Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-31
LIBRARY PROBLEMS
RESULTS ATTAINED FROM THE
oPEN-sHELF SYSTEM.
Various Plans for Introducing Books
INTO the Homes of Work
ing People.

the latter-day product are very apt to be
made in describing the development Of the
public library in the United States. To
those engaged in library work it has been
made quite clear that the librarian as
keeper of books which he jealousy guards
from the public as much as he can is
thing of the past. This point of view Is
most obviously emphasized. perhaps. by the
increasing adoption, in recent years, of the
"open-shelf system''-that is. the plan Of
giving the public access to all or the great
er portion of the shelves of library.
The functions of the library of today have
been enlarged beyond the boldest dreams Of
former times The suggestion has even
as a seller of the books for which he
creates a demand. His duties are numer-
Gus enough, even without that, and his
field a large one.
Easy Access to Shelves.
Contrasted with the books in chains Of
earlier days we now have not only free
access to shelves in the library, and cir
culation of books from the library, but
books are practically sent out to seek read
ers There are the travelling libraries Of
80 or 100 selected books. shipped to locali-
ties with no library or at best a very small
one. Or the home library" little group
in the tenement, and is taken care of by
some inmate of the same as long as it re-
mains there.
While communities or localities are served
by these, there is the possibility of reaching
isolated homes in the country through the
| mails, which plan has been tried in Wiscon-
sin-a state which has an enviable record in
recent library annals. And in this connec-
ton is to be noted the movement Of the
New England Education League to secure
reduced postal rates for library books.
These are extreme measures intended to
get books to those who either will not or
cannot go to the books. For those who come
to the library finger posts in the way OF
bulletins of new accessionS, lists of books
on special or timely topics. annotated cata-
logueS, and, last but not least, discerning
and tactfully helpful librarians and attend
ants-tact is a very necessary requisite in
the makeup of librarian-are some Of the
methods by which the usefulness of the in
Stitution is extended AS the public in gen.
eral and the individual reader are reached
by these agencies, so, too, are efforts made
to aid special classes or groups.
Reading for Clubs.
| Thus. for instance, womens clubs are
served by the Cincinnati Library, by pre-
| pairing reading lists on their programs, and
| in some cases sending selections of books
| directly to them. ct may be remarked,
| parenthetically, that on the other hand the
| women of the west have carried much
of the agitation in favor of the establish
| ment of librares.) Of course, these wo-
| mems clubs are cited simply as an ex-
ample.
The principle of aid can obviously be ex-
| tended to associations of people who
meet for purposes which can be furthered
by the resources of the library. Debating
| and literary societies, Y. M. c. A. Bible
classes. classes in schools or colleges, stu
| dents of decorative art. visitors to courses
| of lectures. students of the music drama
| these and many others have been or can
| be helped by judiciously selected lists of
| books and magazine articles illustrating the
particular topic which is before them at
| the time.
| In some of our universities and colleges
| photographed lectures or talks are given
! to the students by professors or librarians.
| with the object of teaching them how to
use books. The proper way of conduct citing
| research-the short cut to desired facts-is
often missed on account of want of IA
! nsiliarity with books as tools. Similarly.
librarians have met teachers and pupils in
the schools. bringing selections Of books
with them. and in short talks telling the
children something about them.
The possibilities of library activity are
still extending: in the words of Librarian
w. l. Fletcher of Amherst. expansion is
the twentieth century library policy. The
public library is today power to be
reckoned with as a factor in popular edu-
cation. And at its best it does its work on
magnificent scale. In the small village
library we naturally see little more than
the process of supplying readers with the
latest novel or standard history. although
here. too. the personality of the librarian
especially in the matter of tact and judg-
ment-counts for much. In the largest IL
braries We can study the modern library
idea in it's fullest development. For ex-
ample. an examination Of the plans for the
new building Of the New York Public Ii
brary and of the system Of which it will
form the center will give an idea of the
manifold activity of such an institution.
Departments Of Literature.
Besides the general reading room, which
will have about 10000 volumes on its free
reference shelves, there will be special de-
partments and rooms of various kinds for
newspapers. periodicals, public documents,
patents, manuscripts. maps, mathematics
and physical and chemical sciences. art
Qncluding the newly established depart
ment of prints), the oriental, Russian and
Hebrew departments. Bibles. library for
the blind children's room, photographers
dark room, lecture room. All manner Of
classes are thus reached by special pro-
visions in the reference library.
In the same building will be housed also
the main circulating library There are al
ready dozen circulating branches, and,
thanks to Mr.. Carnegie's generosity, there
will be more. Some delivery stations may
be necessary. At such places there are no
books, but orders left there in the morning
are filled during the day by the main IL
brary or branches. and books can be called
for in the evening. They form another
method Of bringing books near to the peo-
pie. (The Cincinnati library distributes
books throughout Hamilton county by a
system Of over forty branches and distrib-
utfng stations)
Travelling Libraries.
Travelling Libraries have been introduced
here, and there will be openings for more
The home library will be possibility. The
relations between the library and the school
are accentuated in various ways. Exhibit
tons of books and pictures will be fea-
ture in the 42d street building Particularly
rare or interesting books and specimens Of
fine bindings have been shown Special
exhibits are made. such as the interesting
one devoted 10 New FORK city There are
the paintings Of the Lenox and Stuart COL
lections, a permanent exhibit which always
draws visitors and the exhibitions Of
prints which are changed from time to
time and are designed to appeal to quite
varied tastes and interests
In this connection one thinks naturally
or the picture bulletins of the children .
department in the circulating libraries
m 1orrr1