The morning times., 1897-01-06
Necessity for the Library.

"Thc demands upon the library, un-
paraileled. II is believed in The history of
any other lihraTy for its first year, III
d!Catc in striking manner the persistent
necessity for such an institution. few
Gouhted the policy Of starting a public
library in Washington winch should be
absolutely free To every resident Of the
District and which would hc dependent
for its support or private Subscriptions.
"OtherS doubted whether the demands
for books would be sufficient to justify
the expenditure OF time and money neCeS-
Sary for such an experiment. Nearly
every one. including your president, thought
that the demand would b" fiuctuating and
internittcnt. 50 that during the hot sea-
son, the library could bP either closed for
a month or chat its hours could be reduced
and portion uf its force furloughed.
NO one, it may be safely said. realized
as to the fullest extent what it meant for
this Capital City Of the nation, with its
population Of some 275 900, to be with
out a single institution where the general
public could borrow gratuitoGSly volume
at any time, and where it could not even
consult a volume after 4 p. m.
ITO the general surprise. when the month
continued heat, the number registering
steadily increased, and the demand for
reading matter was so great as to tax the
physical energies of the entire Library
force, even when aided by volunteer
assistance. The office hours from 10
a. m to 0 p. m. remained necessarily
unchanged and the librarian found each
morning n group OF waiting visitors,
while at s. p. IN. il waS almost invariably V
necessary to warn out the readers.
Failed TO Appropriate.
'In connection with the proposed mu-
nicipal free library. your boardof m ana gers
steadily excrtcd their influence to bring
about its establishment by law As your
representative your president appeared
before the committees Of both houses Of
Congress, where he urged, orally and by
letter, the establishment of such library.
The value of this action is shown by the
favorable reports Of the District Commit
tees of both houses of Congress, wherein
was Incorporated the letter OF the presi-
dent Of this association.
''As you well know the act for the cs-
tablshment of free municipal library
! eventually passed, but unfortunately the
act carried no appropriation. The tommiS y
sioners of the District of Columbia took
! action, however, to appoint a board OF
trustees. among whom are numbered two
members of your board of managers
GardinerG. Hubbardand S. W. Woodward
whose generous contributions of time and
money have materially advanced the in
tereSts and promoted the success of this
| association.
Recognizing the gravity of future de
manGs upon such an institution, and be-
iieving that in matters affecting so ma
terially the public interests, there should
be the most generous cooperation, you
board Of managers have taken the in
| itial steps to merge its collections and
books into the free municipal library at al
early date as that institution may bs
able to receive and care for our library.
Such action, it is strongly urged, should
be confirmed by the subscribers at this
meeting; so that the board of managers
may feel that any action in this direction
which they may deem timely and expe