New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-11
"a CALAMITY INDEED"
Head of Travelling Libraries Would Regret
Closing of Play Centres.

Miss Alkaline Brown the head Of the Travelling
Library Department Of the New-Hork Public Ii
brary, would regret very much the closing or the
play centres at the public schools. now under dis
cussion.
During the past year books from the Travelling
Library have received $4,000 readings at the play
centres The department keeps seventy-fve or a
hundred books at the centres, changing a portion
every month Those who frequent the places send
in requests for books they would like. and their
preferences well the readings recorded FOR
each book give an interesting insight into the liz
erary tastes OF the working boys and girls who
find attractions at the centres.
The selection ranges from Rosa Nouchette Cary.
who is about the lightest author granted q place
on the Travelling Library catalogue. up 10 Shake
speare. who IS a prime favorite. At No IA. at the
corner Of East Broadway and Scammel-st.. n club
of young people recently presented THE Merchant
of Venice" evening. They were all Jewish
boys and girls and entered with enthusiasm into
the portrayal OF the character OF Shylock. always
Of the intensely interesting characters in
literature 20 the Jewish mind The Travelling
Library furnished twenty copies Of the play for
the actors 10 learn their parts from. Another
evening they had a debate the acknowledgements
Of the negro at the same centre The participants
ransacked the library for books which would
them with material. and presented their facts and
deductions IN a manner TO command the respect
OF the adults present.
Books civics and reform IN good demand.
and others giving popular interesting account OF
the workings Of American government are in
slant use and their value the children OF for
eign born parents be understood. WyckoYs
books and all OF tramp" books or books
about the lives OF working people, also In favor.
Works on parliamentary law studied with
keen interest, owing TO the constant practice 10
which they put in the clubs connected with
the centres. The popular present day novels are
OF course. most constantly in demand. the
OF the young people who frequent the recreation
centres being in this regard exactly similar 10
that OF people who able buy the book when
It first comes cut Especially does any book that
has been dramatized meet with eager demand. for
everything corrected with the stage Is intensely
interesting to these young people. One club of
girls read the books recently written by Clara
Morris and Mrs. Gilbert, and number Of such
works as Clarke's Girl Heroines OF Shakespeare
But the Travelling Library also sends arith-
metcS algobraS. books necessary prepare for
civil Service examinations and all sorts of text
ton centres and spend their evenings studying
there, getting occasional helps from instructors
in charge or take the books home study The
tables the centres faVorite places TO study,
place at home study. This use of the Travel
ling Library and Of the has increased very
much during the last year and a half showing
that many ambitious young men and women have
life.
THE recreation centres are used largely by young
persons over fourteen who are employed during
the day in shops and factories" said Miss Brown.
They centres of recreation and education.
Sometimes the various clubs and entertainments
at a will take in every member of the fam
work they are doing with our books what the whole
place with its gymnasiuIns. dancing, plays clubs
and classes. must do for its patrons 1t would be
a calamity for the centres 10 close