New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-29
NEWARK,S NEW LIBRARY.
An INSTANCE OF MUNICIPAL BENEFICENCE.
THE BUILDING AND THE BOOKS - SOMETHING
ApouT rHE PLAN Ot MANAGEMENT.

for business with 900 volumes and high hopes.
Frank p HI is the lib aan, and has had experience
IN Lowell Mass, and Paterson, " j., to guide him.
Librarians all the country have taken par
tcuar interest in the Newark institution. because
is peculiar In respects, and because It Is taken
as an example Of municipal pngIcss in this Kind OF
public benehcence. IL Is wholly public enterprise
and 1t will be free public park. The tax
payers foot the bill, and everybody is 10 share In
the good II may do.
The building-up Of an institution like this from
theory and desire 70 condition Of practical use
fulnoss has been heavy task The example was
set in way By Paterson, but Newark is conservative
In most affairs and had TO be taught slowly. Three
years ago the agitation began In one Of the local
newspapers. The plan then proposed was modest
There an association that conducted subscription
library which had been founded by DR.. s. lraeneus
Prime and others, which had accumulated 81, 900
volumes good. bad and indifferent, and which mad
become antlquated and unpopular. There was real
estate Of considerable value connected with this In
stltuton, and the first idea hat the old assoca
ton should be mado the nucleus Of free library, re
ccivlng due recognition and some mOney-say the par
value of the stock. The old association meanwhile
had begun the erection OF building Of handsome
proportions and eligible site Eventually 1t
found impossible TO mako any arrangement for
tho absorption of the association. Stockholders sud
denly became anxious for larger dividend, and
others refused to surrender unless more generously
represented In the public board than thought adj
vlsable The net result of numerous efforts TO reach
an agreement only the leasing Of the associations
building by the public library at fair rental,
the Old association practically going out Of business
at the same time.
Long before this work had been begun on the free
library in dead earnest Legislation was needed and
a law which had been enacted originally for the
benefit Of Paterson revived for Newark. Under
o11a tlnVrt
the adoption Of the act by Newark, and If majority
Of the voters accepted it he to appoint the
trustees to found the free library and the Common
Council was to levy tax at the rate Of Onethiid OF
mill tho dollar Of taxable valuation for the sup
port Of the institution About $4,000 votes were cast
the library question, and all but few hundred
were In favor of IT, The Mayor slow to act, but
the trustees eventually appointed and began their
work. There have been many halts and bitches since
The trustees wasted much time in attempting to reach
an agreement with the old association and in coming
to an agreement among themselves, and over year
elapsed before the library began TO look like a living
institution
The building is the centre Of the city I'm
street adjacent to but fee from the noise of the main
thoroughfare. Granite is the material used. There
IS big entrance hall in marble, catalogue room at
the left and a marble stairway the right. At the
end of the hall Is the main library room. The 10000
books look rather lost in this beautiful and spacious
apartment which would accommodate 100000 com
fortaby but the effect is fine nevertheless and It has
a wonderfully cheerful home-lke appearance. The
desk IS opposite the entrance and the books ranged
the shelves I'm alcove-fOm three sides of the
room. Above the alcoves Is a platform where the
reference library is situated, and where those who
It will find desk room. Just off the main room
IS square apartment. the womens private reading
prettly furnished, cosey place The catalogue
room is something of a triumph in its way. Here
Will be placed the printed catalogues tables. These
catalogues alphabetically arranged under subjects
and have been carefully prepared after the best
models. The card catalogues, however, incline Ii
brarlan Hill to boasting-iust trlie They are In
desks armhigh around the room and they will be as
complete as anything Of the kind yet constructed, 10
which some inventions of Mr.. Hin himself will con-
tribute not little.
UPSTAIRS on the first floor above the catalogue
room, is the main reading ROOM an airy. handsomely
furnished place. Here will be the magazines, news
paper files and a desk where books may be ordered,
parcels and coats and umbrellas left, and back num-
bers obtained On the third story IS a classroom
which Is to be used by the public school children
brought thither by their teachers for special study
The rooms are furnished In hard wood and the
furniture is In oak and marveously handsome for the
low prices paid for it. The whole building is light
cheerful and convenient. Its fault Is chiefly in the
lack Of accommodations for the librarians workfor
the rcIlndng, cataloguing. etc.
The library will be absolutely free: that Is, within
the bounds OF Those who take out books will
have card. These cards good for three years, will
be issued on directory Identification" If the ap
plicant known or his her name is IN the drcc tory
a card will be given; If neither of these conditions
exist the card will be granted only after four days
delay. The four days will be used I'm ascertan!ng
by library messengers the correctness of the
and address Of the applicant. Armed with the card
there is further preliminary necessary-the library
weeks, and penalty will be exacted for keeping
them longer-two cents day. A postal card notice
will be sent at the expiration OF the fortnight II
the book Is not returned week later library mes
senger will go TO the house, obtain the book and col
lect 20 cents messenger service.
The valuations Of Newark increase slowly but
steadily and the free library IS to be supported by
a Specihed percentage, us revenue VIII also Increase
For the current year the amount Is %32 800 and tho
trustees have had about 100000 with which to do
their work. With this they have had to furnish the
building. but not 10 make the acoves the shelves
for the books they pay $1,000 annual rental and they
have bought the books, some of them. Of course.
pensve; many, Of course, cheap The running eX-
lighting an open fire or two, careful heating by steam
ample cleanliness; and corps Of attendants always
capacity for library work To do this Sc}2. 900 or
Sc}3 900 year will require careful management II
can be done. There has been no sign OF politics In the
business yet and thorC will be none unless there IS
been known in Newark:
In way the entire independence OF tfcc library
has been particularly good thing. and Librarian I'LL
has not been bound by conditions and the field abso
lutey clear. II Is almost the only where free
library has been built up from the very bottom. with
the plecccnts of previously existent form TO
make trouble Newark has not had public enterprises
Of this character heretofore and has been necessary
| 10 adapt the library to such conditions. II Il not
booksh town Most Of ITS people workers. and the
vast majority are In shops IL nced not be said 10
Tribune readers that the benefit Of such Institution
must ultimately be great and that Newark viii gain
far moro than the moderate spent annually In the
Increase I'm culture and the attractions the noble IN
| stiiu will offer
BANK TELLER BRADLEY'S CASE POSTPONED.
New-Hayeu, Conn, sept. 2s.-rhe case of Charles
" Bradley, the late teller Of the Merchants Bank
has been postponed un,l October 81. The OF
John W. Bssseit comes up before Commissioner Wright