The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-24
PROPOSED PUBLIC
 LIBRARY DISCUSSED
Joint Committees Have Perfect
 ed an Organization
RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED
Well-Equpped Library Is Favored for Jefferson county-Judae Feagn Endorses the Movement
 In a Letter.

Organization was perfected and reso- | lutions were adopted at a joint meeting
 of the library committees from the Com
 mercial club and the Teachers associa-
 ton held at the Commercial club rooms
 yesterday afternoon 10 consider the ques-
 ton of establishing a circulating and
 travelling library for the use of the city
 and county.
 The following members were present:
 From the Commercial club-Prof. F. A. | Ellis.
 { From the Teachers association-Prof.
 J. NJ Dill. Prof R. c. Allgood. Prof R.
 E. Clayton Mrs J. D. Matloek and Miss
 Willie Allen.
 B. r. Roden was elected permanent chairman of the joint committees, and | Prof j. NJ. Dill was elected vice chair
 man. Prof. F. A. Ellis was elected to the
 office of secretary.
 Joint Committee.
 Professor Clayton suggested that. inas- much as the very name of circulating library is not in good repute throughout the state. the body ought to be careful in the wording of the resolutions adopted Professor Ellis stated that he was in- terested especially in a travelling library for the rural districts. and declared that unless he could reach the youth through out the county, he would lay down the
 work at once.
 The opinion of Professor Algood was
 that a commodious and artistic central library should be built in Birmingham,
 and he said that he believed that this
 was the way to benefit the whole county. The ladies present concurred with him in this opinion.
 Resolutions Are Adopted. Resolutions were presented by Professor Ellis, and after considerable amendment, were adopted as follows:
 "Be it resolved by the joint library com mittee of Jefferson county, composed of representatives from the Birmingham Commercial club and the Jefferson Coun- tY Teachers association, That 1t is the
 sense of this, committee that Jefferson county should have a well equipped lib-
 rary within it's borders for the use of all the white people in the county.
 "2. That we recommend to the two or ganlzations we represent, in which this movement originated, that steps be taken by these two bodies to have such a library established In the city of Birming-
 ham, at as early a date as profitable.
 "Sd. We further recommend that pro- visions be made for sending out suitable
 books to the rural schools and smaller towns throughout the county, to be kept for definite time and then to be re- turned and exchanged for other collec- tions.
 | '4th. We also recommend that the chairmen of the two committees here | represented shall report back to their re- spectiye organizations the action taken by this joint conference We also urge these organizations to take active steps to awake an interest and organized ef- fort be made throughout the county on l this subject.
 "5th. We recommend that the work of
 organizing the rural districts and out lying towns be delegated to the Teachers
 Association, and that the organization of | the forces in the city of Birmingham be delegated to the Commercial Club
 By the forces in the rural and urban districts are meant that each school dis l trict or community. be regarded as a unit of action, whose efforts shall con | tribute to the success of this movement
 By the forces of Birmingham are meant the various fraternal, benevolent. | literary, religious and other organlza- | tons. We recommend that circular let l tprS of organization sattng forth the purposes of this movement together with a clear
 explanation of the working of the Car | negie Library and other plans that may | be submitted for establishing library. | with the request that these various plans may be presented. voted upon and report back to this joint committee the result of their action.
 Prof Allgood then proposed that the | following article be added to the resou- l tions and on vote, it was accepted: .7th Resolved, That the secretary of ! this committee prepare letter of in- ouiry to be mailed to persons of respon- siblity in cities where Carnegie libraries are located; the purpose of said letter being to obtain facts as to the success or failure of the same.
 Letters From Judge Feagln. The following letter in connection with
 the discussion was received by Prof. Ellis from Judge N. B. F'eagin; Dear Mir Ellis: In accordance with your request l herewith submit my views as to thesvalue and importance of a pub lie library to the City of Birmingham
 and for Jefferson County, with circu- lating feature for the public schools in the rural district great library Is like a great university in that it is filled with great teachers to aid, instruct and in spire intellectual and moral culture. In truth, save the personal touch of the University, the library affords a broader
 field and deeper source for culture than University, as 1t gives access to the learning of the wisest, the wttiest and the most profound teachers of all ages for the instruction and the elevation of the living.
 The Vanderbilt university is doing a great work for our sister city, Nashville. Her culture enabled her to see and appre- oiate the advantage of a great library. so she availed herself of the first opportunity to secure one. for the uplift of her citi-