The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-14
LIBRARY BONDS ]. QUESTIONUP TO COMMISSIONERS Board Describes Fire Risk K Taken By, Public In
 Present Quarters {. DELEGATION CALLS AT
 CITY HALL WEDNESDAY Fourth Floor Of Municipal
 Building Depends Partly
 On Rods To Roof 's <

The library board Wednesday ap- |pealed direct to the city commission to incorporate $75O, 900 for a new library lin the call for a school bond referen- dunn. I@s Voting uhanimously. .e ard adopt led a resolution decla < could no longer accept respgf y for the alarming fire haX [ the present library quarters. At
 A detailed sSc t of the library needs was praS 1nd, after adjourn ment, Presidy z W. Donnelly head ed delegsS N nich called on D. B. McLendoy i nission president, and formally & sted that the library bonds b.. nited to the voters along with the sc.sJol bonds.
 MT. McLcndon assured the delega- ton that the request of the library board would receive immediate con- sideration. Personally, he seemed in- clined to support the request.
 Need Safe Building
 When the people of Birmingham" Mir. Donnelly told the commission head, realize the true state of affairs at the public library, they will rise up and de- mand suitable and safe building.
 "The library is so definitely part of the educational system that the public schools can not function properly with out it. We feel that the presentation of library bopas would in no way initiate against the success of school bonds, and recognizing that the city commissioners are the only authority having power to grant or deny our peti- ton, we officially ask that you include in your call for an election on school bonds, the proposal for $750, ,000 bond issue for the purpose of acquiring a site and building and equipping a central library"
 Favors Schools
 The library board expressed itself as strongly in accord with the movement for school bonds.
 Except for the risk to life at the library, for which we cannot longer carry the responsibility" declares the boards communication to the commits sion, i've would have been willing to remain in the background at this time and continue to render the best possible service with our meager facilities, but under existing conditions we feel it ab- solutely necessary to place the issue be- fore you, the city commission of Bir- lningham, for your consideration and decision"
 At the pleasure of the commission a committee of library board members will appear before it and outline in |further detail Che position of the library |advocates, Mr. Donnelly said. { :
 Present Situation
 < 'The present situation" Mir. Don nelly stated, lis intolerable. A fire in the present quarters would be almost certain to cost a number of lives. I resumed my work as a member of the library board a short time ago, after long absence. with the understanding that the existing fire hazards would soon be eliminated. A campaign com mitteo recently organized to make recommendations for a school bond is- sue, while expressing a friendly feeling for the library, seemed inclined to rele- gate the issue of library bonds to some future date. Knowing the library needs as do, and being deeply concerned with the fire danger existing, I feel that the board has only done its duty in petitioning the city commission for im- mediate relief"
 Up To Commission
 Tn affect of the library boards &C., tion now places it squarely up to the city commission to decide whether it is willing to assume responsibility for existing fire hazards at the library. The boards communication makes it plain that it will no longer carry the respon- sibility.
 Commissioner W. l.. Harrison is the only commission member who has publicly declared against the submis- sion of library bonds along with school bonds. The other members have indi- |cated they will not reach a decision until the matter has been studied in detail.
 At the city hall the view prevailed generally that the present members of the library board would not be willing to serve longer unless early steps are taken to eliminate the fire dangers now existing.