The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1879-03-22
A Library and Reading Room for

We suppose it will be generally admitted that a
yell equipped and conveniently located reading
room, open at all reasonable hours and conducted in
q liberal manner, together with q large and well Sc
lected circulating library, are among the things which
no town Of the size and wealth Of Honolulu can afford
to be without. Especially is such the case when the
town in question is the capital OF a country and its
principal port Of entry.
That measures have net been sooner taken for
supplying this want can only be explained on the
ground that what is everybody's business in general
is apt to be regarded as no ones business in partieu-
lar. However this may be, we are glad to know
that a movement has now been inaugurated which
promises to efectually remedy this long existing de-
fciency. As many Of our readers are aware, a
number Of our public spirited citizens have been
quietly but actively engaged for two or three weeks
past in organizing an association for the purpose in
dicaied and the success they have met with in their
efforts thus far has been extremely gratifying and
encouraging. Nearly every person applied TO has
signed the prospectus of the association and they
have already about two hundred aad fifty names on
their roll, representing every business and calling in
the community and embracing representatives Of
every section and class Of our cosmopolitan society.
\ temporary organization has been effected, suitable
quarters have been secured and properly fitted up
and the g Honolulu Library and Reading Room
association" is about TO he launched on the full tide
Of successful experiment. This Saturday evening at
half past seven clock, there will be a formal public
opening at the rooms of the Association which are on
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and to which all persons both ladies and gentlemen
are most cordially invited The location is all that
could be desired for convenience and accessibility
and the committee having that particular matter in
charge will pardon US for saying that in our Judge
ment they have shown admirable taste and discretion
in the fitting up and furnishing, so far as the same
has been completed.
1t is the design of the gentlemen who have inau-
gurated this movement that it shall be conducted
throughout on a broad and liberal basis. 1t is not
intended that the association shall be controlled by
or run IN the interest of any class, party, nation
atty or sect in this community. This decision is
eminently wise and affords not only the soundest
basis for the conduct of such an enterprise, but 10
fact the only basis on which it is possible in q COM
munity so peculiarly constituted as ours, TO make
any movement of the kind a permanent success.
Before closing, we desire 10 make an earnest appeal
to our readers to help the association in the matter
of books. There is scarcely a foreign family in
the place of any means whatever, but what has
more or less good and valuable books which they
can well afford to spare for SO excellent an object.
There ought it seems to US, to be no difficulty in
securing say q hundred donations Of from five TO
twenty volumes each, which would give the library
a good start and make it attractive from the first.
We trust the attendance at the opening this even
ing may be large and that our people will in this
way as well as in ways and manners more substan-
tlal, manifest their sympathy with this enterprise,
and their appreciation of the services of the gentle
men, who at no small expenditure of time and labor
have inaugurated this movement and attended TO
the multfarious details incident to the successful
starting of such an organization. The exercises
this evening promise to be very interesting. Several
Of our prominent citizens have consented TO make
brief addresses, and Of the musical arrangements il
is only necessary to say that they are in charge of
Prof. Berger, and that the singing will be by the
Glee Club of the Honolulu Iron Works. Those who
had the pleasure of listening TO these gentlemen on
the occasion of the recent entertainment at the
foundry, will need no other inducement to be
present.
Long LIVE THE HONOLULU LIBRARY AND READING
Room ASSOCIATION.