Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-24
BOOKS FOR THE PEOPLE

( things. From such attrition comes
iisht. enthusiasm. force. achievement.
| South the lack of discussion in political
alI social life. due to TIVE allegiance
10 one political party and the lack OF
| access TO books that count?
]. Is true that there has been In
teilectual, as we'll as material, prog
| ress' but the impartial stuGnn. Of tho
| subject finds himself depressed by the
much greater progress OF those Sec
lions or the Union where provision ia
| made for the continuation OF educa,ion
after school days. The public library
is the university. not only OF the poor.
but of the entire adult population OF
community.
The statement sometimes made as
an argument that the masses Will not
read good books Is scarcely worth mo-
tice. Tor experience has proved II un-
true. public library Is a. collection
Of the best books made to circulate
ana enlishten by the aggressive ac-
tirity OF trained librarians lust a,
learning is carried to students by the
| aggressive activity of college profes-
sors and religion by the aggressive ae-
tivity OF It's ministers The gospel OF
religious faith ~ not greater than the
gospel OF intellectual light. A public
library stands on tho same plane as
tho church. the school and the uni
versity.
So far nothing has been said Of the
a
"hi"!eHcy OF the schools. The require
| ment that teachers should produce the
best results without having for them
. selves and their schools the aid of the
best books OH all subjects is like re-
! curing Il man with one leg TO win n
race. Those who have seen tho effect
| or public library on school activity
VIII bear witness that the familiarity
OF teacher and scholar with the culture
disclosed in it's books vtalizaa the
nf ha Snh
IN reading, and imparts a sense OF pro-
| portion in mental processes not to be
derived from any other source
Beyond these somewhat practical
considerations public library has
| sentimental value not much thought
| or. but which II would be hard 10
| orcrcstimatc. In every community
there arc many men and women-more
than we ever know-livinE in pain, or
| sorrow, or loneliness, or neElect To
ing OF public library is the opening
OF treasury OF relief and solac..
"hnt Other state. Are DoirR.
| In considering whether the people Of
/ the southern States, and especially
their men and women OF means hav.
| estimated at their true value public
libraries az means Of popular educa-
ton. we cannot leave out OF view what
the people Of other States are doinK
| The view is unpleasant and humiliat-
Ing Turning to the report of the
Bureau of Education on libraries for
| 1878, and taking States of different sec
! tons at random. we find these figures
rs TO public and society Libraries con-
tanning over 1000 volumes: Connecticut
| had Ia: New Hampshire. 1872; wiscon-
sin, 1876: Kansas. 81: Virginia, 81: Ala
| bama. 20. In volumes. Connecticut had
| l.,65.oo0: New Hampshire. l.1i3.ooo
| wisconsin. l.<J7.0oo: Kansas, $4,000:
| Virginia 2os,ooo: Alabama. 100000. The
| books Issued TO readers by these
| libraries for tho year 1919 we're: in
Connecticut. 3.ls5. 900 in New IIamp-
shire l.aa7,ooo In Wisconsin S.oss,ooo;
in Kansas. l.l2O.0o0: in Virginia Ice.
ooe and In Alabama 2sS,o0O. The in
conc provided in Connecticut for tho
| support OF these libraries was s3ss.ooo;
New Hampshire. s235ooo: wisconsin
! $4,000; Kansas. sIts.Ooo; rirsinil.
$4,000: Alabama. $4,000.
Analysis OF these figures shows
depressing contrast. Virginia has a
population OF over 100000 and New
hampshire OF ial.oo0. Virginia has less
than onc-ninth a. many libraries AS
New Hampshire. and lees than one
nth tho number OF volumes in it's Ii
brarics. The citizens of Virginia used
| less than ono tenth as many volumes
as tho citizens OF New Hampshire. and
| the income Of tho libraries OF Eow
! Hampshire Is more than hvc times that
| Of Virginia
| In Massachusetts there is not n single
town without free public library.
Some of tho Southern states are In
| even worse condition than Virginia
and Alabama II seems impossible
that contrasts so vital in Significance
should not stir to effort and sacrifice
! every man who cares for the advance
| mcnt Of his people in Intelligence and
achievement Richmond Is city SGT
on Il hill near the line OF tile old ,iivi-
] sion OF North and South. and It's peopls
represent much OF the best that ~
characteristic OF both types OF social
economic and political life. That in
all its civic achievement II has never
reached the point OF establishment and
maintenance of public library Is little
| short OF marvel. Richmond's I'D.
| vance TO that point would give II
leadership which would greatly pro-
mote the establishment Of pubic Ii
brarics. not only in tho cities and
towns and country communities Of
Vii Einis, but OF tho entire South II
| is not for "a mere observer I, suSScat
| a way further than 10 say this: il
| must he that some time TO men aud
| women OF wealth there will com@ tho
| vision of good hooks from their hands
| free to all, awakening sleeping minds,
| cheering and comforting the weary and
| Lonely and carrying into the homes OF
| tn: humble. we'll as the exalted, re.
hIencn; and mower.