New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-19
THE VANDERBILT LIBRARY.
NEARLY READY FOR THE PUBLIC.
The BUILDING IN JACKSON SQUARE, HANDSOMELY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IN A LIBRARY.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IN LIBRARY.
n would be hard, perhaps. to find place from
~hich Is brought TO bear on the city's life more
widespread and beneficial influence than the small
Amy building in Bondst., which bears the sign New
work Free Circulating Library institution which,
since fits modest beginning eight years ago in two
b,red rooms. has steadily grown in means and infu-
.uce until II possesses four library buildings and
over $4,000 volumes. 1t point TO record of over
se3 900 volumes loaned UP 10 june 1, 1855 81 ASS
6,sereut persons have been members OF the library
since its beginning
The first branch library, the Otendorfer Library, IN
second.ave Is four years old the second, given
hv Miss Catharne Bruce as memorial to her father,
ccorre Bruce has been in operation since January
and already has the largest circulation of any station
The third branch will It is expected be ready TO begin
york July i. This building is in Thirteenth-st,
Eighth ave-. and will be known as the Jackson Square
branch of the NewYork Free Circulating Library The
iced which for the Of dollar conveys the lot the
bu,lnc and it's furnishings TO the Library Association,
as sent 10 the president of the Board of Trustees Bena
min H. Field, last Wednesday, by George W. Vanderbilt
Who in the modest little note informing the trustees
that the building ready for occupancy, merely
presented his wishes for the Of the assoca
ton At Mr. vanderbilt's request the new branch
viii not bear his name. for the reason will
there be any formal opening. The trustees viii hold
. special meeting this week 20 act upon the gift, and
the building will DO open for the inspection OF the
friends Of the library in a few days.
The architect of the building, Richard NJ. Hunt,
thinks that he acbuaed by true sense of the
illness Of things when he chose the Dutch style of
architecture for a New-York library. The aspect of
the building such would have delighted the heart
NJ Peter the Headstrong, for IL has Dutch gable
front is properly of red brick with loaded windows
and is surmounted with an iron final crowned with
veathervane This last is expected 10 turn according
TO the current of public opinion and It wiz
fbo ecetS ar1c
or stevenson.
Inside the modern decorative spirit takes the lead
The walls Of the library the ground floor are tinted
a robin'segg blue, while the book shelves and other
woodwork are Of walnut, which sets off the bright
bindings OF the books The reading room on the
second floor, reaching the entire length of the build
ing is light and airy. the furnishings of dark wood
and the walls pale sienna One end is rallied Off ex-
clusively for the use of ladies. The attendant in
charge of the periodicals and reference books will have
her desk here A tall Dutch clock, maps photographs
and engravngs will give this pleasant room an almost
homeike air. The periodicals will include the best
literary, business and comic papers and magazines
printed In English and German, the more popular
scientific journals the leading reviews and morning.
and evening newspapers The library viii open with
5000 volumes OF the standard English works I'm tera
ture, science ara, history, philosophy, religion and
fiction, and 700 volumes imported from Germany of
works in the German language will be ready
GUS works and current fiction the libraries depend
largely upon gifts A noteworthy feature, which
Will be continued in the branch is the lending
Of valuable works, such the more costly histories
of art, which in almost all other libraries are kept
exclusively for reference. The only condition OF
membership here at the other branches is that the
applicant shall be twelve years OF age and able to
give proper reference. member OF one branch
Is practically member of ALL for works not possessed
at one station may be borrowed Of one where they
are 10 be found
An entirely new and pleasant feature Of this library
building consists in the apartments the third floor
for the use Of the librarian in charge These have
been furnished for Mr. Vanderbilt by Mrs Richard NJ
Hunt president of the Society of Decorative Art
The rooms have hardwood polished floors, loaded
windows and open frcplaces; the walls are finished
in pale terracotta, and the furnishings Of antique
oak and Powered chntz are in delightful harmony
little brass bedstead with snowy hangfngs, gem
erous dressing table, writing DESK lounge, soft
rugs and more than all an imposing stack OF linen
sheets pillow cases, towels and soft blankets are
dear to the heart of the girl occupant of these charm
ng quarters because those are just the things you
wouldn't expect any one to think OF ana they cost 81
much toos The entire equipment of the library as
n now stands is the gift Of Mr. Vanderbilt VINO IN IL
has expressed his well known quiet ana studiouS
tastes The friends of the library and members OF the
press will be invited by the trustees to inspect the
building as soon all IS in readiness
AT the Bond Street Library in the last month 30
persons have daily enjoyed its advantages and 29936
volumes have been loaned, 126321 having been loaned
snce January 1. Just what these figures denote
IN regard TO the nbrarys influence on the life and
the future of the city only be estimated wheh
Ms civlizng influence, already exered upon the peo
ME whom It was designed TO reach Is taken INTO 'he
account great majority of the members are boys
And young men, some of them dirty rude ana I'M
eouth. when new branch of the library Is started
n REQUIRES the nerve of general and the tact Oh
, priest to say nothing of the patience OF JoD' u
reduce the turbulent element TO order II Is marvel
Inns how the change is effected. Contact with ana
the example of the better element docs somethihB
the ciyfIiZfng power of books does much -, .
II would now be hard to find better behaved SCI
OF bows than those who take books from the bonI
81 library They are not saints the npraIlan ", WI
still end the drawer of classics Labelled IRISH poos,
and the German books their heads III lh 49,
drawers while now and then whoop Is hearu HU IN
some urchin making his exit, but on the Mholo I
place Is so quiet and orderly as 10 De alnose ~
srnns though II is seldom that hall dozen ulc
waiting for books will not be In the room IN tno
matter of reading the library has accomplished qe9
A. mncb as In the matter of manners me tlsh, WI
ksid AZ the right time has led many reauer InIo
world OF delight There are readers "ho IT,
rudance many who would resent IL 5us % ~
and some who accept hint gratefully ina. oii 4ct
whole the best books read Is shown ~ .n1 re
that Shakespeare and Uncle ION CoDiH ~ WV
two books in greatest oenahu'