The herald., 1897-05-09

| 5y,UUU volumes. Inc Los Angeles library
circulated $4,000 volumes. The San Fran
cisco library contains nearly $4,000 vol
ONES; the Los Angeles library 47,000.
and when the difference in population
is also included in the comparison the
contrast becomes the more startling
and the record more creditable to this
city.
A VALUABLE FEATURE.
One of the most interesting and valua-
BILE features of the library circulation
is the distribution of books to the city
schools. The work was begun in 1891
when some 5000 books were distributed.
In 1896 something like 10000 books rep
resented the work done in this line, anj
the last report Of the librarian says:
THE figures could be doubled had we
books sufficient to supply the demand"
Great care is taken in this very import-
ant branch of the work and only more
room and more books are necessary to
make it one of the best recognized fac
| tors in educational work in the city.
! 1t is one of the most interesting sights
in the city to visit the public library
during the busy hours of the day. The
dispensing counter is lined three deep
with applicants waiting for new books.
The well-dressed and the poorly clad
stand shoulder to shoulder. They are
equals there, and very possibly the lat
ter may be making the best use of the
| library. Not a department but is crowd
cd. The enlargement of the reference
room has only lessened the tension lit
tie. The segregation of the juvenile de-
partment to a room by itself is a con.
venience that need not be enlarged upon
nor does the cheerful and convenient
reading room for ladies call for explana-
ton. The wonder is that the managers
have been able to do SO much and Sc
we'll with so little room and with such
small amount Of money at their dis
posaL {.
Between $500 and $4,000 is spent an
nually for books for the Los Angeles IL
, brary. But over 1000 volumes are an
nually worn into disuse, and large sum
is spent for periodicals. so that the net
sum available for the purchase Of new
books does not afford so large a net
increase as 1t might.
But books, although some are immor-
tai. are none of them indestructiblc.
AS TO NOVEL READING
The statistics of circulation show that
as in all other cities fiction reading holds
large place, and it cannot be said that
fiction reading is on the decrease. But
in the case of the Los Angeles library,
something might be done, not to lessen
the amount of novel reading, but to in
crease the use of solid reading and ref
erence books. If a complete catalogue
could be issued of all the books in the
library, properly arranged as finding
list, an increase in solid reading would
doubtless be shown at a very early
date. 1t is work that ought to be DONE
1t will not do to get out another cata-
logue that does not include all the books
in the library. The task, however, is an
expensive and an arduous one and there
have been good reasons why 1t has not
been already consummated. The man
agement is alive to the necessity of a
complete catalogue and will take due ad-
vantage of the first opportunity.
A glance at the classified contents
shows some 1900 foreign books-French,
German, Spanish and Italian. So many
of the patrons of the library speak and
read Spanish and French that the num-
ber of books in these two languages
might we'll be increased were the nec-
essary funds available.
What is the greatest need Of the IL
brary? A new building, doubtless a
building that shall be devoted to the pur-
poses of literature and art; to historical
collections, to the natural history OF
Southern California.
What is the greatest need Of the IL
brary? A new building, doubtless, a
building that shall be devoted to the
purposes of literature; to historical COL
lections; to the natural history of South
ern California.
The city appropriates between $4,000
and $4,000 to the uses of the library
This is liberal, when the size Of the city
is taken into consideration. The city IL
brary at Denver is in high feather If it
gets $500.
ANOTHER FEASIBLE PLAN
In times like these, and when the city
is so heavily burdened, it is perhaps not
strange that the citizens should hesitate
to contract large debt for the purpose
of constructing a new library building.
But there is another and an entirely fea-
sible plan, If some of onr wealthy citi-
zcns will but think upon it. 1t is SIM
ply to give the money for new library
building. There are precedents in plen-
ty and their history is such that it should
cause the generous blood to run fast in
the veins of the most miserly
Or the matter might be based ON the
principle of helping those who help them
selves. Suppose some benevolent capi-
talist should offer to give 100000 or $75,-
coo, or even $4,000, for a library building
and for the purchase Of new books, pro-