Evening journal., 1916-04-13
THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1916.
MAKE LIBRARY CAMPAIGN A SUCCESS.

MAKE LIBRARY CAMPAIGN A SUCCESS.
n view Of the enthusiasm, earnestness OF purpose
4 and liberality revealed the dinner held the
Rose Room Of the Hotel DUPONT last evening" there
seems to be no ground for doubt that campaign to
raise $325O0O for a public library building will
be complete success. The Campaign Executive Com
mittee. the Business Mems Committee OF one Hun
dred and the Womens Committee of Twenty-Five are
composed admirably for work under the gem
eral leadership Of Former Judge George Gray and re-
inforced by the optimism and skill OF Edgar r. Honey
campaign director and his assistant Henry Candy
The active campaign for the procurement of funds
began today 1t will close on April 20
Eight prime reasons set forth why the new
library building is needed. They are as follows:
The present building is unattractivo in appearance
madquate in its facilities, and is not hreproof The
library owns books and manuscripts which could never
be replaced, if destroyed by fire or water
II is difficult TO reach from the street level
The working rooms small and inadequate in
every way
The Juvenile Department is situated so that chill
dren in going and coming interfere with the comfort
of adults.
All rooms too small
All rooms are unatiractive in appearance
The library. as a collection of books IS the eoual
OF any library OF similar size in the United states
but the work Of the library judged by the appear
of the building
The collection OF government documents one OF the
s nj
where Il is difficult OF and where il is rapidv
disntegratng under adverse conditions of heat and
moisture In OF fire this collection would he
seriously damaged and could be replaced
The Trustees Of the Wilmington Institute Free
Library also have made appeal addressed to every
citizen OF Wilmington In they say:
Your city has never had an ADEQUATE free ubrarv
building Since il was made free i'm 1894 il has been
handicapped by its cramped unsuitable quarters
The public library Of a large modern citv cannot do-
n was nirf 4I,o
subscription library Of smaller city twenty-five years
The public library is the one institution which must
provide for all classes ages and conditions II is
fundamentally democratic and universal 1t appeals
% every one in Wilmington who can read from the
little child 10 the business man. II is used daily nv
rich and poor, young and old. workngmen and pro-
tessonal men, by members of all and all creeds
ns junction IS communicable. To cramp il is to
eramp the city Its shelves stand for public en-
hghtonment and civic progress.
Today a great opportunity has come A napniR
site on the Court House square extendp~ sions
Tenth street from Market to King streets has been
donated by philosophical citizen. Plans have been
drawn for an adequate and imposing library building
The main hoor having an entrance Tenth street
VIII be ample and well lighted while special feature
Is the provision for spacious and delightful chill
drens room with separate entrance on King street
The site and the building will be free OF AIN tav
The city already has contract with the library au-
thorites by which agrees to nay five per cent an
nuay all sums given up to SSOOOOO Pv mis- aoree
ment the present campaign for S325OO0 will secure for
all future time $4,000 year for library maintenance
rhis sum with other sources Of income will fully as
The open shelf collection OF books which has been so
Justly popular in the present building will find its
place in the new building. This policy Of placing a
large collection Of the latest and valuable books
where they can be examined has always been a note
worthy feature OF the Free Library
When finally completed the building will house the
pictures belonging to the Wilmington Fine Arts Asso-
citation.
In adopting the short term campaign method for tho
raising OF the sum of 1925 000 the trustees of the
library have called upon the help of some Of vii.
mington's prominent men and women, who are giviue
their services feeling that their fellow citizens
when called upon, will respond in the manner for
which Wilmington is famous
compilation OF facts and figures showing what tho
Wilmington Institute Free Library did in 1915 should
be interesting to everyone
1t issued 26S442 books for home use
Registered 6,527 borrowers, making a total regis
traton OF 17504
Answered 10000 questions in the Reference De
partment
Sent 6,449 books for use in the schools
Repaired over 10000 books at the library
Opened new branch in the Ninth ward
Issued 57sS mounted pictures.
Issued 4,410 books Industrial arts to the workme,
Of the city
Added e,653 books.
Books and withdrawn from circulation
s.O1s.
Now that the campaign has been launched it
clearly the duty of the people Of Wilmington to max
It a success The new library will be built for tn
benefit Of them and children and their children
children. All men and women should be proud {
become partners in such audabe enterprise.
Restoring the duty on sugar was not sweet jo
for Mr.. Wilson.