New-York tribune., 1905-02-23
THE CARNEGIE BRANCH LIBRARIES.

One by one, and so quietly as to attract little
attention, the Carnegie branch libraries are
opening and beginning their beneficent work
The latest in New-YOrk, that at No. 100 Am
sterdam-ave., opened last week, and the fourth
in Brooklyn, following closely upon the dedica-
ton of the Bedford branch, was also opened at
DeKalb and Bushwick aves. the other day
In general there is a marked resemblance
both in architecture and general arrangements
in these branches of the Public Library, though
each has individuality of its own. AS they
are all still new in their quarters and their
| rangements at present in part at least, only
tentative it is too early for intelligent criticism,
or perhaps even commendatiOn, but possibly a
word two of appreciation, and perhaps Of
suggestion, may be in order.
In the first place, the visitor to any Of these
branch stations must be impressed with their
convenience, the cheerful, homelke familiarity
with books which they encourage, and, above
all, by the possibilities they suggest in the way
of culture and character. Each of these branch
libraries Is a torch of enlightenment held out
over that part Of the city in which it is 10
Gated. The neat and pleasing exterior, the
pleasant facilities the libraries give for becom-
ing acquainted with the best thought of the
present and past times, the auditoriums con-
nected with some Of them. usually with a seat
ing capacity for about two hundred and fifty,
ments, all will help to make these branch libra
ries social, intellectual and moral centres of in
spiration and effort. 1t will be a matter for
surprise if even the present liberal endowment,
private and public, which is placing such agen-
cies of light and sweetness all over New-YOrk
and Brooklyn, will in the end be found adequate
to the needs and growing demands of the me-
tropos.
Perhaps one of the best if not the best, of
|
is that at 67th-st., east. That at No. 100 Am
sterdam-ave is an old library moved into new
quarters and therefore cannot yet be fairly
compared with that at 67th-st., which is new
and with books of reference up to date and
shelves we'll filed with the best authors. Per
haps the only criticism which it is fair to make
OF this library at present is the poor lighting
of its third story, which IS we believe. to be
the general reading room. The windows in
front in this story are far too small, having
been sacrificed, apparently, to give a more
pleasing exterior thing which ought never
to be done in any library, where the best light
obtainable is an indispensable requisite. One
criticism which, so far as we are aware, ap-
plies TO all these branch libraries in New-York
is that they are open only from a. M to
D. m. The latter would be a suitable hour for
closing the childrens department, but for adults,
and they are the ones for whom night opening
OIL nDfarleS Is cheily ueslrdples CLOCK is 700
early an hour for closing. The real student or
the interested reader is merely getting under
good way by o'clock, and therefore New
York's libraries, like that at the Montague-st.
station Brooklyn, for instance. should be open
until 10 p m.
IT Is an anomaly also that New-York alone
among great American cities does not open its
greatest libraries at night. While in Chicago,
| Philadelphia, Washington and Boston the
libraries open from IN. TO 10 D. m,
/ In New-York the Astor and the Lenox still