The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-04-11

to buy books thai l now plead. and
believe plead with reasona bic assurance
that if it is within your legal power
as Supervisors you will appreciate
both as your duty and privilege TO take
steps to remedy this difficulty.
The remedy seems to be in your
hands II has been the persistent De
sire of all and there have been in the
past special efforts made by few, 10
make the library what 1t should De-
that is an institution that is absolutely
free to all who are willing and able
10 make use of it.
| In order to have anything that is
| worth while having, absolutely free
someone must pay for it. 1t is with the
belief that your honorable body VIII
| see fit TO add TO the sources of revenue
| the library already has-which is de-
rived from its dues and endowment
| the comparatively small additional sum
sufficient TO assure the maintenance Oh
| this important branch of our educa-
| tional system on a substantial anu
free" basis that I venture this letter.
| AS an interested citizen, a layman,
and not a lawyer, 1 would suggest the
| following as simple, legal and work
able plan whereby a free public library
|
| once.
| Briefly the plan would be for the
Board of Supervisors, on behalf of the
| citizens of Oahu on the one hand and
| the trustees of the Honolulu Library
and Reading Room Association on be-
! half of it's members on the other, to
enter into a simple contract whereby
the Library Association would agree
to deliver to all responsible persons,
| citizens of the county, the use of the
books in their possession free but sub
| ject to the rules and regulations which
have been made or may be made by the
| association for the control or regula-
ton of its affairs.
The association should farther agree
| to maintain certain definite service and
to submit its books to the proper coun-
ty officials at stated intervals for ex-
animation. 1t should be understood
from the beginning that the control of
the library and it's affairs shall re-
main at all times where it should be,
namely, in the hands of its especial
Board of Trustees
For the services thus rendered to the
people of the county the Supervisors
would contract to pay q definite sum
monthly, quarterly or semi-annually,
as the case may be, for the service
rendered as long as that service was up
to the terms of the agreement and sat
isfactory to a majority of the Super
ViSors.
However, it should be provided that
if the terms of the agreement become
unsatisfactory either party to the con-
tract, on reasonable notice, say, six
months, from either party the contract
would terminate. Both parties would
then be free to enter into a new con-
tract or to go, as they have in the
past, along their own separate paths.
The library has a gross income OF
about thirty-six hundred ($3600) dollars
annually. Two thousand $4,000 dollars
is derived from it's invested endoW
ment This money by the new plan
should annually be expended for new
books. Sixteen hundred ($1600) dollars,
more or less is derived from annual
or quarterly dues. In short, it costs
three hundred $4,000 dollars per month
to maintain our library on it's present
basis. OF that amount the association
would lose one hundred thirty-three
($133) dollars per month should the Ii
brary be made free.
1t is conservatively estimated by
those most competent to judge that
more (some sey many more) than three
times the number of persons now mem
bers of the association would use the
library were it a free institution.
The immediate Increase in the use of
the library would necessitate more
books and equipment and more attend
ants; in short an efficient and up-to-
date service.
Is not the county the one to meet
this added expense? Would not the
results be at least in proportion to the
outlay? 1t is understood that our Ii
brary' can be made a free public Ii
brary and reading room when SO mod !
est a sum five hundred (S50O) ~iol- !
lars per month Or six thousand ($6000)
dollars per year can be assured to the
trustees of the library wherewith to
pay for the actual service it is so ready ,
to give and prepared to render.
By appropriating such a sum from
the county treasury for so commend
able a purpose you will certainly have
given us a good argument for the use
of county government-and have done
what heretofore has been impossible
by making free an institution which in
any other city of the size and import
ance of Honolulu would have been
free years ago
WIN our library feSeheTdleu anu
free, who is there who would not with
reason look forward hopefully to the
day when We would be able to boast |
of an imposing library building as we
now boast of many other evidences of
progress and civic pride?
To summarize 1 would suggest and
recommend that you appoint a commit
tee from your honorable body to con-
fer with the trustees of the Honolulu
THE EASY OIL.