The Library and Society Reprints of Papers and Addresses   By: Arthur Elmore Bostwick (1860-1942)

Edited by

ARTHUR E. BOSTWICK, Ph. D.

THE LIBRARY AND SOCIETY

Reprints of Papers and Addresses

With Notes by ARTHUR E. BOSTWICK, Ph. D.

New York The H. W. Wilson Company London: Grafton & Company 1920

Published, January, 1921

PREFACE

It may be desirable to repeat here the warning that the word "classics" in the title of this series is to be understood as meaning early and standard expressions of ideas that have later developed into prominence. The papers and addresses in this volume have been chosen especially with this in view, and as they emphasize social relations an effort has been made to include expressions from men of eminence whose names would not probably occur to the student of library economy as having expressed an opinion about the work of libraries or as having influenced it in any permanent way.

I desire to acknowledge the kindly assistance rendered in the selection and grouping of the articles by Mrs. Gertrude Gilbert Drury, chief instructor in the St. Louis Library School. It has been most valuable.

The original suggestion of this volume, and of the character of its contents, I owe to Dr. James I. Wyer, Jr., Director of the New York State Library.

ARTHUR E. BOSTWICK

CONTENTS

PREFACE 5

THE LIBRARY AND SOCIETY 13

GENERAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS 15

The Historical Evolution of the Free Public Library in America and Its True Function in the Community; Dedication Address at Sage Library. ( Library Journal , 1884, p. 40) 17 MOSES COIT TYLER.

The Library as a Field for Philanthropy. (Extract from "The Best Fields for Philanthropy," North American Review , December, 1889.) 33 ANDREW CARNEGIE.

The Idea of a Popular Library. ("Life, Letters, and Journals," Vol. 2, 1851.) 49 GEORGE TICKNOR.

The Function of a Town Library. ("Protection of Majorities,") 1875 55 JOSIAH P. QUINCY.

The Free Public Library. (Extract from "Men and Women," 1888.) 63 THOMAS W. HIGGINSON.

Two Fundamentals. ( Library Journal , 1896, p. 446.) 67 MARY SALOME CUTLER.

What a Library Should Be, and What It Can Do. ( Public Libraries , 1899, p. 269.) 75 MELVIL DEWEY

The Public Library in American Life. ( Library Journal , 1905, p. 925.) 79 HUGO MUNSTERBERG.

Books and the Public Library; Dedication Address of Chelsea Library. ( Library Journal , 1886, p. 10.) 87 JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.

The Influence of Good Books; Dedication Address, Spencer Library, Mass. ( Library Journal , 1889, p. 380.) 101 ROBERT COLLYER.

Books and Life. ( Library Journal , 1906, p. 203.) 109 EDWARD ASAHEL BIRGE.

Address at the Dedication of the Boston Public Library. ("Orations and Speeches", Boston, 1859; Vol. III.) 127 EDWARD EVERETT.

Address at a Meeting in Favor of the New York Free Circulating Library. ( Library Journal , 1890, p. 107.) 139 GROVER CLEVELAND.

Addresses at the Opening of the Wadsworth Athenæum Library, Hartford, Conn. ( Library Journal , 1893, p. 18.) 145 CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER. CHARLES HOPKINS CLARK.

Libraries as Leaven; Dedication address, Madison Public Library. ( American Bibliopolist , 1875, p. 189.) 149 JAMES DAVIE BUTLER.