The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1889-12-14

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basis and ought thereafter to take care
OF themselves aided by the interest which
would surely grow with the use of the
library.
would suggest that in whatever plan
beadopted the first consideration should be
simplicity. If a library is to be estab-
lished let it be library-a place where
one may go and, IN silence, read or write.
1t should not be social rendezvous.
The very moment it becomes so its chief
usefulness is destroyed, because those
who would have the most use for Ii.
brary would be driven away. There
should perhaps be an association: but
that association should be of the simplest
possible nature bound together only by
the common desire Of using the library
as library. This is not mere fancy,
it is reasonable. You can find more peo-
pie who have common desire to do one
particular thing than who desire to do that
particular thing and, in connection with
1t, something else totally at variance
with the first. There ought easily to be
a hundred persons in Phoebe who would
each pay 81 month for the privileges of
a library, Many men, butchers, bakers,
miners, transfers, lawyers, clerks, car
penters, bootblacks, merchants, BARRIERS,
barkeepers or what you will, and many
women, will occasionally have use for
such place. But, add a singing school,
and where are you? The useful man.
who spends there leisure hour, is, very
likely, tired. The ring of the hammer
and drill, the crack of the whip and the
Jangle OF harness, the clang of the sledge
and anvil, have echoed in his ears all
day and he wants q rest. His muscles
and his ears need it, He doesn't want
tie hear any more noise. That is as
rule he doesn't-and, while your singing
class will attract several giddy young
things in ribbons and, possibly, nun.
Der OF males who have not passed the
tight-boot- pomade period, it is
going to drive away the woman who
came to refer to the cyclopedia, or to
borrow the latest novel, and the man
who wants to write letter.
Add anything else, cotillon, high
tea (whatever that may beg, sewing
circle, liquor bar, if you please, and the
evil result to the library will be the
same. If you will agree with me so far
let us apply the same principle of SIM
plicity to the management of the library.
AS it is to bel assume it so-a public
library, there should probably be an as
ISOLATION. The only qualification for
membership should be the payment of
dues. compliance with the few simple
rules requisite as to silence, etc., and
otherwise inoffensive conduct while in
the library, and the proper care of the
books. No very complicated constitu.
ton and bylaws should be required.
There might be President, to preside
over such few meetings, the fewer the
better-as might be necessary. There
should be a librarian who should be paid,
who should give security, bond if nec-
essary, to account for property. This Ii.
brarian should act as Secretary also.
There could doubtless easily be found
unobjectionable young men or women
who would gladly take such place
keeping the library open from ten in the
morning till ten at night say, for very
moderate compensation-not to exceed,
say, fifty dollars month. There should
also be employed janitor, unless the IL
brarian could attend to the janitor's
duties.
There might be a Board of Trustees,
though in shifting varying community
that is Objectionable, as / am informed
that it is almost impossible here to keep
alive the boards of trustees of such well
established societies as the Masonic and
Odd Fellows Lodges. A Treasurer there
ought to be whose duties however should
be light, not more than, say, to receive
from the Librarian (who would do most
of the real labor the moneys received
once month, and pay the same official
in one payment monthly all the liabili-
ties incurred, with the sanction of the
President, or other proper sanction, ON
bill of items.
The duties of the Librarian should be
to see that the rules as to conduct in the
library were kept or promptly request
compliance or exit of the offending party,
to keep the place neat and orderly, to
make and keep catalogues, to exclusive