The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-03-19
PUBLIC Library

The stockholders Of the Public Ii.
brary Association met yesterday aft
ernoon and closed the years work.
Twenty.one years ago the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union launched
this enterprise with fear and tremb-
ling on account Of the finalcial obliga-
ton Involved. Through the efforts OF
the promoters, however, and particu-
larly Of Mrs. n. R. G. Morrow, the
president, sufficient stock was sub
scrlbed to purchase the lot and erect
the building, but not without heavy
indebtedness, which has LeeR gradu-
ally reduced, but not entirely liqul.
dated.
The original plan was to have both
the reading room and the circulation
department entirely free TO the pub
lie. This policy was arte.waFd aban-
doned and while the reding room Is
still open to the public a membership
Of one dollar for family ticket :
fifty cents for an individual ticket Is
now charged, the latter enabling the
holder to borrow but ono hook at, n
time.
The Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, finding that its membership
was not able to finance the enterpris
within its own ranks, placed stock
with persons outside OF the orgaA!z
ton and for this reason tie name was
subsequently, changed IN Fairmont
Public Library Association.
New books are being added con
SANITY and the leading periodicals
are found upon the reading tables
Each year the library increases In pat
ronage and popularity, the books Dor
rowed during the past year numbering
between nine and ten Thousand, and
consisting OF fiction. general works
and works in philosophy, religion
! sociology, natural science, useful arts.
fine arts, history and biography.
Nearly three hundred books have
been added the past year. bringing
the total up to more than two thou
sand.
The reading room is cheerful, we'll
lighted and we'll ventilated and any
one wishing TO spend q few hours in
reading or reserch will be assured oil
n cordial welcome and courteous
treatment by the librarian, Mrs
Emory F. Mckinney. Mrs. Mckinney
has received professional library train
Ing at the State University and also
served as assistant librarian for that
Institution before assuming the duties
Of her present position. Her train
! ing and experience enables herto give
most valuable assistance to patrons
looking for material on special sub
Iects, and she takes pleasure In rend'
ering this service,
The library hours are from $3.50 a
m. to 1890; 300 to $3.50 and from
| $3.50 y. m, to 81. m.
Special care Is given the hooks II
circulation with regard to sanitation
| the only volume being returned from
a guaranteed home during the recenI
epidemic OF dlphtherIa having beer
burned.
| At Tuesdays meeting Tho old BOARD
Of Directors was reelected and con
sists Of Mrs: N. r. C. Morrow, Mrs
Jennie ERgle, Mrs. Anna E. Carroll
Mrs. Mary NJ, DeBolt, Mrs. Olive c
Barnes, Mr.. B, L. Butcher and Mr.. U
| A, clayton. The Board. organized b!
electiug the old officers as follows
President Mrs, Morrow; yice'presi
dent, Mrs. Enge; secretary nfrs
Barnes; treasurer Mr.. Clayton; Mr.
B, L. Butcher is attorney aud Library
Committee.
From the beginning this enterprise
has been in the nature of q publt'
philanthropy. some of the original pro
motors still serving on the Board
without any. remuneration for theil
time and without even realizing In
tetasts nstaelr Investment. They feel
IihoReyer tiat 90 long as tie pnblis
Iliiasapbd sos irss saafii E6s4 Z