The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-11-24
PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
An important Factor in the Education
of the Public.
Nankato's Great Need Discussed by
the Social Science Club.

tions which has been considered by
the social science club, was discussed
at it's meeting last evening. The
needs of the city were fully set forth
and the question of how to get at the
matter duly discussed. All agreed
that the matter ought TO be agitated
and public sentiment aroused to 9
point where womething would be done
in the matter. The paper upon the
subject was presented by Prof. U. .
Cox, which We reproduce in full:
The history of public libraries is
one that is long and full of interest
had we time 10 devote TO it, but ouI
present needs can better be shown by a
study of some of the existing libraries
and library systems then by study OF
those of the past However, just a
word about the library movement IN
the United States may not be out OF
place.
The first library was established in
the jamestown colony in 1861 and con
sisted of a very few volumes. The
second library was established at Har-
ward College at the time of its. endoW-
ment in 1888. About the same time
a library was established in Philadel-
phia which still exists and is called
the Philadelphia Library Coz pany.
BENJAMIN Franklin was concerned ia
it's establishment Others follow
later on but all, as far as | know,
were both established and maintained
either by donation or assessments on
the members belonging TO the COM
pany.
In 1885 the state of New York at
tempted the school library system.
A law was passed appropriating 500
600 year Tor the purchase of books
for the different districts and reQuir-
ing an equal amount to be raised by
taxation and to be added TO the sum
and applied TO the same purpose.
Massachusetts tried the same plan
but abandoned il after about Il years,
being superseded by free town libra
res. Several other states tried the
system and in few it succeeded but
in most it failed. Some of the states
are now agitaJing the question again
and beginning to re establish school
libraries. Our own state has such d
system of libraries.
Nearly ALL we might say, of the im-
pOrtant cities and towns OF our &C un-
Try are now establishing or maintain
ing public libraries, the majority Of
them supported by direct tax. Many
have been esta blished by donation
with the understanding that the city
should support them by paying
certain sum TO meet the current eX-
penseS anG pay for the new books.
But why establish public library?
Is there any real good to come from
money invested? These are the ques-
lions THAT must be considered before
a tax Can be assessed on the people
to support such an Institution.
First of all there is to be considered
the educational side Probably half
of the people in all our cities and
towns own very few books besides
those which their children use in
school and under the free-teXt- book
system even this little library will
disappear from the shelf IT table and
the only reading matter left will be
the occasional newspaper with its re-
cord Of murders and other crimes. is
there any need of public library I'M
der such conditions, and they are ex-
Isting conditions? Some persons pre-
sent the argument, but it is not ar
gument that the people will not read
if there is free library. If any one
is in doubt let him spend an afternoon
and evening in and around a public
library. Boys and men, similar to
those who in our own city are spend
ing their time on the street corners
and in the saloons, are there return
ing books that they have been read
ing, and Withdrawing others for the
coming week. Even the presence of a
book has a great iDflueEce. 1t will
give US a desire to read. For myself,
if go into public library and look
ever the list of books in my special
line l always find something that IS
new, something that would not pur-
chase but since it is free / will with
draw it and read it. | believe it is
the experience of every person who
visits a library. Thus is certain
part Of education undertaken that
would never be touched if it were not
for the public library. In reaching
people who cannot afford to buy books
and who have finished their book edu-
tation without, the public library
does its gratest good.
More than for education alone, may
it not be a saving of money for the
CITY to invest small amount in a
public iibrary? Is IL not probable
that enough money could be saved
each year by the lessening Of the
police for e, the reduction in the
boarding of ,transgresSors OF the Law
at the station house and by otheJ
things where the expense of the Cit.
would be reduced by the education o
the people, to meet the expense of I
public library? This last point can
not be proved by figures but it is ;
thought we'll worth our consideration
If it is fact that the public libar.
is a great factor in the education OF
city's people and that at least par
of the money TO maintain it could b
saved in the city's expenses on tn
account of such an institution neet
there be any hesitancy in increasing
it?
Suppose that the money to maintain
a public library is all 20 come in ad
dition to the present taxes. how mucl
will they be increased? The ansWe
to this must depend on number OF
conditions First if room could b.
made in the city building for lib
rary the expense Of rent, which would
be large item need not be counted
This would leave the necessary add
To Of