The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
BIRMINGHAM NEED
 FOR B|G LIBRARY
pr. Owen ArouseS Interest at
 Bijou Meeting
TALKS ON ECONOMIC VALUE
Birmingham Movement Attracting so Much Attention That 1t Was Recently Considered at
 AsheviIle Meeting.

That much further interest and deep CT concern in the movement of building free public library has been excited during the past week, and that the plan of the Birmingham Public Library as- sociation to construct a free library for the people of Birmingham will ulti- mately succeed, was assured by the en- thusiasm with which the matter was considered yesterday afternoon at the meeting of the association at the Bijou theatre. The theatre was by no means filled but a fair audience was present and evidence of a growing interest was prominently shown.
 The principal speaker of the occa- sion was pr. Thomas M. owen, director of the state department of archives and History Governor w. H. Sims acted as chairman of the meeting and with a few remarks of praise for the past work of pr. Owen, and an apprecia- ton of his interest and cooperation in the present movement he introduced the speaker.
 With a few remarks of praise for the task which the library association
 
 people of Birmingham and the people of the Birmingham uIstrlct, Dr. Owen opened his speech. He stated that the specific idea of his talk to audience would be "The Economic Value of the 1 Public Library"
 The first idea set forth by the speak l CT was that not only the people of BIT mingham, but the whole state of Ala bama, and the whole southland was | fs 4Ia stallation of free public libraries. He stated that in the spring session or the legislature a new office of state promoter of libraries and other edu- oational institutions was provided for, but instead of creating the new ofnce, 1t was decided that the department of l archives and history should take charge of the establishing of libraries, and the work was allotted to that department. pr. owen continued, The south Is growing richer and more prosperous every day, and Alabama is enjoying 8 degree of prosperity in every line which she has never enjoyed before.
 For fear that l may be criticized for the statement about the establish ment of & e new office by the legisla- l ture and ehen placing it under the head of the department of archives and his tory, I will state that I am decidedly in favor of the plan. The people of Alabama are entitled to it, and the legislature is entitled to praise for this plan of increasing the opportunities of it's people.
 Movement Attracts Attention.
 "The advance of the movement for l the establishing of a free library here has become notable, in fact so much so 1 that at the meeting of the American Library association at Asneyille, N C. recently general comment was made on 1 the movement.
 "The subject of the economic value of public libraries may be interpreted in a number of ways. The olden idea l was that the library was place Of re- l creation and in the sense that recre- ation does lift one out of ones selt TOT l a single hour 1t has an economic value.
 ITO illustrate my meaning, take the game of golf for instance. The golt enthusiast cannot make success Of a game without the absolute concen tration of his mind on the little ball which he knocks from one green to another Expenditures of all oth CT things contributes to the game, and so a single hour of rest in good libra- " with able literature, away from all else, has an economic value. The libra ry has a value If 1t be no other than that it lifts one to higher life for l | concern.
 First. I will talk on what the library is not. We must not consider 1t as mere collection of books to rest upon the shelves, nor is 1t treasure house, nor a luxury in any sense. Neith CT is 1t passive institution.
 Is an Educational Institution.
 What the library Is, then. is the next question. There are many things that might be said, there are many kinds of libraries, and there are many views. The old view was that 1t was a collection of books. The new or modern view Is that it is an educational institution working into the necessity of the modern life, and working for the general good and uplifting of our lives. If there is any institution of value for the diffusion ot knowledge 1t is the library. They are places which are preservatiye, and they recreate, rest, please, improve and elevate both morally and spiritually, and inspire and vitalize. Such are the general l values.
 We now come to the special forms. The library will be an ever ready help | CT especially to the scholar and tn e | teacher There is no more beneficial quality than the one just stated. The relation of the library to education is | becoming more and more recognized and that education is not alone in- struction, is well known. Thoreau said that, Public education is not common education and 1t is high time that we are having an uncommon education. One reason for the slow advance of education in Alabama Is the lack of good free libraries for our teachers and instructors.
 For Teachers and Pupils.
 "The first and foremost advantage | of the library Is that it is an immense service to the teachers and their pulls It Is the duty of the state not only to teach how to read, but to furnish good reading matter and good books. The public library Is the peoples univer- | sity.
 "The education which educates the child alone falls short of the intention and 1t Is the duty of the state to pro- vide home education for the adults l A free library will supply continual university, for after the pupil leaves his school he resorts to further educa- tion through the public libraries to a great extent.
 "A free public library in communi- ty affords opportunity for recreation and pleasure of the highest character and in this community of all the com munities of Alabama this matter should not be neglected. We say 1t affords recreative reading, and if this Is well