As atemporary measure, the books were moved againto a building owned by C. K Tuttle at 211 Grand Ave. (called Main St atthe time). Rent for this building was $8.00/month. The Pacific Grove Review said that no longer did readers "haveto smell unpleasant odors or breathe in a stuffy room when selecting books." Miss Abby Bigger became the librarian in this new location, -an obliging and efficient librarian to attend to (the reader's) wants" as long as the readers wants happened on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday between 2 and 4. By now fhere were several hundred books neatly arranged in glass cases. However, there were still only 25 members ofthis subscription library, and about 500 volumes, mostly fiction. In a scolding editorial on the subject ofnon-support ofthe library, the PG Review says, -Subscribe to the library, you who are financially able, and under any and all circumstances, draw volumes there Rom the sum total of which means, first the storing of your own mind with good thoughts, and secondly, the assistance your contribution represents to a local faction that desires to fall intellectually behind no city of its size or HALF its size, west ofthe Rocky mountains" This exhortation must have had some effect, because by the next year membership had increased by 20%, to 30 members Young Men's Free Reading Room In addition tothe librarythere was also a "Young Men's Free Reading Room" The 1891 PC Review announced that the Free Reading Room was formed inthe "J. O. Johnson block, adjoiningthe barber shop. Mr. Johnson generously offeredto kalsomine the interior freshly, and repaintthe front making it a very desirable hall, also to contribute filrniture and pictures.... Quiet games ofchess, checkers and back-gammon will be admissible. We have been interrogated as to whether the mantle of'Restrictions' would be thrown around the new organization or otherwise. The restrictions enjoined upon any honorable company of self-respecting gentlemen wit certainly." Besides chess, checkers, and backgammon, there was also Halma and other gaines for amusement, and various donated readings, magazines and papers. The motive for the reading room becomes clear in this excerpt from the opening day article. lhe young men ofthe Grove have been apologizing for their slight irregularities by saying there was no place for them to go in the evenings. This excuse is now taken away. The rooms are generously provided expressly for them. We shall see ifthey appreciate the favor." Pacific Grove Free Public Librag On December 19, 1905, the Pacific Grove Free Public Library was established, along with a Board of Trustees, and a new librarian, Mrs. May M. Colegrove, who was to be paid $30.00 per monlh. The old subscription library donatedtheir collection of 1496 books to the new public library. Mrs. Colegrove, with thehelpof her assistant, Miss Bessie Lewis, and the state organizer for public libraries, Miss Prentiss, spent a good deal oftime organizing and numbering the book collection, starting the card catalogue and accession list, and soliciting more book donations. After a good deal of effort, the library was opened to the public on March 1,1906. This being a free public library, there were no more dues charged. Hours were greatly expanded, to 1 to 5 and 6:30 to 8, everyday except Sunday. Results were immediate and dramatic. Within four months there were 544 cardholders, as opposed to the 30 members ofthe subscription libraty. Children over the age of twelve were allowed to hold a library card. The number ofvolumes on the shell'had increased to almost 2000, and these items circulated almost 5,000 times in that four month span. Miss Abby Bigger, the librarian for the subscription library, was the first secretary for the new board and served as a trustee for the public library for the next 16 years, until 1922. Her fellow board members were Frederick Woodworths president, the Reverend E. P. Dennet Mrs. Al Abbott, and Paris Kilburn (whom we will hear a good deal more from). They budgeted expenses ordered supplies, hired the staff, and made policy decisions. One oftheir more interesting discussions was on what to do with library books that had been in a home where there was scarlet fever. The decision - deslroy them. 4 , OCR Text: As atemporary measure, the books were moved againto a building owned by C. K Tuttle at 211 Grand Ave. (called Main St atthe time). Rent for this building was $8.00/month. The Pacific Grove Review said that no longer did readers "haveto smell unpleasant odors or breathe in a stuffy room when selecting books." Miss Abby Bigger became the librarian in this new location, -an obliging and efficient librarian to attend to (the reader's) wants" as long as the readers wants happened on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday between 2 and 4. By now fhere were several hundred books neatly arranged in glass cases. However, there were still only 25 members ofthis subscription library, and about 500 volumes, mostly fiction. In a scolding editorial on the subject ofnon-support ofthe library, the PG Review says, -Subscribe to the library, you who are financially able, and under any and all circumstances, draw volumes there Rom the sum total of which means, first the storing of your own mind with good thoughts, and secondly, the assistance your contribution represents to a local faction that desires to fall intellectually behind no city of its size or HALF its size, west ofthe Rocky mountains" This exhortation must have had some effect, because by the next year membership had increased by 20%, to 30 members Young Men's Free Reading Room In addition tothe librarythere was also a "Young Men's Free Reading Room" The 1891 PC Review announced that the Free Reading Room was formed inthe "J. O. Johnson block, adjoiningthe barber shop. Mr. Johnson generously offeredto kalsomine the interior freshly, and repaintthe front making it a very desirable hall, also to contribute filrniture and pictures.... Quiet games ofchess, checkers and back-gammon will be admissible. We have been interrogated as to whether the mantle of'Restrictions' would be thrown around the new organization or otherwise. The restrictions enjoined upon any honorable company of self-respecting gentlemen wit certainly." Besides chess, checkers, and backgammon, there was also Halma and other gaines for amusement, and various donated readings, magazines and papers. The motive for the reading room becomes clear in this excerpt from the opening day article. lhe young men ofthe Grove have been apologizing for their slight irregularities by saying there was no place for them to go in the evenings. This excuse is now taken away. The rooms are generously provided expressly for them. We shall see ifthey appreciate the favor." Pacific Grove Free Public Librag On December 19, 1905, the Pacific Grove Free Public Library was established, along with a Board of Trustees, and a new librarian, Mrs. May M. Colegrove, who was to be paid $30.00 per monlh. The old subscription library donatedtheir collection of 1496 books to the new public library. Mrs. Colegrove, with thehelpof her assistant, Miss Bessie Lewis, and the state organizer for public libraries, Miss Prentiss, spent a good deal oftime organizing and numbering the book collection, starting the card catalogue and accession list, and soliciting more book donations. After a good deal of effort, the library was opened to the public on March 1,1906. This being a free public library, there were no more dues charged. Hours were greatly expanded, to 1 to 5 and 6:30 to 8, everyday except Sunday. Results were immediate and dramatic. Within four months there were 544 cardholders, as opposed to the 30 members ofthe subscription libraty. Children over the age of twelve were allowed to hold a library card. The number ofvolumes on the shell'had increased to almost 2000, and these items circulated almost 5,000 times in that four month span. Miss Abby Bigger, the librarian for the subscription library, was the first secretary for the new board and served as a trustee for the public library for the next 16 years, until 1922. Her fellow board members were Frederick Woodworths president, the Reverend E. P. Dennet Mrs. Al Abbott, and Paris Kilburn (whom we will hear a good deal more from). They budgeted expenses ordered supplies, hired the staff, and made policy decisions. One oftheir more interesting discussions was on what to do with library books that had been in a home where there was scarlet fever. The decision - deslroy them. 4 , Heritage Society of Pacific Grove,Historical Collections,Names of People about town,N through P File names,P. G. Library History,PACIFIC GROVE LIBRARY HISTORY_004.pdf,PACIFIC GROVE LIBRARY HISTORY_004.pdf 1 Page 1, Tags: PACIFIC GROVE LIBRARY HISTORY_004.PDF, PACIFIC GROVE LIBRARY HISTORY_004.pdf 1 Page 1