New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-25
THE NATIONAL LIBRARr.y
THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE M,
GER.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

IA l.
moved into the new building. There -was ~.
/ teal upanimity among the recognized s,,I''
ties consulted on various matters The N.,''
had provided the most magnificent librarv 80. a
ing In the world. and it was belittlng its N.Y..
functions to continue to call II merely NJ.
Of Congress. when ell the world knew TIA, :.
ought to be the National library. Its imno,,..'
functions in supplying the wants OF CONG
cover not more than l DER cent OF the resno,.,
bilities which this library ought TO assume ~
ard the American people.
The institution itself. I'm government Ana a.
! pointments. ought TO b. as distinctly on, :.
politics as is the Smithsonian. which turr,.,..
an admirable model for a board OF regent. =
direct all the affairs OF what should ,oor ~
/ the finest library in the world To maxi. -.
positions In the slightest degree a ma,,., >.
spells to be distributed among the clamoror,
horde that always intests Washington Is eau
catlonally a crime.
With the new building. larger APPROPRIATED.
and proper organization wholly outside a,
practical politics opportunities offer 10 incr..,.
many fold the library's field Of practical us4,n,,
ness 1t was pointed out TO the comrnitte. ho.
in q score Of different fields the scholars A. N.
Nation had claims on this great Institute,
which ought to be met Those most Interest,",
were full Of hope. Librarians were lnsists,,
that If director should be put at the head 4,
the institution. outranking Mr.. Spotrord wh,
had for a generation been the official head onlv
man Of wide and unusually successful library
experience should be trusted with what vs,.
clearly by far the most important library prob
lens that had yet fallen 10 any American
The results were dis'ouraging even 70 N.
most optimistic. Many members OF Congress
evidently were determined not 10 lose any Of III.
loaves and fishes for watch they had hoped n
the way OF appointments. One Of the leadersu
the majority warmly interested In putting n.
library proper basis. finally declined "a
make further effort on the ground that Il va,
hopeless when. as he phrased H. the CHEZ
recommendation for a prominent candidate Tor
the librarianship was that the climate Of tor
eign country in which he had he'll an appon.
ment did not agree with the health Of his wifa
Men from whom better things were expected
seemed to have no conception Of what the mod.
ern library has become and 10 be dominated
still with the Idea that the Guardianship wasa
desirable berth for men Of literary turn VITO
liked the atmosphere Of books and who ough,
TO be provided with something at public ex.
pense to show public appreciation OF their tastes
and literary service. They not to have
learned that the modern librarian Is charged
with the INST important educational duties, and
that he is unlike the typical librarian ota
generation ago as the Oregon and the Brooklyn
are unlike the frigates and sloops that made the
navies OF our forefathers
1t is only a matter Of justice 10 the late \.
brarlan 10 say that he showed clearly a disposl.
ton TO adjust matters 10 the modern view 70
appoint efficient subordinates and 10 make the
library perform the great functions FOR which
its best friends believe II was destined. His
death will be a double misfortune II the Cd
methods are TO prevail. for the chances are small
that a second experiment In appointing a man
without proved fitness in that special work
would result as favoraby. 1t is significant to
read in the obituary notices that his life was
shortened by the terrific pressure from ONCE
seekers for berths In the National library Ths
less people know about the modern library and
the less they are fitted for its duties the more
thoroughly their minds imbued with the no.
ton that it is the long-sought haven for those
who must live somehow and who enjoy being In
dignifed association with books. pictures and
other tangible evidences Of culture. Their de'
sire for the place Is based on the pleasure II VIII
give them rather than the service they can
render TO the public by which the expenses are
paid. Probably at least one thousand self-com'
placent Americans have thought themselves the
very men who ought to receive this appoint
ment. and without doubt 900 OF them at the leas.
would be totally untitled for the great func'
lions which ought to devolve on the successiu1
head OF the National library Of this great people
If the appointment were limited TO the term
OF the appointing President Il would be less
serious but the tradition has been that the
position Is practically for life, and mistake ID
the headship may hold back for whole genera
ton the progress which the public has righ'
TO expect for its great expenditures. II some
man group OF men in Congress were wise
enough and strong enough TO impress on OUT
lawmakers the gravity OF the situation ana
secure legislation which should insure Tor inc
future the highest possible results In this I'M
portant field a service would ne rendered |"
educational interests whose value cannon pe
expressed in words. The public library III
America is coming TO be recognized every""s
as the essential complement OF the schools anu
as performing for the public functions oi %
great educational value 10 both old ana 'oDHe
through life as do the schools FOR their s'uue"',
during the period OF childhood The Na0O""'
library is the natural crown OF the whoe -!
TEN. From II should iadiate inspiring anu
ing influences and in 1t should be perfume.
work which can be done cheaper ana pe'|
there than elsewhere, and which is essen'''
the development Of this great field
America has in the last twenty-five years Wv
a recognized position Of leadership IN al VIZ
pertains to libraries The world has never 'e
a period Of so great activity, Of so great s'o'
and OF so pressing demands. To put al inc va
Of American libraries some well-meahlhe
gentleman OF literary tastes U''
fitted for the great duties OF the place w. wv,
be as great crime as to put PATRON.
civilian at the head OF our o..
or Navy I'm time Of war. The educational o.
paign which is being waged by larger arm,
men with greater resources than the WORM
ever before seen will not reach whoN!
factory conclusion unless the commahu
chief Justly receives the confidence VI