New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-16
4 GREET SITE LIBRARY.
the Soudan

That is what we should have In Albany and
what we shall have if the Legislature will CO.
operate in the plans of Mr.. Dewey, the new
State Librarian, which are outlined in letter
from our Albany correspondent. We now
have in the new Capitol the handSomeSt and
most commodious hbrary-roOm in the world.
Such is the Judgment Of Mn Dewey who has
seen all the great Libraries of Europe and the
United States, and sought to combine the BEST
features of all in the State Library. This need
not and should not be local institution. Its
claim to the title of State Library should rest
on something more than its situation at the
capital and the fact that tits useful adjunct
in the work of the Government.
It is entirely feasible to make it, as the new
Librarian proposes, valuable part Of the ed
ucational machinery of theState With proper
facilities it would be easy to extend its priv
ileees to instructors in schools and colleges in
any part of the State, books being sent to them
under proper restrictions and returned. In
this way a large number of professors and
teachers who could not visit the capital would
VET be able to avail themselves Of the treasures
Of the library, and there can be no doubt thap
such a policy would have a stimulating and
elevating effect throughout our whole educa-
tional system There is not the least practical
difficulty in the way if the Legislature will fur
nish the money to develop the library into a
great and harmonious collection, and to keep
the machinery Of distribution going. The risk
of loss in sending out books in this way would
not be worth taking into account. Both the
State Library and the instructors are under the
general supervision Of tho Regents Of the
University, and for all practical purposes the
books circulated in this way would probably
be as safe as if they were read in the magniil-
cent home of the library in Albany. But, aside
from this, the experience Of free circulating
libraries such as the Boston Public Library, and
others elsewhere, including those in this city,
shows that such privileges, when properly
guarded are seldom abused.
But to carry out these plans the Legislature
will need TO exhibit spirit Of enlightened
iberalty. We have the foundation for a splen7
did library. but hardly more. For several
years past the beggarly sum of $4,000 year
is all that has been appropriated for the pun
chase of books while the city of Boston ap-
propriates 81 So 900 a year for its Public al
brary. The Library of Congress in Washing
ton is largely fed with copyrighted books, while
our State Library must pay its own way 1t
will have Mt least this advantage, however
that it will not be clogged up with the trash
to which the Congressional Library is compelled
to open its doors. The Empire State is big
enough and rich enough TO have great library
devoted not only to the service Of its govern
ment but of the whole people. We ought to
see there in time a library to which scholars
will resort from all paris Of the State and even
of the country. 1t presents a noble oppor-
tunity The collection is now about one.fOurth
the size of the Congressional Library In
American history and some other departments
! it is especially rich. 1t has secured, thanks to
the action of the Regents the services of one
of the most accompli shed and energetic mem
bers of the library profession, who enters upon
his work filled with an ambition to make this
library the pride of the State. All that re-
mains is for the Legislature to give such APP
preparations as the work demands.