1858, and closed finally in January, 1895. The Central Library Building on Copley square, costing $2,756,384, was first opened on March 11, 1895. The Library is maintained by an annual appropriation voted out of the general funds of the City by the City Council. Of this appropriation ($747,120 in 1921) about $109,800 was used for the purchase of books and periodicals. The 42 Library trust funds in the custody of the City Treasurer amounted to $676,762 on February 1, 1922, the annual interest on these being used for the purchase of books.

The annual reports, the first of which appeared in 1852, have been continued without interruption.

Of the Quarterly Bulletins begun in 1867, fourteen volumes have been published. The series closed in 1896.

A Quarterly Bulletin of a new series is now issued, and a weekly list of new books added to the Library. The Trustees have issued also general and special catalogues of the Central Library, and of its branches and special collections, as well as hand-books for readers, and other docu

ments.

LIBRARY SYSTEM.

The Library system consists of the Central Library in Copley square; seventeen branch libraries with independent collections of books; fourteen reading-rooms (minor branches), all of which contain deposits of books from the Central Library, reference books and periodicals. There were, on February 1, 1922, in the Central Library (including mechanical departments, branch libraries and reading rooms, about 600 employees.

Between the Central Library and these thirty-one stations, by library wagons, there is a daily exchange of books and cards, whereby persons living in outlying districts can draw books from the Central Library without the necessity of coming in person.

The delivery or deposit of books is also undertaken in 191 public and parochial schools, 40 institutions and 58 fire-company houses.

Cards allowing the use of four books for two weeks are issued to all residents of Boston with no further attendant delay than is involved in identification. No guaranty is asked except in case of a sojourner. Such cards are also issued to non-resident pupils attending Boston schools who furnish guaranties. For reading and reference the Library is open to all without formality. Special cards for more extended privileges are issued to clergymen officiating in the City, and to teachers giving instruction in Boston institutions of learning; a special card is also issued in certain cases by the Trustees. On February 1, 1922, there were 109,950 cardholders having the right to draw books for home use. The total number of volumes was 1,258,211, and of different newspapers and periodicals currently received at the Central Library and branches something over 3,000. Books issued in 1921, for home use and for use through schools and institutions, numbered 2,672,646. Of reference use, on account of the freedom with which books may be consulted, no adequate statistics are kept.

CENTRAL LIBRARY, COPLEY SQUARE.

Lending and reference, 914,914 volumes (including the Patent Library). Periodical reading-rooms, 1,430 periodicals.

Newspaper reading-room, 267 current newspapers.

Patent Library, 15,984 volumes.

Bates Hall for reading and reference. About 10,000 volumes are on open shelves.

Other Activities. The Fine Arts Department has facilities for copying and photographing, a collection of photographs of architecture, sculpture and painting, numbering 65,298 (including process pictures), besides illustrated books, portfolios, etc., and 9,135 lantern slides. Special assistance is offered to classes, travel clubs, etc. Free lectures, mostly on art topics, are given during the winter season. The room for younger readers has about 10,000 volumes on open shelves for reading and circulation. A Teachers' Reference Room is maintained, with a pedagogical reference collection and files of current periodicals on educational subjects. Reference books are reserved for use in connection with University Extension courses. Story telling for children is regularly conducted under expert direction at the Central Library and principal branches. On the ground floor of the Central Library near the main entrance are three rooms, wherein is provided a community and general information service. One of the rooms serves as a library reception office where the inquirer has his question either answered, or is directed to the proper source of information within or outside the building. In the second room is maintained a classified collection of some 3,000 current Federal documents, including congressional, departmental and miscellaneous publications. Current Massachusetts documents are also to be found in this room. The third room has on open shelves a classified collection of general literature for circulation, consisting of about 2,500 volumes. The Library is open from 9 A.M. to 10 P.M.; Sundays from 12 M. to 10 P.M.; closed at 9 P.M. from June 15 to September 15.

BRANCH LIBRARIES.

The 17 branch libraries are open on week days from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M., with some variation of hours in summer. Most of them are open on Sundays, from 2 to 9 P.M., November to April.

BRIGHTON BRANCH, 17,104 volumes. Reading-room, 50 periodicals. Holton Library Building, Academy Hill road.

Reading-room, 49 periodi

CHARLESTOWN BRANCH, 16,547 volumes. Reading-room, 52 periodicals. Monument square, corner Monument avenue. CODMAN SQUARE BRANCH, 7,911 volumes. cals. Washington, corner Norfolk street. DORCHESTER Branch, 19,274 volumes. Reading-room, 50 periodicals. Arcadia, corner Adams street.

EAST BOSTON BRANCH, 19,468 volumes.

276-282 Meridian street.

Reading-room, 57 periodicals.

HYDE PARK BRANCH, 30,355 volumes. Reading-room, 64 periodicals. Harvard avenue, corner Winthrop street.

JAMAICA PLAIN BRANCH, 17,461 volumes. Reading-room, 46 periodicals. Sedgwick, corner South street.

MT. BOWDOIN BRANCH. 2 to 9 P.M. 7,363 volumes, 40 periodicals. Washington, corner Eldon street.

NORTH END BRANCH, 8,026 volumes. Reading-room, 44 periodicals. 3A North Bennet street.

ROSLINDALE BRANCH, 9,709 volumes; 47 periodicals. Washington, near Ashland street.

ROXBURY BRANCH, 37,265 volumes. Reading-room, 78 periodicals. 46 Millmont street.

SOUTH BOSTON BRANCH, 17,554 volumes. Reading-room, 62 periodicals. 372 West Broadway.

SOUTH END BRANCH, 14,565 volumes. Reading-room, 52 periodicals. 397 Shawmut avenue.

UPHAM'S CORNER BRANCH, 10,218 volumes. Reading-room, 52 periodicals. Columbia road, corner Bird street.

WARREN STREET BRANCH, 4,166 volumes; 43 periodicals. 392 Warren street.

WEST END BRANCH, 19,752 volumes. Reading-room, 58 periodicals. Cambridge street, corner Lynde street.

WEST ROXBURY BRANCH, 11,465 volumes. Reading-room, 48 periodicals. Centre, near Mt. Vernon street.

READING-ROOMS.

STATION A. LOWER MILLS READING-ROOM. 3 to 6 and 7 to 9 P.M. 1,590 volumes; 29 periodicals. Washington, corner Richmond street. STATION D. MATTAPAN READING-ROOM. 2 to 6 and 7 to 9 P.M. 1,745 volumes; 25 periodicals. 7 Babson street.

STATION E.

NEPONSET READING-ROOM. 2 to 6 and 7 to 9 P.M. 1,796

volumes; 26 periodicals. 362 Neponset avenue.

STATION G. ALLSTON READING-ROOM. 2 to 6 and 7 to 9 P.M. 3,418 volumes; 37 periodicals. 138 Brighton avenue.

STATION N. MT. PLEASANT READING-ROOM. 2 to 9 P.M. 4,771

volumes; 26 periodicals. Vine, corner Dudley street.

2 to 9 P.M. 4,166

STATION P. TYLER STREET READING-ROOM. volumes; 25 periodicals. Tyler, corner Oak street. STATION S. ROXBURY CROSSING READING-ROOM. 2 to 6 and 7 to 9 P.M. 3,745 volumes; 30 periodicals. 208 Ruggles street.

STATION T. BOYLSTON STATION READING-ROOM. 2 to 6 and 7 to 9 P.M. 3,716 volumes; 32 periodicals. The Lamartine, Depot square. STATION Y. ANDREW SQUARE READING-ROOM. 2 to 6 and 7 to 9 P.M. 3,191 volumes; 32 periodicals. 396 Dorchester street.

STATION Z. ORIENT HEIGHTS READING-ROOM. 2 to 6 and 7 to 9 P.M. 3,033 volumes; 25 periodicals. 1030 Bennington street.

STATION 23. CITY POINT READING-ROOM. 2 to 6 and 7 to 9 P.M. 4,291 volumes; 35 periodicals. Broadway, near H street.

STATION 24. PARKER HILL READING-ROOM. 2 to 6 and 7 to 9 P.M. 2,169 volumes; 25 periodicals. 1518 Tremont street.

STATION 25. FANEUIL READING-ROOM. 2 to 6 and 7 to 9 P.M. 2,978 volumes; 28 periodicals. 100 Brooks street.

STATION 16. JEFFRIES POINT READING-ROOM. 2 to 6 and 7 to 9 P.M. 1,764 volumes; 21 periodicals. 195 Webster street.

MARKET DEPARTMENT.

Office in Rotunda of Faneuil Hall Market.

[Rev. Ord. 1898, (now Rev. Ord. 1914), Chap. 1, § 4, tenth to twelfth; Rev. Ord. 1914, Chap. 22 and Chap. 40, §§ 29-34; Stat. 1895, Chap. 449, § 26.]

PATRICK H. GRAHAM, Superintendent of Markets. Salary, $4,000. Term ends in 1926.

PETER J. CONNOLLY, Clerk and Deputy Superintendent. Salary, $2,100.

Faneuil Hall Market, proposed in Mayor Quincy's message of July 31, 1823, and completed in 1826, was under the charge of a Clerk of the Market until an ordinance of September 9, 1852, established the office of Superintendent. According to the Revised Ordinances of 1914, Chap. 1, § 4, tenth, Faneuil Hall Market includes the lower floor, porches and cellar of the buildings called respectively Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. The Superintendent has charge and control of these two buildings. He may assign stands within their limits; and it is his duty, from time to time, to lease the stalls in the market at rents not less than those established by the City Council. The market police are appointed by the Police Commissioner and under his control. In the 12th paragraph of § 4 the "Market limits" are fully described.

As a municipal enterprise the Quincy Market has been steadily profitable, yielding a total net income in rentals, etc., of about $4,500,000 in the past 70 years. Faneuil Hall Market yields $15,000 to $16,000 net yearly income, or about one-sixth that of Quincy Market. For a historical and financial article on "Public Markets in Boston" see BULLETIN of Statistics Department for June, 1912.

OVERSEERS OF THE PUBLIC WELFARE.
[FORMERLY OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.]

Office, Charity Building, 43 Hawkins street.

[Stat. 1864, Chap. 128; Rev. Ord. 1898, Chap. 27; C.C., Title IV., Chap. 27; Stat. 1909, Chap. 538; Stat. 1913, Chap. 763; Rev. Ord. 1914, Chap. 23; Stat. 1921, Chap. 146.

FRANKLIN P. Daly.
MARGARET E. LEAHY.

Terms end in 1923.

SIMON E. HECHT.
CHARLES F. HALE.

The Overseers of the Poor in the Town of Boston, a corporation established in 1772 by act of the Legislature, were succeeded in 1864 by the corporation called "Overseers of the Poor in the City of Boston," consisting of twelve residents of Boston, four of whom are appointed annually to serve for the term of three years from the first day of May. The Board has issued annual reports since 1865.

The Overseers of the Poor are also incorporated as a Board of Trustees of John Boylston's and other charitable funds, left for the assistance of persons of good character and advanced age, "who have been reduced by misfortune to indigence and want."

In charge of the Overseers are the Wayfarers' Lodge on Hawkins street, opened in 1878, which gives free lodging to homeless men who are out of employment, but exacts work in its woodyard for meals furnished; and the Temporary Home on Chardon street for destitute women and children, opened in 1870. In the year ending Jan. 31, 1922, the number of individual cases of aid given was 20,808, including 5,036 men in Wayfarers' Lodge, 1,951 women and children in Temporary Home and 13,821 persons, representing 4,607 families, aided in their own homes by money, provisions, etc., of which 1,391 families were in the class provided for by Chapter 763, Acts of 1913, i. e., mothers with dependent children under 14 years of age. Payments to this class amounted to $715,091 (i. e., $78,074 more than in 1920) against which there were receipts from the State and from other municipalities amounting to $383,573 for their proportional part, according to the legal settlement of the mother. The total amount of the 17 permanent charity funds in the custody of the Overseers on Feb. 1,. 1922, was $918,127, the annual income from which (about $36,000) is distributed to pensioners according to the intentions of the donors of the funds.

PARK DEPARTMENT.
Offices, 33 Beacon Street.

[Stat. 1875, Chap. 185; Rev. Ord. 1898, Chap. 28; C.C., Title IV., Chap. 24; Stat. 1911, Chap. 435, 540; Ord. 1912, Chap. 10; Ord. 1913, Chap. 5; Ord. 1914, Chap. 3; Rev. Ord. 1914, Chap. 24; Ord. 1920, Chap. 13.]

COMMISSIONERS.

JAMES B. SHEA. Term ends in 1925.

MYRON P. LEWIS.* Term ends in 1924.

CHARLES A. COOLIDGE.* Term ends in 1923.

OFFICIALS.

JAMES B. SHEA, Chairman. Salary, $7,000.

WILLIAM P. LONG, Deputy Commissioner. Salary, $3,500.

*Two commissioners serve without compensation.