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Record of Proceedings Relating to the Howell Free Public Library and Carnegie Library Building. Howell, Michigan Pages 070-071

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Howell Carnegie Library board minutes and ledger entries approved by the board.

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO THE HOWELL FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND CARNEGIE LIBRARY BUILDING

PERSONAL LETTER

WHAT IS SAID OF A FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY BY ONE OF HOWELL'S LEADING CITIZENS

(Published unknown)

Howell, Mich., March 26, '03

John F. Seeley, Charman Library Committee, Caro, Mich.:

Dear Sir- I am glad to note by your letter of yesterday that the enterprising people of Caro are about to take advantage of the act of May 24, 1877, and vote for a free public library, and I hope it will carry,
as it did here a year ago, by a vote almost three to one on the simple proposition, with no organized effort or agitation in its favor.
I have been greatly surprised since I discovered this law upon our statute books, compiled laws of '97, sections 3449 to 3460, that so few communities had availed themselves of its opportunties heretofore.
Only Tuesday night a country boy won in the oratorical contest here, by his own efforts, on 'The Monroe Doctrine', from personal research he had made from books I had loaned him, like
'Wharton's International Law Digest' and others, his composition being really worthy a place in any of our best magazines.
And for ten years the boys and girls in the country, for their debating schools, lyceums, farmers' clubs, high school contests, etc., have come to me hungry for material which ought to be at hand in every
county seat in the country.
The latent power undeveloped in this county, in Tuscola county, in every county, is surprising, and it only waits for proper opportunity and worthy suggestion, to awaken ? to proud results in arts, science,
literature, and culture a source of joy to parents, of pride to community of benefit to mankind and of comfort to our country, whose institutions so much depend upon general intelligence and virtue.
We, in Howell, feel proud of our prospective building, which will be completed by January next, at a cost of $9725 and $300 architect's fees, our architect being Col.E.E. Myers of Detroit, who built state
capitols of Michigan, Texas, Colorado and Illinois.
By application to Hon. Andrew Carnegie, New York, he set aside in a trust complany $10,000 for this building, our township board passing the required resolution to raise $1000 per year towards its
support after having voted upon the proposition a year ago as stated, and a fine site was donated by the McPherson Bros., not only for the libraray, but a whole block for a part, which latter will be
under the village control and expense.
The money is paid in $2000 installments as the work progresses, and we have just received our first installment.
This town meeting we elect a library board of six directors (Sec. 3459) who will have charge of its future, the township board having control of the erection of the building.
I have secured about a thousand valuable reports from the national departments which will be turned over to the library, and hope to receive full sets soon as possible from Lansing. Some of the government
reports are valuable and full sets can no longer be obtained.
One publishing house offers us 1,800 cloth bound books of standard authors for $270, and we hope soon to have a library of 10,000 volumes, free to all in our township, to take home and use, of the best things
in biography, history, travel and literature. I have several hundred bulletins on agricultural matters, all different, and of especial value to farmers.
More than this, I have drafted a law, which has passed, and awaits signature of the governor allowing adjoining townships to join with a township
already operating under this law, and by paying the same rate of tax to enjoy its benefits, thus making it wider in its scope of usefulness and lighter in its burden, also having a tendency to draw people to town
to its general good.
Under this law Almer, Ellington, Wells, and Fairgrove or Juniata, might in time enjoy your library free as the people of Indianfields and contribute also to its cost.
I am sorry I have not a cut of our building but it is to be of classical design 81 feet 6 inches long and about 70 feet deep in widest part, of hard-head rock or field stone, with a children's room, a general public
room, a gentleman's room in basement, and a stock room, etc.
In New England towns they celebrate the 50th or 100th anniversary of the organization of their libraries with crowds equal to our street fairs.
Fifty or a hundred years from now we shall not be here to enjoy our initiative, but those who come after us will bear in kind remembrance the enterprise of the fathers who looked ahead and
planted a tree, erected a public institution, or induced general co-operation for public and permanent good
The world's work is moving on in mighty strides, and even Michigan is in her infancy of development. Knowledge is power, and it can only raise the power of the aggregate in a community by
application upon the individual unit. The free access to good books for supplemental reading will have an effect upon the schools and the home which cannot but increase the desirability of
owning a house property near by.
Of course there are always some who fail at first to appreciate the need, but I am glad that here the wealthy were generally favorable to it, surprisingly so, and those who oppose progress in any
community live often to commend it finally.
Scruples as to acceptance of the gift were advanced by a few as being of the 'unearned increment' of labor, but this is for the benefit of all labor, and if it cannot get back all it earned, or the consumer paid in
over-profit, it is well to remember that 'Half a loaf is better than none, ' and that the law after favorable vote gives you the right to have the library, whether you accept the gift or no.
I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully yours,
W.H.S. Wood

Apr 6, 1903 Carried in Case by 86 Majority
Fred K Schleede Book Binder
340 S. State St.
Ann Arbor, Mich

Apr 7 1902
Suggestions for Guidance or formation of Library Board of Directors.

April 7 or 8. qualify by signing oath at Township Clerk, F.J. Holt's Office
April 8. Meet 7:30 p.m.
Possibly at W.P. VanWinkle's office
Adopt Rules. Organize.
1. A majority or four present constitute a quoum. Sec. 3453
2. Officers, A President and Secretary. Sec 3453, Term one year.
3. Regular meetings on _________
4. A full reccord shall be kept of those present and all actions taken.
5. A full record of 'vouchers authenticated' for payment by proper officers of township. Sec. 3453
6. A full record kept of all money received from any source or expended for any purpose.
7. A full record kept of (a) 'books purchased' (b) 'received by gift' or (c) 'otherwise', (d) 'on hand', (e) 'lost of missing', (f) 'loaned out' (g) general character and kind of same', (h) and 'number of visitors', and
(i) 'statistics, including information and suggestions', for annual report (in March) on which affidavit is required. Sec. 3455
8. 'No director shall receive compensation as such' Sec 3452
No 9
10. Rules as to injury of grounds, building or books. Sec 3456
11. Trustees of Donations. Sec 3457
12. On or before first Monday in September prepare estimates (continued)