Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-01
LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS
REPOSITORIES of Books, Paint.
ings, Relies and Curios.


Omaha Public Library, 1905.
Noiumes accessloned ''''''''''''''.''''' St',Pe
iulumes now in library. ................. GS,649
Volumes added in 1903. $40
Cards issued in l905...................... 1859
Books issued FOR home use.............lgg.3S2
Books issued for reference. 1879
Books issued to ChoOlS.................. 1y,2i
Visitors TO reference ruun.............. y, lSS
Visitors to reading roU.u................ 42,161
Visitors to Byron Reed room.......... 19Sl
Visitors to museum .......;.............. 25'sSS
Books bound ald acknowledgements, 3,5Ol
Number of library en.poyes......". q
The foundation OF the Omaha public
library was laid in 1871, when number
of the residents of the city organized
society for the purpose of establishing
circula ting library, TO which persons were
admitted upon the payment of quarterly
uues 1he first meeting of the association
vas held December 80, 1871, and the nucleus
OF the present libra was a collection of
books which had been donated to the city
and by it turned over to the association.
soon thereafter the Crosby collection Of
about 200 volumes was purchased for 5000.
In 1877 the legislature Of the state passed
a law permitting the city TO maintain its
public library and under that law the coll
iection of the association was taken over
by the city library hoard. which has from
that time had control, being managed by a
board of nine members. The library was
first originally housed in building owned
by j. q. Willis; from there it was moved
to the rooms now occupied by the Labor
temple, Fifteenth and Dodge streets Later
it had quarters in the rooms over Falcon
er's store, now occupied by Thomas Kill
patrick IL Co, where it remained until
1885, when it was removed to the Paxton
block. These rooms were occupied until
the present building completed and
in 1894 it was moved to its permanent quar-
ters, erected by the city at cost of $780,
600, the land being donated as a part of the
late Byron Reed bequest. The structure
is a striking example of renaissance archi-
lecture and designed with especial regard
to the convenience OF book lovers. To
facilitate the use of the growing collection
of books plans are in progress for a change
In the interior arrangements by reducing
the large lobby, throwing open all the
shelves to the public and enarging the
reference room.
The library is under general charge of a
librarian, Miss Edith Tobbit, and an as
sistant librarian, Miss Margaret q Brien,
and is organized in departments, each under
a special attendant devoted 10 nome cmcu-
lation, cataloguing, reference room, read
ing room and children's room. The library
also maintains bindery of its own, which
provides for the binding and re-binding of
its volumes.
In addition to the library proper the
building contains the Byron Reed collection
of books, manuscripts and coins, at the
time of its transfer to the city estimated
TO be worth $4,000. increasing in value
yearly. The collection of coins and paper
money is especially complete, while some
of the autograph letters cannot be dupli-
Gated.
On the third floor of the library is the
museum. The Indian collection was the
work of Pat Ryan and consists principally
Of specimens of art and manufacture of
lndians-Sioux, Pawnee and other tribes
who lived in the territory included within
the borders of the present state of Ne
braska. The chief boast of this collection
is that 1t contains nothing of the so-called
Indian art manufactured for sale, but each
specimen has been actually used by the
tribe from which it was secured.
Another collection is the work of George
w. Lininger, particularly in Egypt.
although there are some specimens OF
Babylonian and other art shown. 1t was
Mr.. Lininger's intention to collect spec-
mems of each age, from the present back
to the most remote antiquity. AS the
volume of his specimens Increased he found
that they had to be divided, so those
specimens of art previous to the fourteenth
century were placed in the public library,
while the rest was maintained at his art
gallery and home.
Lininger Art Gallery.
One OF the unique institutions Of Omaha
is the Lininger art gallery at Eighteenth
and Davenport streets, a public art collec-
ton created and maintained by George w.
Lininger In 1885 Mr.. Lininger erected a fire
proof gallery adjoining his home, which is
now so completll y filled that it contains rare
paintings and curios of untold value In
this collection are sixty old masters, the
choice Of the owner being Guido Reni's
David with Goliath's Head Among the
modern are paintings by Bougereau, Millais
and others. The water colors are gems OF
their class. also some specimens OF
etchings. Also represented are specimens
of ceramic art of every age which has pro-
duced this work. specimens OF needle work
collected from every cline; armor and
swords for many times and peoples, and
musical instruments of many races. The
collection of corals is one OF the hest In
the country. The gallery is open TO the
public regularly at stated hours.
other Libraries.
Aside from it's public library, Omaha
has several libraries connected with the
educational institutions OF the city The
most important is the library of the Doug
las County Bar association, which is now
kept at the Creighton Law school, under
the eye of Miss Maude Johnston, librarian.
This is the consolidation of the New York
Life library, the Omaha Bar Association
library and other collections OF books
which makes one OF the best practical
working libraries in the west.
Next in importance IL the Creighton Col
lege library OF about 1900 volumes, which
is designed primarily for the work OF the
school Of arts. and has recently grown to
such proportions that a new room, pre-
pared especially for II. has become neces-
sary.
A good working library IL that at the
Presbyterian Theological seminary. and