The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-23
THE DUPLICATE LIBRARY.
4 Way Of supplying Popular Books That
has Worked We'll when Tried.

The duplicate library in free public
libraries is a plan that has been tried and
found successful in three or four cities
OF the United States and no doubt will
have a trial in or near New York before
long.
The idea originated in st. Louis, was
introduced in Springfield two years ago
by Librarian John c. Dana and may soon
have a test in Newark. Mr.. Dana re-
Gently became Librarian OF the Newark
Free Public Library. He has not yet made
up his mind whether the duplicate library
would 60 in his new field.
Librarian Grunden Of st. Louis hit upon
the scheme in considering plans for re-
lieving the pressure in the ordinary cir
c~ulation department. He had discovered
that many Of the patrons Of the st. Louis
library were willing TO pay something a
day for a book they wanted which happened
70 he out in regular circulation, This
was especially true of the popular novels
Of the day.
Few libraries can afford to buy copies
enough Of "A novel 20 satisfy the demand
when the rage is at its height. Sometimes
as many az twenty or thirty copies are
bought and put on the shelves, bat these
seem to make little impression upon tho
demand.
MIR. Grunden decided TO set up a small
special library He bought two or three
hundred books which the daily experience
of the library showed to be most in de-
mand, and set them up in n caso by Them
selves, with "A plaCaTd over them ANNOUNCE
ing that any patron of the library might
borrow them at one cent a day a book.
The scheme worked admirably and now
the st. Louis library has built up a good
sized duplicate library ontirely from the
proceeds. Tho cost Of the original two
Hundred books was paid or long ago.
In Springfield Mr.. Dana,s experience was
or SEQ for a duplicate library, and it was
opened with a hundred or SO books, the
charge being two cents n day.
1t became 80 popular that the fee was
reduced TO one cent a day, and in the two
wears that the duplicate library has been
running two or three hundred more books
| have been added. When there ceases TO
be a demand for any Of the books they are
| either bought by the library proper and put
on It's shelves or are sold az auction.
The most popular day Of the week for the
duplicate library. 30 far as Sp%ringfield's
experience goes, is Saturday, when one
person will borrow as many a. four or five
books TO take home over Sunday. One rule
that IL always adhered TO is to have nothing
! on the duplicate shelves that * not to lie
had free in the library proper
When the idea was first suggested in
| Springfield there was a slight objection to
II. lne point raised was that a library was
a public Institution, for the people, that
It should not take money for lis books and
that everything ON its shelves should be
! free.
To discriminate in favor Of the moneyed
class. il was argued was wrong. Had the
| opposition been al all aggressive the dupii-
cate library would never have been started
in Springfield, but after waiting a few weeks
and finding that the people seemed in favor
of the idea by, a very large majority II was
instituted and il has grown steadily ever
since.
Far from being a detriment the duplicate
library. wherever it has been tried has
SO worked as to lessen the demand for
popular books in the library proper. The
novel of the hour is always In the duplicate
library and any one who is tired of waiting
his turn for II in the library proper getsit by
paying a cent a day. Every person who
goes to the duplicate library brings the
popular books just so much nearer the
others who are waiting to gct l. through
| tho r,rttlar pkap1alS