The San Francisco call., 1904-02-25
BEST PATRONS
ARE CHILDREN
Youngsters Are Welcomed at
All Of the Up-tO-Date Lii
braries Throughout Country
THEIR WANTS CONSIDERED
Notes From the Public Book
Shelves Of Alameda, Peta-
luna. Spokane and Ventura

This is the children's age in the
library Prior 10 ten or twelve years
ago childreD were not welcomed in pub
lie Libraries. but now every library
blessed with progressive spirit makes
provision for their presence. The
smaller libraries set apart a portion
q the library room for the "children's
corner. the larger Libraries establish
separate rooms .or their use aid pro-
vide special attendants who give their
whole time 10 this department. In the
best equipped Libraries there are little
iow chairs. tables and bookcases; at
some Of the tables checkers. backgam-
mon and puzzles are found; pictures
hang upon the walls and statuary adds
grace to the rooms. Il is exceedingly
interesting 10 watch the little people
who come troOping IN after school
hours 10 get q coveted book or with
others 70 listen % that unfailing won
Cer to a chnd-a story. Many Of these
children come from homes where books
are never owned.
On the tables the children find their
old favorites. the Youths Companion,
St Nicholas and other interesting mag
azines The very little folks are not
forgotten. for on the shelves may be
seen volumes Of fairy tales. fables, leg
ends. nature stories, simple poetry, sto-
ries OF travel history and life Then
for the older boys and girls there is a
wealth Of stimulating elementary books
upon electricity. mechanics. forestry,
insect. bird and fish life with choice
little works Of history, poetry, travel,
fiction. art and literature. not overlook
ing that class which appeals TO every
resolUte boy-the books OF adventure
and daring. Reference works Of easy
understan nding are made accessible to
the student children.
AT the present time nearly 40 per
cent Of the book borrowers Of the pub
Die Libraries throughout the country are
children. the proportion Of boys and
girls being nearly equal Il is almost
needless to say that the selecting Of
chudren's books for such wide and con-
Etant use calls for the finest and most
thoughtful care
LIBRARN'S HIGHEST SERVICE.
The supreme object Of this work for
children is 10 encourage a. taste for
thus created To help the boy TO become
"a manly man. TO help the girl 10 be
come a N0manly woman No other
part II library development in its early
conditi0ns has proved more responsive;
mo other reveals a future Of brighter
promise. A distinguished educator
voices his estimate OF this labor, say
ing The best, the highest service
that can possibly be rendered is the
service and the ministry TO childhood" 3"
From the Oakland public library
comes word that Mrs. Edward Booth
has given the library S25 TO be ex-
pended for children's books. This gift
Is hailed as the first one Of long line
u donations that are hoped for.
Brilliant prospects attend the plans
for the children's room in the library
building % be built in Berkeley. Be
sides the great concert Of 5000 children =
voices 20 be held in the Greek Amphi-
theater in the university grounds to
raise funds for the purchase Of chill
dren's books. the Town and Gown Club
has agreed 10 finish and furnish the
children's room in oak at an expense
,l $3.50. The high school and grammar
school teachers also intend TO have a
share in the good work Of beautifying
this room by the purchase Of pictures
and statuary-
CHIDREN'S STORY HOUR.
A new departure is TO be made in
Inc public library Of Great Falls, Mont.
Every Friday afternoon Of the next two
months there viii be held at 4:SO O'Clock
-chiIdren's story hour" The first
series Of stories VIII be taken from the
Legends OF king Arthur. ~ 10 be given
bv the Librarian and one Of her assist
arts. Plans similar TO this have proved
exceedingly popular in many Eastern
libraries So important, indeed, is the
art OF telling stories TO children re
esrded in the training school for chill
dren's Libraries in the Carnegie Library
= Pittsburg that Miss Shedlock of Lon
don. q proficient in this art, has just
given Ter. lectures there upon this sub
sect. Regular instruction in story tell
ing 70 children has for several years
formed part Of the course Of this school
The trustees Of the Alameda Public
Library intend TO At up a ladies' room
in their building. Easy chairs, lounges
and tables viii add 70 the attractive
ness Of the room and viii promote the
comfort Of visitors
PETALUMA'S NEW BUILDING.
The contract has been let for Peta-
7una's new library building. The
building as to be 6sx6s feet. OF Alameda
v hite brick and sandstone trimmings
with slate roof, and having interior
erish Of white pine. A skylight sixteen
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