The Irish standard., 1906-03-10
PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Lack Of Catholic Literature
Found IN Them.
Catholics Are to Blame Saws \
New York Priest.

Rev. Joseph H. McMahon, Phi. D..
rector OF the Church of Our Lady of
isourdes. New York city, trustee of
the Public Library Of that city. and a
member of the American Library AS
ISOLATION. lectured at the American
Catholic Historical Society's hall re-
Gently on Catholics and Public Lib
raries." in New York City.
DR.. McMahon's talk was a practical
and highly entertaining discussion of
Il subject of vast Importance to the
Catholic body. 1t was punctuated here
and there with a telling witticism or
an apt anecdote. and was at all times
characterized by all earnest enthusiasm.
The reverend lecturer said that he had
been connected with libraries through
out his priestly career, and therefore,
spoke from experience. The public Ii
brary he characterized as the peoples
university. Catholics are handicapped
by their failure to grasp the oppor-
tunities it presents.
He referred to complaints made by
Catholic clergymen. periodicals and as
sociations, and said that while the abb
sence of Catholic books from the pub.
lie libraries was matter calling for
criticism, the blame should be placed
where it belongs-on ourselves. The
public librarian supplies the demand,
and If they do, and do not read Catholic
books, they cannot expect librarians, to
cumber their selves with useless lum-
Der.
Catholic books on the shelves in order,
that non-Catholics may be converted
through them is manifestly unjust. 1t
is no part of the public business to
make converts
The speaker told of the gathering Of
the model town library" of three
thousand volumes for the Worlds Fair
at Chicago. how Catholic publishers
were requested to donate volumes. as
were other publishers, and how ours
could not see their way clear to do so,
and, finally. when the lady preparing
the exhibit wrote to him asking him
to secure three Catholic books which
she considered absolutely essential, he
went out and bought them. It was
this catalogue Of three thousand books
which was vigorously attacked by
Catholics.
Speaking of misguided efforts to
matters. he condemned indis-
criminate denunciation, since it only
those who might otherwise be
fair; and he objected to the manu-
featured" demand for books, intended
at times to boom some authors latest.
One librarian, whose branch had been
attacked by priest went to the critic
and presented q list Of Catholic books,
and asked If the volumes named would
Il fair selection. Being an
swered affirmatively, the librarian was
able to say that every one of them was
in his library.
The speaker deplored the waste Of
time. money and energy caused by
efforts to build up parochial libraries,
and said that if the same effort were
made to develop a taste for good read
ing the public library would cater to
the taste.
He gave instances where objection
able books had been removed from tho
shelves by quiet expostulation, where
hunting with n brass band" might
have failed. And yet he found fault
with the lack of proportionate Cath
Ollie influence. especially in such centres
as New York, Chicago and Boston,
where the Catholic population is fully
onc-half or more. And in this COM
nection he said that the 100000 Jews
OF New York exert more influence, than
the million and a quarter Catholics.
I'VE agree on everything that has been
defined as a matter of faith but"-here
the speaker came to q significant
pause.
He spoke of the consolidation Of the
various libraries of New York in the
public system. These, including the
Cathedral library. received appropria-
tons proportionate to their work. When
the Cathedral managers received the
ultimatum to 'come in" or appropri-
atoms would be withdrawn, the answer
was. Give us representation and we
will come in, but IL not. and you with
draw our appropriations. We will
take the matter to the POLLS" The
from 200 volumes when DR.. Mcmahon
took charge to $4,000 when consolida-
ton took place. and had circulation
of two million, is now housed in a pub
lie library building costing $4,000,
erected on q lot which cost $4,000.
There are Ave Catholic branches of
the Public Library in New York, and
two more will shortly be established.
Resides having access to these branch
es. their patrons have the use of books
Of the other branches there being a
general catalogue.
The staff Of girls employed in the
Cathedral Library were retained by the
city on salaries. and the Catholic