The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1945-08-30
Trustees Advocate
Memorial Library
President Addresses Letter On
Subject To Memorial Commit
tee.

In a ISLJGG dQQE6SSeu u WI. u.
Vincent Jamison, Jr., Chairman of
the Hagerstown War Memorial Com
mittee, Mr.. John B. Ferguson, chair
man of the Board of Trustees of
the Washington County Free
Library, suggests the serious con-
sideration of a Memorial Library,
In backing up the suggestion Mr..
Ferguson pointed out that the pres
ent library, which occupies all the
land that the library owns, is en-
tirely inadequate for the services the
library now renders to the county.
The letter follows:
Mr.. j. Vincent Jamison, Jr,
Chairman, War Memorial
Committee,
102 South Prospect Street,
Hagerstown, Maryland.
Dear Mr.. Jamison:
The Trustees of the Library have
so far made no effort to arouse
public interest in the possibilities of
a Memorial Library, feeling that
such interest might develop in the
community, or that your committee
might canvass the various institu-
tions of the County and ask them
for reports and recommendations re-
garding their qualifications as pos
sible suitable subjects.
The Annual Report of the Trus-
tees for 1914 contains brief state
ments regarding the Library situa-
ton but unfortunately its publica-
ton has been seriously delayed so
that the public has perhaps not yet
had the opportunity to understand
the problems that confront the Staff
and Trustees.
We hold the Library to be one
of our very finest institutions, a
monument to the farsightedness and
civic pride of its founders. 1t is now,
however, facing momentous de-
cisions regarding its future that will
be of far reaching consequences to
it and the community.
When the building was planned
at the turn of the century, its
founders evidently believed that
they were providing amply for many
decades to come. Yet, in less than
twenty years, major Improvements
were required and finally made
through the support of the County
Commissioners. In the more than
twenty years since those improve
ments, the growth of the Library
has been rapid and continuous, yet
only minor improvements have been
reasonably possible. The building
occupies practically all of the land
the library owns. Much more space
and far better accommodations are
now desperately needed. The servic-
ing of the County stations, for ex-
ample, is far from being what it
should be in this enlightened day.
The United Nations have been
fighting for Freedom and Democratic
ways. What institution is more typi-
cal and representative of Democracy
and Freedom than the Free Public
Library, the Peoples University?
Was not the Free Library the one
institution that Hitler feared most?
The servicemen have been provided
with excellent modern library facili-
ties and on their return home, they
are assuredly entitled to the privi-
leges and conveniences that new
building would make possible.
The needs of the Library, its
growth in service to this community
and the possibilities of additional
desirable service to the public will
be discussed by the Trustees in due
time through their reports. If, how
ever, Memorial Library can be
favorably considered, the situation
can and should be developed and
thoroughly explored without delay.
The possibilities are fascinating
in their scope and should be of pro-
found interest to those who seek a
fitting and living memorial for those
who have given their lives and serv-
ed their country for Freedom and
Democracy. It should be a most
powerful stimulant to the continu-
ance of Our Way of Life"
Sincerely yours,
Board of Trustees,
John B. Ferguson, President