The herald., 1893-07-30
AS TO LIBRARY BENEFGT|ONS,
A Thesis on the Subject by
Miss Helen A. Nevin.
A Subject of General Interest to
Friends Of Education.
Tho Immense Amount of Money Which
Has Been Given to the Public LII
braries-what Ought to Be
Done in This City.

/
library pupils for certificates the thesis
of Miss Helen A. Nsvin, given bsiow,
received, with that OF Miss Darlow, the
highest marking allowed by the rules OF
the committee. The subject upon which
it treats is one of general interest, and
especially so to the friends OF education
who desire to see the usefulness OF the
public library extended on much larger
basis than is possible even with the as
sistsnce of the full amount OF the fund
that the law allows the city council to
appropriate for that purpose. Library
benefactions by private individuals have
been go numerous and so munihcent in
the older settled communities, and 1t
has become such q recognized thing
among rich people OF philanthropic in
clinations to devote some of their wealth
to the support of public libraries, thatit
would seem to be only in the natural
order of things that this wave OF gener-
osity should strike Southern California
soon. The support OF library is one OF
those things that a generously disposed
person can do in life as easily as to pro-
vide for bequest. The need for
separate library and museum building
for Los Angeles is crying one; and
while it does not appear liksly that for
the present such an institution can be
paid for by the general body OF tsxpay-
ers, the necessity is all the more urgent
for the assistance of some wealthy person
who may thus de good to thousands and
found q name that will be preserved In
after years.
The nineteenth century is eminently
the century of progress, not merely in
things material, but also in things in
| tellectual. And while the chief boast OF
our age ia the unparalleled advance.
ment Of applied science in its various
phases of manufactures, intercommuni-
cation and transportation, yet promin-
ent among the factors OF this twofold
progression of the material and the in.
tellectual, and the coordinate in its
far reaching influence with the schools
and colleges of the country, is the pub
lie library of our day and OF our land.
Continued advancement Is to be had
only at the price OF knowledge-knowl-
edge OF what has already bsen accom-
plished. Here it is that the public
library intervenee by opening up to the
seekers after new inventions and i'm
proved methods the record OF the world q
progress. And while it constitutes 30
large factor in this phase OF davelop.
ment and improvement, the public
library is no less factor, but on the
other hand, is O far noblec agent in
social amelIoration, or popular uplifting.
In its accessibility to all, the universal
ity OF its public influence, the efficiency
of its action as a public instructor and
educator, the public library merits to
the full the designation OF the "Univer.
sity OF the People," A university, ad.
mission to whose precincts involves nc
vexing question OF birth or endowment
money or ability, but one whose doors
swing wide open to every age aud condi
tion of life, to every taste and every
capacity, university where no one
with the ability to read ia too feeble OF
too ignorant to enter, and where no ont
ie too old or too wise to be above gain
ing additional wisdom.
Il ia the realization OF these facts ant
the profound conviction of their truth
fulness that have of recent years turnee
the channels OF philanthrophy 60 pow
erfully in the direction OF the public
library, that $25, 1000, 900 have fiowet
forth from the munifcence OF private
citizens for the founding and endowini
|
alone. Instances of this liberality coulC
be quoted almost without limit, til
time if nothing else, would fail in {
mere enumeration of the names of tht
donors and the sums they have given
To the we'll informed mind it is need
less to specify such names as Astor
Pratt, Newberry, Carnegie, Tilden
Sutro, Crerar-a galaxy ofnames amoni
| library henefacHOrH
The spread OF the public library il
tbs United States has been something
phenomenal. According to the repor
Of the commissioner of education, tn,
number OF public Slibraries in our coun
try less than decade ago spproximstet
5000, ranging from the great nationa
library of over SOC, 900 volumes, down tt
the little but none the less proportion
ately useful village library OF 300 vol
l. umes. Their distribution is such tina
while there is ON an average about on
library to every 10000 persons, yet th'
proportion varies from one to 200 il
New Hampshire, to one for each $1,000
in Arkansas. In this connection it is o
interest to know that our own state |
, we'll to the front in the list. C'curiousl
! enough" as an esteemed eastern news
! paper insinustes,) standing eight
with 1888 public libraries, being an aver
age OF one to every 1900 persons.
. In the growth and present condition
of our home library, Los Angeles ha
not only contributed towards the fui
thering and maintaining of the presen
high rank of the state, but epitomize
r also, as it were, in the development an
: high standing OF her public library il
recent years, the spirit and genius c
: the vaunted nineteenth century.
Founded in 1872 under the title of tn
!, "Los Angeles Library association, wit
j q small stock of books obtained in pal
? from monthly dues and in part from lii
membership fees, it came in April {
: 1873 into the possession and under th
, control of the city council, and then al
: Humed its present title of the "Los Al
. geles Public Library" With sundr
:. vicissitudes, changes OF librarians an
. alterations of liberal and parsimoniou
. policies in it's management, it has finsll
come into it's present estate, furnished
u throughout with library fittings and al
! ,angements of the most improved de-
3 igns, equipped with the best labor say
i sng devices in library economy, an
. located in what were until recently cor
ls'dsred spacious and airy rooms. l
addition 10 all this and above all, apui
lie interest has been created, fostere
, and ably maintained in the develop