Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-02-25
THE USE OF BOOKS.


Helps the schools.
In view of the fact that Middlebury
stands alone among the towns of like
size and importance in the state in the
lack of free public library facilities to
round out and complete her splendid
educational system, the following from
the pen of Miss Louise l.. Bartlett of st.
Johnsbury will prove of exceptional in
terest. The article appears in the Feb.
ruary Vermonter.
Writes Miss Bartlett. one of the
editorials in the Library journal for
April, 1895, says: There is no more
important-as there is no more interest
ing-part of librarians work than that
dealing with the relations of the library
and the school, 1t seems not too much
to say that this is the most vital branch
of a library's administration. For the
children are the library's most hopeful
material; they are to be the readers of
the future, and they are not yet beyond
the power of influence. nor are they
resentful of direction. The library that
has no connection with the local schools
is neglectlng its mission ana ignoring
its noblest opportunities"
Without doubt, it is the place of the
library to establish this connection.
Here are some of the ways by which
this should be DONE
l. BY means of bright and interesting
books and magazines the library should
connect what the children of the schools
find between the covers of their text
books with the whole world.
,. 1t should teach children the use of
books. With the help of the librarian
they should learn how and where to
look for facts relating tn their lessons
how to use encyclopedias, dictionaries,
indexes and other reference books to the
best advantage.
3. 1t should furnish practical books
on education for teachers to read.
(. 1t should allow to teachers special
privileges as to the number of books
they take cut for their work. Many
libraries issue teachers cards, allowing
them to take out number of books at
once, to Techange to their scholars either
for use in school or at home. This is
very useful in towns where the popula-
tion is scattered, and the library not easy
of access to all.
>. 1t should have no age limit for
drawing books. The earlier the child
rem learn to love books and form good
habits of reading, the better scholars
they will make.
b. 1t should teach boys and girls to
take good care of books, treating them
with respect because they are their best
! friends.
:. 1t should cultivate the taste of the
young by providing the best literature,
and encourage boys and girls alike to
read lives of the men and women about
whom they are studying, histories
poems, well written stories, and travel
in all lands.
s. 1t should assist the work of the
teacher in nature study by providing the
most attractive books within its means
on animals and rocks, birds and flowers
for both teachers and children.
8. 1t should foster individuality anG
concentration in the children by leading
them to find out that true education i:
gained from what they grasp themselves
not what is put into their ears by
another.
10. 1t should strive to find ways o.
supplementing the work of the schools
adapted to the community where it il
located, and make plain to the teachers
and school board its desire to work witt
them.