The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1949-03-08

Walfus, one found In the Atlantic,
tire other In the Pacific.
here year round, and a modern
reference library would help to
keep them here and bring them
here. This Is. 20 be sure, putting
literature on a commercial basis,
but In thanking you for this mon
~ YOU have allotted us. we want
you 10 see that there is even a
dollars and-cents return on dol
lars invested In a public library.
There lsn't q cent available TO re-
paint the library rooms, or repair
TIE damages weakened by the
storms and the years; there isn't
q cent 60 provide decent reading
lights, or comfortable chairs for
re w0uld-bereaders TO sit in.
There ISN'T space for new books
and for state documents which
TIE state viii not supply until we
can prove we have facilities to
care Zoe them.
The Action Committee of the
FLORIDA Library Association, fol-
l0wtng sfs survey. plans to work
FOE state aid for better library
service 30 Florida citizens. In or
der o. participate In any future
state aid We must have a library
ilaat meets certain primary stand
ards. which today IL does not
meet Putting IL plainly, gentle
men, We have. in this atomic
aEe. an oxcart library. and frank
", even the oxen are getting
tired and old.
Perhaps you may wonder,
since Ne admit so many short
cesminGk. what function we do
puriorm In the community that il
ham hren worthwhile % carry on
al these years under such handi-
caps. Ths library serves an aver
ace ~ ninety regular subscribers
Hiunth. These are. for obvious
feasons. mostly readers Of fiction.
Car devoted and loyal librarian,
Airs Schuck. reports that all too
frequently she has 90 tell writer's,
students. ministers. visiting coli
leEe professors. local teachers,
and so on. that we have no help
~ them In the way Of up-t0-date
hsMshs on physics. philosophy,
languages. biology. history, or
biography Just the other day she
said that youngsters from the
lflnh School and the Convent of
Mary immaculate, wishing 20
ct,uspete Cor the American Legion
aWard. were able 90 find nothing
"a value Ga help them In the IL
bfafy except q copy Of the Con-
Ntigution'
Ia an attempt 20 get the library
on q more satisfactory footing we
prspafe several small improve
nents We propose 10 do away
with the twenty-five-cent a
uonth membership fee and make
q = truly free public library. We
pfupuse 30 ask you gentlemen to
maine . triparite Library Board
81 consist 81 members from ID
the city government, CD civic
clubs and 90 the WOman's Club.
We agree that when IL is possible
either b. build a real library. or
b. adapt an existing building for
literary purposes. the Woman's
Club will forego any equity il
hes IN the present collection of
tesnka. and turn II over TO the
key West Public Library.
We speak Of u hopefully as
The Ksy West Public Library"
foF even q dream may have q
name a takes time 60 clothe il
in brirk and mortar. but every
sfmall step taken brings IL nearer
a. reality We believe that a Ii
hfary should be a civic under
takine. free 90 all citizens, sup
ported by all citizens. and while
ihis may seem q contradiction in
terms you know as well as we
thaf freedom and obligation are
lnkapafably woven together.
rlefr 10 q freedom of the mind
that s actually more precious
than physical freedom-as one of
uuf New England poets wrote:
iie ate and drank the precious 3.
words.
fiis spirit grew robust:
llu knew no more that he was
poor.
NoF that his frame was dust.
We amnced along tina dingy days,
Ana this bequest Of wings
Waa beat q book. What liberty
a ioosened spirit bringsl
Thank you for helping Us TO
bglng this kind Of liberty 20 Key
West
Sincerely.
EMILY wooLLEY GODDARD.
President,
- a.. N8Nms NFo -. So