The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-11


tory. The average number of members
enrolled each month amounted tn
something over three hundred. The
reading room. reference room. ana chll-
tlren's room are equally we'll patron
izcd The children's department has
become such an unqualified and pro-
gressivc success that further arrange
ments must be made to meet its popu-
larity and enhance its utility. one fea-
turc of the library is that every reader
who joins becomes practically iie
member. The longer he retains menu
bership the more devoted and Omniver-
Gus !: reader he becomes. The love Of
literature grows upon itself. Reading
becomes an ineradicable habit. an in
tellectual passion, which only requires
"a little care and circumspection to de-
vnlop into mental and moral culture
which not only fits Il man or woman
for life, but for immortality.
Andrew Carnegie informed the world
the other day that his greatest aid
when Il young man in making his way
in the world was access to Il small
private library of three hundred VOL
unnes. He attributed to the educational
stimulus which he imbibed in Colonel
Jonson's little library his after success
in life No more practical man ever
breathed thar Carnegie. He was able
to build up his enormous business and
fortune not because he neglected litera-
| ture as only Il hobby fit for fools and
| women but because he brought to his
business the keennesS of vision which
he drew from his love of books. So he
himself says. and surely he ought to
know.
The Albrish, library was seriously
| hampered last year because the appro-
piation asked for it by Librarian Carr
| was cut down nearly two thousand dol
! lars It was II small piece of cheese
! paling. An objection made by one of
| the councilmen WAS that the amount
spent on books bore no proportion
! although as Il matter of fact it did and Il
| very high ratio-to the sum spent ON
| administrative expenses. This simply
| showed his unfamiliarity with the eco
nomics of IL free library. 1t is not Of
| course. the number of books in II Ii
brary which affects the number of at
| tendants required for the administra-
| tive star. 1t is the number of readers
| who apply for the books on the shelves
| of the library which creates the drudg-
ery work of the librarian and his sub
| ordinates
The Albright library is growing, but
no, in the way it should. There are on
the shelves of the library about thirty
| five thousand volumes. There should
| b. at least sixty thousand to meet the
| demand and requirements of :: city like
Scranton. which are supplemented from
! no other source beyond the private
purchases of individuals. The library
has only received one residuary beuuest
only Il thousand dollars for the pur-
chase as far as might be- of mineraloS-
| icul works.
| 1t is to be sincerely hoped that when
| Mr.. Carr makes his next application to
councils he will be given what he asks
for. he will not apply for II cent more
| than he needs for the efficient working
of the establishment over which he 50
| ably presides. Books wear out like
everything else and must be either re-
| brary is our university. 1t is indis-
| pensable to the intellectual uplifting of
scranton.