Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-04-19

NV subject this afternoon belongs
to the kingdom of books, it is the
public library whose function is to
introduce the people to this King
dom OF books and to show them how
to make use OF them.
For a few moments we want to
consider the work our own Southern
libraries and their business in the
community Mr.. Bowerman of Wash
ington says that in a city there are
two classes of public utilities-invest-
ments and expenses. Necessary ex-
penses are jails, prisons, almshouses,
police and fire departments, for the
protection against ignorance, acct
dents, and vicious2ess. Investments
are streets, health dept, public
schools, parks and public Libraries.
So the library has come to be a
necessary investment for every COM
munity. How it escaped the income
tax | cannot see, for the libraries
pay bigger dividends than Standard
Oil, or than Mr.. Carnegie's steel trust
The public libraries of the South
would be accused of usury should
dare to estimate the rate per cent Of
interest on the capital invested.
The report of a library if Illustrated
and Illuminated would resemble a
beautiful A B G book; it's functions
are manifold and it covers the range
of intellectual life from A to AT
tendance books, binding, catalogue,
circulation, clubs, documents, fines,
gifts, magazines, museum news
t.rh% ole
boys, organizations holding meetings
in the library, picture collections and
bulletins, Publications, lists of books,
reference work, registration of Dor
rowers, reading clubs for boys.
schools, Statistics, Story hour, Sun
day hours for reading, study clubs,
visitors, young peoples department.
Some Of our Southern libraries en-
brace all of these activities, while
most OF them cover a majority of the
subjects.
In North Carolina, q libraries now
have homes of their own. The las
legislature made an appropriation for
establishment and operation of a sys-
tenn of travelling Libraries. They
established library commission in
1909, unfortunately the first appro-
prlatlon was inadequate but with the
last increase much good will be &C
complished. Few libraries have ade-
uate Incomes but fortunately cities
are realizing their value and are Civ
ing them better support Each year
brings increased appropriations.
kentucky has twenty eight libraries
dhlrteen public libraries, while two
receive both city and county support.
some are under the control of
"omen's clubs and one is supported
by the ST. Bernard Mining Co., as a
free public library.
Alabama has flourishing library
association which meets every year
IN two adjoining towns for three days,
giving librarians the privilege of be-
Ginning acquainted with number of
librarians and library committees.
Miss Johnson, former librarian of
Nashville said: Cali civic and econo-
mic movements have their inception
IN the reading of books. The great
oody of material which the library
mas circulated to club women on
household economics home and
school sanitation and sivic improve
ment must some day eventuate in the
Crty beautiful" which is now the
goal OF every municipality" Nash
vile with staff of twelve and an ex-
penditure of 1905 is doing invalu-
able work. Their class of borrowers
ranges from artists to newsboys and
college professors. The greatest
number in any class is that of merch-
ahts-l64O. the total number of card
holders 24,631 while the circulation
mounts to 1915 annually
me Dallas public library Is open
thirteen hours day, their special tax
realizes $17,S16, and so great has the
WORK become that a new $4,000
branch for Oak Cliff has been built.
hngravers and newspapers make use
OF the library material in securing
cuts OF persons and places for adver-
using and illustrating purposes
Other business firms who wish to
decorate their windows according to
some period or to represent a parti-
GUAR scene. send to the library for
BOOKS and illustrations. Recently
pictures of a New England kitchen
anc fireplace were the material furn-
lshed for an attractive window in
which colonial furniture was dis
played.
Godwyu Institute of Memphis blazes
1orth In street car ads what do YOU
want to know" 1t strives to be an
INFORMAL vocational bureau to show
the high-schbol girl some new line OF
work In THE business or professional
world; or a mechanic wishes to know
the best and least expensive mechan-
zeal engineering course: a boy who
loves trees wants to know where he