Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-01
A Free Public Library.
To Kennebec Journal:

To Kennebec Journal:
The citizens of Augusta may we'll be
proud of their new public library build
ing. 1t will, however, be a greater source
of satisfaction to the more thoughtful
when the use of tho books to be stored
therein, becomes free to all the people
The timely remarks of our excellent mayor
in his annual address respecting the desir-
ability of free library have excited gen.
eral interest and elected much favorable
comment.
For the encouragement of all who may
be interested in the free library move
ment the following letter is submitted to
the careful consideration of your readers
L. d. Carver State librarian.
Brunswick, Nc, March %, 1895.
Hon. L. d. Carver
Dear Sir: AS you have taken so great
an interest in the matter of free public
libraries in the State you will doubtless
be pleased to learn the result of our ex-
pertinent in that direction in Brunswick.
citation was formed here, and by raising
about $1,000 by subscription among tho
citizens books were procured and begin
ming made. The plan was to charge
membership fee and then yearly fee for
taking books. The membership fee was
50 00 and the fee for taking books ST. 90
per year. The library was popular from
the first and grew rapidly by gifts and
money obtained from entertainments.
The town gave it rooms, rent free and
5000. soon increased to $500 per year be-
sides. At the beginning of last year
there were between 5000 and 1000 vol
umes in the library.
But although the terms for use of books
were so reasonable and the library so gen
orally liked the number using it was rela-
lively small, and grew very little larger
from year to year, so tho end of eleven
years only few more than 100 persons
were regularly taking books and these
in general We're from well to-do families.
The citizens as a whole got only indirect
good from the library
At the annual town meeting of 1894
the directors of the library proposed to the
town that if the appropriation was in
creased to $500, they would try the expert
ment of a free library for one year from
May 1st. This was done and with the
following result; the free library begin
ming May Goth, 1894, or practically June
LIST, it having taken nearly all of May to
get the books ready for the changed
methods. During the month of June 1928
volumes Were issued; during the month
of July, 1926 volumes were issued; dur
ing the month of August, 1908 volumes
were issued during the month of Septem-
her, 1860 volumes were issued during the
month of October, 1890 volumes were
issued during the month of November,
1862 volumes were issued; during the
month of December, 1859 volumes were
issued during the month Of January, BOB
volumes We're issued; during the month
of February, 20S9 volumes were issued.
At the end of February in place of
something over 100 takers of books there
were 902 When it is further stated that
the regulations do not allow persons I'M
der fourteen to take books and not more
than three persons from any one family
it will be seen how widely the use of the
library extends throughout the town.
1t means that the library is. in truth as
well as name, public library for nearly
0UU iaflll1GS are uSlIiS IL.
OF course an appropriation of $500 per
year would not continue the experiment
another year and when the matter was
laid suuarely before the town, $1,000 was
voted without dissenting voice for che
year 1895. AS l said at the beginning !
trust that these facts may interest you
and you may be able to use them FOR the
announcement OF other towns which may
think of trying the experiment.
One thing certainly is shown by this,
that free library is appreciated by the
common people and that they will sup
port it if they have the chance. It was
with many misgivings that some of US
began the experiment We were told that
we better let well enough alone, that the
people did not want to read and never
would support US in the movement, and
that we would have to go back &c the old
plan of charging fee, with what little
surplus we had used up. But the facts
are as have given and illustrate the old
truth that it is safe to trust the people.
| believe that what we have done any
town in Maine can do, and will be the
better for doing The fact is the oblga-
ton of a town to provide means of educa-
ton to it's citizens does not cease when it
has provided schools for the children.
Very truly yours,
Franklin G. Robinson,
President of Brunswick Public Library
Association.