The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-01-26
CARNEGIE. Will ASSIST
BUILDING Of LIBRARY
Plymouth Board Receives Proposition
From Great PhilanthroPist---Site Must
Be Provided Also Maintenance---Bui1d
ing and Library Will Be Donated.

The Library Board mas received 8
letter from Mr.. Andrew Carnegie in
which he generously offers the funds
TO the City of Plymouth with which
to build "a Public Library building,
His only conditions are the two he
always makes to each recipient of
his bounty, viz: First, that a suit
able site be provided on which to
place the Library building, and
Second, that an annual fund for its
support be assured.
These condition are In on way un-
reasonable, but would appeal to any
same man as wholly proper. 1t is
hoped that they may promptly be
complied with and that the Library
Building may be built this summer
and ready for use in another year.
The Library Board asks that thos.
who have subscribed pay their sub
scriptions at once that the site for
the building NAV be purchased i'm
mediately, and that Mr.. Carnegie s
offer may be accepted.
Before the money Is forwarded it
will be necessary to secure Mr.,
Carnegie's approval of the site as
well as of the plans which will be
submitted to him soon.
The Library Board is planning the
erection of a three story building.
The main floor will be used for the
Library proper The ground, or
basement floor will contain ample
toilet rooms for public use, as well
rs a commodious waiting, or res,
room. for public use. and commit
the room which will hold about one
hundred people. Their ON can be
used for any legitimate public meet
ings, for the Council, literary clubs,
or Commercial association. The
third -four Is 10 be large auditorium
for public lectures or larger public
meetings. That such building is
greatly needed no one can deny.
Those who have investigated the
matter may be somewhat surprised
TO learn that we have at present a
public library of 6,9S3 volumes. Be-
cause Of our having no accessible lo-
cation for this library it is not used
nearly as much as it would otherwise
be. This library is penned up in a
room Is by 20 feet in dimension and
Is in the Public School building
which is closed after school hours
and during school hours is almost
inaccessible besause the one. who de-
sires book must 90 through the halls
cf the High School building, passing
the open doors of rooms where school
is In session. This makes the boldesi
feel that he Is an intruder in spite
of the kindly courtesy of the school
authorities. The school librarian is
also a substitute teacher and may
not be present TO deliver the book
after one has arrived successfully
at the library.
In spite of these difficulties the
library had during the winter OF
1909-1910, circulation Of 1886
volumes. OF these, 1927 volume:
went out of the school building ant
into the homes. The rest were usei
In the building and not carried out
In case we have library open tt
he public and in a convenient place
it is certain that it will be uset
much more largely and by contin
ously increasing number of our peo
Gle. The working classes, the bust
ness men and the wives and mother!
of our city are practically excluded
from use of the library Oh aceoun
of its present location.
Aside from the books, of which th'
Library Board hopes to hive larg'
and excellent assortment it is plannt
to have reading room, well supplied
with the leading current magazines.