The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-03
wANrEp-A CITY LIBRARY.


Charles Evans one of the foremost
librarians and photographers in the
nation. has lately been in Richmond
doing research work in the Virginia
State Library For forty-nve years he
has been engaged in library work, and
what ne says. therefore carries with
1t tho weight of unquestiona5le au-
thority. In a letter elsewhere to be
found, he bestows high and merte1
praise upon the present condition Of the
Virginia State Library and upon its ell
oient director and librarian DR.. II. Il.
Mcllwaine In all that MIR. Evans says
we heartily agree. especially in his
Plea that the Virginia state Library
should have liberal support. Further,
Mr.. Evans is absolutely right when he
SAYS:
The city has no public library. and
the State Library has been perform
Ing the functions which usually dc-
Nolve upon such institutions in other
cities. In doing this. It saves the city
the large annual tax for library pur-
poses which other cities are bearing.
] am not saying that 1t should do this:
but 1t has been, and Is, doing It. There
Is grave and growing danger that its
main purpose as n great reference
library Will be overlooked and its
means absorbed In the purchase OF
wha; is ephemeral merely in literature
TO supply this demand 1t is not
fa!r to its mana cement that IL should
perform this additional service from
means for which II is expected to per
form different service. The
State Library needs TO be strength
cned In its manuscript historical ma
teriaI"
In other words. the main function
Of the Virginia state Library must not
he lost sight of-and that is that 1T is
library for reference and research
not designed as a general public IL.
hrary The statute establishing the
Virginia State Library declares that
ut shall be maintained and conducted
as a library of reference" 1t never was
Intended to serve as a subs titute for
city library, and the time has come
when 1t ought to be relieved of its
abnormal function. Were there city
library. the Virginia State Library
could be strictly for reference and re-
search and not for popular reading
or use. AS Mr.. Evans says. the State
Library is highly valuable asset of
the city. on account of its resources
for research. and 1t ought 10 be de-
Veloped along that line. receiving the
most liberal aid
We need city library. Why haven,
We had one?
The only reason which we can nnd
Tor the failure of the establishment
of a city library is that whenever one
has been contemplated there has been
widespread popular idea that IT
would cost the city too much because,
In the popular estimate, II would have
to DE an awe-inspir!ng marble palace.
s!ld'a literary mausolsum rather
than ah' adequate building. This idea
Is wholly wrong There is no need
for palatial structure, with costly
mural decorations and lofty spires.
simple, adequate. capacious. fire.
proof building Is ali that is needed
The more homel!ke its interior. the
better The city Is now building tbreo
public schools. two OF which will cost
$4,000 each The city can easily ar
ford TO erect city library at n cost
no greater than that Of ono of these
schoois-in fact, smaller sum could
be expended on the building A large
outlay would have to be made nj nrst
on books. but after this nucleus
had been secured the yearly ex
penditure for books and periodicals
could be made fixed sum Of fev
thousand dollars The salaries n, a,
efficient librarian and a few assistants
would not amount TO very much in
comparison with other departments or
municipal activity.
With such plan in mind We fao,
sure that the City Council wo,ld. man
Fuff1cient demonstration Of public d.
Hand. erect and equip a city library.
That the demand for this library OK
lists there can be no doubt. Everybody
who thinks abou; It VIII agree Tim,
Richmond, with its one hundred and
forty thousand people, ough, to have
city library. The extent TO whicb
the people use the Virginia State IL
brary gives sufficient evidence OF tho
need and desire for city institution.
If richmond had a municipal library.
1t would not suffer from lack Of public
appreciation. There the school chill
dren would have ample space and re-
sources to do the reference work whieh
they are required TO do TO a greater
and greater extent as the years go by.
a city library would supplement the
work carried on by ell the educationa,
institutions of the city specially
those which endeavor to teach useful
occupations. There The great mass Of
The people who desire information on
many subjects or wish TO improve
themselves could get what they want
There the boys and girls vino have
"noMhere 10 CO. for arnuEnnnn. ~.