I.

OTHER LIBRARIES IN THE CITY.

National Cash Register Library, in conjunction with South Park Branch of the Dayton Public Library.

2. Law Library, Court House.

3. Catholic Gesellen Verein Free Circulating Library, Fifth and Pine Streets.

4. Y. M. C. A. Library, 32-34 East Fourth Street.

5.

Steel High School Library.

DELAWARE.

DELAWARE CITY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

The Delaware City Library Association was incorporated on the 23rd day of February, 1899.

The question of establishing a free public library in Delaware had been agitated from time to time for many years.

A corporation for this purpose was organized as long ago as 1855, but it was then found impracticable and the project was abandoned. The subject was agitated frequently at different periods, but all efforts were spasmodic and without results. Some years ago, however, twenty-six enterprising ladies organized themselves into a reading circle, and maintained a small circulating library, consisting of about thirty volumes, that were pased around and read by the members of the club. These ladies subsequently formed themselves into a library association. This association was unincorporated. They asked for donation of books and secured additional members. The membership fee was fixed at fifty cents a year. It opened its library November 12, 1897, in the private office of Dr. W. H. Hague, who loaned the association the use of his book case, and tendered to the ladies the use of his office as a place of meeting. The extent of the library, at this time, was ninety-seven volumes, and the association consisted of thirty-five members. Strenuous efforts were made to increase the membership, and to add to the number of books, but it was found difficult to enlist attention and secure support. The ladies met with great discouragement on every hand. With the small means at their command, their progress was very slow, and the opening of a reading room, which they regarded as very desirable, was simply out of the question. They made a canvass of the city, which resulted in increasing the membership to one hundred and ten, and in April, 1898, the library, by the courtesy of Mr. C. D. Young, was placed in his jewelry store. It was subsequently transferred to a small room, rented for the purpose, and the association continued to operate a circulating library among its members, until the present public library was opened.

Some idea of the difficulties and discouragement under which the ladies labored can be formed from the fact that the total receipts for the entire year preceding the incorporation of the present library association, from all sources, was less than two hunderd dollars. It was perfectly apparent that if the library was to be made generally useful, something must be done to interest the public in it, and to establish it on a more permanent basis.

Under the auspices of the ladies library association, a meeting of the citizens of Delaware was held July 21, 1898, at St. Peter's Church, with the view of enlisting public interest and attention to the importance of the enterprise. At this meeting the matter was generally discussed, and a committee appointed to consult with the city council to ascertain whether the organization of a free public library and reading room could be secured through the action of the city authorities, under the act providing for the creation of public libraries, and also to fully investigate the whole subject, and report at a future meeting the best method to be pursued.

The next public meeting was held at William Street Methodist Episcopal Church, September 13, 1898, and the committee formerly appointed, among other things, reported that after consultation with a committee from the city council, it was found impracticable to induce that body to establish and maintain a free public library and reading room, and recommend that the most feasible method to be adopted would be the incorporation of an association to be known as The Delaware City Library Association, for the purpose of "establishing and maintaining, in a public place in the city of Delaware, a public library and reading room, free to all the inhabitants thereof, and to all persons residing within the territory known as the Delaware City School District;" the necessary funds to be secured in such manner as might be authorized by law, and by such other means as such association might deem advisable, and recommended that immediate steps be taken to secure the incorporation of such an association. The report of the committee was adopted. The ladies were requested to consider the propriety of incorporating their association for the purpose, and a committee was appointed to look up a site for such library. The meeting adjourned to meet again at the call of the

president.

Subsequently, a public meeting, called by the president, was held at the St. John's English Lutheran Church October 20, 1898. At this meeting the ladies library association reported that they would incorporate as requested, when the time would justify such action.

It was made known, quietly, to the officers of the ladies library association, and to the committee to look up a location for the library, that Mr. Sidney Moore, one of Delaware's leading citizens, had decided to erect a building, and present the same to Hiram Lodge, No. 18, of Free and Accepted Masons, and that he intended in behalf of himself and

wife to reserve therein a room for the use of the Delaware City Library Association; the association to be at the expense only of finishing, fitting up and furnishing the same.

Thereupon the ladies of the library association immediately procured articles of incorporation, which were presented at the next public meeting of the citizens, held at the Presbyterian Church, March 16, 1899. The articles of incorporation were approved at this meeting, and the proposition of Mr. and Mrs. Moore gratefuly accepted.

Mr. Sidney Moore, and Mrs. Sarah A. Moore, his wife, by perpetual lease, conveyed the library room to the association, conditioned "to continue as long as the association shall keep up and maintain therein a public library and reading room, and pay such part of the insurance on the Masonic Temple as the value of the part so used and occupied by the library association bears to the whole building."

Sufficient funds were secured by membership fees, subscriptions and donations to finish the room, to provide for heating and also lighting the same with both gas and electricity, and to furnish it with the most approved and modern style of library furniture.

The ladies turned over to the new association the books they had accumulated, consisting of five hundred and thirty-five volumes.

The Board of Education of the Delaware City School District have loaned the use and control of such portion of the public school library as is not needed for daily use and reference, upon the condition that the books be receipted for by the association and labeled "From High School Library," subject to return, however, at any time the Board of Education may so direct, and upon condition that all books purchased by the funds received under the tax levied by the school board shall be marked and labeled "From Board of Education Tax Levy," and upon the further condition that in case the association shall cease to maintain a public library, said books shall be returned to the Board of Education to become a part of the High School Library. The books so turned over consisted of three hunderd and seventy-five volumes, making a total of nine hundred and ten volumes on the shelves of the new library when it was opened to the public on the evening of April 5, 1900.

The Dewey system of classification and cataloging the books is used in the administration of the library. It will be seen from the report of the committee on the best method to be pursued in the organization of the library and reading room, that it was intended to bring the organization within the provisions of the act of the General Assembly, entitled "An Act to authorize cities of the fourth grade of the second class to levy a tax for the maintenance of a free public and school library," passed February 15, 1898, which requires school boards to levy a tax of not less than three-tenths nor more than five-tenths of one mill on the dollar, to be used by the library association in the purchase of books and periodicals, and for running expenses.

Under this act, the Board of Education levies three tenths of one mill on the dollar, and through this source, the library receives, and will receive annually between eleven and twelve hundred dollars. The association is thus enabled to add to its number of books, and to fully supply the library with papers, periodicals, and to meet running expenses.

The library now consists of 1,359 volumes, 31 periodicals, and receives 8 daily papers.

Through the perseverance of the ladies, the generous gift of Mr. Sidney Moore, and Sarah A. Moore, his wife, the hearty co-operation of the School Board, the active assistance of a large number of her public spirited citizens, and the beneficent act of the General Assembly, hereinbefore referred to, Delaware city now has a public library and reading room established on a permannt basis.

NELLIE F. PRATT, Librarian.

DELAWARE.

OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY.

It would seem that no college could exist, even for the short period of a year, without a library. Under present educational demands, this could not be done; but the old regime, which required little more than text-book knowledge, was content with a narrow field. The supersession of the formal recitation by the lecture, and the consequent broadening of the domain of acquirement made imperative the early gathering of collateral material and historical and reference data. In the early days of our University life, the purchase of collateral books by the student himself was proportionately larger than at present. There was no sanctum without its little shelf of choice books, bought at personal sacrifice, and, for that reason, more deeply prized.

The first ten years of our history as a University were years of struggle and limited outlay. Buildings, equipment, and instructors were first essentials. The purchase of a library was not to be dreamed of until these had first been secured. During these years, however, the need was not only recognized, but steps were taken toward meeting it. The agents of the University were authorized to solicit books wherever they could, and 700 volumes of fairly well-chosen literature were the result of their efforts.

In 1853, a friend, Mr. William Sturges, of Zanesville, Ohio, offered to give $10,000 for books if the Church would build a library building costing $15,000. By this time about 3,000 volumes had been acquired by gift and solicitation, but many were duplicates, and quite superseded by newer publications. In a short time after the offer of Mr. Sturges, sufficient pledges were secured for the erection of a building which was begun in 1855, and dedicated in 1856.