Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-10

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\ it. that its beneficial Influences may be for thI
present and all future generations as long al
our beloved Baltimore shall exist Now. herl
was noble sentiment from great-hearteG
man. What was his desire about the board
that should guide this noble Institution that il
now doing so much good? Judge Brown. in a
speech following that Of Mr.. Pratt said that
| MI Pratt required that the articles OF tncor
trustee or officer should be appointed or re
moved on religious or political grounds, thus
showing MS desire that the library should be
Tor the greatest good Of the greatest number.
Let me quote little further from a most ex-
cehent article on Public Libraries ana the
Young" BY William L Fletcher; The natural
olYislon OF associate enterprises into executive
ana advisory departments is rs necessary IN
successful library as in an insurance company,
bank or government" Is our Property
committee willing to take such responsibility
A REPREsENTATIvE BOARD.
In looking over work on the Boston Public
Library, i md in the frst Board Of Trustees
the names Of Edward Everett, George Ticknor,
John P. Bigelow, n. B. Shurtleff William w.
Greenup, Oliver Frost Frederick L. Wash
burma citizens committee of whom the Bos-
tonians were thoroughly proud, and well they
might be- for to-day Boston can boast of her
library, and it is the pleasure of the writer to
say that some Of the best informed young men
Of that city to-day, whose limited means shut
them off from a college education, tell me they
owe their knowledge largely to this noble in
stitution.
Win not, then, our Conncilmeu, who are
thinking men, lay aside their bias. lay aside all
thought that tie desire for board Of trustees
who shall be fitted for the responsible position
is purposely gotten up to usurp their rights and
privileges The beautiful building given US
should be made place for the education of
all claSses OF people else il fails of its pur
pose. Education in thus grand free country of
ours Is not question OF dollars and cents, but
OF willingness, perseverance,. patience, brains;
and these elements, / am proud to say, are
found right here in Pittsburg aud Allegheny
in our rolling mills, our glass factories. our
stores, our carpenter shOps, our machine shops,
our electric light and hundred other work
shop& l could point out to-day half-hundred
Of these noble fellows-little known except to
their fellow workmen-who have struggled
hard 70 save few dollars TO stock their little
home library with books on their special hobby;
but now we shall have q chance as we have
never had TO help these good fellows, as well as
thousands of others who viii come after them.
ADVICE TO ACT UPON.
Gentlemen, look at your responsibility and act
wisely Keep an honest hand and directing
care in the finances. We trust you. but call to
your aid men who will give our library a name
among those of Boston. Cincinnati, Chicago,
Baltimore, and others Of which We may well be
proud.
With ourpubllc parks, orr splendid conserva-
tories. our new university our world-famed OBJ
our high school. and our new library,
we Will surely make our mark in the records Of
future generations and 1t is our sincere hope
that we shall all work for q oneness Of purpose
the good Of our common humanity.
l have said nothing of the splendid accesso-
ries connected with the library namely, music
and art, but Il needs no argument from me to
prove the value Of these as educational factors
in this scheme. Has our city property COM
mittee IN its ranks men who are especially
fitted TO direct and carry TO . successful issue
these two important adjuncts TO the library
Let them answer this question to their own
consciences, and we will abide by the decision.
AS | stood in the beau tiful music hall. to-day,
with its noble organ, then surveyed the sym
metrical architecture OF the art gallery saw
how they could be made q power for good in
Dur community, and believe they will II di- |
lector OF the enterprise, but for success, we |
must have men specially fitted 20 direct these |
Accessories of the library. The Corcoran Gal |
cry has board OF nine trustees, and in all the |
art galleries and music halls in this country or
Europe, that have had the pleasure of visit |
ng-and have visited q great many-I have |
yet to nnd any OF them directed by committee |
of Municipal Council
AS TO THE LIBRARIAN.
There is one more matter, of perhaps para
Mount importance, that have not mentioned, |
md that is the librarian. Doubt has been ex- |
pressed whether we have q man fitted for the |
esponsible position in our city. When Oinein-
lati was ready for their librarian it was deemed |
necessary to send to Boston for q competent
nan. The same was the case in Chicago. It |
las been argued that the man who can conduct /
small library can also conduct a large one
uecessfully, or. in other words, the captain of
tugboat can as we'll direct the great passenger
teamers that cross the Atlantic. The argu.
nent is not good one In every case, but there
1ay be exceptions. and would not willingly
ay single disparaging word of the present 1
brarian of the old library. Ny own opinion is
hat he should be given an honorable place in
he new one-at the head if competent to fill
be responsible position-but if not, the success
the enterprise depends in so large degree
pom the librarian that the most scrupuIous
are should be used in the selection of q man
ompetent to I'LL the responsible Office
In 1888 Columbia College opened a school of
brary economy. In the Presidents address,
elivered at the time, hnd these WORDS: HIn
he past few years the work of the librarian has
0me TO be regarded as distinct profession. |
Herring opportunities Of usefulness in the edu-
ational field inferior to no other and requir.
lg superior abilities to discharge its duties |
Ell. Inc librarian is ceasing to be a mere
Iilor Of the books, and is becoming an agrees |
We force in his community. There is a grow
e call for trained librarians animated by the
odern library spirit A rapidly increasing
king up the librarians occupation as life |
ork. Thoughtful observers saw that publio
Union and individual motives and actions are
huenced now, not so much by what is uttered
ON the rostrum or pulpit as by what is read:
at this reading can be shaped and Influenced
liefly and cheaply through the library and
erefore that the librarian who is master of
S profession is most potent factor for good" ]
A MONUMENT WORTH HAVING.
The good man who spoke thus vas Dr. BaFns
d. He has gone to his rest but his works
II ever follow him, and nowhere can it be
en- better than in the splendid library of !
,lumbia College.
Mr.. Fletcher, the eminent librarian. in an ar !
lie on Libraries in Manufacturing D1strictsu i
Us: 1.-THE character of the librarians and t
serve close attention. 70 the knowledge and
od breeding which. would make them accent
lie to the literary and cultivated people thew [
ould add that atfabilIty. kindness and synpa- I
y to even the poorest attempts at oulture' 7
d he further urges that the librarian and his j
sistants should become interested In the |
crest and humblest OF the library's patrons
recting them by kindly words what is best 10 Y
ad. and thus lead them to usefulness and I
owledge. a
Yes, gentlemen, the importance of this office a
ould not be lost sight Of, If you propose to do Il
ur duty With a thoroughly competent E
rarlan and assistants. with q board of tirec. b
IS who have the interest of the library at t
art with the finances well directed BY the p
uncn or its proper committee we should
ing up the status Of the Carnegie free Ii r"
d make it a power for good in our city A | n
izens' committee, headed by one of their b
IT men, has brought the beautiful building
D we not trust such men TO direct It's future b
the good OF the whole community?
January Q, 1890.
Syrup Of Figs, St
/ NJ