Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-02-09

1 <EE -
remains yet to be done before the per-
nanancy Of the Public Library is as
sured. While its success shows that
il meets a genuine want in the com
munity, and the generous answers
4 given by the public TO all appeals for
help, shows the Willingness Of the
community to give it SUPPORT, It
must not be forgotten that the con-
tributions have all been voluntary and
may be Withdrawn at any time. Even
the nominal membership fees are not
paid as promptly as they should be,
nor is the list of members in proper
ton to the list Of readers. This source
! of revenues ought to support the fixed
charges, thereby leaving extraordinary
receipts free for the equipment Of
| books.
/ A permanent home and fixed in
come are required before the Library
can be called fixture a permanent
home because in more years OF growth
the present quarters will be too small,
and fixed income, because the reg
ularity and amount Of voluntary con-
tributions, are awlays an unknown
quantity.
| Some friends of the Library moved
| by a desire to provide fixed income,
and perhaps also by sense of the APP
parent inequity of allowing contri-
butor and non contributor equal
privileges, have suggested the pro-
priety of exacting fee either from
all or a certain part Of the borrowers
for the use of books. Your Board has
considered the suggestion carefully,
and is unable for the following reas-
ons to recommend 1T.
"a The library was originally es-
| tablished as free to the people of Mar
tinsburg and Berkeley county. Under
| that pledge it has received many cited
donations of money, books and prop
erty, and much more indirect help,
through generous responses at all en-
| tertainments, having for their object
the support of the Library. Tolchange
the plan would be a breach Of faith
ON the part of the association with its
constituency.
(2) From an exceedingly humble be-
ginning the public library has steadily
grown in favor with the people, its
usefulness and propriety have cons
family increased. SO many difficulties
have been overcome and so much
good done under its existing plan,
that despite the present unstable
foundation. its establishment has prov
| ed real success, and the board thinks
| this success is due indeed could not
have been accomplished, except by
an appeal to feeling of public spirit,
and Astounding charity, strong though
/ latent in the community. 1t is not
wise to depart from q plan that has
proved increasingly successful.
Any discrimination among the peo-
pie of the territory the library is
meant to serve would be an abandon
ment of the principals of a free public
library. No argument against this
| principal as applied to libraries, can
be made which does not equally APP
ply to free education as public charge
and while some persons no doubt may
think the principal wrong in both
cases the final judgement of mankind
is against them, and cannot be APP
pealed from. Nor could any discrim-
nation, which is possible, be estab-
lished as between those who can afford
to pay and those who cannot and for
the same reason that gift of free
text books to some and not all children
in public schools is found Impractical
| BILE; that is, the favor is resented by
those to whom it is extended as slur
upon the poverty of their parent.
+. az The inequality of burdens and
the want of appreciation is apparent
more than usual. For one undeserv-
ing person who could be made to con-
tribute by a fixed charge for the use
of books dozens equally deserving
would be excluded particularly is this
true of children whose parents, I'M
der such rule, would soon conclude
they were reading too much and re-
fuse them the charge, however small.
The burden of supporting the lib
rary has been distributed indirectly
about as equally amoung those using
it, as it would by the burdens of tax
alton. AS it is better to give than to
receive, so the cultivation of spirit
of active benovelence and chart table
pulic spirit, benefits the giver vastly
more in the end than it does the re-
ceiver and on this account, if no 9th
er, the plan ought not to be changed.
E The fixed income ought, and IN
reasonable time no doubt will be borne
iointlv nv the CITY and the County.