New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-20
NEvY YORK DAILY TRIBUNE MONDAY. 90 1893 "7""zs"
WOMEN AS LIBRARIANS.
THE DEMAND FOR TRAINED WORKERS
SAID TO BE RAPIDLY INCREASING.

Some twenty women. representing the FOREMOST
educational institutions OF the country. VIII grace
the programme OF the American Library Associa-
ton which convenes at Chautauqua Lake on July
l. The weeks session will be devoted largely 10
discussion OF training for Guardianship.
Against an array OF advocates OF library training
classes and schools John s. Billings director OF
the New-York Public Library will tell what there
Is in the field to-day for those without speciai
library training
The Tribune could not have opened the discus
sion Of livelihood for graduates at more oppor-
tune time for those who contemplate fitting them
selves for library work" said Miss Hasa. expert
document librarian at the Aston Library
No woman In the profession perhaps, has
brighter future than this clever Californian. whose
services the New-York library secured year ago
from the Government at Washington. Miss Hassa's
individuality asserted itself in the library at Los
Angeles where with Miss Tessa i. Kelso. she
undertook the training OF library assistants The
success of the novelty established a precedent on
the Pacific Slope that has been widely initiated
I'm contemplating library work as Avenhood
the Arst thing for a college or non-colege girl 10
consder" she said 'Is whether II is the outside or
the inside OF books she likes best The chief redu-
site Of librarian. should say, Is executive ability
Women in the capacity of librarians IN thls couh-
try are greatly hampered in the exercise OF 'he
office The librarian has the most exactng puoic
20 please-the public that gets something for noth-
ing The librarian must he in touch with the
public For that reason think the college girl is
at disadvantage because four years Of college NE
divorce her from the masses, so to SPEAK II
has tendency 10 make her. In dealing with the
public TOO 'offish' too condescending But there
are branches OF library work for which some are
cmnently adapted such cataloguing. ndexing'
detail work with classification and analysis
university libraries differ largely from public
libraries The library nowadays is the college
laboratory. The college girl has an enormous ad-
| al y.
She can learn much In visiting the NDraries OF tne
country. and practice must do the rest. Liora u
thousand Libraries Of ten thousand volumes eacn
few Librarians receive over 500 year Iney VOL
ten hours day. and an up-to-date library Is open
| Sundays and holidays ,,,.,
There is a good outlook for women IN library
the Pratt Library School III IS less crowGeG tha,,
Every slde. and the demand for trained workers
| is rapidIy increasing. The chief requisite for sue
! addition 20 special training together with the
qualifications essential to achievement in any line
Miss Pummer IS wellesley girl and studied ;tlSn
Two %eaT5 A. TGqm9 Of WHEN are i0 pacca
under the direction OF women. A college dpio,nla
! The course is from one to three years, and the
first year is independent OF the second ne stn,
Their has been steady rise in the quality Of
! 1880" said Miss Plummer. The shop gin VINO
regarded books as an article Of merchandise %
! ~ the normal-school and colege-trained girl
! Normal training Is an excellent foundation for
| library work The girls as a class. have greater
adap:abMlty and are less averse to accepting
minor positions The cole e girl naturally thinks
that the time ana money expended on her previous
training ought 10 command a good place anc a
| superior salary
statistics gathered last show that the aver
age salary OF new Librarians was 800 Cataloguers
20 begin with command about SEQ a month. and
each year salaries increase in al branches OF the
| work -
The managing editor Of The Library Journal
! Is a woman Miss Helen Z. Iiaines
TO tire woman properly disposed and trained
! said Mss Haincs Il know OF occupation more
congcn.al than library work. The associations are
| On the whole delightful. spirit Of freemasonr!
! exists throughout the procession. The annua
meetings bring all tho library workers IN persona
contact. They are Ike large congenial family
Then the profession is not oyercrowded and Il
steadily growing"