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The City of DuBois
Chapter 40
Page 188
Page 188 PUBLIC LIBRARIES
needing the room for public purposes, the library was crowded out.
The Y.M.C.A. then asked them to place the library in the rooms of
the Young Men's Christian Association of DuBois. However, little
interest was taken by the Association toward the distribution of the
books.
In 1917 the Legislature of Pennsylvania passed an Act
authorizing municipalities in the State to establish non-sectarian
free public libraries to be supported by taxation. In order to
secure a library it was necessary for 2% of the electors of the City
to present a petition to the municipal council, and when that
petition was presented the Council was required to hold a public
election at the next annual election to submit to the electors the
adoption of the plan and for the levying of a tax not exceeding two
mills.
The friends of the public library had kept the library
spirit alive and when this Act was passed in 1919 the required
petition was presented to the City Council and the election was held
in November of that year.
The vote showed an overwhelming majority in favor of
the library. After receiving the report of the election, the Council
immediately passed an ordinance establishing "a free non-sectarian
public library" and levied a tax for the coming year of two mills
for its maintenance. The Council likewise fixed the number of
Directors at seven, which directorate was appointed by the Council.
The first Board of Directors appointed were: George A. Law, Fred
Loeb, T. T. Allen, J. R. Osborn, H. A. Vosburg, J. I. Brockbank and
W. C. Pentz.
This new toy was tossed into the laps of this Board of
Directors who knew nothing about a library or library work. Three
problems confronted them. First, there were no books; second, if
there were books, there was no place to house them; and third, even
if they had a place and the books how should this affair be managed.
These gentlemen belonged to the class of people who
never say fail, and while they knew nothing about what should be
done, they believed that there was some source from which
information could be obtained and they took the matter up with the
State Library at Harrisburg, who sent Miss Anna McDonald, the
Director of the Extension Work of the State Library, to DuBois to
meet the Board. Miss McDonald's first suggestion was the employment
of a competent librarian to take charge of the work. The question of
furnishing a library building and the books to be purchased were not
within her sphere, but she suggested that when the librarian was
secured the selections of books should be left to her. The Board of
Directors desired to open a library as early as possible. At this
time all of the buildings in the city were rented and it seemed
impossible to get a room in a business location large enough to take
care of a library. Arrangements were made with Mrs. Sparks for the
first floor of her residence on East Long Avenue. Through Miss
McDonald, the
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