The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-04-14
TAX INCREASE REPORT
LIBRARY COMMITTEE
CONTINUED from Page ~

township should be accommodated a.
we'll as those living in the heart of
the city.
"A city of this size should have city
extension work. This town is pretty
we'll spread out and it is a long way
from some parts of town to the H.
brary. AS l came in on the train,
noticed little settlement on the other
side of the railroad Of a character of
it's own and evidently away from the
city.
When a man comes home in his
overalls, he should be given place
which will be suited to the environ
ment, a library where he will feel
that he is welcome.
Use School Easements.
Make the school house your social
centers. Fit out the basement and get
books such as will interest the people
of that neighborhood but will have an
effect of good at the same time. 1t
will give people a place where they
can come and read and 1t will be only
a small expense.
Evansville and Fort Wayne are
carrying on a good line of extension
work and they are getting into the
factories with their books. They have
found that the factory owners are
willing to allow a representative of
the central library have an hour at
noon to charge and discharge books.
A day is set for the librarian to ap-
pear and the men in the factory are
ready for him on that day.
''In getting library circulation, it is
not question of how many books go
out but of where they go. Circula
~
more than anything else could. Be
cause the circulation is large, is not
an indication of a successful library
Big figures may simply mean that a
few bOokish people are reading much
rather than many persons reading a
little.
You are in need of better tele-
phone service. In most cities where
there is a good library, business men
officials, professional men and in fact
the public is in the habit OF telephon
ing to the library for some little bit
of information.
Advises Civics Room.
You also need a municipal or civics
| room. There is another place in
which the business man will be in
terested The city hall men could
make great use of it. One Of your
city officials told me that by reading
one book he had, he saved 500 fol-
the city. Get books on street oiling
liberation of plants, public utilities
and other live questions. Put the
city reports on file in the library
room.
THE Importance of a municipa
room is seen from the fact that almost
! all large cities have separate city Ii
braries usually in the city hall.
Keep your librarians busy Fol
the eight hours they are there they
should not have a minutes leisure
In getting a librarian be careful &c
pick the right sort Of person. The
| people are much more important thar
tine books. A fine group Of librarians
with set of poor books, is better
! than a poor set of employees with a
fine set Of books.
I'm looking over your budget, see
that you are paying about the righi
proportion of the income for salaries
1t is usual to pay about forty pei
cent of the income for salaries.
Not Enough Money.
But you are not getting in enough
money. An increase of two cents or
the 500 or a six cent levy will bring
an income of 1850 or about $4,000
more than the income from a foul
cent levy. l know that there are al
ways objections to raising taxes
| chiefly from the big taxpayers. Their
the Commercial club does not wan,
the taxes boosted because high taxes
do not draw new industries and brins
people from other cities to live.
Some one said to me short time
ago, Let the library show US that they
can accomplish what we want anC
then we will give the money This
is the wrong attitude. Give the library
the money and trust it to bring the
results. There Is no more importan,