The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-10
NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY
UNDER CONSIDERATION

In identifying st. Louis for the Worlds
falr 1t Is held by the literary and educa-
llohaI elements of the city and public
spirited citizens in general that the matter
OF a new, handsome public library should
be one of the first things considered. 1t is
important that the city should make Il
showing in this direction equal to any of
the larger cities of the country.
one OF the first things which visitors from
all over the world will consider on arriving
IN st. Louis is what advantages the munic-
ipality affords its citizens in the way of
literary advancement and culture, and as
the public library is usually considered the
gauge in such matters, that institution will
be narrowly examined and criticised and
opinion formed upon its merits.
For several years the question of a new
public library for ST. Louis has been con-
stantly before the people. and efforts have
been made to raise money to erect Il build
ing which would be a credit and ornament
to the city. Up to the present time nothing
has been accomplished in this direction
other than securing a site. Now that all
the Worlds Fair funds have been raised, it
is the purpose of the Library Board to make
every effort possible to. have a library built
which would be completed and in use be-
fore the Exposition is opened.
The site owned by the board Is large
enough to accommodate a magnificent and
spacious building. with sufficient ground left
over to surround the edifice with an at
tractive park, which will add materially 10
- oSoaNys 1aS ASSehA1AA A' SeSA SAes AASSA
ly all visitors coming into or leaving the
city will pass it In going to and from Union
Station.
The property owned by the Public Library
Board includes the entire block which lies
between Olive and Locust streets and Sew.
enteenth and Eighteenth streets. As soon
ing, the present improvements will be re-
moved and the lot put in shape to begin
work. The board members hope that with
in two years the new library will be IN
readiness for dedication,
No definite plans for raising funds has
been determined upon. the board having
Worlds Fair money had been subscribed.
1t is believed that steps will be taken IN
this direction at the boards next meeting.
nm TO date nothing has been seriously con-
sidered in the way Of actual plans for the
new library, but that It has been decided
to erect a building which will be a credit,
as we'll as a permanent ornament to st.
Louis. The most modern libraries. both in
and abroad. will be carefully
studied and the good points taken from al
1T is by no means the intention Of the
board to squander money on the new ouild-
ing" said MI. Crunden, but a substantial.
commodious. ornate structure will be called
for in the plans. The new library Will be
built to last for fifty years at least. and
which the collection will undergo in that
period. Now that the Worlds Fair is to
be held 1t is important to nave the pullu-
ing completed and occupied for that event.
SOur present facilities are not sufficient
to enable US to do the work which is ac-
tually necessary, much less to carry out
features which are common in other large
cities. The collection of books is increasing
rapidly and there is not space to shelVe 1t.
The new building will be absolutely modern
and up-to-date, and will go down to future
generations Of st. Louisans as one of the
great works of the Louisiana Purchase
Centennial period.
1.-The Worlds Fair should leave behind it
many permanent buildings to stand as
monumen of the work of the present
generation in years to come. Nothing would
be a filter monument to the intellect of the
period than a grand library. Money spent
by a city in this kind Of an institution Is
really an investment, and one which bears
large returns. 1t is my sincere wish that
visitors to the Worlds Fair will not have
to hunt for the St.. Louis Public Library
at the top of a downtown commercial
building. This would reflect but small
credit on the city. especially as st. Louis
has always boosted of being ahead of so
many of its sister municipalities in point Of
and culture"