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OF ^^^' 



THE CHARLESTON MUSEUM 



Vol. 4 CHARLESTON, S. C, OCTOBER, 1908 No. 6 



THE MUSEUn LIBRARY 



The installation of the Museum Library in its commodious 

 quarters in the new building and the extension of its facilities 

 to the general public through the new Reading Room which is to 

 be formally opened on October 31st., form an appropriate occa- 

 sion for a brief sketch of the development of this department of 

 the Museum's work. 



The Library is entirely the product of the past five years and 

 it is significant that not only was this the first feature of the 

 Museum to receive attention when plans for more active work 

 were made, but it is also the first department to be installed in 

 the new building and opened to the public. The reason for 

 this is that without extensive and well-ordered library facilities 

 the work of the staff is hampered at every turn, while to the 

 general public the Museum fails to afford the means of acquiring 

 that information and entertainment in connection with the 

 ^ exhibits which it is one of the fundamental objects of an educa- 

 tional Museum to provide. It is also note-worthy that this is 

 the first free public reading room in the city. 



Five years ago the available scientific literature was distri- 

 buted between the Hbraries of the Charleston Library Society, 



51 





