The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-24

that the most effective way to counter
act vicious tendencies is by furnishing
some form OF innocent and at the same
time helpful amusemnet as an outlet
for youthful energy. mere repression.
mere prohibition, without substituting
the better for the bad. will not do.
Among the needed institutions you
mention a public library; indeed. you
have, with admirable insistence, pleaded
tor months past for such an addition
to the city's equipment. The present
alarm. felt by all right-minded citizens.
at recent revelations OF youthful GRIM
inality only serves to emphasize the
benefit which other cities have received
from furnishing the people at large
with attractive, well-supplied reading
rooms. II space permitted I could show
by statistics that in such Southern
cities as Atlanta, LOUISVILLE. Nashville.
Houston and others the public library 10
extensively used by the youth OF those
cities. Every time I visit these libra
ries am impressed with the number OF
boys and young men in the reading
rooms. In Nashville. for instance. the
attendance In the reading room for 1911
was over 223.000. = daily average OF
more than 500. and over half OF these
were young people. Nashville has a
smaller population than Richmond.
These figures show the popularity OF
the public library as a democra tic in
stitution.
Richmond enjoys the unique and un-
enviable distinction OF being the only
city of its size in the United States
without free public library. Many
people seem to think that the State
Library Is a city library; it has been
compelled. II is true, to perform in part
the function Of a municipal library.
but it has never professed. nor does II
desire. as understand it. to depart
from its true function as a State refer
ence library. II Is rendering the city
high public service by its generous
endeavors TO supply the place. IS far as
it may. of . city library. The same is
true OF several smaller libraries in
Richmond. but all combined cannot
minister adequately to the crying needs
Of the children. young men and women
and adults OF our growing city who
seek for entertainment and instruc-
ton in books ana magazines. I want
to emphasize just now the moral value
Of a public library 70 Richmond az .
part Of q system Of necessary civic
institutions I want to insist that a
modern public library is not primarily
for people OF mental cultivation who
| line u Tcdu ana nave ENOuSy " SpcHu
on books. but for great masse OF peo-
pie who. under present conditions. have
no access to books. They will read
them IL they can get At them. The
time - coming when even the most ma
teriaIistic Of our citizenship will real
ize that municipal progress and pros
psrity are a. dependent upon the
morale and the enlightenment Of the
body polite as upon big buildings ana
big balances.
An effort was made last winter ID
arouse an interest in Richmond's
library needs: some progress was the
result. Mr.. Todd generously offered
$4,000 toward the purchase OF . site:
the Carnegie offer 10 presumably st:l1
open: methods OF getting . library may
differ. but surrey there can be no real
difference Of opinion - to the need u
one. The apathetic and critical atti-
tudes are the dangerous ones: nothing
that the city really needs IL ever too
expensive: We always manage TO get
what We feel we must have. The move
ment for q public library. led By the
Richmond Education Association. died
in committee with the old Council this
summer, that movement will be shortly
revived. however, ana Il 10 earnestly
hoped ana believed that every civic or
ganisstioa IN Richmona win unite with
the Education Association IN this oam-
paiga for . public library.
&c MErcALr.
Richmond. sept II. 1912.