Evening journal., 1914-07-09
ASK MORE MONEY
FOR CITY Library
New Building in Sight, Man
ayers Want $4,000
From the City
COUNCIL SEEMS
FAVORABLE TO PLAN


/ Free Library appeared before cit,
Council as a committee of the Who'll,
last night to urge that body TO in.
crease the limit Of a contract that
was made some years ago between
/ the library and the city whereby the
city was TO give the library five PEI
cent of the amount donated to tho
library by the public up to 100000
/ The library managers desire to haNS
the limit raised 10 100000, which
would require the city to pay St5.0O0
i instead OF $4,000. should they sue
reed in raising the money by solicit
4 ing subscriptions, The additional
money Is to be used IN erecting a
new library building the present
building being admittedly not adapt
/ ed for the present purpose 1t was
explained that the city would not
have TO eXpend any extra money at
this time, nor in the immediate fut-
ure, as it will take the managers con-
siderable time TO raise the amount.
While Council took no definite ac-
tion upon the matter last night, Presi-
dent White assured the delegation
that the Council will give earnest con
sideration TO the request at an early
date Mr White said he believed all
the Councilmen were in sympathy
with the undertaking as he had heard
them express themselves to that ef-
feet.
T. r Bush, president Of the IL
brary board, acted as spokesman Of
the delegation He said that several
years ago the city entered into
contract with the Wilmington Insti-
tute Free Library 10 pay the library
per cent on every $1,000 donated to
the institution up to 100000
I'm other words" Mr Bush said,
"the city Is 10 pay the library $4,000
if the library raises 100000. We
are here to ask YOU 10 raise that
limit TO 100000. In other words to
pay the library $4,000 when the H.
brary raises 100000 The payment
does not have to be made until we
raise the money. We feel that It Is
time FOR the city of Wilmington to
have new library The present one
Is entirely inadequate for our needs
There is not enough room for both
reading rooms and books II has been
necessary to place some of the books,
which are little used, in the cellar
Il think the time has come when
the different departments should be
separated he continued. explaining
that the juvenile department read
ing room and other departments at
present are all crowded together
Another reason Mr. Bush said, is
that the present building is not fire
proof. II is surrounded by other build
ings which could easily carry fire 70
III There are 10000 volumes in the
building, some Of which are very valu-
able and some would Ne almost impos-
sible 10 replace. We feel that we
should have q now building that is alb
solutely hreproof We therefore ask
YOU 20 raise the limit 10 $4,000, 50 we
can 90 10 the citizens Of Wilmington
and say that the city is back of us and
for the library is as-
sured"
Mr. Bush explained that the entire I
100000 would not be expended for the |
new library, but that some |
would be placed in an endowment fund. |
The interest OF which would maintain |
The library.
He said that the plan was not TO ben.
eft the board Of managers, but all the |
citizens OF Wilmington, who arc the |
of the councimen. He |
said that all classcS oi people were |
welcome at the library, there being no /
restrictions on color. creed or national |
ity.
Il hope YOU viii see your way clear
to raise the limit, which will not now /
entail the expenditure Of any money !
he concluded
j. Y. Nields urged Council to grant /
the Increase He fold of recent auto
mobile ride he had taken 10 Boston,
Mass, and mentioned the towns IN Mas /
Sachusetts he had passed through. an Of I
which had beautiful green IN the cen.
trc OF the city, filled with large elms (
And there was always church, public /
school and public library in the rear
Of the green. Tho citizens of these .
towns, Mr., Nields explained, kept their !
public buildings in the centre Of the /.
town. making civic centres. Mr. Nicds I
then related the history Of the VIII
mington Institute Free Library, telling
how the library company was organ
lied in 1857. and he told Of the various
places where il had been housed Il
was FIRST housed in the City Hall, he
sand, and was afterwards moved TO a
building on Fourth street between Mar
ket and King streets, It was later
moved back 70 the City Hall aud for 33
years the library was maintained in
what is now the City Council chamber.
Mr.. Nields said the present library
building is ill-adapted for library pur
poses. He said that four things are
necessary to have good library. name
ly, books. papers, a good librarian and
a proper house. eve have the books.
papers and a very good librarian" he
said, "but we have not got the house"
Mr.. Nields stated that some Of the
$4,000 volumes housed in the building
are the most valuable books ever gath
cred and many Of the historic volumes
could never be replaced il lost.
He stated that last year there were
100000 volumes circulated bv the IL
brary which went into the homes OF
10000 citizens OF the city He stated
hat the present library is very ncon-
'enient as Il is necessary to 90 up stairs
% get into il, and that il is i'll lighted 1
md the ventilation wretched
He then made similar appeal as
hHh nhut Nv MI bilsh TOT no rifN 10 4
'aise the limit from 100000 to s3O0.0O0 /
ipon which they viii agree to give five
per cent. Of the amount donated by
iitizens. He concluded by stating that /
he educational value Of the library Is
second only 10 that Of the schools.
President White replied that Council
would take some action on the subject
within the next two weeks Mr.. Zim
hermann wanted TO know whore tba
now llhrarn h.1lla.uo a .. -,