Evening journal., 1916-04-13

come from General T. Coleman dupontI
stating that he had been detained in
New York
Reviews Library History.
John q. Niclds member OF the liz
brary Board, was introduced as one
"who though young in years. had for a.
decade done service in the interests of
the library" Mr.. Nields spoke as fol
lows:
eve have many reasons TO he proud
of Wilmington. Great enterprises exist
here that carry the name OF Wilmington
throughout the earth. The names of the
founders of these great enterprises are
in all our minds One special reason for
pride is that Wilmington has always
been the home of some national states
man. Since the foundation of the gov.
ernmcnt some citizen of the world has
resided here
"The past history Of the public H.
brary covers two periods: The first
period. of one hundred years. while
it was a private library and the sec
ond period OF the last twenty-five
years. while it has been q quasi pub
lie institution On December Is.
1887. week after Delaware ratified
the Federal Constitution. numerous
inhabitants of the borough Of vii
mington gathered at the City Hall
and organized a public library For
nearly sixty years the library was
maintained i'm the City Hall. In 1919.
when the Council chamber was
renovated. the library was moved TO
the second story Of the Fourth Street
Market House. In 1861 il was re-
moved to the building Of the Will
mingtOn Institute. During all this
period il was managed by a private
association and the privileges of the
( library were restricted to members
paying dues.
"The library is about to enter upon
IT'S third period Of existence. A
donor. whose name must be withheld,
with splendid generosity. has tender
ed us a site at the heart of the city
costing One-Quarter Of million If
this library building is erected The
city tax, the city contracts. the in
come of 100000 to be realized from
the property at Eighth and Market
streets. will provide an annual in
come for all time OF $4,000 every
penny Of which is needed to defray
tho necessary cost OF running a great
city library. such as we have planned.
Having the foundation and the fund
for permanent maintenance we are
called upon to provide the middle
link which is the building
I'VE should keep before US the Wis
ion Of a great building with classic
front facing Court House square. Con
trast that vision with present condi-
tons. The ground floor of spacious
building with a splendid entrance
entrance leading to a central desk, in
stead Of a second-story room up q
long fight Of stairs well lighted and
well ventilated reading and reference
rooms. open on every side, with a
splendid northern light. instead of
an ill-lighted and badly ventilated
room: Ionic pillars on the outside OF
the building and around the delivery
desk on the inside, with the beautiful
pictures Of the Fine Arts Society al
ways on exhibition. instead of green
dingy walls; stacks for 100000 books
instead OF disconnected cases with
$4,000 books; accommodation fOi
\ every man. woman and child in Will
mington. instead OF very crowded
room for $4,000 card-holders; a iuve-
nile library on the ground floor witt
a SEPARATE entrance on King street
and with a chldren's librarian. and
open shelves filled with juvenile book.
Instead Of densely packed corner o
a room: a separate room for books OF
the useful arts. where the men and
read and study in order 10 double OF
treble the 4,500 books circulated OF
this subject last year. branch H.
hraries in every quarter OF the city
not only al Rockford and in the Mini
ward. but over Third street bridge an,
in the southwestern quarter OF tn,
city.
"The library must be the intellect
ual center OF the city. Il should fin,
it's way into every home and by ever
hearth u should feed the minds ant
spirit Of every mau. woman and child
Shall this planthis v,sion be real
lied? II must be"
Mr.. Scott ther announced that VIII
liam p Bancroft would give one
tenth Of the subscriptions receive,
provided the amount he would hay'
10 pay did not exceed $685. Thl
announcement was greeted with lou,
applause. II was stated that the sub
scription could be credited to Team
No 16. captained by Leonard A
7 Yerkes.
Make Donations; Offer Cups.
The announcement was then mad
that E. I. dupont de NemOus G. Co
had subscribed $4,000 which cause
another Outburst of applause. MI
- Scott said that TO make the result
OF the campaign most successful
was necessary that a .drgc numbe
Q Wilmingtonians participate. Wit
Il this in mind, he said a friend offer