The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-11-14
New York First Man Writes Of
the Institution.
THOUGHT WOULD Be INQUIRY
Building and Organization-Re sour-
Ces-Voiumes and Character.
The Patrons.
Library Journal. New York;

Library Journal. New York;
Doubtless the question has been
asked by many American librarians
recently, What of libraries and lib
! rary interests in the territory Of Ha-
waii?" The following paper is written
with a desire TO furnish some sort Of
an answer TO such inquiries. II there
| are any who imagine the Honolulu
library is rival OF the Boston Public
! they are mistaken, and if there are
| those who think this library is an in
| significant affair in the rear of some
| store or dwelling, they are equally
| mistaken. The Honolulu library is just
such an institution as one would ex-
pect TO find in a thoroughly up-to-date
American city OF 10000 inhabitants
The building is a substantial brick
structure. centrally located on the
corner of Hotel and Alakea streets.
/ The ground was given by the kingdom:
the lights, which are electric, are fur
nished by the Government. Of course
there is no cost for heating and there
are no charges for water or for taxes.
| The charter and bylaws OF this library
do not differ materially from those
commonly adopted in the United
States. The first section of the second
article Of the constitution SAYS: The
| object Of this Association shall be.
! First, To establish and maintain in
some convenient and central location
IN Honolulu a public library and read
ing room" This seems rather incon-
slstent inasmuch as the library is 4
subscription library. The second sec
! ton of the same article reads: TO
provide for such other means for men
! tai, social, and artistic culture as may.
| from time 10 time, be found TO be de-
slfable and eXpedient." This surely.
! is look forward to that larger field
| OF usefulness which the library is des-
! tined to fill in the work of university
extension, art exhibitions. and other
supplementary labors All who will
| pay the subscription fee may become
| members of the association. The nav
| ment OF $500 entities the donor to a
! lie membership without further dues.
| ne regular dues are $3.50 per quarter
| or Sc per year. The board of trustees
| consisting of l3 members. is cleo. ed an
| uaIly by the members of the associa-
| ton. The board elects from its own
| membership Il president. a yice-pras-
! Ident, n secretary. and d treasurer.
| who are the officers of the association.
| mere are three standing committees.
! known as the literary committee. the
administration committee. and the aud
| faFNF0 m 2 20, Z.
| sists Of three members appointed by
| the president.
| The resources of the library come
| from the earnings of invested funds
/ and from subscriptions. There are
| TWO endowments, one of So. 900. the
| interest of which must be spent for
| DOCKS and periodicals. This fund pro-
Vldes about $1,000 annually. The sec
| Ond endowment is of SIS. 900. The in
| come from this is about $500 annual
| ~ and is spent as the trustees advice
| subscriptions bring in from S1,1OO to
$1,000 annually. The subscription
money, with the addition of $50. paws
| all salaries
| Inc library proper consists of ID 172
| volumes, which were classified after
the manner recommended by Mr.. Cut
| ter for small libraries, but now the
! CLASSIFICATION is being changed 10 the
! Dewey system. which is followed ex-
| actIy. There are on an average GOO
volumes added annually. Ninety-two
| OF the best periodicals in English are
! taken. The magazines are bound
| likewise the Honolulu dailies: the Ma
| ton is also bound. The binding is
| done in the city, the uniform price for
| One-haf shiyer being $1.25 per volume.
! Inc reading-room is free to all. Pub
| TIC school children may draw books
| Tree OF charge, but they are restricted
| to list selected by Miss Mary \. Bur
! bank. the librarian. As many books
| are drawn by the children as by the
| subscribers. though a pupil may draw
! but one book at a time. while a sub
scriber has the privilege of drawing
| two. No demand is made upon the
| library by the Chinese. japanese. or
Portuguese. and very few Of the native
| Havaiians use il.
! The book board consists of the three
| memb beers OF the literary committee and
| of six other members of the associa-
| ton chosen by the literary committee.
| The attitude toward buying fiction is
| very conservative. the motto beng.
| Get only the best" This library has
! free access 10 shelves. Queen Emma
| left to the library a beautiful set of
| the complete works OF Charles Kings
| ley which the author presented to her
| during her visit in England Each vol
| ume Of the set contains the autograph
| Of Kingsley. \ valuable collection Of
| books relating TO shells was presented
| by the late William Harper Pease. the
! eminent conchologist. The library Is
| the custodian OF one Of the most eX-
! tensiye collections OF Polynesian sub
| jects in the world At present this col
! lection belongs to the Hawaiian His
! tOrical Society, but it is thought that
| within a few years the library Will be-
| come its pOSsessor. The library is
| open every day except Sunday from
| $50 a. m. 10 $50 D. m. On Sunday
the reading room is open for the same