The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-11-18
PUBLIC LIBRARY AND READING
ROOMS

The above notice is placed conspicu-
ously along under the windows of the
northwest part of the city hall Hun
dreds of citizens Of Ogden pass that
sign every day without noticing it or
at least without realizing the import
ant and extensive work carried on in
those rooms. Go in there any day
while the rooms are open to the public
and interested groups of readers may
be seen consulting reference works,
reading the magazines and daily pa
pers or spending a pleasant hour with
many of the interesting books from the
shelves. Somehow the bulk of Ogden's
citizens seem never to have appreciat-
ed this library. Transient visitors,
people waiting for trains, flock to it
and enjoy its privileges but compare
lively few of Ogden's citizens derive
the benefit from it that they might if
they choose Every day except Sun
day when it closes at pm the rooms
are open from 2:90 pm. o'clock till $50
pm, and Miss Emerson, the librarian
is on hand to wait on patrons or
visitors.
On the shelves are found reference
books of the most complete scope and
most approved authority. Chambers
Encyclopedia. The Encyclopedia Brit
tanica, and the Standard dictionary
are always to be consulted besides
several dictionaries of the English
language, dictionaries Of names, BIZ
ography quotations and the like.
On the reading tables are found all
the principal irst-class newspapers
and periodicals. OF the Utah papers
the Ogden Standard, Evening Press
and Salt Lake Herald are donated. All
ut hou n 1n
library has had little outside help.
Hon. F. ]. Kiesel has since it's organi-
cation in 1892, given $25 each year to
the support of the institution and
several citizens have donated maga-
zines, books or papers while the CITY
gives THE use of two rooms, lighted and
warmed. The entertainments given
each year by the society have been a.
considerable financial help to the in
stitution.
The members of the recently organ
lied Current History club often leave
periodicals and in return get valuable
assistance to aid them in their work of
investigation. This suggestion is re-
spectfully commended to other clubs
In reply to a question as to what
class of reading is in most demand
Miss Emerson stated that of course
works of fiction are in most demand
puI llliI II WOui(t surprise people TO
know the amount of solid reading and
hard study that is done with the aid of
the library. Many a historical matter
or scientific problem Is wrought out in
the rooms. 1t doubtless is not under
stood that the privilege of the rooms
and books in the rooms is absolutely
free. 1t is only when books are taken
out and kept ait home that a member
ship card is required.
A great many people visit the library
with no clear idea of what they wish.
The writer gives his opinion that Miss
Emerson, the obliging librarian, di-
reefs the reading of more persons than
any other ten persons in Weber county.
BY many, and especially by the chill
dren, she is looked upon as student
of everything What she does rot
know she is supposed to be able to
refer to ait a moments notice and by
the way it seems to generally turn out
that way. Recently the people in the
reading room were obliged to smile
some of them smiled audihly-w;hen an
individual came in and peremptorily
asked chow tall was Abraham Lin
coln?" He wanted to settle a dispute
and had come to the court Of final re-
sort.
A few days ago two children came
in and asked if she had anything in