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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1976-03-31, Page 18Page 18 - Citizens News, March 31/76 Hensall highlight Formerly Mechanic's Institute Started in 1890, library still browing By MRS. ROBERT SIMPSON Hensall Public Library evolved from the Hensall Mechanic's Institute which was organized in 1890. At this time Hensall had been a police village for five years and was growing rapidly, 124 charter members subscribed $1.00 per year and paid a 10t fine for each meeting missed. With a donation of $50.00 from YPMI the total assets were $173.40. From this sum they paid running expenses $16.72, brought books $127.37, and closed with a sur- plus of $30.68. A precedent was set - for seventy-seven years the Mechan- ic's Institute and the library which followed it had a credit balance with the exception of 1903 when the debits and credits were equal. The books were housed on shelves in J.C. Stone - man's Jewellery Store. Books were chosen from a catalogue printed annually by the local printer - only the Librarian had access to the shelves. Probably Florence Pope, his assistant, attended to this duty. The second year a government grant was received and a county grant in 1894. This system continued until 1897. The village was incorporat- ed in 18% and the first council elected. In 1897-98 a new organ- ization, the Hensall Public Library, took over the assets of the Mechanic's Institute - the books and cash on hand $85.26. J.C. Stoneman, who was now the Village Clerk. continued as Librarian and landlord. The government grant dropped from $180.00 to $30.59 but, in addition to the county grant, the library received a village grant of $25.00. The subscription program was retained. On August 11, 1900 a disast- rous fire destroyed several stores on the south side of King Street. The library books and Minute Book were lost along with the municipal records. With book insurance $.450.00 a generous government grant $159.40, the county grant $15.00, doubled village grant $50.00 and a dona- tion of $25.00 from the Royal Tenplars the assets amounted to $738.03. 79% of this was spent on books immediately. Apparent- ly rebuilding was quickly in hand for the library was conducted the next year from the same premis- es, with the same librarian in charge. At this time the library year was changed to the calendar year. In the three years following the fire, book purchases amount- ed to $1069.78. By 1904 the village grant had increased to $,70. A petition was presented to the council in 1905 by the Board of Directors of the H.P.L. asking that a Board of Management be appointed - also a petition signed by sixty-nine electors for the same object. It was moved and seconded "that the prayer of the petitioners be granted provided that the Directors will raise the balance of debt on the library $60." The terms were accepted and in May, 1905 a Board of Manage- ment was set up. In July a bylaw was passed appointing the Reeve and three members to the library board. In 1909 the county grant was raised to $20, the govern- ment grant was $60 and the village grant had increased to $90. In that year the library, was moved across the street to another jewellery store, that of Fred C. McDoneil, who succeed- ed J.C. Stoneman as librarian. From 1907 to 1912 book pur- chases averaged about $100 per year. For the second time the library was burned when a fire in August 1913.destroyed almost the entire business block on the north side of King Street. The library was bookless, homeless and in a critical financial situation for they had to borrow $50 from a member to pay Mr. McDonell up to date. Soon the county grant $25, legis- lative grant $56.22, village grant $89.05 plus insurance benefits $1,000 gave them a working capital of$1210.72. New quarters were rented from D,W. Foss on the south corner of King and Wellington Streets and his daughter, Florence, was librar- ian. During the balance of 1913 and 1914 book purchases were $1,004. Several books on Agricul- ture and a set of the Book of Knowledge were on the list. One new ruling important to readers was the decision to discontinue printing catalogues. The patrons would now have free access to the book shelves. It was also decided to adopt the Dewey -Decimal system of classifying the books. A new Town Hall had been built in 1914 with provision for a library and reading room. By October 1, 1915 the entire library had been moved to the Town Hall. By December. 1916 the reading room offered the following periodicals: Daily Mail and Empire, Daily Globe, Toronto Star Weekly, Toronto Saturday Night. Weekly Witness, London Illustrated News, British Weekly, The Tinges (weekly edition with literary supplement), Canadian Magazine, McLeans, Strand (English edition), Popular Mechanics and Century. hia Hudson was the first librarian in the new room. She was followed by Alda Dinsdale, in October 1918. On her resig- nation in March 1919 Nellie McArthur became librarian. The next year she assumed the duty of Secretary and Wnl. McKay became Associate - Secretary and Treasurer at a salary of $10 a year. He had done this clerical work since 1905 without remuneration. The library paid a share of the village audit, $5, for the first time in 1921. Nellie McArthur contin- ued her duties until November when Mrs. Jas. A. Patterson was hired for the balance of term and rehired for the next four years. In 1923 the purchasing committee must have shopped around for $133.89 spent on books was divided among ten publishing companies. On Mrs. Patterson's resignation in April 1926, Gretta McNaughton was chosen from seven applicants for the position. In 1929 she became s,ecretary- treasurer when Wm: MacKay resigned. Mrs. Harry Arnold was appointed to the Board in 1930 - the first lady to be so honoured. Soon Mrs. Peck, appointed by the council and Mrs. Hemphill, appointed by the School Board joined her. A committee was chosen to meet the council to discuss the possibilities of arranging more suitable accomo- dation for the expanding library. In 1932, due to the serious illness and death of Miss Mc- Naughton, Jas. A. Patterson became secretary -treasurer and from nine tenders that of Mrs. Robt. J. Cameron -$100 per year - was approved for the position of librarian. Beginning in 1935 the Book Purchasing Committee went to London to choose books. Most of them were bought now from Wendell Holmes and later Roberts Holmes. The courteous assistance of a clerical staff trained in library work was appreciated by the Book Commit- tee. A Story Hour was started for children on Saturdays and continued for several years. There were no changes in per- sonnel except on the Board for several decades. The council had adopted the plan of 1 -2 -3 - year appointments so there were always some experienced mem- bers. No problems arose except those which plagued many small libraries in the Thirties: scarcity of cash, lack of space and occa- sional drops in circulation. Several ventures for raising extra money were tried: lectures on relevant subjects by professors from Western University, library teas to display new books and dispose of discarded ones, and different types of concerts. A three -night play (local talent) was probably most successful netting $118.60. In 1941 the first step in a county -wide library service was taken with the formation of the Huron County Library Associa- tion. Mrs. W.O. Goodwin was the Hensall member of the Association. Board which origin - room on the east -side to the library. The Co-operative had raised its fee to $30 in 1947 and the next year the library's share of the village audit cost was doubled to $10. NEW LIBRARIAN - Veima Robinson, appointed in November, is seen busy at her desk. ally represented fourteen rural communities. The fee was $25 annually, matched by county grant. A 16 -book unit was delivered by car and exchanged quarterly. By 1945 the combined grants had increased to 52.1:0, ;i, .: culation to 14,872 and the book units .to 100 tiles. Hensall Library offered a book service to nearby rural schools at a rate of $5 per year. The number of books loaned was based on attendance and were chosen by the teacher. They were called for and returned by the schools. In 1946 the 14 members had grown to 50 and the Association became the Huron County Library Co-operative. Mrs. Eckmier, a pioneer in the move- ment, was the librarian. Delivery by car had become difficult and in 1947 the council approved the purchase of a Bookmobile. It was christened "Miss Huron" by Angus Mowat. Its shelves could accomodate 1,000 books. Librar- ians chose their allotted number and the previous lot were sent back to Goderich. These books were in addition to those purch- ased by the Hensall Library Board. From 1943 the village grant was paid in two instalments which was an advantage when buying the books. The library began paying $175 rent to the munici- pality. In 1946 the county grant was raised to $40 and remained at that figure until the change in library service. In 1948 the addit- ional qualifications obtained by Mrs. Cameron brought an extra legislative grant of $100. This was passed on to raise the librarian's salary to $300 in 1949. In 1948 the children were given special library hours on Saturdays 2:30-3:30, and a second series of Children's Story Hour had been started. ra In 1950 the Bookmobile had delivered 90,000 books to 7 deposit stations, 35 libraries and 147 schools. In 1951 the library joined the Doubleday Book Club and in 1954 became a member of the Ontario Library Association. The new edition of the Book of Knowledge was ordered. Five magazines were available: Popular Mechanics, Jack and Jill, Good Housekeeping, National Geographic and Canadian Geographic. In 1958 the council agreed to move the council chamber to the west side giving the larger Hensall Librarian News Photo The village grant in 1960 was $743.31, the legislative grant $489.53 and $488.76 was spent on hooks. The secretary -treasurer's salary was increased from $10 to $25. The trend of •rising c -,ts in operating expenses. price of books and salaries continued through the Sixties but grants also increased. In 1962 the secretary -treasurer was paid 5,50 and the librarian $550, ,lames A. Patterson died in July 1963 and Mrs. Keith Buchanan completed the year :and retained the office until 1967. Mrs. Hilliard Lawrence, a member of the Board, had been learning library procedure and was hired as assistant -librarian in 1965.. In November Mrs. Cameron resigned. It was the unanimous decision of the Board that she receive $100 annually for life in recog- nition of her many years of efficient and dedicated service to the Hensall Public Library. Mrs. Lawrence became librarian until her resignation in Septem- ber 1967 when she moved to Goderich and joined the Huron County Library staff. In 1964, '65 and '66 book purchases amounted to $2170. The village grant in 1966 was 51148.72 and the revenue from dues and fines was $124.29. The legislative grant fluctuated but that year reached a high of $580.40. There had been much discus- sion about bringing all the libraries in the county under a single administration. As of January 1, .1967 Hensall Public Library became the Hensall Branch of the new Huron County Public Library. This library was affiliated with the Midwest Regional Library System and Miss Carolyn Croke was chief librarian. She was followed by Miss Ethel Dewar in July, 1970. By 1971 the library had been moved from the Court House to its present location at 60 Light- house Street, Goderich. Early in 1970 the bookmobile service had been replaced by a station wagon delivery van. Books were now selected at headquarters by the librarians. The same local Library Board continued to function through 1967 and- at its final meeting in October hired Mrs. John F. Ingram as librarian. She contin- ued as Supervisor of the Hensai] Branch until her retirement in October 1975, Hensall is one of five village libraries whose supervisors go to Goderich every three months and choose about 300 books. Any book can be requested and sent out on interloan. Films and talking books are available from the Regional which gives courier service three tines a week. The county has a twice -weekly courier service for delivery and pick-up of books and films. In 1972 book circulation, exclusive of schools, was 337,000 and by June 1974 book service to 'all schools was phased out as their permanent libraries were meeting their needs. In Sept- ember of that year Miss Dewar retired and was succeeded by _Mr. Wm. Partridge. The office staff of members includes a library technician, a secretary and library assistants. Regular staff meetings arc held quarterly to inform members of new developments. For branches \without adequate services headquarters' staff put on puppet and other children's programs. Floats were made for Clinton and Seaforth Centennial cele- brations in 1975. The highlight of the year was the opening of newly decorated premises in the new Municipal Building in Zurich and the modernized Town Hall in. Hensall. This library now occupies the entire cast side of the building. Book -lined walls, fireplace reading group. a study table and children's corner make an attractive sE tttilg. More improvements of like kind are in the planning stage. As the Huron County Library ex- pands the Hensall branch will be able to offer more specialized programs and services of a large modern library system, The "constant" behind the success of the Hensall Public Library seems to have been the steady, loyal support of the village council and the unselfish and, in some cases, long service given by the residents. The Reeve was always a member of the Board and, records show, rarely missed a monthly meeting at which he generally presided. Special requests for funds and other favours were met if poss- ible. The council had always depended on the school staff and the local clergy, as well as businessmen for appointees. These citizens gave lengthy periods of service: Wm. MacKay and Jas. A. Patterson, secretary - treasurers; Mrs. Robert Cameron librarian; Miss M. Ellis, Mrs. Geo. Joynt and Mrs. W.O. Goodwin, Board members. Many others who gave clerical and other assistance could be named if space permitted. As a tribute to the electors and Hensall village council the names of the Reeves who repre- sented the council on the library Board of Directors and later the Board of Management from 1896-1967 follow in order: G.C. Petty, G.F. Arnold, Wm. J. Miller, Jno. Scott, F.W. Smalla- combe, G.C. Petty, Owen Geiger, G.C. Petty, Owen Geiger, G.C. Petty, J.W. Ortwein, T.H. Hudson, F.W. Smallacombe, G.C. Petty, Alex Smith, Owen Geiger, Robt. Higgins, Owen Geiger, Wm. Consitt, W.J. Jones, Owen Geiger, R.E. Shaddick, A.W. Kerslake, Wm. G. Parke, N.H. Jones, Jno. Henderson, N.H. Jones, Mrs. Leonard Noakes. In five terms Mr. Geiger served twelve years and Mr. Petty eleven. Mr. Shaddick served ten consecutive years and Mr. Kerslake eight consecutive years. In 1975 the Huron County Library Board has six members: Norman Durst, Elgin Thompson, Thos, MacMillan, Geo. Mc- Cutcheon, Ernest Talbot, Don McKenzie, In November Mrs. James Robinson began her duties as Supervisor of the Hensall branch of the Huron County Library.