D. Robert Carter

The first free public library sponsored by Provo city opened its doors on January 2, 1906. This library received the support of the public from the very beginning, and the number of books it housed grew continuously, as did the number of books circulated.

The Provo City Library Board anticipated that the new library would soon outgrow its small room in the basement of the old county courthouse. Dr. Fred W. Taylor, the library board's president, told the city council the library would willingly vacate the basement room at any time.

The year 1907 began with a demonstration of public support for the library. The women's clubs of Provo, including the Relief Societies, YMIA, Primary, Utah Sorosis, Nineteenth Century Club, Women of Woodcraft and others, organized a benefit entertainment and earmarked all of the proceeds for the library. Mrs. Thomas N. Taylor served as chairman.

The women held their two-day fair in a large upstairs room in the Knight Block. In the evenings, gasoline lamps furnished for the occasion by Mr. L. J. Eldred illuminated the hall. Elwood Bachman and two Cluff brothers prepared an electrical display in the room.

The Enquirer informed its readers that the chamber was "transformed by booths filled with those dainty and useful articles that only the deft and willing fingers of a woman can make."

In these booths, the women sold homemade quilts, aprons, sofa cushions, house jackets, children's apparel and candy. A fish pond booth entertained the youngsters.

A rather singular booth advertised "Fortunes told for all; and all guaranteed." A charming young gypsy foretold many future events and even recalled some events from the past. When Mayor Frisby entered her booth, she reviewed some of his trials and triumphs and revealed a few of his love scenes from long ago.

"Homemade" food could be found at the fair. The women provided luncheons that proved to be popular. About 350 people ate a meal at the fair.

Nearing the conclusion of the bazaar, J.T. Farrer auctioned some of the remaining articles. Donated house plants that had been used for decorations were sold. Patrons who felt slightly sinful even participated in a raffle.

Programs furnished entertainment for those gathered in downtown Provo during both nights of the fair.

Brigham Young University's band, its orchestra plus a brass quintette provided music, several townspeople and students offered recitations, and Mayor Frisby and Dr. Taylor gave short speeches. The whole extravaganza ended with a ball at the Mozart Dance Hall.

Through the selfless volunteerism of the women of Provo, aided by donations from many local businessmen, the fair succeeded in raising $711.04 and 30 donated books. All of the money went to the betterment of the library.

Also in February 1907, local businessman L. J. Eldred donated to the library the proceeds from one night's business at his roller skating rink. The Enquirer urged other businesses to follow suit. Provo's women's clubs announced that a kangaroo court would dispense mock justice during the evening at the rink.

The proceeds were not as high as expected, although the affair raised $40. "The public seemed to partake of the spirit of the work very much in the same way that some of the committee did -- they remained home," the Enquirer chided Provo's residents.

In addition to this financial aid, encouraging news from the Provo City Council and the Utah State Legislature helped make February a memorable month for the library board and the people of Provo.

The City Council offered the library board a site for a new library building.

The plot was situated on the south side of Center Street between University Avenue and 100 East. The 28-feet-wide, 100-feet-deep lot lay west of the old fire station and adjoined the corner lot on University and Center selected by the U.S. Government for the site of a new post office.

Good news on the state level transpired when representative B.H. Bower introduced a bill asking the legislature for an increase on the one-third mill library tax. Logan cooperated with Provo on passage of this bill, but Ogden opposed it, claiming to have all the money it needed under the current law. Representatives of the Provo Library Board lobbied for the bill when they visited the legislature. They also campaigned for it in Ogden.

When Senator Bullen of Logan introduced a similar bill in the Senate, Bower withdrew his bill and supported Bullen's legislation. The library bill passed in both houses, and Governor John C. Cutler signed it into law. The new statute raised the library tax to a maximum of one mill.

Soon after the law passed, Provo's Enquirer announced that more than 1,000 library books were being read every month "by the rich and the poor, the learned as well as the aspiring."

Now that the new tax made a sufficient maintenance fund possible, the newspaper's new editor, Heber C. Hicks, campaigned for the construction of a new library as soon as possible. If a local philanthropist could not be found, Hicks said, another appeal should be made to Andrew Carnegie.

The library board reopened negotiations with Carnegie, and in April, Dr. Taylor received a letter from the wealthy man's private secretary, James Bertram. The communication stated that if Provo would agree to furnish a site for the library and $1,750 annually for the proposed building's upkeep, Carnegie would donate $17,500 for a new library building.

The matter came up in the next city council meeting on April 16, 1907. Dr. Taylor read Carnegie's letter to the council. Councilor Evans stated that the new library tax law made it possible for Provo to raise as much as $2,400 a year for library purposes. He presented a resolution approving the construction of a new library. At the urging of Mrs. T.N. Taylor, Rev. J. Challen Smith, Dr. George H. Brimhall, William M. Roylance and others, the council passed the resolution.

During the same council meeting, Dr. Taylor urged the council to allocate extra money so that a $20,000 building could be constructed. The council refused to provide the extra funds.

Taylor also told the city council that the library board was considering several other sites for the building, in addition to the one offered by the city. The other lots were located on 300 West Center, 100 South University Avenue, on the north side of Center Street in the middle of the block between University Avenue and 100 East and further up Center Street on the corner of 100 East.

The library board met on April 26 and selected the site located on the corner of 100 East Center. Jesse and Amanda M. Knight and others bought the site from BYU and donated it to the city for the purpose of building the library.

Up to this point, the people of Provo had been united on the library question, but when the library board chose a site on the east side of town, some west side residents took offense. During the April 29 city council meeting, Simon P. Eggertsen and John. E. Bott voiced their disapproval and asked the city council not to approve of the site on 100 East.

To be continued

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page B2.