Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-30

stories have also helped call attention
to other animal books. The books
from which stories are told or relating
the shelves and their circulation at
once increases.
Picture Bulletins Effective.
Picture bulletins, too, we find very
effective. These are made to call at
tention to special days and holidays,
current or historical events, birthdays
of noted people, and to books and au-
thors. A talk is given on the sub
ct in question using the bulletin and
other pictures as illustrations, while
attention is called to the references to
books which are paced near by on the
shelf Or table.
The ChIdren's Club.
The Cnildren's Library club or
league also gives ample opportunity
for talks inspiring the right use of
books. Children are always at home
in an organization distinctively their
own, where they are free to suggest
many things to the librarian who is
looking out for opportunities to be
helpful.
Talks at Library.
I'VE prefer to give our talks at the
library because of the equipment for
practical illustrations, but some very
effective work may be done directly
in the schools. A series of brief talks
has been planned for the morning eX
ercises of the high school. These
talks will be of historical nature,
tracing the evolution of the library.
1 he first of the series is a general out
line tracing from the ancient library,
through the monastic. cathedral, uni
yersity, state and the rise of the public
library in the various countries; each
subject to be taken up later in a sep
arate talk. This talk leads to the de-
sired end of how the high school boys
and girls may be generally helpful to
/! the library in setting an example of
gentle manliness and gentle womanli-
ness before the younger visitors of the
library and how the library will be
glad to help them to more intelligent
use of its books by teaching them the
use of its catalogues and arrangement
of books by subject on the shelves. AS
result of this talk students come to
the library in groups of ten or twelve
!
use the catalogues and shelves of the
library. A sheet containing the one
hundred divisions of the Dewey deci.
NAL classification is given each of
them to learn and for reference use.
Value of Bound Periodicals.
Another talk is given on the
development of book-shelving and the
reference room. The value of bound
periodicals is explained and they are
asked to bring to the reference room
any bound or unbound periodicals
which may be of no further use to their
homes. They are also invited to the
library to be taught the use of refer
ence books and how to hunt down a
subject, tests being given in the use
of catalogues and reference books. At
tention is especially called to the in
deX and table of contents of book.
Suggestion is given that they do read
ing in the library supplementary to
the work laid out for them in school.
In this way they will learn that the
library con furnish them much valu-
able aid outside of their new books.
/ Inspire Reverence for Books.
1 "a very practical talk arises in this
way. The principal of the high school
says he is often greved at the way
students treat books and asks the
librarian if she cannot give them a
ltalk which will inspire little more
reverence for books. So the talk is
planned on book binding, treating it
as an art from both the historical and
mechanical side. She suggests that
they visit the book binderies to see
how it costs life-blood to put books
together as well as to write them
When they think of the making OF
books they will treat them carefully
as one does his friends.
Should Read Good Books.
so the work may go on, the needs
furnishing subject matter which the
we'll informed and tactful librarian
may put in helpful words. What an
advantage it is to a child while de
pendent to have some one who knows
the best in literature to direct his
reading from the nursery rhyme and
picture book, through the fairy tales
mythology and legends, up to nature
studies. travel. biography, history anc
the drama. Boys and girls should be
encouraged to begin libraries of theil
, own and to read many good books
while young, for later on the activities
of life leave comparatively little time
; for reading, usually person has more
uninterrupted time between the age
of eight and sixteen for reading thar
any other, and happy should be the
boy or girl who during these years
has some one who can wisely direc
his or her reading"