The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-02-02
HONOLULU NEEDS |
PUBLIC LIBRARY
There is No Free Read
ing-Room in This
City.
WOULD Be 4 FINE INVESTMENT
VISITORS OBTAIN = WRONG IN
PRESTON OF THE TOWNS
HOSPITALITY.
The Matter Will Be Referred 70 the
Legislature When Il Considers
the Framing or Municipal Char.
ter Next Month.

Tho fact that there is no place in
This CITY which could be called q Pub
bic Library even by stretching a point
in favor Of the city. is sometimes
commented upon with considerable
severity by persons who temporarily
make Honolulu their abiding place.
Other cities Of no more size than this.
have vell-equ.pped Libraries that are
Absolutely free 20 anyone desiring 10
anyone desiring consult the vol
umes on their shelves.
The Honolulu Library and Reading
Room Association makes some preten
Eiurs % filing the want but a single
experience in endeavoring 10 get in
formation from its tones ana archives,
unless arcompanied by a certificate Of
membership and a good moral char
actor. is sufficient proof that this city
needs a real Public Library.
Under the rules Of the Reading Room
Association a Traveller in search Of
the truth wJuld be up against IL"
and up against IL hard. If he put his
trust iH being able 10 cajOle the libra
riaH OF that institution .ulo a belief
that be should be allowed TO search
the volumes even under irr eagle
eye.
II stranger deposits SO with the
Association as an evidence OF good
faith and is properly introduced Ivy
one ~ the members of the Associa-
ton. he will be allowed TO peruse any
az the Il JU0 volumes which compose
the really Syaluable collection. But
according 10 the rules Of che Associa-
ton no person can read the books Of
the library unless he first complies
with these rules.
San Diego and Stockton. California,
both have pubic libraries Of which
they may be prouu. but Honolulu.
with more wealth than both OF these
cities combined. cannot boast OF any
thing ike the accommodations for the
entertainment Of visitors which are
extended by either OF them.
d. was only the other day that :
gentleman. a banker from a little town
in Iowa. who was in the city over one
steamer sailing. tried to get some m
formation concerning one OF the
stories OF Robert Louis Stevenson
which De- could not get from the local
bookstores He was informed. be-
frra he applied az the uorary. that il
WAS against the rules Of the Associa-
ti0n To allow anyone who is not
member OF the library. TO even con
suit the volumes IN the presence Of
the librarian. lnIs man undoubtedly
carried away with him an impression /
that the people OF this city were af- /
nicted with a marked tendency toward /
parsimony or something worse.
I'm the cities of the mainland the I
public Libraries are supported by a |
small tax levied on real-propcrty and |
augmented by a poll-taN which is col /
lcCted from every male adult who /
can De located within the borders Of .
the places by the watchful poll-tax .
man. The real-estate tax in the local.
titles I'm which the polltaX is not col /
NctCd. averages about $40 OF one per .
cent on the assessed valuation of the 1
property. This triiling increase in I
tho taxation on the real estate of this /
city, would not be more than barely /
apprCciahle to the individual owner. /
while it would be sufficient to maintain /
library which would fill the wants /
Of the people and would do as much /
10 create a favorable impression in /
the minds OF the visitors TO the city .
as any other one measure which could 4
Be adopted by the city Of Honolulu.
There is quite a decided feeling APP
parent among the progressive people 1
OF this city in favor of having this /
matter brought 10 the attention OF the /
legislature when the subject OF mu- /
nicipaf charter comes up for consider (
alton next month and the expressions /
Of opinion by citizens seem to be uni |
furmly favorable TO the institution Of 4
an adequate library for the use Of the ,
resident pubic and also open 10 the /
Inspection OF any visitor who may hap
pen 20 desire 10 get otis Of informa-
ton from its volumes. which he would
h. unable 10 obtain through any other
channel