The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-09-08
Mr.. Jewett thus sums up The conclu

MIR. Jewett thus sums up the conclu.
SONS
at will be seen that in the number OF
public libraries, France is the only coun.
try in the world which excels US. IL should
be observed that the returns respecting
France are official and minute, including
Libraries Of not more than 500 volumes
Many Of our public schools, however, pos,
sess Libraries larger than these, but they are
not enumerated in our lists. If they were,
they would swell the number Of American
Libraries far beyond that Of any other coun.
try in the world.
"ln the aggregate Number of uol,mes
IN public Libraries, Germany, France, Great
Britain, and Russia are before us. Were
all the district school Libraries and village
collections in the United States included in
the estimate, We should probably take the
fourth rank.
I'm the acreage size Of Libraries con.
taining oreT ten thousand rOltlnaes, we
are the last of all.
an the size Of the largest library, we
also stand last Of oil.
an the number of polumes compared
nth the population, we rank below all but
Russia and Spain.
These results show that in public provi-
sions for the general diffusion Of knowledge
by means Of Libraries, we stand in the very
first rank among the nations; and when we
consider the cheapness Of our publications,
and the vast number of them scattered over
the land, with the extent of our periodical
literature, we may Justly and proudly chal-
lenge comparison with any nation in the
world for the means Of general culture.
"But this deduction, so full Of encour-
sgement, so fraught with matter for gratu.
lation and pride, must be followed by Others
OF different character.
"The statistics given indicate, that while
no country in the world has done so much
for difusing knowledge, none has done so
little toward furnishing the means which
public Libraries can supply for its increase. y
The practical inference is obvious. A
library OF reference is needed for the Uni.
ted States, in which any important subject
may be pursued through all its bearings
and details. And such library of refer
ence is necessarily large library. Popu-
lar classics, the han1books of literature,
will take care OF themselves; what is want
ed Of benefit from public institution, is
provision for books which there is no ade-
quate motive TO collect elsewhere.
To shorten the process Of collecting in
the country library of rarity for reference
the Institution will, in the first instance,
prepare thorough photographed catalogue
Of the books in the leading collections of
the country, note the deficiencies, and
make their first purchases thus with refer
ence to the actual wants of the country. A
collection of books on bibliography, 5000
in number, is now making--a map Of the
future Library.
We have thus sketched, from the mater.
ais before us, the outline OF the methods
adopted to carry out the liberal design OF
Mr.. Smithson. II is important that the
public should have a clear comprehension
of the Institution in its necessary develop.
ment and actual working condition. AL
interested may thus discover at glance thu
nature Of the opportunities offered by j
from which they may profit, whether thei
capacity be that of teachers or taught. i
is an institution thoroughly cosmopolitan ii
its character, where the science Of all ma
tons may find aid and protection. Alread.
the disasters Of Europe have led to a sug
gestion Of the employment Of portion o
It's resources for the promotion of work
from city which has been more than an.
other, the home OF such liberal enterprises
DR.. Henry tells us--"the manuscript vol
umes on natural history Of one Of the mos
distinguished professors Of the Jardin de
. Plantes are offered to us for publication i
the Smithsonian Contributions for no re
( muneration, save few copies for distribt
ton among friends, Were the lnstitutio
fully in operation should not hesitate, !
accordance with the liberality which shoul
characterize an establishment founded o
4 the bequest Of foreigner, to reconmen
| the adoption of these memoirs for public'
&C A = an