The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-02-11

good librarian is for this reason
namely that it is the the work OF a Ii
brarian to prepare and plan courses
for reading. Thus, the proper use OF
library becomes a study, an edu-
cation, and has an uplifting effect
upon its systematic readers. These
courses in reading are planned by the
librarian, for instance a series for
motaers, another for boys. a differen.
series for girls. while for the farmer
a series of readings in stock raising
gardening, etc. This rs to illustrate
the importance of planning, which
falls upon the librarian, by means OF
which the library is a success or a
failure
Moral Benefit for City.
"One of the problems for the citi-
zens of Plymouth" continued Rev.
Howard, SIS | believe, our young
people. AS it is, there is no plac e
for taem to congregate for study or
educational amusement, and much OF
their time is spent upon the streets.
A reading room in connection with a
city library would be an excellent
place Tor the youth of the city to
meet, and spend their time in educat-
ing themselves. Besides this reading
room, | wish to emphasize the idea
of providing rest room for farm
ers and their wives, who often find
hours to spend in the city, forced up
on them, without any place to go
They spend their time, either sitting
about in the business houses, or in
walking the streets. If a rest room
was provided for just such purposes
in connection with the library, and
magazine and periodicals prov:ded
TO amuse them, such provision, l am
sure would be a drawing card to the
city. for farmers, who seldom. or
never come to Plymouth to trade.
Would Propose an Auditorium.
Then on the,second floor OF the IL
brary building. we have proposed an
auditorium TO be used for all literary
and educational entertainments. Such
a hall would have been a most well
come acquisition for the High School
lectures, for meetings and entertain
ments al the Saturday Club, for the
Mozart Club, and a hundred other
purposes.
AS to the Site,
CAS- to the site, which must be
downtown, the committee has three
pieces OF ground in view. The old
Cleveland property, on the corner OF
Center and Caro- streets, could be
purchased for the sum OF $4,000. The
lot is 126x1O2, and contains resi-
dence which could be remsdeled into
a suitable building. Then .the lot
obliquely across the street, owned by
Arthur 'OKeefe and DR.. Deeds, has
a frontage of s1x50, and could be pur-
chased for $3.50 The third lot under
consideration. is the Bissel lot, west
of the Tribune building, whose di-
mansions are $3.50, and which can be
bought for $50 per foot. All of these
positions are in the city, and either
would be an ideal location for the
proposed library and rest room.
How May be obtained.
The proposition which Mr.. Car
negie always makes in donating IL
brary to a city is as follows. First
the site must be provided by the city
and second the city must provide
an annual fund of 10 per cent OF c
original cost of the library for its
maintenance. Thus If a $4,000
brarv was built, then the city must
provide $500 per year for its main
.snance. This sum could be paid by
the city alone or ~ the city with nc
help OF the township. Rochester, Ind.
has library valued at $4,000 The
ins titution IS supported b 5000 PEI
wear from the city and $500 from the
township TIE income of $500 per
year would, besides paying the Ii
brarian, sustain the library and buy
new books. AT present there is as
sessed against the taxpayers OF Ply
mouth IA of a mill per annum for
maintaining the library located in
the school. This library although
consisting OF some 1000 volumes is
not used by the public. By inereas-
ing the library tax to rs mills per an
mum. the proposed $4,000 library
could be supported. This without any
help from the township Computing
the tax as 81 mills; the tax on $1,000
would amount TO only Is cents" Rev
Howard concluded by saying that a
petition would lie circulated amongs;
the residents of the city, and
would be presented to the council.
should it contain enough names to
snow that the city as whole is in
favor of the library movement
Supt. Randall Speaks.
Prof. R. A. Randall superintendent
of the Plymouth schools, gave his
views on the library question There
are three things to be considered in
establishing a library" said he, which
will determine whether the adventure
will be successful or not. One is
that a good Librarian be secured. The
second, that a good loo alton be pro-
vided for the library, and third, that
the rooms be properly arranged In
the present library, located in the
Washington school building, neither
Of these requisites are present. There
are now some 1874 bound books in
the school library. OF these about
1000 are of general import, She others
being school books, and used only
by the students The library as it