The herald., 1893-07-16
EDUCATION OR RECREATION !?
Two Aspects of the Public
Library Question.
The Winning Paper Of the Library
Training Class Pupils.
Miss Gertrude Dar1ow's Admirable
Thesis-A study of the Factors
That should Prevail In Li-
brary Matters.

brary Matters.
at the examination OF pupils In tn,
public library training class, held on tn,
Sd instant, six pupils who had com
pleted their course of six months in
struction, graduated and were granted
certificates of proficiency. Each pupil
in addition to answering the exsmina'
ton questions, submitted q thesis upol
some branch of library economy O
study. Miss Gertrude Darlow obtained
the maximum credits for the essay giver
below, and as it touches upon a prob
lem concerning which some difference
OF opinion exists, il is given to the read
ers of the HERALD as a contribution t
the literature upon public library work
TWO ASPECTS oP THE LIBRARY QUESTION
| EDUCATION, RECREATION.
One hesitates to assign priority Il
either phase. for there has been much
difference of opinion as to their relative
Importance. The educational aspect
needs neither introduction nor commen
dation. Its cause has been often anG
eloquently pleaded and has won its due
place in the public regard. The value
of books as means of culture is at this
| day acknowledged by all. As books are
the allies and instruments OF teachers,
30 they are also their best substitutes,
and next to a college good library may
we'll be chosen as an instructor. Indeed
| book is dumb tutor.
A literary taste is at once the most
efficient instrument of self-cluture, and
the purest source of enjoyment the
world affords. The educational value OF
library can therefore hardly be over
! estimated. Whether to the aspiring
young mind, eagerly seeking informa-
ton. or the adult student whose early
years afforded but few facilities for inn
provement; to each alike. the resources
of public library ale invaluable. Easy
access is there permitted to works of
reference elsewhere unattainable, stim-
ulating many to continue researches
otherwise discarded through sheer lack
OF material. and giving the impulse to
studies which prove serviceable in after
life.
The pre.eminence Is almost univer-
sally awarded to the educational side OF
the subject, and the advantages to be
derived by the student are regarded as
the raison d'etre OF the library. The
student himself is, in this respect, in
clined to be over-reaching, and shows a
disposition to monopolize funds for his
use and benefit, dsmissing with fine
scorn the idea of purchasing books which
have no place in his scheme for con-
tinual Improvement. This desire, though
natural, is unreasonable. Public insti-
tutions should meet public needs, and
the wishes Of the few should not be al
lowed to overrule the opinions OF the
majority.
Educational works involve far larger
expenditure, and the information must
be continually renewed and kept to
date Jiu ii it IN IN kae tae u1 be at ANY re, saryce
ply and travel do not improve with age,
nor become classics, but are continually
superseded as fresh feldsof knowledge
are explored, and the most recent pu b.
lications are eagerly sought.
Thus, while education is Justly lauded
and extolled, the reverse of the medal
also merits attention. Surely amuse-
ment is worthy more earnest consid-
Grafton than has hitherto been be-
slowed.
1t is of vital importance how we
spend our leisure, for in thrs we exercise
our free will and choice. Destiny al
most invariably assigns to each his
work, the state provides instruction. but
entertainment every one must supply
for himself. 1t 10 idle to decry this very
real need of human nature, and 1t is OF
the greatest consequence that IL be graf
flied in rational manner. What past
time produce results In any way COM
parable with reading?
II is not sufficiently remembered that
the free library is intended to fulfill the
desires of those who wish to read, and
to whom books are naccessible-the
working classes. These have occupa-
tion, employment, forced upon them as
an imperative necessity, bot recreation,
where shall they look for that? Remove
books from the meage list available and
what can, in any degree. fill the void !?
Surely, none need be ashamedto avow
they occasionally desire unalioyed
amusement, without any ulterior object.
For some mysterious reason, most peo-
pie have not the courage OF their opin-
ions, and h estate to own that read
ing is merely pastime and indulgence,
though the same apologies are not
thought necessary when any other form
of legitimate enjoyment is in question;
The growing passion for the ideal
is the appropriate characteristic
of generation for whom real life has
become fercer struggle than it was to
their ancestors-they seek at once a
relief from their harassing preoccupa-
tons, and o substitute for their lost
illusions. and take refuge in the litera'
ture OF the Imagination, and construct a
world of fancy for themselves. There
are kinds and degrees of education; the
word is sadly misunderstood. 1t does
not signify a surfeit Or repletion of facts
and figures, but system which widens
the mental horizon, refines and culti-
Yates the mind. sAnygain of knowledge,
not utterly worthless and evil, is educa-
ton. The mere desire to read is~a sign
OF intellectual activity, to be fostered
and developed. and can scarcely prove
other than beneficial.
A certain class of people appear to re.
gard a library as q species OF mental
eantarium" where the Ito them) un-
healthy craving for the ''pick-me-up'
afforded by light literature may, by a
judicious course or treatment, be eradi-
Gated. They would. If permitted, intro.
duce literary 'prohibition," which
would effectually remove existing TEN p
tations to waste time" as they term
It, Their rallying cry ia utility" and