It is a pleasure to me, I assure you, to take part in these ceremonies
in which we open formally Prince George's County's first regional
library. Your county government is to be commended for this man-
ifestation of interest in the intellectual and cultural life of the people
of this enlightened and progressive community. Throughout the
history of civilized mankind, thinkers have acknowledged the great
part books have played in shaping our morals and manners. Thomas
Carlyle, the British historian and essayist, said the "true university"
is a "collection of books". And Stephen Leacock, the American
humorist evidently had the same thing in mind when he described
how he would build a university.

Leacock said (and I quote):

"If I were founding a university, I would found first a smoking
room; then when I had a little more money in hand I would found
a dormitory; then after that, or more probably with it, a decent
reading room and a library. "

It is altogether appropriate that this splendid new library building
be dedicated to the memory of the late President John F. Kennedy.
President Kennedy will be remembered by Americans of this and
future generations for many of his attributes, and chiefly among them
his dedication to scholarship — to matters of the mind and the spirit.
He was an intellectual in the truest sense of that term. He aspired
to, and acquired, knowledge and understanding. He loved books. He
wrote them and he read them. Books were his friends, just as books
have always been the friends of those who seek enlightement and
cultivation in their lives.

Let us hope that the thousands upon thousands of persons who will
use these facilities which Prince George's County has provided will
have the same feeling toward the books and the material contained
in this building that he had.

Your State government, I am proud to say, is acutely aware of the
importance of public libraries, and has demonstrated this awareness
by increased State appropriations to assist local communities in
financing them. As most of you undoubtedly know, an equalization
program based on local ability to pay was incorporated into our
system of financing public libraries. Under this system, the State meets
30 per cent of the cost of a minimum program of $1. 20 per capita,
and the counties and the City of Baltimore defray 70 per cent of the
cost of financing these public libraries.

The effort of your State Administration to strengthen public libra-

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