Jersey County, Illinois - Chapter 32: Libraries, 1919

Shown First Library

The first public library at Jerseyville was started when an ordi¬ nance was passed by the city council on October 2, 1894, appropriating funds to maintain a city library. In order to establish the enterprise, Senator T. S. Chapman donated the rent of the library for three years. The library was opened May 15, 1895, with 2,865 volumes, and 760 government reports, making a total of 3,623. About 300 volumes were in constant use. Visitors to the library averaged 2,000 a month.

First Board Of Directors

The first board of directors was composed of the following: Wallace Leigh, president ; J. J. Wiseman, vice president ; and Edward J. Vaughn, Joshua Pike, Nelle Bowman, Harry R. Gladhill, Allen M. Slaten, T. W. Butler, and Capt. N. Buesen, trustees. Miss Edna L. Curtis was secretary and librarian. This library was continued, with increas¬ ing patronage, in the room where it was first instituted, and later in the second story of the Vandevoort building, until other plans were completed.

Carnegie Library

In 1902, through the efforts of George D. Locke, mayor of Jersey¬ ville; Dr. Harry R. Gladhill, also of Jerseyville, and Hon. Charles S. Strong of New York City, .$12,000 was secured from the Carnegie Library Fund, to construct a library building in the city of Jersey- ville for a public library. This building was erected and ready for occupancy, July 15, 1905, at a cost of $11,989.02, leaving a balance of $10.98 of the original $12,000 fund unexpended. The building is one of the neatest, and most complete library rooms in this part of Illinois. Donations of books and other matter were given to the library. The book stacks are the latest and most complete in use, and the furnishings and furniture of the library, consisting of tables, chairs, desks, etc., are of the most modern kind. Miss Edna L. Curtis was the first librarian, and she, with the assistance of Miss Jane Shackelford and Frances Bowman, worked very zealously for several weeks arranging, and cataloging the library for removal to the Carnegie Library build¬ ing. On July 30, 1903, the new building was dedicated, and that evening it was thrown open to, and the public invited to be present.

The librarians from the opening of the library building to the present time have been as follows : Miss Edna L. Curtis, Miss Catherine Brown¬ lee, and Mrs. Rose Wedding, who is the present very efficient librarian.

Interest Shown

The interest shown in this library is dealt with in this annual report, as the following proves : At the beginning of the year, ending April 30, 1918, there were in the library, 6,360 volumes, to which during the year there; were added 181 volumes. Forty-three newspapers and periodicals were currently received. At the beginning of the year there were registered 1,278 borrowers, to which were added during the year, 283 additional ones. The cards in force on April 30, 1918, were 1,569, of which nine were from the rural districts. The fee for non¬ residents is one dollar. The population of Jersey ville, as given by the census of 1910, is 4,113. The total circulation of the library during the year ending April 30, 1918, was, adults, 9,913, children, 4,181, total, 14,094. Of this, the adults took out 9,093 in fiction, and the children, 3,679 in fiction. The largest daily circulation was 151 volumes, the smallest was twelve, making an average circulation of forty-six volumes per day. The hours open each week, forty-eight during nine months, and forty-two during the remaining three months. The number of days that the library was open during this year above referred to were 300.