The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-11-11
C. A.. no High school library, no Nor
NAL School library.

c. A.. no High school library no Nor
NAL School library.
FaiImont was at that time small
but an ambitious town and the library
met fairly well the demands of the
reading public. Now it is different.
The city las grown amazingly IN
wealth and population and the mod
est library is wholly inadequate to
the needs of these days.
Daily, inquiries come to the librar-
ian for technical works, vocational
and scientific books, maps and the
| ike and the inability to supply these
needs is humiliating to the librarian,
and to the officers Of the Association
as well.
Scientific works are at best expen-
sive and when one takes into account
the increased price of everything con-
nected With the conduct of the library
one can readily see how powerless
the library MANAGEMENT is to meet
the worthy and legitimate demands
of the community. The library, there
fore, instead Of being credit to the
city is a reflection upon the intelli-
gence and public spirit Of its ctt-
zens. sa
The need for a well-equipped pub
lie library in city. as large as is
Fairmpnt is almost as vital as the
need for public schools and churches
and a city able to construct great
bridges, pave large areas, and erect
stately and beautiful school buildings
is able to support library not one
maintained by private funds and do
nations but one supported as every
self-respecting city of any size sup
ports its lfbrary-by public taxation.
"Ah, yes, but" says some on, there's
the rub"
i After several years Of effort in
which the Fairmont Public Library
Association, through Its representa-
tive, the late Hon. B. u. Butcher, was
the pioneer, a State Library Law was
secured becoming effective in May,
1915.
The application Of the law to the
City of Fairmont would enable the
4 city to establish and maintain a IL
brary in keeping with the spirit and
progress Of the place and that, TOO,
with a tax 50 light as to be scarcely
Iappreciable.
Most Of the pioneers Of our libra
Try movement have passed to their re,
ward. The few left to bear the heat
/ and burden Of the day feel that for a
'idozen people or less to try to main
i ltain a library that will serve the grow
i ling interests Of Fairmont is sheer fol-
Ely; nor Is 1t philanthropy. Fairmont
/ lis rich enough to maintain a library
/ Of no mean proportions and for a
/ handful of women with the help Of 9
j few men to take the job off the City's
hands Is neither philanthropic MOI
sensible.
One often hears that "the good ID
, the enemy OF the best" No better d
). Illustration OF that truth need ibe civ
j en- than the public library in Fair
: mont: AMI 1t is the conviction OF
j some that so long as this Inadequate
one is in operation no steps will be
|, taken to secure a better one, TIL
conviction has brought to serious con
sidefation the proposal to dissolve the
Public Library Association and close
1.-The library. Nor Is it at all certain
that the stockhol in dissolyine
Their association would not be con
Iterring favor on the people Of THU
community.
N r. G. MORROW
aIPre. Fsirmont Public IdbFary ASSN
D = q 49, :, - ~
Z Itaifan families Wliose sons tough
IA Tie Ar1erican army afe receiyir