The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-10
LIBRARY PROVES
 WORTH AT ONCE First Week Has Shown Re-
 markabIe Interest READING ROOM CROWDED importance Is So Generally Felt That Campaign for Great Library Building Will Be Undertaken
 in Near Future.
READING ROOM CROWDED

The first week of the free Public Li- hrarv has turned out most successfully, an excellent showing having been made by the library officials. Since the open ing to the public on October 1 there has been a continual stream of applicants Tor membership at the librarians desk and over 1000 new members have been added to the library enrolment. The character of people that frequent the library Is most encouraging, according to Miss Greene, secretary of the Library associa- tion.
 Among those who have become mem- bers of the institution and those who make a practice of visiting the reading rooms may be seen the most cultured and accomplished of persons as well as the humblest of readers. On the whole the demand is even greater than can be ac- commodated by the work of two H. brarians, Miss Lila May Chapman and Miss Louise Roberts. At times during the day every chair in the reading room is occupied and at all times the attend ance is excellent. On October l, the day of the opening, the number of visitors in the reading rooms reached 30 up to o'clock in the afternoon.
 With the plan to make the library free to all realized, the next work of the Li- brary association will be to secure the s1OO, GOO donation that has been offered by Andrew Carnegie and the additional $lo0,- 900 necessary to be raised before the do- nation may be secured. Extensive plans are on foot for the future of the library, and 1t is believed that with the aid of ev- cry public-spirited citizen in the communi- ty the association may be enabled to bring its plans to realization.
 Bids have already been entered on the building to be erected, though, of course, nothing definite may be known of the financial backing that may be had. What the Library association has already &C., complished speaks highly of the ability of it's members to bring about the ends now desired. The association at present numbers only about 300 members, whereas a much larger membership is needed for the campaign that Is being begun for library commensurate with the needs and size of Birmingham. It Is sincerely hoped
  development of the library has been taken in the opening to the public the people as whole will begin to realize the import ance of the movement and respond by enrolling as members of the association No exorbitant dues or fees are required, the influence and personal efforts of the members being the main thing of import ance.
 A. H. Ford. president of the association aff0 y.fa tn, hia work for tho greater library. Mir Ford As recognized as @ man of rare business and executive ability, and 1t Is felt that the important position could be en- trusted to no better hands. Other of 1cers of the organization who have been tireless in their work are Lee C. Brad ley, first vice president; Dr. J. H. Phil lips, second vice president; Mrs. N. B. Feagin, third vice president; Miss Willie Allen, fourth vice president; Mrs. w. 5. Lowell, fifth vice president; Miss Frances Nimmo Greene, secretary, and w. H. Manly, treasurer
 Among the recent donations that have been secured by the library Is a hand some edition of Guizot's History of France, donated by c. H. Boiling. The work is composed of eight volumes and is most valuable addition to the present collec- ton of hstorial literature. MT. Boiling has also consented tO llio uOHdeioi ol d handsome edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, a set of reference books, the like of which is not now in the possession of the library.
 At meetings held Friday afternoon of the Shakespeare and Twentieth Century Literary clubs of this city, two very substantial cash donations were voted for the library. The women's clubs or the city have done much to make the library what 1t is, having presented large number of the books now on the library shelves. With such organizations as these, the Library association, the Board of Education, the High school and the public schools behind the movement the realization of the plans now under consideration Is not long in sight. It Is certain that with the cooperation of the general public great library may soon be boasted for Birmingham.