The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1920-12-10
COUNTY LIBRARY PROPOSAL

As explained to the Maui Woman's Club the proposal for the estab-
county has the reputation of being self reliant, self asserhve and lnde-
pendent. The way in which it has gone about supporting kuIa SAM
tarium and its County hospitals, its school buildings, ITS haroor pro-
iects. its welfare work shows the Maui spirit to be self reliant and so
in securing a library t is probable there would be no objection to its
maintenance by the county. But Maui has an objection to being as.
sessed for benefits going to other counties in which 1t does not itself
participate and receive a rightful share. 49,,
SO, while the project of county libraries in Hawaii is one which
may be worthy of endorsement and support as a project, twere well
to qualify such endorsement until such time as the measure winch
would make possible such libraries shall have been introduced in the
legislature. If all the counties are to maintain libraries of their own
without territorial support the proposal is eminenty fair but II terri
toral support is to be given one it should be given to all. In answer
to a question Miss Robson replied that Honolulu County would have
its county library as well as the other counties and would support 1t
as would the other counties, independent of the territory. On the
other hand the letter which was printed in Muai News indicated that
only such counties Is sought to avail themselves of the law would come
under IT.
ions of the bill to enable institution Of such Libraries. Why, it can be
asked. should Honolulu county conduct and support a county library
when the Library of Hawaii, terrtorialy supported, meets its needs!
1t is doubtful if the taxpayers of Honolulu will see any reason Tor tax
ing themselves for such a library if the territory will support one for
them.
In another column appear figures showing what support the terri
three regular sessions of the legislature. They amount to $lOoI2O for the
Library of Hawaii and $28,5O for the Hlo Library, and Maui has
born its full share of such territorial support.
If there is to be a territorial library upon which the county libraries
m to draw and for such purposes as state libraries are usually con
Quoted, well and good, but if that library is to be conducted and its
shelves filled as now largely for the been6t of Honolulu residents, Maui
will find it difficult to see why county libraries outside of Honolulu
should not have a proportionate territorial support to that furnished the
Library Of Hawaii. 1t would feel entitled to demand such similar sup
port in fairness and in justice.
To the residents of Maui a library with well filled shelves would
be most welcome and financial support would be readily extended unto
such an institution and good use made of the opportunities available
but Maui cannot be expected to ever provide for its own wants By
county taxation or home effort and at the same time be called upon to
assist financially counties not SO self reliant. In the matter of fairs,
Honolulu has not taken pride in the Territorial Fair provided by the
legislature to be held there and given legislative support. 1t has made
no evident effort to put such an institution on a solid basis financially
to establish a permanent place for their holding AT the special session
of the Legislature the territory paid debts of the last fair in Honolulu.
So it may be asked, if a county library law be passed will not
Maui be expected to support its own county library and at the same
time be taxed for a library that meets all the needs of Honolulu! For
that reason it is suggested that endorsement be given to the plan now
dependent upon how the bill shall be framed.