The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-01-11
PUBLIC linRARY-ls RI PRAoTT-
NARHHH

PUBLIC iisRARY.ls RI PRAoTI-
EDITORS COURIER There are few
Of our citizens, probably, who do not
feel the pressing need Of i public
library and reading room. There are
few who do not feel the need of a
library Of reference, books for ordi-
nary reading, and a wider range of
periodical literature than we have in
our homes. When visiting other
towns Of less size and younger than
our own, finding well selected we'll.
kept libraries, one feels that it is q
reproach to Ottumwa that We have
no public library. Strangers almost
invariably express surprise at the
fact when among us.
The Legislature of our State at it's
last session, with a wise recognition
Of the influence of these educational
institutions enacted "That it shall be
lawful for the city council of any city
city of the first or second olass cot.
tumwa second CLASSY in this State, to
levy annually a tax not exceeding
one halt mill on the dollar of the tax
able property in such city for the
purpose of maintaining therein q free
public library and reading room,
Provided, a suitable lot and building
shall be first donated to the
city for that purpose and any city
of the first or second class
is hereby authorized to receive such
donation in trust forever for the ben
eft of it's citizens"
This leaves two plans open to us,
or possibly a combination of both.
One is the plan pursued in cities
where their libraries were organized
before the passage of this law ; that
is, the membership plan, each mem.
Der pay an initiation fee of five or
ten dollars, and an annual fee of
nearly an equal amount. In many
cities not so large as ours a good IL
brary and reading areroom main
tanned in this way. This method is
also frequently aided by oontribu-
tions from citizens of from 500 to
$4,000, the latter amount having been
given by Senator Grimes to start the
Library at Burlington. The other
plan is to secure by private subscrip-
lions a sufficient amount to purchase
3 lot and building and to ask the
council, under the above act, to levy
a sufficient amount each year to sup
port and increase the library. As
the act allows the establishment of
such bylaws az are necessary for the
government of the library, it would
demand some rule requiring that
persons should deposit the worth
Of book before taking it
from the room, and, there xlgAt. be
a modification of this rule, 60 that
persons paying q certain annual fee
should be exempt from this require
ment, and this amount could be
used also for the library and reading
room.
-sy The City Council has taken the
initiative in tho matter by appoint
ment Of a Committee, and it is ex-
pected that a meeting will be called
at an early day to ASCERTAIN thu
amount of interest felt by tho citi-
zens in the movement. Let us have
q full canvass of the matter, and
agree upon some plan for q library
and reading room that will succeed.
While other important improve
ments are progressing in u city,
surely we ought not to neglect this
that should have received attention
long ago. The total valuation of
our city is now $1,644,346 this
would give us s822.67 each year
which will of itself maintain q good
library and reading room. Cannot
money enough be raised to purchase
o lot and building in some convenient
location :? Let us come together and
see. y