Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1914-04-09
THE PALMER PUBLIC LIBRARY
Proposition To Move Same To School Building To Be Discussed
At Annual School Meeting Friday
II The News by Smith
Written for The News by f. D. Smith

Do you citizen tax payer, know that
for eighteen years a valuable libra
ry presented to the public has lain
here unappreciated, and practicallyneg
lected? Do you know that if this IL
Drary had been accepted by the city
and Guilt up andcared for as its
worth to the community deserved
that Meade would now, have the best
public library in this state west of
Hutchinson.
In 1895, William r. Palmer. one
time resident and public spirited cit
izem ofSMeade, presented to the pub
lie here a library of very valuable
books. This donation was made in the
usual way in which such benefactions
are given to cities and communities.
! That is the donner Mr.. Palmer named
five persons as trustees, whose sole
duty in this behalf was to see that
the library was accepted by the cit
liens, in some manner appropriate
and by which it should be the founda
ton OF constantly growing libra
ry. When it arrived the trustees took
charge OF it and after much personal
solicitation secured the attendance at
the court room OF respectable repre-
sentation OF the people OF the city
J and county, who in fitting resolutions
accepted the gift. So far as the pub
lie was concerned the matter was drol
ped here.
One of the trustees loaned a case
for the shelving of the books, and
after some persuasion the county com
missioners allowed the bools to be
placed in the office of the Register
of Deeds, rent free. There it has re-
msined till the present. For tine
the books were taken out and read
by different people of the town and
surrounding country, to their great
satisfaction. But for some years the
library has been neglected by nearly
all and manyof the later settlers are
unaware that there is such library
in the county.
The trustees named hy MIR. Palmer
are the following persons: AIRS.
Fuhr, Mrs. Mary james. Ormond Ham
ilton, w. H. - Young, and K. D..
Smith. These persons duly incorpor-
ated as provided by statute for such
boards. Xxx
FROM time to time different men,
bers of the board of trustees have
urged the officials of the city or coun
ty to take appropriate action Tor the
preservation and building up OF this
library, but always Without result.
Within the last year -Mr. j. N. Ham
ilton, superintendent of city schools,
looked this library over and after
careful examination he was con-
vinced that it was very valuable as
student library, consisting at the
present time of something more than
450 volumns on the shelves.
Some books have been taken out
and are not returned. but would be
if the library had active administra-
ton, some books have been worn out
and are permanently gone. Some per
sons living in the county have from
time to time given b k
to the library. Originally as ] re-
member there was about 900 volumns
presented by Mr.. Palmer. Mr.. j. n.
Hamilton, and Mr.. Helsel after sec
Ond examination and consultation
with some Of the Palmer Library
trustees brought 10 the notice of the
city schools board the advisability of
securing this library for use in the
schools. This being the more advis-
able from the fact that the school has
all necessary room and shelving to
accommodate the books.
The final result being that the IL
brary trustees held a meeting anC
evolved a plan by which the schools
could have the use of the library for
all time. Later meeting was had