The Dickinson press., 1908-02-01
HE.DlcKINsoN P1REss, FEBRUARY l.. 1908
ENTHUSIASTIC LIBRARY
Meeting
oorrs,aannlnxaltlon Plerfseted;; Working Committed
pointed; synopsis Of Interesting Address
BY Supsrlntendent Berg.

by Superlntl
Alarge and representative company
Of ladies and gentlemen met in the Com
mercialC Club rooms Saturday evening at
the call Of the embryo Dickinson Library
Association. ,S
The constitution and bylaws, as re-
ported by the special committee, were
adopted. As provided in the constitu-
ton, three members were elected to
serve on the executive committee, which
consists of the president, g. A. Perkins,
secretary.c N. Barker, Messrs. Berg
and van der Las and Miss Spears.
twas explained that to secure asCar-
negie library two things are necessary,
viz, a site and a pledge on the part Of
the city to raise annually 10 per cent Of
the Carnegie gift for the maintenance Of
the library. + 81 ST
The chair was instructedsto appoint 4
committee TO wait on the council At the
regular meeting February 8 and present
the library matter. The members Of
this committee are: Mrs. w. c. Craw-
Eford, Mrs. R. H. Johnson, Father aRab-
steinek and F.. M. Baker, and the com
mittee wal instructed to ask for a $4,000
building, which will call for the sum Of
81, 600 yearly from the city, This will be
a very small amount when distributed
among the taxpayers-somie s1or $ for
the owner Of an average home-whioh
will bear no comparison to the good de-
rived from a public librarya
The matter of site was. discussed and
the. committee wilt ask the: council for
the unused city corner lots on Hanna
ford street. in the block above the
armory. B:
The principal2address Of the evening,
asummary Of which accompanies this
article. was BY Supt. Berg. Senator
Simpson, ,Preaident Stickney of the Com
mercial Club, and Messrs. R. H. Johnson
and W. r. Holgate made interesting
remarks in favor of the library project.
Mesdames r.. H. Johnson, Hunter,
Barker and Ayers and Miss Turrell were
called upon for their experience lin
library towns, all Of which went TO show
that the best Dickinsonians can do for
Dickinson is to secure a library at once.
AT the. close Of the meeting seventy
two signed the constitution and became
active members Of the DickinsonLibrary
Association.
sUPT. BFRG's ADDRESS.
A w~ell-selectcd and a weli.catalogued
library is a university for the public, OF
to put il more, strongly and quote Car.
lyle, "A university is.but = great collec-
tion Of books"
The recognition Of the power and in.
~tereat of library and reading ha,
broadened, deepened and grown
steadily, rapidly and irresistibly
It appeals almost invariably 10 the
judgment Of all classes. No movement
has had 30 little opposition and 30 gen
eral support 90 much favorable legisfa
tion. %, large appropriation Of publ,
funds, 50 muni6cent gifts from private
sources. The library campaign Of til
last. thirty years has produced many.ob
vious results. Buildings. books and IA
%cilities. have grown almost incredibly
Tnidaay,.a every self.respecting community
3 Observation-Disclosures the librar
a - necessity.
The place nov assigned the library !
thatsof an integral part Of our system. 9
public education. On no other theor
has II sure and lasting foundation; d
no otheratheory may il be supported. b
general taxation; q no other theor
can il be wisely and consistently admin
istered. A publicStax canibe levied e
the maintenance Of a5public library onf
upon tie principle which underlies .
righteous public taxation; not that II
tax payer wants something and will 4
ceive il 10 proportionsto the moun Z
his contribution, but that the publ
wants sDmething Of such.generalintere.
and value that all properly owners ma
g be askedyand requi,e ed to,contribute /,
9aSssthe cost. s.
I Theswork Of the school IS three-folt
J toawakenaspiration; toheginth the. alph,
Tibet oflearning and activity; 10 traipsltth
power Of thought and exprsssiol
Whensthe school has accbnp1iskedthe,
Requirement. Il has reached IL iimit'
tom. The school can teach the Ell
drenSto read and stimulate the imnnpin111i
rHsssd. ma s . somi,e extssf y " rseldd Ii
s.1.sssahslsegaty w Re9th'