The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1914-05-01
NOT ENOUGH INTEREST
TAKEN IN THE LIBRARY
Local Citizen Writes an Interesting Arti-
Gle Suggesting the Building of a
Carnegie Library

/
garding our Public Library was re-
ceived at our Office this week:
Editor the Echo:
Dear Sir: Being a citizen and
taxpayer Of Leavenworth I wish to use
little of the space in your valuable
paper in discussing an institution IN
our city, which I believe is being sadly
neglected, The Public Library. Two
years ago several of the prominent
clubwomen Of the city conceived the
idea that we needed library, not one
of those kind where the borrower is
forced to pay 10 or IS cents every
time he wants to read book, but a
free public library where everyone
would have the privilege to come and
get books. They Immediately started
out soliciting books and as the result
OF several entertainments and few
contributions the library now has close
to 1000 books. While this is fairly
good showing it should be better.
Speaking Of contributions, outside OF
the books donated, there has been
hardly enough to mention. am told.
A half dozen women have thus far
given their services in looking after
the books and keeping the library
open on Wednesday and Saturday af-
ternoons and then the people grumble
because it is not kept open every day
in the week. and in most cases these
grumblers meyer contributed cent to
the library or even as much as donated
a book. New books are always cheer
fully received and patrons OF the in
stitution should do all in their individ-
ual power to boost the thing along and
make of it success.
1t is awfully discouraging and must
be especially so to the women caring
for the library to see how little interest
is taken in an institution of this char
acter. Most people think nothing OF
fifty cents or dollar to go to ball
game and eyery week it is a dollar or
so for a dance, but let these same
persons be charged fifteen or twenty
cents for keeping book over the time
limit of two weeks, they will put up an
awful holler and go away and tell their
friends that they have been grated.
1T is really amusing at times as one
of the library women was overheard to
remark a short time ago, to see the
people come in and look over the
books and not finding what they want,
ask us why we do not get some new
books.
In spite of the fact that the library
is getting very little help from the
citizens of Leavenworth it is steadily
going ahead. Hundreds of people
who cannot afford to buy books are
taking advantage of this opportunity
and it is one of the best advertise
ments the town has, FREE library,
which is something that every town
the size OF Leavenworth cannot boast
Of One thing to be lamented is that
the city has not even a free reading
room. 1t would be good thing and
something that would keep many a
man away from evil associates.
The next step to be taken is the
securing OF a Carnegie library building.
A building for this city would prob
ably cost $4,000 but before the ap-
preparation is made one of the require
ments is that the city put up 10 per
cent or $500 a year for its upkeep. II
our city council would agree to set
aside this sum every year for the Ii
brary do not believe there would be
any trouble in getting Carnegie
library inside OF the next twelve
months.
In the meantime, remember that
you can help the library to some ex-
tent by donating as many books as you
| feel able