Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-08
Demand for Library

TO the Editor of The Times Dispatch:
Sir,--Thc assertion Of 4 leading bank.
-, AT the library hearing before the
Finance Committee the other night.
That III" business men OF Richmond 10
not demand q public library. leads me
10 make few comments on the IL
brary situation.
First of all. il Tho business men do
not demand "a library. who. then arc
ih2 persistent persons who do" For
this agitation. as Is generAny known.
becomes more !nsiStent and moro wide
spread every year Th"s. who demand
= free public !ib-sry in Richmond ac-
"essihle day and night for tn" reading,
AMI borrowing II books and pcrtodi.
Gals, are tho following classes: thou
sands 81 workngncu. who have no
access to books and magazines: thou.
sands Of school children aud their
teachers: thousand or more clerks
ana shopgirls who desire mental inn
prorcmcnt nd wholesome recreation:
hundreds OF professional men who do
not iind III their clubs reference books
aud technical periodicals which thcy
need. numbers ~ practical scientists
such as electricians, engineers. chem
isis. and high class mechanics. aud
hundreds Of students and scholars en-
2aped IN research. These classes out
number the business men. Most Of this
large number Of persons are not ablc
t. buy their own hooks and magazines
while most prosperous business men
ar ahundantly able. I'hc study of the
library statistics Of American cities for
some Years has convinced nc that no
other institution IN !. modern city min
listers to 50 many people as a free
public library.
-" thc>" people whom | have just
mentioned really want a library? They
have said 80 through their organixa.
tons tim" and again Such Inadequate
library facilities a. Richmond already
has. they are using; the inference is
they would make frccr uS" of better
facilities. Many of those in need Of
u library cannot rc-cnfOrre their de-
n'ands for such an institution by the
social aud financial prestige OF bank
"rs and great merchants aud nanufac-
turcrs. who usually get what they ask
tho city for. \ library resembles a
charitable institutional is like pub
ii" school or u public hospital: il is not
manufacturing plant or a reserve
bank or a railroad; Il does not direct
~ bring more dollars into tho city.
The mere fact. however, that business
men are not present In large numbers
at "A library hearing before d Council
committee does not prove that they do
not. want "a library. No other organi-
zaton. for instance. has more strongly
Endorsed or worked for "a public library
than tho Rotary club. and this is cont
Mons club cordially approved tho
movement: so did the Chamber Of Com
mcrce. for that matter. So far |
have observed, business mcn do not Ia
large numbers attend legislative hear
ings on philanthropic enterprises: they
leave these duties to special committees
representing them. But tho more pub
lic-sprited. altruistc and forward
looking among them give such worthy
movements their approval all the same.
One more remark, There never will
come a time when the city OF Rich
mond does no: need. or does not think
il needs, all its money for streets and
sewers and bridges and what not. y
city can always afford to spend it's
money for what il ought TO have. And
$4,000 is Il mere bagntcllc. Why should
"A rich city like Richmond he so con
cerned about Saving" a pitiful little
$4,000. which IL is asked To spend for
improving a majority of its people?
Does anybody really think that by
appropriatinE $4,000 for a public II
brary the city would cause it's streets
and sewers to suffer? Would n tender
regard for streets and sewers induce
business men to refrain from ask ing
the Council for that amount to enter
tain conventions during year or two
things that advertise and bring
money into the city? 1t Is simply a
mnttcr Of relative values, that Is all.
Spacious arguments against a free pub
lie library for Richmond may delay,
but they will not prevent the success
of the movement.
]. c. METCALF.
Richmond, January s..