The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-18
SUGGESTS PLAN ID ENLARGE LIBRARIES
 --- Dr. Parke FavOrs Naming of Library Board MORE BOOKS NEEDED City Now Has Nucleus for Good Library System But Additional Books Are Necessary to
 Do Most Good
MORE BOOKS NEEDED

To tho Editor of The 'Age-Her1ld'
 The public library question has been ob- scured by other matters that have en- gagged the public interest, but it neverthe- fss remains with us as an important municipal problem.
 It seems generally understood that the munlcpal government is not and has not been in position to make appropriations to purchase books for the public libraries What books are found In these libraries represent the donations of the schools or the donations of individual citizens. If we had waited for our city treasury to become filled we would still be without library facilities in Birmingham If we wait for the treasury to become filled be- fore we add further to our book supply We ma? have to wait long,
 In yiew of the fact tEat adult educa- ton through books, freely offered in lib- laries, has come to be necessity for all modern cities, the next question for our citizens to consider is whether We shall find ourselves content to keep on indefi- niteS, with our present inadequate equip ment All those citizens who have kept up with library affairs remember what was accomplished, in 1909 and 19lc, through a little concerted action of a body of pri- vate citizens. trained worker, Miss Green. was brought here to give l2 months work and from this F months work, di- rectly and indirectly. resulted free lib- rary in city hall, opened and maintained hy the city authorities through the board Of education
 Several thousand dollars were sub soribed by private citizens and put in eriniendent Phillips and his schools had books. and these added to those our Sup been accommodating through % years of ratiel,t endeavor, constitute our stock at city hall library today.
 This great step forward could not have been taken but for the unvarylng sup port Of the board of education and of the city officials in meeting the consid- erable expense incident to conducting q public library.
 How well this library is being conducted what great work it is accomplishing with it's inadequate equipment of books what want 1t fills in the community, can easily be ascertained by any one who will visit it and see the large numbers who daily make use of it.
 The libraries in Ensley. West End, Woodiawn and Avondale are all main- tained by public funds, but in every in- stance, unless 1t be the Ensley branch, the equipment is woefully deficient. The buildings are there, the librarians are ready and will to do their full duty. but books must be the foundation of library success and books are very scarce
 What was accomplished two and three years ago for the library in city hall can be repeated on larger scale for the whole library system of the greater city if we can procure concerted action. Con- certed action brought results then. There appears no logical reason why 1t should rot be effective now.
 The appointment of library board by the city commissioners to take charge of the library system of the greater city would furnish the needed opportunity and nucleus for concerted action.
 The advocacy of such a course is in- tended to reflect. in no way, upon the board of education. which now controls all the city libraries with the exception of the one at Ayondale. The sole inten- ton is to offer for consideration of our people a possible plan for meeting condi- tions as they exist.
 The board of education has been forced to apply it's energies towards getting suf- fcInt funds for the schools. constantly growing and demanding greater expendi- ture, whenever approaching the guardians of our city treasury.
 Neitf CT has the board of education ever felt itself in position to ask private do- nations for the libraries, and. apparently, this is our one way of meeting our prob lem for the near future
 Ths demonstration has been made that our citizens will give. out of their pri- vate means. for the purchase of books. The demonstration has been made that, in the absence of public funds. citizens will appropriate private money for the improvement of public parks. The local patriotism is here. The money is here. A library board can legitimately he expect ed to appeal to the one and procure the other and thereby give us q new start On the way of progress.
 The foregoing is offered for what it is worth and after some reflection. Any other plan offered. that will afford bet ter way for getting us out Of this state of liti ary stagnation. will meet with the heart. cooperation of yours yery truly
 THOS. D. PARKE.
 BirrDingham, August Y. 1912.