Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-02-25
PROGRESS MADE BY.
LOCAL INSTITUTION.
TOLD BY LIBRARIAN.
MISS VERA SHOOK ADDRESSES
MEETING OF EDUCATIONAL
AND CIVIC DEPARTMENTS OF
WOMANS' CLUB.


Johnson, 1920 Paul street A good at
tendance was present
The feature of the afternoon was al
interesting paper read by Miss Ver
Shook on Changing Ideals III Librar.
Work." She had the original lane
grant which was given To William
Reddick who presented Reddick
Library to the city. for the land OF
which the building now stands. ThL
grant was dated Aug, /, 1893, and wa
signed by Marlin Van Buren,, Pres
dent of the United States. This docl
ment was viewed with great curiosit1
by the guests, as was a chartel
granted July IL, 1878, by Georg
Harlow, secretary OF state OF Illinois
for the incorporation of the Iouni
Ladies' Temperance Union,
This organization of young ladie
composed of Fannie NJ. Richardson
Carrie f. Marley Kate S. Eldredet
Lille Bull Zetta Strawn, Fannie Hol
kins, Laura Lindley Vincie T. Bush
nall, Emma w. Alien, Maggie A. SpeI
Ger and Lizzie Shuler, opened the fir
public library in Ottawa, which wa
known as the Young Ladies' Readn
Room. 1t was due to the work {
these young women that Mr. Reddicl
became interested in a public librar
and left his home to the city for tn
establishment of such an institution.
Miss Shook, after displaying h.
documents to the guests, told of tn
work of the Ottawa library, saying i
part:
Stored away in the attic of Red
dicks Library were the old report
bills, deeds and papers of many kind
dating from 1877. There were parcl
ment land grants signed by MART
Van Buren and James X. Polk. There
was the charter from the secretary G
state to the Young Ladies' Tempe
ance Union and Library Association
1t Is decorated with three bright r.,
ribbons and large gilt seal. Their
was the book OF minutes of that oil
ganZation from the time il wa
founded in 1877 to 1888 when it su
rendered its books to become tn
nucleus Of ReddiclQ:s Library II wa
the earnest effort of these youn
women Of Ottawa that induced WI
liam Reddick TO bequea.h his HON,
and substantial sum for the estai
lishment of a public library
Probably no institution in til
country is passing through such rapi
changes as the public library, In
recent address the president of III,
American Library Association paid
glowing tribute to the old fashionc
librarian, who was pre-eminently /
scholar and a collector of rare skill
These men were not only responsible,
for the strong and valuable colleC
tiOns of books in such libraries a
the Library of Congress, the LenoA
the Aston the Boston Athenaeun
the Boston Public Library, The But
falo Library and the Brooklyn Library
but they were the authors and com
pliers of valuable books OF reference
without which the modern relerenc,
librarian would think he could no
exist.
The modern library is no longe
for the student and scholar. II ha
become socialized. is directors hay,
gone out into the highways and by
ways and compelled folks to come il
There is an immense increase in thu
number of Libraries, especially in tn,
small and medium sized cities. Thi
is distinctly American feature
Europeans cannot understand ou
small, democratic library, reaching
many phases of town life, contribu,
ing to the efficiency OF the commuI
ity.
There has been surprisins
growth in the number of branches
Branch libraries and delivery stations
dot the maps of all the large cities
and the idea is extending TO smaller
communities.
Professional men, engineers, doc
tors, lawyers, insurance men, bankers
manufacturers, now are gathering
their own Libraries, organizing them
on the most modern lines, stealing
some of our best people, even as the
movies have stolen from the iegiti.
mate drama.
There has been a Standardization
of technique. There has come about
great amount of Capitalization.
Library work is almost on the verge
of becoming big business
In many states not only the town
and city has its books but also the
countryside. Book trucks reach the
rural districts wherever the county
library law is in force.
ITO the former librarians of our
public library is due the credit of a
valuable and careful collection OF
boohs. Mr. Richards, the former
board president. was responsible for
some innovations which more than
doubled the circulation. Since that
time the use of the library has rapidly
increased. Between six and seven
thousand books are circulated a