The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-02-17
With Books and Authors
"Hark, the world so loud,
And they the movers of the world so
ll."-BulwerLytton.
OUR BRARY.

LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
The City Library, for the benefit Of
which this special edition is issued, was
begun in very modest way seven years
ago. Two of the teachers in the public
schools, realizing the dearth of good read
ing matter available, began to talk among
their friends of circulating library.
They succeeded in interesting several
people in their project and meeting was
held in the parlor of the Hotel Yakima.
An organization was formed with Mrs.
W. L. Steinweg, president; Mrs. VIM. F.
Prosser and Mrs. Edward Whitson, vice
presidents; Miss Anna Nation, treas
urer and Miss Harriet Sawyer, secretary.
A committee was appointed to solicit
members and funds, the embership fee
being placed al one dollar, which sum
gave life membership in the organiza-
ton. In a month 65 members had been
secured and $40 subscribed. Then an
order for books was placed with an east
ern firm. Mr.. Lawrence, then county
the use of his office until better quarters
could be secured, and thus the library
was established.
Some books were donated and with
those purchased it was soon found neces-
sary to have a separate room. One was
found in the second story of the brick
building known as the Syndicate build
ing, where. with the exception of few
months, the Library has since been To-
Gated. During the first year 22S books
were bought. During the following year
$l23 was realized from entertainment,
and $47 from dues of members. A por-
ton of these funds we're expended for fur
niture, the remainder for running ex
penses and books. Twenty-Five books
were donated.
During the winter of 1898 and 1894 the
experiment OF keeping the library open
all the time was tried, but members did
not avail themselves of the opportunity
of exchanging books to a sufficient extent
to make the plan practicable, as the ex-
pense was considerable. To meet this
expense a series of afternoon entertain
ments of a literary nature were given, by
which $75 was realized. The Ladies'
Quartette also gave the net proceeds of
one of their concerts. The following year.
a ball was given which Melted $75 for the
purchase of new books and the Yakima
Far committee gave 800 Of their surplus
to the library.
At the annual meeting held in April,
1896, it was thought best to re-organize
and incorporate under the state laws as
the Yakima Library Association, all the
books and furniture becoming the prop
erty of the new association, and life Ger.
tificates were issued to everyone who had
at that time paid the one dollar fee for
membership. One hundred life certificates
were issued. The fee for books was re-
duced from five cents per week to 81 per
year in advance, or fifteen cents per
month for members. For non-members
and for visitors to our city, or those here
for short time only, rate OF rs cents
per month in advance was made. The
association is managed by six trustees,
three OF whom are elected annually from
its members to serve for two years. The
librarian is elected at the annual meeting.
The many friends of the institution
have shown their interest in various
ways ;one by gift of carpet, curtains and
pictures which added much to the ap-
pearance and comfort of the roon, also
by donation of valuable books; another
by large donation of books and pam.
phlets; two of our ministers by lectures
delivered for its benefit; and the general
public by their cheerful and liberal re-
spouse to all appeals made for the
benefit OF the institution. The Indian
Jubilee committee has lately turned over
to the treasurer $43 of their surplus funds.
The present membership is 81. This nets
little more than $37 per year. AS the
expense of running the library amounts
to nearly 500, it will be seen that it 10 i'm.
possible to paw the expenses unaided.
Still, if all life members would become
&C i've members and pay one dollar each
year for the use Of books. it would not be
so difficult to meet expenses and purchase
new books.
There are now more than 800 volumes
in the library, Most of the STANDARD
authors are represented There is much
good fiction, with a fair proportion O