The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-30
FREE BOOKS FOR ALL.
The Public Library to Be
Opened Tomorrow.
HISTORY OF THE INSTITUTION.
How t. Enjoy It's Privilegss-Location
and Rooms-Cla Classification Of Books
-Omcsrs and Rules.

may borrow books and read them free OF ex-
pense. There will be no formality In the OPEN
ing. The doors of the library will open as
usual, but the attendants, instead of hurryfng
around classifying, arranging, numbering and
putting the books on the shelves in proper or
der, will be engaged in loaning them to the
applicants who have applied previous to today
for the privileges of the institution.
The quarters of the library are on the fifth or
top floor of the Occidental building and the
windows open upon Second street and Yesler
avenue. The rooms are reached by elevators
from the entrance on second street and from
the hallway running through the building from
Yesler avenue to James street, and also by sew
eral stairways. They consist of a large reading
room, in which are found $50 periodicals,
ladies' reading room, a reference room, the book
or shelf room the commissions Office and
work room The rooms are all nicely furnished
and lighted, are heated by steam, and, with the
exception of the reading room, are of linen
sions amply adequate to present needs, but are
not suited for q permanent home for the institu-
ton.
The reading room, opened last April, has been
taxed to its utmost, and although 1t was consid-
cred large enough for the possible demands of
the next year or two it has been too small from
the opening day. The ladies' reading room, ON
the other hand, has been only indifferently
patronized. The reference room, with its well
equipped stock of books and encyclopedias, has
been open for two months or more.
The secretary and acting librarian Of the
library is Mr. A. J. Smoke. He has tor many
years been identified with library work and has
had extensive experience in the organization
and establishment of Libraries. Mr.. Smoke is
assisted by Mrs. L. K. Harnett, Miss E. n. Henry
Miss May Banks Mr.. Peter Perret and Mr.
Thomas Ferret
The movement for the establishment of pub
lie library in Seattle was started nearly four
q hu nv Nnr 4 IT,
The first meeting to talk over the project was
held in the spring of 1855. There were present
at this meeting Mrs J. c. Haines, Mrs George
II. Hebron, Mrs. G. Morris Halter, Mrs. l. s. j.
Hunt and Mrs. T. T. Minor. At the next meet
ing, held at the home of Mrs. Bailey Gatzert an
organization was perfected and board of trus-
tees elected. This board consisted of Mrs.
Joseph Mcknight, Mrs T. T. Minor, Mrs J. G.
Haines, Mrs. G. Morris Halter, Mrs. George II.
Hebron, Mrs. j. P. Hoyt, Mrs. l. S. J. Hunt
Mrs. Z. G. Sanderson, Mrs. NJ. r. Maddocks, Mrs.
John Leary, Mrs. A. B. Stewart, Mrs. George G..
Lyon, Mrs. NJ. ]. Carkeek. A short time after.
ward Mrs. w. E. Boone and Mrs Thomas Burke
were added to the board.
Mrs. Joseph Mcknight was elected president.
Mrs Haines vice president, Mrs. Halter secre-
tary, Mrs. Hebron corresponding secretary and
Mrs. sanderson treasurer. The association held
regular meetings thereafter and commenced a
vigorous canvass for members at 81 initiation
fee each. Other plans were devised to raise
funds. ball was given which Melted $780, and
one or two entertainments were gotten up and
successfully carried through that further in
creased the funds. Something over $1,000 was
realized in all, and this money is now In the
bank drawing interest, and it is the intention Of
the association to present 1t in some special form
to the public library.
Early in the movement the ladies started a
popular subscription, and they succeeded in
getting over $1,000 subscribed to start the pro-
1ecf. None OF this money was ever paid in how.
ever. Mrs. Haines and Mrs Hunt went to Mr..
Henry l. Yesler about this time and he gener.
ously agreed to give the triangular lot bounded
BY Yesler avenue, jefferson and Third streets
for site upon which to build O library build
ing. In consideration of this splendid gift the
ladies decided to name the proposed institution
"The Yesler Library" About the time that the
association was going to take steps toward build
ing, the great fire came and stopAed proceedings
for many months. The death of DR.. T. T. Minor
and g. Norris Halter, both of whom had been
active aids in the project, was also blow to the
movement and further delayed the realization
OF the library.
When the new city charter was proposed the
women, who had been active in the Library As.
ISOLATION. came forwotd and submitted to the
trainers of that instrument the proposition to
incorporate In 1t the provision for a public IL
orary. The proposition was thoroughly dis
cussed by the charter commission and was
finally adopted and ratified by popular vote on
November IA, 1880.
The charter provided q fund for the ibrarv
by appropriattng for its use 10 per cent of all
city fines and licenses collected. Since the
charter went into effect this per cent has aver
aged about $1,000 per month. The charter
provides further that on or before 1895 the oues-
ton OF issuing bonds in the sum OF $780, o 90 for
the erection OF library building shall be sub
mitted to the voters. A commission consisting
of five members two of whom must be ladies.
was also authorized by the charter. The msyor
appointed as the first commission Judge Eben
Smith, Mr.. John E. Aver, Mr.. r. G. Washburn.
Mrs. J. c. Hsines and Mrs. A. B. Stewart.
Judge Smith was elected president OF the COM
mission and Mr.. X. G. Washburn vice president
This commission has entire control of the IT,
brary.
To get a complete library, to secure quarters,
furniture and thousand and one other things,
and to find and employ q suitable librarian and
corps OF assistants, has been the work of the
members OF the commission since its appoint
ment Mr.. j. 8. Lockwood was employed an
purchasing agent, ard he was given an order
Tor 5000 books selected by the book committee
and approved by the commission. Mr.. Lock
wood has purchased all but 900 of the books,
and the 5000 purchased are now On the shelves
in the library and the others will be secured az
fast as funds will permit
Comparatively few persons have so far applied
for cards emitting them TO draw books About
l5o gentlemen and sixty ladies are all that will
be entitled to draw books the first day. The
rules require that an application shall be on file
for two days before . book can be given out, and
therefore only small number OF books will go
out until more applications are handed in The
guarantor must be other than a member of the
immediate family OF the borrower This re-
quirement has caused some trouble already.
and ut hrst sight Ii appears like an Injustice
For instance, ii would be hard for the commits
sion 10 refuse to issue borrowers card TO such
person as Mrs. Henry L. Yesler should Mr.
Iesler sign as guarautor. but IL has been found
absolutely necessary 10 make the rule as a mo-
lection TO the library. without the rule a man
could guarantee for each OF his eight or ten
children, and these children could, by each
taking volume OF set of books, almost de-
plete the library in that department.
The form of application 10 be filed in and
signed by wouid-be borrower IS as follows:
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
/, being over II years OF age and residing or
owning property IN seattle, keeping house or
boarding at. --.................. III there IN no
~ ooafaingl,' ltA.-...-.......-. number state
hiacs VI business -'-.s--..'.-.-.. near what
hereby apply for the right to use the seattle
public library, and promise to give immed ate
70 OBEY all of It's rules, and especially TO pay
promptly ell nues assessed against me.
o-sHstuEe.. .+..---.-- -----.-.-----.....
ON the other side OF the application Is the fol
lowing form which must be filed in by the
guarantor. or IS deposited by the borrower:
SRATTLE. Wash.
10 TIE Library Commission Of the Seattle Public
Library:
Observation-Disclosures, being over n yesre
u age, and owning property in seattle, residing