The Washington times., 1905-10-07
FORCE At LIBRARY
FAR TOO SMALL
Librarian Admits Patronage
Has Grown Too Large.
CARD SYSTEM Efficient
Employees Needed TO Look After Wants
of Individual Readers Who
Pay Visits.
To the Editor of The Washington Times:


1 was much interested in the letter
of Mr.. ED. U. Heating" in fridays
Times. purporting to give his experiences
in attempting to get a book on naval
engineering at the Public Library (Which
he miscalls the Carnegie Library. +
regret that ne attempted to hold up
the library to ridicule.
Even though he has seen fit to make
his criticisms in the columns OF a news
paper. and in extravagant terms, instead
of stating them in plain straightfor-
ward manner. through a newspaper IL
he must. or better. directly to the librar-
ian, 1 wish to assure him and all the
readers of The Times that the manage
ment CT the library welcomes criticisms
for by such means faults are brought
home and Improvements suggested. In
order. however, to prevent. If possible.
certain misconceptions of the spirit
which prevails at the library that may
be suggested by Mr.. "Keating's" letter,
/ desire to point out a few facts about
the service the library tries to render
and the obstacles against which 1t con-
tends. -@ ~
Institution Popular.
/ would refer to the facts given in
the report Of the library trustees pub
ltshed IN The Times of October 4, that
during the past year the lbrarys circu-
lation increased 1900 volumes, or 27 per
cent over the preceding year, and that
in the same period the fiction percent
age was reduced IL per cent. This rec
ord was made with almost no increase
of force over the previous year. This
means that with an overworked and un-
derpaid staff, the library has grown In
popularity and that the needs of readers
of books other than fiction have been
met as never before.
Large numbers of books on technical
subjects Ito which the book on naval
engineering belongs) have been bought
and the librarian has received many
commeEdatory letters and verbal COM
mu1ications from those who have used
such books The management of the
library regrets far more than any indi-
vidual borrower the fact that the ap-
preparations are too small TO open all of
the rooms of the library so that space
may be sufficient for displaying a selec-
tion from the entire library for the i'm
mediate access of readers. 1t is a sad
fact that the staff is so small that the
mere physical labor of charging anu dis
charging books of circulation advanc-
ing by leaps and bounds should often be
more than can be coped with. and that
the more interesting work of meeting
the wants of individual readers (as in
Mr.. Keating's case) should often most
regretfully be crowded out.
Try to Serve Individuals.
/ am compelled TO conclude that Mr..
''Keating'' must have made his memoir
able visit to the library either before
the assignment of a librery employe to
the position Of readers assistant. or dur
ing her temporary absence-for unfor-
tunately again our staff is too small to
have two persons for the post. that is.
Cor day and evening service. II Mr..
'keating'' were to visit the library any
day now before $50 p. m, he would find
near the front entrance an Information
DESK and an intelligent assistant whose
sole duty It is to explain the workings
of the card catalogue, or IL readers are
unwilling TO learn it. TO find and place
Need, M ine'' haHos 'ne very DOCKS 'hey
In this connection I would point out
that readers ought not TO expect any
and every library assistant, whatever
her position (even IL her own duties
were not usually such that she cannon
leave her posD to be able at once Il
produce book on subject of whien
she has no special knowledge One
does not go to the ribbon counter OF a
department store for umbrellas or To
the bookkeeper of a bank to have a
check cashed If IN a business house
one has TO conform to rules and apply
TO proper officers to satisfy mis- wants, Is
IL not reasonable to ask that he shall
do the same in a library
Defends Card Catalogue.
1 cannot think IL likely that your read
ers will treat seriously the suggestion
that the library attendants were playing
solitaire. What Mr. e.Keating" saw
simply emphasizes what / have said
about the inadequacy of thu library
force. The cards in question were SIM
ply the library's records OF books and
borrowers. Instead of having plenty OF
disengaged assistants TO arrange these
records, every spare minute has to be
grasped 10 arrange them. so that the
library records may be kept I'D to date
Surely Mr. .'Keating." by ringing tho
changes on the different kinds OF cards
used. does not wish to have IT thought
that he does not know that all large
progressive business concerns. banks
Insurance companies, etc, are nov
using some form of card for all theil
records.
Mr.. ..lIeatfng's'' criticism has forcibl,
called attention to the fact that one o.
the most important needs in a public
library Is personal help to the fndi
vidual. and In spite OF his experience e
the contrary. | wish TO assure him ans
other readers of the Times that that Il
what we are trying TO do. If he anC
financial support for the library il IL
safe 10 promise that needs like his will
be better met and the ideals of tn
managers of the library will be bette
realized.
GEoRE F. BowERMAN.
I'LL n