Evening journal., 1913-10-24
FRIDAY OCT. "a. 1913.
HoMr ron rur FREE library.

rT>qERE is no public institution in the city of viii
/ miBEtou thar is deserving OF public apife-
citation and support than the Institute Free Library
THAT its present quarters inadcqu2;e and not in
keeping with the dignity of the institution and that of
e city OF substantially 100000 inhabitants must bo
apparent to all persons who are acquainted with exist
Ing conditions.
The library is not only Of wiimagton's greatest
educational agencies but also an cntertaper OF thon-
sands of persons who find mental relaxation IN read
Ing fiction and other light forms of literature.
Il stands today as Il has stood for years for the
rood of the community. Wlmingtoniana therefore,
should hc we'll pleased that serious suggestion mas
been made that n campaign be started to raise f-VVy
poo with which 10 put mp new library building lheir
pleasure should intensified by the fact that such
practical and purposcul John j. Raskob Is
.aking an active interest in the matter. '-''.' .'
There are thousands OF persons who take books from
the Institute Free Library and who enjoy iis many
benefits who know little concerning ITS origin and
history Conrads History of the state of Delaware
tells us that as early 1887 several puhicsnrited
citizens here agitatcd the question of establishing
public library. Tho library Company of Wilmington
Was Incorporated year later lohn Hays was us
hrst president Jacob Broom It's first treasurer
serThp company bought hcoks erected shelves and
opcned the library in the old City Hall then over the
Second street Market House Robert Coram was
elected librarian. The books removed TO Corams
'schoolhousc in Fourth street between Market and
King n year later The library obtained quarters In
tho new city Han in 1916 II continued there until
fS5i Then it was removed TO the rooms of the Athen-
leum Company. which had quarters over the market
lousc AZ Fourth and Market streets.
The Young Mems Library aud Debating Society was
ormcd here by several Young in 1884. The name
If the organization subsequently chanSed 10
Franklin Lycoum For ten twelve years il -four
shei. Many hooks we're accumulated Valuable phil
ssophical apparatus purchased. In ls4G the ly-
scam dsbandcd Its property passed into the hands
A ain was
formed in 1885. U-WRs called tho Young Mems AS
socaiion for Mutual Improvement It's
In Third street. Just west OF Market II lasted only
short time aud merged With tho Library Com
psns Out of that merger the Wilmington Institute
srew
Those interested in the institute decided to build a
han for library purposes The cornerstone OF the Will
mington Institute at the northwest corner of Eighth
and arket streets laid July "a 1860 Th,
building dedicated January 81, 1851 TheI
the entire Market front occupied by
The ground floor the Shpley street front oc
cupicd by the library aud a scientific lecture room
The large the second floor occupied b.
The Wilmington Free Library, the citys chief audi
tcrium for ten years II had seating ca
pacy 1900 good facilities for fairs aud lectures
n never WAS equipped for theatrical performances
Until the Masonic Temple built in 1871 IL wa
Wmingtons most popular hall. In 1860 the library
circulation was $4,000 volumes. During the years
WAS maintained subscription library IL did goo
work In 1898 It's usefulness increased largel
when by tho aid Of several aublic-sprited citizens
was made free library. The auditorium use
for library purposes and from that the crculatio
and the educational work done have increased
leaps and hounds
That is the history Of the largest and best free !
brary in the State OF Delaware. II is occupying no
the building that dedicated in 1861. There shoul
be little wonler that those most intimately connecte
,rith SIS affair feel that the time has come when
should have a better and modern home.