Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-04-11
FREE LIBRARIES.
Reading Rooms in English Cities--l.on.
dom, Liverpool and Name chester.
From the New York Post

apPO1uIeu EOOmS VI CueSe literary
palaces.
Thanks to the broad sympathies OF
their founder and his thorough knowl-
edge of the workingmen, he has con-
verted his original idea of a library into
sort of peoples club rooms, where
they assemble during leisure hours
for social intercourse, and have access
not only to q large collection of well
chosen books, but to all the English
and foreign daily newspapers, the
choice of the magazines and the use of
natural history museum and gymnas
ium. Although these advantages were
especially designed for the working
classes, they are open at all hours OF
the day to the general public, and any
one--the most casual visitor and a
stranger-may, upon application to the
librarian, obtain books either for read
ing or reference; but he must use them
in the rooms and is not allowed to carry
them from the building.
The popularity of these institutions.
and the tens of thousands who have
gladly taken shelter in them from the
demOraliZing influences of the low
gambling hells and "Tom and Jerry "
shops, which are set as traps for them
en- every street where they reside. are
ample proof that the love of evil for it's
own sake, and of low companions and
debasing associations, are not the nor
NAL condition of the working classes.
The first free library was founded
and built by Mr.. William Brown, a
merchant prince" of Liverpool, and
he added to it a museum and gymnasi-
um: 1t is situated near st. Georges
hall. The working of the library has
proved in every respect successful. and
tens of thousands of volumes have
been read during the few years of it's
existence. The museum has been q
great attraction. It has been a source
OF endless amusement to the workmen
and their wives and children.
In Manchester, where the popu]ation
is more dense than that of LIVERPOOL.
and teens with the youth of both sexes,
who are engaged all day in the facto-
ries, the corporation has erected large
and well-appointed Central Library, in
connection with which there are many
smaller ones in different parts of the
city. There are expensive and valua-
bic books of reference in this library :
these cannot, like the other books. be
taken out of the building.
At first sight it would seem a suicidal
policy to permit books to be carried of
by strangers, but all difficulty is obvi.
ated by requiring of those who wish to
take books home, to bring the name OF
q regular householder written upon a
printed card issued by the library, as a
guaranty of their responsibility. This
simple provision has been found sufi-
cient to ensure the safety of nearly
every volume that has left the library.
1t deters those who are careless from
keeping books in their possession after
they have ceased to attend the lib
rary, and it exercises q wholesome
check upon those who may be
more culpably inclined. Duplicates of
these cards are preserved. while the
name of the book taken is put into an
index, with the address OF the house.
holder and the book-borrowef attached.
With this security for his honesty a
man may exchange his book as often
as he pleases. The general public have
free access to the library at all hours
Of the day, and can obtain anv book
they want on condition that they read
it con the premises" Thousands
take advantage of these privileges, and
in the evening the ibrary is the scene
OF workingman's Levee. In the day
time it is the place of reunion for
"respectability" and her children.
There are large and well-ventilated
reading-rooms for each sex. From the
Central Library the smaller district Ii
braries referred to radiate, as it were,
to various parts of the city. These
branches are all admirably furnished
and served, so that if it be inconyen.
lent for man to go as far as the Gen.
tral Library after his work is over. he
can read the daily papers, magazines or
books at the branch nearest to his res- ~
idence.
The public pays nothing for these
advantages. The greatest courtesy is
shown to all applicants at these free L.
braries, whether it be the Central or it's
branches. If one ask for book which
does not chance to be in, he may if he
please, receive an order for the same on
the Central Library, and if this is in
convenient to him, and he calls at the
branch on the next morning, it is sure
to be put into his hands.
The various city corporations erect
all the buildings and provide all the
books for these free libraries. Where
museums of natural history are attach
ed to them, the specimens are mostly
supplied by the public spirit of such
citizens as have collected an ample cab
met either by purchase or travel, or ty
being the captains of vessels making
long voyages and trading ut many ports.