Morning journal and courier., 1886-09-20
Monday, September 20, 1886.
THE FREE LIBRARY

The Question Comes Up Again Before
 The City Fathers To-Night-An old
 Citizen Has a Voice On The Subject
 Free Libraries as Seem i'm Other New
 England Cities and Towns.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 Such library for our city and town ought to be all the better that it's founding and purchase has been so long delayed. We can profit by the experience of other towns and cities and learn what is best for us. The writer, on 8 six days vacation trip last month, visited Cambridge, SomerviIle and Boston, also Keene,N. H.; all of which places have long had free public libraries and read ing rooms in connection with them. The beautiful granite Harvard college library building, after long experience and as the result of careful investigation, hes it's books arranged on three or four ssfats, one above another, and the long double or twc-faced bookcases, six feet and four inches high by two feet in width, reach clear across the building from the long windows on each side The two feet width between the rows of bookcases allows of passage on each side of the cases, giving free access to the books A passage of the same width runs from end to end lengthwise. The galleries, stairways and fools are of cast iron network. allowing light and ventilation. The office and read ing rooms are similar to the Yale college library, as also the modes of giving out and receiving books.
 The Cambridge free public library is in that part of the city called Cambridgeport, in @ central street location for the citizens. It has been long established and is in excel lent condition. The building is on the street like that of the Young Mems Institute build
 ing here. It's work is done by one capable
 IoJ or,lk 1alx Dr,,,
 ing the business hours of the day three or four lads drilled for the work assist in re- ceiving and giving out the books. The sys- t -m of card usage is simple and sufficient and in conformity to the established excel lent rules as printed in the catalogues or
 book cards Seven hundred dollars year is paid the manager and two hundre to each assistant and to the boys about twenty-five cents, per hour.
 Somerville city, adjacent to and almost combined with Cambridge, has free public library under the management of one lady and one lady assistant at seven and two hundred dollars respectively. In | both cities the dog tax, about $40O, is given | to be used in the purchase of new books | The yearly appropriation by the city for all ! is only from $1 200 to $1 ,500. The Somerville public library building has been recently erected at cost of $3O,000, all paid for by the city It is simple, convenient and ad-
 
 engagements for reading room offices, and bookcases easily accessible, on one floor. The lady managers for several years had room hired or given and began with only a few hundred volumes, and made the city's first free public library almost without compensa- tion. It appears admirably arranged and conducted.
 Visiting next the great free public library of Boston, the librarian, the Hon. Mellen Chamberlain, very kindly afforded informa- ton how to establish the best public libra ries for city. He seemed to deem our city fortunate in not having one and using pri vate circulating libraries like that of the Young Mems Institute and others scattered over the city. First, he said great expensive building is not wanted. A great shoWy edi- flee built by private or public contribution is not desirable or necessary. Experience has taught him to have the public library consist of many branches in places most convenient for the residents of the city. In each of these places convenient building should be hired or erected and about five thousand vol umes placed in it of such books ss the people want to read and will read. A reference book reading room for the encyclopedias and such books and periodicals as are not to be taken from the library will be needed be sides the room for officers and the books for circulation. One principal building will be necessary with additional books, such es only wanted by 8 few readers. The different places connected by telephone can aHord equal facilities to all. The writer suggested the public school buildings for these pur- poses, and the librarian said with some en- largement they would answer the purpose. The support of the Boston public library costs the city now $75, ,000 year. A large new building is about being erected for the
 Increased requirement. of the city's extent
 and growth He deemed the fact of our
 Yale college library, supplying the need of scholars and authors, made the cost of 8
 public library only a reasonable expense.
 Any good building centrally located answers
 he said well enough for useful free roomy reading room and officers in connection with
 the library.
 In Keene, N. H., with a population of only about eight to ten thousand, a good free public library has long been established. On one floor the rooms, offices and rows of book cases are arranged similar to those in Cam bridge and Somerville.
 The librarian in Boston said books, like the gospel, must be taken to the people, and the books in the different branch libraries carefully examined every one or two years end those not used sold at once without re- ! gard to cost and new ones bought in their places. The accumulation and retention of books on library shelves is no part of the purpose of useful library. The courtesy and kind attention afforded is greatly re- | membered and prized.
 ! q SHERMAN