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Show Pubic Library Must Close The Woman's Civic Club announce, an-nounce, with deep regret, the closing, for the present, of the Public Library. Five years ago, the 17th ot February, 1920, the Women's Civic Club was organized, ana one of its first efforts was directed direct-ed toward establishing a library. A campaign was-stalled to secure se-cure books, and from that time until the present the people ot the community have donated more than twenty-five hundred volumes. Various organizations gave small sums of money to help pay the initial expenses; the Elks donated do-nated their lodge room as long as they could and when it was no longer available the city council coun-cil gave the court-room .to be used as a library room. 'Ihey equipped it with shelves and have given it, with heat, light, and janitor service, free, up till the present time. The women of the club, an organization or-ganization which averages less than twenty-five members, have given their services, have taken care of the library, and done all the work connected with it. The keeping of the library open, to give out books, during these five years, has taken about 2000 hrs. or an equivalent of 250 eight hour days, and the organizing, accessioning of books, making of cards, and all the other work in connection with the library has taken approximately as much more. During this time there have been tent about 20,000 books, and cards issued to more than 1,200 persons. The library has no income ex-cpet ex-cpet a few dollars from fines, and a few small donations. The books, will, in time, wear out, and must be replaced. In December, Dec-ember, 1924, the club expended over $70.00 for re-building, and new books. The club discussed the situation situa-tion in detail and reached the following conclusion; The people peo-ple of the town have helped with donations of books; the city has helped with a room and its upkeep; up-keep; and the Civic Club has helped with service. The only element that has not helped in any way is the people who use the books. It seemed only logical log-ical that they should help carry car-ry the load, so the Club decided to ask a fee of one dollar per year for the use of the library, the money from these fees to be used to buy books. This decision decis-ion became effective Januarj'i 1st, 1925. During 1924, two hundred and seventy nine persons took out cards; during January 1925, 7 persons took out cards for a year, paying one dollar each, and two persons took out cards for three months, paying twenty-five twenty-five cents each. In view of these facts, it seems to the Women's Civic Club an economic waste to spend so much time, energy and money to serve such a few people, peo-ple, so they have reluctantly decided de-cided to close the library until such time as the demand seems to warrant its re-opening. There are out, and long-over -due, at the present time, about two-hundred books. The library libra-ry committee would be glad if the people who have these books return them to the City IlaH. |
