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Show (Garland's Free Public Library j and Reading Room I t a mass meeting of tho citizens of Garlnnd, held in the Gnrland social so-cial hall on tho 26th dny of October, Octo-ber, 1007, tho proposition of establishing estab-lishing a public library and gymnasium, gym-nasium, In accordanco with a state law which had just been enacted, was presented and discussed. In H hnrmony with the unanimous desire H of all present nt tho meeting in H question tho institution wns estab- H lished, and the following persons H named to compose its directing H board: Lucy A. Clark, Agnes Wheel- H on, six-year-term; Moslah Evans, Es- H ther Evans, four-year-term; It. L. Hush. Hurdett Smith, two-year-term. H At that time tho library and gym- I uaslum board was elected by ballot, B and at the election following tho S mass meeting mentioned nil persons nominated wero elected and quail- fled. At tho present time tho gov- ornlng board is appointed by the I town board, this change from an elective to appointive office having I been effected at a recent session of our state legislature After election tho library and gymnnslum board I perfected tho following organization: I Lucy A. Clark, president; Hurdett Smith, secretary nnd It. L. flush, as- sistant secretary. At tho timo the above library board was elected the people of tho town of Gnrland voted to tax themselves two mills, the then maximum amount provided by law, for library purposes, Owing to lack of funds and suitable qunrters in which to houso a library It was found that no actlvo steps could bo taken to actually open up a library In Garland until a treasury had been created of sufficient size to Insure tho continuance of such an Institution if oponod. About that timo, however, negotiations wore commenced with Mr. Andrew Carnegie, Carne-gie, that liberal contributor to freo public libraries for a gift for Garland to bo oxponded In erecting and equip- Iplng a building. Mr. Carneglo's requirements re-quirements wero at that time, as they still aro, that boforo a gift could bo obtnlnod that a malntennnco must bo satisfactorily assured of an annual amount equalling ten per cent of tho amount to bo given by him. This maintenance and operating fund In tho case of Garland would be from SOO.OO to $1,000.00 per annum, which at that time wns far out of Its reach. The amount derived from taxation ANDREW CARNEGIE was only a little over $200.00 per annum, while tho Utah-Idaho Sugar company generously contributed $250.00 nnnually to tho cause, which contribution Is still being made by the sugar company, it having paid In to dato Just $1,250.00. In the year 1910 the tax for library purposes was raised from a maximum of two mills to a maximum of four mills and money began to nccumulato in tho treasury more rapidly. As a result of this increased rovenuo on Juno 1st, 1011, tho Garland library commenced active operations, having leased a frame building on Main street from which to conduct tho library li-brary and reading room pending tho timo when n sufficient amount for lllrary up-kecp could bo assured ta MISS MATT IE STRONG. Librarian, meet Mr. Carnegie's requirements to thus insure a g ft with which to croct a building of Its own. ! Mi-s. William Thomns was appoint-. cd the first librarian of tho Garland library, II. L. Bush, secretary and W M. Llllywhite, manager Whllo tho library was commenced with only , about 1550 volumes of boks on hand, I Its circulation has steadily and rap-Idly rap-Idly Increased until now It has something some-thing over 1,000 volumes of tho best books that can bo obtained anywhere on Its shelves and continues to grow all the time. It Is tho Intention nnd desire to have the Hold of usefulness of the Gnrland freo public library extend over as wide a radius as possible. A standing lnvitntlon has been extended extend-ed to nil towns nnd communities In the Dear Hlvcr valley to avail themselves them-selves of this opportunity to obtain library accommodations. Tho Institution Insti-tution is conducted along businesslike business-like lines and Is modern nnd up-to-date In overy respect. The librarian, Miss Mattie Strong, is in every way qualllled to carry on tho work. She attended tho summer school for librarians li-brarians held In Salt Lake last summer sum-mer nnd has mado an exhaustive study of library work. In connection connec-tion with tho Institution there 13 a book committee whoso aim It Is to satisfy tho reading public aim at the same time build up the library work to the desired standard of excellence and efficiency. A fiction rental department de-partment Is operated in conjunction with tho library which makes It possible pos-sible for patrons to "btnln the latest and best fiction at tho nominal charge of ten cents per week. As soon as books of this class have paid for themselves they nro immediately transferred to the freo shelves. On December 8th, 1913, after much negotiations, a gift of $8,000 was secured from Andrew Carneglo for tho purpose of erecting nnd equipping equip-ping a modern library for Garland that will bo a credit to any community. com-munity. A magnificent slto has been selected nnd paid for nt a cost of $G0O.0O, and It Is tho Intention of tho present library board to commence com-mence the erection of the building Just as soon as weather conditions In tho spring will permit. Tho architects, Watkins nnd Hurch, of Snlt Lake City, havo prepared elegant ele-gant plnns of tho building, which at tho present time nro In tho hands of Mr. Carneglo for his approval. Rids will then bo asked for nnd tho contract for the erection of tho build-, build-, lug let. It is the ambition of the , beard to liavo tho library housed In its own building by July or August, 1914. The following persons compose tho executive and administrative board a- tho present timo: J. C. Wheelon, president; It. L. Bush, secretary and manager; Mattlo Strong, librarian; Anges Wheelon, Ella S. Winters, Joseph Jo-seph Jensen, W. M. Cragun, W. u Grovor, board mombors. No effort Is being spared that will promoto tho best intorests of this flourishing Institution. |
