The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-01-14
FIRST ANNUAL MEETING.
The Kenosha Public Library Hears Re
ports of officers.


ports of officers.
The first annual meeting Of the Ke-
nosha Public library was held Monday
evening, Jan. IL, 1897, at the library
room. The minutes of the second
meeting called for the purpose of or
ganizing the association were read and
approved.
The president then read the follow
ing annual reports
Presidents Report.
To the Members of the Kenosha
Public Library Association Ladies
and Gentlemen: is now less than
one year since the first meeting to con-
slider the subject of the public library
was called at the Grant house, and |
think that you will all join with me in
the feeling of satisfaction at the graft
flying results of that meeting. The
number Of persons who were present on
that occasion was small, and probably
did not represent the entire sentiment
of the community on this subject, but
while the number was small. those who
were there felt that such an institution
was not only desirable, but was neces-
sary for the good of the city. With
this feeling they took the preliminary
steps towards establishing the library
which has already become an honor to
the city, as we'll as adelight to SO many
of our people. The library is now an
assured fact, and it will continue to
grow and improve with time if its man
agement can feel confident of the active
and material support of its friends.
You all remember the plan which
was adopted at the Grant house meet
ing, that of organizing library asso
citation, composed of members who
would contribute So each per year to
its support. A members subscription
paper was circulated, and this received
the signatures of IA persons. This list
assured the management of $288 to-
ward the support of the library, and
with this assurance the board of direct
ors began active operations. The
present library room was selected and
a lease secured from the owner, y. O..
/ Simmons, at a nominal rental. Many
articles Of furniture we're donated, the
room was painted, repapered and car
peted Constitutions gf books re3a
received from d number Of citizens, the
Unitarian church society generously
presented its collection Of books and
cases, and the librarian began the work
of arranging and classifying the books
Before this work was completed the
hearts of the board of directors and the
prospective patrons Of the library were
delighted by the announcement Of the
unsolicited and very generous gift Of
ST., 900 10y ourpublic spirited townsman.
Geo Yule. This was shortly followed
by a donation Of a like amount from
Edward Balm, and we all felt that the
Kenosha Public library was now q de-
termined fact. A large number OF new
books were purchased and placed on
the shelves, and on March II, 1896. the
ldoors Of the library were opened to the
public. This event had been looked
| forward to with great interest for some
time, and the first day was a busy one
/ for the librarian. Sixty books were
taken out on that day, and about the
same number of borrowers cards were
issued Since the opening day many
new books have been purchased and
donated, and as the necessities have
required, new shelves have been added
to accommodate this increasing num-
Der. There are now in circulation
2,954 volumes, covering almost all
/ classes of literature. Besides these
books there are about 500 reports on
various matters, which have been is
sued by the national government. and
which are accessible to the reading
public. We are often inclined to laugh
at these " Public Documents" but ]
can assure you that there is a great
deal of valuable information contained
within the covers of these books which
can be found nowhere else. During the
past ten months GIG borrowers have
taken 14,801 books from the library,
and / feel that this is an indication OF
what the library has been to the
public.
As to the manner in which the libra
~ should be conducted in the future,
you should decide tonight With the
present rate of taxes feel that if the
question was brought to a vote of the
people. the matter of having the city
manage the library might be defeated,
although there has already been Great
ed strong feeling in its favor. This
uncertainty, therefore, induces me to
recommend that the present plan be
continued for another year at least. In
order, however, to carry on the work in
! the same manner as at present, we
must have the material support of
every friend of the institution. Each
one of you must constitute yourself a
/ IF ono - ;-,lrao