The San Francisco call., 1904-07-03
PUBLIC LIBRARY
A GREAT BOON
People in All Walks of
Life Find Help in Their
Work on Free Book Shelves
ADVERTISINGNECESSARY
Thousands in Large Cities
Do Not Know of Existence
of Useful Institutions

of Useful Institutions
Sometimes the question is thought
lessly asked, What is the use of a
public library?" One answer may be
given in the description of a single
group that recently stood before the
delivery desk of a free library. There
were present four nurses from the
State Hospital for works on physiol-
ogy; three machiRists, wanting late
mechanical works; two Swedes, asking
for books in their native tongue; a
young lady, for a description of Eng
lands crown jewels; craftsman, seek
ing information as to women's guilds
in America, and a clergyman, calling
for the best magazine articles on the
negro question.
But there is a pitiful aspect in con-
nection with the lack. of knowledge in
the public mind concerning the func-
tions of the public library. There are
thousands of people In our large cities
who do not know even of the existence
of free library in their midst. A late
incident in one of our bay cities en-
a longshoreman, who is a constant
reader of library books at the noon
lunch hour, had often been asked by
his mates what his books cost him.
They refused to believe that there was
any institution in their city which
gave such privileges without charge.
Reporting his experience with them to
the library management. 1t Is interest
ing to know that they at once took up
the matter for investigation.
Many of the larger libraries of the
country which have longest been
graphing with the problem of how to
reach the masses with good reading
find it advisable to do what every mer-
chant does-advertise. This is often
found most effective through placards
hung on office, workshop and dock
walls.
KNOWLEDGE HANDICAPPED.
One of the leaders in library work
thus voices the belief of the far-seeing
men of this age saying: mo thought
full man can question that it is su-
preme concern to provide for our peo-
pie the best of the literature of power
which inspires and builds character
and of the literature of knowledge
which informs and builds prosperity.
This can be done effectively and eco
nomically only through free public Ii
braries. A limited number can buy. or
hire their books, but experience has
proven that unless knowledge is as
free es air or water. it is fearfully
handicapped. and the state cannot af-
ford to allow even the smallest OBJ
nf
citizens and the desire for either in
spiration or information"
The Union Club of Santa Barbara
has donated a fine painting of Car
penteria Creek to the Public Library.
The Fresno library wants-as what
library does not?--more books. An
swering an appeal, a citizen offers to
give cents a day for twelve months
by purchasing each month 81 so
book of his own selection, which is
subject to the approval of the librarian
and trustees. He proposes that 499
others try the same experiment
Not satisfied by giving, with his
partner. a $4,000 library building to the
Laton Library Association of Laton,
Fresno County, Captain Saunders has
challenged his fellow citizens by an
other proposition. He now offers the
association 500 if it will raise an
other hundred by October 1.
LIBRARIES IN NEVADA.
The opening of Reno's $4,000 Car
negie building on June 4 crowned the
prolonged labors of a few earnest men
and women in securing legislation and
in awakening general interest in free
libraries in Nevada.
It is seldom that a city is perplexed
by an opportunity of possessing two
main library buildings. Such an em-
barrassmeut comes to the city of
Nashua n, H., which now owns the
Hunt Memorial Library building, upon
news that by the will of Mrs. Daniel
Hussey of Kentucky, made in 1871,
the city is bequeathed $50, 900 for a
public library building. The will stipu-
lates that the building cost $4,000
and that $4,000 be invested for a
book fund. A solution Of this diff
Guilty may be found in placing the
second or new library building in the
northern part of Nashua.
A notable event in the library world
occurred in the recent dedication of
the John Carter Brown Library build
ing at Brown University, Providence,
r. l. For this building $3.50, 900 was
given by John Nicholas Brown. son of
John Carter Brown. The donation
was but one of a trinity Of gifts made
by this generous donor. For the en-
dowment of the library he gave
$500, 900 and also collection of books
valued at over 100000. In reality
this accumulation is of almost price
less value because of the rarity
of many of the volumes. In
Americana it is reputed to be the best
in the world, while its collection of
early colonial, Spanish-American and
Mexican records is surpassed by few.
A fo,,chiyC Incident the dedica tior,