THE LIBRARY
THE RE-OPENING POSTPONED.
It will be impossible to re-open the Library on the 1st of July. Owing to the large accession in books and pamphlets more time is requisite to complete the arrangements for removal, classification and re-numbering. Two thousand volumes have been added since the 10th of May; and all the old books, nearly seven thousand volumes, have been examined, re-covered, re-labelled, and their titles re-written. They are yet to be re-numbered. The library closed with less than seven thousand volumes; it will re-open with nine thousand.
THE LITERATURE AND HISTORY OF CONCORD.
It is desirable to have, in the new building, a complete collection of the literary, historical, municipal, religious, educational and other printed works of Concord men and women, to be placed in one Alcove. If we begin with the writings of the Rev. Peter Bulkeley in 1650 we can present a rich, rare and readable set of publications.
The old Town Library was deficient in some of these works. It had the modern literature of Concord. It did not possess half a dozen of the annual reports of the Selectmen. It had none of the school reports. Not many of its historical papers and addresses were on its shelves. It is essential that all these works and all these public reports should be collected, classified and carefully preserved for reference. If they could be gathered and placed in the new building, where they would be safe and accessible, they would be an appropriate gift of the present generation to posterity; they would be read with interest and treated with reverence through all time; and the Concord Alcove would always be an instructive attraction to every one.
The Library Committee, with these facts in view, ask for contributions of this character of the citizens of this town. Sermons, pamphlets, addresses, sketches, poems, reports, essays and newspapers, written or prepared by those who have lived amongst us, would form the nucleus of one of the most agreeable features of a Town Library. The garrets of Concord contain much of the needed material for such a collection; and when it becomes known that single newspapers, single reports, or single pamphlets would aid in perfecting this home history and local literature these garrets will surrender their treasures.
These offerings can be left at the old library room at the Court House or at the Post Office.
Concord, June 26, 1873.