The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-14
ATTAINED
MAJORITY
Library is Twenty-One
Years Old.
FACTS ABOUT ITS GROWTH
.-..s~~s-.s---.
A Well Managed Honolulu institution
With an Excellent CoIec-
ton Of Books.

DsR
here do not read so much as they do
In some Mainland cities partly because
they are too Uusy, partly because the
climate tavors outdoor life, The local
institution has afforded n great dea
of real pleasure and benefit, Az well
as instruction, to many hundreds of
It's history for the twenty-one years
has been curious in some ways, and
at times It's future has not hooked al
together promising; but it has today
a singularly well-selected collection of
books, in spite of the queer variety OF
sources from which these have come
On the sixth of April, 1879, what is
now the Public Library OF this city
was started by gifts of a number of
books from several people. At first il
was called the Mechanics Library, be-
ing designed for working men; and
the books were housed in a room up
stairs in a building on Fort street,
nearly opposite the present site OF
Thrums book store. The first pres
ident was Mr.. Lucas, the father OF the
proprietOns of the Honolulu Planning
Mill. The man who was chiefly re-
sponsible for the wise conduct of the
institution during its first ten years OF
life was DR.. Rodgers. who did the cat
alog,iing and indeed nearly all the
work, much oil It with his own hands.
At first, all the acquisitions OF the
Library were gifts. from such people
al Mr.. Cartwright, who continued to
give literally and constantly as long
avs he lived, Mr.. Dwight, MIR. Hartwen,
and Mr.. Babcock.
Occasionally in looking over the
book that contains the list of early
acquisitions, one comes across a num-
Der OF books purchased at auction.
When residents left the islands they
were very apt to sell their libraries at
auction, OF else to give bundles of
books to the Library; in either case
the latter was pretty sure to be the
richer by q nuDber of useful and well
come additions to its slowly tncreas-
| ing stock The books given at first
were as rule very good ones; valu-
able works of history or biography, or
standard zets of some sort. Now and
| then a departing townsman unload
ed" volumes which he did not care to
carry away, probably thinking, with
| good reason, that the books would in
| terest somebody.
The first purchases were made in
| July and August of the opening year,
| and more naw books were bought In
| June, 1880: but 1t was many yeans be-
| fore the additions from this source
were anything like so large as those
| from presentation. 1t was a circulat-
| ing library from the beginning, and
| its charges to members are still the
same as in the early days, except that
| long ago q person who desired to be-
come a member had to pay an initia-
| ton fee of So. in addition to his dues.
| This entitled HIM to the privileges OF
voting for trustees at the annual meet
ings, whereas those who paid only
their dues of fifty cents monoh were
| entitled merely to draw books. This
distinction has now been Withdrawn,
and all persons whose dues are paid
up can vote. Trustees, by the way,
must have been members OF the
Library for three years.
The government has helped the libra
ry occasionally, in several ways. One
! legislature voted II S1,LJ0 for the pur-
chase of books during that particular
biennial term. This was about ten
years or more ago; ii has never been
repeated. However, the library has
never been asked to pay taxes; and
since the appropriation above mentioned
the government has given the electric
lights and the water rates, in return
for which the children of the public
schools above certain grade have the
privilege Of drawing books free OF
charge.
In 1884 the citizens subscribed money
TO put up the present building; which
is cool, comfortable and satisfactory.
Two years later fine acquisition came
in the shape of Queen Emma's library.
Mr.. Cartwright about this time gave
several hundred volumes, chiefly on
Polynesian subjects. In 1887 the Boys
Reading room turned over some 200
books OF a more less juvenile sort to the
library, securing the privilege Of using
the latter for certain term of years.
About this time the Chamber of Com
MERGE made a considerable gift TO the
institution. The Hawaiian government
also gave several lots OF books during
the years 1887 and 1883.
Not long after this a great many val
liable works came TO the library from
, the government. At first these were Of
, fered as a loan, with the privilege Of
recall: but the books were allowed e
. remain and several years later the Pro
b visional Government donated the book;
/ out and out. Mr. Henry Castle gave 6
- great many valuable books; and so d.
numbers OF other residents-sO many
5 in fact. that one heGitates to mention
b any for fear of seeming to slight those
omitted.
A few people have also given money
The widow of Mr.. Hackfeld, the founder
OF the firm which still bears his name
: made the first pecuniary donation o.
., $4,000, somewhere in the eighties. Be
D sides giving at various times a large
number OF nice books in fine bindings
Mr.. G.. II. Bishop gave $1,000 to enlarg'
the building. another IS 900 the inter