The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-13

Amherst college, being volume III. of
Columbian knowledge series; Ro berts
Brothers, Boston, publ shers For sale by
the stoll Thayer company.
David z. Todd, editor of the Column
bian knowledge series, says that no one
familiar with the inception and progress
of the public library in America will
deny that it has most significant flu
ture. The general wholesomeness and
undoubted permsnence of the move
ment have brought frequent and ample
gifts and requests, making possible q
generous development; still there has
been no compact and accessible presen-
tation OF the library problem.
One need not visit ell the libr aries of
the country to become painfully con-
WINGED that want of adaptation to use
10 by no means infrequent in these edi-
fees whe re architect and librarian are
30 often at variance concerning that
simplest of conditions. abundant day
light. 1t is idle to blame ambitious
architects, perhaps, or il-informed COM
mitteee; the fact remains that the in
tended benefits to certain communities
have been permanently lessened by
simple lack OF right knowledge at the
-
failure to appreciate the. evolution of
the library idea, from the early
beginnings when mere preservation
of books was most prominent, and q
dimly lighted vault above ground would
suffice to the present day when con-
venience and constant use are para
mount. First, appoint your Librarian is
maxim worthy the attention of newly
formed boards Of trustees, for although
the recognition Of librarisnship as dis
trict calling is recent, the rapid growth
of library interests has necessitated ex-
pert service in q multitude of essential
details.
But whether one considers buildings
merely or their subsequent outfit. or
library administration, ii they will read
this volume it will help to render mis-
takes less frequent and more inexcus-
able besides serving the further purpose
of suggesting useful library gifts TO many
communities now without them.
Librarian Fletcher mas long contemp-
lated bringing together in hand book
of this kind the papers read by him be-
fore meetings OF librarians, or published
in the Library journal. This matter
has been rewritten, large amount Of
new matter added and the whole brought
into conformity with the latest progress
iP l1vSfsd f6thiss pfdiBifc library h6BVFsstt
ment, it's history and Significance, fol-
lowed by library laws and how Libraries
have been established. An excellent
article answers the pertinent question
regarding the public library as an insti-
tuition. What good does it do? Just what
benefits does it confer? This article
fully describes the relation OF the public
library to the community and clearly
shows there is probably no mode of ex-
pending public money which gives a
more extraordinary and immediate re-
turn in utility and innocent enjoyment.
Under the subject of library buildings,
the question Of how library buildings
should be constructed is fully discussed.
Description of and critical reference ia
made, of the library OF Amherst college,
the library OF congress, the Newberrv
library, Chicago, Forbes library, North
-ampton, Mass. Mercantile library,
New York city, and several other promi-
nent ones. Space is given to classical
tlon and catalogues, minor details of
library management, selection and pur-
chase OF books and reference works; the
public library in relation to the schools.
to university extension, etc. We find in
reading the article on THE Librarian"
",
great prominence has beea attained by
women among American Libraries, and
1t is interesting to observe that of the
one hundred largest libraries, of which
statistics are given, that precisely one
nall have women as Librarians. A chap
ter on "A Few Representative Libra
RES. has for its object the giving of
brief account OF certain libraries
serving as types of the classes
to which they belong, and to
illustrate the history and development
OF public libraries in the United States.
Among those mentioned we find the
Ridgway branch, Philadelphia Library
company, the Minneapolis Public IL
brary, and the Enoch Pratt free library
OF Baltimore. In like manner are
treated the special libraries OF the
United States and the public libraries
il Canada. In the appendices will be
found more detailed scheme OF CLASH
fication than the simple enc given in
the text of the book, notice of gifts for
library purposes with tabular state.
ment of the most important, brief dis
cussion OF the Sunday opening question,
specimen library rules, and several
statistical tables. The author calls par
ticular attention to the diagram repre-
eenting the free library statistics of the
different states, and to. the fuller data
regarding the 100 largest public libra
ries, Les Angeles public library being
one and ranking second in California.
The statistics OF these have been OBJ
saiaed at first hand from the librarians,
and include those made In 1898.
SO
COUNTRY LANES AND CITY PAYMENTS,
by MAURIcE NJ. MINToN, author OF The
Road OF the Rough. Published by the
Illustrated American company. For sale
by the Antiquarian book store.
Many of the readers of this paper are
also readers OF the illustrated Ameri.
can, aud have followed this serial story,
now In book form, as travellers journey
ing many weeks together through coun-
Try lanes and city pavements, and with
the author have come to the point where
inc best OF comrades part, each to pur-
sue MS or her own path. And during
,hese many weeks the authors spirit
mas endeavored to communicate q mes-
sage TO your heart. Has it been heard
In THESE days nothing 10 more evident
tnsn the magnetic influence of cities
upon rural populations. The great mu-
inequalities seem to the country mind
thsaters OF splendid action where are
concentrated the attronk;o,. - l:f- .ISE