Little Falls herald., 1914-12-11
COUNCIL AND Library BOARD
COMMITTEES MEET AND DISCUSS
FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF
LIBRARY

Following instructions given them
by the city council, a committee ap-
pointed some time ago, met with the
library board at the library parlors
Tuesday evening, to talk over the mat
ter Of expending money for the Incl
dental expenses at the library. Only
two members Of the committee, Geo.
Peterson and H. w. Venners, were
present. Messrs. s. c. Vasaly and E.
y. Richie and Mesdames L. D. Brown,
G. F.. Hoist, ~ N. Bergheim and Miss
Sadie Fuller of the library board and
Jenny Lind Blanchard, librarian, we're
present.
Alderman Venners told the members
Of the library board Of the purpose Of
tho meeting, explaining that several
bills Tor library insurance had come
before the council for payment, and
that tho understanding of the older
members Of the council was that the
library board had agreed to take care
Of ali incidental expenses when the
apportionment to the library was in
creased from $1,000 to $1,000. For
this reason the bills were laid over and
the committee appointed to meet with
the library board and get definite
understanding as to how the expenses
were to be met.
Miss Sadie Fuller, library board sec
retary, stated that the insurance had
always been paid by the council, and
that It never came before the board
for payment, being taken up with the
council directly by the agents. The
only insurance which the library board
has ever paid was on books on the Ii
brary shelves. A bill for this was once
brought to the city council for pay
nent and was turned down, and was
therefore paid by the library board,
she said.
Several members Of the board con-
tended that the opport;onment Of ST.
5odhas been barely adequate. Among
the reasons given was the increase in
cost of operating the institution after
the days of service were changed from
three to six days per week. This re-
quired doubling the salary of the IL
brarian, Of increasing the salary of the
ianitor, increased the fuel and light
bills, required book requirements more
Often. etc.
Miss Fuller also called the attention
Of the council committee to the fact,
which has been known to but few, that
the annual appOrtionments have been
short Of the stipulated amount nearly
every year. She gave figures to show
that the total shortage during the last
6K wears that the apportioninent was
to have been $1,000 was more than
5000, and during the time the ~nor-
tionment has been $1.500 the shortage
4Ln~ kok
shortage for ten years is $5S2..a This
shortage has been due to the number
Of property owners whose taxes were
le1inuuent.
During the past few years the ex.
penses have been so great that it was
necessary to raise money bv giving en-
tertainments. In 1910 $5670 was rails
ed in this way, in 1911 $435.OO, in 1912
800 was given by a member Of the
library board and in 1913 $113. 90 was
raised bv givin" entertainments. More
than $500 has also been derived from,
renting the building for various pur-
poses lately, and this money has been
used in improving the library. The
condition of the building when the Ii
brary was moved into it also required
expenditures. Awnings, screens and
shelving had to be nut up, and the
water connections had to be re-arrang-
ed. New lighting fixtures have also
been put in with money raised by the
board.
Alderman Venners suggested money
be raised by means similar to those
1tsed in several other cities. He stated
that at Walker Library Tag Day was
held this year, and a neat sum of
money raised in this way. Many peo.
pie who do not pay cent in taxes
are reached in this way, he said.
The council committee asked the Ii.
brary board how much they would
need to take care Of all incidental ex
penses, including the insurance prem.
iums. This, of course, encouraged the
members Of the board to ask for a
larger apportionment and several of
them asked that the amount be in.
creased to $4,000. One member stated
that this amount would not be any toe
large as the library equipment should
grow with the city, and that strict
economy should not be considered in
expenditures for educational better
ment.
After some discussion as to the
amount required for the upkeep Of the
library, the council committee agreed
to report to the city council that the
library board would be satisfied with
the apportionment of $1,000 rrovidine
the city would pay all costs Of keeping
the library building in repairs and ray
the premiums on all insurance. The
matter will be brought before the
council at it's next meeting, at which
time some action will be taken.
GERMAN EMPEROR REPORTED
DEAD
London, Dec. 1O-Emperor William
Of Germany is dead, according to