The morning journal-courier., 1908-12-07
OUR LIBRARY CLUJ
Growth of the Institute" fron an Apprentices Associa-
 tion in 1926.
STILL FILLS ACTIVE NEEJ
History and Work of tue Associatior
 Interestingly Related by a Prom- inent Member

To the Editor of the Journal-Courier
 Sir. How many of the throngs of people who pass daily up and down Chapel street are familiar with tht modest sign, The Institute Library And how many of those who go up the stairs to the reading room and library above know anything of it's history or can tell why library which Is pri- marily family library should be called a Young Mems Institute? The story is interesting and well worth knowing. It was over eighty years ago, in August 1926, that the insti- ute had It's beginning in the meeting together of eight young men, working in New Haven, who formed themselves into the Apprentices Literary asso- ciation Their chief aim was to in- struct themselves through debating and dccaimng but they were wise enough at the outset to start a library. They could not long keep their asso- citation to themselves for in those days there was many young man in New Haven hungry for just such an opportunity not merely to take part in debates or to receive class instruc- tion, but to get at books and to be able to read them either in a reading room or at home. It's membership grew rapidly and before many years, it out grew its original name and became the New Haven Nome Mems Institute.
 If must have been the public lee ture course, however, started in the early A0's which brought the institute most prominently before the public, For over thirty years it carried on these courses and brought to tho New Haven lecture platform such men as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Wendell Phillips Henry Ward Beecher Thco- dore Parker, Artcmns Ward, John B. Cough, Frederick Douglas Rev. Theo- dore Cuyler, and many others almost as famous. Small. wonder that the lectures were well attended and the courses popular,
 All this time the other department of the institute, tho library, was sup plying a very real need of the com- munity. for until as recently as 1887, it was the only public library in the city, although never free library, Naturally it grew and prospcred and in 1878 it was able to move into q building of its own--the one it still occupies
 With the opening of the free public library and the inauguration of the university extension courses. one might almost suppose that tho work of he institute was taken out of it's hands. Why should fl continue? For the same reason for which it had al- ways existed, to supply a need of the community In city as large as New Haven, there is room for more than one library There Is also demand for library which can allow some thing llko freedom of private ll- braly or club; and there is, more over, large and increasing call for modern literature and for recent fc- ton To meet these aims is the aim of the institute to-day. Under q trained librarian t has become a well- organized and classified library of some 2S,O00 volumes in literature, mu- sic, biography and travel To supply the demand for new books 1t opened as earls as 1 Sa9 a special loan depart ment, the second of its kind in the
 
 fully ever since,
 Perhaps the two privileges which institute members prize most are the use of the reading rooms, ono for mon and one for women, and the free dom allowed them in drawing and keeping books. The reading rooms are quiet light and airy-most com fortablc places for reading the papers and magazines, and located most con- Nenicntly for meeting friends or dropping in in the midst of a morn ing's shopping The privilege of. draw ing books is almost unrestricted. on, may draw as many books as one chooses and keep them until sent for without fine.
 The children's department also of- ferS unusual advantages. TO those who know the crowded condition of the juvenile department of the free li- hrary and the impossihlltv of supply ing any normal child'S appetite for books from a homo library, this ad- vantage needs no emphasis Here children may find plenty of good clean books and may read them n quiet and cultured surroundings.
 From the Apprentices association of 1926 to such modern library club as this is long road That thc institute has been ablc to travel this road successfully and to hold ifs own through more than eighty years is due primarily to the wise guidance which has enabled if al all times to respond 10 the changing needs of the community and to keep it's place as n leader and potent factor in the intcl- lectnal life of the city.
 SOLOMAN DAVIS.