, 1874-05-24

The act OF the Legislature chattelluB puoue
libraries in tue cities and towns Of Illinois author
ICES the municipal authorities to levy tax not
exceeding one-.ifth OF mill on the dollar o1
| valuation for the support OF such libraries. The
| first levy for tha Chicago Library was in 1872
the next in 1878. None OF the first levy wn<
available until late in 1878, and the bulk OF the
second will not be received until August OF
1874 The expenditures for the Library, first in
fitting up the reading-room in the City Hall and
Tank, aud secondly in the present quarters at the
| coruer Of Madison street aud Wabash avenue,
have drawn largely upon the available funds.
Tho reading-room has become already one OF the
The circulating department has ut once grown
into high favor and usefulness. The list OF new
applications for books is ut tho rate Of one hun
dred each day, and it will not require many
months before the number Of applicants will
equal the number OF volumes in the Library.
The books purchased were scarcely enough to
begin with, and OF many OF the popular books q
half-dozen copies are in demand at time.
This work Of putting the circulating library
in operation with only limited number
Of books, and with fow duplicates, is one of dif-
fculty, and cnn only be accomplished by regu-
lar aud liberal addition to tho volumes for circu-
lation. The eetimate presented to tho Common
Council for the year 1915 was $50, 900 for
the support and increase of tho Library. This
estimate the City Comptroller has reduced to
$4,000. The reading-room attached to the
Library is All extensive one, md is well supplied
with papers and magazines from all parts Of the
United States and Europe. It is open from early
morning until O'Clock at night. It requires
several attendants for this department alone.
The cost Of attendance fuel light. stationery, and
other expenses will reach, if not exceed, Comp
trollcr Hayes estimate, thus leaving 1.-the library
without any funds to make additions to the
Library. It is not likely that the Directors
would have opened the circulating department
at ali unless they had had ASSURANCE tint the
small stock of books held by them would be in
creased and, if there are no moro books to be
bought, it would perhaps be better to close the
Library. and abandon the attempt to furnish
books to the people of city like this from tho
comparatively paltry colloctoa no" On hand, or
procurable with the money now available.
The Common Council have to act upon tho
recommendations OF the Comptroller. While the
public heartily agree with MIR. Hayes in his plan
to reduce the expenditures Of the current year
to million less than the appropriations for last
year, this proposed reduction in tho case OF tho
Library is neithor economical nor expodient. II
the members OF the Council will examine the
list of names registered for books they will be
gratifed at seeing among them very large pro-
portion Of young men and women who are at
labor all day, who have no means to buy books,
and whose only hope Of obtaining reading mat
ter for pleasure or instruction is in this Library.
II the books can be furnished, there will be
within year $4,000 names registered, and no
money can be so proitably expended as in main-
tanning this great public benefaction.