Ten Cents a Month to Read: Seattle Votes to Put Its Library on the Payroll
After a night of wrangling, the Board of Aldermen and the House of Delegates agree to spend $250 and charge adult borrowers a monthly fee to keep the circulating department open — over the objection that the city cannot afford it.
The Board of Aldermen passed last night the two ordinances designed to provide funds for keeping open the circulating department of the public library, after a debate that also took in the tearing up of the Great Northern railroad crossings and the Jordan-Wettler bribery charge.
The ordinance regulating the public library and its companion ordinance appropriating $250 to put the library on its feet unexpectedly caused considerable discussion. Alderman Daulton opposed them, but they were passed without a close vote.
Daulton objected to the appropriation on the ground of the embarrassed financial condition of the city, and to the regulating ordinance because he did not think the charge of 10 cents a month could be enforced.
Sweeney said the charter said nothing about a free public library, but that the ordinance passed by the city council made the library free. If the ordinance under consideration was passed, the proposed action of the library commission in charging 10 cents a month to holders of cards would be perfectly legal. He did not like to see the library closed at 8 o'clock.
Miller said he understood that if the closing hour was made 8 instead of 9 o'clock the saving would be about $90 a month. He was also of the opinion that if the people who took books from the library were not willing to pay 10 cents a month and help the institution along, it was time to close the doors.
When the vote was taken on the appropriation Daulton and Miller voted no, and on the regulating ordinance Daulton and Sweeney voted no.
The ordinance provides that the library shall be open on all week days, not legal holidays, from 9 o'clock a. m. to 8 o'clock p. m., and for such further time, not later than 10 o'clock, as the commission shall from time to time direct. The reading room and reference department shall in addition be open on Sundays and legal holidays from 2 o'clock p. m. until 6 o'clock p. m.
Any person above the age of 12 years shall be entitled to borrow books from the library for home use upon signing a promise to obey the rules and regulations from time to time prescribed by the library commission and the payment of 10 cents a month or 25 cents a quarter in advance, and the filing of a written guaranty with the librarian to make good any loss through negligence of the borrower. In lieu of the guaranty $5 may be deposited with the librarian.
Only one book shall be taken on one card, and no book will be issued to a card holder in arrears. Books shall be issued for any period prescribed not exceeding two weeks, and a fine of 3 cents a day shall be paid for every day the book is held out beyond the legal period.
Next Friday the library will be open for the delivery of books. Holders of cards should return them at once in order that new ones may be issued in accordance with the new ordinance.
In the House of Delegates the bill transferring $250 from the general fund to the library fund and the bill regulating the library were passed by a unanimous vote. The joint finance committee, which reported the two bills, stated that after conference with the library commission it was unanimously in favor of granting aid, and believed the bill governing the library would fill all requirements.
Dr. Alfred H. Kibbe, of the library commission, is convinced that great benefit will result from the adoption of the new system. Under the old system it has been a common thing for four or five cards to be in one family, so that in each such case there have probably been four or five books at the house and unread most of the time. The contemplated change will limit the number of cards per family, perhaps to two, and thus increase the number of books at the library. There are now about 1,800 active cards, and if all the holders subscribe there will be from that source alone a steady income toward the running expenses.
The proposition to make the library self-sustaining has brought up the question of the council's power to change it from a free institution to one that requires dues even so small as the rates suggested. Corporation Counsel Scott has looked up the matter and holds that the charter contains no mention of a free library, and that the only provision is contained in the ordinance, which can be amended.
“He was also of the opinion that if the people who took books from the library were not willing to pay 10 cents a month and help the institution along, it was time to close the doors.”
In 1895 Seattle's 'free' public library was not free: the council voted to charge adults ten cents a month to borrow books and to close an hour early to save $90 a month, because the treasury was embarrassed. The argument — times are tight, so let the people who use it pay — is the same one that surfaces every time Seattle debates library levies, park districts and fares today. Note, too, how casually the council concluded the charter never actually promised a free library at all.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.