The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-28
LIBRARY STATES.
The Requisite Qualifications OF q
Librarian and His Assistants.

Philadelphia Record.
The rapid multiplication Of public librar-
les In the United States, and their impor-
lance as a part of the educational system
OF the time makes the question OF their
administration one TO be carefully con-
sidered. The trustees or directors of such
management, the actual administrative
head being the librarian. while the routine
work is done by his staff of assistants. IL
the librarian is fitted for his position, and
the assistants have been carefully selected.
the work OF the library Will go on smoothly
and regularly, and no reasonable person Will
be likely to find cause for complaint But
the governing boards Of many public librar-
les seem to have a very shadowy idea or
the qualifications required TO make good
librarian, while in the selection OF his as
sistants, who are usually young women, the
curious pseudo-chivalry Of America plays
by far too large part. A young girl may
smile with the studied sweetness OF q
soubrette, facing a large and approving
audience. and yet be profoundly Ignorant or
books; an elderly maiden may wear spec
taces and perpetual frown. and still share
attractive sisters, Probably the directors
and trustees of public libraries have not
yet learned the truth Of the old French
proverb: "Femmen ct melon pierre les
connait-en."
Precisely what constitutes a good librar-
ian is much-disputed question. He should,
of course. be a good administrative officer:
he should possess at least a general knowl-
edge of the worlds literature: he should
be tactful, considerable long-suffering. diplo-
matte. knowledge of at least two foreign
languages, namely, French and German, Is
almost indispensable, and IL Is difficult TO
carry on the work of arranging an cata-
loguing large collection OF books without
a knowledge of Latin. The librarian who
does not understand several languages will
be continually at a loss In his daily work
If he depends on the learning OF others, his
position will be far from agreeable or sat-
isfactory. In the case of assistants. at
least an elementary knowledge of Latin.
French and German should be required.
The STATS or the great Libraries OF Europe
are SO organized that no question of Ian
guage. either modern or classic, can posi-
| bly, interfere with the routine work or the
| day.
1t need scarcely be said that the man
who has charge of several hundred thou
| sand books should be man OF sytem.
The librarian who is without a system,
| who does not know how TO economize time.
| Is lost. Each days business should be so
| organized to show a distinct advance ar
| the end Every assistant should have we'll
defined duties, and should be required 10
| learn all the methods peculiar TO library
economy, including, above all things, the
| economy OF time. Firmness, too. should
characterize the government of all public
| Libraries, and there should be no discriTnina-
| ton in favor of any one. All disputed ques-
| tons as to the observance OF any rule or
regulation should be decided at once. and
| in as few words as possible The decision
| should be at once courteous and firm. and
| it should be made known that IL was final.
! should have an even temper, and the re-
| sources of a trained diplomat at his COM
mand. Eccentric and wrong-headed people
| seem TO drift naturally through the doors
! of public libraries, and IL IL with these
| that the librarian and his assistants must
| learn to deal in such a way that the usual
routine Of the days work shall not be In
| terrupted
| A librarian who takes a real interest In
| the books placed under his charge will see
| that his assistants are neat and orderly in
! their habits. This does not mean neatness
| in their own person so much as I'm the
performance of their daily duties. hair
| pin, for instance. is a useful article when
a young woman Is making her toilet; but IL
| should not ce used 10 cut the leaves OF Q
good book mark while searching for quota
4 tions. dates. or historical illusions. The
assistant librarians should be taught that
/ the welfare OF the library is largely In
! their hands. and that any neglect or care
| lessness will result in confusion, and add
! Dust ard disordered shelves. and slovenly
| air of neglect, sure 10 excite public
criticism and bring a library into disre-
pUte. On the other hand, a well-kept, care
| fully arranged collection of books calls
| forth favorable comment and makes d.
| rect appeal TO all true lovers OF literature.
| A famous old Philadelphia library became
at one time notorious for its uncleanliness-
When a book was taken from the shelves
the dust of unnumbered years arose In
/ binding. suffocating clouds. Stray leaves
| from dilapidated volumes drifted about the
| unswept floors Indeed, the rooms OF this
| ancient foundation finally became so un-
| kempt in appearance that they seemed 10
| be fit abiding place for the man all tat
tered and torn. who kissed the maiden all
| forlorn, who milked the cow with the crum-
pied horn in the immortal nursery rhyme
/ of THE House that Jack Built"