Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-08-03
THE PUBLIC PULSE

4
A short explanation to the public
about the need of a free circulating
library for Alma may be in place al
present.
Nine years ago the Civic Improve
ment league opened the free reading
room where Mrs. Gaffney's millinery
establishment is now, on State street
hoping to provide pleasant place fol-
men and boys. This reading room
which has four hundred (catalogued)
books and twenty or more fine period.
icals and newspapers is now on Wood.
worth avenue. II is supported by
voluntary contributions of citizens of
Alma amounting to between five and
six hundred dollars per year. Con-
slant requests are made to the COM
mittee in charge of the reading room
10 allow girls and women to use it,
also 10 permit the books and maya
zine to circulate. This, however, could
never be done; first, because the idea
Of the league was to establish a good
meeting place for boys, next, because
Of the additional expense of such an
arrangement. The league has al
ways hoped that the reading room
might develop into fine free circu-
lating library for Alma in the hands
Of the city government, working with
permanent committee of citizens.
And the chance to secure such a Ii
brary seems now to be here.
Two years ago blank was secur-
ed from the Carnegie Library board,
but no action was taken toward fill
ing it. The conditions upon which a
Carnegie library may be secured by
q town are as follows: The city pro-
ides site, and permanent yearly
income of ten per cent of the amount
of the gift for the building, such in
come to be derived from the regular
taxes, for the maintenance of build
ing, salary of librarian, purchase of
books, janitor service, care Of ground,
light, heat and so on. In the town of
Howell for example, with a popula-
ton of only $500, there is a Carnegie
library occupying a block of ground
This was built some years ago when
building was cheaper than it is now,
but the sum given and spent was $751;
10000. 1t will be remembered that
the population of Howell is less than
half of ours. For the upkeep Of this
library the town of Howell gives 3d.
500 annually. The library is of great
help to the public schools, having not
only facilities for ehildren's reading
bat a large children's book depart
ment.
More than anything else in the COM
ing voting the Civic League desires
the success of the bonding project for
pure water and sewer extension.
These are the great necessities, the
vital needs of our city, but because
we know that special elections can
not often be held, and because we real
i've the rapidly advancing prices Of all
suitable central sites for a library in
the city, we ask you to vote to APP
Iropriate three thousand dollars for
the purchase of such a site at an early
date. We believe that an up-to-date
library and reading room would-be Of
great benefit to our people and would
be used to an extent unusual for city
the size of Alma. Therefore the
Civic Improvement league stands
ready to discontinue the present
reading room entirely If this vote car
ries and to give a substantial gift of
money for such town improvement
as this. The league earnestly asks the
taxpayers of Alma to consider ia
vorably on August 10Th this smaller
matter with the highly important one
Of sewerage and water.
Civic League.