Baring, Has Been Greatly Enriched By Him.
It Is By His Money That It Has Been Enabled To Do Its Work.
In
this library there is a certain number of thousands of volumes - a
great many volumes, as there are in most public libraries.
There
are books of all classes, from ponderous unreadable folios, of
which learned men know the title-pages, down to the lightest
literature. Novels are by no means eschewed, - are rather, if I
understood aright, considered as one of the staples of the library.
From this library any book, excepting such rare volumes as in all
libraries are considered holy, is given out to any inhabitant of
Boston, without any payment, on presentation of a simple request on
a prepared form. In point of fact, it is a gratuitous circulating
library open to all Boston, rich or poor, young or old. The books
seemed in general to be confided to young children, who came as
messengers from their fathers and mothers, or brothers and sisters.
No question whatever is asked, if the applicant is known or the
place of his residence undoubted. If there be no such knowledge,
or there be any doubt as to the residence, the applicant is
questioned, the object being to confine the use of the library to
the bona fide inhabitants of the city. Practically the books are
given to those who ask for them, whoever they may be. Boston
contains over 200,000 inhabitants, and all those 200,000 are
entitled to them.
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