Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-04
Public Library Exigent Need

y lCHMOND'S need of public library is
an exigent need. That the city has sur
vived and prospered without such an institu-
ton is beside the point. Richmond's tradi-
tons of scholarship and literary taste and
Richmond's present population devoted in
Overwhelming proportion to Industrial pur-
suits, unite to emphasize the demand II is
reflection on our public spirit that the de-
mand is not answered-the need not sup
piled.
The State Library Is ma gniticent in its way.
put IT'S way is too magnificent for the every
day purposes Of a workaday world Essen
tialiy, IT is research library, appealing to
the investigator and the student rather tina II
to the ordinary man or woman in the street
Its shelves hold relatively little fiction and
other light reading. Its fine scholarship in
which Virginia takes just PRIDE Virginians
are accustomed to regard from a respectful
distance To consult its records to delve
INTO its priceless manuscript collections men
come from every part of the country. but the
average citizen of Richmond may never have
been inside its doors
OF course public library is another sort
OF institution altogether. It's appeal is to the
popular mind and the popular taste It's
directors understand that the love of reading
must precede the love Of good reading, or
at any rate of weighty reading, and 80 thew
lack the scholars scorn for that which mere
~ enterta1ns. They consider that something
OF publc worth has been achieved when any
considerable proportion of the population has
been induced TO avail itself of library privi-
leges and read any OF the books likely to no
found on library shelves
The reading public has been increased
enormously within the last twenty years
The yellow newspapers, evil as was their in
hueilce in many respects. performed one great
service when they practically created a
cHentele Tor themselves. Big type, glaring
headlines, roughly drawn cartoons, red ink
ana sensational treatment Of news attracted
TO these publications many thousands of per-
sons VINO mad never read any newspaper
regularly. But, after time these readers
were graduated to more substantial neriodi
Gals. One of Mr.. Hearsts field generals has
estimated that in the early stages of its
existence the New York Journal acquired a
totally new constituency every six or seven
years.
The same experience has been repeated i'm
me case OF the popular magazines which
however nave carried themselves along with
thelr readers 10 improved literary taste
me cheap monthlies of the last quarter of
the last century discovered a market that
previously had had only an embryonic exist
ence, they created millions of new magazine
readers. AS these millions learned to read
magazines and enjoy them, they learned also
to want something better. Compare popu-
lar magazine OF twenty-five years ago with
a current issue of the same publication. and
the difference becomes apparent
y public library, rightly conducted poes
through something of the same process II
is an educational institution The longer its
establishment in Richmond is DELAYED tbe
longer must our people linger in the primary
grades