The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-31
CITY FEELS LOSS OF DONNELLY AT
 HEADOF LIBRARY
Last Minute Appeal Futile and Commission Accepts His
 Resignation

Although a last-minute plea was made over the telephone by Mrs. Mary Echols, city commissioner, to induce him to remain on the library board as president, J. w. Donnelly, for many years head of the Birming ham library board, insisted that the city commission accept his resigna- tion rendered in lengthy letter to President McLendon, May 24, and it was reluctantly accepted at the meeting yesterday.
 While the commissioners were dis cussing Mir. Donnelly's resignation, Mrs. Echols1 was summoned to tho phone by Mir. Donnelly, who insisted that immediate action be taken on the matter.
 Suitable Appreciation
 Commissioner Dickson suggested that suitable appreciation be shown Mir. Donneily by the commission for his untiring efforts in behalf of the library. Mrs. Echols was asked to express the commissions regret to Mir. Donnelly and assure him of the city's appreciation of his efforts.
 Mfr. Donnelly's resignation is traced directly to the failure of the library bond issue, he setting out in his resig- nation that as the bond issue had failed he could no longer be respon- sible while the means of the board were curtailed.
 DonnciIy's Letter
 Mir. Donnelly's resignation follows:
 For many years, first as q member of the Birmingham Library associa- tion which brought about the estab- 1ishment of a free public library in Birmingham and then for nine years as president of the Birmingham h. brary board, which has worked un- ceasingiy, and in my opinion success fully In giving to Birmingham q li- brary service unequaled in the south, notwithstanding the handicap Of in- sufficient funds and facilities. l have endeavored to serve this community along library lines.
 "The call for library service by the people of this city have grown so steadily and rapidly that the library board realizes the absolute necessity for A suitable building to replace the inadequate and unsafe quarters in the top of the city hall. The board , requested the city commission to in- clude in the election called for May 22. 1922, bond issue to provide the funds for a new and suitable library building. This was done and the verdict rendered is mo public IT, brary building. I accept the results, but cannot longer accept the respon- sibility for the risk to the hundreds of people often present and to the irreplacable contents of the library housed as at present.
 Compliments Coworkers
 T, therefore. tender my resigna- ton as a member of the Birmingham Library board, effective at once. I sincerely hope that Birmingham will change her mind in the very near fu- ture and decide to provide a library building that shall be suited to her importance as city and In which can be rendered the increasing ser vice being demanded by her people. but which cannot be rendered with the present meagre facilities.
 II want to pay my tribute to the loyalty and devotion of each mem- Der of the library board in his and her work for Birmingham and also to the staff, which has done wonders under the difficult circumstances. ex- hibiting zeal and enthusiasm hard to match. With kindest regards, l am,
 (Signed) Yours truly.
 "J W. DONNELLY, President of the Birmingham library
 board"