The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-07-31
CAPITAL CITY
PROUD OF ITS
BOOK" DEPOT
Thoroughly Modern and Ade-
quate Institution Result
of Years. Effort
MONUMENT TO PUBLIC
SPIRIT OF CITIZENS
Commercial Club, Civic League
and Other Organizations
Given Credit

Bismarck's beautiful new library, a
gift to the capital city from Andrew
Carnegie, is finally completed and the
library shelves and racks are being
filled with the books and other read.
ing material which had been housed
for several months In the basemen,
room. The formal opening of the Ii.
brary will be deferred until cooler
weather, but it is now in full use, and
is being literally patronized.
Progressive in most things, the cap,
ital city felt. no urge for a public Ii.
ibrary OF it's own until after the reor.
ganizatiOn of the commercial club
early in 1915. This condition was
largely due to the fact that Bismarck
had free access to the North Dakota
public library commissions collection
at the state house. When G. l.. Youns
was elected president OF the rejuven.
ated commercial club in 1915, one Of
his first acts was to name library
committee, with J. l.. Eel at the head
Of 1t. Mr.. Bell as promptly entered
into correspondence with the Carnegie
foundation. He wrote number Of let.
ters. There was little encouragement
at first The foundation suggested en-.
dowments entirely inadequate. Tho
library committee refused to be dis
c0uraged. 1t b0mbarded the secre
tary of the Carnegie foundation with
facts about Bismarck. 1t finally sue
ceeded In proving that Bismarck was
very large for its size and would be
larger, and at last. when most every
one but the committee had given up
hope, came advice that the Carnegie
foundation would appropriate $4,000
fori public library for the capital
city Of the DakOtas.
g This news was the signal for rath-
er unique campaign for books. Every
shelf In the city was ransacked at the
hehest of the Commercial club and the
library committee. Patriotic members
of the Commercial club devoted days
to collecting these books. X. c. Battey,
then finance commissioner and now OF
Filings. Mont, <and George F. Win,
scurried about in cold January weath>
er with their cars. bringing In barrels
and boxes and buckets filled with
books. A temporary city library was
established In the Commercial club
rooms, and its formal opening on Feb,
ruary 22> 1916. was real event. Be-
fore that date Mrs. NJ. c. Budlong. sec
rotary of the North Dakota public II.
brary commission, with the aid of pub
Bismarck women, had
Vs,on IN toll 00n0
classify the more. than 1000 volumes
which citizens had contributed.
The city commission made an ap,
for the support of the pub
lie library, and librarian was placed
in Charge From that date to this,
,ven though the volumes available are
lot the result OF scientific selection,
)ut are almos tentirely gifts from, pri>
rate libraries, this institution has been
'plendidly patronized and has been
with some degree Of effl-
:iency. even from the first.
An election was held in the spring
Il 1916 to determine whether the tax
,avers desired to accent Carnegie's
lift and to appropriate $4,000 per an
'"m for the support Of the library.
NE Civic league. composed of public.
Dirited women who were the real pi-
neers in the library movement and
,ho had la6ored for years to create q
uDlic sentiment in favor Of 1t, prov
d themselves good campaigners prior
D this election. Here and there was.
man or woman who like the well !
nOwn chorus girl, said: whats the
eed of library-l've got book"
ut the number was very small, and ,
he library issue carried by an over.
'helming ma jority.
Plans and specifications for the II.
rary as prepared by F. w. Keith. To- l.,
Al architect, were accepted by the 4. d
rary board officially created by the t