The New York herald., 1869-01-03

i
three months.
Regulations
Members not indebted for annual payments, fines,
Sc., may take out one work, II II Consists OF nol
| or SIX duoceclmo volumes.
Folios may be kept six weeks, quaItos three
| weeks, octayos TWO weeks duodeciin0s one wees.
Members residing more than ten miles from the
library are allowed one week longer. book may
be again taken out unless another member has ap-
Piled for It.
| Fines
One cent per volume must be paid for eacn day
IL Is detained over the time allowed. Loss or
damage OF books must be paid for; II par " = SET
the value OF the entire set must be paid
NO member can lend any book belonging 70 the
The following is the list OF ocers OF the Society
| for 1905
Guian Q. yerplanck, Chairman.
Otis y. swan, Treasurer.
| William J. HCppln. Secetrary.
wentworth ;. butler, Librarian
Charles X. sands, Saartes T. Strong,
William Adams Rooert Lenox kenueiy
Thos, w. Cerke, John Rosaeya Hro0ae&d,
henry c. Dorr, 1nomss " ard,
stacy b. Collins, William Allen 6cLer,
| William McMurray. Eyert A. Day cAlGcA.
! Li6Ta,y Consmasiss.
| Robert L. Kennedy Charles T. Strong,
William J. Hoppin Jonn X Erodne2t,
| EyeTt A Duycknck Otis y swan.
/ A.Spe,sors or A,sili.dl S.sctsoaa.
| sylvester I. A. Ward. Albert Cartloxo,
Henry r. wintarop.
TIE MFgcASrIIE LIBRARY or NEW YORK.
This library Is tue next In order OF date having
been founded In lSo, expressly Tor the penelS of
merchants clerks. Tue nrst meeting OF the Mercan
tile Library Association was neld at the Tontine
Coffee house November J, le.O, anu on the ..tn OF
\ November constitution was reported anu adopted
and board OF directors elected. In February, 1921,
700 volumes ANA with $50 members. Tney at drst
met with much opposition from old merchants, but
the perseverng efforts oI tie several boards of d.
rectors in tine elfectually overcame all Obstacles;
their appeals for assistance and cooperation were
responded to, and they leased a room IN Fulton
street. In which the books placed and where the
library was nrst opened. In 1925 the location
changed TO Cln street. In 1927 the lecture system
was determined upon and commenced, ana
has been maintained ever since, adding con-
| slderably to the resources OF the institution.
| In 1923 the guardians OF the association
building suitable hall which would supply sufficient
room for their books, a reading room and lecture
room. This design caused the formation OF new
and separate association, called the Clinton Hall AS
sociation winch should act as guardian to the irst
society, while securing TO it All the privileges OF
ownership in the new building. Thirty-liye thousand
dollars were collected, Mr.. A. Tappaa giving at the
head Of the list the sum OF Sl,OoJ site was pur-
chased and Clinton Hall erected ut the corner OF
! Nassau and Beekman streets, and In 1880 tine Mer-
| camille Library Association took possession and
| moved in TO 1t. At tnat time they Numbered LOO
| members, and had accumulated 5000 volumes. In
| the same year Columbia College conferred two
scholarships on the nstitutlon and Ia 1S45 the New
at their disposal. From these many members
have graduated. In 1910 increased accommoda-
tions were telt TO be necessary, and
the subject OF frequent reports aud discussions.
but the clinton Hail Association being sIIil in
aeb' Tor part OF tne original outlay 1SE hn..-
However. At Hee,ng or the two bodies in 1882, 1t
resolved tnat, In tie opinion OF this Board In
view Of the gradual change OF residence to the upper
section OF The city t Is expedient 10 purchase new
locality TOR the library, not above Astor place nor be-
This led to the purchase OF the then Astor Place
Opera House, though there was much squabbiing
between tile two bodies, in which an angry and
active part was taken by The papers OF the day. out
all this has long since passed away II not forgotten
Great alterations mad to be made 10 render the build
In ana nfp. fS11a
while securing ample accommodations for the
library q revenue from rents should also be
secured from the remaining portions OF the
edidce which were to be applied to the
liquidation OF the large debt unavoidaby created.
Ihls mas been done. In the basement there is lee
lure room capable OF seating leo persons. On the
nrst floor there are stores and the reading room,
which sixty feet deep and ninety feet broad IL Is
lighted by ten large windows and from the dome OF
the library and the ceiling s supported by twenty
Cornthan columns. IL Is supplied with nearly 200
magazines ana $50 newspapers IL nve diieren; Ian
guages This reading room II weil appreciates by
the public, o. may be Judged from the TACT tnat IN
1860 1t was visited by ll4soO persons and 1t Is said
that tae annual number OF VISITORS " On the In
| crease.
pies the third aud fourth noors west or the nam
hall. Its centre Is an elllptical room, surrounded by
sixteen Corinthan columns supporting dome.
The bookcases radiate from these columns,
forming aicoyes. each lighted by q skyight besides
the external windows. There are also bookcases
around the walls 10 the height OF twentythree feet,
dlvided by iron balconies and reached by flights OK
stairs. The rest OF the building Is divided into libra
rians' ofices, class rooms, committee rooms and
other apartments, which are rented
The association managed by board or directors,
elected annually from toe members the president
by ballot the other officers by a general ticket
All persons engaged In mercantile pursuits clerks
can become members, n approved by the beard, on
subscribing 10 the constitution paying imitation
fee Of one dollar and one dollar and a haf Tor the
first six months further regular dues being seventy
1vc cents quarterly In advance. This coqiers all the
privileges of the Institution upon them, including
all the classes and thorough collegiate education
= r-i In
Its GIT. Merchants and others become members by
pay lng ave dollars annually, bur they cannot vote
and are not eligible 10 any oifce--or such persons
are admitted 10 the reading room alone, on the pay
ment or three dollars annually.
The ASSOCIATION now numbers over II, 900 members
paying three dollars annually and about 800 paying
i've dollar subscriptions These With the xhoers
oi the clinton Hal Association and some honorary
members make over $4,000 persons entitled to the
use OF the library. There Is also q down town
branch at No. SO Liberty street, where the leading
commercial papers are kept, some periodicals and
works necessary Tor immediate reference.
The income OF the Institution Is something over
$4,000 per annum. The library Is circulating, with
about ss0 books OF reference only. The total num-
Der OF volumes az present Is about 100000, with an
average yearly increase OF nearly 1000. The
practical works-strongest In history, biography
political and moral sciences Fiction has the
i about seventeenth. Of them. The 'S yearly arig
crcnlation y $4,000, less than 1000 being consulted
~ .as oaang ne eoons are re- arranged wnoa.
novels, which are arranged alphabetically by titles.
Inc capai IN books II about $4,000. The library
real estate - estimated at &3J0,000 aud the Grosye-
MOI and Deinils funds are $4,000. The library has
exerted most beneficial and practical influence,
| and Is stll doing so; indeed It's usefulness can
hardly he estimated, and II In undue Compliment
70 sas that II Ia worthy OF the liberal donations II has
IRON time 70 time received from the citlzens OF the
| CITY which cannot be Tar from 100000.
Mr.. 7. II. Houston Is its courteous and obiiging
librarian and can almost always be found al his post
| from eight A. N. TO nine p. M, duringwhieh hours
| the library IL open.
/ THE AsToR LIBRARY.
This institution, the largest Of the kind in the city,
ls too well known 70 require any lengthy comments.
IL was foundcf In 1s4a by the late John Jacob Astor
| who by viii bequcathed the sum OF ss00 900 and
eisht lots OK ground for this purpose OF this sum
IA Lafayette place, In ts furniture and In the pur.
chase Of books: the other t2oo,ooo invested 10
| as 70 render yearly Income for its maintenance
The library was 1rst placed In q private building In
Bond street, but IN 1s54 Il was removed to and was
opened 10 the public In the present building. 10 IL
divided into two dcpartmenis--the scientific and the
j lLerary and rhetorical. For the latter Mr. William