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The Olive Tree |
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The Olive Tree |
The Special Collections Department recently received a gift of the records of
the Old Town Library League. Formed in October 1934 by a small group of young
women of Old Town, its goal was to raise funds for the public library, noted as
“in dire need of money to purchase new children’s books and more recent books of
outstanding authors and playwrights.” Starting with 11 charter members in a year
in which the town could only spend $14.00 to buy books, the League has held
teas, benefit dances, card parties and trash and treasure sales to bring needed
funds to the library. At its 50th anniversary in 1983, it was noted that the
League had only a single objective, service to the library, which in the words
of a long-time member, enabled it “to do everything legal and decent” to achieve
its goal. In addition to purchasing many books, the League has raised money to
buy furniture and lights for the children’s room, participated in a book
delivery service to home-bound users, and paid to microfilm the local town
newspaper.
The League records include handwritten minutes of meetings starting with the
first on October 11, 1934, as well as scrapbooks and photographs of its members
and activities. This collection joins records of other women’s social and civic
clubs in the Special Collections Department to provide a look at an important
segment of life in Maine in the 20th century.
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