The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-12-30
LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

came parties to Columbia seeking to or
ganiZe a Library Association. On a
plan OF their own, these parties solicited
from about one hundred citizens the
sum OF three dollars each, promising
them membership in the Association
to he organized. After the above amount
had been solicited the party bought
about three hundred and fifty volumes
OF books, together with three Oaken
bookcases, and turned them over to the
unorganiZed members as the basis for a
library.
Pursuant to call all those who had
taken the three dollar MEMBERSHIPS,
assembled in the parlors of the Bethel
House few day later, and formally or
gained the columbia Library Asso.
ciation,' adopting a constitution and
bylaws. At this meeting there were
nearly 4 hundred present. The follow.
ing were elected officers: President, w.
A. Provine; Vice President, J. w. Han
ner; Secretary and Treasury, j. w.
Frierson; and the following Board of
Directors: w. A. Provine, Chairman
sam Holding, j. e. Dexter, w. f. Bos-
tick. j. w. Moore, j. A. Smiser, Mrs.
Carrie Mitchell, Mrs. n. b Sheppard
Miss Ellen Friel.
The first meeting provided for the
election of a librarian, the salary of
whom was not to exceed $50 per year
also that the library should be opened
two afternoons in each week at suit
able hour and place. A quarterly as
sessment for current expenses of the
library, of y cents was made, payable
in advance.
Another item of business adopted 1T
this first meeting was, that the number
OF twenty five members should be a
legal quorum for meeting of the Asso-
citation. With this much organization
the library was duly opened in Nov,
| 1895, Throughout the winter the Assoc
citation seemed to be growing in inter
est, the library was used constantly
and 1t seemed to be supplying n general
want of eading matter to its members.
Thus the first year passed. At the
regular time for the annual meeting in
Oct 1895, the President issued a formal
call, but it resulted in less number be-
ing present than legal quorum. This
call YVES repeated three times, and there
were never present enough of the mem
bers to make legal quorum, viz: TWEEN
| ty five. ThereupOn the Board of Direc-
tors had meeting and ordered the pub
LEGATION of circular that was sent to all
the members, wherein was stated the
condition of the Association. | quote
as IOllOWS from the ClrCuldT'
"Inasmuch as three attempts have
been made to have general meeting OF
the COlum bia Library Association, and
all have failed for the lack of cOnsti-
tutional quorum, the Board of Directors
beg leave to make known to the mem
bers of the Association the action of its
laIe meeting.
"First.-It was assumed by the Board
that inaSmuch as the Association had
failed to meet in session at the set time
of annual meeting, that the present
Board continued in office until their
successors were elected.
"SecOnd.-Inasmuch as the condition
of the Association and the future sue
cess of the Library seem IT, call foi
some immediate action, the following
leges alton was passed.
list. That the running expense OF
the Association be provided for by a
quarterly tax of y cents per member
"2nd. That a special tax of 80 cents
be levied on each share holder for the
purchase of new books.
"'3rd. That the following penalty
shall be enacted for the nonpayment Of
dues, fines and assessments, viz: If al
any time the dues, fines and assess
ments against a share of the stock oil
the Association shall amount to SO 90
(the original value of the share), due
notice shall be given the share holder
of such condition of stock, and If the
delinquencies of said share are not set
tied within ten days, it shall be forfeited
to the Association. That these rules
shall 90 into effect Nov. |, 1885,
The result of this communication t.
the membership was, that for a few
months it seemed to produce more in
terest. This, however, after awhile
grew less again, and many gave up pay
ment Of any dues or fines, other sole
their mem berships at reduced value
and still others withdrew from the AS
ISOLATION altogether. In course of time
other Reading Circles" and attempts
at circulating libraries were attempted
in the city and by the teachers of the
county, all of which efforts naturally
took away from the Columbia AssOcia
ton. BY order of the President, thu
Library was closed at the beginning OI
the Summer of 1897, increasing indebt
edness and lack of interest on the par
of the membership seeming to justify
the same. At the solicitation of mum
Der of the old members, meeting was
held in Oct, 1897, and as many bs thirty
of the old members promised to pay uI
all back dues and to pay the necessary
quarterly dues for the opening OF thu
library. WhereupOn, it was agar
opened in the session room of the Firs
PRESBYTERIAN Church. 1t was soon evi
dent, however, that some "were forget
ting their promise" for the library was
kept open only by increasing its in
debtedness. The President again or
dered it closed at the beginning of thu
Summer of 1898. At this time there
were debts against it for something
over thirty dollars. A few weeks ag'
the President was offered the sum OF ~
for the library by an outside party
this was raised to $S7 by subsequen
bids. On reception of the first bid,
paper was sent to all resident member
asking their vote rs to whether 1
should be taken. With the exception o
perhaps two or three, the vote stood TO
taking the bid; whereupOn the sale wa
made for the sum of $S7. A statemen
of The Treasurer in my hands show
that the Indebtedness of the ltbrar.
amounts to $3.50. This from $S7 leave
balance of SOB %.
rhe mem bership of the Association !
now seventy six, and balance OF $3.50
would make prO-rata OF 3SAB oil
each share that is fully paid up, (that is
free from any dues, assessments %
finest, or $ll5 on the share (of ~ OOj
The pro-rata OF each member can b
had by them calling on the Treasurer
i, W, Frierson, at his office in rear q
Phoenix Bank. / trust they will n
once attend to same, that the bushes
of the association may be closed.
w. A. PROVINE, President.