Accompanying a history of Warren's public library was this article about Emma Jo Cain, one of its founders: "A Dynamo Continues to Serve Warren Library" was the headline of a l973 Echoes-Sentinel article about Emma Jo Cain, one of the founders of the library. Calling her "a tiny dynamo" and "the guiding light of the township library during the past 25 years," the newspaper recalled that Mrs. Cain had been associated with the library from the time it consisted of a bookcase in the hallway at Central School. "Between those early days and today's well-stocked attractive library, Mrs. Cain and friends put in a lot of hard work, concern, sweat and maybe most important, love. "Mrs. Cain served for awhile as children's librarian, when she and a friend and former librarian here Mrs. Zoia Horn decided to raise the necessary funds to expand the library.... "Together the two women set out after the businessmen in the township to raise funds for expansion. They promised a plaque in the new libary to everyone that donated over $100. "That was in the l950s and it seems almost naive now and ludicrous, we set a goal of $8000 and we had a tough time making it," Mrs. Cain said. "There were rummage sales, library supporters went door to door, called people, we nagged everybody, and also continued to run the library...." "A former resident George Haydu served as finance chairman for the campaign. Then the late Philip Levin donated $1000. "Then according to Mrs. Cain the Lions Club joined in support of the library expansion efforts. It was in l958 that the handful of library workers, with Mrs. Cain in the lead, asked the Township Committee for space for library facilities. "With a budget of $1000 and about 5000 books, some belonging to the Somerset County Library, the township library moved into a small side room in the Municipal Building.... "The Lions Club donated magazine racks, the auxiliary some books. Mrs. Cain recalls those days with excitement: "We moved into our first real library, there was no telephone, only a part-time librarian, the roof leaked and there was not enough heat." "We worked with our coats and gloves on, and it's pretty hard to stamp books with woolen mittens on," Mrs. Cain smiled. "But our library was started on its way. We served as a guideline for many budding county libraries in those days, we were proud and happy. We had come a long way from a bookcase in the school." In the early l960s Mrs. Cain served as President of the library's Board of Trustees. |