Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-01
A Communication.
Editors Kennebec Journal:

EQltOfS kennGDec Journal.
/ have read very carefully the re-
port of the conference between the COM
mittee of the city government and the
trustees of the Lithgow library, rela-
tive to the present closed shelf system.
| do not recall that there has ever
been seen, in the history of Augusta
a stronger petition than that presented
to the city government for the adop-
ton of the open shelf system. In the
intelligence, the culture, the solid
worth of the citizens whose names it
contained, it presented what is prob
ably the strongest document of the
kind ever presented to our city fathers.
Is it to be treated with contempt? Are
the wishes of these leading citizens of
Augusta, a number of whom gave sub
stantial contributions to the new
library building. to carry no weight in
this matter? l do not recall to have
seen public sentiment more stirred up
over a matter in years.
Mr.. Cornish is reported to have read
a few communications from other
Maine libraries favoring the closed
shelf system. Well. we remember to
have read a very long and imposing
list of such authorities, as published
in the Journal. some weeks ago. favor
ng the open shelf system. 1t is evident
that authorities differ, and we very
much doubt whether the weight of au-
.hority will be found upon the side of
the closed shelves. AS | gather from
the report of Mr. Cornish's remarks
about the only thing that approached
The dignity Of an argument, was the
assertion that the open shelf system
would require more help in the library
Wen. what of that? | do not think
anyone would question but what an
other young lady assistant would be
quite all the extra help that could pos
IDLY he necesSitated by the proposed
hange. This is Il matter of about
800 a year. | KNOW of several gentle
men who viii undertake to raise this
tmount within day or two, among
he Signers OF the peoples big petition.
1t strikes me that the trustees of
ihrary or any other public institution
nay well be governed by the wishes
f the people whose taxes they spend.
If it is question of more help in
he library. why not give the people
L tietItt " 81 " iitliitl VI ilDt tHtN
ire willing to pay it. before deciding
whether or not such a request of the
itizens OF Augusta as was presented
o the city government at its last
Meeting is to be dsregarded?
1t is folly in a little city like our own.
where the crowd at the library. even
IN the busiest days of the week. is
never a large one. to assume that the
anne red tape and ceremonious routine
must be observed. that obtains in
cities like Boston and New York. We
are not yet of metropolitan proper
tons, and there seems to he no very
good reason Why we should adopt met
ropolitan methods.
l do not think anyone will be dis
posed to charge the citizens of Au
yusta with discourtesy for petitioning
the city government.
Let us nave no privileged class in
connection with this library or any
other public institutions; but let the
same fair. just and generous treatment
be accorded all classes of our citizens.
| know that the people of Augusta
are thoroughly aroused on this ques
ton, and Will not look with compla-
cency on any smothering of their pc
tition.
CITIZEN