Bisbee daily review., 1910-07-13
INSTITUTION OF HIGHEST MERIT
THE COPPER QUEEN LIBRARY DOES GREAT CREDIT TO THE CITY AND DISTRICT.

and with good reason. for a better equipped, more handsomely furnished or ably managed one is not to be found in the west. indeed 1t Is doubtful if in any of our large cities it is surpass- ed fin the amount of good which it does. That the people of Bisbee ap- preciate the benefits and opportuni- ties which this library offers to them is attested to by the large number of people who gather there and air of studious ,quietness and order which at all times prevails.
 The building. its entire equipment and the books are the gift of the Cop per Queen Mining company to the city of Bisbee. and all the expense of it's operation. the purchase of new books and all incidental expenses which may arise are defrayed by this company. and done so quietly and un- ostentatiously, not emblazoned in the masonry above the door way nor in tablets of brass within.
 The building is located at the head of Main street in the heart of the city. It is three stories in height. the first floor being occupied by the city post office. It is built of red concrete blocks trimmed with white blocks of the same material and is flanked on the south and west sides by cool and lspacious porches, the supporting arch es of which give an atmosphere of old Spain to the building and suggest the architecture of the Moorish occupancy.
 The second floor of the building Is the reading room proper where are on file 24 of the leading newspapers of the country and on the tables fin neat. adjustable covers are all the leading magazines and period calls in- ciuding the best of fiction and the standard writings on technical sub jeets. Also there are foreign news papers, Scandinavian, Italian and high and low German being among the number. On this floor also is a large correspondence desk. which is always well supplied with writing materials and stationery. An enclosed room on this floor is devoted to games. check CTS and chess seeming to be the most popular. A broad stairway leads to the third floor. at the head of which is the librarians desk 10 the left of which is enclosed the private office and the juvenile section. On the right are handsome tables and chairs Of polished oak and beyond are the shelves holding the books. which are arranged in moveable sections.
 The yeranda of this floor is devoted exclusively to the use of ladies and is always cool and inviting and affords a most pleasant retreat for reading or resting
 The rules and regulations govern ing the drawing of books are most simple and are such that no one need be barred from all the privileges which this library extends A borrow CTS card may be obtained by any tax payer in the city of Bisbee by merely filling out an application blank, or if he or she be not a taxpayer a temporary deposit equivalent to the value of the book borrowed or the signature of a 1 taxpayer acting as guarantor is re- quired. Children under l6 years of age must obtain the signature of a parent or guardian to their applica- tion. In addition to the regular bor- rowers card, a special privilege card is issued to any one applying to the librarian which entities the holder to draw any volume from the library which is not classified as fiction.
 The time allowed for the keeping of books is two weeks except in the case of the latest and most popular works of fiction and other books for which, at the time. there may be a more than ordinary demand, when the time given is seven days. A fine of five cents per day is imposed for books
 ere kept overtime and damages are assessed for losses, defacements CT injuries due to careless handling and no borrower can again draw a book until these claims are adjusted with the librarian.
 Any book may be reserved for two days by payment of five cents to de I fray the expense incurred by the libra rian in sending notice to the applicant, which notice is sent as soon as the book has been returned
 | Seven thousand books are nov catalogued to which number 500 are added yearly. The range covered by these books is wide and comprehen- sive and covers all branches of thought and endeavor. The section devoted to fiction is naturally the largest and Is arranged alphabetically with refer ence to authorship. Here may be found all the latest and the best of the older works of authors who write with a clean pen. Other sections are devoted to history, sociology, political econ omy. travel, mineralogy and the clas- sics, and are fuN and complete es- pecially the treatises on sociology, mineraiogy and historical works.
 Too much can not be said in praise of the high tone and efficient manage ment of this library. Mrs. Vail is her self lover of books which is the first requirement of good librarian. and by her unfailing courtesy she suggests rather the hostess than the librarian.
 Bisbee may well take pride in this magnificent institution which has be- come as much a part of her as the everlasting hills among which she nestles and the untold wealth which underlies them.