My dear Miss Addams:
I feel that Rockford College would be very lucky in securing the entire library of Miss Emily Balch and hence I hope you will encourage her to do so. I shall mention it at the next meeting of our executive committee.
It is perfectly true that the little room that has for years served excellently the purpose of a library is so crowded that we would not dare to put more books in without withdrawing a number already there. The library had increased from 8,000 to nearly 16,000 during the last ↑few↓ years. What I would propose in this case is to use a separate room in the neighborhood of the present library for this collection and label the room “The Jane Addams Collection”. This room would serve for the next year or two until an adequate library can be built. You will note from the enclosed clipping that it is already projected and I feel this hope will be realized if our friends begin to see the pressing necessity of a new chapel and a library as we see it here.
In the meantime we are anxious to receive gifts because they will increase the efficiency of our classes and because they can be a part of our planning for the new building.
You will be interested to know that the popularity of the social sciences has now developed into a social science faculty, consisting of Professor, Assistant Professor and Instructor in History, a Professor of Sociology and Social Service, a Professor of Government, and a Professor and Assistant Professor of Economics. I am anxious that you be particularly conscious of this development since 1919. No doubt Miss Balch would be impressed with this and the freshman orientation work. [page 2]
We shall, of course, be only too glad to receive books from your own library that will tend to make this Economics and Sociology Library complete.
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