The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-01-17

700 volumes, and which at no time was
self-supporting, many schemes for raising
money being utilized to keep it going. 1t
was patronized by a few lovers of books,
however, and an effort was always made
to supply the newest and best books of
the day.
The members Of the committee in charge
were often greatly discouraged, but this
modest beginning formed a nucleus 1or
greater things to come.
Three or four years ago several promi-
nent women interested in the work con-
ceived the idea of, If possible, securing
an appropriation from Andrew Carnegie
for the erection of a library building ade-
quate to the needs of a city like Besse-
mer being encouraged in their undertake
ing by the happy experience or other
cities who had prof1ted by Mr.. Carnegie
generosity. 1t was not thought possible
to secure sufficient funds for the build
ing from local sources, as is Birming-
hams purpose, so the opportunity to Sc
cure the money from Mr.. Carnegie seemed
"a heaven-sent chance to those interested.
The necessary preliminaries, however,
appeared at first almost insurmountable.
As is well-known a condition of Mr.. Car
negie's gifts along this line is that suit
able site, free of encumbrance, shall be
secured, and that the city shall guarantee
the annual payment of 10 per cent on
the cost of the building, this sum to be
used for the proper maintenance of the
institution. One of the chief arguments
by those opposed to the movement was
that Bessemer was not a reading public,
and that nobody cared for books, an as
sertion that is laughable in the light of
recent developments. Those interested in
the work met with considerable opposition
but at last very beautiful and centrally
located site at the corner Of Fourth ave-
nue. and Eighteenth street was donated
by the land company and the city coun-
ell unanimously voted the necessary APP
preparation.
The building, as it stands today, is one
of the most beautiful of the kind in the
south. or simple and dignifed outline,
built of pressed brick with trimmings of
stone, and surrounded in summer with a
velvety lawn and Towering shrubs, it at
once attracts the admiration of the
stranger in Bessemer. The interior Is ex-
tremely attractive and artistic, being
bright and sunshiny by day and brill
liantly illuminated at night. The walls
are deep cream, the woodwork a fiat
brown, and the furniture, including the
book cases, of weathered oak, the entire
effect being most pleasing. Here and there
throughout the spacious reading rooms
there are exquisite ferns on pedestals.
Besides the main apartment there are a
rest room and trustees room, where
many of the public organizations of Bes-
semer hold their regular meetings. Thus
the library has become the center of the
intellectual life of Bessemer.
Interest has grown steadily in the in
stitution since II was formally thrown
open last September. The books are alb
solutely free to the public, and all of the
leading magazines are to be found upon
the tables. There are at present 1165 reg
ular subscribers or borrowers. OF these
about two-thirds are adults and the others
children who are devotedly attached to
the library, patronizing it daily on their
way to and from school. Mrs Norah
! Golson, the librarian, is absorbed in her
| work to which she has proved wonder
| fully adapted
Though the stock of books is being
constantly augmented, as fast in fact
as the funds available will permit, it
| is said that the Unsuitable Bessemer
public, clamoring always for more
| books, cannot be satisfied. Great care
is taken in the selection of the volumes,
an effort being made to exclude every
| thing of an Objectionable or trivial
| character.
The following public spirited men
| and women constitute the board of
| trustees, and to their untiring efforts
| to further the usefulness of the in
| stitution is due much of it's popular
| ity: Mesdames ]. F. Robertson. Lee
Moody, E. H. Lopez, Mayor w. L. Rush,
Dr. I. o. Adams, DR.. d. P. Taylor Hon.
James Trotter, DIR. G. r. Lewis, Mr.. R.
M. Mingea and Father O'Brien.
Miss Leslie Aston Pearson of Syla-