New-York tribune., 1901-02-10
THE LONG ISLAND LIBRARY GLIB.

The February meeting Of the Long Island Ii
brary Club held the Polytechnic Institute
Brooklyn Thursday evening February T. Pres-
dent Arthur 7. Bostwick occupying the chair.
Cooperation Between Libraries and Schools"
was the topic OF the evening Miss Josephine A
Rathbone instructor at the Pratt Institute Library
School. read paper the History of Co-opera-
ton Between Libraries and Schools IN the United
States" She said that Charles Francis Adams
jr in 1876. the Arst 10 suggest the good 10 he
derived from co-operat ton. Worcester. Mass. was
given credit FOR actual experience I'm car
rying on the work. In 1852 the movement was
under headway. Indianapolis Mddletown Conn. .
Chicago. Buffalo, Cincinnati Milwaukee and Glow
ersville y. Y. being among the pioneers. The
preparation Of catalogues OF children's books
visits Of teachers and classes 10 the library for
talks about books. and the issue OF books for
schoolroom use were the employed
Fer the last ten years the growth Of the move
Hent had been marked. There was a growing
sentiment in favor OF doing away with restrictions
and allowing teachers as many books as they need.
Many libraries circulated pictures well as books
10 the schools. Two OF the leading library schools
trained students for this special work while many
libraries had children's rooms. The National Edu-
cational Association established library section
IN 1896. The American Library Association in the
same year appointed a committee 10 cooperate
with the library department Of the National Educa-
tional Association.
Then followed account Of work done in
various cities, notably at Pittsburg. Miss Rath-
bone thought that the next advance in educational
expansion would be in the direction of cooperation
with museums.
Walter b. Gunnison, principal OF Erasmus HaI
High School. Flatbush. spoke on cooperation from
the instructors standpoint. He said that not
longer than fifteen years ago il was impossible to
get a book from library in Brooklyn unless one
paid become a member OF the library Witnin
this time the library spirit has taken hold OF @du-
well OF librarians He spoke OF the
kind OF reading that was being done IN tba nri-
with fifteen years ago. He thought there should
be distinction made between the term Iii
bTarian' and teacher" Dr. GuEnison spoke OF
the damage in the reading habit when books are
used indiscrminately BY children and thought the
librarian imbued with the library spirit was
going do much 10 avert that.
Mrs. Elizabeth II Spalding. instructor in Eng
lsh al the Pratt Institute High School, also spoke
from the Instructors point OF view. She favored
children being given individual work 10 do in
Libraries for the benent Of the whole class There
teacher should cooperate with the librarian In
order that the latter might understand something
OF the individual. Cooperation between teacher
ana Librarian soon became cooperation between
f. NJ Barrett OF the Board OF Education. WAS
the next speaker. He spoke Of the tendency OF
the abundance OF books and magazines 10 do away
with any but supe sfical reading This he depof ed
reading Of books requiring concentration and ap-
Mr.. Eastman. OF the State Library, az Albany
spoke The Chair was authorized 10 appoint a
Of the public schools in regard 70 library work
and the general possibilities OF cooperation be-
tween libraries and schools. The meeting ad-
.0urned until the first Thursday IN April
After the session the members OF the club visited
the Spicer Memorial and the academic libraries OF
the Polytechnic Institute.