Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-03-20
The Marietta Daily Leader.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1901.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Editor Leader:

Editor Leader:
There seems no longer any doubt
about it, and Marietta is'to be congrat-
ulated, now that the beginning of
what promises to be a successful and
valuable public library has been made.
So much has been said about the val
ue of good books and the truth of the
statements so generally admitted that
there is no use of enlarging upon that
phase of this new movement. / simply
wish to say word about getting these
valuable treasures within the reach OF
all who desire them, or within whom
such desire can be awakened. Even
where private resources are large, it is
difficult to build up library covering
all subjects and adapted to all ages,
and even were such library built up
it would, in the very nature of things,
be accessible to comparatively few
people. Neither of these objections
applies to a well ordered public Ii
brary, and those who have many
books as well as those who have none
can derive great benefit from such an
institution. One of the things that in
terest me most in this movement in
Marietta is the fact that the people are
setting out to get library for them
selves. This is encouraging in that 1t
reveals that there is a conscious need
which the peeple themselves propose
to supply, and supplying it them
selves they will appreciate it and get
the greatest possible good out of it. Il
is matter of common observation
that those institutions that have their
roots in some conscious need and grow
out of resolute Independent effort or
the part of the people to supply thai
need are most effective for good, Ma
rietta is moving in the right direction
in this matter. The plan of life and
annual memberships, while not cutting
any one off from the privileges, and
advantages of the library, still makes
1t possible for nearly ali to help build
the institution up, and this of itself
will beget a deeper, wider and moro
abiding interest in it. Some of us who
have children, and who have watched
with increasing interest the practical
value and helpfulness of our high
school library, hail with genuine Joy
the movement now on foot to give Ma.
rietta a public library worthy of
SO splendid town. 1t is sowing seed
the fruit of which is not problematic
and 1t can therefore be all the more
earnestly commended. AS to the need
of such an institution and it's value. !
once it is gained, imagine there is
practically no difference of opinion. |
and feel sure the methods being ad-
opted to secure it will commend them
selves to all who will take the pains
to study these carefully. Those
methods will, if successful, and feel
sure they will be, make the library in
the genuine sense of the term public.
and they will therefore insure the
greatest possible interest in it, and
they are such as to make it possible for
nearly every man, woman and child in
the city to do something that will en-
able them in future to say: 1T is our
library, for we all helped to make it,"
To be able to say: Il helped make it,"
when the institution is being discussed
as well ordered and comprehensive
public library indicates an achieve.
ment of which any one can justly be
proud. A grand work is begun and
hope it will be grandly done.
E. A. COIL.