Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-06-21
SANTA FE READING ROOM SYSTEM
s. e. eUssER, SUPERINTENDENT.

to duty is the ideal.
The Method of Operation.
In the selection of periodicals and
books two motives control, to give in
struction and entertainment. The H.
lustrated and humorous magazines ac-
complish the latter; the literary and
technical, the former.
There is no line of study in mechan-
les and the science of railroading not
treated on in some form in the weekly
and monthly reviews.
No effort is made to preserve these
magazines by binding or filing. All
montElies three months old, all week
lies four weeks old, and all dailies one
week old are each week sent out to the
trackmen for final use.
Thus in the homes of our patient
toilers at remote points these papers
carry instruction and entertainment,
and many children who would never
see a printed page or picture are con-
stantly receiving the benefits of the
reading rooms.
Forty per cent of the books are fic-
ton, Is per cent are historical, Is per
cent are biographical, 10 per cent tech
meal, 10 per cent general literature,
and the rest reference, being CYCLIC
pedias and dictionaries. Any employee
has the privilege of ordering a book.
If he is reading in course, or interested
in a special study, he may ask the
librarian for the required books, who
reports to the superintendent of read
ing rooms, and the books, If they pass
inspection, are at once sent.
Then, too, if he desires books for
his own private library. he may send
a list to the superintendent of reading
rooms, who buys them and delivers
them free anywhere on the system.
The original bill with the usual trade
discounts is collected through the
librarian. This is done to encourage
the men to own their books, and by
laying aside a little each month, it
teaches effectively the lesson of econ
omy.
In addition to books and papers, we
have a system of lectures and familiar
talks by eminent educators and spe-
cialists. Only first class talent has
been engaged to do this work. When
ever The superintendent of reading
rooms finds a scholar Who is interest
ed in the proposition underneath these
reading rooms, he takes him over the
line and introduces him to the men.
Not only the information and enthU-
siasm he carries, but the mere fact
that the men may meet him and asso-
ciate with him, enlarges their views of
things and brings them directly in con-
tact with the intellectual life of the
age.
We have had lectures On Ben Frank
lin, astronomy, geology, physiology,
chemistry, and many general topics.
We have had a doctor tell them nov to
eat and drink. We have another en-
gagged to tell them how to take care of
the teeth. The superintendent OF
reading rooms frequently addresses
them on "Undeveloped Resources
"Sponges," Books, and How to Read
Them" and on other subjects. If the
reading room is too small to accommo.
date the audiences, as they usually
are, an opera house has been rented
The reading rooms are now being ar
ranged so that by sliding doors the en-
tire building may be thrown into a lee
ture hall. After the entertainment we
generally have a social reunion and a
dance, and every one becomes &C
quainted, and every N is happy. The
new employee is thus brought in con
tact with the best element of society,
and ties are formed which make him
d DellCl HAL anu llOlt u6tlu1 W tltt
service. An eminent scholar standing
on the outside of the reading at
Seligman. during one of these social
gatherings, when the building was a
blaze of light, and music was dropping
her blessings on the company, said:
That is a little heaven for the boys"
We do not draw the line very close
on amusements. We have all kinds OF
games, but no gambling. The billiard
tables and bowling alleys are running
all the time. but We have never had a
quarrel in any reading room.
There is no evidence that the boys
are angels, or fast becoming angels,
and we have not eliminated rivalries
and all bad blood, but we lay the re-
speciality of these reading rooms on
the honor of the men and they have
met the appeal as honorable gentle
men. They can always have a bath, a
game, a sleep, or a book. 1t is their
club room, their resort for pleasure
and knowledge, their common meeting
ground 10 exchange sentiments, their
resting place when Of duty, their one
spot where they come in touch with
the outer world as well as with their
inner selves.
The wives and daughters have ac-
cess 10 the reading rooms on certain
days. They have free use of the books
and papers, and once a week may use
the baths. They have formed clubs
and hold socials and the men as a rule
like to see them in the buildings.
The Attendance and Influence on the
Men.
We have a system of monthly re-
ports in which the daily attendance
and the daily use of the books are
carefully estimated. We know also
every month how many baths are
taken. and how many hours the bill
lizard tables are used. All of these of
course vary with the traffic on the line.
If business rs good the ~lay-oyers VIII
be short, and when on duty the men
will be asleep.
A diminished attendance at the read
ing rooms indicates that extra trains
are running and business is brisk.