Miss Stearns: How much of the county is embraced outside of the city of Cincinnati?
Mr. Porter: We have about 14 townships outside of Cincinnati township. Our county is possibly 28 miles in extent.
Miss Stearns: Then it is a small county that you supply?
Mr. Porter: It is a small county, but the population is extensive. We commenced the county delivery system in June, 1899. Up to the present, and through the stations alone, there have been about 7500 new registrations, and we are to-day, through our stations, carrying 20,000 books.
Mr. Dewey: This question seems to be of a city library extending its privileges. What I thought we were to talk about was whether the county should be used as a library unit. That is quite a different matter.
Mr. Galbreath: But in this case the county here is the unit, and is taxed for the support of the library. There are no other public libraries in the county.
Mr. Dewey: But there is a different side to the question. Suppose you take a rural community and establish a county library there? I think it would be a great extravagance to maintain not only local libraries throughout the state, but also county libraries; it is going to cost too much.
Miss Stearns: Would it not be better to have a central library?
Mr. Porter: We have also in Ohio, something which approaches the county idea, known as our Van Wert law. The state of Ohio, by an act, authorized the county commissioners of any county to accept library donations, funds, or building. Upon the acceptance of that donation the county can be required to maintain a library within the building. In Van Wert county, the Brumback Library building and grounds were given in this way and the agreement was made with the county commissioners, that they maintain thereafter a library.
Mr. Dewey: Our question is not whether such libraries should exist or can exist, but are they desirable?