The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-05
LIBRARY BOARD
 COMES UP TODAY Will Be Discussed at Joint Meeting at City Hall PARKE TALKS OF PLAN Idea Is to Create Separate Board to Control Library System After It
 Is Taken From Control of
 Board of Education
 
PARKE TALKS OF PLAN

1 The creation of library board to take l over from the board of education and
 manage the libraries of Birmingham will | be discussed this afternoon. At meeting l to be held in MT. Exums office begin ming at o'clock representatives from the women's clubs of the city members | of the board of education and others will discuss the measure suggested by Dr.
 Thomas D. Parke.
 The meeting was first postponed on ac- count of the absence of Commissioner A. o. Lane, but Dr. Parl1e visited the two commissioners who are here and suggest ed that as about 30 ladies had arranged to be present. as we'll as others, that 1t would be very disappointing if the meet ing was put off until Judge Lane re- turned. It was finally agreed that MT. Exum and Mr Weatherly would hear the delegations and then Judge Lane could get whatever information he wanted at some future time
 Dr. Parke Sees Commissioners Dr. Parke, who is deeply interested in the formation of a commission to take over the library system, told the two com
 missioners yesterday that many persons had signifed their intention of being pres ent and that the movement was well un- der way.
 It Is believed by many that the commis- sioners will divorce the library system from the board of education. There Is no criticism to be made of the work that has been done by the board of education, 1t is said but the opinion seems to be that more life and enthusiasm could be injected into the work and larger growth obtained if the libraries were placed un- sion appointed for that purpose. The plan is to employ an expert to supervise the library work, the city to pay such an expert good salary. The board of edu- cation, it is reported, will oppose the change The libraries have been receiv- ing something like s7ooo per year from the city through the board of education and the board of education members believe the work will be handicapped if that sum of money is taken away from the work.
 The commissioners have suggested that the money would not be taken from the libraries, but would be given that system in different way.
 Dr. Parke Talks
 ,Dr. Parke, while discussing yesterday | the necessity of injecting new life into the library system of the city, said
 What we want on that board are men who are deeply engrossed in promoting the library growth of Birmingham. We want
 men who will give their best talent and energy to the movement. It will be one of the best investments ever made by the | city. when this board Is created and or. | ganized, to employ some supervising ex. pert to have charge of the libraries and look closely after the work. l am told that the board of education spends about S7000 per annum on that work, while the Carnegie appropriation amounts to $3o0t for the three libraries donated here by
 him. That money and the money that we will raise from the people will put new life into the library system, one of the greatest things ever undertaken by the commissioners 1 am thoroughly con vinced that the commissioners will see the wisdom of the appointment of this board when the men and women of Bir-
 mingham interested In the movement ap-
 pear before them this afternoon"