The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-04-09
THE CAIRO PUBLIC LIBRARY.

record Of quiet and prudent management.
Inc librarian reported 1884 books drawn
during the past year; 20 new books pur-
chased and donated, and $3O.75 received
tor loans and fines. The treasurers report
showed the receipts to have been 1853 Is,
and the disbursements $l40.27, $SG33 hay.
ing been paid for books.
The report of the librarian, Mrs. P. C.
Powell, and that Of the treasurer, Mrs. w.
X. Smith, was followed by the report of
the secretary, Mrs H. II. Candee as follows
WoMANs CLUB & LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, !
CAIRO, His, March lst, 1882. {
Mrs President and Ladies'.
Another year has rolled around, and
again we.are gathered for our annual meet
ing and take few moments to look over
| the work Of the past year. and to place for
that of the future. We have, as an asso.
ciation,no reached the mature age Of seven
years, which, though in childhood, lisa gen.
orally uninteresting period, yet commands
certain amount OF respect and influence.
Our history OF the year just finished has
been very uneventful one, and we have,
with one notable exception, pursued the
even tenor of our way, and have done but
little work in any direction that would
make brilliant showing, but the regular,
quiet, systematic fulfllment of duty and
the uninterrupted continuance of library
work, has not been without its influence.
We have had seven regular meetings of
the association two out Of the full num-
Der nine having been prevented by stormy
weather. and three special meetings. Our
membership has received an additional Of
six, and we have lost two by removal from
the city both of them active workers, and
greatly missed. | regret to say that our
liteary work, during the past year, fell
below the standard Of the year previous.
This was occasioned, | think, by outside
causes, notably several fine entertainments
given last spring-"A Loan Collection,
Carnival. of Authors" andl meeting of the
Illinois Social Science Association in all of
which our members were actively engaged,
and from all Of which they derived great
benefit aud enjoyment. | do not believe l
shall be considered as presenting matters
too strongly, il | say that | believe that
the work done during the past seven years
BY our association in educating the literary
taste of our people went far toward pre-
pairing the minds in the community to ap.
preciate and enjoy the entertainments re-
fered to. They were certainly OF higher
order than anything of like nature ever
given in our city before, and their success
proved conclusively that our people are
gradually but steadily rising to higher
plans of culture. That the library which
has been the chief centre of our labors, has
been an important factor in this growth, l
think you will all agree.
1t has been our labor for that objective
point in our work that has absorbed so
much of our time and strength in the
past, that has prevented US from doing all
we could have wished in the way of lite
rary culture. No one, however, can regret
for one instant what has been done in that
direction, especially as our important
change will soon occur in the statue OF the
library, which will give us more time to
devote to our own self improvement, while
itreleves us of the great responsibility OF
providing for the maintenance Of the H.
brary, and puts it upon sound financial
basis and a broad plstfUrm, such as we
have all looked forward to from the begin
ming. 1t will be with mingled feelings OF
pride, pleasure and regret that we shall
convey the trust which we have guarded so
sacredly for all these years into hands
stronger than our own; pleasure that they
will be so fully competent to assume the
task which has been to Us labor OF love;
pride that we have been able to bring our
desire, through the wise farsightedDess of
our intelligent city council to such sue
cessful fuIflment, and some slight regret
that this beloved child of our youth 10 q
child no longer, but reaching out to a
broader and wider life.
I need not say that we shall remain what
we have always becn-the Womaps Club
and Library Association, as truly interested
in the welfare of the free public library IS
when it was our own private property, and
as ready to labor for its success and pros.
perity and the public benefit. In less
than decade from this date we shall hope
to see the Cairo Free Public Library and
Reading Room, the foundation Of which
this association has laid, sustained by the
hearty cooperation of all intelligent and
public spirited citizens and ably managed