Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1909-02-25
SEC. REPORT ON LIBRARY
TO rflT. CITIZENS OF MISSOURI VALLEY:

sAfter The church and the school, the free public
library is the most effective influence for good i'm Amer
lea. The moral, mental and material benefits to be de
rived from carefully selected collection OF good hooks
free tor the use OF all the people, cannot be est
mated. No community afford to be without
library.
William Jennings Bryan says;
tabisled in this country is the most import INT develop
ment OF modern times. The library is center fro@
which radiates widening influence for the
llghtennent, the ultt the advancement of the com
lity.
can have ten thousand dollars for public use, if we
will promise to support the to which this money is
alone should prompt to answer i'm the Affirmative
Many towns IN the state nearly all those in the
ties surrounding accepting Carnegie gifts H.
We appeal to your public spirit to pride Of
this enterprise
Library ID In: ltolll;
In view Of the fact that public libraries are every
where regarded essential part OF OR educational
system useless for to the advantages
derived an institution as our free public
library. Our aim to make it still more So to make it
the center of all educational movements, the
house to which scholars and students may resort
place where children may go for the best and purest
literature
We want the farmers o. our community to help
come to the town We want the library to be of
pride to every inlabtant.
At present we have place where the farmer may
meet his wife or family after the errands done
The wife feels that she is out of place in the
provisions made for her comfort entertainment
while waiting for her husband to complete his appoint
ed tasks Most of the public libraries have farmers
rest room, where the wives and children may go after
their wants have been supplied and find resting place.
with attractive and Instructive magazines and papers
and thus Shile away the waiting hours. This is an i'm
portan feature that should be overlooked il the
selection of plans for public library building.
Again, i'm many towns having public libraries, bows
clubs for reading aud legitimate amusement and enter
tainnent organized and hold their meeting in the H.
brary bnildiag The Juvenile room in every public
library is the center of great and growing interest
q 10 finn fa Tho
value which single book may have. 1t has changed
the course of many an individual and directed him to
his life work 1t is SAID the whole of Abraham
Lncolns life was changed by finding i'm the movers
passing through his frontier town, OF copy Of
s.BlacSstone's Commentaries This happy chance
made him lawyer and until he reached the Pres
dental chaiS Nearly every man of distinction
prominence is able to point to some book books
which directed his in life and marked his
The student no sooner leaves his school or college
gin to use the books which are to be found in every
we'll regulated library.
1t has been well said that Couture begins where
education leaves off, and as and find
that by far the greater part OF our education has been
of retain of those things which taught in the
schools We depend the newspapers the periodicals
and the books which we may be able to buy or borrow
good library is always cenered around good strong
Miss Tyler told the writer when in Des Moines.
that She Thought Missouri Valley had as fine reference
department. as library i'm the state of the size
Reference books are generally expensive and rarely
found in private libraries 1t is impossible for anyone
to get any informa ion upon thousand and ques
tons that is to be found in the ordinary encyclo
pedia. Every who has had occasion to
investigate any question in the least obscure has real
lied the value of our free public library. The atmos
pllere of puDic library is Away conducive of better
things. It's very presence is stmuant to the mind
1t is not lettering place. but properly conducted and
has quietng SOLDERING, thoughtful and studious
atmosphere. The presence of collection of
books naturally has this effect
There is immense amount Of very valuable litera
turc published by both the state and general govern
ment, which is furnished 10 libraries without cost No
private individual obtain much of this. for it is Kept
for distribution to public libraries where it will
benefit not only to the individual but to he entire
nun ty, There is much of great value with reference
with the Declaration of independence and running down
to date. Ten there the invaluable publications of
the Smithsonian Institute, of the department of Educa
ton. of the department of Agriculture of the eoog
cal Surveys and other departments of the Government
Indeed there is hardly subject which is not treated i'm
form AID another IN Government publication which
obtainable for public library free of charge.
to have been started i'm this city that
ever fail TO maintain the tax for its support
the library will revert again to Mr.. Carnegie, the
terms of the agreement in which he gives the dona
tion for the building This report is absolutely with.
out foundation. Mr. Carnegie makes such srpula-
tion whatever. The city has to agree to maintain tax
for the support OF the library, but city council
bind succeeding council and the tax is not perpetual
unless the poop fit to make It We need have
fear that Mr. Carnegie will and take his build
ing away after it3is put up No city has yet
failed to maintain tax for the library after years
lapse of tne not because they afraid of Mr. Car
b.,fh l,oa