The following extracts from a paper delivered by Mrs. John E. Daly, before the Woman’s Club in this city, relate much of the history of the T. B. Scott Public Library. Mrs. Daly has been a member of the Library Board for a number of years and has been very much interested in Library work. The extracts say: I will ask you for your attention just a few moments while I give you some facts and a very few figures in reference to the financial standings of the T. B. Scott library.

First let me say that the rumor is current that our library is a wealthy institution. (Back in 1914 during the lifetime of Andrew Carnegie this rumor reached the ears of Carnegie’s secretary, and all efforts on our part to get any aid at all for our struggling library failed.) In the year 1889 Thomas B. Scott, a pioneer of our city, but at the time of his death a resident of Merrill, left to this city five thousand dollars to be used for a library.

Under the terms of the will our city must provide a proper housing for the books in two years’ time or the money would revert to the Scott estate. The building opposite the Hotel Witter occupying the space between the old First National Bank and what was then the Central Hotel, was built by Mr. J. D. Witter and the upper floors rented to the city for library purposes.

These rooms were opened to the public March 22, 1890, and occupied for about two years. The young ladies of the city held a "paper carnival," a right gorgeous affair, and raised money to buy the furnishings for our modest library. These rooms were accepted by the trustees of the Scott estate as temporary quarters only. The city hall was being built at that time, and four rooms were planned for, and when completed given to the library.

After the cities consolidated, and the West side building became the city hall, the entire upper floor was given to us for the library.

I am going to tell you that I was the first librarian and so know the many things I am telling you about our library. Also having been a member of the Board of Directors for many years I am telling you about our library because I am interested and want you to be.

A library is no longer a luxury but a necessity in the community. Library work in the past ten years has become a profession, and it is truly fascinating that the more you get of it the deeper your interest becomes. I with that everyone would endeavor to visit the library within the next few weeks. I mean you who never go. Just stay a half an hour, say from four o’clock on, and I am certain that you will be surprised at the number of people who visit the library.

Talk to the librarian and she will tell you of the work done with the schools, for the high school students, and for the clubs. You will see all sorts and conditions of children coming for reading matter, older people to read the newspapers and magazines, little boys with soiled faces but clean hands – most always – little girls with bobbed hair and shining eyes, and big boys with an indifferent air – to get a book. Teach the children to read, to love good books and we have solved one big problem for the future. And now for the figures:

In February, 1892, Mr. J. D. Witter gave to the Board of Directors of the library five thousand dollars with the following request: "I deliver this money as a donation to your library fund, and ask that the money be accepted and held by you and your successors as a nucleus for a permanent endowment fund for the purchase of reading matter, and that only the interest thereon be used."

In July, 1892, the library was moved to the present building. From this time the city began to pay the janitor, and furnished the heat and light. They had also borrowed three thousand dollars at six per cent of the Scott Library Money to furnish the present library building.

So with the money expended for books, fixtures, cases and running expenses there was none of the original five thousand dollars available. Just here I wish to say that in September, 1900, Mr. J. D. Witter, then treasurer of the Board, knowing the funds to be about exhausted offered to give the library five thousand dollars if within sixty days a like amount could be raised by subscription. Nothing resulted from this offer, those who were approached not just seeing the necessity for a library.

About this time the Board of Trustees asked the city for help, and secured the promise of five hundred dollars annually. This sum was paid for several years, and then one thousand dollars was asked for and has been received for some years.

In 1902 Mr. J. D. Witter died and left the library five thousand dollars. Since that time no money has been received. Of this second sum one thousand dollars has been expended for books. The city furnished the heat, light, janitor, and one thousand dollars.

With the interest on our invested money we must pay the librarian, one assistant, buy new books, keep old ones in repair, buy papers and magazines, pay for telephones, printing, and such new furniture as we need besides many small items incident to running any institution. To be very brief the figures for the year 1914 are:

This leaves just $175.00 for running expenses ofr (sic) the year. One can easily figure how far this sum will go toward paying for these incidentals. We have had many donations of books for which we are truly thankful. If we could have all of the present building fitted to our needs I am sure we could make a model library of it. The books should be on the ground floor. Nearly all of the library buildings now being constructed are one-story affairs, very plain on the outside, but splendidly equipped for library needs.

The librarian feels, and so do the directors, that more books would be borrowed if those weary stairs did not confront every borrower. As it is, there were 223 books given out at the loan desk. If we cannot have our money, at least give us your interest in our work, for this library is not the city’s, not the Director’s, not the Librarian’s, but yours; come and use it.

This little tale holds good today, except that for two years past we have received $1,800 from the city. And when the city budget was made up in October last, the city council voted us three thousand dollars for this year. Our librarians get more money, the library is open longer hours, and more books are circulated. It is due to our present librarian’s versistence(sic) that we have the West side branch library.

The city refusing the use of a room in the new city hall, the Women’s Federation guaranteed the first three months’ rent, $60 for the rooms now occupied by the branch library. At the opening of the branch library 108 books were issued. With our regular assistant, Miss Erdman, and the help of the high school students taking the Library course, Miss Solheim manages both libraries.

We do need the downstairs, and about a year ago it was estimated that five thousand dollars would remodel the building. But we see no way of getting this five thousand. The Boy Scouts have the use of a room on the ground floor, and there is one available for the Campfire Girls when they wish to take it.

The trustees of the T. B. Scott library are: F. J. Wood, president. Mr. Wood has served on the Board since the library was started thirty-two years ago. Mr. E. P. Arpin is the vice president. He has served on the Board thirty-one years.

In November, 1900, Mr. J. D. Witter was appointed to his place. Mr. I. P. Witter is still serving the Board as treasurer. Mrs. John E. Daly has served as secretary since 1906. Mrs. G. J. Kandy has been a member since 1912, and Mr. Ben Hanson came to the board in 1916. Our City Superintendent of Schools, Mr. E. G. Doudna, is also a member.

Taken from the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune dated Thursday, February 10, 1921.