St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-17
JUST ONE YEAR OLD.
Yesterday the Anniversary OF
the Opening Of the
Library.
It's Record for the First
Twelve Months a Proud
One.
w. H. Lynn Calls Upon the AL
lance Men to Support
Him.
Keteham'S Examination Not
Finished--SummaPy OF
the News.

One year ago yesterday the Minneap-
oils public library was first opened TO
the people. For twelve months this
magnificent educational institution has
been in operation. a brief narration of
some of its work will not be out of order
at this time.
When the library building was thrown
open TO the public Librarian Putnam
estimated that 5000 cards would have
been issued when a wear should have
expired. Up to yesterday 1925 cards
had been issued and there are now in
the librarians flee between 5000 and
1900 applications, upon which cards
have not yet been issued. Mr.. Putnam's
estimate was not wild one.
When the doors were first opened for
the circulation of books, there were on
the shelves $4,000 volumes. To-day the
library consists of $4,000 volumes. Dur
ing the year 1917 books have been
lsSued-that is. that number has passed
over the counters and gone into the
homes of readers. Mr.. Putnam thinks
the number issued for home use could
easily have been PSF, 900 had it not been
for the shortage in books. At one time
last winter list after list, containing re-
quests for one out of from 10 to so books
was sent in, and every book named was
already out. Scarcity of books naturally
narrowed the total. There is still an
other circumstance which makes this
total seem smaller than it really is. No
record has seen kept of the books
loaned out for use in the building.
Moreover. patrons of the library here in
Mime apolis are admitted to the shelves,
which, again, is use of books without
record being made of it. A partial rec
ord has been kept of books used i'll the
reading rooms, which shows that proba-
bly, $4,000 volumes have been read in
the building, but it is not thought that
this represents more than une-tnird OF
the actual use. nor does it include peri
odicalS.
The reading rooms have been great
feature of the library. At some hours
of the day, in the afternoon and even
ing, there are from IS to 200 persons in
the reading rooms. On Sunday also is
this department patroniZed extensively.
Last Sunday afternoon, Mr.. Putnam
counted fOrty-nine men in the upper
reading hall and siXty-siX in the lower,
not in Guiding about twenty-five boys,
and the occupants of the ladies' reading
room and book rooms. This record is
especially surprising. since there were
many who believed that the reading
rooms would never he patroniZed be-
cause the building was so far up town.
Then there have been thousands of Wis
ltors to the building during the year.
Strangers always go there and marvel
at its beauty and convenience.
The branch libraries are doing good
work. There is one at the North side
high school. and another at Franklin
avenue and Seventeenth avenue south.
Through each, from 100 to $50 books are
issued every day. A branch will soon
be established on the East side.
The library is doing more educational
work than is confined to books merely.
There are twelve societies now meet
ing at the library. Of these, one is de-
voted solely to literature, two to litera-
ture in part, two to medicine, one to
dentistry, one TO science, two to art, and
the others embracing various fields.
The university extension course is well
patrOniZed, every lecture being at
tended by nearly ECO persons. There
are only two libraries in the country
maintaining such course, and this is
the only free institution doing it.
One new painting has been presented
to the library by Willard T. Bowen.
Some of the borrowed pictures have
been removed, but negotiations are now
under way for another loan exhibit.
| There are now in the art gallery fifty
paintings. The museum will be en-
riched by the results of the Menage
expedition to the PHILIPPINE Islands. All
| the exposition costs could be secured,
but for the lack of room.
A comment frequently made by visit
ors on the Minneapolis public library is
that it is the most public library
extant. There are no restrictions upon
the use of periodicals and but few upon
| the use of books, and Mr.. Putnam be-
lieves that it has paid to trust the public
thus. Moreover, it is the only public
| library, or public building for that mat
ter, in which not cuspidor is to be
seen, and the building is always clean,
nevertheless. This is merely an illustra-
| ton of the tTustworthineSs of the pub
lie.
The end of its first year finds the
Minneapolis public library ranking
seventh among the similar Institutions
of the country in SO far as use of books
| is concerned, although in number of
volumes it ranks fourteenth, and in
| population the city ranks tenth. Next
| year the library is expected to be in
fifth place. This, in brief, is the history
| of its first year. Is it not creditable
! record?