New-York tribune., 1901-03-17

a travelling library is a folding bookcase. large
enough 10 contain fifty one hundred DOCKS,
that can be filed with reference BOOKS fequiieu
for the investigation Of certain sub,eels' anu
carted here and there as needed IN scno"is-
have 166 Of these travelling libraries in use
nov and last month they circulated hiueeh
thousand books"
could some Of the branch hbraries oi the
New-York Free Circulating Library, recentiy
consolidated with the Public Library, ne used
as branch libraries under the plan which VIII be
adopted il Mr. Carnegie's offer is accepted!
The present branch libraries are not large
anoueb 10 meet the requirements. There are
eleven branches of the Free Circulating Library
and the ST Agnes Library is to be consolidated
with the public library. BY the consolidation
the public library gets five buildings when IL
win own the other Libraries being in rented
buildings While the buildings are too small
10 serve as branch libraries under the enlarged
plan, we may turn over 10 the city hVe SITES on
which Mr.. Carnegie could build branch Libraries
of the size required. With the use of a few OF
the school building sites and the Free Clrculat-
ing Library sites. the city might not have 10
nurcbase more than twenty-five new sites"
DO you understand that Mr.. Carnegie mas
offered 10 give Libraries 10 other cities of the
United States on the same terms as are men
toned in his offer TO New-York?"
Il believe il is his intention to give about
$4,000 600 for libraries. He has made gen
eral offer ] understand that if city Wlll spend
money for site for a library, and appropriate
an annual allowance for the maintenance of the
library he will give ten times the amount ap-
propriated for any one year for maintenance 10
put up a building. If his offer is accepted by
this city, the city will have TO appropriate
$4,000 year for the maintenance of the
c1, hay he Cit supplied
with the best library system in the world"
Would the branch libraries built by Mr.. Car
negie be called Carnegie libraries?'
MIGHT BE CALLED CARNEGIE BRANCHES
Il do not think that Mr. Carnegie would make
such a suggestion. There is no such condition
in his offer. II would be a matter of courtesy.
however, to call the buildings Carnegie branches
] suppose the buildings would all be branches
OF the Public Library. They would be distribut-
ing stations for the distribution and circula-
tion OF books belonging to the Public Library.
The building that is TO be erected at Fifth
ave. and Forty-second-st is designed partly as
a centre for the distribution of books"
John Bgelow, president Of the Board Of Trus-
tees Of the Public Library. speaking last night Of
Mr.. carnegie's offer said:
The gift has certainly created sensation. DR..
Blngs mas reaGy eke Ven 4ht % 4Dogt az noesos os
reference libraries at present We'll arranged ana
provided for. They do not need so much attention
do the free circulating libraries The work or
consolidation of these institutions which was begun
only four months now be carried through
without further delay. We have always feared Tor
the final success OF work because or a pauclty
OF funds. Now feel that everything is bright for
the success of tie public consolidated circula ting
libraries. Very soon men will begin 10 realize
what real factor city life this constant dis
tributiOn OF books among the poorer classes means
They win that the movement now about 10
take great force must never stop Mhen thls
magnificent gift shall have been exhausted our
merchant princes will doubt keep the lamp OF
enlightenment burning brightly
II has always been my wish that we might nave
circulating library in each city ward While
negie's gift the time is coming when every little
centre OF social and political ife will have It's own
rows of books 10 which the masses may repair.
BENEFIT TO THE BRONX.
The Bronx will benefit greatly through Mr. Car
munificence. one library building is going
no there now but three four are needed 10
satisfy the readers of that section OF the grea
city. The matter of establishing travelling IL
braries has taken definite form as yet. Ihe
problem of sending books to the sick ana TO those
distance from the branch libraries, will be con
sdered future time.
Mr.. BigeIow said that he hoped now that
every public school in the city could be sup
piled with books from the Public Library. He
said that this feature OF school life was or eK-
treme importance and thus far had met great
success.