The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-02-15
PUBLIC
LIBRARIES
New Jersey Has Fifty ASOIutely
Free---COnsidering Others.

| ZenSs VINO nave nus AIOeO
their Neighbors-State Librarian
Buchanan Tells How to Obtain a
Travelling Library.
Few persons who are not directly
connected with the free public IL
braries of New Jersey know how ra-
pidly the movement for the establish
ment of such libraries is progressing
in this State.
New Jersey has been far behind
many other states in this respect, but
the prospect is, unless it is blighted
by ignorant or inconsiderate interfer-
ence with the present admirable law
for the formation of free public Ii
braries, that she will before long have
such library in every city and town
of any considerable proportions, and
will have earned reputation for en-
lightenment that will be of great
credit and service to her citizens.
Since the law of 1884 was passed,
besides the Paterson free public, IL
brary, which was the first to be estab-
lished under that act, there have been
fourishing libraries started in Jersey
City, Newark, Passaic, Hoboken,
Bayonne, Montclair, Plainfeld, Union,
Asbury Park and Trenton.
Fifty Free Libraries
There are about fifty free libraries
now in New Jersey. Newark and
Jersey City have erected for the
| housing of their libraries two of the
most beautiful structures in the coun-
try, of which they are very proud.
These two cities respectively pay for
their support of their libraries on the
present ratio, which is one third of
a mill on the dollar in the tax levy
the same having in all cases been
accepted by the people, as this is a
referendum act-about $50, 900 and
$40, 600 annually.
New Jersey has now 76 libraries,
the total number of volumes in them
being over one million and their ag
! gregate circulation is about 1, roo, 600,
or, independents Of school and subscrip-
ton libraries, about 100000.
In 1899 the total paid to New Jersey
libraries from public taxes was $154,
587. Just to show how far New Jersey
is vet behind some other states in the
library movement, which is now
universally recognized as a most i'm
portant coordinate of the system of
public education, it may be mentioned
that while in Massachusetts there are
but seven towns in the entire state
without free public library, in this
state there are yet 1879 towns having
population of over 750, without q
library of any kind.
To illustrate the remarkable de-
velopment of interest that the past
few years have seen in the establish
ment and support of public libraries
the following facts are mentioned:
The libraries of the United States
grew during the nineteenth century
from 100 of all kinds, with only 30, 00C
volumes, to over 10, 900 in the year
1900, with 40, 600, 900 of volumes and g
yearly issue of fifty millions of books.
So the increase in circulation was
more than 1, 900 fold, which is vastly
greater than the growth of.population.
The gifts to public libraries in the
United States in the year 1900 amount
ed to So, 200, 600, besides $S5, 600, 00C
given to schools, colleges, etc.
Generous Donations.
New Jersey has not been left outside
of this swelling tide of generosity.
Within few years the following cash
donations have been made to Libraries
in this State:
Citizens of Paterson, Paterson, So,
900; Mrs. Richard Stevens, Hoboken,
1876, 600: Unknown, Passaic, SO, 600
Hon. Charles N. Fowler, Elizabeth,
$50, 900; Andrew Carnegie, East
Orange, $3.50, 600; Hon. VIM. M. John
son, HackensacK, $40, 900.
Besides these were the following
In 1896, J. H. Johnston, of New York,
to Plainfield library, a valuable col
lection of rare coins with severa
thousand dollars in cash; David b
Iveson, to Rutherford,a a library build
ing valued at $40, 600.
In 1899, Mr.. and Mrs Joseph Stick
Ter, to Orange, a library building
worth 500, 600. In 1900, Willis Jame
to Madison, building and site valued
at $l25, 600. In 18ss-19o1, Mrs. Mar,
E. Ryle, of Paterson, a building
equipments, and extension, now il
progress, aggregate value of gif
about $50, 900.
This represents total of at leas
$400, 600, given by private citizens t.
New Jersey Libraries mainly within
the past five years, and entirely out
side of the revenue from public taxes
So it is apparent that private citizen
of means are doing liberal things il
this direction, and are not leav;n
the support of the free public librarie
entirely to the municipalities, a
some people have assumed to be tn
case.
Travelling Libraries.
with the andinO of the first vaa