The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14

1ue 1uDlIc LlpTdFy movement mas De-
come SO widespread that any good
sized town-and In some States even a
small village-without a library is al
most as much a subject Of public re-
proach as 1t would be without q school
house.
Naturally. the professional librarian
who shall be all that the name implies.
and not as in olden times, q mere keep
er OF books. is coming to be more and
more recognized. Possibly in no other
profession does one have need for such
wide range of knowledge as In this.
and in no other to be so effectually to
the manor born:" because, while train
ing may do much. It Is useless to hope
for the highest success unless one has
certain inherent characteristics. Tact
always essential in every calling-ex-
ecutive ability, retentive memory, or
derby neatness to the point of 'old maid
ishness," accuracy, a sense Of locality.
rapidity;-to these all other things may
be added, but without such qualifica-
tions for a. foundation it will be wiser
to choose another vocation for ones life
work.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUCCESS.
A high school or college educa-
tion Is essential. A mere "fondness
for reading" is not necessarily q quail
fication, and In seeking q library situa-
tion would better not be mentioned.
Some librarians Of long experience have
replied, when such "fondness" has been
that is no especial objection; a few
months of library work will effect a
cure" Others, by a series Of questions
have discovered that the fond reader"
| who claimed to dote on Dickens could
not give list of his works nor even a
clear account Of the characters named
in one book. The reading that will count
as part Of ones library training Is ac-
tual, hard, study Of an authors mind
as portrayed in his works. coupled with
an ability to grasp facts wherever
found.
There are doubtless some details in
various trades and professions Of which
the capable librarian will wish to have
some practical knowledge. Proof read
Ing and much Of the details Of printing
office work she must know. Familiar
knowledge of the different styles of type
and printing processes will enable her
| to choose wisely the forms Of her vari-
Gus working blanks. bulletins, and cata-
logues. A study Of drawing and archi-
lecture Is essential, for even II not called
upon to actually plan a library building,
there are many details of arrangement
tllStt lille WILL lcdNc u tuc IL
| brarian's Judgment. And various fit
tings that are needed from time to time
can be made to better personal satisfac-
ton II the user Is able 10 make work.
| ing drawings for the carpenter.
| Having finished ones college instruo-
ton the special education for library
| work Is yet to be acquired. just a. in
the case Of the would-be lawyer or ply
sician. The Drexel Institute at Phila-
delphia, the Pratt Institute at Brook
lyn, and the Armour Neurological In
stitute at Chicago. each have training
classes taking one or two years. course
of study; while latterly there have been
held summer schools at Amherst and
some other places, giving limited In
struotion in the same direction. But
the one Library School, at which de-
grees are conferred. Is at Albany, under
the direction Of Mr.. Melvil Dewey, Sec-
retary of the Board Of Regents and
State Librarian of New York. The en-
trance examinations for admission to
this school cover a considerable field Of
knowledge, quite up to standard Of the
well-known Regents Questions, and are
probably much more severe than those
encountered In the United States Civil
ing positions.
The Handbook Of the Library
School," issued by the University Of the
State Of New York says: candidates
must not be less than twenty years of
age and of recognized fitness and char
acter. Graduates Of registered colleges
will be admitted without examination
as to general scholarship. but will be ex-
amined in German, French, or any other
subject required by the entrance ex-
animation, in which they may be de-
ficient. The course in the library school
is two years. with thesis and bibliog-
raphy added, so that II the diploma OF
the school Is obtained 1t represents eight
full years Of professional preparation
after completion Of grammar school
course
In some libraries a very limited num-
ber Of volunteer unpaid assistants are
permitted to learn something of the de-
tails Of library economy In return for
their services. That Is one kind OF
home schooling to be sure; yet in the
nature Of things it can be only local and
with view to subordinate places. and
can not take the place Of the high
grade instruction spoken Of above.
AS library grows In size the neces-
sity for force
OF TRAINED CATALOGUERS
increases from one or two persons to q
dozen or more, as in the metropolitan
cities. But many small libraries en-
ploy a special cataloguer to come and
classify and catalogue the entire library
up to a certain date, from whence the
librarian is to continue the work as to
further additions. This opens a field
for a limited number to go from place
to place spending few months in each
but Is, of course, not as satisfactory to
| atthor libra ~ Or IN IN 1nplYor would he
the same services continuously. There
fore 1t will be best for O woman taking
UP library work not to specialize; both
for the above reason, and because
sooner or later she will wish for a IL
brary of her very own to control as she
thinks 1t ought to be managed, just as
most women desire to be at the head
of their own homes.
While there are many ministers, ply
sicians, and lawyers in the same city
and such may frequently exchange the
latest news and methods, the number
Of librarians in each locality is neces.
sarily limited and thus, professionally
they are isolated. So when the librarian
would discuss technical affairs she
must needs take a journey to some
other city. The progressive librarian
will not neglect these trips, as the fresh
ideas gained will keep her from the rut
of self-complacency; or, in other words
guard against the possible feeling thai
her library management Is so perfect
1t cannot be improved in some direction
THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSO.
CITATION,
with it's annual meetings, is the great
clearing house for exchange Of different
library views throughout the United
States. This Association was organized
at Philadelphia in 1876, through the ef.
forts of Mr.. Dewey; and has held meet.
ings at various places across the conti'
nent, from Boston in 1879 to San Fran.
cisco In 1891. That Of last year wa:
held in Denver, and this year 1t will
meet in Cleveland. Sept. 1, in con.
nection with that city's centennial cele
bration. Now, having actually helt
sessions or taken Post Conference ex
cursions from Quebec and Halifax to the