New-York tribune., 1908-01-12

II may astonish some readers to learn that
there books and pamphlets in the Astor
Library which can be found nowhere else. Such.
for instance, is the Hepworth Dixon collection Of
227 volumes OF pamphlets relating to the Eng
lish Revolution. No duplicates are known to
exist. They were procured in competition With
the library of the British Museum.
DR.. Billings the executive head of the library
system, is constantly in touch with collectors
in Europe who pick up collections of books for
the library In the course of year sometimes
as many as $4,000 volumes, besides scores Of
thousands Of pamphlets are received According
to the latest published report. the library re-
ceives more than 5000 periodicals regularly
There than 10000 bound volumes Of
periodicals upon its shelves Among the col
lections OF books are upward Of 10000 volumes
comprising an Oriental library. 5000 volumes
and pamphlets in the Hebrew department, and
more than 5000 volumes in the Slavonc de-
partment A collection, said to be unique In
its completeness, is the Berrian collection of
about 500 volumes relating to the Mormona
1t was given by Miss Helen NJ. Gould
In the print department there are upward Of
10000 different subjects
The new library building will become the hons
Of the interesting Stuart collection of paintings
and books in the Lenox Library 1t includes
works by Rosa Bonheur. Bouguereau, Corot
Detaille, George Inness. Knaus Meissonier
Munkacsy, Schreyer. Troyon. Sir Joshua Rey-
nolds, Constable, Copley Ciainsborough, Land
seer, Turner, Stuart and the PeaIes
The school department" is a recent addition
to the specialized activities of the library. It's
circulation manager" z. w GafIlard is on
gagged in studying how to make the library
serve the educational institutions Of the ctv
both public and private, technical as well IS
cultural Each of the various branches has at
tached to its staffs one assistant who is ex-
pected to keep in touch with every educational
institution within the district and to visit them
from time to time. Last year six thousand such
visits were made. This department subscrfbes
to the leading current magazines for teachers in
the English, French, German, Italian Spanish
Danish, Swedish, Polish, Russian and Bohemian
languages, representing the most recent thought
IN education circles in Europe. North and South
America and the West Indies.
About one-third Of the teachers IN the public
schools are pursuing special studies with tbs
idea of advancement in their profession The
representatives OF the school" department arc
supposed to be acquainted with all of those who
are doing this in their respective districts and
TO help them in the selection Of books especially
adapted to their needs. Il these books are not
available in the library they are purchased. In
more than three thousand instances books have
been especially purchased to iaset the needs IF
teachers.
The value of this wclk is illustrated in the
case Of a school on the lower West Side. which
has the reputation Of being the hardest -chooI n
New York to control because of the unusual
number Of children of low moral character who
attend il The teachers of that school under
took the study of methods Of reaching this class
of children. A collection Of several hundred
books which would throw light on this subject
was assembled by the New York Library. The
teachers became authorities upon this phase OF
education and New York has gained thereby.