The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-08
ASK CLUBWOMEN
TO HELP IN RAISING
MONEY FOR BOOKS
D0nnelly Writes to Head of
Each Organization, Ex-
planning the Campaign
Now in Progress

The following letter has been sent to
all the presidents of women's clubs of
the city by the Birmingham library board
asking them for their aid in the CAM
paign now being carried on quietly for
money to buy books for the public library
system Of birmingham. 1t is self-explana-
tory:
Dear Madan:-A few months ago the
city commission of Birmingham appoint
ed the Birmingham library board to take
over the management and control of the
libraries of the city, consisting of the
main library in the city hall, and the
branches at Ensley, West End, Avondale
and Woodlawn, empowering the board to
employ a library director and agreeing
to provide the funds necessary to defray
the expenses of the work, /. G., salaries
and actual expense of -maintainence of
the system but stating. that the financial
condition of the city at this time was
such as to make 1t necessary that any
funds for providing books and necessary
equipment be. secured by subscription
from the general public.
{ After a careful canvass of the situa-
tion the board determined on an organ
lied campaign. covering the whole city
with the view of securing subscriptions
in the amount of $4,000 for this purpose
to be spent during the next three years,
after which time it is hoped that the
city of Birmingham will be able to take
care Of such matters out of her mu-
nicipal funds.
CAS-. however, a campaign for funds
for the dispensary has been launched and
will be under way In few days, and the
board does not want to conflict with that
work, and further because many of the
people whom we would expect to assist
us in our campaign are enrolled in the
dispensary campaign, the board has DEEM
ed it best to defer our formal cam
paign until early in next year. However.
the library must have some funds at
once and the board has decided to put
on an Informal preliminary campaign,
appealing principally to those known TO
be interested in the library affairs of
Birmingham. hoping that they, by their
liberal donations at this time, and by their
personal service when the formal cam
paign is put on. may make successful the
efforts of the board to place the public
library of Birmingham on footing more
nearly suited to the needs of this inn
portant city, in which 1t is our pride and
our pleasure to, live.
while we have no imposing building SIS
to point to with pardonable civic pride.
we have sufficient plant with which If
given the money, we can do a library
work In this city which will reflect credit
upon the community, at the same time
gaining experience and creating coll
lection of books, which win enable us
when happier times financially strike our
city. to fifty occupy that building which
will certainly later adorn this city of
ours, the Birmingham public library
building, of the not very distant future.
'rhe Birmingham library board simply
represents the citizens and is willing to
give of it's best in service without any
compensation except that which comes
| from pride In tasks accomplished, but is,
of course, powerless without the support
of the citizens from who mthe money
must come, ii at all.
Now, madam, appeal is herewith made
/ through you as president, to the club
! You represent, asking that the club as q
F! club, make contributions to the library
/ book fund, and also that the individual
members be requested to lend their active
| support, as well as make such individual
donations as each may decide to be feasi-
1 BILE.
Arguments to the club women OF Bir-
mingham in favor OF library expansion
| through more books, are deemed super
| fluous. The nature of their activities
| from year to year proclaim, as to nc
other class, the urgent need of providing
more books for the library system of this
| city.
Identical notes are being sent. to pres
| idents of all the clubs and you are earn
estly requested to submit same to the
consideration of your members at the
next meeting. The board realizes tho
power than can be exerted by the com
! bined action of the .womens clubs o
| this city and feels that it has only t,
present the matter in this way, to secure
such backing.
Thanking you for time given to read
! ing such long communication. and hop.
| ing for most favorable action, am
yours very truly.
| 81. W. DONNELLY,
President Birmingham Library Board"