Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-24
TAFT AT LIBRARY DEDICATION
President Speaks at Opening of Big
Structure in New York.
BUILDING COST TEN MILLIONS
Executive Says Most Marvellous Thing
About Il IL It's Circulation
of Eisht Millions
Yearly.

NEW YORK, May 2sy-The New York
public library. the largest and most costly
library building in the country. was dedi-
Gated here this afternoon by President
Taft, Governor Dix and Mayor. Gaynor.
The new library of white marble
throughout has been twelve years In build
ing and cost more than 100000
Mr.. Taft said in part:
1T is not in the treasures of the various
collections that go to make up this library
that its chief value consists, wonderful as
they are and much as we are Indebted to
the Astors and James Lennox for the
money. labor and pains expended in their
gathering. II Is not In the number of
volumes or pamphlets or manuscripts that
this library stands out first, but It is in the
facility of circulation and In the immensce
number Of books that are distributed each
year for use to the citizens and residents
OF New York aud vicinity that this library
easily takes the first rank.
story Hardly Credible,
When the story is told Of how this
great organization was effected 1t is
hardly credible. The Astor library.
founded in 1s49 and begun and enriched by
the generosity OF three generations Of the
Astor family. was only library Of refer
ence consisting of rare historical books,
pamphlets and manuscripts. The Lenox
library, made possible through the gener-
osity and infinite pains and labor and
love OF James Lenox. gave this foundation
precious Biblical collection and a won
derful library of American history. The
Iilden foundation brought 16 900 volumes
OF a political library and foundation Of
81. 100000
The generosity of these founders of
course is much to be praised. So, too, the
| generosity Of those who contributed to
the New York public circulating library
and to the various circulating libraries
that are now made a part of this, and
so must we applaud the generosity of Mr..
Andrew Carnegie, who munificence will
provide for sixty branches in all parts of
this great city. But after reading the
history of these various collections and
circulating libraries, the fact that i'm
presses itself most upon me is that since
1885 master minds have conceived the
union of all these agencies into one.
Circulation Eight Millions,
"A library which affords constant refer
ence and reading room facilities to LOO
people and which circuates through sixty
branches its books at a rate of 100000 a
year accomplishes so much more In the
Popular dissemination OK knowledge than
any other library in the world that the
men who conceived the plan and who had
the energy tact, patience and knowledge
with which to execute it are those whom
would congratulate today
ITO have secured the consent OF all the
trustees of the various foundations, to
have obtained the necessary legislation
authorizing the union. to have secured
from the city authorities the use of this
magnificent site and the appropriation Of
the money for this magnificent Structure
required genius and statesmanship and
marks this day as noteworthy. not only be-
cause of the expanding usefulness to the
people OF this library. but also as com
nemorating most remarkable success of
disinterested human. effort in the, cause OF
philanthropy te ktSsv,