HomeMy WebLinkAbout2428 Report of a committee on establishing a free public library, no date but presumed 1868The Committee approved at the
last Town Meeting, to consider the proposition
of Mrs. Cary, and the subject of establishing
a free Public Library beg leave to
report:
The Present time appears
highly favorable for establishing a
free Public Library, in asmuch as
there are two private libraries in
town, and a fund of One Thousand
Dollars offered by Mrs. Cary, all of which
are at the disposal of the town pro-
viding it will make an appro-
priation sufficient to establish
such a library upon a firm basis.
The generous offer of Mrs. Cary, of
One Thousand Dollars, to be held as
a fund for the support of a free
Public Library, we deem of the utmost
importance that the town should
accept. The "Farmer's Club" have
2
voted to give their library, valued at from
four to five hundred dollars, to the
town, to aid in establishing a free
public library. The Lexington Library
Association is a body incorporated
under the laws of Massachusetts, ren-
dering it impossible for any [illegible]
of its member & vote away the stock
of others. But at meeting of that
Association held on the 10th inst. the following
resolution was passed: "Resolved -
That it is the opinion of this meeting,
that in the case One Thousand Dollars in
money be raised or approriated by
the Town for the purpose of establishing
a free Public Library, the stockholders
of this Association will give the books
belonging to their Library to the Town,
& form part of said Library."
Thus by the appropriation
of One Thousand Dollars for the
purchase of books, the town will
have a Library worth two Thousand
Dollars, and a fund of One Thousand
Dollars to assist in its support.
Not often is it the good fortune of a town
to be able to gain 200 per cent on an
investment in so short a time.
Your Committe would therefore
recommend the Town to make
our appropration of One Thousand
Dollars for the purpose of estab-
lishing a free Public Library, on
condition that stock of the Lex-
ington Library Assoication, to
the amount of not less than $500 be given to
the town. All of which is respect-
fully submitted.
Henry Westcott
A W. Bryant
H Holmes
Report of the Committee
on Mrs Cary proposition
to establish a free Public Library
accepted by the Town apr 20th
1868 by a vote
Leonard A. Saville
Town Clerk
Recorded in 'Reports of Committees'
Pages 2 & 3
2428c