1893-31-03 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: 03/31/1893
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Joseph D. Tuck, Rev. Elleny C. Butler, Charles L. Dodge, Edward L.
Girlrings, and Franklin Leach
Board members absent: George E. Woodberry
Others present:
Recorder: Charles L. Dodge
22d. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars for the maintenance
of the library and reading room at the Farms, - as per petition of Will H. Larcom and others.
"Voted, that this article be referred to a committee of three to act with the Trustees of the
Public Library, for them to investigate this subject and report at the adjournment of this
meeting on April."
Committee:
Thomas D. Cormoily
William R. Brooks
Edwin P. Hoyt
The committee appointed at the Annual Town Meeting consisting of Trustees Messrs. Tuck,
Giddings, Dodge, Butler, and Leach and Messrs. Thos. D. Cormoily, Win. H. Brooks and Rev. Edwin
P. Hoyt to consider the subject matter contained in the above 22d Article of the warrant held an
informal meeting on Saturday Evg, March 25th 1893 for the purpose of ascertaining what was desired.
A proposition and estimate was presented on which no action was taken as the subject required very
careful investigation and after listening and discussing pro and con the conference ended. On
Thursday Evg. March 31st the trustees met Messrs. Tuck, Giddings, Dodge, Butler & Leach present.
Here the question of the request and how far the trustees would be justified in acceding to the
request, having an earnest desire to do everything that would be acceptable and equitable without
exceeding the powers of the trustees, also to secure the town its rights. A memorandum of their
wants had been presented by Rev. E. P. Hoyt of Beverly Farms a member of the committee viz. That
the town appropriate $600.00 and any unexpended balance in excess of the current expense to
support their proposition be expended in purchasing new books, that there shall be four deliveries per
week instead of two as now, thereby affording better facilities for reading, the reading room to be
furnished with current literature; after the first year a reasonable increase of new books to be
furnished. The Neighbors Library is to become the property of the Beverly Public Library and to be
a part of the branch library. They aim presented an estimate covering the $1000.00 asked for viz. for
the librarian $400.00
Table reading 30.00
Catalogue 200.00
Shelving 50.00
Books of reference &new publications $320.00 $1000.00
They claimed to have about 1700 volumes valued at 1000.00 and a circulation of 1850 volumes and
219 persons receiving books, and had expended about 397.00 in fitting up. These items were
discussed and a general plan considered, most of the committee agreeing that the mount asked for
($1000~ 00) was too excessive. Also that the $600.00 which had been only incidentally mentioned, the
question being how best to serve the town and meet their wishes, the committee all agreeing
something should be done this being an informal meeting simply for the consideration of the subject,
arrived a plan on which we could proceed and possibly agree. And suggested calling a meeting of the
entire committee on Saturday Evg. April 1st at 8 o'clock and that the Secy. of the board of trustees
be requested to notify the members at Beverly Farms and without any further action the meeting
ended.