The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-02-13

PLACE AND PURPOSE OF THE
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY

IN no other theory has It a sure ard
lasting foundation; on no other theory
may it he supported by general taxa
ion; and on 10 other theory can it
he wisely and cons :stently administer
cd
y pablo tax can be levied for the
maintenance OF a public library cnlY
',pon the principal which underlies
all rigtAcous public taxation, not
that TIE taxpayer wants something
ard win receive it in proportion to
tho ar1ount of his contribution, but
chat tie public wants something of
such general inter est and value that
all property owners may be asked
and required to contribute towards
its cost.
The demand for intelligent AMI
effective citizenship is increasing
daily, ana the problems of public life
and Of p15lc service are becoming
more complex.
The five school years (average) OF
the American child constitutes a very
marrow portal through which to enter
upon the privileges ard duties of life,
rs we desire life to be to every child
born under the American flag. There
is need of far more information, in
struction, inspiration, and uplift than
can possibly be secured in that limit
ed time
Casting about for a satisfactory
supplement and complement for the
public schools we find the public Ii.
brary ready to enter exactly this
service. Only in this way and by this
means can we hope to continue the
common American people as the most
uncommon people the world has yet
known.
School and Library Go Hand in Hand
Henceforth, then, these two must
go hand in hand neither trenching up
on the field of the other, each helping
the other. The public school must be
the initiative determining lines Of
thought and work, developing in each
child the power to act and the tend
ency to act, making full use OF the
public library as an effective ally in
all its current work, and making such
use of it as to create in each pupil
THE LIBRARY HABIT MUST LAST
THROUGH LIFE"
Such is the opinion of the National
Educational Association, and such
great states as Wisconsin, Iowa,
Indianna, New Jersey and many
others.
The public library is the flower of
modern form of cooperation. A good
public library in the town may helo
our neighboring farmer, our rural
school teachers, as well as our school
children, our working men. as we'll
as the stranger that is within our
gates.
One great purpose of the library
is to counteract and check the circu-
lation and influence of empty and
vicious books-"the penny dreadful"
that are so rife.
The Great Tripod to Staple Govern
ment
Jane Brice has we'll said, ''It is not
the country BUT THE PEOPLE
WHO MAKE THE COUNTRY"
Is this country to be governed by
the ignorant and vicious, or by a
trained youth?
Many boys and girls leave the pub
lie school at IA and 16 years of age.
In Germany the law compels them to
supplement that work until the age
of IS. But in America our great hope
is in the public library.
Remember, citizens, that you were
asked for this small tax for Carnegie
Library in order that the city might
have a free gift of $4,000 for build
ing. And that the success of your IL
brary depends on a central location,
in order that all of the citizens may
enjoy the full use of it, and that the
building shall be be the very best
thought in library architecture. A
building of such individuality, style,
and dignity of architecture as to be
recognized at once as our PUBLIC
LIBRARY, and a building dedicated
to this use and to this use alone.
For this reason and for no other pur-
pose you were asked for this special
tax.
After the church and school the
public library is the most effective in,
ffuence FOR GOOD IN AMERICA,
forming a tripod to CREATE A
STABLE GOVERNMENT.
One Who Favors Progress.