The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-10-18
A LIBRARY HOME
Proposal to Improve the
Present Building.
Art League Considered - Plans Of
Former Times-Y. M. c. a Lii
brary Society Funds.
Honolulu. H. /. Oct. Il. 1898.

EDITOR ADVERTISER:-Th re-
port of the annual meeting Of the Lib
rary Association may convey a wrong
impression as to the new building pro
posed for the library.
When the Library Association OBJ
tanned from the Government the grant
of land on which 10 erect its needed
building, the rooms it was renting be
ing required for other uses, the pro-
position was made TO the Y. NJ. c. \.
10 unite in the erection of a building
for the joint use of the two associa-
tons.
1t was proposed that the front on
Hotel street should be made of two
stories, the upper story to be a hall,
the lower TO be divided into class and
committee rooms, social rooms and
offices. The Y. VI. c. a. was to be re-
sponsible for the upkeep of this sec
ton. The Library Association propos-
ed TO build on the Alakea street front
a reading room and book room and
thus save the community the expense
arate buildings and two libraries. But
the leaders of the Y. NJ. c. A. wanted
a building exclusively their own.
Provided the community has the abb
lily and the Willingness TO erect two
distinct buildings, there can be no val
id objection any more than TO man
of means having his town house and
his country residence.
The Finance Committee reported
that it had not seemed best for finan-
cial reasons to assent to another pro-
ject that had been brought before
them, to invest the money received
from Hon. c. r. Bishop in a building
to be rented. The proposal was to
erect on the lot on Alakea street, maui
ka of the present Library building, a
continuation of that front, the lower
story to be rented for offices, say, for
$500 annually, and the upper story TO
be rented TO the Kilohana Art League,
an exhibition hall and two studios, AT
a rental of 5000. While acknowledging
the logical weight of the reasons adj
duced by the committee for their mega
Tive decision, there are other consider
Iations that should be taken into ac
lcount before accepting this decision as
a finality 1t is true that a different
investment of the money might bring
in a larger annual revenue than one
thousand dollars. But the Trustees of
the library are not bank directors I'M
der obligation to get as large a money
revenue. as possible from invested
funds The money has been given by
citizens of this community to subserve
the higher needs of humanity. The
Kilohana Art League is an affiliated
society with a similar object. Why
cannot the two unite and secure for
the development of art in this COM
munity such home as it should have?
Perhaps some public spirited citizen
is ready to come forward with differ
ent proposal. Let Mr.. Bishops gift of
$50, 900 be invested in stocks or bonds
so as to bring in an increased revenue
for the general purposes of the library.
But instead of adding to the pile of ac-
, cumulating dividend, simply for per-
sonal ACKNOWLEDGMENT, will not some
one devote a mOiety to the erection of
such a building as shall meet the needs
Of the Art League and bring an addi-
tional service TO the library. Only two
individuals have as yet given large
sums TO the library, Mr.. S. n. Castle,
500 sEa IN
Is it not a good time in this season
of financial prosperity for one or more
to contribute a handsome sum OF
money in this way 10 the public good?
What higher need can be so easily and
: quickly met as such ample provision
= for the intellectual and artistic devel-
: IOpment of this community. II.