, 1874-02-15
Sketch OF a Noble Institution
a Collection Of Over $4,000 Fo1.
Z y. umeS,
The Yearly Increase from $4,000 IN
IL, 5,000 Volumes.

ment, the State House, and the Commons. brt :,
is sure to end with the Public Library. And
here Bostoniaus may we'll becoae pufred IN
with pride. You aro willing to pardon the az.
ccssige esteem in which they hold them,
| selves aud their possessions when sou Qaza in
| rape admiration upon tho rids shelves and loftv
| alcoveg,
| STUFFED FULL WITH BoDKg-2
| soma nusty and worm~eaten, soma in rana,
covers, and sone in the gayest device Of II.
latest fashionable publisher. You will do
well to listen to your Bostonian as he recounta
| the way in which these treasures have baar
| brought together, and the way In which thsv
| have been made most serviceable to the sick and
! poor. It you know city lar away vhicl, tas
choice library of ita own, and may like to hear NJ
tile workings OF other libraries, sou will, per-
hnps, take noto Of whht he tells you.
rHE HISTORY
Of the Public Library OF Boston does not exten3
! over long period Of time; but 1t is, perhaps,
unexamplcd in its exhibit Of the generosity at
literary community when its interest has ouca
been aroused. It would seem strange thai c;tr
like Boston should have had no public llbru,r
previous to 1852, but such is the fact. Various
preliminary movements had been made b.
fore this time. In 184s, an sct
passed the State Legislature authorizing
tho City OF Boston to establish and maintain
public library several prominent citizens had
made gifts of books and money, and the CITY haa
accepted some valuable books from tho City Of
Paris; but in 1889 Eae constituted the dtsf
Board Of Trustees, With Edward Everett &c
President. The first report Of this Board must
havn been moving document for, on rcattinr
it, Mr. Joshua Ba.es, OF the well-knoun London
firm Of Barring Brothers + Co.; was prompted
TO GIVE $50 600
towards tho noblc object Of supplying his natrs
city with books. In 1864, q temporary reading
room and library wero opened to the public
and. the following year. the cornerstone ras
laid for the building which now contains ths
city's literary treasures This Library was opened
in 1858. ard tho Same y.oar it added 10 its
stores the library, rich in mathematical works,
Of the distinguished Navigator, Dr.. Bowditch
In 1860, it received tho library Of the Rev. Theo-
dore Parker; aud, in 1866, tho ancient Prince
Library, bequeathed BY the Rey. Thomas Prince,
was received on deposit. 31r. Ticknor. the his
tori.n Of Spanish literature, died In 1871, after
ha:ing belueathed to the city his Spanish and
Portugucse books, numbering nearly 1, 900
Volumes many OF which are exceedingly rars
and curious. He also left $1,000 as . fund, th4
income from which fB to be deToted to the In
crease of this special collection. X venr ago tia
Barton Library was purchased at q merely noni-
pal rnte. 1t contains many rarities-books
that dnto As far back as 1886; books in black
letter original quartos OF old plays; but 1t il
peculiarly rich in shakapeariana-
Tic Library now numbers
oyEE 249, ,00o VOLUMES,
and its normal rate Of yearly increase seems 70
be fixed .. from IL: 900 to 5000 volumes. Tha
1poncy-vatrle Of tho Central Library alone il
estimated at $3.50, 900; but. Of course, no such
sum could replace it il It should be DESTROYED
~ many Of ita books, especially in tho depart
ment Of earlv American history, are entirely
unique. Besides the important donations u
ready enumerated, minor gifts Of books and
money have been constantly pouring In, andis
will be socn that the city has been BY no means
nicg2rdiT in 1ts appropriations. For this vast
atorehouse of learning onr citizens Rze about
equally indebted to the City Government aud to
private bouefactorB.
The Boston Library is not the largest in tho
country. Tho Library OF Congress exceeds it in
numbers, but does not approach 1t in extent Of
circulation. The Astor Library is no larger than
the Batea Hall.
OUR L1BR.nY CONSISTS NOW
OF one central building, facing the Common, sud
four branches in the surrounding towns which
have become part OF tho city. It is curious
fact that tho establishment OF these branches
diminished but worry little the circulation Of tho
Central Library, while their own SUCCESS wss
very gratifying. The laws OF books seem to re-
verse the faws Of trade, eince . supply Was found
necessary IN order. to create demand.
lne teht5al AlpIa1y cons1sts o. heaang-
!toom rus Go"er ss Ia'1' NniGn contains moves;
1usennes, u ann .no nsnte1 class OF oooAsi ~
the 1atcs 1.aia, "ncn contaus u ueav1er hinu T..
reaoiuenal1et;; tns a., ulue1vuce III sns oooas
nnt 80 naasasu ~. as tne ul1oRe''ce 'o 'ne peop's
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