The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-03-18
The Public Library.

The Directors of the Portland Institute and
Pubtic Library have the pleasure of acknowl-
edgipg additional donations TO the library, as
follows: from the Massachusetts, Historical So
ciety AZ volumes of the Collections and Pro-
ceedings of the Society and the Catalogue of
their library; from the New England Historic
Genealogical Society the entire set of the His
torical and Genealogical Register published by
Them in q volumes; from Lee & Shepard of
Boston, the Publishers, Oliver Optics valuable
series of Juvenile stories in % volumes; from
i. Carson Brevoort, Esq, of Brooklyn, n Y,
the first volume, and 4th Annual Report, of the
Long Island Historical Society, and beauti-
full quarto pamphlet The Report of French
Protestan Refugee in Boston in 1887 from
Rev. Eugene Muller of Portland, nine volumes
of rare books; from s. L. Goodale Esq, of Sa-
CO, his reports on the Agricu.tu of Maine"
in octave volumes; from Prof. LongfelloW of
Cambridge 80 volumes of the Congressional
Globe; from Capt George Fl. Preble O. s. N.
ID volumes American Register and Matte
Bruins Geography; from Abrame Cutter of
Charlestown Mass. the works of Anne Brad
street, VOL Royal octave, illustrated; from a
lady, Milman's History of the Jews, 5 vol
umes; and from the Hon. Ashur Ware the
munifcent donation of Dodley's Annual Reg
lister from its first volume in 175S to 1918, in
So volumes, handsomely bound, Brewster's
Edinburg Encyclopedia q volumes quarto, a
work GU which the late Sir David Brewster
labored twelve years; also large collection of
miscellaneous books, some of them exceeding
ly rare, and several hundred bound volumes
of Executive and other U. s. Public Docu-
ments, the accumulation of more than forty
years of that learned jurist's life, now happily
given, during his lifetime for the benefit of the
city which he has adorned by his profound
knowledge and eminent judicial services.
The directors take this opportunity to say
that the Institution has met with unexpected
success: In the brief period since its COM
mencemeut there have been collected more
than 1000 volumes which are now arranged
upon it's shelves. Still there is great deficien.
cy in several, nay all, the departments of
knowledge which it is necessary to supply in
order to constitute well equipped library
When we see cities smaller and less enterpris-
ing than ours, which within ten years have
accumulated large libraries, growing every
year, and increasing in favor, popularity anda
usefulness, we have felt that it was due to the
honor of our city and the character of our peo-
ple that strenuous effort should be made to
procure from our citizens both books and
money to place our Institution ON footing
not inferior to that of any other city of our
size and position. The Public Library of New
Bedford in 1866 contained over 10000 volumes
and fire proof building erected for it by the
city at cost of more than $25 900. The libra
ry at Springfield, the same year, contained
more than $4,000 volumes, and fund Of over
81, 900, raised by the subscription of her citi-
zens for the erection of library building. And
NewbuTyport opened its large Public Library
Jan. 1, 1865, in a spacious mansion house pur-
chased and fitted up by the liberal co1tribu-
ton of her native and resident citizens.
The testimony to the beneficial effects of the
libraries in those places is of uniform tenor
as an educating and refining ministry; they
enable the educated classes to indulge in their
literary and scientific tastes-they increase
the facilities of acquiring knowledge and give
to the masses of the people opportunities for
literary education and improvement which,
without them, they could not enjoy.
1t is upon this principle and with these
views, that the Directors earnestly appeal to
their fellow citizens to continue the work so
well begun. In every family there are books
of fiction and others which have been read and
cast aside, they can now take their place in
library of circulation, where works of fiction
are greedily sought by the young. We want
more books to keep up with the literature of
the times-We must have money to sustain
the Institution: attendants must be paid and
incidentals; new books are to be purchased,
old ones rebound; we must put upon our ia
bles the best periodicals of the day; we ought
to make the Institution worthy Of the town,
and practically useful to the people.
The library will be open every day, except
Sunday; all our citizens are permitted to visit
the rooms without charge to remain or read
the books; all who pay $50 become life mem
bers, Untitled to all its privileges without as
sessment; and those who will pay so. year
are allowed to take out books.
The members of the Institution having con-
tributed books and money and services, in
founding this noble library, feel justified in
urging their fellow citizens to join them, by
like contributions, to sustain and increase it.
A committee is appointed to receive subscrip-
tions consisting of S. e. Spring, Gov. WASH
bnrn, L. D. M. Sweat, DIR. l.. 7. Gilman and
John Lynch, to any ofwhom money may be
paid, or left at the Casco N. Bank. Books
may be left at the library rooms. 1t is hoped
that liberal responses will be made and prompt
ly, to this noble cause.
Bv order of the Directors