The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-28
Voice Of the People
Demand n Free Public Librnry.

To the Editor Of The Times Dispatch.
Sir'-ln behalf OF the Richmond Edu-
9atloh Association and cooperating
civic e:n organizations. | wish to thank
you for recent editorials in The Times
DlSpatch settling forth the need or a
great public library for Richmond. and
serves In favor of such an institution
10 members of the Council. The Rich
mona Education Association resolved
at It's annual meeting last Nav 10 give
us energies to the furthcrance of this
important movement, and invited the
active cooperation OF all other civic
10, u"u'es. NJ the December meeting OF
lhe executive committee of tho asso-
cihiion 1t was decided that the official.
OF these various bodies should he re-
Iuested 10 get formal expression
from their organ!zu lions in regard 10
free public library In response 10
snch requests, made by members OF the
executive committee OF the Richmond
Education Associations fifteen or sven
" representative civic bodice have al
ready signiicd their willingness 10 CO.
operate In the effort to secure q city
effort has been made towards Testing
public sentiment. and with nost err,
couraging results.
Moreover, u committee has been APP
pointed from the membership of the
Richmond Education Association TO
confer with the joint committee from
me council and Board OF Aldermen,
which the Mayor recommended should
be named when he transmitted 10 those
bodies statement about the generous
Sitt or Alr. Todd: The membership of
1hc K'cninond Education Association,
may remark. Is large and Thoroughly
representative, Including as IL does
members of all sorts Of civic organiza-
liohs; ana so 1t seemed proper that the
association should take the nitiativc
IN Il movment of such general cduca-
tional Significance. The earnest de-
sire OF the association is that every
business and civic body in Richmond
snail cooperate In the present en-
deaVor TO arouse more widespread
interest In much needed institution.
tribute to the work OF such excellent
institutions as the State Library and
the Rosemary Library, both OF which
have rendered and are rendering
mas come. however, when there Is an
urgent need for n great central iileary
WIN ",., branches in several parts OF the
city, which will adequately minister
to the large mass OF persons TO be
found in place as big as Richmond
wmom our present library facilities
proved itself in other cities not only
a valuable social and educational auy
iliary. but valuable economic factor
az well in civic development There
are thousands OF school children in
Richmond who have little or no access
10 DOCKS; there are hundreds OF young
men men who, through lack of opportuni-
ties to read Wholesome literature, are
SUFFERING from the insidious effects OF
low ideals and unworthy associations.
there are thousands of persons not
able to buy books. to whom n well
equipped library would mean both a
stimulus in their work and a health
ful recreation.
The psychological moment has como
Tor library extension in our city. IL
as you urge. every publtc-spirited man
anu woman among as VIII express 10
members Of the Council the desire for
a city library, we shall certainly find
me ways and means for site, building,
equipment and maintenance. The
RiChmond Education Association cor
daily invites the cooperation of othcr
bodies of citizens in this effort for The
common good. J. c. METCALF
President Richmond Educatinn A g.,