The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-15
PLANS or ACTION.

The host plans OF action for the Fedora
tion 10 adopt are, in my judgment, as fol-
lows:
/ TO secure the establishment OF free
public libraries IN those citcs and towns
where the limit OF taxation allowed by law
has not been reached and whore the gov
el.ning bodies can b. persuaded to appgO-
priato the public funds for this purpose.
This can be dono under the general law al
ready quoted. The only thing necessary
is for the city council to act.
.. To start subscription libraries In
places where the city council can not or
viii not appropriate public funds,
3. Where neither OF the above plans can
b. carried out, to make Il beg;nning. how
over small. by osablishing school library
in connection with the public school or by
strengthening the school library that may
already exist BY this plan the next gen.
Grafton VIII be educated TO appreciate the
necessity of public libraries.
Other plans seeking to secure county IL
braries. school district libraries and STATE
appropriations for town libraries either de-
mand changes In our state constitution or
else require legislation that Is not likely 10
be obtained.
| Let us now consider more in detail the
three plans above suggested.
| l. City and town Libraries established
and maintained out of the public funds by
the city council. There is no Limit to TIE
| amount OF funds that may be appropriated
| tothis purpose, excepting the limit of tax
alton. Probably half of the cities and
towns OF Texas, especially the larger cities
have not reached the limit Of taxation al
| lowed by law, and. therefore they can ca.
! tahlish under existing laws free public
| libraries, II only the city council can be
| induced 70 take the step. In such places
the sentiment OF the community should BE-
i aroused; all the forces OF education. OF re-
| ligion. of public progress and, especially.
! OF philanthropy should be combined: the
| press should be utilized; public spirit
should he appealed to; and, in short; every
| possible agency should be employed to in
! duce tho city council TO make the expert
ment. 1t may be that the philanthropy O
| one person, or OF many combined, woulS
| supply suitable building, provided tn,
council would supply the library. Man!
| great works have been instituted In thi
way by the combined action OF government
| and private citizens, Where small libra
ries already exist the property OF assoca
lions or clubs, their donation TO public us
might stimulate the city council to thei
support and enlargement. Even where th'
only library in town Is connected with tn
public school It might be possible TO con
vert It into public library, and thus in
duce city councils 20 appropriate small
crease. In this way n beginning in tn
right direction might be made, and nigh
lead to large results.
u We must expect opposition to this move
ment, The limits Of my paper prevent con
siderlng in detail the nature OF this opposi
4 ton. or suggesting plans for overcoming II
The subject is treated In detail and witt
great power in a book which every work
|, err In this cause should possess. II Is en-
titled Free Public Libraries; Their Or
gani2ation. Uses and MANAGEMENT" b
Thomas Greenwood. F.R.GS.. London
Simpkin. Marshall & Co., 1856.
?. Subscription libraries, These may b
started In any community. however small
\ and may be Incorporated. II desired. uude
the general laws Of the State Eight o
4 ten people purchasing each book a mont
I and uniting their booke may Ia Z fe,
II yesrs provide , library Of 1000 volumes
Huch % enterprise, II sunducted With pa
heace, tatslliesncs, aad eyslAm oouid "a