The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-30
PUBLIC LIBRARY
AN INVESTMENT
Movement for Municipal lnsti-
tuition Launched in Rich
mond Yesterday.
LOCAL OFFICERS CHOSEN
Librarian Bowerman, of Wash
ington, Points Out DiSad-
vantagcs of Delay.

1.-The Washington Public Library
has SOOG volumes devoted to the all
important trades. industries and busi-
nesses, with special emphasis on in
dustrics most important in Washing
ton. such as printing, gunmaklng' au-
tomobilcs. accounting and stenogra-
phy. In a Richmond public library
special attention would be given TO
your industries. such as tobacco man
ufactures. locomotives, iron and steer
work and other lines where the worker
could be helped to increase his income
and the business of the city. Ihus
far Richmond has lost the opportunity
10 provide itself with such an adjunct
and reinforcement of its commercial
life.
These sentences are the keynote OF
the plea made yesterday at a luncheon
in the Richmond Hotel by Dr. George
+. Bowerman. librarian OF the Wash
ington. u. c. Public Library. for
Richmond Public Library: An Invest
ment-Not An Expense His audi
cnce, gathered under the auspices of
the Richmond Educational Assocla-
ton. represented some twenty social
and educational organizations afflll-
ated with the campaign to build
library in this city. Among those
present were Mayor Ainslie, Miss Mary
W. q. Stanard. +. W. Duke, DR.. J. G
Metcalf. DR.. L. y. Caiisch. DR.. H r.
NcIlwaine. Evan r. Chesterman,
Wvndham r. Meredith, Mrs. b. Is
NIunford. Mrs J. NJ. ROsenbaum and
l.. Mckee Judkins.
Uses OF Library.
DR.. Bowerman took the view that
Richmond must make this investment
ar once for the sake of completing the
no of
adult who wants to learn. for citizens
who want to keep up 70 date on political
social. economic and educational Ques-
tions and 20 provide for intelligent
government. On the last point. he
asked What is Richmond doing to
enable the citizens 10 decide whether
they want the commission form of
government or mott What provision is
made that the city officials are Informed
as TO the latest methods of fire protec-
ton. garbage disposal. street paving.
lighting and other problems How can
the average man get such informatlon2'
Replying TO the old objection that
library is only for light fiction, he gave
statistics for eight years in Washington.
During that period. the annual circula-
ton has increased from 27s 600 to $50 900
volumes. yet the amount of fiction is
sued has decreased from 81 per cent TO
IS per cent. and Of this last figure the
quality is much better.
Local support Pledged.
Mayor Ainsiie spoke on the practical
methods for getting library that is
admitted Richmond needs Il pie 8e
nv efforts for the library, was e
pist of his remarks. Wyndham y.
Meredith spoke of the library as the
peoples university and Dr. Calisch
made an eloquent appeal for carrying
beauty and truth to the poor man VINO
a ford his own books
The organization of the Richmond
public Library Association was per-
fected for d campaign of education /
Wyndham r. Meredith was elected
president: Robert Whittet. of the Ad /
ministratlve Board. vice president and /
Evan r. Chesterman. secreatry. 4 /
second meeting for further plans will /
be called in the near future.
Dr. Bowerman said in part
In counting up the gains and losses .
to Richmond through postponement of
making the investment in support of
q public library here. consider the
losses in the earning power of the boys
and girls who have dropped out of school
prernaturely that public library might
have held in school. consider the fact
that boys and girls who have thus
dropped out of school but who would .
still like to improve themselves intel
lcctually and increase their earning .
CdDdtliE nave 10 tlUElt4DGi BuDilI
library 20 which they may go for helpi .
is II not also a safe assumption that /
some OF them, lacking the assistance d
pu bic library would afford. have now
become Juvenile GelInquents and Grim
mails and that you may now be spend .
ing moro from the public funds for
heir apprehension. conviction. re-
-traint and reformation than public
library would cost the city,
What of the gains and losses TO the
adult citizens of Richmond from the
of the establishment and
OF a free public library
here The presence Of a public library
IN any city Is an indirect recognition
Of the fact that its citizens believe edu-
.ation il not measured by the period
IF school instruction. but that its citI-
,cns announce that their education
will tie continued a. long "a they live In
1fhcr words. by establishing public
library the people of Richmond VIII in
fleet say The instruction we received /
2 school and college Will now simply
DO the beginning the preparation for
he education which we shall hereafter
-ontinuc and round out by means OF the
-esourccs Of our own public library. !
founded and maintained by ourselves.
,rd used bv ourselvcs-uot simply
b. some seem 90 think. by those who
ssunof afford 20 buy their own books
By nosfpoIung thc establishment Of tho
public library YOU are losing the OpDor-