The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-12-14
+, II. GOULD
WARREN PIERPONr
GURDEN MCLEAN

L, II. GOULD
WARREN PIERPoNr
GURDEN MCLEAN
Your committee as appointed by said resoli-
| tion and in full accordance Herewith beg leave
| TO make the following report:
The public acts and laws of Michigan govern.
| ing the establishment OF public library and
] reading room in city that does not contain u
population OF oyer ten thousand not only fully
SET forth the steps TO be taken e. tablish such
! a library and reading room but state how the
/ same shall be maintained.
For immediate as well as for future reference
| said acts and laws relating TO the establish
| ment and maintenance OF libraries are here
| set forth. That portion OF The statue that
| only refers to the government OF libraries after
| they have been organized has beer omitted
said Acts and laws read as follows, viz: Act
| 1874 Public Acts 1877 entitled, An Act TO Autho-
| lie Cities Incorporated Villages, ana townships
/ to stablish and Maintain Free Public Libra
RIGS ana READING R,oms. Here follow sections
! l-2-3-4-b-6-7-S
An reading your resolution we find these
! words: we would recommend that in order
| to get clear understanding OF the present
situation OF the city in this line" !. e. What
libraries or library interests have we in our
city that would be benefited or injured IL a
free public library were to be established in
, OwoSsO:
The public school and Young Mems Christian
Association liDraTies might receive a benefit If
the CO operative plan were adopted Of exchang
ing books by and between said libraries and the
public library. The maintenance of these
libraries does not depend upon the rental Of
books nor from membership fees But on the
Association OF this city derive large portion,
ii not all, of its support and income from mem
bership dues and book rentals. Now this in.
come would almost wholly cease II a public
library and reading room we're to be established
b. this council.
The patronage OF the Ladies' Library would
not altogether be withdrawn because the public
Ito Dry would be free, but because the manage
nIent of a free library would be independent of
the diiticulties that must always arise from The
renting OF books or from fees received from the
individual.
II your committee understands the matter
Alright it is not the purpose of those persons
interested in the esta blishment OF "a free public
library TO disturb the work of an honora BILE insti
tuition the Ladies' Library and Literary Asso-
citation. but rather to build upon the broad
foup dation laid by this noble society OF women
Therefore, both for the purpose of fostering
present literary interests, and also to aSceI tain,
II posi- ole, the costs and the necessary steps 10
be taken in order TO establish free public
library IN Owosso the chairman Of your COM
mittee for aud in behalf OF SAID committee has
visited three Michigan cities viz, Ypsilanti
Coldwater and Lansing Ia each of these
places formerly library conditions were similar
TO those now existing In Owosso
AT Ypsilanu we found ihr, e libraries, viz,
The State Normal school. The Public School,
and a Ladies' Library. This last named library
we visited and found II located In q suitable
building owned by the association. The city of
Ypsilanu assists the ladies in main tanning their
library by giving TO their ASSOCIATION each year
with it's management. The payment OF this
money does not release the members of the
association from paying their membership dues
as prescribed by their charter.
Briefly stated; the agreement between the
city and the association IL that the city pay to
return Tor this money the Ladies' Library Asso
cha ton opens us library free to the public on
Wedne sday afternoon ann Saturday afternoon
and venng OF each week And inaudi ion TO
this he sdies' Library Association buys for
the library not less than $3.50 worth of books
fro N its funds each year.
NOW ibstanding this agreement with the
CITY thu adies Of the association still retain the
entire sontrol OF their excellent library.
We.are informed that the city gives this money
To the library without authority of law.
At COldwater, a city with population of ZIG
W. visited an excellent free public library
ana aiding room containing over 1900 vol.
the city by the late Hon. K. X. Clark
Before this public library was established
there was In the city Ladies' Library with over
In establishing free public library the citizens
Of Ooldwater felt. that II was Just and proper
that the interest of their Ladies' Library Associ.
that the valuable pioneer library work SO long
carried on by the ladies sh0nld not cease. but
rather that the city should come to the assist
ance OF the LADIES' Library Association and
unite with 1t In its work that the demands of the
public should be fully met.
In accordance thorewith an amendment TO the
city charter relative to the establishment OF
public library was procured. This amendment
authorized whenever public library was estab-
upon Its board of nine directors as many women
a. they should deem proper. M JI
Another amendment with the consent Of the
school board made 1t lawful to consolidate the
public school library with the public library.
At the time OF our visit these consultations
had been made, and the organization II, which
the Ladies' Library and the public school libra
ry had each found u new home was known as
the C0ldwater Free Public Library.
Your committee has been Informed that a free
public library was recently established ut Char
lotte. and when II was known that the Ladies'
Library Association OF that city WAS NOS then
ready to place It's hooks In the hands OF the city
towards free public library, then the ladies
were invited to place their books In the rooms Of
the public library without expense TO their Asso
citation ard the books were there circulated In
10 The patrons Of both libraries, This plan il