The Portland daily press., 1866-11-28
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND ID.
Wednesday Morning, November %, 1866.
sI,aI we have 81 Public LibraFys

u
Our readers have been informed from time
to time of the progress of movement whlch
ought TO interest every citizen OF Portiaho.-
This movement in the beginning had a single
purpose-the foundation oil puoiic library
which should be an honor to the city, hpfa-
~ of reference for students and professional
,oan and n library no less for the reading pub
lie. who seek only general information or
amusement This plan has been considerably
enlarged and now includes gallery of art, "a
cabinet of curiosities and a lecture associa-
ton. The meetings, though not largely at
tended, have been open to the public and the
proceedings are fairly subject to public COM
ment.
In the report published yesterday morning
TWO features challenge attention. 1t appears
that among the thirty OF forty gentlemen as
sembled Monday evening at the Mayors Of
lice, there was difference of opinion respect
ing the name by which the association should
be known. The name proposed by the COM
mittee was the portland Institute and Pub
lie Library" The objections to this duplicate
title are not without force. The name origin
ally proposed was the portland Library As
ISOLATION" The change was designed to con-
form to the change of plan already mention
ed. 1t was felt that corporation with aims
so various could not be properly described as
library association. And that is true, if
d. each of these objects is to receive an equal
degree of attention. In that case portland
Institute" alone would cover the ground. But
it the library is to be the chief care-and a
great library will be worth and will cost much
strenuous effort-if the art gallery and the
museum and the lectures are to be held
strictly subordinate to this main undertaking,
then there is no reason why they should die
tate its name. Let them be silent partners of
the Public Library"
But there is an objection to this name also.
because it appears in the second place that
the sense of the meeting was opposed to max
ing the library really public. The original
design was to call upon the city, not to en-
dow and manage the library, but to contribute
annually to its support and thus acquire tor.
all citizens the privilege of using the books
gratuitously upon the premises and of borrow
ing them under suitable regulations. A free,
public library was contemplated, and the dis
tinct purpose of the original movers was to
invite the cooperation of the Athen@um
Mercantile Library Association, and others
in this new undertaking. The shape the
movement is now taking is somewhat differ
ent. 1t is proposed to found private col
10 o..k. l.
or part in the affair. Subscriptions and do
nations are to be solicited from individuals,
and the library is to be thrown open to the
public on liberal terms. This is well We
may in this way organize private assoca-
ton broader and more useful than its prede-
cessors, but it will not be public library.
Shall we have public library then? Ev-
cry citizen is interested in this question, and
we invite discussion through these columns.
One substantial reason in favor of it, is the
annual contribution from the city, which would
put the undertaking on a sure footing at the
start. 1t is objected that private liberality
would be checked by the public adoption of
the library. That is probably mistake
The tendency of such institutions is to grow
Eet there be library here to which the city
has claim, which is not merely the property
of a private corporation, and every Portlander
who goes abroad will snap up some rare vol
ume for its shelves. Private collections will
be devised to it. There will be scope enough
for private liberality, for another objection is
that the additional expenses Of free library
will be nearly as much as can reasonably be
expected from the city. Ifthe library is to be
free, to be open every day and all day, there
must be an assistant librarian There will be
salaries to pay, and bills for coal and gas as
well as fol- books and magazines. Do we
want such library, or not? Certainly, il 1t
is to be useful as library of reference, it
must be open at all times. A busy man, who
wants particular passage for immediate use
cannot wait till next Saturday at two o'clock
In the afternoon. A man who is pursuing
subject, does not want enc book to carry
home, but forty to consult as occasion calls
On the other hand, those readers who seek
merely amusement, and they constitute
large and perhaps the most important class,
cannot always command their time. 1t will
the library whenever they can find an oppor-
tunity, to spend their leisure there, and to car
ry away the unfinished volume Tor further
use. Shall we not have a library so con-
Quoted?