Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-01-17
The Public Library.

decided success. The hall WAS well
filled by an enthusiastic and apprscia-
I tive audience, and it was very evident
the interest in the public library was
not confined to the women. The
mayor, Mr. Snow, presided, and after u
selection by the orchestra, introduced
Mrs. Chase, the president OF the
Woman'S Reading club, who in the
following address stated coNejSely INA
clearly the object Of the meeting:
1t was thought advisable At this
meeting, which WAS originally Intended
merely rs formal opeuing of the
readiug room, to Invite all the citizens
to be present, and more especially
those who had in amy shape or manner
contributed either by money, books or
labor to the Mineral Point library, and
give them an opportunity to express
their opinion as to the management
aud control of the library. And in
this connection. ! VIII in very brief
manner and few words tell you how a
reading room and library was made
possible, and of the relation they sus-
tain to the Woman's Reading club.
In December Il number of women
met to organize Woman'S Literary, or
heading club. The usual officers were
elected, president, vice-president, sec
retary and treasurer. The club then
numbered %, with very favorable
outlook for future growth, to-day it
has over SO memberS.) The officers
determined that room to meet in
would he necessity and decided to
interview Mr.. Hutchison in regard to
the rooms over the bank. Having
in mind an abiding place for the Min
eral Point book club, which they in
tended to work in connection with and
some day in the far off future turning
said book club into public library.
| need hardly say that their interview
with Mr. Hutchison was very agree
able surprise, as he Immediately offered
the Woman's Reading club the use Of
the rooms, rent free and heated fer
term of 5 years, and 800 in cash, pro-
divided they would canvass thoroughly
the city for aid and with the very ma
terial help of the book club open free
public library and reading room, the
latter to be kept open every evening
of the week except Sunday.
The book club turned over to the
free public library somewhere in the
neighborhood of 500 volumes, newly
bound and in good condition, books Of
biography, travels, II number Of
American statesmen series, men of
letters, Stedman's American Literature
and some of the very best of Ameri-
can fiction. With this proviso that
should the Mineral Point free library
become anything else than a free pub
lie library the books should revert to
book club.
At n meeting of the Woman's club
it was unanimously decided to accept
Mr. Hutchison's proposition, and the
women then and there determined to
work together for the common and
public good. Canvassers were i'm
mediately appointed. To them is due
the very successful subscription of
somewhere in the neighborhood Of
100000 in money and the gratuitious
and kind services of Messrs. EnZen-
roth 4 Crowley and Padon, in
shelving the library, Messrs. Hankins
and We'll, for both work and material
in their special lines, and to Martin
& Prideaux, for lumber.
So we have up to date reading
room which will opened Wednesday
Jan. IL, nicely furnished, spiendidly
lighted, and we'll equipped with the
following papers and periodicals for
one year: A Chicago Daily, Milwaukee
papers, Pioneer Press, North Ameri-
can Review, Harper's Monthly,
Harper's Weekly, Public Opinion,
Scribner's Magazine, Ladies Home
Journal, Puck, Munsey, Scientific
American Supplement-, Review OF
Reviews.
And as long as the reading room
remains under the auspices of the
Woman's Reading club they have
undertaken to have the room open
very evening fro m ZOO to $3.50.
The library will not be ready for the
public for perhaps three or four weeks
as the librarian will catalogue and
mark the books according to the
Dewey system, and the work will
be as Systematically and thoroughly
done as If the library numbered
thousands Of volumes. And here
wish to say that the librarian as well
every officer in the Reading club, gives
her services free; so not one cent OF
money is paid out in salaries, Every
man and women in Mineral Point viii
have access to the library according
TO the rules and regulations of all
public libraries. for the care anC
preservation of the books, which rules
will be printed in the Mineral Point
papers and posted in the library anC
reading room. have told you as con
cisely as a woman can what this meet
ing is for: first, to formally open til,
Reading room and give every sub
scriber an opportunity to vote as Il