The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-12
WEDNESDAY, MARCH, - 1907


HEADING ROOMS IL RICHMOND.
The question Of circulating Libraries IL,
at the present time receiving an unusual
degree Of attention al the North, and many
plans have been proposed. and many sus-
gcstions advanced that seemed likely 70 i'm
crease the number OF these libraries. and 90
extend She scope Of their practical useful
ness and educational influence. The ques-
zion is one of as much importance 90 South
cn as 20 Northern communities, and should
hc aeltltcd in the former in the same
thoughtful spirit VITA which 10 is now being
considered I'm the latter.
WHY is if not so agiiafeds The fact that
IL is not. is certainly not due 20 the want
ofntcrary tastes and Intellectual habits OF
ilic on the part az our people. We will
venture % say Chat there is not in the
United states single city among whose
better classes The degree of culture enjoyed
b. them ranges higher in proportion TO the
reldine facilities accessible than i'm Rich
mond to-day. Whatever limitation there
NINt I" IT'D fII' NN"IHIlNN.'lN RA NNA NtNift"""
towards books as compared with the incli-
nations Of northern communities in the
same direction. arises entirely from the
somewhat restricted opportunities which
have hitherto Gcon afforded them 20 culii-
vate their literary tastes as far as they
would have done under more favorable cir
clmstanccs. This being the case, why is It
ihat the city OF Richmond Is not in posses
sion Of circulating library on the scale of
those % be found no the North in cities
hardly exceeding il in the point Of popula-
ton. libraries which have proved 10 be so
useful in disseminating information among
The people:
The explanation lies unquostionably i'm
the fact that There has not yet been suiii-
cient accumulation of wealth by individual
citizens among us 20 lead one or more 20 do
nate large sums for the establishment of
such public institutions. With the cXccp
ton Of the great libraries attached TO The
various universities or belonging 10 the
States, there are comparatively few in this
country thatwere not originally founded by
men of enormous fortune. The Bates in
Boston. the Aston in New York, the Pratt
and Peabody in Baltimore. and others
which might Doe named, are very notable in-
stances that may be brought forward in
confirmation of the correctness Of this gem
Grad statement. These are an noble monu-
meuts Of ihe wise public spirit OF private
citizens whose philanihgopby took this per
manent form.
So far. The persons in this community
who, either I'm their life time and upon their
death, could have made a benefaction of
this general character. have not made 10,
not improbably because IL was impossible
for them TO DO 30 on scale which they con-
sidered as that which alone could accom-
plish the ends 90 be attained by such
institutions. But this is an error in opin-
ion which is % Dee earnestly deprecated and
which it is 20 be hoped, Will not hereafter
exercise The Influence upon individual
action which It has probably done in the
past
SO far, no individual citizen OF Richmond
has, on his own separate account, proceed
cd beyond the establishment Of reading
room. Mr. Thomas Nelson Page has rc-
Gently set an example in this respect that
is not only certain % Doe very beneficial i'm
itself 10 the welfare o. those Immediately
concerned, but which would probably lead
20 results of the widest scope and most per
mancnt character, iflolowed up by himself.
or initiated by others equally interested in
Attending as ample opportunities 20 our gem
oral public for acquiring information.
as the pecuniary generosity of our
citizens will allow. A number oi
such rcading-rooms in different parts
Of Richmond would offer facilities and
opportunities for reading 20 class
Of0ur population. whose members, under
existing circumstances, are almost wholly
cut oil from everything of the kind. These
reading rooms could be established al q
small expense and sustained no a cost that
seems tfiHing as compared with the advan-
taecs that would accrue from them, not
only Ia the way of pleasant occupation Of
time % those who would utilize them, but
also In the form of mental and moral m-
proycment Of the very highest value. Once
put In operation, each reading room would
have the careful and constant supervision
Of some person who was pecuniarily disin-
torested 30 Gar as 60 was concerned, and
who would bring TO bear an the results Of
his experience and cultivation TO ensure
the enlargement Of 10, usefulness in every
direction in which It's influence could De eN-
tended.
tmay be suggested that these reading
rooms might le established, in The first ina
stance, ia connection with The charity mis-
sions Of ihe various religious denomina-
tions. but it This would have the tendency,
in The opinion of some, 20 give them a too
sectarian character, then let = number OF
our citizens who are interested IN the gem
eral nature OF the work which Mr.. Page has
30 auspiciously iuaugurated, unite in de-
termlned, practical effort 20 extend IL in
every part Of the city.
Let a general system of reading rooms
b. once established, and the beneficial
results Of their operation be plain
~ shown. and there is reason
10 think that there are men Of large proper
IL ia the community, who would not per-
init their usefulness 20 be curiaied by
failure Of the means necessary 20 their sup
port. Moreover these reading rooms might
become In time the germ OF very great
circulating library, established for the good
OF every class Of our population, and fully
adapted 20 meet all their demands. such
library would ia the end receive sufficient
donations and beQuests 20 place it upon the
footing Of the most important libraries Of
tbc same Kind az The North.