Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-15
LEVY FOR A LIBRARY SITE
Board Unanimous in Recommending Three
Mills for This Purpose.
HOPE CARNEGIE WILL GIVE BUILDING
New Board Organizes by Election of
NJ. F. Rohrer ms President and
Mrs. Daley as Librarian
for Current Year.

The board of library trustees at its an
nual meeting yesterday afternoon deter
mined to renew its efforts toward securing
a building as a permanent home for the
library by levying a 2-mill tax for a fund
for the purchase Of a suitable site on which
later to erect the building. One year ago
the library board recommended such a levy,
which is empowered by statute, but the city
council refused to certify 1t up to the county
board.
AS the last census shows that Council
Bluffs has a population in excess of % 900
the law provides that a levy Of not exceed
ing 3 mills can be made for the purpose Of
acquiring real estate as a site for a library
building or for the purpose of erecting the
building itself.
The board was unanimous In recommend
ing the levy OF this tax and President
Rohrer, w. s. Baird and DR.. Cleaver were
appointed a committee to present the mat
ter before the city council. The board has
every reason to believe that II 1t succeeded
in securing a suitable site for a library
that Mr.. Carnegie would be willing to do
nate sufficient Of his wealth to provide for
the building.
The board also decided to recommend the
levy Of ~ mills for the maintenance OF the
Aibi u " ~ Vhohihb IpuA' 10oN sNoA Inv
library was compelled to get along on a l.
mill levy.
New Board Organizes.
On the reorganization of the board by the
seating Of Trustees Baird, Cleaver and
Stewart, the latter two taking the places
Of E. A. Troutman and T. e. Casady and
Mr.. Baird succeeding himself, M. F. Rohrer
was reelected president for the third year
elected librarian at the same salary as be-
fore, $50 per month, and Miss M. E.. Sher-
man and Mrs. B.. X. Black were reelected
assistants at the same salaries as last year.
$45 per month. Trustee J. J. Stewart was
selected as secretary and Mrs. Daley as
clerk of the board. '
1t was decided to pay the dues of the IL
brary as a member of the State Library as
sociation and as a compliment to the presi-
lent his also. Last year the board paid the
dues Of each individual member Of the
board, but at the suggestion of Congress
man Smith, who attended yesterdays meet
ing in his capacity as one Of the trustees,
1t was determined, that II the individual
members desired to Join the state associa'
ton they should pay their own uues. For
several years President Rohrer has attended
the state association meeting, paying bis
own expenses.
The rooms of the public library have been
newly papered and present a greatly I'M
proved appearance. Certain repairs were
ordered and the ~janitor was allowed IS for
the extra work he had done during the re-
pairing. President Rohrer asked that he be
allowed see, but the other members decided
that the smaller amount was ample for the
extra work he had performed.
The report OF the librarian for June
showed these figures: Number Of visitors
4,0S4; registered book takers, 2,S02; number
Of books taken, $3.50; books in circulating
library on July 1, 1883; money paid fol-
rented books, $264.40; amount received tc
date for same, $264.SO
The report Of the finance committee
showed the balance in the treasury on July
/ to be $2,322.S2.