The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12
YOUTH IN THE LIBRARY
PEDAGOGICAL SOCIETY DISCUSSES
CHOICE OF BOOKS FOR JUVENILES.
Inquiries Made by Miss Eta Miller
Paper by MIR. FOerste,
of Dayton, o.

At meeting of the Pedagogical Society
of indianapolis, yesterday morning, Miss
Eta Miller, of this city, and Mr.. Foerste,
of Dayton, o. presented some interesting
facts relating to the workings of libraries
in the United States. Miss Miller spoke
first. She dwelt upon the origin and pur
pose of the library and of the present Ii
brary movement, which began in 1876. In
order to furnish fresh and first-hand in
formation, Miss Miller addressed to twen-
ty-three leading libraries in the United
States the following list of questions:
Have you a juvenile reading room?
How many books do you allow teachers
at one time?
what freedom do you allow in access to
your alcoVeS?
Have you card catalogue for public
use beside the official catalogue?
What do you do IN regard to placing In
the delivery room weekly, short lists of
books to attract the youth?
Have you an especial adviser In regard
to guiding the youth in the selection OF
books? Especial duties)
What special means do you employ to
bring current magazine literature in read
ing room before the public?
What special help do you give the youth
in helping them to current magazine litera-
ture in your reading room?
do you have exhibitions, by special in
vitations, of any rare art books or texts
in the library?
What educative effort do you make to-
wards wall adornment in the way of the
best statues and pictures?
DO you notify teachers and schools of
the acquisition of any valuable new books?
What special cooperation with the
teachers have you been able to bring
about?
DO you place books by subjects in al
coves for their use?
do you reach the reading public through
the newspaper?
do you publish a library paper in con-
nection with your library?"
JUVENILE READING ROOMS.
Miss Miller said that the feeling of good
fellowship shown in the ready, full and free
responses surpassed by far her expectation
Those who had not time to go into detail re-
ferred to articles written by themselves in
recent periodicals where information could
be had. Much enthusiasm was expressed
upon the question regarding juvenile read
ing rooms. This addition to the library
started in Brookline Mass. in 1890 Min
neapolis followed in 1893 with a, circulating
library for children. In 1894 Cambridge and
Denver opened Juvenile reading rooms.
Denver also opening a circulating library
for youth. In 1895 Boston, Omaha, Seattle.
New Haven and San Francisco started
either circulating libraries for the. young or
| juvenile reading rooms In 1896 Buffalo, De-
troit, Pittsburg, Pratt Institute of Brook
| lyn, Everett, Mass, and Kalamazoo, Mich.
followed The libraries of Circleville, o.,
Milwaukee. Cleveland. O.. and Helena,
Mont, are projecting plans for juvenile
/ reading rooms. St. Louis and our own
/ Michigan City, Ind, are opening reading
\ rooms for the young and are expecting
\ great results Dayton and Cleveland have
10 separate juvenile reading room, but have
special corners set apart for the youth
| Wilkesbarre, Pa, and Springfield, Mass
say they consider the juvenile reading room
invaluable and will welcome the day wher
| 1t Is their good fortune TO have the privi-
| lege Some arguments given in favor of q
] separate reading room for the young are
| 1t saves confusion in the delivery room
relieves adult borrowers Of annoyance; en-.
| ables the assistant in charge TO know the
children. TO know what they are reading
and TO be able to guide their reading. this
greatest argument offered being that II
This way the reading matter used by tbs
young can be controlled to the extent thai
nothing vicious gets into their hands. Chi