Mark Contois on Beacon Hill Chat

Mark Contois (head librarian at the Worcester Public Library) appeared on Beacon Hill Chat around Christmas.

Around the 8:30 mark, he said that “we are the busiest internet-use library in the Commonwealth.  More people come to the Worcester Public Library to log on to the internet than any other library in the Commonwealth.”

After that, there’s an interesting discussion of e-books and libraries.  Also, FPBL is now the third-busiest branch in the Commonwealth.

Around the 24 minute mark, there was a discussion about whether or not the library keeps a list of the most used materials or books.  While it does not, there used to be a “most popular catalog searches” page on the website, which I can no longer find.  I always liked to look at that to see what others were reading (or looking for, at least).

(I should note that the library provides lists of new books, new DVDs, and new audiobooks.  I recommend the last especially for those of you who listen to audiobooks, because you’ll be able to listen to CDs that aren’t scratched and/or have food detritus from the last listener.  I live by the new audiobook listing!  Also, you need to listen to Wolf Hall.  I think I’ve said that twice already but it’s the best listening I’ve had in a long time.) 

In other library news…

The chat with a librarian service hours have been extended from their previously limited time slot (3:30-5:30pm) to anytime the library is open. 

I should also note that the Massachusetts Trial Court’s Law Libraries sponsor a chat with a law librarian service Monday-Friday from 9:00am-4:00pm.

Meadow Lane breaking news

According to the City Solicitor,  number 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 Meadow Lane do abut Pleasant Street. 

From his letter to the Council:

The map of Pleasant Street (Exhibit A) distributed at last week’s City Council Meeting reflects the Commonwealth’s land takings to support re-construction efforts to widen Pleasant Street in 1959, The Commonwealth used the additional strips of land (shown on the map in yellow highlight) to accommodate the widening. Those strips of property are now part and parcel of the current Pleasant Street right of way, Therefore, the properties in question abut both Meadow Lane and Pleasant Street and the owners of these properties are under a legal obligation to remove the snow from the sidewalks on both streets within ten hours after each storm.

And from p. 5 of the document:

At the city council meeting of January 4, 2011, one of the Meadow Lane property owners presented information that a title examiner, Attorney Stephen Bik of Taylor Abstract Company, has reviewed this matter and concluded that the Meadow Lane properties did not abut Pleasant Street. I discussed this with Attorney Bik and we discovered that the 1959 taking by the state to widen Pleasant Street was indexed at the Registry of Deeds under “State Road” and not under “Pleasant Street.” Comparing the existing property lines in the current deeds to the Meadow Lane properties with the 1926 state highway layout would lead anyone to conclude that there is some gap between the properties and Pleasant Street. However, when the 1959 state highway widening is included, the apparent gap is filled. Attorney Bik and I agree that the 1959 state highway layout accurately describes the current boundary line between the properties in question and Pleasant Street.

In summary, the Meadow Lane properties abutted both Meadow Lane and Pleasant Street as Pleasant Street existed prior to 1959. When the state widened Pleasant Street in 1959 it took an additional strip of land from the Meadow Lane properties. That additional strip was made part of Pleasant Street and the Meadow Lane properties were reduced by that amount. Therefore, the properties in question abut both Meadow Lane and Pleasant Street and the owners are under a legal obligation to remove the snow from the sidewalks on
both streets within ten hours after each storm.

(h/t on all this to a faithful reader)