COLUMBUS, O., June 11, 1900. To the Board of Trustees of the Public Library and Reading Room, Columbus, Ohio: GENTLEMEN: As you are aware, I have heretofore caused to be delivered to you 750 volumes, for the purpose of establishing an Alcove in the Public Library and Reading Room, to be known as the Kilbourne Alcove, and I further propose from time to time in the manner hereinafter designated, to add to the number of volumes already contributed by me. I desire and intend and do hereby so declare that the books heretofore contributed and hereafter to be contributed by me, shall become and remain forever the property of said Public Library and Reading Room, so long as said Library shall be continued and maintained by the authority of the city under the control and direction of the Board of Trustees as provided by ordinance No. 6261. In still furtherance of my purpose to establish an Alcove, I have caused to be placed in said Library, an Alcove in the form of a metal stack of 1800 volumes capacity, and designated as the Kilbourne Alcove, which has been definitely located by direction of your Board. It is also my desire that said stack and any future additions that may be made thereto, shall be and remain the property of the Public Library and Reading Room, to be known as the Kilbourne Alcove. In order to constitute and maintain the said Kilbourne Alcove in the Public Library and Reading Room—I do hereby give and transfer to the Trustees of the Public Library and Reading Room - the Treasurer of said Board to be the custodian thereof fifty (50) shares of stock of the Franklin Insurance Company of Columbus, Ohio, to the value of one thousand dollars ($1,000), which amount shall be regarded as the permanent fund or endowment of the said Kilbourne Alcove, and the annual income, interest or dividend from which shall be applied to the purchase of books to be selected by direction of the Board of Trustees, said books to be and remain a part of said Kilbourne Alcove. It is further understood and desired by me that should the Board of Trustees at any time regard it as for the best interest of said Kilbourne Alcove, they have full power to dispose of or sell said stock herein given, and invest or re-invest the avails from said sale in such securities or property as they may deem advisable, but in no event shall the Board of Trustees expend any part of said principal fund for the purchase of books or for any other purpose whatever. If at any time said Library shall pass from thec ontrol of said Board of Trustees or their successors as contemplated by Ordinance No. 6261, said permanent fund, funds on hand, and books constituting said Alcove, shall revert to myself, my heirs or assigns. JAMES KILBOURNE. (Ext. Rec. No. 3, page 1. Meeting of Trustees, July 21, 1900.) Messrs. Smith and Hooper, as Committee appointed to prepare resolution of acceptance of Hon. James Kilbourne's deed of gift and trust, presented the following resolution which was unanimously adopted: Resolved By the Board of Trustees of the Public Library and Reading Room of the City of Columbus, Ohio, that the deed of gift of James Kilbourne under date of the 11th day of June, A. D. 1900, transferring and conveying to the said Board of Trustees the books and Alcove therein mentioned and to be known by the name of the "Kilbourne Alcove," together with the fifty shares of stock of the Franklin Insurance Company of Columbus, Ohio, to the value of one thousand dollars ($1,000), the income, interest or dividend whereof is to be applied to the purchase of books for said Kilbourne Alcove, be and the same is hereby accepted by the said Board of Trustees for and on behalf of itself, its successors, and the City of Columbus, Ohio, and that said deed of gift, said books, Alcove, and said fifty shares of stock of said The Franklin Insurance Company with the income thereof to be held, managed and controlled by the said Board of Trustees under and according to all and singular the terms and conditions expressed in the said deed of trust. And be it Resolved Further that a copy of the foregoing resolution be indorsed upon said deed of trust and subscribed by the several members of said Board of Trustees, and that a like copy of said resolution likewise subscribed by the said several members of said Board of Trustees be sent to said James Kilbourne. (Signed): E. O. RANDALL, President. O. C. HOOPER, Vice President. J. N. KOERNER, Treasurer. SAML. J. SWARTZ Mayor Ex-Officio. President City Council, Ex-Officio. SAML. C. BRADFORD, Chm. City Council Library Committee. This action was approved by the City Council by the passage, on August 6, 1900, of Ordinance No. 17,187. The Alcove contains 1,000 volumes, housed in a beautiful metal stack presented by Col. Kilbourne, and since its opening to the public has furnished an issue of 5,074 volumes for home reading. COLUMBUS HISTORICAL AND LITERARY COLLECTION. This valuable feature of the Public Library is the outgrowth of a suggestion by Mr. Osman C. Hooper in 1892, the purpose being "to make a collection of the books written by Columbus authors, and the addition of whatever else might be contributed or procured of local historical or literary interest. During the fourscore years which have passed since the founding of our city, much has been done which should be recalled by something more than a mere history of public events. A collection of all books written by Columbus authors would be interesting, and would show that this has been more of a literary center than is generally supposed. And the collection, for preservation of files or loose copies of old newspapers, maps, directories, pictures of Public Buildings and landmarks, published records of the City Departments, and other documents obtainable, having a bearing on the founding of the city and its growth, would be of increasing interest as the city grows. older, and the future historian would find them of the greatest value, Every one is urged to contribute material which would be of public interest." 12 s. O. L. The collection now includes about 400 volumes and pamphlets, many of them containing the author's autograph. The use made of the almost complete files of City Directories and Annual Reports early proved the value of the collection. In the collection is a complete bound file of the Columbus Evening Dispatch, placed there by Mr. Wm. D. Brickell and kept up to date by him. GENERAL SUMMARY. The Public Library now contains 31,688 volumes, 9,019 volumes of which are contained in the various Alcoves already described. The distribution of books to patrons for home reading from all departments of the Public Library since its opening March 4th, 1873, numbers 2,020,568 volumes. Of this number, 862,093 were credited to the School Library while it was operated as a department of the Public Library, 1877-1892. The public spirit and wise forethought of those who established Alcoves certainly proves the truth of the words of President Andrews that "it is better to build your monument in an Alcove of good books in the Public Library, than in a shaft of granite in Greenlawn Cemetery," for of the total issue of books for home use 325,801 volumes are recorded as having been furnished from the various Alcove collections. The number of drawing members enrolled is now 13,152. The Reading and Reference Rooms are largely patronized, their use (since the opening of the new rooms in 1896) numbering 292,770 recorded visitors. There are 140 newspapers and periodicals regularly on file. The Library is open 12 hours daily and 3 hours Sunday afternoons. The Library is supported by a tax levied on the general duplicate of city property, in common with other taxes assessed by the City Council, and the rate varies from one-tenth to three-twentieths of one mill on each $100.00. There is a regular standing "Committee on Public Library" of the City Council, and through them the Library Board and the Council keep in close touch with each other. I regret that the space allotted me does not permit the publishing of a complete roster of the Trustees and Officials since the establishment of the Library. (A complete list is given in "Lee's Columbus.") Their's was a labor of love and the success of the Library in the good accomplished toward making a better citizenship brought to them the best reward. The first President, Hon. John W. Andrews, served from the beginning in 1872 until 1890. Francis C. Sessions, who succeeded him, served until his death in 1892. He was followed by Col. James Kilbourne, during whose administration the commodious Reading Rooms were added. Upon his resignation, in 1900, Hon. Emilius O. Randall was elected President, after having served as trustee and chairman of the book committee for nearly fifteen years. To the Rev. James L. Grover, the venerable Librarian, belongs a large share of the credit for the successful administration of the Library. He served continuously from 1872 until December 12th, 1896, on which date he attained his ninetieth year. The trustees on this occasion created for him the position of Library Counselor, relieving him from the active work of administration, and filled the vacancy by promoting the present Librarian from the position of first assistant which he had filled for many years under Mr. Grover. The official roster of the Public Library at the present time is as follows: |