A regular meeting of the Free Library Committee took place at the Free Library on Friday, the 9th of the month at 7 p.m. The following members were in attendance: Alderman McNiece, Councillors Slattery, Johnson, Clune, Murphy, Bradshaw, and Cuddihy, as well as Messrs. Whelan, Buckley, O’Dwyer, and Meany. On the motion of Mr Whelan, Alderman McNiece chaired the meeting, with Mr D.L. Meany acting as secretary.

The Chairman began by reading the notice of the meeting, which outlined the agenda items as “fixing the day and hour of monthly meetings in the future” and “considering a letter from Lord Limerick’s Agent.” He pointed out that due to the absence of Mr Nolan, the Town Clerk, and his assistant, the latter item could not be addressed.

Mr Slattery proposed that the meeting be adjourned and that public attention be drawn through the press to the absence of the committee’s chairman, officers, and the majority of its members. Mr Whelan suggested that before adjourning, a resolution should be passed to determine the future meetings of the committee. He stated that this matter had been discussed in a previous meeting and had been adjourned to the current one. Mr Murphy seconded Mr Whelan’s proposal.

Mr Slattery expressed his inability to support Mr Whelan’s motion, as he believed that this issue should be revisited when the absent members, along with the Secretary, were present. He also raised doubts about the legality of the present meeting. Mr Murphy emphasized the urgency of resolving the matter without further delay and strongly criticized the absent members.

On a vote, all members except Mr Slattery voted in favour of Mr Whelan’s motion, which was declared carried. Mr Slattery suggested that the other items on the agenda be addressed in a special meeting. Mr Whelan proposed that a meeting be called for the following Friday, the 16th, at 8 p.m. This proposal was unanimously approved.

The Chairman commented on the closure of the library on Thursday afternoons, which he considered highly inadvisable in the interest of the working class. Mr Slattery gave notice of a motion for the next meeting, stating that “the reading rooms remain open on Thursday evenings in the future, and that the librarian and assistant have half-holidays on Thursday and Friday, respectively.”

The meeting was then adjourned.

Limerick Echo – Tuesday 13 September 1904