GERMANTOWN.

GERMANTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The founding of the Germantown Public Library was the work of friends now living in Dayton, Ohio, but claiming Germantown as their childhood's home. Through the efforts of Hon. L. B. Robertson, of Dayton, and Dr. J. G. Robertson of the Germantown public school board, the work was accomplished. Donations of money, books, tables, chairs, cases, pictures and carpet were received, and the citizens were asked to furnish rooms in which to place them. This was done in June, 1888. The library was then placed in charge of the board of education. A tax amounting to $500 was levied. On a lot valued at $2,000, a temporary building was erected, about three years ago, with money furnished by friends. This is the present home of our library. It is a neat, cozy building, easily accessible, and surrounded with a fine large lawn. The people call it "Our Pride," and truly they may well be proud of it. ADELAID TAYLOR.

GLENDALE.

ALUMNAE LIBRARY OF GLENDALE COLLEGE.

The library was the gift of the Alumnae at the quarter-centennial celebration of the founding of Glendale College, 1879. It is kept up by voluntary contributions from each graduating class, and by a tax of $1.00 a term for each pupil enrolled during the year.

MARY POLTER, Librarian.

GRANVILLE.

DENISON UNIVERSITY LIBRARY.

The Denison University Library is a department of the University and accordingly was founded at the same time, 1831. The first 28 years. of its history was a period of exceedingly slow growth, in 1859 there being only 2,000 volumes in the library. The following year the library was greatly enlarged by the purchase of the library of the Fairmount Theological Seminary, raising the number of volumes to 6,100.

The growth from this time forward was slow until 1887, when the libraries of the literary societies of the University were consolidated with the general library. Since then the library has grown steadily and now contains 20,733 volumes and about 15,000 pamphlets.

Department libraries in Music and Literature are maintained at Shepardson College. The library of the Denison Scientific Association. containing many volumes and 15,000 scientific pamphlets is affiliated with the general library.

Until 1886 the librarians were members of the University faculty who took the work in addition to their regular duties. These professors who acted as librarians were in the order of their service A. U. Thresher, W. E. Stevens and Charles Chandler. In 1886 Mr. W. H. Cathcart, a student at the University, was made Librarian.

In 1887 Mrs. Zella Allen Dixson, now Associate Librarian of the University of Chicago, reorganized and classified the library by the Dewey system. The same year she was elected Librarian and served until 1890. She was succeeded by Prof. W. H. Johnson and the latter in turn succeeded in 1893 by the present Librarian, Rev. H. H. Tuttle. The first home of the library was a room in one of the buildings of the University. The present building, erected in 1878, was the gift of Dr. W. H. Doane of Cincinnati, and has for a number of years furnished a handsome and commodious home. It is now being rapidly outgrown and more room is needed.

GREENFIELD.

GREENFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY.

As Greenfield had no library or reading room of any kind, the local Woman's Christian Temperance Union felt that they could perhaps do some good by trying, in a small way, to meet the much felt need; so they opened a reading room, free to the public, and supplied it with all the leading periodicals of the day. This was kept up for some time, but patrons so frequently expressed a desire for literature to read in their homes, that we tried to get books by donation, book socials and entertainments. We have succeeded, as you will see by our report, in getting 258 volumes. They are not all just what we would wish, but there are a number of really good books in the little collection.

We have a room well suited to our purposes. It is large, well lighted and comfortable. In it are three tables, two dozen chairs, and shelves for the books. We aim to make patrons feel at home, and try to induce them to come often and stay as long as convenient.

MRS. E. J. PATTERSON.

*GREENVILLE.

FREE PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY.

Sometime prior to 1892, our library was started by Prof. F. Gillman Cromer, then Superintendent of our public schools. At first it was open only to the school children. Washington birthday entertainments were given and the money thus earned was used to keep up the library. It was then known as the Free School Library.

In 1892 the books were moved into the building they now occupy. Mr. McWhinnery donated the use of the building and the board of education furnished the rooms. A catalogue was printed about this time. The reference room is owned and furnished by Mr. Henry St. Clair. It is a very complete library in itself.

Miss Josie Ford, the first Librarian, was succeeded, at the expiration of her term, by Miss Callie Biltemeir, the present Librarian. ISABELLE M. ROSSER, Assistant Librarian.

HALLSVILLE.

HALLSVILLE SPECIAL DISTRICT LIBRARY.

The germ, which has developed into our excellent little library of to-day, was dropped into the very fertile, intellectual soil of this community, about twelve or fifteen years ago, by some agent, or organizer, whose name I have been unable to learn, but whatever motive urged onward his genius, be builded here "better than he knew;" as the various residents of this village bear willing testimony to the power for good exercised by that collection of books, whose stock has been added to from year to year.

The regulations of the early library and conditions of membership rather circumscribed its influence.

Interest waning somewhat among the members of the Association a proposition was made to make it a free public library on condition that a certain amount be contributed and invested in books, which were to become part of the new library.

This change being effected the library took on a new lease of life, and widely extended its sphere of influence.

The expense of new books, room rent and librarian's salary was met by voluntary contributions, the giving of entertainments, etc., and the people responded nobly to the calls for assistance, adding a few choice volumes from year to year until our library assumed very respectable proportions indeed.

Fearing that a library with such a precarious mode of existence might fall into a state of "innocuous desuetude" it was decided to offer

*See sketch of the new Carnegie Library of Greenville on a succeeding page.

the control of the books to the Board of Education of our Special District, one condition being that the books so transferred should remain open to the public, as far as this Special District was concerned.

The proposition was gladly accepted by the school authorities, and the two handsome book-cases and their more valuable contents were transferred to the school room, there to a greater degree than ever before to assist in the molding of character, and stimulating to nobler achieve

ments.

Such good taste had been shown in the collection of books that but little "weeding out" had to be done, and our library contains a good line of books for almost all grades of school.

Last winter, Mr. Edward L. Buchwalter, a former resident of this community, now residing in Springfield, Ohio, presented our library with $50.00 worth of excellent books and magazines. I feel safe in saying that very seldom is $50.00 put to more practical use and furnishes more solid enjoyment and improvement in mental culture than this splendid donation.

When the Circulating Library Department was organized and put in operation by the State Library Commission, our people were among the first to apply for a loan of books.

We certainly feel indebted to the officials having this in charge for the judicious selection of books, and courteous treatment. The benefit from this source has been invaluable.

While quite a number of noble men and women have aided in building our library and keeping it alive, to Mrs. K. B. Hosler more than to any other person are we indebted for the culture to be derived from a good library in the community.

More and better work is being done now in the line of reading than ever before. Four hundred books adorn our library shelves.

J. F. WARNER, Librarian.

HAMILTON.

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE LANE FREE LIBRARY.

The Public Library of Hamilton, Ohio, owes its existence to the generosity of Mr. Clark Lane, and has justly been styled the Lane Free Library. Mr. Lane furnished the ground and erected thereon the original library building, the front part of the present building, at his own expense. He furnished the building and equipped it with a collection of nearly two thousand volumes of standard works in all departments of literature. He also equipped it with the leading American and English newspapers and periodicals.

The building was begun in April, 1866, and was formally opened to the public October 20th of the same year. Until February, 1868, Mr.

Lane furnished the means to support the library and managed it, with the assitance of his niece, Miss Emma Lane.

On the 15th day of November, 1857, a committee consisting of Dr. Cyrus Falconer, S. E. Giffin, Ransford Smith, and Job E. Owens, on behalf of the citizens of Hamilton, presented a proposition from Mr. Lane to the City Council, offering to donate the Library to the City of Hamilton on condition that it should be operated and supported by the

City. The proposition was received by the Council and referred to a committee. This committee made several reports concerning the matter, and finally a special election was appointed to ascertain the wish of the citizens.

At this election 712 votes were cast, 446 of them in favor of accepting Mr. Lane's proposition. Immediately after the election the City Council appointed a committee to draft and forward to the State Legislature a bill authorizing the Council to accept Mr. Lane's donation, appoint trustees, adopt rules and regulations, and levy taxes to maintain the library and increase it from time to time. This bill was duly pre