, 1874-02-07
THE BOSTON LIBRARY,
Sketch Of q Noble Institution,
A Collection Of Over 249,000 Vol
lllllCSs
The Yearly increase from $4,000 to
$1,000 Volumes.

posroN, Fob 3, 1874,
It Is well known that tho first question nut to
"A stranger In Boston ia, Have you econ tho biz
organ7" If TINT is satisfactorily answered. tho
col,yorention may pass on to Bnnler Till NIonu-
,nent, tho State House, mud tho Con,inbn but II
is sure to ond with tho Public Lb{ary, Aud
hero Dostonians may we'll become pulfol I'm
with pride. You nro willing to pardon tho o.
cessivo estoom In which they hold themselves
and their possessions when you gaze in rapt ad-
miration upon tho widc sholvcs and lofty aloovos
STUFFED FULL WITH uooKs,-
some muaty aud worin-eatcn, somo III papor
coyors, and aome in the gayoat doyico Of Tho
latoat fashionable publisher. You will do
vol to linton to your Dostonan 40 ho rccouuts''
tho way in which these treasures havo beon
brought together, aud the way in Which they
hnvo boon mado most aorvicoabIo to tho sick md
poor II YOU know city fur away which ]las q
choice library Of it's OWL and may like to hcar
of the workings Of other libraries, you will, pcr-
haps, taka noto of what he tolls YOU.
THE HISTORY
Of the Public Library Of Boston docs not oxtond
ovor long period Of tims; but 1t is, porllaps,
unexampled in It's exhibit OF tho generosity of
literary community when its interest has onco
boen aroused It would Beom strange that a
library previous to 1852, but such is tho fact.
before this timo. In 1918 an not
passed tho State Legislature authorizing
tho City OF Doaton to establish, md maintain d
Public Llbrary; several prominent citizens had
Undo gifts OF books and money, and tho CITY
had accepted some valuable books from tho Cityy
Of Paris; but in 1859 was constituted the first
Doard Of Trustees, with Edward Everett M
President. Tho first report Of this Board must
have been moving document; for. OF reading
firm Of Baring Brothers Il Co.. was prompted
TO 4IvI, $4,000
towards the noble object Of supplying hin native
city with books. III 1854, a temporary Roading-
and, the following year, tho cornerstone waa
laid for tho building which now contains tho
city's literary treasures. This Library was OPEN
cd In 1865. and. the same year, it addcd to its
atoTes I tho library rich in mathomasical wosks
In 1BG0 It received the librarv Of tho Rev. Thco-
doro Parker and. in 1866, the anciont Prince
Library, bequeashed by tho Roy. Thon,aa Prince,
in 1758, to tho Deacons of tho Old South
Ticknor, tho historian Of Spanish literature.
died in 1871, after having bequcathod to tho city
his Spanish and Portuguese boolsa numbering
nearly 1900 volumes, many Of which OK
an n. fund tho income from which is to DO do.
voted to the increase Of this special collection.
A year ago tho Barton Library was purchased
at \ nnorely nominal rate. It contains many
rarittes,-boolss that dato "a far back as 1Ase;
books in black letter original quartos Of old
playa but it is peculiarly rich in Shakspeariana.
Tho Library now numbers
OVER 100000 VOLUMES
and it's normal rato Of yearly increase seems ia
DO fixed at from L. 600 to 1900 volumes. Tho
1noney-valne OF tho Central Librafy alone ia
estimated at $500, 900 but, Of courso, no such
su,n could rcplace it it it should be destroyed,
as many Of its boolst especially in the dopart-
unique. Besides tho important donations nj
ready enumerated, rniuor gifta of boo1s anti
money hnvo bccn constantly ponrug in,
and 1t will ho seen that tho city
has been By no ngn IL
learning our citizens are about oqtally indebted
to tho City Government and to private benefao-
tors.
The Boston @ Library is not tho largest t. tho
numbers, but docs not orrroasd i in oxtont Of
circulation. Tho Astor Library is larger than
the Bates Hall.
oun Library CONSISTS NOW
four branches in tho surrounding towns which
have become part Of the CITY, It is 4 curious
fact that tho Embellishments Of these branches
diminished but very little tho circulation Of tho
Centrnl Library, while their own success wes
yorY gratifying, The lnWa Of books Seem to rct-
verso tho laSs Of trade, atnco supply was found
necessary in order to create demand.
Tho Central Library consists Of Roaaing-
Room: tho Lowor Hall, which contains novels.
Juveniles, md tho lighter c!nss of books; and
tho Bates Hall, which contains Il heavier kind Of
rcading-matter. Tho difference in tlo books ia
not SO marscd as tho difference in the people
who frequent the two halls.
. THE LowEn HALL
is flllcd with tho lowcr classes; while tho great
body Of the woll-drosaod, who are ablo to got
their supply Of novels from tho circulating II.
braries at 2 cents a day, como only for tho edi-
tons de l,are Of the Bates Hail. at NIL timos Of thu
day tho Lower Hull is full but from to 6, es-
peoally on Saturday. it becomes densely crowd
cd. Tho aoxes are found in about equal nuns
be,s. but the number Of pooplo who have passed
middle ago is worry small. Our Catholic fathora
md mothers have not yet learned to caro- much
aud daughters will become moro literary class.
Working mon and womon, rough boys. md gig
Cling schoolgirls are we'll represented; but
what strikes stranger most is the
large number Of small children. Boys
about as high aa respectable pair of boots,