The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-20
UNITE LIBRARY
ANO AUDITORIUM

there have been the most systematic bus-
mess methods employed, and libraries
have been given Oh the principle that
only where 1t costs one something VIII
the thing receive be appreciated. I.
Mr. Carnegie says terscly: THE result
Of my own Study Of the question: What
,s the best gift that can be glyen =, to
cohlnunlty?' Is that free public library
occupies tho first place. provided tho
community will accept and maintain IT.
as a public institution, as much part
OF the city property as It's public schools,
and, indeed an adjunct to these"
SO much for Mr.. Carncgle's motives.
Wise and Economic.
II, my own ht,inble opinion the city
would make a. wise and economic step
IN accepting his offer, but that is not OF
vital Importance. a municipal library,
II Richmond prefers It, acconplishes tho
Same results, the only objection being
the original outlay Tlat library Is
needed, we all believe.
Emerson once said L: Consider sl,nt you
rave In the smallest chosen llirars; q
company OF the %!scst, witsiJ:. hon mat.
could be picked out OF Our civilized coun-
tries, In n thousand ycnrs, have set IN
best order the rcauts OF their learning
and wisdom. Tho mon themselves were
hid and In accessible, solitary, Impatient
OF Interruptions, fenced by etiauete; but
the thought which the; did not uncover
tc' their bosom friend IL here written out
to us, tho strangers of another age.
Herbert Putnam said at Chnutnuqua,
"Pnnizzi raised great domo wherein
scholars might find studious refuge; ms
+ achievement was no greater thai, that
OF Justin Windsor when he wdened OUT
his reading room SO that It took IN
whole city," ~
Th library Is an educational 'nstitu-l
ton. second only TO tho school ,hno
coordinate with the school. It dlscloses
possibilities for the education of the gem
eral public. grASter than the Hcnooi. - -
helps the teacher With her special CLOSES,
II helps the scholar With his studies, ana
+ It gives the only opportunity 70 the adult
for education advancement. 1njts various
departments, presided over by experts. 1t
offers assistance TO the inventor, me-
chanlc, school teacher, lecturer. geneaol-
oglst and historian. In fact, every class
Of society. Everybody. even the old man
and the small boy, find congenial occu-
patton In SITS paradise Of books and Pc
lures. y,
Could Have Auditorium.
With$an immense auditorium. rs Is seen
in many large public Libraries, It would
centralize civic educational interests: here
could be held great conventions q the
many and varied organizations when
would come to Richmond. II there YES 9apss
an auditorium large enough toSaccominfo-
date It's membership. Here could be, hesllH
lectures on civic improvement and on ~
cial and educational questions. which
would draw TO the doors OF the reading
room the varied public, heretofore UNI
acquainted with books. and would at
the Same time. furnish the lecturer ma
ternl for his discourse. sgS
The auditorium, shown here is in the
Carnegie Library at Homestead, Pa.
Architecturnlly,, public libraries have an
aesthetic and uplifting influence through
out the community. Mr.. Marcosson tells
an experience OF his in North Dakota:
Ten years before the little town he was
in had been but stopping place for
@lumber,nen on their way to Canada,
he says: THAT day I drove through
we'll made streets the driver stopped
the carriage before low square classic
looking building surrounded by trees
that's our Carnegie Library ne aaio:
we are mighty proud Of why, |
asked, curious 10 find out what he would
say. Well. he said, that building has
made everybody else hero want q nice
a, EDWARD sTEPToE EVANS.