Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-02-17
l.FgaFY hVe61Euasaaa dollars witt tAs

I
following fssuass. u aslissr shis
ifiefep a. j. danatia,i 10 seur Library
fluid. and ask that the money be ae=
cepted afd held by you and your sue.
cessors as a nucleus for permanent
endowment fund for the purchase Of
reading matter, and that only the in
terest thereon be used
In July, 1892, the library was moved
to the present building. From this
time the city began to pay the janito1,
! and furnish the heat and light They
| had also borrowed three thousand dol
lars at six per cent of the Scott Lii
| 5rary money to furnish the present
library building.
So with the money expended for
books, fixtures, cases and running ex-
penses there was none of the original
five-thousand dollars available Just
here | wish to say that in September,
1900, Mr.. J. D. Witter, then treasurer
Of the Board knowing the funds to be
about exhausted offered to give the
library fve-thousand dollars if within
ixty days like amount could be rails
I'd by subscription. Nothing resulted
from this offer, those who were APP
preached not just seeing the necessity
for library.
About this time the Board Of Trus-
ices asked the city for help, and secur-
Il the premise of five hundred dol
lars annually This sum was paid fol
several years, and then one Thousand
lollars was asked for and has beer
received annually for some time.
In 1902 Mr. ]. D. Witter died anc
left the library fve-thousand dollars
Since that time no money has beer
received Of this second sum one
thousand dollars has been expended
; for books. The city furnishes the
heat, light janitor, and one Thousand
lollars.
With the interest on our invested
money we must pay the librarian, one
assistant, buy new books, keep OLE
ones in repair, buy papers and mag
azines, pay for telephone, printing
| besides many small items incident t.
cunning any institution. To be yer,
, brief the figures for the year 1914 are
From the 81 200. OF
Interest on invested money 769.0(
Total received ,769 on
, Librarians and assistants
salaries 1850
Tor new books $3.50
Total expended--- 1913 Oh
This leaves just $4,000 for running
expenses for the year One can easil.
; figure how far this sum will go to
: ward paying for the incidentals. w
+ have had many donations of book
for which we are truly thankful. L
We could have all of the present build
ing fitted to our needs | am sure WI
books should be on the ground floor
Nearly all of the library buildings nov
: being constructed are one story affairs
very plain on the outside, but splen
idly equipped for library needs.
The librarian feels, and so do thu
. directors that more books would bt
, borrowed if those weary stairs did no
confront every borrower AS it is
there were 223 books given out at thu
a loan desk. If we cannot have ou
money, at least give US your interes
in our work, for this library is no
, the city's, not the Directors, not thu
I Librarians, but yours; come and ust
it.
This little tale holds good today
except that for two years past we have
received S1.800.00 from the city. AnC
when the city budget was made up il
October last, the city council voted
US three thousand dollars for this
year. The war. which brought higl
prices, the profteers who brough
higher prices still, growing city ant
many more books circulated were al
ehings to be considered when we asked
he city for more money Our Ii
brarians get more money, the library
is open longer hours, and more books
are circulated. It is due to our pres,
ent librarians persistence that we
have the West Side branch library.
The city refusing the use of a room
in the new city hail, the Womens
Federation guaranteed the first three
months rent, $4,000, for the rooms
now occupied by the branch library
At the opening Of the branch library
108 books were issued. With our
regular assistant, Miss Erdman, and
the help of the High School students
taking the Library course, Miss Sol