Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-10-30
Town Libraries.


The Special Senate Committee Oh SO much
Of the Governors message as relates to Pub
lie Town Libraries have made report,
through Senator Reynolds, accompanied by
bin, as follows
10 Hc Ion SHafe noe % session
The special committee 90 whom wn referred
that portion OF the Governor message having
reference t1 Public Town Llbmre-, respectfully
report
Your committee ind that public town libraries
have NOT heon organized under tho enabling 0rt
now in force that most % thc towns IN Gle
s tate are destitute 1f public library advantage
that the people generally are not provided with
suitable books for reading that iu many locil-
tiles they are not ns welt supplied as the CON
yici- a our prisons nnd reform schools That
while 10 Is admitted TINT mlrd and intellectual
progress are essential 90 the stability and pernc-
tuity of our Institutions, there is doubt whether
in these respects we have not been suffering
fcndcnce for the past generation. And DC can
but be- regarded rs alarming that .uch doubts
exist, for IL proves no least that no positive ad-
vince has been made. The opinion :. well found
ed that while the present almost exclusive news
paper reading stimulates business enterprise 10
It's utmost limit, it at the same time tends D. ia
dwarlcd condition OF the higher mental powers,
and To superfcal requirements That while
rapid strides are being made in mliefill develop
ments and prosperity, u Is feared that moral and
intellectual growth has not kept pace, and that
there is n sta nnti0u resting upon these vital in
tereste. The riehtful demands of society are
that mental alment Of the highest order shall be-
furnished by government free 10 every one OF It's
members This is a trui-m inscparabic from
the agency Of government in its relation to -o-
ciety And it is the opinion Of your committee
that wei established public library system
would do much 70 c1unteract the superficial ten
denotes referred %, and more 10 elevate the
people than any one iustrUmenality. and in view
Of what il is believed may be accomplished by tie
introduction of such an agency, the accompany
ing bill is herewith submitted
Asa REYNOLDS, for majority ol Com.
j. rs herfly enacted by he GrH.rW iNHhb VI Hie
STATE ~ Vermont
See. The sum Of one hundred and fifty thou-
sand dollars is hereby appropriated for tho pur-
pose OF establishing public town libraries
throughout tho State
See . The treasurer or the Sn'c g. hereby
authorized. under the direction Of the Governor
and Lieut. Governor, % borrow on the credit Of
the State for the purposes specified in the first
section of this act, the sam therein -peciiied, aud
issue therefor the bonds OF the State in such
form and in such amount. aud payable at sach
bank In the city Of Boston a. the treasurer may
designate, and ON such time not less th1u twenty
years from the date thereof as the Governor.
Lieut. NfUNCfn1r ana treasurer TlnN deem gNNf-
dent. and AZ rate Of interest not exceeding six
pcr cent per annum, with annual interest CON.
mons signed hy the treasurer attached thereto
said ooupons To be signed by the Governor and
Lieut. Governor, and countcrsgned by the treas
urer and made negotiable and a copy of the first
three sections of This act certified 6y tho Score
tary of State, shall be printed on the back of
said bonds
Sec z The Secretary Of Stnte shall keen +,
his Office n FIN registry orau the bonds which
NAV he issued as Aforesaid.
T., 4 mo s,,,, ~ ono b,,nflrct and gr,,, tb,.,,.
sand dollars. appropriated in section one If Nh.
act 6r the establishment of uublie town lb~,r-
ics shall he distributed fer that ppruosf Ia tho
severai TOWNS in the State in tbe milo as tbe
popnlation of each town i, to The population of
mo entire State
Sec Each tovn shall proviae n s,italle
building or room for the purpose Of cstablisbing
and maintaining a public library therein. and
shall at any legal meeting of the town elect some
.pitable nerson Ia aet ns Hbnrian. IN serve f,r
the term Of one year, ortill successor IS elected
or appoiutej. and ia case of death. removal. or
inability of librarian to act, the board of select.
men shall appoint a librarian to serve iii the next
succeeding annual meeting
Sec. 6 lhe town Librarian shall be subject To
such rnles. regulations and bylaws for Tho man
cement of the town library as may be prescribed
by the trustees of the State library
SEQ 7 The trustees of the State library shall
prescribe ali needful rules. regulations and by.
avs Tor the management Of town ibruries by
town Librarians and said trustees shall require,
in such forms as they may adopt a report from
each town librarian to the State librarian annu.
ally, between the first and fifteenth days of Sep
TENDER of each year, and also a report from tie
State librarian 10 the General Assembly, when
the same shall convene at its regular sessions,
exhibiting in such report the condition of the
town Libraries throughout the State and said
trustees are hereby authorized to deposit in town
libraries any duplicate volumes which are in tho
State library on such terms as they shall deem
for the best interest OF the State.
Sec g. Each town library shall be furnished
with copy OF all laws, journals, reports and
other public documents issued or published by
the State and said town libraries may receive
public documents and other publications from
any Departmental the Federal Government and
may also receive any devise, bequcst or donation,