Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11
LIBRARIES and THEIR WORK,
W-OTHER AMERICAN LIBRARIES.


subscription libraries and others. The
tendency Of the age is toward con-
solidation. and in many cities these spe-
cial libraries are uniting with the public
libraries, thus economizing their expenses
and charging their channels of useful
ness
The New York Public Library is the
best example Of this system. 1t was
formed by the consolidation of three
distinct corporations: the Aston Iibraiy,
incorporated i'm 1919. with Washington
Irving as the first president of the bo,ird
of trustees: the Lenox Library, fncorpor-
ated in 1870. and the Tflden Trust. in
corpOrated in 1887. Its legal name is the
New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox
and Tilden Foundations. There is a
strong feeling in Chicago toward a SIM
lar consolidation of the John Crerar Id
Public Library.
Among the interesting subscription
libraries of the country is the Athenaeum
in Boston. which was founded in 1897
It's membership is still almost entirely
confined to the families and friends OF
its original subscribers This institution
contains the bulk of the original library
of George Washington. several Of the
famous stuart portraits and many other
treasures.
The New York Mercantile Library
was founded in 1910. 1t has nearly half
million books. and is said to be the
largest substitution library in the coun-
try. The Philadelphia Mercantile LII
brary. founded in 1907, is still an active
subscription library and, like the Athe-
neum. is algey supported by the de-
scendants of it's founders. The Ridge
way Library of Philadelphia was found
ed by DR.. James Rush, with a bequest
of $1.OO0OOO. This library has a fine
fireproof building containing many val
liable books and historic papers. but
the regulations governing it are SO re-
strictive as to limit it's usefulness.
x*.
In Charleston there is library found
ed in 1925 by South Carolina citizens,
who organized
Charleston, S. c., library So
Has Old Library. the they revolution luton
airy war the Charleston library had ac-
cumulated over 5000 volumes and had
also gathered the sum of $4,000 with
view to establishing an educational in
stitution in connection with the library.
In ITS fire destroyed the bulk of the
library, only 1856 books out Of more than
1900 being saved. 1t was not until the
beginning of the nineteenth century that
any steps were taken toward restoring
the library. but by 1911 1000 volumes
were collected, and at the time of the
civil war the library numbered over 3d.
600. The eminent French naturalist,
Andre Michaux. was for many years
greatly interested in this library, and
made it many gifts of books and docu-
mentS.
There is one American to whom credit
must be given for large amount Of the
library progress, not on.y In America,
but throughout the world. During the
past quarter of century Andrew Car
negie has placed the means for a public
library within the reach Of every town
whose citizens desire it. According to
recent report, Mr.. Carnegie has given
include provision for 2,047 public library
buildings and 115 college libraries.
While the largest proportion Of these
benefactions have been located In the
movement is rapidly extending through
out the Engish-speaking world. The
American philanthropist has built libra
ries in South Africa. New Zealand and
Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Canada.
Mr.. Carnegie's gifts are the most prac-
teal that have ever been made for IL
brary purposes, and are convincing
proof of the business astuteness of the
man. He does not erect building with
out providing for it's proper maintenance.
Many other library requests have failed
of their object because Of the lack of
If a library building is given to a town
as private memorial it is not likely to
be supported by public funds unless some
provision has been made to that effect.
Mr.. Carnegie will erect a building only |
upon the express condition that the mu-
nicipality lin |
Demands 10 Per Cent which the title
For Maintenance. ed, exscntss =
contract to support the library by an an
nual grant of not less than one-tenth
of the value of the gift. AS a matter of
fact, one-tenth is often insufficient to
meet the public demand, and usually the
city receiving a Carnegie library sup
ports it literally. In New York, where
the average value Of a Carnegie branch
library building is $4,000, the average
cost of maintenance is $4,000 or Is per
cent. In st. Louis the two-fifths of a
mill fax levied for the sllppOrt of the