New-York tribune., 1896-02-03
FOR A PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE PROMISING MOVEMENT THAT HAS
BEEN STARTED IN BROOKLYN.


TO AccoNpLAsH-VlEWs OF W. \ BAhD"''i''
LIBRARIAN OF THE BROOKLYN LIBRARY
With the object OF the Brooklyn public Lib
rary Association. which was recently orsa'i'@e''
All intelligent and patriotic citizens must be IN
svmnathv The association was established as
formally stated. "for the purpose of creating an
interest among the people Of Brooklyn to 'S-
tabljsh a free public library" number OF
enterprising and public-sprlted women nave
taken the matter in charge; in fact. it Is Wholly
in their hands. though naturally they count '"
the assistance and cooperation Of their nus
bands. brothers and sons The organization
of the association is as follows: President Mrs.
Charles O. r. C~aigie Vice-presidents MIS-. AN
drew J. Perry AMI Mrs. william L. Keese: sec
~etary Mrs Benjamin f. Stevens treasurer
Mrs. Isaac H. Cary auditor. Mrs. Edward II.
uobbs: Legal Committee. Mrs. charles Brush
and Mrs James Scrimgcour; Entertainment
Comni,iee Mrs william l.. Reese and MIS-.
Charles Phillips
To brin. the movement to public notice in an
effective vav II is proposed to hold number
of ra,lor meetings or entertainments. at which
various questions connected with the undertake
ing and with the conduct OF great puphc
library will be considered The first OF these VIII
take place this evening at the mouse OF Mrs'
Craigie. NO 26S Berkeley Place. and. according
10 the card announcement: addresses VIII be
made by Melvi Dewey, secretary OF the ''d'c
Board of Regents and director of the state
Library. an authority on all matters pertaining
to libraries and library work; the Rev Dr. James
A. Farrar ex- Mayor Boody. Professor Franklin
W. Hooper and ". \. Bardwtn, librarian or the
BROOKLYN Library
The plan of work to be pursued by the asso-
citation. so far as IL has been formulated Is 10
arouse interest in the establishment OF free
public library on considerable scale ana 10
secure subscriptions TO a fund for that purpose
one of the important preliminary matters TO
be determined is the cost of establishing and
maintaining such a library; and on this point 1t
is expected that some light will be thrown a
the meeting this evening.
TWO FREE LIBRARIES IN THE CITY.
As a matter of fact. there are TWO free libra
ries in Brooklyn. which do considerable toward
meeting the public demand for literature though
neither approaches the proportions of such an
institution as a great city like Brooklyn ought
10 maintain. One of these is connected with the
Pratt Institute and is tree to residents Of Brook
lvn This library contains at present about
80 900 volumes and it circulated last year above
200 900 volumes 1t is expected that tho circula-
tion this wear will exceed 000o Two branches
are maintained hv the Pratt Institute Free
I.ibrary-the Astral Branch. at Franklin-ave
and Java-st.. in the GrCenpoint region and the
Long Island Branch. at No. 81 Atlantic-av".
The other free library is that maintained for
a number of years by the Union for Christian
Work at Nos CO and 80 Schermerhorn-st This
contains about $1,000 volumes, and It's circula~
ton has long been large enough 10 insure an APP
proprlation of $1,000 a year from the City Treas
ury which has enabled the library materially
10 increase its usefulness.
These institutions accomplish a large amount
Of good. but they by no means adequate 10
the needs Of city containing upward Of 1000
900 inhabitants. Many persons in Brooklyn
have long fell that their city ought to be sup
piled with a library a scale similar 10 that
OF the public Libraries in Boston and Chicago
The movement now initiated. although Of modest
proportions. is intended to bring about some
such result; and II Is believed that in a few
years at least the city will be in position TO
lend its aid Il fairly liberal scale.
WHAT THE CITY MAY DO
Three or four years ago an act was passed BY
the Legislature authorizing the issue Of bonds
by the city to the amount OF 900 for the es-
tabshment of 4 public library. and it was
provided that an income of not less than i00O0
should be provided by the city annually after
the library started. The financial con
dition Of the city. however. has not justified tn"
taking OF any action under this law. and ap-
parently IL will be several years before the city
authorities will be justified in making the bond
issue. If in the mean time the Brooklyn Public
Library Association succeeds in creating fund
Of 100000 o. 100000 the income of which can
be usod in maintaining such an institution. Ii Is
evident that it cooperate most advanta
geousy with the city in carrying on such an in
sttution as is needed
As 10 the cost Of running "A large public
library il is worth while to note that, according
to the last reports the annual expenses OF the
Boston Public Library are sl73,9iS. with cir
cuIaton of ,604. and Of the Chicago library,
SAB 1872. with a circulation of 1147,Se2.
The most important library in Brooklyn is
that which bears the name of the city although
ii is not a city a public institution. The
Brooklyn Library Is a subscription library. the
annual dues beng s.. 1t has property in Mon
tague-st worth about s25oooO. and its crcula-
tion OF books last year about 10000. To
learn what Is the attitude OF the management
Of this library toward the movement for :he
tablishment Of public library. visit was paid
to Mr.. Bardwel the librarian.
He was found seated at a commodious orken
desk on ,he main floor Of the library building,
with book stacks surrounding him on three
sides On the fourth side two lofty windows
let in a food Of light barely intercepted by n
winding stairway. leading TO the galleries end
upper floors Of the building. There IRE about
12O,OcJ volumes in the Brooklyn Library,
and they are so arranged that those most likely
to he called for in reach on the first foor.
Some stair climbing Is necessary though. on the
part Of the attendants, but Mr.. Bardwell lives
in the hope tina. some day the building will be
provided with another modern Improvement in
the form of elevator.
LIBRARIAN BARDWEIL APPROVES THE
PLAN
When asked about the nlan for q ullhlic NLra-