The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-12
THE LIBRARY BUILDING
1t Was Not Designed for the Library
% 49, Exclusively.
: Editor of The journal.

To- the Editor of The journal.
To one who was in touch with all of the
proceedings which led up to-. the Establish
ment of the library board of the city of Min
neapolis the action taken by such board at its
last meeting when it directed che Society Of
Fine Arts and, the Academy of Sciences to
vacate the portions of its building now oc-
acupied by them, was, to say the least, very
great surprise. -..--t = :. ~.
While it is true that neither of such So
cieties has any such permanent contract with
the library board as has the Minneapolis
Athenaeun, nevertheless it was: the un-
doubted intention of all who were interested
in the inception of the library board that such
societies should be permanently housed in
the library building %-t.-s .. ,
A review Of some Of the steps leading to
the establishment of the library board may be
instructive, as showing what the real pur-
poses in the creation of such board were.
In the fall of 1884 when the talk which had
for a long time been current, that public
library was needed in this city, was about
eliminating in action. by the city, COM
munication was received by. the city council
from the Minneapolis Athenaeum and the
trustees of the Spencer fund, a part of which
read as follows: .-.-.-- .
Minneapolis, Nov. Is, 1S85.-To the Honora-
BILE City Council of the City Of Minneapolis
Gentlemen: We learn that your honorable
body is to be petitioned or the establishmeat
of a free public library in this city. Consld-
ering the extravaganza of supporting two
separate institutions where one might suffice,
we shall be glad to entertain from you and
submit to our shareholders some Sucn prOpo-
sition as follows: [i5~-,s}'.
Firs-That the books at present in the
Athenaeum as we'll as those hereafter to be
purchased with the Spencer aundi 81 snai al es &c
tablished9 and opened to the puDlc on the
same conditions those contributed by the
Third-That the city, the Athenaeum, THE
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND THE SOC1-
ETY. OF FINE ARTS unite their eftorts TO-
wards raising, by private supscrlpuons, m u.s. -
nrocured. rToG ret such building TO BE DEVOTED TO
THE PURPOSES OF THE SEVERAL ASSo-
CITATIONS so COOPERATING. ,o
(See Council Proceedings, Vol 10, page 4oO.)
TINS communication was referred to a spe-
cia1 committee Of the city council OF Whlch
The writer was chairman, the other members
of the committee being Math. walsh ana
George W. Cooley. Subsequently, and under
date Of JAM Z, 1885, this committee made Its
report to the city council. .gEiae
Among other things found IN such report
are the following: ,-E
THAT it ,(the committee in ouestion) has
had several meetings in conjunction with the
officers of the Athenaeum Association and
special committees from THE gy sWGlGT4 Ell cSI Of
FINE ARTS AND THE ACADEMY OF SCI
ENCES: that it has been represented to your
Committee, and it is of the opinion, that the
organizations above named and frlends q
this city building suited to thecHOUSlNG
OF SUCH ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR
VARIOUS COLLECTIONS, EXISTING AMI
PROSPECTIVE.
That it has been represented and your com
mittee is Of the opinion, THAT SUCH OR
CARNATIONS, AND TIE FRIENDS OF
THE SAME, would contribute a large sum
of money towards the erection of a suitable
building FOR THE PURPOSES INDICATED
and would consent to the ownership OF the
same by the city, provided the city Woule
LIfkeWise contribute to it's erection That II
has been represented to your committee and
it is of the opinion, that upon the completion
Of a proper building the city could make ad
yER FOR sns T WsE
OF THEIR VARIOUS COLLECTIONS FOR
TIE PUBL1G WHEREBx aWNER The Eo CITY
LECTIONSs AT A NOMINAL EXPENSE TO
THE CITY. That said collections are at the
present time Of great value and are rapidly
Your committee is of the opinion that free
public library is very greatly needed in this
city, and that it's benefits would be second
only to those Of fhat
educational advantages of an art gallery. and
7of scientific collections would be very great
Your committee is also OF the opinion that
the city OF Minneapolis should not be be
hind ali. other cities Of correspon ding or great
er 1importance in providing for the education
and Improvement of it's inhabitants.
wherefore. your committee would respect
fully recommend an amendment to the char
ter OF the city providing for board OF tTus-
fees with an1ole powers to erect A BUILDING
SUITED 70 THE OBJECTS ABOVE INDI-
GATED, with authority also to enter into
some equitable arrangements with the OR
other similar organizations, for the use OF
their various collections; with power, how
ever. to create and establish similar collec-
tions and to enlarge those now existing. We
wonId further recommend that the city oi
Minneapolis issue bonds running for twenty
A. tbirt ueo re FOR aur1 eniIa1 in ar,.o,,,f. .+r