The herald., 1896-01-01
OUR FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY

The magnitude, quality and manage
ment of a free public library may al
ways be regarded as an index to the
educational and literary tastes Of a
community. According to this theory
Los Angeles stands in the front rank.
The public library of this city is some
thing to be proud of. Every citizen
should derive satisfaction from the
knowledge Of the fact that the city has
one of the largest and best equipped
free public libraries in the United
States, outside of few great metropol-
itan cities. A little over six years ago
this library, or the nucleus of it, was
an insignific ant affair, slowed away in
two or three small, dingy rooms in the
Downey block. 1t had few patrons,
and its attractions were unsatisfactory
to the few who took the trouble to visit
it at ell. But when the city hall was
completed the library was removed to
the spacious and elegant quarters
which it now occupies on the third
floor of that building. Ever since the
change the library has been undergo
ing improvements and accessions, until
it has reached its present high plane of
excellence. It now contains more than
1925 volumes. among which are books
of nearly every description imaginable,
and covering vast range of topics.
There is something to suit every taste.
The scientist, the student of history,
the novel reader, the lover of poetry,
the political economist, the reader of
miscellany-eacha and all can draw from
this fountain of printed knowledge the
satisfaction desired. And that, too,
without money and without price.
1t is asserted on good authority that
the circulation of library books in Los
Angeles is larger in proportion to pop
ulation than that of any other city in
the Union. Each month the number
of books taken out runs far above
10000. In November last the total
number exceeded $1,000. The average
number of visitors to the reading
rooms per month is 5000. The reading
rooms and reference room are thronged
during library hours every day by peo-
pie representing all classes of society,
eagerly seeking for scraps of knowl-
edge to suit their varied wants. The
book counters also present an interest
ing scene, in which persons of either
sex and various ages, armed with requi-
site membership cards, apply for books
which they can take away and read at
their convenience. During the past
year the total circulation of volumes
was 541 ,457, being an increase of II per
cent over that of the preceding year.
No person who has failed to visit
this model library can appreciate the
excellence of its appointments, its ad-
mirable facilities for the convenience
and enjoyment Of its patrons, or the
perfect system that pervades every de-
partment Of the institution. Smoothly
and quietly, like perfect clock work,
runs the complicated machinery, and
with wonderful alacrity the wants of
every visitor are attended to.
Residents of the city who have not
recently inspected the public library
if there are such residents-should lose
no time in paying it visit. Strangers
within our gates should also spend a
few hours in the library rooms. Such
an experience will surely prove enjoy
able, and the visitors will go away
strongly impressed with the superior
literary tastes of the most progressive
community on the Pacific coast.