BOOK IV. Chapter III. proceeds to point out the various classes of books, the Congressional collection of which most merits the care of the Legislature; and is likely to open a new and prosperous era in the annals of the Library. and State Libraries. CHAPTER IV. THE TOWN LIBRARIES OF THE UNITED STATES. .... We are as old a nation as the English, although we LANDOR, Imaginary Conversations (Washington and THOSE Who have followed this historical summary thus far, will have, I think, no difficulty in assenting to the assertion which preceded it, that the provision of Libraries in the United States is-all things fairly taken into account-a very honourable one. But we now approach a quite new epoch in the history of American Libraries, which bids fair, if it but proceed as it has begun, to eclipse all preceding efforts in this direction. The Libraries whose progress we have been reviewing, however well stored, generously supported, and liberally managed, are, in almost every instance, dependent for their maintenance on the fluctuating and BOOK IV. Chapter IV. BOOK IV. Chapter IV. insecure resource of voluntary contributions, and for their accessibility on the favour and goodwill of their Directors. The State Libraries are, indeed, an exception, but, from their very nature and object, the usefulness of these is limited, or almost limited, to lawyers and public men. Up to the year 1848, no Town or City Library, strictly so called, existed within the breadth of the Union. It By "Town Library" I mean a Library which is the property of the town itself, and enjoyable by all the townspeople. Such a Library must be both freely and of right accessible, and securely permanent. must unite direct responsibility of management with assured means of support. No such Library existed in the United States until that of Boston was founded, in 1848. Nor did any such Library exist in the United Kingdom until after the passing of the "Libraries Act," in 1850. By chapter 52, of the Statutes of 1848, the Massa[1] Free Public chusetts Legislature enacted that the City of Boston City of Boston. might, from the city funds, establish a Public Library, Library of the and expend 5000 dollars (£1000) a-year for its maintenance. In aid of the first expenses, £200 was given by Mr. Bigelow, and large contributions of books were made by Mr. Winthrop and Mr. Edward Everett. The earlier steps in the realization of this project were slow but sure. They proved conclusively (were proof needed) that under judicious regulation the levying of rates for Public Libraries may become a spur, not a hindrance, to private munificence. The first money donation which followed that of the Mayor of 1 Jewett, Notices, etc., 48. Boston was one of ten thousand pounds (50,000 dollars) from Mr. Joshua Bates for the purchase of books.' This princely gift was invested, and it put the Library at once into possession of a permanent augmentation fund of £600 a-year. Mr. Jonathan Phillips followed with another gift of £2000, to be similarly applied. In an admirable Report, presented to the City Council, in July, 1852, the Trustees develope their views as to the plan of the new Library, and their desire to awaken "a general interest in it, as a City Institution, important to the whole people, as a part of their education, an element of their happiness and prosperity;" regarding that course as being "the surest way to make it at last a great and rich Library for men of science, statesmen, and scholars, as well as for the great body of the people, many of whom are always successfully struggling up to honourable distinctions, and all of whom should be encouraged to do it."" It was not until the 20th of March, 1854, that the Boston City Library was opened to readers, nor until the 2nd of the following May that it was opened to .borrowers. It begun with about twelve thousand volumes, and, before the close of the year, this number was increased to 16,553, of which 6360 had been presented, and the remainder purchased. The aggregate issues during the first six months amounted to about 40,000 volumes. The Committee thus close their first Report on the actual working of the Library: "The benefits that must follow from such an institution, fitted, as the Public Library is, to continue by home 1 Boston City Documents, No. 73 [Nov. 1853], 4. 2 City Documents of 1852, No. 37, 20. BOOK IV. Chapter IV. Libraries. BOOK IV. Chapter IV. The Town Libraries. reading and self-culture, the education begun by our excellent system of Free Schools, your Committee will not pretend to estimate. Indeed, if this Library should be liberally fostered and administered by the persons to whom its support and care are intrusted, all its benefits to the intellectual, moral, and religious training of our community, and especially of our children, can neither be measured nor, foreseen." On the 1st January 1858, the number of volumes in the Library had increased to 59,970. The total number of distinct persons who had efrquented it (during the four years, 1854-5) exceeded 30,000. 1 The Legislature of Massachusetts took a further step in advance on the subject in 1851, by passing "an Act to authorize cities and towns to establish and maintain Public Libraries." American legislation differs from British so widely in the particulars of prolixity and verbosity, that the entire Act may be cited and read with little expenditure of type, or of time. 1. "Any City or Town of this Commonwealth is hereby authorized to establish and maintain a Public Library within the same, with or without Branches, for the use of the inhabitants thereof, and to provide suitable rooms therefor, under such regulations for the government of said Library as may from time to time be prescribed by the City Council of such city, or the inhabitants of such town; 2. "Any City or Town may appropriate for the foundation and commencement of such Library, as aforesaid, a sum not exceeding one dollar for each 1 City Documents, 1854, No. 74, 15. |