The endowment was originally $25,000. It has been increased by accumulation of interest until it now amounts to $37,000.

The library contains 4,641 volumes, and many pamphlets. Miss Mary V. Wilson is librarian. Following are the rules and regulations: 1. All books in the Library are for free use in the Reading Room. Reference Books shall not be taken from the room.

2. Other books may be drawn for home reading by payment of an annual fee of one dollar or by the payment of ten cents per week and depositing of cre dollar as security for return of the book.

4. Persons retaining a book longer than two weeks shall pay a fee of two cents per day for each day over two weeks.

4. Any defacement or injury to a book shall be paid for on its return.

5. 'Holders of tickets must pay all fines or dues before drawing a book. They must not loan books, and they can have but one book at a time.

JEFFERSON.

The Citizens' Library Association was organized in July, 1883, and the library was first opened to the public in October of that year. The Association is under special obligations to Hon. Uselma C. Smith of Philadelphia, Pa., as its inspiring spirit, as well as for valuable contributions of books received from him at the beginning, and also since the organization of the library. He had for a long time wished to see a library established in Jefferson; and at various times during his visits here, had discussed the subject with Dr. F. A. Tuttle and with A. C. White, his attorney. The appointment of a committee to do the work of devising a plan and putting it into operation was necessary. In the summer of 1883, in a conversation with Mrs. W. P. Howland he mentioned this matter and she suggested that, at its next meeting, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union would select a committee of citizens of Jefferson who would attempt the organization of a public library. This was done, and the persons whose names appear at the end of the constitution were selected as that committee. The organization was immediately perfected as a corporation not for profit; the use and benefit of the library to be entirely free to all citizens of Jefferson village and township by their compliance with the rules and regulations adopted for its government. The subsequent history of the library is well known to most of our citizens. It has received substantial aid from the W. C. T. U., the Jefferson Grange, the Library Aid Society, and from many private individuals. By her last will, Mrs. Celinda A. Prior, late of Jefferson, bequeathed one thousand dollars of her estate to the library. The estate is yet unsettled and the legacy unpaid.

By the untiring zeal and watchfulness of those who have controlled its management, the library has had a steady and healthy growth from the beginning, and is now one of the established and permanent institutions of the town.

We believe there is no better small library in the state. To this high standing has it been raised by the free and unstinted labor and the discriminating literary taste of Hon. A. C. White. He and his efficient wife have had the substantial control of the library from its inception to this time.

ONE OF THE TRUSTEES.

LANCASTER.

LANCASTER PUBLIC LIBRARY.

In 1878, during a temperance agitation, which swept over the whole country, a lady delivered an address in Lancaster and among other things advocated the establishment of free libraries and attractive reading rooms, where boys could spend their evenings instead of in the saloons. The idea being favorably received, a committee of citizens waited upon the city council and an arrangement was made by which, on condition of a certain sum having been contributed by the citizens, a tax could be levied annually to support a free library.

A few books remaining from an old school library, together with others belonging to individuals, were donated, the required amount was procured and the Lancaster Free Public Library started upon its career of usefulness, under the supervision of a Board of Trustees, four of whom were to be appointed by the City Council and three of whom were ex-officio members.

The first board consisted of the following gentlemen: Mr. Kinnis Fritter, Judge Silas Wright, Prof. E. B. Andrews, Dr. E. Jackson and F. C. Whiley, President City Council; John McCormack, Mayor; John Gravett, President Board of Education.

Miss L. Busby was elected librarian and yet fills acceptably that important post.

After a time the library languished for want of funds, the tax was inadequate and was supplemented by the receipts from various entertainments gotten up by the librarian and other ladies.

Several years ago a Ladies' Library Lecture Course Committee was formed. Successful courses of popular lectures and concerts have been arranged each year and many valuable books purchased from the proceeds.

Two years since a commodious new city building was erected, in which the library has been given a permanent place. The library and reading room are well ventilated, and well lighted by day and night. The old books were moved over in May, 1898. Since then about three thousand dollars worth of new books have been added, besides a donation of five hundred dollars from Mr. W. W. Card of Pittsburg, Pa., a

former resident of Lancaster. This was also used for the purchase of books. A valuable painting was also presented by the same gentleman, and constitutes our first work of art.

There are now in the library 8,203 volumes and pamphlets.

During the last year 47,471 books were issued.

There are 2,425 registered names.

Increase of readers over year before, 850.

The books are thoroughly classified according to an approved system. A card catalogue has been used for two years, but we are preparing a classed dictionary catalogue.

Lancaster is becoming a city of clubs, and the library is a great help in that direction as well as to the school children. The work and the increase in the number of readers have made it necessary to employ an assistant. Two persons were kept very busy last winter.

We have a library which we are glad to show strangers and of which we are very proud. ELLA HITE, Cataloguer.

LAURELVILLE.

LAUREL SOCIAL CLUB LIBRARY.

In a letter dated August 24, 1900, the librarian of the Laurel Social Club Library writes:

Our little library is scarcely worthy the name, having but one hundred and twenty-five books, which are for the most part fiction. Our community has been in need of a good library and a few young ladies have given their united efforts to establish one. Well aware that our progress would be very slow, we still hope for success in the end, congratulating ourselves in the meantime that this community has been benefitted by what has already been done.

We began by giving an entertainment and buying a few books. Our postmaster kindly gave us permission to put a case in the post-office free of rent, and there we open the library once a week. All are invited to draw books.

The greatest trouble we have is in getting people to read good books. Some of the "Club" girls even insist on reading all fiction and they ask for very light fiction.

LEBANON.

THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE LIBRARY OF LEBANON.

The following historical sketch was furnished by Josiah Morrow: The town of Lebanon had one of the first public libraries in the Miami valley outside of Cincinnati and Dayton. The Lebanon Library Society was chartered December 23, 1811, but it is believed that its library was in existence before the charter was obtained. The charter

members were John McLean, afterward Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Joshua Collett, afterward Judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio, and Dr. Joseph Canby, directors; Rev. William Robinson, of the Presbyterian church, librarian; and Silas Hurin, one of the original proprietors of the town, treasurer.

In his "Picture of Cincinnati," published in 1815, Dr. Daniel Drake speaks of a small but valuable collection of books at Lebanon. Some of these old books are to be found in the present library of the Mechanics' Institute, and if this first circulating library in a little village of log houses, which furnished mental pabulum for such boys as Tom Corwin, contained any works of fiction or of what would be called light literature, they cannot be found today. Among the earliest purchases appear to have been Gibbon's Decline and Fall in eight volumes, Russell's History of Modern Europe, with a continuation by Coote in six volumes, Marshall's Life of Washington, original edition in five volumes, Mosheim's Church History in six volumes, Locke's Essay Concerning the Human Understanding in three volumes, and Stephens's Wars in two volumes, all strongly bound in leather. The only rule or regulation of this old library society which can be found is the following written with a pen on the fly leaf of each volume, from which it would appear that books were intended to be kept out three months:

The Mechanics' Institute of Lebanon which succeeded to the ownership of the books of the older library society was organized as early as 1831, but it was not chartered until 1837. Its library was increased from time to time by purchases and by donations from leading men of Lebanon, until it contained many valuable works. Among its early purchases was Rees's Cyclopedia in forty-one quarto volumes, the largest work of the kind in the English language. This Mechanics' Institute became famous as a literary society, its weekly lectures and discussions in the town hall being attended by all the young men of literary tastes in the community. Among its active members were Thomas Corwin, Thomas R. Ross, Anthony Howard Dunlevy and Judge George J. Smith. At length the Institute ceased to hold public meetings and for some years preceding the civil war its library lay neglected in a law office.