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THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


JANUARY  1954 


TIiS  QL"i;;STIOi,  i^iARK 
Published  by  the  Boston  Public  Library  Professional  Staff  Association 


Volume  IX,  Number  1 


January  195J4 


Publications  Committee  J  Gerald  L.  Ball,  Geraldine  S^  Herrickj  John  Jc  McCafferty, 

Sarah  M,  Usher,  Charles  J.  Gillis,  Chairman 


Publication  date; 
The  fifteenth  of  each  month 


Deadline  for  submitting  material i 
The  tenth  of  each  month 


EDITOR'S  CORMER 

This  issue  of  The  Qaestion  Mark  is  the 
twelfth  and  final  one  to  be  published 
under  the  direction  of  the  present  Pub- 
lications Committee.  During  the  past  year 
we  have  striven  to  maintain  the  high  order 
of  editing  and  writing  established  by  our 
predecessors. 

Yfe  have  continued  the  usual  features 
of  the  magazine  and  have  added  one — Cen- 
tennial Newso  Our  coverage  of  profes- 
sional and  social  events,  while  such  can- 
not be  called  "news" ,  have  been  received 
with  appreciation  by  many  of  our  members 
who  were  not  able  to  participate  in  those 
events  ^ 

To  all  our  contributors  who  devoted 
their  time  and  energies  to  provide  us 
with  articles  and  reports,  we  extend  our 
thanks. 

To  the  Staff  of  the  Information  Office 
for  their  unfailing  efforts  in  keeping  us 
informed  of  Library  publicity  and  public 
events,  we  wish  to  acknowledge  our 
appreciation. 

To  the  Staff  of  the  Personnel  Office, 
we  are  grateful  for  their  monthly  stint 
of  supplying  us  with  the  latest  informa- 
tion on  personnel  and  on  the  Staff  Library- 

To  the  Staff  of  the  Office  of  Records, 
Files,  Statistics, we  are  deeply  indebted 
for  their  work  in  mimeographing  and  dis- 
tributing The  Question  ifcirk,  often  done 
under  trying  circumstances,  but  always 
accomplished  cheerfully  and  efficiently. 

And  lastly,  to  the  new  Publications 
Committee  we  msh  success  in  the  coming 
year. 

PUBLICATIONS  COMMITTEE 


AcL.A,  still  needs  you  1 
YiTon't  you  join  for  195"!;? 


CALENDAR  OF  EVENTS 

January  18.  S.L.A»,  Boston  Chapter,  to 

meet  in  Lecture  Hall,  Boston 
Public  Library,  at  7:30  p^m-^ 
For  more  details,  see  page  ?.„ 

January  31-  AeL»A.  Mid-l'Jinter  meeting  in 
February  6^  Chicago ^ 

PERSONAL  NOTES 

New  Emplo3'"ees 

Mrs  Celeste  R.  Capano,  South  End 

Helen  J.  Nicholas,  Parker  Hill 

Resigna  sions 

Frank  A»  Doyle,  Central  Charging  Records, 

moved  to  New  York. 
Mrs  Gloria  Seidenberg,  Allston,  to  remain 

at  home. 
Mrs  Naomi  i/myne,  Codman  Square,  to  remain 

at  home . 
Richard  J,  Kilduff,  Kirstein  Business, 

to  take  another  position c 

Retirements 

Anna  G«  'Lynch,  Memorial,  after  It?  years  of 
service  in  the  Library. 

Transfers 


Mary  Co  Day,  from  Memorial  to  City  Point. 
Felicia  J.  Langdon,  from  City  Point  to 

Audio-Visual. 
Barbara  A.  Tuthill,  from  T/est  Roxbury  to 

North  End, 
Isabella  M,  Porter,  from  History  to 

General  Reference. 
Charlotte  Cooper,  from  Central  Charging 

Records  to  North  End, 
Hope  B.  Bro'vvn,  from  Charlestoiim  to 

Jamaica  Plain. 

Engagements 


"Announcement  was  made  on  Chris't:.mas  Day 
of  the  engagement  of  Marie  L.  Crowley, 
Central  Charging  Records,  to  Robert 
[Secatore  of  Milton. 


-2- 


Marriages 

Dierdre  Barry,  Central  Charging  Records, 
to  Mollis  Smith,  January  it,  195U  in  Orange, 
Massachusetts, 

THE  B.P.L.  ON  TV 

On  Friday,  January  8,  Donald  Born 
devoted  his  entire  "New  England  Almanac" 
program  to  information  about  John  Singer 
Sargent,  whose  birthday  occurred  during 
that  weeko  He  spoke  of  the  paintings  in 
the  Gardner  Museum,  of  the  murals  at  the 
L'iuseum  of  Fine  Arts,  and  particularly  about 
the  murals  at  the  Libriry,  Mr  Born 
mentioned  the  fact  that  the  Library's 
murals  have  just  been  relighted  and  shoired 
pictures  from  the  Fine  Arts  Department 
of  the  various  items  he  mentioned, 

THE  B.P.L.  IN  PRINT 

Anson  Smith  of  the   Boston  Herald  had  a 
feature  article  on  the  Library's  Preview 
Room  in  Audio-Visual,  published  in  the 
Herald  for  Sunday,   January  10 » 

B.P.L.   HOST  TO   S.L.A. 

The  Boston  Public  Library  will  be  host 
to  the  Boston  Chapter  of  S„L.A.  on  Monday 
evening,  January  18,  v^rhen  its  monthly 
meeting  will  take  place  in  the  Lecture 
Hall  at  Central  Library,  The  program  for 
the  evening  mil  be  made  up  of  three 
fifteen-minute  talks  by  BPL  staff  members: 
Milton  E.  Lord — The  contribution  of 
the  Boston  Public 
Library  to  the  Special 
Libraries  Field. 
Arthur  W.  Heintzelman — The  Print 

Department,  A 
Special  Library, 
Mildred  C.  O'Connor — Cataloging  for 

Special  Libraries 
in  a  Large  Public 
Library. 
Following  the  meeting,  refreshments 
■■Adll  be  served  by  a  committee  under  the 
chairmanship  of  Loraine  A.  Sullivan, 
Science  and  Technology. 

CONGRATULATIONS  TO 

Grace  Chippendale,  Parker  Hill,  who 
has  been  re-elected  Secretary  of  the 
Theatrical  Library  Association,  with  head- 
quarters in  the  Nev;  York  Public  Library, 
This  is  Miss  Chippendale's  second  term. 


TALKS  BY  STAFF  IffiMBERS 

Speaking  on  the  Boston  Public  Library's 
contribution  to  community  action  in 
developing  children  and  young  people, 
Pauline  Yfinnick,  Readers  Advisor  for  Youhg 
Adults  ,  spoke  to  over  one  hundi'ed  fifty 
teachsrs  in  public  and  parochii.al  schools, 
December  3>  1953,  in  the  Program  for 
Making  Better  Citizens  Institute,  held  at 
the  Boston  State  Teachers  College, 

This  Institute  is  sponsored  by  the 
Boston  School  Department  and  the  lilassachu- 
setts  Department  of  Education,  and  has 
featured  each  week  in  turn  specialists  in 
recreation,  law  enforcement,  education, 
religion,  medicine,  psychology,  sociology, 
and  social  work  whose  efforts  are  being 
directed  tovfard  young  people. 

For  the  most  part,  these  speakers 
represent  member-agencies  of  the  Greater 
Boston  Council  for  Youth,  formed  last 
Spring  to  deal  positively  with  juvenile 
delinquency,        ^ 

On  the  evening  of  January  7,  Ivlary  Daly, 
Statistical,  gave  a  talk  to  members  of 
the  St.  Catherine  cf  Genoa  Book  Club,  in 
Somerville .   Included  in  the  audience 
were  a  number  of  invited  guests  from  the 
National  Council  of  Catholic  Women, 

The  title  of  Kiss  Daly's  talk  was 
"Government  Documents  as  Sources  of 
Information  and  Keys  to  the  Truth".  We 
have  been  informed  that  it  was  well- 
received, 

A  Bride  Comes  Back 

When  lUrs   Robert  V.^  Pitman  (nee  Dorothy 
Fky  Nourse)  returned  from  her  new  home 
in  Brookljm,  Neiv  York,  to  complete  her 
service  as  Branch  Librarian  at  East 
Boston,  she  little  suspected  the  strenuous 
three-day  schedule  prepared  for  her  by  her 
colleagues. 

Since  East  Boston  is  in  the  happy  but 
hectic  state  of  being  renovated,  Mrs 
Pitman  had  the  dubious  pleasure  of  v;inding 
up  her  records  (the  non-musical  type) 
with  the  entire  office  equipment  piled 
on  her  desk.  After  a  peaceful  (?) 
morning  vjriting  reports  and  giving  last- 
minute  suggestions  and  advice  for  the 
adequate  continuation  of  the  many  library 
programs  begun  during  her  regime,  in  the 
early  afternoon  she  was  called  to  the 
Staff  Room  to  solve  an  "impending  emer^-^.ncy'J. 
The  impending  emergency  proved  to  be  a  very 


-3- 


attractively  arranged  collation  prepared 
by  the  Young  people  cf  the  "part-time" 
staff,  at  which  lUrs   Pitman  was  the  guest 
of  honor.  At  the  conclusion  of  the 
"relief"^  she  was  presented  with  a 
package,  beautifully  topped  hy  a  bow  nf 
mammoth  proportions,  which  contained  a 
double  set  of  sterling  salt  and  pepper 
shakers.  It  yras  hard  to  discern  who  vras 
the  liap.-iier,  the  r  ecipient  or  the  givers, 
since  all  radiated  such  unrestrained 
enthusiasm. 

After  an  exciting  day  at  the  branch, 
vhere  work  was  constantly  interrupted  by 
well-wishers  from  the  community  who  came 
to  say  a  word  of  appreciation  for  past 
services  and  to  offer  best  vdshes  for  a 
happy  future,  Mrs  Pitman  returned  to  her 
apartment  for  a  quiet  evening  of  rest 
and  relaxation  (so  she  thought'.)  En 
route  from  the  Library  she  was  one  of  the 
guests  at  a  Beacon  Hill  neighborhood 
sherry  party,  at  the  home  of  Mrs  Elizabeth 
Lo  Wright.  The  quiet  evening  at  home 
was  nicely  underway,  in  fact  had  just 
reached  the  after-dinner-coffee™shoe8- 
off -under-the-table  stage  when  some 
twenty  friends,  carrying  chairs,  re- 
freshments, silver,  china,  and  gifts  de- 
scended on  the  unsuspecting  bride.  A 
quick  slip-on  of  shoes,  a  dash  to  the 
kitchen  with  the  coffee  cups,  and  Mrs 
Pitman  and  her  housemate,  Madalene  T, 
Holt,  were  in  a  twinkling  of  an  eye,  the 
perfect  hostesses.  Before  the  evening 
ifas  fully  under  way,  six  more  friends 
arrived  and  the  "arduous"  task  of  opening 
her  gifts  was  undertaken  by  the  bride. 
At  the  conclusion  of  this  lengthy  but  in- 
creasingly pleasant  task,  the  hostesses 
for  the  evening  (the  8-8  Club  and  Miss 
Holt),  took  over,  Delicious  refreshments, 
featuring  a  bride's  cake  of  unusual 
proportions  vath  delicately  etched 
frosting,  was  cut  by  the  bride  (while  the 
poor  groom  "slaved  and  toiled"  in 
Brooklyn), 

Monday  had  been  very  festive,  but 
Tuesday  was  to  be  given  over  exclusively 
to  the  tasks  of  the  moment,  so  the  About- 
to-be-Concluded  Branch  Librarian  decided, 
■'J'/hen  Margaret  Morgan,  Branch  Librarian, 
Connolly,  appeared  at  East  Boston  shortly 
before  noon,  Wtrs  Pitman  was  glad  to  see 
her  but  somewhat  bewildered  by  her  \in- 
expocted  and  unexplained  appearance.  The 
answer  was  not  long  in  forthcoming.  Miss 
Morgan,  who  had  formerly  worked  at  East 
Boston,  was  there  "to  keep  house"  v^hile 


the  full-time  members  of  the  staff  took 
Ifrs  Pitman  to  The  Paul  Roger  House  in 
Revere  for  a  farewell  luncheon.  The 
attractively  arranged  table,  so  located 
that  the  guests  had  a  view  of  the  sea, 
was  further  enhanced  by  an  intriguing 
package  placed  beside  the  guest  of  honor > 
At  the  conclusion  of  a  delicious  luncheon 
the  contents  of  the  package,  a  sterling 
silver  compote,  were  revealed,  and  after 
an  exchange  of  well  vdshes  the  party 
reluctantly  returned  to  the  scene  of  the 
day's  work,  and  Miss  Morgan,  after  due 
thanks,  was  allovred  to  return  from  v;-hence 
she  came. 

After  a  brief  afternoon  of  unremitting 
toil,  Mrs  Pitman  left  East  Boston  at 
six  o'clock  to  go  to  the  home  of  Sarah 
M,  Usher,  where  she  joined  the  8-8  Club 
in  a  farewell  dinner. 

It  was  fortunate  that  Mrs  Pitman  re- 
turned "to  work"  at  a  time  when  the 
Officer  Group  of  the  Division  of  Home 
Reading  and  Community  Services  had  its 
monthly  meeting  for  thus  she  was  able  to 
savor  once  again  the  unique  character  of 
these  gatherings .  She  vras  also  to  be 
present  in  the  flesh  (no  reflections 
meant)  at  the  luncheon  given  by  the  group 
in  her  honor.  Forty-six  friends  and 
associates  gathered  in  the  Dome  Room 
of  the  Hotel  Lenox  to  offer  M-rs  Pitman 
their  congratulations  and  vrell  mshes  for 
the  future  and  to  express  regret  at  the 
fact  that  she  v/ill  no  longer  be  an  active 
member  of  the  Branch  Librarians  Group, 
These  included:  Edith  Guerrier,  Super- 
visor of  Branch  Libraries,  Emeritus,  and 
Branch  Librarians,  Emeritus,  Mary  E.  Anes, 
M.  Florence  Cufflin,  Mrs  Margaret  Calnan 
Donaghue,  Mrs  Sara  Lyon,  Katherine  S, 
Rogan,  Mary  M.  Sullivan,  and  Rebecca  E, 
^¥illis. 

At  the  conclusion  of  a  tasty  luncheon, 
lirs  Ada  A,  Andelman,  Supervisor  of  Home 
Reading  Services ,  in  a  few  well-chosen 
words ,  spoke  for  those  assembled  vfhen 
she  recalled  the  outstanding  contribution 
made  by  Mrs  Pitman  as  a  Branch  Librarian 
in  the  several  communities  in  vfhich  she 
had  served  and  especially  in  the  East 
Boston  District  v/hich  she  has  served 
faitlifully  and  well  for  over  thirteen 
years.  At  the  conclusion  of  her  remarks 
^Irs  Andelman,  on  behalf  of  the  group,  pre- 
sented the  guest  of  honor  vath  an  in- 
triguing package  (Where  had  she  seen  that 
beautiful  bow  before  ?)  which  proved  to 
contain  a  bill  of  sizeable  denomination 


-k- 


enclosed  in  an  attractive  evening  purse. 
In  accepting  the  gift  Mrs  Pitman  displayed 
another  of  her  many  qualities,  that  of  an 
impromptu  public  speaker. 

It  is  hard  to  estimate  in  #iich 
capacity  Mrs  Pitman  will  be  more  acutely 
missed—in  the  Library  as  a  Branch 
Librarian  working  with  her  ovm  staff  with 
efficiency  and  \indorstanding,  as  a  member 
of  the  Branch  Librarians '  Group  and  of  the 
BPLPSA  Inhere  she  served  on  innumerable 
committees  and  provided  countless  numbers 
of  cookies  for  every  social  function  of 
both  groups,  as  a  vital  factor  in  the  life 
of  the  community  where  she  gave  freely  and 
generously  of  her  time  and  talents;  or, 
as  a  gracious  hostess  and  cook  par  excel- 
lence in  her  own  homec  Vfe  are  going  to 
miss  the  familiar  phrase,  "Ask  Miss 
Nourse,  she'll  help."  Committees,  pro- 
fessional or  social,  To.thout  Miss  Nourse 
are  almost  as  hard  to  envision  as  Library 
social  functions  vathout  Miss  Nourse 's 
cookies.  The  Library  as  well  as  the 
Bride  is  due  for  a  realignment  of  duties. 
The  best  wishes  of  her  associates  go  with 
her  as  she  takes  up  her  new  duties  as 
"housevri-fe  in  Brooklyn",  a  task  v/hich  can 
always  be  enlivened  by  a  pun  or  two,  of 
which  Mrs  Pitman  has  an  unlimited  supply. 

Edna  G.  Peck 

THE  CHRISTMAS  .SPIRIT  AT  CENTRAL 

Wednesday,  December  23,  was  the  date 
set  for  the  big  party  at  Central  Library — 
the  Annual  Christmas  Tea.  The  Women's 
Lounge,  decorated  tastefully  as  befitted 
the  season,  was  a  room  overflovdng  -vath 
good  cheer,  good  fellowship,  very  good 
food,  and  overflowing  also  with  staff 
members — present  and  retired.  To  join  in 
the  festivities,  several  "alumnae"  returned 
and  as  always  7;ere  welcomed  with  genuine 
warmth  by  their  former  colleagues — Mr  and 
Mrs  Orlando  C.  Davis,  George  H»  Early, 
William  J.  Ennis,"  Christine  Hayes,  Alice 
M,  Jordan,  William  J.  Mulloney,  Morris  J. 
Rosenberg.  The  tea  served  also  as  an 
introduction  to  such  parties  to  the 
Centennial  Office  personnel,  represented 
by  John  MacMurdo,  Arthur  Stackpole,  and 
Vera  Van  Tassel.  To  be  congratulated  most 
heartily  are  Mrs  Elizabeth  West  and  her 
efficient  committee. 

On  Thursday  morning,  December  2U,  the 
Men's  '♦'Suite"  vras  the  scene  of  an  equally 
successful  Coffee  Hour,  under  the  sponsor- 


ship of  the  Men's  House  Committee,  Donald 
L,  Ne?mian,  Chairman.  There  was  dancing 
in  one  room,  to  music  furnished  by  re- 
cordings from  Audio-Visual,  played  on  a 
machine  also  lent  by  that  department. 
Congratulations  to  the  men  lA^ho  decorated 
their  quarters  so  effectively  and  fur^ 
nished  such  good  refreshments. 

These  two  parties  turned  out  to  be 
climaxes ,  as  the  celebrating  really  began 
on  Wednesday,  the  sixteenth,  when  the 
Young  Adults'  Group  had  its  Christmas 
Coffee  Hour.  From  that  time  on  there 
vrore  departmental  parties  too  numerous 
to  list  completely,  but  which  included 
Open  House  in  the  nevdy  assigned  and 
renovated  quarters  for  the  Buildings 
Department  staff;  annual  luncheons  in 
the  Binding,  Branch  Issue,  Cataloging 
and  Classification,  R.  and  R.  S«,  Book 
Preparation,  and  Book  Purchasing  Depart- 
ments; and  departmental  parties  and 
luncheons  outside  the  building.  Every- 
where, everywhere—food,  cards,  Christmas 
trees,  Christmas  decorations,  and  always 
the  friendly,  cordial  exchange  of  season's 
greetings  among  staff  members. 

Sarah  M.  Usher 

SPORTS  NEV/S 

Freight  jfards  Park,  Boston 

On  December  22,  before  a  madly  cheering, 
capacity  crowd  of  7  frozen  fans  the 
B  P  Lions  steamrollered  the  O'Brien  All 
Stars  by  the  lop-sided  score  of  36-12. 
As  a  result  of  the  smashing  victory  the 
Lions  split  up  the  playoff  payoff  (a  case 
of  coke)  graciously  donated  by  the  losing 
coach,  Joe  O'Brien,  of  Central  Charging, 

The  Lions  used  their  combination  of 
speed,  passing,  and  reserves  in  their 
pulverizing  attack.  The  Lions  scored  on 
the  very  first  play  from  scrimmage  on  a 
pass  from  Gerry  (Slingshot)  Hottleman 
to  Danny  (Crusher)  Kelly  and  were  never 
headed  or  seriously  threatened  thereafter, 
It  was  a  tremendous  team  victory  since 
six  (6)  different  players  crossed  the  goal 
line  for  the  B  P  Lions, 

The  outclassed-but-game  All  Stars 
scored  on  an  intercepted  pass  and  on  a 
6$   yard  touchdovm  march  that  vfould  have 
done  credit  to  a  Notre  Dame  Team. 

Grantland  Ricepatty 


-5- 


The  Football  Squad 

With  the  end  of   the  football  season  the 

National  Magazines   and  NeY\rs  Services  have 

been  naming  their  College  All-American 

teams  and  their  "I;Iost"   Players c     The 

follovdng  is  a  list  of  the  All-BoP,L, 

Team: 

Right  End,  Paul  Smith,  Book  Purchasing- 
Right  Tackle,  Art  Lindsay,  Exhibits  • 
Right  Guard,  Donald  Newman,  Book 

Purchasir.g. 

Center,  John  Hallahian,  Open  Shelf 
Left  Guard,  Larry  Sindoni,  B:ok  ?/?.ack 

Sorvlce , 

Left  Tackle,  John  McCafferty,  General 

Reference 

Left  End,  Mike  Barden,  Cat.   and  Class., 

R^aid  R.o» 

Quarterback,  Gerry  Hottleman,  Book 

Purchasing. 

Left  Halfback,  Paul  Mulloney,  Science 

and  Techc 

Right  Halfback,  Yfelter  Harris,   Book 

Purchasing. 

Fullback,  Danny  Kelly,  Audio-Visual. 
Coach,   George  Armstrong,  Records,  Files 

Statistics. 

Most  Valuable,  Donald  Neifman  . 

Most  Improved,  Paul  Smith. 

Most  Left  Handed,  Paul  Ifulloney. 


Most  Dirtiest,  Danny  Kelly. 

The  A11"B.P,L<,  team  mil  be  feted  at 
a  Hot  Dog  Dinner  (vrith  all  the  trimmings) 
down  at  Joe  and  Nemo's  on  Saturday, 
January  23.  The  "Most"  Aviards  will  be 
made  by  B-addy  Parker-House,  coach  of 
World  Champions.   The  Detroit  Lions, 
incidentally,  have  refused  an  offer  to 
play  the  All-BeP.L.  team  in  Fenway  Park 
mth  the  proceeds  going  to  the  Cen-^^ennial 
Fund. 

Guest  speaker  for  the  Dinner  mil  be 
Frank  N.D.  Leahy,  well-known  coach,  v/ho 
is  reported  to  have  scouted  the  squad 
in  action  on  a  couple  of  occasions 
during  the  season, 

Grantland  Ricepatty 


Don't  miss  the  notice  on  page  lU 
Sign  up  now  I 


PRESIDENT'S  NOTES 

Another  year  in  the  life  of  the  Pro- 
fessional Staff  Association  is  drawing 
to  a  close.   It  has  been  a  busy  one  and 
one  marked  by  a  spirit  of  good  will  and 
coopOi-'ation.  My  sincere  thanks  to  each 
and  everycne  who  helped,  the  members  of 
the  E-:i?cutive  Board,  the  Coramittse 
Chairman,  the  Staff  Representatives,  and 
all  the  members  who  have  responded  so 
mllingly  whenever  they  have  been  asked 
to  assisto 

Keep  up  the  good  work  and  show  the  in- 
coming officers  the  same  readiness  to  work 
together  for  the  corrmon  goods 

If  possible,  arrange  to  be  present  at 

the  annual  meeting  on  Friday,  January  22, 

at  9  A  .,M,  to  hear  and  discuss  the  reports 

of  your  cciTmibtees  and  officers j,  to  vote 

for  your  new  officers  and  to  ant  on 

'.proposed  amendments  to  the  Constitution, 

jOtherwn.se,  vote  for  your  officorj  by 

jabsent.ee  ballot.  Remember,  to  be  valid, 

these  absentee  ballots  must  be  received 

by  the  Balloting  Committee  on  or  before 

; Wednesday,  January  20th.  The  obligation 

to  vote  is  an  important  one.  Whether 

or  not  you  vote,  the  officers  elected 

act  for  and  represent  you, 

--  B.  Joseph  O'Neil 

BR-^INGH  LIBRARY— 1872  lEDEL 

Letter  of  Instruction  to  Branch  Librarian 
of  the  South  Boston  Branch  from 
Justin  Vlfinsor  in  l872, 

April  23,  1872 
Mrs,  Keen,- 

In  investing  you,  until  further  orders, 
with  the  charge  of  the  new  Branch  Library 
at  South  Boston,  the  central  government 
of  the  Public  Library  desire  to  call  your 
ittcntion  -co  the  By-laws  of  the  Library, 
and  particularly  to  the  injunctions  con- 
tained in  Article  20,  on  pages  l6  and  17. 
Never  forget  the  utmost  importance  of 
punctuality  in  the  service,  and  of  re- 
quiring it  of  all  under  your  controlo  The 
hours  established,  or  to  be  established 
for  your  branch  are  such  as  it  is  thought 
the  interests  of  the  public  reqtiire,  and 
they  must  be  filled  from  the  very  beginning 
to  the  very  end  in  that  public  service. 
Also  remember  that  personal  visitors  take 
the  Library's  time,  and  the  service 
proportionally  suffers t  It  cannot  be 
recognized  as  a  proper  indulgence.  Be 
very  careful  of  shevdng  favors  to  your 


-6- 


friends,  or  allowing  your  subordinates  to 
do  it;  and  by  all  means  enforce  the  in- 
junction in  the  By-laws ^  "section  3d  of 
Article  20,"  regarding  new  books.  The 
copies  of  which  may   be  sent  to  your 
branch,  of  new  popular  books,  may  otherwise 
be  kept  in  use  by  the  library  attendants , 
or  their  friends,  for  weeks,  Yirith  obvious 
injustice  tovrards  the  public.  I  shall 
dppend  confidently  upon  your  avoiding 
this  mistake. 

Always  treat  everybody  courteously, 
and  mth  a  spirit  of  accomodation;  and  if 
you  observe  in  any  visitor  a  feeling  of 
complaint  or  a  desire  to  suggest  change, 
kindly  ask  such  to  address  the  Superin- 
tendent in  writing,  and  tell  him  that  you 
mil  see  that  the  communication  is  con- 
veyed to  its  proper  destination. 

You  mil  find  yourself  obliged  to  deal, 
occasionally  unpleasantly,  with  all  sorts 
of  people,  from  those  most  kindly  disposed 
and  full  of  forbearance,  to  such  as  are 
carping  continually  and  eager  to  find 
fault.  You  must  meet  these  last  with 
good  temper  and  conciliatory  tact;  but 
the  moment  you  are  conscious  of  the  need 
for  an  authority  superior  to  your  oivn, 
inform  me  in  writing. 

You  must  constantly  preserve  good  order 
throughout  the  rooms;  and  if  after  your 
kindly  expressed  remonstrance,  any  person 
persists  in  wrong  doing,  report  the  case 
to  me  at  once.  If  the  conduct  is  fla- 
grantly disorderly,  and  cannot  be  safely 
endured  till  my  interposition  may  come, 
send  at  once  for  an  officer  to  the  captain 
of  the  Police  Station,  and  state  the  case 
to  him. 

To  your  charge  is  entrusted  the  keeping 
of  the  city  property  in  the  library  and 
you  must  provide  against  loss  and  waste. 
Keep  your  stationery  under  lock  and  key, 
and  also  the  money  you  may  receive  from 
fines  and  the  sale  of  catalogues,  which 
you  will  account  for  on  your  daily 
record  receipts,  at  such  times  as  Mr 
Capon  may  arrange. 

In  case  of  sickness  of  any  of  your 
force,  so  that  you  are  unable  to  fulfill 
promptly  the  service  required  of  you,  you 
vail  report  such.  I  hope  to  be  able  to 
provide  in  due  time  an  assistant  or  two 
in  reserve  who  may  be  at  once  called  upon 
by  you  for  temporary  service  in  any  such 
emergency. 

Miss  Kulloy  will  be  put  in  charge  of 
the  Reading  Room,  and  of  taking  the 
registration.  She  will  satisfy  herself  by 
questions  that  the  applicant  has  not 


already  since  Sept.,  186?  registered  in 
Boylston  St.,  before  receiving  a  new 

application.  In  asking  for  the  one 
"reference"  required,  let  her  avoid  the 
use  of  that  v;ord  "reference"  ,  and  put  the 
question  thus, — "give  me  the  name  of  any 
person  in  South  Boston  who  knows  you", 
Vftien  the  application  is  made,  say  to  the 
applicant  that  his  "card  ■vdll  be  ready 
as  soon  as  the  application  can  be  commu- 
nicated to  the  central  library".  The 
applicant  will  be  in  each  case   required 
to  sign  name  or  mark  to  the  application. 
This  original  application  must  be  kept 
in  an  alphabetical  file,  and  a  copy  of  it 
made,  and  transmitted  the  next  day  to  % 
BradshaYiT  at  the  bentral  library,  who 
will  the  same  day  return  the  slip,  (marked 
Ydth  the  applicant's  registration  number) 
of  any  v^rho  have  already  received  cards 
from  the  central  Library,  and  this  fact 
will  be  made  known  to  the  applicant  on 
demanding  his  card.  If  he  replies  his 
card  is  lost,  make  a  record  of  it,  and 
give  him  a  nev/  one  vdth  the  registration 
number  of  his  lost  card,  at  the  end  of 
fifteen  days. 

You  virill  see  that  the  proper  statistical 
record  of  both  the  Registration  and 
Periodical  Room  is  kept  day  by  day  as  re- 
quired by  the  headings  of  the  Record 
Book  of  the  Branch. 

Miss  Mulloy  vfill  be  relieved  during  the 
hour  and  a  quarter  allovred  for  her  dinner 
by  yourself  or  Miss  Baldmn,  who  may  take 
her  dinner  hour  as  you  may  arrange,  either 
before  or  after  Miss  Mulloy.  You  as  well 
as  Miss  Baldwin  should  fully  acquaint 
yourself  with  all  that  Miss  Mulloy' s 
duties  require,  so  as  to  fill  the  gap 
yourself  if  exigencies  should  require  it. 

Vifhoever  is  to  stay  till  10  will  be 
allowed  one  hour  for  tea  between  6  and  7, 
and  one  of  the  other  two  must  be  in  charge 
during  that  hour. 

In  no  event  will  the  attendant  leave  the 
Hall  at  10  o'clock,  unless  the  Janitor  is 
on  hand  to  close  the  building. 

You  vdll  see  that  day  by  day  all  entries 
called  for  by  the  Record  Book  are  made  by 
you  in  it  and  on  the  Daily  Report,  and 
you  will  require  that  Miss  Mulloy 
furnishes  her  figures  on  a  slip  of  paper 
for  you  to  copy. 

Let-  Misses  Mulloy  and  Baldwin  read  this 
paper,  and  you  must  preserve  it  for 
reference.  Your  subordinates  are  to 
understand  that  within  the  range  of  your 
authority  as  head  of  the  Branch  you  are  to 
be  obeyed,  and  I  enjoin  upon  them  a  spirit 


of  forbearance  and  submission,  and  upon 
you  one  of  kindly  justife.  They  san 
appeal  to  me,  if  necessary,  but  such 
appeal  should  be  transmitted  through  you. 
I  confidently  expect  however  that  there 
vj-ill  be  nothing  jarring  in  your  official 
relations  one  to  the  other. 

(Signed)  JUSTIN  WINSOR 

ELOCD  PROGRAM 

To  give  blood  under  the  City  of  Boston 
Employees  Blood  Donor  Program  is 
patriotic,  humane,  and  for  the  protection 
of  the  donor  and  his  or  her  family. 
Remember  that  if  the  blood  is  donated 
during  a  scheduled  v/orking  day,  four 
hours  excused  absence  are  allowed  by  the 
Library  for  this  purpose. 

Have  you  been  intending  to  give  a  pint 
of  blood  and  just  haven't  gotten  around 
to  doing  it?  Call  Mrs  Wollent  today  and 
ask  her  for  a  Blood  Donor  Pledge  Card  and 
further  information. 

VISITORS 

Dr  Sami  Kayyali,  Director  of  the 
National  Library  of  Syria, 

Dr  Karl  Heinz  "wallraf,  Assistant 
Director,  Bremen  Public  Libraries,  Bremen 
Germany, 

TAKE  A  BOW 

For  the  excellence  of  the  CARE  posters 
which  she  has  made  over  a  period  of  years, 
we  ask  Marie  T.  Has tie,  Parker  Hill,  to 
take  a  bov;  for  this  month.  In  fact,  we 
think  that  her  Christmas  poster  is  so  good 
that  its  appeal  is  not  limited  only  to  the 
Christmas  season,  and  we  are  using-  it 
as  the  back  cover  of  this  issue  of  The 
Question  Mark.  Congratulations,  Miss 
Ha-stie  I 

ffi¥  TRUE  I 
A  Quote  from  A.  Lincoln 

"It  is  better  to  keep  your  mouth  shut 
and  have  people  think  you  are  a  fool  than 
to  open  it  and  remove  all  doubt," 

A  Prayer  (source  unknown) 

"Fill  my  mouth  vfith  worth\vhile  stuff 
And  nudge  me  when  I've  aaid  enouglj." 


CENTENNIAL  NOTES 

The  sum  of  $1,538.00  was  realized  from 
the  sale  of  tickets  for  the  Boston 
Premiere  of  the  film  preseatation  of 
?/illiam  Shakf:3peare's  "Julius  Caesar" 
^ich  i'%s   he].i  at  the  Ma; -stic  Theatre 
on  Monday  evening,  Decen-r.""-ir  21  l   The 
proceeds  from  the  sale  of  tickets  went 
into  the  Centennial  Fund  of  the  Library. 

* 

On  Saturday,  January  9,   19^h,   the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  Massachusetts 
Library  Trustees  Association  met  in  the 
Trustees  Room  to  make  arrangements  for 
an  all-day  irieeting  of  the  entire  associa- 
tion which  will  be  held  in  ths Boston 
Public  Library  on  Saturday,  March  2?,  195U. 
The  members  of  the  Executive  Committee  who 
attended  the  meeting  represented  all 
sections  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachu- 
setts. After  the  morning  session,  the 
group  had  luncheon  in  the  Coffee  Shop  and 
thereafter  was  taken  on  a  tour  of  the 
Central  Library  building.  The  March  2? 
meeting  of  the  Massachusetts  Library 
Trustees  Association  promises  tobe  one 
of  the  highlights  of  the  Centennial 
Anniversary. 

•«■ 

The  Advertising  Club  of  Boston  paid 
tribute  to  the  Centennial  Anniversary  of 
the  Library  at  a  luncheon  in  the  ballroom 
of  the  Hotel  Statler  on  Tuesday,  Janu- 
ary 12.  In  spite  of  the  inclement  weather, 
som.e  four  hundred  members  of  the  Club 
and  their  guests  attended  the  luncheon 
and  listened  to  an  excellent  speaking 
program  which  was  highlighted  by  the 
appearance  of  the  four  editors  of  Boston 
newspapers  who  appear  on  the  popular 
television  program  entitled  Starring  the 
Editors ,  and  a  talk  by  Mr  Lord  on  the 
facilities  of  the  Library. 


The  Women's  City  Club  paid  tribute  to 
the  Library  on-  the  occasion  of  its  Cen- 
tennial Anniversary  at  a  dinner  at  its 
Clubhouse,  39  Beacon  Street,  on  Wednesday 
evening,  January  13.  Augustin  H,  Parker, 
Jr.,  Treasurer  of  the  Centennial  Committee, 
vras  the  toastinaster,and  the  principal 
speaker  was  Milton  E.  Lord.  Some  2^0 
people  attended  the  dinner  including 
several  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Library. 


-8- 


CARE 

Grune  13.12.53. 

Through  the  German  Care-Mission  we  have 
received  a  CARE  package  from  you.  So  I 
should  like  to  give  e^qsression  here  of  my 
delight,  and  my  mfe  and  I  thank  you  most 
heartily. 

Yife  are  both  71  years  old  and  live  here 
in  very  modest  circumstances ,  since  we 
had  to  leave  our  home  (Silesia)  in  19U6, 
Now  we  have  a  small  attic  room  where  we 
are  living  since  this  time,  and  are  thank- 
ful to  God  that  He  has  helped  us  so  far, 
and  also  made  human  hands  willing  to 
assist  us.  We  rejoice  greatly,  therefore, 
that  you  have  aided  us  through  this  pack- 
age, although  we  are  unknown  to  you. 

I'lay  God  bless  you. 

With  hearty  thanks. 

Greetings, 

Friedrich  Wittig  and  wife, 
Il/Iathilde . 

The  Committee  for  CARE  is  pleased  to 
bring  to  your  attention  from  time  to  time 
appreciative  letters  such  as  the  above. 
At  present  the  bulk  of  our  packages  are 
going  to  Korea.  And  although  no  individual 
replies  have  been  received  from  that 
country,  we  are  sure  that  if  circumstances 
permitted,  these  unfortunate  people  would 
readily  voice  their  thanks  too» 

Walter  J,  Bluhm,  Chairman 
CARE 

NET  BOOKS  IN  STAFF  LIBRARY 

Non-Fiction 


Howard,  Frances  M.  Sleep  without  armor. 
New  York,  Button,  1953 

Lane,  Ldargaret.  The  Bronte  Story. 

New  York,  Due 11,  Sloan  and  Pearce,  19^3 

Mayne,  Peter.  The  alleys  of  I/Iarrakesh, 

Boston,  Little,  Brovm,  1953 
Meyer,  Agnes  E„  Out  of  these  roots, 

Boston,  Little,  Bro-vm,  1953 
Osgood,  Cornelius,  Winter, 

New  York,  W,  W.  Norton,  1953 
Randall,  Clarence  Bo  Freedom's  faith. 

Boston,  LitA.le,  Brown,  1953 
Raverat,  Gv/endolen  M,  Period  piece. 

New  York,  Norton,  1953 
Sheen,  Fulton  J,,  Bp.  Life  is  worth  living. 

New  York,  McGraw-Hill,  1953 
Stevens,  Leslie  C.  Russian  assignment 

Boston,  Little,  Brown,  1953 

Fiction 

Ambler,  Eric,  The  Schirmer  inheritance. 

New  York,  Knopf,  1953 
Barnes,  Margaret  C„  The  Tudor  rose, 

Philadelphia,  lilacrae  Smith,  1953 
Brady,  Charles  A,  Stage  of  fools. 

New  York,  button,  1953 
Gallico,  Pauls  SnovrClake, 

Garden  City,  New  York,  Doubleday,  1953 
Grierson,  Edward j.  The  hastening  wind* 

New  York,  Knopf,  1953 
O'Brien,  Kate.  The  flower  of  May. 

New  York,  Harper,  1953 
Roberts,  Dorothy  J,  The  enchanted  cup. 

NeviT  York,  Appleton-Century-Crofts,  1953 
Steen,  Marguerite.  Anna  Fitzalan. 

Garden  City,  New  York,  Doubleday,  1953 
Treece,  Henry.  The  dark  island. 

New  York,  Random  House,  1953 


Chute,  Marchette  G,  Ben  Jonson  of  West- 
minster, 

New  York,  Button,  1953 
Crosby,  Caresse.  The  passionate  years. 

New  York,  Dial  Press,  1953 
Croy,  Homer,  Our  Will  Rogers. 

New  York,  Duell,  Sloan  and  Pearce,  1953 
Erskine,  Helen.  Out  of  this  world. 

New  York,  Putnam,  1953 
Goodspeed,  Edgar  J.  As  I  remember. 

New  York,  Harper,  1953. 
Henrey,  liirs  Robert.  Ifedeleine  grown  up. 

New  York,  Dutton,  1953 
Holbrook,  Stewart  H,  The  age  of  the  moguls. 

Garden  City,  New  York,  Doubleday,  1953 


BRANCH  NOTES 

Adams  Street 

On  Friday,  December  18,  Ruth  M.  Hayes 
gave  her  annual  Christmas  party  for  mem- 
bers of  the  staff.  After  a  collation  of 
dainty  sandwiches,  cakes,  ice  cream,  and 
coffee,  Clifford  Fay,  as  Santa  Claua, 
passed  out  the  gaily-'vn:'apped  presents. 
Dancing  and  games  under  the  direction  of 
the  extras  completed  the  evening's  enter- 
tainment. 

Egleston  Square 

Christmas  at  Egleston  Square  carried  out 
the  theme  of  hospitality  and  joy.  To  our 


-9- 


patrons  the  pleasure  of  Holiday  decora- 
tions ^  two  trees  all  sparkling  v-lth 
tinsel  and  stars,  one  in  the  Children's 
rsom  and  one  in  the  Adult  room  carried 
out  the  tradition  of  "A  TREE  FOR  CHRIST-  \ 
MS" .  Two  unusual  posters  with  a  black 
background  and  design  of  red  candles  with 
yellovf  flames,  holly  leaves  in  bright 
green,  met  the  eye  as  one  entered. 

In  a  surrounding  with  the  decor  of  cool 
grey  floor  and  draperies,  tables  and 
desks  in  blond  ash,  with  chairs  in  shades 
of  coral  and  blue  only  the  slightest 
arrangement  of  tables  v/as  necessary  for 
conversational  seating.  Softly  glo-vdng 
red  candles  in  iron  holders  and  a 
beautiful  bouquet  of  red  roses  attracted 
the  eye  as  one  entered  the  foyer.  Gifts 
placed  around  the  tree  and  joyous  Christ- 
mas music  played  in  the  background. 
Everything  was  ready. 

The  staff  welcomed  their  guests  and, 
after  introductions  and  pleasure  in 
meeting  old  and  neii  friends  and  exclama- 
tions over  the  nevj-  library,  all  gathered 
in  a  line  at  the  long  central  charging 
counter  v.'hich  for  the  evening  became  a 

buffet  table, 

Vi'ould  you  like  to  hear  the  menu?  IThat 
vdth  the  arrival,  like  the  fresh  nevi  year, 
of  the  wonderful  library  cook  book,  one 
hesitates  to  mention  menus,  but  here  it 
is : 

Cranberry  Juice 
Lobster  Salad — Potato  Salad 
Tuna  and  rice  casserole 
Pickles      Olives 
Salad  Mold 
Hot  buttered  rolls 
Cake-Pie-Cookies-brownies 
Coffee 
Everyone  had  his  place  at  the  table 
and  the  first  Christm.as  party  at  Egleston 
Square  was  well  on  its  happy  way. 

More  music — more  reminiscing  and,  of 
course,  second  helpings  for  everyone  L 
Then  everyone  gathered  around  the  tree 
and  our  Santa  ^laus ,  resplendent  in  a 
red  raincoat  well  filled  to  rotund  pro- 
portions and  a  paper  hat  and  a  beard  made 
from  a  fresh  -v/hite  mop  (even  he  virent 
partly  modern),  called  the  name  of  each 
person  to  receive  a  gift  and  to  each  was 
attached  a  fitting  verse  v*iich  the 
recipient  read  aloud.  More  music,  happy 
people,  a  lovely  party.  Our  Librarian, 
Miss  Levy,  read  aloud  a  gay  and  vjitty 
poem  written  by  the  poetess  lauriat — Pat 


ITilscn  Venezia.  The  literary  master- 
piece included  the  whole  story,  epic- 
style,  from  the  actual  working  inception 
of  the  new  branch  and  gave  credit  to  each 
one  who  had  helped,  even  in  a  tiny  way, 
to  get  ready.  Ifeiny  hidden  virtues  were 
brought  right  out  in  the  open — and  "^ve  all 
felt  so  pleased  to  have  confirmed  in 
print  all  the  merits  of  the  staff  at 
Egleston  Square, 

Lovely  soft  holiday  music — candles 
glovrLng,  good  conversation,  gaiety,  and 
happiness — a  very  merry  first  Christmas 
Party  at  Egleston  Square, 

P<,5»  The  Librarian  had  to  put  her  hat 
on  as  a  signal  for  all  to  go  home.  That 
is  real  proof  of  a  successful  party, 
isn't  it? 

Mattapan 

On  December  llj.,  William  A.  MacCormick, 
former  chairman  of  the  Youth  Service 
Board,  spoke  to  the  Friends  of  the 
Library  on  "Our  Teenagers,  v/hat  about 
them?"  After  stating  that  much  of  the 
adolescent's  trouble  stems  first  from 
his  search  for  security  and  secondly 
from  his  inability  to  express  his 
desires,  Mr  IfecCormick  showed  how  these 
factors  contribute  to  the  formation  of 
teen-age  gangs  o  The  gang  vrith  its 
definite  code  of  rules  for  its  members, 
its  connnon  bond  of  acti-n  and  ideas 
offers  security  tc  the  teen-ager  in  a 
bewilderingly  contradictory  world,  he 
maintained.  In  many  instances,  he  also 
pointed  out,  adults  give  no  help  in 
reconciling  these  contradictions,  for  at 
one  time  they  m.11   urge  the  teen-ager  to 
act  like  a  grovm-up  and  in  the  next 
breath  tell  him  he's  too  young  to  enjoy 
the  privileges  of  a  groTm-up  v/orld.  In 
order  to  solve  the  problem,  lb-   MacCormick 
feels,  vre  must  satisfy  the  teen-ager's 
need  for  security  with  love,  trust, 
affection  and  good  example.  Following 
the  lecture,  a  brief  question  and  answer 
period  provided  those  attending  virith  an 
opportunity  to  clarify  their  ideas. 

On  December  22 ,  a  Christmas  party  vias 
held  for  the  pre-school  story  hour  group. 
The  children,  dressed  in  holiday  finery, 
entertained  their  mothers  and  the  staff 
with  a  beguiling  recitation  of  the 
poems  learned  during  the  Fall  story  hour 
session.  They  responded  enthusiastically 
to  the  two  Christmas  stories,  "Paddy's 
Christmas"  and  "Aloysiua  and  the  Rag  Rug," 


-10- 


To  close  the  program,  Christinas  candy 
baskets  and  gifts  were  distributed.  One 
small  youngster,  afraid  that  her  "wiberry  ' 
teacher"  might  be  forgotten  by  Santa 
Claus  insisted  that  she  bring  an  extra 
toy — a  fearful  and  wonderful  wooden 
clapper o 

Neponset 

Wednesday,  December  21,  vra.s  a  day  of 
parties.  At  noon  Madalene  Holt,  Branch 
Librarian,  served  a  delicious  lunch  to 
her  staff,  vj-hich  v;as  follovfed  by  the 
exchange  of  lovely  gifts  to  everybody. 
In  the  afternoon,  little  kindergarten 
and  1st  and  2nd  grade  children  began  to 
pour  into  the  Library  until  by  3  o'clock 
there  were  85  bright-eyed  youngsters 
eagerly  waiting  for  their  promised 
Christmas  party  to  begin.  The  Christmas 
otory  vns  read,  carols  were  sung,  and  the 
children  recited  poems  and  sang  Christmas 
songs  in  groups  and  alone.  One  of  the 
older  girls  executed  two  pretty  dances  in 
a  lovely  costume.  After  the  program  each 
child  received  a  neat  little  package  of 
Christmas  candy  and  a  bookmark  made  to 
resemble  an  attractive  little  book  vath 
a  Christmas  greeting  inside. 

On  Wednesday  morning,  December  23,  a 
group  of  twenty  children  gathered  around 
Tyyne  Saari  to  listen  to  Christmas  Stories 
and  to  sing  Christmas  Carols. 

A  ne\i  winter  project,  the  Space 
Travelers'  Club  for  discovering  and  ex- 
ploring ne-v:  worlds  in  books^has  been 
launched  for  the  children.  Each  space 
traveler  receives  a  silver  space  ship  with 
which  he  zooms  from  one  planet  to  another 
with  each  book  read  and  reported  on.  The 
trip  begins  at  any  one  of  12  starting 
points,  ^each  named  for  one  of  the  con- 
stellations of  the  Zodiac  and  representing 
a  special  field. 

Phillips  Brooks 

The  Christmas  party  on  December  1?  was 
a  great  success.  The  Friends  of  the 
Library  sponsors  a  similar  party  each  year 
in  lieu  of  its  regular  monthly  meeting. 

The  joy  of  the  season  vras  expressed  and 
enhanced  by  the  musical  program,  which 
railed  on  audience  participation.  The 
spontaneity  and  sincerity  of  the  whole 
group  made  the  evening  the  success  it  was. 
The  Young  People's  FelloT/ship  of  the 
Roslindale  Congregational  Church  v;ere  our 
carolers.  l^Ihen   they  asked  the  audience 
to  join  in  on  a  chorus  or  two,  the  audience 


responded  to  its  natural  desire  to  do  so. 
From  then  on  the  concert  turned  into  a 
community  sing,  to  the  great  delight  of 
the  performers.  Nothing  could  have  made 
them  feel  more  welcom.c. 

The  Puppeteers  presented  a  short  play, 
based  on  a  few  old  carols — the  singing 
coming  from  the  extras  at  the  branch  and 
one  of  their  friends <,  The  play  started 
the  evening  off,  illustrating  that  this 
was  to  be  a  singing  good  time  and  getting 
everyone  in  the  mood  for  it.. 

The  party  concluded  with  refreshments 
prepared  under  th^  direction  of  %s 
Christopher  Goode  of  the  Friends.  The 
punch,  cookies,  cake  and  candies  were 
attractively  served  from  a  Christmas 
decorated  table,  ^^ames  Horner,  president 
of  the  Friends,  introduced  the  parts  of 
the  program,  and  a  yuletide  welcome  ivas 
extended  to  all  by  Mrs  Ivlary  Mannix  O'Neill, 
Branch  Librarian* 

West  End 


Everybody  had  a  share  in  the  festivities 
that  marked  the  children's  celebration  of 
Christmas^  Thursday  afternoon,  December  17» 
The  Lecture  Hall,  in  holiday  attire, 
fairly  rocked  when  the  voices  of  ninety 
children  sang  out  "Jingle  Bells" , "Frosty" 
and  "Deck  the  Halls",  while  a  pasteboard 
Santa  winked  encouragement  from  a  table 
top.  A  group  of  more  sedate  choir  boys  — 
lace-paper  surpliced  and  crimson  gowned 
and  flanked  by  wax  candles  twice  as  tall 
as  theranelves — perched  atop  the  piano, 
presided  over  the  softer  strains  of 
"Silent  Night"  sung  in  three  languages — 
English,  Polish,  and  Gerimn. 

There  Virerc  stories,  "Christmas  Eve  on 
Beacon  Hill"  and  "The  Dwarf  and  the 
Cobbler's  Sons",  and  a  play,  "The  Best 
Gift  of  All",  vfhichwas  staged  by  a  group 
of  third  grade  girls  from  St  Joseph's 
Parochial  School.  Miss  Goldstein  told 
the  children  something  of  her  recent  trip 
to  Europe,  contrasting  living  conditions 
there,  especially  for  the  youpg,  with  the 
freedom  and  privileges  we  enjoy  in  America, 

More  songs  followed — three  lovely  Polish 
carols,  sung  by  some  of  our  neighborhood 
children  of  Polish  parentage,  English 
carols,  by  the  #iole  group,  and  two  solos, 
"The  Friendly  Beasts"  and  "Jingle  Bells" 
sung  five  different  vrays  I  A  rousing 
"Rudolf"  climaxed  the  program — except  for 
the  surprise  package  of  Christmas  candy 
which  each  child  received  as  he  left  the 
hallo 


-11- 


Christmas  for  the  Staff  this  year  took 
on  an  interrational  air.  Miss  Goldstein 
vras  hostess  to  the  entire  group  at  a 
Christmas  party  at  her  home  on  Sunday 
evening  J  December  20.  Supper  was 
served,  a  delicious  and  unusual  meal  that 
combined  standard  New  England  fare  with 
delicacies  of  foreign  cuisine.  But 
better  still  was  Miss  Goldstein's  account 
of  her  travels  abroad.  The  sights  and 
sounds  and  smells  of  Israel  invaded  the 
Brookline  apartment.  For  a  little  while 
we  forgot  the  led  and  green  of  Christmas 
decorations,  forgot  the  mistletoej 
we  drifted  along  a  canal  in  Venice, 
watched  breathless  in  an  amphitheatre 
on  the  Acropolis,  gazed  up  at  the  Pope 
from  the  Vatican  courtyard,  dashed 
through  the  shops  of  London.  With 
difficulty  we  brought  ourselves  back  to 
more  familiar  surroundings.  And  as  a 
climax — there  before  us  were  the  concrete 
symbols  of  another  world,  rosaries  from 
Italy  (blessed  by  the  Pope),  a  plate 
and  silver  pins  from  Israel,  book  ends 
and  a  Coronation  bell  from  England — 
these  and  many  othars,  gifts  for  all. 

On  Thursday  evening,  December  17, 
tvrenty-four  members  of  the  local  Beth 
Jacob  Sisterhood  held  a  meeting  at  Yfest 
End  to  hear  Miss  Goldstein's  description 
of  the  Israeli  Scene  from  her  observations 
of  the  past  summer. 

Thirty-seven  children  from  the  Con- 
firmation class  of  Temple  Israel.  Religious 
School  at  Worcester,  and  thirteen  from 
Kehillath  Israel  in  Brookline  came  to 
hear  of  the  Judaica  collection  and  West 
End's  history  during  the  month  of 
December. 

The  Massachusetts  General  Hospital 
sent  thirty-five  of  its  student  nurses 
to  visit  Tfest  End  on  Decmeber  23  to  see 
the  Christmas  decorations  and  to  learn 
of  one  of  Boston's  foremost  historic 
buildings  firsthand. 


SOAP  K)X 


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  #iich  he  or  she 
is  employed.  The  name  is  vd-thheld  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  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  with  the  views 
expressed. 


Dear  Editor: 

Judging  by  the  Supervisor  of  Personnel's 
letter  in  last  month's  Question  Mark,  I 
did  suffer  under  a  misapprehension  in  at 
least  two  instances,  I  was  apparently 
in  error,  first,  in  assuming  that 
Margaret  Hutchins '  definition  of  reference 
work  as  given  in  her  Introduction  to 
reference  work,  Chicago,  American  Library 
Association,  19UU,  p.  10,  vras  a  correct 
one.  Miss  Hutchins  says,  "Reference 
work  includes  the  direct  personal  aid 
within  a  library  to  persons  in  search  of 


U.HE   FLASH 

Mr  and  Mrs  Walter  Robinson  announce  the 
birth  of  a  daughter,  Carolyn  Lee,  on 
January  11,  195U>  in  Auckland,  Nev; 
Zealand.  Virs   Robinson  is  the  former 
Muriel  Figcnbaum  of  Print, 


information  for  whatever  purpose, 


(Underscoring  mine).  The  American  Library 
Association,  Board  on  Personnel  Administra- 
tion, also  suffers  from  this  same  mis- 
apprehension. In  their  Descriptive 
list  of  professional  and  non-professional 
duties,  Chicago,  A,L.A.,  19145,  the  only 


job  description  fitting  this  tyjE  of  work 
is  to  be  found  under  the  heading  REFERENCE 
mm,   subheading,  PROFESSIONAL  DUTIES. 
My  second  error  was  in  assuming  that 
there  was  intended  som£  order  and  purpose 
to  the  Tirhole  training  program  for  sub- 
professionals  (a  term  the  crassness  of 
which,  by  the  way,  has  already  been 
decried  by  both  Pierce  Butler  and  Everett 
Hughes).  To  judge  from  what  appeared  in 
the  Supervisor's  letter,  one  must  infer 
either,  that  the  program  as  a  whole  is 
not  intended  for  the  best  interests  of 
all  the  members, of  the  subprofessional 
category  but  rather  only  for  those  in  the 
branch  service,  or  else,  that  all  sub- 


-12- 


professionals  pine  and  pant  for  the  day 
when  they  can  move  from  the  dull  drudgery 
that  is  now  theirs  to  the  Elysian  fields 
of  branch  life. 

But  viiat   of  those  creatures  so  un- 
fortunate as  to  have  taken  the  course  in 
Library  Letters,  Reports  and  Statistics, 
which  can,  like  Bartholomevir  Cubbins ' 
hats,  be  so  miraculously  replaced  by 
Elementary  Information  Sources?  Can  they 
hope  to  reach  the  Ultima  Thule  even 
though  they  are  not  prepared  to  answer 
easy  reference  questions?  Or  are  they 
to  find  out  that  even  though  they  have 
qualified  by  examinations,  the  pearly 
gates  are  to  be  shut  to  them  forever, 
as  they  are  for  some  professionals?  And 
conversely,  can  those  lucky  ones  who  now 
take  Elementary  Information  Sources  feci 
adequately  prepared  to  handle  a  sub- 
professional  duty  requiring  a  knowledge 
of  library  letters,  reports,  or  statisv. 
tics?  Or,  as  the  field  of  audio-visual 
work  increases,  as  it  seems  bound  to, 
will  tomorrow  another  hat  be  taken  off 
and  Elementary  Information  Sources  re- 
placed by  Needle  Changing,  I  &  II,  Winter 
and  Spring  terms? 

I  will  prescind  from  the  moral  issue  of 
whether  persons  at  a  far  lesser  salary 
should  be  expected  to  do  work  which,  in 
some  quarters  at  least,  is  considered 
professional,  I  will  prescind  from  the 
issue  of  whether  it  is  simple  justice  to 
set  up  ten  stumbling  blocks,  merely  to  ' 
toughen  the  fibre  of  the  younger  set 
without  having  these  hurdles  pertinent 
to  the  individual's  work,  I  merely 
wish  to  point  out  that  the  dichotomy  in 
this  library  which  divides  the  staff  into 
yang  and  yin,  male  and  female,  pro- 
fessional and  subprofessional,  reference 
and  circulation  was  created  by  this 
Administration  many  years  ago.  If  the 
result  leaves  the  staff  with  a  schizoid 
temperament,  it  is  not  of  my  doing  and  I 
resent  the  implication  that  it  is 
stujDidity  on  my  part  to  expect  the 
Administration  to  adhere  to  its  own- 
created  system, 

I  reiterate  the  statement  of  my  first 
letter  that  no  reflection  was  intended 
upon  the  capibilities  or  training  of  the 
person  giving  the  course.   It  has  always 
been  my  contention  that  any  intelligent 
person  on  the  staff  is  capable  of  per- 
forming well  any  duty  assigned  to  him  or 
her, 

Eamon  McDonough 


To  the  editor: 

The  recent  announcement  of  titular 
vacancies  to  be  filled  contained  no  men- 
tion of  the  position  Chief  Librarian, 
Division  of  Home  Reading  and  Community 
Services.  Yet  rumor  has  it  that 
appointment  to  that  post  is  imminent.  It 
is  to  be  hoped  that  this  is  merely  rumor, 
since  such  a  s  tep  would  be  extremely  ua- 
fair  to  those  capable  librarians,  with 
many  years  of  successful,  pertinent, 
experience  in  branch  libraries,  who 
deserve  an  opportunity  to  be  considered 
for  the  position.  Vfe  have  been  told  in 
the  past  that  application  for  a  position 
may  not  be  made  until  a  .Vacancy  is  an- 
nounced for  filling,  and  the  qualifica- 
tions for  said  position  made  known.  If 
there  is  any  intention  to  fill  the  above 
mentioned  position  at  this  time,  may  we 
respectfully  request  an  early  announcement, 
setting  forth  the  qualifications  for  the 
post,  so  that  all  eligible  candidates 
may  be  considered. 

Branch  Librarian 

To  the  Soap  Boxt 

Dame  Rumor,  that  old  bespeckled  female, 
was  on  hand  to  welcome  the  unsuspecting 
youth,  195il.  As  usual,  she  has  been 
rushing  about  madly  in  all  directions 
and  accomplishing  nothing.  Among  her 
major  projects  at  the  beginning  of  this 
brand  new  year  is  the  possibility  of  the 
filling  of  the  vacancy  created  by  the 
retirement,  sometime  ago,  of  the  Chief 
Librarian  of  the  Division  of  Home  Reading 
and  Community  Services,  Dame  Rumor  says 
that  it  is  to  be  filled  "from  the  ranks", 
but  the  ranks  have  not  been  so  informed. 
Is  there  any  special  reason  why  that 
position  should  not  be  "posted"  and  the 
specifications  listed  in  order  that  anyone 
interested  might  apply?  Of  course.  Dame 
Rumor  has  been  known  to  be  wrong  in  the 
past;  she  may  be  very  wrong  in  her  present 
mutterings. 

To  the  Editor: 

The  long  delay — of  almost  two  years — 
in  filling  the  position  of  Chief  Librarian 
of  the  Division  of  H.Ro&CS,  has  led  to 
the  natural  assumption  in  some  quarters 
that  there  are  none  among  the  staff  ade- 
quately qualified  for  the  position,  and 
that  the  library  field  was  being  thoroughly 
canvassed  for  a  person  of  demonstrably 
superior  qualifications — of  wide  experience 


-13- 


in  branch  and  community  service,  of  marked 
administrative  ability^  outstanding 
personality,  and  intellectual  stature — 
who  YTOuld  supply  positive  creative  leader- 
ship to  the  Library,  as  it  enters  its 
second  hundred  years. 

If,  however,  as  rumor  has  it,  that 
filling  the  position  is  at  hand — and  from 
within  the  Library  one  cannot  help  but 
conjecture  why  not  long  before?  Further- 
more, who  among  the  staff  are  being  con- 
sidered for  this  vital  post?  If,  as  rumor 
continues  to  have  it,  only  a  handful  of 
the  higher  echelon  are  being  considered, 
regardless  of  specific  experience,  one 
cannot  help  but  v.onder  why  qualifications 
for  this  position  should  not  be  posted 
as  for  any  other  position,  or  does  the 
theory  operate  that  the  job  is  tailored 
to  the  individual?  Is  it  not  possible 
that  there  are  Branch  Librarians,  or  other 
officers  in  the  Division  who  have  demon- 
strated outstanding  qualities  of  leader- 
ship in  their  communities  which  ^vould 
qualify  them  for  consideration  for  the 
vacancy?         ,^^^  ^^^^^, 


have  a  very  warm  feeling  for  them  which 
I  hope  to  cherish  to  the  end  of  my  days. 
Thanks  again  and  a  very  happy  New  Year 
to  all. 

Sincerely  yours, 
(Signed)      TOLLI/iM  A.  MCGOViTAN 


GIFT  TO  m   MnGOWAN 

On  December  23,  John  Loring  McNally, 
Buildings,  and  B,  Joseph  O'Neil,  Periodical 
and  Newspaper,  visited  William  A.  McGowan, 
who  recently  retired  from,  the  Library 
after  $0  years  of  service,  at  his  home  in 
West  Roxbury,  On  behalf  of  his  friends 
in  the  Library,  Bill  was  presented  vidth 
a  gift  of  eighty  doll^.rs  in  a  wallet  in- 
scribed with  his  naire,  and  a  "rem.embrance" 
book,  beautifully  bound  by  Binding  and 
filled  with  the  best  wishes  of  his  host 
of  friends  in  the  Library,.  As  unassuming 
as  ever.  Bill  was  genuinely  surprised 
that  anyone  would  take  any  notice  of  his 
retirement,  and  wanted  all  his  friends 
to  know  that  he  will  always  cherish  their 
expression  of  good  mil  towards  him. 

Bill  later  sent  the  following  letter 
to  B.  Joseph  O'Neil: 

1$  Burwell  Road 
Y/est  Roxbury 

Dear  Joe, 

I  wish  to  express  my  sincere  thanks  and 
appreciation  for  the  gifts  presented  to  me 
by  my  friends  in  the  Library,  on  the 
occasion  of  my  retirement. 

Please  tell  them  that  I  will  always 


BOSTON  PUBLIC   LIBRARY 


HARK,   YE  111  HARK,   YE  1 1 1 1 

Choral  and  Glee  Club  Group  Being  Organized 


Yfliy? 

Because  a  number  of  staff  members  are  intere-sted 
in  social  singing. 

YJho  will  direct? 

Blair  Benner,  Audio-Visual  Departnent,  M^A,  in 
music  and  currently  conductor  of  two  choirs ,  has 
consented  to  act  as  Director. 

Rehearsals? 

Permission  has  been  granted  for  use  of  the  Lecture 
Hall,  Central  Library,  until  April  195U>  Number  and 
frequency  of  rehearsals  to  be  determined  by  the  group. 

l^at  to  do  if  interested? 

Give  your  name  to  your  staff  representative,  who  is 
asked  to  forward  the  list  of  names  for  his  or  her  unit 
to: 

Mlliam  Di  Rosario 
Fine  Arts  Department 
Central  Library 

How  soon? 

On  or  before  Friday,  January  22,  195U 
Time? 

All  rehearsals,  etc.,  to  be  on  members'  own  time. 
Dues? 


None,  except  cost  of  sheet  music. 


Many  institutions  have  been  doing 

this  for  years;  isn't  it  about 

time  we  do  sol 


r305TOi\i 

r'roK^5S(Ona! 


PUBLIC      LIBRARY 


AssocisXion 


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5  p  G.  C  I  as  I    Co  ir V.  ..  ^  ..,,■-.,,,  V 

<.■')  I  !*••  n  s.    St'-in7  b  ero 


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uestioR 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


FEBRUARY  1954 


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


Volume   IX,  Number  2 


February  19^U 


Publications  Committees  Gerald  L,  Ball,  John  J.  McCafferty,  Sheila  Pierce, 

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  "third  objective"  of  our  Associa- 
tion is  "to  promote  greater  efficiency  in 
library  service."  As  this  phrase  covers 
a  wide  area  of  endeavor,  wider  than  the 
Publications  Committee  can  consider,  we 
requested  individual  members  to  inform 
us  of  methods  and  procedures  which  might 
tend  to  further  this  aim.  Since  there 
were  no  suggestions  offered  we  feel  that 
our  request  was  too  inclusive.  A  more 
practical  angle  of  attack  is  to  ask  "Why 
are  some  individuals  so  efficient  in  their 
jobs?" 

In  looking  around  us  for  some  possible 
answers  to  this  question,  we  find  one 
indication  in  our  own  Question  Mark 
feature  "Take  a  Bowo"  After  a  searching 
look  at  the  group  of  individuals  singled 
out  for  special  mention,  we  notice  that 
each  one  is  a  well-adjusted  person,  ad- 
justed to  his  work. 

Many  factors  seem  to  contribute  toward 
this  adjustment — education,  experience, 
ability  to  initiate  and  execute  projects, 
a  faculty  forviorking  with  others  with  a 
minimum  of  cross-purposes — these  are  some 
of  the  attributes  and  knovirledge  needed  by 
an  efficient  library  worker.  ViJhen  this 
adjustment  is  made  one  might  be  considerec 
as  being  "a  round  peg  in  a  round  hole." 

The  reverse  side  of  the  picture  should 
show  the  maladjusted  person — one  who  lacks 
cettain  of  these  characteristics  necessary 
for  efficient  service.  Such  a  person, 
although  eminently  fitted  for  certain 
jobs,  finds  himself  in  one  which  makes  him 
feel  like  a  round  peg  in  a  square  hole. 
He  feels  unable  to  gain  that  sense  of 
achievement  which  is  necessary  if  he  is 
to  progress  to  larger  goals. 

In  promoting  greater  efficiency  in 
library  service  the  methods  used  in  job 
assignment  are  all-important.  Any  modifi- 
cation of  a  system  which  will  aid  the  in^ 
dividual  to  discharge  his  responsibilities 
more  successfully  will  add  to  overall 

efficiency, 

Charles  J,  Gillis 


CALENDAR  OF  EVENTS 

February  l6.  Adult  Education  Luncheon 
Club  meeting,  Joseph's 
Restaurant,  12:15  p»ni. 


February  18 < 


February  20. 


March  1. 


March  2, 


M,L.A,  mid-winter  meeting, 
Sheraton-Plaza  Hotel . 

Catholic  Book  Yfeek  Fair, 
New  England  Mutual  Hall, 
2:30  p.m. 

BPL  Arnavets,  annual  dinner, 
6:30  p.m.,  at  Eddie  Davis' 
Steak  House, 

BPLPSA  reception  to  new 
officers,  8:30  p.m.,  Lecture 
Hall,  Central  Library,  ¥xs 
Edith  H,  Bailey,  Branch 
Librarian,.  Emeritus, 
Phillips  Brooks,  will  talk 
on  her  trip  around  the  world, 
and  will  show  colored  slides. 


PERSONAL  NOTES 


Resignations 

George  Mansour,  Fine  Arts 

Mrs  Florence  K.  Naudziunas,  Book  Stack 

Service,  to  remain  at  home 
Mrs  Alice  R.  Chisholm,  Cataloging  and 

Classification,  Div.  of  H.Rc&CS., 

to  renain  .at  hoine 
Mrs  Stella  K.  Easland,  Orient  Heights, 

to  remain  at  home 
Mrs  Naomi  Lo  Wayne,  Codman  Square,  to 

remain  at  home 
¥irs   Nancy  Co  Kiernan,  fettapan,  to  remain 

at  home 


from  South  End  to 


Transfers 

Mrs  Rhea  L.  Freeman. 

Charles town 
Mrs  Franc ina  E.  Gelzer,  from  North  End 

to  South  End 


-2- 


Genevieve  A,  Moloney,   from  Alls ton  to 
Bookmobile   II 

BIRTHS 

liir   and  llrs   Edisrard  F.  Gurnett,  Jr 
have  announced  the  birth  of  a  second 
daughter,  Julie,  on  January  23.  Mrs 
Gurnett  (Julia  Planning)  was  formerly 
on  the, -Rare  Book  staff. 

Lt  and  Mrs  Paul  McGillicuddy  announce 
the  birth  of  their  second  son,  Owen, 
born  December  28.  Mrs  McGillicuddy  is 
the  former  Eileen  Wilson,  from  Book 
Purchasing.  Lt  McGillicuddy,  on  military 
leave  from  the  Patent  Room,  is  now  serving 
with  the  U.  S,  Marines  in  Korea e 

Mr-  and  !trs  Henry  ¥.  Murphy  have  an- 
nounced the  birth  of  a  son  on  February  11. 
Mrs  Murphy,  the  former  Katherine  Melavin, 
is  on  leave  of  absence  from  the  Business 
Office,  Mrs  Rosemary  Corcoran,  Office 
of  Div.  of  H.R.&C.Sb,  is  the  proud  aunt, 

BEST  l^JISHES  FOR  A  aPEEDY  RECOVERY 
to 

Miss  Mary  E.  Ames,  Branch  Librariai  , 
Emeritus ,  "Fellowes  Athenaeum  who  sus- 
tained a  broken  hip  when  she  fell  recently 
in  her  home  in  Belmont.  She  is  at  pre- 
sent at  Wyman  House,  330  Mt  Auburn  Street 
Cambridge  38,  Massachusetts. 

TAKE  A  BOW  I 

To  Richard  Appel,  Chief  of  the  Music 
Department  goes  the  February  accolade 
for  his  successful  organization  and 
direction  of  the  Library's  part  in  the 
recent  two-day  meeting  of  the  Music 
Library  Association« 

PRESIDENT'S  NOTES 

Your  President  joins  with  the  other 
officers  of  the  Association  in  thanking 
you  for  the  confidence  in  us  you  have  ex- 
pressed in  the  recent  elections.  We 
vrill   do  our  best  in  the  coming  year  to 
justify  the  choice  you  have  made.  If 
there  is  any  way  in  v/hich  we  may  serve 
you,  please  let  us  know. 

The  Personnel  Committee  has  begun  its 
investigati'^n  of  the  promotional  system 
in  the  Library  to  discover  vihat  changes 
mie;ht  be  recommended.  Miss  Christiana 


Jordan,  Allston,  Chairman  of  this  com- 
mittee, would  be  hanpy  to  receive  any 
suggestions  you  have  on  the  subjecto 

Our  Centennial  celebration  is  ap- 
proaching its  climax.  Our  Library,  and 
all  of  us,  its  services  and  resources, 
are  on  display.  To  secure  greater 
support  for  the  expansion  of  the  Library, 
it  is  our  duty  and  privi]e  ge  in  our 
various  capacities  to  be  living  testi- 
monials to  the  value  of  the  Library  by 
providing  the  most  efficient  and  coior- 
teous  service  in  our  power. 

The  dues  for  19Sh   are  now  payable. 
Staff  Representatives  should  f  orward 
the  dues  well-wrapped  to  the  Treasurer 
Miss  Mary  A.  Hackett,  Parker  Hill. 

B.  JOSEPH  O'NEIL 


■ 


BLOOD  mOGRM 

The  Red  Cross  Blood  Donor  Center 
on  Dartmouth  Street  near  Marlborougji 
Street  ia  now  open  evenings  on  Tuesday  and 
Thursday  until  8  P.M.  Have  you  been 
intending  to  give  a  pint  of  blood  and  ju-^t 
haven't  gotten  around  to  it?  Call  Mrs 
Wollent  at  Extension  2lt[|.  for  a  pledge 
card  to  support  a  worthy  program  that 
mil  also  be  insurance  for  you  and  your 
family, 

EDUCATIONAL  FILM  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION 

Exploring  the  Audio-Visual  World  was 
the  theme  of  the  first  Eastern  Regional 
Conf  er^^noe  held  in  New  York  City, 
January  15  and  I64  There  were  sessions 
on  The  Child's  World,  The  School  World, 
The  World  of  the  Community  and  One  World. 
Mrs  Muriel  C.  Javelin,  Deputy  Super- 
visor, In  Charge  of  Work  with  Adults, 
spoke  on  the  Boston  Public  Library's 
film  service.  Mrs  Javelin  is  a  member 
of  the  EFLA  Board  of  Directors, 

CIVIL  DEFENSE 

Attention  is  called  to  a  recent  novel 
by  Philip  Wylie — Tomorrow! — in  which  he 
contrasts  two  cities  in  mid-western  U.S.A. 
before,  during,  and  after  an  all-out  atomic 
attack  on  this  country  by  the  Soviets.  One 
city  had  a  well-organized  Civil  Defense 
set-up  ready  to  go  into  immediate  action; 
the  other  had  scorned  such  preparation, 
A  last  chapter  gives  an  interesting  guess 
at  what  the  U.S.A,  might  be  like  several 
years  after  surviving  such  a  holocaust. 


-3- 


IM  MEI.ORIAM 

Dr  Winthrcp  Holt  Chenery 

These  lines  are  written  in  the  memory 
of  Dr  V/inthrop  Holt  Chenery  who  for  six 
years,  from  1921  to  1927,  was  Chief  of 
Special  Library  Departments  at  the  Boston 
Public  Library,  He  died  on  October  18, 195^ 
at  Burbank,  California , 

Six  years  are  not  a  long  time  in  the 
life  of  an  institution  which  is  just 
celebrating  the  hundredth  anniversary  of 
its  founding.  Yet  Dr  Chenery 's  com- 
paratively short  service  has  an  abiding 
place  in  the  history  of  the  Library. 

The  son  of  Winthrop  Louis  and  Ruth 
Baldwin  Chenery,  and  a  grand-nephew  of 
George  Ticknor,  he  was  born  at  Belmont, 
Massachusetts,  on  Ikrch  8,  1872,  His 
first  interest  lay  in  architecture.  He 
studied  at  the  tiassachusetts  Institute 
of  Technology,  getting  his  architect's 
diploma  in  1896,  However,  poor  eye-sight 
incapacitated  him  for  concentrating  on 
blueprints,  and  so  he  decided  to  turn 
to  the  humanities .  He  went  over  to 
Harvard,  vjhere  he  earned  his  A«B,  degree 
in  the  follomng  year.  The  next  three 
years  he  spent  in  Europe,  chiefly  in 
Spain,  On  his  return  to  America,  he 
became  an  instructor  of  French  and 
Spanish  at  the  University  of  Michigan, 
and  in  190ii  received  his  doctorate  from 
Harvard,  For  the  next  fifteen  years  he 
was  on  the  faculty  of  Washington 
University  in  St  Louis,  first  as  As- 
sistant Professor  and  then  as  Associate 
Professor  of  Romance  languages.  In  his 
last  years  there  he  served  also  as 
Librarian  of  the  University,  Family 
circumstances  necessitated  his  return  to 
the  East,  and,  after  a  year  at  the  Library 
School  of  New  York  State,  he  joined  the 
staff  of  the  Boston  Public  Library, 

The  set-up  was  different  here  at  that 
time.  The  position  of  Chief  of  Special 
Library  Departments  consisted  of  the 
directing  and  supervising  of  the  Fine 
Arts,  Technology,  i'-fusic,  and  Rare  Book 
(called  Barton-Ticknor)  Divisions,  each 
of  which  was  under  the  care  of  an 
As  s  is  tant-in-Charge . 

Staff  members  connected  with  the  other 
Divisions — now  called  Departments—are 
better  qualified  to  speak  of  Dr  Chenery 's 
work  in  their  fields;  I  can  testify  only 
to  his  influence  upon  the  Rare  Book  Divi- 
sion. He  knew  its  collections  well,  and 


was  ready  with  his  advice  in  all  problems, 
small  and  large.  The  Music  Division 
was  at  that  time  located  in  the  Treasiire 
Room,  -wrfiile  the  Rare  Book  Division  oc- 
cupied its  present  quarters  in  the 
North  Gallery  plus  the  room  which  houses 
the  I4isic  Department.  It  was  Dr  Chenery 's 
idea  to  establish  a  Treasure  Room,  and 
place  it  where  it  is  now.  He  designed 
all  its  furnishings— its  safes,  shelves, 
and  show  cases ;  and  he  made  the  drawings 
for  the  complicated  shelving  of  both  the 
North  Gallery  and  the  Music  Department, 
Unfortunately,  by  the  time  his  plans  were 
carried  into  execution  he  had  left  the 
Library,  He  had  resumed  his  old  post 
as  Librarian  of  Vfeshington  University, 
remaining  there  until  his  retirement  in 
1937. 

As  I  remember,  Dr  Chenery  made  designs, 
similar  to  those  of  the  Rare  Book  and 
Jfasic  Departments,  for  the  Fine  Arts 
Department,  too.  VJhere  the  plans  are  now, 
if  they  were  ever  completed,  nobody  seems 
to  knovf.  His  system  of  classification, 
based  on  that  of  the  Library  of  Congress 
but  considerably  expanded,  is  that  in  use 
in  the  Fine  Arts  Department, 

After  a  prolonged  illness,  Dr  Chenery 
died  at  the  fine  old  age  of  eighty-one. 
He  had  a  full  and  fruitful  career.  Yet 
it  is  difficult  to  take  leave  of  him, 
particularly  for  one  Viriio  had  the  privilege 
of  knowing  him  well.  This  is  the  case 
vjith  the  present  writer,  who  perhaps  i/vill 
be  permitted  to  indulge  in  a  bit  of 
personal  reminiscence. 


It  vras  on  a  summer  afternoon  in  1923 
that  I  first  met  him.  Wandering  about 
in  the  Library,  and  having  had  my  fill  of 
the  murals  of  both  Puvis  de  Chavannes  and 
John  Singer  Sargent,  I  happened  to  stray 
into  a  quiet  room,  empty  but  for  its 
beautiful  rows  of  books,  and  watched  over 
by  a  boy  of  fifteen,  bent  over  his  school 
work.  Wanting  to  knovif  more  about  the 
strange  place,  I  asked  him  M^ihere   the  cus- 
todian vras,  only  to  be  told  that  the  man 
had  died  a  few  months  before.  Then  and 
there  I  had  the  inspiration:  this  was 
the  place  for  meo 

"If  you  want  to  get  any  information," 
the  boy  enlightened  me,  "you  better  see 
Dr  Chenery  over  in  the  Fine  Arts  Depart- 
ment." Over  I  went,  and  there  at  his 
desk  in  a  corner  I  found  Dr  Chenery. 


-h- 


As  I  was  introducing  myself,  he  stood 
up,  tall  and  strong,  with  short-sighted 
eyes  and  large,  placid  features.  I  told 
him  what  I  had  just  learned,  namely,  that 
there  vras  a  vacancy  in  the  Rare  Book  Room, 
and  asked  whether  I  might  be  considered 
for  the  position.  Speaking  in  a  low 
voice,  he  replied  that  there  was  no  in- 
tention of  filling  the  vacancy  for  some 
timej  nevertheless,  he  inquired  about  my 
occupation  and  antecedents o  I  answered 
readily,  but  at  one  point  a  sudden  im- 
patience seized  me:  "Sir,"  I  said,  "if 
you  would  sit  down,   perhaps  _!  could  sit 
dov/n  too." 

I  still  remember  the  surprise  on  that 


How  viTonderful  those  first  tvro  years 
were  I  For  many  a  month  I  was  constantly 
dazed  and  reeling,  as  avidly  I  wanted  to 
knov;  the  books — all  the  hundred  thousand 
of  them.  But  slowly  I  began  to  find,  my 
bearin'Sjs,  learned  the  scope  and  contents 
of  the  collections,  and  before  long  I  was 
arranging  little  exhibits  on  various 
subjects,  sending  out  notices  to  the  news- 
papers about  them.  By  letters  and  the 
telephone,  teachers  and  professors  were 
invited  to  bring  in  their  classes  to  view 
the  exhibits,  and  soon  enough  I  found 
n^self  a  full-fledged  lecturer.  The  Rare 
Book  Room,  affectionately  referred  to  by 
some  as  "the  Morgue,"  became  a  busy  work- 


severe  face,  and  then  a  slov/  smile  and  theshop.  And  before  the  year  was  out,  I  was 


ironic  gesture:  "Please,  do  sit  dovm." 

¥fe  sat  down  and  talked  for  nearly  an 
hour.  I  told  him  that  I  was  a  native  of 
Hungary;  that  originally  I  had  prepared 
for  the  law,  and  got  my  doctor's  degree 
in  jurisprudence;  that  after  a  brief 
practice,  I  had  become  a  nevrapaperman, 
working  on  the  largest  daily  and  the 


contributing  long  articles  about  the 
Library's  treasures  to  the  Boston  Evening 
Transcript. 

But  Dr  Chenery's  prediction  had  almost 
come  true.  In  June  192$  I  received  an 
invitation  (through  Professor  Reginald 
Griffith)  to  teach  comparative  literature 
at  the  University  of  Texas;  and  another 


smallest  monthly  in  Budapest,  I  had  trans- (through  Professor  Sidney  Fay)  ta teach 


lated  several  books  from  French  and 
German  into  Hiingarian,  and  published  a 
number  of  stories.  Rare  Books  and  fine 
editions  had  always  interested  me. 

Dr  Chenery  vralked  back  vrith  me  to  the 
Barton-Ticknor  Room.  Neither  of  the  two 
names  meant  anything  to  me;  nor  did  those 
of  the  Reverend  Thomas  Prince  and  Naihaniel 
Bowditch.  Conscious  of  my  faulty  English, 
I  was  chary  in  asking  .questions.   In  fact 
I  mentioned  my  deficiency  to  Dr  Chenery. 
He  hov/ever  reassured  me:  "If  you  have 
learned  that  much  English  in  tvro  years, 
one  may  hope  that  you  mil  speak  well  in 
another  year." 

T/hen  I  left,  he  told  me  that  he  would 
support  my  appointment.  He  put  it  in  a 
very  flattering  my:  "The  position  pays 
very  little,  twenty-eight  dollars  a  week; 
no  American  with  your  qualifications 
would  take  it.  Nor  do  I  think  that  you 
will  stay  longer  than  tvro  years.  But 
meanvrhile  you  will  give  useful  service  to 
the  Library;  and  if  you  find  then  more 
promising  vrork,  I  shall  be  glad  to  have 
been  of  help  to  you," 

A  week  later  I  passed  the  entrance 
examination,  and  in  a  few  days  was  noti- 
fied of  the  appointment.  I  gave  up  my 
job  at  the  Plympton  Press  at  Norwood, 
vdiich  was  paying  me  forty-five  dollars  a 
week,  and  began  my  vrark  at  the  Library. 


Middle -European  history  and  literature  at 
Smith  College,  I  talked  the  matter  over 
vdth  Dr  Chenery,  and  he  shared  my  opinion 
that,  since  I  was  already  past  thirty,  it 
vrould  be  better  for  my  future  to  get  a 
doctorate  in  literature  before  I  started 
out  teaching.  He  gave  me  a  letter  of 
introduction  to  Professor  John  L,  Lowes, 
formerly  a  colleague  of  his  at  Washington 
University  and  then  Dean  of  the  Graduate 
School  at  Harvard. 

Accordingly,  I  resigned  from  the  Library 
and  moved  to  Cambridge.  My  teaching 
career,  hovrever,  was  over  before  it  began. 
Friends  interfered,  no  doubt  with  the  best 
intentions,  convincing  the  late  Jlr  Kirstein, 
a  Trustee,  that  the  Library  "needed"  me, 
I  expostulated  v>rith  them,  but  they  had 
their  vray,  I  split  my  courses  at  Harvard 
(finishing  only  to  a  mster's  degree); 
and  in  the  fall  returned  to  the  Library, 
now  as  Editor  of  Publications.  A  few 
months  later  I  brought  out  the  first  issue 
of  More  Books. 


Dr  Chenery  dliayed  at  the  Library  for  tvro 
more  years,  but  from  then  on  my  contacts 
vdth  him  vrere  slight.  For  the  editorship 
and  the  custodianship  of  the  Rare  Book 
Room  vrere  tvro  distinct  positions,  in 
charge  of  two  indiiriduals ,  as  they  had  been 


-5~ 


from  the  beginning.  The  two  positions 
vrere  for  the  first  time  united  in  the 
hands  of  one  officer  in  193U  when,  in 
addition  to  my  editorial  duties,  I  be- 
came also  Keeper  of  Rare  Books,  (A  few 
years  earlier,  I  had  assumed  responsibility 
for  the  new  Treasure  Room, )  But  Dr 
Chenery  remained  a  staunch  friend.  Nobody 
could  have  rejoiced  more  in  the  success 
of  the  new  Library  bulletin. 

It  is  a  matter  of  great  regret  to  me 
that  we  had  little  connection  in  later 
years.  Yet  it  was  to  him  that  I  sent, 
with  grateful  dedication,  one  of  the 
earliest  copies  of  my  book  on  John  Adams, 
His  vrarm  letter  of  congratulation  was  the 
last  I  heard  from  him. 

Reserved  and  dignified,  Dr  Chenery 
often  gave  the  impression  of  coldness. 
Actually,  he  was  extremely  shy.  His  in- 
timates knew  that  he  had  a  keen  sense  of 
humor  and  a  genuine  friendliness.  Simple 
in  all  his  vrays,  he  vras  contemptuous  only 
of  sham  and  hollovv-ness.  No  one  could    \ 
have  failed  to  be  impressed  by  his  clear 
thinking  and  extraordinary  culture;  yet 
above  all,  he  was  just  and  honorable. 

I  was  fortunate,  indeed,  to  have  ray 
entry  into  American  life  under  the 
guidance  of  a  man  of  such  stature  and 
character, 

Zoltan  Haraszti 


* 


Beatrice  C.  Maguire 

Arfter  a  prolonged  illness  of  three 
years,  Beatrice  C,  Maguire,  Branch 
Librarian,  Emeritus,  died  Sunday, 
January  2I4  at  the  Pic kf air  Rest  Hom.e  in 
Reading,  Miss  Jfeguire  began  her  library 
career  at  Allston  in  19lUj  and  was  made 
Branch  Librarian  in  1917  at  Boylston 
(now  Connolly),  From  there  she  went  to 
Warren  Street  (now  Memorial),  and  then 
to  Uphams  Corner  in  192U  inhere  she  was 
Librarian  until  her  retirement,  because 
of  illness,  on  September  30,  195l» 

Her  career  was  marked  by  zealous 
service  to  the  public,  by  intense  pro- 
fessional pride,  and  by  keen  interest 
in  guiding  young  people  in  their  future 
careers. 

In  her,  the  public  found  a  friend  in- 
terested in  their  problems,  who  did 
everything  in  her  povrer  to  make  accessible 
to  them  the  information,  the  pleasure, 
and  the  comfort  that  books  give. 


Many  who  respected  her  astuteness  sought 
her  advice  and  were  always  welcomed  by 
her  in  a  kindly  and  understanding  manner. 
Only  in  recent  years  has  some  cf  the 
public  revealed  inadvertently  hov\r  well 
she  observed  the  Biblical  expression  of 
not  letting  the  left  hand  know  what  the 
right  one  does — for  her  charity  extended 
not  only  to  spiritual  works,  but,  also, 
to  corporal  works  of  mercy. 

Her  intense  professional  oride  exacted 
from  her  and  her  staff  the  highest 
standards  in  the  principles  of  serving 
the  public  with  Intelligence  and  courteous 
efficiency,  the  public  learned  to  depend 
on  her  extraordinary  knowledge  of  books 
and  their  contents,  and  on  her  discrin>- 
inatory  book  selection.  Children's  books, 
too,  concerned  her  for  she  realized  deeply 
the  serious  responsibility  of  gaiding  a 
child's  initial  steps  in  a  world  of 
books. 

The  young  people  T;ho  worked  under  her 
supervision  found  in  her  a  teacher  virho 
stressed  pride  in  workmanship,  and  who 
inspired  them  to  develop  potential 
abilities  or  talents  which  could  be  used 
in  their  future  careers.  Their  successful 
accomplishments  later  in  life  rei^varded  her 
confidence  and  faith  in  them. 

During  her  long  illness  it  was  edifying 
to  vri.tness  her  courage,  her  concern  for 
others,  and  her  complete  acceptance  of 
God's  vail. 

The  Library  and  the  Community  have  lost 
a  loyal  and  selfless  friend,  but  for  those 
who  knew  her  well  and  loved  her  the  loss 
is  greater. 

Marie  T,  Hastie 

RETIREIiENTS 

Anna  G«  Lynch 

On  November  31,  19^3 j  Anna  G,  Lynch 
resigned  after  forty-seven  years  of 
library  service.     Although  she  worked 
at  various  times   in  Branch  Issue,  at 
Boylston,  and  in  Dorchester,   she  mil  be 
most  sincerely  missed  by  the  friends  she 
made  at  Memorial,   where  she  worked  for 
the  past  twenty-six  years.     Her  cheery 
outlook,   her  solid  dependability,  her 
calm  disposition  and  her  quiet  humor  made 
her  the  most  amiable  of  colleagues.     She 
was   economical  of  words  and  did  not  waste 
them  idly  so  that  her  observations,  when 
they  came,  v/ere  telling,  pointed,  and 
mtty.     Her  long-standing  interest  in 


-6- 


civic  affairs  made  her  quite  the  authority; 
on  developments  in  most  City  departments, 
and  she  v/as  probably  the  most  faithful 
reader  the  CITY  RECORD  has  ever  had. 
Through  sun  or  snov/,   calm  or  blov;,   she 
leis^orely  yralked  the  distance  between 
her  home  and  the  branch,  undoubtedly 
covering  hundreds  of  milea,  filled  with 
friendly  greetings  from  the  many  ac- 
quaintances  she  iiHde  during  her  years   in 
Roxbury.     This  diversion  probably  ac- 
counted in  some  neasure  for  her  good 
health  and  good  spirits,     VJe  hope  that, 
after  such  activity,    she  does  not  plan 
to  settle  down  to  too  quiet  a     period 
of  leisure,     Vfe  all  offer  her  the  most 
heartfelt  of  good  msheso     Nobody  else 
can  ever  fill  her  place  in  our  fond 
memories • 

Veronica  M,  Lehane 

CONGF.ATUIATIONS  MS  IN  ORDHl 

The  Jewish  Advocate  recently  carried 
the  following  editorial  on  Mss 
Goldstein's  appointment  as  Curator  of 
Judaica: 

JUDAICA'5  FIRST  LADY 

In  connection  with  the  observance  of 
its  centennial  anniversary,  the  Boston 
Public  Library  this  iveek  announced  the 
establishment  of  a  separate  Judaica  Sec- 
tion to  eventually  be  permanently  housed 
in  the  proposed  addition  to  the  Library 
at  Copley  Square  Yifhen  it  is  erected. 
This  is  an  action  of  national  cultural 
significance.  Since  such  Collections  now 
exist  only  in  the  Library  of  Congress  and 
in  the  New  York  Public  Library,  Boston 
bids  well  to  become  a  major  seat  of 
Jewish  scholarship  and  information. 

Curator  of  the  Judaica  Section  mil  be 
Miss  Fanny  Croldstein,  Librarian  of  the 
West  End  Branch  Library,  who  becomes  the 
first  woman  to  ever  have  been  so  honored. 
No  choice  could  have  been  more  fortunate, 
for  fev   people  have  labored  more  to  ad- 
vance Jewish  virriting  and  Jewish  books . 

The  community  pays  thanks  to  the 
trustees  of  the  Library  for  its  forvrard 
and  most  welcome  move  and  congratulates 
them  on  their  sagacious  choice  of  Miss 
Goldstein  as  keeper  of  the  books  for  the 
People  of  the  Book. 

Remember  to  CARE  ■ 


CENTENNIAL  NOTES 

Ulusic  Library  Association 
Meets  to  Honor 
Boston  Public  Library 
Centennial  Celebration 

Here's  to  the  lAisic  Library  Association— 
to  its  future  as  well  as  to  its  past  1  In 
the  eyes  of  an  onlooking  and  partly- 
participating  cataloger,  its  members  are 
cordial  and  interesting  people  to  weete 

The  recent  convention,  with  its  op- 
portiinity  of  meeting  people  from  many 
parts  of  the  country,  and  of  becoming 
better  versed  in  what  colleagues  are 
doing  in  the  f ield  ,of  music,  was  stimu- 
lating. 

All  of  the  speakers  were  authorities  on 
their  subject,  including  our  own  Mrs 
Javelin.  Our  eyes  were  opened  to  pro- 
blems of  administration  and  equipment. 
We  learned,  too,  of  the  music  program  of 
the  Brookline  Public  Library,  of  our 
Audio-Visual  Department ,  ai d  of  the  inter- 
national organization  of  music  libraries. 
The  seats  were  hard  in  the  Lecture  Hall, 
but  the  association's  president,  Dr 
Spivacke,  had  us  arise  at  the  end  of  the 
seventh  inning. 

The  convention  had  its  lighter  moments 
on  Saturday  afternoon  when  Boston's 
Nicholas  Slonirasky  gave  his  hilarious 
talk.  We  laughed  continuously — from  the 
incident  of  the  author's  review  of  his 
oTfm  book  to  the  story  of  an  old  Persian 
who  felt  it  was  "nobody's  business"  vjhen 
he  was  born.  Mr  Slonimsky  can  certainly 
dig  up  the  facts,  birth  certificates  in- 
cluded; and  what  fun  he  must  have  doing 
it.  We  heard  that  he  wants  to  start  a 
"correctorium"  in  order  to  correct  all 
of  the  corrections  of  lexicographers 
( those  old  bearded  Germans ) . 

It  was  amusing  to  see  tv^ro  music  librar--* 
ians  meet  who  had  not  seen  each  other 
since  their  music  co\irse  at  Northv/estern 
University  seventeen  years  ago  and  to 
hear  the  story  of  why  each  had  become  a 
music  librarian  rather  than  a  vocalist. 

All  who  did  not  attend  the  dinner  on 
Sunday  should  have  their  regrets,  after 
having  seen  the  musical  menu.   (Editor's 
Note:  see  follovdng  article)  They  missed, 
also,  Mr  Appel  in  his  element  vri. th  his 
fine  introductions. 

The  seats  in  the  Lecture  Hall  were 
still  hard,  but  not  as  precarious  as  were 
the  Bentwood  chairs  of  the  artists  of  the 


-7- 


afternoon  concert.  In  all  seriousness, 
however,  v.-e  enjoyed  the  Centennial  Con- 
cert by  the  Stradivarius  Quartet,  es- 
pecially the  String  quartet  in  E-flat 
major  by  Beethoven.  For  a  cataloger  as 
well  as  for  the  musicians  and  other 
librarians,  the  entire  weekend  was  both 
a  delightful  and  educational  experience. 

Mrs  Virginia  J.  Spencer 


The  social  activities  of  the  recent 
Music  Library  Association  annual  conven- 
tion began  vdth  a  luncheon  at  the  Sheraton 
Plaza  on  Siinday  February  7 ,  'which  was  so  iwell 
attended  that  an  extra  table  had  to  be 
set  at  the  last  moment.  Speeches  ap- 
propriate to  the  occasion  were  delivered 
by  Patrick  F.  McDonald,  President  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees;  Dr  Harold  Spivacke  of 
the  Library  of  Congress j  Milton  E.  Lordj 
and  Richard  G.  Appel.  A  citation  to 
uhe  Boston  Public  Library  from  the  lAasic 
Library  Association  on  the  occasion  of 
the  celebration  of  the  Centennial  was 
presented  to  ?tr  McDonald. 

The  humorous  side  to  the  limcheon  was 
the  following  menu  prepared  by  )fr  Appel, 
Chief  of  the  Music  Department: 

MUSICAL  MENU 

CARTE  DU  JOUR 

Fresh  Fruit  Cup  Maraschino 

con  sordino — Love  for  Three  Oranges 
a  la  Prokofieff 
Half  Roast  Stuffed  Chicken 

senza  sordini — La  Poule  k  la  Rameau 
Qiblet  Gravy 

Grave — Jferch  to  the  giblet  k   la  Berlioz 
Fresh  Peas  Au  Beurre 

allegretto-'^Sathering  peascods — 
traditional 
Whipped  Potatoes 

ponderoso — Sack  a  potatoes  a  la  Cecil# 
Vanilla  Ice  Cream 

glissando — ^Arlequin  a  la  Drigo 
Strawberry  Sauce 

pizzicato — ^Rype  strawberries,  rype  a  la 
Feelkes  '  Cryes  of  London 
Petits  Fours  ^ 

chaleureusement — ^Knuspervraltzer  a  la 
Phimperdinck 
Coffee  ^ 

cofi  brio — Coffee  Cantata  a  la  Bach 
Rolls 

fortissimmo — Paukem«d.rbel  a  la  Haydn 


After  the  luncheon  everyone  hiirried 
over  to  the  Lecture  Hall  which  was 
rapidly  filling  up  for  the  Centennial 
Concert,  presented  by  The  Elizabeth 
Sprague  Coolidge  Foundation  of  The 
Library  of  Congress.  The  concrert, 
performed  by  the  Stradivarius  Quartet, 
opened  with  the  String  Quartet  in  E  minor 
by  the  late  Elizabeth  S.  Coolidge.  After 
this  came  the  premiere  of  the  Second 
String  Qucurtet  of  George  Enesco.  Fallowing 
the  intermission,  we  heard  the  String 
Quartet  in  E  Flat  Major,  Opus  127,  by 
Beethoven.  The  concert  was  well  received 
by  a  packed  house. 

George  M.  Pahud 

The  Boston  Public  Library  Quarterly 
and  the  Centennial  Celebration 

The  lead  article  of  the  January  issue 
of  the  Quarterly,  Centennial  Exhibit  in 
the  Treasure  Room,  was  \7ritten  by  Zoltdn 
Haraszti.  This  article  has  been  re- 
printed as  a  separate  pamphlet  for  dis- 
tribution in  the  Treasure  Room  for  the 
duration  of  the  exhibit. 

In  this  same  issue  there  appe'^.rs  an 
article  entitled  Masterpieces  of  Print- 
tfcking,  by  Arthur  ¥.  Heintzelm^.n,  which 
tells  of  the  exhibit  in  the  Wiggin  Gallery 
during  the  month  of  November  as  a  con- 
tribution of  the  Print  Department  to  the 
inauguration  of  the  Centennial  Celebration, 

Notes  from  NgffS  LETTER  Number  Five 

The  Centennial  Commission  has  created 
a  Steering  Committee  to  direct  and  co- 
ordinate all  activities.  Members  of  this 

group  include  Patrick  F.  McDonald, 
Milton  E,  Lord,  Augustin  H.  Parker,  Jr., 
Francis  W.  fetch,  Paul  T.  Rothwell,  Alan 
Steinert,  G.  Herbert  Marcy,  and  General 
Chairman,  Ralph  M.  Binney. 

Three  hundred  and  fifty  men  ".nd  women 
serving  on  1^0  committees,  divisions,  and 
teams  will  make  intensive,  systematic 
approaches  to  thousands  of  individuals, 
business  organizations,  clubs,  schools, 
and  groups  to  obtain  their  financiTl 
support  of  the  Library's  program. 

Specific  projects  for  the  establishment 
of  units  of  the  greater  Library  now  are 
under  consideration  by  the  Irish-American 
and  Jewish-American  groups  within  the 
community, 

A  number  of  subscriptions  from  cor- 
porations have  been  received  during  recent 


-8- 


weeks,  evidence  of  a  grovri.ng  realization 
by  business  and  industry  of  the  value  of 
this  great  Library, 

A  number  of  organizations  have  held 
meetings  honoring  the  Library  and  pro- 
moting interest.  At  the  luncheon  of  the 
Advertising  Club  of  Boston,  for  example, 
several  hundred  men  and  women  heard  tfeyor 
Hynes  i^ge  them  to  pxrticipate  in  the 
program  for  the  Library's  development  and 
expansion  as  explained  by  Mr  Lord» 

Another  meeting  in  behalf  of  the 
Library  -vras  a  dinner  of  the  Women's  City 
Club  of  Boston,  Similar  events  for  the 
future  include  those  planned  by  the 
Massachusetts  Society  of  Colonial  Dames, 
the  Massachusetts  State  Federation  of 
Womens  Clubs,  the  Massachusetts  Library 
Trustees  Association,  and  others. 

The  Research  Committee,  under  the 
direction  of  Richard  G,  Hensley,  has  pro- 
vided much  valuable  data  for  the  develop- 
ment of  the  national  publicity  program. 

COOKS  IN  PRINT 

A  second  printing  of  200  copies  of 
the  staff  cook  book  resulted  from  the 
orders  received  from  staff  members  and 
their  friends.  There  are  still  avail- 
able about  25  copies  which  may  be  pur- 
chased from  ¥srs   Mary  D.  Farrell,  Cata- 
loging and  Classification  (R,  &  R.  S»). 
If  you  have  not  yet  called  for  those 
vriiich  you  ordered,  Yfill  you  please  do  so 
soon? 

Edith  Guerrier  Gives  Miniature  Books 
as  Centennial  Gift 

Many  gifts  vrill  come  to  the  Library 
during  the  course  of  the  Centennial  Year, 
bTjt  fevr — if  any — of  them  will  have  had  so 
close  a  connection  Y:ith  it  as  the  one 
which  was  presented  on  Thursday,  February 
eleventh.  On  that  morning  Milton  E.  Lord, 
Director,  accepted  a  gift  of  105  minia- 
ture books  presented  personally  by  Edith 
Guerrier,  Supervisor  of  Branch  Libraries, 
Emeritus . 

Not  only  vras  the  donor  vitally  active 
in  the  Library  for  the  major  portion  of 
her  adult  life,  but  it  vp.s  in  the  crea- 
tion of  one  of  the  many  effective  exhib- 
its for  virhich  she  was  responsible  that 
the  collection  had  its  inception.  Want- 
ing a  contrast  for  a  first  folio  edition 
of  Shakespeare,  what  would  be  better  than 
a  tiny  book— maybe  l|"  x  1"?  One  was 


lent  to  her  by  James  D,  Henderson,  whose 
collection  of  miniature  books  viras  out- 
standing. The  fascination  of  tiny  books 
was  contagious;  Miss  Guerrier  caught  it 
then  and  there  and  it  has  never  for  one 
mnment  left  her.  That  v/as  more  than  two 
decades  ago.  The  collection  grew  stead- 
ily, by  purchase  and  by  gift;  it  was  ex- 
hibited frequently  throughout  the  Library 
System;  and  it  finally  reached,  and  then 
exceeded,  100  volumes. 

Because  of  the  circumstances  of  its  be- 
ginning and  the  close  connection  its  de- 
velopment has  had  with  the  Boston  Public 
Library,  it  is  particularly  gratifying 
that  it  has  been  so  generously  given  to 
and  vn.ll  become  one  of  the  special 
collections  of  the  Library, 

The  Edith  Guerrier  Miniature  Book 
Collection,  vfith  its  special  significance 
as  a  Centennial  gift,  will  be  on  exhibi-   j 
tion  in  the  main  lobby  of  the  Central  Li-  , 
brary  building  from  April  20  until  the 
end  of  the  Centennial  Celebration, 

Sarah  M.  Usher 

ALA  MIDWINTER  MEETING  j 

FEBRUARY  2  -  6.   19 5U  I 

THE  M3RRIS0N  HOTEL,   CHICAGO  i 

I 
Notes  by  Elizabeth  L.  Wright  | 

i 

1,  Twelve  hundred  librarians  and  a  numr- 
ber  of  library  school  students  from 
mid-western  library  schools  who  were 
attending  their  first  ALA  meeting 
vrere  registered  during  the  week, 

2,  The  Summary  Report  of  the  19 ^U  Mid- 
vfinter  Meetings  has  been  purchased 
for  the  Staff  Library  and  should  be 
available  for  use  in  about  a  week.     1 

I 

3,  At  the  meeting  of  the  ALA  Council  and  j 
again  at  the  Library  Education  Divi- 
sion meeting,  Mrs   Grace  Stevenson, 

the  Associate  Executive  Secretary, 
announced  the  mnners  of  Study  Grants 
from  the  Fund  for  Adult  Education  | 
and  the  Boston  Public  Library  was  , 
honored  by  the  announcem.ent  that  ¥irs  \ 
Helen  F,  Hirson,  Extension  Librarian,  j 
was  one  of  the  virinners,  j 

] 
U.  The  information  was  obtained  at  the 

ALA  Exhibit  that  the  publication  date  j 
of  the  revised  edition  of  the  standard' 
reference  text  by  Dr  Louis  Shores, 


-9- 


Dean  of  Florida  State  University 
Library  School,  Basic  Reference  Books, 
has  been  advanced  to  March  195U. 

5 9  It  was  annoiinced  at  a  meeting  of  the 
ALA  Council  that  the  Committee  to 
recommend  candidates  to  the  President 
to  fill  the  position  of  Librarian  of 
Congress  left  vacant  by  the  resigna- 
tion of  Dr  Luther  H,  Evans  to  become 
Director-General  of  UNESCO  has  sub- 
mitted the  names  of  srx  candidates, 

6.  Those  individuals  avraiting  the  report 
by  lirs  Helen  Lyncn  Smith  on  the  Adult 
Education  Project  vdll  be  interested 
to  know  that  it  is  scheduled  for  pub- 
lication in  Jfey  195U, 

7.  The  Japan  Library  School,  \Thich  opened 
under  the  auspices  of  the  U.  S.  Army, 
is  now  almost  three  years  old  and  the 
administration  of  the  school  from  the 
beginning  under  the  leadership  of 
Mr  Robert  L,  Gitler,  former  Director 
of  the  School  of  Librarianship  of  the 
University  of  Vfashington,  is  being 
gradually  turned  over  to  the  local 
staff.  Mr  Gitler 's  term  of  office 
runs  through  another  academic  yearo 
One  graduate  of  the  school  is  now  in 
the  United  States  doing  graduate  v;ork. 
The  latest  catalog  of  the  school, 
which  is  both  in  Japanese  and  in 
English^ is  available  in  the  Personnel 
Office, 

8.  An  Audio-Visual  Workshop  for  library 
school  faculty  vras  scheduled  on  Monday 
prior  to  the  ?!idvri.nter  Meeting.  Its 
subject  Wis   the  use  of  audio-visual 
materials.  The  ra?.in  ideas  which  came 
out  of  the  Vnorkshop  v/ere  (l)  that 
audio-visual  materials  should  be 
integrated  into  the  curriculum  and  into 
library  service.  For  example,  in  a 
public  library,  all  materials  Shake- 
speare should  appear  in  the  catalog 
under  the  subject  entry  irrespective 
of  the  media,  so  that  books,  recordings, 
flf  Shakespeare's  plays,  films  on  the 
Elizabethan  theatre  vrould  all  be  found 
under  Shakespeare  in  the  catalog;  (2) 
that  since  the  m.ajority  of  library 
school  faculty  were  trained  before  the 
day  of  audio-visual  materials,  a  work- 
shop to  provide  training  in  this  area 
should  be  scheduled  for  these  indi- 
viduals; (3)  that  an  inventory  of 


so-called  "home-made"  audio-visual 
materials  by  library  school  faculty,  for 
example,  catalog  cards  to  be  used  in 
instruction  and  shown  on  a  Vu-graph, 
should  be  prepared  with  the  expectation 
that  duplication  of  effort  may  be  elimi- 
nated and  reduced  costs  in  producing 
audio-visual  teaching  materials  nny  result. 

Since  the  Midwinter  Meeting  is  devoted 
to  furthering  the  work  of  the  Association 
and  its  Divisions,  Boards,  and  Committees, 
little  time  is  available  to  attend  meetings 
in  areas  other  than  those  in  v/hich  an 
individual  has  assignments.  Due  to  con- 
flicts in  the  scheduling  of  meetings,  I 
was  unable,  for  example,  to  attend  the  open 
meetings  of  the  Public  Libraries  Division* 

Notes  by  Elizabeth  M,  Gordon 

The  week  was  crammed  mth  conferences, 
meetings  and  special  group  luncheons  or 
dinners, — and  a  scattering  of  teas  and 
"open  house"  parties  for  lively  inter- 
missions. 

The  Official  Program  listed  30  open 
meetings  from  Tuesday  through  Saturday 
morning 0  These  were  thronged  with 
librarians  from  every  part  of  the  USA  and 
visitors  from  Mexico,  Canada  and  other 
countries.  On  February  2,  about  30 
administrative  heads  of  work  vri.th  children 
in  large  public  library  system.s  met  in 
closed  session  to  consider  special  pro- 
blems and  questions. 

At  the  business  meeting  Wednesday  of 
the  D.L.CY.P.,  committee  reports  on  work 
accomplished  or  in  progress  vrere  presented j 
the  Carnival  of  Books  programming  problems 
ffcre  discussed,  and  plans  sketched  for  the 
^Minneapolis  Conference  in  June,  Lively, 
Impressive  reports  -were   made  by  15  or  more 
officers  and  committee  chairmen  at  the 
three  crovided  open  sessions  of  the  ALA 
ouncil,  held  in  the  hotel  ballroom 
Thursday  and  Friday,  Petitions  for  affil- 
iation were  presented  and  voted  upon,  in- 
cluding that  of  the  Audio-Visual  group. 

Notes  by  Virginia  Haviland 

••   Four  members  of  the  Boston  Public 
Library  staff —the  Director,  ¥xs   Elizabeth 
i&ight,  Elizabeth  Mo  Gorc?on  and  Virgim.a 

HavilAnd  attended* 

As  set  up,  it  is  a  working  conference 
and  those  attending  had  their  days  filled 
with  board,  committee,  and  council 
meetings,  seeing  librarians  vdth  similar 


-10- 


purposes  in  attending — others  only  by 
chance  (Mr  Lord  in  an  elevator,  Mrs  '.Tright 
across  tables  in  the  dining  room)o 

For  those  interested  in  work  -with 
children,  there  -was  a  luncheon  arranged 
by  the  Chicago  children's  librarians  when 
they  introduced  local  authors,  editors, 
revie\7ers  and  others  prominent  in  the 
children's  book  world.  Among  them  was 
Mrs  Clara  Ingram  Judson,  author,  who 
later  spoke  of  her  ha.ppy  visit  to  our 
library. 

Another  special  affair  vras  the  tea 
given  by  Mrs  GeneTieve  Foster  to  intro- 
duce ?1rs  llargot  Bcnary-Isbert,  author  of 
The  Ark  (New  York  Herald  Tribune  avrard- 
w inner),  Tfrs  Foster  shovired  some  in- 
teresting copies  of  her  ovm  "Initial 
Biographies'"  translated  into  Urdur  and 
other  Eastern  languages. 

The  writer  of  this  piece  had  an 
exciting  meeting  of  the  Nev/bery-Caldecott 
Committee  for  the  annual  children's  book 
avrards  to  be  presented  on  March  8. 

SOt!gj^fHERE  IN  THE  LIBRARY  .  .  . 

1.  Somev/here  in  the  Library  there  is  in- 
scribed a  condensed  text  of  the  106th 
psalm.  This  psalm  text  provided  a 
famous  artist  vri.th  the  subject  of  a 
great  work  of  art  housed  in  this  Librarj^ 
The  psalm  is  inscribed  on  a  rather 
obscure  portion  of  this  famous  set  of 
paintings.  Can  you  locate  the  in- 
scription? 

2o  Somev/here  in  the  Library  there  is  a 
representation  of  the  Lion  of  St  Mark 
supporting  an  open  book  that  bears  an 
inscription  of  the  motto  of  the  city  of 
Venice,  This  representation  occurs  in 
three  separate  locations  mthin  the 
Library,  the  details  in  all  three 
representations  are  identical.  Can  you 
give  the  three  locations? 

3,  A  former  president  of  the  United  States 
wrote  a  biography  of  George  Washington, 
This  Library  possesses  the  original 
paintings  ivhich  were  used  as  illustra- 
tions for  that  biography.  These 
paintings  now  hang  in  one  of  our  public 
rooms.  Can  you  give  their  location? 
The  artist  vp.s  Howird  Pyle;  the  author, 
Woodrow  Wilson, 

U»  It  vrould  seem  only  natural,  since  the 
Library  contains  so  many  volumes  of 


dramatic  v/orks,  that  the  traditional 
symbol  of  tragedy  ivould  be  represented 
somewhere  in  the  Library,  In  a  series  of.' 

four  medallions  painted  upon  the  walls 
of  the  Library  there  may  be  seen  a  tragic 
mask.  The  -artist  who  painted  these 
medallions  and  the  surrounding  art  work 
did  all  his  painting  directly  upon  the 
walls  of  the  building.  Can  you  locate 
this  painting  of  the  tragic  ma.sk? 

Paul  Moynihan 

Ansvrcrs  to  these  questions  will  appear 
in  our  March  is sue « 

DEPARTMENT  TOTES 

Audio-Visual 

According  to  a  recent  atricle  in  the 
Parkuay  Transcript  and  the  Hyde  Park 
Tribune,  a  concert  given  by  Blair  Eenner 
in  the  Roslindale  Congregational  Church 
on  January  15  was  a  great  success,  with 
a  full  house  and  enthusiastic  audience, 

¥e  hear  that  Blair  Benner  will  appear 
in  "The  Gondoliers,"  by  Gilbert  and 
Sullivan,  v/hich  is  being  staged  by  the 
Braintrce  Choral  Society  sometime  in 
April,  Blair  has  been  give  the  bass 
lead,  Don  Alhambro,  the  Grand  Inquisitor, 
He  has  previously  sung  in  "Carmen," 
"Robin  Hood,"  and  "Les  Cloches  de 
Cornville"  with  this  same  group, 

Kirstein  Business  Branch 

The  staff  vrelcomes  back  Rose  LaConca 
after  four  glorious  weeks  in  California, 
and  Gilda  Rossetti  after  two  equally 
glorious  vireeks  in  Florida, 

Personnel  Office 


The  members  of  the  staff  were  Mrs 
Wright's  guests  for  luncheon  and  a  theatre 
party  to  see  This  is  Cinerama  on  Saturday, 
January  23,  195E 

BRANCH  NOTES 

Mattapan 

On  itonday  evening,  January  2^,  ifr  Lord 
spoke  to  the  Friends  of  the  Mattapan 
Branch  Library  about  the  Centennial  Cele- 
bration, A  large  group  attended  the 
interesting  talk  v;hich  traced  the  develop- 
ment of  public  library  service  in  Boston 
from  1852  to  the  p:  esent  day.  High- 
lights of  those  years  were  presented  as 


-11- 


a  basis  for  future  plans  vAiich  mil  ex- 
pand the  present  services  and  resources 
of  the  library.     At  the  conclusion  of 
the  program  a  coffee  hour  gave  the  mem- 
bers of  the  group  an  opportunity  to  meet 
and  talk  vdth  Mr  Lord, 


A  gala  Valentine  Party  was  held  in 
the  Children's  Room  for  the  pre-school 
story  hour  group  on  Tuesday  morning, 
February  9»     In  addition  to  the  stories 
told  by  the  assistant  in  the  Children's 
Room,  a  delightful  program  of  recita- 
tions and  songs  was  presented  by  the 
miniature  amateurs.     Of  course,   the 
highlight  of  the  day  was  the  distribution 
of  valentines.     A  grocery  carton  disguised 
•with  red  paper  and  trimmed  with  red  hearts 
on  a  lace  doily  background  served  as  the 
mailbox.     Not  only  did  the  children  bring 
valentines  for  each  other;   they  also 
brought  them  for    their  "wiberry  teacher" — 
valentines,   several  of  which  were  lovingly 
cut  out  and  pasted  together  by  small 
fingers.     "Oh,   teacher,  you'll  be  sur- 
prised,"  said  one,   "but  I'm  not  going  to 
tell  you  that  I've  got  a  valentine  for 
youo" 

Memorial 

The  branch  had  a  surprise  visit  on 
February  2  from  Hirokazu  Imamitsu  of 
Nagoya,  Japan  and  Hiroshi  Kubota  of 
Yamanashiken,  Japan.  Both  gentlemen  were 
visiting  schools  v:ith  Harold  Shapiro, 
Supervisor  in  Education,  Vocational  Edu- 
cation Department,  Massachusetts  Depart- 
ment of  Education,  YiTiile  they  were  at 
Memorial  High  School,  Dr  Winifred  Nash, 
Headmaster  of  the  girls  school,  thought 
a  visit  to  a  branch  library  might  prove 
valuable.  Both  visitors  expressed  great 
interest  and  astonishment  in  many  of  the 
services  v;e  take  for  granted.  The  idea 
of  a  free  library  vihich  is  open  to  anyone 
who  happens  to  come  in  whether  or  not  he 
is  a  citizen  seemed  unique.  A  special 
collection  of  books  for  children  and  for 
young  adults  vra.s  another  surprise.  Wien 
Miss  Kaufman  spoke  of  having  had  a 
traveling  exhibit  of  art  vrork  by  Japanese 
students,  both  men  were  glad  to  hear  of 
it.  Exhibits  of  American  art  v;ork  are 
common  in  Japan,  but  the  fact  that  work 
sent  here  is  actually  used  seemed  very 
gratifying. 

Mr  Imamitsu  and  Fir  Kubota  are  high 
school  teachers  in  Japan  and  have  come  to 


the  United  States  in  order  to  find  out 
about  recent  methods  in  vocational 
education.  The  visit  to  a  library  was  an 
added  attraction  which  proved  enlightenjrg 
for  all  concerned* 

North  End 

Dorothy  Dodworth's  painting  of  the 
late  Captain  John  Tcllo,  of  the  North  End, 
has  been  accepted  for  the  Associated 
Artists  of  Pittsburgh  exhibition  in  the 
Carnegie  Museum  in  Pittsburgh.  This 
v/atercolor,  and  one  other,  will  be  on 
exhibit  until  the  end  of  March.  The 
painting  vras  done  from  a  sketch  nB.de  on 
one  of  frequent  lunch  hour  excursions 
to  the  harbor.  Hiss  Dodv/orth  enjoyed 
getting  acquainted  with  Captain  Tello, 
who  owned  the  "Plover",  a  small  boat 
docked  at  LevrLs  "IVharf .  He  told  her  many 
interesting  tales,  including  an  account 
of  the  time  he  had  Joseph  Gotten  and 
Jennifer  Jones  on  his  boat  during  the 
filming  of  "A  Portrait  of  Jenny;"  Captain 
Tello  died  suddenly  just  before  Christmas, 
so  the  picture  vdll  probably  be  given  to 
the  family. 

William  R.  Scott,  Inc.,  vdll  publish 
a  children's  book  in  the  fall  written 
and  illustrated  by  Dorothy  Dodworth,  ¥;ho 
is  Yorking  as  a  probationary  assistant 
in  the  children's  room. 

West  End 

The  services  of  a  public  library  can- 
not alY/ays  be  measured.     The  results   of  a 
library's  services  arc  sometimss  not  im- 
mediately obvious.     There  is  no  question 
that  the  habits   of  good  reading  and- study 
which  a  library  subtly  encourages  are  of 
the  intangible  values  vjhich  crop  up  later. 
Many  authors  pay  tribute  on  maturity  to 
the  place  of  the   library  in  their  child- 
hood, but  many  more  have   overlooked  the 
fact  that  the   library  was   to  a  large  ex- 
tent instrumental  in  their  success   in 
later  life. 

On  Saturday  evening,  February  13,  a 
large  audience   joyfully  welcomed  back  a 
home-town  girl  yAo  had  made  good  in  the 
Big  City,  and  paid  tribute  to  one  ivho  as 
a  child  grovdng  up  in  the  West  End  at  the 
turn  of  the  century  had  made  this  branch 
library  a  second  home — ^Reba  Paoff  Mir  sky. 
After  graduation  fr^m  Radcliffe,   she 
married  and  v/ent  to    live  in  New  York 
where  she  teaches  music  at  Hunter  College 
and  the  Ncvf  York  School  for  Social 


-12- 


Research. 

Jfrs  Mirsky  told  in  a  mcs  t  enthusiastic 
manner  of  her  vjriting  of  Thirty-one 
Brothers  and  Sisters  liithout  ever  going  to 
Zululand  and  of  her  subsequent  four- 
months  '  visit  there  on  a  Guggenheim  f  ell:vih- 
ship.  Although  she  appreciated  the 
winning  of  the  Charles  YL   Follett  $3,000 
and  gold  medal  for  this,  her  first  book, 
she  said:  "Y/hat  thrills  and  moves  me 
more  than  anything  is  that  I  am  honored 
by  a  reception  in  the  very  library  which 
I  haunted  daily  as  a  child,  a  high-school 
girl,  and  college  student."  She  is  now 
v^nriting  a  sequel  to  her  book, 

A  notevrorthy  feature  of  the  evening  was 
the  presenta.tion  of  Negro-African  music 
especially  adapted  for  the  occasion  by 
Dr  William  Andrew  Rhodes,  who  vras  the  first 
Negro  composer  to  graduate  from  the  Bostor 
Conservatory  of  KtisICo  The  soloists  were 
Mrs  Georgie  Williams  Bailey,  soprano,  and 
Angelyn  DeVaughn,  contralto,  members  of 
the  Ebony  Artistic  Trio. 

Allan  R.  Crite,  well-known  Boston 
artist,  whose  paintings  appear  in  the 
collections  of  many  major  cities,  had 
several  strikingly  beautiful  and  re- 
ligiously appealing  paintings  on  display. 
Besides  being  a  creative  painter,  ¥x 
Crite  has  written  three  books  on  art. 
He  was  present  and  received  the  tribute 
paid  him  with  a  most  becoming  modesty. 

The  chairman  of  the  evening,  Judge 
Robinson,  husband  of  Beryl  Robinson  of 
Adams  Street,  had  been  called  out  of  town 
because  of  the  death  of  his  mother.  Very 
fortunately  a  graduate  student  at  BU,  a 
member  of  the  Ibo  Tribe  of  Nigeria,  was 
available  and  did  an  excellent  job  of 
pinch  hitting.  He  vras  Al  (for  Albert) 
Chinedozi  (God  prejiares)  ?Anonye  (Over 
whom  arc  you  rejoicing?).  His  delightful 
singing  in  his  native  tongue  was  particu- 
larly pleasing. 

Mrs  Clarence  E,  Beck,  Grand  Basileus, 
brought  greetings  from  the  Psi  Omega 
Chapter  of  Alpha  Kappa  Alpha  Sorority, 
joint  sponsors  vdth  the  Library  of  the 
evening's  program. 

Fanny  Goldstein  gave  a  brief  history 
of  the  Old  West  Church  and  Patrick  F, 
McDonald  spoke  as  President  of  the 
Library's  Board  of  Trustees, 

Hostesses  and  pourers,  in  addition  to 
the  West  End  Staff,  included  one  other 
BPL  staff  member,  Elizabeth  M.  Gordon, 
Ifrs  Robinson  had  also  been  scheduled  to 
serve,  A  social  hour  completed  a  highly 
successful  evening. 


SOAP  BOX 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must   \ 
be  accompanied  by  the  full  name  of  the    ' 
Association  member  submitting  it,  to- 
gether vd.th  the  name  of  the  Branch  Library, 
Department,  or  Office  in  which  he  or  she 
is  employed.  The  name  is  vdthhuld  from 
publication,  or  a  pen  name  used,  if  the   i 
contributor  so  requests.  Anonymous       | 
contributions  are  not  given  consideration. 1 
The  author  of  the  article  is  kncjvn  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  mth  the  vievfs 
expressed. 


Dear  Soap  Boxers : 

For  v^hat  seems  like  uncounted  years 
now,  we  have  been  reading  in  the  Soap 
Box  the  cries  and  lamentations  of  the 
persecuted  and  maligned,  until  at  last 
I,  for  one,  am  becoming  a  bit  fed  up  with 
it  all.  If  it  isn't  our  rate  of  pay,  the 
inadequacies  of  Supervisors,  dirt  in  the 
kitchen  and  restrooras ,  or  our  promotional 
system,  it  is  persecution  from  the 
Personnel  Office,  Communist  literature 
in  the  Boston  Public  Library,  pro  and 
con,  or  the  unbearable  heat  in  the 
summertime.   I'll  never  forget  the  floods 
of  inky  tears  shed  over  the  fact  that  we 
poor  souls  were  actually  forced  to 
receive  our  pay  by  check.  Such  hardship  ! 

From  the  similarity  in  style  of  these 
epistles,  it  would  appear  that  there 
exists  somewhere  in  our  midst  a  coterie 
whose  every  \Taking  thought  is  to  "needle" 
the  Administration,  and  that  thoy  have  no 
other  business  except  to  do  so.  I  must 
admit  that  a  little  needling  is  aimsing 
and  even  stimulating,  but  eventually  it 
becomes  annoying  and  boresome.  Everyone, 
of  course,  is  entitled  to  a  gripe  of 
tvro  during  his  or  her  lifetime,  but  when 
it  comes  to  the  point  where  "WD  prospect 
pleases,  and  every  man  (above  the  fourth 
step  level)  is  vile",  the  complainers 
should  realize  that  thoy  cease  to  be 
crusaders  J  and  approach  the  condition 
of  paranoiacs.  Certainly  there  must  be 
SOMETHING  in  the  BPL  and  its  Administra- 


-13- 


tion  that  these  letter-writers  like. 
Otherv/ise  they  v/ould  seek  greener  pastures 
v;hcre  their  crusading   zoal  could  ac- 
complish more.     If  it  is  lack  of  occupa- 
tion that  renders  these  correspondents 
so  facile  at  vnriting  out  their  complaints, 
let  them  apply  for  a  position  in  any  of 
the  Branches,   even  the  smallest.     After 
a  few  weeks  of  pacifying  unreasonable 
adults,   battling   juvenile  delinquents, 
and  preventing  story  hours  from  developing 
into  riots,   they  vd.ll  find  themselves   too 
"bushed"   in  their  leisure  hours  to  have 
the  energy  to   complain  about  an^dihing  less 
catastrophic  than  a  m^ajor  salary  cut. 

Yours  for  a  little  more  svreetness 
and  light, 

Pollyanna  Picklcpuss 

To  the  Editor: 

I  rrould  like  to  know  hoY/  the  library 
is   savj.ng  money  on  the  proposed  change  of 
Branch  Library  hours. 

If  the  personnel  are  allovired  to  work 
in  the  building  mth  the  doors  closed  to 
the  public,   the  heat,   light  and  janitorial 
services  are  still  needed. 

If  we  must  close  the  library  to    the 
public  why  can't  vro  close  two  nights  a 
week  and  continue  Saturday  morning 
closings   throughout  the  year.     By  doing 
this  a  real  saving  would  be  realized  not 
alone  in  personnel  but  extra  and   jani- 
torial, services,  heat  and  light. 

If  the  tax-payer  realized  what  these 
savings  would  mean  to  him  he  would 
accept  this   proposition. 

Must  we  accept  this  proposed  change 
of  the  Trustees  or  can  something  raore  cor>- 
structive  be  put  into  action. 

Anxious  to  Know 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Soap  Box: 

I  have   just  learned  how  to  make   jello. 
I  had  long  admired  the  colors,   even  more 
than  the  taste  of  the  quivering  dessert, 
but  I  always   thought  it  took  lots  of 
work  ind  special  culinary  know-hov/  to 
make  it.     Recently  my  neighbor  gave  me 
some  she  had  made  that  morning,   and  since 
her  kitchen  facilities  are  no  better  than 
mine  (a  single  electric  hot  plate),    I 
asked  her  how  she  managed  it,  and  she 
showed  me  how  very  simple  it  was.     You 
take  a  box  of  jello   (9  cents),  empty  it 
into  a  glass  dish,  poiir  over  "it  one  cup 
of  hot  water,   stir  mildly,   add  a  cup  of 


cold  vnter,   and  set  the  thing  on  the 
windovs^sill   (in  the  winter,   that  is), 
and  presto,  the  next  morning  you  have  a 
beautiful  formation  of   jello.     So  I  made 
some  one  day,   and  the  next  evening,  as   I 
was  supping  off  my  first  try,   I  pondered 
on  the  ease  mth  which  some  things  can 
be  done  which  seem  so  difficult  at  a 
distance,   and  being   a  sort  of  philosopher, 
I  tried  to  apply  my  new  nugget  of  vdsdom 
to  the  problems  currently  besetting  us. 
Just  at  that  time  the  Library  ivas  being 
agitated  by  rumors  of  the   imminent  ap- 
pointment of  a  successor  in  the  long- 
vacant  position  of  Chief  Librarian  of  the 
Circulation  Division,     There  vns  con- 
siderable difference  of  opinion  as  to  the 
merits  of  the  knoT^vn  candidates,  and  a 
deadlock,   extending  all  the  way  from 
stack  six  to  the  basement,  developed  as 
to  \'/ho  should  get  it — one  side  holding 
that  the   job  should  go  to  the  outsider 
ivith  no  experience  in  the  BPL,   and  the 
other  that  it  belonged  to  the  insider, 
whose  lack  of  experience  merely  extended 
to  the  Division  he  was  aspiring  to  head. 
Suddenly,  right  in  the  middle   of  a  cold 
slide  of  a  segment  of  ray  handivfork  in 
my  insides,    I  said  to  myself   ( I 'live  alone, 
so  I  can  talk  to  myself  without  causing 
comment),    "Hovj  about  you?     'Ahy  don't  you 
apply  for  that   job?",   and  since  I  was 
eating  the  entire  dish  of   jello  I  had 
made   (equivalent   to  about  h  restaurant 
portions),    I  had  time  to  develop  the 
theme  at  length.     It's   not  easy  to  apply 
for  a  job  which  hasn't     been  listed  as 
vacant,     I  didn't  know  whether  applica- 
tion should  be  made  to   the  Supervisor  of 
Personnel,   or   the  Director,  or  the 
Trustees.     I  finally  hit  on  the  brilliant 
idea  of  applying  through  a  medium  v/hich 
vail  reach  all  those  people  at  once — 
about  the  fifteenth  of  the  month.     Read 
this  brilliant  idea  of  mine  in  the  next 
paragraph. 

Some  tinje  ago,  v;hen  an  outsider  was 
appointed  to  head  an  important  segment 
of  the  Library,   a  vrell-knoiivn  member  of 
the  staff  wrote  a  characteristically 
forthright  letter  to  the   Question  Mark, 
saying  that  though  he  was  passing  no 
judgment  on  the  appointee's   qualifica- 
tions for  that  position,    he  did  think  it 
strange  that  the    job  should  have  been 
given  to  one  outside  the  Library,  and 
even  outside  the  library  profession.     A 
member  of  the  Admini-stration  replied  in 
the  following  issue  of  the  Question  ?fark, 
that  in  positions  of  such  importance  the 


-lU- 


Trustees  did  not  feel  themselves  bound 
by  the  ordinary  promotional  procedures 
set  up  by  the  Administration,  Most  of 
us  accepted  that  answer  as  a  fair  and 
almost  satisfactory  statement  of  the 
policy  followed 6  Now  I  have  heard  it 
said  that  turnabout  is  fair  play,  and  I 
therefore  think  that  whenever  such  top 
positions  become  vacant  again,  the  can- 
didates for  those  positions  be  allowed 
the  same  freedom  from  the  orthodox  pro- 
cedures in  application  as  the  Administra- 
tion has  been  taking  in  appointment. 
There  now  exists  a  vacancy  in  the  posi- 
tion of  Chief  Librarian  of  the  Circula- 
tion Division,  and  I  should  like  to 
apply  for  it  in  a  new  and  unorthodox 
way — through  the  columns  of  our  staff 
magazine.  I  therefore  hereby  make 
application  through  this  letter  to  the 
Soap  Box. 

There  is  no  space  to  list  the  quali- 
fications for  that  position,  nor  which 
of  those  qualifications  I  think  myself 
to  possess.  In  general  positions  of 
that  sort  should  go  to  people  who  rep- 
resent the  best  traditions  of  our 
Library,  The  best  traditions  of  a  great 
Library  like  ours,  to  adapt  an  Eliotism, 
do  not  necessarily  flow  through  the 
longest  tenures,  the  wordiest  titles,  or 
the  most  inflated  increments.  I  have 
seen  those  traditions  flow  in  rich, 
liixurious  stream  in  a  recent  arrival,  on 
whose  lips  the  Simmons  milk  has  not  yet 
gone  entirely  dry,  and  issue  in  a  lilli- 
putian  chigger  of  a  trickle  in  one  who 
has  been  around  since  "the  year  one"; 
I  have  seen  them  in  richness  and  power 
in  one  who  is  barely  graduated  out  of  the 
category  of  extra,  and  become  the  shadow 
of  a  shadow  in  cne  whose  titularities 
blockbust  a  couple  of  alphabets;  and  I 
have  seen  them  flow  vdth  vigor  and  pride 
in  one  whose  pay  was  once,  in  a  foolish 
show  of  economy,  reduced  from  25  to  2ij. 
cents  an  hour,  and  come  to  a  dead  stop 
in  one  whose  vireekly  take  from  the  public 
till  would  feed  a  Pakistani  village. 
And  once  in  a  long  while,  these  tradi- 
tions are  forced  to  abandon  the  main 
route  and,  like  the  Avignon  papacy,  flow 
with  adequacy  and  legitimacy  through  an 
outlying  province. 

Harry  Andrews 

I'ear  Soap  Box  Editor :  i 

On  the  last  day  of  the  Senate  hearings 


on  juvenile  delinquency,  the  Chairman, 
Senator  Robert  F.  Hendrickson,  said  to 
the  representative  of  the  Housing 
Authority  then  testifying  that  it  is 
true  we  do  not  hear  enough  about  the 
positive  side  of  the  picture. 

At  such  a  time,  would  it  not  have 
been  enlightening  to  the  community  at 
large  as  well  as  to  the  committee  to 
know  that  the  Boston  Public  Library  has 
played  a  positive  part  in  making  juve- 
nile non  delinquents  9Q%   of  the  youth 
population? 

Could  not  a  high  ranking  officer  of 
the  library  have  taken  his  place  beside 
the  spokesmen  for  the  educational, 
recreational,  spiritual,  and  welfare 
institutions  of  this  city  and  told  of 
our  serATice  to  the  sensitive  areas  of 
the  housing  projects  by  bookmobiles  and 
the  establishment  of  a  branch  library  in 
one  of  them?  Certainly  the  committee 
WDUld  have  appreciated  knowing  about  the 
planned  individual  and  group  service  to 
children,  to  young  adults,  to  parents. 
Without  such  pertinent  testimony  there 
remains  untempered  the  repeated  state- 
ments that  the  young  people  are  being 
exposed  to  obscene  and  lurid  literature 
in  Boston. 

How  else  could  the  Investigating 
Committee  learn  that  the  branch  librarians 
and  those  librarians  who  work  vfith  young 
adults  had  had  meetings  at  which  expert 
social  workers  had  defined  the  reasons 
for  anti-social  behavior  and  suggested 
new  approaches  to  reach  these  young 
people  so  in  need  of  understanding  and 
acceptance? 

It  seem^  to  me  that  this  kind  of 
presentation  v/ould  have  strengthened  the 
support  we  derive  from  the  Friends  of 
the  Library,  from  the  City  Council,  from 
every  member  of  this  community,  in  and 
beyond  this  Centennial  Year, 

Pauline  Vifinnick 


LATE  FLASH  1 

Announcement  has  been  made  of  the 
engagement  of  Phoebe  Lipsky,  Office  of 
Div.  of  H.  R.  &  C,  S.,  to  Harold  Reff, 
of  New  York  City. 


f,v,_ 


IN  GRATITUDE 
FOR  TliC  GENEROUS  GIFT  OF 
$   2,gUl.l$ 
BY  THE  EJIPLOYEES  OF 

BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

In  The 
195U  RED  FEATHER  CAMPAIGN 


United  Community  Services  of  Metropolitan  Boston  present  this  certificate 
in  behalf  of  the  thousands  of  people  vjho  vri.ll  benefit  from  this  gift  in  the 
coming  year. 


(SIGNED) 


CHARLES  DEVENS 

195U  Campaign  Chairman 


m 


uestion 


I 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


MARCH  1954 


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


Vol\ime  IX,   Number  3 


March  19^U 


Publications  Committee:     Gerald  L.   Ball,    John  Jo  McCafferty,  Sheila  Pierce 

Sarah  H,  Usher ^  Charles  J.   Gillis,  Chairman 


Publication  date; 
The  fifteenth  of  each  month 


Deadline  for  submitting  imterial; 
The  tenth  of  each  month 


EDITOR'S  CORNER  jsuch  sizzling  duels ,   it  must  mean  that  we 

have  groTim  sleek,  fat  and  contented.      (I 
Periodically  the  various  members  of  theam  sure  that  some  may  disagree  with  this 
Publications  Committee  are  confronted  withjconclusion, )     From  you  who  ask  v;hat's 


the  task  of  preparing  this  section  of  The 
Question  Mark,     This  has  become  a  diffi- 


cult matter,   for  it  seems  that  it  is  prac-jis  v/hat  you,   the  staff,   mke  of  it, 
tically  impossible  to  find  something  to 
talk  about  editorially  that  vri-11  not  al- 
ienate at  least  half  the  staff  from  the 
■writer.     Outspoken  attitudes,   either  pro 


or  con,  anything,  will  distress   the 
peaceful;   pussyfooting  or  gushing  will  in- 
cense the  warlike;  discreet  middle -reading  Iviarch  2$. 
will  offend  nobody,  but  impress  few  raoreo     Thursday 
We  are  this   year  practically  a  holdover 
Publications  Committee — ^we  have  been 
through  the  mill»     We  have  heard  the   samxe  April  8 
issue  of  QM  called   'nice'   by  some  and 
snarled  at  as  fa¥ming  sychophancy  by 
others.     What  is  worse,  we  have  heard 
anguished  complaints  like:    (l)   QM  makes 
the  TYorld's  worst  reading;    (2)   nobody 
looks   forvrard  to   it  any  more;   or   (3) 
what's  vfTong  vdth  you  people  anyway?     yieU^esigna ti ons 


vjTong  with  us,  we  ask  in  return  only  for 
your  contributions.     The  Question  Mark 


Here ' s 
to  better  and  better  issues  with  your  help i 

John  McCafferty 


CALENDAR  OF  EVENTS 

SLA  meeting  at  Vc  A.  Hospital, 
So.  Huntington  Avenue  at  Heath 
Street,   at  7  00  p.m. 

Boston  Chapter,  Women's  Na- 
tional Book  Association,  or- 
ganization meeting,   Pioneer, 
7:ii5  p.m. 

PERSONAL  NOTES 


home 
Mrs  Katherine  M.  Murphy,  Business  Office, 
to  remain  at  home 


Transfers 


from  South  Boston 


we  hope  there's  nothing  wrong  with  us,  andMary  Ann  Gelsomini,  Cataloging  and  Classi- 
we  frankly  feel  that  there's  nothing  wrong:  fication,  Div  of  Ro  and  RoS.  to  remain  at 
with  The  Question  Mark,  either.  We  don'tj 
in  our  capacity,  7»rite  the  QM,  We  cul- 
tivate it,  prune  it,  as  it  were.  We  awaii 
what  you  send  to  us  and  make  the  most  of 
it.  If  on  occasion  you,  and  we,  have  had 
to  be  disappointed  by  virhat  cair£  of  our 
efforts,  we  could  remark,  with  the  op- 
timism of  the  bride  v/hose  cake  fell,  that 
while  it  vrasn't  very  good,  it  was  still 
better  than  nothing.  To  you  who  criti-  I 
cize  the  literary  level  or  the  points-of-  'Engagements 
view  of  our  contributions  \fe  f-ive  assur-  The  engagement  of  Helen  F 
ance  that,  if  what  you  have  seen  has  up- 
set you,  you  have,  through  our  vigilance, 
been  spared  much  v/orse.  To  you  viho  com- 
plain that  nobody  looks  forward  to  QM  any 
more  we  send  the  reminder  that  the  reason 
the  l^th  of  the  month  used  to  be  such  a 
red  letter  day  vras  unquestionably  the 


Lillian  E,   Lagamasino, 

to  Orient  Heights 
Olive  Neilson,  from  Orient  Heights   to 

Alls ton 


Beeman, 

Personnel  Office,    to  Harry  D.   Karpeles, 
Assistant  Executive  Director  of   Hecht 
House  in  Dorchester,   has  been  announced. 
An  April  wedding  is  planned 


Announcement  has  been  made   of  the  en- 
igagement  of  Susan  Shelvin,  Audio-Visual, 
Soap  Box,   wherein  some  heroic   battles  Trer^to  Vincent  0.  Trunfio, 
vfaged.      If  the  Soap  Box  no  longer  offers    ! 


-2- 


''FE  i^.'ELCOM  BACK 
AFTER   II.L1MES8E5' 

l^trs  Evelyn  Herboldsheimer ^  Dorchester 
Ruth  Stenstreem  and  Abraham  Snyder, 

Cataloging  and  Classification,  Div.    of 

R.&R.Si 


I'ULitary  service 


David  Sheehan,  Book  Stack  Service, 
returned  after  almost  tvro  years  service 
in  the  U.S.  Army. 

STAFF  IN  PRINT 


has 


Inihs  Boston  GLOBE  for  February  2U,   in 
the  "Vifhat  People  Talk  About"   column, 
there  appeared  a  letter  on  train  whistles,! 
by  Henry  Bowditch  Jones,   Book  Stack  Serv-  I 
ice.      It  appeared  also  in  the   "People's 
Forum",   of  the  Boston  TRAVELER. 

?ffiDDING 

February  20  was  a  beautiful,  spring- 
like day,  perfect  for  the  vredding  of' 
Mary  G.  Lavery  and  Joseph  S.  Cataldo, 
Stock  and  Supplies  Section,  The  couple 
was  married  at  St  Ivlary  of  the  Assumption 
Church,  Brookline,  at  3:30  in  the  after- 
noon. The  bride  looked  lovely  in  a  govm 
of  azure  blue  lace.   Her  hat  and  gloves, 
a  delicate  shade  of  pink,  complem.ented 
the  govm.  Blue  slippers  completed  her 
outfit,  i'lrs  Cataldo  vras  attended  by  her 
imid  of  honor,  Barbara  Page,  who  Virore  a 
govm  of  dusty  pink  taffeta  and  tuille. 
Jeremiah  P.  Driscoll,  the  brother-in-law 
of  the  groom,  was  his  best  man.  The 
ceremony  was  made  mere  impressive  by  the 
fact  that  Mrs  Cataldo 's  sister,  l/Jargaret, 
became  the  bride  of  Leo  Lyons,  thus 
making  a  double  vredding  ceremony.  Fol- 
lowing the  Nuptials,  a  reception  for  the 
two  couples  vras  given  at  the  Metropolitan 
Hall  in  Brighton.  J/or  and  Mrs  Cataldo 
then  left  for  a  honeymoon  in  Washington, 
D.C,  Best  wishes  are  sent  to  the  happy 
couple  from  their  friends  at  the  Library, 

Catherine  T.  Uuffy 

CALLING  ALL  LADIES  I 

Plans  are  unden/ay  for  the  establish- 
-€•■,+  of  a  Boston  chapter  of  the  Women's 
^ftional  Book  Association  (T.'NBA)  .   This 
org-Jiization  has  been  active  since  1917, 


vdth  the  home  office  in  New  York  and 
flourishing  chapters  in  Chicago  and 
Cleveland.  To  launch  the  Boston  Chapter 
an  open  meeting  will  be  held  at  The 
Pioneer  on  Thursday,  April  8,  19*514., ■  at 
7:k^   PM.  I.'Iiss  Mary  Shipley,  National 
President,  will  be  on  hand  to  describe 
the  aims  and  purposes  of  the  organization. 
Mr   Frank  Rounds ,  author  of  Window  on  Red 
Square  will  be  the  guest  speaker. 

The  main  objective  of  the  Association 
is  to  bring  together  socially  and  pro- 
fesionally  all  women  virho  earn  their  living 
directly  or  indirectly  by  means  of  the 
book.  Library  v^crkers,  publishers,      i 
editors,  authors,  illustrators,  book  store 
workers ,  etc . 

If  you  are  interested  in  attending  the 
meeting  on  April  8,  please  contact  Miss 
Peck,  Book  Selection  E,R.&C.3,  Attendance 
at  this  meeting  does  not  automatically 
imply  membership.  After  Miss  Shipley  has 
outlined  the  objectives  of  the  Associatioi)  i 
an  opportunity  will  be  provided  for  those 
who  wish  to  do  so  to  become  charter  member 

JOHN  M.  CARROLL  KONORED         t 

John  M.  Carroll,  Chief  Librarian  of  the 
Division  of  Home  Reading  and  Community 
Services,  was  honored  at  the  meeting  of 
dersartments  chief  of  the  Division  of 
Reference  and  Research  Services  on  March 
second.  He  was  presented  with  a  brief 
case  and  a  Holy  Grail  picture  from  the 
Division  as  a  whole  and  with  a  clock  from 
the  Division  Office  staff,  v/ith  the  good 
wishes  of  his  former  Division  staff  mem- 
bers as  he  assumes  his  new  office. 

NE?/EERY-CALDECOTT  ^lEDALS 
V/INNERS  ANNOUNCED 

On  March  8,  in  the  New  York  office  of 
Frederic  G.  Melcher,  donor  of  the  medals, 
Virginia  Haviland,  Chairman  of  the  New- 
bery-Caldecott  Awards  Committee,  made  the 
preliminary  presentation  of  the  medals  to 
the  winners : 

Newbery — Joseph  Krumgold 

for  ..o  and  now  Miguel 

Caldecott — Ludwig  Bemelmans 

for  Madeline's  Rescue 

Official  nresentation  cf  the  medals  will 
take  place  at  the  Newbery-Caldecott  AwarJs 
dinner  in  connection  with  the  AM  annual 
conference  in  Minneapolis  in  June. 


1 


-3- 


SPORTS  NEtIS 
Basketball 


Bullets  e  Scouts  i'rom  prol'essional  teams 
are  on  hand  at  each  game  to  scout  the 

outstanding  prospects. 

Any  members  of  the  staff  interested 


Cn  Saturday  mornings  the  B.P.Le  basketrj  in  v^itnessing  this  "spctacle",  please 
ball  squad  meets  at  the  11. I. T.  gymnasium  j  contact  Manager  Paul  (Red  Auerbach) 
in  tune  with  the  year-round  sports  activ-  i  Mulloney — Science  and  Technology  for 
ity  program.  A  rugged  workout  is  enjoyed]  RESERVATIONS;, 
by  many  male  staff  members — especially    | 
when  one  can  look  forward  to  a  refreshing  I 
shower  and  snack  afterwards. 


Bowling  League 


The  members  are  divided  into  two 
squads 0  One  squad  consists  of- 


L.F,  Dan  (Bob  Brannum)Kelly — ^Audio- 
Visual 
Walter  (Jim  Pollard)  Harris — 

Book  Purchasing 
Don  (Clyde  Lovelette)  Nevraian — 
Book  Purchasing 
L.G.  Paul  (Dick  McGuire)  Smith— Book 
Purchasing 


C. 


The  Bo^Tling  League  is  now  in  its  fifth 
successful  season  of  competition^  and 
this  fifth  anniversary  is  being  marked 
by  the  acquisition  of  fine  sports  jackets, 
and  sweaters,  paid  for  out  of  the  League 
treasury. 

Les  hommes '  have  arrived — reversible 
;^ckets  of  navy  blue  wool  on  one  side 
and  gold  satin  on  the  reverse.  A  m.edal- 
lion,  in  the  shape  of  a  shield  vdth 
_  bov.aing  pins  and  ball,  is  affixed  to  the 
E.G.  Jerry  (Andy  Phillip)  Hottleman — j  front  of  the  blue  side  and  each  proud 
Book  Pijrchasing  i  owner's  name  in  bold  block  letters  is 

I  found  on  the  left  sleeve.  The  bowler's 
The  other  squad  consists  of-         j  name  in  script  appears  on  the  right 

j  sleeve  of  the  gold  side, 
L.F.  Larry  (Connie  Sim'nons)  Sindoni — i   Les  femmes'  svreaters,  haven't  been 

received  yet,  but  the  ^Is  are  looking 
forward  to  seeing  and  wearing  them, 
knowing  they  will  be  very  attractive. 

There  has  been  much  favoia'^ble  comment 
from  all  concerning  this  fine-looking 
sports  apparel  and  the  lucky  ovmers  feel 
justly  oroud  to  "sport"  them. 

!''Iany  thanks  to  Jack  Kyle  of  the  Stock 
and  Supplies  Section  and  Dan  Kelly  of 
I  Audio-Visual  for  handling  all  the  arrange- 
Many  hard-fought  battles  are  staged  on  |  ments. 


Book  Stack  Service 
R,F,  Art  (Carl  Braun)  Lindsay — 

Exhibits  Office 
C.    Dick  (Ed  MacAuley)  Stanton — 

Business  Office 
L.G.  Bob  (Bill  Sharraan)  Anglin — Book 

Stack  Service 
R.G.  Dave  (Bob  Cousy)  Shedd— Book 

Stack  Service 


I 


the  court,    but  the  "best"    ?????  team 
always   com.es    out   on  top. 

Outstanding  players   include — 

Don  Newman' l-or' his  rebounding 

Dan  Kelly  for  his  ac;gresiveness  and 

spirit 
Dick  Stanton  and  Y/ally  Harris  for 

their  high-scoring  feats 
Larry  Sindoni  for  his  deadly  hook  shot 
Bob  Anglin  for  his   play-making 
Paul  Smith  for  his  tricky  ball  handling 
Art  Lindsay  for  his  sportsmanship 
Dave  Shedd  for  his  clutch  play 
Jerry  Hottleman  for  his  all-around  pl^ 


The  Bowling  League  has  had  a  great 
"lift"    in  receiving  these  prizes,   and  we 
all  hope   that  it  will  be  an  added  in- 
centive for  more  new  bowlers   to    com.e  out 
for  the  league  next  seasono 

3PLPSA  RECEPTION  FOR  OFFICERS 

The  annual  reception  for  the  officers 
of  the  Association  vras  held  on  terch  2, 
in  the  Lecture  Hall,     Edna  G.   Peck,   chair- 
man of  the  Program  Committee,  welcomed 
members  and  guests  and  introduced  the 
officers  present.     The  officers   then 
formed  a  receiving  line  at  the  front  of 
the  hall  and  were  greeted  by  fellow 
association  members  while  May  McDonald 


The  KOST  VALUABLE  players   award  goes 

u  i.3  year  to Don  Newirian  /;hc  performed  j  and  the  Entertainment  Committee  served 

li..c  an  AJX  -^  STAR   in  his  freshman  year      i  fruit  punch  and  most  attractive  and 
,f  "pro  ball".      He  will  receive  for  this      eminently  edible  pastries, 
-1-,'ard — a   tryout  v.lth  the  Baltimore 


-ii- 


FolloTri-ng  the  reception,  ivir  O'Neil,  the 
re-elected  president,  welcomed  members  and 
guests,  among  whom  were  Patrick  F. 
McDonald,  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  his  sister,  Mary  McDonald,  and 
Milton  E.  Lord,  Director.  Mr  McDonald, 
speaking  in  representation  of  the  Trustees 
expressed  his  vra.rm  appreciation  of  the 
staff  and  its  worke 

Miss  Peck  introduced  J'trs  Edith  H« 
Bailey  vri.th  a  few  brief  remarks  about 
their  mutual  days  together  at  Phillips 
Brooks.     Mrs   Bailey  and  her  daughter, 
Ruth,  also  formerly  at  Phillips  Brooks  and 
now  director  of  religious   education  at  a 
large  Minneapolis   church,   had  spent  six 
months   in  traveling  around  the  worldo 
For  this  evening  Mrs  Bailey  showed  pic- 
tures  and  talked  only  of  the  trip  from 
Greece  to  Istambul,  Ankara,   along  the 
Mediterannean,     Beirut,   and  then  Bombay, 
Delhi  and  Kashmir.     As  the  Bailey's  vrere 
able,   through  many  church  and  State 
Department  contacts,   to  visit  and  stay 
at  many  of  the  schools  and  universities, 
and  visit  in  native  homes,  the   slides 
vrere  particularly  interesting  and  the 
audience  learned  much  that  the  average 
tourist  never  sees  or  hears o 

It  was  particularly  pleas  ant  to   greet 
so  many  of   cur  "alumnae"  who  came  back 
to  share  the  evening  with  former  co- 
workers •, 

PRESIDENT'S  MOTES 

Last  July  in  the  editorial  columns   of 
The  Question  Mark  it  was  suggested  that 
the  establishment  of  a  staff  blood  bank 
might  be  an  excellent  way  in  T/hich  we 
could  help  our  fellow  vrorkers  and  it  was 
urged  that  we  give  thoU;':;ht  to  this  pro- 
posal as  a  very  powerful  way  in  iirhich  we 
could  "assist   our  fellow  workers  vfhen 
they  or  members   of  their  immediate  family 
sorely  need  help," 

We  discovered  that  vre  were  eligible   to 
belong  to  the  City  of  Boston  Employees 
Blood  Donor  Program  and  that  both  the 
Library  and  the  City  of  Boston  were  very- 
generous  and  cooperative  in  allovd-ng  | 
time  for  this  program.     We  have  tried  to   j 
keep  staff  members  avrare  of  this  program  | 
through  the  pages   of  The  Question  iferk. 
Up  to   this  time  the  number  of  staff  mem-  | 
bers  who  have  taken  this  opportunity  to     > 
help  themselves   and  their  families   is         j 
verj  small 3      Pledging  a  blood  donation  is! 
a  i^eisonal,   individual  decision  yet  it       I 


reaches  far  beyond  the  insurance  it  pro- 
vides    for  the  person  and  his    family 
since  it  makes  available  a  backlog  to 
help  in  civilian  disasters  and  military 
necessities.      If  you  have  been  intending 
to  pledge  a   donation  and  have  let  it 
slide,   why  delay  any  longer?     Do  it  now. 


•M- 


The  Executive  Board  late  last  year 
urged  that  the  Staff  Centennial  Gift 
Committee  consider  a  proposal  that  the 
Centennial  Gift  of  the  Staff  be  pre- 
sented to  the  Library  in  memory  of  the 
Library's  World  War  II  dead.  At  the  next 
meeting  of  the  Committee  which'  had  a 
quorum  present,  the  proposal  vras  very 
favorably  received.  At  som.e  time  in  the 
future  v^hen  the  staff  virill  be  given  an 
opportunity  to  help  select  the  Centennial 
Gift,  the  proposal  to  remember  our  World 
Ifar  II  dead  in  our  Centennial  Gift  v/ill 
also  be  presented  to  the  entire  staff. 


* 


At  its  February  meeting  the  Executive 
Board  appointed  John  J.  McCafferty, 
General  Reference,  as  Publicity  Director 
for  the  Association.  The  Publicity 
Director's  duties  include  securing 
favorable  publicity  for  the  Association 
and  its  activities  both  v^rithin  and  out- 
side the  Library, 


A  gentle  reminder:  Dues  for  195U  are 
nov/  payable,  ^0^  to  the  Staff  Represen- 
tatives, Staff  Representatives  Vidll 
please  send  the  dues,  well-virrapped 
to  Mary  A,  Hackett,  Treasurer,  Parker 
Hill«  And  please  be  patient  if  the 
receipts  and  membership  cards  are  delayed  i 
somev;hat.  It  takes  time  to  make  accurate 
records  and  receipts  for  some  UJO  members, 

B.  Joseph  0 'Neil 

BLOOD  DONOR  PROGRAM 

The  Red  Cross   Blood  Donor  Center  at 
3lli  Dartmouth  St.    (near  tferlborough)   is 
open  Monday,   iVednesday  and  Friday  from 
11  A.M.   to  5  P.M.;   on  Tuesday  from  2  P.M. 
to  8  P.M.,  and  on  Thursday  from  11  A.M. 
to  8  P.M»     Donors  are  accepted  until 
l5  minutes  before  closing  time. 


-5- 


Staff  members  donating  blood  under  the 
City  of  Boston  Blood  Donor  Program  are 
allowed  h   hours  for  this  purpose  by  the 
Library ( 

Call  Mrs  Vfollent  at  Extension  2I4U  and 
arrange  to  make  a  pledge  to  the  Red  Cross 
Blood  Donor  Program. 

TAKE  A  BOW 

A  bouquet  to  Mary  Ann  Gelsomini  of 
Cataloging  and  Classification  (R.&R.S.) 
for  her  valuable  assistance  at  the 
Association's  business  meetings  since 
1952.  Miiss  Gelsomini  has  taken  verbatim 
accounts  by  Stenotype  and  helped  greatly 
in  providing  a  complete  and  accurate 
record  of  the  meetings .  Take  a  bov/,  Ivfery, 

CEI-fTENMIAL  NOTES 

t/JLA  Presents  Citation 

At  the  mid-¥irinter  meeting  of  the 
Massachusetts  Library  Association,  held 
at  the  Sheraton  Plaza  Hotel  on  February  I8, 
President  Philip  J.  McNiff  presented  the 
Boston  Public  Library  vath  a  citation  on 
the  occasion  of  its  Centennial  Anniver- 
sary, The  citation  was  accepted  for  the 
Library  by  Milton  E,  Lord,  Director,  Y/ho 
made  appropriate  comments  on  the  work 
of  the  Library, 

COOKS  IN  PRINT 
"Makes"  Syndicated  Column 

In  the  Boston  Evening  AJfERICAN  on 
March  8,  Dr  Ida  Bailey  Allen,  in  her 
column  Let's  Eat,  under  the  caption  New 
England  Dishes  Featured,  began  with  these 
vfords :  "IT'S  NElifS  when  an  important  pub- 
lic library  puts  out  a  cookbook  I"  She 
went  on  to  describe  the  cover,  and  after 
reminiscing  about  early  visits  to  the 
BPL  and  paying  tribute  to  its  collec- 
tions, she  included  two  recipes  in  her 
Tomorrow's  Dinner  taken  from  COOKS  IN 
PRINT— Squash  Muffins  and  IVlarlborough 
Pie. 

The  title  of  the  book  vra.3  not  given, 
nor  \7as  the  price,  but  as  of  March  11 
two  inquiries  concerning  it  have  been 
received — the  first  one  from  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  and  the  second  from  Toledo, 
Ohio.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that 
ti  io  syndicated  column,  to  quote  its 
ai  t 'cr,  "breaks  nationvfide,  in  Canada, 
Australia,  Bermuda  and  Hong  Kong," 


Centennial  Billboards 

Through  the  courtesy  of  the  Donnelly 
Advertising  Company  ninety  billboards  i/Tdll 
shor-oly  bring  to  the  attention  of  the 
public  the  campaign  for  funds  which  is 
being  undertaken  in  connection  with  the 
Centennial  Celebration.  The  billboards 
are  located  through  the  greater  Boston 
area,  C.  Robert  Perrin,  of  itO  Bromfield 
Street,  Boston,  designed  the  poster  as  a 
public  service^ 

Library  Honored 

The  Massachusetts  Society  of  Colonial 
Dames  paid  tribute  to  the  Library's  Cen- 
tennial Anniversary  at  its  March  meeting 
which  took  place  on  the  eleventh  at  the 
Society's  headquarters,  55  Beacon  Street. 
A  particularly  attractive  exhibit  had 
been  assembled  and  set  up  by  Rare  Book 
and  the  Exhibits  Office.  It  consisted 
of  items  published  prior  to  l805  and  of 
special  interest  to  ivomen:  Historic 
letters,  rare  books,  including  the  Eliot 
Bible  and  the  Bay  Psalm  Book,  manuscripts 
and  covenants,  children's  books,  courtesy 
books,  and  Vifritings  e£   early  American  women 
authors  0 

The  principal  speaker  was  Milton  E. 
Lord,  whose  subject  was:  "The  Boston 
Public  Library,  One  of  New  England's  Great 
Treasure  Houses 0" 

SOD/ETOERE  IN  THE  LIBRARY  .  .  . 

$0     Somevj-here  in  the  Library  there  hang 
copies  of  four  American  historical  docu- 
ments. Affixed  to  each  document  are 
autograph  signatures  of  the  signers 
taken  from  letters  and  documents.  Can 
you  name  the  four  documents  and  give 
their  location? 

6c  The  location  of  the  Library,  Copley 
Square,  is  named  after  the  painter  John 
Singleton  Copley,  Somewhere  in  the 
Library  there  is  a  painting  by  Copley, 
Can  you  locate  it? 

7e  The  Library  has  two  portraits  of 
Benjamin  Franklin  that  hang  close  by 
each  other  in  similar  frames.  One 
portrait  is  by  Joseph  S,  Cuplessisj  the 
other  is  "said  to  be  by  Jean  Baptiste 
Greuze",  Can  you  locate  these  portraits? 

8.  In  1835  some  citizens  of  Boston  pre- 


sented  Daniel  Webster  with  a  silver 
vase  in  commemoration  of  his  defense  of 
the  Constitution.  The  vase,  of  pure 
coin  silver  has  a  height  of  13  3 A  in- 
ches and  a  diameter  of  lU  3/8  inches. 
It  was  presented  to  the  Library  in 
1865.  This  vase  now  stands  upon  a 
mantel  of  white  Sienna  itHrble.  Can  you 
give  its  location? 

9.  Do  you  know  at  what  number  Dartmouth 
Street  the  Library  stands? 

Answers  to  February  Questions 

1.  On  the  rib  between  the  lunette  and  the 
arch  at  the  north  end  of  Sargent  Hall. 

2.  Over  the  entrance  to  the  Teachers' 
Dept.j  over  the  entrance  to  the  Abbey 
Roomj  over  the  arch  as  one  descends  the 
staircase  from  the  Sargent  Corridor  to 
the  P'j.vis  de  Chavannes  Corridor, 

3.  On  the  Trails  of  the  Teachers  Depart- 
ment. 

U.  The  dome  of  the  Ponpeian  Lobby  at  the 
entrance  to  the  Abbey  Room. 

CATHOLIC  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION 

NgyV  ENGLAND  UNIT 

Two  meetings  vrere  held  in  February. 
The  first  was  on  the  srxth  at  the  Arch- 
bishop Cushing  Educational  Clinic . 
Sister  Mary  Immacula,  the  Librarian,  gave 
a  brief  outline  of  the  problems  of 
building  a  library  for  children  vath 
reading  difficulties.  A  visit  through  the 
Library  and  study  rooms  revealed  all 
modern  equipment  for  testing  readability 
and  for  correction  of  eye  defects. 
Although  most  of  the  200  students  regis- 
tered are  children,  older  men  and  vromen 
are  enrolled  for  individual  courses, 
Zolt^n  Haraszti,  Rare  Book,  gave  an 
interesting  talk  on  the  nature,  evalua- 
tion and  purchasing  of  rare  books.  Many 
of  the  librarians  present  (particularly 
those  not  of  the  BPL)  expressed  their 
pleasure  and  planned  to  visit  the 
Treasure  Room  in  the  very  near  future. 

On  February  20,  the  annual  Book  Forum 
and  Fair  vras  held  in  the  Nev/  England 
I.'utual  Hall.  Thomas  V,  Reiners,  Li- 
b-Parian at  Boston  College,  Chairman  of 
t.'-o  N'jw  Ln{/l?.nd  Unit,  opened  the  Forum. 
Vurj  Alice  Rca,  Book  Purchasing,  arranged 


and  directed  the  program.  The  four 
speakers  vrere  Dr  Nathaniel  Hasenfus, 

author  of  Marie  goes  to  the  zoo,  Mary   K, 
Corbett,  author  of  Girl  of  Urbino,  Mrs 
Helen  'Aalker  Homan,  author  of  Star  of 
Jacob,  and  Hon,  Charles  McKew  Parr, 
author  of  So  noble  a  captain, 

Dr  Hasenfus  pointed  out  the  value  of 
introducing  good  books  and  stories  to 
children  at  a  very  early  age»  Miss  Cor- 
bett told  of  life  of  women  a  nd  girls  in 
the  I&ddle  Ages  in  Italy,  Mrs  Koman 
chose  for  her  topic.  Some  Mssionary 
Pioneers ,  and  Senator  Parr  paid  a  stirring 
tribute  to  Ferdinand  Magellan,  the  hero 
of  his  book. 

Essays  vnritten  by  school  children  were 
read  and  posters  displayed.  One  of  the 
topics  of  the  essay  contest  vras  If  I 
should  lose  my  library  card,  and  all 
manner  of  dire  consequences  were  imagined 
and  stressed  if  this  tragic  event  oc- 
curred « 

After  the  meeting  the  8OO  guests  present 
visited  the  various  book  displays  and 
the  authors  autographed  books . 

Anna  L»  Manning 

MLA  MID-l'ir[NTER  MEETING 
Sheraton-Plaza  Hotel 
Thursday,  February  18,  19$U 

Sidelights  and  Highlights 

1.  Announcement  by  Mr  Lord  of  a  conference 
of  trustees  planned  by  the  Executive 
Board  of  the  Jilassachusetts  Library 
Trustees  Association, 

2.  Clarence  R.  Graham,  Librarian  of  the 
Louisville  Public  Library-  spoke  on 
The  Library;  Blueprint  for  the  Future. 
Mr  Graham  said  that  he  did  not  suggest 
a  change  in  the  traditional  function  of 
the  library — that  is,  a  communication 
center — but  that  its  traditional  goals 
should  be  implemented  in  teriTiS  of  the 
late  twentieth  century.  He  specifically 
urged  that  the  public  library  should 
serve  all  parts  of  the  community,  by 
means  of  the  printed  word  and  other 
media.  The  axiom  "A  thinking  man  does 
not  commit  suicide"  pointed  up  the  con- 
cept cf  the  public  library  as  a  deposi- 
tory of  materials  for  self-education. 
The  main  focus  of  public  libraries  must 
be  to  provide  the  opportunity  for,  and 
stimulation  to,  self -education. 


_7- 


This  concept  has  brought  about 
experimentation  in  many  fields.   In 

Louisville,  modern  advances  in  com- 
munication media  have  been  used  to 
advantage — microfilms,  microcards, 
recordings,  educational  radio  broad- 
casts (on  tape  and  discs),  forums, 
lectures,  and  artifacts.  Other  li- 
braries have  used  teletjrpe  and  fac- 
simile services,  leased  telephone  lines 
for  classroom  education,  and  television 
pro grams B  Even  lowly  water-pipes  are 
being  considered  as  a  means  of  elec- 
trical conductors  to  transmit  informa- 
tion to  every  urban  homei 

Mr  Graham  advocates  an  entirely  nev/ 
idea  in  self-education,  T/hich  for  lack 
of  a  better  name  he  terms  "City  Agents." 
Kural  areas  have  been  helped  by  agri- 
cultural technicians  and  advisors, 
knovm  as  "County  Agents."  These  County 
Agents  assist  farmers  in  developing 
their  areas.  The  "City  Agents"  might 
assist  in  developing  city  areas.  The 
agents  could  be  based  in  Branch  Li- 
braries and  work  toward  developing  the 
neighborhood  by  helping  small  business, 
by  home  demonstrations,  and  by  other 
m.eans.  Each  agent  would  be  a  member 
of  a  city-mde  council,  dedicated  to 
a  complete  saturation  of  the  community 
with  self -education.  A  final  result 
of  this  program  would  be  a  decrease  in 
vocational  education  and  an  increase 
in  education  in  the  humanities. 

3.  Dr  Robert  G.  Hyde,  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Boston  Psychopathic  Hospital, 
spoke  on  Librarians  are  Human  Beings. 
Dr  Hyde  described  the  typical  small- 
town librarian  of  the  past — a  lady  he 
knew  in  Vermont  during  his  boyhood.  He 
analyzed  her  reasons  for  becoming  a 
librarian — her  love  of  books  and  her 
sense  of  protection  of  books  from  people, 
her  wish  to  retire  into  a  quiet  and 
secluded  atmosphere.  These  are  the 
reasons  he  gave  for  hor  choice  of  voca- 
tion. 

The  modern  librarian,  Dr  Hyde  thinks, 
is  subject  to  emotional  conflicts  which 
must  be  overcome  if  she  is  to  give 
satisfactory  service  to  the  nublic. 
Some  of  the  questions  virhich  must  be 
resolved  to  this  end  arc:  "'Vhat  does  the 
librarian  expect  of  people?  IVhat  do 
the  p-'.trons  expect  of  the  librarian? 
\n-.t  r'o  the  Trustees  expect  of  the 
librarian? 


The  stress  and  conflict  to  which 
librarians  are  subject  can  best  be 

solved  by  self-examination  and  the 
realization  of  her  essential  humanness. 
Editor's  Note;  For  further  informa- 
tion, read  Dr  Hyde's  article  in 
Reader's  Digest,  January,  195U,  p.  83-8'i 

)4.  The  luncheon  speech  given  by  Virgilia 
Peterson  will  be  covered  in  the  spring 
number  of  the  ICA  bulletin. 

First  Joint  Meeting 

The  first  joint  meeting  of  the  Round 
Table  of  Children's  Librarians,  the 
Round  Table  of  Librarians  for  Young 
Adults,  and  the  New  England  Book  Council 
was  presided  over  by  Elizabeth  Handy. 

The  main  speaker  rjas  John  D.  Coughlan, 
Director  of  the  State's  Division  of 
Youth  Service.  In  his  topic  Some  Im- 
plications  of  Delinquency,  filr  Coughlan 
gave  the  audience  a  clear  and  com- 
prehensive picture  of  the  work  of  the 
Youth  Service  Board.  He  set  forth  the 
philosophy  and  aims  of  the  Board,  which 
revolve  around  the  idea  that  the  juvenile 
delinquent,  aged  7  to  17,  is  not  a 
criminal  but  an  educable  individual  who 
needs  and  wants  help.  It  stresses  the 
need  of  preventive  education,  rather  than 
corrective  treatment. 

The  work  of  the  Board,  organized  in 
19U8.. begins  after  the  court  has  found 
the  youngster  guilty.  Unless  the  judge 
suspends  sentence,  the  Board  takes  over. 
First,  an  individual  study  is  made  of 
the  school,  family  and  neighborhood  con- 
ditions. Next,  the d elinquent  is  com- 
mitted, not  sentenced,  to  a  detention 
home  or  open  training  school.  The 
Board  is  careful  to  stress  in  all  cases 
that  the  delinquent  is  not  "sentenced 
to  jail",  and  is  not  a  criminal.  No 
criminal  record  is  built  up  by  the  trans- 
gressions of  a  delinquent. 

The  Board,  formed  of  professional 
persons  who  know  and  understand  young 
people,  is  aided  in  its  vfork  by  an  ad- 
visory committee  appointed  by  the  Governor, 
lir   Coughlan  pointed  out  that  in  the  five 
years  of  the  o'^eration  of  the  Board,  not 
one  case  of  dope  addiction  by  a  juvenile 
delinquent  has  come  to  its  attention. 
Also,  that  in  the  recent  invasion  of  a 
Girl's  Training  School  by  an  armed  group 
of  five  boys,  not  one  of  the  boys  had  ever 
been  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Youth 


-8~ 


Service  Board.  Mr  Coughlan  believes  that 
rehabilitation  rather  than  incarceration 
is  the  way  to  solve  the  problem  of 
juvenile  delinquency. 

A  capacity  audience  welcomed  the  ques- 
tion period  which  followed. 

Edward  J.  Cullinane 
College  Libraries  Group 

Professor  Helen  M,  Cam,  who  came  to 
Radcliffe  in  19li8  after  a  period  of 
over  twenty  years  as  professor  of 
history  at  Cambridge  University  in  Eng- 
land, spoke  on  the  differences  in  the 
practices  of  university  libraries  in 
England  and  America. 

The  English  libraries,  for  the  most 
part,  are  not  open  in  the  evenings. 
The  longer  hours  of  the  American  li- 
braries is  a  considerable  convenience  for 
library  users.  Vifith  few  exceptions, 
the  English  libraries  do  not  have  finan- 
cial resources  for  purchasing  bcoks  com- 
parable to  the  resources  of  the  American 
libraries  J  one  would  not  therefore  find 
the  wide  coverage  of  both  American  and 
English  authors  in  the  English  li- 
braries as  one  finds  in  the  American 
libraries.  The  English  universities, 
in  general,  have  closed  stacks,  Cam- 
bridge University  being  an  exception. 
The  English  libraries  do  not  have  card 
catalogs;  they  use  book  catalogs,  some 
of  which  are  in  manuscript. 

Professor  Cam  gave  a  few  criticisms  of 
American  university  libraries.  From  her 
experience  in  using  them,  she  concluded 
that  one  can  never  be  sure  of  finding 
key  reference  books  when  one  needs  them, 
because  permission  is  frequently  given 
for  professors  and  students  to  remove 
these  works  from  their  regular  place  and 
keep  them  for  extended  periods  at  their 
library  study  desks.  She  felt  it  is 
a  disadvantage  to  researchers  for  a 
library  to  allow  the  circuJa  tion  f  rom 
the  library  of  large  numbers  of  books. 
The  speaker  called  to  question  the  value 
of  a  subject  catalog;  in  her  opinion  it 
is  almost  impossible  to  make  an  adequate 
subject  catalog,  and  therefore  it  might 
be  better  not  to  have  any  subject  catalog 
at  allc 

Professor  Cam  quite  readily  conceded 
■f-.h:^*!.  The  United  States  is  far  ahead  of 
i]ri\^znd   in  the  art  and  science  of  biblio- 
fo-rarhyc 

Paul  V,  Moynihan 


Hospital  Librarians 

For  the  first  time,  public  library 
service  to  the  hospitalized  vras  pre- 
sented as  a  topic  at  an  M,L,A,  meeting. 
In  recogniation  of  the  Centennial  year 
of  BoP.L,,  Mrs  Mary  Langton,  Hospital 
Library  Service,  was  invited  to  speak  on 
Service  to  the  Boston  City  Hospital. 
Jtrs  Langton  presented  an  account  of  the 
very  real  achievements  accomplished  during! 
the  nine  short  months  of  the  Branch's 
existence.  She  spoke  of  the  specialized  | 
equipment  necessary  in  such  an  activityj 
of  the  warm  reception  by  t he  patients, 
and  cf  the  solid  satisfaction  felt  by 
the  hospital  officials  with  the  work  that 
has  been  done.  The  doctors  are  especially 
pleased  with  its  effect  on  long-term      '. 
patients  and  those  who  require  complete 
rest.  Mrs  Langton  closed  with  remarks    } 
on  the  importance  of  hospital  library     ' 
service  and  the  high  priority  such  ex-    ! 
tension  work  should  be  given  by  library   ' 
systems  expanding  their  services  to  the   j 
community.  : 

The  second  speaker,  Edna  Phillips,  i 
Morrill  Ifemorial  Library,  Norwood,  spoke  ; 
on  the  general  subject  Public  Library  '■ 
Service  to  Hospitals,  making  special  | 
references  to  the  activities  of  the 
Morrill  Memorial  Library  of  Norwood  at  thei 
Norwood  Hospital,  where  public  library  ; 
extension  work  has  been  carried  on  for  i 
some  time. 


Adult  Education  Section 

The  section  meeting  was  devoted  to  a 
panel  discussion  of  the  American  Library 
Association  "American  Heritage  Program", 
This  project  was  revealed  by  the  panel 
members,  as  a  nation-wide  program  to  aid 
in  setting  up  discussion  groups  in 
libraries.  The  Program  is  sponsored  by 
the  Fund  for  Adult  Education  and  this 
Fund  is  financed  by  the  Ford  Foundation, 

HYDE  PARK  CELEBRATES 
EIGHTIETH  ANNIVERSARY 

The  Hyde  Park  Branch  celebrated  the 
eightieth  anniversary  of  library  service 
in  the  community  on  Wednesday  evening 
March  3^  at  eight  o'clock.  The  chairman 
for  the  program  was  John  J.  Buckley, 
a  teacher  at  the  Hyde  Park  High  School. 
The  Director  brought  greetings  from  the 
Trustees,  in  the  absence  of  Patrick  F. 


■i 


-9- 


McDonaLdj  President  of  the  Board,  who  was 
unable  to  be  present*  The  icain  address 
was  given  by  Milton  E.  Lord,  Director, 
and  music  was  furnished  by  the  Hyde  Park 
'T'  Community  Chorus,  Others  to  take  part 
in  the  program  were  Nancy  Fennessey,  who 
read  a  poem  written  for  the  original 
dedicatory  program  in  l87Hj  and  ''/[illiam 
Powers  1*10  read  an  historical  sketche 
Refreshments  were  served  at  the  close  of 
the  program.  In  spite  of  the  inclenent 
weather  over  one  hundred  and  fifty 
persons  attended  the  celebrationo  Among 
those  attending  was  a  lady  vtio  had  used 
the  Hyde  Park  Library  for  seventy-five 
of  the  eighty  years  it  has  been  in  ex- 
istence. 

A  BIT  OF  ERIN 

In  connection  with  the  observance  of 
the  Library's  centennial  anniversary 
the  Friends   of  the  Adams  Street  Branch 
Library  presented  on  March  10  an  Irish 
program  entitled  "A  bit  of  Erin" .     It 
'■ira.s  attended  by  over  three  hundred  mem- 
bers  of   the  community. 

The  program  was  arranged  by  Fo-s 
Francis  Po  Carroll,   Chairman  of  the  March 
meeting.     Mrs  Carroll,  vj-ho  is  active  in 
the  Eire  Society  and  is  head  of  the  Folk 
Dance  group  of  that  society,  alae  arranged 
an  exhibit  of  Irish  arts  and  crafts  which 
were  of  great  interest  to  everyone. 

Among  those  contributing  to  the  event 
were  Florence  M.   Garrity,  a  member  of 
the  Library's  Examining  Committee,   Past 
President  of  the  Eire  Society,  and  one- 
time member  of  the  Library  staff.     Miss 
Garrity  showed  colored  slides   of  Ireland, 
shovidng  homes ,   gardens ,   and  places  of 
historical  interest, 

Mr  Milton  E,  Lord,  Director,   made  a 
fine  speech  of  vrelcome  and  thanks   to  the 
group,  and  brought  greetings   from  the 
Trustees,   in  the  absence  of  Patrick  F, 
McDonald,   President  of  the  Board,  who 
was  unable  to  attend. 

Traditional  Irish  folk  songs  v;ere  sung 
by  James  McCarthy  of   Somerville  and  his 
three  children.     There  was  dancing  by  the 
Tara  Step  Dancers  and  the  Eire  Society 
Folk  Lance  group.     Mrs  Anna  Is/iacKenzie 
Smith,  well-knovm  in  the  community  of 
Dorchester,  sang  a   group  of  Irish  songs. 
Master  Jamaa  Pasztor,  a  nine-year-old  boy 
from  Brookline,  played  Irish  melodies   on 
his  harp,  j 

Three  lovely  Irish  ballads  were  sung       '. 


by  Mary  Ellen  Sheehan,  who  is  Supervisor 
of  Music   in  the  Watertovm  elementary 
schools. 

Last,   but  certainly  not  least,  was  the 
shanachie  Ruth  M.   Hayes,   Branch  Librarian, 
who  held  her  audience  spell-bound  with 
her  wonderful  telling  of  an  old  Irish 
folk  tale. 

The  program  c.~included  Yri.th  community 
singing  ard  refreshments  which  included, 
of  course,   Irish  Bread. 

LUNCHEON  FOR  MRS  AHNE  DOLAN 

On  Tuesday  ^larch  2,  a  surprised  Anne 
Dolan  Yras  greeted  by  a  group  of  her 
library  friends  gathered  at  the  Hotel 
Vendome  for  a  lunch  in  her  honor.     Mrs 
Dolan  was  soon  to  leave  the  service  of 
the  librarya     After  a  delicious  luncheon, 
''■Irs  Muriel  C.   Javelin,  Deputy  Supervisor, 
in  Charge  of  ^'fork  mth  Adults,   ex- 
pressed everyone's  appreciation  of  Anne 
as   a  friend  and  co-vrorker.     Then,   she 
presented  the  guest  of  honor  with  a  Reed 
&  Barton  Tovm  and  Country  sterling 
silver  creamer  and  sugar  and  sugar  tongs 
as  a  permanent  memento  from  all  her 
library  friends, 

ALL  SORTS  by  Joe  Harrington 
Boston  POST— October  2U,   1953 

Every  midday  the  Boston  Public  Library's 
bookmobile  is   parked  on  the  Tremont  St. 
mall  of  the  Boston  Common,  with  all  and 
sundry  invited  to  do  some  reading.     The 
girls  who  work  in  one  of  the  nearby 
stores,  and  are  steady  customers  of  this 
ambulating  library,  call  it  "The  Flying 
Chaucer," 

CARE 

Our  CARE  program  continues  with  the 
emphasis  on  Korea  and  refugees  from 
behind  the  Iron  Curtain.  Any  contribu- 
tion, no  matter  how  small  a  sacrifice  it 
may  be  to  you,  means  new  hope  and  life  to 
someone  in  need. 

Staff  Representatives :  Please  send 
remittances  to  Y/alter  J.  Bluhm,  chairman. 
Special  Com^iittee  for  CARE,  Periodical 
and  Newspaper  Department. 


Being  late  is  a  habit 
Being  early  is  a  gift 


-10" 


IN  MEI'IORIAM 

These  few  ^irords  can  scarcely  express 
the  deep  loss  that  the  Library  has  suf- 
fered in  the  passing  of  Mrs  Evelyn 
Grosbayne  Green  on  March  11th.      Her  deep 
sense  of  loyalty  to  her  niany  friends,   to 
her  religious  affiliations  as  a  teacher 
in  Sunday  school,  and  to  the  library  pro- 
fession, was  an  inspiration  to  all  who 
knew  and  loved  her.     A  dynamic  and  vi- 
brant individual,   she  brought  her  Trarm- 
hearted  personality  into  library  vralls 
and  transferred  her  love  and  knowledge 
of  books  to  the  thousands  of  library 
borrowers  she  served  through  rrany  years 
in  the  South  Boston  and  Jamaica  Plain 
districts.    She  exemplified  the  true 
spirit   of  librarians hip,   the  human  factor 
so  important  in  any  profession.     She  left 
no  stone  unturned  in  creating  an  interest 
in  books  among  library  patrons  by  using 
every  medium — reading  clubs,   poster, 
exhibits,  book  revievfing,  and  as  leader 
of  a  Great  Books  Club  that  recently 
completed  its   fifth  year  with  many  of  the 
original  group. 

Above  and  beyond  her  work  ¥ra.s  her 
tremendous  capacity  for  friendship.     The 
quotation,   "There  is   nothing  worth  the 
winning  except  the  laughter  and  love  of 
friends"  was  her  credo  of  living.     For 
those  in  need  of  sympathy  and  understand- 
ing,  Evelyn  was  ready  to  help,   not  in 
words  but  in  deeds.     Although  she  left  a 
void  that  can  never  be  filled,    she  also 
left  infinitely  more  to  her  friends   in 
the  principles   of  living — integrity, 
loyalty,  and  devotion  to  any  cause  for 
the  good.     As  was    so  finely  expressed  by 
her  spiritual  advisor,   "Yifhather  we  live 
a  year  or  a  thousand  yeargyit   is   only 
what  we  accomplish  here  for  the  good  that 
is  recorded  in  the  stars," 

Alary  L,  Oilman 
Evelyn  C,  Marden 

A  VJDRD  OF  THANKS 

Mr  Louis  Green     and  the  Grosbayne 
family  have  asked  that  there  be  expressed 
through  the  columns  of  The   Question  Mark 
their  heart-felt  gratitude  to  these  v;ho 
so  generously  donated  blood  during  the 
recent  illness   of  Evelyn  Grosbayne  Green, 


WII  BOOKS  IN  THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 

Non-Fiction — Library  Science 

American  Library  Association 

Sumr.iary  reports   of   19 5h  midvirinter 
meetings,    January  31-February  6, 
Chicago,  Airerican  Library  Association, 
195U 

Illinois  Library  Association 

Conference  manual,   by  Marguerite 

Giezentanner  and  others 

Chicago,   Illinois  Library  Association, 

i95n 

DEPARTMENT   NOTES 

Exhibits  Office 

Recent  displays   outside  the  Library 
have  been  arranged  by  the  staff  at: 
The  American  Association  For  The  Advance- 
ment of  Science  Conference  and  Do   It 
Yourself  Show,  Mechanics  Buildingj  Negro 
History  Week  Conference,    John  Hancock 
Buildings  Eire  Society  Meeting,   New 
England  Mutual  Building;  Massachusetts 
Society  of  Colonial  Dames,   SS  Beacon 
Street;   The  United  States  Veterans 
Bureau,  Tremont  and  Beacon  Streets-^ 
and  The  Home   Savings   Bank,   Tremont  and 
Beacon  Streets. 

Patent  Room 

On  Tuesday  evening  March  23,  Gene 
Montefiore  will  be  giving  a  Recital  in 
Recital  Hall  at  the  New  England  Conserva- 
tory of  Koisic,    Huntington  Avenue.     No 
tickets  are  required  for  admission.     We 
expect  to  see  a  lot  of  the  Library  Staff 
there  to  hear  the   Patent  Room's  tenor. 

BRANCH  NOTES   • 

Jamaica  Plain 

Midwinter  meeting  of  the  Friends   of 
Jamaica  Plain  Branch  Library  was  held  on 
February  8.     The  guest  of  the   evening 
was  Arthur  Vif,   Heintzelraan,  distinguished 
artist  and  Keeper  of  Prints,   Boston 
Public  Library,     His  subject  was  The 
Albert  H.  YJiggin  Collection — one  of  the 
Library's  great  treasures,     to  Heintseiman 
brought  with  him  many  beautiful  prints— 
the  work  of  such  famous   artists  as 
Muirhead  Bone,   Honore  Daumier,   Jean-Louis 
Forain,  and  Gerald  BrockhuTst»     It  vras  a 
fascinating  talk  and  the   audience  was 
most  enthusiastic.     Many  members  of  the 


-11- 


group  have  expressed  the   hope  that  Mr 
Heintzelraan  may  address  the  Friends  again 
A  social  hour  concluded  this  very  in- 
teresting meeting. 

North  End 

On  February  18,  Linda  Marie  Pagliuca, 
assistant,  v>ra.s  guest  speaker  during  the 
annual  Career  1"feek  at  the  Julie  Billiart 
High  School  which  is  situated  next  door 
to  the  library,  A  graduate  of  the  high 
school,  Miss  Pagliuca  spoke  on  The  Role 
of  the  Librarian  in  the  Comiriunity  in 
which  she  told  hcv/  library  work  is  not 
the  dull  occupation  people  believe  it  to 
be  but  rather  an  opportunity  to  help 
others  considerably  and  at  the  same  time 
to  enrich  one's  ovm  life  and  to  broaden 
one's  cultural  background, 

Phillips  Brooks 

The  children's  Reading  Club  sent 
Valentines  to  about  sixty  of  their  fa- 
vorite authors.  Since  then  the  most 
lovely  replies  have  been  coming  in,  in- 
cluding some  original  illustrations  from 
Carolyn  HayvTood's  Eddie  and  the  Fire 
Engine.  The  authors  all  express  their 
surprise  and  appreciation  at  having 
received  the  Valentines,  and  they  are 
especially  thrilled  that  the  cards  are  al] 
hand  made  by  the  children.  The  children 
look  forward  eagerly  to  reading  each  now 
letter,  and  the  Editorial  Board  of  the 
club's  bulletin,  The  Pathfainders '  News, 
enjoys  picking  the  c^nes  to  be  printed  in 
the  monthly  issues. 

South  Boston 

Lillian  Lagamasino,  recently  trans- 
ferred to  Orient  Heights  vras  entertained 
by  the  staff  at  a  farewell  party  at  the 
Red  Coach  Grille,  She  was  presented  mth 
a  gift  of  records. 


sponsored  Science  Fair  at  MIT  in  May, 
In  addition  to  this  distinction,  Barbara 
also  was  awarded  first  orize  in  a  short 
story  competition  of  the  Notre  Dame 
Magazine <,  Her  story  will  be  published 
in  the  May  issue. 

The  President's  Award  of  the  19^k 
Boy  Scout  Week  display  competition  went 
to  Boy  Scout  Troop  2  of  South  Boston 
Boys'  Club  in  recognition  of  the  magnifi- 
cent "Equipment  Display'"  v^hich  the  Troop, 
under  the  direction  of  Scout  Master 
Robert  Fahey,  arranged  in  the  front  Td.ndow 
area  of  South  Boston.  The  display  in- 
cluded a  tent,  sleeping  bags,  cooking 
tools ,  knives ,  hatchets ,  machetes , 
vreapons,  and  photographs,  vri.th  a  vfall- 
high  American  flag  as  the  background. 


SOAP  BOX 


On  February  6,  Anne  McCarthy  vv'as  the 
guest  of  the  staff  at  a  luncheon  at 
Novak's  to  celebrate  her  recently  an- 
nounced engagement  to  Mr  Charles  Kinne, 
The  staff  surprised  Anne  vfith  a  gift  of 
Revere  Vfere, 

The  staff  is  proud  of  extra  assistant, 
Barbara  Concannon,  Senior  at  St  Augus- 
tine's High  School,  South  Boston, 
Barbara  won  first  prize  in  the  local 
Science  Fair  and  -vdll  compete  at  the 
Diocesan  Science  Fair  at  Boston  College 
on  April  9  and  10,  and  at  the  GLOBE 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must 
be  accompanied  by  the  full  name  of  the 
Association  member  submitting  it,  to- 
gether Yri-th  the  n^me  of  the  Branch  Library, 
Department,  or  Office  in  which  he  or  she 
is  employed 0  The  name  is  withheld  from 
publication,  or  a  pen  name  used,  if  the 
contributor  so  requests.  Anonymous 
contributions  are  not  given  consideration. 
The  author  cf  the  article  is  knoiim  only 
to  the  contributor  and  to  the  Editor- 
in-Chief.  The  contents  of  articles 
appearing  in  the  Spap  Bpx  are  personal 
opinions  expressed  by  individual 
Association  members  and  their  appearance 
does  n^t  necessarily  indicate  that  the 
Publications  Committee  and  the  Associa- 
tion are  in  agreement  with  the  views 
expressed. 


Dear  Editors 

The  announcing  of  the  closing  of  the 
Central  Library  Building  at  6  P,M,  on 
Saturdays  was  a  definite  step  forward. 
Since  only  a  few  departm.ents  remained 
open  until  9  P.M.,  it  was  not  possible 
to  give  completely  integrated  and  effi- 
cient service  after  6  P.M,  and  this  lack 
gave  rise  to  many  complaints  from  patrons. 
The  public  relati-^ns  and  esteem  of  the 
Library  should  improve  as  a  r  esult  of  this 
decision  to  eliminate  "half-^7ay"  service 
on  Saturday  evenings. 

Perhaps  we  may  hope  for  a  complete 


-12- 


elimination  of  this  "half--vray"  service 
by  establishing  a  uniform  closing  time 
for  the  Central  Library  at  9  P.Ju  on 
Monday  through  Friday  especially  since 
the  recent  cheek  on  the  number  of  patrons 
entering  the  few  departments  open  from 
9   P. Mo  to  10  PeM,  indicates  that  the 
lightest  patronage  of  the  entire  day 
occurs  during  this  hour. 

Efficiency  and  Economy 

To  the  editor: 

It  does  not  seem  logical  to  many  of 
us  that  a  chief  of  a  department  which 
does  not  deal  directly  vfith  the  public, 
should  be  working  even  a  few  hours  at 
the  Supervisor's  desk  ir.  the  Division  of 
Reference  and  Research  Services,   especial^ 
when  there  are  chiefs  of  public  depart- 
ments free  for  the  assignment.     The 
Chief  of   the  General  Reference  Department 
knows  the  Division  book-stock,   the  amount 
of  call  for  various  starred  books  for 
i.vhich  special  circulation  privileges  may 
be  requested,  and  has   had  far  more  ex- 
perience in  the  problems   of  reference 
Yfork,  and  years   of  service  with  the 
publico      He  would  be  a  far  more  logical 
and  qualified  supervisory  carjlidatea 
This  situation  looks  as    though  it  vrere 
just  another  example  of  "pushing  a 
favorite"   by  gi\'lng  "experience"   toward 
a  possible  future  promotion  to  the 
vacancy,  ivhich  should — if  the  workers 
in  the  Division  are  to  have  ANY  morale 
left — more  properly  go  to  one  who  has 
worked   tovrard  this   goal  step  by  step 
and  v/ho  is  therefore  more  fit  in  every 
way  to  supervise  the  departments  virhich 
deal  with  reference  vrork  and  mth  the 
public  o 

Reference  v/orker 

Dear  Editor: 

I  just  vri-sh  to  extend  my  congratula- 
tions on  the  recent  appointment  to  the 
position  of  Chief  Librarian  of  the  Divi- 
sion of  Home  Reading  and  Community  serv- 
ices.  Having  kncvm  the  gentleman  in 
question  for  a  good  many  years,  I  am  sure 
that  he  mil  do  a  thorou'^h,  conscientious, 
and  brilliant  job. 

As  one  who  has  a  high  opinion  of  him- 
self, I  had  no  favorite  candidate  for  the 
position  and  can  consequently  view  from 
an  Olympian  height  such  criticism  of  the 
appointment  as  lias  come  my  v/ay.  It  seems 


to  fall  into  two  categories,  either  (l) 
we  should  have  gotten  an  appointee  from 

outside,  or,  (2)  we  should  have  gotten 
an  appointee  who  had  experience  in  the 
division  in  question.   (I  have  heard  no 
one  deny  the  excellent  personal  qualifi- 
cations of  the  successful  candidate.) 

As  to  the  first  point,  my  personal  con- 
viction is  that  on  the  day  this,  a  large 
metropolitan  library,  feels  that  it  must 
go  to,  for  instance,  a  library  one- 
quarter  its  size  for  its  qualified  can- 
didates, we  might  as  well  take  down  our 
shingle  and  devote  ourselves  solely  to 
kindergarten  work. 

The  second  point  is  one  well-taken.  It 
obviously  would  be  of  benefit  to  the 
appointee  to  have  had  experience  in  the 
division,   (Albeit  high  level  appoint- 
ments were  made  in  the  past  mthout  ex- 
perionce  and  these  same  critics  were 
silent).  However,  for  some  time  past 
the  modus  operandi  of  this  library 
mttingly  or  unvfittingly  discouraged 
transfer  on  a  promotional  basis  from  one 
division  to  the  other.  If  the  gates  had 
been  opened  there  might  have  been  in- 
numerable qualified  experienced  candidates 
to  choose  from,  myself  included. 

One  can  perhaps  hope  that  this  transfer 
on  a  high  level  augurs  well  for  future 
exchanges  of  personnel  betvreen  the  divi- 
sions for  the  betterment  of  the  library 
service. 

Peregrine  Pickle 

To  the  Soap  Box: 

The  appointment  of  a  chief  officer  of 
the  Reference  and  Research  Division  to 
be  chief  officer  of  the  Home  Reading 
and  Community  Services  Division  calls  for 
pause  and  contemplation.  The  comments 
vjhich  follow  bear  no  reflection  on 
personalities.  Most  staff  members  are 
able  to  see  above  the  restricted  view 
of  personalities.  It  is  with  policies 
we  are  concerned. 

To  one  who  can  view  this  recent  appoint- 
ment objectively — ^with  no  personal  in- 
volvement— the  first  thing  that  calls  for 
comment  is  the  query — Tnas   there  no  one 
in  the  Division  of  Hom£;  Reading  and 
Commanity  Services  who  was  capable  or 
qualified  to  fill  this  position? 

Vifhat  happened  to  the  "policy"  of  no 
shuttling  between  the  Reference  and 
Research  and  Home  Reading  and  Community 
Services  Divisions?  Once  ripped,  curtains 


-13- 


tend  to  disintegrate — and  that  wis  such 
a  convenient  curtain  behind  vj-hich  to  take 
refuge  vfhen  someone  became  too  ambitious 
and  \vantud  to  ignore  its  existence.  Now 
it  seems  to  be  a  free-for-all «  Advance- 
mont  used  to  be  vertical;  now  it  can  be 
horizontal  as  well  as  vertical.  Maybe 
that's  a  good  idea — maybe  it  isn't,  l/fhat 
happens  to  years  of  accumulated  "know 
hov/"?  Was  it  mse,  in  the  recent  appoint- 
ment, to  disregard  the  incumbent's  rnany 
years  of  outstanding  service  as  a  recog- 
nized authority  in  the  reference  field 
and  place  him  in  a  position  virhich  demands 
an  equally  specialized  background  in 
community  service  and  in  which  he  has  had 
no  experience?  Cannot  this  same  thing 
be  repeated  over  and  over  again  now  that 
the  "policy"  of  inter-division  transfers 
has  been  instituted.  It's  an  interesting 
speculation  and  may  completely  revolu- 
tionize the  Library's  appointment  poli- 
cies. For  instance,  is  it  novir  possible 
for  members  of  the  Home  Reading  and 
Community  Services  staff  to  apply  for  the 
supervisory  position  in  the  Division  of 
Reference  and  Research  Services  made 
available  by  the  new  appointment  of  Chief 
Librarian. 

Then  there  is  the  speculation  as  to 
why  someone  from  the  outside  was  not 
brought  in,  assuming,  of  C'-urse,  that 
the  caliber  of  the  Home  Reading  and 
Community  Services  personnel  was  ap- 
parently ton  low  in  quality.  It  is 
gratifying,  of  course,  to  have  the 
abilities  of  our  own  staff  members 
recognized;  on  the  other  hand  a  breath 
of  outside  air  might  be  refreshing  and 
infuse  in  us  some  now  ideas  and  give  us 
a  psychological  lift.  Even  families 
deteriorate  when  they  become  ingrown^ 

To  a  novice,  it's  all  very  confusing 
and  one  can't  help  but  vronder  "Where  do 
vj-e  go  from  here?" 

Speculator 

Dear  Editor: 

I  heartily  approve  it  and  believe 
that  the  Administration  should  be  con- 
gratulated for  the  recent  appointment. 
I  would  also  like,  of  course,  to  extend 
my  deepest  C'^ndolenccs  to  the  Division 
of  Reference  and  Research  Services.  I 
don't  know  vifhother  to  extend  congratula- 
tions or  condolences  to  the  new  appointee, 
It  takes  a  brave  man. 

Anon. 


Dear  Editor : 

In  the  recent  appointment  of  Chief 
Librarian,  Division  of  Home  Reading  and 
Community  Services,  of  an  individual 
from  another  division,  we  are  aware  that 
the  Trustees  do  not  feel  bound  at  top 
level  by  the  restrictions  vj-hich  are 
applied  to  appointments  at  lower  levels. 
Such  an  appointment  does  point  up, 
however,  that  ivithcut  reference  to 
points  or  examinations  transfers  in 
grade  from  one  department  or  one  divi- 
sion to  another  are  possible  at  all 
sub-professional  levels,  at  the  1st  three 
professional  levels,  and  then  again 
officers  of  the  Library  may  be  promoted 
from  one  division  to  another.  But  pro- 
motions to  Uth  step,  5th  step,  or  Chief/ 
Branch  Librarian  levels,  or  transfers  to 
Utlii  or  ?th  step  positions,  require  strict 
adherence  to  points ,  examination  require- 
ments, experience,  etc. 

T?hy  should  there  be  these  strict 
requirements  for  only  these  three  levels 
and  much  easier  rules  for  those  below  and 
above  ? 


GOOD  LISTENING  AHEAD  I 

On  Saturday,  April  3,  on  the  Interesting 
People  interviews  with  Priscilla  Fortes- 
cue,  Station  IVEEI,  the  "interesting 
person"  will  be  Clarence  R.  Graham, 
Librarian,  Louisville  Public  Library, 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  The  tape  recording 
Y7as  made  on  February  18,  19S>h}   when  Mr 
Graham  was  a  speaker  at  the  mid-winter 
meeting  of  the  Massachusetts  Library 
Association. 

GLOBE  I'lAN'S  DAILY  STORY 

Shortly  after  attaining  the  rank  of 
emeritus,  a  Harvard  professor  en- 
countered a  former  student  in  the  yard, 
•■Congratulations,  sir,  on  becoming 
emeritus,"  the  student  said.  "They 
should  have  done  it  long  agoo" 


A,  L.  A.  STILL  NEEDS  YOU  IN  19^h 

Aprlication  blanks  and  membership 
information  are  furnished  happily 

by 

Sarah  M.  Usher 

Records,  Files,  Statistics 


-lil- 


FEDERAL  INCOJiJ  EXEI^iPTION  BILL 

Note:     At  the  March  l5  meeting  of  the 
Executive  Board,   it  vras  voted  to 
bring  the  follomng  information  and 
suggested  course  of  action  to  the 
attention  of  tlie  membership  through 
the  pages   of  The  Question  Mark 

The  Ilason  Bill,   HR  ?180,   seeks   to 
equalize  tax  treatment  for  retired 
oeoDle-      It  provides   that  -vlOO  a  month 
of  retirement  income  shall  be  nontaxable. 
This  ^1,200  exemption  on  retirement  in- 
come is  in  addition  to   the  personal 
exemption  received  by  all  individuals , 
errployed  or  retired.     This  spl,200  exemp- 
tion applies  to  retired  persons   over  age 
6^  and  to  persons  under  65  who  have 
actually  retired  under  an  established 
public   or  private  retirement  plan. 

The  Mason  Bill  now  becomes  part  of 
the  general  tax  revision  legislation 
scheduled  to  go  to   the  House  floor  in 
]  larch, 

Work  on  this  legislation  has  only 
begun  since  opoosition  in  the  Senate  v.dll 
be  greater.     Also  remember,  the  bill  must 
still  pass  the  House. 

Yifhat  action  is   novf  needed? 

1.  Write  your  Representative  urging 
him  to  vote  to  keep  intact  the   Mason 
Amendment  to  the  general  tax  revision 
bill. 

2.  Start  vjriting  to  your  Senators   now 
urging  their  support  of  the  wlason  pro- 
posal when  it  reaches   the  Senate.     Tell 
them  vifhy  the  exemption  is  needed.     Social 
seciirity  benefits  are  entirely  exempt 
from  federal  income  taxj  beneficiaries 
under  the  Railroad  Retirement  Act  have 
their  retirement  benefits  entirely  free 
from  federal  income  taxes,     l^/hy  are  not 
all  retired  people  handled  similarly  and 
given  equal  tax  treatment?     Vlhy  should 
retired  librarians,   and  other  municipal, 
state,  and  federal  employees   remain 

the  victims  of  discriminatory  legislation 
and  rulings? 

3.  ¥rite  the  President  of  your  in- 
terest in  the  Ifeison  proposal.     This 
legislation  novr  lacks  Adirdnistration 
support  and  letters  from  all  parts   of  the 
country  would  indicate  vridespread  in- 
terest in  the  measiire. 


CONGRATULATIONS 

T\To  former  members  of  the  Library 
staff  have  been  honored  this   month  by 
Pope  Pius  XII: 

Named  Papal  Chamberlains  as   a  reward 
for  merit,  ?dbh  tho  title  Very  Rcverand 
Monsignor, 'vvoire  Char.'lcs  Ro  Flanagan,  head- 
nE.3ter  of  iSt  Sebastian^'s  Gounbry  Day 
School^   Newton,  and  Eraiacis  ?^.  McSlroy, 
exeeutive  director,  Archdioscesan  Union 
of  Holy  Name  Societies » 


CENTENNIAL 
REVUE 


Calling  all  who  play  musical  instruments 


W       NEED       AN       ORCHESTRA 


Please  contact  immediately; 

]\(Iartin  F.  Y/aters 
History 


! 


~^5- 
BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  AS.SOCIATION 

Officers  nnd  C'^nraitt.cs — 19^h 


President 
Vice  President 
Corresponding  Secretary 
Recording  Secretary 
Treasurer 


B.  Joseph  O'Meil 
Thomas  J,   Manning 
Jtrs  Elizabeth  F.  Ho-ward 
Duilia  Capobianco 
I&ry  A.  Hackett 


Executive  Board 


Harry  Andrews 

Mrs  rtargaret  D,  Butler 


Mrs  Elinor  D,- 
Louis  Rains 


Conley 


Standing  Committees 


Constitution  Committee 
Leonard  J.   Iviacmillanj   Chairman 
Arthur  L,;   Lindsay 
Ellen  C,  Peterson 

Entertainment  Committee 

May  C  McDonald,   Chairman 

Mildred  Adelson 

Anne  B.  Doherty 

Emilia  M.   Lange 

Mrs  Evelyn  B«  I'krden 

Mrs  Mary  M.  O'Neill 

Marion  Siraco 

Irene  J.  T/Yadsworth 

Bertha  V,   Hartzell  Memorial  Lecture  Com^'aittee 
Fits   Lucia  S.   Faulkner  ^   Chairman 
Edward  Jo   Cullinane 
Catherine  T.  Duffy 

Ii;2rs  Grace  B.   Loughlin 
Prise  ilia  3.  IViacFadden 
Mildred  R,  Somes 
Mrs  f/Iary  C,  Yfest 

House  Committee  for  Men 

George  E,   Early,  Chairman 
-!iWalter  Coleman 
-"-Michael  Dello  Russo 

Arthur  Lo  'Lindsay 

Charles  R.  Meehan 


Book  Purchasing 
Exhibits  Office 
Hyde  Park 


Charlestown 
Jamaica  Plain 
Charlestown 
Print 

Bookmobile   I 
Phillips   Brooks 
Charlestown 
School  Issue 


Memorial 
Egleston  Square 

Book  Selection,  Division  of  Home 
Reading  and  Comm.unity  Services 
Open  Shelf 
Fine  Arts 
Book  Preparation 
Open  Shelf,  Children's  Section 


General  Reference 
Buildi  ngs 
Binding 

Exhibits  Office 
Teachers 


House  Committee  for  '?offlen 
M.    Jane  Ifenthorne,  Chairman 
Anna  M.   Buckman 
!H;-Delia  A,   Leonard 
Ruth  Michelson 

-;;-Mary  T.  Sands 


Open  Shelf 

Central  Charging  Records 

Buildings 

Book  Selection,  Division  of 

Reference  and  Research. Services 
Buildings 


Representative  of  the  Boston  Public  Library  Building  Service  Employees 

International  Union,  Local  #U09  (AFL) 
Representative  of  other  groups  not  represented  in  the  Association  or  the  Union 


-]6- 


Membership  and  Hospitality  Committee 

Elvira  G.  Lavorgna,  i-^hairman 

Phyllis  E.  Adams 

Francis  R,  Currie 

Shirley  A,  Gildea 

Marion  D.  MacWilliam  (Mrs) 

Tyyne  M.  Saari 

Program  Committee 

Mrs  Beryl  Yo  Robinson,   Chairman 

Gracemarie  V,  Alfe 

Madalene  D,   Holt 

Edna  G.   Peck 

Pauline  A.  Walker 


Fine  Arts 

Book  Stack  Service 

Memorial 

Information 

Fine  Arts 

Neponset 


Egleston  Square 
East  Boston 
Neponset 

Book  Selection,  Division  of  Home 
Reading  and  Community  Services 
West  Roxbury 


* 


Publications  Committee 
Charles  J.  Gillis,  Chairman 


Gerald  L.  Ball 
John  J.  McCafferty 
Sheila  W.  Pierce 
Sarah  Mc  Usher 

Special  Services  Committee 
Robert*  C.  Woodward,  Chairman 
Bettina  M.  Coletti 
George  Adelman 

Staff  Library  Committee 

Marion  R^  Herzig,  Chairman 

Emilia  M,  Lange 

Etta  Lasker 

Mrs  Rose  C,  Leavitt 

Mrs  Anna  T.  McGuinness 

Mrs  Lydia  A,  Palladino 


Cataloging  and  Classification, 
Division  of  Home  Reading  and 
Community  Services 

Book  Purchasing 

General  Reference 

Central  Charging  Records 

Office  of  Records,  Files,  Statistics 


History 
Open  Shelf 
General  Reference 


Roslindale 
Print 

Uphams  Corner 
West  Roxbury 
Mt  Pleasant 
Open  Shelf 


Special  Committees 


Book  Selection  Policy 
Charles  L,  Hi.'^gins,  Chairman 
Ruth  M.  Hayes 
Bradford  M,  Hill 
Evelyn  Levy 
Harriet  Swift 


General  Reference 
Adams  Street 
Periodical  and  Newspaper 
Egleston  Square 
Rare  Book 


CARE 

Walter  J.    Bluhm,   Chairman 

Minna  Steinberg 


Iferie  T.   Has tie 


Periodical  and  Nevirspaper 
Cataloging  and  Classification, 

Division  of  Reference  and 

Research  Services 
West  End 


-17- 


Centennial  Gift  Committje  (Staff) 
Mrs  Ada  A,  Andelman,  Chairman 

Mrs  Geraldine  M.  Altman 
Charles  Jo  Gillis 


Jeanne  H.  Hayes 

Bradford  M,  Hill 

Priscilla  S,  IkcFadden 

Thomas  J.  Manning 

Pauline  A.  Walker 

Pauline  Winnick 

Representing  Quarter  Century  Club 

litrs  Grace  M,  Caution 

Daniel  IT.  Sheeran 

Representing  Employees  Benefit  Association 

(now  disbanded; 
Frank  P.  Bruno 
J.  Joseph  Danker 
Catherine  A.  Farrell 
George  ''-V,  Gallagher 
Patrick  J.  Re illy 
Representing  Arnavets 
John  J.  Tuley 
Sidney  Weinberg 

Centennial  Play  Committee 
Iitrs  Muriel  C,  Javelin 

Marjorie  A,  Brown 


Edward  X,  Casey 


Mrs  Margaret  ''•'!*   Haverty 
Ruth  M.  Hayes 
Felicia  J.  Langdon 
Pearl  Smart 
Loraine  A,  Sullivan 
Martin  F.  Waters 
Pauline  Winnick 


Office  of  Division  of  Home 

Reading  and  Community  Services 

Jamaica  Plain 

Cataloging  and  Classification, 
Division  of  Home  Reading  and 
Community  Services 

Book  Purchasing 

Periodical  and  Nevirspaper 

Fine  Arts 

Exhibits  Office 

West  Roxbury 

Open  Shelf 

Accounting 
Bindi  ng 


Science  and  Technology — Patent  Room 

Buildings 

Accounting 

Binding 

buildings 

Fire  Control  Center 

Science  and  Technology — Patent  Room 


Office  of  Division  of  Home 

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 


Concession  Cominittee 
Paul  F,  I'hilloney,  Chairman 
-;H;-Bernard  F.  Dougherty 
Girard  D.  Hottleman 
Daniel  J.  Koury 
-;;-Frank  P.  Moran 


Science  and  Technology 

Binding 

Book  Purchasing 

Music 

Shipping  and  Receiving  Section 


I 


Pension  Committee 
Louis  Polls hook.  Chairman 
llax  Anapolle 
Catherine  M.  MacDonald 


Science  and  Technology — Patent  Room 
Periodical  and  Newspaper 
Personnel  Office 


*  Representative  of  the  Boston  Public  Library  Building  Services  Employees 
International  Union,  Local  #i|09,  (AFL) 
-;Hf-  Representative  of  other  groups  not  represented  in  the  Association  or  the  Union, 


-18- 


Pcrsonnel 

Christiana  P.   Jordan,   Chairman 

Charles  J,   Gillis 


Paul  V.  Moynihan 
Louis  Polls hook 
I'krgaret  M.  Sarsfield 
Mrs   Bridie  O'Connell  Stota 
Loraine  A,  Sullivan 
Pasquale  A.  Vacca 
Kathleen  M,  Y/oodworth 


Alls  ton  ■ 

Cataloging  and  Classification,  i 

Division  of  Home  Reading  and ,  1 

Comniunity  Services  { 

General  Reference  \ 

Science  and  Technology — ^Patent  Room  ■ 
Centra"'.  Charging  Records  i 

Uphans  Corr.er  j 

Science  and  Technology  I 

Dorchester  i 

Fine  Arts  \ 


Director  of  Publicity 
John  J.  McCafferty 


General  Reference 


TO 


uestion 


mAm 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


APRIL  1954 


I 


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


Volume  IX)   Number  k 


April  1951; 


Publications  Corainittee:  Gerald  L«  Ball^  John  J,  McCafferty,  Sheila  V/.  Pierce, 

Sarah  M,  Usher,  Charles  Jo  Gillis,  Chairman 


Publication  date; 
The  fifteenth  of  each  month 


Deadline  for  submitting  material! 
The  tenth  of  each  month 


EDITOR'S  CORNER 

The  period  of  commemoration  of  the 
100th  anniversary  of  the  Boston  Public    ' 
Library  will  end  on  Sunday,  i'ky  2,  In  tTroj 
weeks '  time  a  re-dedication  ceremony  will 
take  place  in  the  Library,  a  solemn  oc- 
casion to  end  the  hustle  and  bustle,  the 
excitement  and  toil  of  the  past  year. 

This  is  a  fitting  time  to  viev?  the 
accomplishments  of  the  Centennial  Program. 
The  five  objectives  of  the  Centennial  Com- 
mission as  announced  in  the  advance  state- 
ment were  to  "fittingly  observe  the  100th 
anniversary",  "to  create  better  under- 
standing of  the  functions  of  the  library", 
"to  encourage  greater  use  of  the  library" ^ 
"to  bring  about  a  larger  measure  of  pri- 
vate and  public  support" ,  and  " to  develop 
increased  cooperation  among  public  lib- 
raries and  other  cultural  and  educational 
institutions,"  To  our  certain  knowledge, 
four  of  these  objectives  have  been  at- 
tained— the  program  for  "private  and  pub- 
lic support"  (i.  e,  gifts  and  endowments) 
is  now  in  full  sv^ring  and  cannot  be 
evaluated  yet. 

The  Trustees  of  the  Library,  the 
Director,  and  the  public-spirited  members 
of  the  Centennial  Commission  have  all 
given  unstintingly  of  their  time  and 
effort  to  the  success  of  the  program. 
The  members  of  the  Library  staff,  by  theii 
participation  and  gifts,  have  aided  the 
Commission  to  reach  its  objectives. 

The  professional  library  associations— 
the  Massachusetts  Library  Association, 
the  Special  Libraries  Association,  the 
Massachusetts  Library  Trustees  Associa- 
tion, the  Music  Library  Association — all 
have  cooperated  in  the  program. 

Business  and  industrial  organizations, 
represented  by  the  Advertising  Club  of 
Boston,  the  motion  picture  industry,  and 
others,  have  contributed  greatly  to  the 
better  understanding  of  the  importance 
of  the  Library  in  the  community. 

Cultural  and  educational  organizations^ 


such  as  the  Tfomen's  City  Club,  the  Eire 
Society,  the  I&ssachusetts  Federation 
of  Womens '  Clubs,  and  the  Massachusetts 
Society  of  Colonial  Dames, have  aided  in 
the  improvement  of  public  attitudes 
toward  the  Library. 

The  iifidespread  publicity  gained 
through  this  program  is  a  valuable  asset. 
The  realization  has  been  brought  home  to 
thousands  of  people  that  here  is  a  great 
institution  geared  to  modern  public 
service — service  to  the  private  citizen, 
to  the  school,  to  industry,  and  to  the 
professions. 

Vfe  feel  sure  that  the  investment  of 
time  and  energy  contributed  by  the  Com- 
mission will  continue  to  pay  dividends 
for  a  great  many  years. 

Charles  J.  Gillis 

NEW  SOAP  BOX  POLICY 

At  a  recent  meeting,  the  Publications 
Committee,  in  deliberating  on  the  policies 
of  The  Question  Mark,  considered  those 
affecting  the  "Soap  Box"  columns,  We  do 
not  relish  taking  action  which  might  be 
interpreted  as  an  attempt  to  stifle 
criticism.   However,  we  feel  that, the 
present  policy,  which  allows  unlimited 
space  for  the  expression  of  opinions, 
could,  with  reason  and  justice,  be  sub- 
ject to  nominal  limitation.  Therefore, 
Y\re  asked  the  Executive  Board  to  consider 
our  recommendation.  The  limitation  now 
appearing  in  the  box  at  the  head  of  the 
"Soap  Box"  was  approved  on  ferch  1^  by 
the  Executive  3oard.  The  limitation 
will  take  affect  in  our  May  issue. 

THE  PUBLICATIONS  COMMITTEE 


Did  you  remember  to  join  A.L.A.? 


-2- 


CALEMDAR  OF  EVENTS 

April  20-23.  CIA,  30th  annual  conference,; 
Belle vue-Stratford  Hotel,  j 
Philadelphia. 


April  2[i. 


April  26. 


April  28. 


lHay   2. 


Civil  Defense  test  in  Boston 
9:05-9:15  a.m. 

SLA,  Boston  Chapter,  monthly 
meeting,  Brandeis  University 
Yilalthara,  7:l45  p.m.   (Dinner 
at  the  Castle  at  6:kS   p.m.) 

Civil  Defense  district 
meetings, 2:30-3:30  p.m., 
for  volunteers  in  Social 
Services  Division,  Informa- 
tion  and  Counseling  Section. 

BPL  Centennial — ^Re-dedica- 
tion exercises   in  Bates   Hall. 

PERSOML  NOTES 


Resignations 

Blair  M.   Benner,  Audio-Visual,   to  devote 

his   time  to  a  career  as  a  concert 

singer, 

Herbert  F.  Clement,   part-time  Assistant, 
Office   of  the  Edv.    of  HR  and  CS  has 
left  the  service  to   join  the  Ringling 
Brothers  and  Barnum  &  Bailey  Circus. 

llrs  Anne  L.  Dolan,  Office  of   the  Deputy 
Supervisor,   in  Charge  of  YiTork  with 
Adults,    to  remain  at  hom£ 

?ilrs  Barbara  C,  Elam,  South  End,   to  remain 
at  home 

J,Irs  ilhry  A.   LaFollette,   South  End,   to 
remain  at  home 

Retirements 

John  L,  McNally,  Buildings,  after  28  years 

of  service, 
John  A,  Williams,  after  21  years  of 

custodial  service  at  East  Boston. 

Transfers 

Evelyn  B.   Herboldsheimer,  from  Dorchester 

to  Brighton. 
Ellen  E.  Richvragen,   from'  Roslindale  to 

North  End 
Mrs  Norma  S.  Sherman,  from  Brighton  to 

Egleston  Square. 
Hope  B.  Brovm,  from  Jamaica  Plain  to 

South  Boston. 
Eleanor  O'Leary,  from  Memorial  to  South 

Boston, 


Veronica  T.   Yotts,   from  Mount  Pleasant 
to  the  Office  of  the  Deputy  Super- 
visor,  in  Charge  of  TiTork  Tri.th  Adults, 

BEST  WISHES  FOR  A  SPEEDY  Ri'.GQVERY 
to         ■  ' 

A.  Gertrude  Barr-y,  Personnel  Office 

Mary  E.  Ames,   Branch  Librarian,   Emeritus, 
who  is  recovering  from  a  broken  hip  at 
Storrow  House,  Baker  Bridge  Road,  Lincoln, 

Edward  Maynard,   Building's,   recovering 
from  an  operation  at  VA  Hospital,  Tfest 
Roxbury, 

BON  VOYAGE 
to 

Mr  and  Mpg  Ronald  Keswick  and  young 
Ronnie  vfho  left  on  April  12  for  a  trip 
to  Mexico.  From  headquarters  in  Mexico 
City,  they  vrill  include  Guadalupe,  Xochi- 
milco ,  Acapulco,  Taxco,  and  Toluca  in 
their  visit — to  say  nothing  of  witnessing 
a  bull  fight: 

CONGRATULATIONS 
'      to 

T\TO  of  the  B,P,L,  part-time  staff,  who 
have  recently  given  song  recitals  in  Re- 
.cital  Hall,  New  England  Conservatory:  On 
March  23,  Gene  Montefiore,  Patent  Room; 
on  March  26,  Angela  Centola,  Bookmobile  II. 

Fanny  Goldstein,  West  End,  who  has  been 
named,  for  this  area.  Chairman  of  the 
Libraries  Committee  for  the  celebration 
of  the  Tercentenary  of  the  settlement  of 
Jews  in  America. 

BABIES 

Mr  and  Mrs   William  M.   Svirsky  happjly 
announce  the  arrival  of  their  son,  William 
Jfartin,   on  March  12.     Jfrs  Svirsky,   the 
former  Elizabeth  McLoughlin,   is  on  leave 
of  absence  from  Parker  Hill, 

Itr  and  Mrs  Ernest  Naudzuinas  have 
announced  the  arrival  of  Ernest,   Jr,,   on 
March  17.     Mrs  Naudzuinas   is   the  former 
Florence  Karcauskas  of  the  Book  Stack 
Service, 


IviT  and  Mrs   James  P.    J.   Gannon,   Binding, 
announced  the   arrival  of  a  daughter,   Mary 
Virginia,  on  Ivhrch  19. 


-3- 


Mr  and  Mrs  Stephen  L,  Baxter,  Binding, 
have  announced  the  arrival  of  a  daughter, 

Jean  Ilarie,  on  March  26, 

Friends  of  Joseph  G.  Sakey,  formerly 
of  Cataloging  and  Classification,  Div.  of 
R.  and  R.S,,  will  be  glad  to  hear  about 
the  arrival  of  Joanne  Patricia  (7  lbs,, 
6  oz. )  on  ffeirch  27, 

Dr  and  Mrs  Walter  C.  Cotter  have  an- 
nounced the  birth  of  a  daughter,  Jean, 
on  April  1.  Mrs  Cotter  is  on  leave  of 
absence  from  Hospital  Library  Service. 

VISITORS 

German  Garcia,  Director-Biblipthecario 
de  la  Asociacion,  Bernardion  Rivadavia, 
Argentina, 

Albert  Krebs,  Biblioth^que  Nitionale, 
Paris, 

THE  B.P.L.  ON  TV 

On  Vfednesday  afternoon,  March  2U, 
Francis  X.  Moloney  vras   the   guest  of 
Donald  Born  on  TOZ-TV's  New  England 
Almanac  program.     Mr  Moloney,  pinch- 
hitting  for  Mr  Lord  vrho  was   ill,   discussec 
the  Library's  Centennial  Celebration, 
The  historical  aspect  of  the  Centennial 
vras  stressed  since  the  program  commemo- 
rated the  opening  of  the  Mason  Street 
Reading  Room  on  March  20,   l85Ii. 

THE  B.P.L.   IN  THE  NEV/S 

The  Boston  AMERICAN  for  March  l8 
carried  a  full-page  picture  story  by 
E,  A.   Howard  on  the  Kirstein  Business 
Branch  entitled  Information  for  the 
Looking . " 

George  Ryan,  a  feature  Yrt'iter  for 
the  PILOT  had  a  half -page  story  v^ith 
photographs  published  in  the  March  27 
issue.     Entitled  Boston  Public  Library 
Century  of  Service  Means  Multiple  Aid 
to  Catholic  Schools ,   the  article  des- 
cribed the  numerous  services   of  the 
Library  to  Catholic  schools,   groups,   and 
institutions   in  Boston, 

A  past  and  present  picture   story  of 
the  Mason  Street  building  and  the  present 
Central  building  appeared  in  the  JfiNITOR 
for  March  27,  by  Lyman  Fisher, 

The  April  issue  of   the  BOSTON  WCA  NKBi 
discusses  the  Library's  Centennial  and 
ser-vices  in  the  Resident  Cat  column. 


MR   HEINTZELMN  HONORED 

A  committee  composed  of  the  Curator 
of  the  National  Gallery  of  Art  in 
Washington,   the  Director  of  the  Corcoran 
Gallery  of  Art,  and  the  Chief  of  the 
Division  of  Prints  of  the  Library  of 
Congress  have  named  Arthur  Vf,  Heintaelman, 
Keeper  of  Prints ,   to  membership  on  the 
Pennell  Fund  Committee.     The   committee 
is  composed  of  two  artists  and  the  Chief 
of  the  Division  of  Prints  of  the  Library 
of  Congress,  and  is  charged  with  the 
selection  of  prints  purchased  for  the 
J,  St.  E.  R,  Pennell  Collection  for  the 
National  Collection  in  the  Library  of 
Congress, 

Mr  Heintzelman  at  present   is   organizing 
an  exchange  exhibition  between  Italy  and 
the  United  States   vjhich  will  be  inaugurated 
in  Rome  and  Boston  in  October, 

A  retrospective  exhibition  of  Ifr 

Heintzelman' s  prints   is  being  shown  in 

the  National  Museum  of  Jerusalem,   IsraeX' 

during  the  Spring  months ,  .  -,  .      ^ 

Emilia  Lange 

'     PRESIDENT'S  NOTES 

The  Retirement  Income  Exemption  Amend- 
ment to  the   General  Tax  Revision  Bill, 
H.R,   8300,   known  as  the  ffeson  Bill^ was 
changed  by  the   House  Ways  and  l\feans 
Committee   in  the  following  respects : 

1,  Only  persons  65  years  and  older 
can  secure  the  exemption, 

2,  A  retired  person  must  have  earned 
at  least  $600  per  year  for  ten  con- 
secutive years, 

3,  No  individual  can  receive  benefit 
greater  than  the  bottom  tax  rate 
which  is  20^,  multiplied  by  the  ex- 
clusion. This  means  that  no  matter 
how  large  the  retirement  income,  no 
person  can  derive  a  maximum  benefit 
of  more  than  $1200  x  20^  or  $2l40. 

The  bill,  with  these  provisions,  passed 
the  House  as  Sec,   38  of  H,R,   83OO,     The 
bill  noYf  goes  to  the  Senate  Finance  Com-' 
raittee  for  consideration. 

Those  interested  in  having  the  6$  year 
age  limit  deleted,  and  in  having  the 
amount  of  retirem£nt  income  exempted  from 
taxation  restored  to  $1500  may  write  to 
Senator  Eugene  D.   Millikan,  Chairman  of 
the  Senate  Finance  Committee,  Senator 
John  F.   Kennedy  and  Senator  Leverett 
Saltonstall  of  Massachusetts,  at  the 
Senate  Office  Building,  Washington,  D,C,, 
urging  their  support  of  this  legislation 


-h- 


to  benefit  retired  individuals  and  ex- 
plaining what  it  would  mean  to  retired 
librarians. 

The  medium  for  the  Centennial  Pageant 
has  recently  been  changed.  The  original 
play,  written  by  Christine  Hayes,  Chief 
of  Book  Selection  (RRS),  Emeritus, 
Marjorie  Brown,  Cataloging  and  Classifi- 
cation (RRS),  and  Bessie  Doherty,  Branch 
Issue,  presented  many  technical  problems 
in  producing  so  that  it  was  felt  that  a 
new  medium  might  obviate  many  of  these 
difficulties. 

It  was  decided  to  make  the  play  into 
a  musical  revue  called  "Free  to  All" , 
based  on  the  ori.:?:inal  play,  Martin 
Waters,  History,  Eamon  McDonough,  Genera 
Reference,  and  Sheila  Pierce,  Central 
Charging,  have  done  a  tremendous  amount 
of  work  ada-pting  the  play  into  a  musical 
revue  and  in  T,vriting  original  music 
(Mr  Vfeters)  and  lyrics  (Miss  Pierce  and 
Mr  McDonough)- 

The  members  of  the  Executive  Board 
vrere  given  a  little  previevf  of  vihat  has 
been  done  thus  far  with  the  revue  and 
vrere  most  favorably  impressed.  It  was 
felt  that  a  work  with  so  much  promise 
of  fine  entertainment  should  be  given  ■ 
sufficient  time  to  be  properljr^  produced 
so  that  it  is  now  planned  to* present  it 
in  the  Fall  in  a  hall  or  theatre  outside 
the  Library  vdth  a  larger  seating  ca-pa- 
city  and  more  adequate  staging  faci- 
lities. 

Since  the  Centennial  fund-raising 
activities  will  continue  after  the  offi- 
cial ending  of  the  celebration,  the 
revue  will  still  contribute  much  to  the 
Centennial  in  addition  to  providing  fun 
and  entertainment  for  all  concerned. 

B.  Joseph  O'Neil 

SOMEYirHERE  IN  THE  LIBRARY  .  .  . 

10.  Somewhere  in  the  Library  there  is  a 
memorial  to  a  man  who,  though  he  was 
not  an  employee  of  the  Library, 
nevertheless  greatly  assisted  the 
Library  over  a  number  of  years  in  the 
selection  of  books  in  the  fields  of 
modern  literature.  Frank  H,  Chase  has 
written  of  him:  "He  left  a  permanent 
impress  on  the  library  by  helping  it 
to  keep  up  to  standard  in  the  entire 
field  nf  Belles-lettres."  An  author, 
scholar,  and  educator,  he  lived  from 
18U5  to  1928.  In  19^0  Virginia  Harlow 


wrote  S.   biography  of  this  man,  enumerating 
all  his  many  services  to  this  Library, 
liVho  wa^  this  man?  ViJhere  is  the  memorial 
to  him  located?  The  memorial  vjas  made  in 
Birmingham,  England,  and  is  a  work  of 
art  in  itself. 

11,  Somewhere  in  the  Library  there  is  a 
memorial  to  a  man  of  vj'hom  it  can  be  said 
that  he  placed  an  embodiment  of  the 
Renaissance  spirit  in  Copley  Square.  TiTe 
read  on  his  memorial  tablet  the  following 
words;  FAITHFUL  SERVANT  OF  THE  ARTS/ 
INCOMPARABLE  FRIEND  TO  YOUTH/  HONOURED 
MASTER  OF  HIS  PROFESSION/IN  THIS  BUILDING 
ENDURINGLY  IS  REVEALED/THE  SPLENDID 
AJ/IPLITUDE  OF  HIS  GENIUS /AN  INSPIRATION 

.  TO  ALL  MEN.  The  phrase  "incomparable 
friend  to  youth"  may  be  interpreted  in 
the  light  of  his  establishing  traveling 
scholarships  at  Columbia  and  Harvard, 
and  his  efforts  to  establish  an  American 
Academy  at  Rome,  virhere  talented  youth 
might  have,  under  competent  direction, 
association  with  the  masterpieces  of  all 
ages.  Yi/ho  was  this  m.an?  ''iifhere  is  the 
memorial  to  him  located? 

12,  The.  signs 'of  the  zodiac  are  inlaid 
in  the  floor 'of  the  Entrance  Hall  of  the 
Library.  In  what  other  place  within  the 
Library  can  you  see  an  artistic  represen- 
tation of  the  signs  of  the  zodiac? 

13,  The  Parthenon,  ancient  temple  of  the 
goddess  Athena,  can  be  seen  in  one  of  the 
Library's  famous  works  of  art.  This 
artistic  representation  of  the  famous 
temple  is  described  in  one  of  the  Library's 
guide  books  in  the  following  vrords,  "In 
the  background  is  the  gleaming  white 
Parthenon,  lifted  high  upon  the  Acropolis. 
The  building  stands  upon  the  height  soli- 
tary and  alone,  so  that  it  commands  the 
painting  in  single  unperplexed  beauty." 

To  what  painting  in  the  Library  does  this 
description  apply? 

Answers  to  March  questions 

5.  The  Dec]a  ration  of  Independence, 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  Articles  of  Confederation, 
Petition  to  the  King,  177U.  They  are 
located  in  the  Treasure  Room. 

6-8,     All  located  in  the  Treasure  Room. 

9.  230  Dartmouth  Street. 

Paul  V.  Moynihan 


-5- 


WEDDINGS 

On  March  27,  Susan  E. 
Visual,  became  the  bride 
Trunfio.  The  ceremony  t 
Nantucket  where  Mi'  Trunf 
of  music  in  the  public  s 
bride  wore  a  beige  suit, 
hat  and  dark  brovm  acces 
stephanotis  on  a  Frayer 
attendant  was  her  sister 


Shelvin,  Audio- 
of  Vincent  Paul 
ook  place  in 
io  is  supervisor 
chools .  The 
Tivith  blush  pink 
sories,  and  carriec 
Book.  Her  only 


Helen  Beeman,  Personnel  Office,  be- 
came the  bride  of  Harry  Karpeles,  on 
Sunday,  April  11»  The  ceremony  was  per- 
formed at  Southern  House  in  Brookline. 
Mr  Karpeles,  formerly  of  New  York,  is  now 
Assistant  Director  of  Hecht  House.  After 
their  honeymoon  trip,  llr  and  Jirs  Karpeles 
will  make  their  home  in  Broakline. 

AMERICAN  LEGION  GIFT 

On  April  1  the  Brighton-Alls ton 
American  Legion  Post  No.  17  presented 
the  first  three  of  a  series  of  books  to 
the  Boston  Public  Library,  These  books 
were  gjiven  in  memory  of  boys  from  the 
Brighton-Allston  district  who  lost  their 
lives  in  the  Korean  coixflict.  The 
presentation  is  a  part  of  the  American 
Legion's  program  against  Communism  which 
recommends  that  the  various  posts  give 
books  to  their  public  libraries  to  aid 
in  this  fight. 

Seeds  of  Treason  by  Victor  La sky  and 
Ralph  De  Toledano  was  presented  to 
Brighton  in  memory  of  Corporal  James  0, 
Dance,  Jr.;  Conquest  by  Terror  by  Leland 
Stowe  to  Faneuil  in  memory  of  Private 
First  Glass  ViTilliara  B,  Smith,  Jr.;  and 
Red  Ifasquerade  by  Angela  Calomiris  to 
Allston  in  memory  of  Private  Phillip  C, 
Hughes, 

Special  bookplates ,  prepared  by  the 
American  Legion,  are  affixed  to  each  book 
describing  the  nature  of  the  gift.  The 
Post  plans  eventually  to  donate  a  book 
in  memory  of  each  hero  from  the  Brighton- 
Allston  district. 

IN  lElVDRIAIil 

William  P,  Hickey 

William  P,  Hickey.  retired  member  of 
the  Buildings  Department,  passed  away  on 


March  31.  "Hickey",  as  he  was  kno"vm  to 
most  of  the  staff,  had  been  ill  for  the 

past  few  years.  Bill  Hickey  did  special 
work  at  the  Library  for  many  of  the 
Boston  newspapers  J  but  chiefly  for  the 
Boston  GLOBE.  The  newspapers  when  they 
urgently  needed  naterial  called  Hickey, 
and  Bill  using  the  best  brains  of  the 
Library  soon  delivered  the  desired  material. 
He  Yias   always  very  helpful  in  obtaining 
publicity  in  the  newspapers  for  all 
affairs  run  by  the  staff.  He  was  also 
very  helpful  to  individual  members  of  the 
staff  in  getting  into  the  newspapers 
pictures  and  notices  about  affairs  in 
viThich  they  were  interested.  Bill  would 
also  obtain  copies  of  pictures  \vhich  had 
appeared  in  the  newspapers  for  those 
who  were  interested  in  having  them. 

Mr  Hickey 's  wife  died  a  few  years  ago. 
Bill,  who  was  a  devoted  husband,  was 
never  the  same  after  her  death.  He  ivas 
also  a  devoted  father.  He  was  buried 
from  the  home  of  his  daughter,  ivith  whom 
he  lived  since  his  retirement,  with  a 
solemn  requiem  Mass  at  St  Columbkill's 
Church  in  Brighton,  on  Saturday  April  3rd. 

James  S,  Kennedy 

RETIREMENTS 

John  Loring  McHally 

Have  you  heard  that  John  has  left  us  ? 
Not  John  Harvard,  no,  nor  John  Barleycorn — 
but  our  own  John  Loring  McNally.  "Lead 
kindly  light"  was  his  motto. ...he- always 
had  light  on  any  subject,  be  it  great 
or  small.  He  v;as  a  friend  of  everybody. 
Not  only  i«as  he  effervescent,  but 
fluorescent  as  well  in  later  years. 

May  his  pleasing  and  pleasant 
personality  be  an  example  for  all  of  us 
to  follow.  We  all  wish  him  well  not  only 
here  in  Boston  but  well  in  Wellfleet, 

William  F.  Quinn 


John  A.  Williams 

John  A.  Williams,  custodian  at  East 
Boston  for  the  past  ten  years,  vras  re- 
tired from  the  library  service  on  March  l6. 
He  is  remembered  by  all  who  vforked  vdth 
him  at  East  Boston  and  in  the  North  End 
for  his  cheerful  nature  and  his  vdlling- 
ness  to  help  the  staff  at  all  times.  He 


-6- 


will  be  sorely  missed  vvhen  new  projects 
are  planned  for  there  is  nothing  Vt 

Willi^ims  cannot  do,  from  making  a  stage 
for  puppet  shows  and  creating  miniature 
castles  to  running  a  movie  projector 
and  tape  recorder.     However,  we  hope  that 
he  will  novj-  enjoy  his  leisure  and  perhaps 
find  time  to  virork  on  his  ovm  special 
projects. 

Duilia  Capobiancc 

BPLFSA  VJELCOME  TO  NE.'T  ?ffiJfflER5 

Robert  J.  Anglin,   Book  Stack  Service 
Ruth  F,  Arjouraanian,  Central  Charging 

Records 
Vera  L.  Cheves,  Branch  Issue 
Robert  S.  Collyer,  Book  Stack  Service 
Anne  B.   Gushing,   Central  Charging  Records 
Marie  Devlin,   Book  Selection,  Div,   of 

H.  Re  and  C,  S. 
Dorothy  Dodworth,  North  End 
James  G.  Griffin,    &)ok  Stack  Service 
Millie ent  A.   Hamer,  Dorchester 
Monica  Harrington,   Cataloging  and 

Classification,  Div,   of  R«   and  R,  S, 
Garth  B.   Henzler,   Bookmobile  I 
Evelyn  B,   Herboldsheimer,  Dorchester 
Mary  J.   Joyce,   Cataloging  and  Classifica- 
tion, Div,   of  H,  R,  and  C.   S, 
Myron  Kaplan,   Book  Purchasing 
Jferie  A.  Larkin,   Book  Preparation 
Carolyn  A,   Linehan,   Connolly 
Irene  M.  McCarthy,  Adams  Street 
Maureen  McCarthy,   Book  Stack  Service 
Faith  T,  Minton,   Book  Stack  Service 
Timothy  J.  0 'Donovan,   Book  Stack  Service 
Angela  A,  Sacco,  Allston 
Arlene  Saffren,  South  Boston 
Janet  B.  Schlein,   Brighton 
David  J.  Shedd,   Book  Stack  Service 
David  T.  Sheehan,   Book  Stack  Service 
Norma  C.  Sherman,   Brighton 
La-ivrence  J,  Sindoni^   Book  Stack  Service 
Virginia  J,  Spencer,  Cataloging  and  Clas- 
sification, Div,   of  H,  R,  and  C.  S, 
Gilda  Tecce,    Hyde  Park 

BLCCD  DONOR  PROGRMt 

If  you  want  to  be  assured  that  you 
or  your  family  have  blood  when  they 
need  it  in  an  emergency,  ask  Mrs  1/Yollent 
in  the  Staff  Hospital  for  the  details 
of  the  City  of  Boston  Employees  Blood 
Donor  Program, 


THE  BPL  (Conclusion) 

91 

Shade  the  Fifth  the  stage  ascends. 
Greatest  of  our  early  friends; 

Presence,  dignity,  and  weight, 
A  Shakespeare  counselor  of  state; 

Kindly,  yet  commanding  eye. 

Gracious,  but  remained  up  high; 

Framed  along  the  Newman  plan- 
Christian  scholar,  gentleman, 

92 

Labor,  wealth,    and  talents   gave. 

Fledgling  BPL  to  save; 
Spent  himself  without  stint, 

Left  on  us  eternal  print; 
Built  us   so  we  stay  at  prime. 

Not  an  age  but  all  of  time; 
Bravely     bearing  now  and  then. 

Rougher  times  and  smaller  men» 

93 

Boston  son  by  birth  and  choice, 

Boston's  creed  a  heeded  voice; 
Educated  well  at  home. 

Atmosphere  like  early  home; 
Yankee  virtues  planted  deep. 

As  you  sow  so  you  reap; 
Courage,  honor,  learning,  zeal. 

Selfless  work  for  public  weal, 

9h 
Prodigy  at  Dartmouth  College, 

Stunned  the  experts  with  his  knowledge; 
Trinity's  divines  in  cassocks 

Saturated  him  in  classics; 
A  Yankee  Sullivan  taught  him  law- 

As  lawyer  he  was  somewhat  raw; 
Paid  his  rent  and  office  boy. 

But  resigned  the  Law  with  joy. 

9S 

Knew  his  strength,  his  hopes,  his  mind, 

Aimed  to  serve  his  human  kind; 
Knew  his  country's  chiefest  need 

Was  for  more  of  scholar  breed; 
Hungered  for  the  rarer  knowledge. 

Not  yet  found  in  U,S,  college; 
Moneyed  father  gave  the  nod. 

Went  reluctantly  abroad, 

96 
Letters  v/ritten  by  the  great, 

Opened  to  him  every  gate; 
Handsome,  dashing,  bright,  vivacious, 

ITitty,  learned,  kind  and  gracious; 
Social  gifts  diverse  and  rare; 

Charm  he  had  beyond  compare; 
Melted  Europe's  v/onted  chill, 

^rue  ambassador  of  good  willo 


-7- 


97 

First  to  England,  motherland, 

A  first  we  all  can  under? tandj 
Met  with  Byron,  Davy,  Gifford, 

Campbell,  Roscoe,  Parr,  and  Cliffordj 
London  social  vihirl  palls, 

Dedicated  duty  calls j 
Soon  to  Gcittingen  he  flies, 

Cynosure  of  scholars'  eyes. 


Set  himself  a  routine  grim. 

Drank  all  learning  to  the  brimj 
iifestered  history,  German,  Greek, 

Found  all  he  came  to  seekj 
Laid  a  foundation  strong, 

Useful  to  him  all  life  long; 
Never  to  his  final  day, 

■-ijuite  forgot  his  German  stay, 

99 

Twenty  months  of  concentration 

iiiade  him  hungry  for  vacation; 
Studied  country's  flora,  fauna, 

Dresden  lured  him  T»'ith  Ifedonna; 
Paid  respects  to  Weimar's  sage, 

Deop  in  honors  as  in  agej 
Germans  all  a  placid  feast. 

Not  a  trace  of  Nazi  beast. 

100 

Thence  to   Paris,   then  as  now, 

Chief  of  fashion  know-how; 
Learned  men  from  every  nation 

Add  a  spice  to  conversation; 
Statesmen,   scholars  of  renown, 

Welcomed  him  as  their  ovm; 
Citadels,   like  walls   of  Troy, 

Crumble  for  the  Boston  boy. 

101 
Places   of  the  highest  tone. 

Private  boudoir  and  salon; 
Inner  sanctums  of  the  great- 

Every  place  one  open  gate; 
Met  with  Schlegel,   Talleyrand, 

Humboldt,   and  Chateaubriand; 
Montmorency  de  Laval, 

Justly  famed  Madamie  de  Stael. 

102 
Paid  belated  U.S.  debt, 

Visiting  General  Lafayette; 
Switzerland  with  mountains  vast. 

Nature's  vistas  unsurpassed; 
Italy  vrith  sunny  skries, 

Her  extollers  don't  tell  lies; 
Venice,  Florence,  and  Mian 

Tribute  to   the  art  of  man. 


103 
Then  to  Rom.e,   eternal  city, 

Proof  of  \'irrath  divine,  and  pity; 
Ancient  ruins  dot  the  view. 

Jostling  modern  and  the   new; 
Caesar's  fierceness  tamed  by  time, 

Ch'orch  proclai'Zo  a  faith  subline  j 
Pagan  gods  and  gcdlets  fled, 

Overcome  b;-  C  nc  who  bledo 

lou 

Met  TvTith  statesmen,  politicians. 

Churchmen,  commoners,  and  patricians; 
Aged  ibpe  with  penetration. 

Praises  Yankee  toleration; 
Noted  foreigners  by  the  score, 

Welcome  him  at  their  door; 
Men  of  power,  fame,  and  arts, 

A  wilderness  of  Bonapartes, 

105 
Then  to  Spain,  by  nature  blest, 

But  unnatural  and  depressed; 
Despot  rules  the  people's  fate, 

Guilt,  corruption  taints  the  state; 
Upper  class  by  crime  beguiled, 

Common  people  undefiled; 
Commerce,  learning  in  decay. 

People  picturesque  and  gay, 

106 
Roads,  inns  in  ugly  state, 

Traveled  at  a  snail's  gait;' 
Constitution  young  and  strong, 

Not  dispirited  for  long; 
Fellovr  passengers  enjoy 

Yarns  spun  by  Yankee  boy; 
Used  his  natural  gift  of  gab 

Read  Don  Quixote  in  the  cabo 

107 

Libraries  attention  claim. 

Their  condition  crime  and  shame; 

Visitor  incensed  and  riled. 
Valued  books  in  jumble  wild; 

Lumber  room  in  worst  disgrace, 
Turns  up  a  rare  La  Place; 

Found  nature's  oddest  spooks- 
Librarians  ignorant  of  booics, 

108 
Fell  on  books  vri.  th  might  and  main. 

Wrested  golden  gains  from  Spain; 
Lajiguage,  culture,  people,  all 

Rest  of  life  his  soul  enthrall; 
Spain  his  purpose  sharp  defined, 

More  than  rest  of  Europe  combined; 
Showed  expert  hand  and  sure. 

Writing  of  its  literature. 


-8- 


109 
Back  to  Piris  and  its  pleasures, 

Homesick,  bursting  ■./ith  his  treasures; 
French  are  mannered  and  official. 

Brilliant,  graceful,  superficial; 
England  beckons,  smiling  land, 

People  friendly,  nature  bland; 
Feted  darling  of  the  great, 

Dukes  and  duchesses  a  spate. 

110 
Ache  for  home  insistent  ,^ows. 

Sick  of  Europe  and  its  shows; 
Mother  died  v/hile  he  vra.s  gone. 

Bitter  seemed  the  laurels  won; 
Shook  the  foreign  dust  off  feet. 

Flew  in  haste  to  native  seat; 
Landed  near  New  Bedford  farms. 

Rode  all  night  to  father's  arms. 

Ill 
Entered  Harvard's  cloistered  walls. 

Extra  auditors  tlu'ong  the  halls; 
Introduced  reforms,  correctives. 

Controversial  nev;  electives; 
Back  from  Europe,  in  retreat, 

Magnum  opus  to  complete; 
Mark  on  Spanish  letters  set. 

Scarcely  superseded  yet, 

112 
Sumptuous  home  near  Park  Street  mall, 

World's  renovmed  here  call; 
Famed  as  scholar,  writer,  friend. 

Virtues  all  in  happy  blend; 
Shed  a  luster  far  and  wide, 

Boston  basks  in  him  Tri.th  pride; 
Shunned  publicity  and  strife, 

Private,  happy,  family  life. 

113 
Then,  in  eighteen  fifty  tv/o, 

Bug  biblio thecal  bit  him  too; 
Europe's  libraries  had  shovm 

TiTcafuL  lacks  in  native  toTm; 
Harvard's  books,  he  pained  declared. 

Seemed  a  closetful  compared; 
Boston,  learned,  rich,  and  free. 

Had  no  public  library. 

Leading  citizens  discuss 

Fear  of  Boston  missing  bus. 
If  New  York's  new  library. 

Be  the  only  one  that's  free; 
Mayor  Seaver  tries  to  prod 

Council  into  giving  nod; 
Council  takes  the  prodding  well. 

Chooses  board  for  BPL. 


11^ 

Served  virith  Everett,  Shurtleff ,  Reed, 

Turning  projects  into  deed; 
Outline  of  needs  began. 

Others  bowed  to  his  plan; 
Dreamed  and  studied,  planned  and  ■virrought, 

Masterpiece  of  forceful  thought; 
Wrote  report,   in  skill  and  data, 

Boston  Library's  I/Iagna  Charta, 

116 
No  society  long  stays  free, 

Minus  public  library; 
Means   of   general  information 

Must  be  free  to  population; 
^y  the  books   the  public  wants. 

Offer  shelter  from  its  haunts; 
Library  is  foe  to  fools, 

"CroT/ming  glory  of  our  schools." 

117 
Overseas  report  was  read. 

Bates  nostalgic   tears  had  shed; 
Princely  gift  he  fortfori.th  nade. 

Put  all  others  in  the  shade; 
Books  in  thousands  were  bought, 

City  fathers  gave  the  plot; 
Sooner  than  it  takes  to  tell, 

Boston  had  a  BPL. 

118 
Should  my  verse  much  longer  prove. 

The  editors  Virill  my  head  remove; 
To  prevent  #iich  severation, 

I'll  stop  this  dissertation; 
Telescope  my  hero's  size. 

All  his  virtues  minimize; 
But  repeat  advice  I  must , 

Spoken  by  his  Bates  Hall  bust; 

119 

Disregard  moronic  strictures, 

Treat  the  books  like  sacred  scriptures; 
People  have  a  right  divine. 

Serve  them  vath  a  grace  benign; 
Think  your  work,   in  spite  of  mob. 

More  a  priesthood  than  a  job; 
Books  Yri.ll  answer  every  need, 

Read  and  read  and  read  and  read. 

120 
Built  us  mightily  on  rock. 

Adamant  to  every  shock; 
Ancient  systems'  dissolution. 

Even  palace  revolution; 
Genuflected  honor's  due 

Pioneer  fine  and  true; 
French  police  had  called  him  Bignor, 

We  salute  the  great  GEORGE  TICKKDR. 

Harry  Andrews 


-9- 


CENTEMIAL  NOTES 

Conference  of  Trustees 
of  Ivhssachusotts  Libraries 

On  Saturday,   1/ferch  27,   the  Boston 
Public  Library  vns  host  to  the  library- 
trustees   of  Massachusetts  as  part  of  its 
centennial  celebration. 

An  introductory  session  was  held  in 
the  Lecture  Hall  at  10:30  AM.     Milton 
Eo  Lord,  Director,  extended  greetings 
to  the    trustees  and  gave  a  short  des- 
cription of  the  central  library  building. 
The  architecture,  unique  in  America 
at  its   inception,   proved  tote  the 
prototype  v;hich  architects  followed  for 
almost  half  a   century.     The   trustees  were 
also  told  of  the  expanded  functions   of 
the  present  Library  and  the  need  for  an 
addition  to   the  main  building.     This 
addition  vail  be  designed  to  further 
these  neviT  or  greater  services. 

The  assembly  \ras  then  invited  to 
divide  into  groups  for  conducted  tours 
of  the  building,     ■"■  number  of  staff 
members  were  assigned  to  t  ake  these 
groups   to  the  various  public  and  behind- 
the-scenes  activities.     Department 
chiefs  vrero  on  hand  to  describe  the 
work  of  their  departmonts  and  to  answer 
questions.      Included  in  the  tour  were  a 
visit  to  the  Director's  Office  to  vievj- 
the  model   of  the  proposed  addition,   and 
informal  discussions   of  special  aspects 
of  library  service — Hospital  Library- 
Service,   Group  Services,   and  the  Friends 
of  the  Library  activities. 

The  afternoon  session  included  a 
symposium  at  the  Sheraton-Plaza  Hotel 
on  "The  Future  of  JiJassachusetts  Public 
Libraries."     After  the   symposium  about 
one  hundred  trustees  took  advantage   of 
the  opportunity  to  visit  two  of  our 
nev:  circulation  units — the  Adams  Street 
and  Egleston  Square  Br-^nch  Libraries. 
Members   of  the  staff  -wrere  on  duty  to 
greet  the  visitors  and  to  answer  their 
many  questions. 

The  evening  session,   the  dinner  in 
honor  of  the  Centennial  Anniversary 
of  the  Boston  Public  Library,   took  place 
in  the  main  ballroom  of  the  Sheraton- 
Plaza  Hotel,     Stacy  B.   Southv/orth, 
Chairman  of  the  Massachusetts  Free  Public 
Library  Commission  and  toastmaster,  I 

introduced  the  speakers,     Mrs   George  I 

Rodney  Wallace,    President  of  the  | 

Massachusetts   Library  Trustees  Associa-    ! 


tion,   extended  greetings  from  the 
Association,      Patrick  F.  MclJonald,    Presi- 
dent of  the  Trustees  of  the  Boston  Public 
Library,  accepted  the   greetings   and 
welcomed  the   guests  on  behalf  of  the 
Boston  Public  Library  Traistees.     iir 
McDona.ld  stressed  the  importance  of  the 
Boston  Library  to  the  citizens  of  Boston 
and  to   the  people   of  the  State  in  its 
function  as  a  great  reference  library. 
Since  its  charter,  received  from  the 
Commonwealth,   states  that  it  must  be 
forever  "free  to  all",  Mr  McDonald  ex- 
pressed his  belief  that  the  State  Aid 
bill  is   of   great  importance  and  called 
upon  the  assembled  trustees   to  band 
together  in  support  of  the  bill, 

Mr  Lord  gave  some   of  the  highlights   of 
the  Library's  history  and  the  part  played 
by  non-residents   of  Boston  in  its  develop- 
ment.    Special  mention  ws  made  of  the 
gifts  and  endovmients  of  Joshua  Bates,  a 
businessman  of  London, 

Mayor  Hynes   spoke  on  "Boston  and  the 
Boston  Public  Library."      He   extolled  the 
great'  collecticns  of  books  and  the 
varied  services  made  availo.ble  to  the 
citizens  of  Boston  and  to  the  residents 
of  the  state.     Due  to  t he  present  state 
of  the  city  revenues,  the  feyor  said  that 
he  welcomed  the   opportunity  to  go  on 
record  in  favor  of  State  Aid  to  Libraries, 
Mayor  Hynes  asked  for  concerted  action 
from  the  Trustees   of  the  state  in  support 
of  the  bill, 

M.L.A.   BULLETIN  in  Tribute   to   B.P.L. 

The  M.L.A.   BULLETIN  has  saluted  the 
B.P.L,   in  its  centennial  year  in  a  most 
complimen-tary  fashion — by  devoting  to  it 
the  major  part  of  the   January  19514  issue, 
Editor-in-Chief,   John  T,  Parkhill,  who 
worked  closely  v;ith  Helen  Pappas,   of  the 
Library's   Infornntion  Office,    is  to  be 
congratulated  upon  the  excellence   of  the 
coooeration  between  papers  of  which  this 
issue  gives   evidence.      Boston  newspapers 
whose  editors   or  critics  contributed 
to  this  enlightening  picture  of  the 
Library's  activities   include  the   HEIiAID, 
Sunday  POST,   GLOBE,  PILOT,  and  the 
Associated  Press, 

The  titles   of  the  articles   indicate 
the  range  of  subject  matter  presented: 
Public  Library  Leading  Vfay  in  Back  B^ 
Expansion  Plans,   They  Read  tfhile  They 
Labor,  Records   to  Take  Home  Free  I, 
Music  Department,   The  BPL  Print  Department 


-10- 


Curb  Servicfc;  BPL  Bookmobile,  ¥ork  with  , 
Teen-^.gers ,  Story  H-^ur  Fliv".ls  Pl-'.y ground,  i 
Profits  in  Froe  Books  (Kirstein  Business  I 
Branch),  md  City  Hospital  Library  Service  | 
This  recognition  by  the  bulletin  of  I 
the  State's  libr?.ry  association  is  one  ! 
of  the  most  he art-vr'.rming  tributes  which 
has  been  paid  to  the  Boston  Public  Library 
during  its  Centennial  Celebration, 

Old  Boston  Movies  a  Centennial  Gift 

The  Boston  Pu''  lie  Library  Centennial 
Commission  saluted  the   motion  picture 
industry  at  a  dinner  hold  at  the 
Sheraton-Plaza  on  April  6.     Outstanding 
executives  from  the  movies   shared  the 
program  with  city,   state,   and  library 
officials.     Representing  actors  and 
actresses  was  Nina  Foch. 

Movie  vie^vs  of  Boston  taken  half  a 
century  ago  were  shown  and  then  presented 
to  the  Library  by  the  Academy  of  Motion 
Picture  Arts  and  Sciences, 

Saturday  Evening  Girls   Honor  B»P.L. 

SATURDAY  EVEMKG  GIRLS,  a  group  of 
former  children  yiho   were  organized  into 
story  hour  groups  at  the  turn  of  the 
century,  in  connection  v/ith  the  library 
club  h'^use  work  of  the  North  End  Branch 
Library,  held  a  reunion  at  ?fest  End  on 
Saturday  afternoon,  April  10,  This 
particular  meeting  honored  the  Boston 
Public  Library  in  its  Centennial  Year, 
Mrs  David  A.  Dorcn,  president,  introduced 
Patrick  F.  McDonald,  President  of  the 
Trustees  of  the  Library,  virho  was  guest 
speaker. 

¥sr   McDonald  spoke  on  the  Library — 
the  symbolism  of  its  Centennial  Celebra- 
tion, its  historic  background,  its  present 
service,  and  its  future  potentialities. 
He  also  implied  that  in  the  building 
of  a  man's  philosophy  of  life  the 
library  can  play  an  important  role.   Not 
only  is  the  library  a  place  in  Y\rhich  to 
read,  but  it  provides  also  a  great 
educational  opportunity,  an  opportunity 
for  self -education  and  for  the  training 
of  the  intellect  for  an  understanding  of 
freedom  and  of  civic  responsibility. 
Coupled  -vvith  a  trained  intellect  is  a 
disciplined  will,  ^^ihich,  according  to 
philosophers,  prepares  a  man  for  the 
highest  plane  of  living.  The  modern 
library  has  cast  off  chains  and  other 
restrictions  v;hich  were  imposed  upon  the 


reader  in  the  past.  Today,  libraries  are 
pl^nred  and  built  just  as  big  business 
would  build,  for  the  comfort  of  the 
readers  and  for  the  better  use  of  books. 
In  other  words,  it  is  not  the  Public 
Library,  but  the  people's  library  of 
the  City  of  Bostons  This,  the  Centennial 
Celebration  is  intended  to  bring  home 
to  the  populace  and  library  friends© 

Fanny  Goldstein,  S.E.G.  Archivist, 
presented  to  the  Library  Centennial  Fund, 
through  Mr  McDonald,  a  check  for  VHO 
from  the  group.  A  picture  of  the  pre- 
sentation appeared  in  the  Boston  Sunday 
HERALD  on  April  10, 

Edith  Guerrier,  founder  of  the  group, 
and  Supervisor  of  Branch  Libraries, 
Emeritus,  was  guest  of  honor.  She"  pre- 
sented to  each  girl  a  silver  pin,  v/hich 
was  a  reproduction  of  a  pin  vfhich  had 
been  designed  especially  for  the  group 
by  Edith  Brovm,  Director  of  the  Paul 
Revere  Pottery,  when  the  Library  Club 
House  rooms  vrere  opened  in  the  North 
End  Branch  Library,  and  which  was  in- 
tended as  a  club  emblem.  The  acquisi- 
tion of  the  original  pins  involved  great 
economic  planning  because  they  cost 
$1,25  each.  When  the  last  partial  pay- 
ment was  made  on  it,  the  pin  7vas  vrorn  by 
the  possessor  v»ith  much  pride  for  many 
years.  The  nc^T  pins  bridge  forty  years 
of  happy  memories,  Y/ith  each  was  the 
follov/ing  printed  message  from  Miss 
Guerrier: 

The  S.E.G.  Pin 
••About  fifty  years  ago  our  Story  Hour 
started.  Since  that  Spring  day  long 
ago  vie  have  acquired  mcny  new  members, 
and  many  of  cur  loved  friends  are  no 
longer  vri. th  us.  Those  of  us  who  are 
still  here  have  happy  memories  of  Club 
House,  Camp  and  Library,  but  the  out- 
standing memory  is  of  our  precious 
friendships  and  v;h''t  these  friendships 
have  meant  to  us.  Nothing  in  this  world 
can  take  the  place  of  true  friendship. 
The  happy  smile,  the  kind  word,  the 
reassuring  hand-clasp  of  a  friend  offer 
cheer  and  courage  which  nothing  else  can 
give.  One  of  the  saddest  things  I  ever 
said  v/as  when  someone  asked  me  to  tell  her 
what  was  the  greatest  need  of  one  v/ho  had   ' 
called  upon  her  for  help.  I  replied, 
"A  friend — she  appcrs  not  to  have  a 
single  friend."  The  thing  that  has  meant  \ 
most  to  me  in  our  S.E.G.  is  our  friendship, 
and  I  vant  to  Icve  7ri.th  you  this  permanent 
record  of  that  friendship.  When  you  lock 


-11- 


at  the  pin  I  hope  it  mil  remind  you  th-^.t 
if  thore  were  'nore  true  frincdliness   in 
the  vforldj   sadness  ind  despair  ■vi/ould 
disappear,   and  vr.r  would  become  iror- 
possible. 

Signed:     Edith  Gucrrier — ^April  195U. 

It  is   of  interest  to  record  at  this 
time,   that  forty  years  ago.  Miss  Goldstein, 
as  a   very  young  girl,   and  president   of  tte 
S.E.G,,   accepted  the  keys   from  Horace   G. 
Wadlin,  then  librarian  of  the  Boston 
Public  Library,   at  thv.  opening  of  the 
LIEEIaRY  club  HC^USE  rooms  in  the  now 
building  acqeired  for  the  North  End 
Branch  Library  in  1913 • 

In  her  remarks.  Miss  Goldstein  called 
attention  to  the  fact  that  there  was 
a  parallel  bet\ireen  the  meeting  of  forty 
years  ago  and  this  one  of  today,  by 
citing  a  portion  of  the  remarks  made 
then; 

"The   ideals   of  American  viromanhood 
Tirhich  you  good  friends  have  helped  to 
place  before  us,  we  the  S.E.G. ,  mil  aim 
to  exemplify  by  our  living,  and  to  pass 
the   ideal  on  to   others.     We  shall  en- 
deavor to  be  better  f riends,  bettor 
daughters,  better  vfives,  better  mothers j 
and  always  pure  and  simple  women,  who, 
years  hence,  will  look  vdth  pride  upon 
this  Association  of  American  Daughters   of 
North  End  Immigrants". 

The  above  precepts  and  ideals ,   th^. 
S.E.G.   have  lived  by,  and  exemplified 
these  many  years,  as  v.dves,  mot]iers, 
grandmothers ,   and  servants  of  the  public . 


CARE 

Contributions   to  CARE  hav.j  been 
lagging  considerably  this  year.     So  far 
the  only  order  th^  Com.-ittee  has  been 
able  to  place  includes  3  anti-tuberculosis 
kits  at  ^7.50  each,  and  1  book  package 
of  medical  books  for  Korea,  costing  $10. 

Tc  B.   has  been  so  vri.de-spread  follovr- 
ing  the  war  th-t  the  local  CARE  office 
has  recommended  the  purchase  of  special 
kits  to  help  alleviate  the  disease. 

To  those  who  hav^  remembered  CARE 
our  sincere  thanks,  but  may  we  not  hear 
from  morv-  of  you?     See  your  Staff  Rep- 
resentative and  help  CARE  now  I 


YJaltcr  J.  Bluhm,  Chairman 
CARE  Committee 


RICHARD  G.  APPEL  RETIRES 

The  staff  of  the  library  vxas  surprised 
indeed  to  loarn  of  the  imminent  retire- 
ment of  Rich-^rd  G.  Appel,  Chief  of 
Jfusic,   to  be  effective  April  30,  195'-i. 
}?r  Appclvall  be  sixty-five  on  the  25th 
of  April,  having  been  born  in  Lancaster, 
Pennsylvania  in  I889.     He  studied  at 
Columbia,  Harvard,  and  Heidelberg  univer- 
sities and  in  addition  to  his   leadership 
of  the  Iiteic  Department,   has    lad  a 
successful  career  as  composer,   organist, 
and  hymnologist.     Iitr  Appel  joined  the 
staff  in  1922  and  has  been  in  charge  of 
Music  since  192ii,  a  record  of  v>rhich  to 
be   justly  proud. 

In  his  quiet  and  modest  vray,   llir  Appel 
has  patiently  Viratched  over  and  nurtxired 
the  continued  growth  of  the  fine  collec- 
tions under  his   care.     We  shall  be  hard 
put  to  replace  the   dignity  and  integrity 
of  this  gentleman  of  the  old  school,     ¥ir 
Appel,  when  necessary,   is  a  man  of 
determination  vdiich  som.e  attribute  to  his 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  hei;itage,  but  when 
upholding  his  views  staunchly  he  is  al^rays 
a  man  of  courtesy  and  has  never  questioned 
a  person's  reputation. 

On  April  IJ4  Mr  Appel  v/ as  given  a  sriHll 
reception  in  the  Office  of  the  Chief  of 
the  Division  of  Reference  and  Research 
Services.     After  this  a  coffee  hour  -vms 
held  in  his  honour  in  the  Women's  Lounge 
v^cre  m.any  members  of  the  staff  came  to 
Ydsh  hirae  well.     As  a  farewell  reminder 
of  his  m?.ny  friends,  he  vns  presented 
mth  a  barometer  and  a  pair  -of  theater 
glasses.     With  one  he  can  tell  when  to 
look  -with  the  other  so  that  he  vri-ll  not 
lose  sight  of  us, 

George  M.   Pa hud 

INVITATION  TO   JOIN  N.E.   UNIT,  C.L.A.. 

Members  of  thu  B.P.L,  staff  interested 
in  joining  the   N.E.  Unit  of  the  Catholic 
Library  Association  may  do  so  upon  appli- 
cation to  Sally  Anne  Quinn,  Chairman  of 
the  Membership  Committee,  who  Yri.ll  be 
present  at  the  meeting  of  Ifeiy  8,   or  to 
Anna  L,  Manning,  Secretary-Treasurer, 
Teachers,     Membership  dues  are  $1,00  a 
year,   and  m.cetings  are  held  four  times  a 
year. 


-12- 


NEW  BOOKS   IN  THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 
Non-Fiction 

Barrett,  Edward  ?if.     Truth  is   our  •weapon. 

N'3W  York,  Funk  &  Vfagnalls  Co.,   19^3 
Brovm,    Ivor  J,  C,     Summer  in  Scotland. 

London,  Collins,   19^2 
Carrighar,   Sally,     Icebound  summer. 

New  York,   Knopf,   1953. 
Carter  John  F«     Republicans  on  the  Potomac 

Nov/  York,   Mc Bride  Co.,   1953 
Clark,  Eugenie,     Lady  vfith  a  spear. 

Nuvf  York,   Harper,   1953 
Cummings,   P-^.tricia.     Nev^r  York  on  a  modest 

income • 

New  York,  Simon  and  Schuster,  1952 
Fawcett,  Percy  H.  Lost  trails,  lost 

cities, 

Nevr  York,  Funk  &  Wagnalls,  1953 
Highet,  Gilbert,  People,  places,  and  books. 

New  York,  Oxford  University  Press,  1953 
Jackson,  Shirley.  Life  among  the  savages 

New  York,  Farrar,  Straus  and  Young,  1553 
Kim,  Agnes.'  I  married  a  Korean, 

New  York,  J.  Day,  1953 
Palazzeschi,  Aldo.  The  sisters  Materassi. 

Garden  City,  New  York,  Doubleday,  1953 
Posselt,  Teresia  Renata  de  Spiritu  Sancto, 

Sister. Edith  Stein. 

Now  York,  Sheed  and  Yferd,  1952 
Schildt,  Goran.  In  the  vake  of  Ulysses, 

New  York,  Dodd,  Mead,  1953 
Tomlinson,  Henry  M,  A  mingled  yarn. 

Indianapolis,  Bobbs-Merrill,  1953 
Trevino,  Elizabeth  B,  My  heart  lies 

south. 

New  York,  Grovrell,   1953 
■'i'lfoodward,   Helen  B,     The  bold  vroman. 

New  York,  Farrar,  Straus,  and  Young, 

1953 

Non-Fiction — Library  Science 

Boston  Public  Library  Centennial  Commisaon 

Building  a  great  future  upon  a  glorious 

pasto 

Boston,  Boston  Public  Library  Centen- 
nial Commission,  1953 
Butler,  Pierce,  ed.  Librarians,  scholars, 

and  booksellers  at  mid-century. 

Chicago,  University  of  Chicago  Press, 

1953 
Fleming,  Edward  M.  R,  R.  Bowker, 

Norman,  University  of  Oklahoma  Press, 

1952 
Fry,  Barnard  M,  Library  organization  and 

management  of  technical  reports  litera^ 

ture. 


Washington,  Catholic  University  of 

America  Press,  1953 
Kirkegaard,  Preben,  The  public  libraries 

in  Denmark. 

Copenhagen,  Danske  selskab,  1950 
McCord,  David  T.  W,  As  built  with  second 

thoughts  ,  reforming  vrhat  was  old  I 

Boston,  The  Centennial  Commission 

of  the  City  of  Boston,  1953 
Muir,  Percival  H, ,  ed.  Talks  on  book- 
collecting, 

London,  Cassell,  1952 
Sheehan,  Donald  H,  This  was  publishing, 

Bloomington,  Indiana  University 

Press,  1952 

Fiction 

Gann,  Ernest  K.  The  high  and  the  mighty. 

New  York,  Sloane,  1953 
Godden,  Rumer.  Kingfishers  catch  fire. 

New  York,  Viking  Press,  1953 
Kane,  Harnett  T,  The  lady  of  Arlington. 

Garden  City,  New  York,  Doubleday,  1953 
Lehmann,  Rosamond.  The  echoing  grove. 

New  York,  Harcourt,  Brace,  1953 
Ostlere,  Gordon.  Doctor  at  sea. 

London,  M.  Joseph,  1953 
Salinger,  Jerome  D,  Nine  stories, 

Boston.  Little,  Brovm,  1953 
Thirkell,  -^ngela  M,  Coronation  summer. 

New  York,  Knopf,  1953 
Van  Dor en,  Mark,  Nobody  say  a  vrord. 

New  York,  Holt,  1953 
Yaffe,  James,  The  good-for-nothing, 

Boston,  Little,  Brovm,  1953 

BR.'INCH  NOTES 

Connolly 

The  midwinter  meeting  of  the  Friends 
of  the  Connolly  Branch  Library  was  held 
on  March  I6,  195U.  Two  noteworthy  films? 
Marion  Anderson  and  Jascha  Heifetz,  were 
offered  as  part  of  the  program,  and  v/ere 
viewed  vdth  great  interest  ard  enthusiasm. 
Later,  the  group  enjoyed  a  delightful 
social  hour,  with  delicious  refreshments 
served  by  members  of  the  staff. 

East  Boston 

After  undergoing  a  neriod  of  extensive 
redecorating,  which  included  completely 
new^  lighting  and  colorful  paint,  usual 
activities  were  resumed  virith  the  holding 
of  the  Ninth  Annual  Open  House  on  Monday 
evening. March  22.     On  this   same  evening, 
the  Fourth  Art  Exhibit,  which  includes 
vrorks  done  by  students   in  East  Boston 


-13- 


schools  ?.nd  tv\renty~f our  individual 
artists  in  the  coirmiunity,  was  opened  and 

will  remain  on  display  in  the  Adults ' 
and  Children's  Rooms  until  April  2I4., 

A  fine  musical  program  in  the  Lecture 
Hall  included  selections  from  operas, 
as  well  as  popular  songs,  piano,  and 
violin  solos,  piano  duets,  accordion  and 
guitar  duets  played  by  one  of  our  extra 
assistants,  Lelia  Battista,  and  her 
brother,  and  several  dances  by  a  group 
from  the  Central  Square  Center, 

Cookies  and  punch  were  enjoyed  in  the  I 
Children's  Room  after  the  program.  Anne  [ 
Coleman,  Branch  Librarian,  Jeffries  Point J 
and  Mrs  Arthur  liLranda  of  East  Boston    | 
presided  at  the  punch  bovilse  Many  of  her 
friends  recognized  llirs   Dorothy  Pitman's 
delicate  touch  in  the  large  quantity  of 
dainty  cookies  vi/hich  she  had  sent  from 
Brooklyn.  It  v:as  very  nice  to  know  that 
Ibrs   Pitman  remembered  us.  The  staff  of 
East  Boston  vjlshes  to  thank  their  friends 
in  the  Library  vfho  generously  gave  us 
cookies  for  this  occasion.  ?fe  were  also 
very  happy  to  receive  donations  from 
several  business  organizations  in  East 
Boston,  among  v.tiich  was  a  large  basket 
of  white  and  peach-colored  gladiolas 
arranged  against  a  background  of  ferns 
and  laurel. 

The  many  pleased  comments  from  members 
of  the  library  staff  and  the  public 
telling  us  they  enjoyed  the  program,  the 
art  work,  and  the  cookies  assures  us  that 
the  evening  was  a  success, 

Jamaica  Plain 

For  the  second  consecutive  year,  Edna 
Peck,  Chief  of  Book  Selection  for  Horre 
Reading  and  Community  Services,  spoke 
at  the  April  meeting  of  the  Friends  of 
the  Jamaica  Plain  Branch  Library  con- 
cerning the  Notable  Books  of  the  Year, 

Miss  Peck,  as  the  staff  expected, 
and  the  Friends  soon  learned,  delivered 
an  informative  talk  in  her  delightful  and 
charming  manner  that  makes  her  audience 
sigh  -ftdth  regret  \hen  she  finishes. 
Coffee  and  goodies  rounded  out  the  meet- 
ing— also  the  Friends, 

tfettapan 

Cn  Monday  evening,  March  29,  the 
Friends  of  the  Mattapan  Branch  Library 
featured  for  their  monthly  program  a 
discussion  of  puppets  and  marionettes  by 
Dorothy  Lodworth,  assistant  in  Children's 
Work  at  North  End.  Prior  to  her  talk. 


Girl  Scout  Troop  3U7j  under  the  direction 
of  Mrs  Albert  Slavin,  presented  Stars 
and  Stripes,  a  Revolutionary  War  play 
about  the  m.aking  of  the  first  American 
flag,  adapted  for  hand  puppets.  Using 
this  play  as  an  example.  Miss  Dodyrorth 
pointed  cut  the  value  of  puppetry  for 
children  in  teaching  cooperation, 
patience, and  perseverance,  as  well  as 
stimulating  curiosity  in  historical 
research.  The  many  anecdotes  which  she 
related  during  her  discussion  of  the 
history  of  puppets  and  marionettes 
delighted  the  audience.  Following  this 
enjoyable  program  a  coffee  hour  was  held 
under  the  direction  of  the  Entertainment 
committee. 

At  the  April  meeting  of  the  Friends  ' 
group,  Daniel  J,  Foley,  editor  of 
Horticulture  and  author  of  Annuals  for 
Your  Garden,  Garden  Flowers  in  Color, 
and  Vegetable  Gardening  in  Color,  will 
give  a  lecture  entitled  ''Gardening  Can 
Be  Everybody's  Hobby,"  Since  the  group 
is  pp-rticularly  interested  in  gardening, 
the  subject  promises  to  attract  a  large 
audience. 


On  Tuesday  evening,  March  30,  members 
of  the  Temple  Beth  Hillel  Youth  Commission 
led  by  Rabbi  Sidney  Steiman  met  at 
Mattapan  to  participate  in  a  film  forum. 
Two  films  on  brotherhood.  The  House  I 
Live  In  and  The  Races  of  Mankind,  were 
sho\m,  and  the  young  people  compared  the 
effectiveness  and  general  interest  of 
each,  contrasting  particularly  the  live 
actors  of  one  to  the  cartoon  format  of 
the  other.  The  program  concluded  with 
the  non-controversial  Building  a  Nation. 
Discussion  was  informal  and  active  and 
the  audience  indicated  interest  in 
further  programs  of  the  same  type. 


•?«■ 


Members  of  the  staff  were  delighted 
to  welcom^e  back  Mrs  Augusta  Rubenstein 
after  her  recent  illness, 

Neponset 

"Modern  methods"  for  discovering  and 
exploring  nevj-  worlds  in  books  have  been 
used  at  Neponset  since  the  Space 
Travelers '  club  vras  launched  early  this 
year.  The  club  has  been  able  to  sustain 
the  interest  of  our  young  readers  for 
nearly  three  months • 


-Ih- 


"I  never  knew  reiding  i/ns  so  much 
fun  !"  cried  a  little  third-grader  after 
he  had  reported  on  his  book  and  could 
pick  his  "capsule"  for  his  next  "base". 
The  twelve  Starting  Bases,  each  named 
for  one  of  the  constellations  of  the 
Zodiac  J  represent  tvrelve  different 
fields,  i.e.:  Aries  for  fairy  tales, 
Taurus  for  biography,  Gemini  for 
history  and  geography.  Cancer  for  ad- 
venture stories,  Leo  for  sport  stories, 
Virgo  for  religion.  Libra  for  science, 
Scorpio  for  animal  stories,  Sagittarius 
for  arts  and  crafts,  Capricornus  for 
poetry,  Aquarius  for  family  stories,  and 
Pisces  for  mystery  and  fanciful  tales* 
Even  the  little  second-graders  want  the 
thrill  of  picking  the  "capsule"  from  the 
metal  box  with  its  legend;  PYour  rocket 
flight  leaves  from  base  number  I,  Aries  ."J 
(or  base  number  II,  Taurus,  or  whatever 
it  happens  to  be);  then  there  is  a  mad 
rush  to  the  poster  with  the  Starting 
Bases  to  find  out  what  the  subject  will 
be.   The  legend  continues:  "Consult 
your  Flight  Control  Officer,  Miss  Saari, 
if  you  need  help  in  choosing  equipment 
(books)  for  the  trip."  Each  club  member 
owns  a  membership  card  on  which  the 
bases  he  has  used  and  the  books  he  has 
reported  on  are  recorded.  And  though 
it  is  sometimes  difficult  to  find  just 
the  right  book  for  the  base  required, 
especially  for  the  little  ^nes,  the 
starting  bases  help  to  introduce  dif- 
ferent types  of  books  to  the  children 
and  cause  books  to  move  which  might 
otherwise  be  overlooked. 

The  Space  Travelers'  Club  poster  with 
its  eleven  colorful  planets:  Earth, 
Moon,  Venus,  fers.  Mercury,  Saturn, 
Jupiter,  Fluto,  Neptune,  Uranus,  and 
baby  Eros,  adorned  with  the  one  hundred 
and  sixty-five  tiny  silver  space  ships, 
each  inscribed  with  the  nane  of  its 
owner,  is  a  iragnet  tliat  draws  the 
attention  of  young  and  old  alike.  Thirty 
of  the  space  ships  flaunt  a  red  star  on 
the  right  wing  in  recognition  of  the 
fact  that  they  have  visited  each  of  the 
planets.  A  blue  star  on  the  left  wing 
of  many  of  the  ships  proclaims  that  these 
ships  have  made  the  circuit  twice,  a 
gold  star  on  the  tail  of  some  ships  that 
the  proud  owners  of  these  ships  have 
traveled  around  the  "universe"  three 
times.  Three  girls  have  succeeded  in 
making  the  circuit  four  times  and  are  new 
on  their  fifth  voyage.  The  children  lo"ve 


to  see  their  space  ships  "zoom"  from 
planet  to  planet  but  they  are  also  dis- 
covering how  interesting  the  books  can 
be  that  they  have  hitherto  neglected. 

Most  of  the  one  hundred  and  sixty-five 
members  range  from  the  second  through  the 
sixth  grade  but  we  do  have  some  seventh 
and  eighth"  graders  and  one  very  active 
first  grader  in  the  club  also.  Our  boys 
were  so  excited  over  the  project  that 
they  wanted  to  make  a  Space  Travelers' 
poster,  and  so  we  had  a  poster  made,  com- 
plete with  a  space  ship,  a  station,  and 
asteroidis,  the  joint  work  of  three  boys. 
The  words  "Discovering  nevir  virorlds  in 
books"  were  added  by  the  "Flight  Control 
Officer"  and  the  poster  was  ready  for 
display. 


Tuesday,  March  23,  vras  a  very  busy  day. 
Both  children  and  adults  were  swarming 
about  the  many   tables  laden  with  samples 
of  the  children's  handicraft  and  their 
collections  of  various  objects. 

The  Children's  Hobby  Show  exceeded  all 
expectations  in  both  quality  and  quantity^. 
Forty-one  different  entries  vrere  on  dis- 
play ranging  from  hand-made  scatter  rugs 
to  original  oil  paintings.  There  were 
dolls  from  all  over  the  world  and  dolls' 
clothes  neatly  sewn  by  little  fingers. 
Colorful  pot-holders  and  an  afghan  in 
the  making  lent  their  brighthues  to  the 
display.  There  were  numerous  stamp, 
shell,  coin,  and  picture  card  collections. 
The  many  collections  of  tiny  planes  and 
other  models  of  transportation  testified 
to  the  skill,  patience,  and  perseverance 
of  their  youthful  builders.  A  pirate 
ship  complete  mth  fierce  pirates,  trea- 
sure chest,  £;-uns,  and  the  flag  with  its 
skull  and  crossbones  proved  especially 
magnetic  to  the  younger  boys. 

From  all  these  attractive  and  interest- 
ing hobbies  Mrs  Francis  Corr,  Mr  George 
Hagner,  and  Jfr  Meyer  Shore,  vj-ho  had 
kindly  consented  to  act  as  judges,  finally 
decided  to  avrard  the  first  prize  to 
l-'ichael  King  of  Mdnot  School,  Grade  5, 
for  the  beautiful  rug  he  had  made  of 
colored  strips  of  cloth.  They  avrarded  the 
second  prize  to  Frederick  Ferguson  of 
Mary  Hemingway  School,  grade  5,  for  his 
magnificent  collection  of  shells ,  and  the 
third  p^ize  to  Laraine  Humora,  Mary 
Hemingway  School,  for  her  lovely  collec- 
tion of  dolls  in  hand-made  dresses. 
There  vrere  three  honorable  mentions.  The 


-15~ 


first  went  to  Iviarcia  Currier,  St  Ann's, 
Gr.  8,  for  her  doll  collection,   the  second 
to  John  Faherty,  St  Ann's,   Gr,    6,  for 
his  oil  painting,   and  the  third  to 
Bernard  Osborne,  Minot  School,   Gr,  5, 
for  his  model  planes, 

Phillips  Brooks 

In  celebration  of  St  Patrick's  Day- 
Phillips  Brooks  displayed  a  lovely  Irish 
exhibit  for  the  month  of  March,  Items 
of  Caracmacross  lace  and  Irish  linen 
formed  the  base  of  the  display  in  the 
hall  case.  Several  carved  oieces  of 
bogiTOod,  the  Round  Tower,  a  Celtic  cross, 
a  jaunting  car  and  a  broach,  added  dark 
accents.  Silver  Tara  broaches  and  a 
shamrock  pin  of  Cannemara  narble  were 
particularly  interesting,  as  was  the 
colorful  Aran  island  belt.  The  beautiful 
was  exemplified  by  a  Belleck  vase,  the 
picturesque  by  a  black  thorn  shillelagh, 
and  the  quaint  by  an  Irish  colleen  doll 
and  several  sirall  leprechauns .  Two 
Mt  Helary  rosaries  made  of  horn  were  a 
lovely  addition  to  the  display. 

Residents  of  Readville  who  loaned 
items  for  the  exhibit  to  the  branch  are : 
Ifery  Bowen,  Patience  Brown,  Agnes  Leahy 
and  Catol  lately.  The  posters  and  scenic 
photographs  of  Ireland,  which  complemented 
the  exhibit,  vrere  loaned  by  the  Irish 
Tourist  Information  Bureau. 

Roslindale 

On  Thursday  evening,  I«1arch  l8,  Rosalyn 
S.  ■'.'■farner.  Children's  Librarian,  spoke 
before  a  Treating  of  the  Mozart  Home  and 
School  Association.  Her  talk,  directed 
at  the  importance  of  reading  material, 
nevf  procedures,  and  how  rjarents  can 
stimulate  an  interest  for  books  in  their 
children,  was  enthusiastically  received 
by  the  members  present. 


■K- 


Ellen  Richwaf<en,  recently  transferred 
to  North  End,  vras  entertained  by  the 
staff  at  the   Toll  House  in  TJhitman,   on 
Saturday,  March  27,     She  was  presented 
vjith  a  surprise  gift,  a  smart  handbag. 

South  Boston 

South  Boston  is  very  proud  to  announce 
that  tv/o  members   of  its  Imagination  Club, 
Katherine  Masselli  and  Barbara  Simison, 
were  awarded  prizes  for  poems  which  they 
submitted  to  the  annual  vrorld-wide  com- 


petition of  children's  draivlng  and  writing 
sponsored  by  Shankar's  Weekly  of  New 
Delhi,   India.     Katherine  Masselli  is 
11  years  old  and  in  the  seventh  grade  of 
Girls'   Latin  School)  at  the  time  she 
wrote  her  prize  poem  she  was   in  the  sixth 
grade  of  the  Norcross  School.      Barbara 
Simison  is  11  year  old  and  in  the  sixth 
grade   of  the  Norcross  School.     The  prize 
poems  were  published  in  the  December  1953 
Children's  Naimber  of  Shankar's  Weekly, 
and  were  chosen  from  among  17,000  entries 
from  boys  and  girls   of  ItU  countries. 
Prizes  for  the  winners  were  donated  by 
persons   of  distinction  in  India  including 
the  President  of  India,  Dr  Rajendra 
Prasad;   the  Vice-President,  Dr  S. 
Radhakrishnan;   and  Prime  Minister,  Pandit 
Jawaharlal  Nehru.     The  judges  vrere 
eminent  officials  ,   educators ,  and  private 
citizens.     Mrs  Indira  Gandhi  was  chairman 
of  the  selection  committee  which  vreeded 
out  the  entries  for  final  judgment. 

South  Boston's   Imagination  Club  is  now 
one  year  old.     It  is  an  activity  of  the 
Children's  Room  under  the  direction  of 
Martha  C,  Engler,  Children's  Librarian, 
The  Club  is  devoted  to  the  development 
of  the  creative  abilities  of  the  boys 
and  girls  v;ho  patronize  South  Boston, 
Virtually  every  child  ta^io  is  a  regular 
attendant  at  the  Library  is  a  member  and 
has  contributed  something  tov/ards  the 
success  of  the  Club.     Original  drawings, 
poems  and  stories  are  submitted  to  the 
Children's  Librarian.     The  good  ones  are 
posted  on  a  special  Imagination  Club 
bulletin  board  and  the  best  of  the   items 
submitted  are  sent  to  such  oeriodicals 
i-Aiich  accept  children's  work.     During  the 
one  year  of  the  Club's  existence  several 
children  have  had  the   thrill  of  seeing 
their  creative  efforts,   poems  and 
dravdngs ,   published  in  the  Horn  Book 
and  in  Hif^hlights  for  Children.     Mrs 
Irene  Tuttle  and  all  her  staff  at  South 
Boston  are   justly  proud  of  vjhat  the 
Imagination  Club  members  have  achieved, 

CHORA.L   GROUP 

The  recently  organized  B.P,L,  Choral 
Group  requires  the  services  of  a  nev^r 
director,  omng  to  the  resignation  from 
the  staff  of  Blair  Benner.  Volunteers 
for  this  activity  are  requested  to  see 
or  communicate  with  V/illiam  d'Rosario, 
Fine  Arts  Department 


-16- 


SOAP  BOX 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must 
be  accompanied  by  the  full  name  of  the 
Association  member  submitting  it,  to- 
gether vdth  the  name  of  the  Branch  Librai^^ 
Department,  or  Office  in  which  he  or  she 
is  employed.  The  name  is  vfithheld  from 
publication,  or  a  pen  name  used,  if  the 
contributor  so  requests.  Anonymous 
contributicais  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  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  vri. th  the  views 
expressed.  Only  those  contributions 
containing  not  more  than  300  words  will 
be  accepted. 


To  the  Editor: 

Does   it  not  seem  grotesque  that  the 
Library  should  ba  closed  on  March  17 
and  April  19,  virhich  are  local  holidays, 
and  open  on  Easter  Sunday,  vifhich  from  the 
beginning  has  been  the  first  and  highest 
holiday  of  the  Christian  Church,   and 
was  celebrated  long  before  the  time  of 
the  Christmas  festival  was  decided  upon? 
This  year,   thanks   to  the  moon,   it  also 
happens  that  the  time  of  the  Passover 
of  the  Jevri-sh  faith  coincides  v/ith  the 
date  of  Easter  on  April  18   (cf.  a  letter 
from  Professor  Bancroft  H,   Erovm  of 
Dartmouth  College  in  the  Boston  Herald 
of  April  6). 

One  may  say,  of  course,  that  the 
practice   of  keeping  the  Library  open  on 
Sundays   involves  the   inclusion  of 
ecclesiastically  special  Siindays,     That 
is  right — but  should  not  a  difference  be 
made  for  the  greatest  festival  of   the 
Christian  year?     Nobody  can  lightly 
exchange  duty  on  his  assigned  Sunday,   if 
it  falls   on  Easter,  with  another  staff 
member,   because  it  would  be  Easter  Sunday 
for  that  worker  tooo     Then  there  is  the 
familiar  objection  that  somebody  would 
be  losing  the  time-and-a  half  that    he  had 
counted  on  if  his  Sunday  work  were  omitted, 
That  would  not  be  so  tragic  if  one  knew 
from  the  start  th?t  the  year's   cycle  of 
Sundays  contained  just  one  less  than 


before,   and  anyone  in  need  of  the  money 
could,   I  presume,   put  in  a  Sunday's 
work  in  his  vacation,     I  hiimbly  invite 
discussion  of  this  problem, 

Paschala 

Dear  Editor: 

Would  it  be  possible  to  be  brought 
up-to-date  on  the  handling  of  lost  and 
found  articles? 

The  notice   of  October  28,  19Uh,  Lost 
and  Found  Articles,   say^  in  part, 
"  . .  .Articles  vj-hich  are  found  by  members 
of  the  staff  about  the  building  should 
be-  turned  in  to   the  office  of  the  Super- 
intendent of  Buildings  for  safekeeping 
and  return  to  rightful  owners..." 
(underlining    mine). 

In  the  Staff  fenual  for  the  Bibliothecal 
Service,  Trial  Edition,   November  19li8, 
(Is  there  ever  going  to  be  another  edi- 
tion?) P  76  reads:   "Articles  left  by 
members  of  the  staff  and  of  the  public  in 
any  part  of  the  Central  Library  building 
are  to  b  e  sent  to  the  Office  of  the 
Superintendent  of  Buildings,  where  a 
Lost  and  Found  Record  is  made..." 

It  seems  that  "safekeeping"   consists 
of  placing  the  articles   turned  in  on  a 
window  sill  in  a  room  which  is  not 
locked  and  which,  at  tines  is  left  un- 
attended,    I  understand  that  after  there 
is  an  accumulation  of  articles,  they 
are  removed  elsewhere  for  .storage,   but 
in  the  meantime — ?     If  any  Lost  and 
Found  Record  is  made  out,  apparently 
the  name  of  the  finder  and  the  location 
of  the  article  vifhen  found  is  not  in- 
cluded s:'nce  no  questions  concerning 
these  facts  or  any  other  facts  are  asked 
of  the  finder  as  far  as  I  know. 

And  TiThy  should  not  a  receipt  be  given 
to  the  finder  in  all  cases  but  especially 
if  the  article  found  is  a  valuable  one? 

NOE  REE  WARD 

Dear  Editor: 

Some  time  ago  the  Soap-Box  carried 
an  item  called  "Ballade  Upon  a  Reference 
Letter,"     \Thich  enjoyed  some  popularity. 
Could  I  ask  that  the  poem  be  reprinted 
to  serve  a  neiT  need  at  this  timeo 

A  Smecd  fan 


-17- 


BALLADE  UPON  A  F.EFiT.E':ICE  REPLY 

One  Phineas  Pharphel,  clerkc   of  Den  bury. 

Conn. 
Troubled  by  questions  he  did  think  upon 
Bethought  himself  a  letter  he  vrould  vnTitc 
With  celerity  and  svvif  tly  expedite 
To  seek  the  answer  to  his  mystery 
Unto  the  largo  and  public  library 
Vifhich  situate  in  Boston  tovm  doth  be 
Noted  for  prompt  and  simple  courtesy. 

Betimes  the  letter  came  to  Copley  Square 
Passed  through  the  divers  official  channels 

there 

■"Vas  stamped  and  dated  by  the  higher  echelcr 
And  then  the  lovfer  until  it  came  anon 
With  dispatch  and  with  right  good  speed 
Unto  the  hand  of  Athanasius  Smeod. 
A  lovrly  reference  fellow  was  this  Sraced, 
Quite  fond"  of  lore  and  given  to  bookish 

screed, 
I'STho  took  to  heart  each  notice  and  memor- 
andum 
(Swallowed  'em  whole  vAiile  others  only 

scanned  'em) 
Ambitious,  young  and  happy  in  the  notion 
Advancing  years  would  bring  a  Big  Promo- 
tion. 

Right  merrily  and  vdth  a  right  good  vfill 
Smeed  set  to  work  and  searched  and 

searched  until 
Within  a  tome  quite  ancient,  beat  and 

musty 
He  came  upon  the  answer  "presto  fusti" 
(¥Jhich  is  Italian  for,  "I  do  declare 
^Vho'd  ever  think  to  find  that  there  thing 

there.") 
Straightway  he  sat  to  vrrite  his  discovery 
Unto  the  scholar  in  distant  Danbury 
In  simple  l^npMa7,e   such  as  he  vms  taught 
In  the  grammar  school  where  learning  he 

had  sought; 
Dotted  each  i  and  corssed  each  tiny  t 
And  felt  his  mind  at  rest  and  conscience 

free. 

He  little  recked  the  chore  he  thought  all 
done 

Was  only  just,  arxl  not  too  well,  begun, 

For  libraries  lirge  and  proud  of  reputa- 
tion 

Before  they'll  send  a  letter  through  the 
nation 

Blessed  vri.th  their  sign  and  signatmre  upon 
it 

Ifcist  have  it  perfect  as  Petrarchean 
sonnet J 


And  for  to  safeguard  'gainst  fate  melan- 
choly 
Brouciht  on  by  indiscreet  and  youthful 

folly 
Have  wisely  chosen  experts  to  examine 
Each  reference  letter  for  deadly  gravamen. 

Smeed 's  paltry  prose  they  pounced  upon 

ivith  glee 
Uncovering  each  fault  vifith  great 

alacrity; 
Inserting  colons  vjhere  colons  there  were 

none. 
Inserting  semi's  vrhero  commas  were  begun. 
And  one  did  think  the  choice  of  words  too 

massive; 
And  one  did  think  the  mood  not  enough 

passive; 
And  one  did  think  it  brief  unto  a  failing; 
And  one  did  think  it  hypersesquipedalian. 
And  so  it  went  and  so  corrections  grc\? 
'Til  Ossa  piled  on  Pelion  poor  Smeed  kncTv. 

(There  vp.s  no  malice  in  it,  there's  no 
question, 

For  all  remarks  were  meant  just  as  sugges- 
tion. 

But  since  suggestions  were  scribbled  on 
his  letter 

Smeed  had  to  type  it  over;  'twould  look 
better.) 

So  back  and  forth  it  v/hisked,  the  sad 

epistle. 
And  Smeed,  careworn,  forgot  to  sing  or 

whistle. 
Unhappy  Smeed  a.s  his  mistakes  grew  more, 
He  made  mistakes  he'd  never  heard  of  be- 
fore, 
'Til  lo  1  at  last,  as  he  reached  the  break- 
ing point. 
Tired  and  vreary,  an  ache  in  every  joint. 
His  answer  was  approved  without  delay 
Three  years  from  date  received  right  to 
the  day 

And  then  anon  there  cam£  a  grateful  note 
From  Danbury,  Connecticut,  'tv;as  \nrote, 
"My  husband  would  have  found  your  answer 

fascinating 
But  Phineas  Pharphel  died  while  he  was 

waiting." 

The  End 


-18- 


LATE  FLASH 

Mr  and  Mrs   PtuI  C onion  have  announced 
the  birth  of  a  SGCond  son,  Robert  Francis, 
on  April  12.     I'irs  Conlon  is  the  foriiEr 
I'/Hldrcd  Francis   of  Branch  Issue  and  Business 
Office, 


NOTICE 


The  follovdng  unbound  issues  of  Sub- 
scription  Books  Bulletin  have  not  been  on 
shelf  in  the  Staff  Library  for  some  months 
and  are  not  charged  out.  It  is  urgently 
requested  that  they  be  returned  to  the 
Staff  Library  so  thit  the  set  may  be  bound. 


y 


1950  Volume  21     Numbers   1 

1951  Volume  22     Number  1 

LATER  FLASH 

Bon  Voyage  to  Anne  M.   Connolly,  South 
End,  T^ho  has  left  for  three  months   in  Mexico, 
where  she  will  visit  a  niece  and  travel 
extensively. 


HAPPY     EASTERl 


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


Volume  IX,   Number  5 


fey  19^k 


Publications  Committee:  Gerald  L.  Ball,  John  J,  McCafferty,  Sheila  W,  Pierce, 


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 

Several  weeks  ago  the  195U  Profes- 
sional Staff  Association  membership  cards 
were  sent  out.  I  was  present  when  somie 
sub-professionals  received  theirs.   In  a 
group  of  about  seven,  the  only  reaction 
was  indifference.  One  young  man  didn't 
even  know  what  the  Staff  Association  was. 
He  barely  remembered  joining  and  he  said 
he  only  did  so  because  he  thought  he  had 
to. 

Until  a  couple  of  years  ago,  sub— pro- 
fessionals really  felt  that  they  were  a 
part  of  the  Association.  They  discussed 
various  issues  at  relief  time  and  over 
their  lunches,  issues  that  didn't  nec- 
essarily concern  them  and  their  jobs. 
They  enjoyed  attending  meetings  and  they 
were  anxious  about  the  outcome  of  elec- 
tions. And  it  didn't  take  new  staff 
members  long  to  find  out  about  the  Asso- 
ciation. They  heard  their  friends  dis- 
cussing it  and  they  heard  mention  of  it, 
however  casual,  all  during  their  work 
week.  But  between  then  and  now  something 
has  happened. 

It  can't  be  said  that  the  Association 
is  to  blame.  Its  reasons  for  existence 
are  clear  ani  the  sub-professional  can 
find  them  out  simply  by  asking  a  few 
questions.  It  was  organized  by  library 
people  for  library  people  and  its  purpose 
is  to  give  these  people  a  chance  to  dis- 
cuss mutual  problems  with  the  hope  of 
finding  solutions.  It  has  no  powers  out- 
side of  itseK  and,  strictly  speaking,  it 
has  no  rights.  Its  there  simply  to  give 
you  a  chance  to  bring  your  problems  to 
the  attention  of  others «, 

Perhaps  you're  asking,  where  is  the 
incentive  for  the  sub-professional's 
learning  more  about  a  group  that  clearly 
calls  itself  the  Professional  Staff 
Association?  IITiere  is  the  assurance  that, 
in  that  Association,  the  sub-prof essioxHl 
has  as  much  voice  as  the  Professional? 
Perliaps  you're  convinced  that  nobody 


cares  about  the  sub-professionals,  I 
think  the  important  thing  is  that  the 
sub-professionals  care  about  themselves. 
If  you  feel  that  the  sub-professionals 
have  a  problem,  talk  about  it.  Bring  it 
up  at  the  meetings.  Nag  and  nag  and 
keep  on  nagging,  !&ke  people  realize 
that  it's  important  to  you.  If  you  feel 
that  we  don't  have  adequate  representa- 
tion among  the  Association  officers,  talk 
about  it.  Write  to  the  Soap-Box .  That's 
what  it's  here  for.   If  having  something 
to  gripe  about  and  someone  to  gripe  to 
are  the  only  thing^s  that  will  stimulate 
your  interest,  then  do  so,  by  all  means. 
Anything  is  better  than  indifference. 
And  remember,  if  you  refuse  to  take 
advantage  of  a  chance  to  solve  your 
problems,  or  at  least  convince  others 
that  they  are  problems,  you're  giving  up 
one  of  your  most  preci-^us  rights — your 
right  to  complain. 

Sheila  V/,  Pierce 

CALENDAR  OF  EVENTS 

I'Tay  15.     Fourth  Annual  Film  Festival, 
Sheraton  Plaza  Hotel,  9  a,m. 

May  17,     B.P.L.Q.C.C,  annual  luncheon, 
Hotel  Lenox,  12  n. 

May  17-20.  S.L.A.  annual  convention, 
Cincinnati. 

Fay  20-21.  M.L.A.  annual  meeting.  The 
Northfield,  East  Northfield- 


?ay  28.  B.P.L.P.S.A,  business  meeting. 
Lecture  Hall,  Central  Library, 
9  a.m. 

June  3.     I&ry  U.  Nichols  Book  Prize 
Awards,  North  End,  8  p.m. 


-2- 


PERSONAL  M3TES 

Re-entered  Service 

ivlrs  Elizabeth  if.   Scannell  has   returned 

to  full-time  employment  at  Kirstein. 

Retirement 

Ralph  H,   Mann,   Buildings  Department,  after 
23  years  of  service. 

Transfers 

Louis  R,  O'Halloran,  from  Cataloging 

and  Classification  (H.R«  and  C.S.) 

to  the  Office  of  the  Div.  of  H.R.  and 

C.   S. 
Helen  A.  Connell,  from  Lower  Mills  to 

Mattapan . 
Carolyn  A.  Linehan,  from  Connolly  to  Mt 

Bowdoin. 
Irene  M.  Mains,  from  Mt  Bowdoin  to 

Hospital  Library  Service. 

Resignation 

Elizabeth  Sarjeant,  Hospital  Library 
Service . 

BIRTHS 

Ivir  and  Virs   John  Lerch  have  announced 
the  birth  of  a  sen,   Bruce  Werner,  on 
April  20.     Mrs  Lerch  is  on  leave  of 
absence  from  Audio-Visual,     Jtr  Lerch 
formerly  worked  in  Periodical  and  News- 
paper, 

lir  and  Mrs  Asburj^  H.   Herrick  have 
announced  the  birth  of  a  daughter,  Sarah 
Elaine,   on  April  21,     Mrs  Herrick  is  on 
leave  of  absence  from  North  End. 


Mr  and  Iv^s  Robert  vToodTrard  have  an- 
nounced the  birth  of  a  son,  Iviatthew 
Robert,   on  May  2 . 

TOPPINGS 

On  April  2k,  Elizabeth  Sarjeant, 
Hospital  Library  Service,  was  married  to 
John  Robert  Bernier  at  St  Gregory's 
Church,  Dorchester.     Follomng  a  honey- 
moon in  New  York  State  and  Canada,  Mr 
and  Mrs  Bernier  will  make  their  home  in 
Baltimore. 

■5(- 

On  Sunday,  ¥ia.y   2,  19^h,   Phoebe  Lipsky, 
Office  of  Division  of  Home  Reading  and 
Community  Services ,  became  the  bride  of 
Harold  Reff .  After  a  honeymoon  in 
Qiaebec,  Mr  and  Mrs  Reff  will  make  their 
home  in  Riverdale,  New  York. 


T  WISHES  FOR 


A  SPEEDY  RECOVERY 
"to 


John  ¥,  Tuley,  Fire  Control  Center 
Elizabeth  M.  Kernachan,  Mt  Bowdoin 
Isabel  G.  Finn,  Bookmobile  II 
Elizabeth  S.  Good,  Central  Charging  Records 
Rosemary  M,  Corcoran,  Office  of  Div.  of 

H.Ra  and  C.  S. 
Palmira  Piciulo,  Cataloging  and  Classifica- 
tion (So  and  R.  S.) 

WE  ITCLCOtE  BACK 

A.  Gertrude  Barry,  Personnel 
Marjorie  Gibbons,  Washington  Village 
Ruth  McNamee,  Branch  Issue 

BPLPSA  WELCOME  ID  imt  nEmms 

filrs   Harriet  Holve,   Business  Office 
Nancy  A.  Lovis ,   Trustees'  Office 
Margaret  li/Iacdonald,  Director's  Office 
Hugh  S.  MacKay,  Central  Charging  Records 
Joseph  N.  O'Brien,  Central  Charging  Records 

CONGRATULATIONS 
to 

Helen  Pappas,    Information,  vifho  was   one 
of  a  committee  of  four  judges  in  the 
"Rose  Marie"  contest  sponsored  by  the 
Sheraton  Plaza  Hotel  and  the  Canadian 
National  Railways. 

Frederick  E.  Banker,  part-time  assistant, 
Book  Stack  Service,  who  has  been  placed 
on  the  Pean's  List  at  Harvard  where  he  is 
a  Sophomore o     Fred  is   the  son  of   J.   J, 
Danker,   Buildings, 

Marie  Devlin,  Book  Selection  (H.R.   and 
C,S«)  who  has  been  chosen  a  delegate  to 
the  Republican  pre-primary  convention  to 
be  held  in  Worcester  on  June  12,   19514. 

BON  VOYJiGE 
to 

Evelyn  Levy,  Egleston  Square,   and 
Taimi  Lil ja ,  Codman  Square,  who   sailed 
on  the  Ryndam,  from  Hoboken,  on  Friday, 
April  30,  for  two  months  in  England  and 
France o 

Mildred  R.   Soraee,   Book  Preparation,  who 
flies  to  Bermuda  on  Ifey  15,  v/here  she 
will  spend  two  weeks. 


-3- 


Dorothy  Codworth,  North  End,  who 
sailed  on  fey  lii  for  two  months  in  England, 
Scotland,  France^ and  Italy, 

CIVIL  DEFENSE 

Official  Daylight  Air  Raid  Test 

On  Saturday,  April  2k,   the  City  of  Bos- 
ton Department  of  Civil  Defense  conducted 
a  region-wide  test  involving  public  parti- 
cipation. The  Red  Alert  sounded  at  9:05 
a.m.  and  the  Vifhite  Alert  (All-Clear  Sig- 
nal) at  9:1^  a.m. 

The  Central  Library  building  op??nod  as 
usual  at  9  a.m.,  but  the  public  vras  not 
permitted  to  go  beyond  the  main  entrance 
hall  until  after  9:l5  a.m.  Branch  Li^^ 
braries  also  opened  at  9  a.m.  and  followed 
the  regular  procedure  in  effect  during 
previous  Air  Raid  Tests.  Excellent  co- 
operation by  both  public  and  staff  members 
was  reported  throughout  the  library 
system. 

Group  Meetings 

As  planned  by  the  Department  of  Civil 
Defense,  Social  Services  Division,  group 
meetings  took  place  on  April  28,  at  2:30 
p.m.,  in  thirteen  junior  high  school 
buildings  throughout  the  city.  Arrange- 
ments within  each  building  were  made  by 
the  Headmaster,  follovj-ing  a  plan  of  pro- 
cedure set  forth  by  Civil  Defense  head- 
quarters. Registration  took  place  prior 
to  the  general  meeting,  at  which  back- 
ground information  on  Civil  Defense  -was 
presented  either  by  the  Headmaster  or  a 
representative  from  Civil  Defense  head- 
quarters. Group  meetings  follovred  at 
v/hich  registration  Yns  taken  for  each 
particular  group,  and  mimeographed 
material  on  the  work  of  the  unit  was  dis- 
tributed » 

Following  the  meetings ,  all  volunteers 
from  the  Library,  in  response  to  a  brief 
questionnaire,  have  eiven  their  fr?jik  re- 
actions to  the  value  of  the  meetings,  A 
summary  is  being  prepared  and  will  be 
forwarded  to  Civil  Defense  headquarters, 
in  the  belief  that  this  information, 
supplied  in  a  spirit  of  cooperation, 
will  be  of  aid  in  making  plans  for  future 
action. 

Sarah  M.  Usher 


BPL  STAFF  IN  PRINT 

The  Boston  Sunday  FOST's  nev/  Accent 
on  Youth  section  has  recently  been 
carrying  a  Teen  About  Tovm  column  by 
Linda  Pagliuca,  of  North  End.  Miss 
Pagliuca  has  been  vjriting  a  regular  Teen 
Topics  column  in  THE  ITALIAN  NEYiCS,  a 
local  North  End  newspaper,  for  some  time. 

B.P.L.  IN  HONG  KONG  SCH30L 

Is  anyone  planning  a  vacation  to  Hong 
Kong  this  summer?  If  so,  we  recommend  a 
visit  to  the  Maryknoll  Sisters  in  Kowloon 
Tong.  There,  you  will  not  only  meet 
Sisters  from  Boston  and  other  parts  of 
New  England,  but  you  vail  see  two  of  our 
Holy  Grail  pictures  proudly  displayed. 
In  order  to  bring  a  touch  of  Boston  to 
Hong  Kong,  the  Sisters  recently  purchased 
large-size  paintings  of  the  Departure 
and  the  Golden  Tree.  Now,  suitably 
framed,  they  adorn  the  walls  of  the  new 
School  Library  and  are  of  general  interest 
to  all  and  an  inspiration  to  the  Chinese 
children, 

CARE 

A  gentle  reminder  that  you  CARE 
The  burden  of  others  a  bit  to  pare. 

Though  the  need  is  still  really  great 
Contributions  have  been  lagging  up-to-date. 

With  me   I  hope  you  will  bear 
Yvhen  again  I  ask  that  you  CARE, 

FOUND   IN  THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 

Simple  library  cataloging,  by  Susan  G.  Akers 
This  book  may  be  claimed  by  the   owier 
in  the  Personnel  Office. 


A,  L.  A.  Annual  Conference  19 ^h 
Minneapolis,  Minnesota 
June  20-26 
JOIN        A.     L.     A.         N    0     Will 


For  application  blanks,  contact: 

Sarah  M.  Usher 

A.L.A.  Membership  Committee 

Office  of  Records,  Files,  Statistics 


-k- 


A  NDTE  OF   THANKS 


PRESIDENT'S  NOTES 


i'iy  -vmn  appreciation  and  heartfelt 
greeting  to  those  yino  made  the  afternoon 
of  Vfednesday,  April  lU,   such  a  memorjible 
and  h^ppy  occasion    for  me.     All  of  it 
vfas  wholly  unexpected  and  came  as  a   total 
surprise. 

The  handsome  memory  book,  designed  and 
executed  so  vrell  by  the  Binding  Depart- 
ment,  contains   so  m?.ny  expressions  of 
friendship  and  vrarm  good  v/ishes  that  it 
vj-ill  be  a  prized  possession  to  turn  to 
oftentimes  in  the  future  days. 

The  other  tokens  of  esteem  given  to 
me  are  highly  v^.lued  as  well.     An  etching 
by  Mr  Helntzelman  of  Beethoven  presented 
to  me  by  the   Music  Department  staff   in 
the  early  afternoon  will  h^vc  an  honored 
place  in  my  home.     It  will  serve  as  a 
constant  reminder  of  the  excellent  co- 
operation and  loyalty  of  a  capable  staff. 

Later  in  the  afternoon  I  had  a  con- 
ference scheduled  with  Ivir  Hunsley  to  dis- 
cuss Music  Department  organization  and 
acquisition  policies.     It  vras   interrupted 
very  delightfully  by  a  mass   invasion  of 
the   office  by  Department  Heads  and 
colleagues  in  the  Division  of  Reference 
and  Research  Services.     At  this  time   I 
vras   overv^helmed  v/ith  a  ^^if  t     [  on  behalf 
of  the  staff  of  the  B.P.L.]     of  ane 
opera  glasses  and  a  serviceable  barometer 
vfhich  pleased  me  grDatly.     The  day  of 
surprises  was  not  yet  complete  J     The 
ensuing  coffee  hour  was  memorable  and 
touched  me  very  much.      The  \varm  ex- 
pression of  good  -./ishos  by  staff  members 
and  a  few  distinguished  music  friends 
made  the  occasion  truly  memorable  and 
touched  me   very  much. 

To  one  and  all  -.jho  no.de  this  occasion 
such  a  happy  one,  and  to  all  those  iTith 
whom  I  have  had  such  pleasant  associa- 
tions  in  the  past,    I  give  my  heartfelt 
thanks  ind  my  warm  greetings, 

Richard  G.  Appel 


"A  man  with  both  feet 
on  the  ground  hasn't  far  to 
fall," 


The  Library's  Open  House  festivities 
on  Sunday,  May  2 ,  brought  to  a  pie  asant 
conclusion  the  formal  celebration  of  the 
Centennial,  It  has  been  a  year  of  events 
vdiich  we  shall  often  recall.  The 
magnificent  Centennial  Dinner  for  the 
Library  Staff;  the  Staff's  Centennial 
Gift  to  the  Library,  a  gift  which  has 
been  proposed  to  be  a  part  of  the  addition 
to  the  Library  as  a  memorial  to  the  Li- 
brary's dead  of  World  V/ar  IIj  the  Cen- 
tennial Fair  with  its  wonderful  spirit  of 
fun  and  camaraderie;  the  Library's  Open 
House  and  Birthday  Party;  all  these  con- 
tributed to  make  19^3-Sk   a  most  memorable 
one  for  the  staff. 

Yet,  we  must  still  look  to  the  future 
and  it  promises  to  be  a  glorious  and 
exciting  one.  Our  Centennial  Ifusical 
Revue,  which  will  be  presented  in  the 
fall,  will  continue,  we  are  sure,  the 
high  level  of  accomplishment  attained 
in  the  past  year. 

The  Centennial  Celebration  has  served 
to  acquaint  both  librarian  and  layman 
with  the  historic  significance  and 
momentous  progress  of  the  Boston  Public 
Library  in  its  first  century.  But  the 
goal  of  our  efforts  is  yet  to  be  attained — 
the  provision  of  more  adequate  library 
services  and  resources  for  the  community 
in  the  proposed  nev/  addition  to  the 
Central  Library  Building  and  in  new 
branch  libraries.  The  fund  raising  for 
this  purpose  is  expected  to  continue 
for  several  years.  And  so,  in  a  sense, 
the  Centennial  Celebration  will  continue 
until  the  new  addition  is  built  and 
functioning.  The  spirit  of  helpfulness 
and  cooperation  -v^iich  have   characterized 
the  past  year  will  not  fail  to  speed 
the  day  when  our  goal  will  be  achieved. 


The  Executive  Board,  at  its  March 
meeting,  authorized  the  selection  of 
j  Charles  L,  Higgins,  Chief  of  General 

Reference,  as  a  nominee  of  the  Professional 
Staff  Association  for  the  Steering 
Committee  of  the  Staff  Organizations 
Round  Table  for  195)4-?5. 

B,  Joseph  O'Neil 


-5- 


ROUND  TABLE  OF  LIBRARIANS 
FOR  YOUNG  ADULTS 

The  Spring  Meeting  was  held  on  Thursday 
morning,  Kay  6,  at  the  new  Thayer  Mem- 
orial Library  in  South  Braintree,  Follow- 
ing a  coffee  hour  and  a  business  meeting, 
presided  over  by  Isabel  Handy,  Chairman, 
Harry  Stubbs,  science  teacher  at  Milton 
Academy  and  author  (under  the  pseudonym 
of  Hal  Clement),  and  A.  Phyllis  Freeman, 
assistant  at  Mattapan,  discussed  the 
selection  of  science-fiction  novels  for 
youni^  adult  readers. 

Although  he  has  published  many  short 
stories  in  leading  science-fiction 
magazines  and  has  been  praised  by  critics 
for  his  novels ,  Iceworld  ( 1953 ) ,  Mission 
of  Gravity  (1951|J  and  Needle  (1950),  the 
last  being  almost  a  classic  in  this  field, 
Mr  Stubbs  modestly  disclaimed  his  prowess 
as  a  critic.  In  attempting  to  set  up 
some  criteria  for  evaluating  science- 
fiction,  he  began  by  tracing  its  develop- 
ment from  Homer's  Odyssey  and  eighteenth 
century  scientists  like  Kepler  through 
H,  G.  Wells  to  early  tvrentieth  century 
examples  of  the  typical  western  plot 
backgrounded  in  space  and  peopled  with 
supermen.  That  siencc-fiction  has  today 
advanced  in  literary  merit  far  beyond 
such  incredible,  stereotyped  material 
is  due  in  part,  he  feels,  to  the  critical 
standards  set  up  by  John  W,  Campbell,  Jr, 
editor  of  Astounding  Science  Fiction 
magazine.  That  the  field  is  rising  in 
public  esteem,  he  feels  is  due  to  the 
fact  that  many  astute  writers  predicted 
such  an  explosion  as  that  at  Hiroshima 
long  before  19U5«  Since  leading  science 
fiction  authors  aim  at  plausibility, 
logical  plot  development,  and  convincing 
characterization,  it  is  reasonable,  then, 
for  librarians  to  demand  these  elements 
of  good  writing.  Exact  scientific 
accuracy  is,  on  the  other  hand,  less 
important.  In  fact,  the  dividing  line 
between  science-fiction  and  fantasy  almost 
defies  definition.  Here  the  main  ques- 
tion is  still  the  one  which  the  critic 
should  always  ask;  Vifhat  has  the  author 
tried  to  do  and  has  he  succeeded  in  doing 
it?  To  censor  Hal  Clement  for  poor 
characterization  would  be  foolish,  said 
Mr  Stubbs,  since  he  does  not  pretend 
to  be  able  to  recreate  people  and  de- 
liberately uses  as  characters  creatures 
from  other  planets.  His  own  aim,  Mr 
Stubbs  revealed,  is  to  bring  together 


facts  and  hypothe.ses  from  latest  scientific 
research,  to  fashion  them  into  a  logical 

story  and  then  to  sit  back  defying  anyone 
to  pick  flav;s  in  his  science,   (Someone, 
incidentally,  rocked  Mr  Stubbs '  self • 
confidence  by  pointing  out  a  glaring 
error  concerned  with  sailing  which  ap- 
peared in  Mission  of  Gravity) o 

In  essence.  Miss  Freeman  agreed  with 
Jilr  Stubbs'  criteria  for  judging  science- 
fiction.  Eaving  become  an  unofficial 
expert  upon  this  field  by  dint  of  ex- 
tensive reading  md  having  wide  experience 
vdth  a dolescents  in  her  capacity  as  an 
assistant  in  charge  of  work  vdth  young 
adults.  Miss  Freeman  has  found  that 
literary  merit  and  scientific  accuracy 
usually  go  hand  in  hand  and  that  young 
people  seek  first  a  good  story.  Hov/ever, 
she  noted  some  leading  vnriters  like  Ray 
Bradbury  who  produce  provocative,  highly 
ontortaining  stories  v\^ich  prove  to  be 
almost  entirely  inaccurate  or  improbable 
in  their  hypotheses.  Pointing  out  that 
junior  high  school  students  may  best  be 
introduced  to  science-fiction  through  the 
books  of  Robert  Heinlein  which  lead 
naturally  to  the  usually  acceptable 
Winston  science-fiction  series,  Miss 
Freeman  concluded  by  distributing  to  the 
group  a  valuable  bibliography  ivhich  she 
had  originally  prepared  for  the  training 
course  in  Literature  for  Young  Adults 
given  at  the  Boston  Public  Library, 

After  the  meeting,  Round  T^ble  members — 
including  the  large  number  of  Boston 
Public  Library  staff  present — enjoyed  a 
tour  of  the  modern,  sunlit  building 
conducted  by  their  hostesses,  the  staff 
of  the  Thayer  Memori=.l  Library,  and 
lunched  together  at  the  Allison  House, 
Braintree  » 

BLOOD  DONOR  PROCEAM 

City  of  Boston. 

Employees  Blood  Donor  Program 

Many  employees  virho  have  been  unable  to 
join  the  City  of  Boston  Employees  Blood 
Donor  Program  because  of  a  history  of 
jaundice  or  malaria  are  now  eligible,  it 
appears,  according  to  an  article  in  the 
Boston  Sunday  Post,  May  9,  1951i,  Po  3o 

"Men  and  women  formerly  turned  down 
because  they  once  suffered  from  either 
jaundice  or  malaria  now  are  being 
accepted  as  blood  donors  by  the  Red  Cross, 
Chair ma.n  Daniel  Needham  of  the  blood 


-6- 


program  disclosed  last  night. 

Persons  vdio  have  had  jaundice  but  have 

suffered  no  attacks  during  th3  past  two 
years  can  no\T  give  blood.  Those  virho  have 
had  malarial  fever  or  suppressive  therapy 
for  malaria  and  have  had  no  malarial 
attack  or  therapy  for  the  past  six  months 
are  also  eligible. 

The  blood  given  by  these  donors  will 
not  be  used  as  Yrhole  blood  or  plasma, 
General  Needham  expl-^.ined,  but  will  be 
made  into  blood  fractions, 

"The  men  and  vromen  who  care  enough 
about  their  fellow  men  to  give  blood, 
■whether  they  have  medical  histories  or 
always  have  been  in  top  health,"  General 
Needham  said,  "are  the  backbone  of  our 
program.  We  always  need  new  donors  to 
meet  the  constant  demands  made  on  our 
blood  bank." 

CATHOLIC  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION 

The  New  England  Unit  met  at  the  Boston 
Public  Library  on  May  8,  at  2  p.m. 
Despite  the  rainy  weather,  about  sixty 
members  and  guests  were  present,  from 
as'  far  away  as  Springfield^and  Portland, 
Ilaine. 

The  first  speaker  of  the  day,  Milton 
E.  Lord,  Director,  was  introduced  by  the 
Chairman  of  the  Unit,  Thomas  Reiners.  Mr 
Lord  welcomed  the  group  and  gave  a  most 
interesting  talk  on  the  Library,  past  and 
present.  He  was  followed  by  Patrick  F. 
McDonald,  President  of  the  B.P.L,  Trustees 
who  added  his  word  of  welcome  and  paid 
tribute  to  the  organization. 

Mr  Reiners  presented  a  testimonial 
to  the  Library  from  the  Catholic  Library 
Association,  together  with  a  check,  a 
small  offering  for  the  Centennial  Fund, 

Mary  Alice  Rea,  Program  Director,  then 
acted  as  Moderator  of  a  panel  discussion 
on  Visual  Aids,  Four  specialists  took 
part  in  the  discussion:  Lottie  Lenn, 
art  critic  of  The  PILOT  and  faculty 
member  of  the  Nevj-  England  Conservatoiy 
of  iitusic;  Arthur  Sheehan  of  New  York,  fiUm 
director  for  CARE5  Francis  E.  Murphy, 
director  of  audio-visual  work  at  Boston 
College;  and  Euclid  J.  Peltier  of  the 
B.P.L.  Audio-Visual  Department. 

Before  and  after  the  meeting  tours  of 

the  building  were  in  order,  and  as  one 

guest  expressed  it,  "I  am  amazed  at  the 

mazes  in  this  building."  Punch  and 

cookies,  served  in  the  lounge,  ended  an 

enjoyable  day.    ,    t  „j   • 
"^  •'      ''  Anna  L,  Manning 


EOIVLIHG  LEAGUE  BANQUET 

The  fifth  annual  Banquet  of  the  B.P.L,' 
Bowling  League  was  held  on  Tuesday  nighty 
April  27,  at  the  Five  O'clock  Club,  The 
delicious  steaks  and  southern  fried 
chicken  put  on  again  all  the  extra  poundage 
that  the  hardy  bowlers  lost  during  the 
season. 

Team  and  individual  prizes  were  awarded 
to  honored  champs.  First  place  in  the 
standings  went  to  Team  #2..  nicknamed  the 
"cellar  dwellers"  and  captained  by  Bill 
Di  Rosario  of  Fine  Arts.  Jerry  Cudmore 
of  Cataloging,  Don  Ross,  formerly  of 
Cataloging,  Julia  '.'alker.  formerly  of 
South  End^  and  Joan  Mullaney  were  the  other 
members  of  the  championship  team. 

Jack  Kyle  of  the  Stock  Room  'vvas  the 
Master  of  Ceremonies,  Jack  •was  his  usual 
genial  self  in  presenting  the  "certificate 
of  achievment"  awards  (Form  8096|C#2,  he 
says )  to  all  the  bowlers .  A  key-ring 
adorned  with  a  bowling  ball  and  pin  were 
given  to  each  League  member  as  a  special 
memento  of  its  wooden  anniversary. 

Anne  Doherty  of  Charlestown  was  the 
only  member  of  the  league  v*io  came  from 
a  Branch  and  we  would  really  like  to  have 
many  more  of  the  branch  personnel  in  the 
league.  So  let  this  be  a  special  in- 
vitation to  all  the  branches  to  send  in 
their  bowlers  for  a  bigger  and  better 
Boston  Public  Library  Bowling  League  next 
season, 

Grantland  Ricepatty 

SOMEWHERE  IN  THE  LIBRARY  .  .  , 

lit.  The  late  Joseph  Linden  Smith, 

American  artist,  who  died  Oct.  I8,  19^0 
at  the  age  of  8?  years,  had  been  in 
his  lifetime  an  h'-^norary  curator  of 
the  department  of  Egyptian  art  at  the 
J'Juseum  of  Fine  Arts,  and  a  member  of 
the  visiting  committee  of  the  Semitic 
and  ancient  Egyrjtian  civilization 
department  at  Harvard  University. 
I'lfhen  he  vas  yet  a  young  painter  in 
Boston,  before  he  became  famous  for 
his    reproduction  of  ancient  Egyptian 
art,   IVIr  Smith  was   commissioned  by 
the   Boston  Public  Library  to  decorate 
a  portion  of  the  Central  Library 
building.     Can  you  locate  the  art  work 
which  Mr  Smith  did  for  the  Library  in 
the  early  years  of  the  Central   Library 
building  ? 


iSt     Elmer  E.  Garnseyj  American  artist 
and  mural  painter^  concentrated  upon 
mural  painting  and  color  as  applied  to 
architecture.     Mr  Garnsey's  decorations 
in  this  Library  are  considered  to  be 
a  concrete  example   of  his  v;ork.     His 
work  has  been  described  as  having  a 
strong  architectural  character  and 
"his   color  schemes  shovj  the   influence 
of  the  ancient  vrall-paintings  of 
Pompeii,  as  vrell  as  that  of   the   Italian 
masters   of  the  Renaissance."     Can  you 
locate  the  artistic  work  that  lie 
Garnsey  executed  for  the  Library? 

16,  The  two  great  poems,  the  Iliad  and 
the  Odyssey,  are   represented  in  one  of 
the  Library's  paintings  by  tiro  female 
figures :   one  wears  a  helmet  and 
carries  a  spear,  appropriate  to  the 
theme  of  the   Iliad ;   the  other  figure 
holds  an  oar,  appropriate  to   the   theme 
of  the  Odyssey,     Can  you  locate  these 
personifications  ? 

17.  In  what  painting  in  the  library  can 
you  see  portrayed  the  daughters  of 
Jupiter  and  i'Jinemosyne :  Calliope , 
Clio ,  Erato ,  Euterpe ,  Melpomene , 
Polyhymnia,   Terpsichore,  Thalia,   and 
Urania  <> 

Answers'  to  April  questions 

10.  Thomas  Sergeant  Perry.     The  Perry- 
memorial  tablet  is  on  the  north  wall 
of  the  courtyard. 

11.  Charles  Pollen  McKim,  architect. 
The  McKim  memorial  is  on  the  wall  of 
the  landing  of  the  staircase  leading 
to  the  Sargent  corridor. 

12 »     On  th6  vrest  wall  of  Bates  Hall  over 
the  balcony  above  the  main  entrance  to 
the  Hall  is  a  hemisphere  crossed  by 
a  belt  of  the    signs  of  the   zodiac. 

13.     Viewed  from  Puvis  de  Chavannes 
corridor,   it  is  the  first  painting 
on  the  left  in  the  Philosophy  panel 
of  the  Puvis  de  Chavannes   groupe 

Paul  V.  Moynihan 


CONGRATULATIONS  TO   THE  IHNNERS 
SF 

A.L.A.  Grants 

$100  each  toward  the  expense  of  attendance 
at  the  Annual  Conference  of  the  American 
Library  Association  in  Minneapolis,  Minne- 
sota, June  20-26,  19%: 

George  E.  Earley,  General  Reference 
Virginia  Haviland,  Open  Shelf 
Charles  L.  Higgins,  General  Reference 
Esther  E.  Jalonen,  Cataloging  and  Classi- 
fication (R.  and  R.  S.) 
Pauline  Winnick,  Open  Shelf 

Scholarship  Awards 

$100  each  for  study  at  library  schools 
during  the  twelve-month  period  dating 
from  June  15,  19Sk'' 

Charles  R.  Meehan,  Teachers 

Joseph  H,  Center  Scholarship 
Mary  M.  Mehlman,  fettapan 

Daniel  Treadwell  Scholarship 
Bette  B.  Preer,  Mt  Pleasant 

Daniel  Sharp  Ford  Scholarship 
Lawrence  K.  Vezin,  Open  Shelf 

Francis  Skinner  Scholarship 

BOOK  BONERS 
RECEIVED  IN  BRANCH  ISSUE 

The  Neck  Romancer 

(The  Necromancer) 
Bitch  of  Book  and  7fall 

(Bitch  of  ^cheravald:  Isle  Koch) 
Tender  Loin  in  the  Streets 

(Lion  in  the  Street) 
Two-door  Wench 

(Tudor  I'/ench) 
Jude  the  Obscene 

(Jude  the  Obscure) 
Crockery  in  the  Public  Schools 

(Quackery  in  the  Public  Schools) 


"There  are  minute  men, 
Trait  a  minute  men  and  last 
minute  men." 


APPOINTED  TO  FILL  VACANCY 


Pauline  Winnick,  Open  Shelf,  has  been  appointed 
to  fill  an  unexpired  term  as  Secretary  of  the  As- 
sociation of  Young  People's  Librarians,  A.L.A, 


-8- 


CENTENNUL  MDTES 
Re-dedication  Ceremony 

The  public  celebration  of  the  Cen- 
tennial Year  came  to  an  impressive  end  on 
Sunday,  llay  2,   from  3  to  6  o'clock,  A 
re-dedication  ceremony  i/ras  the  focus  of 
attention  for  over  ti/o  thousand  visitors. 
Bates  Hall,  Tfhere  the  ceremony  took 
place,  was  cleared  of  tables  and  desks 
and  provided  a  memorable  setting.   Just 
inside  the  central  entrance  to  the  Hall 
Twas  a  platform  ^where  a  giant  birthday 
cake,  decorated  -with  one  hundred  candles, 
was  displayed.   In  the  center  of  the  Hall 
mas  the  speakers'  platform,  A  large 
nvunber  of  Spring  flowers  adorning  both 
platforms  caused  exclamations  of  pleasure 
from  many  appreciative  visitors,  A 
chamber-music  ensemble  provided  music 
suited  to  the  solemn  occasion.  Among  the 
officials  present  to  greet  the  visitors 
during  the  reception  period  were: 
Patrick  F,  McDonald,  President  of  the 
Trustees  J  Frank  YJ",  Buxton  and  Lee  M. 
Friedman,  Trustees;  Milton  E,  Lord, 
Director;  and  Ralph  M,  Binney,  General 
Chairman  of  the  Centennial  Commission. 

Assisting  in  directing  the  public 
to  the  ceremony  and  ansvrering  questions 
were  a  group  of  Library  staff  members. 
This  group  also  provided  guided  tours 
which  included  inspection  of  four  models 
of  the  Library  and  the  proposed  addition, 
'^ich  were  on  display  in  the  Abbey  Room, 

The  Outdoor  Library,  an  extension  of 
the  Open  Shelf  Department,  was  opened  to 
the  public  for  the  first  time.  This 
Library,  situated  at  either  end  of  the 
Courtyard,  vras  a  center  of  attraction, 
as  was  the  Courtyard  itself.  Hundreds 
of  plants  in  bloom  brightened  the  festive 
occasion,  and  lent  color  to  the  usually 
quiet  atmosphere  of  the  Courtyard, 

At  four  o'clock  the  ceremony  was 
formally  opened  by  iv'ir  Lord  Vifhen  he 
addressed  the  assemblage.  He  paid 
tribute  to  three  founders  of  the  Library: 
George  Ticknor,  Edvrard  Everett,  and 
Joshua  Bates,  He  concluded  virith  a 
statement  that  the  library  officials  and 
staff  "now  rededicate  our  actions  and 
efforts  solemnly  to  the  ideals  of  these 
three  founders  of  the  Library," 

Mayor  John  B.  Hynes  spoke  of  his  ex- 
tensive use  of  the  Library  in  his  youth, 
and  commented  on  the  ircijestic  beauty  of 
Bates  Hall.  He  expressed  his  conviction 


that  in  another  one  hundred  years  vre  will 
lead  all  the  other  libraries  of  the  world 
because  our  plans  are  laid  in  that  direc- 
tion, 

Jir  McDonald  spoke  feelingly  of  the 
symbolism  of  the  Holy  Grail  murals  and 
how  it  aan  affect  our  lives  today.  He 
also  revealed  that  plans  now  completed 
viill  result  in  making  at  least  fifteen  of 
the  thirty-three  Branch  Libraries  as 
good  as  those  at  Egleston  Square  ar^d 
Adams  Street, 

Mr  Binney  paid  tribute  to  the  more  than 
six  hundred  and  fifty  men  and  women  of 
the  Centennial  Commission  who  gave  valuable 
time  and  assistance  to  further  the  interestf 
of  the  Centennial  Celebration. 

The  ceremonies  ended  with  the  cutting 
of  the  birthday  cake  by  Mrs  Michael 
White,  a  great  granddaughter  of  George 
Ticknor. 

Charles  J.  Gillis 

VISITORS 

Dr  Gunther  Beckers,  Director  of  Cultural 

Affairs,  Hanau,  Germany 
Dr  Hans  Breddin,  Editor,  Bucherei  und 

Pildung,  lErtemberg,  Germany 
German  Garcia,  Director-Bibliotecario  De 

La  Asociacion,  Bernardino  Rivadavia, 

Argentina 
Sigurd  Mohlenbrock,  Head  Librarian, 

Public  Library,  Norrkoping,  Sweden 

RETIREMENT 
Ralph  Mann 

You  undoubtedly  have  read  last  month's 
Question  Mirk;  if  not,  you  should  have, 
for  our  John  has  gone. 

Now,  Great  Balls  of  Fire  and  Stuff—  • 
tfet  Mann  about  Town,  Ralph  to  you,  son, 
has  pulled  up  stakes,  taken  to  his  chaise 
longue  for  a  much  needed  rest,  Ralph  is 
a  ataunch  patriot,  a  great  Legionnaire, 
and  a  Prince  at  heart.  A  "tenn"  that 
worked  virhile  we  slept  and  he  could  polish 
things  off  in  his  own  inimitable  way. 

(with  apologies  to — no  one) 

RECENT  APPOINTtENT 

The  Executive  Board  has  authorized  the 
appointment  of  Abraham  Snyder,  Cataloging 
and  Classification  (R.  and  R.  S.)  as 
Special  Advisor  to  the  Pensions  Committee. 


AN  ALUJBIUS  REUffiMBERS 


DEPARTIilENT  M3TES 


Edward  J,  Moore,  who  retired  from  the 
Library  in  I9I4.6  after  1?  years  in  the 
Buildings  Department,  recently  expressed 
in  a  very  tangible  way  his  appreciation 
of  his  past  connection  \Tith  the  B.P.L, 
He  presented  to  the  Library  a  copy  of 
Bishop  Fulton  J,  Sheen's  latest  book. 
Life -is  Worth  Living « 

NE1<Y  BOOKS   IN  THE  STAFF  LIBR.'^Y 
Non-Fiction — Library  Science 

Becker,  May  L,     First  adventures  in 

reading!   introducing  children  to  books, 

Philadelphia,  Lippincott,  19hl 
Davis,  Mary  G.     Randolph  Caldecott, 

18U6-1886 

Philadelphia,  Lippincott,  19ij.6 
Duff,  Annis ,  "Bequest  of  wings,"  a 

family's  pleasure  with  books » 

New  York,  Viking,  19hh 
Eaton,  Annie  T,  Reading  with  children 

New  York,  Viking,  19^2 
Eaton,  Annie  T»  Treasure  for  the  taking, 

a  book  list  for  boys  and  girls. 

New  York,  Viking,  1951 
Rose,  Ernestine,  The  public  library  in 

American  life. 

New  York,  Columbia  University  Press, 

I95I4 
Schenk,  Gretchen  K.  County  and  regional 

library  development. 

Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 

19Sh 
Winchell,  Constance  M,,  "ed.  Guide  to 

reference  books,  7th  ed,  Suppl, 

Chicago,  Aicerican  Library  Association, 

1951; 

Non-Fiction 

Bellonci ,  Maria,     The  life  and  times  of 

Lucrezia  Borgia, 

New  York,   Harcourt,   Brace,  1953 
Brooks,  Cleanth,     Understanding  fiction. 

New  York,  Appletonr^entury-Crofts, 

1913 
Highet,   Gilbert,     fen's  unconquerable 

mind. 

New  York,  Columbia  University  Press, 

19^h 
Merton,  Thomas,  Bread  in  the  vdlderness. 

New  York,  1953 

FICTION 
Thompson,  Morton,     Not  as  a  stranger. 
New  York,  Scribner,   1951; 


Information  Office 

On  Ifey  6,  Mrs   Isabella   (Pennampede) 
Windham,  former  member  of  the  staff, 
visited  the  officeo     She  and  her  husband 
were  en.  route  to  California  where  he  will 
spend  a  brief  period  of  study  before 
returning  to  the   Naval  Base  at  Norfolk, 
Virginia, 

Open  Shelf 

Pauline  Winnick,  past  president  of 
Metropolitan  Business  and  Professional 
Chapter,   B'nai  B'rith, has  been  elected 
recently  Recording  Secretary  of  B'nai 
B'rith  Greater  Boston  Council,  and 
Corresponding  Secretary  of  B'nai  B'rith 
Greater  Boston  Donor  Dinner  Committee. 

Print  Department 

On  I'hursday  afternoon.  May  6,  a  tea  and 
reception  was  held  in  Print  in  honor  of 
the  artist,  Robert  Fulton  Logan,  vjhose 
etchings  and  drypoints,  acquired  by  the 
Library  last  December,  are  on  exhibition 
in  the  Albert  H.  "'figgin  Gallery  during 
the  month  of  May,     Many  notables  attended, 
including  Mne,  Charles-Roux,   the  vfife  of 
the  French  Consul  in  Boston, 

Ivtr  Logan  is  a  former  Bostonian,  and 
his   prints ,  mostly  of  architectural 
subjects  in  France,  are  a  most  important 
addition  to  the  Library's  collections. 


BRANCH  NOTES 


Alls  ton 


On  the  evening  of  April  9,   the  Young 
Adult  Council  of  the  Allston  Branch 
Library  sponsored  an  Open  House  for 
Young  Adults,     The  audience,  consisting 
of  tv/enty-eight  boys  and  girls,  was  held 
enthralled  by  Edna  G,  Peck's  entertaining 
book  revievj-s.     During  a  brief  intermission 
the    group  browsed  through  the  Young 
Adult  Alcove  and  examined  new  books  which 
composed  a  special  book  display.     These 
titles  vrere   included  on  book-lists  diS" 
tributod  at  tho  beginning  of  the  evening/ 
The  second  part  of  the  program  consisted 
of  a  film,   March  of  the  Movies ,   vidiich 
was   enjoyed  by  all.     The  festivities 
concluded  vri.th  the  serving  of  refreshments 
made  by  the  members  of  the  council  and 
the  staff, 

"Connolly 

Some  people  are  -inspired  to  scng  ty.         ■ ,; 


-10- 


spring,  some  by  love,  A  fifth  grade 
class  at  Blessed  Sacrament  School  has 
been  inspired  by  the  Connolly  Library, 
Their  song  is  set  to  the  music  of  "The 
farmer  in  the  dell" • 

OUR  LIBRARY 

There  are  books  for  girls  and  boys. 
There  are  books   for  girls  and  boys. 

Up  in  the  Connolly  Branch, 
There  are  books  for  girls  andboyso 

The  books  are  on  the  shelves. 
The  books  are  on  the    shelves. 

Up  in  the  Connolly  Branch, 
So  come  and  help  yourselves, 

Mrs   Benner's  always  there. 
Miss  Cotter's  always  there 

And  they  vifill  help  you  choose  a  booke 
Please  handle  it  with  care. 

It's  always  fun  to  go, 
It's  always  fun  to   go, 

Up  to  the  Connolly  Branch 
To  see  a  puppet  shoY/, 

You'll  like  the  movies,  too 
You'll  like  the  movies^  too. 

Up  in  the  Connolly  Branch, 
For  most  of  them  are  nevJ'. 

There  arc  m^'.ny  things  to  see. 
There  are  many  things  to  see, 

Up  in  the  Connolly  Branch, 
The  place  for  you  and  me. 


Ivirs  Blair  Benner,  Children's  Li- 
brarian at  Cor-nolly,  recently  appeared 
on  WEEI's   Q,  and  A  program.     Attorney 
General  George  Fingold  spoke  on  juvenile 
delinquency  in  llassachusetts,     Mrs 
Benner  was   one  of  three  representatives 
of   the   Big  Sister  organization  who  told 
what  is  being  done  to  prevent  delinqijency 
among  girls  o 

Egleston  Square 

The  firal  meeting  of  the  Friends  of 
the  Egleston  Square  Branch  Library  vfas 
held  April  22,   in  honor  of  the  Cen- 
tennial Celebration  of  the  Boston  Public 
Library.     Milton  E,  Lord,  Director,  vras 
the  principal  speaker.     An  additonal 
feature  was   the  announcement  of  the 
winners  of  the  Centenn.i-:^-l  Essay  dontest, 


sponsored  by  the  Friends,  for  children 
who  use  the  Library.     Presentations 
were  made  by  Elizabeth  M.   Gordon, 
Deputy  Supervisor  In  Charge  of  Work  with 
Children,  who  had  served  as  one  of 
the   judges  of  the  contest.     A  social 
hour  rounded  off  a  very  pleasant  evening, 
and  brought  to  a  conclusion  the  first 
successful  year  of  activity  of  this 
nevf  group  of  Friends. 


* 


The  members  of  the  staff  presented  an 
overnight  case  to  Evelyn  Levy,  their 
Branch  Librarian,  at  an  informal  tea 
shortly  before  she  left  Boston  to  sail  for 
Europe, 

Mattapai 

On  Tuesday,  April  27,  the  Mattapan 
Branch  Young  Adult  Council  sponsored  a 
jazz  evening  at  the  Branch,,  After  the 
film,  Introduction  to  Jazz,  was  shown, 
Gecrge  Solano,  a  member  of  the  Jazz 
Workshop,  conducted  therest  of  the  pro-' 
gram,  playing  and  discussing  recordings, 
with  emphasis  on  the  "new  Music,"  to  which 
the  response  of  the  young  people  was 
not  entirely  favorible.  The  Council  has 
made  tentative  plans  for  another,  not 
quite  so  esoteric,  program  of  music  for 
the  fall  season. 

During  the  first  two  weeks  of  May  an 
exhibit  of  the  work  of  gifted  Mattapan 
.junior  high  school  artists  received  many 
favorable  comments.  The  young  artists, 
students  of  Joyce  Benvie,  an  extra 
assistant  at  Vifest  Roxbury,  executed  un- 
usually fine  paintings  in  various  mediums. 
Special  mention  was  given  to  their  work 
in  the  local  papero 


North- End 


On  May  11,  Dorothy  Dodworth,  assistant 
in  the  Children's  Room,  was  guest  of  the 
staff  at  a  bon  voyage  dinner  at  the 
Stella  Restaurant,  at  w^ich  she  was  also 
presented  with  a  gift.     Miss  Dodworth 
is  taking  a  vacation  trip  to  Europe, 

West  End 


The  April  1$,  19$h,   Passover  Issue  of 
the  JE\''nSH  ADVOCATE  carried  an  article 
entitled  Judaica;  Unique  Cultural  Asset 
of  Boston,  by  Fanny  Goldstein,  Curator 
of  Judaica c  This  article  is  an  exhaustive 
historic  account  which  describes  and 
evaluates  the  Library's  Judaica  Collection, 


-11- 


much  of  which  is  housed  at  West  End. 
Reprints  of  this  article  may  be  had  upon 
request  to  the  author 9 


SOAP  H)X 


Activity  in  the  Children's  Room  during 
April  centered  around  the  Spring  Festival 
Book  Club,  Instead  of  a  conventional 
Honor  Roll,  there  was  an  orchard  of 
rolling  green  hills  in  which  each  member 
planted  a  tree  bearing  a  bright  blossom 
for  each  book  read  and  reported  on.  There 
was  a  mailbox  iidth  Spring  decoration  for 
the  deposit  of  book  reports,  as  well  as 
a  bulletin  board  for  "Best  Book  Reports 
of  the  Week" .  Jackets  of  new  books  have 
been  on  display,  and  the  walls  of  the  room 
sport  a  border  of  saucy  baby  animals 
and  spring  flowers. 

The  Easter  Exhibit  in  the  display  case 
featured  an  Egg  Tree  standing  in  a 
grassy  plot,  while  around  it  were  baskets 
of  Colored  eggs,  chickens  on  nests  and 
chickens  just  hatching  from  bright 
shells.  The  children  accepted  the  eggs 
in  nests,  baskets  or  grass  as  real  eggs, 
but  denied  that  recognition  to  the  eggs 
on  the  tree,  because  "V.Tio  ever  saw  an 
egg  hang?"  They  labelled  those  "Easter 
bulbs"  until  they  heard  the  explanation 
from  the  Katherine  liClhaus  book. 

Some  of  our  Easter  and  spring  posters 
•were  done  by  the  children,  and  brought 
out  once  more  an  interesting  fact'  which 
we  have  frequently  noticed;  that  is, 
that  our  children  who  skate  on  narrow 
sidewalks  and  jump  rope  in  alleys  always 
dra\";  their  children  skipping  and  swing- 
ing in  green  parks  where  apple  trees  are 
blossoming  and  bluebirds  are  flying 
overhead. 

Not  to  be  outdone  by  the  children, 
we  took  note  of  Audubon's  birthday 
during  the  last  week  of  April,  displaying 
not  only  his  picture  and  biography  but 
also  books  and  pictures  of  his  famous 
studies  of  American  birds, 

STAFF. ART 1ST 

Paul  B,  Swenson,  Print,  has  had  one 
of  his  etchings.  House  by  the  Sea  ac- 
cepted for  the  tw<3lfth  annual  exhibition 
of  prints,  held  in  the  memory  of  Joseph 
Pcnnell,  at  the  Library  of  Congress* 


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  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  knovm  only 
!  to  the  contributor  and  to  the  Editor- 
I  in-Chief,  The  contents  of  articles 
I  appearing  in  the  Soap  Box  are  personal 
'  opinions  expressed  by  individual  Associa- 
tion members  and  their  appearance  does 
i  net  necessarily  indicate  that  the  Pub- 
;  lications  Committee  and  the  Association 

are  in  agreement  with  the  views  expressedo 
I  Only  those  contributions  containing  not 
!  more  than  300  words  will  be  accepted. 


Dear  Editor: 

As  the  time  for  annual  conventions 
approaches,  a  rather  delicate  question 
comes  to  mind.  Vfould  it  not  be  feasible 
for  the  Trustees  to  accord  to  the  members 
of  the  Catholic  Library  Association  the 
same  privilege  in  the  matter  of  a  leave 
for  attendance  at  the  Association's  con- 
vention as  is  accorded  to  other  national 
and  regional  associations.  I  realize  that 
such  matters  are  matters  of  privilege 
and  there  can  be  no  question  of  anyone 
demanding  time  off  as  a  right,   I  am  sure 
no  member  of  the  Association  thinks  in 
such  terms.   Nor  indeed  would  any  of  us 
care  to  make  comparisons  with  other  As- 
sociations for  such  comparisons  would  be 
odious, 

However.it  just  occurs  to  me  that  when 
very  sincere  people  have  shown  by  past 
experience  that  they  are  willing  to  make 
personal  sacrifices  of  time  and  money  to 
attend  professional  gatherings,  the 
Trustees  might  deem  it  well  to  include 
them  in  privileges  afforded  others.  By 
the  way,  lest  anyone  may  think  I  am 
doing  some  special  pleading,  1  assure 
you  that  I  have  neither  the  finances  nor 
the  inclination  to  attend  conventions, 
not  even  the  Democratic  one  in  Worcester^ 


Eamon  E,  McD enough 
General  Reference 


-12- 


SEE  lOU  AT 


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June  20-26 


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UQstion 


MA\^ 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


JUNE  1954 


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


Volume  IX,   Number  6 


June  19$h 


Publications  Committee:  Gerald  Le  Ball,  John  J.  IfcCafferty,  Sheila  W.  Pierce, 

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 

At  this  point  in  the  v/ork-year,  pro- 
fessional interests  are  apt  to  diminish 
in  importance,  due  to  the  advent  of  ■warm 
weather  and  the  imminence  of  vacation 
time.  Recreation  and  relaxation  become 
uppermost  in  our  thoughts.  For  some  of 
us  vacation  time  means  the  opportunity 
to  restore  our  energies  and  to  gain  a 
refreshed  outlook  on  the  future.  For 
others,  it  provides  an  opportunity  to 
travel  and  see  new  places  and  new  faces — 
the  chance  to  widen  our  horizon  and 
maybe  even  come  to  a  new  and  greater 
appreciation  of  our  individual  situations. 
For  still  others,  it  provides  an  oppor- 
tunity to  investigate  new  ideas  and  inteiv 
pretations  at  ALA,  or  further  education 
and  training  in  suminer  sessions.  But 
each  one  of  us  looks  forward  to  this 
chance  to  get  out  of  harness  and  seek  new 
pastures. 

Situations  and  problems  which  seem 
unsolvable  or  unbearable  at  the  end  of  a 
long  work-year  can  seem  less  desperate 
after  a  season  of  recreation  or  self- 
improvement.  Judgments  made  preceding 
vacation  are  likely  to  seem  unduly  severe 
to  those  returning  to  duty  refreshed  .  and 
eager — refreshed  in  body  and  spirit,  and 
eager  to  prove  to  themselves  that  things 
are  not  as  bad  as  they  could  be. 

Situations  not  to  one's  taste  can  be 
overcome,  chiefly  by  that  innate  re*- 
silience  possessed  by  humans,  expressed 
by  a  philosopher  as  the  postulate  that 
man  lives  by  hope,  that  vdien  man  can  no 
longer  look  for-vrard  to  better  things  to 
come,  then  indeed  he  is  lost. 

So,  at  this  time  your  editor  wishes  to 
express  his  hope  that  Association  members 
will  enjoy  a  happy  and  carefree  vacation, 
to  return  to  the  Library  ■'m.th   renewed 
vigor  and  with  the  determination  to 
pursue  the  objectives  of  the  Association<, 

Charles  J,  Gillis 


CALENDAR  OF  EVENTS 

June  20-26.   A.L.A,  annual  conference, 
Minneapolis 

PERSONAL  NOTES 

Resignations 

Mrs   Irene   B.   Kerrigan,   Book  Preparation, 

to  remain  at  home 
Claire  M,  O'Donnell,  Book  Stack  Service, 

to  accept  another  position 

Transfers 

Isabelle  G.  Finn,  from  Bookmobile  II  to 

City  Point. 
Helen  J.  Nicholas,  from  Parker  Hill  to 

South  End, 
J'irs  Ruth  M.  Wall,  from  Parker  Hill  to 

Roslindale. 

BPLPSA  lii/ELCO?'iE  TO   NEff  MEHIBERS 

Jtrs   Joyce  R,  Kelley,  Cataloging  and 

Classification  (R.  and  R.  S,) 
Helen  Nicholas,  Parker  Hill 
Josephine  ^haw.  South  End 

ENGAGEtffiNT 

The  engagement  of  Millicent  Ann  Haraer, 
Dorchester,  to  Hugh  W.  Smith  was  announced 
on  June  10.     They  plan  to  be  married  in 
the  Fa  Ho 

WEDDINGS 

Sydney  Shwom,  ^odman  Square,  became 
the  bride  of  Hyman  I'Vhitman  on  Sunday 
evening,  iiay  30.     The  ceremony  was  per- 
formed at  the  Dorchester  Plaza,  Yfhich  -vras 
beautifully  decorated  with  white  and  pink 
flov/ers.     The  bride  wore  white  lace  and 
carried  a  cascade  of  orchids.     The  couple 
are  honeymooning  at  The  Concord,  in  upper 
state  New  York. 

Several  days  before  the  wedding  the 
bride-to-be  was  given  a  small  party  by  the 


-2- 


members  of  the  staff,  who  presented  her 
with  an  electric  coffee  maker, 

BIRTHS 

Mr  and  ffrs   Joseph  Runci  have  announced 
the  birth  of  a  daughter,  Elaine  J.larie, 
on  May  5.     Mrs  Runci  is  the  former  Alice 
O'Connell,  of  the  Office  of  Division  of 
HiR.  and  C.  S,     Mr  Runci  as  Executive 
Secretary,  Social  Services  Division, 
Boston  Department  of  Civil  Defense,   is 
in  frequent  touch  with  the  B.PoLo 

VISITORS 

Mrs  Kaeta  Seibicke,  Librarian,  State  Li- 
brary Center  for  South  Wuertteraberg- 
Hohenzollern  District,  Reutlingen. 
Germany 

Knuy  Thalberg,  Librarian,  Faculty  of 
Science,  Oslo  University,  Blindern, 
Nonvay, 

BON  VOYAGE  TO  A.L.A.  ATTEBIDANTS 

Milton  E.  Lord,  Director 
G.  Florence  Connolly,  Fine  Arts 
George  E,  Earley,  General  Reference 
Elizabeth  M.  Gordon,  Division  of  H.R. 

and  C.S. 
Virginia  Haviland,  Open  Shelf 
Charles  L.  Higgins,  General  Reference 
Esther  E,   Jalonen,  Cataloging  and  Classi- 
fication, Division  of  R»  and  R,S» 
Muriel  C.   Javelin,  Division  of  H.R. 

and  C.S, 
Elvira  J.  Lavorgna,  Fine  Arts 
Evelyn  B.  Marden,   Bookmobile  I 
Beryl  I.  Robinson,  Egleston  Square 
Pauline  Winnick,  Open  Shelf 
Elizabeth  L.  ITright,  Personnel 

AN  INVITATION  TO  A 
VJEDDING-TO-BE 

On  June  26,  Maurice  Rahilly,  formerly 
of  Audio-Visual ,  vrlll  wed  Patricia  Kane 
at  St  Ifetthew's  Church  in  Dorchester, 
at  10:00  A.M.     The  bridegroom  extends 
a  cordial  invitation  to  his  Library 
friends  to  attend  the  ceremony,     llr 
Rahilly  is  now  a  member  of  the  staff  at 
the  New  York  State  Maritime  College, 
Fort  Schuyler,  N,  Y, 


THE  SOCIAL  TOIRL 

On  June  1,  a  number  of  staff  friends 
gathered  at  the  Darbury  Room  for  a 
surprise  luncheon  in  honor  of  Helen  G. 
Pappas,  Information,  who  vdll  leave  the 
service  of  the  Library  to  be  married 
on  June  19  to  Arthur  J.  F.  Sullivan, 
formerly  of  Arlington, 

Along  mth  a  beautiful  orchid  corsage 
and  a  bouquet  of  flowers,  Miss  Pappas 
was  presented  v;ith  three  serving  pieces 
in  her  Silver  Wheat  pattern  from  her 
many  friends  throughout  the  Library, 

I/[any  friends  vrere  happy  to  see 
Elizabeth  B.   Boudreau  at  the  luncheon. 
In  spite  of  her  illness,  she   joined 
the  spirit  of  surprise  and  acted  as  a 
decoy  to  get  Miss  Pappas  to  the  Darbury 
Room, 

On  June  lit,  Janice  G.  Lane,  Office 
of  Division  of  Home  Reading  and  Community 
Services,  vras  guest  of  honor  at  a  surprise 
luncheon  at  Joseph's.     Library  friends 
had  gathered  to  v;ish  her  happiness  in  her 
coming  marriage  to  Roger  B»  Hunt  of 
Cambridge.     The  wedding  will  take  place 
on  June  19»     Miss  Lane  was  presented  with 
a  corsage  and  a  mix  master, 

IN  MEM)RIAM 

Marion  H«  Shumway 

Marion  H.  Shumway,  who  was  for  many 
years  an  Assistant  in  the  Director's 
Office,  died  on  May  lii,  195il.  Miss 
Shumway  entered  the  Library  service  in 
I'fey  1895  T/fnen  the  Central  Library  on 
Copley  Square  was  newly  opened  to  the 
public.  She  retired  on  August  31,  1939* 
She  came  to  the  Director's  Office  in 
1906  and  there  took  charge  of  assembling 
the  statistical  compilations  of  the 
Library,  served  as  custodian  of  the 
general  correspondence  files,  and  kept 
employee  time  records.  Miss  Shumway 
was  widely  acquainted  with  the  staff  and 
vras  particularly  knovm  to  branch  li- 
brarians and  those  in  charge  of  other 
circulating  units  for  the  firm  but  gentle 
hand  -vTith  vdiich  she  presided  over  the 
monthly  reports  they  rendered 0 


IfcinsigDor  Robert  H«  Log-d 


-3- 


With  a  deep  senso  of  loss  we  record  the 
death  of  our  former  Trustee  Msgr.  Robert 
H.  Lord,  on  Ifey  22.  A  man  of  many- 
talents,  knovm  locally  and  internationaIl;g 
Msgr.  Lord  remained  vri.thal  a  modest  man, 
a  man  v/ho  did  not  seek  to  impress  his 
personality  upon  those  of  us  Tirho  knew  him. 

Msgr.  Lord  Yias  a  man  who  had  a  varied 
career.  He  was  a  professor  of  history  at 
Harvard  University,  and  while  in  that 
capacity  he  was  called  upon  to  act  as  a 
trusted  advisor  to  President  Wilson  at 
the  Paris  Conference  after  World  War  I. 
Later,  he  became  a  priest  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  •i^iere  he  was  called  upon  to 
utilize  his  great  gift  of  scholarship 
in  her  service.  His  outstanding  con- 
tribution during  this  period  vras  his 
History  of  the  Archdiocese  of  Boston, 
In  recognition  of  his  work  as  a  teacher 
and  historian  he  Tvas  appointed  to  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Boston  Public 
Library  by  Mayor  liaurice  J.  Tobin  in 
1936.  He  served  the  Library  earnestly 
and  well  until  in  1952  he  tendered  his 
resigmtion  because  of  ill-health  and 
pressure  of  Church  duties. 

Msgr.  Lord's  death  is  a  loss  to  the 
Library,  the  Church,  and  the  community. 

SPORTS  NE\-TS 

In  tune,  as  a  It  ays,  vrith  the  year- 
round  sports  activity  program,  the  Library 
is  featuring  Softball  as  its  current 
athletic  endeavor.  The  official  opening 
took  place  in  the  early  part  of  May  on 
Boston  Common,  and  enthusiasm  has  been 
strong  ever  since. 

Slimming  up  the  individual  players : 
Walter  Harris  has  cleared  the  outfield 
fence  on  tv:o  occassionsj  Jerry  Hottleman's 
pitching  vfing  has  been,  as  usual,  a  great 
asset 5  Dave  Sheehan  and  Paul  Kulloncy 
have  fielded  sensationally^  Paul  Smith, 
Don  Nevmian  and  Danny  Kelly,  all  seasoned 
ard  reliable  veterans,  are  back  for 
another  year  in  the  big  time;  Art  Lindsay 
and  Larry  Sindoni  jumped  to  the  majors 
from  Slippery  Rock  in  the  Class  D  league 
and  have  taken  over  their  regular  varsity 
jobs  v;ith  their  power  hitting.  Newcomers 
to  the  squad  include  Dave  Sheehan,  an 
ex-Army  all  star,  Sam  McGrath,  a  tireless 
performer,  and  Mike  Barden,  a  promising 
bonus  player.  Also,  Paul  Smith  has  shown 
unusual  talent  as  player-manager  in  his 


calling  of  plays,  making  decisions  and 
all  round  good  play  on  the  field.  The 
squad  his  been  supplied  vdth  a  new  set  of 
bats  and  balls  to  help  them  get  started 
on  the  right  foot. 

Having  played  and  beaten  all  the 
major  male  opposition  in  the  semi-pro 
circuit  around  Nevf  England,  manager 
Smith  feels  that  his  Library  "Bombers" 
are  qualified  to  challenge  any  girl 
teams  capable  of  supplying  adequate 
competition.  All  parties  interested 
should  contact  manager  Paul  Smith  of 
Book  Purchasing  as  soon  as  possible. 

PRESIDENT'S  NOTES 

Your  President  read  with  much  interest 
the  editorial  in  the  May  issue  of  The 
Question  !fark  concerning  sub-profess ionaLs 
in  the  Association,  and  feels  that  much 
could  be  done  to  encourage  greater 
participation  of  sub-professionals  in 
the  affairs  of  the  Association  and  to 
assure  that  the  sub-professionals  have  a 
more  adequate  guarantee  of  representation 
on  the  Executive  Board  and  that  they 
have  a  better  chance  to  present  problems 
peculiar  to  them  and  to  make  recommenda- 
tions for  solutions  of  these  problems. 

Your  President,  therefore,  made  two 
recommendations  to  the  Executive  Board 
iiAiich  after  discussion  were  approved  in 
the  folloT/Ting  form: 

1,  That  consideration  be  given  to 
amending  the  Constitution  so  that 
of  the  two  members  of  the  Executive 
Board  elected  each  year,  one  will 
be  a  sub-professional  and  one  a 
professional,  vjhich  vrould  result 
eventually  in  at  least  two  members 
of  the  Executive  Board  being  sub- 
professionals  3 

2.  That  consideration  be  given  to 
amending  the  Constitution  to  make 
the  Personnel  Committee  a  standing 
Committee  comprised  of  9  members 

of  ivhom  3  vidll  be  sub-professionals, 
and  6  members  will  be  professionals. 

These  proposals  vri.ll  be  submitted  to 
the  Constitution  Committee  so  that  they 
may  be  prepared  for  submission  to  the 
Association  as  amendments  to  the  By-Laws. 

Leonard  J.  Macmillan  has  submitted  his 
resignation  as  chairman  of  the  Constitu- 
tion Committee.  The  Executive  Board  at 
its  June  meeting  voted  to  accept  his 
resignation.  Ifery  E.  Connor,  Brighton, 
viho   has  expressed  her  willingness  to 
serve, has  been  appointed  as  the  Chairman» 

The  Executive  Board  has  authorized 
the  naming-  of  the  follnvri.np  five  indi- 


-h- 


viduals  (and  the  alternate  for  each)   to 
serve,  until  ^pril  30,  19^$,  as  the 
bibliothecal  employees '   half  of  the 
appeal  panel  provided  for  in  the   notice 
issued  by  the  Director  on  9  April  1951, 
Appeal  Procedure  for  Bibliothecal  Em- 
ployees : 

Mrs  Helen  F.  Hirson,  Office  of  the 
Division  of  Home  Reading  and  Community 
Services 

Alternate:  Dorothy  K.  Bfecker,  Tyler 
Street 

Louisa  So  Metcalf ,  Open  Shelf 

Alternate :  M.  Jane  Iknthorne ,  Open  Shelf 

Arthur  Tifulloney,  Statistical 

Alternate ;  Vfilliam  T,  Casey,  Open 
Shelf 

TiTilliara  R,  Lems ,  History 

Alternate:  George  E.  Ear ley.  General 
Reference 

Ellen  Richtragen,  North  End 

Alternate:  Elizabeth  Tanck,  Dorchester 

The  Executive  Board  thought  that  it 
would  be  desirable  for  the  entire  appeal 
panel,  including  the  half  named  by  the 
administration  to  be  published  at  the 
same  time  and  have  informed  the  Director 
to  this  effect.  Up  to  this  writing,  we 
have  not  learned  of  the  administration's 
intentions  in  this  regard,  but  we  did  not 
feel  that  the  naming  of  the  bibliothecal 
staff's  half  of  the  appeal  panel  should 
be  delayed  any  longer. 

At  the  fey  business  meeting  through 
the  error  of  the  President  the  report 
of  the  Membership  and  Hospitality  Com- 
mittee was  not  called  for.  It  is  on 
file  and  the  following  statistics  are 
quoted  from  this  report  for  the  informa- 
tion of  the  members ; 

"As  of  Ifey  28,  195U  the  membership 
of  the  Boston  Public  Library  Professional 
Staff  Association  is  h^S   out  of  an 
eligible  ii89  employees.  This  number 
represents  93>%   of  the  employees  in  the 
bibliothecal  services.  21  of  the  1953 
members  have  not  rejoined  so  far  this 
year — and  of  this  number  8  are  on  leave 
of  absence.  Since  January  195U  we  have 
had  an  enrollment  of  36  new  members 
and  a  loss  of  12  members  through  resigna~ 
tions  and  retirements," 

The  folloYfing  members  of  the  Associa- 
tion vifho  mil  be  at  the  American  Library 
Association  Conference  have  agreed  to  act 
as  the  delegates  of  the  BPLPSA  to  the 
Staff  Organizations  Round  Table  business 
meeting  to  be  held  -Tune  22,  at  which 


meeting  the  delegates  will  vote  for  SORT 

Steering  Committee  Members: 

George  E.  Earley,  General  Reference 
Esther  E,  Jalonen,  Cataloging  and 

Classification  (R.  and  R.  S.) 

Mi's  Muriel  C,  Javelin,  Office  of 

Home  Reading  and  Community  Services 
Mrs  Elizabeth  L,  Wright,  Personnel 
Charles  L,  Higgins,  General  Reference, 

Chairman 

B.   Joseph  O'Neil 
FOURTH  ANNITAL  FILM  FESTIVAL 

The  Film  Council  of  Greater  Boston 
held  its  Fourth  Annual  Film  Festival 
at  the  Sheraton  Plaza  Hotel  on  Jiky  15,  196^ 
Fifty-one  films  of  the  over  two  hundred 
submitted  had  been  selected  for  Festival 
showing  by  five  Selection  Committees — 
(1)  Adult  Education,  (2)  The  Arts, 
(3)  Classroom,   (U)  Religion.   (5)  Industry — 
(a)  Public  Relations  and  (b)  Sales 
Promotion.     Members  of  the  Boston  Public 
Library  Film  Preview  Committee  served  on 
the  Adult  Education  Selection  Committee* 

Among  the   registrants  at  the  Festival 
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 
private  schools,  and  colleges;   librarians; 
social  service  workers;   city,  state, 
and  national  government  emplojreesj 
hospital  personnel;  program  chairmen  from 
Y/oraen's  clubs,  parent-teacher  associations, 
and  other  organizations;  clergymen  and 
other  religious  workers;  and  representa- 
tives from  the  Fine  Arts  and  Science 
Hfoseums,  as  vrell  as  from  other  art  groups. 

The  Festival  audience  came  early  and 
stayed  throughout  the  day.     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  under  way.     Each 
viewer  rated  each  film  individually  on 
its  own  merits  0 

Presiding  at  the  Festival  luncheon 
was  Council  President,  Edward  Palmer. 
Reverend  Warren  Hunt,  Boston  Council 
of  Churches ,  offered  the  invocation. 
The  speaker  was  Joseph  McKeon,  Manager, 
Film  Library,  New  York  and  Assistant  to 
the  Film  Production  Manager,  General 
Motors  Corporation.     Mr  McKeon  discussed 
and  showed  for  the   first  time  in  New 


-5- 


England  the  General  Motors  3-D  l6mm  film 
This   Is  Progress.     This   shovri.ng  was  made 
possible  through  the  Radio  Corporation 
of  AuErica,     Special  glasses  were   supplied- 
by  the  Polaroid  Corporation  of  Cambridge. 
A  special  Boston  Film  Council  "Pioneer" 
Award  vras  presented  to  General  Motors 
through  Mr  McKeon  and  to  the  Producer 
of  the  film,  Raphael  G.  Wolff.     Milton 
E.   Lord,  Director  of   the  Boston  Public 
Library,  representing  Mayor  John  B.  Hynes^ 
presented  to  the  speaker  a  handsome 
brochure  which  is  given  to  honored  guests 
of  the      City  instead  of  the  keys  to  the 
City. 

Film  sponsors,  producers,  and  directors 
and  Boston  Film  Council  members  and 
friends  gathered  at  the  Sheraton  Plaza 
Hotel  on  June  2,  1951|  for  the  Second 
Annual  Film  Council  Awards  Dinner  at 
which  were  presented  the  19$h  av/ard 
certificates.     At  least  an  Award  of  Merit 
was  given  for  each  film  shovm  in  the 
Festival.     Festival  Chairman,  Alan  Lydiard 
presented  the  certificates  assisted  by 
John  D,   Brown,  Director  of  Public  Cele- 
brations, representing  Mayor  John  B. 
P^es, 

The  guest  speaker,  Lang  S.  Thompson, 
Vice-President  of  Wilding  Productions, 
Inc.,   introduced  and  shovred  the  first 
commercial  l6mm  Cinema  Scope  film  pro- 
duced by  ^^filding  for  the  Ford  Division 
of  the  Ford  Motor  Company.     In  recogni- 
tion of,  this   film,  a  Boston  Film  Council 
"Pioneer"  Avrard  was  presented  to  the 
Ford  Motor  Company  and  to  Wilding  Film 
Productions* 

Muriel  C.   Javelin 

BON  VOYAGE 

Rebecca  Millmeister,  inveterate  world 
traveller  left  West  End  Tuesday,  June  1, 
for  a  six-weeks'  trip  ivhich  vdll  include 
Spain',  Portugal,  md  North  Africa.  In 
a  hurry  to  get  to  nevf  sights,  she  flew 
from  Logan  Airport  to  Portugal,  but  will 
take  a  leisurely  boat  trip  home. 

CONGRATULATIONS  TO 

Janice  Charney,  part-time  assistant 
at  V/est  End  and  June  graduate  from  Girls  ' 
High  School  on  receiving  two  scholarship: 
awards  on  the  basis  of  scholastic  merit 
and  good  charactero  She  received  the 
$)200  cash  ai/vard  and  scroll  in  the  name  of| 


the  Amy  V.  Kingston  Award  from  Girls' 
High  School,  and  a  like  cash  award  from 
Boston  University  on  the  basis  of  her 
College  Entrance  Board  Exams.  West 
End  is  very  proud  of  her. 

CIVIL  DEFENSE 

All  units  of  the  Library  System 
participated  in  the  nation-vride  Officail 
Air  Raid  Test  which  was  held  on  Monday, 
June  li;,  at  10  a.m.  Successful  coopera- 
tion by  members  of  the  staff  and  the 
public  was  reported.  The  Information 
and  Counseling  Teams  were  not  asked  to 
report  for  duty  during  this  Test- 

BOOK  SELECTION  COIUMITTEES 


On  Tuesday  evening,  June  8,  the  three 
Book  Selection  Committees — ^Adult,  Young 
Adult,  and  Children's— enjoyed  dinner 
together  at  the  1775  House,  Lexington, 
Several  "alternates"  vrerc  able  to  join  the 
group  vifhich  added  considerably  to  the 
pleasure  of  the  occasion.  With  the 
problems  of  objectionable  passages, 
duplication,  and  inadequate  budgets 
safely  locked  a\my  in  the  Book  Selection 
Department,  the  evening  proved  very 
restful  and  refreshing,  especially  since 
the  weather,  so  precarious  these  days, 
was  perfect  for  at  least  the  fe?/  hours 
of  the  outing. 

HELP  CARE  MOW 

C  is  for  the  contributions  we  eagerly  seek 
T  is  for  our  aid  to  the  ailing  and  vreak 
R  is  for  the  refugees  who  need  a  helping  hand 
E  is  for  our  efforts  in  every  land. 

BLOOD  DONOR  PROGRAM 

Do  you  want  to  insure  that  you  and 
your  family  will  have  blood  in  an  emer- 
gency? Those  employees  ivho  donate  a  pint 
of  blood  through  the  City  of  Boston 
Emplo3''ees  Blood  Donor  Program  feve  this 
insurance  for  themselves  and  their 
familieso  Get  a  pledge  card  from  Mrs 
Wollent  in  the  Library  Hospital,  The 
Library  will  allow  you  four  hours  of 
excused  absence  to  visit  the  Red  Cross 
Blood  Donor  Center  on  Dartmouth  Street 
near  Marlborough  to  make  a  donation. 


-6- 


SIXTH  ANNUAL 
M5RY  U,  NIGH0L3  BOOK  PRIZE  AT-iARDS 

For  six  consecutive  years  nov/  there 
have  been  a-vi^arded  the  I'lary  U,  Nichols 
Book  Prize  Ai/vards  on  an  evening  in  early 
June,  at  North  End,  These  occasions  have 
led  to  the  development  of  a  most  success- 
f\il  Open  House  for  that  community.  On 
Thursday  evening,  the  third,  Ifi.lt on  E, 
Lord,  Director,  presented  the  19^U  awards 
to  Dolores  Intraversato  and  Anthony 
Termini,  students  from  the  local  high 
schools  who  in  their  senior  year  excelled 
in  their  English  studies «  Each  had 
chosen  THE  HOLY  BIBLE  (Duoay  Version) c    , 
These  volumes  had  been  handsomely  bound 
in  the  Library's  Binding  Department  and 
bore  copies  of  a  bookplate  especially 
designed  by  Arthur  "I'T.  Heintzelman,  Keeper 
of  Prints o 

A  standing  vote  of  thanks  goes  to  the 
guest  speakers  and  artists  for  an  evening 
of  excellent  entertainment  vihich  followed 
the  presentation,  under  the  expert  guid- 
ance of  John  A.  Scaiga,  the  program 
chairman.  Patrick  F.  McDoaald,  President 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees^,  spoke  with 
enthusiasm  of  the  functions  of  the  li- 
brary. Some  inspiring;;  highlights  on  the 
life  of  Amerigo  Vcjspucci  were  recounted 
by  Dr  Gino  Merluzzi,  v/hose  radio  program 
has  v/on  him  7rarm  friends.  The  block 
flute  (or  recorder)  music  with  harpsi- 
chord and  percussion,  performed  by  The 
Boston  Recorder  Consort  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Elna  Sherman,  was  a  nev/  and  enjoy- 
able experiences 

A  great  many  Boston  Public  Library 
personnel  as  well  as  a  grand  group  of 
North  End  friends  were  welcomed,  includirg 
Ellen  C,  Peterson,  Gracemarie  Alfe, 
Dorothy  Becker,  Tyyne  Saari  and  Gilda 
Tecce,  all  forner  staff  members.  Assis-t>- 
ing  the  library  staff  as  hostesses  were 
several  community  leaders  and  some  mem- 
bers of  the  North  End  Young  Adults  Li- 
brary Council. 

Indeed,  the  major  social  event  of  the 
year  at  North  End  vra.s  a  decided  success 
and  it  can  truly  be  said  that  "a  good 
time  was  had  by  all"  I 

FOURTH  ANNUAL 
BERTHA  V.  HARTZELL  FiQJDRIAL  LECTURE 

The  Hartzell  Memorial  Lecture  was 
given  on  the  evening  of  June  11,  The 
lecturer  was  Dr  Sidney  Butler  Smith, 


Director  of  the  University  of  Vermont 
Libraries,  and  President  of  the  New 
England  Library  Association.  Dr  Smith 
chose  as  his  subject  The  Librarian  and 
the  Staff,  a  Cooperative  Team, 

Gathered  in  the  Vifiggin  Galle  ry  to 
hear  the  lecture  were  approximately 
seventy  Association  members  and  friends* 
Dr  Smith  gave  an  informative  and  spirited 
talk  on  staff  relations,  a  subject  of 
keen  interest  to  his  audience.  Among  the 
friends  were  Sigrid  Edge  and  Ruth  Leonard 
of  Simmons  College  Library  School, 

President  O'Neil  opened  the  occasioi 
with  a  short  speech  of  v/elcome,  follov/ed 
by  an  introductory  speech  delivered  by 
the  Committee  Chairman,  May  C,  McDonald, 
Jliss  McDonald,  as  a  former:  Training  class 
member,  paid  tribute  verbally  to  Mrs 
Hartzell  as  a  teacher j  the  printed  pro- 
gram contained  a  tribute  from  Alice  M, 
Jordan,  Supervisor  of  Work  v/ith  Children, 
Emeritus,  a  friend  of  and  fellow  teacher 
wL  th  llirs   Hartzell  in  the  Training  Class 
days. 

Refreshments  were  served  during  the 
social  hour  v/hich  followed  the  lecture. 

The  Committee  hopes  to  publish  the 
lecture  in  the  near  fut-ure. 

EXPANDING  HORIZONS 

During  the  months  of  March,  April, 
and  May  the  Boston  Public  Library,  Tdth 
the  co-operation  of  the  National  Con- 
ference of  Christians  and  Jev^-s,  con- 
ducted a  ten-session  training  institute 
for  community  headers  in  the  background 
and  techniques  of  inter-group  education. 
A  group  of  some  fifty  individuals  from 
Boston  organizations  served  as  members 
of  the  Sponsoring  Committee  under  the 
Chairmanship  of  Dr  Kenneth  Bcnne,  Director 
of  the  Human  Relations  Center  at  Boston 
University  vjho  also  served  as  Chairman 
of  the  Institute  Steering  Committee.  The 
members  of  the  Sponsoring  Committee 
suggested  organizations  which  might  be 
invited  to  send  participants  to  the  In- 
stitute, interviewed  these  participants 
prior  to  the  Institute,  and  assisted 
in  the  preparation  of  an  extensive  pam- 
phlet list  on  Intergroup  Relations.  Dr 
Travdck  Stubbs  of  Harvard  University  ivas 
the  Training  Leader  of  the  Institute,  and 
Dr  Robert  Chin  and  Stephen  Kegeles  of 
Boston  University  were  Evaluation  Consul- 
tants, Other  Consultants  were  called 
in  from  time  to  time  during  the  Institute, 


Members  assisted  in  conducting  the  scssiorsi 
at  vjhich  new  techniques  in  leadership    I 
were  projected.  Special  reading  lists    | 
were  prepared  by  the  Readers  Advisor  for 
Adults  at  the  Boston  Public  Library. 

On  May  2ij.,  some  sixty  members  of  the 
Institute  and  Sponsoring  Committee  held 
a  dinner  meeting  at  the  Boston  University 
Faculty  Club.  The  dinner  was  followed 
by  a  unique  and  informal  presentation  of 
the  Institute's  organization,  accomplish- 
ments, and  future  usefulness.  Dr  Benne, 
as  Chairman  of  the  evening,  introduced 
the  program.  Among  the  participants  were 
Dr  Louis  Radelet,  Director,  Commission  on 
Community  Organizations,  The  National  Con- 
ference of  Christians  and  Jevirs,  Inc.,  and 
Mrs  Grace  Stevenson,  Associate  Executive 
Secretary  of  the  American  Library  Associa- 
tion. 

The  Institute,  made  possible  through  a 
grant  from  the  Americm  Library  Associa- 
tion Fund  for  Adult  Education,  is  to  be 
fully  evaluated  and  completely  reported 
at  a  later  date, 

Muriel  C.  Javelin 

SOME'JfflERE  IN  THE  LIBRARY  .  .  . 


18,  Among  the  several  busts  in  Bates 

Hall,  two  are  of  famous  American  women. 
One  of  these  two  busts  represents  a 
woman  vrell-knoivn  for  her  activities  in 
the  cause  of  woman  suffrage.  It  is 
said  of  this  woman  that  she  retained 
her  maiden  name,  even  though  she  was 
married,  as  an  indication  she  had  not 
lost  her  individuality  by  her  marriage. 
Who  was  this  woman?  Her  marriage  name 
was  I^frs  Henry  Brovfli  Blackvfell. 

19o  According  to  Shakespearian  authori- 
ties, there  exist  only  two  unquestion- 
ably authentic  likenesses  of  ShakespeaiB,, 
One  of  these  is  the  bust  in  Holy 
Trinity  Church  at  Stratford-on-Avon, 
A  cast  of  the  face  of  this  bust  tias 
made  for  Thomas  P.  Barton,  vjhose  ex- 
cellent Shakespeare  library  this  Li- 
brary nov'f  ovms.  TiTien  the  Library  ob- 
tained the  Barton  collection  in  1873, 
it  also  obtained  this  cast.  Y/here  in 
the  Library  can  one  sec  this  important 
likeness  of  the  great  poet? 

20.  George  B.  Ch?.se,  a  trustee  of  this 
Library  from  1876-1885,  presented  to 
the  Library  some  years  ago  a  carved 


teak  table  mlth  a  marble  top*  This 
attractive  ornate  table  has  recently 
been  moved  to  a  prominent  place  in 
the  Central  Library  building.  Can 
you  locate  the  table? 

21,  There  is  in  Bates  Hall  a  bust  of  a 
man  who  has  been  described  as  "a::. 
prominent  member  of  the  literary 
coterie  which  made  Boston  famous  in 
the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century". 
His  sister  married  the  famous  poet 
Longfellov/  after  the  death  of  the 
poet's  first  wife.  He  gave  to  the 
Library  in  1869  the  Cardinal  Tosti 
collection  of  engravings,  now  housed 
in  the  Wiggin  Print  Gallery.  Who  is 
this  gentleman? 

Ansvrers  to  May  questions 

lU,  lb-   Smith  did  the  art  vrork  for  the 
area  known  as  the  Venetian  Lobby,  at 
the  entrance  to  the  Teachers  Dept. 

1^9  It-   Garnsey  \as   the  artist  for  the 
area  known  as  the  Pompeian  Lobby,  at 
the  entrance  to  the  Abbey  Room.  He 
also  did  the  paintings  on  the  vra.lls 
of  the  corridors  on  the  first  floor, 
extending  from  the  Entrance  Hall, 

16,  Viewed  from  the  second  floor  corridor 
the  representations  of  the  Iliad  and 
the  Odyssey  are  in  the  first  Chavannes 
panel  from  the  right  in  the  panel 
devoted  to  Epic  Poetry. 

17 •  The  wall  of  the  second  floor  corridor 
containing  the  main  entrance  to  Bates 
Hall  has  the,  Chavannes  painting  of  the 
nine  muses ,  viho  in  Greek  mythology 
are  considered  to  be  the  daughters  of 
Jupiter  and  Mnemosyne,  and  preside 
over  song,  the  different  kinds  of 
poetry,  and  also  the  arts  and  sciences* 

Paul  V.  Moynihan 


ARNA VETS-OFFICERS  FOR  19$k 

Commander— Louis  N.  Rains 
Vice-Commander— Samuel  Green 
Chaplain— Henry  F.   Barry 
Adjutant  and  Quartermaster— James  P.   J» 

Gannon  (20th  term) 
Officer-of-the-day— Charles  L«  Higgins 


-8- 


ALUMME  I^TES 

Orlando  C,  Davis,  Chief  Librarian, 
Division  of  Home  Reading  and  Community 
Services,  Emeritus ,  has  been  elected  to 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Medway  PublJc 
Library,  West  Jfedway^ 

■»• 

Of  interest  to  her  many  friends  in  the 
B.PcLo  will  be  excerpts  from  a  recent 
letter  from  !frs  Dorothy  Nourse  Pitman, 
Branch  Librarian,  Emeritus: 

Since  May  first  I  have  been  Bookmobile 
Librarian  on  the  Richmond  Regional  Travel- 
ing Library,  commonly  and  familiarly  knonr 
as  the  "Book  Wagon".     This  operates  on 
Staten  Island,  vjhich  is  a  Borough  of  New 
York  City  just  like  Manhattan — only  very 
different,  sin; e  it  has  many  small  towns, 
open  stretches  of  country,  and  marshes. 
We  have  a  staff  of  four,  of  whom  I  am  the 
only  professional,  and  on  Wednesdays  and 
Fridays  T,ve  have  a  Columbia  Library  School 
student  -vtio  works  vdth  us.     The  "YiTagon" 
is  'a  19h9  truck  carrying  about  900  books 
and  we  cover  between  200  and  300  miles  a 
week.     Most  of  our  stops  arc  at  schools, 
though  vv'e  have  a  coramiinity  stop  each  day 
and  visit  two  housing  projects  as  well. 
We  also  stop  at  a  factory  during  the  lunch 
hour. 

Ifost  of  our  circulation  is  children's 
and  we  are  doing  a  land  office  business. 
We  arrive  at  a  school  and  are  visited  in 
turn  by  all  grades,  even  the  first.     With 
such  a  small  book  collection,  we  depend 
on  the  books  returned  by  each  grade  to 
supply  their  pupils  which  means  intense 
book  slipoing,  shelving,  and  charging. 
lHy  job  is  to  stand  in  the  middle  select- 
ing books ,  making  substitutions  for  titles 
not  available,    getting  the  slipped  books 
to  the  youngsters  and  speeding  the  bargain 
basement  in  books  I    As  well  as  liaison 
officer,   I  also  act  as  a  convenient  resting 
place  for  many  feet — unusually  about  ten 
children  per  foot  which  is  maximum  capa- 
city for  ray  large  understanding  1     The 
children  are  attractive,  responsive,  and 
easy  to  work  vdth  but  we  have  lively  times 
when  thirty  or  more  try  to   get  six  books 
apiece. 

The  staff  are  young,  work  well  together, 
and  are  a  fine,  capable  group.     As  in 
Boston  on  Bookmobiles,  we  have  a  wonderfbl 
driver  who  knows  books  and  understands 
boys  and  girls.     He  works  as  one  of  the 
staff — slipping,  discharging,   charging, 
and  doing  registration.     Three  days  each 


week  we  lunch  in  branch  staff  rooms  but  on 
Tuesdays  and  Thursdays  we  dine  on  the 
wagon,     }fy  only  innovation  is  a  vrash  basin, 
since  I  could  not  eat  my  sandwich  Y/ith 
filthy  hands — me  an  ex-Proper  BostonianI 

It  may  be  of   interest  that  the  New  York 
Public  Library,  of  which  I  am  now  a  humble 
member,  has  a   forty-hour,  five-day  vreek. 
Book  Wagon  has  a  community  stop  on  Tues- 
days and  we  spend  the  afternoon  and  evening 
there. 

Getting  to  Staten  Island  is  a  realtrip"" 
one  stop  on  the  subway  and  a  twenty-five 
minute  ferry  ride  but  it  takes  me  an  hour. 
An  eleven  hour  day  is  quite  a  feat  and  I 
can't  say  I  enjoy  leaving  home  at  eight 
and  getting  back  at  seven,  especially  since 
vrork  on  the  "wagon"  demands  much  "physical 
stamina" ,  to  quote  the   job  qualifications 
for  the  Bronx  Bookmobile  Librarian  which 
position  is  now  open,     (Anyone  from  Boston 
want  the   job?) 

Two  days  a  week  we  are  doing  about  a 
thousand  circulation;  our  light  day  on 
Tuesday  is  about  tvfo  hundred;  the  other 
days  are  betvreen  five  and  six  hundred. 
Our  total  for  J.fa^y  vfas  exactly  lit, 000 
which  represents  much  activity  (Editor's 
Note:   B,P,L,   Bookmobile   I  in. Fay — 17,311; 
Bookmobile   II,  1$ ,  9^h)»     Being  a  part  of 
a  regional  set-up  means  vre  have  our  own 
book  collection  with  headquarters  at  St. 
George  and  get  circuit  books,   adult  one, 
for  three  months.     We  do  quite  a  bit  with 
interbranch  loans  and  reserves,  too.     Our 
charging  is  by  Gaylord  machine,  which  is 
supplemented  by  hand  charging  when 
necessary.     Rules  and  Regulations  seem 
quite  sensible  and  simple  but  some  routine 
processes  seem  more  complex  than  in 
Boston,  while  others  are  more  flexible. 

The  staff  at  the  regional  branch  are  a 
fine  group,  quite  congenial  and  very 
pleasant.     I  don't  feel  I  know  them  too 
vrell  since  I  spend  at  most  an  hour  and  a 
half  there  in  the  day,  for  vre  leave  at 
9:30  and  return  between  5  and  6* 

Yfell,  life  is  busy,  exciting,  and  I 
keep  thinking  as  we  "bump  over  the  wash- 
boardy  roads  "more  bounce  to  the  ounce" 
and  I  average  a  fev/  ounces,  though  not  more 
than  in  Boston  I    Certainly  I  am  flexible 
and  am  learning  new  tricks   ,    ,   ,  Oh,  yes, 
New  York  salaries  for  branch  librarians 
are  about  |)300  lower  than  Boston,  as  well  as 
5  hours  more  work  per  vreek  (Grumblers  in 
Boston,  if  any,  please  note  !)•     After  two 
large  ninety  foot  reading  rooms,  a  lecture 
hall,  office  and  sub-basement,  my  new 
quarters  are  a  bit  crowded.     Variety  and 
contrast  are  the  spice  of  life  I 


-9- 


NEHV  BOOKS   IN  THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 
Non-Fiction 

Bowles,  Chester.     Ambassador's  report. 

New  York  J  Harper,  195^; 
Del  Villar,  Mary,     l^i/here  the  strange  roads 

go  doTfim 

New  York  J  Afccmillanj  1953 
Hunt,  Sir  John.  The  conquest  of  Everest. 

New  York,  Button,  195h 
Kimbrough,  Emily,  Forty  plus  and  fancy 

free. 

New  York,  Harper,  19 5^ 
Leavitt,  Robert  K,  The  chip  on  gramdma's 

shoulder, 

Philadelphia,  Lippincott,   19514 
McKenney,  Ruth,     Far,  far  from  home. 

New  York,  Harper,   19^h 
Montagu,  Hon,   Even,     The  man  v/ho  never 

was, 

Philadelphia,  Lippincott,  195U 
Wciite ,   Theodore  Ho  Fire  in  the  ashes. 

New  York,  Sloans,  1953 

Fiction 

Asch,  Shalom.  A  passage  in  the  night. 

New  York,  Putnam,  1953 
Dodson,  Kenneth.  Avp.y  all  boats, 

Boston,  Little,  Brown,  195ii 
Flood,  Charles  B,  Love  is  a  bridge. 

Boston,  Houghton,  Mifflin,  1953 
Forbes,  Esther,  Rainbovir  on  the  road, 

Boston,  Houghton,  Mifflin,  195U 
Janney,  Russell,  So  long  as  love  remem- 
bers. 

New  York,  Hermitage  House,  1953 
Michener,  James  G,  Sayonara, 

New  York,  Random  House,  195U 
Monsarrat,  Nicholas,  The  story  of  Esther 

Costello, 

New  York,  Knopf,  1953 
Shellabarger,  Samuel,     Lord  Vanity, 

Boston,  Little,  Brovm,  1953 

BRANCH  NOTES 

Connolly 

The  Friends  of  the  Connolly  Branch  Li- 
brary held  its  final  meeting  of  the  season 
on  Monday  evening.  May  2k»     The  guest 
speaker  was  Phil  Engel,  Public  Relations 
manager  of  Twentieth  Century-Fox  Film 
Corporation.  Dravd-ng  upon  his  vast 
experiences  in  the  motion  picture  industry 
he  delighted  the  audience  Yri.th  many 
fascinating  stories  and  inside  information 
on  the  many  types  of  publicity  used  for 


various  films.  A  lively  question  and 
answer  period  followed,  A  social  hour 
brought  to  a  close  one  of  the  most 
interesting  meetings  enjoyed  by  the 
Friends  group* 

•«• 

Spring  Book  Festival  was  celebrated 
with  three  scenes  from  Alice  in  Wonder- 
land—the Mad  tea  party,  the  Lobster 
quadrille,  and  Alice's  evidence.  The 
success  of  the  play  was  heightened  by  the 
costxming.   The  Girls'  Club  of  Manchester, 
Nev;  Hampshire,  kindly  lent  several 
costumes.  Others  were  designed  and  made 
by  Gertrude  Kornmuller,  extra  assistant 
at  Connolly, 

In  many  ways,  the  play  was  a  branch 
enterprize.  The  actresses  were  members 
of  the  BetYfeeners,  a  club  of  fifth  and 
sixth  grade  girls.  The  announcers  and 
the  electrician  were  Boys'  Club  members. 
Each  Young  Adult  clubber,  ready  with 
stories  and  songs ,  took  charge  of  a 
group  of  early  audience  arrivals » 

The  play  was  the  gala  event  of  the 
seasons  Four  hundred  fifty  junior 
socialites  of  Jamaica  Plain  attended  the 
two  performances o 

Phillips  Brooks 

On  Tnursday  evening.  May  20,  from 
7:30  p<,m.  to  9:30  p.m..  Open  Mouse  was 
held,  in  observance  of  the  23rd  anniver- 
sary. The  Friends  of  the  Libraiy,  spon- 
sors of  the  program,  presented  rtooert 
Davidson,  Chief  Planner  of  the  City 
Planning  Board,  whoso  topic  was  The 
Changing  Face  of  Boston.  This  illus- 
trated talk  covered  such  developments 
and  proposals  as  the  Central  Artery, 
neighborhood  rehabilitation,  and  the 
Back  Bay  Civic  Center, 

The  vd.nners  of  the  "Do-It-Yoursolf " 
Craft  and  Hobby  Exhibit  were  announced, 
and  subscriptions  to  hobby  and  interior 
decorating  magazines  were  presented  to 
them. 

The  evening  closed  vdth  refreshments 
and  a  social  hour,  vd.th  an  opportunity 
to  admire  the  many  various  crafts,  and  to 
chat  with  neighbors,  Mr  Davidson  was 
available  for  further  questioning,  by 
an  audience  vAiich  had  displayed  keen 
interest  in  his  talk, 

West  End 

The  Children's  Spring  Book  Club,  which 
had  been  under  way  at  VJcst  End  Branch 


-10- 


since  iferch,  held  its  closing  exercises 
during  the  Tjeek  of  the  Spring  Book 
Festival,  As  a  special  project,  the  chil- 
dren undertook  to  conduct  an  election  at 
which  they  would  select  the  books  they 
thought  should  receive  the  Spring  avrards 
and  honors.  Candidates  were  nominated 
by  workshop  groups,  discussed  in  "buzz 
sessions,"  finally  voted  for  during 
Election  Week,  and  results  were  announced 
at  the  party  on  fey  22nd.  Their  top 
honors  went  to  HALD  moIC  and  THE  TIN 
FIDDLE,  while  the  critics'  choice, 
ALPHONSE,  was  only  in  sixth  place.  At 
the  closing  program,  reading  certificates 
and  book  prizes  vrere  av/arded,  and  the 
children's  guest  author  was  Mss  Ifary 
Yfelsh,  who  has  virrittcn  several  dis- 
tinguished Irish  stories  for  children. 


SOAP  EOX 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must 
be  accompanied  by  the  full  name  of  the 
AssociaticBi  member  submitting  it,  to- 
gether v/ith  the  name  of  the  Branch  Library, 
Department,  or  Office  in  vihich  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  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  Associa- 
tion members  and  their  appearance  docs 
not  necessarily  indicate  the  the  Pub- 
lications Committee  and  the  Association 
are  in  agreement  with  the  views  expressed. 
Only  those  contributions  containing  not 
more  than  300  Y/ords  will  be  accepted. 


(Editor's  Notee;  The  foUoKdng  is  a  con- 
densation to  300  v/ords  of  a  letter  sent 
to  the  President  vrLth  the  request  that 
it  be  read  at  the  business  meeting. 
Since  this  wa.s  not  done,  it  is  being 
printed  here.) 

To  the  Soap  Box  Editor: 

Since  the  future  -vvclfarc  of  the  Asso- 
ciation is  in  jeopardy  due  to  the  methods 
used  by  the  Executive  Board  in  cancelling 
the  original  19^U  Bertha  V.  Hartzell 
Lecture,  we  the  uridcrsigncd  past  presi- 


dents take  exception  to  their  action  on 
the  following  grounds: 

1,  The  precedent  of  giving  recogni- 
tion only  to  recommendations  made 
in  vnriting  and  signed  by  the  com- 
plainant or  otherwise  clearly 
identified  as  to  source,  was 
ignored.  The  independence  of  the 
Ussociation  lies  in  adhering  to 
this  practice, 

2,  The  contention  that  the  speaker's 
talk  was  not  on  a  "professional 
library  subject"  is  not  valid 
since  it  is  a  matter  of  inter- 
pretation. Could  'not  the  Board 
have  consulted  the  original 
Memorial  Lecture  Committee  along 
■vi  th  the  19Sh   Committee  and  thus 
have  rendered  a  verdict  arrived  at 
by  a  wider  representation  of  the 
Association — or  better  still  called 
a  special  meeting  or  conducted  a 
poll, 

3,  Granted  the  assumption  that  the 
question  of  constitutionality  were 
valid,  did  not  the  Association  have 
an  obligation  to  its  Committee,  to 
the  speaks  r,  to  the  Hartzell  family 
and  to  the  membership  which  trans- 
cended a  technical  interpretation 
which  apparently  up  to  the  time 

of  the  complaint  had  posed  no 
problem  to  any  member  of  the 
Executive  Board? 

To  safeguard  the  f  uture  we  ask  that 
the  following  points  be  discussed  at  the 
Business  I&eting: 

(1)  the  possibility  of  amending  the 
constitution  to  stipulate  that  a.11 
recommendations  be  sent  in  writing 
over  the  signature  of  a  member  of 
the  Association) 

(2)  the  desirability  of  calling  a 
special  meeting  of  the  Association 
or  conducting  a  poll  of  the  member- 
ship -whenever  there  is  doubt  regard- 
ing a  coiirse  of  action  to  be 
folloTNGdj 

(3)  the  original  Hartzell  Committee 
clarify  its  intent  in  establishing 
the  lectureship. 


-11- 


(k)     the  recommendations  of  past 

Hartzcll  Committees  to  appoint 
the  Committee  in  the  fall  of  each 
year,  be  acted  upon, 

Louisa  S,  Motcalf 
Edna  Go  Peck 
Pauline  A.  Walker 

To  the  Editor: 

What,   if  anything,  came  out  of  the 
Staff  Association  meeting  at  which  the 
cancellation  of  the  first  Hartzcll  Mem- 
orial Lecture  was   discussed?     Although 
I  was  unable  to  attend  the  meeting,  the 
reports  I  receive  clear  up  none  of  my 
confusion.     None  of  the  reports  seem 
to  be  adequate. 

Several  of  us  on  the  staff  have  taken 
a   course  at  SimirioBS  College  titled, 
Sources  and  Media  of  ivlass  Communication, 
in  v/hich  journals,   journalists,  and  vjhat 
journalists  write  arc  considered.     At 
the  time  I  took  the  course,  Simmons  felt 
it  important  enough  to  require  it  of  all 
candidates  for  a  degree  in  library 
science.     This  would  seem  to  indicate 
that  the  subject  of  the  first  lecture 
could  be  considered  a  professional  li- 
brary subject. 

Among  the  questions  left  unanswered 
are  these:     On  vjhat  groundbdid  the 
Executive   committee  decide  that  the   sub- 
j;  ct  of   the  lecture  was  not  a  pro- 
fessional library  subject  and  on  what 
does  it  base  its  right  to  bo  sole  inter- 
preter of  the  provisions  of  the   lecture? 
Should  not  these  provisions  be  made  more 
definite   in  the   future?    lYhy  did  the  can- 
CQllation  of  the  lecture  come   so  late? 
The  executive  committee  must  have  been 
aware  for  some  time  of  the  lecturer  and 
the  type  of  lecture  he  would  be  apt  to 
give. 

There  is  much  speculation  and  un- 
healthy rumor  going  around  concerning 
this  affair,  which  makes   it  appear  that 
the  whole  truth  of  the  matter  has  not 
come  before  the  Staff  Association  member- 
ship.    The  time  has  come  for  some  definifce 
statements   from  those  who  knovir  what  is 
going  on.     This  wovild  get  several  people 
off  the  hook  as  well  as  bring  renewed 
faith  in  the  Staff  Association  as  a 
healthy  body  to  -".vhich  one  vrould  be  proud 
to  be  connectedo 

Frarcis  R,  Currie 


Dear  Editor: 

At  the  business  meeting  of  the  Boston 
Public  Library  Professional  Staff  Associa- 
tion on  Friday,  May  28^  it  was  very  notice- 
able that  there  was  a  great  lack  of  know- 
ledge of  the  principles  of  Parliamentary 
Procedure  on  the  part  of  the  majority  of 
the  members  (myself  included)  who  were 
at  this  meeting.  Now  because  most  members 
of  an  organization  are  not  acquainted 
with  the  fine  technicalities  of  Parliamen- 
tary Law,  I  should  like  to  recommend  that 
a  member  of  the  Executive  Board  of  the 
B»P,LcP.S»A,,  Y/ho  is  an  expert  parliamen- 
tarian, be  assigned  to  the  B,P,LeP,S,A, 
meetings  in  order  to  advise  a  member  ivhen 
necessary  as  to  the  proper  method  of 
procedxire  when  the  member  vashes  to  exer- 
cise and  protect  both  his  individual  and 
joint  rights o 

Grace  ©,  Loughlin 

To  the  "Soap  Box" 

Ivtr  Joseph  O'Neil  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  B,P,L,  Professional  Staff 
Association  by  a  high  percentage  of  the 
votes,  I  believe  we  should  support  him 
in  his  efforts  to  run  the  association 
according  to  the  constitution  of  the 
association. 

Many  of  us  remember  when  no  organiza- 
tion in  the  library  was  considered 
representative  because  it  did  not  have  a 
majority  of  employees  as  members.  It's 
about  time  we  supported  those  we  elect  to 
represent  us.  Criticism  is  to  be  expected, 
provided  it  is  constructive  criticism. 

Sincerely, 

Common  Sense 

To  the  Editor: 

The  old  prizefight  cry  WE  WAS  ROBBED 
has  taken  a  new  twist  if  we  can  believe 
our  ears  vihen  listening  to  the  post-May  28 
meeting  talk.     If  this  cry  came  from  the 
subprofessionals  there  might  be  some 
reason  to  listen  to  it.     But  it  issues 
forth  from  the  lips  of  experienced  members 
of  the  staff.     In  fact  more  than  one  of 
the  past  presidents  of  the  association, 
who  must  have  h'-.d  some  experience  with 
Roberts  Rules  of  Order  in  order  to  conduct 
a  meeting,  do  not  hesitate  to  cry  out  in 
mournful  tones. 

The  cry  ROBBED  BY  ROBERTS  sounds  a  litHe 
naive.     Lot's  forget  a  very  distasteful 
experience  and  get  on  mth  our  worko 


-12- 


To  the  Editor  of  the  Soap  Box: 

Yfe  h?.ve  had  reason  for  pride  in  our 
Professional  Staff  Association.  Formerly, 
as  its  founders  intended,  it  has  given 
members  a  ch-^.nce  to  voice  opinions,  in- 
terests and  needs  regarding  matters  per- 
tinent to  their  professional  welfare. 
Past  officers  have  sponsored  action  to 
further  and  protect  these  interests. 
They  have  exhibited  the  courage  needed  to 
viTithstand  outside  pressures  v/hether  these 
originated  from  non-m.embers  vidthin  the 
Library  or  from  subversive  or  super- 
patriotic  groups  outside  our  walls.  But 
this  Association  may  cease  to  be  an  in- 
dependent, representative  body  unless 
we  meet  the  grave,  increasingly  apparent 
danger  inherent  in  the  growing  apathy 
on  the  part  of  many  members. 

Responsibility  to  an  organization  does 
not  end  idth  payment  of  dues.  To  riHke 
their  wishes  knovm,  members  must  attend 
meetings*  They  must  study  parliamentary 
rules  of  procedure  so  that  well-iinformcd, 
vocal  groups  vjithin  the  organization  can- 
not misuse  these  rules  to  usurp  total  con- 
trol. And,  obviously,  each  member  must 
become  avnre  of  action  pending  or  effects! 
by  his  elected  officers  so  that  he  can 
express  approval  or  disapproval  of  steps 
taken  in  his  interests. 

Democratic  organizations  depend  on  two 
equally  important  principles;  rule  of 
the  najority  and  the  right  of  minorities 
to  be  heard.  At  our  last  meeting,  serious 
differences  of  opinion  became  obvious  re- 
garding recent  Executive  Board  action. 
Such  differences  can  be  settled  amicably 
only  if  each  side  can  freely  express  its 
views.  If  we  allow  some  members  to 
silence  others,  mth  v.'hora  they  disagree, 
by  imperious  demands  for  adjournment, 
each  of  us  should  remember  that  in  the 
next  discussion  v/e  m3.y  find  ourselves  in 
the  minority  silenced  vri-thout  a  hearing. 

Our  Staff  Association  was  created  to 
serve  us  all.  Let  us'  keep  that  Associa- 
tion vital,  productive  and  genuinely 
representative  by  becoming  alert  to 
dangers  Y;hich  apring  up  to  threaten  its 
existence  and  its  integrity. 


professional  persons,  I  am  not  referring 
to  nor  am  I  against  calling  a  spade  a 
spade  virhen  it  is  a  spade.  However,  the 
current  name  calling  and  innuendo  in 
certain  areas  is  unreasoni-ble.  True,  the 
Executive  Beard  made  a  mistake  in  not 
notifying  the  Hartzell  Committee  much 
earlier  that  the  Constitution  must  be 
strictly  interpreted,  I  agree  it  is  un- 
fortunate to  vdthdraY/  an  invitation  to  a 
speaker.  From  what  I  have  gathered 
that  seemingly  was  accomplished  without 
rancor  as  far  as  the  speaker  vras  concerned. 
However,  if  action  had  not  been  taken  this 
lecture  wculd  have  set  a  precedent  for 
the  future  contrary  to  the  Constitution 
of  the  Association, 

The  Executive  Board,  which  has  many 
duties  to  perform  has  admitted  its  error, 
yet  the  Committee  for  the  Hartzell  Memorial 
Lecture  v^hich  was  directly  concerned  with 
this  matter,  has  failed  to  acknov/ledge  the 
fact  that  they  acted  contrary  to  the 
specific  provision  of  the  Constitution 
governing  their  authority,  vAiich  provision 
stated  explicitly  that  the  lecture  vras 
to  be  on  a  professional  library  subject. 


M.  F.  Daly 
Just  in  case — 
P.S,  I  Tras  not  one  of  the  members  of  the 
association  originally  requesting 
a  reexamination  of  the  lecture 
subject. 


To  the  Soap  Box  Editor: 

Come  noY/-.  Let  us  calm  dovjn.  There  is 
no  sense  in  becoming  so  emotional  that 
it  in  some  cases  borders  on  hysteria. 


Dear  Editor: 

Reflecting  on  the  cancellation  of  the 
Hartzell  lecture,  certain  facts  bear  em- 
phasizing, A  letter  dated  23  March  195U 
from  the  Chairman  of  the  Hartzell  Memorial 
Lecture  Committee  to  the  President  of  the 
BPLPSA  listed  speakers  under  considera- 
tion, none  of  them  professional  librarians, 
md  disclosed  that  the  Committee  considered 
X  broader  interpretation  of  "the  profes- 
sional library  subject".  The  President 
rasied  no  objection,  although  invited  to 
nake  recommendations,  nor  did  any  member 
jf  the  Executive  Board  when  the  letter 
^ras  read  to  them  at  a  meeting  on  12  April 
L95U.  Yet  when  a  member  of  the  staff, 
liding  behind  anonymity,  objected  on  the 
Dretense  that  the  proposed  lecture  was 
lot  on  a  professional  library  subject, 
■:he  Executive  Board  voted  to  cancel  the 


proposed  lecture.  If  the  staff  member 
T?/hen  people  use  terms,  generalities,  and  'vho  raised  the  objection  was  sincere  in  his 
innuondos  not  at  all  applicable  to  a     or  her  effort  to  safeguard  the  constitution 
situation  at  hand,  they  are  not  acting  as  of  the  association,  why  all  the  secrecy? 

Certainly  nobody  should  be  ashamed  of 


-13- 


having  instigated  this  action  if  the 
motive  vras  honorable, 

Geraldine  M,  Altman 

To  the  Editor: 

95  or  Goose-egg? 

Taking  one's  ovm  measure  is   an  in- 
teresting thing  to  do.     Frequently  we 
test  ourselves  on  quizzes  appearing  in 
magazines e     Sometimes  we're  a  bit  smug 
over  our  scores.     Other  times  vre  feel 
distinctly  foolish.     Now,    just  for  lOUR 
OVifN  SAKE,  check  yourselves  on  these,  vdll 
you,  and  see  how  you  rate?     The  score  is 
your  secret — ^but  be  honest  t 

1)  Did  you  go  to  the  JAay  Staff  Associa- 
tion meeting  prepared  T/ith  Robert's 
Rules? 

2)  Did  you  ask  the  question  troubling  you 
or  were  you  a  seat-sitter? 

3)  Did  you  make  it  your  business  to  know 
if  any  questions  or  motions  vrere  lost 
in  limbo? 

k)   If  vre  11- versed  in  parliamentary  pro- 
cedure, did  you  lend  your  assistance 
to  the  Association  aq  a  Virhole ,  or 
just  to  your  buddies? 

5)  Did  you  request  information  from  the 
chair  as  to  when  certain  questions 
vjDuld  be  in  order? 

6)  Have  you  checked  the  purposes  of 
organization  of  the  Staff  Association? 

7)  Did  you  help  anyone  solve  problems? 

8)  Did  you  hinder  anyone? 

9)  That  was  your  meeting.     Did  you  let  it 
fall  on  a  few? 

10)  Do  you  know  the  only  things  that  will 
preserve  a  Staff  Association? 

11)  If  an  executive  member,  did  you  fulfill 
yo\ir  obligation  by  offering  opportunity 
for  all  possible  clarification  of 


'  ' '-  tions  or  sessions  packed  with  stimulat- 
ing interest? 

Hov/  did  you  rate  ?  


As  a  SOUND  MEMBER  / 


As  a  LIABILITY       /" 


controversial  issues? 

12)  Did  you  do  your  own  thinking? 

13 )  Did  you  take  notes  or  did  you  leave  it 
all  to  the  secretary?  That  was  almost 
court-recorder  pace ,  you  knoxv  I 

Ik)  '''^as  your  regard  for  truth  as  strong  as 

your  personal  opinions? 
1$)  Are  you  clear  on  each  issue? 

16)  If  not,  are  you  an  intelligent  member? 

17)  Have  you  irade  the  dangerous  mistake  of 
underestimating  the   intelligence  of 
the  membership  and  the  public? 

18)  Do  you  want  your  association  meetings 
to  be  a  battlefield  for  warring  fac- 


Lucia  S,  Faulkner 

To  the  Editor: 

I  should  like  to  commend  May  C, 
McDonald  and  the  members  of  the  Fourth 
Annual  Bertha  V.  Hartzell  Memorial  Lecture 
Committee  for  their  arrangements  for  a 
pleasant  and  constructive  program  on  the 
evening  of  June  11,  The  spirit  behind 
their  efforts  vras  reflected  by  the 
audience,  and  I  am  sure  that  all  vifho  vrere 
there  felt  as  I  did,  that  llrs  Hartzell 
was  truly  remembered  -and  honoredo  A  fine 
teacher,  a  conscientious  librarian, 
and  a  gracious  lady,  Bertha  V.  Hartzell 
would  have  been  grieved  and  shocked  by 
any  altercation  in  connection  vdth  a 
library  program,  most  of  all,  one  in  her 
memory.  Let  us  not  lose  sight  of  the 
original  purpose  of  the  lectures t 

Elinor  Day  Conley 

(Editor's  Note:  The  following  letters 
were  referred  to  the  Executive  Board  for 
consideration,  according  to  the  Publica- 
tions Committee  policy  concerning  material 
of  controversial  nature.  The  Executive 
Board  answers  questions  put  in  these 
letters,  but  does  not  deal  vdth  matters 
expressing  personal  opinions,) 

To  the  Editor: 

HELP  WANTED  1 1  III  S  I 

What's  going  on?     v/hat's   it  all  about? 
Does  anyone  know  the  facts? 

I  have  heard  so  many  conflicting  ideas, 
begarbled  versions  and  ugly  rumors,   of 
the  nastiest  species,  regarding  the  ill- 
fated  Hartzell  Lecture  schedviled  in  May 
that  frankly  I  am  confused,  befuddled  and 
bemuddled,     I  vjanted  very  much  to  attend 
the  last  business  meeting  to  find  out 
for  myself,  but  someone  had  to  hold  the 
fort,   and  that  someone  happened  to  be 
me.     The  verbal  reports  of  the  meeting 
were  as  varied  as  the  persons  v/ho  attended 
and  reflected  all  shades  of  opinion,     BUT 
VfflAT  ARE  THE  FACTS?     Dunno.     Nor  did  the 


-U4- 


mimeographed  report  of  the  meeting  shed 
any  enlightenment »     I  still  can  not 
figure  out  v/hat,  if  anything,  vjas  accom- 
plished at  the  meeting,  except  an  en- 
tanglement in  parliamentary  protocol  in 
which  the  letter  of  the  law  sought  to 
stifle   the  lively  spirits  seeking  to 
exercise  their  rights  to  be  heard,     I 
thought  ours  -was  .a  democratic  society  I 
WHAT  DID  HAPPEN?     Dunnoo 

However,  methinks,  the  members  of  our 
executive  committee  should  be  chided 
severely  on  several  scores: 

(1)  Are  they  so  indifferent  to  com"- 
mittee  reports  that  they  accept  first 
and  then  take  several  months  to  stir 
from  their  lethargy  before  examining 
their  actions?     Shame  I 

(2)  Is  it  nice  to  invite  anyone,  let 
alone  someone  of  the  stature  of  the 
originally  scheduled  speaker,  and  then 
at  the   last  moment  y/ithdraw  one's 
hospitality?     Shame  I 

(3)  I  spent  a  miserable  hot  summer  at 
library  school  studying  IIEDIA  OF  MASS 
C0M1UNICATDN,   in  which  we  learned  about 
the  press,  its  responsibility  in  news 
reporting,  and  its  relation  to   the  Li- 
brary*    If  a  professional  library  school 
sees  fit  to  include  material  of  such 
nature  in  a  professional  library  course, 
who  are  we,  meaning  our  staff  associa- 
tion,  to  impose  a  narrow,  outmoded  defini' 
tion  of  the  vrord  "professional"  on  our 
library  activities? 

FEJ'IUDDLED 

To  the  Editor: 

We  suggest  that  "Femuddled"  read  the 
statement  of  17  May  195ii  sent  to  Associa- 
tion members  giving  notice  of  the  can- 
cellation of  the  Hartzell  Lecture 

1,  Paragraphs  2  and  3  of  this  state- 
ment point  out  a.  that  the  notes  of  the 
first  meeting  of  the  former  Hartzell 
Lecture  Committee  indicated  that  although 
the  Committee  had  discussed  a  broader 
interpretation  of  "professional  library 
subject",  they  reached  no  decision  and 
ytere   to  discuss  this  m?.tter  at  a  later 
meeting,  b»  It  was  not  apparent  until 
the  flyer,  setting  forth  the  title  of 
the  proposed  lecture,  had  been  distri- 
buted through  the  Library,  that  the 
Committee  had  decided  on  a  broader 
interpretation  of  "professional  library 
subject". 

2.  No  J  it  is  alvrays  painful  to  with- 


draw an  invitation  extended  to  anyoneo 
The  Executive  Board  apologized  to  the 
speaker  for  doing  so;  the  invited  speaker, 
in  answer,  graciously  stated  that  there 
vras  no  need  for  apologies  and  that  he 
welcomed  his  release  because  of  his  other 
commitments, 

3,  The  first  three  ffertzell  Memorial 
Lecture  Committees  followed  a  strict  in- 
terpretation of  "professional  library 
subject",  and  the  former  Hartzell  Lecture 
Committee  was  a;vare  of  this.  If  any 
member  of  the  Association  believes  there 
should  be  a  TJider  choice  of  subject, 
it  is  his  or  her  privilege  to  propose  an 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws, 
modifying  the  term  "professional  library 
subject",  as  it  appears  in  the  duties  of 
the  Committee, 

The  Executive  Board 

To  the  Soap  Box  Editor: 

Since  llir   Roberts  took  over  the  recent 
business  meeting  of  the  Association,  there 
were  many  questions  which  members  desired 
to  raise  and  have  answered  which  were  not 
"in  order,"  Therefore,  I  would  like  to 
ask,  and  have  ansYiered,  through  the  medium 
of  The  Question  Mark,  the  follomng  queries: 
1»  Are  the  officers  elected  to  carry 
out  the  vdll  of  the  membership— 
or  to  impose  their  vd.ll  on  the 
membership,  as  happened  in  the  can- 
cellation of  the  original  195U 
Hartzell  Lecture?  The  Constitu- 
tion states — as  part  of  the 
"duties  of  the  Executive  Board" — 
"to  consider  all  matters  affecting 
the  common  interests  and  welfare  of 
the  Association,  and  to  recommend 
to  the  Association  such  action 
as  the  Board  deems  vrLse," — 
italics  mine — to  recommend— not 
to  act, 

2,  If  interpretation  of  the  con- 
stitution— Hartzell  lecture  clause — 
v/ere  the  cause,  yhy  was  the  original 
Hartzell  Committee  not  consulted? 

3«  Did  not  common  courtesy  require 
that  the  195U  Hartzell  Committee 
v/hich  had  every  detail  of  the 
lecture  planned  be  consulted,  rather 
than  be  issued  an  ultimatum? 

ii,  A  special  meeting  was  requested, 
liifhy  was  this  request  ignored? 


-.15- 


5»  A  poll  viBs  requested,  Yfhy  T;as 
this  request  ignored? 

(*''Thore  vns  not  sufficient 
time",  is  in  excuse,  not 
a  reason.) 

6.  If  a  columnist  reports  on  a  con- 
troversial subject,  and  two  local 
papers  disagree  vrith  that  report, 
is  this  unusual?  It  happens  every- 
day in  a  democratic  society  and 
should  happen. 

7.  Why  did  the  Executive  Board  feel 
that  this  incident,  the  suspected 
reason  for  cancelling  the  lecture, 
had  to  be  hushed  up  and  the  con- 
stitution theory  put  forvrard  as  a 
camouflage  2 

8.  Was  not  the  Executive  Board's  fear 
of  facing  the  issue,  the  only 
real  danger  in  the  entire  situa- 
tion? 

9.  Is  the  Association  going  to  be  an 
independent  organization  or  is  it 
going  to  jump  through  the  hoop 
every  time  someone  (suspected  but 
unknown)  lashes  the  whip? 

Edna  G.  Peck 

To  the  Editor: 

1.  The  officers  are  elected  to  carry 
out  the  vdll  of  the  membership,  as 
the  membership  has  expressed  its 
will  in  the  Constitution  and  By- 
Laws  and  not  in  a  manner  contrary 
to  the  Constitution  and  By-Lav/s, 
Article  2  (b)  of  the  By-Lavfs,  as 
part  of  the  duties  of  the  Execu- 
tive Board,  has  been  in  the  Con- 
stitution since  the  beginning  of 
the  Association,  Yet  from  the 
very  first  year  of  the  Association 
the  Executive  Board  has  taken 
action  for  the  Association  betvieen 
meetings  of  the  membership  and  has 
not  restricted  its  activities  to 
merely  making  recommendations  to 
the  Association,  Nor  does  the 
present  Executive  Board  believe 
that  the  Association  would  have 
been  able  to  function  effectively 
throughout  the  life  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, if  the  Executive  Board 
could  only  recommend  action  and  - 


fcouid  act  act  iiBcrll,  Any.  former 
President  should  be  aware  that 
this  is  the  policy  that  has 
always  been  follov/ed, 

2»  The  Executive  Board  considered 
the  language  of  the  By-La.ws, 
"professional  library  subject", 
to  be  very  clear  and  in  no  need 
of  interpretation, 

3.  The  Executive  Board  has  already 
apologized  to  the  former  Committee 
publicly  for  not  giving  earlier 
notification, 

i;.  The  request  for  a  special  meeting 
made  on  late  Friday  afternoon  of 
May  lljth  was  not  ignored.  It 
v/as  given  every  consideration. 
The  President  had  been  instructed 
to  carry  out  arrangements  for  can- 
cellation if  the  Committee  re- 
signed. Any  special  meeting 
called  would  have  been  held  after 
cancellation  arrangements  had  been 
initiated.  The  statement  issued 
Ifey  17th  was  intended  to  give  the 
membership  notice  of  the  Executive 
Board's  action  and  the  reasons 
for  its  action, 

B,  Joseph  O'Keil 

for  the  Executive  Board 

To  the  Editor; 

5»  The  result  of  a  poll  could  not 
make  an  unconstitutional  act  con- 
stitutional, 

6,  No,  If  a  columnist  reports  on  a 
controversial  subject  and  tviro 
local  papers  disagree  with  that 
report,  it  is  not  at  all  unusual* 

7,  The  Executive  Board  takes  this 
opportunity  to  state  once  again 
that  the  only  reason  for  cancelling 
or  postponing  the  Bertha  Ve 
Hartzell  Memorial  Lecture  which  was 
considered  or  discussed  by  the 
Executive  Board  was  that  the  art- 
nounced  subject  was  not  in  accord 
vfith  the  Constitution, 

8,  The  Executive  Board  faced  the  issue, 
the  constitutionality  of  the  an- 
nounced subject,  and  voted  un- 
animously to  take  action  on  can- 


-16- 


cellation  and  postponement.  A  week 
and  a  half  later  the  full  Board 
iinaniraously  reaffirmed  the  stand  it 
had  taken  previously  so  that  there 
would  not  be  the  least  shadow  of  a 
doubt  as  to  its  post ion » 

9»  As  long  as  the  present  Executive 
Board  is  in  office  they  will  do 
all  in  their  power  to  insure  that 
the  Association  v;ill  remain  inde- 
pendent* The  average  age  and  girth 
of  the  members  of  the  Executive 
Board  preclude  j\amping  through 
hoops  for  anyone. 

Louis  Rains, 

for  the  Executive  Board 

To  the  Soap  Box  Editor: 

Yife  urish  to  thank  the  many  friends  vvho 
joined  in  helping  us  honor  Mrs   Bertha  V, 
Ifertzell,     To  further  honor  her  memory  the 
Committee  is  assuming  the  expenses  of  the 
Fourth  Ifeirtzell  Memorial  Lecture o 

Geraldine  T,   Beck 
Charles  J,  Gillis 
Irene  J.  ■'.'Jadsworth 
ifey  C,  McDonald,  Chairman 
FOURTH  HARTZELL  MEMDRIaL 
LECTURE  COmnTTEE 


LATE  FUSHl 

Announcement  ha-s  been  made  of  the' 
engagement  of  I/hrgaret  Jfehoney,   Informa- 
tion Office,  to  John  Morrison  of  Cambridge, 


YU 


UGsiion 


^AM 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


JULY  1954 


THE     QUESTION     MARK 
Published  by  the  Boston  Pub]ic  Library  Professional  Staff  Association 


Volume  IX,   Number  7 


July  1951 


Publications  Committee: 


Gerald  L.  Ball,  John  J.  McCafferty,  Sheila  W,  Pierce, 
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  pristine  unequivocalness  of  elemental  man, 

must  be  a  gradual  clouding  over  of 
There  appeared  soire  years  ago  a  British  everything  we  try  to  say  or  write  to  a 


publication  with  the  engaging  title  Chamber 
of  Horrors «  Upon  inspection  this  little 
book  proved  to  be  a  "glossary  of  official 
jargon,  British  and  American".  The  com- 
piler using  the  pseudonym  "Vigilans", 
alarmed  at  the  "fungoid"  growth  of  this 
language  phenomenon,  and  determined  to 
check  in  some  vra,y  the  spread  of  these 
v/eeds,  has  brought  together  some  of  the 
more  absurd  specimens  of  this  strange 
tongue,  together  Tdth  translations  into 
standard  English,  (Ex.  "institute  the 
necessary  inquiries"  for  ask.)  In  the 
introduction,  incidentally,  the  reader  is 
treated  to  an  excerpt  from  Federal  Prose. 
How  to  vjrite  in  and/or  for  Washington.. 
(Univ.  of  N.C.  Press,  19iia)  which  defines 
official  jargon  as  follows :  that  form  of 
nonmetrical  composition,  apparently 
English,  vifhich  can  be  invariably  inter- 
preted as  meaning  and/or  not  meaninglriore 
and /or  less  than,  rather  than  v/hat,  it" 
seems  to  mean. 

We  librarians  ourselves  have,  over  the 
years,  been  guilty  of  a  similar  jargonis- 
tic  approach  in  saying  and  writing  things. 
Ovoc   sin  has  lain  in  our  characteristic 
use  of  what  one  might  call  Library  prose, 
perhaps  best  described  as  "genteel  long- 
windedness."  ¥e  have  so  long  been  used 
to  such  expressions  as  delightful  colla- 
tion when  -we   mean  lunch;  individual  vjhen 
we  mean  person  and  charming  abode  vhen   we 
mean  somebody's  house,  that  a  disturbing 
attitude  has  crept  into  the  profession's 
word-choice,  a  conviction  that  two 
syllables,  like  tvfo  heads,  are  better 
than  one.  We  have  been  pursuing  this 
sesquipedalian  path  so  unswervingly,  in 
fact,  that  Vigilans  (see  above)  might 
tremble  lest  we  banish  directness  forever 
from  the  Library  profession  in  favor  of 
bh'";  'fiqre.  It  vould  seen  that  the  in- 
;Vit  b'.c  ■'.ii':'  regrettoble  consequence  of 
this  behavior,  unless  Yre  return  to  the 


point  of  complete  confusion. 

Ikking  A  as  crystal-clear  atop  the 
scale  of  intelligibility,  and  making  Z 
utter  chaos  at  its  lower  end,  (and  bearing 
in  mind  man's  inability  (1)  to  make  himself 
completely  understandable  and  (2)  to  com- 
pletely understand  others)  we  must  admit 
that  most  human  communication  staggers 
along  at  about  G  or  H  on  that  scale. 

This  unhappy  condition  is  almost  as 
good  as  semanticists  say  we  poor  humans 
can  achieve.  (Senanticists  are  pro- 
fessional head-shakers  over  language 
difficulties.)  Their  somewhat  too  great 
insistence  on  complete  mutual  understanding 
as  the  one  true  basis  of  peaceful  and 
fruitful  relationships,  and  their  paralML 
conviction  that  any  degree  of  this  under- 
standing will  occasion  a  like  degree  of 
friction  is  too  neat  an  explanation  and 
offers  too  easy  a  solution  of  the  world's 
ills.  However,  they  may  well  be  entirely 
vjTong.  Perhaps  Library  language,  once 
simplified,  Yd.ll  help  simplify  Library 
procedures, 

John  McCafferty 


PERSOML  NOTES 


Resignations 


Mrs  Grace  H,   Gonzalez,  General  Reference, 
to  remain  at  home  in  GuateitHla  City, 
Guatenala,  C.A. 

Transfers 


I.Irs  Elizabeth  B.  Svirsky,  from  Parker  Hill 
to  Central  Charging  Records. 

Returned  from  Military  Leave 


Lawrence  R.  Bushey,  Fine  Arts 


CARE 
Remember  to  CARE  during  the  Summer. 


-.2- 


Y'JEDDINGS 

St  Ignatius  Church,  Chestnut  Hill, 
July  10,  v/as  the  scene   of  the  Nuptial 
Mass  at  which  Constance  E,  Wilson,  Book 
Stack  Service,  and  Paul  5.  Delahanty, 
Central  Charging  Records,  were  married. 
The  bride  wore  a  full  length  govm  of 
off-white  silk  organza  over  bridal  satin 
mth  an  insertion  of  Alencon  lace  at  the 
bodice  and  a  seed  pearl  crown  with  an 
illusion  veil.     Her  ma id-of -honor,   Jeanne 
Daly,  wore  white  embroidered  eyelet 
organdy  over  blue  taffeta j  Loretta  Ann 
Delahanty  was   govmed  in  pale  blue  tulle. 
The  bride's  bouquet  vras  of  white  roses 
and  siiephanotis  mth  a  center  of  pink 
sweetheart  roses.     The  J/iass  was  celebrated 
by  Father  Leonard  of  Boston  College  while 
the  best  nan  ■>!ia.s  George  Hickey  of  Dor- 
chester.    The  reception,  vAiich  followed 
immediately,  was  held  at  the  home  of  the 
groom's  parents  in  West  Roxbury. 


On  Saturday  afternoon,   June  19,  in  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  Chapel  of  the  Cathedral 
of  the  Holy  Cross,  Janice  G,  Lane  of  the 
Office  of  Home  Reading  and  Community 
Services,  became  the  bride  of  Roger  B. 
Hunt.     Following  a  honeymoon  in  Upper 
New  York  State  and  the  Gaspc,  I'tr  and  Mrs 
Hunt  vfill  live  in  Cambridge, 


* 


Margaret  Macdonald,  Director's  Office, 
was  married  in  Boston  on  July  1  to  Jose 
de  Rivas-Mcoud,     The  couple  vri.ll  live 
in  New  York  City, 


On  Saturday  morning,  June  19,   Helen  G, 
Pappas,   Information,  ivas  me-rricd  to 
Arthur  J.  F,  Sullivan,  of  Corning,  New 
York,  at  a  double  v/cdding  ceremony  at 
St  Patrick's  Church  in  Watcrtovm, 
Massachusetts,     Her  sister,  Mary  Catherine 
Pappas,  Tims  wed  to  Paul  Frazier,  of 
Dorchester,  at  the  same  time, 

Helen  looked  exquisite  in  a  white 
mousseline  do  sole  over  satin  gov.n 
decorated  with  seed  pearls  placed  in  the 
hearts  of  the  little  flovrars  in  the  lace 
inserts  at  the  waist  and  bodice.     Her 
chapel  length  train  was  cleverly  designed 
to'  allow  her  to  [rather  it  up  for  the  _ 


reception  on  invisible  buttons  forming  a 
bustle  in  the  back.     Her  tiara  added  a 
regal  air.     Each  bride  carred  a  prayer-  ' 
book  covered  with  a  triple-headed  orchid, 
vdth  Stephanotis  along  the  satin  ribbons. 

The  brides  used  the  Marion  Year  colors. 
Blue  for  the  bridesmaids'  govms  and  yellcv/ 
and  vidiite  accessories  to  match  the  gold 
and  T^^hite  used  in  decorating  the  altar. 

Their  attendants  included  tvYo  members    ' 
of  the  Library  staff,  Mrs  Mary  F,  Scanlon, 
Central  Charging  Records,  and  Helen  H, 
Scvagian,  Information  Office,     They  wore 
turquoise  blue  gowns  vdth  white  shoes  and 
gloves.     Yellow  roses  and  white  carnations 
formed  the   coronets  worn  by  the  bridesmaids. 
These  flowers  were  used  to  cover  ycllov/ 
satin  and  lace  fans  which  they  carried. 


* 


On  Saturday,  June  26,  Ikurice  Rahilly, 
former  staff  member  in  General  Reference,    ■ 
Periodical  and  Newspaper,  and  Audio-Visual, 
was  married  to  Patricia  Kane  at  St,  Matthew 
Church,  Dorchester,     Fbnsignor  Hascnfus, 
a  friend  of  the  bride,  performed  the 
ceremony.     The  couple  vri.ll  live  in  New 
York  City, 


If 


BIRTHS 

Martin  Waters,  Reference  Librarian  in 
History,  is  the  happy  father  of  a  son, 
Alan,  born  in  Yfcyraouth  on  June  26,  Alan 
weighed  in  at  eight  pounds.  Formerly, 
¥srs   Waters  was  a  member  of  Cataloging 
and  Classification,  Division  of  R.  &  R,  S, 

PRESIDENT'S  KDTES 

The  Executive  BDard  has  been  concerned 
for  some  time  that,  if  the  payments  of 
service  anniversary  increases  were  made 
before  the  remaining  balances  due  from  the 
April  1,  1953  revision  of  salary  scales 
had  been  {Hid,  there  would  result  in- 
equities to  a  considerable  number  of 
persons,  in  particular,  that  many  seniors 
in  grade  would  be  receiving  sma.ller 
salaries  than  some  juniors  in  grade  for 
some  nine  months,  more  or  less. 

The  Executive  Board  has  been  comimini- 
cating  vdth  the  Administration  concerning 
this  matter  since  the  first  notice  on 
payment  of  service  anniversary  increases 
vras  issued,  and  on  Wednesday,-  July  7,  the 
President  and  Mr  Louis  Rains  of  the  Execu- 
tive Board  were  authorized  to  meet  mth 


-3- 


the  Director  and  the  Chief  Executive 
Officer  to  discuss  this  situation. 

After  this  discussion  the  following 
statement  was  authorized; 

"The  Director  stated  that,  in  addition 
to  the  payment  of  the  remaining  ba]ances 
due  from  the  April  1,  1953  revision  of  ' 
salary  scales  (probably  as  of  October  1, 
195i|j  and,  if  possible,  as  of  an  earlier 
date  in  195U,  depending  upon  the  state  of 
the  personnel  service  budget)  he  would 
recommend  to  the  Trustees  payments  for 
the  period  of  January  1,  195^4-  to  the  date 
of  the  effective  date  of  the  balances  due 
to  those  individuals  for  -whom  inequities 
of  payment  had  come  into  being  as  a  result 
of  the  granting  of  anniversary  increases 
earlier  in  the  current  fiscal  year«" 

We  are  pleased  to  announce -that  Charles 
L»  Higgins ,  General  Reference,  was  elected 
as  a  member  of  the  Steering  Committee  of 
the  Staff  Organizations  Round  Table  of 
the  American  Library  Association  and  will 
serve 'for  a  two-year  term.  Congratula- 
tions, Mr  Higgins  t  The  Association  is 
honored  by  the  election  of  Mr   Higgins  so 
soon  after  Bradford  M,  Hill,  Periodical 
and  Ne?:spaper,  had  served  for  two  con- 
secutive terms  on  this  important  national 
committee. 

B.  Joseph  O'Neil 

LOST  km   FOUND 

The   following  item,  having  been  posted 
on  the  Central  Bulletin  Board  for  over 
a  month  v/ithout  a  claimant,  has  been  sent 
to  The  Question  Mark  for  v/ider  notice: 

Found 

Gold  bracelet  found  in  the  Women's 
Lavatory,  Stack  3»     Owner  may  claim 
at  the  Personnel  Office. 

Personnel  Office— 6/&/5I4 

IN  ?ffiI>iDRIAM 

Mrs  Evelyn  Grosbayne  Green 

At  the  suggestion  of  llirs  Evelyn  C, 
ILarden,  Bookmobile,  who  vias  the  official 
representative  of  our  Association  at 
the  funeral  services  of  Mrs  Evelyn  Gros- 
bayne Green,  a  donation  of  ten  dollars 
froin  the  Associ'^.tion  in  memory  of  Ws 
Green  has  been  sent  to  "Youth  Aliyah", 
a  fund  for  the  care  of  orphaned  children 


in  Israel. 

This  donation  was  made  in  lieu  of  the 
flowers  usually  sent  on  the  death  of  an 
active  member  of  the  Association  because 
the  newspaper  death  notice  requested  that 
a  donation  be  made  to  charity  in  lieu 
of  flowers. 

Below  is  a  copy  of  the  letter  received 
from  the  husband  of  the  late  Mrs  Green t 

U5  Wallingford  Street 
Brighton,  Massachusett 
July  10,  1951; 

Ifr  B.  Joseph  O'Neil,  President 
Professional  Staff  Association 
Boston  Pub! ic  Library 
Boston,  Ifeissachusetts 

Dear  Sir, 

I  have  been  recently  informed 
of  a  contribution  received  by  Youth 
Aliyah  from  the  Professional  Staff 
Association  in  memory  of  my  beloved  v;-if  e, 
Evelyn. 

Evelyn  had  alvrays  evinced  a  keen 
interest  in  the  work  done  by  Youth  Aliyah 
and  the  contribution  to  this  organization 
most  fittingly  honors  her  name. 

Please  convey  to  the  members  of 
the  Professional  Staff  Association  my 
gratitude  and  sincere  thanks  for  this 
beautiful  tribute  to  my  Evelyn. 

Respectfully, 
(Signed)    Louis  Green 

SOtE'mERE  IN  THE  LIBRARY  .  .  . 

22,  Towards  the  close  of  the  last  century, 
a  famous  vroman  poet  and  essayist  vrorked 
for  nearly  two  years  in  the  Catalog 
Room  of  this  Library,  lifhen  she  left 
the  Library,  she  v/ent  to  England  to 
study  at  the  Bodleian  Library  at  Oxford, 
"I  came  to  England  not  for  excitement, 
not  for  vogue,  but  for  the  velvety  feel 
of  the  Past  under  foot,  like  moss  of 
the  forest  floor  to  a  barefooted  child," 
she  said.  Her  studies  in  England  were 
mainly  of  the  seventeenth-century  poets. 
Among  her  works  are:  A  Little  English 
Galls  ryj  England  and  Yesterday;  Blessed 
Edmund  Campion j  Recusant  Poets,  Can 
you  identify  this  woman? 

23.  Another  member  of  the  Catalog  Depart- 
ment of  the  Library,  T/ho  worked  here 


-u- 


for     iTiany    yoars,  until  the  time  of  her] 
death  during  Yforld  War  II,  was  also  an  ' 
author,  a  vo-iter  of  mysteries.     Can  ycu 
identify  this  cataloger-authoress? 

2ii,     SomevAoro  in  the  Library  is  an 
original  wash  dravong  entitled  "Twen- 
tieth Century  Boston".       The  size  of 
the  drawing  is  considerable,  Ul  x  83J 
inches.     The  artist  was  Bert  Poole| 
the  date  on  the  drawing  is  1907.     The 
whole  TOrk  is  a  most  comprehensive 
viev/  of  Boston  and  Boston  Harbor. 
The  ships  in  the  harbor,  the  piers, 
the  railroads,  the  ncv/ly-constructcd 
buildings: — all  create  a  picture  of 
Boston  at  the  tiirn  of  the  century  with 
the  newly  acquired  look  of  a  modern 
city.     Can  you  locate  this  drav/ing? 

25.     Somcv/here  in  Bates  Hall  there  is  a 
pair  of  pedestals  for  the  busts  of  two 
famous  Library  benefactors.     These 
pedestals  are  made  of  cipolino  marble, 
the  marble  used  in  the  Temple  of 
Antoninus  and  Faustina  in  the  Roman 
Forum,  and  in  the  columns  of  the  Church 
of  Santa  Jferia  Maggiore  in  Rome,     This 
marble  is  no  longer  obtainable.     Can 
you  locate  these  pedestals? 

(Answers  to  these  questions  appear  on 
page  5    ) 

AnsTJ-ers  to  June  questions 

18,  Lucy  Stone 

19,  Rare  Book  Department 

20,  In  the  space  formerly  occupied  by 
the  postcard  counter, 

21,  Thomas  Gold  Appleton, 

Paul  V,  Moynihan 
BLOOD  DOMDR  PROGRAM 

The  following  excerpts  are  from  an 
editorial  by  E,  Roland  Harriman,  Presi- 
dent of  the  American  National  Red  Cross, 
in  Today's  Health  for  Jfarch  19^1+ . 

"Both  V/orld  Vfer  II  and  Korea  have  re- 
quired Americans  to  donate  blood  in  vast 
quantities.  Response  to  that  need,  and 
the  resultant  supply  of  vifhole  blood  and 
blood  derivatives  has  been  of  groat 
benefit  to  our  wounded  and  has  had  a 
collateral  benefit  to  civilians,  through 
a  gro\ri.ng  consciousness  of  the  value  of 
blood  and  the  v/illingncss  of  people  to 
donate  it," 


,,, "Increased  knowledge  and,  vrith  it, 
the  mounting  need  for  blood  presents  a 
major  problem—TJ-hcrc  to  get  it.  Unlike 
other  medicinals,  blood  cannot  be  bought 
in  quantities  sufficient  to  meet  needs 
because  not  enough  people  are  willing 
to  sell  it— at  any  price.  Blood  pro- 
curement is  not  solely  the  responsibility 
of  the  medical  profession,  but  also  the 
duty  of  the  average  citizen", 

,,#"We  must  make  sure  that  no  soldier 
or  civilian  dies  for  the  lack  of  blood", 

"But  each  healthy  citizen  must  also 
assume  a  part  of  the  responsibility  because 
it  is  only  through  the  enlightened  genero- 
sity of  people  in  keeping  up  consistent 
donations  that  the  program  can  succeed* 
The  American  Medical  Association,  the 
Red  Cross  and  hospitals  vd.ll  do  their  part. 
All  of  this  will  avail  little  unless  each 
of  us  \fho   is  able  makes  blood-giving  a 
habit". 

Have  you 'made  a  donation  through  our 
own  program,  the  City  of  Boston  Blood 
Donor  Program? 

"REMEIfflER,  THE  BLOOD  YDU  GIVE  MAY 
SAVE  SOJffiBODY'S  LIFE" , 

BEST  VJISHES  FOR  A  SPEEDY  RECOVERY 

George  T,  Armstrong,  Records,  Files, 
Statistics,   is  recuperating  at  home, 
following  an  operation, 

ENGAGEMENT 

The  engagement  of  Irene  M,  McCarty, 
Adams  Street,  to  Michael  J,  Shea  of 
Dorchester  vra.s  announced  on  July  12,     They 
plan  to  be  married  next  Spring, 

A.L«A.  CONFERENCE 

Conference  theme ;  "Knoviflcdge 
A  Free  People  's  Surest  Strength" 

At  many  of  the  general  raeetings    of  the 
A,L,A,  as 'a  -whole  and  of   the  several 
divisions,  great  stress  \vas  put  upon  the 
importance  of  the  United  Nations  as  a 
force  for  peace  and  freedom:,     and  upon 
the  role  of  the  United  States  as  a  major 
force  in  the  proper  functioning  of  the 
U,N,     TvTO  men  in  particular  made  eloquent 
and  fervent  appeals  in  support  of  the  U,N, 
Carroll  Binder,  Editorial  Editor  of  the 
"Minneapolis  Tribune",  discussed  the 
attitudes  tow^-rd  participation  by  the 
U,S,  in  world  affairs  with  particular 


-5- 


the  Association  of  College  and  Reference 
Librarians  held  a  panel  discussion  on 
the  above  topic.     The  chairman  of  the 
Section  made  some  preliminary  remarks  and 
then  introduced  the  chairman  of  the  panel. 
The  latter  looked  around  the  large  ball- 
room v;here  there  vrere  assembled  a  couple 
of  hundred  of  us  in  a  horse-shoe  and  ivith 
no  vra.rning  vAiatsoever  suggested  that  every- 
one was  going  to  have  a  good  time  this 
afternoon*     He  smiled  when  he  said  this. 
This  levity  took  many  of  the  librarians 
by  surprise  and  some  few  lost  their  grim— 
ness  and  determination.     A  tepid  titter 
swept  the  room.     But  it  was  a  temporary 
lapse.     For  some  one  got  up  and  indulged 
in  that  delightful  ALA  custom  of  "reading 
a  paper".     There  was  good  reason  to  be 
grim.     Luckily  the  room  was  air-conditioned. 
In  her  paper  the  lady  kept  using  the  vrord 
empirical,     I  do  remember  that  for  some 
reason.     Upon  the  completion  of  that  paper, 
another  paper  was  read,  etc.     The  panel 
chairman,  incidentally,  made  no  further 
reference  to  good  times.     But  enough  of 
this  silliness  J  on  to  the  moat  of  the 
meeting.     It  vras  concerned  vdth  the  work 
of  a  committee  lAJiich  is  undertaking  to 
revise  ajid  to  re-name  the  International 
Index  to  Periodicals,     At  the  present  time 
this  index  includes  periodicals  devoted 
to  the  humanities  and  the  sciences.     It  is 
intended  to   drop  the   sciences   (physical) 
and  include  only  the  hunr.nities  and  the 
social  sciences.     However,  periodicals 
in  the  field  of  psychology  and  all  periodi- 
cals in  foreign  languages  are  to  be  ex- 
cluded too.     This  project  entails  an  enor- 
mous amount  of  work;  in  fact  judging  by 


emphasis  on  the  r  easons  advanced  by  those 
groups  opposed  to  the  UiN,     Dr  Charles 
Jfeyo  of   the  Ifayo  Clinic,  Rochester, 
Minnesota,  and  President  of  the  American 
Association  for  the  U.N,  urged  that  the 
coming  U.N.  Day  be  appropriately  cele- 
brated on  the  local  level  throughout  the 
Uoited   States, 

SORT 

The  Staff  Organizations  Round  Table 
held  a  meeting  at  v/hich  five  new  members 
were  elected  to  the  Steering  Committee 
Ti±iich  is  composed  of  nine  members 
scattered  throughout  the  country,  Charles 
Higgins,  Chief  of  General  Reference, 
had  been  nominated  by  tlic  BBLPSA  and  he 
was  one  of  the  five  elected  from  the 
fifteen  nominees.  The  election  was 
follovrod  by  several  reports  some  of  lAhich 
were  somewhat  interesting.  The  chief 
report  and  the  one  vihich  aroused  some 
animation  was  delivered  by  the  SORT  Staff 
Committee  Survey,  This  survey  was  con- 
ducted among  the  various  member  staff 
organizations.  The  point  was  brought 
out  in  the  survey  that  ten  libraries  have 
a  member  of  the  staff  organization  regu- 
larly attending  the  meetings  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  This  is  so  in  Los  Angeles, 
Minneapolis  and  Clevelande  This  seemed 
surprising  and  daring  to  the  representa- 
tive from  St  Louis  and' Dayton,  tvro  rather 
conservative  libraries.  For  example, 
the  Dayton  representative  could  see 
nothing  unusual  in  the  fact  that  every- 
thing v/hich  appears  in  the  Dayton  staff 

paper  first  goes  over  the  Librarian's    jthe  remarks  of  some  of  the  speakers  one 
Desk  for  his  approval.  That  fact  is  taken  flight  get  the  impression  that  the  v*iole 
for  granted  in  Dayton.  In  Minneapolis    thing  is  absolutely  hopeless.  There  are 
a  member  of  the  staff  has  "alvrays"  sat    so   many  periodicals,  so  much  duplication 
in  on  all  Trustees'  meetingF«  That  fact  in  other  indexes,  so  many  decisions'to  make 
is  taken  for  granted  in  Minneapolis.  In  regarding  psychological  periodicals,  so 
a  great  many  libraries  the  Chief  Librariani^ny  foreign  periodicals,  so  many  border- 
(Director)  is  a  regular  member  of  the     Line  periodicals  (is  this  psychology  or  soitb 
staff  association,  and  in  others  he  is    Dther  social  soienco?)  Absolutely  over- 

vhelming.  The  Wilson  Company  is  represented 
Dn  the  ACRL  Committee.  I  do  think  that  it 
Is  fair  to  assume  that  the  Internation.il 
Endex  will  emerge  revised  and  re-naircd, 
iespite  all  difficulties.  It  was  announced 
:hat  the  next  index  due  for  revising  but 
lot  for  rc-nraraing  is  the  Industrial  Arts 
[ndex  and  for  this  prodigious  tajk  the 
ACRL  is  going  to  vfork  v.ith  committees  from 
■:he  Public  Libraries  Division  and  from  the 
SLA,  The  Wilson  Company  is  again  to  be 


invited  to  attend  staff  association 
business  m.ectings.  Several  short  talks 
by  representatives  of  various  staff 
organizations  were  made,  including  one  by 
Mr  Higgins  in  vrhich  he  summarized  the 
activities  and  organization  of  'BPLPSA. 

Current  Issues 
In  Periodical  Indexing 

The  Reference  Librarians'  Section  of 


represented. 


-6- 


Japanese  Library  School 

At  a  meeting  of  the  ALA  Council  several 
reports  ivcre  read,  one  of  then  being  a 
progress  report  by  Robert  Gitler  on  the 
Japanese  Library  School  ;7hich  he  and 
several  other  Americans  have  set  up  at 
Keio  University  in  Tokyo*  There  are  only 
tvro  Americans  on  the  faculty  nov/  and  it  is 
expected  tha.t  in  the  near  future  Iilr  Gitler 
and  his  assistant  id.ll  return  to  this 
country  leaving  the  Library  School  en- 
tirely in  Japanese  hands.  Students  enter 
the  Library  School  at  the  third  year 
college  level  after  a  complicated  screen— 
ing  of  as  rmny  as  600  applicants.  Each 
year  there  are  about  SO   students  in  the 
school.  Unfortunately  about  ten  percent 
of  those  do  not  graduate  because  they 
contract  tuberculosis.  For  those  v/ho  do 
graduate  there  is  no  placement  problem. 
The  average  sa!b.ry  is  about  $35  per 
month,  this  being  equal  to  teachers'  pay. 
The  $35  is  considered  to  be  a  fine  salary 
because  the  teachers  do  not  make  any 
more,  I  do  not  knot;  v/hethcr  this  means 
that  librarians  and  teachers  are  thus  able 
to  starve  on  equal  terms  in  Japan  or  that 
$35  is  a  fortune  in  Japan,  Thanks  to 
the  ALA  and  the  Rockefeller  Foundation  the 
Japanese  people  vdll  now  have  home— trained 

librarians,    _     „  „  . 

George  E.  Earley 

Children's  Librarians'  Programs 

Children's  librarians  attending  the 
conference  found  two  program  meetings  of 
direct  importance  to  them..  On  Monday 
morning  Mrs  Bonary-Isbort,  author  of 
The  Ark  and  its  forthcoming  sequel  Rowan 
Farm  J  spoke  in  a  memorable  manner  of 
"The  Meed  for  Understanding  in  our  Shrink- 
ing World,"  Her  deoply-fclt  rema.rks, 
bom  from  her  ovm.   experiences  through  and 
after  the  v;ar  in  Germany,  complemented  the 
message  given  delightfully  in  her  stories 
of  post-Y/ar  German  life.  In  both  she  has 
expressed  the  need  to  give  children 
courage  to  overcome  fear,  an  intimate 
acquaintance  vrith  beauty  in  art  and 
nature,  and  the  knov;ledge  that  no  human 
being  has  an  isolated  existence,  but  a 
responsibility  to  adjust  to  others.  The 
exchange  of  students  viho  are  v.-ithout 
prejudice,  malice,  and  fanaticism  can 
help  she  said.  Books,  which  belong  to 
each  of  us,  will  give  an  understanding 
of  the  background  of  suffering, 

lirs  Senary  was  appropriately  followed 


by  Maj'tha  King,  folklorist  knovm  on  radio 
and  recordings.  In  her  talk  on  "Midvrcst 
Roots  in  Folklore  and  Folksong"  she  ex- 
plained her  idea  of  folklore  as  the  v;ay 
we  keep  , ourselves  going,  with  courage, 
wisdom,  and  humor.  Her  songs  of  the 
Iilinnesota  area  included  ballads  of  the 
French  Voyageurs,  the  ""Huron  Indian 
Christmas  Carol"  and  a  mid-west  version 
of  "Barbara  Allen." 

On  Wednesday  evening  the  Division  of 
Libraries  for  Children  and  Young  People 
introduced  Dr  Dora  Smith  of  the  University 
of  Minnesota,  Her  forceful  talk,  "Books, 
a  Source  of  Strength  for  Youth  in  a  Free 
Land,"  was  a  convincing  presentation  of 
the  importance  of  the  individual,  the 
importance  of  standards  in  selection  of 
books ,  and  the  need  to  help  young  people 
through  reading — through  experiences  of 
human  greatness,  through  humor  that  is 
both  "obstreperous  and  unconscious,"  and 
through  help  in  recognizing  tyranny, 
Dr  Smith  concluded  by  saying,  "It  is  wiser 
to  believe  than  to  doubt.  This  is  the 
strength  I  believe  books  caa  bring  youth 
in  a  free  land," 

Virginia  Baviland 

Serials  Round  Table 

The  Serials  Round  Table  met  in  the 
Ballroom  of  the  Radisson  Hotel  on  Tuesday, 
June  22,  at  10:00  a.m.  Robert  A. 
Elftmann  of  the  Northern  State  Teachers 
College  Library  of  Aberdeen,  S,D,,  spoke 
on  "Some  Simplified  Procedures  for  ' 
Serials  Handling  in  Small  Libraries," 
the  first  of  vhich  was  the  obvious  ex-  ' 
pedient  of  cutting  down  on  acquisitions, 
by  being  selective  in  keeping  those 
serials  vi/hich  were  actually  used  and  not 
otherwise  available  from  larger  libraries. 
The  second  -vms  to  prefer  consulting  the 
shelves  directly  rather  than  list  long 
holdings.  The  third  method  was  to  bind' 
serials  even  if  the  file  was  incomplete, 
and  the  fourth  was  to  have  certain 
series  broken  up  and  treated  as  vertical 
file  material, 

Henry  M,  Fuller,  Yale  University 
Library,  spoke  on  the  International  Index: 
under  study.  Subscribers  to  this  index 
had  been  sent  questionnaires  vj-hich  in- 
dicated that  kQ%   wanted  to  retain  the 
present  title  and  3^%  wished  to  change 
it  to  Liberal  Arts  Index,  If  this  vrere 
done,  the  scope  might  be  changed,  yet 
kept  on  a  scholarly  level,  and  the  great 


-7- 


number  of  science  periodicals,  already- 
listed  e Is ewhere-i— often  inany  times- 
could  be  dropped,  as  might  also  those 
in  psychology.  Subscribers  favor  in- 
clusion of  English  language  periodicals 
only.  An  interim  questionnaire  has  been 
sent  and  is  to  be  followed  by  a  third. 

Speaking  on  the  Lubetsky  proposals 
for  revision  of  the  ALA.  Code  as  they  re- 
late to  serial  entries  was  Elizabeth  C, 
Borden  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania 
Library.  The  disadvantages  lAiiich  li- 
braries that  might  adopt  Lubetsky's 
suggestion  to  enter  serials  under  each 
different  change  in  entry  occurring 
during  its  history  vrere  mentioned,  as 
also  were  the  difficulties  v^hich  might 
result,  both  in  accepting  Library  of 
Congress  cards  and  in  reference  use  of 
the  catalog,  from  adopting  Lubetsky' s 
recommendations  for  geographic  and  cor- 
porate entries,  especially  for  government 
publications, 

Esther  E,  Jalonen 

Division  of  Libraries 
For  Children  and  Young  People; 
Association  of  Young  People's  Librarians 

"Planning  For  Better  Service  to  Chil- 
dren and  Yo\ing  People"  was  the  theme  of 
the  opening  membership  meeting  of  the 
Division  on  Monday  morning.  A  review  of 
the  past  year's  vrork,  accomplished  and 
in  process ,  v;as  gained  through  the  re- 
ports of  the  chairmen  of  the  committees. 
Some  highlights  were: 

A  booklist  to  be  called  "First 
Choice"  is  to  be  published  under 
the  chairmanship  of  Elinor  Tfelker 
(Carnegie  Library  of  Pittsburgh) 
v/hich  will  be  of  particular  use  to 
libraries  where  there  are  no  young 
adult  workers  «■ 

Top  of  the  Nevis,   the  Division's 
quarterly  publication,  is  to  be 
expanded  and  revamped,  v/ith  Elinor 
Vifalker  as  editor, 

Mildred  Bachelder  v;ill  be  full 
time  executive  secretary  of  the 
D.L.C.Y.P.  Additional  funds  granted 


children's  and  young  People's 

departments  may  be  properly  con- 
sidered in  the  planning  stages. 
The  common  objectives  of  the 
Division  of  Libraries  for  Children 
and  Young  People  and  the  Public 
Libraries  Division  have  been  dis- 
cussed by  representatives  of  both 
Divisions  with  a  view  to  establish 
better  communication,  to  avoid 
duplication  of  activities,  and  to 
firrther  cooperation. 

The  progress  achieved  by  the 
International  Relations  Committee 
through  the  International  Youth 
Library  in  J'lunich;  the  International 
exhibit  of  children's  books  for 
UNESCO,  in  Paris;  the  CARE -UNESCO 
Children's  Book  Program,  and  the 
list  in  preparation  of  American 
children's  books  suggested  for  trans- 
lation v/as  reported. 

The  results  of  a  questionnaire 
to  gather  information  concerning  the 
use  of  television  vrith  children  and 
young  people  va.s   included  in  the 
committee  reports.  All  the  li- 
braries I'-hich  answered  had  obtained 
public  service  time. 

The  Division  President  elected  for 
195ii-55  is  Alice  Louise  Lefevre,  Director, 
Department  of  Libra rianship,  Western 
I/Lichigan  College  of  Education. 

The  Vice  President  and  President 
Elect:  ybcs   Natalie  Mayo  Edifrix,  San  Diego 
Public  Library. 


The  Association  of  Young  People  's 
Librarians  elected  for  Chairman,  195U-55, 
Dorothy  Laws on,  Indianapolis  Public  Li- 
brary, 

The  Vice  Chairman  and  Chairman  elect; 
Frances  Grim,  Cleveland  Public  Library, 

Adapting  the  Large  Library  Program 
to  the  Smaller  Library— Book  Selection 

A  panel  discussion  on  Tuesday  brought 
together  representatives  from  the  large 
the  Division  made  possible  these  last]_ibraries — New  York  and  Boston — and  the 
two  developments,  smaller  ones — International  Falls, 

The  Design  and  Equipment  Committee j^nnesotaj  Des  Moines,  lovra,;  Pierce 
chairman  recommended  closer  co-     bounty  Rural  Library  District  in  Tacoma, 
operation  v,dth  architects  and  head   Washington.  The  presentations  and  the 
librarians  planning  renovations  or   ijuestions  from  the  outspoken  audience  re- 
new quarters  so  that  space  for  the   (sealed  the  very  vddc  disparity  in  services 


-8- 


to  young  people  in  this  country.  Where 
no  staff  member  is  assigned  to  vrork  with 
the  age  group— and  the  term  young  people 
is  an  elastic  one  \7hich  may  cover  juhior 
high  students— the  pages  may  be  the  ones 
to  s  elect  the  books  for  special  shelves 
TrLth  the  aid  of  printed  lists  day  to 
day.  There  may  or  may  not  be  special 
young  adult  marking  on  books.  At  the 
other  end  of  the  yard  stick  are  to  be 
found  libraries  vdth  highly  trained 
personnel  selecting  books  by  reviewing 
rather  than  by r emote  recommendations. 
When  these  selections  for  young  adults 
are  published  as  is  the  annual  list  by 
the  New  York  Public  Library,  they  are  a 
major  help  to  the  smaller  libraries. 
Each  community  should  heed  the  local 
tastes  and  local  taboos,  it  vo,s  pointed 
out,  although  the  basic  book  selection 
tools  I'vere  .nonetheless  valuable.  The 
exchange,  moderated  by  Xenophon  P» 
Smith,  Librarian  of  the  Peoria  Public 
Library,  brought  to  light  the  strength 
of  the  small  community  library  v^ere 
each  young  person  and  his  family  are 
knovjn  continuously  by  the  librarian,  and 
the  advantages  of  the  larger  libraries 
organized  to  recognize  the  youpg  adult 
population  and  serve  them.  The  librarians 
T/fho   crovrded  that  morning  session  gained 
new  areas  to  develop  and  fresh  approaches 
to  try,  although  the  ciying  need  is  more 
funds  and  additional  staff* 

American  Heritage  Project— -Young  Adults 

On  Tuesday  afternoon,  Hannah  Hunt, 
Young  Adult  Specialist  on  the  A»L,A, 
American  Heritage  Project  staff  for  the 
past  tvro  years,  gave  a  full  report  of  the 
young  adults  discussion  groups  "It's 
Our  America"  designed  to  attract  young 
people  betvreen  the  ages  of  17  and  2^  and 
who  do  not  attend  school.  Libraries 
\vhich  have  been  selected  as  demomstra-' 
tion  areas  receive  leadership  training, 
financial  support  up  to  ^^200  for  books 
and  materials,  and  close  supervision. 
There  are  some  tv;enty-two  groups  now 
scattered  over  the  United  States  both 
within  demonstration  areas  and  outside 
these  areas,  the  latter  receiving  advice 
and  assistance  directly  from  the  Chicago 
office.  For  the  coming  year,  applications 
have  been  received  for  "It's  Our  America" 
grants  from  fcurteon  states j  from  the  six 
presented  for  consideration  to  the  Board 
three,  possibly  only  two,  vdll  be  selected 


as  decmonstration  areas. 

A  birdseye  vie\/  of  young  adult  v/ork 
in  the  United  States  v;as  one  of  Mss 
Hunt's  rewards  for  her  intensive  work  and 
extensive  travel.  She  spoke  of  the  press- 
ing needs  in  small  and  medium  sized  li- 
braries, the  pride  of  the  librarian  in 
her  profession,  the  dynamic  progress  des- 
pite handicaps,  and  the  tremendous  job 
that  is  to  be  done  v/ith  out-of-school 
youth.  There  are  to  be  resolved  the 
problems  of  vfhich  ages  to  include  (whether 
17  to  21  or  17  to  2$)   which  department 
and  which  staff  members  shall  take  on  the 
work,,  in  order  to  hurdle  the  question  of 
how  to  do  it.  The  American  Heritage  Project 
is  one  vray  to  reach  the  youth.  There  are 
other  ways  used  in  Detroit  and  Baltimore, 
Perhaps  all  these  programs  together  vd-H 
bo  the  answer. 

Miss  Hunt  described  a  s  tudy  of  young 
people  18  to  30  years  old  made  possible  by 
the  Fund  for  Adult  Education  v;hich  con- 
tains advice  for  program  planners.  These 
are  some  characteristics  of  young  adults: 
They  are  non- joiners  of  organizations, 
so  that  the  individual  approach  is  necessaay,, 
An  exception  to  this  is  their  interest  in 
labor  unions  i*iich  they  do  join.  Young 
people  are  concerned  v/ith  civic  affairs 
but  in  the  usual  community  they  do  not 
participate.  The  climate  of  opinion  is 
at  present  "venomous  for  young  adults  under 
tv;enty-five"  (Justice  Douglas),  Youth 
likes  the  opposition  party  but  they  fear 
being  labelled  subversive  for  having 
iivergence  of  opinion,  and  fear  seals  their 
lips* 

Pointers  for  program  planners: 

1,  Plan  vdth  not  for  young  adults 

2,  Be  content  vdth  small  beginnings, 
3ven  half  of  the  anticipated  number  and 
illow  nucleus  of  six  to  grow  to  fifteen 
3y  the  interest  and  efforts  generated  by 
the  original  number, 

3«  Limit  the  scope, 

h»     Capitalize  on  personal  interest  vdth 
Less  emphasis  on  duty  and  more  on  personal 
»ain,. 

5,  At  time  of  evaluation  we  must  make 
judgment  by  things  other  than  statistics, 
■rdth  young  adults.  The  intangibles  count. 
Oompromiso  betv;een  the  measured  and  the 
unragined, 

6,  Recognize  toughness  of  the  job, 
Phis  age  group  takes  more  time,  more  money, 
nore  staff,  more  techniques,  etc,  than 
any  other  age  group, 

7,  In  February,  begin  plans  for  next 


-9- 


year. 

The  American  Heritage  Project  for 
Young  Adults  helps  "bridge  the  years 
between  the  school  year  s  and  the  more 
mature  years."     Apparently  infonral  dis- 
cussion is  still  a   rare  occurrence,  a 
new  experience,  a  ne\r  ira.y  to  contact 
vocational  schools,  agencies,  community 
sources.     The  young  people's  comment e  on 
what  they  gained  and  vfhat  they  found  they 
wanted  to  read  are  telling. 

Another  valuable  report  v/as  made  by 
Elinor  Walker,  Chairman  of  the  Booklist 
Committee,  who  described  a  list  of  first 
choice  books  to  be  compiled  for  the  li- 
brarian vdio  vrants  to  build  an  attractive, 
valuable  collection  not  of  titles  young 
people  must  read,  but  only  those  they 
have  enjoyed.     The  uses  of  each  book  mil 
be  conveyed  in  the  annotation ,   for  in»- 
stance?  vhether  it  is  especially  good 
for  a 'book  talk  or  to  introduce  a  nev; 
field,  or  another  book,  etc.     Also,  the 
annotation  will  evaluate  the  book  and 
mil  provide  a  selling  sentence. 

In  the  expanded  "Top  of  the  Nev;-^J,  of 
viiich  Miss  ITalker  is  Editor,  the  featiire 
Recent  Books  for  Young  People  will  be  in 
the  hands  of  a   continuous  committee. rather 
than  one  person. 

The  Recordings  Committee  report  vra.s 
followed  by  the  reading  and  unanimous 
passage  of  a  revised  constitution.     The 
enlarged  object  of  the  AYPL  is   "to 
develop  reading  guidance  and  special 
service  for  young  people  in  public  li- 
braries and  to  cooperate  mth  other 
agencies  in  the  promotion  of  enterprises 
affecting  the  v/elfare  of  youth." 

The  underlined  clause  was  added, 

Pauline  Winnick 

BON  VOYAGE  I 

Virginia  Haviland,  Reader's  Advisor 
for  Children,  vfill  fly  to  Germany  on 
July  31  and  vri.ll  spend  five  vj-eeks  on  the 
Continent  and  in  England  and  Wales, 

CONGPJ^TUIA  TIONS  TO 

Kenneth  Barnes ,   Periodical  and  Neivs- 
paper,  v/hose  photographs  of  The  Gaspe  are 
attracting  much  attention  in  the  Puvis 
de  Chavannes  Gallery,  v«here  they  a  re  on 
exhibition  during  July, 

To  Vj.rginia  Haviland,  Reader's  Advisor 
for  Children,  who  was  elected  President 


of  the  Children's  Library  Association  for 
the  coming  year. 

To  Mrs  Muriel  C,  Javelin,  Deputy 
Supervisor  in  Charge  of  Work  with  Adults, 
who  was  elected  Chairman  of  the  A.L.A. 
Audio-Visual  Round  Table  for  the  coming 
year. 

To  Charles  L,  Higgins,   Chief  of  General 
Reference,  who  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  SORT  Steering  Committee, 

THE  STAFF  IN  PRINT 

In  the  July  number  of  the  Atlantic 
Monthly  is  an  article  entitled  "The 
First  Public  Library,"  by  Zoltan  Haraszti, 
Keeper  of  Rare  Books  and  Editor  of  Pub- 
lications, 

Answers  to  SOJ^iEl-lHERE  IN  THE  LIBRARY 

22,  Louise  Imogene  Guiney 

23.  Gladys  E.  Locke 
2U.     Periodical  Room 

25.     These  are  the  pedestals  that  hold 
the  busts  of  George  Ticknor  and  Joshua 
Bates;  they  are  placed  at  the  sides 
of  the  main  doorway  in  Bates  Hall. 

lOLIDAY  PICNICS 

Duxfaury  Idyll — June  17 

Nice  people. 
Clams  au  steam' - 
Sandy  hot  dogs. 
Gourmet's  dream. 
Beautiful  women. 
Handsome  brutes. 
Hordes  of  children. 
All  so  cute. 
Ants  in  jantzens. 
Cloudy  skies  - 
Chilling  v/inds, 
Unhappy  sighs. 
Scrabble  boards  and 
Games  of  ballj 
Strenuous  time  vras 
Had  by  all. 
Enough  warm  cokes 
And  unused  beer 
To  start  a  stockpile 
For  next  year. 

George  Adelman 

Nahant— July  h 

On  Sunday,   July  U,  a  combination  Picnic 


-10- 


and  ?feenie  Roast  v/as  held  at  Nahant  Beach 
for  members  of  the  staff,  Gertrude  Bariy, 
Personnel,  and  Dave  Sheehan,  Book  Stack 
Service,  Vv-ere  co-chairmen  of  this  Holiday- 
outing  that  was  attended  by  25  lovers  of 
the  beach.  I'/hen  it  came  time  in  the 
evening  for  the  Vfeenie  Roast,  the  hardy 
25  could  easily  have  been  mistaken  for 
lobsters  because  it  had  been  a  very  sunny 
day. 

The  term  "Weenie  Roast"  -vras  used  very 
loosely  at  this  gathering.  Nobody  re- 
membered to  bring  a  grille  and  everybody 
forgot  to  bring  a  toasting  fork.  As  a 
result  the  galvanized  pail  that  served 
as  an  ice  chest  for  the  liquid  refresh- 
ments vras  put  into  use  as  the  boiling 
pot  for  the  hot  dogs*  Jack  Kyle  of  the 
Stock  Room  used  all  the  skill  that  he 
acquired  as  a  beachcomber  in  the  South 
Pacific  Islands  to  spear  the  cooked 
frankfurts  as  they  floated  near  the  top 
of  the  "Witches  Brew",  The  steaming  hot 
dog  was  then  put  into  a  bun  and  plastered 
with  relish  and  mustard  to  add  the  pro- 
fessional touch.  Danny  Kelly,  Audio- 
Visual,  had  the  "Bicarbonate  of  Soda"  con 
cession  at  the  outing  and  it  is  rumored 
that  he  made  enough  money  to  buy  a  grille 
that  Yn.ll  be  used  on  the  next  Weenie 
Roast  to  be  held  sometime  in  August  with 
everybody  welcome, 

Grantland  Ricepatty 

JUDAICA— A.WA,RDS  AIID  PRIZES 

The  West  End  has  had  the  distinction 
of  featuring  many  Jevri-sh  authors  in  con- 
nection with  its  Judaica  work  over  the 
course  of  the  years.     On  several  occasions 
the  Library  has  shovm  an  almost  omniscient 
sense  of  picking  vd.nners.     Many  of  the 
authors   feted  at  West  End  have  later  be- 
come prize  mnners.     Wo  are  particularly 
proud  at  this  time  to  take  part  in  an 
honor  th^.t  hus  come  to  tvro  of  our  West 
End  alumni.     On  Wednesday  night.  May  21, 
in  the  Buttenwciser  Hall  of  Nev/  York, 
Lexington  Avenue  IM  &  YMHA,  the  Jev/ish 
Book  Council  of  America  in  its   annual 
meeting,  honored  tvro  sons  of  Boston, 

Harry  H.  Fein  received  the  Harry 
Kovnor  Memorial  Award  of  ."iilOO  with  a 
citation  for  his  contribution  to  Englisb- 
Jevdsh  poetry.     In  receiving  this   award, 
it  is  of  intcirost  to  record  hero  th-^t  the 
date  is  almost  identical  vfith  the  pub- 
lication of  Mr  Fein's  first  book  of  poetry 


exactly  twenty  years  ago.     Probably  more 
than  anyone  else  in  America,  Harry  H, 
Fein  has  helped  to  popularize  Hebrew 
poetry  among  English-speaking  people,  1 

As  scholar,  poet,  and  translator,  he  ' 

possesses  the  knack  of  bringing  the 
loftiest  concepts  of  poetic  expression 
dovm  to  common  understanding.     His  antholo- i 
gies  of  translations  from  the  great  Hcbreav 
poets  and  his  many  lectures  have  brought 
Hebrew  poetry  close  to  the  hearts  of  Jevis 
and  nonr-Jev/s  alike, 

Mr  Fein's  first  volume  of  translations 
from  the  Hebrev;-  poets  vra.s  published  tvrenty 
years   ago  this  month,  in  I93I4,     This  book 
A  Harvest  of  Hebrew  Verse  vras  greeted 
Tri.th  praise  and  admiration  throughout  the 
English-speaking  world. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  publication  of 
his  Light  Through  The  Mist,  he  was  honored 
with  a  "siy^"   (roceptionT  by  the  Boston 
Public  Library  and  the  Rabbinical  Associa- 
tion, 

We  salute  Harry  H.  Fein  at  this  time 
as  poet-author,  and  congratulate  him  as 
a  worthy  recipient  of  a  distinguished 
avrard. 

Another  Jemsh  author  feted  on  several 
occasions  at  West  End  was  the  recipient 
of  the  Iferry  and  Ethel  Daroff  Memorial 
Fiction  Award  litiich  carries  with  it  a 
$250  cash  prize,  and  a   citation  for  his 
latest  novel  In  The  Morning  Light, 

Boston  is  proud  of  the  fact  that  Charles 
Angoff  received  his  early  training,   im- 
pressions,  and  indoctrination  as  an  Amorica: 
writer  mth  Jev/ish  precepts  and  ideals, 
and  dedicated  to  the  highest  literary 
standards,  in  his  home  city  of  Boston, 
Although  he  has  v/orked  vrithin  the  Last 
fev'  years  in  New  York  as  editor,   journalist 
author  in  various  media  of  poetry,  essay, 
criticism,  short  stories,   and  novels,  wc 
still  claim  him  as  our  ovm, 

Mr  Angoff  has  already  v/rittcn  some 
sixteen  books,  each  of  v;hich  can  stand  on 
its  ovm,  commanding  merit  awards.     His 
Journey  To  The  DaTm  heralded  a  new  note 


of  wholesome  and  sympathetic  character 
portrayal  of  the  Jevrish  types^  v/hich  was 
a  sharp  contrast  to  the  escape  and  dis- 
torted patterns  so  prevalent  with  Jewish 
writers  in  America , 

In  The  Morning  Light  carries  on  the 
story  of  the  Polonsky  family,  its  growth, 
its  integration  into  the  American  life  and 
mores ,  so  ably  begun  in  Journey  To  The  Da;™, 


-11- 


Yfe  salute  Chcirlcs  Angoff,  and  are 
grateful  to  him  for  thu  beauty  of  Jevdsh 
life  -which  he  depicts,  the  warmth  and 
sympathy  with  v/hich  he  vrrites,  and  we 
congratulate  him  mth  much  joy  on  the 
winning  of  this  award.     The  Jewish  Book 
Council  of  America  is  to  be  congratulated 
on  its  pollers  of  appraisal  in  selecting 
our  tvro  Boston  authors. 


-jf 


Miss  Goldstein  was  a  Judge  for  the 
National  Jevd-sh  Book-«-ireck  Council  of 
America  in  the  avrarding  of  the  Isaac 
Siegel  Memorial  Av/ard,  valued  at  (^250,^ 
in  addition  to  a  citation,  for  the  best 
Jev/lsh  Juvenile  v/rittcn  and  published  in 
English  in  the  United  States  for  1953» 
This  wds   Deborah  Pessin's  The  Jewish 
People,  Book  Ihree. 

WH   BOOKS  IN  THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 

Non-Fiction — ^Library  Science 

Brough,  Kenneth  J.  Scholar's  vrorkshop; 
evolving  conceptions  of  library  service 
Urbana,  University  of  Illinois  Press, 

1953 
Danton,  Emily  M»,  ed.  Pioneering  leaders 

in  librarians hip. 

Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 

1953 
Larsen,  Knud.  National  bibliographical 

services,  their  creation  and  operation. 

Paris,  UNESCO,  1953 
Opie,  lona  A,,  ed.  The  Oxford  dictionary 

of  nursery  rhymes, 

Oxford,  Clarendon  Press,  1952 
Shores,  Louis,  Basic  reference  sources, 

Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 

195U 

Special  Libraries  Associa.tion,     Directory 
of  special  libraries, 
Nevr  York,  Special  Libraries  Associa- 
tion, 1953 

Non-Fiction 

Adelson,  Dorothy.     Roughing  it  on  the 

Rue  de  la  Paix. 

New  York,  Crowell,  19514 
Anderson,  Jack.     McCarthy:   the  man,  the 

Sen^ator,  the  "ism".    Boetcn  Beacon,  19$ 
Beahn,   John  E,     A  rich  young  man;  Saint 

Anthony  of  Padua. 

Ml\nukec,  Bruce  Pub,  Co«,  1953 
Brooks,   Van¥yck«     Scenes  and  portraits. 

New  York,  Button,  1951t 


Buckley,  ?/illiam  F.     McCarthy  and  his 

enemies. 

Chicago,   H.  Regnery  Co.,  195U 
Bumham,  James.     The  web  of  subversion 

New  York,  J.   Day  Co.,  195i|. 
Gogarty,  Oliver  St.  J,     It  isn't  the 

time  of  year  at  all. 

Garden  City,  New  York,  Doubleday,  195ii 
Kertzer,  Morris  N,  llJhat  is  a  Jew? 

Cleveland,  World  Pub,  Co.,  1953 

Fiction 

Rirrett,  ^'sfilliam  E.     The  shadows  of  the 

images . 

Garden  City,  New  York,  Doubleday,  1953 
Lee,  Edna  L,     The  southerners, 

Nev/  York,  Appleton-Century-Crofts,  1953 
Vfellman,  Paul  I.     The  female. 

Garden  City,  Nev;  York,  Doubleday,  1953. 

DEPARTOiENT  NOTES 

Itusic 

To  the 'surprise  of  Jacques  Renard, 
violinist,  the  Boston  Public  Library  came 
up  mth  a  copy  of  the  Ethiopian  National 
Anthem.     Mr  Renard  played  it  on  June  3 
at  the  Sheraton  Plaza  luncheon  tendered 
by  !feyor  Ifynes  to  Haile  Selassie* 

Teachers 

On  June  12,  Charles  R,  Meehan,  Teachers 
and  Helen  Hayes  were  married  at  a  Nuptial 
Mass  at  Blessed  Sacrament  Church  in 
Worcester.  After  a  reception  at  the 
Sheraton-Plaza  Hotel  the  bridal  couple 
left  for  a  honeymoon  in  the  Ihite  Moun- 
tains, 

A  fev;  days  before  the  vredding  the 
members  of  the  Teachers  Department  staff 
tendered  Mr  Meehan  a  surprise  party  and 
presented  him  v/ith  a  clock. 


* 


Many  Boston  Public  Librarians  had 
the  privilege  of  attending  the  First  Mass 
and  Reception  of  Father  Leonard  Francis 
Glavin,  Order  of  Friars  Minor  Capuchin, 
at  St,  liark's  Church,  Dorchester,  Sunday, 
June  27. 

Fr  Leonard  is  the  son  of  Nellie  McShane 
and  Frank  Glavin  former  members  of  the 
B.P.L,  staff,  and  nephew  of  Elizabeth 
McShane  late  Branch  Librarian  of  Washingtoi 
Village, 

A  younger  brother,  James^  who  worked  as 
an  extra  in  Book  Stack  Service  is  also 
studying  for  the  priesthood  in  the  same  anSc 


-12- 


SOAP  BOX 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must 
bo  accompr.nied  by  the  full  name  of  the 
Association  member  submitting  it,  to- 
gether virith  the  name  of  the  Branch  library. 
Department,  or  Office  in  -which  he  or  she 
is  employed.  The  name  is  mthheld  from 
publication,  or  a  pen  name  used,  if  the 
contributor  so  requests.  Anonymous  con- 
tributions are  not  given  considerationo 
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  arc  personal 
opinions  expressed  by  individual  Associa- 
tion members  and  their  appearance  docs 
not  necessarily  indicate  that  the  Pub- 
lications Committee  and  the  Association 
are  in  agreement  vdth  the  vievfs  expressed. 
Only  those  contributions  containing  not 
more  than  300  v/ords  vd.ll  be  accepted. 


DEAR  ED, 

HAD  NOT  INTENDED  SOaP  BOX  ENTRY  THIS 
1®NTH  STOP  T.rKiTHi:R  TOO  HOT  STOP  HDI'/EVER 
UNDERSTAND  FROM  PAST  PRESIDENTS'   LETTER 
ORGANIZATION  ABOUT  TO  FOLD  STOP  THOUGHT 
I'D  LIKE  PifflTBIG  SHOT  STOP  ABOUT  ASSOCIA- 
TION- '^-ir  IT  IS  FABULOUS  INVALID  STOP  IF  IT 
SURVIVED  m  RESIGNATION  FROM  PRESIDENCY 
IT  CaN  STAI©  Al^IY  ICENOR  CRISIS  STOP  ABOUT 
RAISES  -;k;-  as  delinquent  DEBTOR  /iLWAYS 
PAY  MY  OLDEST  BILLS  FIRST  STOP  THINK 
LIBR;IRY  SHOULD  DO  S:.:ffi  STOP  THEPilFORE 
BELIEVE  LAST  YKIR'S  R^ilSES  SHOULD   BE  PAID 
BEFORE  ANNIVERaJlLES  STOP  HDYffiVER  WDLE 
RAISE  SCHEDULE  DID  NOT  MKE  SENSE  -;«{•  HAD 
NEITHER  /-JUTm/D-lTIC  LDR  GEOI.ffiTRIC  PRO- 
GRESSION STOP  CONSEQUENTLY  HAS  MNY 
LOOPHOLES  E.  G.  SERVICE  RAISES  AT  END  OF 
FOURTH  YEJJl  INSTE/iD  OF  THIRD  YEAR  FOR 
TITULAR  POSITIONS  AND  INADE'jUATE  COM- 
PENSATION FOR  ASSISTaNTS-IN-CHARGE  STOP 
TOO   HOT  TO  ARGUE  THE  IvIATTER  STOP  HOW 
ABOUT  MORE  Mi^T  RELIEF  AND  SPORT  SHIRTS 
STOP  HAVE  HAPPY  V.'.CATION  DON'T  STOP 

E/IMDN  (KEEP  IT  UNDER  300)  MCDONOUGH 


^ 


National  Award  to  the  Boston  Public  Library 


At  the  A,  L.  A,  Conference  in  Itinneapolis  the 
Boston  Public  Library  was  announced  as  the  19^k  v/lnner 
of  the  "Letter  Avrard,"  given  annually  to  one  library 
for  outstanding  libr?.ry  vrork  representing  humanitarian 
achievements 

The  citation: 

"To  the  Boston  Public  Libr-^.ry,  nov/  com- 
pleting its  first  century  of  public  service, 
for  its  courageous  and  continuing  defense 
of  freedom  of  inquiry  and  freedom  to  read. 
Its  effective  response  to  the  challenge  pre- 
sented by  those  vvho  would  curtail  those 
freedoms  has  been  an  inspiration  to  all  the 
world  of  books.  Its  constant  vigilance  in 
defending  these  essential  rights  is  an  ex- 
ample for  all  librarians,  library  trustees 
and  friends  of  libraries  to  followo" 

The  citation  v;as  accompanied  by  an  avrard  of  one 
hundred  dollars. 


lU 


uestion 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


AUGUST  1954 


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


Volume  IX,  Number  8 


August  19gU 


Publications  Committee:  Gerald  L.  Ball,  John  J.  McCafferty,  Sheila  W,  Pierce 

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  current  list  of  theses  titles  of  sub- 
jects chosen  by  candidates  studying  for 
advanced  degrees  in  library  science  came 
to  my  attention  recently  and  I  vra.s  struck 
with  the  great  improvement  over  similar 
compilations  in  the  past  v^hich  were  usuaHy 
surveys  compiled  from  questions  mimeo  - 
graphed  and  mailed  out  to  hard-working 
librarians  to  be  checked  in  catalogs,  etc., 
and  from  which  such  startling  conclusions 
were  reached  as,  for  instance,  that  men 
read  more  westerns  than  women^  women  read 
more  "light  love"  than  men,  etc^,  etco 

True,  the  list  scanned  bore  such  per- 
ennials as  "History  of  the  Robert  F^  Kidd 
Library,  Glenville  State  College,  Glen- 
ville,  West  Virginia  (\Thich  according  to 
the  19th  edition  of  the  A.L.A,  DIRECTORY— 
1951,  page  6I4.6 — is  located  in  a  tovvn  v;-ith 
a  population  of  1,?83,  had  20,998  volumes, 
and  a  budget  of  ^12,Ol4l),  and  the  seeming- 
ly-exhausted, technical-process  topic  en- 
titled "Study  of  the  Functions  of  the 
Title  Added  Entry  for  Nonfiction  Bocks  in 
the  Dictionary  Catalog"*  Hoi/vever,  the  one 
that  rang  a  bell  wa.s  "Transistors,  a  Bib- 
liography Concerning  its  Theory,  Charac- 
teristics, and  Application",  v^hich  was 
evidently  the  work  of  a  library  assistant 
in  a  science  and  technology  division  who 
was  smart  enough  to  combine  the  vrork  of  a 
busy  division  mth  the  vvrirk  of  compiling 
a  list  of  books  for  a  project  in  library 
science. 

Such  a  combination  of  vrork  and  study 
immediately  suggested  that  T/e  in  the  li- 
brary field  might  aid  the  prospective 
scholar  by  suggesting  fields  for  study 
which  vrould  answer  questions  at  hand  and 
vfould  at  the  same  time  give  the  degree 
candidate — hard-pressed  for  a  thesis  sub- 
ject --something  to  viTork  one  Until  a  more 
cm.  "ete  list  is  compiled,  I  ifould  sug- 
f-rs'  La.it  3  study  be  made  on  the  subject 
of  record  keeping — just  how  m.ich   can  we 


work;  some  bibliographical  studies  of 
Irish  literature,  Judaica,  and  New  England, 
for  proposed  new  departments!  some  studies 
in  library  economy  to  drav/  the  much-needed 
line  between  v/hat  is  true  economy  and  what 
is  false  economy  by  which  money  sa-^red  now 
may  result  in  greater  expenditures  at  a 
later  datej  or  hov/  recruitment  of  personnel 
in  the  Boston  area  may  be  achieved  and 
compared  -with  that  in  other  areas, 

Gerald  L.  Ball 

CALENDAR  OF  EVENTS 

August  22,  All-day  outing  at  Duxbury» 
All  staff  members  invited. 
See  notice  on  Staff  Bulletin 
board,  and  mimeographed  in- 
vitation dated  August  2,  19^k» 

Personal  Notes 

Resignations 

Thomas  J,  Nolan,  Periodical  and  Newspaper, 
to  take  another  position 

Iitrs  Ellen  D.  Gurney,  Book  Stack  Service, 
to  remaJJi  at  home 

Margaret  F.  Ambrose,  Roslindale 

Jilrs  Flora -Ann  fJufmann,  Memorial,  to  live 
in  Vifashington,  DoC, 

Mrs  Evelyn  B,  Herboldsheimer,  Brighton 

Itrs   Anne  A.  Sullivan,  Egleston  Square,  to 
remain  at  home 

Ruth  E,  Winn,  Tyler  Street,  to  attend 
Pratt  Institute  Library  School 

Rita  M,  Doherty,  Book  Preparation,  to  be 
married 

Ruth  M„  Stenstreem  Cataloging  and  Classi- 
fication, lis  and  R.S,,  to  travel 

Cecile  A.  Kitter,  Cataloging  and  Classi- 
fication, R.  and  R,S«, ,  to  be  married 

Mrs  Rose  S.  Rosenthal,  Book  Stack  Service, 
to  join  her  husband  at  Camp  Dix. 

MarrJ.ages 

Marion" Sira CO,  Charlestown,  to  Frank  Ao 
Dubrawski^^  June  26, 


-2- 


Mary  Mehlman,  Mattapan,  to  Richai'd.  Jo 
Burns,  July  H. 

ENGAGEI'ffiNTS 

Announcement  has  been  made  of  the  en- 
gagement of  Cecile  Hitter,  Cataloging 
and  Classification,  R»  and  R.S.,  to 
Robert  E,   Goldstein  of  Nevj-  York. 

Announcement  has  been  made  of  the  en- 
gagement of  Laura  V,  Abate,  Office  of  the 
Division  of  Reference  and  Research 
Services,  to  Angelo  Abate  of  Rome,  Italy. 

TiTEDDINGS 

Sunday,  August  8,  vras  the  date.     Tvvo 
o'clock  was  the  time.     The  occasion? 
Well,  of  course — it  was  the  marriage  of 
Christine  Celia,  Children's  Assistant  at 
City  Point,  to  Frank  Umano  of  Brocktono 
The  bride  vrore  a  govm  of  embroidered 
Yjhite  organdy,  and  a  small  pearl-studded 
coronet  that  held  her  vra.ist  length  veil. 
She  carried  a  double  orchid  with  streaniers 
of  stephanotise     Her  maid  of  honor  and 
bridesnaids  were  dressed  in  ballerina- 
length  gowns  of  v;hite  organdy  trimmed  vdth 
red  velvet  ribbon,  which  matched  their 
bouquets  of  red  carnations.     The  beautiful 
ceremony  vras  performed  in  the  church  of 
Our  Lady  of  Lourdes,  in  Brockton,  and  was 
followed  by  a  reception  at  the  Meadowa. 
iJiJhere  did  the  happy  couple  go  on  their 
honeymoon?     We  really  don't  know — it  is  a 
dark  secret.     But,  when  they  return,  a 
lovely  new  home  av/aits  them  in  Braintree, 
v;here  their  friends  vash  them  many  years 
of  happiness, 

Mrs  Frances  Mller,  part-time  assistant 
at  Vfest  End,  left  the  service  and  was 
married  on  July  l6  to  Levds  Reed.     They 
will  live  in  Nev/  York.     ¥sc  Reed  is  li- 
brarian at  the  Court  House  in  Brooklyn. 
Wbaba  romance  it  was  I     Nobody  even  sus- 
pected it  at  the  Branch.     It  all  happened 
so  siTiftly.     Good  luck,  Frances  Mller 
and  Lewis  Reed  t 

NEl"[  CITIZENS 

Mr  and  Mrs  Louis  Ugalde,  Rare  Book, 
are  receiving  congratulations  upon  the 
birth  of  a  son,  Paul,  on  July  21. 


BEST  YiflSIIES  FOR  A  SPEEDY  RECOVERY 
to 

Esther  Lissner,  Cataloging  and  Classi- 
fication, R.  and  R.S,,  who  is  remaining 
at  home  as  a  precaution  against  infection 
from  cat  bites ,  incurred  -v^rfien  she  vrent 
to  rescue  her  pet,  Daisy,  from  an  attack 
by  an  Irish  setter.     Both  Iiliss  Lissner 
and  Daisy  are  coming  along  well,  and  the 
former's  co-workers  are  anticipating  her 
return  to  work  in  the  near  future. 

Fits  Mary  Ryan,  Buildings. 

TO  YifELCOME  BACK 
after  illnesses 

Palmira  Piciulo,  Cataloging  and  Classi- 
fication, R.  and  R.  S. 

George  To  Armstrong,  Office  of  Records, 
Files,  Statistics 

John  ¥.  Tuley,  Fire  Control  Center 

BON  VOYAGE 
TO 

Linda  Pagliuca,  North  End,  xb.o   sailed 
on  the  Andrea  Doria  on  July  23  for  a  tvro- 
months '  vacation  in  Italy, 

■Si- 
Ellen  Rita  Murphy,  Book  Stack  Service, 
who  sailed  on  July  31  on  the  Neptunia, 
from  Boston,  to  visit  relatives  in  Ireland. 

■«■ 

Mr  and  Mrs  Albert  L.  Carpenter,  Office 
of  Division  of  Home  Reading  and  Community 
Services,  who  sailed  on  the  Maasdam,  from 
Hoboken,  on  August  5i  for  two  and  one-half 
months  in  Europe. 

•«• 

Ruth  Stenstreem,  Cataloging  and  Classi- 
fication, R,  and  R.S,,  who  sailed  on 
August  13  to  attend  the  Edinburgh  and 
Pitlochry  Festivals  in  Scotland.  She 
plans  to  winter  and  study  in  Londona 

Mrs  Ethel  He  ins.  North  End,  v*io  sails 
on  August  26  vdth  her  family  on  the  French 
liner,  the  Liberte,  The  Heins  family  will 
spend  a  year  in  England  where  Mr  Heins 
vd.ll  study  at  Oxford  under  a  Ford  Founda- 
tion Fellowship.  Before  returning  to  this 
country,  they  plan  to  tour  the  continent, 

AND  Bon  Voyage  to  all  others  who  are 
traveling  extensively  and  about  whom  the 
committee  has  had  no  information.  Then, 


-3- 


too,  Happy  Vacation  to  those  v/ho  are 
traveling  shorter  distances  or  staying 
at  home. 

CONGRATUIATIONS 

Charles  L»  Higgins,  General  Reference, 
viho   has  been  named  one  of  the  Advisers 
to  the  Steering  Committee  for  the  Catalog 
Code  Revision,  A.L.A,  Cataloging  and 
Classification  Division, 

TAKE  A  BOW 

East  Boston  was  very  proud  last  month 
I'lhen   Gracemarie  V,  Alfe,  Acting  Children's 
Librarian,  was  interviewed  by  the  BOSTON 
POST  for  its  Outstanding  Career  Girls 
column.  After  telling  about  the  many 
activities  and  programs  she  plans  for  the 
Children's  Room,  and  of  her  studies  at 
Emmanuel  and  Simmons,  Miss  Alfe  vfas 
photographed  with  tvro  delighted  children 
who  had  v>fon  a  recent  book  contesto  The 
interview.  Books  -'.nd  Gracemarie  Delight 
Small  Fry,  appeared  in  tne  BOSTON  POST 
on  June  30o  Just  three  Treeks  later^  a 
panel  of  prominent  Bostonians  chose  Miss 
Alfe  the  POST'S  Outstanding  Career  Girl 
of  the  Month,  citing  the  ''persistanco, 
enthusiasm,  and  creative  imagination" 
found  in  her  fine  vrork  with  childreno 
Miss  Alfe  was  also  one  of  the  children's 
librarians  ¥;ho  participated  in  a  tele- 
vision program  on  Friday,  July  30.  She 
appeared  with  Robert  !iahoney  and  Ronald 
DiPietro,  both  of  Ehst  Boston,  v;ho  ex- 
hibited their  shell  collections  and  told 
how  they  became  interested  in  their  hobby 
through  the  Science  Club  at  the  librarye 

VISITORS 

Kinji  Ando,  Chief  of  Library  Division, 
Tokyo  American  Cultural  Center, 
Tokyo,  Japan 

Nguyen-Thi  Cut,  Vietnam,  Saigon 

Tengku  Ahmad  Rayan,  United  States  Informa- 
tion Service,  Medan,  Indonesia 

THE  SOCIAL  WHIRL 

Virginia  Haviland  vja.s  guest  at  a 
luncheon  party  at  the  Du&arry  Restaurant 
on  Monday,  July  26,  prior  to  her  departure 
for  Europe,  The  staff  of  Open  Shelf 
gathered  to  wish  Miss  Haviland  bon  voyage, 
and  presented  her  with  a  corsage. 


Cards  received  since  indicate  that 
Miss  Haviland  had  a  very  enjoyable  flight 
across  the  Atlantic,  and  is  looking 
forward  to  pleasant  weeks  in  the  British 
Isles,  France,  and  Germany, 

On  Friday,  July  30,  Miss  Haviland  Y;as 
guest  of  honor  at  a  second  luncheon  at 
the  Tovm  Room,  Sheraton  Plaza  Hotel,  vj-here 
her  hostesses  were  members  of  the  Committee 
on  Book  Selection  for  Children,  With 
their  bon  voyage  vdshes  they  presented 
French  francs  to  be  spent  by  the  traveler 
to  enhance  her  enjoyment  of  Paris. 


An  engagement  shower  was  given  for 
Cecile  Ritter  by  her  co-workers  in  Catalog 
and  Classification,  R,  and  R,S,,.  on  Tuesday, 
July  27,  in  the  iromen's  Lounge,  Cecile, 
vj^ho  plans  to  be  married  early  in  September, 
received  many  lovely  gifts.  Refreshments 
served  included  turkey  salad,  sandv/iches, 
a  vfedding  cake  and  other  homemade  cakes, 
and  punch, 

■ji- 

Anne  E,  McCarthy,  South  Boston,  \ms 
honor  guest  Friday  evening,  July  30,  at 
Patten's  Restaurant,  The  staff  and  a  few 
friends  gathered  to  v^fish  her  happiness 
in  her  forthcoming  marriage  to  Charles 
Kinne,  An  electric  percolator  was  given 
her  at  this  timee  Her  mother,  I/Irs  Florence 
McCarthy,  also  a  member  of  the  B.P.L, 
staff,  vias  a  welcome  guest. 

On  August  k,   the  d^y  prior  to  his 
sailing  for  Eixrope ,  }Sr  Albert  L,  Carpenter 
vra,s  guest  of  honor  at  a  surprise  Bon  Voyage 
party  given  by  the  staff  of  the  Office  of 
the  Division  of  Home  Reading  and  Community 
Services,  He  T:as  presented  vjith  a  fountain 
pen.  During  their  two-and-one-half  months, 
Hr  and  Mrs  Carpenter  will  tour  England, 
visit  relatives  in  Scotland;  and  on  the 
continent  vail  visit  their  son,  Peter, 
who  is  teaching  in  Germany,  and  spend  some 
time  in  France  and  Italy, 


A  bon  voyage  party  was  given  by  the 
staff  at  North  End  in  honor  of  Linda 
Pagliuca  before  she  sailed  for  Italy,  A 
letter  mailed  from  Gibraltor  by  the 
traveler  reports  a  delightful  ocean 
crossing. 


-il- 


BPL  OH  TV 

Frid?-y  afternoon,  30  July,  upon  the 
invitation  of  Judge  John  J.  Connelly, 
presiding  justice  of  the  Boston  Juvenile 
Court,  several  staff  members  of  the  BPL 
took  part  in  the  Judge's  TV  program. 
Jig -Saw,  a  weekly  half -hour  sponsored  by 
the  Ivhssachusetts  Department  of  Educa- 
tion and  Station  liiTBZ.  The  discussion 
on  the  previous  week's  program  had 
stressed  the  soriously  harmful  effects 
of  crime  and  horror  comics,  so  a  posi- 
tive program  for  the  stimulation  and  en- 
coairagement  of  interest  in  good  reading 
was  presented  by  the  panel,  and  demon- 
strated by  groups  of  children  from  seven 
branch  libraries. 

Elisabeth  M,  Gordon,  Deputy  Supervisor, 
in  Charge  of  Work  vrith  Children,  and  Mrs 
Phyllis  B-'rclay,  children's  librarian, 
Uphams  Corner,  mth  Judge  Connelly  and 
Arthur  Amidon  formed  the  "panel  of 
exports"  which  discussed  library  faci- 
lities for  children,  and  various  means 
by  vfhich  librarians  encourage  children 
in  the  use  of  libraries,  and  the  braoden- 
ing  of  their  reading  interests » 

Mrs  Beryl  Robinson,  children's  li- 
brarian, Egleston  Square,  introduced  twp 
girls,  prize-winners  in  a  recent  library 
essay  contest,  and  a  boy  who  displayed 
several  articles  he  had  constructed  from 
milk  cartons,  telling  how  he  had  follovred 
directions  from  a  book  on  the  Summer 
Reading  Club  listo 

Gracemarie  Alfe  discussed  hobbies  and 
collecting  vrith  tvio  members  of  the  East 
Boston  science  club  whose  knowledge  and 
interests  are  developing  and  expanding 
as  they  read  and  study  the  many  informa- 
tional books  available  through  the  li- 
brary, and  visit  museums  on  library  club 
trips. 

The  famous  dancing,  -viridely-tra veiled 
puppet  "Clippo"  was  presented  to  the 
audience  and  performed  most  realistically 
under  the  clever  manipulation  of  Dorothy 
Dodworth,  He  climbed  gaily  about,  told 
of  his  own  private  mailbox,  and  ques- 
tioned the  five  North  End  girls  and  boys, 
who  showed  him  their  favorite  books  and 
introduced  to  him  tv;o  fine  new  puppets. 
Saint  George  and  the  Dragon r 

Martha  Engler,  children's  librarian. 
South  Boston,  displayed  a  large  scrap 
book  of  work  di  ne  by  members  of  the 
Imagination  Club,  v/ho  are  encouraged  to   ! 
read  "vri.dely,  and  express  themselves   freely| 


!  in  orijTrnaT  vevsp  .'"-i  r" t'av:ir^;b       T'\i,'i"' 
I  vrork  has  appeared  in  several  perioaicais, 
I  and  won  two  prizes  in  the  19^3  inter- 
national competition  of  Shankar's  Weekly 
!  of  New  Delhi,  India,  Cne  boy  read  vath 
^clat  his  latest  poem. 

Two  young  people  from,  the  Adams  Street 
Branch  Library  discussed  their  individual 
reading  interests  with  Mary  V,  Doyle, 
children's  librarian,  and  recounted  the 
results  of  watching  and  discussing  library 
film  programs. 

Mrs  Mary  Ellen  Brigante,  Allston,  pre- 
sented a  small  Chinese  girl  who  talked 
delightfully  of  the  unusual  summer  reading 
club  program  of  activities  in  which  she 
and  her  friends  are  engaged,  and  showed 
articles  fashioned  ingeniously  from 
directions  they  found  in  the  listed  li- 
brary books  0 

JIrs  Phyllis  Sirclay  introduced  two 
members  of  the  Uphams  Corner  simmer  reading 
club  who  talked  of  their  individual  in- 
terest and  pleasure  in  the  reading  guid- 
ance for  the  long  vacation  period* 

Judge  Connelly  was  truly  appreciative 
of  the  entire  program  and  expressed  his 
thanks  to  all.  He  said  the  telecast  showe.-< 
clearly  ho\f  much  the  BPL  is  doing  for  the 
prevention  of  juvenile  delinquency  in 
making  available  good  reading  for  all 
children,  and  encouraging  constant  use  of 
the  library.  Later,  in  a  note,  he  wrote 
that  ¥BZ  had  received  "many  fine  and  en- 
thusiastic letters  and  telephone  calls" 
praising  the  program. 

PS,  Congratulations  should  go  to 
Douglas  Leonard  and  the  entire  studio 
staff  for  taking  the  unexpected  appearance 
of  such  a  large  number  of  people  (6  ex- 
pected— 30  came)  as  a  matter-of-course, 
and  making  arrangements  so  efficiently, 
expertly,  and  promptly  for  them  all  at 
such  short  notice. 


U   N 


Lady'  s  W!tch 


in  Women's  Powder  Room,  Stack  2 


Friday,  July  30,   l«5i; 


Owner  may  clarn  ia  Personnel  Office 


-5- 


IN  RETROSPECT 

Thirty  years  ago,  the  October-November 
192U  issue  of  Library  Life,  Staff  Bulle- 
tin of  the  Eos ton  Public  Library,  con- 
tained many  interesting  items,  but  we 
venture  to  guess  that  two  of  them  will 
bring  nostalgic  memories  to  those  who 
"were  there"  and  enlightenment  to  those 
Yjho  Yirere  either  not  yet  thought  of  or 
were  in  their  infancy. 

Quote  No.  1 

"Adult  Education"  has  at  last  been 
discovered  to  be  the  public  library's 
true  sphere  of  usefulness,  and  the  call 
for  mobilization  has  been  issued. 

Quote  Mo.  2 

The  Great  Open  Spaoes 


The  first  to  welcome  us  was  the  little 
tourist  boy  v/ho  had  been  peering  for 
goldfish  in  the  pool  of  the  courtyard 
fountain.  As  our  procession  approached, 
he  leaped  to  his  feet  vd.th  a  subdued 
T^hoop.  Jiaybe  he  thought  there  vrould  be 
elephants.  As  it  was,  the  general  effect 
was  rather  imposing.  In  the  lead  was  a 
simll  "extra"  carrying  a  very  large 
■""Jindsor  chairj  after  him  trailed  a 
slightly  larger  "extra"  toting  an  armful 
of  wire  book  supports, 

"Juggling  I  Gee  i"  thought  the  little 
tourist  boy.  Several  feet  behind,  a 
third,  vrell  set-up  "extra"  pushed  a  pro- 
testing truck,  loaded  mth  fiction, 
travel  books,  essays,  plays  and  biogra- 
phy. Finally,  clutching  a  date-stamp, 
pencil,  charging  blanks,  and  an  inkpad, 
came,  with  a  sliglitly  vrorried  expression, 
the  "courtyard  attendant." 

The  book  truck  \ms   wheeled  into  posi- 
tion; non-fiction  was  attached  to  a  table 
with  the  book  supports;  the  breathless 
"extra"  set  dov-ti  his  V/indsor  chair,  into 
which  the  attendant  sank  gracefully.  A 
crowd  gathered — ^well,  anyi'ray  a  relative 
of  the  tourist  child  strolled  over, 

"What  are  you  doing — airing  the  books?" 

The  first  to  make  use  of  the  "courtyard 
library"  were  two  girl  hikers  from  New 
York,  They  came  in  vrearing  svreaters  and 
knickers  and  carrying  knapsacks.  They 
were  much  interested  in  the  experiment, 
one  which  e^a.dently  had  not  yet  been  tried 
in  Nev;  York, 


Later,  some  young  ladies  from  a  nearby 
office  building  discovered  us.  They 
selected  plays,  ■'."/hen  the  lunch  time  v^as 
up,  they  turned  in  the  volumes  reluctantly, 
and  vrere  much  cheered  to  find  that  the 
books  vfould  be  reserved  for  them  the  next 
day.  The  "continued-in-our-next"  idea 
seemed  to  please  them,  for  thereafter  they 
came  in  almost  every  noon-hour.  J.fegazines 
also  vere  much  in  demand,  and  the  courtyard 
benches  vrere  dotted  vath  "Atlantics"  and 
"Bcr  j  bners." 

One  of  the  most  interesting  patrons 
v;as  a  man  vrtio  had  been  blind  for  eighteen 
years  and  who  had  recently  regained  his 
sight  through  a  series  of  delicate  opera- 
tions. He  came  in  every  day,  and  '"ead 
through  "The  Sea  and  the  Jungle." 

Likevdse  there  vras  one  dear  old  lady, 
who  asked  the  attendant  to  suggest  a  "nice" 
book.  She  shook  her  head  at  the  proffered 
volumes  of  fiction  and  selected  "Two  Years 
Among  Nev/  Guinea  Cannibals"  instead.  "This 
book  looks  kinda  educational,"  she  murmured 

People  from  all  parts  of  the  country 
presently  took  advantage  of  the  suggestion 
to  "read  a  good  book  in  the  courtyard  at 
noon."  From  California,  Utah,  Nev;  Mexico, 
Minnesota,  they  came.  When  they  had 
sufficiently  admired  the  building  and  the 
courtyard,  they  invariably  disclosed  how 
much  their  new  library  v/as  going  to  cost, 
"Yessir,  right  on  Main  Street,  opposite 
the  bank," 

"But  your  circulation  I"  one  hears  the 
small-tovm  librarians  cry.  "How  vas  your 
circulation?" 

"Excellent,  thank  you,"  the  attendant 
replies  courteously.  "Even  in  September, 
iivhen  it  got  chilly,  we  enjoyed  being 
Dutdoorsr-— " 

"No  I  No  !"  the  scandalized  librarians 
interrupt,  "The  book  circulation!" 

The  attendant's  lips  tvri.st  ruefully. 
'Well,  it  v/asn't  alarming.  Seven  volumes 
or   So  went  out  each  noon,  'ffe  weren't 
aiming  for  record  circulation,  you  know, 
fovrcver,  the  books  vrere  read.  Usually 
3vei-y  seat  in  the  courtyard  vras  taken, 
Ind  oh  I"  - — \ath  a  joyous  sigh  of  remini- 
cence—r"  Everyone  did  have  such  a  good 


lime. 


M,E,P, 

(Mary  E.  Prim 
Information  Office) 


-6- 


A.L>A.  COI^IFERENCE  REPORTS 
Cataloging  and  Classification  Division 


The  business  meeting  "vms  preceded  by 
a  reception  for  the  incoming  officers, 
who  included  ?irs  Orcena  llahoney  who  had 
been  elected  to  the  newly  created  office 
of  Executive  Secretaryo  The  reports  of 
officers  and  committees,  and  constitu- 
tional amendments  provoked  nothing  so 
interesting  as  the  heated  discussion  set 
off  by  the  business  of  creating  special 
committees  on  which  the  floor  felt  that 
only  members  of  the  DCC  could  serve. 

At  the  Thursday  morning  meeting,  Lucile 
M.  Morsch,  Library  of  Congress,  presented 
the  !iargaret  Mann  Award  to  Pauline  Seely 
of  the  Denver  Public  Library,  I'lfyllis 
E,  Wright,  miliams  College  Library, 
Carlyle  Jo  Frarey,  Duke  University  Li- 
brary and  Richard  S.  Angell,  Library  of 
Congress,  spoke  on  the  problems  of  . 
standards  for  subject  headingsa  The 
fact  that  10%   of  card  catalog  users  are 
satisfied  in  findjng  what  they  want  could 
still  be  improved.  Such  findings  gen- 
erally give  catalog  use  by  an  avci'age 
user  who  is  satisfied,  yet  there  is  need 
of  d3,ta  of  quantitative  results  of  the 
minoilty  ivho  has  difficulty. 

A  large  amount  of  material  is  lost 
under  broad  subject  headings,  because  of 
lack  of  clarity  in  the  meanings  of 
specific  headings,  A  selective  coverage 
for  material  over  fifty  years  old  (autho; 
entry  only) ;  problems  in  the  area  of 
geographically  treated  subjects j  in 
language,  as  in  phrases  and  inverted 
headings;  obsolescence  of  terminology; 


I  could  cut  numbers  more  easily  than  a 
I  large  library  could  expand,  numbers  will 
i  be  given  in  full  \'yith  underscoring  to 
j  indicate  digits  which  might  be  dropped. 
Classes  under  which  larger  amounts  of 
material  appear  under  notation  used  in 
the  lUth  edition  will  be  retained,  but 
the  l5th  edition  will  be  used  if  it  is  an 
improvement.  Built-in  aids  to  the 
classifier  will  be  used  sparingly  as  they 
would  increase  cost  and  obscure  the  out- 
lines, A  possible  bibliographic  edition 
is  considered. 


of  files  of  telephone  directories  was 
and  predicting  new  headings  were  mentionedlreexamined. 


Decimal  Olassif icatlgn 
Special  iia/jsory  Oommi'ctee 

At  its  meeting  David  J,  Haykin, 
Library  of  Congress,  presented  an  account 
of  the  vrork  on  the  forthcoming  standard 
edir.ion  of  Devrey  entitled  The  l6th  Edi- 
tirn  Moves  Forvfard,  Editor"^ J  Frogro^s 
T.fi"'.r\,o     I'TB   Eleanor  Bo  Huny&x'ford, 

[rial  Classification  Office,  Washingtonjcincinnati  Public  Library,  who  received  a 


Esther  E,  Jalonen 
Public  Libraries  Division 

The  Reference  Section  met  several 
times  during  the  Conference.  In  general 
terms  the  purpose  of  those  meetings  other 
than  "general"  meetings  or  "business" 
meetings,  was  to  call  to  the  attention 
of  smaller  units  of  library  service  those 
sources  which  could  be  useful  in  answering 
reference  questions  which  had  "stumped" 
smaller  public  library  reference  staffs. 
As  a  result,  the  proceedings,  while 
probably  very  useful  to  reference  workers 
in  smaller  libraries,  had  little  more 
than  technical  interest  for  librarians 
in  medium  and  larger  units  of  service. 

In  the  fields  of  literature,  art, 
history,  business  and  related  fields  the 
questions  which  name  up  involved  knowledge 
and  use  of  handbooks,  histories  and  the 
like.  The  location  of  pictorial  materials 
seemed  to  present  a  considerable  problem 
to  smaller  libraries.  And  the  usefulness 


Problems  for  discussion  were  introduced 
by  the  panel  methods  A  small  group  of 
librarians  asked  questions  of  individual 
members  of  the  panel.  The  resultant  ansvrer 
often  evolved  into  floor  discussion. 

The  General  Session  met  on  Tuesday 
in  mid-morning »  There  were  introdu.ced 
several  members  who  had  contributed  notably 
to  the  progress  of  the  Division  over  the 
years.  Among  these  were  Carl  Vitz, 


citation  of  merit  for  his  contributions, 
Mr  Vitz  responded  ^vith  brief  reraark,s 
outlining  a  few  areas  in  which  development 


D.  Co,  made  an  analysis  of  the  various 
classification  schemes  for  a  preliminary 
draft.  Vi/esley  Simonton  spoke  on  The 

l6i-,h  Edition  and  the  Practicing  C]c"sifier, might  occur  in  the  years  ahead.  It  vra-s 
A.-  the  Icth  edition  is  planned  for  li-    interesting  to  note  his  suggestions  for 
bi-ai'ies  up  to  200,000  volumes,  being  ex-  groupings  of  subject  reference  librarians 
oc"-ted  to  provide  for  a  medium-sized     vdthin  the  Public  Library  Division  as  a 
rax,her  than  a  very  small  library  v;hich   'possible  future  line  of  development* 


-7- 


The  principal  address  vras  delivered  by 
Dr  jatau  of  Macalester  College,  St  Paul, 
who  spoke  on  the  necessity  of  attaining 
wisdom  in  addition  to  knovdedge.     Dr 
J'itru's  address  vjas  well  thought  out, 
but  probably  was  not  precisely  the  type 
of  -calk  best  suited  to  a  divisional 
meeting ,     The  theme  had  a  much  wider 
application  and  might  have  been  more 
effective  had  it  been  offered  at  a  Genv 
eral  Session  of  the  Association.     Apart 
from  this,  it  was  a  revra.rding  address. 

The  final  General  Session  of  the  Con- 
ference met  in  the  magnificent  Audi- 
torium of  the  University  of  Minnesota  on 
Friday  evening.     The  retiring  President 
of  the  Association,  Flora   B.     Lildington, 
presided.     The   first  speaker  was  Dr 
Charles  Ifeiyo  whose  topic  was  the  United 
Nations  organization.     He  placed  emphasis 
on  the  importance  of  the  role  to  be 
played  by  libraries  in  making  United 
Nations  publications  available  to   the 
general  public.     His  principal  theme  was 
the  necessity  for  patience  and  tolerance 
in  our  dealings  Tdth  other  members  of  the 
UN,  and  with  other  nations.     His  talk  was 
delivered  with  liveliness  and  humor,  and 
was  very  vrell  received. 

Special  awards  were  then  made  to  two 
trustees  for  their  outstanding  ccntribu- 
tions.     Mrs  Merlin  of  the  Arkansas  Li- 
brary Commission,  one  of  the  recipients, 
made  a  particularly  graceful  acceptance 
speech.     Mr  Fleming  of  the  Chicago  Pub- 
lic Library,  the  second  recipient,  spoke 
pridefully  of  his  Library  and  effectively 
contrasted  its  present  position  with  the 
situation  as  it  existed  during  the  early 
thirties  when  the  City  vras  unable  to  meet 
its  financial  obligations  for  an  extended 
period. 

The  feature  address  was  delivered  by 
Itr  Mumford,   incoming  President  of  the 
Association,  and  recent ly~<iosignated  Li- 
brarian of  Congress,     Mr  Mumford  chose 
as  his  topic  the  concept  of  librarianship 
in  the  present  era  mth  emphasis  on  the 
personal  and  institutional  relationships 
involved.     He  spoke  of  the  continuing 
difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  role  of 
libraries  in  the  handling  of  controversial 
materials  and  noted  that,  apart  from 
theory,  there  are  still  over  30  million 
people  in  this  country  7;ithout  library 
service  of  any  kind  whatever. 

Charles  L.   Higgins 


Association  of 
Young  People's  Librarians 

Continuing  the  theme  "Adapting  the 
Large  Library  Program  to  the  Smaller 
Library" ,  a  panel  discussion  on  Pub- 
licity throu,;^h  Booklists,  Displays,   Nevra- 
paper.  Radio  and  TV  highlighted  the  kinds 
of  book  lists  devised  to  reach  the  young 
people  by  way  of  schools,  drug  stores, 
housing  developments,  and  other  channels. 
Young  Adults  plan,  arrange,  and  photo- 
graph displays,  while  radio  and  IV  media 
are  used  ingeniously  and  imaginatively 
to  pique  their  curiosity  and  attract  neiT 
users  to  the  library- 

Group  and  Community  Work  vrere  discussed 
by  panelists  who  brought  to  the  fore 
varying  experiences  with  Teen-^ge  Councils, 
improvised  programs,   long-range  projects — 
all  designed  to  bring  the  library  to  the 
favorable  attention  of  young  extroverts 
and  young  introverts  and  to  increase  the 
library's  knowledge  of  and  service  to 
the  community. 

A  forum  book  discussion  on  Theodore 
T/Jhite's  Fire  in  the  Ashes  by  five 
Minneapolis  young  people  was  introduced 
and  led  by  Jay  Royen  of  the  "Youth  Wants 
to  Knovc",  NBC-TV  show  from  Washington, 
D.C,     He  had  outlined  the  know-how 
necessary  for  a  library  to  put  on  a 
successful  radio  or  TV  program  and  pro- 
ceeded to  demonstrate  the  vital  con- 
troversial and  timely  elements  by  having 
as  participant  an  articulate  German  lad, 
in  this  country  less  than  a  year,  take 
issue  Ydth  statements  made  by  other  panel 
members.     This  presentation  vras  top-notch 
and  alive. 

Pauline  Winnick 

ELEGY  IN  A  LIBRARY  COURTYARD 

Summer  wanes 

And  on  the  Vifing  a  bird  is  heard  • 

Calling  back  a  season  lost  - 

Forevermore 

Weather  vanes 

Of  green-encrusted  moulded  gold 

Pointing  to  directions  gone  - 

Forevermore 

Wooded  lanes 

That  led  to  stationed  destinations 

Once  sought  out  but  now  o'er  looked  - 

Forevermore 


-8- 


Leaded  panes 

Reflecting  scenes  from  staid  parades 

V'/hich  passed  but  once  to  be  forgot  - 

Forevermore 

Paper  chains 

So  welcome  then  -  a  ms'd  excuse 
To  stay  -  but  no\T  they've  changed  to  steel- 
Fore  vermo  re 

\Yhispered  strains 

Of  music  heard  but  oncej  the  chance 
Not  taken  then,  perhaps  it's  now?  - 
No  nevermore 

John  McCaff erty 

NEW  BOOKS  IN  THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 

Non-Fiction — LibraiT  Science 

American  Association  of  School  Librarians. 
Committee  on  Planning  School  Library 
Quarters.  Dear  Yx  Architect:  an  open 
letter  from  the  school  librarian. 
Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 
1952 

American  Library  Association.  Board  on 
Personnel  Administration.  Personnel 
administration  for  libraries;  a  bib- 
liographical essay. 
Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 

1953 
American  Library  Association.  Board  on 

Personnel  Administration.  Personnel 

organization  and  procedure j  a  manual 

suggested  for  use  in  college  and 

university  libraries, 

Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 

1952 
American  Library  Association.  Board  on 

Personnel  Administration.  Personnel 

organization  and  procedure;  a  manual 

suggested  for  use  in  public  libraries. 

Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 

1952 
American  Library  Association.  Committee 

on  Intellectual  Freedom.  Freedom  of 

communication, 

Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 

1951; 
Association  of  College  and  Reference 

Libraries,  ACRL  monographs,  no.  10-11, 
Chicago,  Publications  Committee, 
Association  of  College  and  Reference 
Libraries,  1953-5U 
No.  10.  Proceedings  of  the  1953  ACRL 

Buildings  Plans  Institute  vath 
a  special  bibliography 


No.  11,  Proceedings  of  the  195h  ACRL 
Building  Plans  Institute  v/ith 
R,  H,  l&iller's  Compact  book 
storage. 
Chicago  University,  Graduate  Library 

School.  The  core  of  education  for 

librarianship, 

Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 

19514 
Graham,  Bessie.  Bookman's  manual;  a  guide 

to  literature,  7th  ed,  rev,  and  enl» 

New  York,  Bowker,  1951; 
Heuser,  Frederick  W,  J,  German  university 

and  technical  libraries. 

New  York,  Germanistic  Society  of  America 

1951 
Library  literature,  19 5U. 

New  York,  H.  W.  Wilson,  195U 
Long,  Harriet  G,  Rich  the  treasure; 

public  library  service  to  children, 

Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 

1953 
Lubetzky,  Seymour,  Cataloging  rules  and 

principles, 

Washington,  Processing  Department, 

Library  of  Congress,  1953 
U,S,  Library  of  Congress,  Annual  Report, 

1953. 

Washington,  Library  of  Congress,  19514- 
Williams,  Edvv-in  E.  Farmington  plan 

handbook o 

Bloomington,  Indiana,  Association  of 

Research  Libraries ,  1953 
ViTilson,  H,  ?/. ,  firm,  publishers.  Fiction 

catalog,  Suppl,  1951-53    ' 

New  York,  H,  W,  Wilson,  19Sh 


Fiction 

Bottoms,  Phyllis,     The  secret  stair » 

Nev/-  York,  Harcourt,   Brace,  195ii 
Lofts,  Norah  R,     Bless   this  house. 

Garden  City,  New  York,  Doubleday,  195U 
Remarque,  Erich  M,     A  time  to  love  and  a 

time  to  die. 

New  York,  Harcourt,  Brace,  195i| 


BRANCH  NOTES 


East  Boston 


On  Tuesday,  July  27,  Duilia  Capobianco, 
Assistant  in  Charge,  was  guest  speaker 
at  a  luncheon  meeting  of  the  East  Boston 
Kiwanis,  She  told  an  interested  audience 
of  local  business  and  professional  ppople 
hov;  the  library  tries  to  fit  itself  to 
the  needs  of  all  the  people  in  the  community 
taking  into  consideration  the  special 
interests  of  all  ages  and  types  of  people. 


-9- 


As  part  of  its  program  for  the  siunmer. 
East  Boston  has  been  having  an  hour  of 
recorded  music  on  Monday  and  Thursday- 
evenings,  The  music,  from  its  oTrm 
collection  of  records,  is  played  in  the 
main  reading  room  and  has  been  a  pleasant 
accompaniment  to  broweors.  We  have  re- 
ceived many  pleased  comments  from  the 
public,  including  requests  to  continue 
playing  music  for  longer  periods.  One  of 
the  most  successful  programs,  the  complete 
opera  La  Traviata,  induced  many  borrowers 
to  remain  for  close  to  two  hours  listen- 
ing to  the  music.  The  programs  ■vrLll  con- 
tinue throughout  August, 

Mattapan 

On  July  17,  J'iary  M.  Mehlman  was  married 
to  Richard  Burns  of  Jamaica  Plain,  at 
St  Anthony' s-by-tho-sea,   in  Gloucester 
The  nuptial  mass  was  celebrated  by  the 
Rev,   John  F,  Burns,  brother  of  the  bride- 
groom.    The  bride's  sister,  Barbara, was 
maid  of  honor  and  the  groom's  brother, 
Eugene,  7ra.s  best  man.     The  Branch  staff 
and  others  of  the  bride's  library  as- 
sociates attended  the  reception,  held 
at  the  Shore  Drive  Manor,  Magnolia o 
Following  their  honeymoon  trip  to  Nevf 
Hampshire,  Mr  and  itrs  Burns  are  making 
their  home  in  Brighton, 

South  Boston 

Mrs   Irene  H,  Tuttle,  Branch  Librarian, 
vras  one  of  the   judges  for  the   recent 
^'Little  Brother"   contest  sponsored  by  the 
South  Boston  Girls'   Club, 

West  End 

Members  of  the  West  End  Branch  staff 
have  become  seasoned  travelers  this 
summer.  Led  by  our  veteran  traveler.  Miss 
Mllmeister,  members  have  already  visited 
several  countries.     Miss  Fdllmeister  has 
just  returned  from  an  extended  tour 
abroad — by  plane,  sea  and  land,  during 


though  our  Faneuil  Hall  is  \ddely  knoT,m 
as  the  Cradle  of  Liberty,   our  children's 
librarian  found  that  claim  disturbingly 
disputed,  during  her  recent  vacation  trip. 
It  appears  that  the  citizens  of  Penn- 
sylvania think  that  independence  really 
got  under  vray  at  Independence  Hall  and 
Valley  Forge,  while   the  Virginians  give 
all  the  credit  to  Patrick  Henry  and  Thomas 
Jefferson.     Around  Monticello,  they  even 
conjure  up  the  name  of  Jack  Jouett,  v/hose 
midnight  ride,  they  say,  overshadotved  that 
of  our  Paul  Revere,     Despite  these  erroneoui 
opinions  of  the  inhabitants,  Mrs  Lehane 
greatly  enjoyed  her  visits  to  the  famous 
historical  and  literary  spots  in  Phila- 
delphia, Richmond,   Baltimore  and  Willlams- 
b\rrg,  as  virell  as  the  breath-taking  drive 
through  the  Blue  Ridge  Itountains  and  the 
Smokies.     One  unexpected  and  delightful 
event  vfas   coming  across  a  Pennsylvania 
Dutch  Festival,  where  she  was  intrigued 
by  an  authentic  Easter  Egg  Tree  which 
has  been  in  a  Pennsylvania  family  for 
three  generations, 

Helen  Colgan  went  north  of  the  U.S. 
to  Canada  on  a  combined  tour  and  cruise, 
to  Montreal,  Quebec  City,  up  the  St,    ' 
Lavinr-ence  and  Saguenay  Rivers  and  back, 
then  on  to  Ottavra.,  returning  home  via 
Montreal,     She  was  keenly  enthusiastic 
about  all  the  places;  and  had  but  one  re- 
gret—*hat  she  v/as  unable  to  remember  much 
of  her  school-day  French,     Our  latest 
West  End  Motto:   "Always  willing  to  travel", 

Joseph  Lee  Day  was  observed  nationally 
on  July  30,  but  here  the  day  had  a  more 
personal  and  local   significance.     The 
library  paid  special  tribute  to  %  Lee 
as  a  former  resident  of  the  West  End,  a 
very  good  neighbor,  and  a  universal 
benefactor  of   children.     The  writings  of 
Mr  Leo,  pictures  and  other  material  about 
him,  dravm  from  the  WestEndiana  Collection, 
were  on  exhibit.     The  children  in  the 
Summer  Re-'.ding  Club  made  their  dramatic 


which  she  visited  well-kno™  and  historic  ^contribution  to  the  observance  of  the  day 


spots.     She  savj-  the  Alhambra  and  the  Rock 
of  Gibraltar,  Portugal,  Spain  and  then 
went  on  to  North  Africa,     Of  all  the 
places,   she  is  most  enthusiastic  about 
the  streets  of  North  Africa  with  their 
teulti-colorcd  dress  and  many  tcngued 
natives  and  tourists. 

}!xs  Veronica  Lehane  also  traveled  ex- 
tensively; but  in  our  oi«i  country.     She 
went  by  auto  from  Boston  to  Nevf  York  and 
Pennsylvania   dovm  to  Williams bio-g ,  Vir- 
ginia.    Then  on  to  North  Carolina.     Al- 


Ivfhcn  they  presented  a  four-act  play, 
!shoT/ing  the  course  of  Joseph  Lee's  concern 
!\?ith  the  recreational  facilities  available 
|to  children,  from  its  beginnings  in  Boston 
to  its  culmination  in  the  establishment  of 
playgrounds  throughout  the  United  States 
and  abroad. 

The  Space  Travel  Reading  Club  at  West 
End  continues  to  hold  regular  Friday 
morning  meetings  with  amusing  formality. 
The  children  take  quite  seriously  their 
book  travels  through  time  and  space,  and 


-10- 


eagerly  volunteer  to  give  brief  talks 
about  vrfiat  they  have  learned  in  the  fields 
of  nature,  travel,  or  the  progress  of 
modern  science.     Today's  fantasy  seemed 
to  promise  tomorroT,r's  reality,  on  the 
morning  vrhen  one  member  brought  in  a 
newspaper  report  about  the  people  who  are 
actually  signing  up  to  bo  passengers  on 
the  first  rocket  trip  to  the  moon.     Al- 
though there  is  no  doubt  of  the  chil- 
dren's interest  in  space  travel,  they 
still  seem  to  enjoy  hearing  about  other 
children's   e-arth-bound  experiences,  in 
reality  or  in  books, 

COUU  IT  BE? 

Received  on  August  11,  195U,  in  the 
first-class  mail,  letter  from  The  Nestle 
Company,  Inc.,  l/?hite  Plains,  Not;  York, 
addressed: 

Mr  Geoffrey  Chaucer 
Boston  Public  Library 
Boston,  ISass, 
Could  it  be  that  someone  on  the  staff 
is  using  this  name  as  a  pseudonym? 


SOAP  BOX 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must 
be  accompanied  by  the   full  name  cf   the 
Association  member  submitting  it,  to- 
gether vdth  the  name  of  the  Branch  Library, 
Department,   or  Office  in  v;hich  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  kno\'m  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  Associa- 
tion members  and  their  appearance  does 
not  necessarily  indicate  that  the  Pub- 
lications Committee  and  the  Association 
are  in  agreement  vjith  the  views  expressed. 
Only  those  contributions  containing  not 
more  than  300  words  will  be  accepted. 


Editor-Pro-Tem's  Note : 
We  knexi  in  auvance  that  the  Editor  of 
THE  QUESTION  PARK  and  the  President  of  the 
Association  would  be  on  vacation  at  the 
time  the  August  issue  came  out,  and  that 
in  consequence  there  vrould  be  no  Presi- 
dent's Notes.     But,  we  had  not  figured 


that  the  entire  staff  would  be  on  vaca- 
tion mentally  (or  completely  relaxed  and 
uncomplaining)  to  such  an  extent  that 
there  would  be  no  contributions  to  the 
Soap  Box.     Hov/ever,  such  seems  to  be  the 
case,     S'ince  vre  discovered  it,  we  have 
been  smiling  broadly  as  we  imagine  the 
disappointed  expressions  -v^diich  mil  adorn 
many  faces  v/hen  from  force  of  habit  their 
ovmers  turn  first  to  the  Soap  Box  and  find 
there  nothing  but  this,  the  Publications 
Committee's  vdsh  for 

HAPPY     VACATIONStl 


™ 


UGstion 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


SEPTEMBER  1954 


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


Volume  IX,  Number  9 


September  1951; 


Publications  Committee:  Gerald  L,  Ball,  John  J,  McCafferty,  Sheila  W.  Pierce, 

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  influence  of  television  on  the 
reading  habits  of  the  average  American 
has  been  of  intense  interest  to  li- 
brarians for  the  past  five  years.  Still, 
little  light  has  been  shed  upon  the  sub- 
ject. 

The  report  of  an  interview  with  a  lead- 
ing metropolitan  librarian  was  published 
this  past  week  in  -vvhich  the  librarian 
disclosed  his  answer  to  the  question. 
His  conclusions,  based  upon  a  survey,  are 
these:  That  television's  effect  is  similar 
to  that  of  radio  in  its  infancyj  that  the 
average  American  devoted  all  his  spare 
time  to  television  until  the  novelty 
wore  off,  then  returned  to  books — better 
than  he  had  been  reading  be fore 5  that 
people  realized  that  vrith  television  in 
their  lives  they  had  less  time  for  read- 
ing, so  they  selected  books  of  a  higher 
standard;  that  there  is  less  reading  of 
fiction  and  more  of  non-fiction  now. 

These  conclusions,  especially  the  last 
one,  are  enlightening,,  The  recent  trend 
from  fiction  reading  to  non-fiction  has 
not  gone  without  notice  in  the  Boston 
Public  Library,  Although  there  can  be 
found  other  explanations  for  the  trend 
toward  non-fiction  reading  the  readiness 
of  a  highly-placed  librarian  to  attribute 
it  to  educational  television  programs 
points  toward  a  peaceful  co-existence 
between  the  library  and  TV,   No  longer 
should  we  hear  the  plaint  that  TV  is 
pre-empting  the  free  time  of  children 
and  adults  to  such  an  extent  that  few 
people  have  time  for  reading  books. 


CARE 

Our  grateful  thanks  to  those  who  have 
remembered  CARE  during  the  summer  months. 

Help  for  the  unfortunate  continues  to 
be  needed.  Please  give  as  you  are  able. 


CALENDAR  OF  EVENTS 


September  27, 


S.L.A,  monthly  meeting  at 
CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE  MONITOR 
Library,  Dinner  at  Cafe 
Amalf i. 


October  2.  C.L.A,  fall  meeting,  Cheverus 
High  School,  Portland,  Maine, 
at  2:30  p.m.  Bus  from  Boston 
at  9:00  a.m.  For  bus  trans- 
portation contact  John 
Hallahan,  Open  Shelf.  Round 
trip,  exclusive  of  luncheon, 
no  more  than  $5*00, 


October  18-20, 


N.E,L,A,  fall  meeting  at 
New  Ocean  House,  Swamp- 
scott. 


PERSONAL  NOTES 

Resignations 

Mrs  Helen  P.  Sullivan,  Information 
Office,  to  live  in  Corning,  N.Y, 

Rita  M,  Doherty,  Book  Preparation,  to  be 
married' 

Firs  Ann  A.  Sullivan,  Egleston  Square,  to 
remain  at  home, 

Mrs  Beverly  P,  Parsons,  Ht  Bowdoin,  to 
remain  at  home 

Mrs  Josephine  M.  Shaw,  South  End;,  to  re- 
turn to  a  teaching  position  in  France, 

I*.fe.ry  J.  Joyce,  Cataloging  and  Classifica- 
tion (HR  and  CS) ,  to  enter  nurses' 
training  school. 

Retirements 

William  F,  Quinn,  Superintendent  of 

Buildings,  after  30  years  of  service, 
William  A.  Swan,  Binding,  after  37  years 

of  service. 
Joseph  J,  Conway,  Printing,  after  27 

years  of  service, 
William  B,  Gallagher,  Chief,  Printing, 

after  27  years  of  service, 
Chester  A.  S.  Fazakas,  Branch  Issue, 

after  53  years  of  service.. 


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Transferred 

Irene  M.  Mains,  from  Hospital  Library- 
Service  to  Roslindale^ 

Mrs  Laura  H.  Reyes,  from  Roslindale  to 
South  End. 

Mrs  Arlene  R,  Saffren,  from  South  Boston 
to  East  Boston. 

Returned  from  ililitary  Leave 

JtLchael  J.  Venezia,  Book  Stack  Service- 

TAKE  A  K)YI  I 

Congratulations  to  Arthur  L,  Lindsay, 
assistant  in  the  Exhibits  Office,  for 
his  quick  thinking  and  fine  first  aid 
work  at  the  height  of  hurricane  Carol. 
He  applied  pressure  techniques  to  an  in- 
jured library  patron  so  ably  that  no 
dressings  were  necessary  when  the  injured 
person  reached  City  Hospital. 

ilARGARET  M.  TULEY 

Margaret  M,  Tuley,  who  was  employed 
in  Book  Stack  Service  in  1952  and  1953 j 
entered  the  religious  order  of  Daughters 
of  Charity  on  September  8.  After  leaving 
the  Library  she  entered  the  Catherine 
Labourl  School  of  Nursing  and  vias   in 
training  vlhen   she  decided  to  enter  the 
religious  nursing  order  of  Daughters  of 
Charity.  It  is  this  order  of  nurses  that 
are  in  charge  of  the  Carney  Hospital  and 
St  Ifergaret's  Hospital  here  in  Boston. 
Over  500  friends  and  relatives  attended 
a  reception  in  her  honor  on  Saturday 
evening,  August  28,  in  St  ¥illiam's  Hall, 
She  is  now  located  at  St  Joseph's  Cen- 
tral Houise,  Emmetsburg,  Maryland, 
i!/Iargaret  is  the  daughter  of  John  W,  Tuley, 
Fire  Prevention  Inspector  for  the  Library. 

MEYf  CITIZENS 

Mr  and  JJrs  Paul  E,  Nagle  have  an^  ■ 
nounced  the  birth  of  a  daughter,  Kathleen 
on  August  27.  Ivir  Nagle  is  a  member  of 
the  Book  Preparation  Staff  and  Mrs  Nagle 
was  formerly  a  member  of  the  staff  of 
Records,  Files,  Statistics, 

On  September  1,  ilr  and  Jfrs  Pasquale 
Vacca  became  the  parents  of  a  baby 
daughter,  Mr  Vacca  is  an  assistant  at 
Dorchester,  In  anticipation  of  the 
happy  event,  the  staff  gave  a  baby  shower 
in  August  for  the  prospective  parents. 


Mr  and  Mrs  John  J.  Hallahan  have  ajinounced 
the  birth  of  a  son,  Francis  Brendan,  on 
September  5.  Mr  Hallahan  is  a  member 
of  the  Open  Shelf  staff. 

ENGAGEMENTS 

Announcement  has  been  made  of  the 
engagement  of  Mary  C,  Day,  Ifemorial, 
to  Airman  First  Class  Norman  W.  Kennedy 
of  Cambridge. 

SOCIAL  WHIRL 

On  August  11  at  the  home  of  Mr   and 
Mrs  William  Conley  in  Melrose,  a  very 
pretty  bridal  shovrer  was  given  to 
Millicent  Ann  Hamer,  a  member  of  the 
Dorchester  staff,  in  honor  of  her 
approaching  marriage  to  William  Hugh 
Smith  of  Dorchester. 

The  table  t^s  daintily  decorated 
with  flovrers,  ferns,  tiny  colored  um- 
brella place  cards,  and  a  pink,  green  and 
vfhite  umbrella  cake  as  a  center-piece. 
I'l/hite  wedding  bells  and  streamers  hung 
in  the  doon/vays.  A  delicious  supper  vra.s 
served  by  J.Irs  Elinor  Conley,  Branch  Li- 
brarian. Miss  Hamer  was  presented  vidth 
a  place  setting  of  Heirloom  silver  in 
the  Damask  Rose  pattern,  a  gift  from  the 
staff. 

Besides  the  members  of  the  Dorchester 
staff,  other  guests  present  Trare  Margaret 
Morgan,  Eleanor  O'Leary,  Mrs  Gloria 
Vacca,  Helen  DeSimone,  and  A.  Philip 
Frederick, 

An  impromptu  kitchen  shov/er  was  held 
at  the  Branch  for  Miss  Hamer  on  Friday, 
August  27,  Around  her  place  at  the  table 
where  refreshments  were  served,  were 
heaped  various  sized  gifts  of  all  poss- 
ible shapes  including  two  wrapped  and 
decorated  to  represent  the  bride  and 
groom. 

On  Tuesday,  August  2k,   Duilia  Capo- 
bianco,  Assistant  in  Charge  at  East 
Boston,  vias   given  a  Bon  Voyage  party  at 
the  Hotel  Vondome  by  the  staff  and 
Jennie  Femino  of  North  End.  A  travel- 
alarm  clock  in  a  red  leather  case  was 
given  to  Miss  Capobianco  to  make  sure 
'she  ;7Duld  be  on  time  for  the  many  won- 
derful activities  she  has  planned  for 
her  s ix-v;eeks*  tour  of  Europe. 

iiiss  Capobianco,  accorpanied  by  her 
sister,  left  August  27  from  Logan  Airport 


-3- 


bound  for  Paris.  They  vdll  go  on  to  visit 
the  French  and  Italian  Rivieras ,  the 
Dolomites,  Innsbruck,  Genoa,  Milan, 
Venice,  Capri,  Perugia,  Florence,  Naples, 
and  Rome, 

l"fEDDINGS 

Saturday,  August  21,  195U  was   the  day 
of  the  vredding  at  St  John's  Church  at 
10  a, mo  Jfe-ss  of  Rita  l/krie  Doherty  and 
Frederic  Casey  of  Winthrop,     The  lovely 
bride  looked  radiant  in  a  govm  of  white 
lace  and  taffeta.     J-Iargaret  Doherty 
served  as  Honor  attendant  at  her  sister's 
vredding  and  wore  a  rose  taffeta  gown. 
The  groom  looked  handsome  and  gallant  on 
crutches  needed  because  of  a  paratroop 
accident  at  Army  camp  where  he  is  sta- 
tioned. 

The  reception,  held  at  the  Paul  Roger 
House,  Revere,  was  attended  by  imny 
library  friends.     The  Caseys  motored  to 
Kentucky  ■vdiere  they  plan  to  make  their 
home  for  the  next  year. 

At  St  Ambrose  Church,  Dorchester,  on 
August  28,  Anne  E.  McCarthy,  South  Boston, 
and  Charles  Kinne  i/rere  married  at  a 
Nuptial  Mass,     The  bride's   govm  was  of 
Ghantilly  lace  over  white  satin  v/ith  a 
fingertip  length  veil.     She  carried  a 
bouquet  of  white  roses  and  euch-'.rist 
lilies  with  a  white  orchid  center.     Mrs 
Herbert  Hevres   (foarmerly  Marie  McCarthy 
of  Book  Purchasing)  v/as  ra?.tron  of  honor 
for  her  sister.     The   reception  was  held 
in  the  soLarivim  at  the  Hotel  Vendome. 
LiUsic  at  the  reception  vras  ably  provided 
by  Frankie  Jfyers, 

■if- 

On  Saturday  afternoon  at  I;  o'clock, 
the  fourth  of  September,  i.iillicent  Ami 
Hamer  was  narried  to  ITilliam  Hugh  Smith 
at  the  Stoughton  Street  Baptist  Church 
in  Dorchester.  Officiating  at  the 
ceremony  was  the  bride *s  father,  the 
Reverend  William  Llev/ellyn  Hamcr,  The 
church  vras  beautifully  decorated  vdth 
#iite  fall  flovrers  and  candles,  and  the 
bride  vias  lovely  in  a  ballerina  govm  of 
T/.tiite  taffeta  with  a  shoulder  length  veil 
and  a  bridal  bouquet.  Her  bridesmaid 
v/ore  green  taffeta  and  carried  sweetheart 
roses. 

After  a  wedding  trip  to  Maine  and 
Washington,  Ttr  and  Mrs  Smith  v/ill  make 
their  home  in  Newton  Centre  where  JiEr 
Smith  is  attending  Andover  Newton  Theo- 


logical School.  Mrs  Smith  vvill  continue 
as  an  assistant  at  Dorchester. 

On  September  $,   at  2:30  p.m,,  Joan 
Lorraine  Dandrow  became  the  bride  of 
Girard  D.  Hottleman,  Book  Purchasing,  at 
St  Paul's  Church  in  Dorchester,  The 
bride,  v/earing  a  -vdiite  gown  of  la.ce  over 
satin  vd-th  Juilliard  cap  and  finger  tip 
veil,  carried  a  prayer  book  with  orchid 
streamers.  The  matron  of  honor  vias  Mrs 
Gloria  Iviaclssaac,  sister  of  the  bride, 
G,  Maclssaacs  was  best  man,  acting  as, 
proxy  for  Edward  Fisher  who  is  in  the 
service.  Following  the  reception  at  the 
Maclssaac  home  in  Jamaica  Plain,  i>.1r  and 
Mrs  Hottleman  left  for  a  honeymoon  in 
New  Harapshireo 

On  Saturday  morning,  September  11,  at 
the  Sacred  Heart  Church  in  Roslindale, 
Rosemarie  larrobino.  Business  Office, 
became  the  bride  of  Richard  Paul  Mulcahy 
of  Jpjnaica  Plain, 

Rosemrarie  looked  lovely  in  a  full 
length  gown  of  antique  satin  trimmed 
vrith  a  collar  of  seed  pearls  and  an  orange 
blossom  crown  with  illusion  veiling.  The 
bride's  bouquet  was  white  orchids  on  a 
prayer  book  vri. th  stephanotis  streamers. 

Her  sister,  Patricia,  as  maid  of 
honor,  wove   emerald  green  taffeta  as  did 
her  bridesmaids,  one  of  whom  was  Mrs 
Barbara  Bloom,  Accounting.  The  flower 
girl,  little  Margaret  larrobino,  iras 
adorable  in  yellov:  taffeta  and  floral 
tiara. 

The  reception  v\fhich  follo^Ycd  immediately 
w?.s  held  at  the  King  Phillip  Ballroom  in 
Wrentham  and  was  thoroughly  enjoyed  by 
many  guests  v;ho  braved  the  hurricane  to 
attend. 

Follovdng  a  honeymoon  in  New  York  and 
Washington,  D,C,,  Mr  and  ?frs  IJhilcahy  will 
reside  in  Boston, 

PRESIDENT'S  NOTES 

At  the  November  business  meeting  the 
Nominating  Committee  will  present  the 
list  of  candidates  of  officers  to  be 
elected  at  the  annual  meeting  in  Janur.ry. 
It  is  perhaps  human  nature  to  find  excuses 
to  avoid  being  a  candidate,  to  let  "George 
do  it".  But  MO   should  appreciate  the 
importance  of  the  task  of  the  Nominating 
Committee  and  give  to  them  the  coopera- 
tion they  need  if  they  are  to  present  a 
representative  list  of  candidates. 


-u- 


A  SORT  survey  completed  eirly  this 
summer  had  several  items  of  particular 
interest  to  members  of  the  EPLPSA: 

Wc  have  one  of  the  largest  memberships 
of  any  staff  organization  in  SORT,  being 
one  of  the  four  having  over  UOO  members; 
but  wc  have  the  smallest  dues  of  any 
organization  being  one  of  the  six  having 
dues  of  fifty  cents  a  year  (three  had 
dues  of  '^6,00   a  year  and  the  average  dues 
were  about  $2,00).  Our  CARE  program  wxs 
cited,  attention  being  given  to  the  fact 
that  we  have  given  ^2,5U6.00  to  CARE 
since  vre  adopted  it.  Our  Association  was 
also  singled  out  as  a  pace-setter  for  its 
part  in  raising  |8, 000.00  for  the  Cen- 
tennial Gift* 

B,  Joseph  O'Neil 

STAFF  IN  PRINT 

Dorothy  Dodworth,  children's  assistant 
^t  North  End, had  a  delightful  picture 
bo ok^  A  Dangerous  Day  for  I'Irs  Doodlepunk , 
published  September  7  by  ViTilliam  R,  Scott ^ 
Inc.,  of  Nevr  York.  An  excerpt  from  the 
blurb  states:  "a  fresh  and  original 
picture-story  by  a  talented  nev;comer  to 
the  field,  its  theme  is  the  strained 
interpersonal  relations  bctvroen  Mrs 
Doodlepunk,  a  young  lady  of  seven,  and  her 
neighbor,  Ifr  Frizzboy,  aged  eight  and  up 
to  no  good.  Needless  to  say,  she  turns 
the  tables  on  th^  villain." 

IilU  AND  INSURANCE 

¥c  have  been  asked  to  bring  to  the 
attention  of  M.L.A.  members  the  offer 
of  the  Loyalty-Group  Insurance  Plan. 
Policies  •'jYTittcn  under  this  plan  are 
available  to  librarians  vfho  are  not 
acceptable  risks  for  individual  policies. 
Many  librarians  throughout  the  state  have 
been  in  this  Group  insurance  plan  since 
August,  1953.  Further  information  can 
be  obtained  at  the  Personnel  Office. 

VEraaPHT  LIBRARY  JEETHTO 

Firs  Muriel  C,  Javelin,  Deputy  Super- 
visor in  Charge  of  "^Jork  mth  Adults,  spoke 
on  The  R'ole  of  the  Library  in  the  Community 


at  the  Pre-Conference  Adult  Education 
Workshop  of  the  Vermont  Free  Public  Li- 
brary Commission  at  Lake  ilorey  Inn,  Fairlec 
Vermont,  on  Thursday  morning,  September  2, 
195ii. 


Ifr  Edward  J&ir,  New  England  Representa- 
tive of  the  Great  Books  Foundation, 
briefly  described  the  services  of  the 
Foundation  in  setting  up  leadership 
training  groups  for  small  communities  and 
in  organizing  new  Great  Books  programs, 
Mr  I/Iuir's  headquarters  are  in  the  Office 
of  the  Division  of  Home  Reading  and 
Community  Services, 

This  meeting  immediately  preceded  the 
Biennial  Convention  of  the  Vermont 
Library  Association.  Mrs  Javelin  also 
served  as  a  Consultant  on  Adult  Educa- 
tion programming  during  the  Conference, 

AiffiRICAN  HERITAGE  PROJECT 

A  grant  for  a  young  adult  demonstra- 
tion project  under  the  American  Heritage 
Project  has  been  made  jointly  to  five 
libraries  in  Greater  Boston  communities — 
Arlington,  Brookline,  Medford,  Quincy, 
and  Boston.  The  local  director  of  this 
project  will  be  M.  Jane  Manthorne,  Young 
Adults  Librarian,  Open  Shelf. 

Present  plans  for  the  Boston  Public 
Library's  participation  include  four 
programs  to  be  conducted  at  Adams  Street, 
North  End,  Mattapan,  and  Open  Shelf. 

AMERICAN  JEWISH  TERCENTENARY 

The  Tercentenary  of  the  Settlement  of 
the  Jews  in  America  is  being  observed 
from  September,  19$h   to  May,  1955.  This 
event  marks  the  arrival  of  a  sturdy  band 
of  twenty-three  Jews  vdio  came  to  New 
Amsterdam,  now  New  York,  in  l65ii» 

Great  plans  are  going  forward  in  hun- 
dreds of  cities.  Extensive  preparations 
are  going  on  in  Boston,  A  committee  of 
300  hand— picked  leaders  in  this  Boston 
community  has  been  formed  to  spark-plug 
plans.  The  theme  of  the  Tercentenary  is 
MN'S  OPPORTUNITIES  AND  RESPONSIBILITIES 
UNDER  FREEDOM.  The  observance  vrLll  be 
marked  in  diverse  ways  by  books,  maga- 
zine and  newspaper  articles,  conferences, 
meetings,  lectures,  study  programs,  radio 
and  television  programs,  exhibits,  con- 
certs, organizational  projects,  special 
ceremonies — and  in  a  hundred  other  ways. 

In  consonance  with  all  these  prepara- 
tions, the  West  End  Branch  Library  stands 
ready  to  serve  with  special  exhibits  of 
books  and  photographs  being  especially 
gathered  to  meet  the  call.  Two  members  of 
the  B.P,L.  staff  are  serving  on  The  Ter- 
centenary Libraries  Exhibits  Committee  for 


-5- 


Boston  and  surrounding  areas,  Fanny 
Goldstein  and  Zoltkn  Haraszti. 

RETIREMNTS 

Chester  A,S.  Fazakas 

Congratulations  to  Chester  A.  S, 
Fazakas  upon  his  retirement  from  the 
library  staff  after  fifty-three  years  of 
service.  VJhile  this  time  -was  all  spent 
as  a  member  of  the  Branch  Issue  Depart- 
ment, I.lr  Fazakas'  vfork  took  him  regularly 
to  other  departments  of  the  library, 
Tflhere  he  vri.ll  be  greatly  missed  for  his 
constant  helpfulness,  his  ready  vri.t,  and 
his  outgoing,  generous  spirit.  Few 
members  of  the  staff  would  be  as  generally; 
and  as  sincerely  missed;  and  our  very 
best  vri.shes  go  with  him  as  he  enters  upon 
this  new  phase  of  life,  Yilhile  we  know 
that  Mr  Fazakas '  love  for  the  library 
will  keep  him  from  remaining  away  for 
long  periods  of  time,  we  want  to  express 
the  hope  that  he  mil  never  allovf  him- 
self to  become  a  stranger  among  us. 

Bessie  L.  Doherty 

William  B,   Gallagher 

With  the  retirement  on  September  7  of 
William  B.  Gallagher,  Chief  of  the 
Printing  Department  since  November  19 ,  VJ! 
and  a  member  of  that  Department  since 
November  1,  1926,  the  Boston  Public  Li- 
brary loses  one  of  its  most  versatile 
members .   Bill  is  a  man  of  parts :  a  good 
athlete  in  the  first  quarter  of  the 
century,  a  fine  soldier  in  World  War  I, 
an  active  member  in  the  American  Legion, 
arid  a  first-rate  craftsman  \vhose  technical 
knowledge  and  ability  T/as  vddely  re- 
spected and  whose  cooperation  was  a 
shining  example  for  all. 

Bill  helped  fcund  the  South  Boston 
Athletic  Club  and  ■vms  outstanding  as  a 
fonvard  on  its  basketball  teams  vfhich 
held  high  rank  in  semi-pro  circles.  He 
served  in  the  101st  Infantry  of  the  Yankee 
Division  during  World  War  I  along  vdth  a 
certain  Colonel  Stilwell  later  known  as 
"Vinegar  Joe".  Later,  he  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Sons  of  the  Legion  and 
served  as  president  of  that  organization 
which  vras  devoted  to  Americanization, 
a  subject  very  dear  to  Bill's  heart.  He 
also  served  as  Commander  of  the  Michael 
Perkins  Post,  A.L.  and  of  the  101st 


Infantry  Veterans  Association. 

?Je  vdsh  Bill  the  best  of  luck  on  his 
retirement,  and  hope  that  his  health  v.lll 
improve. 


WILLIAM  A .  SWAN 

On  August  23,  Mr  and  Mrs  William  A, 
Swan  were  the  guests  of  honor  at  a  fare- 
well party  in  Binding.  Bill,  one  of  the 
most  popular  members  of  the  department, 
is  a  veteran  binder,  mth  thirty-seven 
years  of  service  in  the  Library.  After 
a  catered  dinner,  he  was  presented  YJith 
a  substantial  cash  gift  as  a  token  of 
appreciation  from  his  fellow-workers. 

Bill,  alvays  friendly  and  cheerful, 
virill  be  long  remembered  by  his  many 
Library  friends* 


JOSEPH  J.  COMWAY 

The  present  imve  of  retirements  has 
taken  along  Joe  Conway,  a  linotype 
operator  in  Printing  since  March  7,  1927 • 
Joe  Till  be  remembered  as  a  good-natured, 
helpful  and  agreeable  fellovv  who  yjss 
always  the  same  even-tempered  worker. 
We  hope  Joe  enjoys  his  retirement  and 
gets  a  chance  to  see  his  beloved  Red  Sox 
van  a  few  games, 

NEW  BOOKS  IN  THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 
Non-Fiction 

Ausubel,  Nathan.  Pictorial  history  of 

the  Jemsh  people. 

NevT  York,  Crown,  195U 
Bowers,  Claude  G,  My  mission  to  Spain. 

New  York,  Simon  and  Schuster,  V)Sk 
Dean,  Yfilliam  F.  General  Dean's  story. 

Nevj  York,  Vicking  Press,  195U 
Kelly,  Emmett.  Cloim 

New  York,  Prentice-Hall,  195U 
Norv/ay,  Nevil  Shute.  Slide  rule. 

New  York,  llorrow,  19 5U 
Overstreet,  Harry  A.  The  mind  alive, 

NeviT  York,  Norton,  195U 
Tftiite,  William  3.  The  Taft  story. 

New  York,  Harper,  195U 

Non-Fiction — Library  Science 

American  Library  Association.  Proceedings 
of  the  72nd  annual  conference, 
Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 
1953 


-6- 


Eyre,  Frank.  20th  Century  children's 
books . 

Now  York,  London,  Longmans,  Green, 
1952 

Moore,  Anne  C,  ed.  lYriting  and  criticisn. 
Boston,  Horn  Book,  19^1 

Shedlock,  i'hrie  L,  The  art  of  the  story- 
teller. 
Nev/  York,  Dover  Publications,  1952 

Shores,  Louis,  ed.  Challenges  to  li- 
brarians hip. 
Tallahassee,  Florida  State  University, 

1953 
Wallace,  Sarah  L.  Promotion  ideas  for 
public  libraries. 

Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 
1953 

Fiction 

Caldwell,  Taylor,  pseud.  Never  vic- 
torious, never  defeated. 

New  York,  McGraw-Hill,  195U 
Ellsberg,  Edward,  ilid  watch. 

New  York,  Codd,  Mead,  1951^ 
Keyes,  Frances  P.  The  royal  box. 

New  York,  J.  Messner,  195^ 
Sharp,  Margery,  The  gipsy  in  the  parlour. 

Boston,  Little,  Brown,  195ii 
Shirer,  William  L,  Stranger,  come  home, 

Boston,  Little,  Brovm,  1951; 
Smth,  Lillian  E.  The  journey. 

Cleveland,  World  Publishing  Company, 

195U 
Wylie,  Philip.  Tom.orrov;, 
New  York,  Rinehart,  1951 

BRANCH  NOTES 


During  Ifrs  Wollent's  absence,  or  at 
any  time,  the  Staff  Association  through 
the  president  will  be  happy  to  assist 
any  staff  member  who  mshes  to  make  a  do- 
nation of  blood  under  the  City  of  Boston 
Employees  Blood  Program,  or  having  donated, 
wishes  to  be  furnished  with  blood  for 
himself  or  his  family. 


SOAP  BOX 


Connolly 

On  Friday,  September  17,  65  boys  and 
girls  attended  the  annual  party  •'/jhich 
brought  to  a  close  the  Summer  Reading 
Club  activitios.  The  reading  certificates 
which  these  children  have  earned  were 
sent  to  their  schools  for  presentation 
at  assemblies  or  in  the  classroom, 

BLOOD  DONOR  PROGRAM 

The  Red  Cross  Blood  Donor  Center,  31i; 
Dartmouth  Street  (near  Hferlborough) ,  vd.ll 
be  open  to  receive  blood  donations  Tues- 
day and  Thursday  from  2  P.M.  to  8  P.M. 
and  on  Wednesdays  and  Fridays  from  11  A.M 
to  h   P.M.  The  Library  allows  h   hours 
of  excused  absence  to  employees  to  en- 
able thorn  to  donate  blood  under  the  City 
of  Boston  Employees  Blood  Program, 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must 
be  accompanied  by  the  full  name  of  the 
Association  member  submitting  it,  to- 
gether mth  the  name  of  the  Branch  Library, 
Department,  or  Office  in  Tihich  he  or  she 
is  employed.  The  name  is  Tdthhold  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 
appearing  in  the  Soap  Box  are  personal 
opinions  expressed  by  individual  Associa- 
tion members  and  their  appearance  does 
not  necessarily  indicate  that  the  Pub- 
lications Committee  ,and  the  Association 
are  in  agreement  vrith  tho  views  expressed. 
Only  those  contributions  containing  not 
more  than  300  v;ord.s  v/ill  be  accepted. 


To  the  Soap  Box: 


LIBRARY  EMPLOYEES  EXPENDABLE 

With;  the  radio  braodcasts  by  both 
state  and  municipal  authorities  advising 
citizens  to  stay  at  home  and  keep  off 
the  streets  during  the  advent  of  hurricane 
"Edna",  why  T/as  the  Library  kept  open 
vvith  practically  a  full  staff  on  Saturday? 
Surely  someone  had  the  authority  to  close 
the  Library  as  far  as  the  employees  were 
concernedo  There  was  plenty  of  time, 
since  vifarnings  were  being  issued  as  early 
as  Friday  morning. 

Keeping  the  Library  open  as  a  Refuge 
is  one  thingj  keeping  the  Library  open  as 
a  functioning  institution  is  quite  another 
matter.  Practically  tho  only  "refugees" 
.were  the  members  of  the  staff  of  the 
Boston  Public  Library.  Should  not  their 
welfare  have  been  taken  into  consideration 
too?  If  real  disaster  had  occurred  the 
Civil  Defense  personnel  vnould  have  taken 


-7- 


over  anyhow. 

The  same  holds  true  for  the  previous 
hurricane,  "Carol" t  The  Library  should 
not  have  been  open  that  Tuesday  evening, 
September  7.  There  was  no  moon  that 
night  and  no  lights  whatsoever  in  the 
outlying  districts,  feny  employees  who 
were  forced  to  work  until  9  p.m.  had 
considerable  difficulty  in  getting  home, 
stumbling  over  fallen  trees  and  branches 
that  clogged  most  streets. 

Commercial  employers  were  more  con- 
siderate of  their  employees r  Have  the 
Library  officia].s  vrho  work  fro'.  9  to  ^, 
Monday  to  Friday,  no  cons iderr-.v ion  for 
their  employees?  Certainly  durilng  an 
emergency  the  Library  offers  non-essential 
service,  compared  to  hospitals,  etc. 
Library  employees  are  human  too;  or  are 
we  considered  expendable? 

One  of  the  Refugees 

Ed.  note;  The  Saturday  HERALD  reported 
that  at  an  emergency  meeting,  Friday 
evening,  September  10,  Mayor  Hynes  ordered 
city  department  heads  to  give  every 
possible  aid  to  communities.  "He  ordered 
that  all  schools  and  other  public  build- 
ings be  kept  open  today  (Saturday)  to 
'care  for  those  who  -vmnt  to  seek  shelter 
or  safety. '" 


To  the  Soap  Box  Editor: 

UNIFORM  CLOSING  TII-IE  FOR  ECO  NO  LOT, 
EFFICIENCY  and  GOOD  PUFLIC  RELATIOaS 

Might  this  not  be  the  opportune  time 
to  consider  continuing  throughout  the 
year  a  uni.form  closing  time  for  all  open 
departments  in  the  Central  Library 
Building? 

A  uniform  closing  time  of  9  ?.Vi, 
would  not  only  provide  the  jHtrons  with 
better  integrated  and  mere  efficient 
service  but  would  also  afford  an  oppor- 
tunity to  provide  savings  in  the  budget 
and  promote  better  public  relations. 

In  the  past  when  most  departments  have 
closed  at  9  P.M.  and  a  few  stayed  open 
until  10  P.M.,  many  patrons  have  been 
disappointed  vihen   the  materials  or 
services  they  sought  were  not  available 
because  the  department  providing  them 
had  closed  an  hour  before  the  announced 
closing  time  of  the  Library, 

Closing  an  hour  earlier  in  those 
departments  usually  open  until  10  P.M. 


would  allow  those  working  in  the  evening 
to  come  in  an  hour  earlier  and  help  in 
covering  lunch  hours.  This  would  give 
some  relief  to  those  departments  which 
are  shorthanded  because  of  the  "no 
replacement"  policy.  Closing  an  hour 
earlier  would  also  provide  sizeable 
savings  in  the  extra  service  budget  and 
in  heat,  light  and  power  expenses. 

If  the  administration  has  not  already 
decided  on  a  uniform  closing  time  for 
the  Central  Library  Building  would  this 
not  be  a  good  time  to  consider  it  since 
establishine;  a  u.:i;',form  closin.<^  time  of 
9  P.M,  at  this  tjjie  would  continue  the 
ho\irs  of  sei'vice  to  which  tiie  patrons 
have  become  accustomed  during  the  jHst 
four  months? 

PRO  BOND  PUBLICO 


EGLESTON  SQUARE  VIGNETTE 

She  vras  a  dainty  and  self-possessed 
four-and-a-half,  and  she  settled  her- 
self with  a  charming  preciseness  at  the 
picture  books  table. 

"I  have  to  learn  to  read,"  she  an- 
nounced, "because  I'm  going  to  school 
next  year." 

After  a  few  seconds  of  silent  con- 
j  centra tion,  she  closed  the  book  firmly, 
and  made  another  announcement. 

"I've  found  that  the  only  way  to 
read  is  to  have  reading  glasses.  I'm 
going  to  tell  my  mother,"  And  so  saying, 
she  left,  dignity  in  every  stop,  as  she 
went  to  find  her  mother, 

ONE  FOR  THE  BOOK 

The  following  note  was  received  at 
Dorchester,  together  vfith  a  somevirhat 
battered  book: 

Sir: 

In  regarding  the  cover  of  this  book, 
my  cat  j\imp  on  the  couch  and  rip  it.  If 
there  is  any  charge  for  damage  please 
Y>rrite  a  note  and  give  it  to  my  girl.   I'm 
terrible  sorry. 

Mrs  B. 
Note;  The  title  of  the  book  was  "The 

Complete  Book  of  Cat  Care",  Perhaps 
this  should  be  re-read  and  re-evalu- 
ated from  a  cat's  point  of  viev/. 


A.L.A.  MEMBERSHIP  FOR  19% 

I  have   just  received  from  A.L.A,   a 
list  of  those   Boston  members  v;ho  had  not 

paid  their  195U  dues  as  of  July  31,  195U.  \ 

Included  were  the  names  of  28  B.P.L.  staff,  f 

raerabors.     If  there  is  any  doubt  in  your  ♦ 

mind  about  your  status,  won't  you  please  j: 

check  vj-ith  me?  t 

i 

REi\ffiMBER~A.L.A.  still  needs  you  I  ' 

Don't  you  still  need  A.L.A«?  j. 

l 
Sarah  M.   Usher 
A.L.A.  Membership  Committee 


™ 


bestion 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


OCTOBER  1954 


T  i!  E     QUESTION     MARK 
Published  by  the   Boston  Public  Library  Professional  Staff  Association 


Volvime  IX,  Number  10 


October  19^U 


Publications  Committee : 


Gerald  L.  Ball,  John  J.  iicCafferty,  Sheila  Yii.  Pierce, 
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  CORNIER 

?(kny  city  dwellers,  including  Bos- 
tonians,  think  little  of  the  unassuming 
Ailanthus  tree  that  -vd-ll  grow  alm.ost 
anywhere  mthout  coaxing  or  encourage- 
ment. They  see  it  everyi^here:  on  un- 
paved  streets,  in  railroad  yards,  on  the 
fringes  of  parking  lots.  Probably  with~ 
out  realizing  it,  people  have  come  to 
regard  it  as  a  vreed  rather  than  a  treeu 

In  the  library,  however,  these  trees 
hold  a  place  of  honor.  For  at  least 
fifteen  years  they  have  surrounded  the 
courtyard  at  Central.  Though  most  of 
the  Ailanthus  trees  in  Boston  "just 
grov/ed"  and  were  allowed  to  remain,  the 
trees  in  the  courtyard  vrere  purchased 
and  planted.  And  when,  during  the  Sep- 
tember hurricanes,  three  trees  fell, 
m.en  came  mth  ropes  and  lifted  the  trees 
back  into  position,  straightened  their 
roots,  and  encouraged  them  to  grow  again. 

Three  Ailanthus  trees  would  not  have 
been  a  great  loss,  but  it's  pleasant  to 
note  that  the  people  who  run  a  busy  li- 
brary in  its  busiest  season  took  time  out 
to  protect  the  quiet  familiarity  of  the 
courtyard,  to  vrhose  serenity  these  trees 
are  so  well  suited. 

Sheila  W,  Pierce 

CALEIOAR  OF  EVENTS 

October  18,  19,  20.  NELA.  conference. 

New  Ocean  House, 
Swamps CO tt 


YOU 


FERSOimL  KOTES 

Resignations 

Ifetalie  L.  Velardo,  Book  Stack  Service, 

to  be  married. 
Mary  L,  Devolder,  Vest  Roxbury,  to  attend 

Garrett  Biblical  Institute  at  Evanston, 

Illinois • 
¥ts   Flora-Ann  Huffman,  Memorial,  to  move 

to  Nevj-  York* 
Ruth  E.  V.'inn,  Tyler  Street,  to  attend 

Pratt  Institute  Library  School. 
ii,  Henry  Karsh,  Audio-Visual,  to  return 

to  college. 

Transferred 


THERE 


Charlotte  R.  Cooper,  from  North  End  to 

Tyler  Street. 
Helen  A.  Connell,  from  Mattapan  to 

Neponset, 
Its  Phyllis  R.  Kallroan,  from  Phillips 

Brooks  to  South  End, 
Felicia  J,  Langdon,  from  Audio-Visual  to 

Roslindale, 
Irene  lie  Mains,  from  Roslindale  to 

Mattapan. 
Mrs  La\ira  H.  Reyes,  from  South  End  to 

Memorial. 
Albert  J.  Brogna,  from  Central  Charging 

Records  to  Audio-Visual » 
Mrs  Dorothy  B.  Clark,  from  Uphams  Corner 

to  City  Point 
Taimi  Lilja,  from  Codman  Square  to  East 

Boston 
Katherine  T.  Laiiontagne ,  from  School 

Issue  to  Roslindale, 

Retirements 

Catherine  C.  Kelly,  Neponset,  after  33 

years  of  service 
Francis  J,  Gough,  Printing,  after  19 

years  of  service- • 

MILITAHY  SERVICE 
Welcome  Back  1 

John  F,  Collins,  Business  Office 
Frank  J.  Donovan,  Book  Stack  Service 


-2- 


VISITORS 

I'liss  Ko  Siu  '"'ah.  Hong  Kong 

lliss  iiargaret  Ohn-Bvirint,  Rangoon 

THE  SOCIAL  WHIRL 

Testimonial  Dinner  for  William  Fo  Quinn 

In  the  Lecture  Hall  on  the  evening  of 
September  22,  a  testimonial  dinner  in 
honor  of  William  F.  Quinn  was  attended 
by  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  friends 
and  former  co-workers.  The  festive 
occasion  was  the  first  of  its  kind  held 
in  the  Library  since  1901  when  James  L. 
TJhitney,  former  Librarian,  -ms   retired. 

After  an  enjoyable  catered  dinner, 
Master-of -Ceremonies  George  Tf,  Gallagher, 
Binding,  introduced  Lee  M,  Friedman,  Li- 
brary Trustee c  i'r  Friedman,  from  his 
many  contacts  vvlth  Mr  Quinn,  gave  a  very 
fine  tribute  to  the  former  Superintendent 
of  Buildings  for  the  valuable  services 
contributed  during  his  years  of  service, 

Wc   Gallagher  then  introduced  Francis 
B.  Masterson,  former  Library  Trustee, 
and  Milton  E.  Lcrd,  Director,  who  gave 
short  testimonies  in  honor  of  Mr  Quinn, 

Patrick  F.  McDonald,  President  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  ■mho  v;as  vuiable  to 
attend  the  dinner,  sent  a  telegram  of 
congratulation,  Mr  "f'cDonald  thanked  i.ir 
Quinn  for  his  outstanding  service  to  the 
Library  during  his  thirty  years '  tenure , 
and  vj-ished  him  health  and  happiness  in 
the  years  ahead, 

yjc   Quinn  v/as  then  presented  mth  a 
Polaroid  camera  arid  accessories.  He 
gave  a  very  engaging  (and  sometimes 
hum.orous)  speech  of  thanks  and  farewell. 

After  the  dinner,  friends  and  guests 
gathered  around  the  guest  of  honor  to 
present  their  good  vashes. 

Music  was  furnished  by  Frank  Myers • 
Orchestra  during  the  dinner  and  for  the 
dancing  which  took  place  afterwards, 

Chester  A,  S«  Fazakas  Honored  at  Tea 

On  Thursday,  September  thirtieth,  the 
Women's  Lounge  presented  an  especially 
festive  air  y;ith  its  bouquets  of  beauti- 
ful fall  flowers  from  the  gardens  of  I»ir 
and  Jirs  Ronald  Kesv/ickj  its  artistic 
centerpiece,  a  gift  from  Fanny  Goldstein; 
its  gleaming  silver  and  china j  and  its 
trays  of  tempting  cakes  and  cookies. 


The  occasion  was  a  farewell  tea  in 
honor  of  Chester  A.  S,  Fazakas,  v/ho  re- 
tired from  the  Library  in  August  after 
servinp;  fifty-three  years  in  Branch  Issue. 

A  committee  of  three— Bessie  L,  Doherty, 
Fanny  Goldstein,  and  Joseph  A,  Lynch — 
TiTas  in  charge  of  this  pleasant  affair 
and  -mas   most  ably  and  effectively  assisted 
by  the  Branch  Issue  staff.  Pourere 
were:  Anne  Brennan,  Alice  Cray,  M, 
Florence  Cufflin,  l''arion  R,  Herzig,  Mary 
Mo  McDonough,  Minna  Steinberg,  Sarah  M, 
Usher,  and  Elizabeth  L,  ^Jright, 

A  gift  of  money  in  a  handsome  leather 
billfold,  together  vdth  a  beautifully- 
bound  (in  the  BPL's  ovm  Binding  Depart- 
ment I)  leather  book  containing  messages 
from  his  colleagues ,  was  presented  by 
Fanny  Goldstein. 

Library  friends,  both  present  and 
past,  took  advantage  of  this  friendly 
opportunity  to  reminisce  Yfith  the  guest 
of  honor  and  to  wish  him  happiness  in 
the  years  ahead. 

Sarah  M,  Usher 

Farevjell  Luncheon  for  Catherine  C.  Kelly 

Catherine  C,  Kelly,  -vrtio  retired  in 
September,  vras  guest  of  honor  at  a  lun- 
cheon at  the  Salmagundi  Restaurant  on 
Saturday,  October  9, 

Poised  and  attractive,  she  sat  at  the 
head  of  the  festive  table  wearing  the 
lovely  orchid  corsage  which  exactly  matched 
her  pretty  hat  and  virhich  had  been  given 
to  her  by  the  members  of  the  Keponset 
staff.  The  many  friends  who  had  -worked 
with  her  at  Neponset  and  other  branch 
libraries  during  the  busy  thirty-three 
years  she  had  so  graciously  served  her 
grateful  public,  were  gathered  about  her. 

In  honor  of  the  Marian  year,  Madalene 
Holt  presented  Iliss  Kelly  mth  a  beauti- 
ful I'iadonna  on  behalf  of  these  friends. 
The  lovely  figure  of  the  Madonna  had  been 
hand-carved  in  Oberammergau  and  then 
embedded  in  crystal-clear  lucite  with  a 
background  of  Miss  Kelly's  favorite  color, 
blue  • 

Her  many  friends  hope  she  will  enjoy 
all  the  pleasures  and  interesting  ex- 
periences ahead  of  her  in  her  new-found 
leisureo 


-3- 


ALUMME  KOTES 
Seventh  Annual  Alumnae  Tea 

Six  of  the  Branch  Librarians,  EmerituSj 
viho   enthusiastically  accepted  the  invita- 
tion extended  to  them  on  September  19, 
19$3,  by  Edith  Guerrier,  Supervisor  of 
Branch  Libraries,  Emeritus,  to  "come  back 
again  in  195U,"  attended  the  seventh 
annual  alumnae  tea  held  on  September  25, 
1951t.  These  six — Mary  E,  Ames,  M,  Flor- 
ence Cufflin,  I'ts   Sara  Lyon,  Clara  L, 
Maxwell,  Ifergaret  I,  McGovern,  and  Re- 
becca E.  Willis — x^ere   joined  by  three 
Y>;ho  had  been  unable  to  attend  last  year— - 
Mrs  Edith  Hb  Bailey,  Irs  Margaret  C, 
Donaghue,  and  lilary  Mo  Sullivan — and  by 
!,"rs  Ada  A.  Andelman,  Supervisor  in  the 
Division  of  Home  Reading  and  Community 
Services, 

Notes  of  regret  had  com.e  from  those 
who  could  not  attend  because  of  other 
plans  or  absence  from  tovm — Katie  F, 
Albert,  Carrie  L.  Korse,  Mrs  Dorothy  N. 
Pitman,  Katherine  S,  Rogan,  Elizabeth 
P.  Ross,  Geneva  '7atson,  and  Alice  M, 
Jordan,  Supervisor  of  Work  larith  Children, 
Em.eritus, 

It  seemed  also  that  another  valued 
friend  was  missing.  Hurricane  "Carol" 
had  blovm  dorm  the  enormous  shade  tree 
around  which  the  Pottery  buildings  had 
formed  a  horseshoe  and  which  ha.d  reigned 
over  these  buildings  and  their  occupants 
in  a  most  friendly  and  protective  manner 
for  many,  many  years. 

The  weatherman  produced  one  shower 
unscheduled  by  the  hostess  but  con- 
veniently arranged  for  it  to  fall  at  a 
time  v/hen  it  did  not  interfere  with  the 
festivities ,  for  the  guests  were  deeply 
engrossed  in  exchanging  reminiscences, 
in  catching  up  on  the  happenings  of  their 
members  in  the  past  year,  and  in  viemng 
the  beautiful  colored  slides  taken  by 
Virginia  Haviland  on  her  most  recent 
trip  to  Europe e 

The  sam.e  group  which  has  com.e  to  be 
identified  as  "caterers"  at  these  annual 
teas  was  present  again,  but  vrithout  its 
former  inspiration,  Dorothy  Pitman,  whose 
leadership  v/as  truly  missed.  The  climax 
of  the  tea  came  with  the  group  sine'ing 
"Happy  Birthday  to  you"  as  I'.Iiss  Guerrier 
blew  out  the  candles  which  spelled  8U  on 
her  birthday  cake. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  in  the  minds 
of  those  i-rho  attend  tJiese-  functions  that 


the  alumnae  tea  is  one  of  the  happiest 
traditions  v,;hich  has  grown  up  in  the 
Boston  Public  Library. 

Sarah  M,  Usher 

Greetings  from  Abe  Kalish 

Eicerpt  from  a  recent  letter  from  Abe 
Kalish;  "I  am  now  in  the  Features  Section 
of  the  United  States  Information  Agency, 
1778  Pennsylvania  Avenue,  tvro  blocks 
from  the  White  House.  I  wish  visitors 
from  the  BFL  to  Washington  would  at  least 
ring  me  at  the  office  and  say  'Hello'. 
The  telephone  is  RE-7-83i|0,  extension 
2260," 

Henry  J,  Gartland  Named  Chief  VA  Librarian 

Henry  J.  Gartland  has  been  appointed 
chief  librarian  of  the  Veterans  Ad- 
ministration Library  Service  in  Washington, 
D,C. 

Fr  Gartland,  who  joined  the  V,A.  in 
I9I1.6  as  chief  librarian  of  the  fonner 
branch  office  in  Boston,  replaces  Fester 
Mohrhardt,  who  has  been  appointed  director 
of  the  library  of  the  United  States 
Departm.ent  of  Agriculture, 

Before  V'orld  YJar  II,  Fr  Gartland  was 
employed  for  five  years  by  the  Boston 
Public  Library.  He  is  fonner  president 
of  Boston  Chapter,  Special  Libraries 
Association,  and  past  president  of  the 
hospital  libraries  division  of  the 
American  Library  Association, 

BOWLING  LEAGUE  SEASON  OPENS 

FolloiTing  five  successful  years,  the 
BoTifling  League  has  begun  its  sixth  season 
mth  high  hope  for  the  months  ahead, 
Anne  Doherty  continues  to  have  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  only  player  from 
Branch  Libraries,  A  most  cordial  in- 
vitation is  extended  to  all— full-time 
and  part-tim£ — to  join  the  League,  In 
fact,  at  least  six  more  participants  are 
badly  needed,  VJon't  you  join?  See 
Jack  Kyle,  Stock  and  Supplies,  Hurry  I 
Hurry  I 


CARE 


Did  you  put  a  coin  in  the  CARE  box 
recently?  Remember  CARE  needs  you  as 
much  as  others  need  CARE, 


-h- 


IN  tffilORIAM 

Garrett  Lacey 

Garrett  Lacey,  retired  msmber  of 
Buildings,  died  suddenly  last  Thursday 
at  the  Savin  Hill  kTA  station  while  on 
the  -may  to  a  sporting  event.  Garrett, 
v»ho  retired  in  1939  after  3S   years  of 
service,  was  the  type  v/ho  never  seemed 
to  grow  old.  Mo  one  meeting  him  would 
believe  that  he  was  85  years  of  agej 
rather  they  might  :;-uess  that  he  vras  not 
yet  out  of  his  ItO's.  -He  was  universally 
liked  because  of  his  friendly,  agreeable 
manner J  loyally  attended  every  library 
function;  and  was  ever  ¥/illing  to  oblige 
a  friend,  even  to  the  extent  of  in- 
convenience to  himself.  His  funeral 
service  on  Columbus  Day  was  attended  by 
many  of  his  friends  from  the  library 
staff, 

PRESIDENT'S  KDTES 

The  Executive  Board  at  its  meeting 
on  20  September  considered  some  addi- 
tional personnel  questions  and  decided 
to  refer  to  the  Special  Committee  on 
Personnel  for  investigation  and  recom- 
mendation the  following  questions  j 

1.  Payment  for  Library  Examinations 
as  Compared  i/dth  Payments  for 
Certification  for  Courses  Completed 
in  Library  School  or  Other  Colleges 
or  Universities© 

2.  Delays  in  Liaking  Promotional 
Appointments, 

3.  Pay  Scales  for  Assistants-in- 
Charge» 

I  am  sure  that  the  Personnel  Committee 
would  welcom.e  information  and  constructive 
suggestions  on  these  problems  as  well  as 
on  those  problems  and  recommendations 
included  in  its  preliminary  report  issued 
last  May, 

Be  Joseph  0 'Neil 

AMERICAN  HERITAGE  PP.OJECT 

The  American  Heritage  Project  for  the 
regional  Boston  area  vras  launched  on 
Monday,  October  U-,'V'ri.th  an  introduction 
of  Heritage  goals  by  Nell  Scott,  Director 
of  the  American  Heritage  Project  of  the 
American  Library  Association  and  by  Jane 
Ellstrom,  Young  Adylt  Specialist,  Brief 
talks  by  the  two  visitors  from  A,L,A» 


Headquarters  preceded  a  tea  in  the  Staff 
Lounge,  Guests  were  the  head  librarians 
from  the  five  greater  Boston  libraries 
which  are  cooperating  in  the  discussion 
series-rArlington,  Boston,  Erookline, 
Medford,  and  Quincyo 

The  American  Heritage  Project  en- 
courages groups  of  approximately  twenty 
young  adults  to  meet  in  libraries  and 
discuss  their  convictions  about  the 
United  States — past,  present,  and  future, 
A  grant  from  the  Fund  for  Adult  Educar 
tion  aids  libraries  to  supply  books  and 
films  which  will  present  issues  for  such 
discussion.  It  is  emphasized  that  the 
young  adults  be  an  out-of -school  group, 
one  of  the  most  difficult  age  groups  to 
reach  in  the  community. 

The  discussion  programs  will  begin  in 
the  various  libraries  during  the  weeks 
of  October  18  and  25.  Prior  to  that  time, 
Miss  Ellstrom  is  offering  intensive 
practice  in  discussion  and  leadership 
techniques  to  the  librarians  and  young 
adult  co-leaders  who  virill  sponsor  groups o 

As  a  final  aim  for  the  Project,  li- 
brarians hope  for  a  greater  knowledge  of 
young  adults— ways  of  reaching  them  and 
encoura'5;ing  their  civic  participation — 
and  for  a  mere  responsible  young  adult 
citizenry, 

Jane  Manthome,  vfho  is  serving  as 
regional  director,  reports  a  heartening 
response  to  initial  recruiting  efforts. 
Already,  a  lawyer,  a  social  worker,  a 
construction  laborer,  a  chemist,  and  a 
messenger  are  numbered  among  the  partici- 
pants o 

BLOOD  DONOR  PROffllAIiJ 

There  are  many  motives  -which  persons 
may  have  for  donating  blood  to  the  Red 
Cross,  It  may  be  patriotism,  a  desire 
to  help  the  men  in  the  armed  forces  who 
ttay  need  blood j  it  may   be  humanitarianism, 
a  desire  to  help  fellow  humans  who  need 
blood  because  of  serious  illness  or 
accident  J  it  may  be  to  provide  insurance 
so  that  an  individual  may  be  assured  that 
he  and  his  family  mil  have  blood  im- 
mediately without  cost  if  the  need  arises. 
It  may  be  all  or  any  combination  of  these 
motives.  But  of  those  of  us  who  have 
these  motives ,  hovf  many  do  not  give ,  m^erely 
because  of  procrastination? 

Don't  delay  any  longer,  make  a  date  today 
jto  give  a  donation  of  blood  throurh  the  City 
lof  Boston  Employees  Blood  Donor  Program. 
Call  Its  V^ollent  at  Extension  2i^Ii, 


RETIIlEIErlTS 
William  Fe  Quinn 


-5- 


As  a  friend  and  associate  of  William 
F,  Quinn,  I  am  delighted  at  the  op- 
portunity afforded  me  by  the  Question 
Mark  to  v/rite  a  fev;  T;ords  about  him. 
¥iT   Quinn  served  as  Superintendent  of 
Buildings  from  May  19,  192U,  to  August  11, 
195U,  when  he  rras  made  Superintendent  of 
Buildings ,  Emeritus . 

When  I  came  to  the  Library  in  Sep- 
tember 1929,  the  late  Charles  F.D,  Belden, 
then  Director  of  the  Library,  took  me 
about  the  building  and  introduced  me  to 
the  Department  Heads,  Just  before  vre 
reached  ]l']r  Quinn 's  office  Iv'r  Belden  said 
to  me  that  I  \Tould  find  I-i"  Quinn  one  of 
the  most  capable  and  helpful  men  in  the 
Library*  In  the  intervening  years  this 
characterization  of  lir  Quinn  became 
clearer  and  clearer  as  ray  daily  contacts 
•with  him  increased. 

It  is  difficult  to  speak  of  this  man 
of  so  irany  attributes  and  capabilities o 
First  it  must  be  said  that  he  is  a  devout 
Christian  gentleman,  a  man  of  high  honor, 
integrity  and  dependability.  United  with 
these  virtues  he  has  a  calm,  quiet  dis- 
position, with  an  uncanny  knack  for 
getting  along  well  idth  other  people 
with  wide  variations  in  temperament. 

It-   Quinn  has  an  algrt,  inquiring  mind 
associated  vdth  the  qualities  of  astute- 
ness and  intuition.  He  possesses  to  a 
high  degree  creative  ability  and  the 
faculty  of  looking  beyond  the  surface  and 
deep  v;ithin  the  heart  of  things.  Time 
and  again  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties 
he  demonstrated  ability  to  organize  plans 
and  work  out  difficult  situations  with 
unruffled  and  outward  seeming  ease.  He 
is  vrell  versed  in  building,  engineering, 
and  other  technical  matters.  He  holds 
first  class  licences  from  the  Commonvrealth 
of  Massachusetts  in  the  fields  of  his 
competencies e 

The  life  of  William  F.  Quinn  is  filled 
with  a  wealth  of  associations  and  ex- 
periences, some  of  them  prosaic,  others 
interesting,  many  of  them  happy  ones. 
Their  range  and  scope  are  too  numerous 
to  recount  here,  A  few  will  suffice* 

During  World  War  I  Mr  Quinn  saw 
service  as  an  Engineer  Officer  in  the 
United  States  Navy,  with  assignment  to  a 
mine  sv;eeper.  His  navy  assignment  led 
him  overseas,  with  action  in  the  English 
Channel  and  in  the  Mediterranean  Sea»  It 
is  a  pleasure  and  a  rare  privilege  to  hear 


him  occasionally  recount  some  of  the 
incidents  in  his  naval  career.  An  • 
audience  with  His  Holiness  the  Fope, 
a  breathtaking  view  of  a  picturesque 
seaport,  quaint  customs  observed  in 
strange  lands,  and  many  other  vivid  things, 
are  clear  in  his  mind's  eye.  They  take 
shape,  come  a  live  and  exist  again  when 
he  speaks  of  them  among  friends© 

The  greatest  tribute  that  can  be  paid 
a  man  is  the  measure  of  friendship, 
loyalty  and  affection  that  those  as- 
sociated with  a  man  bear  for  himo  It 
may  be  said  simply  that  Mr  Quinn  is 
held  in  high  esteem  by  those  who  vrorked 
for  him  and  by  his  friends*  A  man  may 
be  modest  in  material  ireans  and  yet  be 
wealthy  in  the  higher  values  when  he  is 
held  in  such  regard  by  his  fellow  men. 

Although  i'ir  Quinn  has  left  the  active 
service  of  the  Library,  his  influence 
will  endure  in  everything  he  touched 
here.  He  goes  forth  to  new-found 
opportunities  with  the  leisure  time  to 
develop  them  and  to  enjoy  the  ever-fresh 
fruits  of  these  accomplishments.  He  has 
not  alone  the  rewards  and  satisfactions 
of  his  technical  competence  to  enjoy  now, 
but  he  b-as  also  the  leisure  for  the 
exercise  of  his  interests  in  music,  the 
stage,  literature,  public  affairs  and  in 
his  fellow  man,  the  latter  especially 
having  made  his  life  so  rich  in  past 
years. 

"QUAICO  ULLUM  INVENIET  FARmi?" 

Richard  G,  Hensley 
Catherine  C,  Kelly 

On  September  30,  19$li,  Catherine  C. 
Kelly  retired  from  the  Boston  Public 
Library  after  33  years  of  service* 

Neponset  patrons  mil  miss  her,  where, 
in  spite  of  the  fine  branch  librarians 
under  vAom  she  served.  Miss  Kelly  was 
always  sought  out.  Her  gracious  manner 
and  her  calm  disposition  endeared  her  to 
all  who  came  either  for  books  or  advice. 

Although  one  thinks  of  her  always  in 
terms  of  Neponset,  she  served  her 
apprentice  years  there,  Tras  later  trans- 
ferred to  ilemorial,  and  then  to  Paj-ker 
Hill,  \;here  she  remained  until  a  dire 
need  at  Neponset  necessitated  her  return. 

Miss  Kelly  sav/  many  changes  in  staff 
during  her  years  of  service  and  form.ed 
many  lasting  friendships  therefrom.  All 
of  these  friends  join  in  hoping  that  rrLth 


-b- 


her  increased  leisure  she  can  devote 
more  tiir.e  to  the  things  that  are  dear 
to  her  heart — to  travel^  to  doing  kind 
things  for  the  aged,  and  to  comrcunity 
projects, 

Beatrice  Mo  Flanagan 

Francis  Gough 

Frank  Gough,  Printing,  retired  on 
October  5  after  nearly  tyrenty  years  of 
service,  'Je  will  always  remember  Frank 
as  a  very  capable,  conscientious  worker 
Y;ho  enjoyed  his  big  press,  knew  its 
possibilities,  and  turned  out  some  very 
fine  examples  of  the  printer's  art. 
The  good  \'vishes  of  his  library  friends 
go  \vith  him  I 

THE  STAFF  IN  PRINT 

The  latest  volume  of  the  Jei/ish  Book 
Council  of  America,  Volvime  12,  1953- 
1955,  is  completely  dedicated  to  the 
Tercentenary  of  the  Settlement  of  the 
Jews  in  America,  Tvro  BPL  people  have 
made  contributions  to  this  volume i  Lee 
M.  Friedman,  Trustee,  discusses  American 
Jevdsh  Literary  Firsts,  and  Fanny 
Goldstein,  Curator  of  Judaica,  has  con- 
tributed a  study  entitled  American 
Jeiivish  Juvenile  Books. 


The  lith  edition  of  Famy  Goldstein's 
bibliographic  study  The  Jewish  Child 
in  Bookland  has  just  been  published  by 
the  Jewish  Book  Council  of  America, 

BEST  WISHES  FOR  A  SPEEDY  RECOVERY 

Rebecca  idllrceister,  virho  met  with  an 
accident  early  in  September  and  has 
been  confined  to  the  hospital^  is  now 
back  at  home.  Vfe  wish  her  a  speedy 
recovery,  for  she  is  raring  to  return 
to  work. at  West  End, 

CATHDLIC  LIER/VRY  ASSOCIATION 
I'.5EETS  AT  FORTIAND 


On  Ocjbober  2,  some  fifty  m.embers  of 
the  Association  attended  the  Annual  Out- 
of-ToiTn  meeting  of  the  New  England  Unit, 
this  year  at  the  Chevems  High  School 
in  Portland,  John  Hallahan,  Open  Shelf, 
Tra.s  in  charge  of  arrangements. 

The  meeting,  under  the  general  direc- 


tion of  ilary  Alice  Rea,  Book  Purchasing, 
was  conducted  by  Thomas  V,  Reiners, 
ChairmaUcj  Rev,  Francis  J,  Gilday,  S,J,, 
Principal  of  the  school,  greeted  the 
members  and  Rev,  Nicholas  J.  i"fcNeil,  S.J., 
Librarian,  introduced  the  speakers. 
Sister  iiargaret  Mary,  Librarian  of  the 
College  of  Our  Lady  of  i'ercy,  Portland, 
lectured  on  Laura  E,  Richards ,  Creator 
of  Idylls  and  Ideas.  An  exhibit  of  Ivirs 
Richard's  books,  lent  by  the  Portland 
Public  Library,  brought  back  for  many  of 
the  members  memories  of  the  Three  Margarets j 
Hildegarde  series,  and  Captain  January, 

Bishop  Healy  was  the  subject  presented 
by  Rev.  Robert  A.  Hevfitt,  S.J,,  Rector. 
Bishop  Healy  is  of  particular  interest  to 
Bostonians  as  he  Tras  at  one  tim.e  attached 
to  the  Cathedral  of  the  Holy  Cross-  and 
asscc  iated  with  the  Home  for  Catholic 
Childreno  All  present  now  have  an  added 
incentive  to  read  the  nevi  book  about  the 
Bishop o 

A  chcraL  reading  of  Book  VII  of 
Chesterton's  Ballad  of  the  White  Horse 
was  received  enthusiastically.  A  huge 
amount  of  time  and  effort  must  have  been 
expended  on  this  project  and  the  teachers 
and  boys  are  to  be  congratulated  on  the 
excellent  rendition. 

The  graciousness  of  Father  I'cNeil  and  - 
Mrs  laPierre,  the  Librarians  of  Cheverus, 
the  luncheon  served  by  the  Parents 
Association,  the  friendly  spirit  of  the 
members  from  Maine,  the  enjoyable  bus 
ride,  all  served  to  make  the  Portland 
meeting  an  outstanding  occasion, 

AeLo  lanning 

RECENT  MATERIAL  OF 
PROFESSIONAL  INTEREST 

Muller,  Robert  H.  "A  Program  for  Staff 
Reading,"  College  and  Research  Libraries 
XIV  (July  1953),  ppo235-239. 

Robert  H.  Muller,  director  of  li- 
braries at  Southern  Illinois  University 
believes  "well-read  librarians"  are 
becoming  rarities  in  the  profession. 
Quite  frankly  he  admits  the  possibility 
that  this  situation  has  arisen  from  the 
rather  universal  policy  of  prohibiting 
any  protracted  reading  by  the  staff  on 
library  time.  He  does  not  consider 
virging  librarians  to  do  more  reading  at 
home  very  fruitful,  for  leisure-hour 
reading  usually  is  done  more  for  pleasure 
than  for  supplementing  one's  work. 


Mr   Kuller  suggests  a  type  of  staff 
reading  program  "vhich  could  be  estab- 
lished in  libraries.  Such  a  program  wouLdi 
exist  only  for  the  professional  staff,  and| 
no  distinction  vrould  be  made  between  thcsej 
Tj-ho  work  mth  the  public  and  those  who   j 
work  on  technical  processing.  One-fourth 
of  a  Tfork  week  v;ould  be  set  aside  for    | 
reading.  The  reading  i/ould  be  done  un-   | 
disturbed  in  a  room  set  apart  fcr  the 
purpose.  Either  a  reading  specialist 
or  a  committee  of  staff  members,  "top- 
ranking"  staff  members,  vrould  select  the 
books  to  be  readj  the  basis  of  selection 
would  be  the  actiial  reading  interests 
and  desirable  interests  of  library  users. 

The  immediate  problem  facing  a  library 
administrator  who  would  like  to  establish 
such  a  reading  program  is  the  cost,  Mr 
Kuller  decided  that  one-fourth  of  the 
staff's  work  v;eek  is  the  minimum  time  to 
be  set  aside  for  consecutive  reading,  if 
the  program  is  to  be  effective.  Accord- 
ing to  Kuller »s  estimates,  to  set  aside 
this  amount  of  time  requires  either  a 
curtailment  of  the  general  v^rork  program 
of  a  library  or  an  increase  in  staff. 

On  the  basis  of  a  UO  hour  work  week, 
two  hours  a  day  vrould  be  set  aside  for 
each  individual's  reading.  In  the  average 
work  year  of  li8  vreeks,  U80  hours  vfouM 
be  -spent  in  reading.  At  a  reading  rate 
of  1|0  pages  an  hour  for  fiction,  the 
average  work  of  fiction  having  UCO  pages 
could  be  read  in  10  hours  and  ItB  books 
of  fiction  could  be  finished  in  a  year. 
Between  30  and  35  nonf iction  books  could 
be  read  in  a  year.  From  a  sele  ction  of 
fiction  and  nonfiction  an  average  of  I4O 
books  a  year  could  be  read,  A  staff  of 
eight  librarians  could  cover  320  different 
books  each  year. 

Fir  Muller  claims  that  the  "conscien- 
tious individual  librarian"  could  read 
another  60  books  a  year  on  his  ovra  time; 
such  a  person  also  participating  in  a 
staff  reading  prc^iiram  v/ould  then  have 
finished  100  books  in  one  year.  The 
figure  of  60  books  on  one's  ovm  time  is 
based  on  estimates  made  by  Eean  Burchard 
of  H.I.T, 

In  this  reading  program  vrhich  stresses 
quantity  of  books  it  is  assumed  that  books 
vTill  be  read  carefully  and  adequately  com- 
prehended. Selecting  relevant  titles 
from  the  plethora  of  annual  jpublications 
for  this  staff  reading  program  vri.ll  always 
be  a  challenge.  Since  the  program  will 
cost  the  library  C'9li2  per  librarian  per 


year,  or  $2395?  per  book  read  (according 
to  Vr   I/Iuller's  figures  based  on  an 
average  yearly  salary  of  $3,768).,l'ic 
Iiuller  states  the  advisability  of 
defending  the  high  cost  by  having  books 
selected  "according  to  a  clearly  formu- 
lated policy  appropriate  to  the  library 
in  question," 

It  hardly  seems  necessary  to  record 
here  vdiat  J.Ir  Kuller  considers  the 
benefits  of  such  a  reading  program; 
among  the  benefits  he  lists  are  the 
improvement  of  service  to  the  public  and 
an  increase  of  staff  competence, 

Eurton,  Howard  A,  "Maximum  Benefits  from 
a  Program  for  Staff  Reading,"  College 
and  Research  Libraries  XV  (July  195ii), 
pp.  277-280. 

In  this  article  Hovrard  A,  Burton, 
instructor  in  "Lnglish  at  Purdue  University, 
urges  libraries  to  adopt  a  program  of 
developm.ental  reading  for  their  staff, 
A  developmental  reading  program  is  aimed 
at  improving  reading  speeds .  He  writes  : 
"In  the  improvement  of  reading  speeds, 
I  believe,  lies  the  answer  to  the  pro- 
blem of  finding  time  to  be  well  read," 

The  basis  of  Ifr  Burton's  enthusiasm 
for  developmental  reading  is  his  belief 
that  "rapid  reading  is  good  reading,  and 
slov/  reading  is  poor  reading,"  The 
evidence  for  such  belief,  I.r  Burton 
claims,  is  in  the  results  of  a  develop- 
mental reading  program  conducted  at 
Purdue  University  for  four  years.  At 
Purdue  University  6O8  students  in  the 
program  in  the  fall  semester  of  1953 
had  at  the  start  an  average  reading  speed 
of  222  vrords  per  minute,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  program  had  developed  a 
speed  of  ij.57  words  per  minute,  an  improve- 
ment of  106  percent.  Comprehension  of 
material  read  at  the  start  of  the  program 
vras  58  percent;  at  the  close,  comprehension 
of  similar  material  was  70  percent. 

The  beneficial  effect  of  more  rapid 
reading  upon  comprehension  of  material 
read  is  the  important  point  of  the  vJhole 
program,  ¥r   Eurton  emphasizes  that  an 
understanding  of  ideas  is  the  purpose 
in  reading,  not  a  race  in  reading  speeds, 
A  reader  absorbing  facts  and  ideas  at 
top  speed  has  a  heightening  of  concentra- 
tion and  a  lessening  of  susceptibility 
to  distractions. 

How  such  a  program  worked  at  Purdue 
University  and  vtiat  results  vrere  gathered 
is  contained  in  two  articles  reviewed  belov/. 


-8- 


Howard  Burton  indicates  in  his  article 
that  the  developmental  reading  program 
can  help  libraries  that  adopt  the  staff 
reading  program  proposed  by  Robert  H. 
Kuller  in  the  article  reviewed  above.  If 
the  staff  is  first  trained  to  improve 
their  reading  speed,  the  cost  of  a  book 
read  can  be  reduced  by  half »  V/here 
Jfuller's  program  calls  for  tvro  hours 
daily  reading  by  a  staff  member  on  li- 
brary time,  it  can  be  expected  that  this 
daily  reading  can  be  reduced  to  one  hour 
after  the  staff  have  doubled  their 
reading  capacity  by  means  of  develop- 
mental readings 

Most  libraries  have  no  access  to  an 
established  program  of  developmental 
reading  such  as  the  course  offered  at 
Purdue,  Mr  Burton  advises  libraries  to 
appoint  a  member  of  the  staff  to  in- 
vestigate the  procedure  and  make  rec- 
ommendations for  training  facilities  for 
improvement  of  reading  skills  for  the 
staff  on  an  individual  rather  than  a 
class  basis* 

A  room  for  on-the-job  reading  may  be 
set  aside  as  ¥ir   I'Ailler  sufigests.  This 
room  .should  be  equipped  i.dth  a  pacer 
(described  in  the  articles  reviewed 
belov/)  and  instruction  books  such  as 
Norman  Lewis'  Rem  to  Read  Better  and 
Faster  and  iiarvin  Clock's  The  Improve- 
ment of  College  Reading »  A  staff  member 
will  for  the  first  fev/  days  familiarize 
himself  m.th   the  principles  and  methods 
of  reading  improvement  and  with  the 
operation  of  the  pacer.  He  should  set 
the  pacer  at  a  slightly  too  fast  speed 
and  try  each  day  to  increase  speed  by 
five  to  ten  percent.  After  a  fev/  vreeks 
he  m.ay  begin  to  read  the  books  assigned  to 
him  on  the  staff  reading  orogram  with  the 
pacer,  A  fevr  minutes  each  %veek  he  can 
use  a  book,  such  as  Perr3'-  and  V.'hitlock's 
Selection  for  Improving  Speed  of  Com- 
prehension, which  gives  reading  time 
for  the  selections  included  and  checks 
for  comprehension  of  the  material  read* 
These  weekly  exercises  will  serve  as  a 
gauge  of  the  developmental  progress  made* 
Ifir   Burton  believes  that  reasonable  ap- 
plication to  this  program  vn.ll  soon  en- 
able a  person  to  read  in  one  hour  materia] 
which  formerly  required  trro  or  three 
hours. 


Cosper,  Russell,  and  Barriss  Mills, 
^'Developmental  Reading  at  Purdue," 
Journal  of  Highter  Education  XXIV  (May 
1953),  pp.  258-262.  Kinne,  Si-nest  17, 
"Reading  Improvements  for  Adults," 
College  English  XV  (January  195U), 
pp.  222-22B. 

Purdue  University  has  recently  been 
offering  a  Developmental  Reading  course. 
The  coiArse  is  given  for  normal  readers 
and  aim.s  to  improve  basic  reading  skills 
of  average  and  superior  readers.  It 
is  not  a  course  in  remedial  reading  for 
handicapped  readers.  The  course  lasts 
fifteen  weeks,  two  hours  a  week. 

On  the  basis  of  tests  given  to  students 
who  took  the  course  and  students  who 
did  not,  it  has  been  shoTm  at  Purdue  that 
reading  speed  can  be  increased  and  that 
at  the  same  time  an  imporvement  in  com- 
prehension of  books  read  can  be  effected. 
It  is  believed  at  Purdue  that  reading  as 
a  skill  should  be  taught  all  along  the 
line.  Secondary  schools  should  do  much 
more  -with  reading,  but  so  shoxild  the 
colleges.  According  to  Cosper  and  Mills, 
Tri-thout  direct  training  in  reading  only 
a  very  few  students  increase  their  speed 
and  efficiency  after  leaving  the  sixth 
or  seventh  grade.  The  course  in  develop- 
mental reading  given  in  extension  classes 
and  in  adult  education  classes  has  pro- 
duced results  which  indicate,  in  a 
general  way,  that  older  a dults  respond 
Bomev/hat  more  slowly  in  gains  in  speed, 
but  have  a  slight  advantage  in  comprehen- 
sion over  young  college  students,  Ernest 
Kinne  emphasizes  the  fact  that  the  pro- 
gram of  developmental  reading  should  not 
be  restricted  to  college  students.  At 
Purdue  they  have  found  that  age  does  not 
materially  influence  reading  achievement. 

In  the  first  week  of  the  course  two 
tests  of  reading  skills  are  given,  the 
Triggs  Test  and  the  Harvard  Reading  Test, 
In  the  final  vreek  of  the  course  similar 
tests  are  given  vilth   more  difficult 
material  to  check  individual  gains  in 
reading  speed  and  comprehension,  Din-ing 
the  intervening  iveeks  reading  films  dis- 
tributed by  Harvard  University  Press  are 
used.  The  reading  films  are  a  series  of 
sixteen  short  reading  selections.  The 
first  selection  is  sho^vn  at  lov:  speed  of 
about  180  words  a  minute  and  allows  the 
reader  five  fixations  a  line.  The  last 
film  is  shown  at  a  greatly  increased  speed 
of  100  words  a  minute  and  allows  for  only 
two  fixations  a  line.  Comprehension  checks 


-9- 


accompany  each  film. 

Along  vdth  the  films  thei-e  is  used  each 
v;eek  a'  s>-'ort  essay  from  Perry  and  TVhit- 
lock's  Selections  for  Improving  Speed  of 
Comprehension»  The  selections  in  that 
collection  are  timed  and  provided  with 
comprehension  tests.  Selections  cover 
such  difficult  authors  as  John  Stuart 
Mill  and  '''alter  Lippmanno 

Another  instrument  used  in  the  course 
at  Purdue  is  the  accelerator,  or  pacerc 
This  machine  is  a  bookholder  equipped 
with  a  shutter  v:hich  descends  over  the 
pa:^e  at  a  predetermined  rateo  Books  and 
mai^azines  to  te  used  v.dth  this  machine 
are  previousely  rated  for  difficulty 
of  vocabulary  and  sentence  structure  and 
are  graduated  in  words  per  minute  for 
the  reading  accelerator.  At  first  the 
machine  is  adjusted  to  the  reading  rate 
of  the  individual,  previously  determined 
by  the  Triggs  Test  and  Harvard  Teste 
Students  are  encouraged  to  increase  their 
reading  rate  on  the  accelerator  each 
vreek.  By  the  end  of  the  sem.ester  many 
students  have  doubled  their  reading  rate 
vdthout  loss  of  comprehension., 

Paul  Ve  Moynihan 

THANK  IDUL 

October  12,  19$h 

To  all  Staff  members.  Central  and  Branchss, 

Through  the  m.edium  of  this  note  I 
assure  each  one  of  you  of  my  deep  ap- 
preciation and  sincere  r^ratitude  for  that 
excellent  "send  off"  vi  th  which  you  saw 
fit  to  honor  me.  The_  party,  ivith  its 
ettendant  gift,  were  both  acceptable  and 
affecting,   I  can  not,  hcavever,  refrain 
from  saying  that  equally  acceptable  and 
affecting,  vras  the  beauty  of  the  thought 
behind  your  kindly  act. 

Words  are  frequently  useless  to  ex- 
press our  innermost  thour-hts.  Perhaps, 
the  poet  previsioned  my  inability  to 
form  fitting  words  for  this  occasion: 
"Fond  memory  brings  the  light  of  other 
days  around  meo" 

Yes,  "meirory",  I  shall  always  cherish 
the  memory  of  this  joyous  occasion  until 
my  dying  day,  at  which  time  it  will  be  a 
grave  occasion.  God  bless  you  all. 

Sincerely  yours, 
(Signed)     CHESTER  A.  S.  FAZAKAS 


EXCHANGE  EXHIBIT  OPMIKG 

On  Thursday  afternoon  the  Exchange 
Exhibition  of  Contemporary  Italian 
Prints  vias   formally  inaugurated  in  the 
Albert  H.  Y^iggin  Gallery,  The  ceremony 
.began  \r±th   talks  by  Milton  Ee  Lord, 
Director,  Patrick  F<,  IlcDonald,  President 
of  the  Trustees,  Dr  Giovanni  Formichella, 
Italian  Consul  General,  and  Arthur  W» 
Heintzelman,  Keeper  of  Prints c  Tlie 
affair  v/as  attended  by  a  large  and 
enthusiastic  group  which  included  many 
prominent  Italo-Americans  and  a  number 
of  Branch  Librarians  and  Chiefs  of  Depart- 
ments e 

Refreshments  were  served  in  the  main 
Wiggin  Gallery  \'vhich  vras  attractively 
arrai  ged  for  this  occasion. 

This  is  the  first  comprehensive  ex- 
hibition of  present"day  Italian  prints 
to  be  shown  in  America.  The  exhibition 
T/ill  continue  here  through  November  30, 
after  which  it  will  travel  to  a  number 
of  fflisexims  and  art  centers  in  various 
parts  of  the  United  States. 

Paul  Swenson 

CIVIL  DEFEI\ISE 

The  Civil  Defense  Planning  Committee 
held  its  first  meeting  of  the  season 
October  11;  in  the  Preview  Room  at  Central c 
Its  morning's  business  was  the  previewing 
of  five  Civil  Defense  films  so  that  it 
would  be  in  a  position  to  recommend  pos- 
sible purchase  for  the  Library's  collec- 
tiono 

Three  British  films  were  shown  first: 
Waking  Point,  Five  Stages  of  Rescue,  and 
The  Atomic  Bomb;  Its  Effects  and  HoYiT  to 
Meet  Themo 

Tito  American  films  shown  were:  The 
House  in  the  Mddle  and  Rescue  Streetp 

For  this  particular  meeting,  the  Com- 
mittee was  joined  by  two  representatives 
from  the  City  of  Boston  Civil  Defense 
Department  and  by  key  Civil  Defense  per- 
sonnel in  the  Central  Library  building. 

Consideration  is  being  given  by  the 
Planning  Committee  to  the  possibility  of 
another  series  of  First  Aid  Classes o 

Sarah  M.  Usher 


lE^'I  BOOKS   TN  THE  STivFF   LIrRARY 


Non-Fiction 


This  is  Norman 


Erokenshire,    Norman, 

Broke nshire, 

Ne\7  York,  D.  l:cKay  Coo,   19?U- 
Dior,  Christian,     Talking  about  fashion, 

Nev/  York,  Putnam,  19Sh 
Dudley,  Owen  F,     Last  crescendo. 

New  York,  Longmans,  Green,  19 $U 
Early,  Eleanor.     New  England  cookbook. 

IJew  York,  Random  House,  19Sh 
Fowler,  Gene.     Minutes  of  the  last 

meeting. 

New  York,  Viking  Press,  195U 
Noble,  Helen,  Life  with  the  Ifet, 

New  York,  Putnam,  195U 
Robertson,  Robert  B.  Of  whales  and  men. 

New  York,  Knopf,  19 5U 
Sutton,  Horace,  Confessions  of  a  grand 

hotel;  the  Vfaldorf -Astoria, 

New  York,  Holt,  1953. 
"Wertham,  Frederic,  Seduction  of  the 

innocent. 

NeiT  York,  Rinehart,.  195U    . 
White,  ITilliam  C.     Adirondack  country... 

New  Ycrii,  Buell,  Sloan,  and  Pearce, 

195U 

Non-Fiction-"Library  Science 

Stallmann,  Esther  lo  Library  interne- 
ehips  . . . 

University  of  Illinois  Library  School 
Occasional  Papers,  Number  37. 
Urbana,  University  of  Illinois,  19$h 


-10- 

them  opportunity  to  chat  infc.-mally  ■'dth 
Miss  Peck,  much  to  their  pleasure.  They 
are  all  looking  forward  to  Miss  Peck's 
return  another  season.  To  our  Friends 
i  group  Jliss  Peck  has  become  a  tradition. 


Fiction 

Lipsky,  Eleazar.  Lincoln  McKeever. 

Hew  York,  Appleton-Century-Crofts , 

1953 
Ogilvie ,  Elisabeth,  The  dawning  of 

the   days 

Ifew  York,  McGraw-Hill,  19^h 

BRANCH  NOTES 

Adams  Street 

The  Friends  of  the  Adams  Street 
Branch  Library  had  their  first  m.eeting 
of  the  season  on  l/7ednesday  evening, 
October  6.  Edna  G.  Peck,  Chief  of 
Book  Selection,  was  the  speaker  for 
this  occasion.  In  her  inimitable  way 
Miss  Peck  introduced  some  thou^t- 
prDvoking  books  to  a  most  receptive 
audience. 

After  the  meeting,  coffee  and  cakes 
were  served  to  the  group.  This  afforded 


;  j'lattapan 

I'Jattapan  Branch  recently  welcomed  back 
I  its  roving  Adults  Librarian  from  a  trip 
i  to  the  yjest  Indies  and  South  America, 
i  Sarah  Richman,  a  seasoned  traveller, 
I  was  impressed  vri.th  the  islands,  but  vras 
j  loudest  in  her  praise  of  Caracas,  the 
;  capitol  city  of  Venezuela, 
I   Instead  of  taking  the  usual  Cook's  tour, 
I  the  intrepid  ItLss  Richman  and  a  party 
I  of  five  "cooked  up"  a  tour  of  their  own, 
!  With  the  blind  luck  of  beginners  they 
!  were  extremely  fortunate  in  their  choice 
:  of  a  '<uide.  He  proved  to  be  an  excellent 

linguist  (English  speaking  drivers  are 
1  rare  in  Caracas);  a  skillful  and  fearless 
:  driver  (the  mountainous  roads  have 
j  dangerous  curves  and  are  extremely  narroiT.) 
*  He  T/as  an  impeccable  guide  (his  knoviledge 
j  of  Caracas  and  its  history  was  nothing 
j  short  of  extraordinary);  and  a  bon 
.  vivant  (he  know  where  to  find  an  excellent 
Spanish  meal  at  a  reasonable  price;  this 
in  a  country  where  the  American  dollar 
buys  very  littlco) 

Their  tour  included  not  only  the  usual 
tourist  spots  but  also  places  in- 
accessible to  the  ordinary  traveller. 
Hiss  Richman  and  company  discovered  later 
that  they  were  the  only  ones  from  their 
boat  who  were  allowed  on  the  grounds  of 
the  nevr  University  City,  a  spectacular 
group  of  buildings  of  amazing  architectural 
!  design,  built  at  a  phenomenal  costo  This 
i  was  due  to  the  fact  that  their  driver-- 
j  hold  on  to  you  hats  I — had  served  in  the 
j  same  capacity  for  John  Foster  Dulles  and 
I  had  entre  to  places  denied  the  usual 
visitor© 

For  the  records  Cost  per  passenger 
for  a  T/hole  day  trip — five  dollars.  With 
tips,  meal  and  incidentals  (five  post 
cards  at  one  American  dollar  J ) --eleven 
dollars G 

Neponset 


On  Saturday,  October"2,  a  group  of 
youngsters  visited  Central  Library  with 
Tyyne  Saari,  These  children  virere  the  for- 
tunate members  of  "Your  Passport  Tlirough 
Space"  club  v;ho  had  completed  the  require— 

I  ments  for  the  Summer  Reading  Club  certif i— 

i  cateso 

!   Arriving  at  Copley  Square,  the  youngsters 


-IL- 


admired  the  beautiful  library  building 
mth  its  statues  and  carvings  and  the 
lovely  marble  entrance  inside.  They  were 
entranced  vath  Xhe   Children's  Room  where 
I'iss  Prall  joined  the  a;roup  and  conducted 
the  tour  through  the  various  interesting 
departments.  She  left  the  group  in  the 
Preview  Room  ^/here  the  children  v/ere 
entertained  by  a  lovely  color  film  of 
the  migration  of  birds  and  a  record  of 
Edvrard  Grieg's  life  story  i/ith  selec- 
tions from  his  beautiful  musiCj  Back  in 
the  Children's  Room  each  member  of  the 
group  had  an  opportunity  to  listen  ^vith 
the  earphones  before  returning  to 
Weponsete 

After  a  light  repast  of  cokes  and 
ice  cream  in  a  neighboring  drugstore,  the 
group  came  back  to  Neponset  to  receive 
their  certificates© 

The  visit  to  the  main  library  iTas 
one  of  the  highlights  of  their  summer, 
for  none  of  the  children  lad  been  there 
bef oreo 

West  End 

The  Jir,nSH  ADVOCATE  of  September  9 
carried  a  front-page  feature  of  the 
special  groups  of  Tercentenary  exhibits 
prepared  by  Farjiy  Goldstein  at  TJest   End. 
It  is  entitled  A  LIBRARY  EXHIBIT  IS  BORN, 
by  Dr  Harry  Zohn,  Boston  author o 

The  BOSTON  3] WAY  GLOBE  of  October  10 
carried  an  article  in  Leo  Shapiro's 
column  entitled  "Local  NoteSo"  This 
article  also  stressed  the  Tercentenary 
exhibits  and  their  potentials  for  cir- 
culation in  this  communityp 


lications  ComTittee  and  the  Association 
are  in  agreement  with  the  views  expressed. 
Only  those  contributions  containing  not 
more  than  300  words  v;ill  be  accepted. 


No  contributions  received. 


FRESIDEi-IT'S  M)TES— 2 

At  the  Executive  Board  meeting  on 
lU  October  195h  the  subject  of  salary 
increases  vrais  discussed  and  the  feeling 
of  the  Board  was  that  it  might  be  helpful, 
in  view  of  the  apparent  misunderstanding 
on  the  jart  of  many  members  of  the 
Association,  to  point  out  in  the  "Presi- 
dent's Motes"  that  the  most  recent 
statement  the  Executive  Board  has  received 
from  the  administration  did  not  specify 
the  date  on  vfhich  payments  might  be 
made,  but  that  the  payments  would  be 
made  probably  as  of  October  1,  19$U,  or 
as  of  an  earlier  date  in  195U,  ioSo, 
that  payments  made  as  of  a  particular 
date  might  be  paid  £n  a  later  date, 
retroactively. 

B.  J.  O'Neil 


SOAP  BOX 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must  j 
be  accompanied  by  the  full  name  of  the 
Association  member  submitting  it,  to- 
gether with  the  name  of  the  Branch  Libiary,' 
Department,  or  Office  in  v;hich  he  or  she 
is  employed.  The  name  is  mthheld  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  kno^m  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  Associa- 
tion members  and  their  appearance  does 
not  necessarily  indicate  that  the  Pub- 


¥K) 


uestion 


i\<i 


A\^K 


THE  BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


NOVEMBER  1954 


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


Volume  IX,  Number  11 


November  195U 


Publications  Committee  :  Gerald  L,  Ball,  John  J.  McCafferty,  Sheila  Wo  Pierce, 

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 

At  this  season  of  the  year  our  activi- 
ties seem  to  grow  more  numerous,  both  pro- 
fessional and  socialo  We  are  so  fully 
occupied  that  ve   find  little  time  to  pause 
and  consider  our  rast  and  our  future.  But 
during  the  daily  conversational  give-and- 
take,  lately  one  thought  seems  to  crop  up 
repeatedly;  a  thought  vfhich  gives  evidence 
that  most  of  us  are  pleasantly  surprised 
to  find  that  vre  have  arrived  at  a  goal 
which  we  believed  could  not  be  attained 
until  some  time  in  the  future.  This  goal 
has  been  the  full  effectiveness  of  the 
19^3  wage  classification. 

This  classification,  adopted  in  April, 
1953,  has  been  placed  fully  into  effect  in 
the  unbelievably  short  period  of  nine 
months — actually  it  has  been  a  longer 
period,  but  the  retroactive  payment  pin- 
points the  date  as  January  1,  19$U. 

Those  of  us  who  remember  the  previous 
classification,  rrtiich  \ias   adopted  in  1938, 
know  that  a  number  of  years  passed  before 
it  was  in  full  effect.  This  past  ex- 
perience, tofiether  v;ith  the  present 
economic  situation  faced  by  the  City, 
leads  us  to  believe  that  the  Trustees  and 
the  Director  have  accomplished  a  difficul-^ 
almost  impossible  task. 

The  editors,  from  their  many  contacts 
\vith  their  fellow-workers,  feel. that  we 
can  express  the  heartfelt  thanks  of  the 
staff  to  the  Board  of  Trustees,  the 
Director,  and  the  officers  of  the  Library 
who  have  brought  about  this  happy  event. 
For  some  of  us,  it  mil  afford  an  oppor- 
tunity to  progress  more  quickly;  for  most 
of  us,  it  vdll  be  a  Thanks 'living  to  be 
remembered. 


CALENDAR  OF  EVENTS 


November  29. 


January  29, 
1955 


Resignations 


S.L.A.  meeting,  Harvard 
Law  School,  at  7:30  p.m. 
Dinner  at  Harkness  Commons. 
For  reservations ,  call 
Mas  Bean  at  N.  E.  Mutual 
Life  Insurance  Co, 

^'Free  to  All",  Centennial 
Musical  Revue 

PERSONAL  NOTES 


IviTS  Harriet  C.  Holve,  Business  Office, 
to  move  to  New  York  due  to  family 
responsibilities . 

Iirs  Donna  C.  Maxson,  Washington  Village, 
She  v/ill  return  to  work  on  a  part- 
time  basis. 

Transferred 


Isabelle  G,  Finn,  from  City  Point  to  West 

Roxbury, 
Taimi  Lilja,  from  East  Boston  to  Codman 

Square . 
Felicia  J.  Langdon,  from  Roslindale  to 

East  Boston, 
Rose  Hoorachian,  from  East  Boston  to 

Uphams  Corner. 
¥ts   Bridie  P.  Stotz,  from  Uphams  Corner 

to  Adams  Street. 
Lawrence  K,  Vezin,  from  Open  Shelf  to 

Audio-Visual. 

WEDDINGS 

Louise  M.  Fogarty,  Codman  Square , 
became  the  bride  of  James  J.  Kenneally 
on  Saturday,  October  9,  at-  Saint  Peter's 
Church  in  Dorchester.  The  bride  wore  a 
lovely  goT/vn  of  white  faille  and  carried  a 
prayer  book  covered  v/ith  white  orchids. 
A  reception  followed  at  the  Kenmore  Hotel. 
Bostone  The  couple  took  a  motor  trip 
through  Canada. 

A  few  days  before  the  wedding,  the 


-2- 


bride-to-be  Tvas  given  a  small  party  by 
the  members  of  the  staff  v;ho  presented 
her  with  a  place  setting  of  sterling. 


* 


At  3  o'clock,  on  Saturday,  October  l6, 
at  Grace  Church,  Newbon,  Kaths rine  A, 
LaBonte,  was  married  to  Paul  J.  I'/illiams, 
of  Kew  York  and  Michigan. 

The  bride  wore  a  floor  length  gown  of 
imported  embroidered  organdy.  Fashioned 
vdth  a  five  tier  skirt,  it  had  a  strap- 
less bodice,  topped  vdth  a  tiny  jacket  of 
matching  organdy.  Her  fingertip  veil  of 
silk  illusion  was  fastened  to  a  seed 
pearl  tiara,  in  a  heart  design.  Her 
lovely  bouquet  consisted  of  x'iaite  orchids, 
and  white  roses  with  stephanotis. 

Matron  of  honor  was  iirs  Harvey  Spencer 
Erik  ITilliams  served  as  best  man. 

Folloviing  a  reception  at  the  nearby 
Hunnewell  Club,  v-rith  music  ably  provided 
by  Herbie  Sulkin's  orchestra,  Mr  and  Mrs 
Williams  left  for  a  honeymoon  to  Nova 
Scotia, 

THE  SOCIAL  TJHIRL 

On  September  17,  Urs  Alice  Harrison, 
part-time  assistant,  Codman  Square, 
was  guest  of  honor  at  a  farewell  dinner 
party  at  Joseph's,  iiembers  of  the  staff, 
both  full  and  part-time  assistants, 
gathered  to  wish  Vxs   Harrison  the  best 
of  luck.   She  will  be  greatly  missed  by 
the  staff  and  public.  After  an  enjoy- 
able dinner,  Iirs  Harrison  was  presented 
with  a  monetary  gift. 


On  Saturday,  November  6,  Helen 
Connell  was  the  guest  of  honor  at  a 
farewell  luncheon  given  by  the  staff 
of  Lower  Kills,  at  the  Fox  and  Hounds 
Restaurant  in  Quincy,  She  was  pre- 
sented with  a  lovely  corsage  of  pale 
pink  rosebuds  and  a  copy  of  the  EN- 
CYCLOPEDIC COOK  BOOK,  A  delicious 
lunch  and  a  delightful  afternoon  were 
enjoyed  by  all,  Hiss  Connell  has  been 
transferred  to  Neponset, 

BEST  vraSHES  FOR  A  SPEEDY  RECOVERY 
to 

Laura  Cross  Fletcher  (Irs  Alfred) 
former  Branch  Librarian  at  East  Boston, 


T/ho  is  recovering  from  a  recent  operation. 
Her  latest  address  is  101  Oakland  Street, 
Brighton  3$, 

PRESIDENT'S  MOTES 

At  the  November  meeting  of  the 
Executive  Board  the  question  of  pro- 
visions for  amending  the  Constitution 
vias   discussed.  In  view  of  the  fact  that 
our  Constitution  contains  no  specific 
provision  for  previous  notice  of  amend- 
ment although  Robert's  Rules  of  Order 
states  that  each  society  should  require 
previous  notice,  the  Board  was  in  agree- 
ment that  the  Constitution  should  be 
amended  to  provide  previous  written 
notice  of  proposed  amendments  at  the 
same  time  that  the  notice  of  the  annual 
meeting  is  distributed  to  the  units  of 
the  Library,  This  suggestion  has  been 
conveyed  to  the  Constitution  Committee 
for  action  at  the  January  meeting. 

Christiana  M.  Jordan,  Alls  ton,  has 
resigned  as  chairman  of  the  Special 
Committee  on  Personnel,  and  the  Executive 
Board  has  accepted  her  resignation  with 
regret.  Louis  Polishook,  Patent  Room, 
a  member  of  the  committee,  has  indicated 
his  willingness  to  serve  as  Chairman, 
pro  tern.  Any  suggestions  on  or  cirticisms 
of  the  Progress  Report  of  the  Committee 
presented  at  the  l&iy  business  meeting  may 
be  sent  to  Mr  Polishook. 

The  Centennial  Musical  Revue,  Free 
To  All,  is  now  in  the  active-producation 
stage.  A  tremendous  amount  of  prepara- 
tion has  gone  into  it.  It  should  be  a 
credit  to  both  the  Library  and  the 
Association.  It  deserves  the  support  of 
every  member.  If  you  have  any  talent, 
skill,  or  service  you  can  contribute, 
get  in  touch  with  Mrs  Muriel  C.  Javelin, 
Chairman,  Felicia  Langdon,  East  Boston, 
or  Louis  Rains  or  Paul  Mulloney,  Science 
and  Technology,  They  need  you. 

B.  Joseph  O'Neil 

THE  STAFF  IN  PRINT 

THE  ATLANTIC  liDNTHLY  for  July,  195U, 
contained  an  article  by  Zoltan  Haraszti, 
Keeper  of  Rare  Books— The  First  Public 
Library, 


-3- 


WEST  END  IN  PRINT 

THE  PILOT  for  October  22  carried  an 
account  of  a  special  exhibit  in  the 
Children's  Room,  West  End,  under  the 
heading  Books  About  Saints  Went  Like 
Hot  Cakes  at  West  End  Library. 

Q  and  A 
DOES  THE  LIBRARY  HAVE  A  BLOOD  BANK? 


Q: 
A: 


A: 


Do  we  have  a  blood  bank  in  the  Li- 
brary? 

The  Red  Cross  provides  blood  vdthout 
charge  to  those  employees  (and 
their  families)  viho  have  con- 
tributed blood  under  the  City 
of  Boston  Employees  Blood  Donor 
Program. 

How  do  I  go  about  getting  this 
for  myself  and  my  family? 

Obtain  a  pledge  card  from  lirs  Wollent 
in  the  Library  Hospital,  Extension 
2hhi   sign  it  and  return  it  to  Fts 
Tif client.  You  then  may  go  to  the 
Red  Cross  Blood  Donor  Center,  3lU 
Dartmouth  Street,  near  Ikrlborough, 
to  donate  a  pint  of  blood. 

Can  I  get  time  off  to  go  to  the 
Blood  Donor  Center? 

The  Library  allows  h   hours  of  ex- 
cused absence  to  any  staff  member 
for  the  purpose  of  making  a 
donation  under  this  program. 

VJhen  is  the  Red  Cross  Blood  Donor 
Center  open? 

Tuesday  and  Thursday  from  2  P.M.  to 
8  P. II.  and  on  Wednesday  and 
Fridays  from  11  A.Ii.  to  k   P.M. 
am  going  to  make  my  appointment 
right  noviTj  when  are  you  going  to 
make  yours? 

????????   (It's  up  to 
you,  but  why  not  do  it  nov:?) 

CONGRATULATIONS 


Fary  A.  Hackett,  Branch  Librarian, 
Parker  Hill,  was  recently  one  of  the 
judges  for  the  Stop  and  Shop  Coloring 
Contest  for  Children  in  the  Mission 
Hill  neighborhood. 


Q: 
A: 

Q: 
A: 

Q:  I 


A: 


■?  9  9 


CARE 

Last  month  the  response  to  CARE  xvas  fine 
And  a  note  of  thanl-cs  is  now  in  line 
'Tis  gratifying  to  know  because  you  CARE 
A  bit  of  happiness  with  someone  you  share. 


TOtiEN'S  NATIONAL 
BOOK  ASSOCIATION 

On  FricEay,  October  29,  an  organi- 
zational neeting  of  the  W,N8B.A. 
was  held  at  the  Hotel  Gardner. 
About  thirty  women  representing 
various  aspects  of  the  book  trade 
met  together  to  enjoy  dinner,  be- 
come better  acquainted,  and  to  lay 
plans  for  forming  a  Boston  chapter 
of  the  VVoIJ.BcAo  Following  the 
dinner  Elvajean  Hall  shared  -v^dth  the 
group  by  means  of  colored  slides, 
wiih  ccmments,  some  of  her  around- 
the-vrorld  experiences,  with  emphasis 
on  the  Fiji  Islands,  which  she  enjoyed 
last  summer.  Guests  for  the  evening 
viere   Anne  J.  Richter,  Book  Editor,  R. 
R«  Bowker  Company  and  Lillian  Gurney, 
Educational  Department,  American  News 
Company,  both  active  members  of  the 
New  York  Chapter  W.N.B.A,  Plans  were 
laid  for  the  formation  of  a  Boston 
Chapter.  A  nominating  committee, 
including  Louisa  S.  Metcalf ,  Readers 
Advisor  for  Adults,  was  appointed, 
to  submit  a  slate  of  officers  at  the 
next  meeting  to  be  held  at  the  Hotel 
Gardner  at  six  o'clock  on  January  27,  1955. 
Anyone  interested  in  becoming  a  member 
of  the  W.N.B.A.,  Boston  Chapter,  please 
contact  Edna  G.  Peck,  Book  Selection 
(H.R.&C.So),  B.PoL, 

RECENT  MTERIAL 
OF  PHofESSIONAL  INTEREST 

The  Hartzell  }femorial  Committee  is 
happy  to  announce  that  those  members 
TA*io  were  unable  to  attend  the  19Sh 
Lecture  by  Sidney  Butler  Smith,  may 
read  an  abridged  version  in  the  November 
first  issue  of  the  LIBRARY  JOURNAL, 

FALL  PROFESSIONAL  MEETING 

One  of  the  most  delightful  and  instruc- 
tive professional  meetings  of  the  Associa- 
tion was  one  which  was  announced  late 
but  was  well  attended- — the  talk  on 
Wednesday  evening,  October  27,  by  Arthur 
W,  Heintzelman,  Keeper  of  Prints,  on 
The  Wiggin  Collection. 

In  a  "brief  but  effective  introduction, 
liTs   Beryl  Y.  Robinson,  Chairman  of  the 
Program  Committee,  revie\7ed  the  accom- 
plishments of  the  speaker  and  welcomed 
Association  members  and  friends. 


-u- 


}!t   Heintzelman  told  of  the  gift  of  the 
Wiggin  Collection  by  Albert  H=  Wigginj 
touched  upon  the  exchange  Italian  exhibit 
now  on  displayj  and,  mth  the  assistance 
of  J.  J.  Dante r,  shoTed  slides  of  etchings 
and  drypoints  from  the  YJiggin  Collection. 
Ke  supplemented  his  talk  and  the  shoiTing 
of  the  slides  by  sketching  to  illustrate 
the  development  of  an  etching  through. a 
series  of  "states" ,  and  to  show  the 
difference  between  an  etching  and  a 
drypoint.  He  made  the  subject  alive  and 
interesting  for  his  audience  by  telling 
them  in  understandable  language  v/hat  they 
should  know  and  by  never  talking  down  to 
them  as  though  they  could  not  be  ex- 
pected to  understand.  Demonstrating  the 
use  of  the  press,  he  and  Paul  Swenson 
pulled  one  print  which  T^as  examined  with 
great  interest  by  the  audience. 

In  her  closing  remarks  Mrs  Robinson 
said  that  she  for  one — and  I'm  sure  there 
were  many  who  would  agree  with  her — ^will 
never  again  associate  a  "state"  exclusive- 
ly mth  a  governmental  unit  I 

Mr  Heintzelman  has  graciously  offered 
to  devote  another  evening  to  lithographs, 
and  it  is  sincerely  hoped  that  the  Pro- 
gram Committee  wi3.1  take  advantage  of  his 
offer  in  the  not-too-distant  future* 

The  Refreshment  committee,  headed  by 
Mrs  Mary  K.  Harris,  broke  away  from  the 
traditional  October  combination  of  cider 
and  doughnuts  and  proved  that  cider  com- 
bined with  delicious  cakes  and  cookies 
makes  a  very  tempting  treat, 

Sarah  M.  Usher 

FRIENDS  OF  THE 
BOSTON  CITY  HOSPITAL 

On  Wednesday  evening  October  27,  195U, 
the  Friends  of  the  Boston  City  Hospital 
held  a  reception  for  the  new  Director, 
Dr  John  Conlin,  at  the  Vose  House,  The 
occasion  was  used  to  acquaint  the  many 
guests  with  the  various  special  services 
rendered  at  the  hospital,  and  displays 
shoT/ing  the  work  done  by  these  services 
were  placed  about  the  hall.  The  Hospital 
Library  Service  was  represented  by  a 
book  truck  shoviing  the  extensive  range  in 
subject  interest  offered  by  the  library. 
Books,  both  adult  and  juvenile,  together 
Tdth  magazines  and  pocket  books  were 
displayed.  The  guests  at  the  reception 
showed  a  keen  interest  in  the  books 
displayed  by  the  Hospital  Library  Service. 


The  attractive  appearance  of  the  books 
with  their  plastic  covers  surprised  and 
pleased  them.  They  commented  on  the 
wide  range  in  subject  interest  and  were 
delighted  that  the  Boston  Public  Library 
gave  such  a  service  to  the  patients  in 
the  hospital, 

Helen  Kelleher,  Supervisor  of  Training 
in  Pediatrics,  spoke  briefly  of  each  of 
the  dozen  or  more  services  exhibited. 
In  speaking,  however,  she  gave  special 
acclaim  to  the  "one  service  whose  presence 
means  so  much  to  everyone  in  the  hospital; 
the  one  service  which  brings  uplift  and 
encouragement  to  all,  big  and  little, 
young  and  old,  juvenile  and  adult — ^the 
Hospital  Library  Service  of  the  Boston 
Public  Library." 

Mary  G.  Langton 

NATIONAL  COUNCIL  OF  CATHOLIC  IDMEN 
VISIT  B.P.L: 

Open  House  vias   held  in  the  Abbey  Room, 
Central  Library,  on  Monday,  November  8, 
from  five  to  six  o'clock,  for  the  National 
Council  of  Catholic  Vifomen,  Guided  tours 
were  provided  and  copies  of  David  McCord's 
pamphlet  published  during  the  Library's 
Centennial  Celebration  were  distributed. 
Officers  and  members  of  the  Council  who 
attended  were  \ve loomed  by  Patrick  F. 
McDonald,  President,  Board  of  Trustees, 
and  Hilton  E,  Lord,  Director. 

NEW  ENGUND  LIBRARY 
ASSOCIATION  CONFERENCE 
0CT03ER  18,  19,  20,  19511 


KER  OCEAN  HOUSE 

Workshop  on  Library  Buildings 

As  an  indication  of  -what   is  being 
done  in  the  way  of  building  for  ciirrent 
library  needs,  the  ^7orkshop  on  Library 
Buildings  held  on  Monday  afternoon  was 
instructive.  Representatives  of  the 
libraries  at  Trinity  College,  Providence, 
Springfield,  and  Orleans  spoke  about 
the  considerations  ■which  influenced  each 
in  the  determination  of  particular 
features  of  their  new  building,  and 
the  values  and  uses  expected  in  the 
futiore  from  their  planning.  Photo- 
murals,  photographs,  and  colored  slides 
were  used  to  illustrate  the  talks.  The 
iTidespread  interest  in  this  facet  of 
library  work  was  demonstrated  by  the 


^5- 


large  attendance  at  the  meeting. 

Charles  L,  Higgins 

General  Session 

Attendants  at  the  opening  meeting 
of  the  conference  were  welcomed  by 
President  Sidney  Butler  Smith  who  spoke 
briefly  before  introducing  incoming 
President  Helen  A.  Ridgway  of  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  ivho  in  turn  presented  L. 
Quincy  Mumford,  Librarian  of.  Congress 
and  President  of  A.L.A.  Mr  Mumford 
spoke  first  as  Librarian  of  Congress, 
outlining  L.C.'s  activities,  its  services 
to  American  librarianship,  its  position 
as  a  cultural  liaison  activity,  and  its 
importance  in  training  foreign  service 
officers.  Secondly,  as  A.L.A.  president, 
Mr  Mumford  spoke  glovri.ngly  of  NELA, 
citing  its  "simple  sophistication"  of 
structure  and  purpose  and  its  leadership 
among  American  regional  library  associa- 
tions. A  question  period  followed  in 
which  Mr  Mumford  was  particularly  quizzed 
about  A.L.A.  pressures  to  be  exerted 
in  governmental  processes.  The  speaker 
pointed  out  that  he  had  to  excuse  him- 
self (Hatch  Act)  from  such  activities, 
but  assured  the  audience  that  the  First 
Vice-President  or  some  other  officer  of 
A,L.A.  Tall  act  in  behalf  of  the  Associa- 
tion in  such  matters c 

M.L.A.  Hospital  Library  Group 

The  speater  on  Monday  ivas  Dr  Merrill 
Moore,  psychiatrist  and  author,  who  noted 
the  fact  that  all  civilizations  have  felt 
the  relation  existing  between  medicine 
or  healing  on  the  one  hand  and  music 
and  poetry  on  the  other.  He  spoke 
especially  of  the  fact  that  the  Romans 
claimed  the  god  Apollo  as  the  god  of 
healing,  music,  and  poetry.  He  spoke 
of  the  joy  of  being  a  hospital  librarian 
and  the  need  patients  had  for  books,  be 
they  books  of  poetry  or  others.   Dr 
Moore  spoke  of  the  importance  of  biblio- 
therapy  and  stated  that  there  is  posi- 
tive scientific  evidence  that  one's  out- 
look is  modified  by  books  favorably  or 
otheriTise,  All  biographies,  he  claimed, 
reveal  the  influence  exerted  on  in- 
dividuals by  books.  This  very  fact  makes 
the  work  of  the  hospital  librarian  of 
supreme  importance,  "There  is  no  sub- 
stitute for  a  book,"  he  said. 


Since  Dr  Moore  spoke  as  both  author 
and  doctor  in  relation  to  hospital  li- 
braries, his  outlook  was  both  different 
and  refreshing.  Every  hospital,  he  felt 
should  have  a  corner — even  perhaps  only 
a  shelf — for  books  written  by  doctors. 
Some  doctors  are  novelists,  others  write 
books  on  travel,  biography,  poetry,  and 
people  are  interested  in  looking  at  the 
world  through  the  eye  of  physicians, 

Dr  Moore  concluded  his  address  by 
reading  a  half  dozen  or  so  of  his  own 
sonnetts — all  delightful. 

Mary  G.  Lengton 

Special  Libraries  Association 

The  Boston  Chapter,  together  with 
members  of  the  Connecticut  Chapter,  met 
on  Monday,  to  hear  an  address  by 
Gretchen  D.  Little,  president  of  the 
national  Association  and  librarian  of 
Atlas  Powder  Company,  Robert  Lovett, 
local  president,  presided,  and  intro- 
duced Mrs  Henrietta  Perkins,  president 
of  the  Connecticut  chapter,  who  brought 
greetings  from  her  chapter ^ 

Miss  Little  spoke  of  her  irork  with 
deficit  spending  of  the  Association 
budget,  and  described  what  is  done  with 
each  dues  dollar,  and  what  proportion 
(about  8%)   is  returned  to  local  chapters « 
She  also  talked  of  the  national  place- 
ment service,  which  is  not  permitted  to 
charge  for  securing  employment  of  mem- 
bers; told  of  the  growing  national  pool 
of  classifications,  and  discussed  a  pro- 
posed free  consultation  service  in  each 
city,  to  help  and  coxinsel  industry  to 
establish  or  improve  company  libraries  c. 

A  group  of  members  met  later  for 
dinner  at  the  hotel,  and  for  the 
evening's  program  and  speaker. 

Loraine  A,  Sullivan  • 

Association  of  College 
and  Reference  Libraries 

Flora  Bo  Ludington,  Librarian,  Mt 
Holyoke  College,  opened  the  meeting  with 
a  talk  on  the  relationship  between  ACRL 
and  the  parent  organization.  ALA.  First 
outlining  the  organizational  structure 
of  the  ALA  step  by  step,  she  shovred  how 
each  of  the  several  divisional  members 
of  ALA  (Public  Libraries,  Library  Edu- 
cation, Cataloging  and  Classification, 


-6- 


even  Children's  Librarians,  etc.)  should 
work  vTith  ACRL.  Though  each  of  the 
severa,!  divisions  and  committees  has  its 
own.   unique  speciality,  each  also  has  a 
goal,  basio  to  all — ^the  improvement  of 
libraries.  She  urged  ACRL  members  to 
take  more  cognizance  of  the  commonality 
of  purpose  of  all  libraries,  whether 
they  be  school,  college,  public,  or 
anything  else,  and  to  vrork  more  closely 
with  other  groups  »  Our  o^.m  library  v/hich 
is,  in  effect,  a  unique  combination  of 
Children's  Library,  School  Library, 
College  Library,  Research  Library,  etc., 
might  make  special  note  of  her  remarks, 

Arthur  T.  Hamlin,  Executive  Secretary, 
next  spoke  briefly  on  the  duties  of 
ACRL  as  an  organization  and  the  services 
it  has  to  offer  to  members »  He_^empha- 
sized  that,  while  the  raison  d'etre  of 
this  group  is  to  cater  to  the  needs  and 
to  direct  the  progress  of  college  and 
research  librariss  (by  establishing 
standards,  suggesting  procedural  im- 
provements, publications,  etc.),  it  has 
other  obligations.  It  must  stress  to 
its  members  that  all  libraries,  college 
and  research  as  well  as  public,  have  a 
two-fold  obligation.  They  must,  of 
course,  be  repositories  of  knowledge; 
but  equally  important,  they  must  be 
dynamic  disseminators  of  knowledge. 

Dr  Robert  E,  Moody,  Director  of  B.U. 
Libraries ,  next  spoke  on  The  Printer's 
Part  in  Early  New  England  History.  The 
17th  and  lath  Century  New  England  printer 
he  explained,  was  far  from  being  an 
artist.  He  was  a  fairly  capable  crafts- 
man, forced  to  work  with  a  limited  type 
font  and  with  a  limited  supply  of  poor 
paper J  and  his  work  is  definitely  not 
attractive o  Since  most  of  the  books  of 
the  Colonies  vrere  printed  in  England, 
his  income  was  derived  mainly  from  an 
almanac  (each  printer  published  his 
own),  pan^hlets,  broadsides,  bookplates, 
and  general  stationery.  His  book  vrork 
was,  for  the  most  part,  the  printing 
of  sermons.  The  printer's  part  in  the 
Revolution  is  perhaps  best  knoivn  popu- 
larly from  his  political  pamphlets  and 
broadsides,  Dr  Moody  pointed  out  that 
the  printing  and  distribution  of  the 
records  of  the  sessions  of  the  House 
of  Representatives,  though  a  less 
spectacular  task  than  the  printing  of 
political  tracts,  was  just  as  important 
in  the  development  of  the  feeling  for 
rebellion  against  the  Crown. 

George  A,  Adelman 


M.L.A.  Round  Table  of 
Librarians  for  Young;  Adults 

The  regular  fall  meeting  was  both 
practical  and  exciting.  Present  to 
stimulate  interest  in  current  projects 
of  the  A.L.Ac  division  for  Children 
and  Young  People  were  several  dignitaries 
including  the  President,  Alice  L,  LeFevre. 
Its  newly  appointed  Young  Adult  Specialist, 
Jane  Elstrem,  described  the  beginnings 
of  the  American  Heritage  project  in  the 
Boston  area.  Virginia  Haviland,  Chairman 
of  the  Children's  Librarians'  Association 
called  attention  to  the  new  package 
libraries  of  foreign  books  for  children 
and  young  people.  The  Division's  Execu- 
tive Secretary,  Mildred  Batchelder,  -vvas 
the  main  speaker  of  the  morning. 

Describing  The  Problems  and  Com- 
pensations in  Library  Work  for  Young 
People,  Miss  Batchelder  stressed  the  need 
to  work  closely  vdth  other  community 
agencies,  including  those  concerned  with 
juvenile  delinquency,  and  with  parents. 
She  urged  youn.^  adult  participation  in 
planning  their  own  group  programs  and 
in  selecting  a  book  collection.  Not 
only  do  young  people  and  their  leaders 
need  to  know  v;hat  libraries  can  offer j 
but  librarians  must  listen  attentively 
to  their  expression  of  their  problems. 
Books  may  be  an  indirect  approach  to 
the  discussion  of  a  young  adult's  personal 
conflicts  and  in  such  informal  therapy 
lies  one  of  the  greatest  compensations 
of  this  work.  Lists,  Miss  Batchelder 
continued,  like  those  put  out  by  the 
Boston  Public  Library  or  those  now  to 
appear  regularly  in  TOP  OF  THE  NEITS,  her 
division's  regular  publication,  are  an 
excellent  means  of  bringing  books  and 
young  people  together.  Paying  tribute 
to  our  I'lassachusetts  Round  Table  as  a 
pioneering  endeavor,  the  only  organiza- 
tion of  its  kind  in  the  country.  Miss 
Batchelder  concluded  by  noting  the  great 
satisfaction  that  all  young  adults '  li- 
brarians should  have  in  being  part  of  an 
endeavor  still  only  twenty-five  years 
old. 

There  followed  a  brief  report  from 
Katherine  Jeffery,  Hilton  Public  Library, 
on  the  progress  of  the  Round  Table's 
Book  Review  Committee.  The  morning  con- 
cluded with  a  vivid  and  enthusiastic 
svimmary  by  Pauline  ITinnick,  Readers' 
'Advisor  for  Young  Adults,  B.P.L.,  of  the 
jraeetings  for  young  adults'  librarians 
held  at  the  Minneapolis  siimmer  session 


-7- 


of  A.L.A.  (This  material  was  essentially 
a  svunmary  of  the  report  given  in  the 
July,  195U  issue  of  The  Question  Mark.) 
B.  Ciertrude  VVade 
Adult  Education  Group 

On  Tuesday,  the  Adult  Education  Group, 
Tdth  Chairman  Muriel  G.  Javelin,  Deputy 
Supervisor,  In  Charge  of  V/ork  with 
Adults,  B. P. L... presented  an  all-day 
program.  In  the  morning,  a  unique 
demonstration  and  discussion.  New 
Approaches  to  Programming  for  Adults, 
vreis  led  by  Dr  Kenneth  D.  Benne,  Director 
of  the  Human  Relations  Center  and 
Berenson  Professor  of  Human  Relations 
at  B.U. 

In  the  demonstration,  Leonard  Archer, 
Librarian,  Rutland  Free  Library,  Vermont ^ 
assumed  the  role  of  a  recently  appointed 
librarian  in  the  fictional  town  of 
T/alden.  His  role  required  him  to  be 
eager  to  promote  adult  programs  in  the 
library,  but  also  to  be  a  bit  naive  and 
inexperienced.  In  the  demonstration 
situation,  he  has  called  in  various 
members  of  the  community,  both  lay  and 
professional,  to  discuss  and  gain  their 
support  for  a  library  program  on  the 
U,Nt  In  this  group  are  a  library 
trustee,  played  by  Gertrude  Callahan, 
Librarian,  Thomas  Crane  Public  Library, 
Quincy,  who  likes  Mr  Archer  and  has  in 
fact  voted  for  him,  but  is  wary  of  any 
program  which  might  bring  criticism 
upon  him  or  the  library.  Miriam  Putnam, 
Librarian,  Jfemorial  Hall  Library,  Andcfser, 
took  the  role  of  an  active  women's  club 
representative,  who  has  worked  in  earlier 
years  with  P,T*A.  groups.  However,  her 
husband  is  a  member  of  the  American 
Legion,  and  she  is  afraid  of  any  program 
■v\^ich  might  be  termed  "pink",  Mrs 
Margaret  Foyer,  Librarian,  Middlebury 
College  in  Vermont,  enacted  the  high 
school  teacher  who  has  charge  of  the 
high  school's  adult  education  activities. 
Although  she  likes  and  admires  Mr  Archer, 
she  feels  that  perhaps  such  a  program 
ought  to  be  done  at  the  school.  The 
County  Agricultural  Extension  Agent, 
played  by  Helen  Ridgway,  Chief  of  the 
Bureau  of  Libraries,  Connecticut  State 
Department  of  Education,  has  an  uneasy 
suspicion  of  iirban  programs  and  motiva- 
tions. Also,  as  Federal  employee,  she 
is  worried  about  violating  the  Hatch 

Act, 

Within  the  limits  prescribed  by  the 
roles  defined  above,  the  participants 


reacted  spontaneously  to  one  another. 
It  became  clear  to  the  audience  observing 
this  interaction  that  both  supports  and 
obstacles  were  present,  and  that  the 
librarian's  sensitivity  to  them  was  an 
important  factor  to  the  success  of  his 
program.  Breaking  into  smaller  groups, 
the  audience  discussed  these  factors,  and 
Dr  Benne  summarized  their  conclusions. 
When  the  actors  revealed  their  roles 
and  told  how  they  felt  in  the  situation, 
the  marked  resemblance  between  them  and 
the  audience's  perceptions  revealed  the 
increased  insight  to  be  gained  from  this 
type  of  demonstration. 

The  afternoon  session  was  a  novel 
presentation  of  the  Wisconsin  Adult  Edu- 
cation Institute — Informal  Education 
Through  Libraries,  In  conversational 
form  Robert  S.  Ake,  Public  Library  Con- 
sultant at  the  State  Department  of 
Education  in  Connecticut j  Sigrid  Edge, 
Progessor  at  the  School  of  Library 
Science  of  Simmons  College;  So  Janice 
Kee,  Executive  Secretary  of  A.L.A.  Public 
Libraries  Division,  and  Dr  Benne  dis- 
cussed those  aspects  of  the  Institute 
which  had  particular  significance  in 
light  of  the  points  made  in  the  imorning 
session.  The  discussion  was  supplemented 
throughout  by  comments,  questions,  and 
illustrative  examples  from  the  audience. 
The  concensus  was:  that  under  varying 
circumstances,  the  library's  function 
in  programming  for  adults  might  include 
stimulating,  initiating,  and/or  cooperat- 
ing with  existing  programs;  that  to  know 
which  is  the  proper  function  for  yotir 
library,  you  must  know  your  community; 
and  that  to  facilitate  successful  pro- 
grams, you  must  contact  and  gain  the 
support  of  the  often  invisible  power 
structure  in  your  community. 

At  four  o'clock,  as  on  each  day  of 
the  Conference,  recent  educational  films 
were  shovm. 

Veronica  T.  Yotts 

New  England  Children's  Book  ClirJ^ 

It  was  S.R.O.  at  the  fall  meeting 
on  Tuesday.  Louise  Weiscopf ,  as  chair- 
man, introduced  the  J'auth-strators"  (a 
happy  term  which  embraces  authors , 
illvistrators ,  and  author-illustrators) 
who  spoke  very  briefly  and  informally. 
David  McCord,  well-knovm  to  Boston 
Librarians ,  opened  the  program  by 
reading  some  humorous  verses  from  Far 


-8- 


and  Few  and  his  new  book.  Odds  Without 
Ends.  He  vas  follovred  by  Nora  Unwin 
viho   demonstrated  by  means  of  a  colorful 
chalk  talk  the  v/ay  she  evolved  the 
decorative  initial  letters  for  the  verses 
of  Your  Prayers  and  Mine  iivhich  she 
recently  illustrated.  In  a  considerably 
lighter  vein,  Maurice  Sendak  drew  a  series 
of  tv/o  "then  and  now"  pictures  shelving 
the  influence  of  the  theory  of  self- 
expression  on  Juvenile  book  illustration. 
According  to  ¥cr  Sendak 's  drawings  even 
dogs  express  themselves  freely  today, 
Tasha  Tudor,  looking  as  if  she  had 
stepped  from  one  of  her  illustrations, 
and  her  husband,  Tom  McCready  Jr.,  who 
was  most  conservative  in  his  attire, 
told  a  little  about  the  joys  of  vnriting 
and  illustrating  vfhile  raising  a  family 
and  taking  care  of  an  assortment  of  pets 
that  range  from  Edgar  Allen  Crow  to  any 
number  of  rabbits.  Then  Eva  Knox  Evans 
Witty,  who,  it  seems,  is  an  author 
because  she  likes  to  read,  discussed  the 
research  that  -^oes  into  her  anthropo- 
logical books  and  paid  particular  tribute 
to  the  assistance  she  has  received  from 
librarians.  Isaac  Asimov,  alias  Paul 
French,  spoke  of  many  things  including 
his  science  fiction  stories  for  young 
people.  Elizabeth  Hubbard  Lansing  closed 
the  program  v.rith  a  witty  account  of  the 
physical  obstacles  that  authors  must 
overcome  in  order  to  write. 

Mary  West 

Boston  Regional  Group 
of  Catalogers  and  Classifiers 

Jlrs  Orcena  D.  Mahoney,  first  full- 
time  Executive  Secretary  of  the  A.LJ\., 
Division  of  Cataloging  and  Classifica- 
tion, spoke  to  the  Group  on  Wednesday. 
Her  talk.  The  Activity  Program  of  DCC, 
vfas  from  the  viewpoint  of  a  newcomer 
being  introduced  to  her  duties  at  A.L.A. 
headquarters.  Her  double  responsibility 
as  an  officer  of  A.L.A.  and  as  resident 
Executive  Secretary  of  the  Division 
enables  her  to  apply  the  knowledge  and 
experience  obtained  in  the  regular  staff 
meetings  at  headquarters  to  the  more 
efficient  operation  of  the  Division. 

Mrs  Mahoney' s  vrork  is  carried  on 
largely  by  correspondence  because  of  the 
^TJidely  scattered  residences  of  the 
Division's  officers.  Carbons  of  all  J-ft-s 
Hahoney's  letters  about  Division  business 
are  sent  to  the  President  and  Vice-Presi-  ' 


dent;  additional  carbons  are  sent  to  the 
other  officers  and  to  committee  chairmen 
when  the  letters  are  pertinent  to  their 
interests.  Standing  and  special 
committees  are  the  backbone  of  the  organi- 
zation in  solving  problems  and  in. 
forumlating  programs  of  activity  for 
libraries  large  and  small. 

As  part  of  the  program  to  enlarge  the 
scope  of  the.  DCC  it  is  expected  that  the 
report  on  technical  services  in  large 
libraries,  prepared  by  the  Committee 
on  Administration,  will  be  ready  this 
year.  The  Catalog  Code  Revision  Committee, 
under  the  Chairmanship  of  Wyllis  Wright, 
is  at  work  on  a  new  code,  assisted  by  a 
steering  committee  and  by  an  advisory 
group  of  professional  librarians  who  are 
not  catalogers.  ' 

Mldred  O'Connor 

Caroline  M.  Hewins  Lecture 

This  year's  Lecture,  so  delightfully 

given  by  Mrs  Bertha  Mahoney  Miller,  had 
as  its  subject  the  beloved  author  of  a 
generation  ago,  Eliza  Orne  "i/Vhite.  The 
happy,  wholesome  family  life  protrayed 
in  her  books,  v/as,  I/irs  Miller  discovered, 
a  reflection  of  the  author's  orm  New 
England  childhood j  and  her  powers  of 
observation,  sense  of  balance  and  pro- 
portion, ani  appreciation  of  beauty 
(inherited,  perhaps  from  her  artist- 
grandfather,  Chester  Harding)  were 
apparent  in  her  work  even  after  she  be- 
came both  blind  and  deaf. 

Iats  Miller  closed  her  talk  vdth  a 
request  that  since  the  values  stressed 
in  Miss  I'/hite's  books  have  particular 
relevance  in  today's  world,  it  would  be 
helpful  if  librarians  would  send  to  her 
(care  of  THE  HORN  BOOK)  a  list  of  the  ten 
of  Miss  YiTiite's  books  they  would  most 
like  to  have  kept  in  print,  so  that  she 
may  winnow  the  lists  and  forward  the 
results  to  the  publishers, 

Anne  E.  Armstrong 

FOUND 

A  ring    was  found  in  the  Women's 
Lavatory,  Stack  2  level,  Monday  evening, 
November  1,  195ii#     OvvTier  may  claim  it 
in  the     Personnel  Office, 


-9" 


MARGARET  FLETCHER  FILBURN 
In  Memoriam 

Margaret  Fletcher  Filbum  entered  the 
service  of  the  Boston  Public  Library 
in  the  Cataloging  and  Classification 
Department,  Reference  and  Research  Divi- 
sion, on  September  1,  ISh.9.     She  -was  the 
■wife  of  Howard  Filburn  of  Ne\Ttonville , 
en  the  staff  of  the  Dennis on  Company  of 
Framingham.  A  graduate  of  Skidmore 
College  and  of  the  Columbia  University 
School  of  Library  Science,  she  had  pre- 
viously been  employed  as  cataloger  in 
the  library  at  Skidmore,  later  at  Beaver 
Country  Day  School,  and  had  spent  two 
years  in  the  U.  S,  Air  Force  Library 
Service.  She  was  promoted  to  the  posi- 
tion of  Cataloger  in  her  department 
on  June  3,  1953.  On  November  12,  195U, 
while  she  was  on  duty  at  the  library,  a 
sudden  conplete  collapse  occurred, 
proving  fatal, 

r&ny  familiar  words  can  be  called  up 
readily  to  describe  Margaret  Filburn. 
Poised— charming—witty— sympathetic- 
all  these  are  true  of  her.  Perhaps 
"courageous"  is  not  the  word  that  would 
first  be  thought  ofj  but  it  applies, 
perhaps  more  than  any  of  the  others. 

Margaret  Filbum  had  for  jrears  been 
fighting  a  day-by-day — indeed  hour-by- 
hour— battle  against  the  twin  handicaps 
of  heart  trouble  and  diabetes.  Probably 
no  detail  cf  her  physical  condition  was 
unknown  to  her.  She  could  have  purchased 
added  years  of  life  at  the  price  of 
retirement  and  a  semi -secluded  existence. 
But  she  did  not  believe  that  life  was 
meant  to  be  lived  on  those  terms. 
Taking  all  possible  precautions  to  safe- 
guard her  health,  she  lived  each  day  as 
it  cair.e,  as  actively  as  her  current  con- 
dition would  allow. 

It  was  her  choice  to  carry  out  a 
full-time  schedule  at  the  library  as 
cataloger  and  reviser,  and  this  she  did 
with  all  the  conscientious  thoroughness 
that  such  a  position  entails.  She  was  a 
hone -maker  as  wellj  and  her  social  in- 
terests were  many.  Probably  it  iTas  her 
sheer  enjoyment  of  events  and  of  people 
that  gave  her  the  needed  buoyancy  to 
carry  on.  No  one  can  doubt  that  she 
relished  life;  her  original  and  enter- 
taining comments  on  its  details  were  a 
delight. 

She  had  what  might  be  called  a  unique 


double  vision.  She  could  regard  the 
passing  shov/,  herself  a  participant, 
with  detachment  and  humor;  at  the  same 
time,  when  another's  problem  came  before 
her,  she  revealed  a  rare,  sympathetic 
insight.  Her  personality  invited  con- 
fidences, and  she  probably  received 
more  than  any  of  her  associates  ever 
realized.  This  partially  accounts  for 
the  intensely  personal  grief  felt  by 
each  of  her  colleagues  at  her  passing. 

Like  all  proud-spirited  people, 
l.feirgaret  Filburn  dreaded  the  possibility 
of  invalidism  and  dependence.  Her  end, 
though  to  her  friends  untimely  and  of  a 
shocking  suddenness,  was  in  all  likeli- 
hood as  she  would  have  wished  it. 

IJarjorie  A.  Brown 

An  Appreciation 

In  the  recent  death  of  ilrs  Filburn 
the  department  has  lost  an  earnest 
worker  and  a  most  gracious  woman.  She 
was  a  very  interesting  conversationalist 
and  could  hold  her  hearers '  attention 
to  the  very  end.  If  a  co-worker  should 
ask  her  advice  about  certain  problems 
of  the  work,  she  was  always  most  co- 
operative and  would  put  aside  her  own 
vrork  in  order  to  assist  her  associate 
in  her  difficulty.  In  spite  of  ill 
health  she  was  always  cheerful  and 
hopeful  for  better  and  healthier  days. 

As  a  hostess  in  her  home  she  was  very 
hospitable.  I  have  spent  many  pleasant 
hours  at  her  home  and  these  times  will 
always  be  a  treasured  memory.  An 
association  with  such  a  personality 
through  idle  years  cannot  help  but  be 
an  inspiration. 

May  L.  Crosby 

Skidmore  Scholarship  Fund 

In  lieu  of  the  flowers  usually  sent 
by  the  Association  on  the  death  of  active 
members,  a  donation  of  $10  was  sent 
to  the  Skidmore  Scholarship  Fund,  in 
accordance  with  the  request  in  the 
obituary  notices  in  the  Boston  papers. 


-10- 


ALmmi   NOTES 

Quoted  from: 

COLLEGE  AND  RESEARCH  LIBRARIES: 

April,  195h,   page  230: 

"i.!aurice  Fc  Rahilly  has  been  ap- 
pointed assistant  college  librarian 
in  charge  of  readers '  services  at 
the  State  University  of  New  York 
Maritime  College  Library,  Fort 
Schuyler,  New  York," 

October,  1951i,  page  I|62 : 

"Pauline  O'Melia  has  been  appointed 
assistant  professor  of  library  science 
at  Indiana  University." 

IvIISSING  FH)M  THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 
Library  Trends 

Volume  2  Number  3  195U 

Subscription  Books  Bulletin 

Volume  21  Numbers  1,  2  1950 
Volume  22  Number  1  19^1 
Voliome  21;  Number  h     1953 

MORE  SOCIAL  T7HIRL 

Virginia  Haviland  was  the  hostess 
at  her  aparticent  on  Wednesday,  November  X 
at  a  dinner  party  for  the  members  of  the 
Book  Selection  Committee  for  children, 
of  Ti'^iich  she  is  the  chairman.  At  the 
conclusion  of  a  delicious  dinner -the 
guest  of  honor,  I'irs  Bette  (Freer) 
Pinckney,  was  presented  with  an  eight- 
piece  TV  hostess  set,  in  honor  of  her 
recent  marriage.  The  guests  then  en- 
joyed the  excellent  colored  slides, 
with  appropriate  comments,  v/hich  Miss 
Haviland  took  during  her  recent  visit 
to  Germany,  France,  the  Channel  Isles, 
and  England.  With  best  wishes  to  the 
bride  and  thanks  to  our  hostess  the 
usually  staid  committee  members  left 
for  their  respective  homes  wanting  only 
more  brides  and  more  European  tours  to 
stage  a  repeat  performance  at  the  drop 
of  a  hat. 

Edna  G.  Peck 


SECATORE— CROTO-EY 

Lfeirie  L.  Crowley,  Central  Charging 
Records,  daughter  of  Joseph  Crowley, 
Assistant-in-Charge,  Book  Stack  Service, 
and  loTS  Crowlay,  the  former  Lillian 
Kennedy  of  Registration,  vras  married 
October  30th  to  Robert  Secatore  of 
I'.Iilton  and  Scituate.  The  eleven  o'clpck 
nuptial  Mass  was  followed  by  a  recep- 
tion at  Coral  Gables,  TZeymouth,  where 
wit  and  music  were  provided  by  Frank 
Myers,  for  two  hundred  guests.  Jfeiny 
library  friends  were  among  the  well- 
wishers  . 

The  bride,  uniisually  beautiful  and 
radiant,  wore  a  bouffant  period  gown 
of  pleated  nylon  and  Alencon  lace  over 
satin  with  a  chapel  length  veil  of 
French  tulle.  Her  bouquet  was  a  cascade 
of  white  roses  and  stephanoitas  with 
the  traditional  orchid. 

Four  attendants  wore  crystallette 
and  net  gowns  of  delphinium  blue  and 
carried  American  Beauty  roses.  The 
asid  of  honor,  Margaret  Crowley,  sister 
of  the  bride,  wore  a  coral  crystallette 
and  net  gown  matching  the  bridesmaids. 
Tvro  nieces  of  the  bridegroom,  Patty 
and  Janet  Secatore,  aged  5  and  6  years, 
were  the  poised  and  charming  flower 
girls. 

The  happy  couple  are  honeymooning  in 
Washington  and  New  York. 

ARNAVET3 

On  Monday  evening,  November  l6,  the 
Arnavets  held  their  annual  banquet. 
This  year's  get-together  took  place  at 
Eddie  Davis's  Steak  House. 

Presiding  over  the  affair,  attended  by 
more  than  sixty  members,  was  Commander 
Louis  Rains.     A  speech  of  welcome  to  new 
members  was  made  by  the  Commander.     The 
Commander-Elect,  Samuel  Greenland  Past- 
Commander  tfy'ers  also  addressed  the  members. 


-11- 


WILLIAM  B.  GALLAGHER  H3K0RED 

On  Wednesday  afternoon,  Noveniber  tenth, 
from  three  to  five  o'clock,  associates  of 
ITilliam  B,  Gallagher,  Chief  of  the  Print- 
ing Department,  Emeritus,  gathered  in- 
formally in  the  Women's  Lounge  to  honor 
their  colleague  upon  his  retirement  from 
the  Library  after  twenty-eight  years  of 
service.  Sharing  the  afternoon  -with  him 
were  his  vafe  and  youngest  daughter, 
Paula • 

Attractive  f Icvrer  arrangements  deco- 
rated the  room.  An  efficient  corps  of 
Traitresses  and  pourers  saw  to  it  that 
all  the  guests  vrere  taken  care  of  in  a 
friendly  and  gracious  manner,  supplement- 
ing most  effectively  the  equally  efficient 
corps  vihich  functioned  behind  the  scenes. 

Joining  in  the  festivities  were  several 
other  retired  staff  members  who  vrere  wel- 
comed most  cordially:  1.1,  Florence  GufflJn 
George  H.  Earley,  Chester  A.  S.  Fazakas, 
Christine  Hayes,  Frances  McG.  Kellegr, 
Alice  li.  Jordan,  Patrick  Kennedy,  ITillLam 
J.  Mulloney,  and  Morris  J.  Rosenberg. 
ITelcomed  vdth  equal  cordiality  was 
Francis  B.  Masterson,  former  Trustee. 

Arthur  17.  Heintzelman,  a  member  of  the 
committee  in  charge,  presented  the  gift 
and  has  given  permission  for  his  remarks 
to  be  reprinted  herso  }Sr   Gallagher's 
acknovifledgment  made  \7ith  warmth  and 
characteristics  wit,  Tra.s  enjoyed  by  all. 

The  committee,  learning  that  Mr 
Gallagher  had  already  petitioned  Santa 
Claus  for  a  Polaroid  camera  for  Christ- 
mas, made  Santa's  task  less  arduous  by 
answering  this  request  a  month  early. 
With  the  camera  were  a  flash  attachment, 
bulbs,  films,  and  an  albumo 

Previous  to  the  tea,  Mr  Gallagher's 
associates  in  the  Printing  and  Binding 
Departments  had  presented  him  a  gift 
of  money  and  a  beautifully-bound  book 
filled  with  messages  from  his  friends 
throughout  the  Library  system. 

He  has  the  warm  good  v/ishes  of  all  his 
friends,  who  share  the  sentiments  ex- 
pressed so  ably  by  Mr  Heintzelman: 

"One  can  Hardly  speak  of  any  department 
in  the  Boston  Public  Library  without 
thinking  of  Bill  Gallagher,  I  feel 
certain  that  we  all  agree  in  pronouncing 
him  first  of  all  a  great  and  dear  friend. 
That  he  is  an  accomplished  printer,  great 
craftsman,  and  master  of  his  profession 
is  a  foregone  conclusion.  For  pro- 
fession it  is,  as  printing  vras  an  art  in 
his  hands,  V/hile  in  the  Printing  Depart- 


ment Bill's  technical  virtuosity  was 
extraordinary  and  his  repertoire  Td.th 
antique  caslon  seemed  endless.  His 
understanding  and  reverence  for  fine 
work  of  the  past  and  present  has  made 
him  a  most  eloquent  exponent  of  the 
graphic  arts.  Bi.ll  did  much  to  build 
his  task  of  printed  natter  into  a  vital 
force  which  has  become  a  monument  to 
him  in  the  Boston  Public  Library.  As 
a  printer.  Par  axcellence,  he  gave  much 
more  than  was  expected  of  him  by  the  pur- 
suit of  his  oLvn  ideal,  and  in  so  doing, 
he  achieved  signal  success.  No  one  has 
accomplished  more  in  this  respect  or 
with  greater  fidelity  than  Bill,  with 
tjrpe,  ink,  and  paper.  His  palette  held 
no  limitations  and  his  tools  obeyed 
every  thought.  In  looking  over  the 
years  in  retrospect  we  find  his  oeuvre 
an  achievement  that  not  only  brings 
praise  from  us  for  the  very  spirit  of 
fine  printing,  but  admiration  also  for 
his  interpretive  powers  as  well.  We 
are  conscious  of  a  fine  apprenticeship 
Tiiich  flowered  into  an  accomplishment 
worthy  of  the  great  periods  v;hen  master 
printers  aspired  to  creative  skill. 

In  our  Boston  Public  Library  Quarterly, 
catalogs ,  exhibition  cards  and  other 
publications,  there  has  always  been  a 
successful  result  that  has  played  no 
little  part  in  the  departments  where 
the  arts  are  represented:  Literature, 
Rare  Book,  Fine  Arts,  Music,  or  Print, 
especially  in  the  educatioral  fields  of 
TJhich  his  part  was  inestimable. 

Like  the  true  artist  he  felt  there  was 
always  room  for  improvement.  In  each 
successful  result  there  was  the  fresh 
challenge  resulting  in  steady  and  sure 
growth  that  brought  him  to  the  very 
pinnacle  of  the  limitations  of  his 
material . 

We  feel  sure  that  his  unusual  talent 
will  not  be  sobered  by  the  years  that 
lie  ahead,  although  he  will  remember 
our  requests  with  deadlines  in  mindj 
which  \7ere  fraught  with  tense  emotions 
•vihen  dealing  with  our  various  ideas  and 
difficult  personalities.  His  patience 
and  fundamental  beliefs  demonstrated  to 
us  on  occasions  will  remain  with  us 
always,  deepening  and  maturing  through 
the  passage  of  time.  We  have  been 
enriched  by  the  recollection  of  pleasant 
hours  working  over  the  printing  of  a 
manuscript,  looking  over  a  reproduction, 
or  reading  proof  together «  His  rich  ex- 
periences, both  here  and  abroad,  our  chil- 


-12- 


dren,  oiir  problems ,  and  the  many  things 
we  found  in  common  helped  to  make  life 
worthv/hile  and  interesting. 

And  so  to  you.  Bill,  who  coveted  your 
?oal  and  a  place  in  our  hearts  iThile 
working  with  us  in  this  famous  institu- 
tion your  being  one  of  us  was  all  im- 
portant.    The  steps  leading  to  your 
accomplishment  must  have  been  difficult 
at  times  but  they  were  rungs  in  your 
ladder  tihich  reached  great  heights  in 
the  hearts  of  your  many  friends  gathered 
here  -vrtio  want  to  convey  their  fondest 
good  wishes  that  only  our  inner  beings 
and  no  v/ords  can  express.     May  the  best 
years  of  your  life  lie  ahead.    We  pray 
that  your  fondest  wishes  and  dreams,  and 
those  of  your  dear  family,  will  be 
fulfilled  a  thousand  fold.    We  shall  miss 
you  more  than  we  can  tell, 

MM  BOOKS  IN  THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 

Wbn«<Fiotion--Library  Science 

American  Library  Association,     Annual 

conference  summary  reports,  195ii.  73d. 

Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 

19Sh 
Association  of  American  Library  Schools, 

Directory,  19^2 

Seattle,  University  of  VJashington 

Press,  19^1i 
Dewey,  Melvil,  Decimal  classification 

and  relative  index,  7th  ed. 

Lake  Placid  Club,  New  York,  Forest 

Press,  19^3 
Wilson,  H.  W,  Standard  catalog  for 

public  libraries. 

Supplement  1950-53  to  19li9  edition. 

New  York,  H.  V/.  Wilson,  1951; 
U.  S.  Library  of  Congress,  General 

Reference  and  Bibliography  Division 

Bibliographical  procedures  and  styles; 

a  manual  for  bibliographers  in  the 

Library  of  Congress, 

TiTashington,  Library  of  Congress,  195U. 

Non-Fiction 

Flexner,  James  T, 

The  traitor  and  the  spy:  Benedict 

Arnold  and  John  Andre. 

New  York,  Harcourt,  Brace,  1953. 
Foley,  Albert  S,  Bishop  Healy, 

New  York,  Straus  and  Young,  195U 


y         BRANCH  N3TES 

East  Boston 

On  October  27,  a  Halloween  Story  Hour 
was  held  at  the  Branch.  The  205  children 
who  came  certaixily  seened  to  have  cap- 
tured the  spirit  of  Halloween,  as  evi- 
denced by  the  large  number  of  witches, 
gypsies,  and  skeletons,  but  predominantly 
little  devils,  who  appeared.  The  darkened 
hall  downstairs  did  not  seem  to  stifle 
their  spirit  in  the  least,  however,  since 
they  were  neither  frightened  nor  silenced 
by  the  inky  darkness  with  its  one  flicker- 
ing flame. 

The  children's  worker  then  attempted 
to  raise  a  few  hairs  by  her  cackling 
and  moaning  accompanying  the  telling  of 
a  spooky  story.  A  few  were  further 
frightened  by  a  haunt ingly  poignant  poem, 
"Someone  Came  Knocking"  by  Walter  de  la 
Mare,  But  the  piece  de  resistance  broke 
ALL  resistance  when  someone  did  come 
knocking  in  -the   form  of  a  gruesome,  ugly, 
horrible  witch.  Many  young  hearts  almost 
stopped  beating  as  she  slowly  shuffled 
across  the  roomj  these  same  yoiuig  hearts 
jiggled  Tdth  relief  as  the  children 
recognized  the  gruesome,  ugly,  horrible 
witch  to  be  only  lirs   Saffren,  one  of  the 
children's  workers. 

The  children's  obvious  desire  for 
some  form  of  recreation  was  then  gratified 
by  having  next  the  game  called  "Statues," 
Presently,  the  good  and  fair  and  true 
Halloween  fairy,  Mrs  Colarusso,  pro- 
duced her  magic  wand,  whose  powers  were 
inconceivable.  With  only  the  slightest 
flutter  of  this  bejewelled  object  she 
turned  boys  and  girls  into  witches, 
ghosts,  scarecrows  and  jack-o-lanterns 
(but  not  little  devils,) 

A  short  episode  then  followed  in  which 
a  few  of  the  children  divulged  some  of 
their  secrets  for  making  their  Halloween 
excursions  more  enjoyable.  Only  sugges- 
tions of  the  constructive  type  were 
accepted,  of  course. 

If,  however,  in  spite  of  all  this. 
Some  of  the  children  had  not  absorbed 
the  correct  spirits,  the  children's  worker 
reviewed  briefly  some  Halloween  books 
with  their  many  pages  of  hoots  and  howls. 

Needless  to  say,  the  Halloween  Story 
Hour  was  immensely  enjoyed  by  both  the 
children  and  the  children's  workers, 
obviously  quite  equally  as  much  by  the 
latter  as  by  the  former. 


-13- 


Mattapan 

Despite  the  marked  drop  in  professional 
Broadway  productions  in  recent  years, 
the  theatre  today  reniains  a  vital  and 
appreciated  art.  Friends  of  the  Mattapan 
Eranch  Library  v/ere  told  by  Eagene 
Blackman,  Professor  of  English  and 
Director  of  the  Silver  L«iasque  Dramatic 
Society  at  Northeastern  University, 

The  organization's  first  meeting  of 
the  season  was  held  Monday  evening, 
October  2$,   at  the  library  \mder  the 
chairmanship  of  lirs  Robert  Rotman.  The 
group  heard  Prof,  Blackman,  who  is  also 
book  critic  for  the  Boston  Post,  detail 
the  tremendous  costs  involved  in  pro- 
ducing a  play.  Increased  expenditures 
for  labor,  from  prima  donna  to  prop  man, 
for  costumes  and  for  sets  have  resulted 
in  fewer  first-run  professional  Broadway 
shows.  But  the  vitality  of  the  theatre 
cannot  be  doubted.  Prof,  Blackman  pointed 
out,  Tihen  new  playrights  and  new  actors 
continue  to  be  developed. 

Decentralization  of  the  theatre  with 
more  emphasis  on  amateur,  community  and 
semi-professional  groups  would  insure  the 
continued  groivth  and  appreciation  of  the 
living  theatre  in  this  age  of  "canned" 
shows.  Prof,  Blackman  held. 

An  excellent  film  of  a  trio  concert 
by  Jascha  Heifetz,  Artur  Rubinstein  and 
Gregor  Piatigorsky  was  also  shovrn. 
Home-made  refreshments  were  served  by 
Irs  David  Klass,  hospitality  chairman. 

On  October  27,  the  first  meeting  of 
the  Mattapan  Branch  American  Heritage 
discussion  group  vras  held.  The  film 
Due  Process  of  Law  Denied  (a  condensed 
version  of  the  feature  film  Ox-Bow 
Incident)  was  shown,  followed  by  a 
lively  and  interesting  discussion, 
liar  jorie  Groves  of  Mount  Bowdoin  and 
Harry  Karpeles,  Assistant  Director  of 
Hecht  House,  co-leaders  of  the  group, 
will  be  conducting  future  sessions  at 
the  Branch, 

* 

The  Great  Books  Discussion  Group- 
first  year  program — under  the  leadership 
of  Zelda  Kublin  has  an  enrollment  of 
fourteen  participants ,  mostly  women. 
The  reports  about  the  meeting  have  been 
most  enthusiastic,  and  futiire  sessions 
promise  to  be  both  interesting  and 
profitable  for  those  enrolled. 


"Blackbeard,"  "Tom  Sawyer,"  and  "Jo 
i.^rch"  were  among  the  characters  of 
Bookland  -viio  assembled  on  October  29 
for  the  Hallowe'en  Frolic.  Authentic 
and  effective  costume  impersonations, 
designed  by  the  yoving  wearers  from 
materials  readily  available  at  home, 
indicated  their  ingenuity  and  imagina- 
tion, and  made  the  selection  of  winners 
an  almost  impossible  task.  The  staff 
of  the  Children's  Room  vras   particularly 
impressed  with  a  lad  -vJho   came  as 
Cinderella's  stepsister  garbed  in  a 
creation  concocted  from  a  bedspread  and 
three  turkish  towels  !  Prior  to  the 
selection  of  vanners,  a  program  of 
Hallowe'en  stories  and  games  was  pre- 
sented. 


Latest  inducement  to  reading  in  the 
Junior  High  circle:  We  had  a  request 
from  a  charming  young  lady  for  a  book — 
any  book — named  Martin,  "because  that's 
my  boy  friend's  name — and  I  want  to 
read  a  book  with  I^iartin  in  the  title." 

Phillips  Brooks 

The  essay  contest  is  sponsored  this  year 
by  the  Readville  Improvement  Association, 
Judges  of  the  contest  are  George  Noonan, 
president  of  the  Association;  Sister 
Mary  Adele,  principal  of  St  Anne's 
School;  Margaret  Cassidy,  teacher  at  the 
Hemenway  School, 

Tfest  End 

Fanny  Goldstein,  Branch  Librarian  at 
West  End,  delightedly  reports  that  during 
a  sojurn  of  work  and  play  in  New  York 
recently  she  had  the  honor  of  attending 
the  dinner  and  reception  tendered  Her 
Majesty  Queen  Elizabeth,  the  Queen 
Mother,  by  the  English  Speaking  Union 
in  Ne\7  York,  on  Wednesday  evening, 
November  3,     She  states  that  the  Queen 
Mother's  charm,  voice,  and  attractiveness 
thoroughly  bewitched  everyone  at  the 
affair,  said  to  be  the  largest  gathering 
that  the  Waldorf  Astoria  has  ever  served 
at  one  time, 

Ex-Ambassador  William  0,  Douglas  T/as 
the  very  xvitty  Chairman  of  the  evening. 
And  the  guests — the  men  in  tails  and 
their  decorations  ^i^ich  they  were  re- 
quested to  wear,  and  the  women  in  their 
beautiful  and  varigated  formals  offered 
a  veritable  fashion  show. 


-11,. 


Rebecca  Hillmeister  returned  to  work 
at  West  End  from  her  hospitalization 
raring-to-go ,  to  the  delight  of  the  rest 
of  the  Staff  and  her  friends  among  the 
library  patrons,  many  of  whom  had  thought 
she  Twas  off  on  another  trip. 


SOAP  BOX 


Any  ccntribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must 
be  accompanied  by  the  full  name  of  the 
Association  member  submitting  it,  to- 
gether vrith   the  name  of  the  Branch  Libiarj! 
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  con- 
tributions are  not  given  consideration. 
The  author  of  the  article  is  knoxm  only 
to  the  contributor  and  to  the  Editor- 
in-Chief.  The  contents  of  articles 
appearing  in  the  Spap  Box  are  personal 
opinions  expressed  by  individual  Associa- 
tion members  and  their  appearance  does 
not  necessarily  indicate  that  the  Pub- 
lications Committee  and  the  Association 
are  in  agreement  with  the  views  expressed, 
Only  those  contributions  containing  not 
more  than  300  words  will  be  accepted. 


Dear  Soap  Box  Editor; 

November — season  of  thanksgiving; 
"YJhite  Christmas"— Irving  Berlin  covun- 
seling  us  to  fall  asleep  counting  ovr 
blessings  instead  of  sheep  I    IThat  better 
atmosphere  could  be  desired  than  this  for 
saying  a  sincere  "Thank  You"  to  the 
Director  and  the  Trustees  for  their  part— 
and  we  assume  it  was  a  big  part— in 
bringing  about  salary  increases  retro- 
active to  January  1,  195U.  We  gripe 
about  our  superiors,  from  department 
chiefs  to  the  Director,  with  the  greatest 
of  ease  and  rush  our  complaints  to  the 
Soap  Box  while  we  are  still  -vTrathy  over 
something  which  may  turn  out  to  have 
been  a  molehill  instead  of  the  mountain 
we  thought  it  to  be .  I  am  wondering  how 
many  will  as  quickly  rush  to  the  Soap 
Box  to  express  appreciation  for  the 
raises.  I  hope  I  will  have  plenty  of 
company  I 

THANKFUL 


Dear  Editor: 

Ve^ry  often  I  think  of  the  whole  BPL 
family  and  the  diversity  of  jobs  and 
the  demands  of  those  jobs — necessary  to 
serve  the  public  well.  I  also  realize 
the  pressure  of  work  to  be  done  at  a 
given  time  and  hovr  difficult  it  is  to 
alv/ays  keep  in  pace  with  what  vre  would 
like  to  accomplish.  Amidst  the  heavy 
schedules  of  all  of  us  and  the  problems 
that  arise,  hew  would  it  be  if  all  of 
us  took  a  more  encouraging,  happy,  and 
xinderstcinding  attitude  toward  the 
demands  of  our  -svDrk  each  day?  Anian 
approach  I  venture  to  suggest  is  one 
of  more  emphasis  on  INSPIRATION  and 
ENCOURAGEMENT  as  we  work  together,  I 
guess  I  am  old-fashioned,  but  I  think 
inspiration— and  htimor  and  understanding — 
are  very  important  in  the  routine  chores 
of  the  day — in  committee  meetings,  day- 
to-day  conversations  regarding  pro- 
cedures of  a  unit,  or  a  problem  with  a 
patron,  etc. 

I  find  I  can  do  much  better  work  when 
buoyed  up  by  some  inspiration  or  new 
learning  or  note  of  HOPE.  Life  is  so 
short,  it  would  seem  that  this  quality 
of  inspiration  should  have  more  emphasis 
at  every  routine  meeting  or  hard  problem 
we  inust  thrash  out  to-gether,  now  and 
then.  And  I  do  not  intend  to  imply 
that  department  chiefs,  or  business 
managers  should  sit  down  and  quote 
poetry  to  balance  up  a  session  with 
difficult  problems  to  be  solved !  No  ! 

One  day  I  observed  an  employee  of  the 
Central  Library's  coffee  shop  hurrying 
into  a  department  of  the  library  with 
a  book  Tfliiich  she  believed  a  staff 
member  had  left  at  tiie  coiinter  by  mis- 
take. The  employee  was  anxious  to  try 
to  catch  the  person  who  had  forgotten 
her  book  before  she  might  have  left  the 
building.  Her  long  trip  to  this  departnent 
was  in  vain,  but  it  certainly  made  me 
realize,  as  Jefferson  once  said,  that 
"there  is  wisdom  in  the  people."  The 
employee's  thoughtfulness  made  me 
wonder  if  I  myself  were  not  thou^tless 
and  self -centered  with  my  co-workers 
much  too  often.  I  could  not  dismiss  it 
from  my  mind  as  routine,  for  I  knew  the 
employee  might  have  been  on  her  feet 
for  a  long  day,  and  she  was  doing  this 
quite  on  her  own  "after  hours'.'.  It  made 
me  realize  that  tnie  qualities  of  great- 
ness are  not  limited  to  the  leaders  of 


-15- 


society,  but  that  flashes  of  human 
understanding,  quite  inspirational  in 
themselves,  are  found  in  ordinary  daily 
working  situations  in  the  ranks  inhere  I 
work.  This  little  incident  inspired  me 
and  made _rae  do  a  lot  of  thinking. 
Another  one — quite  of  a  different  sort — 
mif^ht  help  someone  else.  But  it  is  this 
idea  of  INSPIRATION  and  ENCOURAGMffiNT 
vjhich  I  feel  should  be  a  part  of  many 
routine  jobs  we  have  to  get  done  to- 
gether. 

Job  needs  of  us  all  .demand  records  . 
and  other  statistics  showing  accomplish- 
ment. Things  do  not  always  come  off  as 
planned  no  natter  how  hard  vre  try.  But 
I  think  that  meetings,  routine  chores, 
and  many  things  we  do  together  could.' be 
more  fun  in  the  course  of  our  day. 
People  throughout  the  vrorld  today  in  very 
dire  circumstances  are  able  to  carry  on 
Yfith  inspiration,  humor  and  gracious- 
ness  and  our  problems  are  far  from  being 
as  serious, 

I  guess  I  am  old-fashioned.  But, 
really,  ten  years  from  nov/,  nobody  is 
going  to  remember  how  many  showed  up  at 
that  meeting  we  knocked  ourselves  out 
for,  or  how  that  order  got  mislaid,  or 
how  difficult  the  budget  was  in  195U  so 
we  could  not  do  as  planned.  But  ten 
years  from  now,  I  believe  that  any 
unusually  human  understanding,  encourage- 
ment, or  r;enuinely  thoughtful  deed  or 
INSPIRATION  given  by  a  leader  or  ? 
follower  in  the  BPL  family  MIGHT  have 
changed  a  lifetime  philosophy  or  helped 
a  number  of  people  or  been  tlie  beginning 
of  new  learnings  or  a  better  way — and  whd 
is  to  attempt  to  measure  the  value  of 
that?  It  is  the  adding  up  of  these  HUMAN 
things  that  inspires  a  better  society 
and  a  finer  and  better  working  institu- 
tion. 


AN  EMPLOYEE 


Dear  Editor; 


It  is  shocking  and  distressing  to 
learn  in  the  public  press 'of  a  policy 
controversy  between  the  Director  and 
the  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 
In  an  institution  that  is  extremely  rumor 
conscious  this  is  the  first  I  have  heard 
of  such  a  controversy  being  in  existence. 

One  statement  surprised  me  greatly. 
It  was  to  the  effect  that  while  the 
Director  favored  the  Research  Division, 
the  President  favored  the  Home  Reading 


Division,  Now,  I  do  not  know  the  latter 's 
position  in  the  matter  as  I  do  not  enjoy 
his  confidence,  but  the  Director  is  the 
last  person  in  the  world  to  be  accused 
of  coddling  the  Reference  Divisicn, 

In  the  period  19UO-19$0,  immediately 
prior  to  iVIr  McDonald's  incumbency  as  a 
trustee,  the  Reference  and  Research 
Division  received  an  average  of  about 
$i4.,ij00  per  year  from  city  funds  for  the 
purchase  of  books,  vrhich  included  such 
lows  as  ','??. 20,  '4>8,19.  and  0  mth  one 
beneficient  year  of  ^.11,659,  as  opposed 
to  Home  Reading  Division's  average  of 
$95,000  for  the  same  purpose.  And  this 
in  the  face  of  diminishing  trust  funds. 

Personnel-wise  the  Home  Reading 
Division  has  enjoyed  the  lion's  share 
of  the  budget,  v/hich  is  understandable 
in  view  of  the  large  number  of  branches,. 
However,  in  this  same  period  the  pro- 
motional opportunities  afforded  the  Home 
Reading  Division  out-numbered  those  in 
the  Reference  and  Research  Division  about 
three  to  one.  Not  to  mention  the  fact 
that  the  aforementioned  division  was 
and  still  is  dominated  by  one  sex.  And 
in  addition  innumerable  vacancies  in  the 

Reference  Division  are  not  even  slated 
for  filling,  including  the  Supervisor 
and  the  Municipal  Reference  Librarian, 
All  of  this  can  hardly  demonstrate 
coddling  of  the  Reference  and  Research 
Division* 

No,  the  Director  is  guiltless  of  the 
charge  and  deserves  the  apology  of  the 
newspaper  involved.  As  to  the  statemient 
that  this  library  has  maintained  its 
high  standard  as  a  research  institution 
I  can  only  say  vdth  George  Gobel,  "Sure, 
it  has." 

Eamon  McD enough 

General  Reference  Department 


CARE 


For  the  holiday  season  CARE  is 
offering  special  "FOOD  CRUSADE"  packages 
which  are  selling  at  $,50  per  package, 
Ifede  up  of  government  surplus  they  weigh 
approximately  II4  lbs. 

It  is  hoped  that  many  Ytill  want  to 
take  advantage  of  this  fine  offer  and 
contribute  now. 

Special  Committee  for  CARE 


A  PUBLIC  SPEAKS 


BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

May  we  remind  you  that  the  books  noted  below  arc  now  over- 
due.    Please  return  them  promptly,  together  with  your  library  card, 

JOHN  M.  CARROLL 

Chief  Librarian,  Division  of 

Home  Reading  and  Community  Services 


l0-30-5li 

(date) 


By. 


mzl 


Book 

LB  2822.5     E  U5 

Copy  2 


Date  due.... 197^37511. 


Transaction  Number 


B71666 


at  ..    . .  .99^t'-rfl.9^??. 


10 13 '  Sk 

Has  passed  on,  and  is  no  more 

I  cannot,  alas,  return  the  book  on  time, 

But  I  still  remain  relaxed 
'Cause  the  money  I  am  taxed 

van  be  worth  it  for  the  pleasure  of  this  rhyme. 
I  have  not  picked  up  my.  pen 
Since  that  famous  ev'ning  when 
I  banged  my  shins  on  tables  slung  too  low, 
As   I  sat  down  in  the    gloom 
Of  the  former  "Teachers'  Room" 
Where  none  but  3-foot  pygmies  ought  to   go. 

I'm  reminded  by  your  card 

Thai  the  sinner's  vray  is  hard 

And  that  he  who  keeps  a  book   'til  over  due 

Will  be  chased  from  here  to  h — 1 

B^  a  certain  "mzl" 

For  B71666,  Copy  2 

So  I'm  happy  to  indite 

That  I  brought  it  back  last  night 

Yes,  LB  28225  is  back 

I  said,  "Look,  the  fault  is  mine  I 

Here's  my  36  cent  fine  I" 

And  Jamaica  Plain  now  has  it  in  its  stack  I 

Mr  John  J.  Stanley  Curran  3r, 


Thanx ,  cranx ! 


TO 


uestion 


TIT 
iii 


BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PROFESSIONAL  STAFF  ASSOCIATION 


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


Volume   IX,  Number  12 


December  195U 


Publications  Conmittee:     Gerald  L.   Ball,    John  J.  McCafferty,   Sheila  W,   Pierce, 

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 

This  is  the  December  issue ,  the  Publi- 
cations Committee's  last  chance  to  extend 
best  wishes  for  the  Christmas  and  New 
Year  holiday  season  to  the  staff  at  all 
Library  units,   to  retired  staff  Timbers, 
to  Library  Alumni,  and  to  all  our  frienda 

lie  can  feel  pride  again  this  year  in 
that  the  Library  is  offering  to  its 
staff  and  visitors   something  in  the 
nature  of  what  Christmas 'really  is. 
Christmas  has_,   of  course,  meant  many 
things   in  the  history  of  Christianity^ 
it  has  been  seen  as  a  period  of  solemn 
restraint,   of  uproarious  revelry,  and 
even  of  the  most  abandoned  debauchery, 
df^pending  upon  the  time  and  place  and  the 
temperament  of  the  celebrants.      It  has 
in  our  time  and  in  our  country  become 
something  of  all  these  things  for  we 
Americans  have  mth  characteristic 
efficiency  digested  all  of  history's 
oractices  and  taken  a  little   of  each, 
adding  hugh  portions  of  sentimentality 
("I'm  Dreaming  of  a  Yftiite  Christmas") 
and  dovmri'^ht  nonsense   ("I  Want  Eddie 
Fisher  for  Christmas"  and  "I  Saw  Mommy 
Doin'   the  llambo  Ydth  You-Know-?Jho" ) , 
garnishing  the  vriiole  with  ruthless 
commercialism,  and  lo  I — ^we  have  come  up 
with  "Xmas"  I     Xmas  is  the  greatest  feast 
on  the  calendar  of  trade,  a  conventional 
dcariline  for  the  end  of  the   gift-buying 
period.      It  is   immediately  preceded 
oj  as  wild  a  party  as  can  be  run  off 
■.vithout  fear  of  arrest j  it  is  observed 
by  big  heads,  big  meals  and  impatience 
for  stores  to  open  that  gifts  may  be 
exchanged;  and  it  is  followed  by  January 
mark-dovm  sales.     We  can  thank  the 
niggardly  spirit  of  the  inspired  merchant 
v*io  seized  upon  "Xmas"  as  a  convenient 
and  type-saving  symbol — for  Xmas  and 
Christmas  are  not  the  same  thing  and  now 
each  can  have  its  ovm  name. 

Christmas  is  the  feast  of  the  birth 
of  Christ  and  of  all  Christianity,   some- 


thing which  Xnas  advertising  has  for- 
gotten, but  which  the  Exhibits  Office, 
happily,  has  not»     The  displays  in  the 
lobby  at  Central  this  year  offer  a  bold, 
striking  blending  of  the  Christmas 
tradition  ivith  the  world  about  us. 
Without  the  over-alaborate  dressing-up 
seen  in  too  many  versions  of  the  Christm.8S 
story,  told  through  the  simple  words  of 
the  Evangelists  themselves,   scene  after 
scene   of  Christ's  birth  are  unfolded 
before  familiar  scenes  in  our  own  city. 
The  picture  of  the  travelers  from  Naza- 
reth standing  in  the  cold  and  unfamiliar 
bustle  of  Dewey  Square  makes  us  feel 
more  acutely  the   confusion  and  lone- 
liness that  Mary  and  Joseph  must  have 
felt  arriving  at  crovj-ded  Bethlehem, ,  . 
the  Annunciation  scene  set  against  the 
background  of  an  unpretentious  tenement 
points  up  the  humble ,  workaday  world  that 
Christ's  Mother  lived  in. 

Congratulations  to   Boston  artist  Allan 
Rohan  Crite,  who  painted  these  scenes 
and  to  the  staff  of   the  Exhibits  Office 
for  their  part  in  this  fine  tribute  to 
Christmas — a  refreshing  breath  in  an 
atmosphere  of  too  much  Xmas. 

John  McCafferty 

CALENDAR  OF  EVENTS 

December  22,     Staff  tea.  Women's  Lounge, 
3-5  p.m. 

December  23.     Open  House  in  Men's 

Lounge,  10-11:30  a.m. 

January  29.       "Free  to  All",   B.P.L.P.S.A, 
J&isical  Revue,  New  England 
Mutual  Hall,  8:30  p.m. 


^- 


II 


PERSONAL  NOTES 

Marriages 

Mrs  Bette  B.   Freer,  Mt  Pleasant,  to 
Robert  P.    Pinckney,  October  19. 

Transfers 

ISrs   Florence  M,  Bickford,  from  Codman 

Square  to  East  Boston. 
Elizabeth  C.  Bowling,  from  Bookmobile 

to  Dorchester. 
Pasquale  A,  Vacca,  from  Dorchester  to 

Bookmobile  II. 


ENGAGEMENTS  i 
I 

Announcement  has  been  made  of  the  i 

engagement  of  Anne  B.  Doherty,  Charles-  ! 

town,  to  Daniel  W.  Kelly,  Jr.,  Audio-  j 

Visual.  I 

BIRTHS 

}Sr  and  Mrs   Charles   J,   Gillis, 
Cataloging  and  Classification   (H.R.  and 
C.S.),  have  announced  the  birth  of  a  son, 
David,  on  December  3.     Congratulations 
to  our  Editor',  (and  to  Mrs  Gillis,  too  I) 

JOHN  J.   CONNOLLY  AND  A  "YOUNG  READER" 

On  the   cover  of  the  LIBRARY  JOURNAL 
for  Decenber  1,  19^1,  appears   a  picture 
with  the  caption  BostOTi__Pub]Jx_J^ibrary 
Diaplay.     On  page  2303,  the  picture  is 
further  identified:   "The  plans   for 
development  of  the   Boston  Public  Library 
include  the  preparation  of  exhibits. 
Here  John  J.  Connolly,  Chief  Executive 
Officer,  with  a  young  reader  examine  a 
Dickens  village,"     The  unidentified 'young 
reader"    just  happens  to  be  the  film  star, 
Margaret  0 ' Brien  I 

THE  BPL  ON  RADIO 

The  Boston  Public  Library  has  been 
featured  in  a  l5-minute  WBE  Public 
Service  program,  at  k  p.m.  on  Sundays, 
December  $  and  12  ,  and  will  be  again 
on  tvro  future  Sundays,  Pec  ember  19  and  26, 

.    On  December  $,   Jane  Manthorne,  local 
director  of  the  Anerican  Heritage  Project 
a  discussion  program  for  Young  Adults, 
and  Jane  Anne  Ellstrom,  Young  Peoples' 
Specialist  of  the  American  Heritage 
Project,  presented  representatives  of 
the  local  groups . 

On    December  12,  Felicia  Langdon  and 


Lawrence  K,  Vezin  of  Audio-Visual,   pre- 
sented a  review  of  the  facilities 
available  in  the  Recordings  Section. 

On  December  19,  Elizabeth  M.  Gordon, 
Deputy  Supervisor  in  Charge  of  Work 
vrLth  Children,  vo.ll  present  Mrs  Phyllis 
Barclay,   Children's  Librarian,  Uphams 
Corner, 

In  connection  vdth  Jewish  Book  Month, 
Fanny  Goldstein,  YIest  End,  interviewed 
Harry  H,  Fein,  author-poet,  over  ¥VDM 
on  December  6.     Mr  Fein  gave  several 
readings  and  discussed  his  latest  book 
Songs  at  Eventide. 

TALKS  BY  STAFF  MEffiERS 

Fanny  Goldstein,  West  End,  has  given 
tJiree  talks  recently  in  connection  with 
the  American  Jev;-ish  Tercentenary:     On 
November  30  at  Norfolk  Prison;   on 
December  7,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Golden 
Age  Club  of  Temple  Kehillath  Israel j 
Brooklinej  and  on  December  8,  at  Charles- 
town  Prison. 

MR  CARPEMTER  SHOWS  COIORED  SLIDES 

On  Monday,   November  29,  Albert  L, 
Carpenter  shoTired  colored  slides  taken 
in  Ireland  and  on  the  continent  during 
the  trip  enjoyed  recently  by  Mr  and  I'irs 
Carpenter.     Those  who  saw  the  pictures, 
shovm  in  the  preview  room,  were  most 
enthusiastic, 

ENJOYED  AGAIN 

The   exhibition  of  the  collection  of 
'TWAS  THE  NIGHT  BEFORE  CHRISTlilAS,  which 
has  reached  k9  copies  since  it  was  shown 
fife  years  ago,  has  brought  much  enjoyment 
to  those  who  have  viewed  it  in  Sargent 
Hall.      This  unusual  collection  is   ovmed 
by  Mrs  Allen  MacFadden,  and  lent  by  her 
through  Pr is cilia  S.   MacFadden,   Chief  of 
Fine  Arts, 

RECENT  VISITOR 

Miss  Rita  Ejlersen,  Assistant  Librarian, 
Danish  Institute  of  International  Exchange 
of  Scientific  and  Literary  Publications, 
Royal  Library,  Copenhagen. 


-3- 


CARE 

The  CARE  Food  Cru5d.de  program  in  the 
B.P.L.P.S.A.   has  been  going  very  vrell. 
Bctvireen  orders  already  placed  and  cash 
now  on  hand  over  2  tons   of  food  should 
be  distributed  in  the  name  of  the 
Association.     Our  grateful  thanks  to  each 
of  you  vjho  contributed  to  this   fine 
response. 

Food  Crusade  packages  are  expected  to 
be  available  the  remainder  of  this  year. 
It  is  hoped  that  many  yet  vri.ll  -want  to 
have  part  in  this  program. 

Surely  the  knowledge  that  you  have 
given  something  to  someone  in  need  will 
cheer  and  bless  your  oim  Christmas  also. 

Special  Committee  on  CARE 

TAKE  A  F)W 

The  members  of  the  Publications 
Committee  unanimously  and  enthusiastically 
nominate     individually  and  collectively 
those  members   of  the  staff  viho  have 
shared  in  sending  the  tv/o-plus  tons  of 
food  through  CARE*     Contributors j  please 
take  your  b^./s  I 

E.P.L.P.S.A.  ITELCOIviES  BACK 

Geraldine  S.   Herrick,   North  End 
Josephine  PeLuca  Carter,  Central  Charging 

Records 
John  F.  Collins,   Jr.,  Business  Office 

THE  SOCIAL  iVHIRL 

Cn  Tuesday  evening,  November  16,  a 
supper  party  v.'as  held  at  the  home  of  Mrs 
Marjorie  Bouquet  for  Laura  Abate,   in  honor 
of  her  approaching  marriage  to  Angelo 
Abate  of  Rome,   Italy. 

The  guests  included  Gilda  and  Jeanne 
Rossetti,   Fary  Brady,  Barbara  Coffey, 
Barbara  Cotter,   and  Ruth  Michelson. 

Mrs   Bouquet  served  a  delightful  and 
appetizing  supper  after  i\toch  the  guests 
enjoyed  Laurie's  lovely  voice  via  records. 
As  a  climax  to  the  evening,  Laurio  opened 
several  beautiful  and  useful  gifts. 

On  Eeceirber  it,  195h,  at  the   Boston 
Center  for  Ad\ilt  Education,  $  Common- 
vrealth  Avenue,   Boston,  a  Prc-Nuptial  Tea 
Tras   giv.:n  for  Laurie  Abate,  a  member  of 
the  Office  of  the  Division  of  Reference 
and  Research  Services  Staff,   in  honor  of 
her  approaching  marriage  to  Angelo  Abate 


of  Rome,  Italy. 

High  light  of  the  afternoon  vras  the 
arrival  of  a  vjhitc  orchid  for  Laurie 
vjhich  her  fiance  arranged  to  have  sent 
for  this  occasion.  Laurie  received  many 
beautiful  gifts  which  she  i/ill  be  able 
to  enjoy  in  her  new  home. 

Musical  entertainment  was  provided 
by  the  talented  Harvie  Family  (Patty- Bo 
v/as  employed  formerly  in  the  Cataloging 
and  Classification  Department,  Division 
of  Reference  and  Research  Services)- 

Tea  pourers  vrcre  Mrs  Marjorie  G, 
Bouquet,  and  Mrs  Ann  Las bury. 

Over  fifty  friends  and  co-workers  of 
Ifey  Crosby,  catalogcr  in  the  Reference  and 
Research  Division,  held  a  luncheon  party 
in  her  honor  at  the  Du  Barry  Restaurant 
on  Friday,  November  l6,  the  fortieth 
anniversary  of  her  entrance  into  the 
service  of  the  Library.  Miss  Crosby  will 
retire  from  her  position  at  the  end  of 
December. 

The  luncheon  vras  served  in  the  inner 
dining  room  of  the  restaurant,  and  con- 
sisted of  onion  soup,  turkey  v.dth  its 
traditional  Thanksgiving  accompaniments, 
and  an  ice  cream  dessert. 

Follovri.ng  the  luncheon.  Miss  Crosby 
was  presented  by  Esther  Lissner,  rep- 
resenting her  friends ,  with  a  gold  and 
amethyst  brooch.  Hiss  Lissner,  who 
joined  the  library  staff  only  two  days 
after  Miss  Crosby,  made  a  short  speech 
giving  many  entertaining  details  of  their 
early  ser\ace  together.  Miss  Crosby 
also  received  an  orchid  corsage  from  her 
colleagues* 

Miss  Crosby  acknowledged  her  friends' 
tribute  with  a  few  gracious  v:ords, 
Richard  G.  Hens ley,  head  of  the  Division, 
concluded  the  celebration  with  some 
appropriate  quotations. 

•«• 

On  the  afternoon  of  November  18,  the 
co-workers  of  Esther  Lissner  in  the 
Reference  and  Research  Catalog  Department 
gave  a  surprise  icc-crcam-and-cake  party 
to  celebrate  her  fortieth  anniversary 
as  an  employee  of  the  library.     Earlier 
in  the  day.  Miss  Lissner  was  presented 
vri.th  a  black  leather  handbag  as  an 
anniversary  gift, 

■if 

Surprise  I  Surprise  I  intoned  (somewhat 
off  key)   by  the  staff  of  Upharas  Corner, 
proved  to  be  just  that  for  Bernardine 
J,  Grace,  at  a  surprise  bridal  shower  and 


dinner  party  given  for  her  Friday  evening, 
November  19,  at  the  Brookline  home  of 
Mjts  Phyllis  L.   Barclay,  Children's  Li- 
brarian,    The  dinner,  prepared  and  served 
by  Mrs  Rirclay,  v/as  ample  proof  of  her 
complete  mastery  of  the  field  of  hospita- 
lity and  the  culinary  arts.     Miss  Grace 
Tifas  delighted  with  the  electric  coffeo- 
matic  presented  to  hor  as  a   gift  from  the 
staff.     The  latter  also  sent  flovrers  to 
Ifrs  Barclay.     The  tvro  weeks  of  subterfuge 
and  intrigue  preceding  the   surprise  party 
were  quite  wearing  on  everyone.     Miss 
Grace,  vj-hose  wedding  is  on  December  19, 
I95I4,  summed  it  all  up  by  calling  us  all 
"a  wonderful  bunch  of  liars." 


If  you  would  like  to  enjoy  a  really 
entertaining,   exciting  program,  reserve 
the  evening  of  Saturday,   January  29,  and 
take  your  family  and  friends  to  the 
Centennial  Musical  Revue,  Free  To  All. 
The  revue  mil  be  presented  at  Nev7 
England  Mutual  Hall  and  promises  to  be 
a  most  successful  musical  shovf.     Make 
your  pLans  now.     Don't  miss  it  I 


In  the  meantime,  A  Merry  Christmas  and 
Happy  New  Year  to  all  I 

B.  Joseph  O'Neil 

REVEREND  AND  MRS  ARNOLD  ENTERTAIN 


PRESIDENT'S  NC'TEG 

Mildred  C,  O'Connor,  Alice  E.  Hackett 
and  Mrs  Mary  I.  Farrell,  Cataloging 
and  Classification,  Reference  and 
Research  Services,  and  B.  Joseph  O'Neil, 
Periodical  and  Nevrspaper,  vrcre  the 
official  representatives  of  the  Pro- 
fessional Staff  Association  at  the  funeral 
services  held  in  Trinity  Church  for  Mrs 
Ifergaret  F,  Filbum,  The  follovdng  letter 
was  received  in  acknowledgement  of  the 
contribution  sent  in  the  name  of  the 
Staff  Association: 

SKIDMDRE  COLLEGE 
Saratoga  Springs,  New  York 


i 


November  19,   195U 


Dear  Mr  O'Neil: 


This  vdll  acknov/ledge  mth  apprecia- 
tion the  gift  of  mJIG  to  the   Skidmorc 
Scholarship  Fund  from  the  Professional 
Staff  Association  of  the  Boston  Public 
Libri.ry  in  memory  of  Mrs  Margaret  Fletcher 
Filburn,     Her  many  friends  at  the   college 
•were  shocked  to  learn  of  her  untimely 
death. 

Will  you  please  transmit  our  thanks 
to  your  organization  for  this  thoughtful 
and  generous  memorial  gift. 

Sincerely  yours, 
(Signed)  NDRJ-IA  IfecRURY 

Norma  lacRurj 
Cha.irman 
Committee   on  Financial  Aid 

Mr  B.    Joseph  O'Neil 
Professional  Staff  Association 
Boston  Public  Library 
Boston  17,  Massachusetts 


On  Sunday J  December  $,  Reverend  and 
Mrs  Harold  Greene  Arnold  T/erc  "at  home" 
to  a  group  of  friends  of  the  late  Caroline 
M.   Hevri.ns.     Yifhilc  the  tea  vras  primc^.rily 
to  honor  the  recent  publication  of 
CAROLINE  M.   HFOTNS :   HER  BOOK,  it  happily 
coincided  mth  the  anniversary  of  tvro 
other  events  \-.tiich  helped  to  shape  the 
career  of  Caroline  M.   Hewins .     It  \ms 
approximately  one  hundred  years  ago,  ca, 
1851;,  when  Mr  Hevdns  purchased  the  land 
and  laid  the  plans  for  the  home  v/hich  was 
to  house  the  eight  Hevdns   girls  and  their 
parents  at  55  Emmonsdale  Road,.  West  Rox- 
bury.     This  house,   completed  for  occupancy 
about  1857,  is  now  ovmed  by  I'tr  and  Mrs 
Arnold  and  has  retained  so  much  of  its 
early  furnishings  and  atmosphere  that  it 
is  almost  a  "HeTriLns  Museum,"  although  its 
charm  and  informality  give  the  house  no 
resemblance  to  a  museum.     The  second  event 
ifttiich  happened  fifty  years  ago,  was  Caroline 
M.   Hewins'   association  vri.th  the  Hartford 
Public  Library,  v;hich  began  in  190[i  and 
culminated  in  her  outstanding  v/ork  vath 
children,  in  honor  of  v;hich  Frederic  G. 
Melcher  founded  the  Hev/ins  Lectures, 
Mr  and  Mrs  Arnold,  in  welcoming  their 
guests,  noted  these  events  of  the   past  and 
present  v.'hich  blended  so  effectively  and 
provided  the  occasion  for  those  interested 
in  Miss  Hewins  and  her  work  to  pay  tribute 
to  her  in  the  home  in  which  she   grew  up. 

Miss  Hev;ins'  niece  recalled  many  happy 
incidents  of  her  childhood  #ien  she  fre- 
quently visited  the  Hewins'   home  and  came 
to  love  and  respect  her  Aunt  Caroline, 
Anne  Carroll  Moore,  Supervisor  of  Work 
with  Children,  Emeritus,   New  York  Public 
Library,  recalled  her  long  and  happy  asso- 
ciation i/dth  Miss   Hevdns.      Jennie  Lindquist, 
editor  of  THE  HORN  BOOK,   told  how  CAROLINE 
M.   HEi'TINSs   HER  BOOK  came  to  be  published. 
Alice  M.   Jordan,  Supervisor  of  Fork  vath 
Children,  Emeritus,   Boston  Public  Library, 


-^- 


Tjas  present  to  add  to  the  happy  occasion^, 
Carrie  L.   Morse,  Branch  Librarian,       "       ' 
Ekneritus,  and  members   of  the   staff  of 
the  West  Roxbury  Branch  Library  frere  , 

among  the  special  guests,  ! 

The  dainty  refreshments  vihich  concluded 
the  afternoon  vrere  a  nice  material  | 

counterpart  to  the  mental  feast  which  had 
preceded,      Boston  can  be  grateful  that       ' 
the  former  Hev.ins  home  is  nov  ov.'ned  by      j 
people  iiho  appreciate  its  value   in  the 
literary  background  of  Nev;  England. 

Edna  G.   Peck 

INTRODUCING  THE  CHRISTMS  SMSON 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  monthly  meet- 
ing of  officers   of  the  Division  of  Home 
Reading  and  Community  Services  on  Decem- 
ber first,  the  group  met  together  for 
luncheon  at  Joseph's  Restaurant,      The 
luncheon  vras  given  to  honor  tvo  "post 
graduates"   of  the  Division — Edith 
Guerrier,  Supervisor  of  Branch  Libraries, 
Emeritus,  and  Orlando  C.  Davis,  Chief 
Librarian  of  the  Division  of  Home  Readingj 
and  Community  Services,  Emeritus,     Join-  ] 
ing  -with  the  group,   to  pay  special  tri- 
bute to  their  former  officers  were  the 
f olloi/ini-:  Emeriti:  M.  Florence  Cufflin, 
¥srs  Edith  H.   Bailey,  l\£rs  Sara  Lyon, 
Katharine  S.  Rogan,  Elizabeth  P,  Ross, 
Mary  M.  Sullivan,  and  Rebecca  E,  Willis. 
Other  guests  were  John  J,  Connolly, 
Elizabeth  M,  Wright,  and  Sarah  M,  Ushero 

A  delightful  coffee  party  follov/ed  the 
meeting  of  Children's  Librarians  on 
Wednesday  morning,  December  8.     Alice  M, 
Jordan,  Supervisor  of  Work  vdth  Children, 
Emeritus,  vras  guest  of  honor,   and,  vath 
Mr  Lord  and  several  other  officers  of  the 
Library,  enjoyed  hot  coffee  and  delicious 
pastries  vd.th  the  group. 

The   loarty  made  an  auspicious  moment  for 
the  presentation  of  a  sterling  silver 
steak  set,   in  her  chosen  pattern,  to  Virs 
Bette  B,   (Preer)  Pinckney,   in  honor  of 
her  recent  marriage. 

The  Children's  Librarians  presented 
also  a  lovely  Christmas   gift,  an  ex- 
quisite Royal  Copenhagen  figurine  of  a 
T^ite  duck,  to  Elizabeth  M.   Gordon, 
Deputy  Supervisor  in  Charge  of  Work  vdth 
Children. 


"Inspired  by  the  ChristnHS  Season" 

The  stars  T/^ich  blanket  us  at  night 

Are   just  as  bright  by  day. 
Yet  not  a   glimmer  struggles  past 

The  Sun's  superior  ray. 

Thus  private  talent  v/ill  amaze 

Your  neighbors  and  your  fansj 
And  sink  to  nothingness  beside 

The  Shakespeares  and  Chopins, 

H.  Andrews 

ALTOMI  NOTES 

T\TO  of  The  Question  ferk's  loyal 
readers  among  the  retired  group  recently 
sent  checks  vrith  these,  notations:    (l) 
"Would  you  please   see  that  the  enclosed 
check  is  forvrarded  to  the  treasurer  of 
the  Staff  Association,     I  enjoy  receiving 
'  The  Question  Mark'    and  hope  this  con- 
tribution v/on't  put  the  Association  in 
the    'income  tax'   bracket,"     (2)  "Accept 
enclosed  check  as  a  tribute  to  'The  Ques- 
tion Mark ',  a  literary  journal."     The 
checks  have  been  gratefully  received 
and  forvrarded  to  the  treasurer  and  the 
QM  is  glad  that  it  is  keeping  alumni 
members  "in  touch". 


John  Florence  Sullivan,   better  knovrm 
as  Fred  Allen,  visited  Central  Library 
on  November  19.     Accompanied  by  LTFH 
photographers,  he  reanacted  some  of  the 
duties  he  performed  v^hen  he  worked  as 
an  "extra"  J   visited  v/ith  several  who  had 
worked  with  him;  autographed  tv/o  copies 
of  his  new  book  Treadmill  to  Oblivion 
(see  page  165  0;  and  was  presented  with 
Special  Card  No,  100  made  out  to  "Fred 
Allen,  Distinguished  Aliimnus,  Boston 
Public  Library,   Boston  17.  Expires 
November  19,   205U."     All  of  this  furnishes 
material  for  possible   inclusion  in  a 
forthcoming  article  in  LIFE, 


The  LIBRARY  JOURNAL  for  November  l5, 
195U  contains  an  article  entitled  $0  years 
of  Business  Library  Service,  by  Marion 
C,  Manley,   Business  Librarian,   Newark 
Public  Library,     Since  two  paragraphs 
on  page  2135  concern  l^Irs  Mary  Watkins 
Dietrichson,  Business  Branch  Librarian, 
Emeritus,  vre  quote  them  here,  and  offer 
her  our  congratulations: 

"Minneapolis  was  fortunate  enough  to 


-.6-. 


have  Maiy  Watkins  Dietrichson  as  the  head, 
of  the  Business  and  Municipal  Branch  from' 
1916  until  1927  and  her  fine  mind  and    j 
pov/ers  of  discernment  meant  much  in  her   I 
interpretation  of  business  service.  One  { 
incident  \rill  serve  to  illustrate  this,   j 
A  Minneapolis  paper  planned  an  enlivening 
feature  story  about  the  Business  and 
Municipal  Branch  andj  along  vath  ample 
rnaterial  on  its  service,  Mrs  Dietrichson 
supplied  the  reporter  \,-ith  a  simple 
computation  of  the  actual  cash  value 
of  the  time  saved  their  business  patrons. 
It  las  this  computation  that  made  the 
headlines  andv;as  picked  up  by  papers  in 
other  cities o 

"ttrs  Dietrichson  came  to  Boston  to 
head  the  Kirstoin  Business  Branch 
established  by  Louis  E.  Kirstein,  a 
trustee  of  the  Boston  Public  Library. 
This  gift  by  ¥x   Kirstein,  in  memory  of 
his  father,  is  so  far  the  major  contribu- 
tion by  an  individual  businessman  to  the 
development  of  this  service,  Mrs 
Dietrichson 's  discerning  approach  to 
fundamentals  and  the  application  of  her 
sound  scholarship  v/ero  invaluable  in  the 
gTo\rth   of  this  vfork.  Both  ItLnncapolis 
and  Boston  are  moninnents  to  these  quali- 
ties in  her  and  in  both  places  uherc  she 
vras  follov/ed  as  business  branch  librarian 
by  assistants  die  had  trained,  that 
influence  v.as  marked,  ?ihether  through 
conditions  or  by  inclination  she  v:as 
less  active  in  national  association  or 
general  promotion  efforts  than  others 
but  she  \rill   always  be  notable  for 
having  probably  the  most  scholarly  and 
profound  approach  to  this  movement  of 
those  concerned  vdth  it  in  these  early 
days ," 

Leonard  Burkat,  formerly  First 
Assistant  in  Music  and  no\T  Secretary 
to  I'.tr  I/i\inch,  has  translated  into 
English  JE  SUIS  CHEF  D'ORCHESTRE,  by 
Charles  M^inch,  Musical  Director  of  the 
vrorld-faraous  Boston  Symphony  Orchestra, 
An  abridged  edition  of  this  is  currently 
appearing  in  the  Boston  GLOBE, 

FOUND 

A  pair  of  gold  earrings   in  the 
Women's  Lavatory,  Stack  2   area, 

A  pair  of   glasses   in  the   Coffee  Shop 
on  December  7,  195U 

A  pair  of  navy  blue  cotton   gloves 
folloT/in^  the  Children's  Librarians'*  Coffee 
Party  on  December  8,   195l4» 


A  black  knitted  vnriste-^  follovang 
the  Children's  Librai^ians?  Coffee  Party 
on  December  8,  195U' 

Ovmers  may  claim  in  the  Personnel 
Office, 

R0UM3  TABLE  OF  CHILDREN'S  LIBRARIANS 

Nev/s  of  two  a;:ards  v;as  the  highlight 
of  the  December  meeting  held  in  the 
Lecture  Hall  at  Central,  December  9» 
Elizabeth  Johnson,  Supervisor  of  ?rork 
mth  Children,  Lynn  Public  Library,   told 
about  the  plans  for  the  proposed  Melcher 
Scholarship  Fund  vhich,   it  is  hoped, 
Trill  be  announced  in  July  at  the  ALA 
convention.     The  children's  librarians 
were  asked  to  help  publicize  the  news 
of  this  avrard  so  that  other  librarians 
Tjho  might  be  interested  vrauld  have  an 
opportunity  to  participate  in  this  fine 
tribute  to  Mr  Melcher,     Alice  Cushman, 
Fitchburg  Library,  announced  the  new 
Flanders-Perreault  Literary  Award  which 
is  to  be  given  annually  by  Edivin  Flanders. 
This  v/ill  be  a  dual  award  given  both  to 
the   individual  girl  and  to  the  Ciirls 
Club  of  vdiich  she  is  a  member, 

Virginia  Haviland  made  a  preliminary 
announcement  of  the  programs  T;hich  will 
be  of  interest  to  children's  librarians 
at  the  forthcoming  convention  in  Phila- 
delphia in  July,  and  Arlene  Thorp,  of 
City  Library,  Manchester,   New  Hampshire, 
stressed  the  value  and  importance  of 
ALA  membership  to  all  librarians. 

After  the  brief  business  meeting,. 
■Mrs  Muriel  C,   Javelin  introduced  the 
group  to  the  techniques  of  conducting 
a  buzz  session,     A  practice  session  pro- 
vided opportunity  for  much  spirited 
buzzing  as  the  groups   discussed  the 
questions  of  borderline  books,  books   in 
series,  readers,   and  pre-school  programs, 

Mary  Yfest 

JEViflSH  BOOK  f/DNTH 

"The  Jew  in  Literature"  a  special 
Jevri-sh  Book  Month  program,  and  one  of  a 
series  of  American-Jev/-ish  Tercentenary 
observances,  was  hold  in  the  Lecture 
Hall  at  Central,  Sunday  afternoon, 
November  28,     Dr  Eisig  Silberschlag, 
Dean  of  tho  Hebre'tr  Teacher's  College  in 
Brooklino,  presided.     Tercentenary 
Greetings  were  extended  by  Fanny  Goldstein 
as  Curator  of  Judaica,  and  secretary  of 
the   Boston  Jewish  Book  Month  Committee, 


-7- 


The  distinguished  andv/armly  received  ; 
speakers  virorc  Hannah  R,  London,  author,  ; 
vi*io  spoke   on  Hovit  I  discovered  early  | 

American-Jewish  portraits j   Harry  H,  Fein,  ; 
poet-author,  v;ho  road  from  his  latest  i 

book  Sonp:s  at  Eventide;  Dr  Meir  Bcn-Horinj 
author,  v:hose  talk  vjas  From  an  Author's      I 
Note-Book;   and,  Dr  S.   Norman  Fcingold, 
Executive  Director  of  the   Jev/ish  Voca- 
tional Service  of  Greater  Boston,  vi^o 
spoke  on  Books   for  Self-Help.     Pianist 
Mollio  Ehrlich  provided  the  music   for  the 
program, 

■it 

Boston  had  a  hi'jily  exciting  and 
rewarding  experience  December  11,  at 
West  End.     A  literary  evening  was  held 
in  honor  of  Dr  Judd  Teller  of  Ne\7  York, 
author  of   the   very  recent  stimulating 
and  provocative  book  SCAPEGOAT  OF  REVOLU- 
TION.    The  topic  of  the  address  vras   "The 
Jewish  Problem  Yesterday  and  Today." 

This  vas  Dr  Teller's  first  appearance 
in  Boston.     He  proved  to  be  a   gentleman 
who  was  exceedingly  vrall  informed  on 
his  topic  and  \rho  presented  rapid-fire 
glimpses   of  the  material  contained  in 
his  book  in  a  dynamic  and  convincing 
manner.     His  audience  vjas  definitely 
held  spell-bound  as  he  sky-rocketed 
through  tiire,  space  and  history,  tracing 
the  fate  of  the  Jew  in  each  critical 
period  of  the  country, 

Richard  G.   Hensley,  Chief  Librarian, 
Division  of  Reference  and  Research 
Services,  brought  the  greetings  of  the 
Library  and  commented  on  the   importance 
of  such  literary  evenings   in  the 
community,     Dr  Leon  F.  Medalia  imde  a 
fcvf  appropriate  remarks  as   a  member  of 
the  Examining  Committee,     Dr  Hyman 
Morrison,  a  member  of  the  JevrLsh  Book 
Month  Committee  since  its  inception, 
gave  the  formal  greetings   in  behalf  of 
the  Committee  and  spoke   on  the  importance 
of  the  jQwieh  book  as  an  everlasting 
force  in  Jewish  life,     Mark  Bortraan,  a 
former  West  End  boy,  a  leading   Boston 
industrialist,  and  President  of  the 
Boston  Chapter  of  the  American  Jewish 
Historical  Society,  gave  th^:.  historic 
back-ground  of  the   Jew  in  America* 

A  surprise   guest  of  the  evening  was 
Ben  Yahouda,  from  Israel,   son  of  the 
illustrious  Eliezer  Yahouda,  who  is 
responsible  for  the   revival  of  the  Hebrew 
language  and  the  publication  of  the 
dictionary, 

A  social  hour  followed. 


NEW  BOOKS   IN  THE  STAFF  LIBRARY 

Non-Fiction — Library  Science 

Akers,  Susan  G.     Simple  library 
cataloging.     Uth  ed, 
Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 

19Sh 
Columbia  University.     School  of  Library 

Service 

The  subject  analysis  of  library 

materials;  papers  prepared  at  an 

institute,  June  2U-28,  19^2 

New  York,  1953 
Grove,  Lee  E,  Of  Brooks  &  books, 

J.iinnea polls,  Univ.  of  Minneapolis 

Press,  19U5 
Conference  on  Intellectual  Freedom, 

2d,  ^.f^ittior,  California,  19^3. 

Freedom  of  book  selection, 

Chicago,  American  Library  Association, 

195U 
!,tuir,  Percival  H.  English  children's 
books,  1600  to  1900, 
New  York,  Praeger,  195U 

DEPARTMNT  NOTES 

General  Reference 

The  Department  congratulates  P,  Joseph 
Hoilly  and  his  force  on  the  excellent  job 
of  cleaning  and  polishing  the  wood  sur- 
faces and  tables  in  Bates  Hall,  This 
task,  and  others  incidental  to  a  complete 
cleaning  job,  improved  the  appearance 
of  the  Department  immensely  and  is  much 
appreciated, 

BRANCH  NDTES 

Mattapan 

The  busy  month  of  November  was  high- 
lighted mth  a  variety  of  activities  in 
addition  to  those  regularly  scheduled. 

For  Book  Week,  the  feature  attraction 
T/as  a  talk  given  by  Richard  T.  Flood, 
vrell-knovm  author  of  sports  stories  for 
young  people.  Speaking  before  a  capacity 
audience  of  l50  boys  and  girls,  %  Flood 
described  his  method  of  writing  a  book 
from  the  time  he  has  chosen  his  subject 
until  the  story  is  ready  for  publication, 
A  question  period  followed  the  conclusion 
of  the  talk, 

A  special  program  honoring  Jevdsh  Book 
Month  v-jas  presented  by  the  Friends  of 
the  Mattapan  Branch  Library  at  their 
monthly  meeting  on  November  22,  Included 
on  the  program  vrerc  The  Ballad  of  the 


~8- 


AmGrican  Jew  a  monologue  given  by  Mary 
Kadishj  a  series  of  Jev;ish  melodies  by 
the  JeiTish  Folk  Chorus  of  Boston]  and 
a  review  of  Sholem  Aleichem  and  his  World 


by  Mrs  Blanche  Daniels.  A  social  hour 
follovdng  the  meeting  gave  the  nevrer 
members  of  the  Friends  group  an  oppor- 
tunity to  become  fxirther  acquainted  v;ith 
the  vrark  of  the  Friends  of  the  Library. 

Prizes  for  the  pet  show  Essay  and 
Poetry  contest  vrerc  a\7ardcd  on  Friday, 
December  3  in  the  Children's  Room, 
First-prize  -winners  v;ero  Maxine  Creed 
and  Beverly  and  Lynda  Flaum*  Certifi- 
cates of  Honorable  Mention  vrero  given  to 
Harvey  Goldberg,  Phyllis  Gruska,  Linda 
Halperin,  Anita  Kassncr,  Ronnie  Miller, 
Marsha  Prefontaine,  Barbara  Slotnick 
and  Carol  Ann  Smith, 

Neponset 

During  Book  "Teek  the  children  in  the 
Noponsdt  schools  were  asked  to  virrite  a 
composition  on  Fnat  the  Library  Means 
to  Mo» 

Great  enthusiasm  for  the  subject  was 
manifested  by  the  children  of  both  lower 
and  upper  grades,  and  numerous  composi- 
tions of  varying  length  vrarc  submitted. 
These  compositions  proved  so  interesting 
in  content  and  expression  that  we  felt 
sure  the  staffs  of  other  branches  vrould 
enjoy  reading  them  as  much  as  we  have  here 
at  Neponset,  We  have,  therefore,  taken 
the  liberty  to  quote  parts  of  these 
compositions  for  your  diversion. 

Most  of  the  children  remarked  on  the 
valuable  aid  the  Library  has  rendered 
thom  in  their  school  vrork,  and  how  much 
pleasure  they  ha.v^  had  in  reading  all 
the  wonderful  books  during  their  hours 
of  leisure.  But  let's  have  the  children 
speak  for  themselves,  \nth   no  editing; 

Donald  Z.—  "I  like  the  Library 
Grade  3:    because  it  helps  me  to 

be  smart  in  school.  And 
it  is  onjoyin^^.  And  it 
is  fine  becaiise  you  read 
about  difrent  people. 
Funny  p^^ople  and  mystrous 
people.  And  that  is  vfhy 
I  like  the  Library," 

Elissa  M.—  "Books  are  fine.  They 
Grade  h:         help  to  grow  a  wonder- 
ful mind." 

Thonns  B, —  "Through  the  library  you 
Grade  ^i         can  help  educate  yourself 


Marion  R, — 
Grade  6: 


Kathlcem  H.- 
Grade  7  J 


Francis  T.— 
Grace  8: 


by  reading  good  books," 

"The  library  is  like  a 
boat  carrying  me  to  far- 
off  countries," 

"It  is  a  place  to  go  for 
peace  and  quiet,  a  place 
toj  concentrate  and  think 
over  any  problems  vihich 
may  be  bothering  us." 

"Tilhen  I  go  into  ,a  library, 
it  is  like  going  into 
another  vrorld  where  I 
meet  new  friends.  The 
more  books  I  read,  the 
more  friends  I  meet," 


South  Boston 

C.  W.  Anderson,  noted  author  and 
artist,  Tjas  guest  speaker  at  a  Saturday 
morning  meeting  of  the  Imagination 
Club,  as  a  culmination  of  Book  Week 
activities,  Mr  Anderson  gave  the  chil- 
dren a  fine  demonstration  on  how  to  drav/ 
a  horse,  with  particular  attention  being 
given  to  rhythmic  lines  of  construction 
and  anatomical  details.  The  manner  in 
V'fhich  the  hind  legs  should  be  dravm  was 
described  very  carefullye  The  boys  and 
girls  of  the  Club,  ranging  in  grades 
from  kindergarten  through  the  second  year 
of  high  school,  accorded  Mr  Anderson 
the  respectful  attention  due  to  a  famous 
artist.  We  know  that  %  Anderson  has 
spoken  to  larger  groups  than  the  one 
present,  but  we  doubt  if  he  has  often 
encountered  a  child  audience  that  honored 
him  prinnrily  as  an  artist  rather  than 
as  celebrity.  The  staff  vrould  like  to 
belipTC  that  Mr  Anderson  was  as  much 
impressed  vdth  the  boys  and  girls  of 
South  Boston  and  their  interest  in  art, 
as  they  were  in  him  and  his  skill, 
Follovring  his  lecture,  Mr  Anderson  had 
coffee  vjith  the  members  of  the  staff  and 
the  Alumni  Advisors  to  the  Imagination 
Club  vfho  had  served  as  ushers  at  the 
program. 

On  Friday  morning,  November  26,  the 
Teen  Age  Reporters  Club,  a  book  review 
club  for  girls  of  junior  high  school  age, 
visited  Central  Library  with  IvLartha  C, 
Engler,  Children's  Librarian,  The 
members  had  previously  reported  on 
books  and  articles  dealing  -with  various 
aspects  of  the  Library  in  preparation 
forthe  tour,  Mrs  Muriel  C.  Javelin, 


-9- 


Dcputy  Supervisor,  In  Chirgc  of  ITork 
with  Adults  J  greeted  the  girls  and 
arranged  for  them  to  have  a  special 
record  program  in  the  Preview  Room. 
P/hilo  departments  were  visited,  perhaps 
the  biggest  thrill  of  th-^  day  occurred 
in  the  Treasure  Room  where  Moorf ield 
Storey  opened  a  case  and  let  them  in- 
spect, page  by  page,  one  of  the  medieval 
ma.nuscript  books.  As  a  grand  finale,  the 
girls  vrcre  treated  to  ice-cream  cake  in 
the  Coffee  Shop, 

South  End 

Book  Week  -was  celebrated  by  a  variety 
of  events.  About  thirty  teachers  from 
the  Rice  and  Dwight  school  districts,, 
who  responded  to  invitations  to  a  tea 
on  YJednesday,  enjoyed  seeing  the  large 
display  of  new  books.  The  enthusiastic 
response  may  be  attributed  to  the  RSVP 
on  the  invitations.  At  least,  one 
teacher  said  that  that  was  what  con- 
vinced him  and  his  colleagues  that  a  tea 
at  the  library  was  of  real  importance. 
It  seems  that  a  tea  for  teachers  may 
well  become  an  annual  Book  Week  affair. 

It  was  delightful  to  be  able  to  arrange 
special  Book  TTeek  story  hours  for  two 
separate  groups  from  South  End  House, 
seven  and  eight  year  olds  on  Tuesday, 
and  six  year  olds  on  Thursday.  Phyllis 
R.  Kallman,  Assistant  in  Charge  of  ITork 
with  Children,  told  stories  with  the  aid 
of  Bertha  D.  Streeter,  also  a  staff 
member, 

A  delegation  of  children  attended  the 
wonderful  Book  ''.Teek  program  at  Central 
Library,  on  Saturday.  The  group  "vras 
small,  bad  weather  keeping  many  of  the 
children  at  home.  The  few  -who  went 
truly  enjoyed  the  program,  especially 
"that  picture-making  man," 

Uphams  Corner 

Anyone  passing  by  on  Wednesday  evening. 
November  17,  at  7:30  P,I,L,  would  have 
perhaps  raised  an  eyebrow  at  the  peculiar 
animal  sounds  emanating  from  the  Chil- 
dren's Room,  In  celebration  of  Book 
Week,  a  pet  show  was  ^resented  Tfith  an 
appropriate  display  of  pet  and  anirrnl 
books,  old  and  nevr, 

Mr  ■'■folfe,  ovmer  of  a  pet  store,  v;as 
kind  enough  to  bring  a  hamster,  a 
parakeet,  a  guinea  pig,  and  other 
animals,  in  addition  to  his  presenting 
a  very  engaging  talk  about  his  animals 
and  their  habits.  He  apologized  for 


not  being  able  to  bring  the  baby  lion 
and  baby  leopard  he  had  planned  on. 
This  statement  met  with  mixed  reactions 
from  the  audience, 

Jane  Larson  kept  children,  parents, 
and  staff  fascinated  with  the  antics  of 
her  trained  dog,  Rinso.  John  J,  O'Neill 
from  Franklin  Park  Zoo  displayed  oae  of 
the  main  fe-'tures  of  the  evening,  a  large 
white  cockatoo.  A  fascinating  question 
and  answer  period  was  conducted  by  Dr 
Ghitteridge,  a  Canton  Veterinarian. 

The  parents  and  children,  comprising 
an  audience  of  about  lUO  people,  were 
quite  vociferous  in  their  rpaise  of  the 
program.  It  can  be  accurately  stated 
that  the  animals  seemed  to  enjoy  tjio  people 
as  much  as  the  latter  enjoyed  them,  A 
spirit  of  good  aniraal-and  fellow-ship 
prevailed  all  around' 

West  End 

On  Friday,  November  19,  The  Space 
Travelers,  members  of  the  Summer  Reading 
Club,  embarked  on  their  last  flight 
through  the  universe,  transported  by  the 
magic  of  words  and  music  (by  means  of 
book  reviews  and  recordings)  to  the  Grand 
Canyon  in  Colorado,  to  a  maplewood  in 
Vermont,  to  New  York  for  a  visit  v/ith 
a  queen,  to  China,  and  to  a  far-off 
planet  in  outer  space.  The  tako-off 
place  was  the  lecture  hall  at  the  library; 
Jiirs  Lehane,  children's  librarian,  piloted 
the  expedition;  Frances  Jaworski,  club 
secretary,  called  out  the  stops, 

Reading  Certificates  were  awarded  to 
the  children  -iiio  had  circled  the  heavens, 
visiting  each  of  the  planets,  at  least 
once.  And  four  prizes,  books  donated  by 
the  Branch  Librarian,  vrere  presented  by 
her  to  the  three  girls  and  one  boy  who 
had  traveled  farthest  during  the  summer. 

Ice  cream,  cookies,  and  candy  were  pro- 
vided to  refresh  the  travelers  at  the 
end  of  their  long  journey, 

-;f- 

On  November  30,  at  8  p.m.,  more   than 
sixty  parents  and  children  gathered  in  the 
main  room  to  observe  Children's  Book 
Yfeek,     Fanny  Goldstein,  welcomed  the 
group;  spoke  about  the  early  history 
of  the  Branch;   and  explained  the  significance 
of  Book  Week,     She  commented  on  tv;o  of 
this  fall's   children's  books  r/hich  happened 
to  have  been  read  in  manuscript  by  West 
End  children,  explaining  the  role  the 
children  had  played  in  the  publication  of 
these  books. 


-10- 


Quoting  President  Eisenhower's  , 

recently  expressed  desire   that  more  ■. 

mothers  should  teach  their  children  i 

about  the  children  of  other  lands,  Mrs        j 
Lehane,  Children's  Librarian,  pointed 
out  hov;  well  today's  books  for  children 
accomplish  that  very  end.     lErs  Lehane 
reviewed  a  number  of  nev/ly  published 
children's  books, 

Carl  F.   Bowen  of  'Test  Cedar  Street, 
one  of  the  fathers  v^ho  attended  the 
Parent's  night  with  his  daughters,  pre- 
sented the  Library  with  a  gift  of  six 
books « 

The  children  served  their  parents 
vrith  cider  and  doughnuts;  and  afterv/ard, 
everyone  took  advantage  of  the  oppor- 
tunity to  examine  the  nev^r  books  that 
were  displayed  on  tables  around  the  room. 

Phillips  Erooks 

On  November  15,  a  special  Book  Week 
record  program  v.us  held  for  children  in 
grades  3  through  8, 

On  Tuesday  afternoon,  the  three 
vfinners  of  the  Book  leek  essay  contest 
read  their  essays   on  M  FAVORITE  BOOK 
CHARACTER.     Book  prizes  vrerc  avfarded  to 
the  vdnners  in  each  age  group  participat- 
ing:  Grades  3-h'}   5-6;   7-9.     Follov/ing 
the  awards  there  vras  an  illustrated 
talk  by  author-artist  Nancy  Barnhart  vfho 
entertained  the  audience  with  original 
draivings  and  an  account  of  her  trip 
to  the  Holy  Land  in  preparation  for  her 
bock  THE  LORD  IS  ?iY  SHEPHERD. 

Bookmobile  I 

On  November  19,  Mrs  Joyce  P.  Ellis 
of  the   Bookmobile  I  staff  gave  a  book 
talk  to  the  parents  and  patrons  of  the 
Vfest  Medvny  Public  Library  in  observance 
of  the  annual  National  Book  Week, 

That  part  of  the  program  presented 
for  the  adults  was  entitled  "Ho\^  to  Use 
Books  -.-.dth  Children",  and  iirs  Ellis  con- 
cluded her  talk  by  giving  a  story  hour 
for  the  children. 


SOAP  BOX 


Any  contribution  to  the  Soap  Box  must 
be  accompanied  by  the  full  name  of  the 
Association  member  submitting  it,  to- 
gether vdth  the  name  of  the  Branch  Li- 
brary, Department,  or  Office  in  v:hich  he 
or  she  is  employed.  The  name  is  v/itliheld 
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  Associa- 
tion members  and  their  appearance  does 
not  necessarily  indicate  that  the  Pub- 
lications Committee  and  the  Association 
are  in  agreement  vdth  the  views  expressed. 
Only  those  contributions  containing  not 
more  than  300  words  vdll  be  accepted. 


Dear  Editor: 

Hot/  Ion-,  should  a  person  be  expected 
to  assume  charge  of  a  department  or 
branch  library,  performing  the  duties 
of  chief  or  branch  librarian,  without 
receiving  the  recognition  he  or  she  is 
entitled  to — a  fair  and  just  coirpensation? 
Additional  take-home  pay  amounting  in 
some  cases  to  less  than  $.70  a  week  is 
merely  a  token  payment  for  such  added 
responsibility. 

If  the  present  policy  did  not 
anticipate  that  those  below  the  level 
of  Fifth  Step  would  be  Assistants-in- 
Charge  for  periods  of  years,  it  seems 
only  fair  to  make  adequate  provision 
for  salaries  \rt;ich  vrould  more  justly  com- 
pensate individuals  placed  in  such  posi- 
tions. 

Fair  Play 

Dear  Editor: 

The  November  195U  issue  of  The  Question 
Mark  carried  a  gracious  editorial  of 
tlTanks  from  our  Editor  in  behalf  of 
those  individuals  v\/ho  received  raises, 
HoT/evcr,  lest  we  forget,  there  are  groups 
T^io  did  not  share  in  this  bounty, 
Assistants-in-Charge,  those  unfortunates 
v;ho  in  some  instances  received  the 
princely  sum  of  $50.00  a  year  (one  step 
vdthin  grade)  over  and  above  their 
regular  salaries,  still  have  bestovred 
upon  them  the  privilege  of  discharging 
the  duties  of  a  chief  and  all  the  res- 
ponsibilities entailed, 

A  situation  such  as  this  is  permitted 
to  exist.  Yet,  concern  is  actually  felt 
in  some  quarters  about  "staff  morale," 
Payment  of  less  than  $1,00  a  vrcek  for 
substituting  for  a  chief  could  hardly 
be  considered  a  morale -builder, 

PUZZLED 


i 


-11- 

LATE     FLASHES 
More  Parties 


On  December  lU,  a  group  of 
staff  friends  gathered  at  the 
Darbury  Room  for  a  limcheon 
in  honor  of  Laurie  Abate,  Office 
of  the  Division  of  Reference  and 
Research  Services,  ■who  will  leave 
for  Rome  on  December  18  to  be 
married  there  on  December  27. 

Along  with  a  beautiful  white 
orchid  corsage  trimmed  vdth  holly, 
Laurie  was  presented  ivlth  an 
electric  mixer,  and  a  mayonnaise 
dish  with  sterlini?  silver  ladle. 


I;Irs  Janice  Hunt,  Office  of  the 
Division  of  Home  Reading  and  Com- 
munity Services,  was  the  guest  of 
the  staff  of  the  office  at  a  fare- 
well luncheon  at  Joseph's  on  De- 
cember 15»  Mr   Hunt  was  also  a 
guest  at  the  luncheon.  I'irs  Hunt 
is  to  be  away  from  the  Library 
on  a  maternity  leave  of  absence. 


Young  Adult  '"Jorkers  (Div.  of 
H.R.  and  G.S.)  enjoyed  a  Christ- 
mas coffee  hour  in  the  Women's 
Lounge  during  their  regular 
monthly  meeting  on  December  1$, 

Dr  Kenneth  D.  Benne,  Director 
of  the  Human  Relations  Center  and 
Eerenson  Professor  of  h\unan  Rela- 
tions at  B.U.  had  been  the  speaker 
of  the  morning  and  was  guest  of 
honor  at  the  coffee  hour.  Other 
invited  quests  included  officers 
from  various  units  in  Central 
Library, 

ANOTHER  VISITOR 

Dr  Julio  Cesar  Arroyave, 
Director,  Medellin  Library  Pro- 
ject, Colombia,  South  America, 


-12- 


CITY  OF   BOSTON  EMPLOYEES   BLOOD  DONOR  PROGRAM 
Donate  a  pint  of  blood  at  the  Red  Cross   Blood 
Donor  Center,  Marlborough  and  D?,rtmouth  Streets, 
under  the  City  of  Boston  Employees  Blood  Donor  Pro- 
gram.    For  such  a  donation,  donors  and  their  families 
are  promised,  -#hilc  in  any  Massachusetts  hospital, 
such  blood  as  may  be  needed  in  v^iatever  amounts  are 
available. 

For  further  details  please  call  Mrs  Wollent  at 
Extension  2iiU. 


BOSTON      PUBLIC      LIBRARV 

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DECEMBER     22,1954- 

3  -  5    O'clock 

m  the 

Committee  for  Christmas  Tea 
Mary  H.  McDonough,  Chairman 


^ 


Anne  Cushing 
Cornelia  Dorgan 
Jean  Eaton 
'-Catherine  Farrell 
Shirley  Gildea 
Bertha  Keswick 


Margaret  Lewis 
Margaret  Morrissey 
Rosemarie  Mulcahy 
Edna  Peck 
Mary  Sands 
Saran  Usher 


10  December  V)S\x 


3  9999 


0631* 


610  2