enue between 70th and 71st Streets, was erected for the
Library and opened to the public, a part at a time, beginning in 1876.
At the time of consolidation the Library owned its building, an
endowment fund of $505,500, which yielded an annual income of about
$20,500; and about 86,000 volumes. This also was a reference library,
not a circulating library.

[Illustration: VISIT OF A CLASS FROM A PUBLIC SCHOOL]

=The Tilden Trust.= Samuel Jones Tilden was born in New Lebanon, New York,
in 1814. He died in New York City in 1886. By the final settlement of
his estate the City received his private library and an endowment fund
of about $2,000,000, for library purposes.

[Illustration: TRAVELLING LIBRARY IN A FACTORY]

=Consolidation.= In the agreement for consolidation it was provided that
the name of the new corporation should be "The New York Public Library,
Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations"; that the number of its trustees
should be twenty-one, to be selected from the thirty-three members of
the separate boards; and that "the said new corporation shall establish
and maintain a free public library and reading room in the City of New
York, with such branches as may be deemed advisable, and shall continue
and promote the several objects and purposes set forth in the respective
acts of incorporation of 'The Trustees of the Astor Library,' 'The
Trustees of the Lenox Library,' and 'The Tilden Trust.'"

[Illustration: TRAVELLING LIBRARY IN FIRE-ENGINE HOUSE]

[Illustration: ROOF READING ROOM, SEWARD PARK BRANCH]

Later, another member was added to the Board of Trustees, and three
municipal officials were made members _ex officio_.

The first Director of The New York Public Library was Dr. John Shaw
Billings, who served from 1896 until his death in 1913. He rendered
distinguished services, especially in the organization of the new
Library and in the arrangement of the Central Building.

=New York Free Circulating Library.= In 1901 the New York Free Circulating
Library was consolidated with the new system. This Library had then
eleven Branches and owned about 160,000 volumes.

=Other Circulating Libraries.= In 1901, the St. Agnes Free Library and the
Washington Heights Free Library were also added to the system. The New
York Free Circulating Library for the Blind and the Aguilar Free
Library, with four Branches, were added in 1903. In 1904, the Harlem
Free Library, Tottenville Free Library, the University Settlement
Li