The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-31
Z The State Library.
Editor Of The Tines Dispatch: !.

Editor OF The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A3tA
Sir-The recent Encouragement Of The
books in the State Library tory
to the cataloguing of the valuable col
lection of books. MSS, etc, which com
pose this very excellent. and, in some
degree unique, accumulation OF State
%rnpers and documents has disclosed most
prominently the value and richness of Its
contents. This new nforma ton, together
with the precedent knowledge Of Its con-
tents, will necessarily greatly augment
the imperative need for easy and con
tinued access to tie library, because the
usefulness and educative function Of this
institution depend largely upon its being
open at all reasonable hours. day and
night. =.
we are confident that. under the new
provisions of the law creating a Library
board, which has In charge the manage
ment of the library. It is destined to
!. tekn it's proper rank and exert its proper
K Influence The board is composed of
thoughtful and capable gentlemen, who
will endeavor to perfect al arrange
$rnents to increase the Library's useful
ness and accessibility. They have no
doubt already formulated plans to effect
these ends. But would suggest three
things which would greatly tend to bring
about these most desirable purposes.
5s1 Have the Library open Gcontinuously
from 0 "A, NJ. to 10 p. NJ each day, ak
Eccpt Sundays. This would require an APP
preparation by tho General Assembly.
but the real value of the Library would
( be more apparent by this course, and
this can be done in no other way. But
faw Of the books can now (. be g carried
from the Library, and persons desiring
to read, study or consult the books.
orc, in it cannot do 50, because tlesllours
are totally unsulted to these persons
With thu Library opened during the hours
named, ali who wish to visit it will be
acc ommodated, Nothing Wousi be OF
moro general usefulness and no money
+ could be- better expended 3 It may be
said that this was done once and failed.
THAT is clearly Misrepresentation. The
Library was never kept open during the
hours suggested and tho plan adopted
was not n fair test of tlbs idea ! present,
1T may take several years to show tho
vast advantage of the open use Of the
library. Men do not become acquainted
to learn by degrees. 1t is certainly true
that our Library should not be kept n
''sealed book to nll of the/people who
have to work during the day and have
no leisure to visit 1t, except NJ night,
I am satisfied that the Library Board
favor this plan and are now maturing
snnls, way to accomplish It,
g. Books shotlld be permitted to be
taken from the Library by students and
authors on certain precautionary cond'
items prescribed for their safekeeping
enG return This could be accomplished
by the deposit Of money or the execution
of a bond guaranteeing the safekeeping
and safe return of the books taken out
81'l,is is done In many places, and tho
plan has proved of inestimnble benefit
to 1saders, students and writer's. Tho
Mar needs no elaboration to demonstrate
its usefulness and feasibility. ! am sure
tho Library Board will approve such a
plan, and will do all It can to render 1t
practicable and generally useful.
g. A printed catalogue Of tls contents
oe the Library, which may be consulted
without visit to the Library. Tho LII
abrary is a State institution and belongs
to the State. AS administered In tho
past. no ono knows what Ia In the LII
brnry, unless he comes to Richmond and
corsuHs tho librarian IN person. This
being expensive. men seldom come
Therefore, the Library is to n great eN-
tent useless TO the people. But by having
a print,sd catalogue, based upon the gen.
eral method of catnlosulng, which Is now
being effected by the present librarian,
10 he kept in the office of some desig-
mated otilcial In each city, town, viz
lace and county, In the State, a person
desiring to know what IS IN me Library
could ascertain what Is ~ II ana men
Eget the book under the arrangemsnt
above suggested, or come to Richmond
-eaA Easa Is 1a5alt the book or docu na aai