New-York tribune., 1902-11-24
LIBRARY AND PUBLIC.
PLEA FOR MAINTENANCE IN THE PT-R-
Lie LIBRARY OF DISTINCT De
PARTAIENTS OF BOOKS


.ouhdauons) have decided not to establish or main
AN either for circulation or reference. depart
80 80 o. theological works, department Of medical
AS' uepartnen Of engineering works or a
partment or legal works. The courteous curator
oi the Public Library says in an authoritative ar
ttcle emitted The Library and the Public" pub
llsHeo IN "Munsey's Monthly Magazine: IN large
eIeIence libraries such the Congressional, Bos-
'oH' Chicago and New-York. provision is made for
special classes Of readers by providing rooms or
partments in which they may consult their special
lues. @u'horlues. The special student, of course,
must go to the largest reference libraries and even
men ne may. perhaps, fail to get the books he
needs In city like New-York, for in
stance the Public Library should not duplicate
u4e accessions Of special collections meaning the
engineers library, the law library, the medical
AoFary and the theological library of the several
societies in this cityl . Even with such re-
sulctlons IN certain departments, a library get
only a comparatively small part OF each years
IlefaTy output And here lies the OF the
complaints that one hears. The library has this
or that book-'Poor management" His article was
evidently an answer to the letter of Driven Dig
ger. published IN The Tribune This is a brief
and humble reply
How, then. can the Public Library ever become a
complete library, or how it be
parable with Bostons. Chicagos or Washingtons
public library. when it shuts all works OF the
learned professions? The fact that those acces-
sions Of special collections owned by private
societies in this city cannot be urged valid
7C1i AyL Il BuDlC Library. Inc largest
law library in this city is, though incorporated.
private society. II has in late years approved
some and condemned other political candidates for
judgeshps In thus dabbling IN politics it is liable
10 divide its membership. The majority DIVISION
were II once composed Of the dsgruntled minority
division could and might dissolve this society and
WIND UP its affairs Its books, then, would be dis
trIbuted 10 the four winds This result is exactly
what happened few years ago to the Harlem in
corpoTaIed law society. Where could the special
student find to-day the books of that late practical
law library to consult? The same result could
readily happen to the Society of Engin eers. the
Academy OF Medicine. the Theological Seminary,
the Law Institute and the Bar Association. II ii
should, their libraries would be distributed to the
four winds. But that result could IN this age
happen 70 the Public Library. Why, then ought
not the Public Library TO duplicate those accessions
Ito wit law books medical books religious books
and engineering books for the Of the public?
Certainly the members of those societies all
OF the publici How came the managers Of the
Public Library, which has received and will
ceive millions Of moneys and lands to allow them
selves TO be so persuaded? By whom? BY praC-
ustng lawyers practising doctors practising engi-
neers and practising divines,
But the public demand taat their Public Library
make clear the way for him at desires TO special
ize in any Of the various departments Of knowl-
edge and that heeds the law Of concentration. and
Will go deep rather than cover much surface. The
professional OF the near future be he that is
trained both upon the principle and the instance
- SlcI anu LLe EuDIlC Library SLOllQ supply MIN
every form Of document for illustration. study and
reference. The public further demand complete
ness in their Public Library because less will not
fulfil the obligation TO them (for hereafter supply
ing out OF the annually than $4,000, not
only 70 furnish an aggregation Of literary works,
but also complete tools for the professional and
for the business and technical man. and because
ders every known vocation
Now there is another class most worthy OF con
pose that poor citizens son, whose mental, moral
York n ne Eoro1Sb ~ LI aI1 -sfs
second-st., in the Borough Of Manhattan longs 10
the founders and the benefactors Of the Public
Library dt,y mainly TO help him who acts on his frm
and by his sole individual efforts. learn thor
teTrined upon his profession he viii become large
limb OF that body in spite Of all mqnopoLsts OF
NAV fnd Obstacles piled across and along the path
his goal perhaps piled there by the managers OF
the Public Lior9 ~, but he himself through his
aside. But he is worthy Of aid, He should find on
ing OF the PuoAc Library an the books ne re-
9uires, either for his instruction or amusement
learned professions in the Boroughs Of Manhattan,
Brooklyn Queens The Bronx and ttIchTnond are
great ajority Of citizens who would them who
are not pembe and who are are ineligible as 81, am;
me. prohibitivei' An artisan. farmer fisherman;
merchant clerk might possiD,y have, as had
y6ut6 6G3gei for knowledge in any or ali Of
those excluded departments aHd n9tWithstandi9s
and also by this city. he would have TO stay
on the main and the branch buildings and for sal
aries and for management but not a cent for
him 70 earn an Honorable livelihood and, perhaps,
him. or 70 improve himself and, through him, man
kind! What Is the purpose. anyhow, OF the sixty
cost Of more than $OOO0OO besides the magnificent
and FrcTr
al valuable books7
A mere suggestion ought to cause the naanagerrss
of the Public Library to reverse their decision II
q suggestion be not sufficient, some munifcent
library by Imposing condition upon his future gift
to the f PqSd odd 6faBB th3 the ao h fSud Tay 9ud s
his gift On condition only that all the norarlss IN
theological and scientific schools, universities and
Public Library for free reference either at the
main or any branch oIoins. 10 o6tain tals ,t Eli;
his condition The courts, the schools and universi
ss and The societies c9a 6f 5ePped Ifb f a6S tag
books desired hy the use Of the modern pneumatic
books and their respective library keepers could,
the scboiar or to the embr as the case may be-
the desired books more quickly than tney DO now
because they have 70 traverse the lofts corridors,
stairways and cellars OF their present c!unTlly ar ar,
iibrsries might be deemed branches Of the Public
1oferab1v complete collection Of copies Of all
works IN every department II possessed, by the
Public LioraFg grsr 5vantaFes il would bring here
as nern1anent residents multtudes OF desirable per
sons and among them, probably famous men and
women from all parts. II would make this city The
literary centre has lately become the financial
nentre Of the world. Nothing advertises city like
its great men and To-day II a literary man
.-I5csved a va 1ua Bile commission TO write legal.
roe6jcal religious scientific history Of anything
- Gould rot properly execute II in this city; he
+1o,,d have 10 go 70 Boston, Chicago. Washington,
Tordor or some other place where there is sufi-
cient working library.
The decision course of nandgeTnent that pro-
duces such damaging results aealnsI thls city and
lts cl'@e" WILLIAM HENRY KNOX.