The herald., 1893-10-24
nxtana the Librnrx ussfnlness.


Extend the Library Usefu1ness.
EDITORS HERALD: Whilst agreeing
completely with your wholesome strict.
ures ON the management and expenses
OF our admirable public library, as
whole, there are one or two other points
attached thereto to which it would be
we'll to direct the management's atten-
tion. To some minds the institution
has outgrown its present management.
Those who direct and control its funds
and educational appliances have culti-
waited too high a standard of routine
and classification, 30 that It is now
almost necessary to take eix monthe'
graduation term in order to qualify him
or her to obtain either book or period
ical out OF this vast storebouse of
knowledge. There appears to be quite
a plethora Of officials, and to obtain the
requisite amount of information how,
when and where you can be accomm O.
dated iB as complicated and as confusing
as the catch questions at a government
civil service examination. Simplicity
and expedition are carefully and eyHte-
matically avoided. The issuing depart
ment, as has been previously pointed
out in the HERALD's issue a few daye
back, is often rendered terribly trying,
not to say harrassing, by the leisurely
indifference and curt methods by which
inquiries are met by the posse OF at
tendants ehsttering and smiling around
the book shelves.
A short time ago the whole OF the
periodicals were carefully hidden and
slowed away under the counters Of some
officials, and the casual visitor had to
spend the most of his time in hunting
up an attendant or otherwise waste his
few nom ents of change from labori-
GUS days work in a vain attempt to find
Leslie's illustrated News, etc.. etc. In
fact, have heard many complaints that
the library did not subscribe for month
lies owing to their removal from the
reading room tables. Personally have
visited the library regularly for days to
try to get look at the HERALD. You
will generally find an ancient news
gatherer enthroned on the stool for
hours in succession, who, with glaring
eye, drives right away any one with
temerity sufficient to dare to intrude his
eye on this favored county sheet. There
ough to be six, or at the very least, four
duplicate copies of the HERALD spread
on the tables to meet the demand of the
readers. Men have not all go much time
in hand as some of the habitues of the
reading room and library. who appear to
look at the whole institution as espe-
cially run for their benefit or amusement.
This want OF duplicate papers available
to business men and workmen applies
to other papers as we'll. In fact,
throughous the whole place there is an
air of caste, or high-toney atmosphere,
that has completely switched off the
middle and working classes. OF the
thousands who avail themselves of the
lift you will seldom find workingmen or
tradesmen daring to enter with the kid
gloved and scented patrons OF the upper
crust of society. The lower classes OF
our citizens are soon made to know and
feel that they are out of place if not out
of their element in the presence of the
upper ten.
1t looks very much az though the vast
advantages of this costly institution will
soon become the perquiHite of the rich,
whilst those for whose benefit public
libraries and news rooms we're supposed
to be established will soon cease to have
either part or lot in their existence OIL
maintenance. There is needed great
change. Greater facilities are essentia
to enable the so-called lower classes tc
participate in this great necess ity of the
age--a bona fide free library. Branch
reading rooms and libraries on ght to be
spread over the centers OF population,
where the bulk OF the people
can easily and readily avail
themselves of this we'll paid lite
rary establishment. The present man.
agement is too aristocratic, too far out
Of the way, too much hedged around by
routine to ever answer the purpose of
its founders or meet the cordial popular
support of the people at large. To many
minds the expenditure of the vast sums
of our taxes ought not to be available to
supplement the educational advantages
or amusement of class who can and
ought to provide such for themselves
and their families, but rather should
bring within reach Of the toilers of the
city these very privileges which they in
dividually cannot provide for themselves
or children.
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor, allow me to
thank you for the noble stand you have
made against the little bill OF the chief
librarian. At the same time l have
heard the opinion expressed that If this
trip to the worlds fair was taken at the
request or suggestion of the trustees or
managers, by the chief librarian, that
they themselves ought to have sufficient
chivslry left to foot the bill for services
rendered for their behoof and informa-
ton. 1t wonld avert blunder from be-
coming crime. In haste,
Respectfully yours,
PROGRESS.