The record-union., 1893-01-14
DEFENDING THE LIBRARY.
MOTIVES FOR AN ATTACK ON Ii.
BRARIAN PERKINS.
Rabbi Levy Says the Institution Com
pares Favorablv With Libraries
of the Old World.

''All that talk about me is simply for
the purpose of injuring my chances of re-
election = it's all politics and nothing
else" said State Librarian Dana Perkins
yesterday in reference to an attack that
has been made upon him by San Fran
cisco paper, concerning the manner in
which the management of the library
was caustically referred to.
Pm willing to stand on my record"
continued Mr.. Perkins, "and if they can
point out anything wrong with my
| administration they are at liberty to do
it. Now that's all I'Ye got to say about
it," and Mr.. Perkins walked off.
Assistant Librarian w. S. Leake said
he paid no attention to such attacks as
had been made upon the management of
the library. ''Our work speaks for ITSELF"
he said, land all | can do is to refer YOU to
the hundreds of lawyers and citizens who
visit the library daily. 1t is safe to say
that the party who has been criticsing
| the management of this institution don't
know the difference between a library
and livery stable The article he has
published shows it. Anybody who is a
| competent judge, will tell you that the
! library now is in better condition-that
! is, it's run better-that ever before"
Rabbi j. Leonard Levy happened to
| drop into the library, and as he is daily
visitor there he was asked for his opin-
ion of the management of the institution
1 "Well," said the Rabbi ''there is prob
| ably no other man III Sacramento or else
where who uses the library more than l
do. [ have been coming here almost
daily for three years. While / don't
want to reflect on any former Librarian,
yet | must to say that the present admin
! lstratlon has made many progressive
steps. When | first came here the library
was IN chaotic condition. That was be-
| fore Mr.. Perkins was the Librarian. 1t
was impossible for anyone to discover a
desired work in any section of the library.
| The idea of classification had apparently
not dawned upon them. To-day it is diff
ferent. We not only have most beauti-
ful room, but a classification of books
that would do credit to much older in
| stitution, and compares very favorably
with the leading libraries of the world,
most of which 1 have visited. For its
size and the money allowed in improv-
ing it, L can say that it is impossible TO
conceive any public library in better con-
dition for the use OF readers than the
State Library. The additions to the
library in the past three years have been
of the most practical kind and the State
money has not been squandered on an
tiquities which are valuable in their way
and place, but have little right to be in a
library intended for current literature.
''I wish it to be clearly understood, y
said the reverend gentleman in conclu-
sion, that this eulogy-whieh can easily
be substantiated by a reference to the
clergy, bar, and reading people of Sacra-
mento who have frequented the library
is not given with any ulterior motive
than to accord a courteous and grateful
return for the conveniences and the uni
form politeness received at the hands OF
the present library administration"
Several attorneys and other persons
who happened to be in the library when
the reporter was there, corroborated what
the Rabbi said.