Evening journal., 1902-01-11
LIBRARY WORK
In DhhAW Arb
State Commission Is IN Need
Of Funds
Interesting Paper Read by Miss
Florence BaVard Kane in
This OitV

per read by Miss Florence Bayaro hane'
of the State Library Commission, be-
fore the members Of the New century
Club. at their monthly meeting on
Wednesday afternoon;
Madam President and Ladies of the
New-Century Club: "Some weeks ago
I had the Measure of meeting a few of
vour number at a combined meeting
of the kindergarten Association of the
Froeba Club. and to them
gave a brief account of the relations
that have existed in the United States
between children and Libraries. The
subject is an interesting one, as it
nroyed that its history was new to the
ladies whom / then met and showed
probably that but few of our fellow
townswomen would be aware Of the
extent and cordiality Of those relations
even in Wilmington. Your president,
therefore, kindly invited me to repeat
my remarks before your club. It is
with very great pleasure that l do so,
and if what you hear engages your
generous cooperation for the useful
work. it will be a most profound graft
fication to me.
This subject of the child in relation
interest to all Librarians and educators
in this country, and is only less so in
EuroDe.
1T is one which opens up vast
field for experiment, experience, hope
and for unlimited energy and work,
and must again admit that not hay-
ing made any experiments nor had any
experience-save at second and THIRD
hand, / can but give you what has
been taken from others-more origl-
nal more experienced, more valuable
in every way. Since returning among
you. the opportunity has been lacking
of becoming thoroughly in touch with
all the effort in this field. which may
have been made by Delaware's many
teachers, and. one may say, by her one
librarian-for Mr.. Bowerman, of your
Institute Library, is, l believe, the
only thoroughly equipped and trained
librarian in the modern sense of the
term. who lives in the State. What 1
know of his work / shall presently tell
YOU, but YOU will be repaid if you will
90 yourselves and see and ask him
what he has done and proposes doing
as means and time permit. The balC
statistics are an inspiration to one
but unfortunately / neglected to make
a note of the figures, and the accident
which delayed my arrival today made
it impossible to obtain them again to
lay before YOU this afternoon for which
am very sorry AS for what has
been done elsewhere in the United
States. it seems as though the mere
narration might suggest means of fu
thering the work. and will bring NJ
naturally TO that division OF thesubjec
which for the time is more immedia
tely interesting to myself and fol
which your aid and cooperation is
most earnestly desired.
About fifteen years ago many, oni
might we'll say, most wise parents haC
a strong and well-grounded objection
TO permitting the children the free us'
of a public library. because, as they
said there is no one to control o
guide their reading. They may pick N
the very last ideas and books we shoul'
wish them to have and they viii
probably give themselves literary dys
pepsia by gorging an indigestible mas
of truck. anything sensational the
can find. merely because it has move
ment of a sort. and tells story; an
that too. however, far below thei
powers of comprehension it may b'
and in any case the children will b
better out of doors.
"UnQuestionably this opinion was Il
the main. and in almost all cases en-
tirely correct. especially with regar
to that clause. but we have change
all that except the last clause, wher
must reluctantly confess myse
hererdodox i'm my library faith. TOda
in an innumerable number of librari'
ands in an almost monthly increasin
number of them there is someone
guide the childrens choice of readir
and to control it.
Year by year, that some one
more likely to be competent to perfori
the task. by reason of greater know
edge and experience on the part of a
librarians. and of better training an
more assistance rendered by parent
teachers. fellow-workers, ana most
all. by the children themselves.
Our centennial year of 1876 Is usl
ally considered with respect for
record. as the birth year of what
technically known as the modern
brary movement Within II was or
ated the American Library Associ
ton. the Library Journal. It's ofhci
organ. a veritable Thesaurus of
bibliothecal knowledge and Of uniq
value to librarians the world over,
other nation producing anything a
preaching its usefulness in the saI
field. Our first great Government
Dort on libraries was issued and
Vulnerable suggestions were offer
for cooperation in many direction
and of these perhaps the most impo
ant Of all. the suggestion Of the gre
good to be attained by oo-operati
between Libraries and schools.
the very first volumes Of the Libra
Journal c. Francis Adams. tho
himself not a librarian, but man
whose knowledge. insight and wisdl
our whole country owes many a de
called attention to the wrong Of teal
ing children to read without teach
them at the same time a love for e