The Newtown bee., 1902-12-05
THE NEWTOWN LIBRARY.
SOME SENSIBLE OBSERVATIONS.

THE NEWTOWN LIBRARY.
SOME SENSIBLE OBSERVATIONS.
Action was taken by the Library
association at it's annual meeting on
the evening of December 2, looking to-
wards making the use of the library
free to the residents of the town. A
statement of the present condition and
work of the library together with its
possibilities for good may be of gener-
al interest.
There is here a property amounting
in value to several thousands of dol
lars. Whatever may be thought of the
building. it is evident that that mat
tiers is settled. 1t is not framed build
ing which can be started on journeys
to the hilltop or the valley. Asa new
conner, I have no wish to criticiSe the
management which located it where it
is. If l felt that it would be better
to have it in a more central location,
it would be more modest, as we'll as
more charitable, to realize that those
who had the matter in charge knew all
the circumstances and solved the prob
think I can show that the location is
llUU UllC Udl w lUO uoC1ulllCNo "hlSu
some may suppose.
With this valuable building there
are 1000 volumes. So far as a busy
man has had time to look over them,
they seem to form remarkably we'll
selected and valuable collection with an
unusually large proportion of books OF
reference and standard literature of
permanent value, while the recent lit
erature is of the best. Too much cred
it cannot be given to those who had the
ma tier in charge. These books could
not be duplicated for less than So, 900.
This whole property, which | estimate
at from $4,000 to $15, 900, is held in
trust by an association incorporated
under the laws of the State, and which
cannot, in justice to the intention of
the donors, give it up. 1t is true that
membership in this association is open
to every person who subScribeS to the
maintenance of the library, and that,
if there should be any criticism of the
management there would be OppOrtun-
ity to express it; but the library prop
erty is tied to a corporation, and it
must remain so.
What use is made of this s15, 900
WORTH of property? At present it
benefits comparatively few. The num-
Der of subscribers this past year was
SO. This does not, Of course, represent
the whole number of readers. We may
estimate them at $50, or about one
tenth of the population of the town.
This would indeed be poor showing
for the intelligence Of the community
we're it not for the fact that by the
good work done by Rev Mr. Wright in
Sandy Hook there are perhaps as many
more readers in that district. But the
books in the latter place are compare
lively few, and their financial value is
not large.
What seems to be needed is to bring
thiS;valuable property into general use.
That the number of subscribers might
be made considerably larger by careful
canvass there is no doubt. But after
all were done there would be large
proportion of the community, prob
ably three-fourths, which would not be
reached. To some who would like to
read the subscription might be bar.
But if all would subscribe who wished
to read, there would be- large proper
ton who do not care enough about 1t
to subscribe, and these are the people
who ought to be reached if we are to
have and keep an intelligent COM
munity.
The logic of the situation seems to
call for making the library free. The
next question is, How can it be done?
Well, it might be endowed. The
same benevolent public spirit which
has been shown in the gift of the
building and land, the fund and the
books may be depended upon as time
goes on to remember in wills if not in
donations, this good instrument for
holding up the standard of intelligence
and morality in the community. But
we ought not to wait for some good
friends to die, not is it for us to say
who should give to such an object.
What we ought to do is to make the
| library so useful that good men and women
who have the means will be glad to help it. =,
The other way left open to us is to get the e
| free public library. This can only be done by
| having the town vote, an annual appropria-
| ject is not now by me, but to the best OF my
| recollection it authorizes grant from the
State of least s5Ge s tT tha
regular income of from 800 to $500 the expen-
| ses Of the library could be met and it's treas
would still be room for generous gifts te buy
books, and the interest Of the whole commun.
ity in it would make any effort to raise funds
Under the law it would not be necessary fol
the Library. association ito be dissolved. In
| deed it could not surrender its trust. But it:
membership and management could be en-
larged to enclude all sections OF the town ant
it it Just such cases Among them is the SEQ
| Vile Memorial Library association OF Sails
| bury, which has 81 cOrporators, one OF whom
is the first selectman OF the town. ex-ohicio: =,
| AS to the solution of the question OF loca
| tion, a branch OF the library could be estab
| lisi e in Sandy HOOk.l and if found needful
| In Hawleyvil:e and Botsford, where book
could he received and delivered:
;. A most important use OF the library
could be made in connection with the
public schools, especially with the
High school. giving scholars the op
portunity to consult books of reference
or read up in certain lines of study.
In view of these facts and thoughts
presented to the meeting of the Libra
ry Association, a committee was ap
pointed to make inquiry as to the con
ditiOns necessary to secure gram
from the State and the town, and II
see whether the plan is practicable
The committee has gone to work, a NJ
will be glad of all helpful suggestion
and expressions Of opinion, the purpose bein
to get at the wishes of the people. and to clea
up such difficulties as may arise to the mind
of those interested. The result of the wOr
will be made public as soon as practicable.
| have written thus at length. because
seems to me that here is splendid opportun
ity to raise and to keep up the intellectual
standard of the community. AS in the case {
turning the Academy into a public Hig
| school for all, rich and poor alike we have a
hand a valuable library. which can be mad
use of by every man. woman and child IN Tn
town at a charge tc the town so small that n
taxpayer would feel it; and like the H1g
school it affords opportunity to get tn
people together. to break down local jealOuSie
and give a just pride in this good old tow
/ James H. George
: HIGH SCHOOL TOPICS.