New-York tribune., 1908-01-12
ROCKS FREE FOR ASKING.
dnd You Are Urged to Ask-Home
and Traueling Libraries.


history of the great library system which is
now known as the New York Public Library.
This legend is distributed upon three memorial
panels over the simple inscription, New York
Public Library this in turn being fanked by
the dates 1895, the year of the consolidation OF
three foundations and 1902, the year of the lay
ing of the cornerstone of the building. In the
three panels are commemorated the acts of three
men, John Jacob Astor, James Lenox and Samuel
J. Tildan, which resulted in the present library
system
The first foundation was that Of John Jacob
Astor the founder of the branch of the Astor
family in America. He beQueathed 100000 for
the establishment of free public library and
on January IS, 1S49, the Astor Library in
corporated. Gifts from other members OF the
Astor family added two wings to the original
building, added largely to its book collections
and increased its endowment to s941. 900 in 1895.
The library opened February 1, 1854, with
a collection of about eighty thousand books. In
1895 the number of books had increased to 267,-
147 volumes.
The Lenox Library was incorporated January
20, 1870. 1t received from James Knox his library,
art collection its site and building and an en-
dowment, which amounted to s505,500 in 1895.
II was not general reference library, but an
Institution for the exhibition, and use by schol-
ars, of the rare books which it contained At
the date of consolidation it contained $4,000
volumes
The Tilden Trust, the third foundation was
styled, was incorporated March 26, 1887. To it,
before its incorporation, Mr.. Tilden bequeathed
his private library of some twenty thousand
books and the bulk of his estate, amounting to
more than $4,000 OO0 for the establishment of
free public library. The projected library did
not reap the expected benefit from this great
bequest, for the will contested and the
trust provisions We're declared invalid. BY com
promise the executors secured for the library
about $4,000 O00 part of the share of one of the
heirs
When the three Libraries consolidated in
1895. accordingly, the corporation had an
endoW ment of about 446500, owned the Astor
and Lenox buildings and sites and possessed
353.147 volumes and pamphlets. Through an
address to the Mayor legislative permission was
obtained on May 10, 1897, for issue of bonds
to construct building. The recommended
site, that of the old reservoir, was selected, and
November 10, 1902 was laid the cornerstone
of the new structure which is to house the col
leCtiOns Of the three foundations. These collec-
tions have grown until now they contain 724, 1874
volumes and 273,205 pamphlets
The circulating branch of the library came into
existence in 1900, when the New York Free Cir
culating Library offered to consolidate with it
In the course of the next two years still other
circulating libraries also were consolidated with
1t. Then followed the gift of Andrew Carnegie
Of s5,200,000 for the erection of branch build
ings. To-day there 621,390 volumes in the
circulating department. Last year the amount
spent in the maintenance of the library and the
purchase Of additions was $685. Y, of which
s446 S53 81 provided by the city and So, 500
by the state, the remainder being received from
endowment and other private sources.
Possibly ii would not look so we'll as some
moro classic motto but this legend also might
not inappropriately be carved the fair white
walls of the New York Library Building: eff
Fou don't see the book that YOU want, ask for
1t. for We have it or will get it for you" This
is what the library system which will centre in
the new building in Bryant Park practically
promises to DO for any person living in the
boroughs of Manhattan, The Bronx or Rich
mond
The fyou- d"n't-s -see-the- bo TX you wa nt-asll-
for-it idea works in the circulating branches as
well in the reference department. If the
book desired is not to be found III the nearest
branch library. a request may be filed for H.
and in the course of day or 50 it will appear
Every day 4 representative of the library de-
livery service visits each of the branches and
gathers up the requests for books and delivers
hem the following day if possible. In this way
a book desired in Tottenville may be brought
there from the Kfngsbridge branch thirty miles
distant.
New Yorks system of branches and their