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WELLINGTON

EARLY LIBRARY HISTORY
 
The first library was opened by a lawyer named William Black in 1884-85, a small lending library. In 1895, Mrs. Katie Sniggs, Mrs. Lulu Frantz-Whitson and W. H. Schulte sponsored a reading room and the various societies took turns operating it. In 1898, the Prentis Study Club was organized and named for Mrs. Noble Prentis, of Topeka, wife of a widely known Kansas writer and historian, who was herself a leader in the Women's Federated Club movement. In 1899, Mrs. Prentis came to visit the club named after her and suggested that the young ladies find some worthwhile project to work on; thus was born the idea of a library for Wellington.
 
Photo: Carnegie Library in Wellington Kansas


 
On New Year's Day, 1900, a big reception was held. The gentlemen were invited to attend, the price of admission being a book in place of the customary card. About 200 books were obtained in this manner. The library was opened in the back of a shoe store and later moved to the bank building on Seventh Street.
 
When the new city hall was being built the club women were promised two rooms on the second floor, one to be used for the library. The Prentis Study Club members asked the mayor to arrange for the city to take over the library. The Wellington Library Association, with a capital stock of $5,000.00 sold at $1.00 per share, was set up. The Women's Federation donated $1,200.00 for furnishings. In March, 1908, it was determined to incorporate the library under the state law relating to public libraries, but it was voted to maintain the name Prentis Library.
 
THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY
 
On April 1, 1914, at the spring election the voters approved the support of a public library by a vote of 3-1. In May, 1914, the Wellington City Library board held its first meeting and voted to begin the process of erecting a library building. On April 10, 1915, it was voted to buy a site from the Long-Bell Lumber Co. at the corner of Seventh Street and Jefferson Avenue for $3,500.00. The board had begun negotiations with Andrew Carnegie, and on April 19, 1915, the Carnegie Corporation stated that it would give $17,500.00 for a library building.
 
The name of the architect has been lost but the contract was awarded to J. H. Mitchell. The building was completed in December, 1915, but remained vacant for sometime due to a delay in receipt of the new furniture. Meanwhile, Miss Flower and Miss Hackney, the librarians, cataloged books. The library building was accepted from the contractor on June 12, 1916, was dedicated June 19, 1916, and was informally opened to the public July 1, 1916. (The new furniture still had not been received.)