Omaha daily bee., 1889-03-24
The Universal Demand of the Pat
rons of the Public Library.
SOME oMAHANs' MENTAL FOOD.
What the Boys and Girls Read
Omahas High Standard-A Few
Authors Tabooed-A Chat
With the Librarian.
The Pnblio Library.


Miss Jessie Allan, the librarian was
standing near chatting with reporter
OF THE BEE. "Number s ,552," said she,
sis 'Robert Elsmere.' We have seven
copies OF the book upon our shelves, but
il we had hundred none Of them would
remain in the library more than twenty
minutes; but half OF the people who ask
for it can't read the book understand
ingly after they get it, and we don 7 feel
for that reason, like overlooking the Ii
brary with such books and having lot
of dead stock on our hands after u
while"
Omaha's city library is success. 1t
furnishes diversion and entertainment
or eight or ten thousand people. That
such would ever be the case, it is
scarcely probable that those who took
the initial step toward the founding of
free library away back in III ever en-
tertaiued the remotest fancy.
John Il. Edgar, Nathan Shelton,
Albert M. Henry and Albert Swartz-
lander were most energetic. in the
work necessary to the establishment of
this institution which has become such
a boon 10 the people of Omaha.
The library association was incorpo-
rated on the Srd of December, 1871.
The first meeting Of the stockholders
was held on the 3Oth day of the same
month. The first directors were A. j.
Puppleton. st. A. ID. Balcombe, H. w.
Yates, John L. Edgar, John Patrick, "A.
Swartzlander, S. $. Caldwell, DIR. G.. l..
Miller, j. w. Gannett, N. Shelton and
A. Nj. Henry and the first officers,
elected the following January were A.
| J. Poppleton, president; N. Shelton,
vice president: 5. S. Caldwell, treas
urer; Albert Swartzlander, secretary;
A. M. Henry, corresponding secretary.
Soon after the first meeting doua-
tion of J. NJ. Pattee presented the
library with number of valuable books
and 700 volumes we're purchased from
| Il. o. Crosby, of Fremont,
This was the nucleus OF Omaha's pres
ent public library of 23,0O0 volumes.
The library was at first located in a
| small room on the second floor OF Simp-
sons block on Fourteenth street, be-
| tween Dodge and Douglas. In Febru-
ary, 1872, the first catalogue of the
books in the library was issued, show
ing total of 2,2S5 volumes. The libra
ry was removed in February, 1874, to
the second story of II. M. Marshall's
building on Dodge street between Four
teentn anu tllteentn.
1t became evident in 1877 that the Ii
| brary could not be maintained under
| the existing circumstances and after
several conferences between the associ
alton and the city council, the library
| property was finally turned over to the
| city on the 4th of August of the same
| year.
The library is now maintained by a
| tax of one mill upon the assessed valua-
tion of the city, which will amount to
| about 200 this year.
A young lady. named Miss Honey.
was the first librarian under the regime
| of the association and she WAS followed
| by Miss Sears. now Mrs. A. Nj. Fergu-
son. Mrs. Ferguson was followed by
Miss Jean Allan, now Mrs. w. II.
| johnson, who was librarian at the time
| of the transfer OF the library to the
city, and continued in her position some
time afterwards. Miss Mary Allan,
now Mrs. HI. c. Book, sue
ceeded Miss Jean, and eight
years ago she in turn was succeeded by
Miss Jessie Allan, the present etticicnt
| librarian. Miss Allan has for her as
Miss Maggie O'Brien, Miss Edith To-
bitt and Miss Theodore Burstall.
These young ladies have made their
occupation a study, and take great
! pleasure in suggesting books to those
| who "want something to read"
''There is one rule l always make, !"
said Miss Allan yesterday, land that is
when anyone asks for good
book to read to suggest something
would read myself. L never
suggest light books, as J.
! the library can shape the course of
| reading of patrons of the library. i
| have known young girls who, when
| they first came here, asked for the
| works of May Agnes Fleming. Marion
| Harland, and kindred authors, to be-
| come fond of much hiyher class of
| literature, and this was brought about
| by the suggestions OF the attendants.
OF the $4,000 volumes in the library
to-day, one-fifth Of then are works OF
| fiction, one-iifth biographical and
historical productions. and the other
| three-fifths ARE equally divided between
! works on science and art.
The principal demand in Omaha, as
| everywhere else, IL for works OF fiction,
"a per cent of the books loaned from
| the library during the past year having
| been works of this character, although
there is always good demand for books
on travels and especially in the spring.
| Miss Allan ascribcs this to the feverish
| longing Oh most people uurltlS thdI SOU
son to ''go somewhere"
''Ben Hur' is most frequently called
for of any of the books of fiction. There
| are seventeen volumes of this work
owned by the library and all OF them
are constantly in use. Scott and Dick
ems are always in demand and so are
the works of George Elliott and Thack-
cray. The library possesses four com
plete sets OF the works of each OF these
authors, besides odd volumes OF the
more popular books from their pens.
Miss Allan thinks that the literary
standard of those who visit the library
would be higher than in most places.
Particularly is this true of the Younger
people. the children, in fact. With the
boys Oliver Optic, Mayne Reid and
Stoddard are always popular, but Just
now they are thrown somewhat IN the
shadow by new writer OF juvenile
works named Iienty. His writings are
pleasantly told historical tales. his most
popular work with the youngsters
being 1.-THE Reign Of Terror"
story of the French revolution. His
works are popular with girls rs well MS
boys. With young girls Little Lord
I'auntleroy" is now having great run.
Miss Alcott is very popular with them,
also Susan Coolidge and Mrs. Lille.
| Xv;tn Vnnnu ludiaa tho works nf Mrs.