New-York tribune., 1895-12-22
free giver. and subscribed literally to charities
during the Rebellion.
BOOKS BY THE THOUSAND.
WHAT THE BROOKLYN LIBRARY OFFERS
IT'S PATRONS.
NEW BOOKS ARE SELECTED By THE IL
np

BRARIAN-A NEW DEPARTURE.
The Brooklyn Library is now nearly forty years
old, and Il has been nearly thirty years In It's
present home in MontagHe-st Since 1869 the num-
her of volumes has multiplied more than six-foid
Then It about 2l.000 On December OF tA's
year the total number l27,0i5. The cost OF
membership. however. remains the same, although
the subscribers have increased more than
rx times over. II Is evident, therefore that
membership now Is essentially much more valuable
than in the earlier days OF the institution and II is
growing ard more valuable year after year
The Brooklyn Library aims to keep up with the
times 1t does this, matter of course. In the
provision OF books. The additions In the last
year. for example, amount to several thousand
and a bulletin recently issued contains a llst OF
900 new books. selected chiefly from additions TO
the library since December 1884 This Is the thirty
fourth bulletin issued in this shape. and X Is OF
great value to persons wishing to select reading
matter from the latest books In all departments OF
literature. These books divided into General,
Music" Foreign and English Fiction.
Other evidences OF the desire Of the library to
keep abreast OF the times to be found IN the re-
construction OF the interior OF the building wnch
occurred in the summer OF 1884, with the transfer
OF the book-Gelivery department to the first noor
while the read.ng-room placed on the second
floor adjoining the reference department 1hs
change is a great convenience to those wishing TO
exchange books and at the same tine 1t adds 10
the quiet essential In a readng-room
The card catalogue has recently been improved
by the latest device OF rods blocks for fasten-
ing and holding the cards in place in the drawers
and the printed cards furnished by the Library Bu-
reau are used as Ear possible. The monumental
catalogue prepared by the late librarian, >. b.
Noyes. still remains in good request for the caro-
catalogue is really only supplement to this, ana
besides. there is printed catalogue of fiction COM
ing down as late July. 1884, The read.ng-room ls
kept open Sundays from to o'clock, ana the
same is true OF tae reference department since the
transfer of the reading-room the second floor OF
the building. The of the readlng-room during
these hours Is not restricted TO members.
II is probably not generally known that the libra
ran Mr. Bardwel. in deciding upon books
for the library from week to week, makes prac-
tice OF depending the list OF Books of the week
which appears in The Tribune every Saturday morn
ing. He finds this trustworthy guide ana an IN
dspensible one. Suggestions from subscribers as
to books which may be considered desirable for the
library are always acceptable, and are carefully
considered.
Much Is made Of newspaper clippings in the
library and contributions of such clippings, as well
as of books. pamphlets and the like are welcomed
Since March l. 1885, there have been offered as gifts
to the library 7Jl volumes and l,SH numbers OF
magazines pamphlets. Bound volumes of the
brooklyn newspapers are to be found IN the library
and unbound files of the New-York papers are 50
arranged in the upper part of the building as TO
clippings has been increased this year by sixteen
volumes or rather boxes. for the clippings are
pasted on sheets OF brown paper and then arranged
in alphabetical order in boxes specially provided Tor
them The whole number of such volumes Is ninety
OF which thirty-two are devoted to biography In
the reference department the directories oi more
,han one hundred cities of the United States may be
consulted Here also aliases cyclopedias, ETC. are
have b been placed in the aicoves on this floor.
re
ments I'm the of reduced rates OF supscrIphon h
Include a number OF names under one annual pay- pay
ment The Brooklyn Teachers Association ana Sne
Packer and AGsphi clubs are among the ciu9s tna'
have hold memberships in this way. y new depart
ure has been taken recently In the Engineers HluD,
and has its headquarters in one Of the aieoves, =,
where books and psroeedas nS S with wrtng
materials provided. Members OF the ciun nase a H ac
cess to this alcove during all the hours that tNe
Il IS understood that arrangements are under way
for the formation of other clubs OF the same nature
and as the bulletin says. there IS no reason Why
sneriasts in ans direction should not be provided
bne in numbers eufiicently large to enable the Ii
brary to meet requirements , -, ~
is only S. The library Is managed solely for the ,
benefit Of It's patrons, and the more ;iperamy 10 - -
suDpored the greater the resources or literature IL
Mention vac made in The Tribune several weeks ks
ago Of the large number of books sent through the
mails 10 members OF the library during the summer
months when many people are out o, town; Ii Mr, rs
rent throuchout the year. He Is still greatly desr-
ous that the rate OF postage books thus sent out
by a library and returned by its patrons should be
reduced 1t Is the same nat the genera en- Punns
the so-called Libraries" Of pape: covered books
which are sent out monthly by certain publishers,
who secure the rate for periodicals OF one cent
pound Mr. Bardwe: does not expect to see the
rate on genuine library books reduced to that point,
hut believes that two cents pound would iead 20
large circulation OF good literature where trash IS
often read II rate of two cents pound cannot be
secured ne is convinced that II would be wise TO
reduce the present rate one-haf at any rate