Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-12
LIBRARIES AND THEIR WORK.
V-ORIGIN OF LIBRARIES.
Rv Frederic / Hask;n
By Frederic J. Haskin.

tine. in the Temple OF Apollo. Each OF
these contained both Latin and Greek
collections. During tho reign Of Trajan
there were twenty nine public libraries in
Rome, many OF them in connection with
the public baths. Tie students would
read while taking their siestas following
or preceding their baths.
The Herculaneum library was discover
ed the latter part OF the eighteenth cen
fury, and l.T00 badly charred scrolls Of
rey Davy Of England found a means OF
restoring and deciphering about 400 of
these, which have thrown much light on
the architecture and arrangement OF Ro-
man libraries
The first church library is supposed TO
have been founded by the martyr Alex
ander, Bishop of Jerusalem. about 80
A. D. Saint Pamphilus. another martyr.
founded the Caesarea. public library
Of about 10000 volumes. consisting chiefly
Of theological works. This is said to
have been destroyed by the Arabs In the
seventh century. Saint Jerome had a
large library and also made frequent use
OF the one at Caesarea- Constantine the
Great. in A. d. 1896. founded a library at
Constantinople. which, at his death. con-
tanned 5000 volumes. Under Julius Theo-
dosius II grew to 10000 volumes. 1t
contained a copy OF the four sos els.
pounds and enriched With precious
stones, and the only authentic copy of
the procedure Of the Council Of Nice.
Among its curiosities was manusc ipt
of Homer measuring 40 feet In length.
written on serpent's skin, In letters OF
gold. ~.
During the middle ages the libraries
of the world became almost entirely
one end. this being the conversion %
heathens to Christianity. The books col.
lected during this period were narrow IN
their scope. including chiefly Scriptures,
nj
versies and legends OF saints. The Ben
edictine monks established q library in
each OF their monasteries. They were
kept first in cases and afterward. be-
to which they were frequently fastened
by chains. THESE old monastic books
were all manuscript, and each volume
represented months. sometimes years. or
patient toll. Many Of them were EN-
bellished with Examinations. which makes
them priceless now.
During the latter part of the middle ages
loans OF books between monasteries were
frequent, and
Books Were Loaned these may be
Between Monasteries. FIRST real cir
culating libraries. The Christ Churea
library at Canterbury. the Oldest library
in England, was founded In SS8, ane
those at St. Peters at York and 81.
Adams in London a century afterweFo.
The Franciscan monks founded the nsot
library at Oxford.
During the fourteenth century many IL
braries were established in Europe. IN
GLIDING one at Prague In 134S. one AT
Heidelberg in 1856 and one at Leipzig In
1909 All Of these were German. Inc
growth Of the movement during the refor-
nation gave an impetus to The founda-
| ton of royal and town Libraries. IN LAY
the library of the Vatican was foundeo
| in LAT. Before this was founded in iAe1.
at Florence. the first public library IN
Italy by Niccoli, who was known AZ tee
Florentine Socrates: Cosmo De Meoscl
erected q building for II. and under his
grandson, Lorenzo Medici, II acquires
the name of the Laurentian library.
The first library in the United States
| was established at Jamestown, va, AZ
the the wear following. The Boston library
claims its history from 1873. when Jonn
Oxenbridge, a clergyman. bequea shed ZOE
public use his collection OF books, winch
| included an assortment of standard ana
classical works. The early development
Of libraries in America owes almost es
much to Benjamin Franklin a. the pres
| enf progress owes to Andrew Carnee!e.
As early as 1871 he had drawn up the
The Junto.' an artisans club Also
| founded by Franklin. should be available
! to all who were willing to pay q moderate
subscription toward their use. The Junto
! In 1742 numbered a hundred members.
and Is recognized as the mother OF sup
scripsion libraries afterward SO numerous
! in America Another library known rs
| the American Philosophic Society library
was also founded by Franklin at ab0ut
| the same time In addition to Its books
| this library collected q considerable nusn-
| Der. Of maps and prints. -