The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03
NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING; KANSAS CITY

ton might deem eXpedient to be used
exclusively as library fund
In order to encourage teachers and
pupils to sell tickets for the lectures
prize was offered by the board to the
school selling the greatest number of
tickets. The competition in this coz
nection was marked and most inter-
esting, but the period was. one of great
financial depression following the panic
of 1873, but results were quite satisfac-
tory. In 1876 fresh impetus was given
to the project. AT this point national
patriotism came into operation from
the young Missouri city. A ladies' CEN
tennial association had been organized
in 1875 to represent Kansas City appro-
priately at Philadelphia. This scheme
was abandoned, however and as a re-
suit, a resolution was passed to the eff
feet that the ladies having in charge
the funds, so raised should be request
ed to donate them to the public school
library fund. This sum amounted to
$500.
At this juncture, when the public had
become greatly interested in the de-
Velopment of a library there came into
play the important order that only the
very best books should be bought and
placed In the library. 1t is probably
due to this suggestion that the shelves
of the Kansas City library are stocked
with a more imposing file of volumes,
covering a better range of literature
than in the library of any city west of
the Allegheny mountains.
The superintendent report of 1877
contained the following:
The object has been to provide for all,
avoiding extremes as injudicious, If not
positively deleterious All books might have
been solid. in the sense IN which that word
Is applied, or, on the other hand, light But
thn hum IND 10 t4I
der favorable conditions 1t desires knowledge
and turns to it as instinetively as the vine
inclines toward the sunlight. and since the
public library is one of the great factors for
educating all the people, and may be made
to furnish an education more extensive and
varied than that Of the college or university,
it was necessary to lay foundation broad
|and substantial, and upon which a per-
manent library could be founded. This we
have, as a committee, endeavored to do.
Not book has been purchased whose merits
were not considered"
Meanwhile. with the Cuickening Of
interest in the institution a number of
| citizens contributed to the general
stock, and much advantage was deriv-
ed. But the growth was Slow 600
volumes 3,000 1000, 5000 and so on,
were reported year by year, but this
growth told, Just as the compounding
of interest will tell in the long run;
and as the institution grew and be-
gan to attract attention, the more the
people became interested in it,
Suddenly an unusual interest was eX-
cited in the library, and it's Develop
ment, and the influence of the Com
mercial club of that city was enlisted
On Nov. Is, 1892, this resolution was
adopted by that body:
Resolved, That the public library has be-
come necessary adjunct to any highly CIV
ii1zed community, bringing light and intel
hgence within the reach Of all alike, wheth-
er rich or poor, and that while we can
point with pleasure and pride to the SPLEEN
did work already done by our most efficient
board of education the line Of meeting
this demand, yet in our opinion, both as a
matter OF necessity and local pride there
should be constructed at an early day q
modern library building with such conyen-
fences and equipments as would be in keep
ing with the size and prosperity of our city.
This was the beginning of the move
ment which resulted in giving to Kan
sas City it's beautiful library building
costing 100000, and for which school
bends were issued. The outlines of the
exterior Of the building are presented
herewith. They hardly do justice to the
institution. The building is of white
marble, and on it's exterior, around its
ccrnices, are carved the names of some
of the worlds greatest men. The To-
cation is at Ninth and Locust streets.
The main entrance on Ninth street is
a superb arched doorway, with the
words Public Library overhead, and
higher up in the next sill are the Ro-
man letters indicating the date
of completion of the building.
'MDCCCXCV, the building is two
stories high. The delivery desk is in
the rotunda, and behind it are
shelves There is also a beautiful man
tel in the rotunda, beneath which is a
capacieus fireplace, and above the
mantel is an inscription giving the his
tory of the library. The reading room
is capacious. There is a cataloguing
room, an art reference room, a Chill.
for the high school children. an ss-
sembly hall, which is held to be q
sort of gallery of art, a woman's club
room, a room for the board of educa-
ton; one for the files of bound newspa-
pers, an art gallery containing coliec-
lions Of many excellent specimens in