The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-01-02
wnEELrSa ruDmo Library.


why tho Present Quarters nrs Unsuitable
~ for tho Purpose.
7otAe Bitior ofhe Iairil,gelesr
Sin:--In tho clrront number Of tho
North American Roviow Mr.. L. G.
ldovoy contributes n paper on public
libraries, and 80 many Of It's features
and suggestlons apply TO tho Wheeling
library that / am constrained to ask
your indulgence In referring to thoni.
Mr.. lIovcy's introduction Ia very perli.
nent to our own institution in that he
says "tho average public building bears
no evidence that tho needs and pur.
poses receive proper consideration. /"
lilo cites the fact that when q man con.
templates building u house no and his
wiio consult about tho features they
think necessary for their convenience
and comfort before calling In an archi.
tect. But how often 10 this the case In
public buildngs2 Tho present location
Of the Wheeling library was thought OF
after tho building II Is located In was
uuhCi luult huu thNk 10 klU kIlHk
in many respects 1t Is inadequate for
tho requirements OF library. Its do.
iects arc too glaring to, require particu.
lar citation.
Hero Is where Mr., Hovoy hits the
nail again OH tho head. Ho must have
had the Wheeling library In mind whom
he wrote the following;
I'm many libraries tho public, their
owners, arc shut out from tho use OF
largo part OF tho building by reason Of
tho needlossly large space given over
to tho more storing Of books. In q
library with which the writer Is some.
what familiar, soven-eighths Of the floor
area was takon up by the book shelves,
only one.eight being devoted to tho use
Of tho reading public"
Look In on the Wheeling library any
afternoon and you will see small space
rallied oil, with u gate that swings out or
In, containing just twenty-five chairs
and six paper stands with twenty-iour
stools. Why that gate was put there 10
mystery. A turnstile would have boon
more appropriate. The reading room
accommodations are shamelully meager
compared with tho generous Dimensions
OF the old quarters. One OF tho most
anomalous features connected with this
room Is that person at the librarians
desk seeking book can pitch his voice
in any key he desires, while in the read.
Ing enclosure. barely fifteen feet away,
scarcely audible whisper is forbidden
BY the rules, and good healthy sneeze
is liable to throw the library section in.
to panic Tho inhibition OF the one
and the license OF the other Is, In view
OF their propinquity. ridiculous enough
to make the insensate books laugh. PEG.
Pile in u certain location Ore not allowed
to bother themselves, but others have
license to distract them.
Mr.. Hovey's suggestions as to an
ideal library arc entirely worthy OF the
studious examination OF the members
OF the board Of education OF Wheeling.
He Gays:
"As a rule OF construction, it may be
said that any town or city which sup
port, free public library should pro.
vide these three essentials: First, q
room where those who are waiting for
books may talk freely, bu. quietly.
This should be so located that the com.
ing aud going OF book-borrowers should
mot interfere with tho book.readers in
other parts OF the building.
Second, q readinc -oom, well lighted,
and both airy ut cheerful, within
which the reader should find news.
papers, magazien'. and periodicals ready
at hand In large libraries n separate
room might well be set aside for news
papers alone.
Third. room for the student, where
should be found such reference books
rs the library contains. This room
should serve as the public's study; the
quietncss o: which should never be dis.
turbed."
lie then suggests'a room devoted to
the use OF children in which work may
be done which. i'll its far.reaching and
beneficial effects, will DO second to none
accomplished in any part OF the library.
"1n this room will be formed an early
taste for reading, and, il tact, patience
and kindly, nature have been used, the
child will, when graduating therefrom,
carry with him to the main library that
sense OF the proper Use OF books as to
make use, not only OF greater benefit to
himself, but to all others with whom he
comes in contact.
This room may well serve two.fold
purpose. Being used by children dur
ing certain hours OF the day, il might
be devoted a: certain other hours to
such work as may be suggested through
a close and hearty cooperation between
the librarian and the superintendent OF
schools.
10 this room teacher in the schools
might very properly be permitted to
take his class. that its memb ers sh ould
together have the privilege oi-s,udying
such books Of reference as relate to
come given subject"
Maniiestly great mistake was made
when the Wheeling library changed
its base. and the only charitable con-
clu,ion to draw is that those who were
responsible for the change wero 'oiI
their base. TnrLBy,
Wheeling, Jan. |.