![]() This was in sync with the movement that started at the end of the nineteenth-century to open libraries to all classes of citizens.Ĭonsequently, the desire of the College of the City of New York to consider the library for the community fit the new model of a municipal college library. In 1911 the new central building of the New York Public Library opened on 42nd street, dedicated to serving all New Yorkers. Furthermore, the committee has under consideration plans which they hope will make this library not only available for all the students, but also will render service to the community at large.” The alumni, undergraduates and friends of the College needed to raise $150,000! “We should like to raise a sufficient amount to erect a large library building which could provide accommodations for all the societies and organizations of the College and of the Alumni. The departmental collections are accessible during hours which are stated for each department.” This was a more user-friendly announcement.īy 1917 there was a movement afoot to raise enough money to erect a new Library building. Books may be borrowed by persons connected in any way with the College. “The Library of the College is open to all for reference. In the 1914-1915 Register not much changed, but the library for the first time had an entire page devoted to it. “Books may be taken from the Library by the students as well as the instructors by the Alumni upon a deposit of ten dollars and by teachers of the common schools of the city.” This same statement appeared in the Registers into the 20th century when the College of the City of New York moved its main campus to 138th street and Convent Avenue in 1907. In the Annual Register of 1894-1895 the library is mentioned with a tally of the number of books but nothing about hours of access. This wasn’t much of an improvement in library access and the Annual Registers have the same statement until the mid-1870s when mention of the library disappears from the Register. for the delivery of books and it shall be the duty of the Librarian to be in the Library at those times.” “The Library shall be opened to students every alternate Friday throughout the Collegiate Term, from 8 ½ to 9 A.M., for the return of books, and from 10 A.M. for the delivery of books and it shall be the duty of the Librarian to be in the Library at those times.” This same statement appeared in the Annual Registers through 1864, but in 1866 when the Free Academy became the College of the City of New York there was a small change. “The Library shall be opened to students every alternate Friday throughout the Academic Terms, from 8 ½ to 9 A.M., for the return of books, and from 3 to 3 ½ P.M. In 1852, Ephraim Holbrook bequeathed $5,000 toward its increase, and in 1857 Seth Grosvenor bequeathed $30,000 to be permanently invested, and its income to be expended, under certain conditions, in the purchase of books.” Īlthough the holdings of the library slowly increased, the access was shockingly limited. “This department, however, has been effectually cared for by several of our citizens. The Board of Education of the City of New York was not able to secure funds for a larger library, and the collection grew only because of generous private donors. In 1852 Charles Edward Anthon became the first librarian, but he oversaw a relatively small collection. The new 17 Lexington Avenue building opened with a very small library. Other libraries followed but they all required a fee and in addition, many had extremely limited hours. The New-York Historical Society opened in 1805 with a mission to collect New York City materials, but again membership was restricted to the elite. Special interest groups also started libraries such as the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen, who had a library with a small annual fee. The earliest libraries that opened in New York City operated as private corporations, with the wealthy buying shares to borrow books. After reviewing Reading Publics: New York City’s Public Libraries 1754-1911 by Tom Glynn it became clear that in the nineteenth-century, at a time when reading was the only way to get information, the availability of libraries was extremely limited, and what we now recognize as the job of a library was not realized until the twentieth century. You are still waiting for that interlibrary loan book or perhaps a video that you wanted to show your class, and you are wondering what is taking so long.
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