New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-09
PROGRESS OF THE LIBRARY
ONE MILLION DOLLARS ExpEcr,.
FROM THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE


sIxTY-FrvE THOUSAND VOLUMES
AT THE END or THE PRES
ENr FISCAL YEAR
At the meeting of the trustees Of the "
York Public Library held yesterday a, !,
Aston Library, the Executive Comnltta. :.
which John l.. Cadwaader is chairman. r,,'
an exceedingly interesting report. This bev,'
as follows:
As a new stage In the development Of thu ".
York Public Library may be said 70 have n.
practically reached. now that actual aporossF
ton Of funds Is al bout 10 be made by the ctyss
tho work OF the demolition OF the reservoir
tho construction OF the new building IA ia
begun tho Exc, utive Committee ls 81 osi,.
that It will be interesting and Instructive 70 =
view very briefly what has already been acco'
plished since the consolidation
The report touches on the union of the A..
Lenox and Tlden libraries. and on the PROM.
that the circulation OF books from the ma,
building would be provided The cheering Az.
nouncement is made that the Board ~ EstIr..
and Apportionment will probably be able |,
appropriate Sl.Oo0O00 for the new buidI,,
this year. half Of It soon "a the prop.,
requistlon is made ~ the Park Departme,,
On another point the report says.
INCREASE IN BOOKS
The trustees. however. have not devoted ts.,
entire energies 70 the new building, aud the 81
traordnary increase IN the library during the lag
two years and a half makes remarkable saor
Ing.
collections Of the library about 900 volumes All
5000 pamphlets. and by the eni Of the prsse'
hscal year the library, including me Ford cole.
! lion. will contain about io).r' volumes and iaW
! pamphlets The annual accessions have been n
/ the rate OF about %Gn volumes and &bD pan,
! phle's. The annual accsssions of the Boston P.s
! lie Library during the period have -,
about 5000 a year. and Of he British Mgsssr
about 5000 a year. but these figures include esa
hooks and pamphlets. 50 that the New-Ywt
! ing FAR more raD.dly than any library in the swS
! nss reraTds the character OF this Increase n I.
/ far as purchases are concerned. the estabk.s
! lines have been adhered 20 OF creating gezss
| reference library at the Astor. and Improving e,
/ adding 70 the valuable collections relating
| American history begun by Mr.. Lenox: 80 N.
| the increase in the New-York Public Library a
/ not only been great in numbers. but the stant1
| has been entirely preserved.
! The number Of books and pamphlets received q
| gifts since January /. 1895 has been l25cM Thss
| figures 90 not include the Ford collection vhich
! OF pamphlets. Some OF tn gifts received are 0.
! course, duplicates; but on the otner nanc many
cial collections Of much interest. II Is especially
gratifying 10 that II Is becoming recognized
among the citizens OF New YORK mat tns library
Is the proper place in which TO deposit sgch spe-
cial collections and thus make them available TO
students, for the public good
FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS YEAR.
a number OF improvements in the library are
described in detail. 1t is calculated that to
keep the Lenox and Aston libraries open from
6 to 8 D. m. would cost $4,000 year. Tbs
money is unfortunately. not on hand, although
the trustees would he glad to increase the tsah'
ties The report says further:
In the two Libraries in 1885, there were sSg,
! ca 80 readers who called for 243.7O0 books u
1925 there were 10000 readers VINO ca.eo "
f1-- ~1ty ING
/ the open reference shelves OF which, OF coaS
mere 6n s = nT February ls 1902 there were
/ the Astor Building 3e5 readers, who called Tor -
| volumes, the greatest number on any one gay
/ tho history OF the library. Increase or readers
/ necessarily now checked. because no further roo-
/ can be provided for them. the limit Oh accomI"
dalton in the present building oeing s s1na n-ists
The trustees will remember mat az tle o1.ssl ..
the consolidation 1t was thought prudent 20 ss:-,
the organization Of the respective comnl.'ees o..
| In the conduct OF the AFFAIRS OF the new colp''er.
ton They will recall with satisfaction VA
such considerations have long SINCE ceasec y
! have the faintest weight. and that now no resa,.
is paid TO the paruo9ar 1913 OF s 1.e,o o -
The funds and material Of each Of the horaf a.
have since the consolidation been larry aD no u, ia
telilrentiy devoted TO increasing the uses OF ,ns
consolidated library as whole WIN mar SEQ ~
! cess and with constantly increasing cohnos. .s
from the public. This has been accompnshea Will
out friction IN the Board and win sns Ss,p una n
mind the many and varied subjects which na~
arisen or which have been under discussion
GENERAL PROGRESS.
Looking back 1our years. the experiens o. mM
oerlod has plainly justified the prev.sich .. ,ns
Tbs edded endowment which mas come from The
Tiiden henefacton has enabled the exis.,ns i ss,
i,,en onnortunitv for keeping the collections faI,a
IN 10 the times and II has supplied ,he ne,
greatlv Increasing the comfort and Coi. ~
e. readorg Beyond and more important than a.,
This the consolidation and change OF name pm nsv
enabled those conducting the A Se nns 70 the city
amthoriies as az institution existing l9r ,n ss an
fare OF all the citizens OF the 51tssrssted IN
peang for support to all VINO h are rssnIi 81 such
Tho spread OF learning. What me resa, n only he
policy may prove to- to be eea an which have passed
,ba faC, that the city authorities WIN nc us- 81
nous appreciation Of the Lee rs ex5end amW
apan. ,1 60 a. adeouate and permanent n9ins . \
the library. abundanty ruins Iie NO.
the consolidation was uha'''"
The Controller was present at the mse''ns =.
+ba first time. He Is a member eX on'c'o VI 49,
corporation.
4 LEGACY or $1,000.
T. was announced that n legacy OF slo'VVV NO. =,
heen made for the benefit of the NO'a. ,, ;.
Alexander NJ. Proudft. and that "'. ,.,r,
available soon. The following Is an eA''
Mr.. Proudnts will:
fourth give and bequeath TO the N ss
YORK PEh Library the sum of ten inousAn1o owe,
/ 80 lSiSosO 20 be known as the Jah ~ income
Srs r,,d II IS my wish that me n.Y or
f,o.n eatd fund he used FOR purchasing V''A'
naval history. Az.
James Owen Proudnt was brother u ~ Is.
ta,or. He was formerly the secretary -
New-York Yacht Club -. as,
Among the gifts Of books received ID w ~,
month are fourteen volumes from '"e Ne.
society of England. musical works rom 49,, 49,.
Henry Draper. and official publications ,. ~
yerezuela and Costa Rca. through 'nen ,.r'
: eer,atives In y ashlngton. Captain O"a.
Of the United States cruiser New YORK p'esss
q man on behalf Of the crew Of the snip ~. -
the sailors. TO Illustrate the moNe"'' !, u
fleet before Santiago This map IS 10"
LenoX Library. .,r. D.
J. NJ. Carrere and Thomas Hasu"sS
orohitocts for the new building. were p'. "A,
and spent some time going over the p'A"'
the trustees.