Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-01-06
LIBRARY GIVEN
new CHANCE BY
COUN1ILBUDGET'
Boards Request For 500 Month.
ly And $425 To Pay Debt
Granted-Means New Life

Complying with request of the
Carnegie library board, which was
backed in person by large delega-
ton of leading women of the city
and Various civic committees, the city
council, last night revised its tenta-
tive budget for 1922 and voted 500
per month to the library. This was
double the amount granted the IL
brary last year and an increase in
the tentative budget which provided
for $75 per month. This increase,
added to the $50 month granted
by the county. will provide monthly
incomG for the institution of $3.50
per month which, the board feels,
will permit the beginning of pro-
gram of rehabilitation of the institu-
ton which has been starved for years.
The council. also voted last night
to pay debt Of $425 owed by the IL
prary. for some time to the CONNER
cial City bank, the affairs of which
are being wound up and which ac-
count is being pressed for payment.
'Ehe city had promised last year to
pay the board $500 on this account
but had not been able to do it. The
voting of this amount to liquidate
this debt will permit the library to
start with clean slate, it was said.
President Harold Speaks.
Thomas Harold, president of the
library board, was first spokesman
for the advocates of an increased ap-
preparation for the institution. He
asked for payment of the $425 debt
and reinstatement of the appropria-
tion of 500 a month which was for
merly made. He stated that under
the recent small income it had been
found almost impossible to keep the
doors of the library open, to say moth
ing of buying new books, repairing
books, binding magazines, etc. He
stated that Miss Carrie Speer, the
temporary librarian, feels the work is
too,heavyfor her and that the board
desired to obtain an experienced H.
briarlan. He mentioned that when
Andrew Carnegie put $4,000 into
the city agreed to appropriate 10 per
cent Of the amount annually, or $2,-
600 for its upkeep, which has never
been done. He said the library had
been lagging under it's crippled con-
dltion and that unless more money
could be had its usefulness would end.
Loyelaee Eve, one of the Rotary
club committee, said the library is
second only to. the. schools; that prop
ef selection and censorship of books
is necessary for young people and
THIS work had been properly done
mere He said that cities can always
1lnd the money to do that for which
tnnere As real demand and what they
really want done.
Important to Schools.
superintendent Mathis briefly out
lined the relationship Of the library
to the public schools and the impor-
tant part it plays in keeping the
schools on the accredited list
Frank Sheffield put in a good word
ior the library and an increased ap-
preparation. Chas. l.. Ansley said
Gordele and. Albany, each spend s3,.
goo per year on their Libraries anc
that Americus should not be behinc
them. ....s.
Miss Speer, librarian, mentioned
ne eryingeneed for children,s books
sfle said her experience in the library
had brought home to her the fearful
responsibility of looking after the de
:ygelopment Of the children. She sale
there were so few children's books in
the library, and the demand is so
great that the situation is truly pa
thetlc, and stressed the Importance, at
the time when the characters are be-
llng formed, of the right kind of read
ing being provided for them. eve
Just know that with our present in
heae~we cannot buy"books, she said,
and we just must have some for the
children," She said the library had
been starved so long and it's needs
were SO great that $75 month which
was planned to give it, would not be
enough. IS s
CaptssJohn A. Cobb, who has been
a member Of the library board since
IT'S inception, said there never had
been a period in the hisflHy of the
institution when its needs were as
great or as important, and added a
plea for the full amount asked.
Mrs. Glenn's Tribute.
Mrs. R. p. Glenn paid high tribute
to the ability of Miss Speer feelingly
told the council it was unfair to have
a thoroughbred and not feed her."
Mrs. B. C. Keister added wore
on the Importance of giving the chill
dren the best education possible be
cause it the one thing that cannot
be taken from them in after life.
The movement to amend the bud
get as offerede increasing the Ii
brary appropriation, was begun by
Alderman Taylor, after Alderman
BSrke had expressed himself as fav.
oring the change. Alderman Ali.
son objected, declaring sympathy with
the library and its needs. but assert