The San Francisco call., 1895-05-23
LIBRARY CONSOLIDATION,
Proposition to Give the Mer-
camille Library to the
City.
TRUSTEE HARRIS VIEWS
The Public VIII Gain Very Much
by the Change That Has Been
Suggested.

The proposition to consolidate the Mer-
camille Library with the Free Library is
one that has aroused great deal of COM
ment. The idea of A. Gerberding, one of
the trustees, who introduced resolution
at the last meeting OF the Board OF the
Mercantile Association looking toward
such a consolidation, is that the Free
Library is not suitably located and not
easy of access. The trustees believe that if
the trustees of the Free Library would
take the associations real estate and i'm
provements and the books on the shelves,
many of them very valuable and pay the
debt of S75,oO0,- the Free Library could be
moved into the associations building and
become one of immense benefit to the
public.
1.-THE general public" said Isaac Harris;
one of the trustees, yesterday, would be
the gamer by the change, while the MEM
bers of our association would enjoy the
same benefits they do now without cost.
If the consolidation can be brought about,
probably the only restriction we should
place on the city would be that the build
ing should never be used for any purpose
but education.
.The resolution offered by Mr.. Gerber
and the Free Library trustees will agree to
affiliate, then the proposition will be laid
before the members for adoption or rejec-
ton. AS it is now we cannot go on.
'It is well that the press is open to all
wishing to express their views on the resoi
luton presented by Mr.. Gerberding, as it
enables the trustees of the Mercantile Lii
brary to gather much valuable information
which, if adopted, will be preliminary to
submitting the question to the members of
the Mercantile Library for final action.
- at has been demonstrated that library
can only attain high standard of useful
ness when it is free to the public, which is,
no doubt, one of the most important
reasons for the consolidation of the three
richly endowed libraries of New Y York City,
that will form one of the largest in the
country.
"By the consolidation of the Mercantile
Library and the Free Public Library the
public receives an immense benefit for
paratively little outlay.
1.-The mission of library is to dissent
nate knowledge IN proportion to its capa-
city, which, I regret to say, the Mercantile
Library is not doing, since its monthly
90 cents per volume to circulate, while on
its shelves are wasting away 10000 volumes
many of which are very rare and valuable
'sThe Free Public Library, with $4,000
volumes, issued for home use during Apri
q, ,276 volumes and for library. use in the
same month 6,027 volumes. The Mercan
tile Library's fixed expense is about $12O(
month, which exceeds it's income by
more than $400 month.
Zone reason why the membership of the
Mercantile Library does not increase is or
account of being compelled, through loca
ton, to compete with the Free Public
Library, with its $4,000 annual income tc
handle $4,000 volumes, while the Mercan
tile Library with 10000 volumes has only
$4,000 income outside of the donations i
must receive to pay its current expenses
"I believe that the members of the Mer
camille Library do not wish to see it decay
when its usefulness can be perpetuated by
consolidating with the Free Public Library
that possesses everything requisite for
great library except permanent build
inc -