MYFBS, MAY(R - the Digital Library of Georgia

22 MAYOR'S ANNUAL REPORT.To my mind, in these days a free public library isalmost as much a necessity as free schools. By iarthe greater number of our people do not attend schoolafter they are fourteen or fifteen years of age, anda free library would become a potent factor in theirmature education, opening the door for a higherculture than would otherwise be at their command.Cities everywhere are availing themselves of theunbounded generosity of Mr. Carnegie and securinglibraries that will count for much in their intellectualdevelopment. Savannah needs such an institutionas much as any city in the land. We havenothing here approaching it. It is, to a certain extent,a reflection on us that we have none. A few peopleare so peculiarly constituted that they regard with suspicion,if not with actual disfavor, anything that islabeled "free," or that is intended for all of the peopleand not for a self-selected few. We cannot allowsuch a spirit to control in Savannah, nor to have theimpression go abroad that we are not awake to modernconditions and requirements. I believe thatCouncil should meet Mr. Carnegie in any propositionhe may make, with the determination to secureSavannah a free library if it is in anywise possible.To this end it may be necessary to make an -appropriationyearly, but as it is an expenditure that willappeal to practically all of our taxpayers as wise andbeneficial I feel that the city need have no hesitancyin making room for it in its annual budget.By all means let us have a free library if it can beobtained, and let it be so located and so managedthat it will best meet the needs of the people. Let