Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-12-03
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

our part, that we, and those who are TO
come after us, muy receive the greatest
benefit and enjoyment from what we
alrcady have, aud shall continue to re-
ceive ,.s the years roll on?
] Although fully cegnizant of may
VERY limited knowledge of, and prac-
tical experience In connection with
public libraries, yet Mt the risk of be-
ing,considered obtrssiye, would mod
estly but most sincerely suggest that
the institution which has now been
placed in your charge. should first and
foremost, in both the financial aud
literary departments, be managed in ~
strictly business-like manner. 1t should
be managed not only us II literary in
stitution, but alse as IL business con-
cern.
1t is quite possible there never vas
u board or committee appointed to
select books for a2ibrary, that did mot
believe that task would be one of their
simplest, easiest and most pleasing
duties; but imagine they very soon
learned otherwise. The more varied
and defined the qualifications of the
different members prove to be, the
upon the selection, and unless in the
ing of theories. all efforts will in the
end prove futile. Each individual
member of the board of trustees or
managers of II library, should immedi-
ntely upon becoming such, divest HIM
self or herself of the idea that his or
her tastes alone are to be consulted in
the selection, except in so fnr us his
or her tastes agree with the public ut
large. The ptdmary and great object
of u public library is to furnish reading
and entertainment for every class in
the community, and which shall be
adapted to every shade of intellectual
capacity. AS a rule, in communities
generally, the literary culture of the
majority is to IL greater or less extent
| limited. And another great object
and purpose of public library is to de-
velope aud expand this culture by slim
uluting desire for reading.
| AS II rule people will not read books
which are not adapted to their intel
lectual capacity, and their general
desire is to read those of Il higher
moral and intellectual standard than
their own and by so doing they will
necessarily be benefited. AS the tastes
of the patrons of u public library i'm
prove, the desire follows to read better
books. and hence to meet the wants of
the different patrons, there should
necessarily he on the shelves of the
library books adapted to the most
limited intellects as well as to those of
high grades of literary culture, there
should he on its shelves, books which
people of culture never read although it
is not an unreasonable presumption, that
at some time they did read just such
books. and they are the wiser for hav-
ing done so. Books suitable to the
wants ana capacities of the young
should also be provided, that n desire
for reading may be awakened in them
at an early age, for if not then acquired
it is seldom developed to any noted
extent in after life. Some writer has
classcs-those who think for them
think; and those who do not think at
class or those who think as others
think, includes the great mass of
society. This being admitted, the re-
suit can be easily forseen when a
library supplied with the higher and
purer classes of literature is opened to
that class Of readers.
In this age of newspapers and maya
zines, a free public library without a
reading room in connection Herewith
would be considered as very incomplete,
and wanting in a most essential re-
quisite and therefore 10 meet this re-
Quirement in SO far as the funds would
permit, a reading room has been pro-
vided, and one which will we trust be
found sufficient to meet the wants of
the patrons of this library for many
years to come, and which will we hol Q
be provided with such reading matter
as circumstances will permit. The
newspaper and magazine should and do
go hand in hand with free libraries and
free schools, and the high standing and
great Importance now attained by them
is one of the marked features of the
times and indicates that il possible, in
the future they will receive more at
tention, and their influence be more far
reaching than in the past. The de-
mand for this class of literature has of
late years become so great, that some
of the best and brightest intellects of
the present day are now engaged in
furnishing it for us and with the advent
of railroads, telegraphs and telephones
the daily newspaper is considered an
absolute necessity. A certain writer
says, "a nation with many newspapers
and magazines must be we'll informed,
their circulation can almost be taken
as an exponent of it's intelligence" II
it be conceded that this demand exists
in our midst, and should be supplied,
then how can it be done more salts
factory and economically than by sup
plying public reading room with such
reading matter, great care however
being taken that what is thus furnished
shall be of the better class. A reading
room thus supplied. properly lighted
and comfortably furnished and warmed
will soon be found occupied side
by side by the minister, physician,
lawyer, factory employe and day Ia
borer-by representatives from al
classes of society and walks in life, each
pursuing his or her own line OF reading
and investigation, land all either directly
or indirectly being benefited to 1
greater or less extent. | sincerely
hope the day is not far distant, when
Such 81 condition of affairs will in reality