The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-04
NOW FOR A CITY LIBRARY.

NOW FOR A CITY LIBRARY.
If there were no other evidence or IN .
deslrc OF the people of Richmond for a
! free public library, the enthusiastic
greeting accorded by 1000 citizens on
tuesday night at the City Auditorium
TO Mayor Richardson's announcement
that an unnamed donor had offered
Slo'o"o as the nucleus for the establish
nent of such all Institution was enough
10 warrant the creation OF such n res
ervoir OF public guidance and instruc-
ton 1t was learned yesterday that
this generous bencfactor is Thomas j..
| Todd, who will give the amount mem
TONED as part of the price of suit
able site for the public library On
good authority, It was stated yester day
! that second philanthropic friend Of
the city would soon announce an addi-
tionai large subscription
There is no institution SO urgently
needed by Richmond as great free
public library. For that reason IL is
to oe hoped that at last movement
has been started for the erection of a
suitable building and It's endowment
with sufficient funds to operate II on a
broad and comprehensive scale. For
years the city has been criticized for
not having fire. public library. where
its citizens might go for instruction and
study, for mental recreation and men
4 a. Tp
there a!e such free Libraries, and they
are fitly called universities for the pco-
pie" There. with negligible rest-lc-
tons. the citizens go for profitable
erence books and the inspiring litera-
ture of the world; there the youth Is
encouraged and the aged comforted;
there the worltingman spends his eve
| ming hours in instructive reading
there men read up" on their trades
or professions; there the citizens out
looh is broadened, his mind stored ana
informed--and the more intelligent the
citizen. the greater the city
There need be no attempt at re-
vival Of the Carnegie offer. The city
of Richmond has an annual budget OF
| s5,o0o.000. and can we'll afford to build
| and maintain great public library for
its people. Tho money is In hand. and
| popular demand for free public
! library. To-day the city is building
Two schools, each costing 100000, and
! is preparing to spend another 100000
FOR new armory. A city needs schools
and armorics but 1t should not be with
out n public library, If the Council IL
made to see that the people demand a
Ia library, the library VIII be given
The best plan is for the city to build
this library and to operate it entirely
without any strings tied to its main.
tcnance or operation.
Who make UP the two great classes
In this community demanding anc
needing urgently free public library,
The school pupils and the working peo.
PIE OF Richmond. The library facili.
, ties here for school students are ridlo.
ulousi ouch libraries us they have ar,
small and inefficient. totally made.
quatc to the needs of the pupiie. 4
great deal of reference and reeearol
work has to be done by school pupils
and yet there is a very narrow field II
which this can be done. II cit,
library is established. its use by in,
school children would alone justify IL:
, erection. The working people of Rich
mond need library, because In a ma.
jority Of cases they cannot afford prl
! vate libraries and have acoees to M
free Libraries. because there are none
The workinKman in Richmond could ir
a a free public library, secure a lSecra
5 education, could through II bccom,
self educated Workingmcn in shon
I. and in technical lines could there gair
I the technical knowledge thoy desire
] ard every boy. no matter how moor
c could, by use OF the library. incrcas
his etiicicncN and enlarge his cbanc,
> OF success In NE. The people of Rich,
: mond are fearfully handicapped bv mi,
: lack of library facilities, and they car