The library room is elegantly furnished, well lighted, and it makes an attractive and pleasant resort, free to all. It is a pleasure and delight. With 5,000 volumes of splendid books, selected with care, it is an attraction to our town which is appreciated. It is a mine to the youth from which can be taken wealth of which they cannot be robbed, and is a satisfaction to those of maturer years which cannot be overestimated. Under date of September 25, 1900, Mrs. A. J. Emory writes as follows in regard to the founding and management of the California Free Library: A year ago last April, four women met and organized what is called the Wednesday Afternoon Club. Our object was to read and talk together for mutual improvement. The one great object we had in view was the establishment of a free library in our town. We resolved ourselves into a committee to solicit subscriptions and donations of books. We gave entertainments and suppers; we left no means untried to raise money sufficient to purchase a library. I was librarian during the first six months; 600 books were loaned out in that time. Our library is controlled by the ladies of our Literary Society, which now numbers sixteen. Mrs. Dr. Dixon is the present librarian, and keeps the books in one room of her home. We have 251 books and 88 pamphlets. Our little collection is well chosen and represents some of the best American and English authors. We feel the need of more books and expect to make additional purchases soon. Our town numbers only two hundred inhabitants. Ours is the first library in this part of the State outside of county seats, and we feel justly proud of what we have accomplished. CANFIELD. NORTH-EASTERN OHIO NORMAL COLLEGE LIBRARY. The library, which is an important factor in any college, is an especially emphatic feature in the N. E. O. N. C. 7 S. OF O. L. The library room is situated along the eastern side of our college building and is a large, light, airy apartment well stocked with the latest papers and periodicals, arranged in systematic order on the tables, around which chairs are placed for the comfort of those desiring to do reference work in the room. The room is lined with cases in which the books are kept, and one can find an extensive line of history, philosophy, science, music, fiction, poetry, and general miscellaneous works. The library is open, under the care of one of the librarians, every afternoon of the school week, and all students of the N. E. O. N. C. are granted the use of its books and papers, and great encouragement is given to all to make use of the opportunities and privileges thus placed within their reach of delving deep into the mysteries of science, or communing with great minds thro' the broad avenue of books. NELLIE MAE WHITNEY, N. E. O. N. C. Librarian. CARDINGTON. PUBLIC LIBRARY. The history of the Ladies' Public Library Association of Cardington, is a history of struggle and determination. It was organized by nine women, March 23, 1878, under the name of the Library Fund Society. By great effort these women were able to purchase fifty dollars' worth of books, December, 1878. In March, 1879, the society reorganized under the name of the Ladies' Public Library Association, with the following officers and members: A room for library use was donated to them by Mr. Jacob Kreis, and it was at once opened for the rent and and loan of books. In November, 1879, Major W. G. Beatty donated the library a book case and 105 books; and the close of 1879 found the Library Association established with a library room, a book case and 247 books. There is one feature in the history of the library at Cardington that possibly no other library in the state possesses; that is, it was organized by women and has always been controlled and directed by them; and no officer or member has ever received any recompense for help or time given. It has been supported entirely by the money received from membership dues, the sale of tickets, rents and fines, and entertainments, and if it had not been for the determination, tact, and financial ability of these women the library could never have lived through the struggle of its infancy. Mrs. W. G. Beatty was President from March, 1879, till 1896, and for eighteen years gave to the duties of the position all the force of her ability and intelligence, and to her much of the success of the library is due. From the organization of the society in March, 1878, Mrs. Ella M. Watson was its faithful librarian. For twelve years she was always found at her place, faithful to her duties, until November, 1890, she was called to lay them aside and to open the book of Eternal Life. The duties of librarian were then taken up by Mrs. D. A. Stark, who until January, 1900, faithfully and earnestly worked for the best interest of the Association. Mrs. Geo. O. Brown was, for a number years, treasurer. She was an ambitious and enthusiastic worker and so great was her love for the library that we found when she was taken from us, that she had even planned for the future and had bequeathed to the Association one hundred dollars. In 1895 the Donovan Bro's kindly offered to the Library Association the use of the room over their grocery, free of charge, so long as they had the renting of the building. The offer was very gratefully accepted, and for five years the library has been pleasantly situated there. In 1898, the Ladies' Public Library Association became an incorporated body. Twenty-two years have passed since the library with one book case and 247 books opened its doors to the public. Now it has six book cases. and nearly 1,500 books. The years have been years of struggle, often of disappointment and anxiety, but the members are bravely working, and looking forward hopefully to the time when some benevolent, publicminded citizen will make it possible to have a free public library and readSuch was the hope in the past when it was organized, and such is the hope of the present. Only one of the original members of the Association is now connected with it, Mrs. T. H. Ensign, a woman to whom the interests of the library are very dear, especially as she has watched its growth from the small beginning to the present time. The present members hold in love and reverence the work and memory of these pioncers, and earnestly desire to be as brave and successful in the present and future, as they were in the past. LIBRARY OF THE HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF OHIO. The Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio was incorporated. by an act of the legislature passed February 11, 1831, making Columbus, Ohio, the place of meeting for the Society. On the evening of December 21, 1831, Ebenezer Lane, J. C. Wright, Gustavus Swan, Arius Nye and J. P. Kirtland, met for organization at the Court House in Columbus. Gustavus Swan acted as Chairman, and Arius Nye as Secretary. A resolution was adopted that Jeremiah Morrow, Ethan A. Brown, Benjamin A. Ruggles, David K. Este, Edward King, John M. Goodenow, Philemon Beecher, Ralph Granger, and Thomas H. Genine, the persons named in an earlier act of February 1, 1822, to incorporate the Historical Society of Ohio, be admitted to membership in the new society. On the same evening twenty-three other members were admitted. A committee was then appointed to prepare a code of by-laws, to report at the next meeting, December 31, 1831, when the Society was formally organized, by-laws adopted and officers elected to serve for the ensuing year. For eighteen years the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, so begun, met in Columbus. Those most constant in attendance at its early meetings were, Benjamin Tappan, who was first president, P. B. Wilcox, first Secretary, J. C. Wright, Ebenezer Lane and Arius Nye. As the members came from all parts of the State of Ohio, full attendance at meetings is not often recorded in the minutes, and few meetings apparently were held except the annual meetings in December. Yet, from the early minutes it is plain that much zeal was shown towards establishing local historical associations throughout the state, for the purpose |