The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-07
LIBRARIES AND OTHER INTEL
LECTUAL AIDS.

new library structure. These are
splendid testimonials to the apprecia-
ton of the people of the beneficence of
public libraries. Probably there is no
other municipal institution in which
the individual citizen feels such per-
sonal proprietorship as in library build
fngs and art galleries owned by NUM-
eipalities.
A number of California cities have
handsome library buildings, and yet
some of these are by reason of the
public interest, the Individual concern
of all the citizens in the work of such
institutions, are not satisfying. Larger.
more commodious and elegant struc
lures are demanded and planned.
Tt is felt that a town or city cannot
too richly enshrine these storehouses
of knowledge, these schools of self-edu
cation, these altar rails to which all
men can come in common communion.
San Jose is not only not satisfied with
moving to add to the municipal wealth
an the form of an art gallery. Inspired
by the fact that Sacramento has an art
gallery, thanks to private benefcence
and public maintenance, the Garden
City is moved upon to possess a SINH
lar storehouse in which all the people
can feel they have in degree personal
proprietorship- Sacramento has an adj
mirable public library, as well as an
art gallery, but it cannot be many
years, indeed we suspect that the
thought has taken hold already upon
many MINDS before better larger and
more thoroughly equipped library
structure, as graceful and ornate ex-
feriorally as it is convenient and invit-
ing within, must be provided. That may
be quite a long look ahead. But it
will come; it is inevitable. The city
is certain to outgrow the limitations of
the present library and its handsome
but not ornate casket, as that it is to
expand in other directions. And it is
comforting to thus reflect. 1t speaks
of noble aspirations growing out of the
great good the library has effected.
Not so long ago it had corporate ex-
istence only. Its hold upon public ia
vor was no greater than any other pri-
waite association promoted for the bene-
fit OF the membership. To-day it is
the property of all the people and
every man, woman and child within the
city bounds feels that they have per-
sonal interest, individual ownership in
the institution, and that not only must
its usefulness be not confined by false
economy and grabbed grant of bare
necessary support by taxation, but
that there must be cordial, liberal and
full allotment from the public fund for
its maintenance and the feeding of its
in time Sacramento will be moved
upon as are ST Louis and Philadelphia
in their greater Importance to provide
the library with a more spacious if not
a more sumptuous home
When that is done unquestionably
We will have what every town ought to
possess. hall in connection with its
library structure, where the public
may be freely instructed and edited
by educational lectures, for cenven-
fence of university extension courses,
for the dissemination of useful infor-
NATION and the like all of which is
now committed in this community to
private organization In other words,
We must and will provide for the en-
largement of what Mr. Robinson in the
Atlantic Monthly denominates 1.-THE.
intellectual chances which cities
should offer to their youth as well as
those of mature years.
The library and the public lecture
course are or should be twin. They are
Intellectually close of kin at least. and
ought to come under one management.
They do already in several cities. and
not a few towns. Philadelphia intends
1t in her new structure, and st. Louis
has it in view when she builds anew.
The lecture room, the library, the art
gallery and the museum-these in a
community are assurance of intellectual
York already has a free lecture system
conducted under the City Board of Ed
ucation, and Mr.. Robinson informs US
that the scheme is rapidly spreading to
other cities and to towns
These lecture courses in New York
being conducted of evenings in the
school houses are really common school
extension courses and become the peo-
PIES universities in a sense. In New
York We learn that in 1S96-97 these
lectures numbered 1,O66 in thirty three
centers, and that they were attended
by nearly 100000 people. Chicago,
Brooklyn and several other cities have
adopted the plan with more or less sue
cess. These lectures are all of sober
matter, but also of universal and of
educational interest They are not
mere entertainments nor the vehicles
for the carriage of mere personal views,
but give TO the people facts of art, dis
covery, American history. etc.
In Boston the lecture work is backed
by the Twentieth Century Club, in Chi
cago by the Field Columbian Museum,
the Northwestern University, the Lake