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.

In 1863, William D. Henkle, then superintendent of the Lebanon public schools, reorganized the society and the town council granted it. the free use of the second floor of the town hall for its library, reading room, lectures and discussions. This reading room was well supplied with the best periodical literature of the time. In 1874 the old town hall was entirely destroyed by fire and with it a part of the library. On the completion of the new public hall, popularly called the Lebanon Opera House, the town authorities gave the Institute quarters on the first floor, where its library and reading room are now comfortably located. The library is not strictly a free public library as only those who hold membership tickets are permitted to take out books, the annual membership fee being one dollar. The use of the books for reference and of the reading room is free to all, and free access to the shelves is granted.

The library has been extensively used in recent years and has proved of incalculable benefit to the community. The pupils of the higher departments of the public schools are frequent visitors at the library where they learn the proper use of works of reference and obtain books for home reading, and to them the library is of priceless value.

LISBON.

LEPPER LIBRARY.

The Lepper Library at Lisbon, Ohio, was founded in 1897, by Mrs. Virginia Lepper, in memory of her husband, Charles W. Lepper, deceased. Substantial contributions were also made by citizens and former residents of Lisbon. Of the latter Senator M. A. Hanna of Cleveland and General Anson G. McCook of New York deserve special mention for, their generous contributions.

The title to the library property is in The Lepper Library Association, a corporation managed by seven trustees. The trustees and officers are as follows: N. B. Billingsley, President; I. P. Farmer, Vice President; C. C. Connell, Secretary; S. J. Firestone, Treasurer; R. W. Tayler, I. B. Cameron, and W. S. Potts.

The reading room, including reference books and periodicals, is free. For the privilege of borrowing the books from the library an annual fee of one dollar is charged.

This brief sketch is supplemented with the last annual report of the librarian.

To the Board of Trustees of the Lepper Library

GENTLEMEN: For convenience and with permission of the president of the board of trustees this, my second report of the Lepper Library covers a period of thirteen months and five days, being made out to the 30th of June, so that in. the future the year will begin the 1st of each July instead of the 26th of May.

At the end of the first year, May 25, 1899, there were in the library 3,315 books; during the year 251 have been added, 57 by purchase and 194 by donation, making the total number of books in the library June 30, 1900, 3,566. Of these 2,836 are in the circulating department and 730 on reference shelves.

The magazines are not included in the above list. Of them the number received was 391, all beind donated but the Outlook. The Outlook is not now on the list. Mrs. Lepper presented to the library an eighteen inch globe, making a valuable addition. Miss Roper gave a number of Perry Pictures, and through the effort of F. M. Benner, the bones of a mastodon, found within the borough limits when excavations were being made for the building of a bridge across the creek at the Wellsville road, were given to the library.

The number of books drawn from May 25, 1899 to July 1, 1900, were of adult fiction 5,052, a juvenile fiction 1,247, biography 266, history 874, literature 754, fine arts 32, useful arts 60, natural science 127, philology 5, sociology 81, religion 54, philosophy 32, general works 1. In all 8,585.

There were drawn the first year 7,819 books, in the second 12 months, 7,939, an increase of 120.

The number of members at the end of the first year was 224, the number June 30, 1090, was 175. While the decrease in members is discouraging, there is partial compensation in the total number of books drawn. Of the members 5 held cards for three months and two for six months.

The donors of books were Mrs. Lepper, Miss Roper, Mrs. F. A. Blocksom, Jr., I. P. Farmer, R. B. Pritchard, W. H. Van Fossan, and the United States Govern

ment.

The donors of periodicals were Miss Nichols, N. B. Billingsley, S. P. Bailey, A. G. Smith, F. Duncan, Publishers of Christian Science works and The United States Government.

Respectfully submitted,

Lisbon, Ohio, July 2, 1900.

M. P. SPRINGER, Librarian.