New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-24
GROWTH OF NEW-YORf LIBRARIES.

TREMENDOUS INCREASES SINCE 1858 IN THE MUM,
Der OF VOLUMES on THEIR SHELVES
Many literary men bemoan the present condition.
OF New-York City so far as library accommodations
are concerted While they look forward hopefully
to the work OF the NewYork Public Library-As-
tor Lenox and Tilden foundations-they declare
that as far the present is concerned New-Yor.s
Is insufcieny provided with wel!-stockei Libraries.
The great improvement which has taken place with
in the last half century is frequently lost sight OF
by those who make these complaints. \ copy o.
Norton's Literary Gazette, printed over forty-two
years ago, containing sketches OF the libraries o
New-York City at that time, recently attracted the
notice of frequenter Of the public Libraries. DO
scrpton Of the principal libraries OF New-York Il,
1853 is given and at the close table shows the
number of volumes in the various Libraries easily
accessible 70 the public. The Astor Library leads
with $4,000 volumes. II now has over 10000 The
Society Library. which had 10000 volumes has more
than doubled in size, and the Mercantile Library,
with a like number, has grown 10 over $4,000 in
number. The Apprentices Library then had hNV
volumes and now has $1,000 The Columbia college
Library shows the greatest increase Of al Ii had
5000 volumes in 1853 and has about 10000. and
Increasing as IT is. ct the rate OF 5000 volumes
year will soon surpass any, except the new public.
library The Union Theological Seminary was them
credited with 1900 volumes ard the Episcopaf
Theological Seminary with 1900 volumes These
libraries have Of course. grown largely though not
as RAPIDLY as some others. The General Theological
Seminary has now over 25.0oD volumes, and the Tn,
ion Theological Seminary about ,oooo The Young
Mems Christian Association. then young institute
tion had LOO volumes in its library. IL now has
about i0,0n volumes.
The growth Of the medical Libraries has been no.
,iceable That Of the New York Hospital the ony
one noted in the Literary Gazette had then 5,fJ
Volumes The Academy Of Medicine now mas 4 IL
bnary OF over 10000 volumes and l0.pe pamphlets.
The New York Hospital Library has increased 10
about 10000 volumes The large library OF the New
York Historical Society has a great store 81 PAM
phlets besides 10000 bound volumes. The American
biographical Society has library Of about 200
volumes the Catholic Club has large number n
religious works and others aggresatng -v'p VOL
umes and many other societies and clubs nave large
libraries Several OF the libraries mentioned m Nor
IONS publication had collections OF from Lon %
900 volumes. Such libraries would now be con-
sdered SO small hardly TO be worth attention III
a review OF important collections OF books.
The American Institute forty-two years ago nal
a library OF 100 volumes. which has probably
doubled in size. The New-lOrk Law Institute then
had only 400 volumes In its library. No" me IL
brary OF the Institute hlls large part or two noois
in the Postofiice Building and numbers over AhWV
vormes The library of the American Bir AS-oct3-
ton. superior in size to that OF the "a" lnsttu.r
had not come into existence when "Nortons Liter
ary Gazette enumerated the Libraries OF us day
The Equitable Law Library has about l9Ws' yoinm.s
gathered within Il few years l..noN LIBRARY WIN
lis 7Oo0O volumes. and Cooper Institute, WIN rs
l50OO or 10 90 volumes, were unknown or uhhouctd
The New-York Free Circulating Library was also
not known under that title though II now numbers
about 100000 volumes, and distributes them by va.
rious branches throughout the city The ,otai OF
I'm the public libraries OF forty years ago. mas
grown 10 many more taan million BOOKS III lhs
accessible collections OF the present day.