Germany, has bequeathed his really valuable library of five thousand volumes. John Wms. White, Ph. D., Professor of Greek in Harvard, of the class of 1868, purchased abroad a library of two thousand volumes, which constitutes a working library for the Greek Seminar. The Latin Seminar has also a fine beginning. When our Seminar rooms, of which there are II, are supplied with a working library, we shall have facilities for special work second to no college library in the middle west. When we moved into the new building two years ago, there were 19,300 volumes on our shelves in the general library, and 5,570 volumes in the several department libraries, making a total of 24,870 volumes. While the library was being built, and largely because of the interest this fact stimulated, books numbering nearly 7,000 volumes were received. Among these additions were many of the most valuable books now on our shelves. During the first year in the new building, 1898-99, there were 811 accessions, and during the college year 1899-00, 3,427 volumes were added, making the total number in the library 35,108. In the last three years, therefore, 11,000 volumes have been added to our library, and they constitute in important respects our real wealth of books. Statistics of the use of the library give some hint of the great service the library is rendering in the work of the college. During the first year in the new building, the increase in the number of books issued was astonishing the circulation during the third term being just three times as large as that of the first term. Last year 2,900 more books were issued than the year before—a gain of forty per cent. Now that our new card-catalogue is far enough along to be of service, we expect a larger increase in circulation during the present year. There are many bright prospects before us in our future as a college, but none are more immediate or more sure than the prospect of a wellstocked library, keeping pace with our growing needs. TRUMBULL G. DUVALL, Librarian. EAST LIVERPOOL. CARNEGIE LIBRARY AT EAST LIVERPOOL. In 1899 G. Y, Travis, Esq., one of East Liverpool's attorneys, agitated the question of asking Mr. Carnegie to donate a library for our home city. Knowing that Mr. Carnegie had spent a short period of his earlier days in this city and also that he had relatives living here, Mr. Travis quietly wrote Mr. Carnegie making the above request, and a short time after was really surprised by receiving a reply stating that "if the city would furnish a site on which to erect a building and would guarantee $3,000 per year to maintain a library, he would furnish $50,000 for 13 s. o. L. a building." The matter was immediately brought to the attention of the citizens and city council and the need of such an institution in our growing city of almost 20,000 population. As a test of the desire of the citizens as to whether the city should accept Mr. Carnegie's proposition the council advised an election which resulted in the city authorizing the purchase of a $20,000 site, the property of the Bradshaw heirs, at the corner of Broadway and Fourth streets (centrally located) and $3,000 a year to maintain the institution. The city council then appointed a Library Commission, which consists of George Peach, President; J. H. Brooks, Esq., Secretary, and Hon. Dr. G. P. Ikirt, G. Y. Travis, Esq., Prof. W. L. Thompson and W. L. Smith. Plans were asked for and those of architect A. W. Scott of this city were selected. The contract for building was let and work started in October, 1900. The selection of the plans was made with accommodation and utility as well as monumental ornamentation the principal motives, and the building is practically two and one-half stories in height. The basement, which is subdivided into toilet rooms, heater and fuel rooms, electric dynamo rooms, waiting and cataloguing rooms, is constructed of Berea cut stone of Roman architecture. The stories of the exterior are constructed of a beautiful speckled pink Roman brick, laid in white mortar, while all openings are cased with vitreous white terra cotta architraves. The main cornice and ornamentations are of the same material, while the roof coverings are of vitreous red tile and copper, and the domes covered with golden glazed vitreous tile, surmounted with copper pedestal and statue of Mercury in copper. The main or first floor of the building is designed entirely on the principal of utility and economy; while it is one of the largest of the $50,000 libraries of Mr. Carnegie's gifts, it is equally as commodious. In the main building on the first floor are two large reading rooms 31 x 45 feet, with a spacious lobby between, or in the center, 26 x 31 feet, and immediately in the rear is a large circular one story book stack room 36 x 72 feet, with sufficient capacity for 35,000 volumes. The Librarian's desk is located immediately at the rear end of the lobby with registering turnstiles on either side through which patrons will pass to enter reading rooms. From the librarian's desk can be observed every point in the building, the entrance and exit of every person entering the building, or their going to or from the basement or second floor, each of which is provided with two ornamental black polished iron stairways; and through the open court to second floor the librarian can be seen or communicated with from above, and plate glass partitions will permit the librarian to have full view of all parts of the building. The second floor is divided much the same as the first floor, with a large open court in the hall floor, surrounded with an ornamental white enameled iron and polished oak railing with opening surmounted with plastic finish in Italian. On this floor will be a room for special scien tific studies, directors' room, art and practical science. The main building covers an area of 45 x 91 feet, with 36 x 72 feet circular annex. It has four entrances, one in rear of stack room, one at either end of basement and the main front entrance which is constructed of best quality Cleveland stone, having broad platforms and easy approach 32 feet wide, of stone, while the other entrances are of stone and of similar design. The interior finish will be of the best material and workmanship. Vestibule, lobby and second floor hall will have vitreous white tile and Italian marble wainscoting, while all other rooms including basement will have vitreous tile floors; other rooms will have cement plaster in sand finish and marblethic wainscoting. All interior wood work exposed will be of hand polished quarter sawed white oak. The floors of entire building are strictly fire-proof, constructed entirely of iron, cement and tile. The stack room will be provided with the latest design and patent copper bronze finish book stacks for present use of about 17,000 volumes. This room will also be provided with cloak rooms and lavatories. Reading rooms will each contain quaint old fire places, constructed of arch Roman brick with architraves and stone mantel; these rooms will also contain niches here and there in the walls, properly arranged and finished to contain statuary and busts of noted authors, and it is the wish to have the statue of the donor of the building in the most honored position above the fireplace. The ceilings of the building throughout will be finished in plastic designs and together with the walls frescoed in the most delicate and tastefully arranged tints. The building will be heated with two hot water boilers and provided with automatic hot water heaters for supplying lavatories. It will also be provided with electric and natural gas light with the best quality antique brass finish fixtures. It will be supplied with polished oak reading tables, chairs and settees upholstered with tufted leather. The entire lot on which building stands, will be surrounded with low, heavy cut stone coping. Around the building will be concrete walks properly arranged, while the lawn will contain a large electric fountain and shade trees, tastefully arranged. The entire building and its approaches occupy a square of more than 110 feet and is considered by contractors from many of the large cities who figured and bid on the building, to be the largest and best building for the money they have ever seen put up. The total cost of all complete as described above will not exceed the $50,000, as graciously donated by Mr. Andrew Carnegie, and the city is highly pleased with the entire conditions. Note. The foregoing sketch was furnished by the trustees. FREMONT. BIRCHARD LIBRARY. The purpose of Sardis Birchard, to provide for the establishment of a free public library in Fremont, was made known at a meeting of interested parties in the office of the mayor of the city, July 4, 1873. Governor Rutherford B. Hayes, at whose instance the meeting was called, said that Sardis Birchard contemplated setting aside a amounting to about $50,000, in real estate and cash, the proceeds of which are to be used for the establishment and support of a free library for the benefit of Fremont and Sandusky County, and that in furtherance of these ends he had selected the following gentlemen to act as a Board of Trustees: R. B. Hayes, R. P. Buckland, L. Q. Rawson, E. Bushnell, J. W. Wilson, William E. Haynes, Thomas Stilwell, the Mayor of the city and the Superintendent of the Public Schools. On the 10th of July, 1873, the following memorial was laid before the city council: To the Council of Fremont: The undersigned, citizens of Fremont, respect fully represent that Sardis Birchard, of said city, has conveyed real estate and other property of the value of $50,000 in trust to establish in Fremont a library and gallery for paintings, pioneer, Indian and war relics, and other objects of interest for the free use of the people of Sandusky county, and that your memorialists have been appointed, and have accepted the appointment to carry out this trust. We also represent that in our judgment the northwestern part of the site of Fort Stephenson, now owned by Lewis Leppelman, is a fit and apropriate place to erect the Birchard Library Building, and that the remainder of the ground formerly occupied by Fort Stephenson ought also to be owned by the City of Fremont, for a park or other public uses. Your memorialists therefore propose that if the City of Fremont purchase the site of Fort Stephenson for a park, or other public purpose, the undersigned trustees of the Birchard Library will pay $5,000 of the purchase money in consideration of the right to occupy the northwestern part of said ground with the said library, and thus the whole of the site of the old Fort, made famous by the heroism of Colonel Croghan and his gallant comrades, will be forever preserved as public property for the general benefit of the people of Fremont. WM. E. HAYNES, The Fremont Messenger of January 29, 1874, published the following article relative to the death of Mr. Birchard and his gifts to the city of Fremont: Last week we published the death of Sardis Birchard, one of the earliest settlers of Fremont, honored and respected by all our citizens. The munificent gifts of Mr. B. to the people of Fremont are well known to all. His deeds shall live, and many generations yet unborn will speak in praise of Fremont's benefactor. About three years since, Mr. Birchard presented the city of Fremont the large park lying between Birchard avenue and Croghan street, and a small triangular park at the parting of Birchard and Buckland avenues. In 1873 he set apart property amounting to $50,000, for the purpose of establishing a public library in Fremont. He appointed a board of trustees to take charge of the same, and provided for the continuance of the board. The corner-stone of the library building was laid July 18, 1878. In his address on that occasion Rev. E. Bushnell said: I wish personally to take this occasion to say that the bequests for this library were born in Mr. Birchard's heart, of the most kindly consideration for the people of Fremont and of Sandusky county. I know whereof I speak, for this is not a mere inference. He first determined to devote a liberal sum of money to some public benefit which all might have opportunity to enjoy. As to the special form of it he took counsel and what he said to others I do not particularly know, but he repeatedly expressed to me, in this connection, his kindly feeling toward all in the community. Mr. Birchard esteemed it appropriate to devote about onefifth of his property to the use and benefit of the community. The conception of this bequest looks to permanence. The funds are to be administered on a plan which contemplates intellectual benefits and moral benefits. The trustees selected by Mr. Birchard were his own personal friends. It is to be hoped that perpetually, they who may be called upon to administer the affairs of the library may be animated by the same broad, benevolent sentiments for which Mr. Birchard was noted. This benefaction of our departed friend is capable of abuse, as are all earthly good things; but is designed to promote intelligence, sound principles, good will, and virtue of the highest description. |