The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-03-22
THE FREE LIBRARY.

| ny.
Your attention as a citizen of New
| Haven is respectfully asked to the re
port of the work of the Free Public Lii
brary for the year 1898. With great in
terest in the library and strong belief il
| its usefulness in the community, I de
sire to have you know it's condition ant
work, in the hope that you may share
my interest in it.
The time appears to have passed by
for an argument in favor of free public
libraries. The judgment of communities
of the most intelligence, where there Is
the greatest security of life and proper
ty, the most regard for morals and man
ners, where education and refinement
are most valued appears to nave peen
given in favor of the free public library
Many conservative people have had tc
change their opinions as to the proper
objects for which money raised by
public taxation should be spent. and
apparently the public library has come
to take a permanent place among the
institutions in well ordered communi-
appear to be, not of antagonism or in
difference but rather one of friendly
and intelligent consideration, of what
the library should contain, it's meth
DDS and forms Of useful service of the
community, and the amount of money
which may be properly spent upon 1T.
The question is not whether there
should be public library, but what it
should be and what it should do
The free public library stands for the
true principle that the increase of in
telligence, the encouragement of peo-
pie to read and think, make for peace
and order and for what is best in life.
Where people have an interest in read
ing, and the desire to push out the
boundaries of their knowledge, evil is
crowded out by good. The boys and
girls drawn to the public library and
therein wisely directed in their read
ing will be worth more to the commu-
nifty. They will think more and know
more. The library works constantly
for good citizenship, and to lessen the
duties Of the departments of the police
and of charities and corrections.
The Public Library in New Haven
had it's beginning late as compared
with most cities with which 1t would
be grouped. This was due in part to
the conservative character of our peo-
pie, but especially to the fact that a
large number of people In the city who
use books most, had access to the Ii
brarles of the university and so did not
of
this reason also our library still lacks
the public support given in such cities
as Worcester and Springfield, with
which New Haven may be compared.
The library was established in 1887,
and in 1891 was brought into its pres
ent building. The library property
will always be worth what it has cost
the city on account of its central To-
cation, but a church building Is not
well fitted for a library. The changes
made have improved the building
At no distant day it must be
enlarged to meet the increasing de-
mand for space.
The library now contains $4,000 vol
umes and is a very valuable collection
Of well selected books There are 1856
persons holding cards and drawing
books. In 1898, 2S7261 books were
drawn from the library an average of
about nineteen for each person. The
Increase in the use of the library from
year to year is about ten per cent.
The more valuable books are in
read
The income of the fund left by Mr. 1
Philip Marett, $6S000, provides the
main part of the money which can be
spent for books, S3,47O, last year The
of the city, $14 900 must
De mainly spent for salaries, for light
ng and heating, for periodicals, for re-
binding books, for renairs, supplies
md the increase of room. A compar-
son of the financial statements of the
View Haven Public Library with those
# other cities of about the same popu-
alton. will show that the amount spent
" us is small and that nowhere is so
much work done for similar amount
# money. The salary account and all |
ther expenses are kept low while the |
of the library is very large.
The proper aim in our library APP
ears to be, the maintenance of col |
action of useful and wholesome books, |
f service to the greatest number of |
ur people, with encouragement and /
elp, through open shelves and wise
Erection, to their general circulation.
We ought to put good books into the /
ands of a large number of readers
ather than build up collections of rare
+ technical books which are needed |
or occasional reference. The call by
few persons for these special books
met by the university libraries and
re are left free to spend our moderate
mount of money for books of general
sefulness. 1t has been our aim to
lake the library rich In books relating
, the mechanical arts. because the
Of the city depends so much
pom the maintenance of a succession
{ mechanics and artisans who are
lilled and ingenious, and Informed as
the best work that is being done in
ieir departments.
The public library in many cities is
osey associated in it's juvenile de-
artment with the public schools and
used to help the teachers in their .
ork. We have gone a little way on
ore if our means permit. The libra
Z ought to be made a great educa-
onal institution working in friendly !
I'd Intelligent relations with ali other
yencies for the Improvement of the
fe of the community. And every
;Oughtfui man or woman whathar | I