Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-04-18
FREE LIBRARIES.
Reading Rooms i'm English Cities--l4on-
don, Liverpool and Manchestcr.
r,ra,,, A. Nav, y,~i; Past

The establishment of the free librar.
les for the working classes III all the
large cities of England has been pro-
ductive of The best moral results, both
to them and to society. They have
more than rivaled, by their social COM
fort and intellectual enjoyment, the
fatal allurements of the gin-shop and
beer-house. Thousands who were once
habitual freQuenters of such places,
and who wasted their substance IN riot
Gus living, may now be seen nearly
every evening, with their wives and
children, reading books or news.
papers in the commoGious and we'll
appointed rooms of these literary
palaces.
Thanks to the broad sympathies of
their founder and his thorough knowl-
edge of the workingmon, he has con-
yerted his original idea OF library into
sort of peoples club rooms, where
they assemble during leisure hours
for social intercourse, and have access
not only to a large collection of we'll
chosen books, but TO all the English
and foreign daily newspapers, the
choice of the magazines and the use OF
n natural history museum and gymuas-
ium. Although these advantages were
especially designed for the working
classes, they are open Mt all hours OF
the day to the general public, aud any
one--the most casual visitor and
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 III them from the
demoralizing influences of the low
gambling bells aud "'Tom and Jerry
shops, which are set as traps for them
ON 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,
merchant prince" Of Liverpool, and
he added to it a museum and gymuasi-
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 its
existence. The museum has been Il
great attraction 1t has been source
of endless amusement to the workmen
and their wives and children.
In Manchester, where the population
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 disappointed Central Library, IN
connection with which there are many
smaller ones ii different parts Of the
city. There are expensive and valua-
BILE books of reference in this library :;
these cannot, like the other books, be
taken out Of the building.
At first sight it would seem suicidal
policy to permit books to be carried off
by strangers, but all difficulty is obvi.
ated by requiring Of those who wish to
take books home, to bring the name of
a regular householder written upon n
printed card issued by the library, as a
guaranty Of their responsibility. This
simple provision has been found sutli-
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 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 borrower attached.
With this security for his honesty a
man may exchange his book as often
Us he pleases, The general public have
free access to the library at all hours
Of the day, and can obtain any book
they want on condition that they read
it con the premises. Thousands
take advantage of these privileges, and
IN the evening the library is the scene
OF a workingman's icUce In the day
time 1T IA the place Of reunion for
Responsibility" and her children.
| There are large and well-ventilated
reading-rooms for each sex From the
Central Library the smaller district IL
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 Cen
trail 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 Ii
braries, whether it be he Central or its
branches. If one ask for a book which
does not chance to be in, he may if he
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