Evening star., 1898-09-16
FREE LIBRARY SITE
Selection by the Trustees Approved
by Commissioners.
LOCATED ON new YORK AVENUE
Plans Of Management to Make the
Institution Valuable.
COM MITTEE ON BOOK S

The recommendation Of the trustees of
the free public library, that the library be
located at 1896 New York avenue was to-
| day approved by the District Commission
ers, and it is expected that the necessary
repairs to the building will be completed in
time to permit its occupancy not later than
the first of next month
In letter addressed to the Com mission
srs yesterday by Mr.. Theodore w. Noyes,
president of the board Of trustees of the
| library, they We're informed that Mr.. Noyes
had been instructed to state that the board
of trustees had, after much consideration
of various sites, decided to submit for the
approval of the Commissioners the one
mentioned, with the recommendation that
it be selected the home of the library.
The Commissioners were further informed
by Mr.. Noyes that the property had been
offered at an annual rental Of $1,000, the
term to begin the 1st of October, on condi-
ton that the owner of the building should
commence Immediately certain alterations
and repairs upon it. as indicated by the
board of trustees, and complete them on or
| about the beginning of the rental term.
The proposed changes in the building, it
was explained include the partial recon-
struction and the repainting of the front
of the building, the Introduction of hot
water HedllllS anu eItcITc lSnlllS, DrOaI-
ening the stairway leading from English
basement main entrance to The first floor,
and many interior alterations, as IN par
titions, etc.
building Easily Accessible.
The Commissioners are familiar with the
location selected, and in approving the
rental of the premises today, expressed the
opinion that a more conveniently located
site could hardly have been chosen by the
board of trustees. 1t is easily accessible
from all parts of the city, being within half
a block of the street railway center at 18th
street and New York avenue where the
Metropolitan, the 14th street branch of the
Capital Traction and the Columbian rail-
ways converge or cross. The Columbia
road runs in front of the building, but is
far enough removed by half the width of
broad New York avenue to prevent the
noise of rapid transit from annoying users
OF the library facilities
The building is an old-fashioned structure
of the colonial style, containing sixteen
rot ms on four floors, is admirably lighted,
and has pleasing outlook, front and back.
| The present iron stairway leading from
the ground to a front entrance on the floor
above the English basement is to be re-
moved. The main entrance will be into
the English basement on the ground floor,
and broadened stairway inside will lead
to the first floor of the building, which
will constitute the main reading room of
the library. The partitions between the
lOul rooms on lnlS moor are 10 be SO treated
that the entire floor space will be thrown
practically into d single beautifully lighted
room.
The building is to be heated with hot
water and lighted by electric light and gas,
under the direction of the trustees to
the location of radiators and burners
The front of the building is to be re-
pain ted and many minor alterations and
repairs to be made as conditions of the
! lease.
The trustees are much pleased to secure
so well-located and well-equipped build
ing within their means available for this
purpose.
Has Ample Room.
The large space available n the building
will enable the trustees for some time to
conduct the library without any danger of
cramping. There will be rooms for admin
istrative purposes, cataloguing, storage,
etc. newspaper reading rom is planned
to contain the files of many newspapers.
A room will also probably be provided for
the scientific magazines, provided from the
interest upon the Henry Pastor memorial
fund" of 5000, to be later Increased 10
$1,000 subscribed by MIR. James T. Du Bois
The library trustees committee on books
composed of Messrs SpoTord. Flint and
Woodward, have almost completed the list
Of books to be purchased with the $3.50
subscribed by Woodward & I-o.hrop
G1,O00) c. S. Noyes $1,000 ard G. C.
Glover $3.50, and the volumes are ex-
pected to be on hand cataIogued and ready
for use in connection with the liberal do
nation of books made by the Incorporated
free library when the public library Is
opened in October.
Supplemental to School system
In purchasing books the trustees have
kept in mind the function of the public Ii
brary as in the words of the law "a supple
ment of the public educational system of
the District" Many books will be bought
with view to their usefulness in connec-
ton with the work of the public schools,
and the suggestions of the school authori-
ties with whom the library trustees will
closely cooperate, will be utilized upon
this point.
The design of the trustees in regard both
to the circulating library and the reading
room is to establish practically useful in
stitutions, which will benefit the school
children, the workingmen and the book
loving population in general of the District
of Columbia
For the first year no appropriation is
made for books and these supplied-to
the number of about 15,OO0-through pri-
| vate subscriptions, of books and money.
which have already been liberal in indi
vidual cases, and which the trustees hope
! and expect will be promptly duplicated by
many public-spirited citizens, now that the
new library is getting fairly on it's feet.