brary at Rivington and Eldridge Streets, and the Webster Free Library
followed. Also in 1904 the five Branches of the Cathedral Free
Circulating Library became part of the new corporation.

=Carnegie Branches.= In 1901 Mr. Andrew Carnegie offered Greater New York
$5,200,000 for the construction and equipment of free circulating
libraries, on condition that the City provide the land and agree to
maintain the libraries when built. The offer was accepted, and
thirty-seven Branch Libraries are now housed in buildings erected with
that part of Mr. Carnegie's gift assigned to The New York Public
Library. A directory of all the Branch Libraries may be found on page
77.

=Management.= The corporation is managed by a Board of twenty-five
Trustees, including the Mayor, Comptroller, and President of the Board
of Aldermen _ex officio_. The names of the Trustees are given on page
76. The Trustees hold office continuously, and vacancies are filled by
vote of the remaining Trustees. No Trustee receives any compensation for
his services. The immediate management of the Library is entrusted to
the Director. The Staff numbers between twelve and thirteen hundred
persons, including those in the Central Building and in the Branches. As
the buildings are open between twelve and thirteen hours a day the Staff
works in two shifts. Somewhat less than half of the Staff are employed
in the Central Building.

[Illustration: BOYS' CLUB; YORKVILLE BRANCH]

=Benefactors.= A complete list of the Library's benefactors, besides the
three founders, can more appropriately be given elsewhere. In addition
to Mr. Carnegie's gift, one bequest should be noted here: that of John
S. Kennedy, who in 1909 left about $3,000,000 to the Library, without
conditions.

=Work of the Library.= This historical sketch may help to make clear the
organization and work of the Library as it is carried on to-day. It is a
free reference library combined with a free circulating library. The
books in the Reference Department (in the Central Building) which came
from either the Astor or the Lenox Libraries, and those which have been
added since the consolidation, from the endowments of those Libraries,
must necessarily be for reference use only. The Astor and Lenox
Foundations give the Trustees of The New York Public Library no option
in this matter. About one million books in the Circulation Department
(the Branch Libraries) are lent for home use.

[Illustration: KINGSBRIDGE