The library was formally opened at the above address on Monday, November 9, 1896. On this occasion Miss Nellie Doris and Miss Anna Morris Stockton played on the piano and Messrs. Bernstein and Bergen and Mrs. Danforth and Mrs. Anderson gave vocal selections; Mr. Ferry, Mr. Wait, and Mrs. Williams gave brief talks.

At the time of opening there were about sixty volumes. Increase was rapid. At the second annual meeting the stock had grown to between four and five hundred; at the third to 530 volumes and 352 pieces of music; at the fourth 1,151 volumes and 340 pieces of music; the fifth, 1,265 volumes and 342 pieces of music; the sixth, 1,440 volumes and 382 pieces of music; and the seventh, 1,548 volumes and 412 pieces of music.

There is no report of the number of readers during the first year. The second report records eighteen readers, the third, thirty-six readers, the fourth one hundred, the fifth 175 readers, the sixth 218 readers, and the seventh 248. The third report gives the number of books and pieces of music taken for home use as 652, the fourth 1843, fifth 4,558, sixth 6,777, and seventh 8,020. The library was registered with the Regents of the University of the State of New York on February 10, 1897.

Miss Helen M. Ferry was appointed librarian. In November, 1898, Miss Olivia E. Phelps Stokes offered to pay for the services of a teacher for one year, Mrs. C. Frances Kellock beginning in this capacity on January 3, 1899.

Negotiations for a permanent home for the society in the new building planned for The New York Public Library began at an early date. On February 8, 1897, the secretary wrote to Dr. John S. Billings expressing a hope of cooperation, to which he made reply on the 11th following that it would be "desirable that The New York Public Library shall furnish special facilities for the supply of literature for the blind in this city," that the work of the two institutions should not be duplicated, and that a conference should be held at a convenient date.

The delays incident to the building on the reservoir site deferred further action for three years. On April 7, 1900, the Secretary made formal application for a room for the society in the new building, which was considered by the Executive Committee of the Library on May 4 following. On May 10 the Director was instructed to state that the Committee express "their appreciation of the work which is being done by the New York Free Circulating Library for the Blind, and to inform you that the plans for the New Building for The New York Public Library, to be erected on the reservoir site, Fifth Ave. and Fortieth to Forty-second Sts., provide for a good sized room on the first floor for a library for the blind. In this room your library could find a permanent home and you could conduct the circulation of your books among the blind, provided it is distinctly understood that this is to be done under the general direction, and as part of the work, of The New York Public Library.

Under the terms of the contract which this Library has with the authorities of the City of New York for the occupation of this building, it would not be possible to give to your corporation a right to the independent occupation of a room or rooms in this building; hence the above conditions."

Acknowledgment of this letter was made on the 16th following with request that legal papers be prepared for execution by the proper officials of the two libraries. To this Dr. Billings replied on the 19th suggesting that it was then a little premature to execute a formal, legal agreement on the subject, and that the matter had better be left as it then stood. He enclosed, however, a memorandum for an agreement stipulating that in the new building a satisfactory room was to be given for the use of a circulating library for the blind, that the society there deposit its books and continue to add to the collection, and that the society provide a librarian or attendant for the care of these books. Matters stood on this basis for two years. At their meeting on October 22, 1902, the trustees authorized the secretary "to make respectful application to The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations requesting that this Library be consolidated therewith and that such consolidation be effected at the first practicable date, also to request that a committee from the N. Y. Public Library be appointed to confer with the trustees of this library to bring about such consolidation.”

As a result of this action the secretary reported at the meeting on November 28 following "that Dr. Billings requested that an appointment be made between the Trustees of this Library and a Committee consisting of Dr. John S. Billings and Mr. John L. Cadwalader as soon as possible after action had been taken by this Association,” and on this same date a meeting was called for Tuesday, February 10, 1903, at the Library for the purpose of voting on consolidation.

The articles of consolidation consisted of a deed of transfer conveying unconditionally to The New York Public Library all the property possessed by the New York Free Circulating Library for the Blind. The instrument was dated February 21, 1903, and authorization for its execution was given at the special meeting held on February 10. Notification of its signing was sent on February 21 and acknowledgment made on the 26th following.

At the time of consolidation the stock of books consisted of 1,649 volumes in raised print and 485 pieces of music. The library had $505.14 cash on hand and an endowment fund of $314.31.

It remained in the St. Agnes parish house until March 26, 1906, when the opening of the new St. Agnes Branch of The New York Public Library. erected from the Carnegie fund, at 444 Amsterdam Avenue, gave it a new home in more commodious quarters until the opening of the new central building at 5th Avenue and 42nd Street.

In connection with this attempt to provide home reading for the blind

it may be not without interest to note an earlier attempt in this city for the same purpose.

The earliest circulating library for the blind was established in Boston in 1882. "During this year the Boston Public Library received a gift from Dr. William Moon of 351 volumes, printed in his own system" (R. R. Ferry in the sixth annual report of the New York Free Circulating Library for the Blind, page 6). Three years later an effort to the same end was made in New York as noted in the following extract from the New York Times quoted in the "Library Journal" for August, 1885, volume 10, page 179:

Five young ladies of this city and its vicinity, recent graduates of the New York Blind Asylum, have undertaken the establishing and maintaining of a circulating library for the blind. Miss Flora E. Rogers, daughter of Jason Rogers, the locomotive builder, and Miss Elizabeth Ginger, of Brooklyn, are credited with originating the idea. Associated with them are Miss Maggie A. Quee, Miss Catherine A. O'Neil, and Miss Susie V. Purdy, of this city. These young ladies have taken out a charter under the title of the New York Free Circulating Library for the Blind, and are named as the first trustees of the corporation. The enterprise involves the raising of a considerable sum of money, for which they will depend in a measure on their personal friends, and in a greater measure on public subscriptions. Superintendent Anagnos, of the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind, has promised to give the new library a dozen books at the outset. The idea of a contribution of that number of ordinary books to a library does not strike one as being a very liberal affair; but twelve books printed for the use of the blind constitute a big donation, as any one at all familiar with the price of such works will readily see.

The incorporators of the new library are enthusiastic over their project, and will begin the work of raising funds as soon as the necessary preliminary work is done. It is probable that they will for the present make their purchases of Superintendent Anagnos, of Boston, as the facilities of the printing establishment in his control place him in a position to supply the books required for the least amount of money. As soon as a suitable place for maintaining the library is secured, and the first instalment of books is received, the books will be loaned in the same manner as are those of any well-organized library.

We get a further glimpse of the library a year later in the following quotation from the "Library Journal" in March, 1886 (volume 11, page 89):

A free circulating library for the blind was established in this city about six months ago in rooms loaned by the Church of the Holy Apostles, at 9th Avenue and 28th Street. The library has now about 110 volumes, including pamphlets. The books are printed on single sheets of paper, the sheets being pressed down hard on the large types, leaving an embossed impression on the reverse side. There are about 1,000 blind people in New York, Brooklyn, and Jersey City, outside of the institutions for the blind, who depend on this library alone for the reading that they do themselves. Over one hundred have become regular attendants at the rooms. A movement has been set on foot by those interested in the library to have it transferred to more convenient quarters.

About $1,000 is needed, and the management hopes to obtain that amount easily for so deserving a charity.

Manhattan, however, failed to give "so deserving a charity" the support it deserved. The church needed the room occupied by the books and the Mizpah Circle a voluntary organization having the welfare of the blind as its object - was asked to take charge of the books. The Circle stored them in the Smith, Gray & Company building at Fulton Street and Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, early in February, 1890. On or before July 1 of this year they were taken from storage and placed in the Sunday school room of the Church of the Messiah on Greene Avenue. Here they remained till space again grew small and in March, 1905, the Mizpah Circle gave them, 437 in number, to the Brooklyn Public Library which took them as part of the collections of its Pacific Branch at Fourth Avenue and Pacific Street where they still remain.

CHAPTER XIII

Tottenville Library

Like the Harlem and Washington Heights Libraries the Tottenville Library was a village or neighborhood effort. Lying at the extreme southern end of Staten Island and cut off from participation in many city activities, Tottenville had long felt the need of a public library. The first successful steps to this end came from the "Philemon Literary Society" the local woman's club and the men's "Philo Debating Society," which joined in calling a public meeting on February 6, 1899.

A letter to the State Library at Albany on November 14, 1898, had put the organizers in touch with Mr. W. R. Eastman, inspector of libraries throughout the State. Mr. Eastman attended this meeting on February 6, 1899, and by his presence and advice helped in the preliminary organization then effected.

Three weeks later, on February 28, the board of trustees was organized, a constitution adopted, and Frank Joline was elected President, Mrs. Cynthia M. Little, Vice-President, Mrs. Mary L. Mason, Secretary, and Gilbert S. Barnes, Treasurer. With the above officers and Rev. J. C. Hendrickson the board was complete. It held its first meeting on March 2 at which a committee on by-laws was appointed. On March 16 the by-laws were adopted and an application for a charter was made to the regents of the University of the State.

The by-laws called for a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer as officers. Board meetings were held on the first Monday of each month at 7.30 p.m. The annual meeting was fixed for the second Tuesday of July. Standing committees on finance, books, administration were appointed. The librarian was to perform the usual duties of the office.