The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-03-15

1t mas hcen a question in my mind
In celebrating upon what I should
speak to yoa about today, which
phase Of the broad subject assigned
me TO dwell upon more particularly,
inesswhether TO talk Of library training
its beginnings, its development and
the present status II has reached. or
to spend thstime In considering the
work Of public libraries. and incIden-
tally that OF the librarian OF public
libraries. on reflection / found that
the library side of the question: vas 50
insistent that | could not set away
from 1t. Library training Il all very
well. the time spent is profitable and
delightful, but ii is the preparation,
the apprenticeship. and the library
itself is the life.
The public library Is in process Of
evolution, might say that the library
Is In process Of evolution. for very few
Of the early libraries. even In Ameri-
CO werefree and public. There were
storehousss OF books. TO which the fav-
orei few might purchase admitsance.
The >ity was proud to own 80 o~many
weli-kept volumes and the librarian
was a caretaker appointed ly the
board OF directors to prevent the eager
stndeat from handling the books and
as for him who was not an eager stu
dent why should he seek the library at
all--thare were other more agreeable
resorts.
Rut that dark era of library existence
has passed away never TO return;
there were forces abroad In the land
that were irresistible: the wise build
ers OF our nation when they leg
isiated that all men should
be free and equal decreed also that
education should be universal; so pub
lie schools were established and chill
dren taught TO read. This was The he
ginning but why teach your children
70 read ana then deprive them of
hookse This question constantly sound
ed in the cars of the city fathers: they
took counsel together-they realized
that with over 30 percent Of the popu-
lation. education is at an end With the
closing of she grammar school door.
They reflected that the generally. in
telligent, sll-rcund educated man
makes the best citizen; that the best
education a man can get is that which |
ne gives himself, but that he cannot
give himself that education if the |
means are entirely out of reach. They |
thought of all these things. these wise
city fathers, and the library doors /
were opened. The books came out of /
the storelouses and into thehands of
the people. and the city became proud |
that those well-kept volumes were /
wearing out from constant use. be-
cause 1t realized that this use made for !
civic righteousness and moral strength. I
The librarian also became transform
ed. He gave his time no longer to dust
ing neat rows of books carefully I
shelved according to the color of the /
binding or to the size of the volume ,
"a method Of classification warranted |
to please the artistic or orderly trus-
tee-and no longer was he like the /
dragon guaring his hoard, but instead /
like the daughter of the Rhine is he
singing his treasure, Turing men cn TO
inquire of his treasure, rousing their
curiosity, stimulating their indiffer-
ence, encouraging their timidity. lay
ing deep-laid schemes to persuade them
all to seek and find his treasure, which
is not goli such as the dragon boarded,
gold which cursed each possessor in