Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-09-22


+ Library Committee, Mrs. Theodore
/ Brazeau, Mrs Reichel, Mrs. Raymond
Miss Mildred MacKinnon, Miss Rabs
lin and myself met, to formulate our
plans IOr TINS years work, we We're
not long in deciding that, we should
continue the plan of last year and
work as that committee did, for two
ends.
Firstly-to secure through the CO
operation OF our city council a do
nation from Mr.. Carnegie for a libra
~ building And secondly to try
and stimulate new interest in the
present Library rooms, and thus in
crease our circulation Of books.
To secure a donation from Mr.
Carnegie, we must first have passed
by our city council a resolution a
greeing to furnish for a library a suit
able site, and to raise in the city
tax roll each year 10 per cent of the
original gift for the proper mainten-
ance Of library. The possible o.
lection to this matter is, that the
councilmen might feel We could not
afford to raise $25O0.00 a year for
support Of a library. However upon
looking up the City Clerks records,
We found that the City had con-
Jrlbuted for the past five years
100000 each year in money. Also
the city had heated and lighted the
building at cost Of about 100000 pei
year. The City Clerk assured us
two-thirds Of this expense or $640
was wholly for library support. From
the Library Endowment Fund there
is each year an interest of about
S56000 received for maintaining the
library. Cur present library then
costs US per year $1,000 and $640
and $3.50 or $4,000. For a very slight
icrease only $500 more per year we
might be able to secure a $50, 100000
donation from Mr. Carnegie.
In considering the many sides and
questions which would have to be
considered in this matter? the mem
bers Of the committee thought it
would be wise to ask the assistance
and counsel Of Miss Lutte Stearns of
the Wisconsin Library Commission
Also we wish to learn how this mat
ter was regarded by the Library
Board, the Improvement Association
and the Mayor and other business
men of our city. To this end a joint
meeting was held in March of member
of the various bodies mentioned,-the
Mayor, City Clerk, officers of the
Federation and various business men
also attended. At this. time Miss
Stearns very graciousIy gave US her
time and was present at the meeting,
Every side of the question was con-
sidered and clearly outlined. After
elaboration the sense of the meeting
was-That this Library Committee
should find out the actual expense of
maintaining our present library That
this committee should look up suit
able sites and find out the actual
prices of such sites.
That this committee should by meal s
Of a petition find out whether the
business men and taxpayers of the
west side would be willing to accept
the proposed library building in place
Of the city hall which was pledged
to the west side at the time the ci-
ties were consolidated? And that this
committee after such definite know
ledge had been obtained present this
knowledge and a resolution asking
the city council to vote the necessary
maintenance per year and provide
suitable site to our city council
to decide upon.
These matters have not been very
great in themselves but they have
taken considerable time to get into
proper shape. We are now happy to
say, that all the necessary Informal
ton has been gathered and that this
matter is to be presented to the
city council very soon. Miss Stearns
will again kindly give US her time
and able help that We may present
this matter in it's most favorable as
pect-; and we are very earnestly
hoping that the members of the
council will all be of one mind, and
that, that mind will be to favor the
immediate passing of this resolution.
IF this resolution is passed we
will at once send it to Mr.. Carnegie
with an earnest petition, asking his
help in the matter Of a library build
ing and again we will be indebted
to Miss Stearns for suggestions and
help at every point.
Turning OUR attention for a mo-
ment to the year book, you will see
that upon Oct. 18, 10. 20, q, %, we
have planned to hold at the library
rooms an exhibition of curiOs and to
serve afternoon tea at O'Clock each
day. We certainly hope that every
Federation member will feel it her
duty and pleasure to attend this
exhibition and to bring her friends
and neighbors with~her. VIII you
kindly-if you have relic or curfo
speak to one Of our committee, that
this exhibition may be profitable and
interesting to all who attend.
We will call for the objects and
return them and have them constantly
under the care of one of our commit
| tee.
Help us to make this the most at
tractiVe exhibition ever held at the
! library rooms.
Thank you for the cooperation we
are sure of having.
This closes our report and we sub
nit it to the secretary.
Mrs. w. F. Kellogg,
Chairman Library Com.