New Britain herald., 1920-03-04

Editor of the Herald
 Will you kindly print the follow ing catechism in the interests of the New Britain Institute?
 Question: Is a free public library wanted l,y the citizens of New Brit ain?
 Answer: It would seem so. Near ly 15.000 cards are now in use: that IS. more than one for every five of our entire city population. counting men, women. children and babies. There is hardly home in the city in which books from our library are not to be found.
 O. Does the use Of the library in- crease in proportion to the growth of the city:
 A. The circulation of books has increased 25 per cent. in two years- g far greater rate of growth than that of the city.
 Q. Arc the activities of the lnsti- tute limited to the circulation of books"
 A. By no means. A reading room is maintained with newspapers. mag azines and periodicals in all lines of human activities and interests. \ childr ems room. crowded to the doors al all times during opening hours, lilcthSS IL poHSIbtS Lo SslN NhC NItitul Cu the help and encouragement and the CntcrtAinmcnt they need. A refer ence room for the special help of students whether in our schools factories IS open twelve hours a day. Technical work upon every phase of our great manufacturing and indus trial activities are at the disposal of all interested. Supplementary librar- ies ar, furnished our schools and our teachers. the cutting off of which would greatly lessen the efficiency of our schools and in ad;.ition there is an efficient aud enthusiastic staff ever ready to advise and to help.
 c. Did lE@ teachers nf the city ask for :,, increase ir salary"
 A. Ther did.
 @. Did thcy get the increase this year?
 X. They did.
 a. Did they deserve it?
 \. They dld e. Did the Taxpa.y y'er@ association approve of this increase?
 A. It did.
 Q. Did other city emplcyea get increases"
 4. They did,
 G. Are the CD ploNes of the lnsti- tute considered 1ess worthy of a liv- ing wage than the other employees Tn the city,
 A. Yes by the Taxpayers as5ocia- lion which refuses to provide the money for such wage.
 Q. Do books cost more than they ddo
 A. Yes. from 70 to 100 per cent.
 Q. Does hirGins etc. cost more than it did:
 A. Yes from So to 100 per cent.
 Q. Do supplies of all kinds cost more than they did ?
 A. Yes from 70 to 100 per cent.
 @. Does coal cost as much as it did"
 A. Yes. more than twice as much.
 a. Is il necessary to ask any more questions like this"
 A. No.
 Q. What was the amount appro-
 4. s16,5oo.
 .. On the basis of the increase in cost oI materials and the cost of liT ing and the increased growth of the city ~ha, ought the appropriation for next year to he:
 A. sS60OO.
 Q. What was the sum asked for
 A. soSOoo.
 a. What is the amount granted nT the Taxpayers association:
 A. s16.OoO. actually less than two years ago.
 Ii seems to me that the foregoing list of questions and answers should make ii clear to anyone that the In stitute cannot meet tn" demands of the cltv for a free public hprarH from the amount of money allotted it. \ library cannot remain station begun Ho. terioratc. 4 very large part of the n,one>. for the purchase of books must be spent in buying renewals of books that are worn out in the serv- ice considerable. sum mus' he Spent on the repair of bccks that still have some life in them. Many of those who are forming the hahit Of