Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-11-07
CITY COUNCIL Is AGAIN
TO TAKE UP LIBRARY
AT Meeting on Wednesday
Night.

'SAAASob0s AAAe7AS lA1N 4u6SllOu VI INC
maintenance of the Carnegie Library
will come before the City Council
again. There is now no question of
the legality of any appropriation that
Council might make, as the Georgia
library law very plainly states that
cities not only have the right to use
the towns funds for the support of
library, but that any agreement made
between a municipal government and
a person donating building to the
city, or funds, shall be legal and bind
ing upon the municipal government
and its successors.
That is the legal side of the ques-
ton, but the moral obligation ought
to be more binding than the legal.
Clearly the honor Of the city Of
Americus is at stake. Let our City
Fathers save us from the disgrace that
would surely follow, should we show
such narrowness and lack of civic
pride as to fail to support literally an
institution which stands for increased
knowledge and power
Library a Life Centre.
There are three centers of life IN
a community that are of vital impor-
tance~ to the growth of the people.
The first is the church, the second the
public schools. These two are splen-
did in their power of usefulness, but
they are not complete without third,
the public library. 1t is the most dem
ocratic of institutions, opening it's
doors to all classes and all religions.
Its first and most important work is
done in connection with the public
schools The teacher and the libra
rian work hand in hand in training
the boys and girls to love the best
/ books, But many children never have
the chance of attending school beyond
the grammar grades To these the
free library opens a wealth of oppor-
tunities
Thomas Carlyle says The true
university of these days is collection
of books and all education to teach Is
how to read
Another very important work of
the public library is that Of provid-
ing technical literature for business
men. The architect, electrician, me-
chanic and tradesman should find the
best books on his HMo of work. if
The unskilled worker through the
means of be- oks can become skilled,
and thus of greater economic value,
will not the practical utility of the
public library increase the economic
Importance of the community?
The Demand for Books.
There is another function Of the
public library which is being recog-
nized more and more by librarians
that of recreation. 1t gives to men
and women, weary and worn from
treading a narrow round, excursions
into fresh and delightful fields. And,
last but not least, it gives employment
to all classes for those idle hours that
WI6Ch lHOIS liNto tiifiH any NthSA
cause Much has been said pro and
con the reading of fiction, but the fact
remains that the people want it and
| will have it.
Why not be sure that there are
| enough novels at the public library
| to supply the people with good fic-
| ton?
'The function of the library is the
| development and enrichment of hui
man life in the entire community by
| bringing to all the people the books
that belong to them" Can the Car
negie Library of Americus realize this
ideal when it is hampered by lack Of
funds? Shall we give the library
barely enough to keep its doors open
or shall we enable it to perform its
!, true functions by liberal support?
If it is the duty of the state to give
each citizen an opportunity to learn to
read, it is equally it's duty to give each
citizen an opportunity to use that
power wisely for himself and the
state.