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Show Library Board Named By Mayor Woodbury It seems fitting that we pause this month to pay tribute to the first Library and Gymnasium Board of Cedar City. In March 1909 Mayor John S. Woodbury and the Cedar City Council appointed ap-pointed this board consisting of Mayor Woodbury, chairman; Wm. R. Palmer, secretary; Wil-lard Wil-lard Cony, Richard Williams. J. H. Walker. Mrs. Alice (Allie) Knell and Mrs. Catherine (Katie) Bell. The beautiful modern building, build-ing, the well stocked shelves and trained personnel we have today are the natural outgrowth of the work ar.J eiforts of these people who gtc fredy of their time and talents. After much consideration, selection sel-ection and rejection, the first Library-and Gymnasium in Cedar City was situated in a room on the second floor of the old Mer-chantile Mer-chantile Building. Unaccountable hours of time went into the planning, plan-ning, selection of furniture, materials mat-erials and equipment. The available avail-able funds for the project were very limited. In due time the Normal College took over the responsibility re-sponsibility of furnishing a gymnasium gym-nasium and funds obtained through the Carnegie Foundation helped to build and establish a separate Library Building. Mrs. Barbara Tweedle, "a fine English gentlewoman," was the first librarian and the supply of books was ordered by her, with the approval of the board. Each school child could check out one book a month, but each family could have no more than two books at one time. At one time the rule required all overdue books to be returned before anyone could check one out The succession of public spirit- erously and fully on the Library Board, the city and county funds made available and the forward looking spirit of Cedar City officials offi-cials have planned and furnished' a service to not only Iron County but a large surrounding area. We accept this service In a matter cJ fact way, but, we do owe its beginning to that first Library Board appointed by a progressive City Council and Mayor fifty years ago. |