They ought to know what they want, and what they have a right to expect, and if their expert does not give them this, the relation between him and them should terminate; but if they are men of sense they will not attempt to dictate methods or supervise details.  They are the delegated representatives of the great public, which owns the library and operates it for a definite purpose.  It is this function of the board as the representative of the public that should be emphasized here.  Has the public a definite idea of what it wants from the public library, and of what is reasonable for it to ask?  If so, is it satisfied that it is represented by a board that is of the same mind?  The citizens may be assured that the composition of the library board rests ultimately upon its will.  If the board is elective, this is obvious; if appointive, the appointing officer or body would hardly dare to go counter to the expressed desire of the citizens.

What has been said above may be put into a very few words.  The public library is public property, owned and controlled by the citizens.  Every citizen, therefore, should be interested in setting standards for it and playing his part toward making it conform to them—­in seeing that its governing body represents him in also recognizing those standards and trying to maintain them—­in laboring for such a due apportionment of the public funds as shall not make an attempt to live up to such standards a mere farce.

So much for the things that the citizen can and should do in his capacity of library boss.  His possibilities as a beneficiary are still more interesting and valuable.

Perhaps you remember the story of the man who attempted to board the warship and, on being asked his business, replied, “I’m one of the owners.”  One version of the tale then goes on to relate how the sailor thus addressed picked up a splinter from the deck, and, handing it to the visitor, remarked:  “Well, I guess that’s about your share.  Take it and get out!”

I have always sympathized with the sailor rather than with his visitor.  Most of us librarians have had experiences with these bumptious “owners” of public property.  The fact has already been noted that in a case like this the citizen is both an owner and a beneficiary.  He has duties and privileges in both capacities, but he sometimes acts the owner in the wrong place.  The man on the warship was doubtless an owner, but at that particular moment he was only a visitor, subject to whatever rules might govern visitors; and he should have acted as such.  Every citizen is a part owner of the public library; he should never forget that fact.  We have seen how he may effectively assert his ownership and control.  But when he enters the library to use it his role is that of beneficiary, and he should act as such.  He may so act and at the same time be of the greatest service to the institution which he, as a member of the public, has created and is maintaining.