The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-12
OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

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The indianapolis City Library is an institu
tion which has become so essential to the COM
fort and convenience of the public that an ar
gument to prove It's utility is hardly necessary.
To all classes of professional men it is almost
indispensable, supplying as it does the def
ciencies in their private collections of books,
and offering opportunities for investigation,
even in the special domain of each, not other
wise open to them.
AS an auxiliary to the schools the library is
invaluable. Teachers depend upon it in pur-
suing their own studies, and will one and all
testify to the benefits it confers upon their
pupils. Under the modern and improved
school methods much more is required of
student than he can gather from single text
book or from the words of his teacher. Given
subject and he must seek information
concerning it from whatever source
he may, and what fountain Of knowl-
edge within his reach like that of
the public ibraryf This system of teaching
cannot be followed to advantage without such
aid, since the facilities thus offered are the
only ones accessible to many pupils and alone
make it possible for them to meet the require
ments of their instructors. With the library
at their command all are on an equal footing.
The benefits to the general public in the ex-
istence of library where the literary treasures
of the world are free to all, and of the read
ing-room, where is given the opportunity of
an acquaintance with current literature, can
not be overestimated. There is no question
in the minds of those in position to judge
munity have been promoted to a remarkable
degree since the establishment of the library,
nor will they hesitate to give the credit of
such improvement largely to this institution.
Admitting its value then, it naturally
follows that so important an adjunct
to the intellectual and moral elements
of the community should not be al
lowed to deteriorate. If it was worth estab
fishing it is worth keeping up and improving
in accordance with the demands of the time.
1t will be a surprise to many to learn that, un-
der present financial conditions, this cannot
be done. The fund arising from the special
library tax amounts to about SO, 900; this, sup
plemented by fines and minor sources Of reve
L., r. k1&o -, %In DO 81 hi
brary committee to something over SIC, 900.
The running expenses of the institution are
reduced to the lowest possible limit
but, after the payment of salaries
to librarian and assistants and the necessary
outlay for rent, heat, light and other Incl
dentals, not enough remains to keep the books
now on hand in good condition, to say nothing
of purchasing new ones. The annual ex-
penses for reminding average 81, 800, but less
than this amount must suffice for all purposes
as the matter now stands. Already, as re-
suit of this state Of things, one hundred
periodicals hitherto received at the reading
room have been discontinued. Formerly the
School Board supplied the deficiencies in the
library fund from the school fund, but that
body having become involved in debt, no
further aid is possible from that source. The
Indianapolis library is an excellent one, but
to keep it so necessitates a constant and lib
eral outlay. It should have an income of at
least 500, 000 To secure this an increase in
the special tax is needed, and no citizen
should object to it. Steps should be taken at
once toward securing the proper enactment
for this purpose from the coming Legislature,
and in the meantime measures should be
taken to supply the temporary deficiency. An
emergency exists.
The condition of the State Library is more
deplorable than that of the city, for the reason
that the appropriation for its maintenance has
been inadequate to the requirements for such
an extended period that the result is to be
seen in broken-backed, dilapidated volumes
and an absence of many works which should
be in every collection of the kind For
number of years $500 was the annual allow
ance made for the purchase of books, and this
paltry sum was by the last Legislature re-
duced to $500. Three hundred dollars will
buy good many books of certain kind, but
in the purchase of encyclopedias, histories
and other standard works in binding and type
suitable for such library it will not 90 far
towards keeping it up with the times. No
neighboring State makes such pitifully in
sufficient appropriation for such purpose
Ohio, the lowest in the list next to Indiana.
devotes $1,000 to the purchase of books for
its library, and this sum may be increased at