  while  back  those  mth  service 


-JLi- 


previous  to  the  system  noyf  in  operation, 
were  given  equivalences  for  ceirtain 
qualifying  examinations,  the  theory  being 
that  a  person  in  service  for  any  length 
of  time  would  have  acquired  at  least  a 
fundamental  knowledge  of  the  techniques 
of  library  science.  This  was  not  given 
for  the  promotional  examinations  in  steps 
h   and  5  necessary  for  promotion  to 
titular  positions.  Many  took  the  titular 


conditioning,  and  its  contents  were 
position  examinations  and  would  have  takericlean,  I  wouldn't  think  it  unreasonable 


the  simpler  and  easily  passed  qualifying 
examinations  if  they  had  known  they  were 
not  being  given  the  equivalences  in 
points.  It  is  to  prevent  such  a  recur- 
rence that  any  steps  taken  should  be 
carefully  studied. 


M.  F,  Daly 


Dear  Soap  Box  Editor: 


For  those  ytho  wish  to  ccaoe  to  an 
objective  rather  than  an  opinionated 
conclusion  on  the  so-called  "book- 
burning"  episode  I  suggest  that  they 
read  the  documentation  as  reprinted  in 
the  U.S.  News  and  World  Report  for  June 
26,  1953  (Page  37-Page  56;.  As  librar- 
ians, concerned  with  the  objective 
approach  as  indicative  of  the  person  of 
intellectual  honesty,  ire  should  indeed 
read  the  three  parts  of  the  hearings 
issued  on  the  "State  Department  Infor- 
mation Program— Information  Centers" 
now  available  from  the  Permanent  Sub- 
coimittee  On  Investigations,  Senate 
Office  Bldg.,  Washington,  D.C,  free  of 
charge,  as  these  are  the  hearings  on 
i«Aaich  the  charges  were  based.  These  in 
turn  were  held  in  accordance  with  the 
implications  of  the  enabling  act  which 
set  up  these  Library  Information 
centers,  the  "United  States  Information 
and  Educational  Act  of  19U8"  (Public 
Law  No.  Ii02,  80th  Congress)  establishing 
an  information  service  to  disseminate 
abroad  information  about  the  United 
States,  its  people,  and  policies  pro- 
mulgated by  the  Congress,  the  President, 
the  Secretary  of  State  and  other  re- 
sponsible officials  of  the  Qovernment 
having  to  do  with  matters  affecting 
foreign  affairs."  ks  Arthur  Krock  of 
the  New  York  Times  pointed  out  in  the 
issue  of  July  3  "the  assumption  that  the 
U.S.I.S,  book  program  involves  the  issue 
of  academic  freedom  is  false." 

M.  F,  Daly 


To  the  Editor  of  the  Soap  Box: 

HAVE  WE  MET  OUR  WATERLOO 
IN  THE  BATTLE  TO  KEEP  GLEAN? 

In  consideration  of  the  recent  ban  on 
sport  shirts  worn  by  full-time  male 
members  of  the  staff  in  public  departments, 
I  would  say  that  if  the  Library  had  air 


to  wear  a  coat  all  the  time.  But  let  us 
look  at  things  as  they  are,  and  not  as 
we  hope  they  may  be  sometime.  We  all 
know  how  hot  it  can  get  in  the  Library, 
parts  of  it  resemble  an  oven  when  the 
ten?3erature  soars.  We  must  open  the 
vdndows  for  ventilation,  and  this  admits 
dirt  wholesale,  especially  when  the  wind 
blows.  In  performing  my  duties  it  is  not 
unusual  to  get  hands  and  arms  black  with 
iirt.  This  can  happen,  not  in  one  day, 
but  in  a  half  day,  or  in  an  eaCtreme  case, 
after  servicing  one  member  of  the  public. 
If  you  are  wearing  elbow  length  sleeves, 
Lt  is  not  too  bid,  you  can  generally  keep 
the  worst  of  the  dirt  off  your  shirt  front, 
3ut  I've  never  been  able  to  keep  my  sleeves 
slean. 

At  one  time  I  preferred  to  wear  an  alpaca 
;oat  to  going  coatless.  The  reason  was 
Jin^jle,  it  was  cool  and  kept  my  shirt  clean* 
Tnfortunately  the  firm  that  made  them  went 
3Ut  of  business,  and  Vfhat  was  offered  as 

substitute,  definitely  was  quite  warm 
iespite  the  label  "Palm  Beach".  Stxits  made 
>f  the  synthetics  such  as  nylon  and  rayon 
weren't  bad  to  wear  in  hot  weather,  but 
it  is  rather  discouraging  to  have  the 
tailor  tell  you  that  he  had  to  send  the 
suit  to  the  cleaner  twice,  and  when  you 
get  it  back  you  can  still  see  dirt  in  the 
sleeves  -tihich  probably  will  not  come  out 
during  the  life  of  the  garment. 

The  oiily  solution  that  I  have  been  able 
to  figure  out  is  t  o  wear  a  shirt  mth 
elbow  length  sleeves.  It  didn't  natter 
how  dirty  your  hands  and  arms  got,  soap 
and  water  would  take  it  right  off. 

If  we  have  to  wear  long  sleeves  during 
the  hot  weather,  I'm  wondering  if  my 
Shirt's  will  eventually  come  back  from  the 
laundry  with  tattle-tale  gray  sleeves, 

Kenneth  C,  fernes 
Periodical  and  Nerrspaper 
Department 


-12- 


To  the  Soap  Box; 

Newest  gadget  on  the  scene 

Is  Allston's  Recordak  machine 
Gray  monstrosity  up  front 

Makes  assistant  look  like  runt 
Gives  you  heat  in  mid- July 

Stares  at  you  with  fishy  eye 
Simplifies  the  work  a  lot 

Don't  you  prefer  old-fashioned  blot? 

Harry  Andrews 

OBSERVATIONS  ON  DIGNITY  AND  PROPRIETY 
—    IN  CLOTHING  FOR  THE  MALE 

LIBRARIAN  DURING  HOT  SUMvER  MONTHS  . 

■yjhen  I  was  just  a  little  lad  at  school, 

I'm  sure  that  I  was  never  taught  a  rule 
By  which  to  any  genuine  satisfaction 

I  might  contrive  to  measure  an  abstraction. 
For  abstract  things  admit  no  measurement,. 
As  Teacher  said,  "You  cannot  represent 
Their  height  or  i/idth  or  depth  the  same 
old  way 

You  can  with  library  books  or  bales  of  hag 
Or  railroad  trains  or  billiard  balls  or 
benches • 
You  just  can't  measure  them  in  feet  and 
inches  i 
For  Virtue's  not  for  human  eyes  to  seej 

You  can't  buy  Kindness  at  the  AScP , 
And  I  have  never  met  the  man  uncouth 

Enough  to  say  he  owns  five  pounds  cf  Truth 
All  this  defies  a  man,  however  sage. 
Unless  he  see  a  thing,  that  thing  to 
gauge  I" 
And  yet,  despite  these  proofs,  some  still 
believe 
That  Dignity's  the  length  of  half-a- 
sleeve. 
One  necktie  wide,  one  buttoned-collar  deep^ 
Dimensions  dread — to  make  a  strong  man 
weep 
Vifhen  summer's  heat  comes  steaming  in  our 
midst. 
And  Dignity,  our  saint,  our  guide,  insis 
That  modestly  vre  stay  locked  up  inside 

Those  Qotton  prisons  -under  v^-hich  we  hide, 
Lest  we  our  hairy  arms  and  throats  reveal 
Chaste  outer  7/raps  that  vulgar  flesh 

conceal 
But , be  it  known  now  that  \7e«re  dignified. 
That  matters  leave  us  far  from  satisfied, 
And  that  a  man  dressed  up  against  his  will 
Perspiring  yearns  for  naked  comfort  stiHl 

John  McCaff erty 


HEROISM  ON  THE  THIRD  FLOOR  BACK 

The  Boston  Public  Libi*ary  ChoTjder, 
Chatting  and  Marching  Society,  an  organi- 
zation whose  antics  its  members  find  very 
amusing,  can  point  with  justifiable  pride 
today  at  one  of  its  most  venerable  leaders, 
Louis  Rains,  Science  &  Technology,  who 
last  Monday  showed  once  more  the  stem 
stuff  he  is  made  of.  Singlehandedly, 
since  he  had  to  cling  to  the  wall  vri.th  the 
long  curling  fingernails  of  his  left  hand. 
Rains  climbed  to  the  dizzy  height  of 
fifteen  feet  to  rescue  a  confused  bird 
trapped  in  one  of  the  vdndows  of  the  West 
Gallery.  The  stricken  bird  was  handed 
below  to  two  fellow  members  of  the  Staff, 
Kathleen  Wordworth,  Fine  Arts,  and  Jean 
Eaton,  Science  and  Tech.,  who  had  stood 
below  the  intrepid  hero  in  anxious 
anticipation.  Miss  Eaton,  Chief  Bird 
Watcher  of  BPLCCMS,  incidentally,  stands 
in  grave  danger  of  dismissal  from  that 
post,  having  been  unable  to  identify  the 
little  feller.  Mr  Rains'  nimble  descent,  a 
study  in  graceful  motion,  climaxed  the 
thrilling  scene.  There  aren't  many 
men  like  Rains  left  in  this  world.  That's 
why  we  small  fry  in  BPLCCMS  try  in  every 
way  we  can  to  be  just  like  him.  Watch 
out,  girls  1 1 


Mr.  Audubon 


Dear  Editor : 


t:  A 


A  notice  concerning  the  dress  of  male 
employees  of  the  library  was  issued  by  the 
Director  of  the  Library  on  19  February 
19h7»     The  second  paragraph  of  this  notice 
reads  as  follows: 

"This  does  not  necessarily  mean  that  a 
man  must  wear  a  coat  in  warm  weather. 
However,  if  a  coat  is  removed  while  on 
duty,  it  is  expected  that  neckties  ivlll  be 
properly  tied,  and  sleeves  rolled  doMi. 

short-sL eeved  sports  shirt  which  is  in- 
tended to  be  open  at  the  neck,  which  does 
not  require  a  necktie,  is  acceptable.  All 
shirts  must  be  tucked  into  the  trousers 
and  a  belt  worn," 

Since  this  notice  has  apparently  not 
been  subsequently  rescinded  a  certain 
amount  of  confusion  and  resentment  has 
resulted  from  an  announcement  which  has 
been  spread  verbally  in  some  departments 
of  the  Library  to  the  effect  that  a  short- 
sleeved  sport  shirt  is  no  longer  accept- 
able attire  for  full-time  male  members  of 
the  staff. 


-13- 


Tv'ould  it  be  possible  to  have  the  notice 
of  February  19,  19hl   roaf firmed?  The 
short-sleeved  shirt,  open  at  the  neck  and 
tucked  into  the  trousers, is  a  practical, 
comfortable  mode  of  dress  for  a  building 
vathout  air  conditioning.  Dignity  cannot 
be  assumed  by  donning  a  long-sleeved 
shirt  nor  must  it  bo  lost  by  vraaring  a 
short-sleeved,  open-necked  shirt. 

Please,  may  we  men  be  allovied  to  dress 
comfortably  in  the  -warm  weather. 

HDT  UNDER  THE  COLLAR 


Chapel  Bells  in  Harvard  Yard 

Ring,  Ring,  and  wake  my  soul; 

The  sleeping  heart  soon  will  follow, 
Grace  ard  blessings  are  in  your  toil; 

They  come  on  the  wings  of  the  swallow* 


P.V.M. 


-lii- 

C  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  PROFESSIONA.L  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 

0 


P 
Y 


To  Staff  Representatives: 

The  script  for  the  Library  Cavalcade  is  practically  completed 
and  it  is  expected  that  the  Cavalcade  will  be  produced  sometime  in  the 
fall.  The  assistance  of  every  full-time  and  part-tins  employee  of  the 
Library  is  needed,  A  check  list  was  sent  out  in  1951,  but  more  up-to- 
date  information  is  now  needed.  Will  you  please  contact  each  member 
of  your  group  before  August  20,  if  possible,  and  send  to  Muriel  Javelin, 
Office  of  the  Division  of  Home  Reading  and  Community  Services,  the 
names  of  all  those  who  are  willing  to  help  in  any  way.  Please  also 
indicate  individuals  who,  you  believe,  will  wish  to  help,  but  who 
are  on  vacation. 

Please  list  after  individual  items  the  names  of  employees 
who  are  willing  to  serve  on  committees  or  take  part  in  the  Cavalcade. 

Stage  Committee 
Scenery 

Designing 

Constructing 

Painting 

Properties 

Lighting 

Costumes 

Make-up 

Coaching 

Prompting 

Cast 

Acting 

Dancing-Ballet 

Singing 

Soprano 

Alto 

Contralto 

Tenor 

Bass 

Baritone 
Playing  Musical  Instrument  (please  specify  instrument) 


MURIEL  C.  JAVELIN,  Chairman 
For  the  Committee 


August  6,  1953 


THE     T/HITE     HOUSE 
Washington 


June  21^,  1953 


Dear  Dr.  Downs: 


Thank  you  for  your  letter  of  June  fifteenthc  I  am  glad  to  know 
of  the  annual  conference  of  the  American  Library  Association  convening 
this  week,  and  of  the  spirit  of  conscientious  citizenship  ruling  its 
deliberations. 

Our  librarians  serve  the  precious  liberties  of  our  nation: 
freedom  of  inquiry ^  freedom  of  the  spoken  and  the  written  word,  freedom 
of  exchange  of  ideas o 

Upon  these  clear  principles,  democracy  depends  for  its  very  life, 
for  they  are  the  great  sources  of  knowledge  and  enlightenment »  And  know- 
ledge—full, unfettered  knowledge  of  its  own  heritage,  of  freedom's  enemies,. 
of  the  whole  world  of  men  and  ideas— this  knowledge  is  a  free  people's 
surest  strength. 

The  converse  is  just  as  surely  trueo  A  democracy  smugly  disdainful 
of  new  ideas  would  be  a  sick  democracy.  A  democracy  chronically  fearful 
of  new  ideas  would  be  a  dying  democracy. 

For  all  these  reasons,  we  must  in  these  times  be  intelligently 
alert  not  only  to  the  fanatic  cunning  of  Communist  conspiracy — ^but  also 
to  the  grave  dangers  in  meeting  fanaticism  with  i.^piorancee  For,  in 
order  to  fight  totalitarians  who  exploit  the  ways  of  freedom  to  serve  their 
own  ends,  there  are  some  zealots  who— with  more  wrath  than  wisdom- 
would  adopt  a  strangely  unintelligent  course-,  They  would  try  to  defend 
freedom  by  denying  freedom's  friends  the  opportunity  of  studying  Communism 
in  its  entirety — its  plausibilities,  its  falsities,  its  weaknesses. 

But  we  know  that  freedom  cannot  be  served  by  the  devices  of  the 
tyrant.  As  it  is  an  ancient  truth  that  freedom  cannot  be  legislated 
into  existence,  so  it  is  no  less  obvious  that  freedom  cannot  be  censored 
into  existence.  And  any  who  act  as  if  freedom's  defenses  are  to  be  found 
in  suppression  and  suspicion  and  fear  confess  a  doctrine  that  is  alien 
to  America o 

The  libraries  of  America  are  and  must  ever  remain  the  homes  of 
free,  inquiring  minds.  To  them,  our  citizens— of  all  ages  and  races, 
of  all  creeds  and  political  persuasions— must  ever  be  able  to  turn  with 
clear  confidence  that  there  they  can  freely  seek  the  whole  truth,  unvrarped 
by  fashion  and  uncompromised  by  expediencyo  For  in  such  whole  and  healthy 
knowledge  alone  are  to  be  found  and  understood  those  majestic  truths  of 
man's  nature  and  destiny  that  prove,  to  each  succeeding  generation,  the 
validity  of  freedom. 

Sincerely, 

(signed)   DWIGHT  D.  EISENHOWER 


Wi 


hestion 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


SEPTEMBER  1953 


THE  QUESTION  MARK 
Published  by  the  Boston  Public  Library  Professional  Staff  Association 


Volume  VIII,  Number  9 


September  19$3 


Publications  Committee:  Gerald  L,  Ball,  Geraldine  S,  Herrick,  John  J.  McCafferty, 

Sarah  M,  Usher,  Charles  J,  Gillis,  Chairman 


Publication  date; 
The  fifteenth  of  each  month 


Deadline  for  submitting  material; 
The  tenth  of  each  month 


EDITOR'S  CORNER 

A  man  isn't  old  so  long  as  he  is  willing 
to  try  a  new  way.  This  aphorism  applies 
to  institutions  as  well  as  to  men.  Next 
month  the  Boston  Public  Library  will 
begin  celebrating  its  one  hundredth  anni- 
versary. Its  outlook,  however,  remains 
young,  for  it  is  willing  to  try  new  ways, 
keeping  the  best  from  the  past,  and  pio- 
neering into  new  channels,  retaining  the 
successful  while  discarding  any  failures. 

Among  the  new  ideas  being  spotlighted 
by  the  Boston  Public  Library  this  Sep- 
tember, as  a  new  school  year  opens,  is 
the  program  of  work  with  Young  Adults, 
Heretofore,  work  with  the  Young  Adults 
group  was  unorganized  and  scattered.  It 
depended  almost  entirely  upon  the  in- 
terests of  the  staff.  The  work  with  chil- 
dren and  with  adults  was  highly  developed 
along  very  definite  lines.   In  most  cases 
the  Young  Adult  was  the  forgotten  man. 
Up  to  high  school  age,  he  had  used  a 
Children's  Room,  where  a  staff  satisfied 
his  every  need,  in  familiar  surroundings. 
There  were  authors  with  whose  books  he 
had  grown  up,  story  hours,  film  programs, 
clubs,  and  individual  book  selection. 
From  this  sheltered  world  and  atmosphere, 
he  emerged  into  an  adult  room  -vdiere  he 
often  became  frustrated  and  stopped  using 
the  library.   He  wasn't  able  to  bridge  the 
intellectual  gap  between  the  children's 
room  and  the  adult  area,  • 

Novf  all  of  that  has  been  changed.  We 
have  a  beautiful  modern  Young  Adults  Sec- 
tion at  the  Central  Library  and  will  have 
special  young  adults  rooms  or  sections  in 
as  many  Branch  Libraries  as  is  physically 
possible.  We  have  a  Readers  Advisor  for 
Young  Adults  ready  to  counsel  and  suggest. 
We  have  a  Young  Adults  Book  Selection  Com- 
mittee whose  choice  of  books  is  geared  to 
the  Young  Adults  Reading-Age  t  vel.  Each 
Branch  Library  has  a  Young  Adults  book 


quota  for  the  purchase  of  these  carefully 
selected  books.  But  most  important  of 
all,  the  vifork  with  Young  Adults  is  now 
organized;  those  who  work  with  that  age' 
group  meet  occasionally  to  discuss  common 
problems ,  hear  sii  ggestions  and  to  get 
inspiration,  information,  and  new  ideas e 
In  a  carefully  worked  out  public  re- 
lations program,  all  of  the  Boston  High 
Schools  will  be  visited  by  a  Boston 
Public  Library  representative  to  acquaint 
students  and  teachers  with  what  the 
Library  has  to  offer  in  the  way  of  books, 
films,  recdrdings,  activities,  and  facili- 
ties for  Young  Adults . 

The  popularity  of  Miss  Scoggin's  course 
on  work  with  Young  Adults  sponsored  by 
Simmons  College  this  spring  was  proof  of 
the  interest  felt  by  the  Boston  Public 
Library  staff  in  this  phase  of  library 
service.  It  is  new,  it  is  different,  it 
is  challenging.  To  this  new  program,  our 
heartiest  vri.sh  for  its  every  success.  The 
Boston  Public  Library,  one  hundred  years 
old,  is  forever  young,  because  it  is 
willing  to  try  out  a  new  idea, 

G.  S.  H. 
CALENDAR  OF  EVENTS 


September  30 
October  1  and  2 

(See  back  page 
for  program) 


New  England 
Library  Association 
Meeting,  New  Ocean 
'House,  Swamps CO tt 


PERSONAL  NOTES 

New  Employees 

Robert  P.  Giddings,  Cataloging  &  Classifi- 


cation 


R»  &  R,  S» 


Linda  M,  Ivers,  Uphams  Corner 
Barbara  A»  Tuthill,  West  Roxbury 
Margaret  A,  Macdonald,  Director's  Office 
Eettina  M,  Coletti,  Open  Shelf 
Flora -Ann  Hufmann,  Memorial 


-2- 


Transfers 

lirs  Rnea  L.  Freeman,  Uphams  Corner  to  Soutl^ 

Endn 
lirs  Anna  M.  Brackett,  South  End  to  West 

End. 
Ruth  E.  McNairee,  Book  Preparation  to 

Branch  Issue, 
Shirley  Anderson,  Open  Shelf  to  Adams 

Street 


STORK  EVENTS 

Mr  and  Mrs  Richard  Malany  have  announced 
the  birth  of  a  son,  Christopher  Mark,  on 
August  lU.  yirs   Malany  is  on  leave  of 
absence  from  Rare  Book. 

Mir  and  Mrs  Edivard  Cullinane  announced 


Marriages 

Marie  A.  Strachan,  Book  Preparation,  to 

William  M.  Vifalsh  on  August  1,  1953. 
Ann  Allen,  Egleston  Square,  to  William 

P.  Sullivan  on  July  2$,   1953. 
Stella  Kallas,  Orient  Heights,  to  Robert 

P.  Easland  on  July  18,  1953 
Elinor  E.  Day,  Dorchester,  to  William  J, 

Conley  on  August  l5,  1953 
Eunice  R.  Werner,  Audio-Visual,  to  John  S, 

Larch  on  August  l6,  1953 
Beverly  C,  Pettengill,  Ht,  Bowdoin,  to 

Robert  Parsons  on  August  l5,  1953 

Resignations 


the  birth  of  a  71b,  son,  Mark  Edward,  on 
August  23.  Mr  Cullinane  is  a  Young 
Adult  Assistant  at  Egleston  Square, 

ENGAGEMENTS 

Louise  Mo  Fogarty,  Uphams  Corner, 
recently  announced  her  engagement  to 
James  Kenneally. 

NOTES  ON 
1953  AU  FRE-CQNFERENCE 
PASADENA,  CALI1''0RN.D[~" 

The  Huntington  Hotel  in  Pasadena  was 

an  ideal  spot  for  the  conference.  It  was 

beautiful,  quiet,  and  away  from  distrac- 


Constance  O'Keefe,  South  End,  to  be  marriedJtions.  On  the  first  evening  of  the  Pre- 


Mary  A.  Burns,  Director's  Office 

Blanche  G.  Campagnoni,  Book  Stack  Service, 

to  move  to  Nevir  Jersey. 
Florence  L.  Samperi,  Book  Stack  Service, 

to  return  to  college, 
Patricia  M.  Auvil,  Branch  Issue,  to  study 

nursing. 
Bertha  T.  Dumsha,  Adams  Street,  to  study 

nursing, 
Mrs  Alleen  M,  Wiggins,  Memorial,  moved 

away  from  Boston. 

WE  CONGRATULATE 

Mr   and  Mrs  William  C,  Maiers  celebrated 
their  Golden  Wedding  Anniversary,  August  26( 

Mr  and  Ifrs  Milton  E.  Lord  celebrated 
their  Silver  Yfedding  Anniversary,  September 
8. 

The  B.P.L,  News  includes  in  its  Septemr' 
ber  issue  three  pictures.  More  power  to 
it  1 1  Now  the  world  can  not  only  read 
about  us ,  but  see  us  also  in  this  widely 
distributed  paper, 

TlfELCOME  BACK 

Zolta'n  Haraszti,  from  a  tour  of  Europe, 

Aaron  Starr,  from  a  siege  of  illness, 
b^i+.  looklr.g  very  fit. 


conference  Institute  of  Library  wrk  with 
Children  and  Young  People,  the  Los  Angeles 
Public  Libraiy  sponsored  a  "Meet  the 
Authors"  dinner,  at  v*ich  fourteen  chil- 
dren's editors  and  twenty-two  well-known 
children's  authors  vrere  introduced.  It 
vras  delightfully  arranged  that  each  table 
of  guests  included  either  an  editor,  or 
an  author,  or  both,  I^irs  Margaret  Leighton, 
writer  of  mystery  stories  for  boys  and 
girls,  sat  at  our  table  and  regaled  us 
vdth  tales  of  her  grandchildren,  and 
experiences  of  her  own.  It  was  in- 
teresting that  many  of  the  editors  and 
authors  remained  for  the  entire  con- 
ference. 

On  Friday  morning,  during  the  first 
session,  Frances  Clark  Sayers  delivered 
an  address  on  "Broadening  library 
horizons".  There  are  three  of  them,  she 
said,  the  apparent,  the  sensible, and  the 
celestial  horizons.  She  deplored  the 
practice  of  condensation  of  the  classics; 
to  words  of  one  syllable.  She  also 
decried  the  acceptance  of  mediocrity  and 
the  reliance  on  the  infallibility  of  the 
machine,  and  our  faith  in  science.  She 
made  a  plea  for  the  return  of  imagination, 
understanding,  and  the  celestial  horizon 
vdiich  comes  within  our  range  of  vision  whai 
we  strive  for  understanding  of  children. 

At  a  luncheon  meeting  on  Friday  we  were 
given  a  demonstration  of  group  dynamics  by 


-3- 


Dr  Robert  Bo  Haas,  Head,  Educatirn  Ex- 
tension, Univer^^ity  of  California  at  Los 
Angeles c  The  entire  group  participated  in 
the  demonstration  vdnich  consisted  of 
diseussion  and  checking  of  a  questionnaire 
containing  fifty-six  topics.  The  ques- 
tions were  all  of  a  controversial  nature, 
some  were  rather  irritating.  The  con- 
clusions were  not  immediately  drawn,  but 
the  results  will  be  published  at  some 
later  date. 

Later  in  the  day,  Althea  Warren,  formerly- 
head  librarian  of  the  Los  Angeles  Public 
Library  spoke  on  "Broadening  Vievrpoints  in 
Book  Selection",  in  which  she  compared 
book  selection  technique  v/ith  the  opera- 
tions of  a  fruit  stand  proprietor,  in  that 
the  wares  of  both  can  be  something 
beautiful,  or  rotten  to  the  core.  After 
Miss  Warren's  talk  the  meeting  broke  up 
into  small  discussion  groups,  each  of 
which  spent  thirty-five  minutes  discussing 
problems  selected  by  the  members.  The 
group  I  joined,  directed  by  Elizabeth 
Groves,  Professor  of  Children's  Literature 
in  the  School  of  Librarianship,  University 
of  Yfashington,  discussed  the  prospect  of 
travelling  book  exhibits  sponsored  by 
A.LoA.,  as  a  means  for  small  libraries 
pre-viewing  bocfa  before  purchase j  the 
pre-binding  of  picture  books;  the  amount 
necessary  to  spend  on  easy  readers;  and 
books  in  series.  The  35  minutes  was  much 
too  short. 

On  Friday  evening.  Jack  Morrison, 
Lecturer  in  Theatre  Arts,  of  the  University 
of  California  at  Los  Angeles,  spoke  on 

T.V»,  a  new  Horizon  .  Mr  Morrison,  an 
amusing  and  convincing  speaker,  described 
the  effects  of  sane  of  the  T.  V,  programs 
on  his  own  two  children.  He  spoke  of  the 
standards  which  should  apply  to  the 
selection  of  T.V.  programs.  He  suggested 
that  the  librarian  should  be  the  obvious 
source  of  material  for  use  in  children's 
programs,  and  that  they  should  write  to 
producers,  vn'iters,  etc.,  vri-th  suggestions, 
After  his  lecture,  the  librarians  told 
of  their  experiences  v/ith  T.V.  shovrs. 
Enoch  Pratt  Free  Library  has  a  fifteen 
minute  T.V,  program.  Step  into  Storyland  . 
Seattle  sponsors  Telaventure  Tales, 
making  use  of  local  puppet  clubs.  Cub 
Scout  groups,  and  hobby  clubs.  John  Hall 
Jacobs  of  the  Nev/  Orleans  Public  Library, 
amusingly  described  his  experience  mth 
T.V.  during  the  past  three  years  v/hen  he 
directed  a  teen-age  book  review  program. 

On  Saturday  morning,  a  panel  discussion 
entitled  -Youth  asks-librarians  ansvrer. 


was  composed  of  Young  People  from  the 
Long  Beach  California  Library  Youth 
Council,  and  Young  People 's  librarians. 
The  four  teen-agers,  two  boys  and  two 
girls,  were  indeed  a  revelation.  Poised, 
calm,  and  very  vocal,  they  emphasized  the 
fact  thci.t  teen-agers  are  as  different 
from  each  other  as  are  members  of  all 
other  groups.  They  resent  being  lumped 
into  a  group.  They  want  to  be  considered 
as  individuals.  They  all  stated  that 
library  activities  should  be  prepared  BY 
the  young  people,  not  FOR  them,  and  that 
to  be  successful,  library  programs  should 
be  without  any  form  of  compulsion.  The 
panel  of  Young  People's  librarians  then 
ansvrered  questions,  and  told  of  their 
programs . 

The  luncheon  meeting  on  Saturday  was 
opened  vdth  recognition  of  the  work  of 
the  committees  v^o  planned  and  carried  out 
the  program  of  the  Pre-Conf erence , 
Emerson  Greenaway,  Librarian  of  the  Free 
Library  of  Philadelphia,  the  luncheon 
speaker,  emphasized  that  children's 
librarians  have  more  opportunity  now  than 
they  ever  had  to  reach  a  large  public, 
that  parents  and  elected  officials  be 
invited  into  the  library  and  get  together 
vdth  other  groups  to  arrange  programs. 
His  topic  was  Future  Horizons,  and  in- 
dicated that  rumour  to  the  contrary, 
children's  librarians  have  a  most 
promising  future.  Mr  Greenaway  suggested 
that  Parent's  Book  Councils  would  bring 
needed  support  from  the  homes.  He  also 
brought  up  the  idea  of  children's 
librarians  conducting  children's  Litera- 
ture courses-  for  parents,  in  order  to 
interest  them  in  the  materials  available. 

As  interesting  and  stimulating  as  the 
meetings  were,  exchanging  ideas  with 
others  in  the  same  field  was  really  the 
most  valuable  part  of  the  conference. 

Mildred  Adelson 

VISITORS 

Lester  E.  Asheim,  Assistant  Professor 
and  Dean  of  the  Graduate  Library  School, 
University  of  Chicago. 

Mrs  Helen  E.  Wessells,  editor  of  the 
Library  Journal. 

CENTENNIAL 

David  T.  W.  McCord,  well-known  writer 
on  historic  Boston,  has  accepted  the 
task  of  writing  the  Centennial  brochure 


^U" 


"Romance  of   the  Library."  Originally  this 
was  to  have  been  done  by  Rudolph  Elie, 
but  Mr  Elie  was  forced  to  relinquish  the 
work  because  of  the  pressure  of  outside 
business, 

THE  B.P.L.  ON  TV 

On  Monday,  August  17,  Streeter  Stuart 
interviewed  Mrs  Muriel  Javelin  on  his 
"Into  Focus"  program  over  VifBZ-TV,  lUrs 
Javelin  talked  about  the  Library's  Audio- 
Visual  Section,  with  particular  emphasis 
on  the  collection  of  recordings. 

Donald  Born,  professor  of  English  at 
Boston  University  College  of  General 
Education,  and  entrepreneur  of  the  TOZ-TV 
show  "New  England  Almanac",  talked  about 
the  Boston  Public  Library  and  its  ap- 
proaching Centennial  on  his  program  for 
Friday,  September  h,   at  9:30  a.m.  Using 
the  birthday  of  Charles  Follen  McKim, 
architect  of  the  Library,  as  a  starting 
point,  he  worked  into  McKim 's  connection 
with  the  Library,  and  then  discussed  the 
Library's  history  and  the  Centennial. 

On  Monday,  September  21,  Polly  Huse 
on  TOZ-TV,  will  feature  the  Printing 
Uninhibited  exhibit  when  she  interviews 
one  of  the  exhibitors. 

The  Librarian 
^f~the  ia50's 

Throughout  this  Centennial  Year  of  1953 
our  thoughts  wLll  often  be  directed  to 
the  library  of  100  years  ago.   In  such  a 
retrospective  mood  we  might  also  think  of 
the  librarian  of  the  long  ago.  V/hat  was 
he  or  she  like?.  "What  were  their  values? 
By  what  criteria  were  they  judged  before 
the  days  of  library  schools,  scientific 
approach,  position  analysis,  and  other 
means  of  evaluation?  According  to  all 
available  a.ccoxr£^   these  librarians  of 
another  day  were  invariably  considered, 
not  only  with  respect  and  honor,  but  with 
genuine  affection. 

Turning  to  the  very  early  reports  of  the 
Trustees  and  Superintendents  (Librarians, 
Directors)  of  the  Boston  Public  Library 
for  clues,  we  were  immediately  intrigued 
with  three  words  which  recurred  in  their 
descriptions  of  the  excellence  of  the 
library  personnel.  These  words  were 


I 


of  an  almost  perfect  librarian. 

Intelligence  would  indicate  a  high 
degree  of  understanding  and  knowledge 
and  the  ability  to  anprehend  the  inter- 
relationships of  presented  facts  in  such 
a  way  as  to  guide  action  towards  a  desired 
goal. 

Zealousness  would  be  characterized  by     i 
an  active  and  eager  interest  in  problems —  | 
a  sort  of  efficiency  with  warmness , 
necessary  in  those  who  would  win  the  con- 
fidence of,  and  work  well  with,  people. 

Cheerfulness  would  imply  a  bright 
and  equable  temper  and  disposition  re- 
flected in  the  face,  the  voice,  the  actions 
It  suggests  a  strong  and  spontaneous, 
but  quiet  flow  of  good  spirits — not  a 
hail-fellow-well-met,  not  the  overbearingly 
hearty  person,  but  the  best  aspects  of 
each  characteristic  with  the  brakes  on. 

The  collective  description  suggests  a 
combination  of  v/armth  of  personality, 
plus  intelligent  interest  and  a  sincere 
desire  to  help.  As  primary  requisites 
for  librarianship  it  would  indeed  be 
difficult  to  improve  on  these. 

M,  F.  Daly 

CIVIL  DEFENSE 

If  An  Atomic 
Bomb  Drops  II 

Have  you  ever  tried  to  find  out  what 
chance  you  would  hav^  if  you  happen  to  ■ 
be  downtown  as  usual  when  an  atomic  bomb 
drops  on  your  city? 

Turn  to  something  m.ore  agreeable ,  right 
now,  if  you  choose «  It's  easier  to  think 
it  won't  happen  to  you.  But  make  no  mis- 
take, you  have  only  one  chance  if  it  does 
happen;  and  these  are  the  -odds. 

Without  warning,  without  shelters, 
within  a  half-mile  of  a  Hiroshima-size 
burst,  90  percent  of  all  present  will  be 
<il]e  d.  Ten  percent  will  be  injured. 

Your  chance  vdll  be  better  if  you  are 
between  a  half-mile  and  a  mile  from  the 
burst.  Buildings  will  be  so  virrecked  that 
they  can  never  be  used  again,  but  only 
50  percent  of  all  present  will  be  killed » 
The  injured  will  be  35  percent;  the  un- 
harmed, 1$   percent. 

And  are  you  sure  you  will  be  far  enough 
from  the  aiming  point  to  give  you  even 
this  fifty-fifty  chance  of  death  or 


intelligence,  zealousness,  and  cheerfulnesssurvival?  A  bomber  trying  to  hit  the 

In  the  exact  shade  of  meaning  of~each~wor3^ middle  of  downtoi«m  is  likely  to  be  a  mile 

we  have  what  even  today  stands  as  a  picture, 


-5- 


off  in  any  direction — in  your  direction. 

If  you  do  ei:cape  killing ,  but  are  in- 
jured, vri.ll  there  be  enough  first  aid 
teams,  ambulances,  doctors  and  nurses  to 
give  you  tiie  medical  service  you  need 
iramediatelyT 

These  are  only  the  effects  of  the  old- 
type  atomic  bomb  that  fell  on  Hiroshima, 
Me   know  that  bombs  many  times  as  povrerful 
are  being  manufactured  todayo 

Your  ultimate  chance  of  survival  will 
depend  on  an  adequate  civil  defense 
organization  of  volunteers,  trained  to 
supplement  the  usual  professional  fire- 
fighting,  police,  rescue  and  m£dical 
services  0 

Eo  you  know  vifhat  to  tell  your  family  to 
do  if  you  are  caught  downtown  and  they  are 
uptown? 

Civil  defense  in  this  sense  has  hardly 
started  in  some  cities <, 

Are  you  living  in  one  of  them? 

Civil  defense  budgets  are  being  cut 
deeply  in  city  councils,  in  state  legis- 
latures and  in  Congress.  The  general 
purpose  of  economy  is  one  that  I  favor, 
but  it  should  not  go  so  far  as  to  slow 
down  our  civil  defense  to  readiness  in 
ten  years  from  now,  as  it  is  doing. 

What  if  the  Russians  drop  their  bombs 
this  year? 

It  is  beyond  doubt  now  that  they  have 

enough  atomic  bombs  and  ability  to  deliver 

them,  despite  our  air  defense,  to  drop  one 

on  every  critical  target  city  in  the 

States. 

Exerpt  from  -article  by Val Peterson, 

Federal  Civil  Ds^fcnse  Administrator 

Editor's  note;  This  was  written  to 
emphasize  to  the  American  public  the 
facts  behind  America's  CD  program* 


ALUI-II^JI  ^DTES 

Hon,  John  ?„   Higgins,  Chief  Justice  of 
the  Superior  Court,  a  former  member  of  the 
West  End  Branch  staff,  now  a  member  of 
the  Centennial  Commission,  has  been  ap- 
pointed Chairman  of  its  Committee,  on  the 
Friends"  o£   the' Boston. Public  Libraiy, 

Carol  Vassalo,  former  branch  library 
assistant,  has  recently  received  an  ap- 
pointment as  librarian  of  the  Willimantic 
State  Teachers  College,  Connecticut. 


Maurice  Rahilly,  formerly  of  the  Audio- 
Visual,  is  now  on  the  staff  of  the  Nevi  Yorl<lp: 


Maritime  College  Library,  Fort  Schuyler, 
Bronxo 


RECENT  MATERIAL  OF 


PROFESSIONAL  INTEREST 


Butler,  Pierce. 


Librarianship  As  A 
Profession.  The  Lib.-^ary  Quarterly, 
October  1951,  pp.  2j5-2l;7.   TContinued 
from  July  issue) 

The  professional  person  is  one  who  has 
a  special  intellectual  equipment  with 
which  he  does  important  things  for  other 
people  ,•.  The  essence  of  a  profession  is  a 
special  scholarship.  There  are  three 
elements  to  scholarship:  materials, 
process  and  human  motives.  Modern  thought 
has  greatly  emphasized  the  first  two 
elements  while  ignoring  the  third.  Since 
scholarship  is  the  intellectual  content 
of  culture,  its  pattern  must  conform  to 
the  pattern  of  the  cultural  activities  to 
which  the  scholarship  belongs.  All  human 
actions  involve  three  simultaneous 
awarenesses — of  the  m.aterial,  of  the 
process,  and  of  the  motive.  The  branch 
of  scholarship  concerned  with  human 
motives  is  just  as  important  as  the 
materials  and  processes  involved.  The 
present  day  trend  of  ignoring  human 
motivations  thereby  results  in  an  un- 
natural incompleteness  of  scholarship. 

In  vocational  activity  there  are  two 
,  personal  and  impersonal. 
The  first  is  concerned  with  earning  a 
livingj  the  second  is  cultural,  i,e,, 
depending  on  the  requirements  of  the  job 
which  in  turn  depend  upon  the  requirements 
of  the  culture  to  which  the  v/ork  belongs. 
In  the  professions  a  special  science  and 
a  special  technology  are  indispensable 
and  both  are  of  such  an  abstruse  nature 
as  to  be  unintelligible  to  a  layman. 
Personal  motivation  in  the  professions    ■ 
is  financial,  but  predominantly  a  personal 
intellectual  predilection  for  the  work. 
Cultural  motivation  in  the  professions 
must  be  developed  intellectually  to  the 
point  that  it  becomes  a  specific  humanistic 
discipline,  just  as  distinctive  as  the 
professional  science  and  technology  in- 
volved. Today  the  reality  and  specifica- 
lity  of  professional  humanities  are 
generally  misunderstood. 

The  intellectual  content  of  librarian- 
ship  undoubtedly  consists  of  three  dis- 
tinct branches.  It  deals  vd.th  things  and 
rinciples  that  must  be  scientifically 


Unitec motivations 


handled,  with  processes  and  apparatus  thatjv^ill  sharpen  the  understanding,  judgement 


require  special  understanding  and  skills 
for  their  operations,  and  with  cultural 
motivations  that  can  be  apprehended  only 
humanistically.  The  question  is  raised: 
"Is  the  intellectual  content  of  librarian- 
ship  so  specialized  as  to  become  a  special 
professional  scholarship?"  A  quick  survey 
of  library  history  seems  to  imply  a  nega- 
tive answer*  Our  library  system  came 
into  existence  by  the  automatic  processes 
of  cultural  development o  The  problems 
of  library  v/ork  have  been  and  still  are 
approached  vd-th  an  attitude  that  relies 
on  experience  and  observation  alone, 
without  due  regard  to  science  and  theory. 
The  technique  of  library  work  is  so 
mattar-of-fact  that  a  layman  can  quickly 
learn  on  the  job.  It  would  seem  that  the 
library  worker  -v^io  is  motivated  by  personal 
reasons  alone  does  just  as  well  as  the 
worker  who  also  bears  in  mind  cultural 
objeotiveso  The  majority  of  people  working 
in  libraries  have  never  attended  a  pro- 
fessional school. 

Actually  a  few  considerations  will  show 
that  the  development  of  a  complete  pro- 
fessional scholarship  in  librarianship  has 
been  retarded  rather  than  unnecessary. 
Scientific  research  of  the  last  quarter- 
century  has  brought  results  that  indicate 
the  ineffectualness  of  an  empirical  .ap- 
proach to  librarianship.  One  might  con- 
sider library  technology  simple  only  if 
he  ignores  two  facts :  any  layman  who 
becomes  a  librarian  overnight  is  a  person 
with  book  experience  and  a  frequent 
library  user;  and  such  a  person  enters 
a  going  concern  manned  by  experienced 
operatives.  The  absence  of  an  explicit 
humanistic  discipline  is  the  cause  of 
two  characteristics  that  have  alvrays  marked 
librarians  as  a  group — their  ancillary 
attitude  and  their  faddishness.  Because 
librarians  lack  an  awareness  of  a  dis- 
tinctive Cultural  function  of  their  own, 
they  are  inclined  to  consider  the  library 
as  a  mere  handmaiden  to  other  cultural 
agents  such  as  the  schools.  Not  recog- 
nizing in  theory  the  humanistic  pecu- 
liarities of  their  vrork  librarians  take 
up  innovations  useful  elsewhere,  but 
irrelevant  to  the  library. 

The  cultural  motivation  of  librarianship 
is  the  promotion  of  vdsdom  in  the  indivi- 
dual and  in  the  ccanmunity.  The  chief 
fus.ction  of  the  library  is  to  undertake 
supplying  literature  on  any  subject  to  any 
citizen  for  any  purpose.  This  is  done  on 
the  theory  that  in  the  long  run  the  process 


and  prudence  of  the  readers  and  so  sus- 
tain and  advance  civilization.  The 
librarian  must  always  be  intensely  aware 
that  everyone  who  enters  the  library  is 
impelled  to  do  so  for  both  personal  and 
cultural  reasonso  The  librarian's  atti- 
tude must  be  more  intellectual  than 
emotional,  for  he  must  be  able  to  gen- 
eralize the  reading  need  at  the  same  time 
that  he  personalizes  the  reader.  It  is 
only  by  explicit  study  and  discipline 
that  he  can  thus  exploit  the  humanistic 
possibilities  and  probabilities  of  his 
office. 

It  can  readily  be  appreciated  that 
library  vrork  viewed  in  this  philosophical 
study  of  professions  with  their  cultural 
significance  requires  of  those  performing 
the  work  a  very  definite  professional 
scholarship. 


Paul  V.  Moynihan 

CENTENNIAL  GIFT  COmHTTEE 
ENT..1RGED 

A  meeting  of  the  Centennial  Gift 
Committee,  ccmprising  representatives  from 
the  Arnavets,  the  Employees  Benefit 
A.ssociation,  the  Professional  Staff 
A.ssociation  ard  the  Quarter  Century  Club, 
inras  held  on  Friday,  August  li;. 

The  choice  of  a  gift  of  a  silver  tea 
and  coffee  service  previously  under  con- 
sideration is  being  held  in  abeyance 
v;hile  the  enlarged  committee  studies 
various  other  suggestions. 

The  enlarged  committee  consists  of  the 
follovdng  members  5 
Professional  Staff  Association 


Geraldine  Mo  Altraan,  Jamaica  Plain 

Ada  A.  Andelnian,  Office  of  the  Division 

of  Home  Reading  and  Conmunity  Services 
Charles  J,  Gillis,  Cataloging  and 

Classification  for  HRS 

Jeanne  M,  Hayes,  Book  Purchasing 
Bradford  M.  Hill,  Periodical  and 

Newspaper 

Priscilla  S,  MacFadden,  Fine  Arts 
Thomas  J.  Manning,  Exhibits  Office 
Pauline  A.  Walker,  West  Roxbury 
Pauline  Winnick,  Open  Shelf  .-   ,. 

Quarter  Century  Club 


Mrs  Grace  M.  Caution,  Accounting 
Daniel  W.  Sheeran,  Binding 

Employees  Benefit  Association 


Patrick  J.  Reilly,  Buildings 


Frank  P.   Binino,  Patent 
George  W,   Gallagher,   Binding 
Jj  Joseph  Danker,  Buildings 
Catherine  A.  Farrell,  Accounting 

Arnaveta 

John  Wc  Tuley,  Fire  Control  Center 
Sidney  Weinberg,  Patent 

The  Centennial  Gift  Committee 

ADA  A  ANDEUMN 

Chairman 

NEWS  FROM  DOIW  UNDER 

A  fen  days  ago  I  paid  my  first  "official!' 
visit  to  the  Auckland  Public  Library 
and  presented  my  letters  of  introduction 
from  Mr  Lord  and  Mr  Heintzelman.  The 
Director,  Mr  Duthie,  took  me  on  a  per- 
sonally conducted  tour  throughout  the 
Library,  He  has  just  taken  over  the  posi- 
tion from  someone  who  had  it  for  about 
ho  years  and  is  little  by  little  trying 
to  reorganize  and  put  things  into  workable 
order.  We  had  a  long  talk  comparing 
methods  and  ideas  etc.  I  am  enclosing  a 
little  pamphlet  on  the  Library  for  those 
who  are  interested  in  these  details. 
Briefly,  the  Library  is  free  to  "ratepaysEs 
and  residents  of  the  City  of  Auckland" — 
others  pay  a  small  fee  per  year  and  a  fee 
for  each  book  borrowed.  The  basic  idea 
of  a  "Free"  library  is  not  the  basic 
principle  of  N,Z,  libraries  as  yet  I  Mr 
Duthie  informed  me  that  many  of  the  NoZ. 
public  libraries  are  still  subscription 
libraries.  Another  feature  i^hich  seemed 
very  strange  to  me  is  that  some  of  the 
libraries  are  free  in-so~far  as  educational, 
materials  are  concerned,  but  fiction, 
popular  non-fiction  and  other  items  at 
their  discretion  are  placed  in  a  rental 
collection  that  is  administered  by  the 
public  library.  In  other  words,  the 
library  will  supply  material  that  it  thinfe 
educational  and  that  it  is  its  duty  to 
provide  free,  but  for  the  occasional 
reader  with  a  yen  for  a  mystery  or  western^ 
or  just  an  ordinary  best-seller,  the  books 
are  not  free*  In  Auckland  books  are  all 
free  to  the  above  "ratepayers  etcJ',  but 
there  is  a  collection  called  "pay 
duplicates"  ifliich  is  explained  thus: 
"This  collection  is  an  attempt  to  meet  the 
demand  for  popular  books  without  placing 
too  great  a  strain  on  the  book  funds.  It 
contains  duplicate  copies  of  books  already 
in  the  free  section."  To  me  this  gives 
the  impression  of,  if  you  aren't  first  in 


line,  so  to  speak,  and  don't  get  the  copy 
of  a  best-seller  that  is  in  the  free 
collection,  you  can  pay  a  fee  and  get 
one  of  the  duplicate  copies  vri. thout 
waiting  so  long.  In  other  words  "those 
vj-ho  pay,  get,  those  vrtio  don't,  wait  1" 
It  is  now  clearer  to  me  why  there  is  a 
lending  library  on  every  corner  in 
Auckland  and  the  suburbs — it  doesn't  cost 
any  more  to  borrow  a  book  from  the  lending 
library  than  from  the  public  library. .  My 
first  reaction  in  Auckland  was  vronder  at 
the  si^t  of  so  many  lending  libraries 
and  I  couldn't  understand  why  people 
didn't  use  the  public  library — but  I 
can  see  that  for  the  fiction  reader  (both 
the  good  and  the  poor  fiction)  the 
commercial  lending  library  or  "book  club" 
offers  as  much  if  not  more  than  the  public 
library o  Perhaps  this  is  a  harsh  judge- 
ment and  I  will  say  that  it  is  a  first 
impression  gained  from  observation  and 
from  discussion  with  the  Director  of  the 
Auckland  Public  Library,  You  will  see  by 
the  pamphlet  that  the  hours  in  no  vfay  com- 
pare to  the  hours  of  service  in  Boston 
and  the  branch  libraries  are  very  limitedo 
Speaking  of  hours,  Mr-  Duthie  asked  me 
if  our  assistants  worked  a  "split  shift" 
(even  Library  vrork  is  spoken  of  as  shifts), 
I  asked  him  what  he  meant  and  he  said  that 
his  people  vrould  work  a  morning,  have  the 
afternoon  off  and  come  back  to  work  .the 
evening  shift.  I  explained  our  system 
to  him  and  said  thit  such  a  thing  Y\rould 
not  happen  except  in  some  sort  of  emergency 
on  the  staff,  and  that  I  did  not  think 
anyone  on  the  staff  would  stand  for 
such  a  system  as  a  general  thing.  This 
"split  shift"  is  evidently  in  great  favor 
here — liir   Duthie  said  it  was  his  first 
attempt  at  change  v/hen  he  became  director 
and  only  one  member  of  the  staff  supported 
his  ideae  For  some  reason  or  other  the 
staff  prefers  the  split  system  and  on  a 
vote  taken  they  did  not  vrant  to  changes 

You  Tirill  see,  also,  that  there  are  few 
branches  and  one  bookmobile  (mobile 
library) ,  which  evidently  is  in  great  use . 
The  North  Shore  district  v^here  T/e  live  is 
in  metropoliliais  or  greater  Auckland  and  is 
not  served  by  the  Auckland  Public  Library 
at  all.  The  area  is  governed  by  Boroughs 
which  divide  the  Shore  into  small  towns  ani 
each  borough  would  eventually  like  to  have 
its  own  Library,  Some  of  them  have, 
although  I  have  not  visited  them  as  yet. 
I  am  told  that  their  hours  are  very  short 
and  that  they  are  manned  by  volunteer 
help — in  other  words  they  are  not 


"libraries"  in  our  sense,  b^ut  a  room  where 
the  books  are  kept  and  an  attendant  who 
checks  them  in  and  out,  Mr  Duthie  in- 


newsy  letter  received  from  Mrs  Robinson, 
Ifeny  of  her  friends  vail  enjoy  reading 

formed  me  that  the  N.Z.,  Library  Associatiatjthe  complete  letter,  which  can  be 

(Auckland  Branch)  is  v;orking  hard  to 

persuade  the  borough  of  Devonport  and  the 


borough  of  Takapuna  (adjacent  districts) 
to  combine  their  efforts  towards  one  good 
library — ^i-dth  two  buildings  one  in  each 
town,  but  with  one  Librarian  and  one  book 
fund.  I  believe  soicething  along  the  lines 
of  our  Regional  Libraries  is  what  their 
goal  is,  but  the  Boroughs  are  like 
Massachusetts  tovms— each  one  vi'ants  to 
say  it  has  its  own  library.   In  the 
meantime  the  rental  libraries  flourish  and 
Library  Service  in  the  largest  city  of 
N.Z,  is  paihfully  inadequate. 

As  for  the  building  itself  of  the  Auck- 
land Public  Library — a  vcooden  structure, 
70  years  old — ^what  more  can  one  say  I  It 
is  less  functional  than  the  B.P.L,  which 
has  certainly  been  found  full  of  flaws 
from  the  standpoint  of  a  modern  library 
building.  The  circulation  departments 
of  the  Auckland  P,L.  are  on  the  ground 
floor  and  the  reference  on  the  second 
(as  we  would  call  it).  Books  and  bound 
periodicals  are  stored  from  there  on 
up  into  sort  of  attic  space,  some  of 
which  is  reached  only  by  twisting  iron 
stairs.  There  is  no  elevator  in  the 
building — ^public  or  otherwise — and  heavy 
bound  newspapers  and  other  items  must  be 
carried  over  many  stairs  to  the  reader  and 
back,  Mr  Duthie  informed  me  that  the  City 
Architect  would  like  to  tear  the  building 
down  and  start  over,  but  evidently  that  is 
out  of  the  question.  The  building  is 
shared  by  the  City  Art  Gallery  and  the  Old 
Colonists  Museum,  this  latter  houses  all 
sorts  of  relics  of  early  settlers 
of  N.Z.  displayed  in  a  hopeless  muddle. 
The  City  Art  Gallery  has  recently  acquired 
a  new  Director,  a  young  Englishman,  who 
seems  to  have  done  vranders  in  conjunction 
with  the  City  Architect  in  renovating  a 
certain  amount  of  a7\rkward  space  into  a 
very  attractive  gallery  with  storage  and 
office  space.  This  is  not  yet  finished, 
but  I  have  had  the  privilege  of  a  previevf, 
I  hope  that  he  mil  be  able  to  do  the  same 
vdth  the  other  galleries.  Either  he  or 
the  City  Architect  is  introducing  color 
to  the  interiors  of  the  gallery  #iich  is 
quite  a  change  to  N.Z,  interiors.  Even  in 
the  homes  a  cream  color  prevails  on  all 
the  walls,  either  in  paint  or  wall  paper, 
and  the  soft  pastel  colors  used  in  the 
new  decorations  should  help  immensely, 

Ifuriel  G,  Robinson 


Editor's  note;  This  is  part  of  a  long. 


borrowed  from  Miss  Usher,  Record  Room. 


SOCIAL  TWHIRL 

On  August  1$  Elinor  E,  Day,  Dorchester, 
was  married  to  William  J,  Conley,  West 
End,  The  ceremony  took  place  at  the 
bride's  home  in  Melrose,  After  the 
wedding  and  reception  the  couple  left 
for  their  honeymoon  in  Maine. 

At  the  Branch  on  Vfednesday,  the  staff 
gave  Miss  Day  a  surprise  kitchen  shower, 
Rosemarie  DeSimone  wrapped  the  gifts 
in  unusual  packages  representing  the 
members  of  the  wedding,  the  church,  their 
future  home,  and  various  figures.  Eleanor 
O'Leary,  Mrs  Pasquale  Vacca,  and  Helen 
DeSimone  were  guests  at  the  shower. 
Delicious  refreshments  were  enjoyed  by 
all.  The  Staff's  vredding  present  to 
Miss  Day  was  a  pressure-cooker. 

Previous  to  the  shower,  #ien  Miss  D,ay's 

announcement  was  first  made,  the  staff 

entertained  her  at  a  dinner  party  at  the 

Abner  "Wheeler  House, 

ii-   rr  « 

On  September  10  Marguerite  A,  Connelly 
of  the  Director's  Office  vras  married  to 
Edward  Doran  at  the  Sacred  Heart  Church 
in  Roslindale,  Several  of  her  associates 
on  the  staff  attended  the  ceremony  and  the 
reception  which  followed  later  at  Long- 
wood  Tovrers,  Mr  and  Mrs  Doran  will  live 
in  North  Cambridge  > 

The  Boston  City  Club  vras  the  scene  of- 
a  farewell  dinner  tendered  to  Mrs  Dorothy 
M,  Lovett  by  the  Kirstein  Business  Branch 
staff  on  September  U,  Mrs  Lovett  has 
resigned  from  the  service  to  remain  at 
homoo  Forty-eight  persons,  staff — past 
and  present,  Central  friends,  and  invited 
guests  enjoyed  a  roast-beef  dinner.  At 
the  head  table  were  Mr  and  Mrs  Lovett, 
Mrs  Mary  Watkins  Dietrichson,  Business 
Branch  Librarian  Emeritus,  and  Mr 
Dietrichson,  Patrick  F.  McDonald  and 
Mary  G,  McDonald,  Richard  G,  Hensley,  and 
John  M,  Carroll,  lie  were  also  very  happy 
to  have  as  guests  Mr  and  Mrs  Arthur  S, 
Merrow,  Mrs  Lovett 's  parents, 

Mr  Carroll,  an  able  master  of  ceremonies, 
introduced  Mr  McDonald  and  Mr  Hensley, 
yiho   delivered  addresses,  Winifred  Root 
read  an  original  poem  dedicated  to  Mrs 
Lovett.  Presentation  of  the  gift,  a 
lovely  silver  bowl  of  Paul  Revere  design, 


7ras  made  by  Riti  Desaulniers.     In  her 
response,  Mrs  Lovett  paid  tribute  to  two 
"vromen  who  had  inspired  her  in  her  library 
career,  Mrs   Bertha  V,   Hartzell  and  Mrs 
Mary  Watkins  Dietrichson, 

So  also  may  we,  who  had  the  privilege 
of  working  i/vith  Mrs  Lovett,  have,  in  this 
association,  a  guide  and  inspiration  for 
our  future  years. 

Yanifred  F.  Root 

ERANCH  I\DTES 

Mattapan 

The  nevirly  redecorated  Branch  is  ready 
to  Yifelcome  back  its  vacationing  public© 
No  change  was  made  in  the  original  color 
scheme  of  cream  and  white  with  dark  red 
trim  because  it  was  felt  that  this  com- 
bination best  emphasized  the  graceful 
interior  architecture  of  the  buildingo 

Not  the  least  part  of  the  redecoration 
project  was  carrying  on  "business  as 
usual" — particularly  vdien  this  involved 
setting  up  a  temporary  charging  desk  in 
a  different  place  each  day.  "Operation 
paint  job"  also  meant  that  some  twenty- 
five  thousand  books  had  to  be  moved  from 
the  shelves  and  then  put  back  in  place. 
But  when  the  painters  had  departed,  the 
scaffolding  had  disappeared,  the  books 
were  shelved,  and  we  had  a  moment  to 
glance  around,  we  found  that  the  result 
made  the  extra  effort  very  worthwhile 
indeed. 

"Sew"  right  for  the  Fall  Fashion  Parade 
is  the  theme  of  the  early  September 
displays.  The  outdoor  bulletin  board 
features  books  which  help  the  at-home 
seamstress  to  achieve  that  envied  pro- 
fessional touch.  Fashions  through  the 
years  are  displayed  in  the  foyer  where 
pictures  from  the  library's  collection 
of  costume  books  are  contrasted  with  the 
current  mode.  Swatches  of  the  ne-w 
fabrics  complete  the  effective  display. 

West  End 

Fanny  Goldstein,  Branch  Librarian,  has 
arrived  in  Israel  whore  she  will  cele- 
brate the  Jewish  holidays — ^Rosh  Ifeshonah 
in  Haifa,  and  Yora  Kippur  in  Jeinisalem, 
Although  of  a  personal  nature,  her  trip 
hasbeen  acknowledged  by  the  Israeli 
Embassy  in  Yfashington,  Yehuda  Harry 
Levin,  Secretary  of  the  Embassy,  has 
given  her  several  letters  of  introduction 
to  government  officials  in  Israel  to  make 


her  stay  there  more  enjoyable. 

Israel  ^ffill  receive  from  Miss  Goldstein's 
personal  library  a  gift  of  ^00  books 
which  reflect  the  American  scene  through 
all  classes  of  literature  and  for  all 
ages.  She  will  formally  present  a 
portion  of  these  books  to  the  Municipal 
Library  of  Haifa.  Another  group  of 
American  juveniles  will  be  given  to  the 
Department  of  Education  of  the  Hebrew 
University  in  Jerusalem  to  be  added  to 
the  collection  #iich  Miss  Goldstein 
inaugurated  in  1952.  The  remainder  of 
Miss  Goldstein's  book  gifts  will  be 
distributed  at  the  suggestion  of  the 
Minister  of  Education  and  Culture  who  is 
very  interested  in  this  major  cultural 
gift  from  America. 

On  returning  to  Europe,  Miss  Goldstein 
will  be  received' at  the  Vatican  Library 
in  Rome  by  Archbishop  Arboreda.  She 
expects  to  travel  through  Italy,  France, 
and  England  before  coming  home  in  November, 


SOAP  BOX 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must  be 
accompanied  by  the  full  name  of  the  As- 
sociation member  submitting  it,  together 
with  the  name  of  the  Branch  Library,  De- 
partment, or  Office  in  which  he  or  she 
Is  employed,  Tte  name  is  withheld  from 
publication,  or  a  pen  name  used,  if  the 
contributor  so  requests.  Anonymous  con- 
tributions are  not  given  consideration. 
The  3uthor  of  the  article  is  known  only 
to  the  contributor  and  to  the  Editor-in- 
Chief,  The  contents  of  articles  appear- 
ing in  thg  Soap  Box  are  personal  opinions 
expressed  by  individual  Association  mem- 
bers and  their  appearance  does  not  neces- 
sarily indicate  that  the  Publications 
Committee  and  the  Association  are  in 
agreement  with  the  views  expressed. 


Dear  Editor; 

I  find  myself  in  complete  agreement  with 
l/Iiss  Daly's  letter  about  the  Examining 
Committee's  recommendations  concerning  pro- 
motion, I  greatly  fear,  however,  that  she 
is  a  voice  crying  in  the  wilderness.  By 
the  time  our  fellow  employees  affected  by 
such  radical  changes  come  to  a  conscious- 
ness of  tte  fact,  a  good  ten  years  will 
have  passed  and  the  wide  open  list  will  be 
a  fait  accompli. 


-10- 


Cheer  up,  Mary,     You  -nd  I  may  prove  ths  Division  of  Savings  Bank  Life   Insurance, 
greater  beneficiaries  of  such  a   system,        !     Library  employees  und.er_age  ^0  may 
We^re  bound  to  get  lots  of  points  for  jjoin  the  group  and  be  irii^red  for  $1,000 

personality.  jat  a  very  reasonable  cost.     Mr  Green 


E-^mon  E,  McDonough 


inforns  us  that  further  details,  including 
,a  rate  chart,  will  appear  in  an  adminis- 
trative notice. 1 


YDU  AND  THE  A.L.A. 

ITith  enthusiastic  reports  of  the  Los 
Angeles  coiu.erence  still  ringing  in  your 
eais,   have  you  stepped  to  check  on  the 
status   of  your  membership  in  this  national 
professional  association?     If  not,  ivcn't 
you  do  it  now? 

Don't  forget  that  compilation  of  the 
1953  ALA  IffilviEERSHIP  DIRECTORY  logan 
September  1^     On?-y  pail  members  are  !ldste''1; 
Now  when  so  many  stimuxating  oppcrturiicies 
are  ours,  we  hone  you  do  not  intend  to   let 
your  membership  le.pse,. 

AppiicatJ.on  blanks  for  new  members^ 
and  for  menbers  who  have  misplaced  their 
rcner.'al  blanks ,  are  available  in  the  Record 
B'.ocmo 

SAJJiH  M,  USHER 
AoLoA.e  Membership 
Coijmittee 

RECENT  CREDITS 


Credited  T/ith  valuable  bibliographical 
assistance  by  the  author  of  "F^'arple 
Passages",  Madeleine  B.  Stern, were 
Richard  G,  Henslty,  Chief  Librarian, 
Division  of  Reference  aid  Research 
Services  and  Frank  Bruno,  Assistant  in 
Science  and  Technology 3  Patent  Rocm= 

ANOTHER  ALUMNI  NCTB 

Lloyd  W.  Griffin,  former  Assistant  in 
Cataloging  and  Classification,  Division 
of  Reference  and  Research  Services,  is 
now  head  of  the  Reference  Department, 
University  of  Wisconsin;, 

CITY  EIvPT.OYEES  LIFE  INSURANCE 

We  have  been  informed  by  Samuel  Green  of' 
the  Business  Office  (in  answer  to  a  requeslj 
for  informatiun)  that  another  opportunity  | 
to  join  the  Boston  Employees  Association 
Group  Life  Insurance  Plan  will  be  avail-  j 
able  abou;L-  November  1^.  This  plan  is  [ 
underwritten  by  the  Boston  Five  Cents  • 
Savings  Bank,  a  member  of  the  Massachusetta 


ATTENTION  S 

"I  have  long  felt  that  all  people  have 
to  do_,   to  live  in  peace  and  pleasantness^, 
is  tc  a.'.quire  the   good  manners,  alertness 
of  mind  and  level  of  intelligpi ce  of 
professional  librarians  and  archivists.'' 

From:  Ewiggett,   Hoviard,     The  extra- 
ordina:y  Mr  Morris     (Garden 
City,  N.Yc,  Dcubleday,   195,2)p.x 

C.ARE 

The  fighting  in  Korea  has  ceased,  but 
the  misery  of  hunger,  disease,  and  poverty 
continues. 

CARE  can  help  the  unfortimate.  Please 
give,  and  give  generously^ 

Staff  Representatives:  your  help  is 
much  needed. 

Special  Committee  on  CARE 


If  you  are  a  full-time  BPL  employee 


you  have 


an 


IMPORTANT  DATE 


on 


Novem/ber  11,  19^3 


Watch  for  official  no  bice  I 


NEW  ENGLAND  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION  CONVENTION 
New  Ocean  House,  Sv/ainpscott,  Massc     Sept,.   30,  Oct  1  and  2,  19^3 

Wednesday,  September  30 

10:00  A.M.— Registration  Opens 
2 '.30  PgMi~General  Session; 

Speakers:     Flora  Bo  Ludington,  President  of  A-L.A, 
Greetings  from  A.L,j5io 
David  I,   Clift,  Executive  Secretary  of  A:,L,A« 

"The  Regional  Library  Association" 
I.   Bernard  Cohen,  Professor  of  Education  and  History  of 
Science,   Ifervard  Universityo 

"The  Librarian's  Responsibility  for  Scientific 
Progress." 

8s30  P.M.— EVENING  OF  FUN  AND  FROLIC  I     Let's  get  acquainted!     Tell  your  friends 

there  is  going  to  be  a  Barn  Dance  you  won't  forget  in  Convention  Hall'. 
Come  and  dance — Come  aid  see  your  friends j 

Thursday,  October  1 

10:30  A.M» — General  Sessionj 

Speaker:  Dr  Luther  A.  Weigle :  The  Publishing  of  the  Revised  Version 
by  the  Chairman  of  the  Standard  Bible  Committee j  Dean 
Emeritus  of  the  Yale  Divinity  School o 
2:30  P.M.— New  England  Children's  Book  Clirao:   "Here  Are  the  Authors:" 

Adele  deLeeuw,  Jessica  Lyon,  Munro  Leaf,  H.A,  Rey,  Helen  Hoke,  Lee 
Kingman,  Kenneth  Andler 
2:30  P.M. — ^Adult  Education  Group  Meeting: 

"Issues  Suggested  by  the  Adult  Education  Survey" 

Mrs  Grace  Stevenson,  Associate  Executive  Secretary,  Ad. A. 
"l/Jhat  the  Adult  Bducati  n  Survey  Means  for  New  England" 

Panel  Discussion  by  New  England  Librarians — Buzz  Session 
lj.:00  P,M, — Special  Libraries  Association: 

"Our  Library" — a  visual  aid  to  'sell'  the  library— 

Katherine  L.  Kinder,  Johns  Manville  Research  Center 
Qtl$   P.M. — General  Session: 

Speaker;  Vera  Micheles  Dean,  Research  Director,  Foreign  Policy 
Association — "What  next  in  U.Sc>  Foreign  Policy?" 

Friday,  October  2 

9:00  A.M. — ^Adult  Education  Group 

"VJhat  Are  Yfe  Going  To  Do  About  It?" 

Members  of  Thursday  Panel,  Recorders  of  Buzz  Session. — ^Mrs 
Grace  Stevenson,  Evaluator. 
10:00  A.M. — ^N.E.L.Ao  Business  Meeting 
llsOO  A.M. — Boston  Regional  Group  of  Catalogers: 

Symposium;  "Simplify  but  Extend  Cataloging  in  the  Small  Library," 

"Non-Professional  Assistants  in  Cataloging  Departments" 
"The  Librarian  in  Scotland" — Miss  Bessie  Thomson,  University  of 
Edinburgh 
11:00  A.M. — Meeting  of  Ne\T  England  Extension  Librarians 
2:00  P. Mo — Massachusetts  Library  Association — Business  Meeting 
3:00  P.M. — Caroline  M.  Hevdns  Lecture: 

"Jacob  Abbott:  a  Goodly  Heritage" — Lysla  Abbott 
3:00  P.M. — ^Hospital  Libraries  Group: 

"The  Therapeutic  Value  of  Books" — Foster  Mohrhardt,  Director  Library 
Service,  Special  Services  Veterans  Administration,  Washington,  D.C, 
7:00  P.M.— Banquet 

Speaker:  Bernard  DeVoto,  author  and  critic — 
"Leaves  from  a  Library  Table" 


™ 


uestion 


\^A\^K 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


OCTOBER  1953 


THE     QUESTION     MARK 
Published  by  the   Boston  Public  Library  Profensional  Staff  Association 


Volume  VIII,  Number  10 


October  1953 


Publications  Committee:  Gorald  L,  Ball,  GBraldine  S,  Herrick,  John  Jt  McCafferty, 

Sarah  M,  Usher,  Ciarles  J,  Gillis,  Chairman 


Publication  datei 
The  fi'fteent~of  each  month 


EDIX.R'S  CCRiMER 

A  radical  change  in  borrower  registra- 
tion and  circulation  procedure  has  taken 
place  in  the  Central  Library,  It  has  been 
accomplished  so  smoothly  and  successfully 
that  many  of  us  are  unaware  of  its  impli- 
cations, although  some  are  already  notice- 
able. 

The  grouping  of  Home  Reading  depart- 
ments on  the  street  level  has  resulted  in 
added  convenience  to  borrowers  and  easier 
servicing  of  the  circulating  collections. 
This  grouping  also  helps  to  channel  the 
student  and  research  -worker  to  those 
parts  of  the  building  devoted  to  reference 
work  and  study  aids. 

The  liberalization  of  borrowers '  privi- 
leges  (to  an  extent  not  thought  possible 
a  generation  ago)  has  been  accepted  vri.th 
enthusiasm  by  many  borrowers  heretofore 
eligible  for  only  limited  privileges. 
The  extension  of  borrowers'  privileges 
to  non-residents  of  Boston  should  result 
in  a  great  reservoir  of  good  will  at  the 
present  time.  If  the  national  trend 
toward  centralization  of  regicnal  services 
continues — and  it  seems  certain  to  do  so~ 
this  reservoir  can  be  tapped  to  the  great 
advantage  of  Boston  and  the  Library. 

Every  staff  member  will  have  an  oppor- 
tunity to  help  in  builda.n,-^  this  good  will 
and  Central  Charging  Records  is  presented 
with  a  unique  opportunity*  The  staff  will 
meet  and  have  an  influence  upon  every 
borrower,  student,  and  visitor.  The  im- 
pressions created  by  the  members  of  this 
Department  will  be  far-reaching.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  routine  services,  such  as  book 
charging,  receiving  of  raturned  books, 
keeping  of  borrowers'  records—staff  mem- 
bers may  also  be  required  to  act  as 
receptionists,  tactful  inspectors  of  lug- 
gage, and  traffic  directors.  The  effi- 
ci-ency  with  iMiich  these  varied  duties  are 
being  carried  on  presages  success  for 
future  good  vri.ll  toward  the  Library, 


Deadline  for  submitting  material ! 
The  tenth  of  each  month 


With  our  Centennial  upon  us  and  the 
need  for  public  support  for  our  Csiitemial 
Fund,  the  value  of  public  good  will 
toward  the  Library  carjiot  be  over- 
emphasized. 

The  recognition  of  the  importance  of 
the  Library  and  its  services  is  being 
attested  to  almost  daily  in  the  public 
press,  in  community  activities, a nd  in 
the  words  and  actions  of  public-spirited 
leaders.  We, as  members  of  the  Library 
staff,  should  not  do  less  than  cur  best 
to  help  keep  our  standards  of  service 
high. 

Charles  J,  Gillis 

CALENDAR  OF  EVENTS 

Octobtr  2[t.  Citholic  Library  Associa- 
tion, 2:30  ptm.,  Acadon^ 
of  the  Assumption,  Route  9, 
Wellesley  Hills, 

October  26,  S.L.A.,  Geo-Physics  Library, 
I4.15  Summer  Street,  Boston, 
The  host,  Edward  Michael 
Doherty,  formerly  worked  in 
Open  Shelf,  Dinner  at 
6  p.mc  will  be  at  Ruby  Fod's' 
Restaurant,  6  Hudson  Street. 

November  11.  Centennial  dinner  to  all 

full-time  libr-iry  staff  mem- 
burs,  Sheraton-Plr-za  Hot-el, 

WELCOI.IE  ID  I'lE'--  f/^MPERS  OF  BPLPSA 

Nancy  Rogal  Cohen,  Open  Slislf 
Laura  Reyes,  Rosl  i.ndile 
Joan  R.  Silverio,  South  End 
Rhoa  L,  Frev.,man,  Uphams  Corner 
Bernardinc  J.  Grace,  Uphams  Corner 
Miiy   L.  Devoid  er.  West  Roxbury 
Barbara  A.  Tu thill,  Idlest  Roxbury 
Goorge  T.  Armstrong,  Office  of  R,  F,  S. 
Catherine  M.  Doherty,  Office  of  R,  F,  S. 
Josephine  A.  'Taldrcn,  Office  of  R,  F,  S, 


-2- 


PERSONAL  NOTES 


K"-/f  Employees 

■j'^hn  J.  O'Neill^  Open  Shelf 
C^rrlelia  W.  Dorgan^  Jlare  Book 
Constance  £.  Wilson,   Book  Stack  Service 
( former ly  part-time) 

New  Employees — Central  Charging  Records 
Mrs  Marjorie  D,  Knilling 
Joseph  M.  0 'Brien 
Emanuel  Levine 
Mrs  Elizabeth  S.   Good 
Hugh  S.  HfecKay  (formerly  part-time   in 
Book  Stack  Service) 

Transfers  to  Central  Charging  Records 

From  Book  Stack  Service 
Deirdre  M.  Barry 
Mo    Gertrude  Chipmsn 
Flora  A.   Ennis 
Mary  Z.  Lynch 
Sheila  T/V,   Pierce 
Margaret  Sarsfield 

From  Open  Shelf  Departm.ent 
Albert  J.   Brogna 
Mary  R.  Roberts 
Mary  M.  Scanlon 
Virginia  Dalton 

From  Memorial 

Charlotte  Cooper 

From  Business  Office 
Clarence  L.  Fuller 

Resignations 

Marguerite  A.  Connelly,  Director's  Office, 

to  be  married, 
Joan  B.  Silverio,  South  End,  to  be  married 
Mary  J.  Dowd,  Bookmobile  I,  to  join  her 

husband  who  is  stationed  in  North 

Carolina  i 

WEDDINGS 

On  September  19  Patricia  Ann  Tuley, 
Book  Preparation,  was  married  to  James 
John  Norton  at  St.  V/illiaras  Church, 
Dorchester,  at  a  nine  o'clock  Ifess.  Mrs 
Norton  is  a  daughter  of  John  Vif.  Tuley, 
Fire  Control  Center,  B.P.L.  The  bride 
wore  a  lace  trimmed  v;hite  satin  gown 
v;ith  a  full  train.  The  four  brides  maids 
wore  gov/ns  of  sapphire  blue  and  the  maid 
of  honor's  govm  was  -;old  color.  Mary 
Curado,  Book  Purchasing,  v/as  one  of  the 


four  brides  maids,  and  Margaret  Tuley, 
sister  of  the  bride,  was  maid  of  honor. 
The  reception  was  held  at  the  Hotel 
Beaconsfield,  Brookline.  Many  library 
friends  attended 3  The  music  was  provided 
by  Frank  I/^ers '  orchestra.  Following  a 
trip  to  Canada,  Mr  and  Iks   Norton  will 
make  their  home  in  Dorchester, 

Irene  M.  Bennett,  Book  Preparation, 
was  narried  on  September  26,  to  Michael 
Kerrigan  at  Our  Lady  of  the  Assumption 
Church,  Green  Harbor ^  Mr  Kerrigan  of 
the  UcSo  Army  is  stationed  at  Camp 
Atterbury,  Indiana.  Dressed  in  a  fashionabl 
blue  suit  vfith  matching  accessories  and 
carrying  a  bouquet  of  v/hite  pom  poms  and 
baby's  breath,  the  bride  was  given  in 
marriage  by  her  father,  Ralph  Bennett, 
The  bride  was  attended  by  her  sister.  Carol 
Bennett,  who  wore  a  grey  suit  and  carried 
a  bouquet  of  autumn  flowers.  After  a 
buffet  style  reception,  held  in  a  hall 
adjacent  to  the  church,  the  couple  left 
for  a  honeymoon  on  Cape  Cod. 

At  3:00  p.m,,  on  Saturday,  October  3, 
in  the  Church  of  St,  Andrew  the  Apostle 
in  Forest  Hills,  Shirley  V.  Anderson  .of 
Adams  Street  became  the  bride  of  Richard 
J.  Waters  of  Open  Shelf,  The  bride  wore 
a  ballerina  length  lace  govm  and  a 
shoulder  length  illusion  veil  attached 
to  a  half  hat  of  white  velvet  ribbon. 
The  gown  was  strapless  v/ith  a  fitted  lace 
jacket  and  had  an  insert  of  t\xlle  pleats 
in  the  skirt.  The  bride  carried  a 
double  crchid  bouquet  with  streamers  of 
virhite  button  chrysanthemums  and  stephanotis, 
Francis  Donahue  of  Hyattsville,  Maryland, 
was  the  best  man  and  Helen  G,  Pappas  of 
the  Information  Office  was  the  maid  of 
honor.  The  latter  wore  a  full-length 
gown  of  yellow  tulle,  carried  a  bouquet 
of  yellow  chrysanthemums  and  tearose 
and  yellow  rosebuds,  and  vrore  a  coronet 
of  rosebuds  v:hich  matched  the  bouquet. 

After  the  ceremony  the  wedding  party 
and  members  of  the  immediate  families  had 
dinner  at  The  Merrymacs  in  Northeaston. 

Following  a  two  weeks  honeymoon  in 
Washington,  D.C,  and  Williamsburg, 
Virginia,  the  couple  will  live  in  Boston, 

One  of  Autumn's  most  radiant  brides 
T/as  the  former  Nancy  Rogal  of  Open  Shelf 
(Children's  Section)  when  she  became 
Iifrs  Albert  Cohen.  The  ceremony  was  per- 
formed at  the  Belmont  Country  Club  amidst 


1 


I 


-3- 


a  'profusion  of  pale  pink  flowers  on  Sunday, 

.i.ing  October  h,     Dr  Cohen  (he  is  a 
j^^aiatrician)  and  his  bride  are  now  ' 

honeymooning  in  upper  New  York  State. 


BIRTHS 

Vr  and  Mrs   John  Norman  a:  Alexandria, 
Virginia,    announce  the  birth  of   their 
first  child,   Nancy  Ellen,   on  August  28, 
Mrs  Nprman     is  the  former  Elizabeth 
Kaufman  of  Print* 

A  son,  Lawrence   J,,  was  born  to  Mr  and 
Mrs   Paul  J.  Dorr  of   Park  Drive,    Boston, 
on  September  18.     Mrs  Dorr  was  formerly 
a  part-time  assistant  in  the  Young  People'^ 
Room  and  in  the  Teacher's  Room,     She  is 
the  oldest  daughter  of   John  W,    Tuley, 
Fire  Control  Center,   B;,PoL. 

Mr  and  Mrs  Yifilliam  Fox  announce  the 
birth   of  a  son,  Christopher  Anthony,  on 
Saturday,  September  25.     Mrs  Fox  is  the 
former  Mimi  O'Erien  of  Information, 

Mr  and  Mrs  James  A.   Chisholm  have  an- 
nounced the  birth  of  a  daughter,  Kathleen 
Mary,  on  October  ?.     Mrs  Chisholm  (Alice 
Nuttall)   is   on  leave  of  absence   from  the 
Cataloging  and  Classification  Department, 
Div.   of  HR  and  CS„ 

Mr  and  Mrs  Roger  Linder  have  announced 
the   birth  of  a  daughter,  Karen.     Mr 
Linder  was   formerly  em.ployed  in  the 
Office  of  the  Div.   of  HR  and  CS,  working 
vdth  Albert  L.   Carpenter, 

VISITORS 

Hossein  Farhoudi,  Editor,  Teheran, 
Iran, 

TAKE  A   B3W 

Bradford  M.  Hill,  retiring  Editor  of 
SORT,  for  his  conscientious  work  in 
editing  this  important  national  publica- 
tion. 

ARNAVETS 

The  ARNAVETS  announce  the  gift  of  a 
framed  portrait  of  Frank  Krigel,  BPL  staff 
member  who  died  in  the  armed  service  in 
1919.  Mr  Krigel  was  in  Brest,  ready  to 
embark  for  home,  v/hen  he  succumbed  to  the 
effects  of  v;ar  gas.  At  present,  the- 


picture  is  housed  in  the  Personnel 
Department,  until  a  more  suitable  place 
can  be  found, 

ALUMNAE  NOTES 

Sixth  Annual  Alumnae  Tea 

The  weatherman  carried  on  in  his  novf 
well-established  tradition  and  produced 
a  beautiful,  warm  fall  day  on  September 
nineteenth  when  Edith  Guerrier,  Super- 
visor of  Branch  Libraries,  Emeritus,  was 
hostess  at  the  sixth  alumnae  tea.  Branch 
Librarians,  Emeritus,  who  attended  were: 
Mary  Eo  Ames,  M,  Florence  Cufflin,  Sara 
Lyon,  Clara  L,  Maxwell,  Margaret  I. 
McGovern,  Katherine  S,  Rogan,  Elizabeth  Pe 
Ross,  Geneva  Vfatson,  and  Rebecca  E, 
Willis,  Greetings  were  read  from  several 
of  those  who  had  found  it  impossible  to 
attend. 

Refreshments,  prepared  arji  served  by 
the  same  catering  group  -v^ich  has  acted 
in  this  capacity  in  previous  years ,  in- 
cluded a  birthday  cake  in  honor  of  Miss 
Guerrier 's  83rd  birthday  which  came  on 
the  following  day. 

Colored  slides  of  vacation  days  were 
shown  by  Muriel  C<,  Javelin  and  Virginia 
Havilando 

There  vras  ample  time  for  visiting  with 
old  friends  and  reminiscing  of  former 
Branch  Meeting  days.  One  point  which 
was  broi;ight  out  most  enthusiastically  was 
the  interest  this  group  has  m  The  ■ 
Question  Mark.  They  all  noY/  receive  it 
and  are  among  its  most  loyal  and  ardent 
supporters . 

As  the  guests  parted,  they  vfere  given 
a  most  hearty  invitation  to  come  back 
again  in  19$U  and  all  accepted  with 
pleasure • 

Sarah  M.  Usher 

Friends  of  Mrs   Edna  Coffin  Langille 
will  be  sorry  to  hear  of  the  death  of 
her  husband  at  Oak  Bluffs   on  October  1 , 
1953. 

Margaret  Tuley,  youngest  daughter  of 
John  W.   Tuley,   is  now  in  training  at 
the  Catherine  Laboure  School  of  Nursing, 
Carney  Hcspital.     Miss  Tuley  worked 
part-time  in  Book  Stack  Service, 


-h- 


PRESIDENT'S  NOTES 

The  issue  raised  in  The  Question  Mark 
editorial  of  July  1953  is  one  which  should 
he  of  concern  to  every  member  of  the 
jtaff — a  blood  bank  for  the  Library  throi^, 
which  we  might  help  one  another  in  an 
emergency  and  on  which  we  could  depend  for 
assistance  if  any  of  us  or  our  families 
should  need  blood» 

Upon  investigating  the  natter  we  have 
found  that — lo  I  and  behold — ^we  have  such 
a  blood  bank  but,  in  spite  of  several 
notices  which  were  issued  in  connection 
■(dth  the  inauguration  of  the  program, 
many  members  of  the  staff  had  little  or 
no  recollection  of  the  blood  bank  programs 

At  the  outset,  let  it  be  said  that  if 
any  member  of  the  staff  or  any  of  his 
family  should  need  blood  or  if  any  staff 
member  vdshes  to  be  a  blood  donor  or 
wishes  to  he  registered  as  a  donor  vfho 
might  be  called  on  in  an  emergency,  the 
simplest  and  meet  direct  way  to  get  action 
is  to  comTTiunicate  mth  Mrs  Wollent  in 
the  Library  Hospital. 

The  problem,  then,  seems  to  be  one  of 
publicizing  an  existing  program.  As  the 
first  step  in  a  publicity  campaign,  an 
outline  of  this  program  is  presented  in 
the  following  paragraphs. 

There  is  now  and  has  been  since  January 
1951,  a  blood  bank  program  in  vYhich  em- 
ployees of  the  Library  may  participate, 
namely,  the  City  of  Boston  Employees  Blood 
Program. 

Under  this  program,  standing  appoint- 
ments for  library  employee  donors  have 
been  arranged  at  the  Red  Cross  Blood  Donor 
Center,  3^h   Dartmouth  St.  (between  Com- 
monwealth and  Marlborou:^h)  every  Friday 
afternoon  at  2:30.  A  pledge  card  may  be 
obtained  from  Mrs  Wollent  in  the  Staff 
Hospital,  signed  and  returned  to  her  before 
going  to  the  Blood  Center.  Employees  who 
give  blood  under  this  program  may  be  ex- 
cused from  work  for  the  rest  of  the  after- 
noon. 

Those  employees  ¥^ho  do  give  blood  and 
their  families  as  vrell,  "while  in  any 
Massachusetts  hospital,  will  be  furnished, 
Y/ithout  charge,  such  blood  as  may  be 
needed  in  whatever  amounts  are  availabld'. 

For  those  employees  who  have  not  yet 
or  could  not  participate  in  this  pr®gram, 
there  is  maintained  in  the  Staff  Hospital 
a  list  of  employees  who  have  volunteered 
to  donate  blood  to  their  fellovf  employees 
4nd  thcii'  .families  in  emergencies.  These 
volunteers  have  responded  quickly  and 


generously  to  requests  for  donations  of 
blood . 

Although  this  program  was  neither 
started  nor  continued  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Professional  Staff  Association 
we  feel  that  as  a  servi'ce  to  our  fellow 
staff  members  we  may  properly  use  The 
Question  M-^-rk  for  frequent  reminders  of 
the  benefits  of  the  program. 

•«■ 

The  Executive  Board,  at  its  meeting 
on  September  23,  authorized  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  Special  Committee  on 
Personnel  vAiich  will  study  and  make 
recommendations  for  changes   in  the 
present  promotional  systemg 

B,   Joseph  O'Neil 
THE  B.P.L.  ON  TV 

Donald  Bom,   Professor  of  English  at 
BU  and  entrepreneur  of  the  New  England 
Almanac   on  WEZ-TV,  has  been  using  the 
Library  as  the  source  for  material  in 
planning  his  Friday  morning  programs. 

On  September  10,  he  credited  the 
Library  and   thanked  Daniel  Khoury,  Music, 
for  the  help  he  received  in  looking  for 
informcation   about  the  "Star  Spangled 
^rjier" . 

On  September  I6,  he  shewed  a  facsimile 
copy  of  the   Bay  Psalm  Book  from  Rare 
Book. 

Fine  Arts,'  and  especially  G.  Florence 
Connolly,  were  the  subjects   of  his 
gratitude   on  October   2« 

On  October  9,  Professor  Bom  devoted 
his  entire  program  to  the  Library.     He 
started  by  saying  thnt  he  had  many  re- 
quests regarding  his  choice  of  subjects 
and  materials,     ^e  explained  that  he 
always  started  with  Hazeltine's 
Anniversaries  and  Holidays,  viihich  was 
available  at   the  Library.     From  there  on 
he  showed  how  he  finally  chose  Columbus 
Day  .as  the  most  logical  one  for  the 
day's  program.     Then  he  told  of  the  help 
received  from  Harriet  Swift,  "who  was 
Mr  Haraszti's  assistant",  showed 
facsimile  maps  of  Columbus'  route,  and 
other  ancient  ra^.ps.      He  ended  with  a 
picture  of  the  preliminary  study  of  the 
Central  Library  Building  and  the  pro- 
posed addition,  and  drew  attention  to 
the  Centennial  celebration.      In  closing 
he  thanked  Marjorie  Bouquet  and  other 
staff  members  for  helping  him  to  prepare 
the  day's  telecast. 


-5- 


From  now  through  May  19^h}   Professor 
horn  has  promised  to  devote  some  of  his 
time  each  week  to  a  different  department, 
branch  library,  or  service  of  the  Library, 

I'lans  for  a  TV  show  in  connection  with 
the  currjnt  exhibit  of  Sherlock  Holmes 
Memorabilia  are  in  preparation  to  take 
place  on  Monday,  October  26,  on  the 
Louise  Morgan  program  on  TOAC-TV.  In 
case  of  change  in  date,  the  new  date  iTill 
be  posted  on  the  Staff  Bulletin  ,Board» 

CARE 

Excerpts  from  a  letter  received 
recently  by  the  CARE  chairman  from  Van 
S.   Bowen,  chief  of  the   CARE    fission, 
Berlin,  should  prove  most  gratifying  to 
our  contributors  to  CARE: 

"Two  of  the   CARE  packages. . .sent  by 
your  organization  to  refugees   in  Berlin 
have  been  personally  delivered  to  the 
Sonnenberg  and  Geisel  families.     Herr 
Siegfried  Geisel,,,is  very  ill  and  could 
not  leave  his  bed... 

"In  19hS  they   (Herr  Geisel  and  family) 
left  their  home  in  Pomerania  when  the 
Russians  moved  in...     Then,    in  March  of 
this  year,  they  fled  again  to   the  safety 
of  west  Berlin,  Viherc  they  were  granted 
recognition     as  bonda  fide  political 
refugees  at  once...     The  authorities  want 
to  move  the  family  on  to  vrest  Germany  for 
final  resettlement,   but  Frau  Geisel  fears 
that  her  husband  cannot  stand  the  trip... 
She  is  seeking  permission  to  remain  hero 
and  was  visibly  moved  by  your  kindness 
virhen  the  package  was  given  to  her, 

"Frau  Edmund  Sonnenberg,. .told  of  how 
she   and  her  husband  fled  from  Saxony  a 
year  ago  withtheir  two  children...     Herr 
Sonnenberg  has   finally  been  given  part- 
time  work. ..for  recognised  refugees, 
although  their  income  remains  pitifully 
small  and  your  package  will  ..lean  a  11  the 
more  because  of  this, 

"The  others  who  have  benefitted  from 
your  kindness,,ewere  recommended  as 
especially  in  need  by  a  church  welfare 
group  that  knows  their  cases  personally.o  J 

The  letter  also  gives   informs-tion  of 
three  other  recipients  of  CARE  packages. 

CARE  Committee 


ALA  Still  Needs  YOU  1 1 


FIRE  PREVENTION  WEEK 


On  Friday,  October  9,  a  fire  drill 
TTijas  held  in  the  Library,   in  cooperation 
with  the   Boston  Fire  Department,  ob- 
serving Fire  Prevention  Week,      The 
building  was  evacuated  in  four  minutes e 
The  drill,  which  waaconsidered  excellent 
by  officials  of  the  Fire  Department, 
was  observed  by  Director  Milton  E.  Lcrd, 
Fire  Commissioner  John  F.  Cotter,   Director 
of  Civil  Defense   Joseph  L.  Malone  and 
Assistant  Direcotr  Frank  C,   Cleary,  and 
Deputy  Fire  Chief  Edward  N^  Montgomery,: 
Chief  Montgomery  is   in  charge   of  Fjr  e 
Prevention. 

After  the    fire  drill  the  Boston  i^'ire 
Department  Drill  Te-m   put  on  a  half-hour 
exhibition  in  Copley  Square,  directly 
in  front  of  the  building.     The  team  was 
accompanied  by  the  Fire  Department  Band, 

John  %  Tuley 

CALLING  ALL  BPL  ARTISTS  AND  CRAFTStJEN  I 

The  officers  of  one  of  the  savings 
banks  of  Boston  have  expressed  a  desire 
to  cooperate  with  the  Library  in  cele- 
brating its  centenary.   The  bank  is 
willing  to  s  et  up  a  display  of  art  works 
and  items  of  handicraft  done  by  members 
of  the  Library  staff. 

Staff  members  desiring  to  exhibit  their 
vforks  may  call  on  Thomas  J,  Manning, 
Chief  of  the  Exhibits  Office,  and  discuss 
the  display  in  detail, 

SEEING  THINGS 


Atoms,  stars,  and  points  between. 

Are  much  alike  when  far  off  secnj 
No  crude,  nor  fine,  no  great,  nor  small, 

No  good,  nor  bad  are  seen  at  all; 
No  bright,  nor  sharp,  no  depth  profound. 

At  far  avray  can  ever  be  found; 
The  works  of  God  in  vast  profusion. 

Look  all  alike  in  one  confusion; 
Myopic  man  unwise,  alone. 

Sees  the  world  in  monotone. 

But  they  of  other  sights  possessed. 

Long  at  other  grandeurs  guessed; 
And  see  how  flake  is  unlike  flake. 

No  fish  alike  in  sea  and  lake; 
No  print  resembles  print  on  hand. 

No  hair  equals  other  strand; 
See  differences  infinitesimal. 

To  the  ultimate  shade  and  decimal; 
lAnd  marvel  at  God's  universe,, 
I  JAiltitudinous  and  diverse*   Harry  Andrews 


--6- 


CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION  W3TE3 

Progress  Report  of 
Staff  Centennial  Gift  Committee 

Airount  Received  to  date:     $5^5^2.07 

Number  of  contributions:         5  ^^ 

The  Gommittee  will  welcome  further 
contributions ,   both  from  indi\T.duals 
and  groups,  until  November  10» 

The  members  of  the  Committee  take 
this  opportuiiity  to  express  their  thanks 
to  every  one  who  has  helped  in  this  fine 
demonstration  of  good  vdll  toward  OUR 
Library, 

Samuel  Adelstein  of  the  Coffee  Shop 
has  joined  the  staff  in  a  contribution 
toward  the  Centerjiial  Gift. 

■«• 

NEWS  LETTER,  Number  Three,  recently 
issued  by  the  Centennial  Commission,  makes 
four  important  announcements:   (l)  Ac- 
ceptance by  Frederic  C,  Dumc.ine,  Jr.,  of 
the  Chairmanship  of  the  Business  and 
Industry  Committee,  (2)  the  Centennial 
Dinner,  to  be  given  by  the  City  of  Boston 
on  November  9,  to  inaugurate  the  Library's 
Anniversary,  (3),  the  Centennial  Dinner 
to  be  given  by  the  City  of  Boston  for 
all  full-time  Library  Staff  members, 
November  11,  at  the  Sheraton  Plaza  Hotel, 
and  (I4)  the  presentation  of  two  citations 
for  distinguished  library  service  given 
by  the  New  England  Library  Association 
and  the  lAassachusetts  Library  Trustees 
Association. 

NEff  ENGLAND  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION 
CONFERENCE 
NEy/  OCEAN  roUSE  ,  3WAMPSC0TT 
September  30,  October  1  and  2 
The  first  general  session  convened 
in  the  Ball  Room  on  Wednesday  afternoon. 
The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  the 
President,  Louise  B.  Day,  who  iatroduced 
the  directors  of  the  NcE.L.A,  They, 
in  turn,  were  responsible  for  introducing 
the  speakers  of  the  afternoon,  the  first 
of  whom  was  Flora  B,  Ludingtin,  President 
of  ALA.  She  brought  greetings  from  the 
national  Association j  drew  attention  to 
the  fact  that  librarians  are  not  as 
mousey  as  filmdom  has  pictured  them  but 
they  are  people  of  vital  activity  vfho 


have  learned  to  "speak  up";  deplored 
the  fact  that  statistical  coverage  in 

New  England  makes  it  difficult  to  show 
the  need  for  larger  library  service; 
reminded  Ye  r  listenei's  that  the  fruits 
of  such  conferences  as  this  are  not  fully 
realized  for  weeks  or  months— not  until 
the  ideas  gained  are  put  into  use  in 
libraries  in  far-flung  parts  of  the 
section;  mentioned  that  New  England  is 
well  represented  in  membership  in  the 
ALA;  regretted  that  frequently  people 
who  seem  to  possess  the  exact  qualities 
needed  for  leadership  are  found  to  be 
non-members  of  the  national  organization; 
stated  her  belief  bbat  ALA  has  not 
yet  reached  its  full  potential  and  vi  11 
reach  it  only  by  a  membership  that  is 
interested  in  its  prafession  and  is 
''eager  to  make  our  libraries  just  a 
little  better  then  they  are  now  and  we 
ourselves  just  a  bit  better  librarians 
than  we  have  beenc"  She  outlined  the 
program  which  ALA  is  undertaking  for  the 
year  ahead:   (l)  Continuing  the  American 
Heritage  programs,  (2)  expanding  adult 
education  opxicrtunities,  (3)  reviewing 
ALA  publishing  (which  has  to  be  done 
periodically),  (U)  considering  the 
progress  report  of  the  Board  on  Personnel 
Administration,  particularly  relating  to 
the  problem  of  placement;  and  (5) 
offering  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States  tlae  services  of  an  ALA  sub- 
committee in  connection  with  the  newly- 
appointed  Presidential  Commission  on 
Inter-Governmental  Activities,  In 
connection  vrith  this  last  point,  she 
stated  that  anything  relating  to  federal 
aid  for  libraries  vdll  not  take  place 
until  after  the  report  of  the  Commission 
is  made  in  March, 

David  I,  Clift,  Executive  Secretary 
of  ALA,  also  brought  greetings  from  that 
body.  As  part  of  his  subject  The 
Regional  Library  Association,  he  stated 


that  there  are  b   such  associations  vdiich 
have  been  organized  between  1^09  and 
19ii9  and  which  cover  32  states  and  1 
province  of  Canada:  Pacific  Northwest, 
Southeastern,  Southwestern,  New  England, 
and  Mountain  Plains.  He  traced  the 
development  of  regionalism  from  sectiona- 
lism; outlined  the  variations  in  the 
regional  associations  as  to  meetings, 
programs,  and  projects;  posed  the 
question,  "V/hy  have  regional  Associa- 
tions?"; and  looked  briefly  at  what  the 
future  holds  for  them;  ending  with 


characteristic  Nev.'"  England  pride ,  by 
asking  "?/here  can  librarians  do  more 
things  better  than  in  New  England?" 

The  main  speaker  of  the  afternoon  was 
I.  Bernard  Cohen^  Professor  of  Education 
and  History  of  Science,  at  Harvard 
University.  He  prefaced  his  remarks  by 
sajd.ng  that  "The  average  person  is  very 
ignorant  about  science  not  only  because 
he  is  unavrare  of  certain  facts  or  theories 
but  ignorant  in  an  even  worse  way  because 
he  has  no  comprehensive  idea  of  the 
nature  of  scientific  enterprise."  He 
touched  on  the  common  hostility  to 
science,  citing  the  atomic  bomb  as  an 
example,  and  developed  the  theme  that  an 
understanding  of  science  is  important  for 
the  individual's  security ^  well-being 
and  happiness. 

He  discussed  the  librarian's  respon- 
sibility to  the  reader  from  the  point  of 
view  of  the  selection  of  science  books. 
He  pointed  out  the  danger  of  choosing 
scionce  books  from  best  seller  lists 
because  of  the  fact  that  science  books 
v/hich  get  onto  these  lists  are  apt  to  be 
paradies  or  books  attacking  science. 
He  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  at 
the  present  there  are  a  number  of  extra- 
ordinarily good  books  being  v/ritten  in 
the  field  of  science,  many  by  first-rate 
scientists. 

He  suggested  that  the  program  of 
having  science  books  in  public  libraries 
night  be  considered  as  a  social  problem; 
that  it  might  be  considered  from  the 
point  of  viev/  tl-B.  t  understanding  science 
implies  a  goal  that  is  as  socially 
valuable  to  the  community  ar.d  the  United 
States  as  the  understanding  of  people  in 
districts  where  the  population  is  made  up 
of  rany  races  and  creeds.  He  believes 
that  there  should  be  a  long-range  program 
of  building  up  science  collections  to 
serve  the  public — not  books  dealing  with 
current  controversies  in  science,  not 
books  of  transitory  value,  not  books  like 
scientific  encylopedias.  In  this  there 
must  be  taken  into  account  the  fact  that 
there  are  probably  no  scientists  on 
the  library  staff  nor  on  the  library 
boards  of  trustees.  The  problem  the 
librarian  has  to  face  is  that  of  finding 
some  more  attractive  and  efficient  way 
to  aid  in  the  education  in  science  of 
those  who  use  the  public  libraries, 

Edna  G.  Peck 
Sarah  M,  Usher 


Adult  Education  Group  Meetings 

The  recent  Adult  Education  Survey 
financed  by  the  Ford  Fund  for  Adult  Edu- 
cation was  the  subject  discussed  at  two 
meetings  on  October  1  and  2.  The  first 
meeting,  presided  over  by  Mrs  Muriel 
C,  Javelin,  Deputy  Supervisor  in  Charge 
of  Work  v/ith  Adults,  Boston  Public 
Library,  opened  v/ith  a  stimulating  talk. 
Issues  Suggested  by  the  Adult  Education 


Survey ,  by  Mrs  Grace  Stevenson,  Associate 
Executive  Secretary,  A,L.A.  In  addition 
to  the  explanation  of  hovf  and  why  the 
Adult  Education  Survey  began,  Mrs 
Stevenson  ably  summarized  the  findings 
of  the  Sxirvey  and  its  implications  on  the 
national  scene, 

Mrs   Javelin  vfas  the  moderator  for  the 
panel  discussion,  i/Uhat  the  Adult.  Educa- 
tion Survey  M^ans  for  New  England, 
interpreted  in  a  lively  manner  by  the 
following  members : 

Robert  S.  Ake,  Public  Library  Con- 
sultant, State  Department  of  Education, 
Connecticut, 

Leonard  Archer,  Librarian,  Rutland 
Free  Library,  Vermont, 

Sallie  ^,   Coy,  Librarian,  Public 
Library,  "ffestcrly,  Rhode  Island, 

Sigrid  A.  Edge,  Professor,  School  of 
Library  Science,  Simmons  College, 

Ruth  ^yatt.  Librarian,  Public  Library 
Fitchburg,  Massachusetts. 

Miriam  Putnam,  Librarian,  Memorial 
Hall  Library,  Andovcr,  Massachusetts. 

L.  Felix  Ranlett,  Librarian,  Public 
Library, Bangor,  Maine. 

Forrest  Sta  ulding,  Librarian,  Public 
Library,  Nashua,  New  Hampshireo 

Four  questions  were   considered:  How 
can  in-service  training  be  provided  for 
librarians  already  in  the  iprofession? 
How  can  libraries  in  New  England  be  en- 
couraged to  make  wider  use  of'  audio- 
visual aids?  How  far  should  the  library 
go  in  initiating  community-wide  projects? 
Are  there  some  objective  criteria  for 
evaluating  library  adult  services? 

Each  question  raised  several  additional 
questions.  Regrettably^  discussion  was 
limited  in  order  to  permit  time  for 
audience  participation.  Previously 
assigned  leaders  and  recorders  helped  to 

arrange  the  audience  into  several  "buzz" 
groups  to  discuss  the  same  four  questions. 
Again,  time  and  not  interest  terminated 
the  animated  discussions.  However,  a 
feeling  of  satisfaction  prevailed  from  the 


-5- 


a-^nouncement  that  the  foui  questions 
vvere  to  be  discussed  again  the  next  day» 

The  second  meeting,  which  considered 
What  Are  We  Going  to  Do  About  It?^  was 
presented  in  the  form  of  reports  on 
each  of  the  four  questions,  presented 
by  the  recorders,  Rebecca  J,  Camp, 
Assistant  Secretary,  Free  Public  Library 
Commission,  Vermont;  Mrs  Helen  F.  Hirson, 
Extension  Librarian,  Boston  Public 
Library J  Isabelle  B,  Hurlbutt,  Librarian, 
Greenmch  Library,  Connecticut;  and 
Hannah  Hyatt,  Fitchburg  Public  Library, 
Each  report  summarized  the  discusaions 
of  the  "buzz"  groups  and  also  raised 
basic  questi-ins  for  audience  discussions 
The  Thursday  panel  members  were  helpful 
as  resource  assistants  and  Mrs  Grace 
Stevenson  served  as  commentator  and 
evaluator. 

The  two  connected  meetings  of  the 
Adult  Education  Group  were  considered 
a  good  example  of  in-service  training 
on  the  regional  level.  The  various 
techniques  used  at  the  meetings  demon- 
strated techniques  v^hich  could  be  used 
with  in-service  training  and  also  vdth 
adult  education  programs.  That  these 
techniques  were  successfvl  was  evident 
from  the  fruitful  results  of  the  tvro 
meetings.  A  great  deal  of  practical 
information  on  the  purpose  and  content 
of  adult  education  programs  was  pointed 
up,  as  well  as  the  need  for  further 
study  and  evaluation, 

Helen  Hirson 

Here  Are  The  Authors 

Book  Clinics  can  be  fun,  to  paraphrase 
Munro  Leaf,  a  nd  perhaps  to  those  who 
like  the  leaven  of  h^omor,  of  the  non- 
sensical and  lighthearted  in  the  lump 
of  erudition,  Thursday  afternoon  in  the 
ballroom  proved  a  delightful  session. 
The  meeting,  well  attended,  got  under 
way  after  a  brief  and  gracious  intro- 
duction by  Louise  Weiscopf ,  who  promptly 
turned  it  over  to  D'Arcy  Har court,  Mr 
Harcourt's  assignment  was  a  pleasant 
one.  His  introductions  were  brief, 
capable,  and  had  a  smile  tucked  back  of 
each  one  so  that  the  audience  was 
nicely  conditioned  to  the  hiunor  which 
characterized  the  entire  mf.eting. 

Adele  deLeeuw  came  first,  complete, 
praise  be,  with  name  pronounced  clearly, 
thus  setting  many  of  us  fumblers  and 


stumblers  straight.  For  those  not  there, 
let  me  announce  that,  reasonable  or 

otherwise,  the  name  is  pronounced  deLay-ch, 
Adele  led  off  at  a  very  spirited  pace — 
humorous,  with  an  easy,  light,  enjoyable 
delivery,  productive  of  those  welcome,  . 
sustained  chuckles  from  an  audience 
that  a  speaker  enjoys  only  slightly  more 
than  an  audience  itself.  With  quick 
strokes  she  sketched  in  the  steps  leading 
to  the  collaboration  between  her  sister, 
Cateau,  and  herself  in  the  early  days  of 
stcry  telling  in  a  musty  old  hall. 
Admittedly  having  no  time  to  read:,  with 
feminine  logic  she  decided  to  write,  and 
■with  the  executive's  natural  flair  for 
getting  things  done  by  others,  she  soon 
discovered  Cateau 's  excellence  at 
"research,  history,  and  beefsteak,"  Adele 
deLeeuw  opines  that  the  young  girls  for 
whom  she  writes  career  stories  are  much 
touglicr  than  some  think — that  they  should 
get  something  beyond  their  daily  ex- 
perience from  books,  and  if  so  they  will 
like  it,  ^  Shouldn't  she  knowl 

Then  followed  Gateau  I  Family 
resemblance  and  family  humor  were  un- 
raistakeablej  With  some  earnestness  she 
approached  her  theme  that  in  her  writings 
she  definitely  strives  to  "equip"  young 
girls  for  the  marilcd  life  that  is  sure 
to  follow.  Their  preparation  for  count- 
less other  things  far  exceeds  that  for 
the  biggest  job  of  their  lives;  and  via 
the  warm  and  sympathetic  page,  she  hopes 
to  present  both  problem  and  solution  to 
the  end  of  stimulating  thinking  and 
responsibility.  She  had  us  aU  slightly 
bug-eyed,  however,  with  her  calm  and 
frequent  references  to  the  way  the  sister 
team  uses  the  "sub-conscious."  "Simply," 
says  Cateau,  "give  the  sub-conscious 
orders,  relax,  go  to  the  typewriter, 
and  there  it  is  I"   (She  neglected  to  men- 
tion what  "it"  might  turn  out  to  be  with 
some  of  us  f)  Nevertheless,  with  her 
books  under  the  pseudonym  of  Jessica 
Lyon,  she  has  definitely  pioneered  in 
her  field. 

A  strong  breeze  blew  doivn  the  aisles 
of  the  room  with  Vxs   Rachel  Baker, 
author  of  many  biographies,  conductor  of 
a  radio  program,  "Elbows  on  the  Table," 
and  enthusiast  of  life  and  of  her  many 
admitted  loves — namely,  her  various 
biographies.  Lively,  percussive,  period- 
omitting,  and  amusing,  this  versatile 
vroman  initiated  us  into  the  mysteries  of 
knocking  down  presentable  young  men  on 
the  leeward  side  of  a  catalogue  case, 


-5- 


with  an  eye  to  prompt  matrimony,  and  on 
hovr  to  yell  vdsely  back  at  oiir  offspring 
\vhen  they  inquire  of  us  if  we  know  aught 
of  sex  and  Freud.  She  knows  a  challenge 
Mhcn   she  sees  one,  and  Freud  is  now  being 
biographed  v;ith  "wim,  wigor,  mtality" 
and  ability  i 

Helen  Orr  Ifatson — white-haired, 
mo  the  rly-lo  eking  armj'  iirife,  spoke  in- 
terestingly of  her  urge  to  antidote  the 
effects  of  stories  presenting  the  uglier 
side  of  army  life  by  v^'riting  about  army 
horses,  dogs,  pigeons  and  mules.  Normally 
a  lover  of  the  short  story  and  already 
busy  vvlth  such  writing,  she  found  that  the 
array  training  of  pigeons  was  an  absorbing 
story  requiring  longer  presentation.  She 
was. homey,  unaffected  and  fresh  as  the 
breeze  blowing  off  the  ocean— and  wc 
loved  her  I 

Came  a  modest  Puck-Coolidge  combination 
in  the  person  of  H.A,  Rey,  who  won  his 
audience  in  the  first  breathu  Cecily  G's 
famous  creator  was  wholly  delightful- 
soft  spoken,  strongly  accented,  en- 
deavoring to  prove  his  utter  incapability 
of.  addressing  such  an  august  audience  of 
adults,  yet  with  a  pseudo-naivete  ad- 
mitting that  racs  t  of  what  he  had  just 
uttered  v;as  falsehood.  Then,  sensing 
the  childlike  importunacy  in  each  of  us, 
he  went  to  the  blackboard  and  drew  a 
beautiful  tail*  Invited  guesses  from  the 
audience  included  "snake,"  "periscope,'' 
et  cetera,  but  tail  it  was,  the  waving 
end  of  a  truly  Reyan  lion.  Mr  Rey, 
moreover,  in  audio-visual  modus,  gave  a 
curiously  perfect  roar  which  made  the 
lion  strictly  authentic.  Now  he  plans 
to  do  a  "sniff  book  for  dogs,"  We  don't 
know.  Ask  Mr.  Rey  I  And  say— he's  an 
accomplished  astronomer  t 

Helen  Hoke  j  a7;are  of  the  fact  that  a 
fast'-moving  pace  had  been  set,  attributed 
her  presence  on  the  speakers '  platform 
to  the  queerness  of  her  hats 4  Then,  being 
a  good  editor,  she  v.lsely  shifted  us  to 
a  clever  letter  f rom  Noel  Streatfield, 
It  seems  that  the  little  brochure  which 
"Tatts  Publishing  Company  puts  out  for  it.^ 
authors,  asking  nothing  short  of  perfec- 
tion, found  Noel  Streatfield  after  her 
book  was  written.  The  simple  enormity  of 
its  demands  impelled  her  to  send  to  Helen 
Hoke  an  equally  exacting  recipe  for 
English  biscuits,  thereby  squaring  the 
score, 

Lee  Kingman,  formerly  of  Houghton 
Mifflin,  gave  us  an  intimate  picture  of 


Cape  Ann  and  its  quarry  interest.  So 
graphically  did  she  present  to  us  the 
uses  to  which  Cape  Ann  granite  has  V»een 
put  that  no  ovorpassus,  public  buildings 
or  bridges  are  safe  from  our  appraising 
eye,  though  our  "knowledge"  may  be 
translated  into  murmurs  of,  "That's 
probably  some  of  lee  Kingman's  granite," 
The  interesting  activities  embraced  in 
her  life  are  legion.  Questioning  us  as 
to  whether  or  not  regional  writing  is 
practical  and  of  appeal^,  Lee  Kingman, 
young,  attractive  and  successful^  set 
us  thinking c 

A  sort  of  ruddy-faced,  chuckling, 
crew-cut  young  man  had  been  enjoying  the 
various  speakers,  and  vihen   he  was  in- 
troduced as  Munro  Leaf,  v/e  naturally  ex- 
pected more  f un-i-nnd  got  it  1  Protesta- 
tions by  the  yard  ensued,  Mr  Leaf's  chief 
aim  seeming  to  be  to  prove  that  his  was 
not  art.  With  two  gi owing  sons,  he  has 
to  prove  that  various  things  can  be  fun, 
so  he  does.  His  "doodles" — as  he  calls 
his  dravrlngs,  are  basic  and  include  sucH 
fundamental  differentiations  between 
the  famale  and  male  sex  as  three  hairS 
instead  of  one  and  a  skirt  instead  of 
trousers.  He  claims  that  these  dravdng^ 
break  davm.   the  age  barfier — readers  not 
k^.owing  what  age  they  are  intended  for  I 
Vowing  seriously  that  the  "ultimate  of 
easy  pacification  is  television,"  he 
combats  it  in  his  newest  book,  "Reading 
Can  Be  Fun."  Grinnmgly  he  ponders  one 
on  "photosynthesis,"  but  it's  all  in 
goodj  clean  fun.  Around  the  lion  he  drew 
two  of  his  familiar  figures  with  finel* 
gradations  of  sensitivity  of  feature'., 
expressed  in  the  singlc-line-upturned  aid 
single -line-dovm-turned  mouth  I  Naturally 
he  had  us  eating  out  of  his  hand  !  Single 
line,  horizontal. 

A  couple  of  questions  from  the  audience 
brought  Adele  deLeeuw  forvrard  again  to 
throvf  in  a  brief  bit  about  their  sojourn 
is.  Java,  and  \re   no  longer  wondered  at 
the  P.P's — the  Prodigious  Producers — 
for  theirs  is  the  sheer,  unadulterated 
joy  of  living  aa.d  workinf^  (with  the  sub- 
conscious doing  mo3t  of  it)  vitally*  No, 
a  brain  was  not  born  thai  afternoon. 
Trope  and  motaphoi*  didn<t  pack  every 
sentence,  but  fun  it  certainly  Was,  and 
how  awfully  fond  of  everyone  everyone 
felt  afterward  I 

Lucia  3,  Faulkner 


-10- 


SIA 


The  Septtmber  meeting  of  the   Boston  j 
Chapter  was  held  on  October  1  at  h'-OO  p,m,| 

ia  the  Priscilla  Room»     As  this  was  a  j 

jrint  effort  vri. th  the  Connecticut  Valloy  | 

Chanter,  the  tvifo  Chapter  Presidents  were  1 
co-chainnon.     After  a  few  words  of  greetiiT^ 

from  Mrs  Doris  McNulty,  President  of  the  j 

Boston  Chapter,   the  group  v/as  elcomed  by  i 

Jeanne  B,  North,  Connecticut  Valley  j 

Chapter  Presidento     Miss  North  in  turn  i 

introduced  the  speaker,  Katherine  Lc  ■ 

Kinder  of  the  Johns-Manville  Research  ! 

Center  whose  topic  was  Our  Library — ^A  i 

Visual  Aid  to    'Sell'  the  Library.  i 

By  the  use  of  charts  which  visually  : 

illustrated  the  special  library's  place  ' 

in  the  modem  industrial  or  research  \ 

organization.  Miss  Kinder  proceeded  to  i 

"sell"  her  library  to  the  officials  of  ; 

the  corporation.     These  visual  aids  are  '> 
designed  to  enable  the  library  and  the 

laboratory  to  acquire  a  better  means  of  ' 

communication  and  may  be  used  as  an  ' 

orientation  method  cf   presenting  the  . 

library's  needs  and  aims   to  the  officers  | 
of  an  organization. 

"The  throe  tests  of  a  library's  ' 
successful  fulfillment  of  its  mission," 
said  Miss  Kinder,   "are  1)   information 

provided,  2)  money  saved,  and  3)  time  i 

savcdo"  ' 

Leonard  J,  Macmillan  i 

i 
WHAT  NEXT  IN  U.  S. 

FOREIGN  POLICY?  ■ 

Mrs  Vera  Michelcs  Dean  told  of  her  | 

experiences  last  June  when  the  news  that  i 

her  books  were  taken  off  tk;    list  of  I 

books  supplied  by  the  U,  S,   Information  ! 

Service  received  front  page  notice.     She  1 

would  have  liked  to  survey  the  matter  j 

with  the  calm  composure   of  an  Englishman  | 

eating  his  porridge  v;hile  reading  the  j 

obituary  notices  in  the  TIMES  and  feeling  ! 

that  "all  this  vdll  pass  away".     Also  I 

she  appreciated  the  advice  of  her  six-  ■ 

teen-year-old  son  who  said,   "Enjoy  it  i 

while  you  can,  you  m?.y  never  make   the  ; 

front  pa  ge  again" .     However,  she   was   glad  ' 

that  she  was  able  to  fight  the  battle  of  \ 

intellectual  freedom  and  with  the  help  j 

of  her  organization,  launch  an  attack,  j 

The  ST.  LOUIS  POST  DISPATCH  v/rote  fifteen  } 

editorials  in  her  cause.     Finally,  she  ' 

was  rcvra.rded  by  a  telegram  from  a  Dr  ' 

Johnson  of  the  State  Dejnrtment  telling  | 


her  that  "her  books  were  removed  through 
error  and  that  they  were  now  restored"  e 

Mrs  Dean  told  of  our  need  for  infor- 
mation about  the  Far  East.     It  seems 
that  people  who  vfrite  about  the  East 
are  attacked,  partirularly  writers  in 
nEgazines  and  nev;sp:pers.     The  aation 
as  a  whole  should  make  up  its  mind  en  the 
basis  of   information,   not  on  the  attacks 
on  foreign  policy.     We  need  information 
on  the  graduate  level.     If  we  do  not  we 
will  be  a  nation  of   ignoramuses.     The 
Russians  have  an  informed  appraisal  that 
is  very  close  to  realities.     They  have 
the   facts  even  if  they  do  make  blunders. 
The  facts  arc  needed ^  vathout  them  we 
arc  sitting  ducks. 

As  far  as   foreign  policy  is  concerned, 
we  are  faced  with  two  courses ;   inter- 
national co-operaticn  or  the  new  form  of 
isolation,  i.e.   "the  go     it  alone 
policy".     Are  wc  going  to  jettison  the 
Acheson  policy  of  foreign  co-operation  or 
not?     The  continued  oscillation  is  con- 
fusing to  our  friends.     Wc  know  that  the 
end  is  peace  but  we  should  define  our 
means.     We  should  decide  just  how  to 
treat  Syngman  Rhee  and  remember  ttB  t 
cutting  taxes   is   irreconcilable  with  vra.r» 
In  Korea,  there  is  stalemate  and  not 
unconditional  surrender.     Our  end  is 
peace,  but  the  means  used  may  lead  to 
a  reneival  of  war.     We  cannot  isolate 
aggression  and  we  cannot  settle  the 
issue  alone.     Korea  is  a  bridgehead,  it 
has  been  so  all  through  history.     We 
also  cannot  dismiss  Communist  China  and 
call  it  a  minor  issue,  pretending  that 
it  does  not  exist,  h.  la  Alice  in  Wonder- 
Land.     We  have  to  come   to  grips  vifith 
reality  because  we  will  be  forced  to  by 
other  nations. 

Mrs  Dean  discussed  the  German  situa- 
tion and  mentioned  that  balai ce  of  power 
exists  in  all  human  relations  and  is 
bound  to  exist  in  foreign  relations.     She 
made  note  of  the  fact  that  Germany  will 
eventually  bo  united  and  that  our  dis- 
regard of  the  Labor  parties  in  E^st 
Germany  is  umcLse  because  the  Social 
Democrats  may  be  leaders  not  Adenauer's 
Christian  Democrats,     The  Social 
Democrats,  representing  the  workers,  are 
still  a  force  vdiich  must  be  treated  with 
caution. 

She  mentioned  the  rise  of  the  peoples 
in  various  comers  of  the  world  who  are 
rebelling  against  imperialism.     These 
people  have  received  the  inspiration  from 


-11- 


this  country  which  carried  on  a  successful 
revoluti-^n.  Rcmoniber  that  the  whites  are 
a  world  minority  and  that  a  more  moderate 
policy  should  be  carried  on  mth  the  free 
nitionsa 

Gerald  L.  Ball 

Hospitals  Libraries  Group 

Disappointed  by  the  failure  of  Foster 
Mohrhardt  to  appear  as  announced  from 
the  Special  Services  Veterans  Administra- 
tion^,  Yifashingtcn,  D.C.,  -vi^cre  he  is 
Director  of  Library  Service,  the  Group 
proceeded,  nevertheless,  to  a  stimulating  j 
discussion  of  The  Therapeutic  Value  of    i 
Books  under  the  .duidance  of  Grace  Cramer, 
I'resident  of  the  M,L,A,  Institutional 
Librarians  Group.  i 

Preceding  an  open  discussion,  Mr,      i 
Brennan,  Assistant  Librarian  at  the      | 
Chelsea  Soldier's  Home  read  an  article    I 
by  Mr  Mohrhardt  entitled,  The  Interna-'   I 
tional  Aspects  of  Hospital  Librarianship^  j 
This  paper  pointed  out  the  newness  of     | 
hospital  libraries  throughout  the  world 
and  the  fact  that  bibliotherapy  is 
generally  considered  the  most  important 
problem  in  these  libraries.  As  doctors 
have  stated,  of  all  the  remedies  applied 
to  sick  men,  only  reading  is  accepted 
vj-illingly.  Especially  in  work  vdth 
neuropsychiatric  and  tubercular  patients, 
it  is  knovm  that  re 'ding  has  a  definite 
therapeutic  value,  but  some  sort  of  joint 
international  studies  aro  needed  to 
measure  this  value  and  increase  it.  In 
his  Administrative  Psychiatry,  William 
Bryant  states  that  to  be  of  therapeutic 
value  to  the  insane,  books  must  be  care- 
fully selected  vrith  h^alp  cf  the  psychia- 
trist, librarians  must  bo  persuasive  and 
the  hospital  library  must  be  centrally 
located.  To  gain  the  financial  support 
of  the  institutions  in  which  they  are 
located,  hospital  libraries  must  establish 
the  fact  thit  they  are  an  intellectual 
pharmacy  and  that  library  service  ie 
therapy  of  a  high  order,  relatively  cheap 
in  cost. 

At  Miss  Cramer's  invitation,  follov.lng 
this  paper,  members  of  the  group  described 
informally  specific  cases  in  -vifliich  they 
had  personally  seen  patients  helped  by    j 
reading.  There  was,  for  example,  a  middler 
aged  policeman  at  the  Chelsea  Soldier's   i 
Home,  despondent  with  the  inactivity      i 
caused  by  age  and  old  v/ar  vrounds,  vho     I 


became  an  expert  speaker  on  juvenile 
delinquency  through  interest  roused  in 
the  hospital  library.  Another  patient, 
at  the  Rutland  Sanitorium,  recovered 
her  will  to  live  partially  because  of 
the  persistence  of  the  librarian  in 
bringing  her  the  religious  material 
her  devout  Irish  background  suggested 
she  might  be  interested  inc  Among  the 
most  interesting  of  these  informal 
accounts  was  Mrs  Elsa  Leahy's  picture 
of  the  problems  posed  by  young  Korean 
war  brides  suffering  from  tuberculosis 
at  the  Yfestfield  State  Sanitorium. 
Recently,  her  wrok  has  included  a  general 
program  of  orientation  for  these  girls, 
including  study  of  English,  home  economics, 
and  baby  care.  Since  many  of  these  women, 
as  Mrs  Leahy  pointed  out,  come  to  this 
country  expecting  full  social  acceptance, 
the  year  or  two  which  they  are  being 
forced  to  spend  at  Westfield  may  well  be 
a  blessing  in  disguise  as  it  helps  them 
to  face  their  new  lives  realistically^, 

It  was  evident  from  these  remarks, 
and  others,  that  oua-  hospital  librarians 
not  only  believe  in  the  therapeutic  value 
of  books,  but  that  they  are  proving  this 
value  everyday, 

B,  Gertrude  Wade 

Caroline  M,  Hewins  Lecture 

The  sixth  Caroline  M.  Hevdns  lecture 
was  given  at  the    fall  meeting  of  the 
Round  Table  of  Children's  Librarians, 
held  on  October  2,  under  the  chairmanship 
of  Ne  Dorothy  Shumaker, 

Introduced  by  Frederic  G.  Melcher, 
sponsor  of   the  lectureship,  Lysla  Abbott, 
Director  of  School  Libraries  for  the 
Portland,  I.!aine,   Public  Library,    gave  in 
a  most  delightful  manner  her  excellent 
paper  on  JACOB  ABEOTT~A  GOODLY  HERITAGEc 

Presenting  first  the  background  of 
this   New  England  writer  for  nineteenth 
centiiry  children.  Miss  Abbott  traced 
interestingly  the  family  influences  on 
the  boy  and  young  man,  bom  in  Hallowell, 
Maine,  in  I803,  revealing  the  strong 
"Puritan"  and  "Christian"   home  life  which 
led  to  his  training  as  a  minister  and  his 
busy  career  of  teaching  and  writing. 

At  twenty-six  Jacob  Abbott  founded  in 
•  Boston  on  Mount  Vernon  Street  the  Moixnt 
Vernon  School  for  Girls  and  soon  wrote 
THi^.  YOUNG  CHRISTIAN  and  THE  TE-ICHER.      It 
was  stated  that  all  he  ever  w rote  came 


-12- 


under  the  two  words  "young"  and  "Christiani'i 
All  of  his   teaching  was  filled  mth  a  j 

deep  concern  to  shape  the  characters  of 
his   pupils — "to  fix  ideas,   not  words ^   in 
the  mind,"  j 

Coming  to  the  great  number  of  books 
T/vTitten  for  children  by  this  prolific 
author — the  "Rollo"   series,   the  Franconia 
Stories,    the  Red  Histories,  and  others 
(a  total  of    180  by  him  alone  and  thirty- 
one  more  by  him  as   joint  author) — Miss 
Abbott  pointed  cut  their  sound  child  ] 

p-sychology  and  the  fact  that  they  were  | 
"neither  sentimental  nor  maudlin."  i 

Miss  Abbott's  apt  and  amusing  use  of  | 
quotations  from  these  books  and  her  fine  i 
feading  of  her  paper  enlivened  a  subject  I 
of  real   interest  and  importance.  , 

Virginia  Havlland  | 

I 
Bernard  DeVoto  Speaker  j 

at  Convention  Banquet 

To  the  pleasantly  expansive  mood  in-  | 
duced  by  the  go  >d  food  and  conviviality  i 
of  Friday's  banquet,  Bernard  DeVoto's  talkj 
Leaves  from  a  Library  Table,  added  a  not  j 
entirely  unexpected  fillip^  More 
specifically — if  more  prosaically — it  I 

might  have  been  entitled  Trends  in  Pub-  j 
lishing,  for  this  was  the  gist  of  I-'ir  i 

DeVoto 's  remarks,  although  the  announced  i 
title  gave  him  leeway  to  comment  on  other  j 
matters  germane  to  publishing.  Exhibi-  j 
ting  the  characteristic  vdt  and  pungency  I 
familiar  to  readers  of  (Harper's)  The  j 

Easy  Chair,  he  discussed  first  the 
declining  state  of  contemporary  fiction, 
pointing  out  that   of  the  mere  than  11,000 
titles  published  in  19^2   only  1,329  were 
fiction,  with  juveniles,  biographies, 
religious  books,  and  works  of  history, 
economics,  and  sociology  assuming  an 
increasing  prominence.     Although  he 
scoffed  at  the   Jeremiahs  who  predict  that 
fiction  is  about  to  become  obsolete,  he 
freely  admitted  that  fevrer  novels  of 
outstanding  merit  are  being  published  now 
than  during  the  period  from  1?27-I9li5» 
However,   he  is   convinced  that  fiction 
is  not  a  dying  form  but  is  merely 
suffering  a  "temporary  anemia".     To  the 
question,  what  has  happened  to  fiction, 
his  ansvrer  is  thoat  the  novelists  themse.l\t!£ 
are  partly  to  blame,  and   that  aoparently 
many  v-riters  have   found  certain  aspects 
of  modern  civilization  too  gruelling  to 
cons  to  grips  vri.th,  thereby  falling  down 


on  two  of  the  primary  jobs   of  fiction, 
"to  comment   on  the  age",  and  "to  illuminate 
and  interpret  experience" .     While  he 
believes  that  there   is  no  lack   of  skill 
and  talent  among  the  younger  writers   of 
today,  and  often  a  technical  mastery 
ordinarily  not  found  in     novelists  of 
forty,  it  is  apparent  that  too  often 
these  vn^iters  fail  to  mature.      In  spite 
of  th.-    fact  that  much  contemporary 
writing  has  a  certain  beauty  and  charm, 
in  general  he  believes  that  it  lacks  the 
vigor,   vitality,  character,    and  content 
so  characteristic  of  the  literature  of 
the  '20s  and    'UOs.     The  failure   to  con- 
front life  is  apparent  in  other  tendencies 
such  as  the  prevalence  of  allegories 
written  in  a  kind  of  private  symbolism, 
and  in  the  cult  of  science   fiction. 
Nowhere  does  he  see  evidence   of  a  return 
to  native  roots  for  reinvigoration. 
In  England  he  believes  that  Inness  and 
Ambler  are  capable  of  it,  as  was  Greene 
before  he  was  diverted  and  while  Dashiell 
Hammett  gave  the  novel  a  nevr  form — as 
developed  by  Raymond  Chandler  it  turned 
out  to  be  not  a  new  form  after  all  but 
one  that  "f'^undered  in  sado-masochism". 
Science  fiction,  which  iir  DeVoto  des- 
cribed as  "horse  opera  in  space  suits", 
is  mostly  cliche  written,  and  few  authors 
have   gotten  past  mechanical  tricks,  and 
given  it  humor,  vrit,   and  grace,  with  the 
exception  of  such  rare  practitioners  as 
Bradbury*     In  the  main  it  is  a  popular 
type   of  fiction  entirely  devoid  of 
emotion  which  provides  escape    for  author 
and  reader  alike,     this  tendency  to 
escape  he   finds   true   of  most  of  the 
fiction  being  written,  and  it   is  rare  to 
find  novels   in  which  our  common  experience 
is  reflected.     As  he  pungently  phrased  it, 
"today,   father-son  novels  have  become 
bloody  psychic  dramas  written  out  of 
abstract  theory". 

Looking  away  from  fiction,  which  he 
declared  has  been  elevated  out  of  its 
relativ:i  importance  in  the   literary 
field,   Mr  DeVotc,  with  characteristic 
vigor,   stated  that  we  are  living  in  a 
great  age,   out  of  which  a   generation 
of  outstanding  historical  vn-iting  has 
come    (modestly  making  no  mention  of  his 
aun)  which  has  been  liberated  from 
formalism  and  economic   determinism. 
Characterizing  it  further  as  a   journal- 
istic age,   he  declared  that   journalism, 
toe,   haa  come  of  age,  and  has  developed 
from  the   press  to  the  bound  book,   into 


-13- 


something  new.  Furthermore,  he  is  con- 
vinced that  correspondents  are  today  the 
best  equipped  to  report  actual  events  in 
their  socio-economic  aspects. 

Another  encouraging  trend  observed  by 
i.ir  CeVoto  is  the  grovjth  of  what  he  termed 
■'corner  grocery  literature",  and  the 
oi-enmg  up  of  a  vihole  new  market  of 
readers o  Recognizing  that  much  of  this 
writing  is  "junk",  he  declared  that 
reading  junk  is  better  than  not  reading 
at  all,  for  at  least  the  reader  can 
never  roach  anywhere  but  upwardc  In  its 
better  asp^^cts  this  development  has  re- 
vealed a  need  for  literature  never 
evidenced  befcire,as  demonsti ited  by 
phenomenal  sales  of  such  books  as  The 
Odyssey,  Patterns  of  Culture ,  and  ^on 
fessions  ox  St.  Augustine. 

Closing  his  talk  on  a  more  ominous 
note  Mr  DeVoto,  a  longtirre  defender  of 
freedom  of  the  press,  emphasized  as  the 
most  siq:nif leant  portent'  of  the  times 
the  "inexplicable  fear  which  has  gripoed 
the  United  States"  which  has, been  ex- 
ploited to  the  utmost  by  those  elements 
who  hate  and  fear  freedom,  and  is 
particularly  evident  to  librarians  in  the 
assault  on  the  freedom  to  read  and  the 
nation-wide  wave  of  anti-intellectualism. 
This  attack,  he  emphasized,  must  be  fought 
on  both  the  grounds  of  subversion  and 
obscenity.  As  libraries  and  universities 
are  on  the  immediate  front  they  must  stand 
together  in  the  fight  as  "eternal  vigi- 
lance is  the  price  of  freedoiri'. 

Louisa  S,  Metcalf 

TliE  (21EATER  B3STDN  COUNCIL  FOR  YOUTH 

This  Council,  which  is  composed  of 
approximately  one  hundred  ag'3ncies  con- 
cerned with  the  educational,  recrea- 
tional, and  welfare  needs  of  young 
peopi  in  Boston,  announced  at  its  meeting 
on  October  6,  that  the  Boston  Public 
Library  has  been  accepted  as  a  con- 
stituent member,  Pauline  Winnick, 
Readers  Advisor  for  Young  Adults,  has  been 
designated  as  representative  of  the 
Library. 

There  was  adopted  as  an  immediate 
project  a  three-year  program  in  the 
troubled  area  of  Roxbury  aimed  to  help 
dissolve  the  juvenile  delinquency  problem 


RECMT  MATERIAL  OF 
•  PROFESS ICMAL  INTEREST 

Ives,  Vernon.  Teen-Age  Reading.  ALA 
Bulletin,  October  1903,  pp.  UOO-hOU. 

Teen-Age  Reading  is  a  report  "based 
on  the  first  comprehensive  study  of  the 
reading  interests  and  needs'  of"  the  group 
variously  called  young  people,  young 
adults,  or  teen-agers.  The  study  vns 
made  in  the  spring  of  19?3  hy  tho 
Publishers  Liaison  Committee,  vrtiioh  is  a 
joint  Committee  of  tne  AlA  Divisi-in  of 
Librarias  for  Children  and  Young  People, 
the  American  Association  of  School 
Librarians,  and  the  Children's  Book 
Council,  its  purpose  was  to  gather 
information  from  librarians  actively 
working  mth  young  people  and  pass  it 
on  to  publishers  and  library  adminis- 
trators ,  to  the  e  nd  that  the  young 
people  themselves  might  have  the  books 
they  want  and  need."  The  B.P.L.,  through 
its  Book  Selection  Committee  for  Young 
Adults  participated  ih  thia.situdye 

Pauline  Winnick 
IN  MEMORIAM 

Kafrina  M.  Sather 

Katrina  M.  Sather  passed  away  on 
Sunday,  October  11.  She  had  served  as 
Branch  Librarian  at  Brighton  for  twenty- 
six  years.  Previous  to  this  assignment, 
her  experience  as  Branch  Librarian  at 
Roxbury  Crossing,  and  as  an  Assistant 
at  Codman  Square,  covered  another 
twenty-year  oeriod.  Her  career  in  the 
library  began  while  she  was  still  a 
student  in  high  school. 

Hers  was  an  admirable  personification 
of  the  qualities  of  loyalty,  dependa- 
bility, de^rotion  to  duty,  and  unfailing 
cheerfulness.  The  thoughtful  observer, 
if  able  to  evaluate  properly  the  mrtues 
reflected  by  her  character  and  example, 
would  be  impressed  by  the  simple  vrord 
"devotion" — to  duty,  and  service'  to 
others.  Hers  was  a  disposition,  truly, 
of  the  "Good  Soldier"  quality.  Miss 
Sather  demonstrated  also,  hujnility; 
a  willing  cooperation  and  sharing  of  the 
common  effoajt. 

She  was  a  pers  on  blessed  by  nature 
vrLth  exceptional  health  and  stamina. 
In  recent  months,  although  se"rere  illne'ss 
iras  upon  her,  she  met  that  situation 
with  splendid  fortitude.  Her  phil- 
osophy seemed  to  be  that  this  v;as  but  a 


-lU- 


temporary  obstacle  to  bo  overcome.     Life,    Rounds^  Frank 


as  usual,  moint  responsibility — imrk  to 
be  done.     Hence,  we  believe,  that   it  is 
rot  over-sentimentality  to  characterize 
f'atrina  Sather  as  a  "Good  Soldier"  v^o 
served  the  good  cause  well. 

Florence   E.  Mcl5anus 
I'JE.'I  B30K5  IN  THB  SmFF  LIBRARY 

Non-Fiction 

Barrett,  Richmond  B, 

Good  old  summer  days, 

Boston,  Houghton  Mifflin,   19^2 

Cobb,  Hubbard 

The  home  o^vner '  s  c  oraplete  guicfeto  re- 
modeling. 
Boston,   Houghton  Mifflin,  1953 

Griddle,  %ssell 

Love  is  not  blind 

New  York,   Norton,   19^3 

Cousteau,  Jacques  Y, 
The  silent  world. 
Mew  York,  Harper,   1953 

Frank,  Pat 

The  long  way  round, 
Philadelphia,  Lippincott,  1953 

Grimble,  Sir  Arthur 

We  chose  the  islands, 
^^ew  York,  Morrow,  1953 

Guttenberg,  Elizabeth 
Holding  the  stirrup. 
New  York,  Due 11,  Sloan  and  Pearce,  1952 

LaGallienne,  Eva 

With  a  quiet  heart. 

New  York,  ^'iking  Press,  1953 

FacCarthy,  Sir  Desmond 
Memories . 
New  York,  Oxford  University  Press,  1953 

Maugham,  William  3, 
The  vagrant  mood. 
Garden  City,  New  York,  Double day,  1953 

Najafi,   Najmeh 

Persia  is  my  hearto 
Nevf  York,   Harper,  1953 

Roosevelt,   Eleanor 

India  and  the  awakening  East, 
New  York,  Harper,  1953 


A  vn.ndow  on  Red  Square, 
Boston,  Houghton  Mifflin,   1952 

Thom-^-s,  van 

The  seeking. 

New  York,  A, A.  V'yn,  1953 

Verrill,  Alpheus  H, 

America's   ancient  civilizations. 
New  Yoric,  Putnam,  1953 

Non-Fiction — Library  Science 

Jcrdan,  Alice  M, 

Children's  classics. 

Boston,  Horn  Book,   Inc.,  1914? 

Library  literature,  1952 — June  1953 
New  York,   HeW.  Vifilson  Co, 

Thompson,  Charles  S, 

Evolution  of  the  American  public 

library,   l653— 1876. 

Vfeshington,  Scarecrow  Press,   1952 

Wilson,  H.  W,,   firm,   publishers. 
Standard  catalog  for  high  school 
libraries,     6th  ed. 
Supplement  1953* 
New  York,  H,  W,  Wilson,  1952 

Fiction 

Clift  Charmian 
The  big  chariot, 
Indianapolis,  Bobbs -Merrill,  1953 

CoatsY/orth,  Elizabeth  J. 
Silky 
Nevf  York,  Pantheon  Books,  1953 

Cronin,  Archibald  J, 
Beyond  this  pLace, 
Boston,  Little,  Brovm,  1953 

Jameson,  Storm 
The  green  man. 
New  York,  Harper,  1953 

Karmel,  Ilona 
Stephania , 
Boston,  Houghton  Mifflin,  1953 

(azantzakes,  Nikos 
Zorba  the  Greek, 
New  York,  Simon  and  Schuster,  1953 

^""Siif.'Y^?-i^fcramifi?^ 


-15~ 


Lin,  Yu-t'aig 

The  vermilion  gateo 
New  York,  J.  Day,  19^3 

Masters,  John 

The  lotus  and  the  mnd. 

New  York,  Viking  Press,  1953 

lifayo,  Eleanor  R. 
Svran's  Harbor, 
New  York,  Crovrell,  1953 

Moore,  Doris  (Langley-Levy) 
All  done  by  kindness, 
Philadelphia,  Lippincott,  1953 

Morrison,  Peggy 

The  hour  awaits,  by  March  Cost  (Pseud) 
Philadelphia,  Lippincott,  1953 

Morrison,  Theodore 

The  stones  of  the  house. 
New  York,  Viking  Press,  1953 

Newby,  Percy  H, 
The  r  etreat 
New  York,  Knopf,  1953 

Norway,  Nevil  Shute 
In  the  wet. 
New  York,  Morrow,  1953 

Pierce,  Ovid  W, 
The  Plantation. 
Garden  City,  New  York,  Doubleday,  1953 

Prescott,  Hilda  ^, 
The  man  on  a  donkey. 
New  York,  Macmillan,  1952 

Prokosch,  Frederic 
Nine  days  to  Mukalla, 
New  York,  Viking  Press,  1953 

Richter,  Conrad 

The  light  in  the  forest. 
New  York,  Knopf ,  1953 

Sarton,  May 

A  shower  of  summer  days, 
■  New  York,  Rinehart,  1952 

Upshaw,  Helen 

Day  of  the  harvest, 
Indianapolis,  Bo bbs -Merrill,  1953 

Wilson,  Ethel  E, 
Lilly's  story. 
New  York,  Harper,  1952 


Winw^r,  Frances,  pseud. 
The  eagle  and  the  rock. 
New  York,  Harper,  1953 

Zilahy,  Lajos 

The  angry  angel 

New  York,  Prentice-Hall,  1953 


BRANCH  NOTES 


Adams  Street 


The  Centennial  Summer  Reading  Club 
closed  its  season  with  a  party  for  its 
members  on  Tuesday,  September  22, 
Certificates  were  awarded  to  those  who 
had  completed  the  reading  requirements. 
Three  appropriate  prizes  of  books  were 
given  to  the  children  vdio  had  read  the 
most  books .  A  program  by  the  members  and 
games  were  enjoyed  along  with  ice  cream, 
cookies,  and  candyo 

East  Boston 


A  double  party  celebrating  the  end  of 
the  Centennial  Summer  Reading  Club  and 
the  christening  of  the  new  moving  picture 
camera  was  held  on  Thursday  afternoon, 
September  2Uo     The  Camera,  the   gift  of  the 
"Friends"  was  presented  informally  early 
in  the   summer »     Shots  of  the  fifty-eight 
club  members   entering  the  hall,  close- 
ups  of  the  entertainment  staged  by  the 
children,  pictures  of  the  three-tiered 
cake  virhich  r  et,orded  the  reading  progress 
of  the  members  d\iring  the  summer,  the 
ceremony  of  presenting  the   certificates , 
and,   of  course,  pictures   of  the  tvro 
birthday  cakes  were  filmed  on  the  new 
camera  as  a  permanent  record  of  library 
activity,     A  beautiful  cake ,  made  and 
decorated  by  a     good  friend  of  the 
library,  Anthony  Fanara,   was  admired  and 
thoroughly  enjoyed  as  a  climax  to  a 
happy,  eventful  afternoon. 

Two  dolls ,  one  representing  1853  and 
the  other  1953,  v/hich  had  been  on  dis- 
play on  the  birthday  cake  during  the 
summer,  were  presented  to  the  two  top 
winners,  Ann  llarie  Fanara  and  Joanne 
Console,  who  had  each  read  forty-eight 
books.     Fifty-eight  certificates  were 
awarded  to  tiie  children  v^ho  had  read 
eight  or  more  books  during  the  summer, 

Mattapan 

On  Thursday,  September  17,  at  UjOO 
p.m.,  Albert  Pollard,  Director  of  Edu- 
cation of  the  American  Husiaiie  Educ'  Soc» 
spoke  before  a  group  of  seventy-five 


-16- 


enthusiastic  children  on  the  domestica- 
tion, training,  and  value  of  dogs.  Mr 

Pollard  briefly  sketched  the  history  of 
dogs  from  earliest  times  when  they  ran 
wild,  down  to  our  modern  era  -when  they 
have  become  man's  faithful  and  loving 
pets. 

To  test  the  children's  knowledge  of  the 
various  kinds  of  dogs,  Mr  Pollard  held 
up  large  pictures  of  them  and  asked  the 
children  to  name  the  breed  to  which  each 
one  belonged,  ^he  librarian  was  stymied 
in  a  number  of  cases,  but  not  the 
children  I  They  glibly  responded,  "dober- 
man'  pincher,  pomeranian,  boxer"  etc., 
without  a  moment's  hesitation. 

In  the  question  and  answer  period 
(vi/hich  followed  the  conclusion  of  Mr 
Pollard's  talk)  girls  and  boys  ted  an 
opportunity  to  find  the  solution  to 
individual  problems  vath  regard  to  the 
care  and  training  of  their  own  pets.  It 
seemed  that  every  handv/as  raised  with 
a  question  for  the  speaker,  but  Mr  Pollard 
answered  each  one  carefully  and  fully, 
to  th:  intense  satisfaction  of  each  boy 
and  girl.  Typical  questions  weres  "How 
can  I  keep  my  dog  from  climbing  on 
chairs?"  "How  can  I  teach  my  canary  to 
sing?"  "Ihat  is  the  best  food  for  a 
parakeet?" 

As  an  added  treat,  Mr  Pollard  brought 
along  two  excellent  films  to  show  to 
the  children.  One  of  thom,  "Developing 
Responsibility'^  emphasized  the  idea  that 
a  boy  must  assume  the  responsibility  of 
training  a  dog  if  he  wishes  to  have  one 
as  a  pet.  The  second  film,  "Mammals  of 
the  Countryside",  presented  delightful 
color  shots  of  animals  of  our  vroods  and 
streams. 

Needless  to  say,  e  veryone  had  a  grand 
time ,  and  added  a  good  deal  to  his  fund 
of  kno\Tledge  concerning  the  history  and 
habits  of  dogs  and  other  pets. 


Carried  away  with  enthusiasm  one  small 
youngster  approached  the  Chili ren's 
Librarian  a  few  days  after  Mr  Pollard's 
talk,  "Do  you  have  a  book  of  names 
for  dogs" J  she  asked,  "because  we're 
going  to  have  one," 

West  End 

Word  has  just  been  received  of  a  gala 
reception  tendered  in  Fanny  Goldstein's 
honor  by  the  Cultural  Department  of  the 


city  of  Haifa.     Mayor  Aba  Hushi  greeted 
Miss  Goldstein  at  Eaifa's  Museum  of 
Modern  Art  on  Sunday  morning  September 
27  and  gratefully  accepted  her  gift 
collection  of  American  books  on  behalf 
of  his  communityo 


SOAP  BOX 

Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must 
be  accompanied  by  the  full  name  of  the 
Association  member  submitting  it,  to- 
gether with  the  name  of  the  Branch  Library 
Department  or  Office  in  TAiich  he  or  she  is 
employed.  The  name  is  vfithheld  from 
publication,  or  a  pen  name  used,  if  the 
contributor  so  requests.  Anonymous 
contributions  are  not  given  consideration. 
The  author  of  the  article  is  knovm  only 
to  the  contributor  and  to  the  Editor- 
in-Chief.  The  contents  of  articles 
■appearing  in  the  Soap  Box  arc  personal 
opinions  expressed  by  individual 
Association  members  and  their  appearance 
does  not  necessarily  indicat  e  tliat  the 
Publications  Coranittee  and  the  Associa- 
tion aru  in  agreement  v/ith  the  views 
expressed. 


To  the  Soap  Boxs 

The  follovri.ng  material  discloses  the 
philosophy  underlying  personnel  rela- 
tionships in  the  field  of  industry  in 
those  areas  where  advanced  management 
methods  are  employed.  Implied  is  the 
concern  felt,  and  in  most  instances  ap- 
plied by  those  in  supervisory  positions, 
for  the  individual  as  a  person  vrorthy 
of  respect.  Those  in  positions  designated 
as  professional  have  long  since  held  a 
similar  philosophy  of  respect  for  the 
individual.  Here  and  there,  as  in 
industry,  we  may^Aill  find  those  who 
hold  with  the  obsolete  approach  of  the 
autocrat  -whose  whims,  whimsies  and  per- 
sonal prejudices  are  the  basis  for  action. 
These  happily  are  few  and  far  between. 
I  am  submj-tting  this  material  as  excellent 
criteria  for  all  of  us  who  may  happen 
at  any  time  to  be  employed  in  supervisory 
positions, 

Mary  F.  Daly 


-17- 


LEADERSHIP; 

H3W  "TOU  CAN  7EKETITE~'EEST  I'OSSIBIE 

USE  OF  CRITICISM  XW   PRAISE 


Koep  in  mind  that  every  worker  is 
pGrpetual.ly  interested  in  rercgnition« 
It  indicates  to  him  that  he  ;is  Progres- 
sing... 

Use  criticism  entirely  as  a  construc- 
tive force.  Remember  that  it  is  a  dan- 
gerous tool,  capable  of  untold  damage. 

Never  criticize  an  individual  unjustlyo 

Never  criticize  an  individual  in  the 
presence  of  others. 

When  criticizing,  always  let  the  other 
fellow  save  his  face. 

Give  criticism.s  in  a  completely  matter- 
of-fact  and  impersonal  manner. 

Whenever  possible,  assume  a  part  of  the 
blame  yourself. 

Never  get  excited  and  raise  your  voice. 
Never  criticize  in  anger.  Make  your 
criticism  constructive  by  suggesting  a 
clear-cut  plan  of  a  ction  that  will 
overcome  the  trouble. 

Avoid  implied  criticisms  that  are  un- 
intentional. Be  particularly  careful 
about  putting  one  of  your  vorkers  in  a 
bad  light  before  his  fellow-workers. 

Criticise  sparingly,  but  praise  with 
a  more  lavish  hand.  Remember  more  super- 
visors are  expert  at  criticising  than  at 
passing  out  compliments  and  encourage- 
ment. 

Always  give  credit  where  credit  is  due. 
As  often  as  possible,  do  this  in  the 
presence  of  others.  Again,  compliment 
the  job,  not  the  worker. 

Do  not  take  credit  for  the  success  of 
your  group.  Give  it  to  the  vrorkerso  You 
Trdll  improve  their  confidence  in  you, 
possibly  more  than  in  any  other  wiy. 
Besides  you  automatically  reflect  credit 
on  yours  eir-e 

■'".'hen  necessary  be  mlling  to  take  the 
blame  for  mistakes  of  subordinates.  In 
a  sense,  their  errors  are  a  reflection 


on  your  leadership. 

Praise  even  small  improvements,  and 
never  let  an  outstanding  job  go  un- 
recognized. 

From:  Wetherill,  Richard  W, 

"Management  techniques  for 

foremen" 
National  Foremans  Institute  1953 

Dear  Editor: 

Public  departments  in  the  Cen  tral 
Library  now  have  various  closing  tineso 
Monday  through  Friday  most  close  at  9  P.^ij 
others  at  10  P.M.  On  Saturdays  most  close 
at  6  P.M.,  others  at  9  P.M. 

This  situation  causes  oone  oonfusion  and 
loss  of  good  mil  among  the  Library's 
patrons.  Many  persons  who  come  a  con- 
siderable distance  to  use  the  Library's 
facilities  in  the  evening  find  the  Library 
"open''  indeed,  but  the  departments  having 
the  materials  they  require  are  very  much 
closedo 

They  find  it  difficult  to  understand 
why  the  current  files  of  the  New  York  Tim6s 
are  available  in  the  Nev/spaper  Room,  but 
last  month's  files  and  the  New  York  Times 
Index  are  locked  up  in  the  Patent  Room; 


why  special  coHections  are  available  in 
history,  but  not  in  science  and  technology, 
fine  arts,  education  or  economics |  why  the 
file  s  of  Newsweek  and  Good  Housekeeping 
are  obtainable  in  the  Periodical  Room 
but  Business  ¥ifeek  in  Statistical  and 
American  Home  in  Fine  A^ts  are  notj  why 


our  show  place,  the  Open  Shelf  Department 
with  its  large  general  collection  of 
recent  books  closes  an  hour  before  the 
Library  building  does  on  Monday  through 
Fridayo 

Conciliatory  apologies  seldom  satisfy 
irate  patrons  v^o  often  leave  disappointeia 
and  bitter.  People  thus  frustrated  could 
not  be  expected  to  have  an  enthusiastic 
regard  for  the  Library  whether  the  Library 
is  100  years  old  or  101  years  old. 

A  uniform  closing  hour  for  all  the 
public  departments  would  do  much  to  dispel 
the  existing  confusion,  provide  more 
efficient,  better  coordinated  service,  and 
prom-ote  good  -itxII  among  the  users  of  the 
Library. 

In  the  meantime  a  reasonable  explanaticn 
for  the  present  situation  might  help  to 
placate  th^  unwary  v;ho  take  our  " Hours' ■• 
Library  Open"  at  face  value.       „  ^ 


YU 


uestion 


R^A^ 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


NOVEMBER  1953 


THE     Q  U  E  S  T  I-O   N     MARK 
Published  by  the  Boston  Publpn  Library  Professional  Staff  Association 


VauTie  VIII,  Number  11 


November  1953 


FuDlications  Committee:  Gerald  L.  Ball,  Ge 

Sarah  M.  Usher,  Charle 


Publication  date; 
The  fifteenth  of  each  month 


raldine  S,  Herrick,  John  J.  McCafferty, 
s  J,  Gillis,  Chairman 

Deadline  for  submitting  material; 
The  tenth  of  each  month 


EDITOR'S  CORNER 


The  selection  of  books  is  one  area  of 
librarianship  which  has  been  carried  on 
amidst  controversy  since  the  first  public 
library  opened  its  doors.  For  over  a  cen- 
tury methods  and  procedures  used  in  book 
selection  have  been  occasionally  under 
fire,  usually  on  a  local  scale  and  by  in- 
dividuals or  small  groups .  In  recent 
years  these  controversies  have  involved 
larger  groups  and  on  a  Tiide  scale.  As 
librarians,  we  seldom  are  in  a  position  to 
influence  the  outcome  of  these  contro- 
versies. They  are  usually  resolved  when 
public  opinion  asserts  itself,  and  almost 
invariably  in  favor  of  library  policy. 

However,  there  are  times  when  minor  con- 
troversy arises  within  the  confines  of  the 
library  vialls — times  when  those  entrusted 
with  the  duty  of  selection  meet  with  op- 
position and  criticism  from  their  col- 
leagues ,  The  merits  of  any  one  case 
cannot  be  discussed  pro  and  con  in  this 
column,  but  the  general  problem  can  be  dis- 
cussed. One  of  the  objects  of  the  Pro- 
fessional Staff  Association  is  "to  promote 
greater  efficiency  in  library  service" — 
and  one  way  to  do  this  is  to  provide  in- 
formation of  a  general  nature  not  easily 
available  to  the  membership. 

Book  selection  procedures  in  the  Boston 
Public  Library  are  divided  into  two  parts — 
one  is  done  on  a  subject  basis  (The  Divi- 
sion of  Reference  and  Research  approach) , 
the  second  is  done  on  a  more  general  basis 
according  to  local  demand  (the  Division  of 
Home  Reading  approach).  It  seems  that  the 
second  approach,  since  it  is  more  likely 
to  be  influenced  by  the  temper  of  the 
times,  is  more  apt  to  develop  strong 
feelings  in  its  practitioners.  To  keep  up 
with  the  changing  demands  of  the  present 
reading  public  for  informational  and  rec- 
reational reading  materials,  the  book 
selector  must  have  the  fine  sense  of  bal- 
ance of  a  tight-rope  artist.  Today  the 


reading  public  takes  in  its  stride  books 
that  not  so  long  ago  would  have  been 
"banned  in  Bostons"  These  books  are  not 
foisted  upon  the  public  by  book  selectors^ 
they  are  supplied  because  they  have  been 
demanded  by  every  means  available. 

This  estimate  of  public  demand  is  no 
parlor  trick  done  with  mirrors.  It  is  the 
result  of  a  combination  of  factors — 
reviews  of  reputable  critics,  knov/ledge 
of  earlier  works  of  authors,  the  choices 
of  the  influential  book  clubs,  and  the 
considered  opinions  of  our  own  book  selec- 
tion committees.  Yet  in  spite  of  the 
rigorous  screening  received  by  books 
before  they  are  finally  purchased,  some  of 
them  are  not  universally  approved. 

Is  it  a  definite  improvement  to  have  a 
written  policy  and  method  procedure?'  Only 
two  large  public  libraries  (Buffalo  and 
Baltimore)  have  adopted  written  policies. 
Perhaps  it  is  advantageous  to  have  a  fluid 
policy  T/hich  can  deal  with  occasions  as 
they  arise. 

What  can  be  done  to  improve  the  pro- 
cedures now  in  use?  The  Professional 
Staff  Association  recognized  the  need  for 
improvement  some  time  ago  when  the  Special 
Committee  on  Book  Selection  Policy  was 
created.  This  Committee  has  not  yet  re- 
ported its  findings  and  recommendations, 
30  we  can  look  forward  to  some  concrete 
proposals  on  the  subjeci>. 

In  formulating  an  overall  policy,  either 
written  or  understood,  a  great  many  factors 
are  involved.  Compromises  and  concessions 
will  have  to  be  made  to  the  end  that  a 
workable  policy,  understandable  to  every- 
body concerned,  can  be  the  final  result. 


Charles  J,  Gillis 


CARE 

With  Thanksgiving  Day  close  at  hand 
Remember  the  less  fortunate  in  &very  land, 
A  contribution  from  you  is  all  Care  needs 
To  continue  with  its  countless  good  deeds. 


-2- 


November  20 t 


Hovember  21, 


November  27. 


November  28; 


December  Ii. 


CALENDAR  OF  EVEx^[T3 

BPL  Employees'  Benefit  Asso- 
ciation special  meeting, 
2 530  p^mo,  Lecture  Hallo 

Adult  Education  Association 
of  Massachusetts,  Annual 
Meeting,  Chandler  Street 
Jiinior  High  School, 
Worcester, 

BPL  Professional  Staff  Asso- 
ciation, business  meeting, 
9  a, m«.  Lecture  Hall 

39th  conference  of  Eastern 
College  Librarians,  Columbia 
University 

Centennial  Fair.  Lecture 
Hall,  10  a,m,  -  9  Pom, 

PERSONAL  NOTES 


New  Employees 

Jean  Bates ,  Bookmobile  II 

Timothy  J.  0 'Donovan,  Book  Gtack  Service 

Garth  B.  Henzler,  Bookmobile  I 

Anne  B.  Cushing,  Central  Charging  Records 

(formerly  part-time  at  Mt  Pleasant) 
Richard  T.  Stanton,  Business  Office 

Former  Employees  Who  Have  Re-entered  the 


Mrs  Aura  G.  Watson,  Bookmobile  II,  to 

devote  her  time  to  writingc 
Virginia  A.  Dalton,  Central  Charging 

Records,  to  enter  the  religious  order. 

Mission  Helpers  of  the  Sacred  Heart, 

Maryland 
Mrs  Jean  M.  Gilbert,  Book  Stack  Service, 

to  remain  at  home 

]\tilitary  Service 

John  F.  Collins,   Jr.,  left  on  November  3, 
for  Sampson  AF  Ease  to  begin  basic 
trainings     His  address  is:  A/B  John  F, 
Collins,   Jr.,  AF11270lii5,365lst  BMTS~Flt. 
29UI,  Sampson  AF  Base,   New  York. 

Births 


Mr  and  Mrs  Herbert  Hewes  of  Rochester, 
New  York,  have  announced  the  birth  of  a 
son,  James  Christopher,  on  October  6, 
Mr  Hevres  formerly  worked  in  Book  Prepara- 
tion and  Mrs  Hewes,  the  former  Marie 
McCarthy,  was  in  Book  Purchasing, 

Lt»  and  Mrs  James  G.  Dovmey  of 
Mechanicsburg,  Pennsylvania,   haTe  announced 
the  birth  of  a  daughter,  Patricia  Ann, 
on  November  8a 

Mrs  Downey  (Phyllis  Mac Donald)  formerly 
vrorked  in  the  Office,  Div,  of  R&BS,     Kay 
MacDonald,  Personnel  Office,  is   the  proud 
aunto 

Engagements 


Service   of  the  Library 
Doris  N.  French,  School  Issue 
Mrs  Marion  D.  MacWilliam,  Fine  Arts 
Mrs  Elizabeth  F.  Scannell,   Kirstein 

Business 

Transfers 

Louise  M.  Fogarty,  from  Upharos  Corner  to 

Codman  Square  [Katharine  HcGrath,   Housekeeper 

Etta  Lasker,   from  Codman  Square  to  Upharas  iDoris  French,  School  Issue 

Corner  iFanny  Goldstein,  West  End 

Mrs  Donna  C,  Maxson,  from  School  Issue  to  \ 

Washington  Village  ALUMNI  NOTES 


Announcement  has  been  made  of  the  en- 
gagement of  Katherine  La  Bont^,   Brighton, 
to  Paul  Williams.     Mr  Williams  is  as- 
sociated v/ith  the  Ford  Motor  Company  in 
Dearborn,  Michigan. 

m  1«IELC0ME  BACK 


Marriages 

Rose  S.  Sanft,  Book  Stack  Service,  to 
Stanley  A,  Rosenthal,  on  October  h,   1953 

Resignations 

Mrs  Miriam  F.  Cohen,  Kirstein  Business, 

to  remain  at  home 
Karl  E.  Nyren,  Fine  Arts,  tc  accept  a 

position  in  Florida 
Mrs  Doris  K,  Walsh,  Cataloging  and 

Classification,  Div.  of  MRS,   to  live  in 

Brockton 


j    Robert  F.   (Bob)  Delaney,  formerly  a  mem- 
jber  of  the  Cataloging  and  Classification 
)ept»,   HR  St  CS,  visited  some   of  his 
library  friends  recently.     On  the  Active 
le serve  list  of  the  lU,  S,  Navy,   Bob  has 
)een  a   Naval  Attache  at   the  American 
Elmbassy  at  Rome  for  the  past  two  years, 
^e  directed  the   Book  Program  for  the 
American  Information  centers  abroad.     Now 
back  in  America  he  is  to  carry  on  this 
work  from  headquarters  at  Washington  D.C, 
With  his  wife,  Mary,  and  very  young  son. 


-3- 


Flynn  Joseph,   Bob  will  live  at  IJ4O9  Early 
3t.,  Falls  Church,  Va.     He  would  like  to 
hear  from  any  Library  people  who  remember 
him  back  in  19hl-19kQo 

VISITORS 

Dr  Leendert  Brummel,  Director,  The  Royal 
Library,  The  Hague. 

Dr  Gerhard  Krohn,  Deputy  Director 
Designate,  American  Memorial  Library, 
Berlin. 

Dr  Rolf  Kluth,   Staff  Member  Designate, 
American  Memorial  Library,   Berlin. 

Dr  Karl  Rossel-Majdan,  University  of 
Vienna . 

lELCOtJiE  TO   NHJT  MEBffiERS  OF   BPLPSA 

Barbara  Coffey,   Book  Selection,   (HR&CS) 
Edward  J.  Cullinane,   Egleston  Square 
Cornelia  Dorgan,  Rare  Book 
Robert  P.   Giddings,  Cataloging  and 

Classification   (R&RS) 
Isabella  M,   Porter,  History 
Ivlrs  Anna  A.   Sullivan,  Egleston  Square 
Robert  C.  Woodward,  History 

THE  STAFF  IN  PRINT 

In  THE  CHURCHMAN  for  November  first  there 
appears  a  satirical  poem.  Dream,  Medieaval 
Style,  by  Margaret  Munsterberg,  Rare  Book 

T/E  CONGRATULATE 

The  Exhibits  Office,   in  general,  and  each 
member  of  the   staff  personaIly»~Thoraas   J, 
Hanning,  George  W.   Scully,  and  Arthur  L, 
Lindsay — ^for  the  outstanding  series   of 
Centennial  Celebration  exhibits  which 
they  have  assembled  throughout  the 
Central  Library  Building. 

SOCIAL  ?miRL 
Scientists  on  a  Spree 

On  the  evening  of  Saturday,  October  2k, 
the  Kisses  Loraine  and  Gladys  Sullivan 
entertained  the  staff  of  Science  and 
Technology  at  their  charming  and  gracious 
estate  in  VfetertoTm.     The  high  spot  of 
the  evening  was  provided  by  Itr  Polishook's 
illustrated  travelogue  on  his  visit  to 
Paris,     lir  Weinberg  sang  loudly  and  shovred 
his   complete  independence  of  spirit  by 
ignoring  Miss  Sullivan's  piano  accompani- 


ment.    Mr  Lilackie  mixed  drinks  v/ith  his 
home  chemistry  set.     Mrs  Cariani  looked 
lovely  in  her  open-toed  basketball  shoes o 
Miss  Eaton  brought  a  fella  0     Paul  Mulloney 
ate  the  most.     Tabby  was  sent  to  bed 
before  Mr  Rains  delivered  a  short  talk  on 
the  natural  history  of  the   camelus 
dromedarius.     Everybody  was  having  a 


perfectly  vfonderful  time  until  Mr  Bruno 
lit  one  of  his   cigars  and  broke  up  the 
partyo 

BPLC  C&IIS  .'.BULLETIN 

Certain  members  of  the  BPL  Chowder, 
Chatter  and  lurching  Society  convened 
at  Sherry's  in  Quincy  on  Friday  evening, 
November  6,  to  fete  Ifr  and  Mrs  Joseph 
G.  Sakey.  Mr  Sakey  works  here  (Cata- 
loging and  Classification,  R&RS)  from 
time  to  time,  having  recently  taken  up 
his  duties  as  Branch  Librarian  at  the 
Edgell  Branch,.  Framingham  Tovm  Library e 
After  dinner  the  party  repaired  to  the 
home  of  Mr  and  Mrs  Louis  Rains,  in 
Yifeymouth,  to  seek  shelter  from  the 
Nor'easter. 

WEDDING 

Belated  congratulations  to  ¥x   and  Mrs 
Paul  F,  l*alloney,  who  were  married  at 
St.  Patrick's  Church,  Watertown,  on 
October  3,  Mr  Mulloney  is  an  assistant 
in  Science  and  Technology.   Mrs  Mulloney 
is'  the  former  Katharine  Stevens  of 
Watertovm.  Arthur  Mulloney,  Statistical, 
vras  his  brother's  best  man  at  the  cere- 
monj'-.  After  the  reception  at  the  Hotel 
Commander,  the  couple  left  for  a  honey- 
moon trip  to  the  Berkshires  and  Nevir  York 
City.  They  are  novf  living  in  Watertovm. 

PRESIDENT'S  NOTES 

Being  so  close  to  the  activities  of  the 
Centennial  celebration,  caught  up  with 
the  excitement  of  the  events,  we  may  yet 
fail  to  realize  that  we  are,  indeed,  pri- 
vileged to  be  an  essential  part  of  the 
Library  at  this  time.  For  v/e  may  well 
feel  honored  by  the  interests  and  efforts 
of  that  distinguished  corps  of  men  and 
women,  the  Centennial  Commission,  who 
are  laboring  to  make  our  Library  a  still 
greater  force  in  the  community. 

To  witness  the  enthusiastic  support 
given  to  our  Library  by  these  leaders  in 
the  spheres  of  arts  and  letters,  of 


-h- 


business,  and  of  government,  is  to  focus 
attention  on  the  immense  importance  of 
our  Library's  function  and  to  see  our  day- 
to-day  efforts  in  their  true  perspective, 
'"Je  know  that  in  the  repetition  of  a 
familiar  routine,  in  the  employment  of  a 
special  technique,  in  the  administration 
of  a  particul^ir  portion  of  the  Library, 
vre  may  lose  sight  of  the  larger  objective 
of  our  Library's  mission. 

The  members  of  the  Centennial  Commission 
as  also  the  Library's  founders,  its  great 
benefactors,  its  Trustees,  and  its 
Librarians ,  take  a  grand  view  in  the 
planning,  the  financing,  the  building, 
and  the  organizing  of  the  Library,  The 
ultimate  accomplishment  of  their  under- 
takings is  our  responsibility.  While  more 
modem-  facilities,  mechanical  and  elec- 
tronic innovations,  may  facilitate  and 
accelerate  the  Library's  services,  yet, 
in  the  many  facets  of  library  operations, 
the  judgement,  cooperation,  and  good  will 
of  the  staff  determine  largely  the  calibre 
and  reputation  of  the  institution. 

As  the  many  carefully  executed  details  of 
architecture  and  decoration,  in  their 
entirety  constitute  the  beautiful  Central 
Library  Building,  our  individual  efforts 
taken  together  carry  out  the  grand  purpose 
of  the  Library, 

The  Centennial  celebration  is  intended  to 
center  attenticn  on  the  Library  and  its 
services — on  us  I — in  order  that  it  may 
secure  greater  resources  for  its  activi- 
ties. It  honors  us  and  it  gives  each  of 
us  the  opportunity  to  do  his  or  her  part 
so  well  that  there  mil  not  be  the 
slightest  doubt  that  the  Library  as  a 
■■^vhole  is  deserving  of  greater  support, 

B.  Joseph  O'Neil 

CATHOLIC  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION 
lEETS  AT  ITCLLESLEY 

Thirty-five  members  of  the  Boston  Public 
Library  staff  were  among  the  one  hundred 
members  and  guests  who  attended  the  meeting 
of  the  New  England  Unit,  C,L,A,  at  the 
Academy  of  the  Assumption  on  Saturday, 
October  2U, 

Thomas  V.  Reiners  of  Boston  College, 
Chairman  of  the  Unit,  conducted  the  meeting 
Mary  Alice  Rea,  Director  of  Catholic  Book 
Week  in  Boston,  reviewed  former  Book 
Weeks  and  urged  all  to  prepare  for  the  1951- 
celebration.  The  slogan  for  195tl  will  be 
Christian  reading  for  a  united  world. 


Dr  John  D,  Donovan,  Professor  of  soci- 
ology at  Boston  College,  was  the  principal 
speaker.  His  subject  was  A  sociologist 
looks  at  the  library  profession.  Dr 
Donovan  defined  tte  social  status  of 
professionalism  and  asserted  that  not 
onlj'"  the  library  profession,  but  others 
as  well  are  falling  under  the  influence 
of  industrial  society  and  are  in  danger 
of  losing  their  standing.  It  was  a 
stimulating  talk  and  caused  the  librarians 
present  to  become  more  avrare  of  their 
professional  status. 

Sister  Rita  Agnes,  S,C,H,,  author  of 
Stars  are  shinging,  gave  an  interesting 
lecture  on  poetry.  She  read  many  of  her 
oTm  poems  and  also  many  from  Spirit,  the 
poetry  magazine.  Sister  made  a  plea  for 
more  teaching  and  reading  of  poetry  and 
advocated  Adult  Poetry  hours  in  libraries. 

After  the  meeting  had  adjourned  a  social 
hour  ivas  enjoyed  with  tea,  sandmches, 
and  cakes  provided  by  the  Academy, 

Anna  L,  Manning 

TIffi  ROUND  TABLE  OF  LIBRARIANS 


FOR  YOUNG  ADULTS 

The  Round  Table  of  Librarians  for  Young 
Adults  met  Thursday,  November  5,  at  the 
East  Milton  Branch  Library.  Before  the 
meeting,  a  pleasant  social  hour  was  en- 
joyed at  Tfldiich  coffee  and  doughnuts  were 
served. 

The  meeting  was  opened  by  Chairman 
Isabel  Handy  of  the  Thayer  Public  Library, 
in  Braintree,  Miss  Handy  introduced 
Marjories  Shaw,  Librarian  of  the  Milton 
Public  Library,  who  gave  an  illustrated 
lecture  entitled,  YA — ^ALA  and  the  ¥fest, 
Most  of  the  colored  slides  shovm  were 
taken  by  Miss  Shaw.  They  included  high 
points  of  her  trip  to  and  from  the  ALA 
Convention  last  summer. 

At  the  business  meeting  which  follovred, 
it  was  decided  to  appoint  a  committee 
under  the  chairmanship  of  M.  Jane 
Manthome,  Boston  Public  Library, to  ex- 
plore the  purpose  and  scope  of  a  proposed 
reading  list  which  could  be  used  with 
delinquents  and  at  state  institutions 
and  detention  houses.  It  was  also  decided 
that  a  committee  under  the  chairmanship 
of  Vrs   Katherine  Jeffrey,  of  the  Milton 
Public  Library,  compile  a  reading  list 
to  supercede  the  previous  lists  of  adult 
book  titles  suggested  for  use  ^vith  young 
adults ,  which  have  been  distributed 


-5- 


annually  to  small  libraries  throughout 
the  state.  This  was  followed  by  a  dxsr- 
cuss ion, of  the  contribution  which  the 
Round  Table  might  be  able  to  make  at  the 
mnter  meeting  of  the  M,L,Ao,  after  which, 
the  meeting  was  adjourned, 

A  luncheon  at  The  Hollow,  in  Quincy, 
was  then  enjoyed  by  about  thirty  members 
of  the  group. 

Francis  R.  Currie 

THE  B.P.L,  IN  T!^E  NEYJS 

The  Pilot  for  Saturday,  October  17, 
carried  a  half-page  photo  story  of  the 
work  of  the  Bookmobile  with  the  parochial 
schools  in  the  Archdiocese, 

The  October  issue  of  Boston  Business 
(published  by  the  Chamber  of  Commerce) 
carried  a  lengthy  article  on  the  Library's 
Centennial  celebration,  accompanied  by  a 
photograph  of  Messrs*  Binney,  Hynes,  and 
McDonald o 

The  Sunday  Post  for  October  2^  featured 
a  story  about  the  new  Central  Charging 
Department,  written  by  Bob  Sherman «, 

On  Wednesday,  October  28,  the  Monitor 
gave  the  Centennial  exhibits  advance 
publicity  by  publishing  a  photograph  of 
Rose  larribino  of  the  Business  Office  as 
she  examined  the  contents  of  the  comer- 
stone  of  the  Boylston  Street  building, 
T/i^ich  are  now  on  exhibit. 

The  November  1  issue  of  Library  Journal 


contained  a  four  page  illustrated  article 
by  Mrs  Helen  Hirson  about  the  Never  Too 
Late  Group. 

THE  B.P.L.  ON  TV 

Donald  Born  of  WBZ-TV  has  continued  to 
use  the  various  resources  of  the  Library 
for  materials  to  use  on  his  Friday 
morning  programs.     On  October  l6  he 
talked  about  Npah  Webster,  using  the 
100th  anniversary  history  of   the  M^rriam- 
Webster  Company,      In  addition  Professor 
Born  used  a  cooy  of  Hazeltine's  Anni- 
versaries and  Holidays .     Credit  for  the 
loan  of  these  two  volumes  was   given  to 
the  Division  of  Reference  and  Research 
Services . 

Sarah  Josephine  Hale,  editor  of  Godey's 


Lady's   Book,  was  his  subject  on  Oci» 
tober  23.     For  this  program  Mr  Born  used 
photograpjtas  from  Fine  Arts  and  copies 
of  the  magazine  from  Flare  Book, 
For  the  October  30  program  Mr  Bom  used 


an  Open  Shelf  copy  of  the  Linton's  book 
Hallowe'en  Through  20  Centuries  for  his 
Ha 11  owe ' en  programo 

On  November  6  he  talked  about  Abigail 
Adams,  the  wife  of   John  Adams  and  mother 
of  John  Quincy  Adams o     He  showed  photo- 
graphs and  books  from  Fine  Arts  about  the  ' 
Adams  family, 

Don  Volkman  of  WBZ-TV  came  to  t  he 
Library  on  Monday,  November  9,  to  take 
moving  pictures  of   the  Centennial  exhibits 
in  connection  with  the  Centennial  Com- 
mission dinner  that  evening.     This  film 
was     used  at  6:l5  p.m,   on  the   Esso 
program  Victor  Best  and  the  News,  and 
again  at  11:00  p^m.  on  the  John  Day  and 
the  News  program.     Beginning  with  an 
announcement  about  the  Centennial  Com- 
mission dinner,  .the  commentator  worked 
into  the  film  by  talking  about  the  Cen- 
tennial celebration,  the  current  exhibits, 
the  improvements  and  renovations  which 
have  been  made,  and  plans  for  the  future, 

GIFTS  TO   THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 

The  Staff  Library  was  pleased  to  receive 
the  publications   listed  below  to  add  to 
its  collections  on  libraries  and  books. 
The  first  three  titles  are  the   gift  of  the 
Stevens  Memorial  Library  in  North  Andover, 
Jilassachusetts,  and  the  fourth  publication 
is  an  anonymous  gift, 

American  Library  Association 

Papers  and  proceedings  of  the  l8th, 

22nd — 23rd,  26th — 31st  annual  meeting 

of   the  American  Library  Associatione 

1896,   1900—01,   190U~09. 

Boston,  Chicago 
The  booklist;  a  guide  to  the  best  new 
books « 

v.l,  no,  7— v,  2ii,  T.  26,  1905—09 

Boston 
Libraries;  a  monthly  review  of  Library 

matters  and  methods, 

V.   3I--36,   Jan,   1926~Dec,   1931    . 

Chicago,  Library  Bureau 
Thomson,  Osmund,  R^  Ha  f  , 

Reasonaole  budgets  for  public  libraries 

and  their  units   of  expense. 

Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 

192g 

WAIT      ,      .      , 

Don't  finish  Christmas  Shopping 
until  you've  seen  it  ,  ,  ,  » 
THE  STAFF  COOK  BOOK 


Going  on  Sale  , 


.  December  I4,   19$3 


-6^ 


NEWS  FROM  NE'T  ZEALAND 

Heathcote  Rd, 

Castor  Bay,  Auckland,  N.Z, 


First  of  all,  I  want  to  think  whoever 
is  responsible  for  seeing  that  I  receive 
the  Question  Mark,  I  read  it  from 
beginning  to  end  to  see  what  is  going  on 
and  viThat  is  hapoening  to  all  my  friends. 
Please  keep  sending  it — I  aopreciate  it 
immensely.  The  September  issue  arrived 
today  and  the  August  one  about  a  week  ago. 
Even  my  husband  has  been  reading  them, 
and  they  do  help  me  to  feel  a  little 
closer  to  Boston  and  still  part  of  the 
"family". 

Here  are  a  few  things  you  may  wish  to 
put  in  the  Question  Mark,  I  have  been 
elected  a  member  of  the  Auckland  Society 
of  Arts,  I  did  a  tape  recording  on  Print- 
making  for  the  radio  station  lYA,  which 
will  be  used  at  some  future  date  on  the 
program  "Feminine  Viewpoint".  The  talk 
is  about  15  minutes  long,  and  I  hope  to 
do  more  at  a  future  date. 

Radio,  by  the  way,  is  government 
sponsored  down  here,  as  in  Britain.  That 
is  tvfo   stations— in  Auckland  lYA  and  lYC— 
the  call  letters  vary,  of  course,  in  each 
city.  Then  there  is  one  commercial  sta- 
tion IZB.  lYA  is  rather  general  and  lYC 
is  on  the  air  only  in  the  evenings  and 
broadcasts  more  "intellectual"  programs. 
There  are  a  great  many  recordings  of 
BBC  programs,  and  excellent  musical  pro- 
grams of  classical  recordings.   In  fact, 
I  am  becalming  quite  spoiled — it  is  such 
a  relief  to  listen  to  good  music,  es- 
pecially during  the  day  on  lYA,  without 
any  interruptions.  They  usually  play 
several  LPs  one  after  another,  announcing 
them  all  before  and  after  but  not  in 
between.  Even  at  breakfast,  and  as  early 
as  6  a,m,  vre  get  a  pleasant  mixture  of 
popular  and  serai-classical  music,  with  the 
only  interruptions  for  the  time  and  the 
titles.  Of  course,  to  irake  up  for  the 
lack  of  sponsors  on  these  programs  one 
piys  a  license  fee  of  a  bout  $3.00  a 
y^jar — anyone  owning  a  radio  must  pay— or 
I  should  say  "operating"  a  radio. 

The  weather  still  seems  to  stay  a  bit 
uncertain  here,  A  few  weeks  ago  (Oct,  26] 
was  Labor  Day  here,  marking  the  beginning 
of  summer,  rather  than  the  end.  It  was 
a  lovely  week-end  and  swimming  was 


beginning  and  the  sailboats  vrere  coming 
outo  It  has  been  a  bit  on  the  grey  side 
since,  though.  It  will  be  strange  to 
celebrate  Christmas  in  the  middle  of  the 
summer.  As  for  dates,  I  have  just  lost 
all  track  of  time — or  should  I  say  sense 
of  time.  I  think  in  terms  of  seasons 
instead  of  months ,  and  it  all  seems  rather 
strange* 

Please  give  my  best  wishes  to  my  friends, 
and  thanks  again  for  sending  the  Question 
Mark . 


November  6,  1953 
Editor • s  Note : 


Sincerely  yours, 

Muriel  C.  Robinson 


The  Q.M,  is  being  sent  to  Mrs  Robinson 
as  a  gift  by  Grace  Marvin,  Book  Selection, 

LOCAL  #U09  ORGANIZED 

The  members  of  The  Boston  Public  Library 
teintenance  Employees  Union,  Local  131It 
(American  Federation  of  State,  County,  and 
Municipal  Employees)  have  disaffiliated 
themselves  from  the  international  union 
and  returned  to  it  the  charter  granted 
them  in  October  19^0.  They  have  reorgan- 
ized themselves  under  a  nevi  charter,  dated 
September  1,  1953,  as  The  Building  Services 
Employees'  International  Union,  Local  ^.h09 
(AFL) o  The  following  officers  were  elected 
on  October  8,  19S3i     President,  Francis  Pf 
Moranj  Vice  President,  John  V.  Sullivanj 
Secretary-Treasurer,  Joseph  Sarro;  Steward, 
John  McManus;  Executive  Board,  David 
O'Keefe,  Edward  Maynard,  James  ^rry, 
George  Patterson, 

CENTENInIRL  NOTES 

Centennial  Research  Committee 

To  date  many  constructive  and  helpful 
suggestions  concerning  the  Centennial 
have  come  in  and  have  been  of  material 
assistance  to  the  Research  Committee,  The 
chairmen  of  the  sub-committees  of  the 
Research  Committee  will  welcome  additional 
suggestions  from  members  of  the  staff. 
Also,  you  are  ■welcome  to  stop  by  the  Office 
of  the  Division  of  Reference  and  Research 
Services  to  discuss  additional  ideas  and 
the  proper  sub-committee  to  handle  them. 
The  sub-committees  and  chairmen  are  as 
follows ; 

Exhibits — Elizabeth  M,  Gordon,  Deputy 


-7- 


Supervisor  in  Charge  of  Work  with  Children 

Children's  Work — Mrs  Beryl  Y,  Robinson, 
Egleston  Square 

General  Topics — Esther  Lissner,  Cata- 
loging and  Classification,  R&RS 

Young  Adults — Phyllis  Freeman,  Mattapan 

Adults — Mrs  Grace  B.  Loughlin,  Open 
Shelf 

Referonce  and  Research — Louis  Rains, 
Science  and  Technology 

Nevis  Items  and  Notes— Priscilla  S, 
MacFadden,  Fine  Arts 

Miscellaneous — Be  Joseph  0 'Neil, 
Periodical  and  Newspaper 

Tv/o  Centennial  Dinners 


Two  centennial  dinners  tendered  by  the 
City  of  Boston  to  nark  the  official  opening 
of  the  observance  of  the  One  Hundredth 
Anniversary  of  the  Boston  Public  Library 
took  place  in  the  same  week — the  first, 
on  Monday  evening,  November  9,  at  the 
Hotel  Statler  for  the  members  of  the  Cen- 
tennial Commission;  the  second,  on 
Wednesday,  November  11,  at  the  Sheraton 
Plaza  for  present  and  retired  full-time 
members  of  the  staff  of  the  Boston  Public 
Library.  Great  credit  is  due  to  those 
v/ho  worked  behind  the  scenes  so  that  these 
t\t)  affairs  sounded  the  proper  note  for 
beginning  so  large  and  important  a  cele- 
bration as  the  One  Hundredth  Anniversary 
of  this  great  Library, 

In  addition  to  the  Centennial  Commis- 
sion members  there  were  invited  to  the 
Monday  evening  dinner  representatives  of 
the  professional  library  associations  on 
the  national,  regional,  state,  and  local 
level,  and  in  the  Special  Libraries 
field.  Those  who  were  present  in  their 
capacities  as  presidents  of  these  associa- 
tions were:  Flora  B.  Ludington,  ALA; 
Dr  Sidney  Butler  Smith,  NELA;  Philip 
McNiff ,  MLA;  B.  Joseph  O'Neil,  BPLPSA;  i/irs 
Ruth  Clancy  McNulty,  SLA.  Staff  and  Line 
Officers  of  the  Library  present  were: 
John  J,  Connolly,  Elizabeth  B,  Brockunier, 
Richard  G.  Hens  ley,  Francis  X.  Moloney, 
Arthur  W,  Heintzelman,  and  Zoltan  Haraszti, 
Also  present  were:  Elizabeth  B,  Boudrcau, 
in  connection  vdth  her  publicity  duties 
as  Chief  of  the  Information  Office;  Samuel 
Green,  #10  had  charge  of  arrangements  for 
the  Library;  and  Sarah  M.  Usher,  in 
connection  vath  the  duty  which  has  been 


were  six  assistants  from  Central  Library 
and  two  from  the  Centennial  Office:  Mary 
J,  Brady,  Janice  G.  Lane,  Nancy  Lovis, 
Catherine  MacDonald,  Margaret  Macdonald, 
Victoria  Vangos ,  Vera  Van  Tassel  and 
Barbara  Saul.  These  charming  ladies  per- 
formed their  duties  at  the  reception  for 
he  Head  Table  which  preceeded  the  dinner 
and  in  the  Imperial  Ballroom  where  the 
dinner  was  heldo 

The  dinner  was  under  the  chairmanship 
of  Michael  T«  Kelleher  and  tte   program 
was  carried  out  in  a.  most  satisfactory 
manner  under  the  guidance  of  Edward  A. 
Weeks,  Jro  who  acted  as  toastmaster.  The 
invocation,  prayer  of  thanksgiving,  and 
benediction  were  given  by  the  following: 
Right  Reverend  Monsignor  Augustine  C« 


Dalton,  Pastor,  Saint  Kevin's  Chruch, 
Dorchester;  Rabbi  Joseph  S,  Shubow, 
Temple  Bnai  Moshe,  and  Reverend  Frederick 
M.  Meek,  D.Do,  Minister,  Old  South  Church 
in  Boston,  Greetings  vrere  brought  to  the 
group  from  the  Centennial  Commission  by 
Ralph  M.  Binney,  General  Chairman;  from 
The  City  of  Boston  by  His  Honor  Mayor 
John  B,  Hynes;  from  The  CoramomYealth  of 
Massachusetts  by  Lieutenant  Governor 
Sumner  G.  'jiJhittier;  from  The  Trustees 
by  Patrick  F.  McDonald,  President  of  the 
Trustees;  from  the  Library  by  liilton  E, 
Lord,  Director,  and  Librarian;  and  from 
The  Authors  by  Samuel  Eliot  Mori  son.  Rear 
Admiral,  USNR,  Ret.  Mr  Morison  representai 
a  group  of  authors  seated  at  the  head  table 
and  introduced  by  the  toastmaster:  Cleve- 
land Amory,  Walter  D.  Edmonds,  Oscar 
Handlin,  M,  A,  DeWolfe  Howe,  Bruce 
Lancaster,  Archibald  MacLeish,  David 
McCcrd,  May  Sarton,  and  Walter  Muir 
Whitehill,  The  principal  address  was 
given  by  Theodore  C.  Streibert,  Director, 
United, States  Information  Agency,  and  was 
broadcast  over  Station  WNAC  at  9:30  p.mc 
Rebroadcasts  were  made  over  other  stations 
during  the  evening. 

Sarah  M,  Usher 


assigned  to  her  of  gathering  material 

for  a  chronological  record  of  events  durin^Binney,  were  The  Most  Reverend  Richard 

the  Centennial  year.  Acting  as  hostesses 


Vfednesday,  November  11,  marked  the 
Centennial  Staff  Dinner  of  the  EPL,  Dis- 
tinguished guests.  Trustees,  staff  members, 
both  active  and  retired,  and  friends  of 
the  Library — approximately  five  hundred 
and  fifty  ill  number — ^were  in  attendance. 
At  the  head  table,  seated  on  either  side 
of  Toastmaster  Ralph  M.  Binney,  Chairman 
of  the  Centennial  Commission  and  Mrs 


J.  Gushing,  Archbishop  of  Boston;  The 


-8- 


Most  Reverend  John  Jo  Wright,  Bishop  of 
Forcesterj  our  hosts  representing  the 
City  of  Boston,  The  Honorable  John  Bo 
ffyneSj  Mayor   of  the  City  of  Boston^  and 
the  Honorable  Francis  Xo  Ahearn,  President 
of  the  Boston  City  Council;  Patrick  F.j 
I"cDonald,  President,  Trustees  of  Boston 
Public  Library,  and  his  sister,  Mary 
McDonald;  Mr  and  iVtrs  Frank  W,  Buxton; 
Lee  Friedman,  and  his  sister,  Sophie 
Friedman;  Francis  B.  Masterson;  Mr  and 
Mrs  Milton  E«  Lord;  and  Mr  and  Mrs  Walter 
Muir  Yihitchillo  Present  also  in  their 
capacities  as  loaders  of  staff  organiza- 
tions and  activities  vrere  Mr  and  Mrs 
George  W,  Gillagher,  Bo  Joseph  0 'Neil, 
President,  Professional  Staff  Association; 
Mrs  Ada  A,  Andelman,  Chairman,  Staff 
Centennial  Gift  Committee;  Charles  J  a 
Gillis,  Commander,  Arnavets;  Frank  Po 
Bruno,  Vice-President,  BPL  Employees' 
Benefit  Association;  James  PoJo  Gannon, 
President,  Quarter  Century  Club,  and 
Francis  Pc  Moran,  President,  Building 
Employees'  International  Union,  Local 
li09,  A.F.L. 

The  Invocation,  a  special  prayer  for 
Librarians,  .  de  I'iV.'ared ':  by  Archbishop 
Gushing,  preceded  the  business  of  eating. 
Was  it  coincidence,  incidentally,  that 
prompted  the  orchestra  to  include  "The 
Best  Thinf^s  in  Life  are  Free"  in  the 
dinner-music  medley?  Immediately  after 
dinner,  we  heard  Mr   Lord's  "Centennial 
Greetings" ,  irollowed  by  the  presentation 
in  behalf  of  tho  entire  staff  of  our 
Centennial  Gift  (at  present  pledged  in 
the  amount  of  $6,30ita57)  to  the  President 
of  the  Trustees  by  Mr  Gallagher  one  of 
the  five  staff  members  with  the  longest 
record  of  service,  Toastmaster  Binney 
next  introduced  three  tributes  to  the 
BPL,  first  of  all,  from  the  Trustees,  by 
Mr  McDonald;  from  the  City  of  Boston, 
by  Mayor  Jfynes — ^whose  remark  about  salary 
increases,  while  greeted  with  warm  ap- 
plause, cannot,  unhappily,  hold  out  too 
much  hope  for  us,  beings  as  it  was,  an 
answer  to  something  that  somebody  did 
not  say  I — and  lastly  from  fellow  li- 
brarians, by  Walter  Muir  TATiitehill, 
Director,  Boston  Atheneum,  who  is  currentlj) 
at  work  on  a  centennial  history  of  the 
Boston  Public  Library,  and  whose  remarks 
were  mainly  historical.  The  "response 
in  behalf  of  members  of  the  Library  staff 
past  and  present"  Y/as  then  eloquently 
delivered  by  Bishop  Wright,  a  BPL  alumnus. 
Archbishop  Gushing,  our  alpha  and  omega  of 


the  evening,  closed  the  formal  program 
with  a  benediction  and  reassurancfe  that 
we  rail  get  that  .$1,500,000  1  Coupled 
\dth  Mr  McDonald's  earlier  assertion  that 
he  is  not  a  man  accustomed  to  losing  and 
Mr  Binney -s  determined  attitude  in  the 
matter  of  the  Centennial  Fund,  the 
Archbishop's  enthusiasm  all  but  assures 
success  in  that  particular. 

The  rush  to  the  checkroom  made  the 
Sheraton  lobby  look  like  Park  Street 
Station  at  five  o'clock,  but  it  vras  a 
very  complacent,  if  jostled,  waiting-line, 
indeed-  That  frantic  pause  gave  rise  to 
vAiat  must  have  amounted  to  several 
thousands  of  handshakes  and  'how-do- 
you-do's',  as,  perhaps  for  the  first  time, 
nearly  all  of  the  Library  Staff  was  in 
the  same  place  at  the  same  time*  And 
i*at  a  stiinning  group  I  All  the  hundreds 
of  ladies  were  lovely,  all  the  dozens  of 
gentlemen  were  handsome,-  (J-Bbrrci/T  tho. 
figures  from  Mr  McCord's  reflections.  And 
that  is  the  pleasant  history  of  last 
V/cdnesday's  party.  We  all  stepped  out 
for  an  evening  together, a te  good  food, 
heard  intelligent  oratory,  enjoyed  each 
other's  company,  and  had  a  good  time— 
I  personally  thought  it  was  a  very  good 
time,  and  should  be  happy  to  attend  a 
Centennial  Staff  Dinner,  every  hundred 
years  I 

John  J.  McCafferty 

Library  Lions 

The  pair  of  small  lAiiite  lions  used  as 
decorations  on  the  head  table  at  the 
Staff  Banquet  are  the  original  models  for 
our  "Library  lions".  They  were  brought 
out  of  obscurity,  refurbished  and  given 
this  place  of  honor.  They  aroused  many 
surprised  and  pleased  comments  from  the 
staff  members. 

DEPARTMENT  NOTES 

Information  0 f f ice 

Patricia  Yfaldron,  publicity  director  of 
the  Akron,  Ohio,  Public  Library  visited 
the  Office  on  Sunday,  October  18.  She 
v/as  particularly  interested  in  the  Cen- 
tennial publicity  and  in  the  exhibit 
facilities  of  the  Library, 


-9- 


HRANCH  NDTES 


Mattapan 

November,  a  biisy  month,  efficially 
openodwith  Art  Woek,  celebrated  from 
Novcraber- 1-8,  Art  exhibit  nnterlal 
representing  the  best  v^rork  done  in  grades 
one  through  high  school  of  the  area  during 
t^E  past  yoar  was  on  display. 

An  outstanding  cooperative  project  was 
the  cotton  picking  mural  executed  by 
the  fifth  grade  of  the  Robert  Treat 
Paine  School,  Designed  in  conjunction 
ATlth  a  geography  iinit  on  cotton,  the 
mural  depicted  g^^ily  dressed  figures  in 
a  cotton  field.  An  old  colonial  mansion 
in  the  background,  log  cabins  in  the  fore- 
ground, and  a  showboat  on  the  distant  ri\a: 
lent  atmosphere  to  the  scone. 

Equally  fascinating  were  the  three 
series  of  pictures  contributed  by  the 
children  in  grade  one  of  the  Audubon 
School,  These  three  portrayed  a  visit 
to  the  zoo,  a  nei^borhood,  and  a  day 
at  the  beach.  Completing  the  display 
were  posters  urging  the  public  to  keep 
the  city  clean,  made  ty  the  first  graders 
of  the  Paine  school  and  posters  emphasizirg 
the  right  way  to  use  leisure  tiii^e  drawn 
by  sixth  graders  of  both  the  Audubon  and 
Paii»  Schools. 

n  ^  It  * 

On  Saturday,  October  17,  an  informal 
luncheon  party  was  held  at  the  ToTme  EoMse 
for  Nancy  Stipurico  in  honor  of  her  ap- 
proaching wedding.     The  bridp-to-be  was 
presented  with  an  orchid  corsage  and  a 
portable  buff at  server  by  her  present  and 
former  associates.     Those  attending  were 
Theodora  Scoff,  Branch  Librarian,  Rhoda 
Blacker,  Phyllis  Freeman,  Mary  Mehlinan, 


appearing  in  the  Soap  Box  are  personal 
Sarah  Richman,  and  Mrs  Augusta  Rubensteir>-(  opinions  expressed  by  individual 


all  members  of  the  staff— and  Bernadine 
Grace,  lirs  Jean  Foret,  Sidney  Shwom,  and 
Mrs.  Janet  Schlein, 


South  Boston 


A  TRIBLTTE 


Why  do  people  often  say 
Libraries     are  always  gloomy? 
Why,  ouais  always  cheerful  nnd  gay, 
And  it's  also  very  roomy. 

Come  .ind  visit  us  some  day. 
Please  do  coice  re=\l  soon 
You'll  only  wish  that  you  could  stay 
And  soend  the  afternoon. 


We  have  some  of  the  friendlisst  workers 
(Some  of  the  prettiest  too.)  .      '    ■; 

Our  branch  is  the  best  one  that  there  is, 
(It's  one  of  the  newest  too.)     • 

You'll  find  the  books  ^jpealing. 
Some  are  old  aid  some  are  new. 
We  have  a  book  that's  all  about  Bing. 
We  have  newspapers  and  nagazines  too. 

I'm  sure  that  you'll  enjoy  yourself 
If  you  happen  to  come  some  day. 
Don't  forget  to  see  our  New  Fiction  Shelf 
Before  you  go  away. 


Marie  Zaleskas-. 


West  End 


■Jevrigh  Book  Month,  is  th6  current  theme 
being  featured  at  West  End  throu^ 
November  30.     Colored  photographs,    • 
drawings,  children's  books  in  Hebrew, and 
Jewish  books  of  the  1953  season  are  on 
display. 


SOAP  BOX 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must 
be  accompanied  by  tbs  full  rame  of  the 
Association  member  submitting  it,  to- 
gether with  the  name  of  the  Branch  Library 
Departraerit  or  Office  in  which  he  or  she  is 
eD?3loyed.  The'  name  is  withheld  from 
publication,  or  a  pen  name  used,  if  the 
contributor  so  requests.  Anonymous 
contributions  are  not  given  consideration. 
The  author  of  the  article  is  known  only 
to  the  contributor  and  to  the  Editor- 
in-Chief.  The  contents  of  articles 


Association  members  and  their  appearance 
does  not  necessarily  indicate  that  ■ttie 
Publications  Conmittee  and  the  Asaocia- 
tion  are  in  agreement  with  the  views 
expressed. 


Lux  Omnium  Civlum 

"The  Genii  with  the  torches  may  signify 
the  illuminating  power  of  literatiire. 
The  Book  needs  no  explanation.  The  Tree 
is  the  Tree  of  Knowledge,  while  the  dol- 
phins refer  to  the  maritime  character  of 
the  City  of  Boston — a  seaport."  Thus 
wrote  Mr  St  Gaudens  in  1889  to  explain 
the  background  of  our  motto.  Lux  omnium 


-10- 


civium. 

Lux  omnium  civium — Light  of  all 
citizens  J  Have  we  lived  up  to  it?  Words 
can  be  interpreted  according  to  their 
apsociation  in  the  mind  of  the  reader. 
Personally  I  think  to  most  people  today- 
Lux  means  a  soap,  and  all  the  more  so 
against  a  background  of  maritime  creatures 
and  rather  soiled  Genii.  With  the  recent 
freshening  up  comapign  within  our  building 
Lux  surely  should  have  been  a  power. 
Meanwhile  Lux,  as  lif^ht,  seems  to  be 
forgotten.  Mary  of  us  workers  are  still 
in  semi -darkness.  The  Book  may  "speak  for 
itself" ,   the  books  used  in  the  Catalog 
and  Classification  Departm3nt  of  the 
Reference  and  Research  Division  are 
scarcely  incandescent.  The  Light  of 
Knowledge  needs  assistance  there  from 
above.  Since  we  get  none,  I  say  that 
there  light  is  needed  on  the  Book.  They 
say  the  catalog  is  the  key  to  the  library. 
Then  the  oft  consulted  printed  catalog  of 
the  Library  of  Congress  is  a  master  key, 
Vfere  those  i/dio  designed  the  illuminating 
of  the  room  shewn  the  reduced  type  in  these 
volumes?  Did  they  decipher  the  footnote- 
sized  Y;ords  blurred  in  reproduction?  Did 
they  distinguish  eights  from  threes  or 
colons  from  semicolons?  All  the  cata- 
logers  are  forced  to  us  hand  magnifiers 
in  copying  and  to  sit  in  shadows.  Tired 
eyes  are  losine  their  light. 

Nevf  rooms  such  as  Book  Selection  have 
the  same  lighting  fixtures,  but  more  of 
them— all  this  and  daylight  too.  The 
Director's  new  anteroom  is  said  to  have 
500  watt  luminaries.  The  catalogers  ask 
for  no  such  luxurious  magnificence  as 
those,  but  do  vnnt  a  few  more  ranges  of 
lights.  Examining  Comrrdttees  pass  them 
by.  Requests  for  better  lighting  are  ig- 
nored. The  catalogers  may  be  far  behind 
the  scenes,  invisible  members  of  the 
omnium  civium  of  the  Library,  but  v/hy 
cannot  they  have  enough  light  and  of  good 
quality? 

Esther  Lissner 

Dear  Editors 

Would  it  be  possible  if  the  annual 
promotional  examinations  given  in  May 
could  be  corrected  and  notification  of 
results  sent  to  the  individuals  who  took 
the  examinations  before  the  fall  semester 
at  most  ujiiversities  begins.  Without  this 
infonnation,  it  is  imoossible  to  know 
whether  or  not  to  take  a  course  covering 


the  field  of  the  examination  taken  in 
May  or  to  take  courses  in  the  subject  of 
the  next  promotional  examination  to  be 
taken.  Since  all  examinations  may  nob  be 
corrected  over  a  period  of  1;  (four) 
months,  why  is  it  necessary  for  those 
individuals  lA^iose  examinations  have  been 
corrected  to  wait  for  a  period  longer 
than  this,  such  as  6  (six)  months  or 
1/2  year.  It's  a  long,  long  time  from  May 
to  November,  are  we  going  to  make  it 
December? 


November  Song 
(With  Apologies  to  '!Ihe  September  Song" ) 

Oh  it's  a  long,  long  time 

From  May  to  November 

And  it's  hard  to  wait 

When  you  reach  September. 

The  autumn  leaves 

Begin  to  fade 

And  you  still  don't  know 

If  you've  made  the  grade. 

Y  our  hopes  dwindle  down 

To  a  precious  few. 

October i     November  I 

And  each  less  well-paid-day 

I  feel  more  blue. 

Won't  our  results 

Ever  come  through? 

W.  A.  Mozart 

To  the  editor: 

I  have   just  discovered  that  the  audio- 
visual center  is   lacking  in  "ii5'SH,     I  am 
told  it  would  be  impractical  to  have  them 
because   it  vrould  mix  the  collection  too 
much.     The  Library  does  have  "78s"  and 
"33s"   so  why  vrould  it  confuse  the  issue 
further  to  stock  "U5s"?     I  am  also  told 
that  practically  everyone  these  days  has 
three  speed  record  players.     Perhaps  I 
do  not  travel  among  wealthy  enough 
classes,,.but  many  of  my  friends  still 
have  the  old  fashioned  type  or  have 
managed  to  buy  a   "ii5"   attachment  for  their 
radio.     The  "U5s"  are  lighter  and  easier 
to  carry  and  handle,  do  not  break,  give 
long  enjoyment  particularly  if  they  are 
the  nevf  extended  play  records ,     Tilhy  must 
the  ovmers  of   just  a  "U5"  record  player 
be  the  only  class  discriminited  against^,, 
particularly  as  they  obviously  cannot 
afford  to  buy  as  many  records  as  someone 
#10  can  afford  a  three  speed  player? 

Poor  but  musical 


-11- 


Dear  Editor: 

YJithout  intending  any  reflection 
'.'jhatsoever  upon  the  person  v;ho  is  at 
present  giving  the  course  in  Elementary 
Information  Sources^  I  v.lsh  to  express 
my  objections  to  the  fact  that  a  cours3 
in  the  use  of  reference  tools  is  being 
given  by  a  person  employed  in  the  Divi- 
sion of  Home  Rea-ing  and  Community 
Services  rather  than  a  qualified  refereriE 
person  from  the  Division  of  Reference  and 
Research  Services^  the  Division  responc- 
sible  for  that  function  of  the  library's 
service . 

If  it  is  argued  that  these  tools  are 
used  in  the  branches  as  well  as  in 
Reference  departments ^  I  would  point  out 
that  it  is  not  being  us^^d  by  trained 
reference  personnel,  however  intelligent 
they  may  be,.  Inasmuch  as  the  Supervisor 
of  Personnel  is  also  responsible  for  the 
Training  Program,  I  hope  that  this  is 
not  a  forecast  of  a  future  opinion  oh 
the  part  of  the  Supervisor  of  Personnel 
that  the  use  of  reference  tools  in  its 
branches  constitutes  reference  experience 
thus  making  all  branch  personnel  quali- 
fied for  work  in  the  Division  of  Reference 
and  Research  Services,  v:hile  the  gates 
continue  to  remain  closed  for  any  re- 
ciprocal arrangements 


Eamon  E.  McDonough 
Reference  Librariran  in 

General  Reference 
Department 


:h; 


BLOOD  PROGRAM 

The  City  of  Boston  employees  Blood 
Program  offers  you  and  your  family  pro- 
oection  in  the  event  that  you  or  they 
need  blood  in  an  emergency.  Call  Mrs 
WoUent  in  the  Staff  Hospit-^.l  for  further 
details.  Do  it  novi  I 

Vi!0   BARGAINS 
(at  $20  each) 

Portable  Typewriters 

Royal—No.  CD  237207 
Smith-Corona— No  0  3A92978 

Contact;  Mrs  Phyllis  Kallman 
Phillips  Brooks 

LOST  AMD  FOUI-ID 

Found  in  the  Staff  Library  the  book 
listed  below: 

Brooks,  Jra,  Cleanth 

Understanding  fiction,  by  Cleanth 
Brooks,  Jr.  and  Robert  P.  Warren 
This  book  may  be  claimed  by  the  owner  in 
the  Personnel  Office. 

LATE  NEV/S 

lUr  and  Firs  Gerald  Seidenberg  announce 
the  birth  of  their  71b.   2oz,  daughter, 
Jane  Ellen,   on  October  30,   1953.     Mrs 
Seidenberg  (the  former  Gloria  Shine)  was 
Children's  Librarian  at  Alls  ton. 


Dear  Editor: 


With  the  proposed  disbanding  of  the 
Benefit  Association  Vfe  are  particularly 
concerned  .about  the  Post  Card  counter. 
We  hope  that  it  will  be  retained  somehow. 
Our  vforks  of  art  are  beautiful  and  famous 
and  reproductions  should  be  available  for 
visiters.  Perhaps  the  P.S.A.  can  take 
it  over. 

We  feel  that  losing  the  attendant  v/ould 
be  a  loss  to  the  Library.  Mrs  Lasbury 
has  been  faithful  and  helpful  during  her 
years  of  service.  She  has  served  almost 
as  a  public  relations  officer  on  the 
second  floor,  and  her  pleasant,  cheery, 
"Good  morning,  lirj   I  help  you?"  as  one 
steps  off  the  elevator  is  a  hearty  vrel- 
come  for  visitors. 


HELP!  HELP  I  HELP'  HELP  I 


NEEDED  BADLY 


A  Name 


for  the 


Staff  Cook  Book 
(going  on  sale  December  U,  19^3) 


HURRYl  HUBRYll  HURRYllI 


Send  suggestions  to; 

Mrs  llizxy  D.  Farrell 

Cataloging  and  Classification  Department 

Division  of  Reference  and  Research  Services 


Award  for  name  chosen t 

A  first-edition  copy 
of  the  cook  book 


ra 


uestion 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


DECEMBER  1953 


THE     QUESTION     MARK 
Published  by  the  Boston  Public  Library  Professional  Staff  Association 


Volume  VIII,  Number  12 


December  15"53 


Publications  Committee:      Gerald  L,   Ball,  Geraldine  S,   Herrick,  John  J,  McCafferty, 

Sarah  M.  Usher,  Charles  J,  Gillis,  Chairman 


Publication  date; 
The  fifteenth  of  each  month 


Deadline  for  submitting  material; 
The  tenth  of  each  month 


EDITOR'S  CORNER 


The  long  and  valuable  career  of  the 
Employees'  Benefit  Association,  almost 
fifty-two  years  of  service  to  its  members. 
ended  on  November  20.  At  a  special 
meeting  attended  by  over  a  hundred  memr^ 
bars ,  it  vras  voted  that  the  Association 
dissolve,  and  that  the  assets  of  the 
Association  be  turned  over  to  a  receiver- 
ship to  be  liquidated. 

Thus,  the  end  of  a  Library  era.  An 
era  during  which  some  of  us  can  remember 
many  happy  occasions  sponsored  by  the 
Association — the  dances,  formal  and  in- 
formal, held  at  Boston  hotels,  the  whist 
parties  and  the  amateur  theatricals — all 
of  them  providing  useful  funds  for  the 
Benefit  Association, 

At  the  end  of  the  road  it  seems  fitt 
to  pay  tribute  to  those  officers  -v^io  gave 
unstintingly  of  their  time  and  energies  to 
further  the  welfare  of  their  fellow- 
members.  We  all  salute  those  who  helped 
to  fill  a  need  during  the  years  before  the 
advent  of  Blue  Cross  and  liberalized  ill- 
ness allowances,  ¥e  know  that  the  former 
Association  members  will  still  work  for 
the  common  good  in  the  numerous  avenues 
left  to  help  their  neighbors. 


CALENDAR  OF  EVENTS 

December  23.  Staff  Christmas  Tea,  3-5  p.m.. 
Women's  Lounge. 


December  2h»     Open  House  -  "Ladies '  Day"  - 
Men's  Lounge,  10:30  a.m. 

January  18.   S.L.A,  monthly  meeting. 

Lecture  Hall,  Central  Library, 
following  dinner  at  place  to 
be  announced  later. 


New  Employees 


Charles  J,  Gillis 


THE  PUBLICATIONS  COMMITTEE 


E 


SEASONS  Q^EETIWGS  TO  ALL 


PERSONAL  NOTES 


Elaine  R.  Hanson,  Kirstein  Business  Branch 
Robert  D.  Tfyman,  Cataloging  and  Classifica- 
tion, Div,  of  R.  and  R.  S, 
ingMonica  Mo  Harrington,  Cataloging  and 
Classification,  Div*  of  R.  and  R<,  So 
Faith  T,  Minton,  Book  Stack  Service 
l\trs  Ncrma  So  Shemian,   Brighton 
Jason  Berkovitz,  Central  Charging  Records 

Re si gnat ions 


Emanuel  Levine,  Central  Charging  Records » 


Retirements 

f^illiam  A,  McGovian,  Book  Stack  Service, 

after  ^0  years  of  service. 
Nettie  C.  Bandiera,  Binding  Department, 

after  28  years  of  service. 


Engagements 


Rita  M,  Doherty,  Book  Preparation,  to 
Frederic  J,  Casey,  Corporal,  U.  S,  Army, 
Fort  Dix,  New  Jersey. 

Marie  A.  Larkin,  Book  Preparation,  to 
John  B.  McQuaid,  Airman  2nd  class,  Gary 
Airforce  Base,  San  Marcos,  Texas. 

Announcement  has  been  made  of  the  en- 
gagement of  Anne  E.  McCarthy,  South  Boston, 
to  Charles  F,  Kinne  of  Dorchester.  A 
summer  wedding  is  planned » 


-2- 


Janice  G,  Lane,  Office  of  Div,  of  H.R, 
and  C.S,  to  Roger  B,  Hunt  of  Cambridge, 

Births 

Mrs  Bennett  Wayne  (Naomi  Wayne)  of 
22  Suffolk  Rd.  Sharon,  now  on  leave  of 
absence  from  Codman  Square,  had  a  little 
girl  on  Nov.  18.  The  baby's  name  is 
Roberta  Sue. 


Mr  and  Mrs  Mortimer  Lenk  announce  the 
birth  of  a  son,  David,  on  November  19. 
Mrs  Lenk  is  the  former  Patience-Ann 
Vifilliams  of  the  Children's  Section  of 
Open  Shelf. 

^MEDDimS 

On  November  11,  Nancy  C.  Stipurko  was 
married  to  Ensign  V/illiam  J.  Kiernan,  Jr., 
at  the  Holy  Name  Church,  West  Roxbury. 

The  bride  wore  a  traditional  white 
satin  gown  vfith  panels  of  chantilly  lace 
creating  a  redingote  effect.  The  finger- 
tip veil  was  caught  to  a  Flemish  cap  of 
Hatching  lace.  She  carried  a  bouquet  of 
white  chrysanthemums  and  stephanotis. 

Jane  Ann  Kiernan,  sister  of  the  groom, 
as  rraid  of  honor,  wore  a  ballerina  govjn 
of  ruby  antique  taffeta.  The  bridesmaid. 


Assisting  in  serving  were  two  of  the  bride's 
neices.  Faith  Webber  and  Elizabeth  Nourse. 
llr  and  Mrs  Pitman  left  that  evening  for 
New  York,  where  they  will  make  their  home 
at  l60  Columbia  Heights,  Brooklyn  1, 

Jacque  Moon,  formerly  at  West  End, 
\*io  recently  returned  from  GreeiiLaid  where 
he  worked  with  the  American  Geological 
Expedition,  was  married  to  Suzanne  Manning 
at  a  candlelight  ceremony  in  the  Daniel  L, 
Marsh  Chapel  of  Boston  University  on 
Friday  evening,  November  6,  The  ceremony 
was  followed  by  a  reception  at  Longvrood 
Towers,  which  the  West  End  staff  attended. 
The  honeymooners  Trent  on  a  motor  trip  to 
l¥illiamsburg  and  Nev/  York,  On  their  return 
Ivir  Moon  will  continue  to  work  for  his 
Ph,D»  at  Harvard 0 

VISITORS 

Dr  Ernst  Hessenauer,  Director,  Adult 
Education,  Ministry  of  Education,  Kiel 
Germany. 

Twelve  students  from  the  Department  of 
Librarianship ,  New  York  State  College  for 
Teachers  in  Albany,  visited  the  Library 


on  the  morning  of  November  19,  19^3, 
Mary  Mehlman  of  Mattapan,  wore  a  similarly  accompanied  by  Mr  Robert  S.  Burgess,  the 
styled  gown  in  emerald  green  antique     Head  of  the  Department  and  a  member  of  the 
taffeta.  Matching  gold  leaf  ha If -hats  and  faculty 
bouquets  of  fall  floi/ers  completed  the 
ensembles o  The  bride  has  returned  to  her 
former  position  at  Mattapan  while  her 
husband  completes  a  course  at  Naval  Jus- 
tice School,  Ne¥/port,  Rhode  Island, 


MILITARY  SERVICE 


Mrs  Sarah  W.  Flannery,  Deputy  Super- 
visor, Div,  of  R.  and  R.S,  and  Chief  of 
History,  returned  on  Monday,  December  ll;, 
after  an  absence  of  three  years  spent  on 
duty  at  the  U.S,  Naval  Base,  Norfolk, 
Virginia, 


CONGRATULATIONS  TO 


The  Nourse  homestead,  Westborough, 
Massachusetts,  was  the  setting  for  a 
quiet  but  impressive  wedding  ceremony  on 
Thanksgiving  afternoon,  November  26,  1953, 
vhen  Dorothy  Fay,  the  daughter  of  Arthur 
Merriam  No\irse ,  became  the  bride  of  Robert 
Williams  Pitman.  The  vows  were  taken  by    Mildred  Kaufman,  Branch  Librarian, 
the  couple  standing  before  the  flower-    femorial,  who  has  been  named  to  serve  as 
banked  fireplace  in  the  main  living  room,  U   member  of  the  Education  Committee  of 
The  Reverend  Kenneth  Brooks,  pastor  of  thethe  National  Conference  of  Christians  and 
Congregational  Church,  7/as  the  off iciating Jews, 
clergyman. 

The  bride  wore  a  blue  afternoon  dress, 
with  a  corsage  of  rose  camillias,  Follovir- 

ing  the  ceremony,  lilrs  Lucy  Vifebber  of        Linda  Pagliuca,  assistant  at  North  End, 
Auburn,  Maine,  sister  of  the  bride,  and   recently  chosen  Tops  among  Teens  by 
Mrs  Helen  Nourse,  her  sister-in-law,  were  Sheila  John  Daly  in  her  syridicated  article 
hostesses  at  the  beautifully  decorated    foj,  the  Teen  Age  in  the  Chicago  Sunday 
dining  room  table  where  dainty  refresh-   rribune.  Miss  Pagliuca  writes  a  column 
ments,  including  a  bride's  cake  (not  made  'Teen  Topics"      in  the  Italian  News— 
by  the  bride  I),  was  the  main  feature.     a  weekly  paper  published  in-the  North  End. 


-3- 


PRESIDENT'S  NOTES 

At  the  September  meeting  of  the  3xecu- 
tive  Board  it  was  decided  to  establish  a 
Personnel  Committee, 

The  duties  of  this  Personnel  Committee 
are  to  make  investigations  and  recom- 
mendations on  those  personnel  matters 
yvjhich  are  referred  to  the  Committee  by 
the  Executive  Board  and  to  make  a  report 
on  these  matters  to  the  Executive  Board, 

The  Executive  Board,  therefore,  has 
requested  the  Personnel  Committee  to  in- 
vestigate the  promotional  system  (includ- 
ing transfers)  for  the  bibliothecal  staff 
to  make  recommendations  for  changes,  and 
to  make  a  report  to  the  Executive  Board, 

All  phases  of  the  promotional  system 
are  to  be  considered  but  the  Committee 
has  been  instructed  to  include  these  itemc 
suggested  by  members  of  the  Executive 
Board  and  other  members  of  the  Associa- 
tions 

lo  A  detailed  analysis  of  the  work- 
ings of  the  present  "point  system". 

2,  The  advisability  of  having  the 

top  three  candidates,  vfho  have  beer 
selected  for  interviev/s  for  pro- 
motion to  a  particular  position, 
previously  screened  to  determine 
that  each  of  the  three  has  an 
active  interest  in  being  appointed 
to  that  position. 

3.  The  question  of  whether  points 
should  not  be  given  for  equiva- 
lences granted  (a)  to  staff  mem- 
bers in  the  Library  before  1938 
for  qualifying  examinations  and 
(b)  to  any  staff  member  for 
courses  taken  and  examinations 
passed,  other  than  those  needed 
for  the  particular  job  vjhich  he 
holds , 

U.  Viliether  it  vfould  be  feasible, 

prior  to  the  filling  of  a  vacancy, 
to  post  a  list  of  the  eligible 
persons  vd.th  a  statement  of  their 
points  and  their  relative  status. 
Suggestions  and  constructive  criticism 
from  all  interested  members  of  the 
Association  are  invited  as  an  aid  to  the 
Committee. 

Copies  of  the  reports  of  the  Special 
Committee  on  Personnel  Ratings,  of  the 
Special  Committee  on  Personnel  Morale, 
and  of  the  Meetings  of  the  Executive 
Board  and  the  Morale  Committee  vfith  the 
Director  are  being  nade  available  for  the 
Committee's  use. 


The  follov'dng  members  have  expressed 
their  willingness  to  serve  on  this  Com- 
mittee; 

Christiana  P,  Jordan,  Branch  Librarian, 

Alls ton  (HR&CS),  Chairman 
Charles  J.  Gill is.  Cataloguer  and 

Classifier,  Cat  &  Class  (KRStCS) 
Paul  V.  Moynihan,  Assistant,  General 

Reference  (R&RS)' 
Louis  Polishook,  Assistant,  Patent 

Room,  (R&RS) 
Jfergaret  Sarsfield,  Assistant,  Central 

Charging  Records  (IHtCS) 
Mrs  Bridie  O'Connell  Stotz,  Assistant^ 

Uphams  Corner  (HR&CS) 
Loraine  Ac  Sullivan,  Chief,  Science 

and  Technology,  (R&RS) 
Pasquale  A.  Vacca,  Probationary 

Assistant,  Dorchester  (HR&CS) 
Kathleen  M.  Woodvirorth,  Reference 

Assistant,  Fine  Arts,  (R&RS) 

B.  Joseph  O'Neil 
President 

BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
EI^iPLC-YEES'    BENEFIT  ASSOCIATION,   INC. 

1902-1953 

The  ending  of  the  oldest  Staff  As- 
sociation brings  regret  to  everybody. 
In  its  life  of  fifty-one  years  the  Boston 
Public  Library  Employees '  Benefit  Asso- 
ciation, Inc«  paid  in  sick  benefits  to 
its  members  |)U7j6U3»l8  and  in  death 
benefits  |12, 500.00,  This  T-vas  all  done 
vdth  only  the  small  payment  of  twenty- 
five  cents  for  dues  each  month  until  a 
couple  years  ago  when  dues  were  raised 
to  fifty  cents  a  month  in  an  attempt  to 
give  the  old  Association  a  transfusion 
to  keep  it  alive. 

In  1910,  five  weeks'  sick  benefit  were 
allowed  to  be  paid  to  members.  Through 
the  years,  this  ivas  raised  to  thirteen 
weeks  and  in  its  last  year  had  to  be 
reduced  to  three  weeks. 

In  19^2  vvhen  the  Association  celebrated 
its  Golden  Anniversary,  only  119  persons, 
a  majority  non  members,  were  interested 
enough  to  attend  the  Banquet. 

At  one  time  the  membership  of  Asso- 
ciation included  about  seventy-five 
percent  of  the  staff.  This  year,  its 
last,  it  comprised  about  thirty-three 
percent, 

James  P.  Mooers 


^^ 


YOUNG  ADULTS   IN  HCNOLULU 

The  following  item  is  taken  from  a 
recent  Honolulu  nevrapaper,  and  should  be 
of  interest  to  anyone  trying  to  do  v7ork 
with  Young  Adults: 

"With  most  people,   in  most  places , 
getting  a   library  card  is  pretty  much  a 
routine  event,  like  paying  taxes,   or 
going  to  the  family  doctor  for  an  annual 
checkup, 

"That's  not  the  way  the  folks  out  in 
the  Kalihi-Palama  section  think  of  ito 

"They  nade  a  community  ceremony  out  of 
the  presentation  of  adult  library  cards 
to  a  group  of  teen-agers  recently, 

"There  was  a  program  of  hulas  and  songs 
a  movie  on  dating,  and  refreshments, 
thou^tfully  provided  by  the  Kalakaua 
Lions  Club, 

"Community  leaders  representing 
neighborhood  schools,  the  Oahu  YouAh 
Council  and  the  Kalihi-Palarra  Community 
Council  were   on  hand  to  add  their  en- 
couragement, 

"The  program  vras  arranged  by  Librarians 
Ityrtle  Mattison  and  Alice  Covell, 

"lITien  you  stop  to  think  about  it, 
getting  a  grovm-up  library  card  is  a 
pretty  big  event  for  a  teen-ager, 

"It  is  a   conscious  step  from  the  y/orld 
of  juvenile   books  to  the  unlimited 
horizons  of  adult  literature.      It  is  the 
beginning  of  a  new  adventure  in  self- 
improvement,  in  recreation, 

"To  the  imaginative  people  of  Kalihi- 
Palama  who  took  this   opportunity  to  bring 
the  community  together  and  re-emphasize 
the  value  the  library  and  its  books  Yave 
to  them,  a  deep,  appreciative  bovir," 

Mildred  Kaufman 

WELCOME  TO  Ng?  MEMBERS  OF  BPLPSA 

Bettina  M.  Coletti,  Open  Shelf 
Edward  J,  Cullinane,  Egleston  Square 
Cornelia  Dorgan,  Ftare  Book 
Diane  G,  Farrell,  West  End 
Louise  M.  Fogarty,  Codman  Square 
Elizabeth  S.  Good,  Central  Charging 

Records 
Marjorie  D,  Knilling,  Central  Charging 

Records 

Wilma  A.  Lyons,  Book  Stack  Service 

James  A,  Mackie,  Science  and  Technology 

John  J,  O'Neil,  Open  Shelf 

Isabella  M,  Porter,  History 

Sydney  L,  Shwora,  Codman  Square 

Mrs  Anna  A,  Sullivan,  Sgleston  Square 


Constance  Wilson,  Book  Stack  Service 
Robert  C,  Woodward,  History   ' 


RETIREMENTS 
William  A.  McGovran 

William  A.  McGowan  retired  from  the 
service  cf  the  Library  on  November  30, 1953  • 
Last  March  9th  marked  his  fiftieth  year 
cf  service.  Fifty  years  is  a  great  deal 
of  time  to  be  an  employee  of  one  in- 
stitution and  it  isn't  often  an  institu- 
tion can  boast  of  such  loyal  service.  The 
small  circle  of  those  whose  devoted 
service  runs  back  to  boyhood  and  girlhood 
grows  smaller  with  each  retirement.  Bill 
cans  to  work  in  this  Library  v/hen  he  and 
this  building  were  still  young  and  full 
of  enthusiasm.  Through  the  years,  his 
has  been  a  career  of  friendships.  No  one 
has  been  more  loyal  or  helpful  to  his 
fellow  employees  than  Bill, 

Jtr  McGowan  was  a  member  of  the  Quarter 
Century  Club,  past  Vice-President  of  the 
Employees'  Benefit  Association,  past 
President  of  the  Library  Union,  and  for 
years  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  the  City  of  Boston  Employees' 
Credit  Union, 

Now  that  he  has  retired,  we  will  miss 
him  more  and  more.  Come  back  and  see  us 
often  Bill. 

Patrick  Murtagh 

A  ?JEIGHTY  M/lTTER 

TSro   little  boys  virerc  examining  the 
Webster's  unabridged  dictionary  in  the 
Teacher's  Department,  and  were  having 
quite  a  discussion  about  it.  When  asked 
if  they  were  looking  for  anything  in 
particular,  one  of  them  replied,  "Naw, 
we  v;as  just  vrondering  which  was  heavier, 
this  or  the  Prayer  Book  on  the  altar »" 

BLOOD  PROGRAM 

If  you  give  a  pint  of  blood  through 
the  City  of  Boston  Employees  Blood  Program, 
you  and  your  family  virill  receive  needed 
blood  free  from  the  Red  Cross.  Call  Mrs 
Wollent  in  the  Library  Hospital.  Do  it 
now  I 


LOST  A.ND  F0UI-3D 

Six  keys  in  black  leather  koy  case, 
left  in  Personnel  Office,  Owner  may 
recover  them  there o 

Gold  bracelet  found  in  Povj-der  Room, 
Stack  2,   after  Branch  Librarians'  meet» 
ing  on  December  2.  Oimier  may  claim  in 
Personnel  Office* 


ADULT  EDUCATION  ASSOCIATION 
OF  MASSACHUSETTS 

The  second  Annual  Meeting  held  in 
Worcester's  new  and  extremely  modem 
Chandler  Street  Junior  High  School,  on 
Saturday,  November  21,  was  attended  by 
four  BoPoLs  staff  members.  The  purposes 
of  the  meeting  were:  "To  enable  all  those 
engaged  in  adult  education  (l)  to  become 
conscious  that  they  are  part  of  a  common 
educational  enterprise,  (2)  to  broaden 
their  interests,  deepen  their  understand- 
ing, sharpen  their  skills,  (3)  to  share 
with  all  educational  undertakings  the 
task  of  developing  democratic  practices 
in  all  phases  of  our  community  life»" 
A  series  of  Tuorkshops  on  subjects  and 
materials  vrere  built  around  the  theme 
Making  Better  Use  of  Present  Resources c 
Dr  Franklin  P.  Hawkes,  Director,  Fair 
Educational  Practices  Commission,  was  the 
leader  of  a  panel,  each  member  of  which 
gave  a  five-minute  preview  of  one  of  the 
morning  workshops.  An  interesting  featnre 
of  this  panel  was  the  time  clock  used  by 
Dr  Hawkes,  Perhaps  it  n3.s   due  to  the 
clock  that  not  even  one  of  the  five 
participants  exceeded  the  time  limit. 

Of  the  ten  workshops  held  during  the 
day,  reports  on  five  are  given  here.   Two 
Boston  Public  Library  staff  members  served 
as  resource  members  at  the  workshops — 
Mrs  Helen  Hirson,  Extension  Librarian, 
at  the  workshop  on  Senior  Citizens ^  and 
Mrs  Muriel  Javelin,  Deputy  Supervisor, 
In  Charge  of  Work  with  Adults,  at  the 
Workshop  on  Informal  Continuing  Education 
Groups. 

FolloT/ing  a  roast  beef  luncheon  in  the 
School  Cafeteria,  there  was  a  brief  busi- 
ness meeting.  Among  the  newly  elected 
officers  were  three  Librarians:  Presi- 
dent: Miriam  Putnam,  Librarian,  Memorial 
Hall  Library,  Andoverj  Regional  Vice 
Presidents:  Thurston  Taylor,  Librarian^ 
Worcester  Free  Public  Library;  and  Sigrid 
Edge,  Simmons  College  School  of  Library 


-5- 


S'.-ience,  Dr  Kenneth  D,  Eenne,  Director 
of  the  new  H'.iaan  Relations  Center  at 
Boston  University,  briefly  described 
plans  for  the  development  of  the  Center 
and  Forrest  Seymour  of  the  ¥>forcester 
i Te le gi-.'-i-n-Ga %(^t t o  siMirnariEed  the  findings 


of  the  mornir.,^  woi'^'ohopsi, 
I   Reports  of  the  neetir.g  have  not  yet 
l^been  printed,  but  ix.  seemed  to  bo  the 
general  impression  that  once  again  the 
workshop  iype  of  meeting  had  demonstrated 
its  value  as  an  educational  technique, 

Muriel  C.  Javelin 

Wbrkshop  on  Educational  TV 

The  educational  TV  program  of  Rutgers 
University  and  the  plans  for  Worcester's 
two  proposed  commercial  TV  stations. 
Channels  20  and  2k,   were  described  in 
some  detail.  Throughout  the  meeting 
references  to  Boston's  proposed  educa- 
tional Oiannel  2  were  made  by  Robert 
P,  Anderson,  a  director  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Citizens'  Committee  for  Educational 
Television  and  one  of  the  five  resource 
persons  at  this  meeting.  Hannah  Hyatt 
of  the  Fitchburg  Public  Library  served 
as  Recorder.  The  interest  of  the  group — 
which  was  a  large  one — seemed  to  center 
on  the  question:  What  are  some  of  the 
successful  programs  on  educational  and 
commercial  television  and  how  do  they 
differ?  The  need  for  training  those 
responsible  for  planning  educational 
programs  was  a  problem  which  concerned 
many  group  members.  Certainly  the  entire 
group  left  the  meeting  ^vith  the  realiza- 
tion that  there  are  many  unsolved  pro- 
blems in  connection  with  the  effective 
use  of  TV  for  educational  purposes, 

Muriel  C,  Javelin 
Workshop  on  Foreign  Affairs 

Sherman  S.  Hayden,  President,  Worcester 
Chapter,  Foreign  Policy  Association,  and 
Associate  Professor  International  Rela- 
tions, Clark  University,  was  chairman  and 
discussion  leader  at  the  Workshop  on 
Foreign  Affairs.  There  were  about  25 
participants  in  the  group  all  working  in 
various  fields  of  adult  education  with 
representatives  from  the  Worcester  and 
Fitchburg  Libraries  as  well  as  Boston, 

Resource  materials  were  consMcred 
first  and  the  Pamphlet  Shop  and  Spgakprs 
Bureau  of  the  United  Council  on  World 


-6- 


Af fairs  in  Boston  were  cited  as  being 
especially  useful  and  available  through- 
out the  state,  William  J,  Trainor,  Jr., 
Field  Worker,  American  Foundation,  Boston, 
spoke  of  the  programs  of  discussion 
groups  being  carried  on  by  that  organi- 
zation under  a  grant  from  the  Ford  Fund 
for  Adult  Education. 

The  continuing  discussion  brought  out 
the  need  for  a  film  circuit  to  make  films 
available  to  groups  and  organizations  not 
situated  near  Boston.  The  possibility 
of  such  a  circuit  being  established 
through  libraries  is  already  under  con- 
sideration. Another  lack  is  that  of  the 
use  of  TV  for  purposes  of  political  edu- 
cation. 

It  ■was  felt  that  individuals  had  moved 
in  their  interest  in  international  affairs 
from  the  place  of  volunteer  organizations 
and  big-name  speakers,  to  highly  struc- 
tured organizations  and  new  approaches 
such  as  the  discussion  groups,  film 
forums ,  etc ,  It  was  pointed  out  that 
people  must  have  the  opportunity  to  "do" 
as  well  as  "study"  by  means  of  activities 
that  might  include  group  visits  to  the 
United  Nations  in  New  York  and  visitc 
from  members  of  the  United  Nations  by 
invitation  to  families  in  the  community. 

The  ever-present  question  of  how  to 
challenge  the  interest  of  the  man  in  the 
street  resulted  in  the  comments  that  it 
is  not  necessary  for  a  program  to  be 
mutually  exclusive  and  that  it  need  do  no 
more  than  to  provide  handholds  for  people 
vrtio  have  their  interest  stirred.  In 
planning  programs  it  must  be  decided 
whether  we  are  trying  to  build  attitudes 
or  are  chiefly  concerned  T/ith  informationj 
The  situation  is  complicated  and  if  it  can 
be  s  implif ied  for  the  individual  by  making 
an  experience  for  him  through  some  project, 
as  having  him  become  acquainted  with  a 
foreign  student,. then  he  will  perhaps  be 
willing  to  struggle  intellectually  to 
change  his  attitudes. 

Even  if  1^%   to  30^  of  the  people  are 
uneducable ,  as  claimed  by  different 
authorities ,  there  are  still  three . 
quarters  of  the  people  of  various  kinds 
to  be  reached.  People  are  generally 
apathetic  about  foreign  affairs  because 
of  fear  and  a  feeling  of  their  oim  in- 
adequacy. A  well-planned  program,  with 
the  proper  type  of  promotion,  and  spon- 
sored by  more  than  one  organization  to 
represent  several  points  of  view,  has  the 
best  chance  of  success, 

Pauline  A,  Walker 


Workshop  on 
Informal  Con'Einuing  Education  Groups 

Brief,  informal  talks  by  Resource  mem- 
bers covered  the  work  of  the  Worcester 
County  Extension  Service,  an  account  of 
Adult  Education  activities  at  the 
University  of  Massaoiiusetts ,  at  the  Holy 
Cross  Institute  of  Industrial  Relations, 
and  at  the  Boston  Public  Library. 
Edward  Muir,  Field  Worker  of  the  Great 
Books  Foundation,  concluded  with  a  des- 
cription of  the  Great  Books  project,  A 
lively  discussion  of  informal  education 
in  Massachusetts  followed  the  presen- 
tations . 

Muriel  C,  Javelin 

Workshop  on  Senior  Citizens 

Under  the  leadership  of  Robert  F, 
Cahill,  Worcester  Community  Council, 
several  educational  resources  for  senior 
adults  were  ennumerated  and  evaluated,  A 
great  aid  to  an  effective  discussion  was 
the  mimeographed  list  of  seven  questions 
v^iich  was  distributed  to  every  one  at  the 
meeting.  Another  asset  was  the  variety  of 
persons  present  who  represented  settlement 
house  clubs,  the  Springfield  Hobby  Club 
Center,  industries  employing  older  people, 
geriatric  clinics,  and  educational  pro- 
grams like  The  Never  Too  Late  Group  of  the 
Boston  Public  Library^  Facetiously, 
several  members  claimed  that  the  high 
level  of  educational  activity  of  the 
^fever  Too  Late  Group  could  only  survive 
in  "Cultural  Boston", 

Helen  F.  Hirson 

Workshop  on  Young  Adults 

Edna  Sommerfeld,  Regional  Extension 
Igent,  New  England  Pilot  Project  for  work 
vith  young  men  and  women,  Worcester,  set 
;he  informal  tone  as  she  greeted  the 
participants  and  invited  each  person  to 
identify  himself  (or  herself)  by  name  and 
Position,  Between  twenty-five  and  thirty 
'esponded.  The  majority  were  those 
working  with  young  adults  but  it  was 
pleasant  to  note  that  there  were  also 
three  young  adults  participating  solely 
in  their  capacity  as  interested  young 
idults,  William  R.  Miller,  Regional 
ibctension  Agent,  New  England  Pilot  Pra,1eot^ 
Droved  a  very  effective  leader  by  sub- 
limating himself  and  inspiring  questions 


and  discussion  from  the  general  members. 

Young  adults  as  considered  at  this 
meeting  are  the  group  of  young  people  in 
all  walks  of  life  covering  the  ages  18-30, 
Mr  Miller  explained  the  Pilot  Project 
which  is  an  organized  group  with  the 
objective  of  inquiring  into  the  problems 
of  youth  and  endeavoring  to  meet  those 
problems.  The  thotre  of  the  workshop 
was  "Are  the  resources  for  aiding  Young 
Adults  effective?"  It  was  repeatedly 
pointed  out  that  the  young  people  are 
interested  in  the  business  of  living. 
One  young  adult  participant  pointed  out 
that  young  adults  want  education  in  the 
sense  of  knowing  how  to  get  along  with 
people  and  to  underst^.nd  what  the  other 
fellow  is  thinking,  even  though  they  may 
outwardly  scorn  formal  education.  Another 
young  adult  reminded  the  group  of  the  fact 
that  young  adults  are  nev;  at  the  job  of 
being  adults  and  they  need  a  time  to  ad- 
just themselves  to  their  new  status.  They 
also  need  patience  and  understanding  whiile 
they  are  making  the  adjtffitment.  Mr 
Eberley  (Boston  Y.M.C.A,)carried  forward 
this  idea  and  warned  that  the  language 
of  adults  is  "foreign"  to  young  adults  and 
adults  must  learn  hovf  to  get  their  in- 
terests and  enthusiasms  across  to  the 
young  people.  The  role  of  libraries  as 
a  useful  agent  in  work  T.dth  young  adults 
was  discussed  briefly.  It  was  pointed 
out  that  a  dults  must  not  do  things  for 
young  adults  but  vri- th  them.  A  discussion 
regarding  the  ncvTspaper  and  radio  re- 
porting of  the  crime  s  of  youthful  off era-. 
ders  was  just  getting  undervray  when  it  vas 
discovered  tb^t  the  hour  for  closing  had 
passed  unnoticed  fifteen  minutes  previous- 
ly. The  Roundtable  was  pleased  to  have 
comments  from  representatives  from  England 
and  Viet  Nam. 

Of  the  four  "resource  persons"  who 
helped  to  keep  the  discussion  ball  rolling 
one  was  a  former  BPLer,  Mrs  Katherine  P. 
Jeffrey,  Milton  Public  Library,  Milton, 

Edna  G.  Peck 


CARE 

Be  sure  to  see  the  Christmas 
card  and  letter  on  the  Bulletin 
Board  in  Central  from  a  grateful 
recipient  of  a  CARE  package. 


CENTEMIAL  NOTES 

Julius  Caeaar  Preview 
Aids  Centennial  Fund 

One  of  the  special  events  planned  in 
connection  with  the  observance  of  the 
Library's  lOOth  Anniversary  is  the  Boston 
premiere  of  the  fiLii  presentation  of 
William  Shakespeare's  Julius  Caesar  to 
be  held  at  the  Majestic  Theatre  on  Monday 
evening,  December  21,  in  advance  of  the 
public  showings  which  are  to  start  on 
Christmas  Day, 

This  important  new  f iLm  stars  Louis 
Calhern  as  Caesar,  James  Mason  as  Brufeus, 
John  Gielgud  as  Cassius,  Fiarlon  Brando 
as  Antony,  Greer  Garson  as  Calpurnia,  and 
Deborah  Kerr  as'  Portia, 

This  preview  is  being  made  possible 
through  the  courtesy  of  Metro -Go Idwyn- 
Mayer  Pictures  and  Shubert  Theatres.  All 
proceeds  from  the  sale  of  tickets,  priced 
at  five  dollars  each,  will  go  to  the 
Centennial  Fund  of  the  Library^ 

Arthur  Fiedler,  Conductor  of  the  Boston 
Pops,  is  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
Centennial  Commission  members  sponsoring 
the  presentation. 

Television  Programs 
Highlight  the  Centennial  Celebration 

From  5'-00  to  S:h^   p.m^  on  Friday,  De%- 
cember  11,  WNAC-TV  presented  a  "live" 
telecast  from  Central  Library  on  -the  "ankee 
Goes  Calling  program,  emceed  by  BiH  Hahno 

Patrick  F.  McDonald,  President  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  and  Milton  E.  Lord, 
Director,  were  ably  assisted  in  presenting 
the  BPL  to  TV  viewers  by  the  following: 
John  M.  Carroll,  John  J.  Connolly,  John  J. 
Cronan,  Zoltan  Haras zti,  Arthur  W, 
Hcintzelman,  Bradford  M.  Hill,  Priscilla 
S.  I&cFadden,  and -Thomas  J.  Manning, 
Filmed  sequences  of  various  phases  of  the 
Library's  ¥TOrk  were  incorporated  into  the 
presentation. 

Many  staff  members  greatly  appreciated 
being  given  the  opportunity  of  seeing  the 
program  on  the  rented  TV  set  placed  in  the 
lecture  hall  for  their  convenience. 

On  Monday,  December  21,  at  9:00  a.m.. 
Ml*  Lord  will  again  represent  the  Library 
when  he  vfill  be  the  featured  guast  on 
Domestic  Diary,  with  Polly  Huse ,  on  FB7,-TV<, 


"The  tumult  and  the  shouting  are 
o'erS'-^the  Centennial  Staff  Gift  Fund  is 
fatter  by  over  |)l,i;00,  and  the  staff  is 
still  gasping  at  its  ovm  accomplishment 
and  feeling  grateful  to  the  Administra- 
tion for  having  given  permission  for 
the  holding  of  a  Fair  I 

There  can  be  not  the  slightest  shadow 
of  a  doubt  in  anyone's  mind  that  the  bow — 
big  and  svieeping — can  be  taken  this  month 
by  Priscilla  S.  JfecFadden  who  dared  to 
suggest  such  a  stupendous  undertaking  as 
a  staff  fair  and  vho  stuck  vdth  it  until 
the  doors  of  the  Lecture  Hall  closed  with 
a  big  bang  of  success  at  10  p.m.  on 
Friday  evening,  December  U. 

Smaller  bows  may  also  be  taken  by  each 
staff  member  vdio  contributed  in  any 
amount  of  his  or  her  time,  talents,  sale- 
able products,  and  purchasing  povrer  be- 
cause it  was  the  combined  generosity, 
cooperation,  enthusiasm,  and  good  will  of 
all  which  furnished  the  momentum  virhich 
swept  the  undertaking  joyously  on  tovrard 
its  successful  conclusion.  For  one  whole 
day  staff  gripes  were  forgotten,  indi-- 
vidual  problems  relegated  to  the  back- 
ground, and  staff  morale  went  zooming  up 
to  a  high  not  reached  in  many  a  moon. 


From  the  first  appeal,  materials  for 
sale  came  flooding  in  until  they  over- 
flowed Mr  Tuley's  quarters  and  had  to  be 
stored  in  the  a joining  room.  They  varied 
from  a  sealskin  coat  (which  sold  for  $15 
and  was  worn  most  becomingly  by  a  satis- 
fied customer  l)  to  one  lonely  earring 
which  had  strayed  from  its  mate  l 

Ardent  workers  transformed  the  Lecture 
Hall  into  alluring  fair  grounds,  and  the 
food  "Concession"  on  the  "midway"  did 
such  a  rushing  business  that  it  was  almost 
as  bare  as  Mother  Hubbard's  cupboard  at 
certain  periods  of  the  day.  Close  by,  and 
equally  successful,  was  Cooks  in  Print, 
v^fhich  sold  out  its  first  edition  of  k3S 
copies,  much  to  the  satisfaction  of 
l"Iary  D,  Farrell,  its  inspiration.  The 
prize  in  the  title  contest — a  first 
edition  copy — ^went  to  Eamon  E.  McDonough, 

Bidding  for  Heintzelman  etchings  (5 
in  number,  contributed  most  generausly 
by  our  Keeper  of  Prints  and  adding  $12^ 
to  the  net  profit)  attracted  much  atten- 
tion. The  contest  to  choose  "Miss  Centen- 
nial Fair"  was  heated  and  marked  by 
frequent  lifting  of  the  boxes  in  vain 
attempts  to  guess  who  was  ahead  I  (See 
apecial  item  following)  The  baffling 


-9- 


baby  picture  contest  caused  many  brows  to 
wrinkle  and  pencils  to  be  gnawed  vigorously 
as  aspirants  attempted  to  identify  "8  out 
of  10".  The  "8"  were:  Albert  L.  Carpenter, 
John  J.  Connolly,  Catherine  M.  MacDonald, 
Edna  G,  Peck,  Ellen  C,  Peterson,  John  W. 
Tuley,  Mrs  Edna  Me  T/Tollent,  and  Mrs  Eliza- 
beth L.  Wright.  Added  to  confuse  the  issue 
were  pictures  of  Friscills  S.  MacFadden 
and  Mrs  Vanda  Cariani,  Five  people  tied 
for  hnnors  In  this  contest: 

J'Irs  Muriel  C.  Javelin 

Mrs  Veronica  Lehane 

Catherine  M.  MacDonald 

Edna  G.  Peck 

Irene  J.  Wadsworth 

Madame  Jennifer,  the  Romany  Gypsy, 
(Elizabeth  M.  Gordon),  read  palms  in  close 
competition  with  Isis,  Egyptian  Card 
Reader  (a  friend  of  Miss  MacFadden)  who 
told  fortunes  by  cards.  If  the  building 
hadn't  closed  at  10  p«ra,,  undoubtedly 
waiting  lines  would  still  be  queued,  eager 
to  find  out  what  the  future  holds. 

Background  music  during  the  day  was 
furnished  by  recordings  from  Audio-Visual 
and  by  piano  solos  by  Loraine  A.  Sullivan, 
Bradford  M.  Hill,  and  Martin  F.  Waters. 

All  material  was  cut  to  half  price  be- 
fore the  auctioning  of  the  remainder  be- 
gan under  the  auctionner's  mythical  hammer 
wielded  expertly  by  George  W.  Patterson, 
Buildings.  A  raccoon  coat,  reminiscent 
of  the  gay  '20's,  went  for  $6.00,  and  a 
portable  typewriter  for  $26,  Only  the 
fact  that  there  are  but  60  minutes  in 
each  hour  and  the  building  closed  at  10 
p.m.  prevented  the  auctioning  from  con- 
tinviing. 

The  program,  ably  emceed  by  Paul  Jo 
Delahanty,  formerly  of  Open  Shelf,  con- 
sisted of  a  delightfully  surprising 
array  of  "home  talent".  Mr  M.C.,  himself 
produced  a  live  rabbit  from  a  hat  after 
pouring  into  said  hat  a  concoction  which 
would  have  given  indigestion  to  any  able- 
bodied  man,  but  y^hich  left  the  rabbit  alire 
and  kicking  when  it  was  auctioned  off  to 
the  highest  bidder,  and  went  for  ;ti'2.10. 
The  musical  part  of  the  nrogram  follows: 
Vocal  solos  b/-  Gene  T.  Montefiore,  Patent, 
and  Angela  T.  Centola,  Office,.  Div.  of 
H.R,  and  C.S.j  violin  solo  by  Louis  M. 
Ugalde,  Rare  Book;  Folk  songs  with  guitar 
accompaniement,  by  Elsa  Shore,  formerly. 
Cataloging  and  Classification,  Div.  of 
R.  and  R.S.j  with  Daniel  J.  Koury,  Music, 
and  Robert  P.  Giddings,  Catalog  and  Class- 
ification, Div.  of  R,  and  R.S.,  playing 


accompaniements  and  turning  music,  by  turn. 

Helping  to  boost  sales  at  various 
times  during  the  day  were  Mrs  Frank  W, 
Buxton  and  the  Misses'  Friedman,  represent- 
ing the  Trustees,  and  many  BPL 'klumnae" , 
including  Christine  Hayes,  Alice  M,  Jordan, 
Geneva  Watson,  Rebecca  E,  Tifillis,  Mrs 
Mary  Vfatkins  Dietrj.ckson,  and  M,  Florence 
Cufflin^ 

An  estimated  total  of  from  700  to  800 
BPLers,  their  families  and  friends,  kept 
the  cashier  busy  making  change  from  10  a.m. 
to  entertainment  tiraeo  Frankie  Myers  took 
pictures  to  prove  that  it  actually  happened. 


The  virhirl  and  gay  confusion  of  a  big 
social  event,  the  stampede  tovrard  rare, 
home-concocted  breads  and  pastries,  the 
jingling  of  exotic  jewelry,  the  holiday 
frsLgrance  of  greens — memorable  all  of  it  I 
The  hope  is  that  such  a  fair  will  over- 
viTork  us,  distract  us,  overjoy  us  more 
often  than  once  in  a  hundred  years  I 

M»  Jane  Manthome 
Sarah  M.  Usher 

Miss  Centennial  Fair 

Ten  of  the  Library's  fairest  vied  for 
hnnors  in  the  Miss  Centennial  Fair  Con- 
test: 

A,  Gertrude  Barry,  Personnel  Office 
Mary  J,  Brady,  Office,  Div.  of  R.  and 
RoSo 

Geraldine  Coyman,  Cataloging  and  Classic 
fication,  Div,  of  R.  and  R«S. 
Jeanette  DeLello,  South  End 
Rosemarie  larrobins.  Business  Office 
Kathleen  A.  McCabe,  Mt  Pleasant 
Dorothea  Morgan,  Accounting  Office 
Claire  0 'Donne 11,  Book  Stack  Service 
Claire  Spellman,  Cataloging  and  Classi- 
fication, Div.  of  R..  and  R.  S, 

Constance  V/ilson,  Book  Stack  Service 

Photographs  submitted  by  the  sponsors 
of  the  contestants  vrere  enlarged  through 
the  good  offices  of  John  W,  Tuley,  Fire 
Prevention  Inspector, 

A,  Gertrude  Barry  carted  off  the  laurels, 
and  thereby  will  become  the  proud  owner 
of  a  portrait  sketch  done  by  Arthur 
Polonsky,  a  Boston  artist,  wio  kindly 
volunteered  to  sketch  the  winner  of  the 
contest.  Miss  Barry's  picture,  as  the  con- 
test winner,  appeared  in  the  Boston  Sunday 
Post  for  December  6,  1953.   The  Centennial 
Fund  was  enriched  by  over  $60, 

Sidney  Weinberg 


-10- 


Centennial  Staff  Fair 
Thanks  to  Everyone : 

to  these  Yiho  gave  permission  for  the 
Centennial  Fair  and  gave  it  constant  en- 
couragement. 

to  those  who  publicized  it  by  notices 
and  by  word  of  mouths 

to  those  who  contributed  ideas  for 
making  it  a  success, 

to  those  who  set  up  the  hall,  and 
mopped  up  aftervrards, 

to  those  who  brought  and  sent  the 
thousands  of  items  that  were  sold. 

to  those  ii/ho  received  and  sorted  and 
arranged  them. 

to  those  vjho  sold  and  to  those  who 
bought. 

to  those  who  contributed  to  Cooks  in 
Print — the  cooks,  the  Editor  and  her 
Committee,  these  -v,ho  made  sketches,  those 
I'iho  mimeographed,  to  the  Printing  Depart- 
ment and  the  Bindery  Department  v<ho 
turned  it  into  a  book, 

to  our  sponsored  Beauties  for  con- 
tributing excitement  and  money. 

to  the  famous  Babies  virho  mj stifled  us, 

to  our  persuasive  auctioneer. 

to  our  entertainers  for  their  talent 
and  time. 

to  our  fortune  tellers  v:ho  boosted 
our  egos, 

to  our  friends  and  relatives  who  con- 
tributed thinrrs  to  sell,  and  came  to  buy 
also, 

to  our  photographer  who  recorded  the 
event, 

to  photographers  and  friends  v;ho  con- 
tributed prizes  for  our  contestants. 

Thanks  to  everyone  ! 

Priscilla  S,  MacFadden  (Fine  Arts) 
Chairman,  Centc;nnial  Fair 

In  Appreciation 

To  All  The  Members  of  the  Staff: 

I  am  very  grateful  for  the  honor  given 
me  to  act  as  your  representative  in  pre- 
senting your  Centennial  Gift  to  the 
President  and  Members  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  the  Boston  Public  Library, 
at  the  Centennial  Dinner  held  at  the 
Sheraton  Plaza  on  Wednesday,  November  11. 

Gratefully  yours, 
(Signed)    GEORGE  '''^  GALLAGHER 
Binding  Department 


BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  HONORED 

The  Boston  Public  Library  has  been 
chosen  by  the  Adult  Education  Board  of 
A.L.A,  as  one  of  twenty  libraries  to  re- 
ceive a  sub-grant  from  the  Fund  for  Adult 
Education  to  initiate  and  develop  a  new 
adult  education  project.  The  project, 
entitled  Expanding  Horizons,  will  consist 
of  a  ten-week  training  institute  in  prac- 
tical human  relations  for  leaders  of  com- 
munity organizations  to  proAn.de  represen- 
tatives of  adult  community  groups  an  op- 
portunity for  leadership  training  pointed 
towards  the  resolution  of  human  relations 
problems,  vdth  particular  reference  to 
the  needs  of  metropolitan  Boston. 

ALUMNA  APPRECIATION 

A  note  tucked  in  v/ith  a  Christmas 
card  from  Mrs  Gussene  Gu^j-eyan  Hatzik, 
formerly  of  Cataloging  and  Classifica- 
tion, DiVc  of  R.  and  R^S.,  and  now  of 
Encino,  California,  has  given  much  plea- 
sure to  the  Publications  Committee,  We 
share  it  with  you:   "I  miss  you  all  very 
much  and  can't  wait  until  I  receive  the 
'Question  Ifark''  every  month.  Every  word 
is  hungrily  devoured  and  enjoyed c  The 
'Qu.epti_on_Mark'  is  like  a  sincere  hand- 
shake across  the  miles c  Keep  up  the  good 
vsTorkj" 

SEAS0M5  GREETINGS 
TO  THOSE  ON  THE  SICK  LIST 

Elizabeth  B,  Boudreau,  Information  Office 

Mrs  Franc ina  Gelzer,  North  End 

Hope  Bi  Broi/TO,  Charlestown 

Elvira  G,  Lavorgna,  Fine  Arts 

Mrs  Stella  K.  Easland,  Orient  Heights 

Robert  J.  Mahoney,  Buildings 

Edward  F.  Maynard,  Buildings 

Charles  F.  Welder,  Buildings 

NEV;  BOOKS  IN  THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 

Non-Fiction 

Mpors,  Anthony.  Kathorine  Mansfield, 

Now  York,  Knopf,  19^3 
Anderton,  Rus'^.  Tic-polonga. 

Garden  City,  New  York,  Doubleday,  1953- 
Bemelmans,  Lud-vig,  Father,  dear  father, 

NcT.r  York,  Viking  Press,  1953, 
Breig,  Joseph  A.  A  halo  for  father. 

Milwaukee,  Bruce  Pub,  Co,,  1953 
3rosby,  Bing.  Call  me  lucky. 

New  York,  Simon  and  Schuster,  1953 


-11- 


Douglas,  William  0.     North  from  Iihlayac 

Garden  City,  New  York,  Doubleday,  19$3. 
Griffith,  Richardo     The  world  of  Robert 

Flaherty. 

Nev\f  York,  Duell,  Sloan  and  Pearce,   1953 
Lindbergh,  Charles  A,     The  Spirit  of  St 

Louis, 

Now  York,  Scribner,  19^3 
Loveridge,  Arthur,  I  drank  the  Zambezi, 

Nev,  York,  Harper,  19$3 
Martin,  Martha,  of  Alaska,  0  rugged  land 

of  gold. 

Now  York,  Macmillan,  1953 
Maurois,  Andre.  Lelia,  the  lifo  of  George 

Sand. 

New  York,  Harper,  1953 
Moody,  Ralph o  The  fields  of  home. 

New  York,  Norton,  1953 
1/furray,  Yfilliam  H,  The  story  of  Everest, 

New  York,  Button,  1953 
Reynolds,  James,'  F-.bulous  Spain,, 

New  York,  Putnam,  1953 
Stackpole,  Edouard  A.  -The  sea  hunters; 

the  New  England  virhalemen  during  t\ro 

centuries, 

Philadelphia,  Lippincott,  1953 
TlTarp,  Louise  (Hall)  Until  victory: 

Horace  Mann  and  Mary  Peabody, 

Boston,  Litt]e  ,  Brown,   1953 

Non-Fiction — 'Library  Science 

Norris ,  Dorothy  M.     A  primer  of  catalogu- 
ing » 

■    London,  Association  of  Assistant  Li- 
brarians, 1952 

Smith,  Lillian  Ho     The  unreluctant  years; 
a  critical  approach  to  children's 
literature, 

Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 
1953 

Fiction 

Aurthur,  Robert  A,  Tho  glorification  of 

Al  Toolum, 

New  York,  Rinehart,  1953 
Barker,  Shir  lay.     Rivers  parting. 

New  York,   Crovm  Pub,,   1950 
Bates,  Herbert  E,     Love  for  Lydia, 

Boston,  Little,   Brovm,   1953 
Buck,  Pearl,     Come,  my  beloved. 

New  York,    J,  Day  Co.,  1953 
Butler,   Suzanne.     My  pride,  my  folly* 

Boston,   Little,   Brown,   1953 
Charques,  Dorothy.      Men  like   shadovirs. 

New  York,  Cov/ard-McCann,  1953 
Clayton,  John  B.     Wait,  son,  October  is 

near, 

Nev\r  York,  Macmillan,  1953 


Goudge,  Elizabeth.    -The  heart  of  tho 

family.     New  York,  Coward-McCann,   1953 
Hilton,  James,     Time  and  time  again. 

Boston,  Little,   Brown,  1953 
Hull,   Helen  R.     Landfall. 

Ncv^  York,  Coward-McCann,  1953 
Lancaster,  Bruce ^      Blind  journey. 

Boston,  Little,   Brown,  1953 
Michcner,  James  A,     The   bridges   at  Tokc-ii 

NciY  York,  Random  House,   1953 
Moore,  Ruth.     A  fair-ffimd  home. 

New  York,  Morrow,  1953 
Paton,  Alan,     Too  lato  the  phalarope. 

New  York,  Scribner,  1953 
Thompson,  Sylvia.     The  candle's  glory, 

Boston,  Little,    Brovm,  1953 
Williams,   Ben  A.     The  unconquered. 

Boston,   Houghton  Mfflin,  1953 

BRANCH  NOTES 

Codman  Square 

During  Book  Week  a  contest  was  held  un- 
der the  supervision  of  Mildred  Frescnte, 
children's  librarian,  and  her  assistant, 
Mrs   Doris  Brimmer.  Over  150  pupils  in 
grades  3-8  participated.  The  judging 
proved  to  be  a  laborious  task  for  Eliza- 
beth M,  Gordon,  Deputy  Supervisor  in 
Charge  of  VYorkwith  Chi3dren,  Grace 
Fufari,  extra  assistant  and  art  student, 
and  Louise  Fogarty,  young  adult  workero 
Special  awards  of  books  were  given  to 
the  top  entries  and  18  honorable  mention 
certificates  were  presented, 

Bgleston  Souare 

The  Friends  of  the  Egleston  Square 
Branch  Library  held  their  first  general 
meeting  Thursday  evening,  November  19, 
with  Harry  Elam  as  chairman  of  the 
evening.  Greetings  were  extended  to  the 
group  by  the  president  of  the  Trustees 
of  the  Boston  Public  Library,  Patrick  F. 
McDonald.  The  Honorable  Albert  West, 
Vice -Chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Friends  of  the  Boston  Public  Library  of 
the  Centennial  Commission,  was  present 
and  spoke  a  fevr  -ivords  on  the  role  of 
Friends  groups  in  the  city  of  Boston, 
The  remainder  of  the  program  was  based 
on  the  theme.  The  Library;  a  Family 
Affair. 

Mattapan 

On  Thursday,  December  10,  the  winners 
of  the  book-'title  contest  were  presented 
With  their  prizes.     The  contest,  featured 
as   one  of  the   Book  Week  activities,   con- 
sisted of  short  stories  in  which  book 


-12- 


titles  were  concealed.     One  story  was 
composed  for  grades  four  and  five;   the 
other  for  grades  six  and  seven.     The 
winners  vera  those  children  -who  correctly- 
Identified  the  greatest  number  of  titles » 

Roslindale 

A  large  and  enthusiastic  audience  of 
the  Friends   of  the  Roslindale  Branch 
Library  enjoyed  its  inaugural  neeting 
on  Monday,  November  l6. 

After  a  welcome  to  all  by  Marion  R. 
Herzig,  Branch  Librarian,   the  meeting 
was   turned  over  to  John  J.  L-^ndrigan, 
President  of  the   "Friends",  Mr  Landrigan 
then  introduced  Patrick  F.  McDonald, 
President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  who 
brought  greetings   from  the  Library  and 
commended  the   group  on  its  interest  in 
the  Library. 

After  a  short  business  meeting,  Edna 
G.  Peck,  in  her  ovm  inimitable  manner 
which  completely  delighted  the  audience, 
reviewed  several  of  the  new  fall  books. 

Following  the  meeting,  refreshments  were 
served  by  the   staff  members.     It  was 
noted  that  the   group  i/vas  especially 
congenial  Vtrhich  seems  to  assure  a 
successful  future  for  the  organization. 

West  End 

Mr  and  Mrs  YiTilliam  J.  Conley  (the 
former  Elinor  Day)   entertained  the  mem- 
bers  of  the  Vfest  End  staff  at  a  supper 
party  on  Sunday  evening,  December  6.     Mrs 
Conley,  an  accomplished  cook,  prepared 
the  delicious  and  attractive  repast, 
•which  lent  appetite  and  zest  to  a  con- 
genial group  of  co-woikers  and  companions 
who  spent  a  delightful  evening, 

•ji- 

Fanny  Goldstein,  who  recently  returned 
from  her  travels  abroad,  was  the  subject 
of  several  articles  in  the  forei'^  press, 
German,   Hebrew  and  English  papers  in 
Israel  announced  her  visit  to  the  country 
and  recorded  the  various  events  which 
were  given  in  her  honor.     During  her  stay 
Miss  Goldstein  had  the  pleasure   of  acting 
in  behalf  of  the  author,  Rachel  Baker, 
who  "designated  her  to  present  the   original 
manuscript  with  a  first  edition  of  the 
book  "Chaim  feizman.  Builder  of  a  Nation" 
to  the  Chaim  Weizman  Archives,     The 
presentation  ceremony  took  place  in  the 
drawing  room  of  the  Weizman  Mansion 
(better  known  as   the  Wiite  House  of 
Israel)  at  a  simple  but  impressive  cere- 
mony.    The   gift  was  received  by  Meyer 


Weisgal,  the  literary  executor  of  Presi- 
dent Yfeizman's  estate. 

The  October  30  issue  of  the  London 
Jevdsh  Chronicle  carried  a  story  of  Miss 
Goldstein's  visit,   in  which  they  said 
that  "Miss  Goldstein  visited  leaders  of 
the  intellectual  life  of     Anglo-Jewry 
during  her  stay  in  London."     ^iifhile  on 
tour  Miss  Goldstein  purchased  many  books 
for  the  Library,  especially  a  group  of 
up-to-the-minute  modern  Italian  books j 
and  many  new  and  out-of-print  titles  of 
Judaica,     In  addition  to  the  many 
foreign  Judaica  titles  bou^t  abroad  by 
Miss  Goldstein,  a  special  gift  of 
twenty-one  French  Judaica  books  were 
presented  to  her  for  the  Boston  Public 
Library  during  her  visit  in  Paris, 

■«• 

November  opened  with  a  display  of  art 
material  lent  by  the  pupils  of  the 
William  Blackstone  School.  The  tvfenty 
panels  vrere  a  unit,  shov;ing  a  variety  of 
treatment  of  two  assigned  problems,  with 
an  interesting  and  unusual  emphasis  on 
the  application  of  the  designs  to  textile 
prints. 

During  Book  Week,  the s tory  tellers 
visited  each  third,  fourth,  fifth  and 
sixth  grade  in  the  Peter  Faneuil  School. 
The  children  vrere  given  seasonal  book 
marks ,  and  each  teacher  received  a 
special  Book  Week  packet  containing 
reading  lists,  publishers'  catalogs, 
book  jackets  and  other  pertinent  material. 

Not  one  birthday  cake,  but  twenty- 
eight,  duly  emphasized  the  Centennial 
theme  at  the  Book  Week  program  on  Novem- 
ber 21o  The  festivities  marked  the 
awarding  of  reading  certificates  and 
book  prizes  to  the  members  of  the  summer 
reading  club.  The  program  included 
stories  by  the  children's  librarian, 
Mrs  Veronica  M,  Lehane,  a  short  program 
presented  by  the  guests  themselves, 
book  games  and — a  feature  not  to  be  over- 
looked—refreshments. Besides  the  con- 
ventional candy,  each  child  had.  an 
individual,  pink-frosted  birthday  cake, 
with  a  lighted  candle,  Tiventy-eight 
reading  certificates  were  avrarded,  and 
four  book  prizes.  The  highest  book 
awards  went  to  a  boy  who  had  read  fifty- 
eight  books,  and  a  girl  who  had  read 
fifty-seven.  Second  prizes  went  to  a 
girl  TNho   had  read  forty-five,  and  a  boy 
who  had  read  forty-three -books.  The 
party  closed  vath  a  spontaneous  singing 
of  "Happy  Birthday"  to  the  Library, 


-13- 


Hospital  Library  Se rvice 

On  November  2,   Lirs  Mary  G.  Langtcn^. 
Hospital  Librarian,  spoke  to  the  Faulkner 
Hospital  aides  on  "The  Challenge  of 
Hospital  Librarianship," 

A  large  group  was  present  and  from 
their  eager  questions  it  was  evident  that 
they  were  extremely  interested  and  grati- 
fied, by  the  information  given  by  fcs 
Langton, 

■«■ 

Cn  November  13,  a  group  of  ladies  from 
the  Friends   of   the   Boston  City  Hospital 
visited  the  Hospital  Library  quarters o 
They  were  shoTvn  around  and  observed  the 
various  operations  of  the  department c 
They,  too,   evinced  a  great  interest  in 
the  work  of  the  library o 


SOAP  BOX 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must 
be  accompanied  by  the  full  nar.ie  of  the 
Association  member  submitting  it,  to- 
gether with  the  name  of  the  Branch  Libiary, 
Department,  or  Office  in  which  he  or  she 
is  employed.  The  name  is  Yirithheld  from 
publication,  or  a  pen  name  used,  if  the 
contributor  so  requests ,  Anonymous 
contributions  are  not  given  consideration. 
The  author  of  the  article  is  known  only 
to  the  contributor  and  to  the  Editor- 
in-Chief.  The  contents  of  articles 
appearing  in  the  Soap  Box  are  personal 
opinions  expressed  by  individual 
Association  members  and  their  appearance 
does  not  necessarily  indicate  that  the 
Publications  Committee  and  the  Associa- 
tion are  in  agreement  vdth  the  views 
expressed. 


To  the  Editor  of  the  Question  Mark.* 

In  the  Soap  Box  in  the  November  1?53 
issue  of  The  Question  t^ark  is  a  letter 
from  Mr  Eamon  E.  LcDonough  of 'the  General 
Reference  Department.  It  is  believed 
that  this  letter  indicates  (l)  confusion 
in  thinking  on  and  defining  of  the  two 
bibliothecal  services,  namely,  the  Pro- 
fessional Library  Service  and  the  Sub- 
Professional  Library  Service,  and  (2) 
that  there  is  not  understood  the  intent 
of  the  training  courses  and  the  Qualify- 
ing Examinations  for  the  Sub-Professional 
Library  Service  and  in  particular  of  the 


course  in  Elementaty  Inf pronation  Sourcosc 
Therefore,  some  cornmont  may  be  useful^ 

The  purpose  and  intent  of  the  training 
program  and  of  the  examinations  in  the 
ten  fields  of  the  Qualifying  Examinations 
for  the  Sub-Professional  Library  Service 
are  to  provide  a  background  and  a  com- 
petence in  fields  which  represent  actual 
duties  performed  by  this  personnel,  and 
information  pertinent  to  their  work. 
Actually  it  is  probably  only  in  a  direct 
service  unit  of  the  Division  of  Home 
Reading  and  Community  Services  that  all 
ten  of  these  areas  are  applicable. 
However,  certain  of  these  areas  of  the 
training  program  and  of  the  Qualifying 
Examinations  are  appropriate  to  each 
department  of  the  bibliothecal  service. 
Demonstrated  knowledge  of  various  fields 
makes  possible  the  opportunity  for  trans- 
fer from  one  unit  to  another  cr  for  work 
in  a  special  area. 

Now  to  come  to  the  particular  field 
of  Elementary  Information  Sources,  It 
will  be  remembered  that  this  c  ourse  re- 
placed a  course  entitled  Library  Letters, 
Heports_and  Statistics,  which  it  was 
believed  after  consideration  and  ex- 
perience, no  longer  continued  to  fill  a 
need.  Elementary  Infor:;iation  Sources, 
it  is  believed,  ana  time  will  tell, 
fills  a  need  particularly  in  the  branch 
libraries.  The  course  attempts  to 
familiarize  these  individuals,  in  a 
general  way^  Yfith  some  twenty  general 
information  sources  to  be  found  in  the 
branch  libraries  so  that  d\iring  rush 
hours  in  a  branch  library,  for  example, 
when  the  professional  personnel  is  other- 
wise engaged,  an  Assistant  in  the  Sub- 
Professional  Library  Service  may  service 
these  few  basic  titles  and  provide  a 
source  to  answer  simple  questions.  This 
does  not  represent  any  attempt  to  teach 
reference  work  or  reference  techniques 
to  members  of  the  Sub-Professional  Library 
Service. 

Since  this  is  the  case,  then,  the 
logical  individual  to  teach  such  a  course 
is  a  member  of  the  staff  of  the  branch 
libraries.  The  instructor  is  a  graduate 
of  an  accredited  library  school,  is  ex- 
perienced vdth  branch  library  administra- 
tion and  seivices,  understands  completely 
the  aim  and  intent  of  this  course,  .and 
sees  the  possibilities  and  usefulness  of 
it  to  the  vjork  of  the  bx-anch  libraries. 

An  examination  of  the  reference  collec- 
tions in  a  branch  library  would  seem  to 


-11^- 


be  evidence  sufficient  to  give  assurance 
to  any  member  of  the  staff  of  the  General 
Reference  Department  that  experience  mth 
general  reference  materials  could  not  be 
established,  and  to  carry  it  one  step 
further,  to  individuals  employed  in  the 
Periodical  and  Newspaper  Department  that 
reference  experience  in  an  extensive 
collection  of  periodicals  and  newspapers 
could  not  be  established. 

Elizabeth  ViTright 
Supervisor  of  Personnel 

Dear  "Poor  but  musical": 

Please  be  assured  that  there  was  no 
intention  of  discriminating  against  anyone 
in  formulating  the  Library's  policy  con- 
cerning the  non-purchase  of  ij.5  rpm  re- 
cordings. Prior  to  the  opening  of  the 
Recording  Section,  Audio-Visual,  all 
public  libraries  with  sizable  record 
collections  were  surveyed.  It  was  found 
that  none  of  these  libraries  purchased 
h^'s.  Furthermore,  the  Library  vias  ad- 
vised by  ma'e  than  one  large  music  company 
not  to  purchase  ij.5's.  This  week,  the 
Library  rechecked  with  one  of  the  music 
companies  and  was  advised:  (1)  All 
major  recording  companies,  including 
Victor,  -."/hich  made  the  first  l;5's,  have 
discontinued  cutting  classical  US's  ex- 
cept in  the  case  of  very  short  works » 
(2)  Approximately  75^  of  the  current 
releases  of  U5's  are  popular  recordings 
of  the  current  hit  parade  variety,   (The 
Library  does  not  purchase  these  in  any 
speed),   (3)  The  remaining  2$%   of  the 
current  U5  business  has  teen  converted 
almost  entirely  into  semi-classical  or 
classical  recordings  of  not  more  than 
seven  minutes  in  playing  time,   (U)  The 
sale  of  U^'s  has  fallen  off  considerably 
which  would  indicate  a  decreased  demand 
for  these  recordings. 

Because  of  breakage  and  difficulty  in 
shelving,  the  Library  has  discontinued 
the  purchase  of  78  recordings,  except  for 
a  small  number  of  children's  and  non- 
musical  recordings  which  are  not  yet 
available  in  33  1/3.  However,  gifts  of 
78 's  are  acceptable. 

I  should  be  glad  to  discuss  this  matter 
further  v;ith  "Poor  but  musical"  if  he 
(or  she)  so  desires, 

Muriel  C,  Javelin 


To  the  Soap  Box: 

Insofar  as  both  public  and  staff  alike 
ignore  the  exhortations  of  the  Central     ■ 
Charging  staff  to  leave  the  Library  by     | 
the  middle  door,  I  have  a  suggestion  which 
may  help  to  correct  the  situation. 

It  is  a  common  practice  among  laboratory 
workers  in  the  training  of  ■vdiite  mice,  to 
run  an  electrical  charge  around  the  pens 
in  vfhich  these  animals  are  kept,  While 
the  animal  remains  in  the  pen  he  has 
plenty  of  food  and  warmth.  If,  however, 
he  tries  to  leave  the  pen,  he  is  slightly 
stunned  by  a  mild  electrical  shockp 
Eventually  the  creature  realizes  that 
this  disagreeable  sensation  is  connected 
v\rith  leaving  the  pen.  He  is  then  content 
to  remr.in  virithin  the  pen, 

I  suggest  that  the  public  be  "handled" 
in  the  same  manner.  The  brass  panels 
on  the  library's  doors  may  be  electrically 
charged?  If  the  inside  panels  of  the 
side  doors  and  the  outside  panels  of  the 
middle  door  were  charged,  people  entering 
through  exits  and  exiting  through  en- 
trances would  experience  the  shock  and, 
if  his  intelligence  equals  that  of  the 
mouse,  would  soon  realize  that  he'd  be 
happier  if  he  obeyed  the  signs. 

This  measure  may  sound  harsh,  but  five 
people  refused  to  leave  by  the  center 
door  this  morning  even  though  they  were 
asked  quietly  and  courteously  to, do  so. 
Tivo  of  these  were  staff  members. 

Sheila  W.  Pierce 
Central  Charging  Records 

Dear  Scaple  •. 

The  Epicurean  Section  of  the  Fressers ' 
Division  of  the  Chowder,  Chatter  and 
Marching  Society  extends  heartiest  con- 
gratulations to  those  fellow  gourmets 
vfho  were  responsible  for  compiling  and 
publishing  COOKS  IN  PRINT.  For  mast  of 
the  recipes  we  say,  "Well  done" .  As  for 
the  steak  recipes  we  say,  "Medium  rare". 

We  cannot,  however,  let  pass  without 
comment  some  of  the  more  indigestible 
omissions  from  your  dandy  little  cook 
book,  and  we  offer  herewith  some  choice 
tidbits  for  inclusion  in  the  second  re- 
vised eidtion  of  COOKS  IN  PRINT: 

Chocolate  covered  oysters-^- 

Onion  soup  vdth  chlorophyl 

Breast  of  frankfort  under  glass 

Spaghetti  vrLth  fudge  sauce 


-15- 


Hand  woven  himburgers 

Flaming  ice   cream  on  a   sword 

Lemon  mirage  pie 
■sf-Recipe  for  chocolate  covered"  oysters. 
Take  each  oyster — oops^  slippery,  aren't 
they — and  wish  thoroughly.     Of  course,   if 
you  are  the  more  sanitary  type   of  cook 
you  will  have  washed  thoroughly  before 
you  handled  the   oysters.     Melt  a  suffi- 
cient amount  of  milk  chocolate  in  a 
double  boiler.     Dip  oysters  into  the 
chocolate  and  swish  around  until  thumb 
and  forefinger  are  v<b11  scalded.     Line  a 
shallow  pan  vdth  a  gay  wallpaper  and  line 
up  the  oysters  in  even  rows.      Place  in 
refrigerator  until  firm,  and  one  must  be 
firm  with  these  nasty  little  denizens  of 
the  seashore.      Just  before   serving, 
garnish  vdth  medium  size  pearls  and  then 
just  sit  back  and  listen  to  your  guests 
squeal  with  delight.     And,  don't  forget, 
little  home-makers,   during  June,   July  and 
August  you  may  substitute  sardines   for 
the   oysters . 

Clementine  Addle pate 


O'Neill  -  Ifennix 

Ifeny  of  her  library  friends  were 
present  on  Saturday,   November  21,  at  St. 
Theresa's  Church  in  West  Roxbury,  when 
Mary  T.   C.   Mannix,   Branch  Librarian, 
Phillips  Brooks,  became  the  bride   of 
James  E.  O'Neill,  field  manager  for  the 
Catholic  Digest  in  the   Boston  Diocese. 
The  bride,  govmed  in  antique  ivory  satin 
and  Ghantilly  lace,  trimmed  with  sequins 
and  seed  pearls,  and  matching  headdress, 
carried  a  prayer  book  vdth  a  vfhite   orchid. 
Her  sister,  ISrs  Thomas   Barry,  as  matron 
of  honor,  wore  green  velvet.     Two  brides- 
maids wore  rose  velvet  and  all  three 
attendants  carried  muffs  vdth  chrysanthe- 
mum corsages.     E'our-year-old     John  Mannix 
Barry,  a  nephew  of  the  bride, was  ring 
bearer. 

Following  a  reception  at  Longv/ood  Towers, 
Mr  and  Mrs  O'Neill  left  for  a  ten-day 
honeymoon  at  Sea  Island,   Georgia.     They 
are  making  their  home  in  West  Roxbury. 

LATE  FIASHIll 

On  December  ll;  a  particularly  interest- 
ing letter  was  received  at  the  Library 
from  Kittery,  J'laine.      Inasmuch  as  one  of 

the  questions  raised  in  it  was  the  same  ^  ^      ,     ,.^ 

■      . ,         .    ,        r.  ^  j.'L.  1-  John  J»  Lronan,   one 

one  m  the  minds   of  many  of  those  who  saw     famous   storytellers. 


the  TV  program  on  December  11  (see  page 
7) ,  we  have  been  given  permission  to 
print  the  letter  and  the  answer  which  was 
made  to  it  by  Elizabeth  M,   Gordon, 
Deputy  Supervisor,   In  Charge   of  Vifork 
vdth  Cb1ld.tan<^    Congratulations  to  iJlr 
Cronan  I 

December  11,  19^3 

Boston  Public  Library 
Boston,  Mass, 

Friends : 

The  T.Vo  "visit"  to  the  Boston  Public 
Library  presented  December  11th 
(channel  7)  was  most  enjoyable. 

Especially  noteworthy  was  the  story 
being  told  by  the  gentleman  in  the 
children's  department. . .(tale  of  the 
peddler  on  the  bridge).  In  fact,  I 
noticed  two  youngsters  in  my  own  home  sit 
transfixed  during  the  telling  of  the 
story,,. and  five  minutes  of  absolute 
quiet  from  a  couple  of  young  commando 
raiders  is  next  to  a  miracle. 

Has  it  occurred  to  you  people  at  the 
Boston  Public  Library  that  a  regular 
program  featuring  that  particular 
gentleman  who  related  th-^t  story  would 
be  most  educational  and  enjoyable  for 
children  to  view  and  listen  to? 

That  gentleman  knows  how  to  hold  the 
interest  of  his  listener  without  any 
"props"  YJhatsoever,  using  only  his 
magnificent  ability  to  tell  a  story. 

By   the  way,  we  parents  are  supposed 
to  be  the  best  informed  individuals  on 
earth  (to  our  children).  Although  the 
stoiy  was  wonderfully  told,  it  put  me 
on  the  spot  because  the  program  ended 
before  the  kids  found  out  what  the  peddler 
was  ■'supposed  to  hear'  on  the  bridge, 

Yfell,  what  WAS  he  supposed  to  hear? 
I've  got  to  tell  them  something  (logical, 
that  is ) . 


(signed) 


Sincerely, 

HOWARD  W.  REYNOLDS 


Dear  Mr  Reynolds : 

Yfe  are  pleased  indeed  to  hear  of  your 
interest  in  "Yankee's  visit  to  the  Boston 
Public  Library"  via  TV  ]£ist  Friday,  and 
especially  of  your  appreciation  of  Mir 
John  J»  Cronan,  one  of  Boston's  trio  of 


-16- 


The  tale  he  was  telling  is  "The  Peddler 
of  Ballaghadereen"  as   it  is  found  in  The 
Way  of  the  Stoiyteller  by  Ruth  Sawyer 
(a  M7;ine  author),  published  by  Viking 
Press  in  19I42. 

The  viTords  the  hungry  old  peddler  was 
listening  for  so  vrearily,  told  him  to  dig 
under  the  cherry  tree  in  his  oi^m  bit  of 
a  garden,  and  there  he  would  find  rnuch 
gold J      "Back  to  Ballaghadereen  went  the 
peddler,  one   foot  ahead  of  the   other", 
and  he  dug  deep,  and  uncovered  an  old  sea 
chest  full  of  Roldj  and  he  put  great 
"goodnesc   into  the  spending  of  that  gold." 
A  delightful  old  tale,  vdiich,  as  Ruth 
Sawyer  says  in  her  notes  regarding  its 
source,  appears  in  several  other  versions 

Perhaps  your  children  may  find  this 
book  in  their  public  library. 

Sincerely, 
(signed)         EI..IZABETH  M.   (XR130N 

Deputy  Supervisor,  in 
Charge  of  Vfork  with 
Children 

THEY'VE  mm  IT  AGAIN  i 

Come  through  with  flying  colors  I !    Yi/ho? 
"Why,   THE  STAFF,  of  course.     They  have 
pledged  more  this  year  than  they  did  last 
to   the  annual  Red  Feather  Campaign.     And 
this  in  addition  to  generous  contribu- 
tions and  pledges  already  made   to  the 
Centennial  Staff  Gift. 


staff  Christmas  Tea  Conimittee 


Barbara  Ma  Bloom 
Alice  M.  Cray- 
Eleanor  Halligan 
Mary  T.  Kenny- 
Frances  S.  Landrigan 
Jnnice  G.  Inne 


Pearl  Gc  Lewis 
Marcclla  G.  McConville 
Mary  R.  Roberts 
Sus'-in  E,  Shelvin 
B.  Gertrude  Wade 
Alice  M,  Waters 
y  C.  ^Vo"t,  Chairman 


Boston  Public  Library — 19^3 


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