Ida B. Hanes (also spelled as Haines) was The Urbana Free Library's first librarian of note. She served the Library for exactly fifty years, beginning her tenure on November 1, 1874, and retiring on November 1, 1924. Unfortunately, she doesn't get to claim the role of The Urbana Free Library's first librarian. That title belongs to Samuel H. Hook, a University of Illinois Civil Engineering student who was fired for fabricating his credentials after holding the position for four months.
Hanes (1854-1939) was born October 25, 1854, in Irish Grove, Menard County, Illinois. She lived in Lincoln, Illinois, for several years before coming to Urbana in 1874. Once in Urbana, she lived with her cousin Francis Granger "Frank" Jaques and his daughter Minnie at 207 W Elm Street until her death on June 12, 1939. Frank Jaques was a founding member of the Urbana Library Association, from 1872-1874, and helped lead the transition to The Urbana Free Library. Jaques continued as the treasurer and a library board member from 1874 until his death in 1896. When her father became ill and could no longer maintain his position as Library treasurer, Minnie Jaques took up his role in 1896. She was officially designated by the city council in 1898. She held the position of library treasurer for over fifty years.
Minnie Jaques and Ida B. Hanes seated in the front row.
In a 1923 Daily Illini article, Hanes admits she took the position temporarily. She describes the Library's early years as especially trying with book purchases only being possible through voluntary contributions. Frank Jacques, in his role as treasurer, undertook annual book-buying trips to Chicago and New York City on behalf of the Library and solicited money from friends and colleagues for book purchasing. Hanes joined him on such a trip in June 1884.
She recounts that the Library's funds were so insufficient that the ladies of Urbana gave bazaars and entertainments to raise funds to pay rent for the Library. During those years, Miss Hanes was paid $12 a month for her services. That’s equivalent to $335.00 per month today.
Ida B. Hanes' first paycheck from The Urbana Free Library dated December 1, 1874. Notice how the word Association has been crossed out and Free has been inserted in the title.
From its inception in 1874, The Urbana Free Library was supported by the mill tax. The one-mill tax collected $1 for every $1000 of assessed property tax in Urbana annually. This money was used to support the Library in every way, including rent payments, buying books, subscribing to magazines, paying the librarian, and more. In 1888, the tax was increased to a two-mill tax to meet the needs of the growing library.
For several years, Hanes alone operated the day-to-day running of the Library. She was responsible for opening the Library at the appropriate time and overseeing all aspects of its operation, including keeping a register of all books, recording the numbers of visitors, retrieving books for patrons, reshelving all materials, and maintaining the quiet environment of the Library. She also had to put up a $200.00 bond to pay for all books and Library property that cannot be “satisfactorily account[ed] for.” An assistant librarian position was added to the staff in 1909.
The Library Board and its respective committees oversaw the Library's finances (including signing off on all purchases, no matter how small), policy creation, room rental, book recommendations and purchases, and overall cleanliness of the facilities. Over her tenure, the Board gave Miss Hanes more professional responsibilities. At the December 6, 1881, Board meeting, she was authorized to use her discretion in purchasing books for the Library, and on March 2, 1886, she was entrusted with weeding the Library's collection and removing books that were no longer fit for circulation.
Hanes was the head librarian of every iteration of The Urbana Free Library through the opening of The Samuel T. Busey Memorial Library in 1918. She supported and advocated for the new Library and the Urbana community. In January 1917, before Mary Busey announced her donation, Hanes was the lead spokesperson at an Urbana Men's Civics Club meeting where she promoted the Library's services and the need for a new building. According to Hanes, "One visit to the Library, you can see for yourselves. We need more room."
When Hanes retired, she earned $80.00 monthly ($1,486.00 in today’s terms). While her wages did rise over her 50-year tenure, they did so slowly. In an October 29, 1924, Urbana Daily Courier article, Hanes said she only asked for a raise once, in 1918, when she discovered that she was making the same wage as the janitor. Her wage jumped from $60.00 to $70.00.
From The Urbana Free Library Board minutes dated July 17, 1918.
Within a year, according to The Urbana Free Library Board minutes, she was again drawing the same wage as the janitor. The same Courier article written two days before her retirement recounts the following sentiment:
Basing deductions on what library school graduates will demand in the way of salary in the future, it is easy to see that Urbana owes a debt to Miss Haines that it can never pay.
Mrs. Bertha Putney, a University of Illinois library school graduate, replaced Ida B. Hanes. Mrs. Putney was instated with a salary of $100.00 per month and served the Urbana community for three years, resigning in July 1927.
Sherrie Bowser
Archives Librarian