The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-24
LIBRARY SITE
 IS LIVE TOPIC
Citizens Write Letters Giving -nefr Views on the Availability of
 the Cox Property

To the Editor of The Age-Herald
 The article from the pen of pr. Eaves, in this mornings issue of The Age Herald, requires an answer, and that for two reasons:
 1 Because of the undoubted sincerity of a man whose life we know to be spent in doing good and that under conditions which too many of the rest of us shirk pr. Eaves loves the people
 Because of the misconception of the library Idea under which the doctor labors.
 I must crave your indulgence for space, but the matter under discussion is of deep and grave importance to the citizens of this entire section. l feel constraineS to lay before the people as clear and authoritative a statement of the facts regarding the library movement as Is possible within the scope of so brief an article as a letter; and a plan that is In line with the policy that has made of the public library in other sections of the country necessity to the public welfare.
 The secret of the matter of your edl- torial and other protests of citizens lies in the unfortunate use of word--"cen- tral." The correct word is main" Bir- mngham is a city, not village. We must face the fact. It will very shortly be- come great city--we must fact that fact Distances become necessary condition O. the problem; and we must deal with them as other great cities have done as Pittsburg, Boston, New York city, Washington, New Orleans and others.
 In all cities where library work has outgrown provinciaiism the main not centraD library is situated where the usefulness of that particular building will not be destroyed by the encroachment of traffic. Before going into details, per- init me to answer Mir. Eaves more spe- officially. I quote his objections:
 '1 The Free Library is the Peoples pal acc and the Peoples study"
 That is perfectly true. The association heartily agrees.
 ''2. It must, therefore. be equally &C., oessble to all parts of the city"
 In no other city of importance (and I have personally studied the situation in
  of the main library. Such thing, in this town at least, is manfestly impossible. Who now knows what will be the center of Greater Birmingham ten years hence? The great Congressional library lies be- yond the capitol; the wonderful library of Pittsburg near Schenley park; the Bos- ton public library at Copley square; the New Orleans library on Lee Circle; the New York library somewhere about Eighty-second street.
 A Tho chief benefclaries will be the school children
 We sincerely trust not Their needs will be fully met in every way, under the proposed plan; but the library must be built for no one class of people; neither young nor olc, rich nor poor, wise nor foolish "Sed Omnibus''-A public library
 '5 Nothing Is so disastrous to a city as preference of the well-to-do above the poor man. -eminently tho library Is for the poor man, his son and his daugh- ter"
 Now. what has the good doctor against the richy Goodness knows that the rich need nbrariesl We must not take it for granted that money always establishes well-selected libraries in the homes of the rich It Is whispered that some people of means buy books by the yard, No, let us keep to our text, "Sed Omnibus"
 .'6. Why talk about branch libraries ?''
 For the Iimple reason that modern li- brary methods demand them. The branch library is a medium through which a cit- izen may draw upon the main library, or on any ether branch library in the system, for any book whatsoever; and have it sent to his branch for him the next day His one card is honored at any library in the district. He knows where to go for the book which he de- mands, for the librarian of his branch can tell him. The branch library Is the depository of a good reference collection or it's own; and a generous supply of the readable books" most in demand. It contains its own newspapers and it's own magazines
 ing made the site of the main library building then by the time that 1t would be ready for occupancy the growth of library work will be such as to necessi- tata the establishment of a downtown branch (such as the present quarters). This would answer fully all ordinary needs of shoppers and business men from outlying districts. while 1t would be the means through which they could draw  nary need.
 station libraries would be established at the public school buildings, with pe- riodically welI-selected collections Of hooks sent from the main library, ac- cording to grades. and to meet the dlner- ing needs of all ages of pupils
 Thus main library is the thought Tn inc mind of the Library association. bir- minrham will never have center such as has been advocated; but she will con- sist of A group of centers, for the sup plving of each of which most careful nroyision must be made, If we are to serve all.
 Finally MT. Editor, all honor to the nublic spirited gentlemen who formed th.t committee which secured the option on .be COX property. Mr. A. II. Ford, M~ Jobn l.. Parker and MT. J. w. Don na,,v have taken a constructive step. ,,nav them personally. as what citizen does not know them; and feel sure that the motto applies not only to the public ,ibrary but to the gentlemen of the com m,ttee. and those other members of the . saociation who have made such long and discouraging, one-sided nght TOT part of the public welfare-"Non sibi, seq omnibus" The work no longer discour- ages. Much has been accomplished, as anyone may see, who will visit the nu- cleus at the city hall. Our cry Is sin cerely For all!' Now let all help.
 Others can tell why the particular prop orty was selected. Their reasons were sound KAlMuNl'O DH "
 Birmingham, March 23, 1910.