Τ THE BOARD OF LIBRARY COMMISSIONERS. HE Ohio State Library was established by Governor Thomas Worthington in the year 1817. The general assembly which met December 2, 1816, appropriated $3,500.00 as a contingent fund for the Governor in 1817. In the summer of that year Governor Worthington visited eastern cities to investigate the management of state institutions. While in Philadelphia he determined to purchase a collection of books. for the establishment of a state library. On his return he authorized the fitting up of a room above the auditor's office, in the south end of the old state office building, then on High Street, immediately south of the avenue to the west entrance of the State House. He deposited therein the books he had selected-509 volumes-the beginning of the State Library. Most of these books are still in the library. John L. Harper was the first librarian. Changes in this office were frequent till 1824, when Zachariah Mills was appointed. He served eighteen years. In 1844, the library was placed under a commission consisting of the Governor, the Secretary of State and the State Librarian. The latter was appointed by the Governor. In April, 1896, the law was again changed and the entire management of the library was vested in a board of commissioners appointed by the Governor for a term of six years. They elect the librarian and all the assistants. The State Library was open originally only to state officers and mem-bers of the general assembly. The regulations provided that "the librarian shall open accounts with the Governor, Secretary, Treasurer and Auditor of State, the Judges of the Supreme Court, and the members of the general assembly and their clerks." The privilege of drawing books did not extend beyond the period the legislature was actually in session. As late as 1895 books were loaned only to "members and officers, and exmembers and ex-officers of the general assembly; state officers, and clerks in the several departments of the state government at Columbus, and ex-officers of the same; the Judges of the Supreme Court, of the Supreme Court Commission, of the Circuit Court and the Common Pleas Court; officers and teachers of the benevolent institutions of the State, and of the State University; officers of the Penitentiary; widows of ex-members and ex-officers of the general assembly and of ex-state officers; and clergymen resident of Columbus. Under such regulations the circulation of the library was, of course. quite limited. In the long period since it was founded many valuable works have been placed on the shelves that were accessible to the general The Board of Library Commissioners. public only for purposes of reference in tile reading room of the library. These were sought by those who were engaged in the preparation of some literary work or in the study of some "special science or subject of art." The newspaper files were frequently consulted by editors and reporters. The books had a limited circulation among state officers and their families. Members of the legislature, as a rule, found themselves too busy to read. They made frequent use of the state documents kept in the library. The first board of library commissioners under the Garfield Act of 1896 was appointed by the Governor in April of that year. The members were Rutherford P. Hayes, J. F. McGrew, and Charles A. Reynolds. One of the first acts of this board was to open the library to citizens of the state. The old distinctions in favor of state officials were in large measure removed. Citizens of the state who desire to draw books now do so by furnishing the library board a satisfactory guarantee, or by making application through their local library. Those living in distant parts of the state may borrow books by paying transportation both ways. The books are not sent out indiscriminately. Rare and valuable works are not issued for use outside of the library. Those in the circulating department, however, are issued freely on the same conditions to all citizens. While it contains works in almost every department of literature, the library is strongest in state publications, government documents, history and its related branches, bound periodicals, and newspaper files. In recent years a systematic effort has been made to add to the early litercature relating to the state. The work of collecting has necessarily been slow, but the very substantial progress already made warrants the hope that this may soon become the best reference library in the country in all things pertaining to Ohio. There are at present (June 27, 1901) 73,209 bound volumes in the State Library. Of these 14,595 are in the TRAVELING LIERARY DEPARTMENT. This department was organized in the summer of 1896. A traveling library is a collection of from twenty-five to thirty-five books sent out by the State Library to a reading club, an association of citizens, a board of education or a public library, to be kept three months, with privilege of renewal. The objects of the department are: 1. To furnish good literature to patrons. 2. To strengthen small libraries. 3. To create an interest in the establishment of new libraries. On receipt of a request on the forms furnished by the State Library, properly filled and signed by the members of the club, the officers of a free public library, board of education, or other association, The Board of Library Commissioners. the books will be shipped. The parties receiving the books must pay transportation both ways. The conditions under which these libraries are issued are very simple. The organizations to which they are sent obligate themselves for their proper use and safe return. The system has proven very popular. Traveling libraries have been sent out as follows: 50 Vols. 1,331 Vols. 9,887 Vols. Prior to November 15, 1896, 2 Traveling Libraries... This far in the present year (July, 1901) 419 traveling libraries have been sent out, and indications are that 900 of these will have been issued by November 15, 1901. NOTE - Detailed history of the State Library has been written by William T. Coggeshall, John C. Tuthill, and C. B. Galbreath. RULES AND REGULATIONS. The State Library will be open, except Sunday and holidays, from 8 a. m. to 5 p. m. During the months of July and August the Library will close at 4 p. m. During sessions of the legislature the library will be open, except Saturday, till 9 p. m. All citizens of the state over twenty-one years of age will be pernitted to draw books in accordance with the following rules: All State officers elected by the people or appointed by the Governor may draw books by giving receipt. Citizens who desire to draw books may do so on furnishing the Library Board a satisfactory guarantee or through the public library in their city. No one shall keep from the Library more than two volumes at one time, nor any volume more than two weeks without renewal. One renewal will be allowed and the book may be kept for two weeks from the date of renewal. No borrower shall keep a book more than three days after notice has been mailed to his address that it is wanted at the Library or that the book is due. Any book not returned after one week's notice. may be sent for at the expense of the borrower. The Board of Library Commissioners. Any book not returned after one month's notice may be considered. lost, in which case the borrower shall pay its full value or the value of the set to which it belongs.. All expenses connected with the issue of the books or their return shall be paid by the borrower. Any person failing to return a book within one week after notice has been mailed forfeits the privilege of the Library until reinstated by the Board. The Board will determine what books may not be taken from the Library. Traveling libraries, of from 25 to 35 volumes each, will be loaned for from three to five months. For particulars, address State Librarian. Columbus, Ohio. LIST OF OHIO STATE LIBRARIANS FROM 1817 TO 1901 AND NAMES OF CATALOGUERS. John L. Harper.. David S. Broderick.. Thomas Kennedy.. Elijah Hayward. H. L. Conard.. H. W. Pierson. John M. Doane. John C. Tuthill.. C. B. Galbreath. 1817-1818 1818-1820 1820-1824 1824-1842 1842-1845 1845-1851 1851-1854 1854-1856 1856-1862 1862-1874 1874-1875 1875-1877 1877-1879 1879-1881 1881-1883 1883-1885 1885-1886 1986-1887 1887-1889 Dec. 1, 1899, to Feb. 20, 1890 1890-1892 1892-1896 1896 The Board of Library Commissioners. STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION FROM 1845 TO 1891. Board. Years. Names. 1845-1847.. Mordecai Bartley, Samuel Galloway, John Greiner. 1847-1849.. William Webb, Samuel Galloway, John Greiner. 1849-1851.. Seabury Ford, Samuel Galloway, John Greiner. 1851-1852.. Reuben Wood, Henry W. King, Elijah Hayward. 1852-1854.. Reuben Wood, William Trevitt, Elijah Hayward. 1854-1856.. William Medill, William Trevitt, James W. Taylor. 1856-1858.. Salmon P. Chase, James H. Baker, William T. Coggeshall. First... Second. Fifth. Sixth. Seventh. Eighth...... 1859..... Ninth.... 1860..... Tenth. 1862.. Eleventh. 1863.. Twelfth.. 1865.. Salmon P. Chase, Addison P. Russell, William T. William Dennison, A. P. Russell, W. T. Coggeshall. J. D. Cox, W. H. Smith, S. G. Harbaugh. R. B. Hayes, John Russell, S. G. Harbaugh. R. B. Hayes, Isaac R. Sherwood, S. G. Harbaugh. Edward F. Noyes, A. T. Wikoff, S. G. Harbaugh. R. B. Hayes, William Bell, Jr., H. H. Robinson. Thirtieth..... 1888-1889.. J. B. Foraker, Daniel J. Ryan, John M. Doane. Thirty-first.. 1892-1894.. James E. Campbell, Daniel J. Ryan, John C. Tuthill. Smith. Thirty-third..... 1894-1896.. William McKinley, Samuel M. Taylor, Joseph P. LIBRARY COMMISSIONERS UNDER GARFIELD ACT OF 1896. 1896-1897-Charles A. Reynolds, President; Rutherford B. Hayes, J. F. McGrew. 1898-J. F. McGrew, President; O. E. Niles, Chas. A. Reynolds. 1899-1901-J. F. McGrew, President; O. E. Niles, Chas. Orr. 24. H. Y. B. |