The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1891-01-14
VALER|A LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
A Brief Outline of the Origin and
Purposes of the Organ
izatiOn.
HOME INSTITUTION FOR OUR PEOPLE.
Great Credit Due Mrs. Paris Gibson
and Mrs. s. +. ChOwen for Start
ing This Beneficent
Institution.
The New Library Building Corner
Third Street and Second Ave-
nue. North Nearly
Finished.
A HOME INSTITUTION FOR OUR PEOPLE.

As the new Naleria library building
is about completed it might be we'll to
give some account of the origin and pur-
poses of the association. First and fore
most, it should be understood, that the
library lie a public institution. 1t is in
tended for the people of Great Falls and
looks to them Tor support. 1t Is not free
at present but the charges are so smal
that anyone who desires to use such
place Can well afford to do so.
The credit of doing the first work to
wards starting a library in Great Fall
belongs to Mrs. Paris Gibson from whom
and friends notably Mrs. S. E. Chowen, a
valuable collection of books was received
a little more than n year ago. A stock
association had already been formed with
a cap ital of $1,000, divided into shares
necessary officers, were elected from
among the stock holders and 10y them the
ASSOCIATION Is managed. MANY of Great
Falls prominent business men are among
the storkho,d rrs and 1t is hoped that
many more VIII acquire stock and thus
t.ke ,"me p~rsonal interest in so bruefl-
clal an institution. Ii must not be under
sloo |, h ,s-ver, TIL Observation-Disclosures can
not Use the library. 50 lar AS using the
books aud reading room Is concerned,
they can acquire the same privileges AS
stor khOlder>.
Tn. library was got into running order
aud first opened on The Goth of January, n
year ago., aud considering the ntwness Of
the enterprise aud the s"mew hat out OF
the way location of the rooms, il has been
very well patroniz-d. The number Of
volumes at present is about 500, inClud-
ing valuable works en- history, biography.
travel, ETC.,, as we'll rs the best works of
fiction. III IL intended to add constantly
to the collection, especially such new
works rs may be called for from time a.
time. In addition TO the books, of course
many of the leading periodicals are TAX
en-, so that one need never be ut Il loss
for reading matter. In the past the Ii
brary has been open every day in the
week, including Sundays, from l to 5 p.
M, and four evenings during the week
from Z to 10 p. m. In the future it will
probably be open for the same or longer
hours each day. just for the present, be
it noted, the association has closed its
doors, waiting the completion OF the ne"
building.
And now a word or two in regard tn
the new edifce. which. it is hoped, will
soon be finished. 1t is certainly IA tasty
structure with foundation and trimmings
of brown sandstone and walls of pressed
b lex. There is a spacious hallway
leading into the main reading room, this
last is 16x33 feet in dimensions. Con-
Meeting with the larger reading room by
folding doors is Il second room about one
half the size of the first, also a broad al
cove, for shelving books, etc. A base
ment beneath contains a furnace for
heating the whole. The rooms are all
we'll lighted by a suficiency OF windows.
" Sc in front having neat, colored tran
SONS.
At the opening of this building it is
expected arrangements will be made for
an art loan exhibition and it is hoped
that our citizens generally will manifest
their hearty appreciation Of the instltu-
ton, so creditable to young city, by
giving it their individual support, II
not for a day or two only, but FOL all time
to come. The library association were
fortunate in securing the services of SO
well qualified II gentleman as Mr.. Robert
S. Williams to act as librarian. He is
affable and NbliginG and is pushing the
as-o iatiou ahead to the utmost of his
ability.