Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-07-08
AFTER
LIBRARY, SEEK
CARNEGIE KIND
LEARNS WHAT STEPS NECESSARY TO
SECURE LOCATION OF A $4,000
BUILDING.
CARNEGIE CORPORATION SAYS THE
APPLICATION SHOULD BE MADE
BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

Inquiry a. to what steps are necessary
10 secure "a Carnegie Library for Browns
Vile brought 10 Mrs.. ". \. Ross, presi-
dent OF the Learners Club the following
reply from the Carnegie Corporation of
New York. $40 Fifth Avenue.
"Yours received. If Brownsville has not
adequate library accommodations and de
sireS the assistance of Carnegie Corpora
tIon al New York IN obtaining IA building,
those Interested should have the mayor
and council make application stating what
the community i willing 10 do for it, part
IN levying a tax for revenue and IN pro
viding a site. Very truly yours, James
Bertram, secretary"
The Learners Library, now houses on
the second iloor of the building at Twelfth
and Elidabeth streets, contains 500 vol
CURED To start Il library under the Car
negie conditions, in order to get a $40,
400 building from the corporation. Be
sides this community must furnish "A site.
anu. l'i - ihPhTihh Npihih's wi h'h'hi
dollar building must levy a lax of II 600 a
year, al least, to pay the salary of a Ii
hrarian, pay upkeep on the building and
leave funds for additions 10 the books on
its shelves. Such "A library must be for
ever free To any resident of the city III
which II i built. A card allowing the hold
ar to draw two books AT a time j. ISSUED.
IN most cities, after the applicant for a
card has signed u promise 10 make good
All losses and pay all fines for keepin.
books longer than the prescribed time.
which i usually two weeks. A person not
financially responsible must be signed for
by 4 property holder.
Few cities of fifteen thousand in the
United States have a. meager library ac-
lcomudatiuns IA has Brownsville. Mrs. Ross
pointed out. The Learners Club has bv
donation and the taking of two dollar -
trance fee from Joining members collected
500 volumes. but with the exception Of a
few reference books used III club work the
library u entirely of fiction, for rs a sub
-cription library il must eater to the tastes
uf tn subscribers.
Professional men and efficient business
men IN Brownsville have been forced Ia
buy all book ND reference needed in their
work. and ~ wIlEoui those they DO not
tcrl Justified IN luyiA@
unquc~tlonahly 4 public library j, Il,
much oi an Improvement over private IL
brarir~ tor each individual IVY one elec-
tric plant l. over 4 ~eperatc small plant
Tor each individual user OF electricity
Mr.. Ross think. For this reason an ap-
peal wall To- made a. progressive and ~
grc~~iye persons ~ Brownsville t. secure
4 public library ~ 4 part of the working
material III the city.
OF course all Carnegie libraries are lib
orally endowed with fiction. II is likely
that the present collection Of the Learners
library would be turned over a. "A iona
tion To- the public library when secured.
Ground floor quarters are being sought
ny the Learners Library at present. The
room ON Eleventh street vacated by the
dctunct Chamber Of Commerce will h.
sought, and If concessions aS to rent bring
It within the clubs means a reading room
will be- fitted up. and the library may he
opened every afternoon.
The Learners have Just arranged for
getting al publications. distributed by the
Department al Agriculture, to be kept for
4 reference.