The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-04-13
For the Ga;stse.
A Public Library.
Mr.. EDITOR:


of your paper, Il have been pleased to per-
ceive an effort making to commence the en-
dowment of public library in your city.
Nothing is more indicative of sound spir-
it of enterprise and progress, than such an
undertaking. Public Libraries are the most
desirable monuments that can be raised 10
perpetuate the present age. In cur country
they may more properly be termed the pill
lars Oh which may rest most securely the lab
RI Of our free institutions.
But it is nee iless to atte mpt to laud such
institutions, their usefulness is acknowledge
ed and recognized, wherever the school
house and the church, the alphabet and the
bible, exert their appropriate influence.
A more practical question is-how can
permanent results be best reached! By
what means can such library be best estab-
! lishcdl
! | propose to offer the association, through
your paper, few suggestions on this point,
derived from some opportunities of observa-
ton and experience; certainly with sincere
wish to assist in this worthy design
lst-A place is, we may say, the first re-
qnisite in the permanent establishment Of a
public library As the old philosophers used
10 tell us that mature abhors a Vacuum" SO
we may say empty shelves crave to be oc-
cupied by slightly books. ANY one who has
not paid any attention to the subject, would
| | am sure be surprised to find how rapidly
Accommodations of such matters are made, by
having place for safe deposite, All great
museums and libraries are a proof OF this,
and it is much more often subject OF future
regret, that more ample provisions had not
been made at the start to accommodate the
material thus accumulated, than dsappoint-
ment in scarcity.
Let then the first effort be to secure a
place with ample accommodations, or such
as can be readily enlarged to meet prospect
i've wants
2nd-Swtgm is al .mportantin giving per-
lnanence to such an institution There
should be Il regularly organized association
) with chartered privileges and liabilities Sc
; curing due system of accountability
, Strict and impartial rules of membership
should be enforced and an equable plan ct
inanciering. levying of taxes and meeting
necessary expenditures &C., be adopted
The Offices of librarian and treasurer
should be permanent, and proper services
secured by a moderate salary. The other
r offices should be made respectable and OBJ
iects of honorable emulation. In one word
strict, uniform plan, should govern the
whole external arrangement and details OF
} such an institution.
i sd-Interest should be maintained oy
adapting the character Of the institution 10
the public taste; by securing the personal
corporation ofas largea portion OF the mem
Ihers If the community as can be safely en-
pIoyco in conducting the business, and I'd
king part in the public exercises a plan
of honorary membership, may be made use
4 tul in eliciting foreign interest. Cores
pondence and exchanges with kindred asso'
ciations, should be kept up. Pubic lee-
turc. should be maintained regularly through
the winter months. In fine the institution
should constantly aim at the republican idea
of teins the exponents of public sentiment
and the elevators Of public taste.
C. C.. PARRY.
!, !Ns.o York, Apr. lst, 1854