La Junta tribune., 1906-01-03

used until the present tine-not yet
having been needed for library pur-
poses The large room east of this
used for many years past as read
ing room. was originally the kinder
garten room, and was. for many years.
La Junta's only public hall.
IL served. at one time, as place of
worship for the Baptists, before they
acquired church home of their own.
The library proper occupied, al first,
only a small delivery room Csince en-
laIged) and brick stack room. where
room was found, by close crowding,
for several thousand volumes. The
supply OF books accumulated 50
steadily and rapidly that in March.
1888. a new stone stack building vas
erected on lot tWenty-three at a cost
OF si.050. and at that time about $3.50
was expended in improving the de-
livery room. In 1904 the stone build
Ing was furnished. at a cost OF over
$3.50 with hre-proof shutters and i'm
proved metal lined doors. in an en-
reayor TO make il fire-proof. a.
To- better protect the contents and les
sen the cost OF insurance.
Ii viii be seen that the library col
lections have been reasonably well
housed, at no great outlay. in strik-
ing contrast with the more common
method Of the present day. in pro-
viiing handsome and costly edihces.
sometimes meagerly furnished with
literature, for the reason that such
buildings naturally involve large at
tendant expenses for maintahiance.
thus limiting the fund available for
book purchases. The collection now
includes l0.o00 volumes. the proper ar
rangsment and care of which calls
for more room. and IL Is a serious
problem how and where to supply It,
That reading room was contem-
| plated from the beginning. by sub
scription to the christian Union" ac-
companying the first lot of books. AMI
| by the expenditure at the end of the
year. for other periodicals TO the value
OF about SIS. The annual outlay for
periodicals has gradually increased un-
| I'll 1t is now about $50. providing
| about sixty magazines. etc. About
| the same time. purchases were made
Of stereoptican views and photo
graphs. and games for the reading
| room.
From the beginning. the property
trustee, and the entire direction and
control of IT has been almost altogeth-
sr In his hands. except as he has been
| aided In his efforts from time to time
| by few OF the citizens. and by con-
| trtbutions ON the part Of the city to-
| wards the maintenance of the reading
| room; this feature having appealed
| to public sympathy more strongly than
\ the book feature of the work. Quite
| a number of the citizens have shown
| their interest i'm the library by occa-
| sional donations of books, shelving
periodicals and the women's clubs
| have made substantial contributions
of works of reference. and the school
board OF District No. II gave several
| appropriations of 500 each. Aside
| from such aid. the expenses have
been betrayed by the founder out of
/ funds derived from property which he
has considered and uniformly treated
| as a trust.
The reading room has been kept
| open daily from . a. m. TO r. NJ.
while the library has been open for
\ delivery of books as now. only on
| Wednesday and Saturday aft rnonu~
and evenings: excepting that a few
| years since. to facilitate the work ~
the school children and members of
literary clubs. II was arranged to keep
IL open, for reference and study. after
| choni hours each afternoon.
Beginning with 1898 the city has
| levied a special one-mill tax for H.
brary purposes. in accordance with u
| state law relating to libraries. from
the proceeds Of which most OF the or
| ainary expenses of the reading room
| have been met. as well a. an occn-
| sional outlay for other needs Of the H.
| brary. No systematic r-an, however,
has been adopted for the application
~ said library fund, a. = whole for
| the support Of the library. such
action may possibly result from re-
organization of the library. whereby
the control and mana ~ u.nt of the H.
/ brary property has been placed in the
hands ~ nine trustees created by
| deed Of trust. May .. 1891. with the
effect to free Mr.. Woodruff from some
Of the care and responsibility which
he has been carrying these many
| years
4 The special tax. varying with the an
nuat assessment. has ranged between
s30a and l.oao a year. averaging ss4a
for the last nine years. during which
time the city has contributed TO the
expenses Of the library an averags -
si09 a year less than this sum; 50
that there has been small accumu-
/ lstion IN the city library fund. avail
able for present needs. which viii
| fCo~sIupEB ON PAess