Wayne County Public Library Timeline

Timeline

• 1897 - Organized
• 1897 - April 10, the committee hired its first librarian, Miss Bertha Ellsperman at the salary of three dollars a week and of a janitors at five dollars a month, setting the library hours at 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM each day from October to April and adding an extra half hour before closing during the other months. The Women's Christian Association ladies were designated to manage the reading room during the morning hours before the librarian arrived.
• 1897 - May, Trustees voted to move the library to the SW corner of E. Liberty and Buckeye Streets, a 2 year lease was signed for rooms on the 2nd floor from Mrs. S. Fisher for the sum of $7 a month.
• 1897 - May, The committee on the library decided to spend $100 for new books. Miss Whitford announced that she had cataloged the 700 books which formed the library collection.
• 1897 - November, Trustees deemed it necessary to define the duties of the library:
  • Miss Bertha Ellsperman was Responsible for the "entire charge" of the library in the afternoon and evening (morning hours were discontinued) giving her total time during these hours connected with the library."
  • Allowed to be absent one evening a week-- provided it was not Saturday and find a substitute satisfactory to the committee on the library.
  • As a daily duty she was to supervise the janitor, reporting any negligence, dusting the tables and desk.
  • Before leaving each day she was to place the papers on file and arrange the books properly on the shelves.
  • Weekly the books, papers and shelves were to be dusted by the librarian.
  • Dealing with the public, the librarian was "to see that general order is maintained, due courtesy exercised and all rules enforced."
  • She was to collect fines for overdue and misused books.
  • She must know the books in the library and be familiar with their subject, title, author, and location on the shelf.
• 1899 - The Trustees discovered a state statue which gave local boards of education the opportunity to levy a tax in support of the public library
• 1900 - The Wooster Board of Education agreed to "aid the Trustees in maintaining a library"
  • Miss Ellsperman's annual report showed that boys from 10-18 years old were the most frequent library users and were interested in travels, adventure, history and science. Books for homework were requested, as well as, books used for discussion at art and literary club meetings. "Obligation cards" showed that 856 borrowers and the circulation for each month varied from 300 to 900 books for a total of 7,079 for the year.
• 1901 - September, Miss Ellsperman was relieved of her duties as library because the Trustees felt that "for the best future growth and proper development of the library change was advisable."
  • Mrs. Elizabeth McBride was selected as a substitute until a suitable candidate could be found. She stayed as librarian until April 1905.
• 1903 - January, the Board of Trustees at the library as Mr. Mullins to write to Andrew Carnegie, the famous philanthropist, asking for funds for a new building. Mr. Mullins was reluctant, but agreed to write the letter the next day. He quickly received a reply back offering $12,000 which the Trustees decided insufficient for the building project. Again, they urged Mr. Mullins to write and ask for $15,000 which was the sum finally granted. Mr. Carnegie's only requirement for the library (which never bore his name) was that Wooster raise $500 a year for the building's maintenance.
• 1901 - Contagious disease caused the library to close once during January and February.
• 1903 - April 13, Trustees formed a committee to confer with the Wooster Board of Education to see if they would assume responsibility of the library. This would provide the library with real estate tax collection according to "An act authorizing Boards of Education to provide library privileges for city, village, and special school districts" passed by the Ohio Legislature on October 17, 1902. It is worthy to note
• 1903 - May 21, The Wooster Board of Education accepted and appointed the same Board of Trustees of the library. The library now becomes a school district library. Each teacher was issued a circulation card for school use that the teacher could check out for students' use the books required in the pupils' reading course.
• 1903 - June 23, Trustees examined several buildings sites and chose 304 N. Market St., Wooster, Ohio which they purchased from John Fawcett Larwill for $4,500.
• 1905 - April 15, Della M. Dice was elected library and given a salary of $30 a month. Mrs. Elizabeth McBride became her assistant. The Trustees received other applicants during this period, but no word is given why no action was taken. Rules for the Wooster Public Library and Museum
• 1905 - May, the building was ready and a dedication ceremony was held. The cost of the construction was $14,262, add to that $4,500 for land, architect's fee of $525 and other miscellaneous expenses make the total cost of the library $23,000.
• 1905 - Wooster Free Library Association changes name to Wooster Public Library and Museum

1808

• Founding of Wooster, Ohio

1812

• Organization of Wayne County, Ohio

1857

• Founding of a Library Association

1882

• Peoples Library Association established

1895

• Woman’s Christian Association organized with Reading Room for general public

1897

• Wooster Free Library Association was formed
• April 10, the committee hired its first librarian, Miss Bertha Ellsperman

1900

• Wooster Board of Education agreed to help maintain the library
• Changed from subscription library to library supported by levying tax

1901

• Miss Bertha Ellsperman relieved of her duty as librarian

1903

• The Wooster Board of Education agreed to the establishment of a School District Library
• Mr. James Mullins writes to Andrew Carnegie to ask for funds for a new building
• Gift of $15,000 made by Andrew Carnegie

????

• Property on the Northwest corner of Market and Larwill Streets was purchased from John Larwill
• Miss Della Dice becomes librarian

1910

• Gift of cases of mounted birds to Museum by Mr. James Mullins

1911

• Collection included 6,317 books, 29 monthly and 8 weekly magazines and 6 daily and three weekly newspapers.
• Shreve starts a library

1918

• Museum officially opens on second floor of the library
• New cases purchased by citizens of the community through the efforts of George T. Schwartz

1923

• Financial support through tax levy increased

1925

• School Branch opened in High School Building

1936

• Doylestown forms a library

1937

• Rittman library becomes part of the Wayne County Library

1938

• Shreve library becomes part of the Wayne County Library

1939

• Creston library becomes part of the Wayne County Library

1940

• Bookmobile service begins

1941

• Doylestown library becomes part of the Wayne County Library

1958

• Museum moves to the Wayne County Historical Society

1966

• Carnegie library razed

1967

• Dedication of the new Larwill Street Library that replaced the Carnegie Library

1985

• Wayne County Public Library became a member of CLEVNET- a regional automation system owned and operated by Cleveland Public Library.

1988

• Dalton library becomes part of the Wayne County Public Library

1991

• On Christmas Eve, at 10:45 a.m., the Wayne County Public Library circulated its 1 millionth item for the first time in one year.

2003

• Shreve library is renovated and expanded

2004

• West Salem volunteer branch becomes 6th branch of the Wayne County Public Library

2006

• Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Liberty Street Library

2007

• Dedication of the new Liberty Street Library

2008

• Dedication of the new Operations Center of the Wayne County Public Library

2016

• Dalton Branch renovated and expanded