The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-12-30
For the Reporter.
Our Public Library.

Woulu Int u present 10 tle puollC
some facts regarding our public library
that seem not TO be generally understood.
Ex-Gov. Goburn's bequest was made to
found a free public library, and this
work was completed seven years ago.
After paying for heating, lighting, libra
rian's salary, ETC., the income from the
fund remaining, proved insufficient to
support the library as at first conducted.
The wear aud tear of books was appal-
ling, aud the money needed to buy new
ones went for rebinding and repairs. 1t
was soon found necessary to limit the
number of cards in family, and the
number of books per week, which help
ed but did not fully remedy the trouble.
The next move was to run the library
as free reading and reference library,
and charge small sum Tor circulation
not quite cent and a half book. The
amount received in payment for cards has
not been large one, but to this should
be added the money saved by the great
ly reduced expense OF keeping the books
in repair. This arrangement has given
the librarian more time TO assist those
who came for books or reference, aud
has aided in making the library of in
estimable value in educational work.
Often, after school hours, every aVaila-
bic seat is occupied by teachers and pu-
pills, hard at work. Many valuable
reference books have been added, and
strangers often remark upon the supe-
rior excellence OF our reference library
have recently voted to issue a limited
number of tree cards, the restrictions
being much greater than formerly. This
necessarily means smaller sum for the
purchase of new books. With its pres
ent income it is impossible to make the
library free in the broad sense desirable.
There are at present about 1000 books,
less than 2000 of which We're purchased
for this library. When the building
was ready, May 1891, the stockholders
of the Skowhegan Library Association
met and voted 20 transfer their library
to the free public library on the follow
ing terms, which explain why some peo-
pie have had books free, aud also what
the advisory board is:
First, that the proprietors of the
Skowhegan Library Association transfer
to the free public library all books, cash
aud other properly owned by The SkoW-
hogan library, to be forever Used in con-
nectiou with, and as a part of said free
public library, each proprietor of the
Skowhegan library reserVing to himself
and family the same right-whieh shall
not he TRANSFERABLE, to take books from
the free public library without expense
to themselves, as they have heretofore
done from the Skowhegan library.
second, that in recognition of 1.-THE
valuable services rendered in establish
/ ing and carrying on the Skowhegan
library, and in consideration Of further
services rendered, the following named
persons, Mrs. w. H. Fuller, MIS-, Abbie
S. Norris. Mrs. l.. l.. Morrison, Mrs.
James Fellows, Miss Helen Robinson,
Miss Louise IL. Cohurn, Mrs. J. A. Colby,
Miss Carrie Philbrick, Miss Lena Hill,
Miss Hannah Page and Miss May Ste
ward are hereby elected honorary mem
beers of this association, with all the
rights and privileges of proprietors.
"Third, that the above named ladies
constitute board with the power
| to fill vacancies, subject only to the APP
proval of the trustees of Bloomfield
academy, to prepare from time to time,
such lists of books as they may think
suitable and proper for the use of the
free public library, and submit the same
to the trustees for approval and pur-
chase
The report goes on to further prescribe
the duties of the board, but the above is
sufficient for my purpose. These ladies
organized, as recommended in the re-
port, adopted constitution, and were
legally Incorporated under the name,
| Advisory Board. Mis-. Fuller served as
president until her death. She was sue
ceeded by Miss Louise II. Coburn, who
has since held that office. The vacancies
on the board caused by the death of Mrs.
! Fuller, and the designations of Miss
/ Helen Robinson and Mrs. Lena Hill Tay-
lor, were filled by Miss Clara A. Morri-
son, Mrs. S. w. Philbrick and Mrs. f.
/ n. Merrill. The board assisted in the
arrangement and cataloguing of the
books, and has since held monthly meet
| ings. The members keep themselves
| informed as TO he work of the library,
and study the needs of each department,
striving to make wise selections and
build surely though slowly.