Monroe County, Wisconsin - Chapter 38: Tomaii Public Library, 1912

Like the beginning of most institutions of this character, the Tomah Library was instituted through the efiforts of a few citizens, who believed that such an institution was necessary. Mrs. S. D. Palmer called to her assistance several ladies of the city and in the summer of 1881 organized what was known as the Tomah Library Association ; these ladies gave an entertainment, the proceeds of which were used to purchase the first books of the library, and these w^ere afterwards supplemented by the gifts of various citizens. The books were at first kept in the photograph gallery of the late E. N. Palmer, Avhere they remained for about a year. Later the citizens gave to the Library Association the use of a room in the city hall, where it was housed and where it remained for a great many years.

Soon after the library moved into the city building the city appropriated $100 per annum for the purchase of books, and at about this time rules and regulations were drawn by Judge George Graham and an annual fee of $1 w^as charged for the use of the books, which fund was used for the purchase of books.

The first librarians were Mrs. S. D. Palmer, !Mrs. John Boorman, ]Mrs. Ida Vincent and INIrs. Rockw^ood, all of whom served faithfully and long without any remuneration, the latter up to July, 1902. Some years prior to this it was turned over to the city and became a municipal institution and. was controlled by a board of trustees, three in number, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the common council, and became known as the V Tomah City Library."

In July. 1902, a change of librarians brought about the reorganization of the institution under the state law% and on December 18, 1902. the board of trustees met in the council chamber of the city hall in response to the call of ]\Irs. F. S. Barrows ; three additional members, bringing the board to the legal number, having been appointed by the Hon. W. E. Nuzum, then mayor of the city, it was found necessary to adopt by-laws bringing the library into harmony with the state laws governing public libraries.

rows, ]\Irs. P>nnk Fietin^, ]\[rs. John King, Rev. Father AVurst, Dr. A. R. Bell. :\Irs. ('. 11. Maxon. :\Ir. A. S. Goodyear and by invitation ]\liss Cornelia ]\Iarvin, of the State Library Commission, Avho presented a set of by-laws, whieh, with minor changes, were adopted. The election of olficers was then declared in order following: Rev. Father AViirst, president; I\Irs. F. S. Barrows, vice president, and Mrs. John Fieting, secretary. The action of the former board as to the appointment of Caroline AY. B. Voswinkel as librarian was confirmed and the purchase of supplies necessary to inaugurate to the new system of changing books, cataloging, etc., was authorized. All the books were called in and the library closed to the public during the reorganization whii-h occupied a period of about two weeks.

The librarian was assisted in the work of reorganization which was under the supervision of Miss Marvin, of the State Library Commission, and by j\Iiss Reilly, of Madison. After the completion of the reorganization the library was thrown open to the public on January 2, 1903, Avitli 793 books on the shelves, with a registry of 105. The library continued to be housed in the council cliamber of the city hall until December, 1903. when through the efforts of the mayor, Hon. AY. E. Nuzum, the "Whitfield" property on Superior avenue was purchased and the library moved into its present quarters. The growth since 1902 has been steady, the days and hours of opening having been gradually extended from twice a Aveek to daily opening; this last commencing November, 1911. The actual number of its borrowers is fully one-third, if not more of the population of the city. At the last annual report dated June 30, 1911, the number of volumes in the library was 3,733 and is now approximately 4,000 volumes, and circulation for the year June 30, 1910, to July 1. 1911. was 19,688.

The liln-ary is supported by the city and receives an ajipropriation l)eginning with the current year of $1,200, apportioned approximately as follows: One-third for books and periodicals, one-third for the librarian's salary, and one-third for current expenses. The city of Tomah Avill in a short time liave a fine new library building, undoubtedly located on the site of the present occupancy, a gift from the estate of Dr. Ernest R. Buckley, a former resident of Tomah and a graduate of the Tomah High School, who acquired considerable prominence as an expert geologist and having in mind, undoubtedly, the v\-elfare of his home town, made provision in his will for the building of a library building to be presented to the city of Tomah.