Daily camera., 1901-01-18
THE READING ROOM QUESTION

PuoAiS - az oSSSRlSA III
stltutlon, whose province, usefulness ana
claims are no longer matters of question
Like the public school, it has come to be
recognized as necessary factor In the
education and uplifting of the youth of
the land. Accordingly the public school
and the public library are conceded to be
essentials to every enlightened and pro-
gressive community, and are alike estab
llshed and maintained by public monies.
They are for the people and hence are
provided for in the general tax levy.
The library idea, during the past few
years, has advanced with rapid pace.
The New England town Of today with.
out It's public library, no less than its
church and school, is an anomoly. Only
three towns In massachusetts, are with
out public library. The central, mid.
die and middle western states are follow.
ing closely along. The spirit is not, as
yet, so evident IN the real west. Colo
RADIO, now the western limit of the great
plateau, but newly emerged from her
minority in statehood-is still hot in the
materialistic race after position, com
petency and wealth. OF her schools she
Can Justly be proud, but she has yet to
el.vate to an equai plane. as the natural
supplement-, ally and equal in popular
education, the public libiaIy. A very
small per cent of pupils pass the limit of
the graded schools, and for these the
library alone offers the opportunity for
further cultivation. Nevertheless is is
pleasing to note that quite number of
the more flourshing towns of our state
have awakened to the idea, and not
few creditabie public Libraries have been
started. This is not without much prom.
Use for the future.
Boulder has no public library. Though
one of the foremost educational centers
of the state-the seat of the state uni
versity, and with fitting school second
to none-by virtue of her whole environ.
ment and by the superior class of her
citizens. destined for literary commun-
ity-she yet withholds, to her humiliation |
be it SAID, from her cillzens that are aud |
from her many sons and daughters. citi.
zens to be, the literary, moral and rein.
ing influences OF public library. Noth-
ing IN this direction has been attempted |
by the city itself. Private enterprise,
however, recog nized the need, has sup
piled the BEST substitute possible in the
public reading ROOM. lnaugurated by d
few pubic spirited ladies and supported
for years by the paltry halt dollar suo.
scriptions obtained through their humll
iating but persistent solicitations. this in
has most economically and
creditably fulfilled its miss. on and serv
ed. in a measure. to shield the city from
any possible imputation Of neglect.
Its precarious support. however, and
the extreme difficulty of securing even
that, at last rendered the burden too
heavy for the few to carry. and an ap
peal to the city coun.il resulted 10 a
appropriation of $50 as relief
This has been its sole revenue and It's
has been assured until the
first OF April. Should the new council re-
fuse to continue the appropriation the
wonld probably be the per
closing of the rooms.
Shall this effort so worthily begun be
Boulder. needs a public
library. Rather than give up the little
sue has. she should expand and extend.
The people at large are the natural and
proper supporters of such an institution.
Let its funds come from the public purse
rather than from the pockets of the few.
Let the city adopt the reading room a.