The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1897-06-05

library is 10 the closest possible touch
with the common schools. Every pro
gressive library, every library that is
up to date. seeks the teacher as a
means Ut reaching the pupils under her
care and extends to her every privilege
she will use. l could cite you to the
great work done in this line in Omaha,
Milwaukee or Denver. hut would at
once be met with the statement that
these libraries have large fund tn
draw on and are able To do more. The
argument il not good. but l will yield
to it and beg leave to call your attention
to a few items in the report Of the
librarian of the Maukato. Mimi. pub
lie library for the year ending March
LIST. 1897. The little city has popula
tain OF about 10000. The library receiv-
ed from all sources. s2,5l3 81, about half
OF our fund. Dot OF this they spent
for book, 1,2Ol.3l, which, il am not
mistaken. is a larger sum than We ever
expended in any one year. The library
has lees than 2.4OO volumes and put 3d.
l41 books in circulation in the year.
issuing each volume on an average thir-
teen times. During the year. as an ex-
pertinent, free access was granted to the
shelves for the selection OF all books
other than fiction and the plan has been
so satisfactory in every way that there
is no intention Of changing it. There
has been a marked decrease in the use
OF fiction and great Increase in the
lines Of better reading. Grateful &C
knowledgement is made for the help re
ceived from teachers.
ask your patience while call your
attention to few plain facts, In the
first year of my membership Of this
board, was astonished to find that
in this city Of schools and colleg that
the attitude Of the public library to-
ward the public schools was one Of alb
eoluts unfriendliness. This has been
manifested in various ways. Instead Of
seeking the teachers we have reius-
ed them the right to use the library in
such a way as TO make it helpful to
them in their work. A written request
from one OF our teachers to be allowed
to select books for his school was treat
ed with contempt. and the member Of
this board presenting it with absolute
rudeness. When i carried books TO my
oSn schools. did it in open violation
Of the rule Of the board. My work is
with the children. and much Of it has
been among the poorsr children OF the
city. l know their needs. The library
was established to help just that class.
Again and again / have urged with
what earnestness / could that some
means be provided by which these chill
dren would be helped to select the bet
ter books of our library instead of the
trash with which the shelves are so well
stocked.
Our board is composed of nine men,
bers with equal duties and equal respon-
sbilities. We are the servants OF the
people and they have right to know
what we are doing and also a right 10
criticise our official acts. No member
can delegate his duties to another. cor
should he permit another to assume to
discharge his duties for him. l
think you will readily admit this. and
yet there has been disposition mani
fes,ed on the part of at least one mem
Der to control the affairs OF the library
in the interest OF one element of our
population regardless Of the rules we
have adonted Not only that but po