J w s alj i lj i s SS y r A the ree library AA ata fuji v the first step toward the establishment in ogdan was library of a public the tenth day of december taken on of joa leadership asoo when under the what S pecry esq there was formed aid was known as the public library of which was to society the fund by means of cn library create a is to sir pecery then due the credit of having initiated tho i i movement which resulted in the f of a public library iu ogden that therefore i and it was appropriate t lie should be as lie is the first president af the car of the board of directors acgie fieo library the aid society F having raised the sum of two hundred and fifty dollar and thus performed tho S function for which it waa formed it place was taken by tho library asso i elation of ogden utah which was the f first organization to undertake to open f a public library and free reading room alic first board of directors of this asso cia tion organized january 1892 2 consisted of joseph S pecry president W N shilling vice president 11 S S page corresponding secretary T B J lewis recording secretary C C ilich arda treasurer frank J cannon afar t net S emerson harriet S miner lita i A SIa ginnis Ella cordon Kira ball mary D smith and florence nelson this b board was so successful in raising 1 that vit virbin bin the next few months five hundred dollars was added to the fund already created tho christian union turned over to the association their library of two hundred volumes the furniture was donated by various public spirited citizen and on august eleventh 1892 a library containing seven hundred volumes was opened to jhc thc public in a small room on the second floor of the city hall thus was established for the first time in ogdan a public library slowly but purely did tins lilola library grow until now it occupies one of the largest looms in he city hall and is about to more to its own beautiful building it consists of throe thousand volume not including lias all of the acad ing periodicals of he country and some of luo principal on its ta lies and is constantly used by a large portion of the residents of the city awell as and by neatly all the school children in the higher grades of the public schools though it was a man who firt conceived alio idea of establishing a public library here it is to the noble women of the city under the leadership of mrs II 11 Km ergon president pre of thoi aso fiction from 1893 to 1901 we arc indebted for having kept alive tho library during ill the trying yeara of financial distress through which ogdan las pass jt fd it is due almost entirely to their untiring zeal and conscientious efforts Ih atthe library ha not lived but has grown so that now it u by all to bo as much of a necessity to our municipality ns our public schools As was well said ly airs emerson in her history of the library deposited in the coiner stone of the new building our has been a development not a creation a growth and not a miracle and di this retrospect we mark with great pleasure alic glowth in interest among the leathers and pupils of our publio schools all seeming to that the public library ia an agency equally with them in the education of the young that when the child grows to manhood and womanhood and parses beyond the school into the ac of mature life he or she is still a pupil of the library the association has received aid in its work froia various sources the young ladies S 0 0 B club have offer given entertainments the proceeds 0 I 1 which were donated to the library the columbia and clubs alio literary societies and a pi cat many individuals divi duals have all contributed according to their ability the of the city hai always encouraged it especially the standard choso columns hao always been open for alie purpose of bringing alic library to the public several times during has alic association attempted to make the 11 biary public not only in the penic talat caery resident of the city could take out bocks upon the payment of a yearly fee of two dollars but in tha tulip city should bc responsible for its maintenance and its use absolutely free to all in a bill was introduced in the leg tt Z permitting cities of the first and second class to establish and maintain public libraries lut after having lath Lr anches of that body it toed ly governor west on tho ground that men needed foad and clothing more than they needed looks hope of aid havin thus failed the directors 0 the association presented a petition to the council asking that a appropriation to cover current expenses be made the library but t lio petition vas not granted one of the coun oi linon however air I 1 L clark secured a subscription of one dollar a month or four months from busi nv men and thus the library was tided ihn tica I 1 period in its the session of the legislature of 7 another bill was introduced passed and signed by tho governor thi this s net tho one under which tho carnegie l fcc libraty isto is to operate provides that nann the petition ot two hundred and uy qualified voters and arty taxpayers tax payers a city of tho second class to kiich belongs nuy cs taLlish n it 1 and for that purpose pur poso may levy A alx lx not to exceed a third 0 o a ibur As soon aa this act a law a petition as required by law Ws presented to ahr council askin that advantage advant ape be taken of its provisions but the petition was not granted in lien thereof nn tian ot dollars a tho birst recognition gitlit to the association tao library and ft as made to THE NEW CARNEGIE LIBRARY BUILDING anis laa been continued U tho present 1 time atthe aimuel of iho assoria tip held january audgo ma giminis in th course of stated thit tip saw no it the propst taken doii should not be clio oae bf mr oar gifts bf alia suggestion was seriously at the timp arst meeting of tho elected board of i consisting of mr II 11 S Iru erson president mrs ransford smith vicc dent J A secretary SIM gcorge J kelly auditor mrs II 11 dl mrs A af warnor mrs george C hant irs al bigalow Big clow hilss jiin hiie keesor W L Mi hnis I 1 goshen airl joseppi S accy the suggestion was renewed and a consigns con f audgo maginnis icv and ii kicmol was appointed to draft a sir carnegie asking for a sift to oden city on the samo conditions imposed on cities the following latter was accordingly ogdan utah feb 1901 sir aadrew Cir yo 0 west street N Y dear sir we auvo two for upon your tunic and attention etli aliis viz our pressing need and your acu and highly appreciated in the direction of ing of the ogdan city library board alio were appointed a committed to devise waya and means to aid in the support and pt tho library which this been ahng to pain tabi forc aft ysais association lary dependent private aupper aup por sonic municipal aid out all tor the past year was of which ogdan city contributed our expenses were of which ia i wa tho librarians salary and 17 ca expended for books A library room hiis been furnished in the ity hall by tha city of which wo send a wo also enclose a copy of the librarians report which speaks or itself is a beautiful growing city a ot tho southern e anion and kio railways and the meeting point of these loads with the oregon short line it contains by the last census inhabitants a large number of whom aro railroad men outlier employed in the op cinci of the roads or in the shops by the roads it is the sec city in the state and is po located that there is every reason to be cievo that it will continue to grow and will at least remain second in population and importance in the state by reason of tho religious differences which have affected this region for so many years but which alc al c now wo hope dying out alio material advancement of the city has been greater than its intellectual advancement or perhaps it would bo more correct to say that alio people f fi leavo been thrown upon sectarian as dis from public and united effort for their docial and united opportunities tho T ho report ot the librarian will show how generally our limited supply 0 books lias been used and how many peo plo have taken advantage of our limited the city council is authorized by liw to levy bubb a tax as would provide a revenue of about for library pur poses although it iras never done so the deify is the owner of a public equlia containing ten aws which is in the center of the city and is now occupied by the city ball city jail and firo station all handsome buildings leaving three vacant corners to choose from for the location ofa of a handsome library building with plenty of ground around for lawn and decorative purposes f if yon could we your way clear to do irate a sum for library purposes wn think tharo is aio doubt sufficient local pride in odan that all other differences would be laid aside and that the people would do all that the law allowed in providing a ito fito f and ft revenue and that such conditions could be attached to tha sift as would forever prevent and sec control of the same tinder such an arrangement it is doubt ful whether there is any place in the united states where so much good could be dorc or where such a gift would kc moro appreciated salt lake cita is already prodded for b abo liberality of sir packard m donating for a library and building so eliat wo feel as citizens of ogden eliat we can have no rival in thia appeal to you signed W L MAGINNIS E I 1 MINNIE KIESEL j mr carnegie replied as follows V L maginnis esq ogdan utah dear ic youra of and 2nd received if the city of ogdan will pr ovidea suitable site and agree through resolution of councils to appropriate a year for maintenance of the library clr carnegie will le glad to give for a free library building nil r yours JAS BERTRAM p may ath 1901 Tin mediately upon the receipt of this letter a specht feeling of the board of directors of the association was called and judge maginnis and J A howell were appointed a committee to circulate the petition required by the library act ind when the necessary signatures had been presented the same to tho council asking tint mr carnegles Carne gies gilt bo accepted on the conditions named by kiiru the proposition at first met with some opposition on the part of a few of the heavy taxpayers and on the part of some of alie councilman but the sentiment of the rest of the city was so pronounced in its favor that it was not long until it became unanimous the petition w as referred to the committee on lawa and finance and that committee aftel with a committee of the board of of the association recommended that alio following resolution be passed and it was passed unanimously whereas mr andrew carnegie has very generously proposed to give ogdan any a library building to cot not less than to be used as a amry but attaches to said gitt ajro conditions on that ogdan city shall provide a suitable site for the continued on page 11 lf att continued from page 10 e other that tho city council 0 said city shall agree to suitably maintain mill building and effectuate Us said pur poso and shall in bruer to do so agree to levy raise appropriate and expend at least 2500 annually now therefore be it resolved by the mayor and city council 0 the city ot ogden altah that said donation bo accepted together vi said conditions and said city council and mayor hereby pledge themselves to set apart and designate a suitable site for said building on union square tor library purposes and bo it further resolved by alic mayor and city council eliat on behalf of said city it hereby contracts and agrees with said andrew carnegie to annually and expend the sum of 2600 to bo used in the maintenance of ald library and in that behalf directs the city attorney to prepare for execution by the mayor nd city recorder such paper or contracts as shall be required to effectuate the resolution and these officers are hereby directed to execute e haine by and in tho bamo ot ogdan cihy and bo it further resolved that the name of said snail be the came gie free library of ogden city utah and bo it further that we join the of other cities and towns that have ficen the recipients of liberality ot mr carnegie in thanking him tor bis unparalleled approved april ath 1001 signed M S mayor A ho board of directors acting for the socia Uon then voted to turn 01 er 11 its books furniture etc to tho new library and mayor browning approved the councils resolution the board also passed a resolution asking tho council to act asido the couth east corner of the city hall square and appointed mr howell to present the same atie council complied with this request and everything was then ready to begin building mayor browning appointed the following members of tho board of directors ind they were duly confirmed by the couii fil A 1 bigelow mrs 11 S emerson 1 M Cus linahan miss minnie diesel joseph S pecry J A howell JL mrs KT milliard and 11 cioma there has been but one ciango in this board since mrs icil hards term having expired mrs jennie elson was appointed to succeed her the board organized by electing the follow gsg officers joseph 8 peery president y s H S emerson mcc dent J A II owell secretary A P treasurer these officers were elected reelected re at the second annual meeting at the first meeting an advertisement wag inserted in the standard for competitive peti tive plans several outside architects and all the ogden architects competed all the plans contained so much that was excellent it was only after sev eral meetings had been helfand hel dand all carefully considered that mr J A smiths acio accepted and ac others compan bated for their sketches tho building is of the renaissance of architecture a form of type the classic and ith its marble like walls ionic columns and simple yet digi unified linea it is the admiration of every visitor tho city and the v aride of all of our citizens jhb interior ot is characterized by the same simple but rich finish as the exterior the first story is cn ishou in white oak with maple floors matli exception of the aiu civay and dc room floors which arc encaustic liry tile the second story is finished in yellow pine with floors the plastering throughout is float work suitable for with plaster of paris molds the hallway on the first floor leads to which is the the delivery room back ot ganek room where the books are kept and which is absolutely fireproof fire proof and cither side of which is the iora riana 0 room and alio llio catalogue room on the north feilo ot the delivery room and lc aiding is tho reference room tor students ana uio childrens room on the south side is the large gen deml leading room A double flight of stairs lejda from tho hallway to the floor which is divided into two largo clubroom a facing cast and a largo lecture hall the club rooms being fur blushed with largo folding boors so that enose floor can it necessity requires bo turned into one large hall anil been a As boon as ground building committee ot rather J A A P billow caid II 11 II 11 chomas was appointed and t ig due to the painstaking watchfulness ot this committee acting always under tho advice of the architect that the original have been so faithfully executed the board decided at the out act pct that the work of construction should he in such a way that all uio contractors of the city could bid on his particular portion and that the entire contract should not be pit en to any one man adois has w delayed the build dig but alio result has been to disseminate more the benefits ot mr car gift J he cut alono for the building was fajr unlined by elros the steel cur tulinn by C S alio brick work and crannell Cb annell etino netting was doco by Jn jackon ckon the i stork by C J ho by T A the floors cailing by J I 1 oneill the by I 1 T smyth alio galvanized iron and all ly W F Xe the plumb in oy J Dilli the electric wiring b L it chraft cc raft alic tiling anil by L T lii glicr aind the beat in by 0 J co onar contrael arl ir outside iha city each of tihes c contractors baa falt that kiib work on