Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-01-01

[Continued From Page fl
Haly, the famous attorney whose
works on the law are standards of to-
day. M
The Opening Exercises
The western half of the building was
filed when promptly at noon, Mr..
Dull called the meeting to order and
introduced Benjamin M. Mead the first
speaker.
Mr. Mead, a former trustee told
how the library building was made
possible by the bequest in the will OF
Mrs. ,Haly, and briefly gave few facts
concerning her life. The new build
ing. he said will be beacon light for
the instruction and enlightenment of
this and future generations In Har-
risburg. In closeing he expressed the
gratitude of the people of the city
for the generosity of the donor.
Governor John K. Tener, the next
speaker, represented the State. He
called attention to the good such an
institution does in a community and
the fact that Pennsylvania is unusually
happy in the number of it's libraries.
He said Harrisburg is fortunate in hav-
ing. such an institution in such a
building, "but it is not the strength of
the beauty of the building" he said,
which it is used. 1t is a building
that should be treasured by this city
and this State
The Peoples University"
Thomas Lynch Montgomery, the
State Librarian, pointed out the in
creased value of public libraries in the
present day Of social, mental and in
tellectual unrest" Such institutions
as this are needed to help the youth
OF
teen, the present average age of leav-
IN school, This is in truth the
Peoples University and the ideal of
those who conduct such an institution
must not be too high if the work of the
library is to be well done. The likes
and dislikes of the average person
must be appreciated and sympathized
with or the library will not be used by
those to whom it means most.
Mayor John K. Royal officially re-
corded the appreciation of the city of
Harrisburg for the bequest that has
filled long-felt want. He said the
people of the city will use the new
library and it will remain through the
ages as a testimonial to the one whose
generosity has made it possible.
casper Dull, in introducing Harry
A. Boyer, president of the School
Board, expressed the appreciation of
the board of trustees of the library
for the help given by the school dis
trlct in the maintenance of the in
stitution. -......., .,..--
Boyer Points Out Its Value
Mr.. Boyer explained as the reason
for the board giving this support the
realization of the great value such a
library would be to the teachers and
pupils of the public schools. "The
amount OF use to which this institution
VIII be put will, of course, depend
altogether on the desire of the people
Tor Self-1mprovement. A task for us
is to instill in the people of the city a
desire for this self-improvement We
snail cooperate with the association
IN bringing about the greatest pos
slble good from the use of this insti-
tution'
Miss Alice r. Eaton, the librarian
who has spent the past six months in
preparing the new library for the
opening day, read an enlightening pa
per on the history of libraries in this
city since the first one was started by
group of men in 1890 She told of
the lapse of interest in public libraries
in the middle of the last century and
the growth of private circulating
libraries; the beginnings of the State
Library, which for years after its
rounding was used only by State Off
Gals, and the organization of the pres
ent association.
At 12.40 o'clock President Dull for
mally declared the library open to the
public.