The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-09-10
PUBLIC LIBRARY
rs DEDICATED

MISS Leonf McMlllan, MISS Rose
Frankel, Mrs. Isora Carver.
On June IS, 1895, the committee
reported that after full and free dis
cussion, it recommends that the
Woman's Club proceed to establish a
library, to be known as the 'Oska
loosa Public Library and as be
ginning for fund for that purpose,
they recommend series or 'parlor
entertainments
The Y. NJ. G. A. board heard OF the
efforts of the Woman's Club toward
establishing a public library, and
promptly called meeting Of its
board, and deeming it unnecessary
to try to maintain two libraries in
this city sent a committee to confer
with the Woman's Club committee,
submitting proposition from the
Y. M. @. A. to the effect that 1t would
be desirable to unite the efforts of
the two organizations, and to that
end, proposed to turn over, without
cost, all books and equipment of the
Y. N. c. A. library, to remain in its
then present quarters free Of rent
and that the secretary of the Y. M.
C. A. would act as librarian, with
out compensation, until such time
as the library grew TO demand other
and isrger quarters.
The proposition Of the Y. M G. A.
was received favorably by the Won
ans Club and at a meeting of the
joint committee on July /, 1885, a
mutual arrangement was aged upon
for united and cooperative work.
The plan adopted was that the Y.
M. G. A. should appoint four trustees
from its board, the Woman's Club
four persons from its membership,
and those eight trustees, jointly,
should designate four citizens of Os-
kaloosa, not members of either or
ganization, thus constituting board
Of twelve trustees, who were to have
entire charge of the library work.
The board thus constituted includ-
ed the following persons:
From the Woman's Club: Mrs.
H. L. Spencer, Mrs. Pauline G.
Swain, Miss Mary L. Loring, Miss
Rose Frankel.
From the Y. M. c. A.: Manoah
Hedge, /. w. Cook, w. w. Stewart,
A. P. Spencer.
From the Citizens: e. H. Gibbs,
Ben Wightman, Col. ]. w. Hammond,
Major F. H. Loring.
On July %. 1895. the organization
was completed by the election OF
r. H. Gibbs, President; F. HI. Loring,
vice President; Mary L. Loring,
Secretary; A. P. Spencer, Treasurer,
The Oskaloosa Public Library was
duly and promptly Incorporated un,
der the laws of the state of Iowa, but
under control OF the board, as here
inbefore outlined, Mr.. e. w. Hearne,
secretary of the Y. M. CA, serving as
the first librarian.
To this legally formed organiza'
ton the Y. M. G. A. turned over
their entire library and all equip
ments thereto belonging, from which
600 volumes were found acceptable
to the book committee, and arrange
ments were promptly made for the
public to have access to and use OF
the library, upon the payment Of a
fee of $1.00. With the subscriptions
thus obtained and the numerous do.
nations from he Oskaloosa Woman's
Club, Chapter x, p. E. o., Rathbone
Sisters, Elks Lodge, Lecture Course
and numerous personal subscriptions,
the library grew and prospered; but
at the end of about three years
the board realizing that there must
be some more steady and reliable
method of maintenance and for
growth, recommended to the citizens
of Oskaloosa in public statement
signed by all members of the board,
that the library organization be
transferred to the city Of Oskaloosa,
under the provisions of the laws of
Iowa; and on March z, 1899, the
proposition was submitted to the vot.
ers of Oskaloosa, and on that day
the proposition carried by a majority
of 534 votes out Of total vote of
726.
Therefore, on January /, 1900, the
oskaloosa Public Library was for
mally and legally transferred to
the city of oskaloosa, the may
or having previously nominated
and the city council confirmed the
following board of trustees to have
charge and control of the Oskaloosa
Public Library:
John A. Kalbach, John G. Williams,
DIR. L. A. Rodges, DIR. e. B. Beaudry,
A, P. Spencer, Mrs. H. L Spencer,
Mrs Byron v. Sewers, Miss Beulah
Bennett Miss Florabel Paterson.
Mr.. John A. Kalbach was chosen
president and Mrs. Byron v. Sewers
secretary.
The library, under the provisions
Of the Iowa statutes, is maintained
by a direct tax upon the taxable val
uation Of city property, levied annu-
ally by the board, and approved by
the city council; the maximum rate
permitted being two mills; however,
mp to the present year only one mir
has been asked, but in July last at