The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-29

the university and was connected with
the library for ~ years, only leaving to
become librarian of the Boston Atheneeum,
a post which he will hold until his sue
cessor can be found.
Mr.. Lane was born in N~ewtonville,
Mass, and comes of a long line of early
settlers. When he entered Harvard at the
age of 10, his family removed to Cam
bridge and there he has lived ever since.
Even as a boy he had been a lover of books
and long before he completed his college
course he determined to become a librarian.
TIL opportunity offered, for soon after his
graduation there was a vacancy in the
Harvard library, and he secured it. The
position was a humble one, but it gave
him O chance to live among books, and
this alone was enough to make it desira-
BILE in his eyes.
Under the friendly direction of the late
Justin Winsor he added much to his
knowledge OF books and learned how to
apply it. After serving for six years he
was made, in 1887, assistant librarian and
continued in this capacity until 1898 when
he went to the AthenHum. He has been
secretary for the publishing section of the
American Library association since it was
organized, in 1886, president of the Mas
sachusetts Library club and secretary OF
the Phi Beta Kappa society. AS librarian
of the Dante society since its organization
in 1888 he has compiled the catalogues OF
the library of that society and done other
valuable work of a similar nature.
Being a loyal Harvard man, of course il
is the fulfllment of his dearest ambition
to be placed at the head of the great
library in Cambridge which inspired in
I:-.L IA. - g. l,-@l- NJ. -uo,,I %A&ol
of volumes which he will have under his
control and which are accessible to Har-
ward students falls little short of 500, GEO.
Harvard library was founded in 1640.
It's nucleus was the little store of books
which John Harvard left to the college.
There were only 800 volumes. but so scarce
were books in the new world at that time
that this poor little collection made Cam
bridge the literary center of America, a
distinction which it has not even yet who'll
ly lost it's grip on. In 1867 Solomon Stod-
dard was chosen Library keeper" and
among the rules he formulated was the
following: mo scholar in the college I'M
der a senior may borrow a book" Quito
different was the principle enunoiated by
the late Librarian Winsor, who said, IT
try never to forget that the prime purpose
of a book is to be much read.
In 1864 the college library, which at
that time was housed In one end of old
Harvard hall, was almost wiped out by
fire. OF the 5000 volumes which had been
accumulated only about 100 were saved.
This heavy loss only served to awaken the
sympathy of the colonies and England for
the college, and when in 1865 the new
Harvard hall was built many generous
donations Of books had been made. The
library occupied two rooms on the second
floor of the hall until 1871 when it was
finally settled in Gore hall. This building,
which has been enlarged from time to
time, was originally constructed in the
form of a Latin cross, with the nave 40
feet long and the transepts 81 feet long.
One of the transepts has been extended so
that it is 161 feet in length, but further
additions will nave to be made in the near
future in order to accommodate the con-
slant additions which are being made.
A most liberal policy has been adopted
in regard to the loaning of books and only
such restrictions are imposed as are DEEM
ed necessary for the protection of property.
The reading room in Gore hall now CON-
tains 275 seats and tables. 1t is we'll light