Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1899 — A County Library. [ARTICLE]

A County Library.

The movement to establish a large public library at Rensselaer is now being pushed vigorously. The committee appointed to prepare a plan of organization, Messrs. Chiloote. Thompson and Mills, has done its work; and now the executive committee, L. H. Hamilton, Maude Spitler, D. B. Nowels, Amanda W. Warren and S. P. Thompson are solicting subscriptions for stock It is proposed to issue not less than 100 shares of stock of $5 each, and when this many are subscrib for, the articles of association will be recorded. The name of the institution is to be “The Jasper Library.” It is proposed to ask the county commissioners to give the library quarters in any unoccupied rooms in tbe court house. The revenues of the library shall be derived from the sale of stock, the collection of penalties, donations, appropriations by the Board of Commissioners or the Circuit Court, from taxes levied by the township, county or city. The books and property of the Association may be procured by purchase, assignment by law, or by loan or gift from authors, publishers or friends of the library. - The books owned by the library shall be law books and publications by state and national authority, reference books and all books loaned to the library, books owned by the library for free circulation. The library may also subscribe for newspapers and periodicals. The library is intended to include the circuit court, county, township and city libraries, and in due.time haveconnected a museum, gallery of art, reading room, lectures, night schools and gymnasium. Every inhabitant of the city of Renssehter, and township of Marion or county of Jasper, shall have free use of the library by observing the By-Laws of the Association and may, by giving proper security, have the loan of any book in the circulating library for such period as the By-Laws may prescribe.