The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-05-21
For he Spirit Of the Age.
VILLAGE LIBRARY.

dm very much gra,ifed to learn that the sale of
the Books OF the Woodstock Library is suspended
for further consideration; and confidently hope
when the subject shall be properly understood that
the very attempt to exterminate the only public
Library remaining in this Village will arouse the
inhabitants generally, and like the phunix it will
arise TO new life, 1t is only for the people 10 will
that it shall be done, and ii will be; and that too,
without their missing the small pttance that will
accomplish IT. Shall the story be told in other
States, some of which have established public and
free libraries in each school district, that this vii
lage Of nearly 1000 inhabitants has not even one
public library'
will venture to propose plan which think
cannot fail of meeting the favorable views of our
community and the present owners of the library.
AIN informed that there are for,y-two shareholders
Of the Library; that they have paid 81 90 per share.
The library consists of 2s2 volumes of valuable
standard books History, Biography, Travels, and
very select miscellaneous collection. The propo-
sition is, that the gentlemen of the village organize
a Lyceum or library society on a permanen, basis,
each subscriber agreeing to pay the sum of s / per
annum, for the term of a, least ten years, or in
quarterly payments of 25 cents; which shall be
expended for the purchase Of such hooks as may
be designated by committee 10 be elected by the
subscribers. The present owners Of the library
shall become subscribers to the new association,
and transfer their books TO them, in payment Of
their annual lax of one dollar per year, for such
length of time as may be agreed perhaps for 5
years; after which time they shall pay their sub
scription as others. | shall not believe until fair
trial has been made that there cannot be at least
500 new subscribers obtained in this town and Vi
entity who will guarantee the sum of two cents per
week for the privilege oireading books from libra
ry which may in len years. independent Of dOna-
,ons,) consist Of several thousand volumes, if that
number Of subscribers can be obtained. BY es,ab-
fishing it OH this broad basis it may soon grow into
more usefulness, by connecting with it cabine, Of
natural history, and scientific lectures. Suitable
buildings and lecture rooms can be provided and
rendered the pride of our town, and pleasant, re-
sort of citizens and strangers, Subscriptions should
be extended as far as possible, and such arrange
mcnts made that on visiting our village the subscr-
bers will find a readng-room furnished with tho
American and foreign periodicals, in which they
will have equal tights aud an induccmcn, to devote
few leisure hours to the cultivation of their minds
All political newspapers should be excluded, and
the rooms rendered respectable resort for ladies'
as well as gentlemen,
will therefore respectfully propose that meet
ing of the library society be warned by their proper
officers, to meet at as early time as possible, 10
consider this proposition, and if they acccdc to it,
Immediately thereafter meeting of the young gen.
tlemen of the village and vicinity be notified, and
they be requested to make arrangements by the
appointment of suitable number of persons to
procure subscribers to the above object, and who
shall also warn a meeting Of the subscriber as soon
as an acceptable number shall have been procured.
BY proper exerions the business may be accom-
pished in few weeks and the foundation laid of
n literary structure which we shall be proud TO
have contributed our mite in raising.
AMERICANUs.