est known outside of the city. The library
building is a massive structure of brick with brown stone trimmings,
situated in Lafayette Place, next door to the residence of William B.
Astor, Esq. It was founded by John Jacob Astor, and enlarged by his son
William. The books are contained in two large and elegant halls,
occupying the entire building above the first floor. The collection
numbers about 150,000 volumes, and was made by the late Dr. Coggeswell,
the first Librarian, whose judgment, taste, and learning were highly
appreciated by the elder Astor. The library is mainly one of reference,
and is very complete in most of the subjects it comprises. In the
departments of science, history, biography, and philology, it is
especially fine. It also contains many rare and valuable illustrated
works, a number of original editions of the earliest books, and some
valuable manuscripts.

[Picture: LAFAYETTE PLACE.]

The collection is free to the public, and is open daily except on Sundays
and holidays, and during the month of August, from 10 A.M. until 4 P.M.
The books cannot be taken from the reading-room, nor are visitors allowed
to use pen and ink in making notes from them. It is said that the
classes Mr. Astor desired most to benefit by this library were the
working people, who are unable to buy books of their own. If this be
true, his wishes have been entirely defeated, as the hall is open only
during the hours when it is impossible for working people to attend. In
the facilities which it affords to those who wish to use it, the Astor is
very much behind the great libraries of Europe, or even the Public
Library of Boston.

The most popular, and the most thoroughly representative library of the
city, is the Mercantile Library, located in Clinton Hall, in Astor Place.
It owns this building, and its property is valued at $500,000. It was
founded in 1820, by William Wood, a native of Boston, and a gentleman
eminent for his efforts in behalf of the spread of education and liberal
ideas. It began as a subscription library with a collection of 700
volumes, and was located in a small room at No. 49 Fulton street. The
collection now numbers 120,000 volumes, and increases at the rate of
13,000 volumes a year. It is the fourth library in size in the Union.
Those which are larger are the Library of Congress, the Public Library of
Boston, and the Astor Library. The library is the property of the c