The New York herald., 1874-09-12
OUR CITY LIBRARIES.
Opening of the Season Of Activity with
BOOkmakers and Readers.
NEW LIE AMONG TEE SHELVES
Who Read, What They Seek and Where
They Find 1t.

Az IL strhuXe, out IL mas become recognized as
fact, that literature, like almost everything which
~ Affected by mans caprices or instincts has its
seasons OF dulness and its periods Of activity.
There have been entire decades in which no
writer or more than ordinary strength mas ap-
peared; ana there are in every year several
months during which but few books are either
written, published or read. In the summer the
author consults the pictured pages OF the great
book OF Nature, and taxes nom between its leaves
the nowers which
Their seeming and All winter long;
while his readers enjoy the 'sweet idleness'
which the sensuousness or the season puts upon
him; and his publisher, that souless necessity to
the writer grumbies at the lack OF Trade. Sum-
mer establishes a great library out OF doors, to
which all persons resort who can-some to open
and read the wonderful BOOKS, but a greater
number merely to look at their rlch bind
fngs. For this reason most OF our city
libraries are closed for month or
more between June and September Of every
year, and those that are kept open are usually
tenanted by the noisy carpenter making new
shelves or by the assistant librarians gloomily
sorting and rearranging the books Since Monday
ali Of our public collections OF books have again
been opened and the annual season OF reading,
writing ana publishing books is now begun. 1t
WIN De very interesting to take survey OF the
several libraries OF this city to ascertain their
present condition and their value as educators OF
the public. 1t being better known throughout the
wori0 than our other literary institutions,
glance viii first be taken at
AsroR LIBRARY.
Though the history OF this institution is well
known II VIII not be out OF place to make slight
reference TO ii. MIR. John Jacob Astor lett in his
VIII, in ls4S, s4oo, ,O0O "to be used In erecting
library building and in purchasing col
b0nk nfad tO tbe anpIa Of
New York; Among the trustees OF this fund
was rhe late DR.. Coggswen, an enthusiastic bibli-
Ographer VINO was appointed librarian OF the new
Institution. While the library building was being
built DR.. CoggsweII devised the plan FOR stocking
A. He went 10 Europe, visited the great book
marts there, and also the most obscure bibll-
Opolists, and made such collection OF volumes
could not have been made in fifty years If the
ordinary course OF making public library had
been followed. On this visit to Europe, and sub
sequenty, DR.. Coggswell made arrangements
there, which have peen very valuable in procuring
Xstor Library y wen known % abroad. N' For For
are added to the collection has been lessening
until II has now reached toe average, at which
II VIII probably remain-abont 1000 volumes
annually. AS the library continues to increase so
does It's use Between 1860 and 1870 the number
was doubled and since 1870 there has been an
average annual increase OF about 5000 volumes.
ADMISSIONS to the alcoves OF the library are
SPECIAL courses OF study, and therein they can
select any book they wish to consult. The num-
There is record Kept of the humber OF books
they consult, but each states mis- special subject
TheologJ and ecclesiastical HISTORY md the
greatest number Of students. history and
jects, and British history and British
literature are particularly anected; next to these
prudence follows next in respect to readers, then
mythology and ancient history come In advance
OF the hne arts, which lead long st OF other SUBJ
Jecte. Last year one sanguinary being read up
the art OF war. and one reader studied domestic
economy. 1t is hoped, for the sake OF an example
10 servant maids, and as an encouragement to
hOusekeepers to believe that better days are COM
Ing that the latter reader was one OF the former
class. II, however the student was lady pre-
parlng or matrimony, ner action Is an encourage
ment to bachelors desirous to wed, yet fearful OF
expense and bad dinners.
At the opening OF the present year the Astor
Library contained LAT $40 volumes, OF which 1852
I'VE e M M Sr Moo
been a continual patron OF the instltutlon founded
by ms Iather, presented s23 OF the new BOOKS 1t
may safely be estimated that there now 10000
volumes IN the library. During 1873 there were
1le,es4 books delivered to readers in the hall,
g. 4s readers In the halls OF the Library and each
read or consulted four volumes; Lisa persons
from these figures that the Astor Library is q won
derful aid TO students and general readers,
and that 1t Is steadily growing In popularity and
THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY
has been kept open through the summer for the
benefit OF people who remained in the city, but Its
issue OF books has been comparatively little. The
reading room in connection with 1t has been
closed, however, and rearranged. There are at
present about 200 persons emitted 70 the use OF
this library aud reading room. In its collection
are about 100000 volumes, a great number Of
which are books OF fiction, and as young ladies
frequent the library IN great numbers these are
library is being continually added to, aud for this
reason the suggestion in the last report that the
be
consequent distance that many subscribers now
have 10 pass TO reach the library has urged the
ing books at the homes OF those subscribers. This
system will begin within lew weeks
THE APPRENTICES LIBRARY.
situated on Broadway, near Broome street, has
been, and is, one of the most valuable institutions
In this city IL is the creation OF the General So
riety OF Mechanics and Tradesmen, and was
founded before this century began. In connection
snce, known as the De Milt Library, named after
its founder, a deceased member OF the Society OF
poSs ter. are about in the bs
Nut Library about 5000. The benefits Of these IL
braries are conferred upon apprentices, youths
engaged In mercantile business young girls
~ work and teachers generally. The
youths must, howevei bring certificates from
memher OF the society which supports the library.
other persons are allowed to lake books on toe
payment of small SUBSCRIPTION. AT present
about 900 persons have book accounts with the
library and the daily average OF BOOKS taken from
IL IS about 400 There are usually about 1000
books pa chased annually ior tue collection but
this year q good part OF the money which would
otherwise be expended ior books, will be taken 10
pay for q new catalogue which Mr.. schwartz and
assistants have made while the library was closed
The institution was reopened on Monday.
NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY.
Tnis institution, It's trustees are careful to say.
has "a social character and '1ts influence Is
brought TO hear upon the more highly cultivated
classes" IL has o0ly been open IN the mornings
through the summer, but as It's wealthy patrons
we're all out OF town 1t was hardly necessary 10
upen 1t at all The reading rooms joined TO 1t nave
not been ;losed at all. II is the Oldest llDrary in
this city having been founded In the year 100 and
incorporated IN 1T12.
THE COOPER UNION LIBRARY
AND Reading Room has been open all summer. ex-
cept Tor two weeks OF last month. Its attendants,
however, were comparatively lew. The library
Vows put slowly and is neiCher large nor wei
CHOSEN, yet u very valuable TO thousands oil peo-
pie more especially the young
EAnUH mn