The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-10-23
TIE EYpoRTA LIBRARY.

THE EAP0RLA LIBRARY.
One of the significant events in this
years HISTORY of Emporia Is the now
completed establishment Of free IL
brary and reading room under the auspi-
ces of the city; an enterprise that is In
harmony with the characteristic EmpO-
ria spirit of encouragement for schools,
churches and Other agencies for popular
intelligence, and one that reflects
great credit on those whose ener-
getic, and often selfsacrifcing. work
mas given the impulse to and brought
about a result whose necessity has for so
many years been felt.
Unless we mistake the spirit of this
community, the Emporia library, ss an
institution, will grow, and when, in the
years to come, It is regarded with pride
as one Of the large educational factors in
this city, whose institutions for popu-
lar education Will ever be q source
of pride, there may be a desire
TO look back upon the history of its or
ganization. to review the difficulties
through which it was effected, and to
place the credit where it properly be-
longs. with those whose only expected
reward Is satisfaction with the good
their efforts would accomplish.
1t is NOT surprising that to the courage,
the enthusiasm and the work of Emporia
ladies-ior the ladies have been fore
most in many an other worthy
Emporia enterprise - the origin
and the success of the present EmDoris
library is due. Those who are familiar
with the long, hard struggle for life Of
the old Emporis Library association,
and with the history of the Emporia
Atheneum know what discoursgements
they had TO face, but the plan of the
ladies involved the establishment on
business principles and for permanent
life of a library that could be
profit to our community. Their
organization was effected a little less
thar year ago, under the presidency of
Mrs. ]. l. Kellogg.
1t is not the purpose Of this article to
trace IN detail the plans of the ladies as
from time to time they were decided
upon and carried out. II is sufficient to
say that in securing the few remaining
books of the old association as nucleus
for the new library. in awakening public
sentiment, in enlisting the CO operation
of the city government, and in procuring
funds for the purchase of new books,
they encountered series OF difficulties
that would have led to failure had their
spirits been less resolute, or their man
agement less sk!llful. From the Nor
NAL library, where the old books had
been placed, about 800 volumes were
turned over to the ladies, and last spring
committee consisting of Mrs. P. B.
Plumb, Mrs. L. A. Plat, Mrs. I. E.
Perley and Mrs. E. Trask raised
funds sufficient for the purchase
of thousand volumes more, the three
ladies first named being continued as a
committee of management, and to effect
arrangements to turn the library over to
the city. In June last the library was
opened in connection with the previ-
ously established DAILY NEWS Tree read
ing room, and has been SO continued
under the auspices of the ladies, until
the recent action of the city council
in levYIng a tax for Its maintenance
made 1t a city institution. 1t has now
been formally turned over to the city
council, and the work of the ladies is
done, except that an advisory committee
to be appointed by the mayor, may be
continued to act in cooperation with one
from the city council. Rules tor the
conduct of the library will soon be per-
tected and established by ordinance.
Meantime in the neV library quarters,
its advantages are made available to all
citizens
In the city council this enterprise has
had some staunch friends from the be-
ginning, and the mayor and members
of the council who supported it will
have no reason in the future to regret
this part OF their official record. Tue
mayor epitomized well the true spirit in
which this should be regarded when in
casting the decisive vote, he said: 81 dc
so because believe in library, and as
would vote to sustain our public
schools. so vote to sustain anything
that will make men and women better
and furnish good reading matter to the
public free of cost"
For the ladies who have been sn un,
firing and so successful in this impor-
tant work the public can have no words
but those of earnest and appreciatiYt
thanks. They have secured and turn C
over to the city, without expense to it
together with fixtures for library anC
reading room in good shape, a collection
Of valuable books judiclously selected
that with proper care il
the future will furnish the basil
for library worthy the good name, the
growth and the enterprise of EmporIa
Now let there be no niggardly policy
manifested in its support. Let the pub
lie show their appreciation of it by 1t
use, and let it be sustained with liberia
spirit. No enterprise will better repal
judicious public expenditure than thi
one, having so direct'a relation as it doe
/ IN DOOular infalliuanra and mOroEfu