The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-07-12
BOOMING A LIBRARY
THE VALUE OF ADVERTISING PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS.
J. c. Dana, q New jersey Librarian,
Tells How to Make q Library Known
and to Promote Its Work-Meeting
Room q Help.

and to Promote 1t. Work-Meeting
Room a Help.
The value of a library to a town and
how such an institution can do a world
of good to the community in which it
l.; located is told in paper on Making
| Il Library Known" w..ich was recently
| read by j. &. Dana. librarian of the
! Newark (N. j. Public library, at a
regular meeting of the Long Island
Literary club in Brooklyn. says the
Chicago Post. In discussing this ques-
ton Mr.. Dana expressed himself in
part In the following terms:
1T is the newspapers. of course,
which, of all outside agencies, help to
make the library known. do not
need to enlarge on their most universal
sympathy with the work of the library,
their unfailing courtesy toward it, their
readiness to print material in regard to
1t, even although it must often seem
to the editors not to have a very strong
flavor. A librarian must, Of course,
bring the material he wishes printed
to the attention Of the newspapers in
the right way.
His library must, in the first place.
have that attitude toward the public
which the newspaper may rightly ex-
pect the public to approve of. He
makes it manifest, if he can, that he
wishes to have the librarys doorsill
worn down as fast as possible by the
coming and going of the feet of those
who built and maintain 1t. Having
made it plain that this is the general
attitude of the library, he then pre-
sents the specific material he wishes to
have printed in as attractive form ae
possible
The notes he sends. usually type
written, are items of news, brief and
plain, rather than demands or COM
plants. Most particularly he tries to
keep the newspapers in touch with all
changes and notifications of system.
Nothing is better for public institu-
ton than publicity. The people who
pay for its support are entitled to
know-t is a part of their education to
knOw-all its ms and outs, its receipts,
its expenditures, its methods, its plans
and ambitions
newspapers are almost invariably
willing to insert these brief notes.
They feel that about the management
of public library there should not be
toward the public the slightest intima-
ton of desire for secrecy. OF course
there are matters of petty and personal
detail and subjects under cOnsidera-
ton to publish which would show poor
Judgment or poor taste. The newspa-
pers understand this.
Work done for and through the
schools is important. Every teacher is
a possible promoter of the library's
work. She can win to it every year, if
she will, forty or fifty friends in her
pupils and through them can win to |
It's advocacy, and in Il measure to its |
use, almost as many families. Small |
wonder that we ask the schools TO help !
US.
IF the library have a room in which !
meetings, educational. charitable and |
civic, can be held these meetings may |
almost be placed next in order among
the library's agencies for making it |
self known. Most libraries are far too |
conservative in this matter. Few will
remain so long.
''The work which the library does for |
and with the study clubs and volunteer !
organizations of all kinds in its town |
is. Of course, one of the good ways of |
rtaa IA fol Il
ciatcd. If the clubs meet in the libra |
ry building the work for them is by 50 |
much the easier aud more effective as |
Il means of publicity. Many organiZa-
tons have received much assistance |
from libraries i'll the way of sugges- |
tons of books and pictures
'Circulars of all kinds and personal |
notes are helpful in bringing the library |
TO the attention of individuals Some |
times Il weekly or monthly bulletin is |
sent to group of people like the teach
MS or the members of some organiZa-
ton.
Posters and bulletins hung in CON
spicuous places throughout the city are |
useful methods of gaining the attention
of many. Posters. like books and cir
culars, Should be as brief as possible
They should be well printed, and in
case they are hung in hotel corridors.
barber shops and other public places
they should be neatly and simply |
framed.
Exhibitions in the library, either Of
belonging to the library itself
or of paintings or other things lent for
the purpose. in many cases draw many