Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-06-29
Third Article.J
Our Free Public Library.

Newspapers are our great historical
repositories, yet how few individuals
think it important to file them away so
as to make future reference possible
Applying the idea locally, a complete
file OF every newspaper published in Blu
chanan County would be of incalculable
value for historical reference, but it is
doubtful whether any person in the
county has thought it of sufficient i'm
portancc to actually preserve the pa
pers. 1t is part Of the plan of our
library to carefully preserve all newspa-
pers OF importance that come to it's
reading room. The value of these COM
plete files, few years hence, can hardly
be appreciated now. The papers receiv-
ed since the fire have been preserved,
but there is no suitable provision for
permanent arrangement Of the files. A
dust-prOOf closet with suitable shelves.
OF capacity sufficient to provide for all
the publications for eight or ten years
to come, could be constructed at cost
OF $40, and ought to be available at once
to preserve the files from confusion and
dust, but as in the case Of the glass en-
closure for the cabinet shelves, the
Board is 10th to use for this purpose
the funds needed so much more for the
purchase of books. Here, then, is an
other opening for voluntary effort.
So far have only referred to needs
of practical or utilitarian character-a
larger book list and suitable provision
for the preservation, arrangement and
display of the natural history collection
and the newspaper files. There is, be-
sides, in connection with the reading
room an esthetic deficiency which might
be remedied with very little sacrifice on
the part of individuals. No doubt many
of our citizens possess excellent maps,
carefully rolled up and laid away for
want of suitable wall space for their
display, and choice engravings or paint
ings with which they could part without
seriously marring the beauty of their
homes. How much these would add to
the beauty of our reading room already
the most cheerful and attractive in the
State of Iowa Maps of the world, the
United States, the State of Iowa, Blu
chanan County and the City of indie
pendence, are greatly needed. Who will
donate them? "A table is especially pro-
vided in the reading room for stereo-
scope views. Donations of views will
be thankfully acknowledged.
O, for some local Astor to step for
ward with a generous endowment for
this benefcent institution! During the
past two years it has asked little or
nothing Of the generosity of our people
beyond the small tax paid proportionate-
ly by all property holders. Since it's Or
ganization it's Directors have sacrificed
in the aggregate many weeks (some of
them months) of their time in their ef-
forts to make it a useful and every way
successful benefaction to the public,
without thought of other compensation
or reward than the satisfaction of hav-
ing contributed toward the enlargement
of the intellectual and moral activities
of our city. Are there not many others
who are now willing to make small pc
cuniary sacrifice for the attainment of
the same ends?
Something about books next week.
i t. LOOMS /