The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-08
Isul,lic Libraries.

| Complaint is made by the patrons OF
| New York libraries supposed TO be for the
/ public use and benefit that the Librarians
| are SO overbearing in their demeanor and
the taking out of books is hamperea by
SO much red tape that timid people are
discouraged from coming to the library at
all, and the Indifferent are inclined to
stay away. If this is true it is certainly
not as it should be.
A public library is one of the greatest
| treasures which any town or city can have,
| and il may be, if well managed, one OF the
greatest educational influences. Innumer-
able men in every walk of life have testi-
fed to the benefit which they received
| while poor and unknown from the oppor-
,unities afforded by such collections of
books; and the good which the public IL
brary may do among women is perhaps
even greater, since they have not the OPP
portunities which men have OF learning
through actual contact with the outside
world
The boys need of education. at college
or at some technical school. is more i'm
perative than that of the girl, since his
knowledge is capital wherewith he may
earn his living Though women are edu-
Gated for the professions nowadays. in far
greater numbers than formerly. it is still
less common for them to attend college
than for their brothers to do SO, and
there are far fewer opportunities for them
to use college training if they succeed in
getting it. Nevertheless, it is desirable
that they should be educated, especially
in general literature. history, and science,
and these things can be studied at home,
sometimes with even more profit than at
college since the student can take all
the time that is necessary for reading
and investigation. Such general culture
is not only pleasure to the woman and
TO her friends. but it is of great value in
the training Of children, which, for most
women. must always remain the main
duty of life. The child whose mother or
elder sister is a well-read. cultured wo
man gets a sort of home training which
is better than anything that the best
schools can give. In this sort of cduca-
ton the public library is invaluable
But all its good influence is nullifed or
prevented if the librarian be churlish or
Indifferent. 1t must be remembered that
the library is largely, as yet an education
al institution. and that most OF the people
who take out books do not know all about
the books before reading them. The raw
student may Gene to the library with a
vague tlesire TO know something about the
Queens of England, the French Revolu-
ton, or Charlotte Brcnte. and be so mixed
in his ideas of the proper authorities to be
consulted that It Will take considerable
tact and patience on the part of the IL
brarian TO uaravel the tangle and give him
what he really wants. But il the librarian
is possessed of these qualities. and a gen.
eral knowledge Of literature as well. great
good may result to that same crude un-
trained youngster. A wise librarian is
really n teacher. without the direct re-
sponsibili.ies and obstacles of the teacher,
The public library should b. so arranged
that there may be little red ta;;e or formal
ity about IT The taking OF books should
be made easy, and the librarians selected
from well-read and well-trained applicants.
The custodian of the books should not have
SC much routine work and bookkeeping TO
do that personal contact and influence with
the patrons of the library will be impos-
sible. II necessary. a clerk can be kept
behind the scenes to attend to the book
who comes IN contact with THE public