The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1890-06-09
NOT AS IT SHOULD BE.
Points gathered from the first
Annualreport Of the Librarian.

For years the Library was opened at
only stated periods, few and far be-
tween,and thestudents were not gran
ted access to the books even at those
times, but were required to select
such as were wanted from a badly AT
ranged and incomplete catalogue.
The beginning Of the present year
witnessed an agreeable and much
needed change in this line, when the
present librarian, Miss Maggie Nor
row, assumed control of the Library
and Reading room combined. She
has transmitted her first annual re-
port to the President, and trusting
it may be Of interest to our readers
and a benefit to the students who will
return next year, we present some
figures found therein, as well as the
suggestions of the librarian in regard
to changes that should be made. To
say the least, the report is not fat
tering, and does not speak we'll for
our students. Il, "A - 4.
The total number of books drawn
by students was. 1854.
OfWhich Bellies Lettres comprise. $50
tlctlon. ,............ .......... $50. ....2O0.'
History, Biography and Travels..I67.
Science, Philosophy and Theelo4S ~
Political and Social Science. !. ...61.
Miscellaneous. 49,. LOO
IoGal az, ......-......... .>... ......... S04.
No. drawn by Professors &c......282.
Making a total off,. 80. ...1136.:
This seems to be very small MUM
Der Of books used by 2OS4 students,
yet the case is altered when we recol7
lect that such magazines as the For
am, North 4merican Revter, PobU-
lar Science Monthly, Atlamtic Month
b, Century, Harpefs' .Nineteenth
Century, and many other popular
magazines Of the highest literary
excellence have been read by almost
every student in attendance at the
University. We take it, that it is a
better sign of a high intellectual
status, to be able to read Intelligent
.ly and with pleasure such magazin mes
as those enumerated above, than the
hurried reading Of works of fiction
and the like. While many do read
the magazines, there are also many
who should read the best books to be
found in the library. Many are pre-
vented from doing, this on account of
the large number of regular studies
they have taken up. We are inform.
ed that this mistake is the one most
frequently made. Students want to
get through school as soon as posi-
BILE and overload themselves with
studies, and ais result. graduate.
having, probably, a good knowledge
of the studies pursued in college, but
farther than that they. are little bet
ter than fossils. Practical, common,
every day topics have been neglected
by them and they step into the arena
Of life, ready to contend with its prob
lens and find themselves. several
years behind,the times Nothing can
better overcome this than careful
reading of good books, and maya
zines. 1t is to be hoped that next
year more students will avail them
selves of the advantages offered by
the library and will so arrange their
work that they may have a certain
time for reading. Atgreat advance
will undoubtedly be made in this di-
rection if the excellent suggestions Of
Miss Morrow are followed out.
Among these new carpet and double
swinging doors, are probably the
most important, as they insure quiet,
and with the easy chairs suggested
would make the library the most
pleasant and comfortable room in the
University. To protect the books
and papers, glass doors to the book
cases, and paper files are reeommen-
ded. However, the most imperative
demand is for a new catalogue. AS
it now is, the catalogue does not con
tain alarge number Of new books and
the students are not aware that many
books that they need are in the Ii
brary. >s
II is evident that all the sugges-
tions are timely and would materially
increase the efficiency of the library