Record of Proceedings Relating to the Howell Free Public Library and Carnegie Library Building. Howell, Michigan Pages 006-007

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

April 1902
It was understood that the Howell Ladies LIbrary and Howell Ladies clerk favored the idea and to received the voters of the coming vote thereon,
W.H.S. Wood pasted on posts and buildings & on April 5th, the following slip.
The ticket was as follows (Copy of ballot)
Vote on the Proposition for One Mill Tax for Free Public Library
For a one mill tax for a Free Public Library [ ] YES
For a one mill tax for a Free Public Library [ ] NO

Printed at the Livingston Democrat Office.
The Election Notice also appeared in the Livingston Democrat & Republican.
Justice David D. Harger, also, Deputy Township Clerk, posted the notices in six places in the township and filed his affidavit thereof.

Later W. H. S. Wood wrote Mr. Carnegie asking for $15,000 in order to get a better building owning to high prices of labor and material this
year.
Ives and Whitefield New York architechs wrote as early as Jan 17, 1902 in relation to designs but in July their schedule offers were
received and considered too high for a building of this size and cost.

Below April 1902: The Legal Information Quarterly published by W.H. S. Wood contained the following.

LEGAL INFORMATION QUARTERLY VOL.3, NO. 1, APRIL 1902

A Free Public Library for Howell
We ought to have it for our children, to promote culture, give people better opportunities for original research to given workingmen a better
chance to use their evenings to profit to benefit the town for the ladies and other societies for the boys and the lyceums for the farmers and their
clubs for the schools and their pupils for the parents and the home. The chance is referred to the people. The opportunity to vote 'yes: on town
meeting day should not be neglected it may be the awakening of our people to better things. The train of progress is passing. Shall we get on
or go under?
New York, Jan 9, 1902
W. H.S. Wood, Esq. Howell, Mich.
Dear Sir: Responding to your letters: If the City of Howell will pledge itself by resolution of Councils to support a Free Llibrary at cost of not less
than a thousand dollars a year, and will provide a suitable site, Mr. Carnegie will be glad to furnish ten thousand dollars for a Free Public LIbary
Building.
Respectfully yours,
Jas. Bertram
Private Secretary
160 Fifth Ave., New York.
January 17, 1902
Ives & Whitefield, Architects
In re: Howell Library
W.H.S. Wood, Esq., Howell, Michg.
Dear Sir:
Through the courtesy of Mr. Bertram, we are informed that Mr. Carnegie has recently given the sum of ten thousand dollars for the purpose of erecting a
suitable library building at Howell. We shall be pleased to have you consider us in connection with the preparation of the designs and take pleasure in
referring you to Mr. Bertram.
Yours very truly,
IVES & WHITEFIELD

We clip the following from the Livingston Republican of Jan 22:
'As published in the Republican last week, Carnegie has offered to give the Village of Howell $10,000 for a free library on certain conditions. The
question now is, shall the requirements be met? If the people want a free library the law provides the way of procedure. Below we give the law:
'Section 3458. When fifty voters of any incorporated village or township shall present a petition to the clerk of the village or township, asking that a
tax may be levied for the establishment of a free public library, in such village or township, and shall specify in their petition a rate of taxation, not to exceed one mill on the dollar
, such clerk shall, in the next legal notice of the regular annual election in such village or township, give notice that at such election every voter
may vote 'for a mill tax, for a free public library' specifying in such notice the rate of taxation mentioned in such petition and if the majority of all the votes cast
in such village or township shall be for the tax for a free public library, the tax specified in such notice shall be levied and collected in the manner
with other general taxes of said village or township, and shall be known as the 'library fund,' and when such free public library shall have been
established and a board of directors elected and qualified, as hereinafter provided, it shall be the duty of such board of directors on or before the
first Monday of September in each year, to prepare an estimate of the amount of money necessary for the support and maintenance of such
library for the ensuing year, not exceeding one mill on the dollar of the taxable property of such village or township, and report such estimate to the
assessor of such village or the supervisor of the township, for assessment and collection, the same as other village or township taxes, and the
same shall be assessed and collected, and the corporate authorities of any such village or townships may exercise the same powers conferred upon
the corporate authorities of cities under this act.

'Section 3459. At the next regular election after any village or township shall have voted to establish a free public library there shall be elected a library
board of six directors -one-third for one year, one-third for two years, and one-third for three years and annually therafter there shall be elected two directors
who shall hold their office for three years, and until their successors are elected and qualified which board shall have the same powers as are by
this act conferred upon the board of directors of free public libraries in cities'.

It will be seen that the first year only is the tax a one mill tax after that it depends upon estimates within the one mill tax, and probably 2-5 of a mill tax would be enough
after the first year, or 3-5 at most. It is to be a free circulating library. It will call people here from surrounding towns. Perhaps they can be
induced by special legislation to join with us. The necessary petition signed by many of our heaviest taxpayers has been filed. The steps
are taken, voters it lays with you. Don't forget to vote FOR the proposition.

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1902

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