New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-30

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manipulated. or ii VIII prove se''ou' ''pVu'
,osnt 10 future growth
THE library lacks bindery, printing ONCE
.orious other departments regarded by
81 ,,hraries Of lesser scope necessary ad-
5uncts. go. ao-o,onad h,ch,v
.,.,,,ad service in many directions within its
- walls and II has not sought to extend It's
service beyond them.
80 ,rst,tution is not merely undeveloped; 1t
a., not vet even organic
QUALIFICATIONS FOR LIBRARIAN.
WI, whom does the responsibility for its or
s,,7st,on and it's development rest? With its
.rorian in chief For in the Library Of Con-
oross 10 an extent hardly paraleied in any
o,ner library the Librarian is the chief execu-
,,,.s The funds for maintenance must be secured
,.o,r Congress. Bu:. the appropriation once
Granted the Librarian is supreme. The con
,r.ssional committee on the Library exercises
,-,ost none OF the control exercised by an ordi-
-, BOARD OF Directors IT does not even pass
. ,he Librarians choice Of assistants, still less
So e. interfere with his choice OF books. 1t
ii. and only on the most special occasions
licensees itself between the Library and other
.,s,i,utinn With the Librarian the character
~. conduct and the future OF the Library rest.
=. los with him determine a policy 10 or
c,n,ze and in the large sense TO administer
A, this crisis the office is suddenly left vacant
v.nat capacities should be required OF the man
uho &c to FIJI ito Clearly these personal
,-oh,tv tact frmness. proved success IN con-
1uioting various interests. capacity for imIne-
Hate and vigorous initiative; enthusiasm WIN
-, ,emnerance. credulity or superhciality'
h-ssdth NJ view: a knowledge Of communities
.,s NJ affairs not merely provincial; admins
,r,,ve ability. and actual successful experience
&, administration df possible. in the admnistra-
ION ~ a library. but If not in a library the test
~ success should be more severe. A specla"E
,rorortant test should be judgment and ihoe-
,ondence tas we'll OF himself as OF others IN the
selection Of his subordinates, general educauoh'
oo-.stn familiarity with libraries and systems
=, library administration. and such professional
.xne-ience AS may feasibly be secured.
The National Library is certainly entiueu 10
.hA host professional experience attainapie- II
1, sufficient that this should be found only among
IT'S subordinate officials
Granted that the chief executive must leaNe
Astan 70 his subordnates, and that ne Is MOI
himself called upon 10 exercise Minute techhical
knowledge IN any one branch OF library science
=, is at least certain that he must nave SUM
Gent knowledge OF the scope. MECHANISM All"
methods In each department or library sCIe"'7
% enable him 10 choose ftly the suDoiuii'a'V
,ho "a IN administer that department under
him. 10 determine a proper policy ana 10 app'e-
,is,a ,nteujeently and sympathetcally the prob
lens with which the subordinate mas 10 uea
and the recommendations which he lays before
him. Such knowledge is required or the chiei
executive in the conduct Of great business I'M
~ enccecSfUl OF SuCh SX-
ecutives are men who have built UP this kho"i-
edge through actual experience
A GREAT BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
The chief executive Of the National Library
has 70 administer a great business ne mas 10
care for and direct large plant IN some re-
spects highly technical; he has TO direct the eN-
pcnditure Of large sums Of money. and he has TO
select organize and direct the work Of "a large
force Of employees These employees are them
selves professionally trained. and the work
which they do is professional work. Can n
select them tudiciousy. he direct them In
-euicentlv. without some measure Of profession
al ernerience Of his own Is II safe. is 1t eco
-on,ical that ne should gain this experience at
The expense Of the Library? Is II just that the
advance II the Library should be delayed while
he Is gaining il and overcoming the timidity
inevitable where the problem 70 he dealt with
Is unfamiliar?
There have been instances in the administra
lion If libraries where men imported into the
work without particular experience have. by rea
son Of their special intelligence insight and
,igor. made a success. But what are the pre-
sumptions? Why is It that other great libraries
select their chief executives with preference
predominantly for professional experience
Should the National Library be the one excep-
tion?
A. this iuncture the Library requires in its
chief executive the highest capacity that may
he secured in any one person. II they can be
found united in the person Of librarian. that
man should De preferred.
THE POSITION NOT LUCRATIVE.
II is conceivable however. that such a libra
ran cannot be secured. The head OF the Libra
" Of Congress has q larger responsibility and
opportunity for wider service than any Other
librarian in the United States; but Congress
has not as yet recognized this in the conpensa
ton that IT pays 10 him, nor In the resources
that IT places at his disposal Until IT does 80
II cannot expect TO draw 10 it's service the high
est expert capacity now serving other institu
;lons
II The list Of available Librarians Of the requi
ste capacity be exhausted. and choice must be
made Of a man without professional experience
this at least should be insisted upon; that h
ne q man Of proved administrative capacity
and finally that he be sufficiently young 10 &C
Quire his professional training easily and natu
rally in the conduct Of his office. man beyont
middle life cannot he expected TO be facfle IL
the acquisition of new art Nor can maj
beyond middle life be expected to bring TO sucl
an Office the fresh vigor Of initiative the inter
est In planning new undertakings. the zeal 70
labor al unaccustomed service the LONG lool
ahead, Indispensable 10 the Library at this pres
ent stage A LIBRARIAN.
NeV-York Jan. 26 1899
A PROBLEM IN INTEREST ANSWERED.
10 the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: "A Perpexed Student" IN your issue OF IN
laih Inst pronounde tho following p-Ohem and ask