The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-31
M'ADAMS URGES ACTION
ON LIBRARY PROPOSITION
outlines Plan TO Purchase Jctcr Hull
In Letter to Chairman barton
II. Grundy.
WILL DE POINT or DISTRIBUTION
snys Library Cannot Successfully DC
Combined with Auditorium or Court
building.

Hcnsons why tho city should take
advantage Of tho opportunity to nc
quirc ono of tho old Richmond College
buildings MS n central public library,
with branches In various sections Of
tho city. arc clearly set forth In a
lettor fled ycBterduy with Chairman
Barton II. Grundy. OF tho Council FL
nance Committee. by Colonel Thomas
Branch McAdams. president OF tho
Richmond Rotary Club
Tho letter follows In FULL
Richmond. Va. May 30. 1914.
Colonel Barton II. Grundy. Chairman.
FINANCE Committee Richmond,
Dear Sir.-From conversations Ind
with some of the members OF your
committee. 1t appears tho wrong i'm
preston exists us to the attitude OF
tho Rotary Club In regard 10 the IL
brary proposition.
Our organization has no desire to Mt
tempt to dictate In any way to the
Finance Committee what your actions
should be. We arc very enthusiastic,
however. about the need for n public
library. and arr looking over the
matter cnrcfulN are frmiy impressed
with the possibilities offered BY the
Jcter Memorial site.
To our mind, this Is tho only prncti-
cal proposition which has been pre-
scented which viii insure tho ci,y's
obtaining n public library within any
reasonable length Of timo.
If your committee In It's Judgment.
however. can present another plan
which will be equally ms advantageous
and ut the same tiinc viii settle the
matter speedily. feel certain II VIII
be entirely agreeable to the member
ship or our club.
"A 10 N N pr taS ef-
flciency. a library should he a distinct
and separate building. which requires
not only quiet. but light and air on
every side. which are equally neccs-
Hnry. To combine II with an audi
tcriuIn or other public building would
impc.il there essentials. and put the
library In an inferior position. OF
course. II these objections can be over
come. we VIII accept your solution
though apprchcnsivo Of It's results.
Again. We do not want II mingled
with any other scheme for the cree
ton OF ether public buildings. bc..use
wc fear this means not merely tern
porary delay, but n long postponcment
This would not matter SO much, IL. In
the meantime, the city should pur-
chase and operate the Jetcr Memorial
Hall "A a temporary centre. Ey Tire
time tho hrndHomer and more central
building Is erected. our citizens VIII
take advantage OF the more clcsan,
and expensive building.
And In the last place VIC submit
that tho Jeter Memorial Han VIII bc
found as efficient and far more eco
nomicai. Tho central library no longer
plays tho most important part IN a
modern library systcm--!t Is the
branches thnt render service TO all the
people md bring It's advantages right
to the home OF every citizen. Now
Jeter Memorial Hal! VIII serve all the
purposes OF central building as :,
reservoir for the books TO br dlstribut-
ed 10 the branches aud other distribut-
Ing points. as a place for needed al
tninisifstive Offices for cataiogu!ng
Printing and binding. all or which are
Just ms necessary for successful pub.
lie library rs tho books themselves.
We would respectfully urge upon
you. therefore. that the pending ordi.
nance should not he laid upon the table
unless some other plan equally as good
should be offered In Its stead
Respectfully
RICHMOND ROTARY CIUB
Thomas Il. McAdams. president.
samuel s. Roscndorf. secretary.