The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-10-28

No town is more fortunate in having
large and well selected free library than
this, and which was present to the town
by Seth b. Hunt, Esq, and Hon. T w
Park, who are both natives of Bennington,
and by this act alone, will long be remem-
bered by the people of this town and vii
lage. In March, 1865, Messrs. Hunt and
Park purchased brick building then in
process of erection on Main street, finished
the same in the necessary manner, placed
on Its shelves 1000 volumes and donated
it to the town of Bennington TOR free
library, and appointed as trustees of the
same Ex-Gov. Hiland Hall, d McGowan,
L Tiffany, 3 II Sears and John V Hall,
to be held in trust by them SO long rs 1t
should be used for that purpose.
At preliminary meeting held at Library
Hall, February 2lst, 1865, measures were
taken for instituting Young Mems assoc
ciation and committees were appointed TO
draft articles of association on bylaws and
at meeting held the next month. articles
of association were adopted from which
the following extract is taken which shows
that the objects Of this association are 80
promote literary and scientific knowledge
among the members by establishing and
maintaining a library, reading room, and
an annual course of lectures, and bylaws
were also adopted. The association hay
ing thus been started, the trustees trans
ferred the property to it, giving them all
perquisitcs arising from the rent OF the
building, etc, for the purpose of keeping
up the library so long rs the said associ-
alton should do and perform the same to
the satisfaction of the aboyc trustees. The
Library building is built of brick, about 60
x50 feet and two stories high. The lower
part is rented for stores, while in the upper
story are the library and reading rooms
and hall with a seating capacity
of GOO. Up to the present time
the income from the store and
hall rents has paid all current expenses
of the association, including pay Of librari-
an aud janitor. and from the day the libra
ry was first opened to this not dollar has
been given it by the people Of the town.
save AS payment for tickets TO The lecture
courses, and Of these only one has paid cX.
pcnses. Still the association have in addi-
ton to defraying their expenses. increased
the library from 1000 TO 1920 volumes. I'M
til now we have among the largest town H.
braries in the State, composed of the best
of works, also reading room which is
supplied with the leading papers of the day
GLOBE excepted which is open to every
body, every week day in the year. The
terms of membership are 81 per year.
which gives the member the right to take IA
book at any time and also to vote at the
annual election. As the only means that
the association have for payment Of eX-
pcnses and increasing the library come
from the rents of the building and the sale
of membership tickets, and as the current
| expenses of the association are continually
| increasing, the question naturally arises to
our mind, how long do the citizens of this
town expect to enjoy the privilege of Il
Tree library at the expense of Messrs. Hunt
and Park without putting their hand in
their pockets and contributing to the en-
largng of the library, if such an institution
is desirable in our midst. Other towns an
nually vote to defray all the necessary ex-
penses of their free libraries thereby giving
it the benefit of all its receipts, why will not
the citizens of Bennington do the same, all
feeling sure that If we do not derive much
benefits from it, those that come after us
will be grateful to us. Beside we shall
have the satisfaction of knowing that by
constantly keeping its shelves supplied
with the latest and best works, we can
make it a power for good in our commit
nifty and then our labors will not have been
in vain. Il.