There is no channel of human usefulness which appeals so forcefully to the modern spirit of philanthropy as the public library. This generosity would, I doubt not, be greatly multiplied were there any assurance that the communities to be benefited would properly maintain the institution given to it. Purely as a matter of business, it pays to support a library decently. But deeper than this lies the motive that should actuate any city or town to erect within its midst an institution that must stand as the exponent of its intellectual and to some extent its social life.
"The problem before us," said Lowell many years ago, "is to make a whole of many discordant parts, our many foreign elements; and I know of no way in which this can better be done than by providing a common system of education, and a common door of access to the best books by which that education may be continued, broadened and made fruitful."
These words are as true today as when they were uttered.
[1] Address delivered on behalf League of Library Commissions, Asheville Conference A. L. A., May 27, 1907.
[3] Read before the New York Library Association at Haines Falls, Sept. 28, 1915.
[5] One devotes thereto a column and a half of 1736 columns in the volume, and the other devotes 37 columns to the subject of the 1480 columns contained in one of the five volumes of the work.
[9] Hodgson, Elizabeth. The Adolescent's Prejudice Against the Classics. _English Journal_, Sept., 1915.
[10] President's address at Kaaterskill Conference, American Library Association, June, 1913.
[11] Extracts from a paper in the _Educational Bi-monthly_, April, 1910, entitled, "The Chicago Public Library and Co-operation with the Schools."
[12] Extracts from booklet, "_Books for the People_," 1908.
Variations in hyphenation and accentuation were maintained.
Italicized words and phrases are presented by surrounding the text with underscores.
The signature of J. Christian Bay who wrote the Preface is in all capitals. In original book and in html version it is in small capitals.
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Library Ideals, by Henry Eduard Legler