Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-12-12
To SAVE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Officers Of the Association are
Circulating a Petition.
WILT ASK APPROPRIATIONS
From. the County Court, the Board o.
Education, and the City Council
Of Martinsburg.

brarv association have prepared q pc
tition to be presented TO the board OF
education, the CITY council and the
County court, asking those bodies to
appropriate sum sufficient to guar
antee the maintenance of the library.
The petition has already been signed
by many taxpayers Of the town and
county. and will receive the endorse.
ment of practically the whole COM
munitv. 1t is as follows:
To the Honorable County Cont, tue
Board of Education, aud the Mayor
and Councilmen OF Martinsburg;/
Gentlemen-The undersigned officers
and directors of the Martiusburg nub-
lie library beg to report the regretta-
BILE necessity for an immediate closing
of the library, unless some adequate
aud dependable income can be OBJ
tanned for its continuance.
Since its inception, Nav, 1897, the
library has had only a precarious in
come, made up of about 1925 per
annum from 81 memberships, and by
indirect means of bazars, with the ex-
ception o. one substantial donation
from Baltimorean.
In this six and one-half wears, bor-
rowing cards have been issued to over
1000 applicants. representing 20 per
cent. of the city's population. The
circulation of books has averaged 1 800
per month-about one to every house
hola, or what would average 80 county
schools.
Over 100. 600 books have been circu-
lated since the library opened, vet
there are onlv 2,5n0 volum es on hand.
averaging 40 issuances to each book
Besides those in the city proper, there
are ~ to 100 borrowers in the county,
is to 30 at remote points back of the
mountains, aud others in such dis
triets as Gerardstown and Hedgesville.
Public libraries have long been rec
ognized as auxiliaries to the public
school system; as oars is also open to
any T6Slutbb Oh bSIhoicS CoIAbg, We
feel that. instead of taxing the COM
munity by indirect and questionable
means. there should be more equita
BILE distribution of the trifiine sum
necessary for its support, and one
upou a basis to insure Dermanency.
The sum of 5000 per annum will
provide revenue sufficient to properly
maintain this important pablo service
and will enable the purchase of a
reasonable number of new books yearly
and permit it's usefulness TO be still
further extended.
Ii has been suggested that this
amount could be easily spared from
the public revenues, equally pro-rated.
and thus prevent what would other
wise prove a public calamity. We are
now at the end of our resources, and
personally assuming small deficit,
therefore this revenue is imperative if
the library is to be continued after
January l, 1904.
. 1t is hoped that YOUR honorable
bodies may see fit to grant the accom-
panying petition, representing tax
PAYERS and citizens, as we'll as school
children, who are the greatest pencil
Charles.
PRAYING your prompt and favorable
consideration in the interest of educa-
tional advancement for Martinsburg
and Parkelev countv
Respectfully,
d. o. Westenhaver,
President.
E. BOYD Faulkner,
Mrs. j. S. Boak.
Vice Presidents.
Nota K Weaver.
Secretary.
Edward Rutledge,
Treasurer.
Mary G. StriblinQ.
Lulie Seibert.
Mrs. j. B. Snodgrass.
#. M. Woods,
@. S. Trump.
Lee M. Bender,
Max Robinson,
Y. l.. Dunn,
James F. Thompson,
N. ID. Baker,
Directors.
Juliet o. Tabb,
Librarian
FUNERAL OF MRS. BRTNpLE
The funeral of Mrs. Abygate @.
Brindle. who died at her home on
W;pohasta~ ayanua TUadnaedav ns,.l,t