New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-28
THE CITY'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WHAT WILL BE DONE AFTER THE
BUILDING IS PROVIDED.
A TALK WITH DR.. MISUNDERSTANDING BRANCHES
IN ALL PARTS OF THE CITY NEEDED-To
CARRY on THE WORK LARGE ANNUAL
APPROPRIATION WILL BE NECESSARY.

IN ALL PARTS OF THE CITY NEEDED-To
CARRY on THE WORK A LARGE ANNUAL
APPROPRIATION WILL BE NECESSARY.
! That a surgeon on the retired list OF the Army
! should be selected when the New-York Public Ii
brary was in quest OF a director for the great IN
! sttution TO be established IN this city the As
/ tor, Lenox and Tilden foundations was a surprise
! TO familiar with the work done by Dr. John
Billings in the library Of the Surgeon Generals
| Office In Washington. the index talogue OF which
| will be enduring monument 10 It's authors in
| dustry and knowledge. His knowledge is by
! means confined 10 the special department which
| makes the strongest appeal 10 him. His acquaini-
! ance with general literature is wide. He keeps
, abreast with the moves OF the day, with history.
| biography. political economy. social science and
other topics OF human interest
As q practised reader It does take Or.
Billings long to get at the heart OF a book and In
the Of fiction there than three
or four books brought QUE in year that he finds
! II worth while 10 read with The contents OF
| the rest he get By "sk!mming." Tne IS
true TO a large extent. he says OK most OF the
| books poured forth from tho press on weightier
matters: Il IS an easy thing for him 10 get al the
writer's point OF view and anticipate his opinions
and conclusions.
Or. Billings is TO be found almost any dag In his
Pleasant office in the Aston Library. the windows
OF which command a view a, hand Of La
fayette Place The Office Is plainly the workshop
OF literary man. Books and pamphlets OF all
sorts are scattered about on tables and stands,
and the desk IL piled with papers awaiting
tenuon. While busy worker. Or. Billings has the
manner OF man in no haste. and the frequent in
terruptions 10 which he Is subjected-for there
bolts and bars between him and much OF
the public wishes 10 see hrn-do not prevent him
from rolling of large amount OF work. Notwith-
standing his connection with the New-York Public
Library, DR.. Billings Ia a subscriber 10 the Mer-
camille Library. Just around the corner from his
office and nearly every day carries home a new
novel or soma other bool, for evening reading.
WHAT DIRECTOR BILLINGS WANTS.
To a representative Of The Tribune who called on
him on Thursday. Dr. Billings chatted pleasantly
about the present work and prospects Of the Public
Library lie careful 10 say that he did not
speak for the trustees Of the library. but
pressing his individual views the subjects
about which he discoursed
II will be from his remarks that IN order 10
make tho library as useful possible TO the
Greater New-York a large annual appropriation
FOR maintenance will be needed from the city IN
addition TO the S5oo0oo which It is proposed to ex-
pend in the erection Of a library building Forty
second-st II is DR.. Binings's idea that the lend
Ing department Of the library should have a large
number Of branches stations-perhaps thirty or
forty-in all pats Of the city. and the extension
OF the work the entire greater city Will de-
pend on the resources provided for the library Ho
also expects that most, II not all. OF the existing
free lending Libraries will in time become allied
with the Public Library.
What we are waiting for now" said DIR. Billings
in answer TO tho first question OF his visitor is
the passage OF the bill that Will enable the city 10
erect a library building where the Forty -second-st.
reservoir is. l see by this mornings papers
that Assembly lyman Austin's bill authorizing tho
issue OF bonds to the amount OF 95oo00O passed
hV he I IN
believe that II will pass the Senate also and be-
come law. When the Building Is provided the
contract between the city and this association IL
that we shall conduct public library with ref
erence department and reading rooms and also a
lending department, from which books be
taken by all who want them.
1T is the intention TO dispose Of this building,
and also Of a part. at least, OF the Lenox Library
property. The part certainly be sold IS the
Madlson-ave end but II is possible that the library
building Will be retained one OF the branches OF
the Public Library. To conduct the lending de-
partment In the right way It seems to me that
there should be branches all over the city. from
Yonkers to the Battery. Probably thirty or forty
branches will be needed. Each should have a COL
lection Of books and reading room. and, OF course
the books provided for different neighborhoods
would vary. For instance library In the Seventh
Ward would not be the for the part
OF the city lying west OF Central Park. The main
purpose OF the branches would be bring books
near 10 the people and enable them TO make ex-
changes easily. II IS be expected that this
work could be done at a central library At these
branches there would be no extensive reference de-
partment. but should provide ordinary books OF
reference. such dictionaries. cyclopsedlas and
the like
HALF A MILLION A YEAR NEEDED
.Tt IL expected that the Public Library will have
resources OF about 10000 a year and In addition
thar. will be gifts OF considerable amount pre-
sumably II seems 10 that the city should also
make an appropriation OF perhaps $4,000 a year
FOR this work Boston has only provided n
anendd building for its Public Library. but makes
an annual appropriation OF t225 GO for its main
,enance II New-York should do the same In pro-
nor,on the city would contribute a good deal more
than use 900 annually estimate that carry on
the Public Library properly It Will require half a
million dollars a year.
,,op m the existing free Ibrar.es?' was asked
IT presume" said DR.. Billings. that they will |
,ocome branches OF the Public Library. refer 10 I
the New York Free Circulating Library. the Agui- |
lar Library and some others As for the move |
mon, for a bubble library In Brooklyn. / see no |
reason why II should not become a part OF our |
undertaking I understand that they are starting |
their library In a small way over there and having |
. site for a library building set aside but that.
b.lieye Is in order TO give their movements sub
s,anftsi standing when consolidation takes nlaca