The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-01-23
THE LIBRARY.
Annual Report Of the fredericksburg
Library Association.

The fredericksburg Public library,
which has been closed for repairs curing
the past week, will be re-opened on Tues
day, Jan. 18Th. At the beginning oi a
new year Of work the Library Associa-
ton wishes to thank the patrons who
have so Loyalty supported this institu
tion during the past year The Increase
in the number Gf subscribers on tie roll
shows the growing interest ielt ~ this
enterprise which il 40 Justly dear 10 the
hearts Of all those who are working Tor
the growth OF our town along the higher
lines. The members Of the association
el, however, that there are still many
names lacking on their list OF subscribers
that We should naturally expect 10 ilnd
enrolled in this effort To lift the standard
If culture and education in Fredericks
burg and to give to our young people
the open sesame To what II best IN the
world OF literature and science. IL has
been reported To the association that
complaint has been made that the work
ha- been carried on 40 quietly that many
in the town were ignorant Of the rules
and methods followed To meet this OBJ
lection the association has determined TO
publish few facts in relation To the lib
rary.
The management OF the liorary il Ill.
rectly under the control OF two commit
tees-an Executive and Book Commit
tee, each numbering eight ladies Misc
Vivian Conway is chairman Of thu Exec
utive Committee. This committee Looks
after all the business interests Of the in
stitutOn. The duty ui the Book Com.
mittee is to select all books bought Tor
the library. subject to the supervision Ui
the chairman Of the Executive Committee
No librarian il employed, the chairman
discharges the duties Of that office, ssist.
ed by the members OF both committees
All money received from subscriptions Is
spent in the purchase OF books, except
what's absolutely required for incidental
expenses. The price of a years subscI ip-
tion is one dollar, and subscriber il en-
titled To two books for two weeks time.
The library now contains nearly three
thousand volumes. These include the
beet standard works in all branches OF
literature as well as the popular books
Of the day ln selecting the books the
effort il made as far as possible To suit
Alt TASTES Dl hll lub 5uOrtIlbcibf hhh AWO
copies are always supplied OF the novels
Of the day that are most in demand.
The committee has added 100 books
to the library in the past year, aud hopes
to make still larger additions in thecOm
ing year il we'll supported by the p 4trOns
II the institution.
The members OF the association hope
that when these facts are brought before
the public, the people OF our town will
be aroused to take still more active in
terest in this work that is OF such vitsl
Importance TO the educational interests
and intellectual and moral development
OF our young people. We are all proud
of fredericksburg historic past. and OF
the many distinguished sons that she has
given to her country's service, but we
wish also to turn our faces to the future
and TO give such opportunities 10 the
rising generation that, when the call
comes for men OF thought and action,
Fredericksburg may be able to respond
a. when che gave John Paul Jones to
first unfurl the banner OF the Stars and
Stripes, and George Washington TO weld
from independent and antagonistic
States the mightiest republic that the
world has ever seen.