The age-herald., 1899-05-03
Mrs. Bussey Writes of Methods
 For Maintaining Libraries

How to obtain public library is ques- ton upon which I have no original views or convictions. I will state the methods in use in many places. A Massachusetts state law gives any town the right to ap- ply the proceeds of the dog tax to the for nation and maintenance of free public library within it's town. In New York, for the encouragement of public libraries the course has been, under the law, to-appro- pritae as much money annually to school as 1t could raise among the pupils and friends during the year, thus adding an equal amount 10 the personal efforts for equipment and books. The success of this plan has led many others to adopt this course, which has placed New York ahead of all others. Another form recently adopted in many states is based on legis- lative permission for any city to deter mine by popular vote whether its citizens pay an additional tax on real estate val nations annually for this purpose. In ex- amining the statistics of libraries I regret to say that Alabama, Mississippi and Flor ida are at the bottom of the list of states in the number of it's public libraries. In the past thirty years we of the south have had libraries which were obtained by prl- vate and public subscription, by entertain ments, by lotteries, hence leading a pre- carious and uncertain condition.
 
 In the first place tho library should be the very best collection of the very best books in ones means to obtain. It should be housed in convenient location, in a comfortable building, we'll heated and lighted and pleasant and attractive, with book shelves not higher than eight feet, so that they can be conveniently handled. Who does not enjoy peeping in book here and there? But this plan becomes greatly abridged when it becomes neces- sary to mount a ladder to reach them. A wise one has said what grand companion- ship awaits us in books as we turn from the noise and tumoil of life and sit down for an evening among our books. Kings of thought of every age stand in serried rank waiting to do our bidding. Poets of the older times and these later years, Homer, Milton, Longfellow, the Brownings and Lo- well sing at our bidding their immortal songs. Historians repeat for us the deeds of other days. Philosophers dig deep for us about the roots of knowledge. Shake speare unveils for us the mystic workings of heart and mind, and laughs or weeps or fights or dies for us as we desire. Great students with dreams or fire with God of fer us the result of their lifelong studies. The men of science probe natures very heart for secrets and lay their trophies at our feet. These are the grand and silent fellowships that await us. They have branded their genius to the uttermost and made us heirs of all the ages in the fore most fields of time.
 The great educational advantages of the public library cannot be overestimated, especially to those who have not had the advantages of thorough education.
 The community should be led to regard the library as a necessary part of the system of public education, n6 more to be done without than the common school. If 1t is the duty of the state to see that its citizens know how to read, 1t is certainly none the less it's duty to see that they are so trained that the ability to read will be a blessing rather than curse. free public library Is the adults common school MRS w. W. BUSSEY.