The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-23
APPRENTICES LIBRARY.
OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE NEW HEADQuAI-
TIERS AT MECHANICS HALL.

OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE NEW HEADQuAI-
TIERS AT MECHANICS HALL
The ofncial opening and inspection OF the Appren-
tlces' Library school rooms and other parts OF the
new headquarters Of tho General Society OF Mechanics
and Trsdesmen took place last night The rooms were
all brilliantly lighted and txsteuly decorated with
flags. large number OF the members present
the brass band played lively music. Alter the
inspection a collation. served to tho vistors
Tho Mechanics Hall is the large four story
brick building at No. Is West Sixteenth street, for
merry known as Robinson Hail. II was bought by
the society tor 5000. and s23 600 additional were
spent In fitting up the buiiuIng for Its present
These amounts had been saved from the
surplus income OF the society during the past
ten The organization Is ninety three
years DID, but the library not founded until 1921.
Its first supply OF books donated In part by the
members aud partly by prominent citizens who took
interest IN the institution The first site OF tho
library WAS on Chambers street. between Centre and
Chatham. In 1888 IL was removed 10 No. 80 Crosby
street, and soon after the entrance from No. Az
Broadway was opened Here tho library remained
until its removal 10 the present heaoquarters. A
school formerly established by the society bu.
1852 II was given up aud tho library enlarged. This
year also working girls were admitted 10
the privileges OF membership, and they rapidly
availed themselves OF the opportunity. AT present
out of the 900 members nearly Tour thousand are
girls. The funds received from the Mechanics and
rracesmon's society Tor library purposes amount 10
about $lOO 600 yearly. Tree drawing school occupies
the basement, one Of the rooms being exclusively
female aud the others for male pupils. There 20
Of the latter. The Tor girls only opened last
year, but there are now thirty pupils. aud IL has
proved very successful All the advantages of tho
library Tree to ali apprentices uuder twenty
years OF age 10 others the small price OF 81 year
charged. There are now $4,000 volumes IN the
library. and II is beng Increased by about Two thou
sand two hundred volumes year. The daily circula-
ton OF books amounts 10 500 volumes
TIKI INSPECTION
There must have been nearly eight hundred visitors
to the new headquarters between seven ana
O'Clock last night the hours curing which the build
Ing was open Tor inspection committee Of arrange
ments, of which Mr.. W. H. Gcdney chairma H.
conducted the official examination, and the visitors
roamed at Will through tho beautiful apartments In
the large drawing school rooms the basement the
walls wero decorated with the drawings and archtec
tural designs ol the pupils, most OF them well
done aud some OF item sn wi w quito high order of
merit From here the com ittee proceeded TO the
arge furnace and steam heating apparatus adjoining
This room had been mado nreprooE The arrange
There SIX large vent,lut0rs, three each of
the house, connecting with the lott aud at Tho Of
the building there are TWO air chimnoys The venti-
ators are so arranged that according as they arc
closed or opened current vi air rises from
through the cnimneys or dece0ds into II by the
means SO that circulation oil pure air Is always Kept
up. The library Is In q largo room on the maI floor,
formerly the lecture room OF the old Robinson Hall
Three oil bookbhelves have been arranged
The room with small acoves VI different distances.
There Is accommodation enough for the In
creased number OF books Tor many years 10
The Dcmilt collection OF books OF
reference occupies rooE ON tho left oil the entrance,
where also tho newspapers are kept. The second
story Is used Tor committee rooms ana the meeting
room OF the society, large apartment with
ranged in scmicrce, somewhat alter the plan 0i the
Cooper Institute class The top aoor oocaped
us dwelling by tue Janitor and his family. The
committee were very oDsing to ali the VISITORS that
came never firing OF pointing out the beauty
fuiness OF their new headq uartera
The only thing that might have lessened tho even
ing's pleasure the TACT that ladies' were ad-
mnted to tho reception, bot they will soon have a
chance 10 view the building. as II IL to DO opened 10
general inspection some day next week.