National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-18
AN IMPORTANT NEED,
a Public Library for the Special Use OF
District Citizens.

To the Editor ofTHE REpuBi1CAS:
While public attention has for years very Justly
been urgently called to the Importance of erecting
n suitable building for the use of the great Con.
gressional Library, the necessity of providing
library for the special Of the citizens of WASH
ington hns TO great extent been overlooked.
The need OF such an institution here is seriously
felt There are many thousands of people here
who have no such access to valuable collections
of books as that which the citizens of all the lead
ing cities of this country now freely enjoy. The
want of such advantages for literary culture has
pro duced very observable provincialism not at
all creditable to the National Capital IT Is true
that the small libraries IN some of the Depart-
ments afford to few of those in official life linn
tied supply of reading NATTER but nine .tenths of
the people of Washington are without the
means of mental cultivation possessed by
the inhabitants OF nearly every city OF
said that this want could be supplied by opening
the Congressional Library at night for the use OF
the citizens of Washington. This suggestion is
utterly impracticable, and is founded upon wrong
ideas as TO purposes to which that great collection
of books ought TO be exclusively devoted. The
W%ys be fhSedad sfs f viii When dtevsT II S al
der 1t unexpedient to use II circulating library
II is, and will always remain an important, auxii-
larry TO congressional legislation, and for this ren
son nlone the books ought 10 be kept constantly in
the library building for the use of the officials en-
titled to consult them. Moreover, with its growth
II will become more and more the resort of men of
letters, scientists, aud all classes of students and
investigators from every part of the Republic. It
would be obviously Improper to allow books
to be withdrawn from such a library
for general circulation, as thereby per-
sons coming from distant parts of tho country TO
consult particular volumes might be prevented
from doing so by finding them withdrawn for the
temporary use of some citizen of Washington The
National Library Is destined to become the great
workshop. of American scholars 1t is now grow
ing so rapidly thain few years IL will be needed
exclusively for the use OF Congress and of the nu-
merOus students in special departments of inquiry
who will daily crowd II. 1t Is therefore vain TO
look to that institution for the books needed for
the use OF the general public of the National Capi
tai. That want win have to be supplied by a
separate library in asopnrate building 1t is prop
ery the duty of the Board of Education TO take
the necessary steps, with as little delay as
practicable, to provide a public library
for the special use of the schools and
of the residents of this city. The sub
leet cannot engage. Alteration too soon. begin
ming in this direction ought to be made at once
by forming the nucleus OF such library no mat
ter how small. If once commenced and housed
in plain hut substantial fire proof building cen :
trally located, II would rapidly grow by donations
ana in other ways, and might ultimately, let us
hope, be endowed by the princey libeTality of
some man of wealth, like Mr.. Pratt Of Baltimore