The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-14
INFLUENCE OF THE
LIBRARY I'm
MUNICIPAL PROGRESS
BY ARTHUR E. eosTWlck, of the
Nav York Public Library.

New York Public Library.
Tho functions OF a public library may
be divided roughly into two classas--tto
and tho recreatonn1. Tho
professional librarian is apt TO dwell upon
the former; the public. which uses the
library, lays mora stress on the Inter.
That this Is go would appear from tho
fact, that more than half tho books drawn
from q public library are works OF fiction.
OF course work OF fiction may be edu-
cative in the truest sense; but on the
other hand many works not classified az
fiction arc read purely for amusement.
Probably It would be correct to say that
nine-tenths OF the books read by patrons
OF public library are read With tho pur-
pose of obtaining recreation, and TINT on
the other hand, nine-tenths add In some
way to the education OF the readers either
by increasing their stock Of information
or by directing their thought into new
channels.
This, of course, is only to say what Is
now beginning to be recognized every
where-that tho part played By recrca-
ton in education is very Important
Psychologists are learning that the psyohi-
cal features OF digestion-appetite ana
the enjoyment OF food-are quite as i'm.
portant to nutrition as the physical ones.
the chemical composition Of the food sub.
stance and the quantity and quality of
the digestive Juices. In Hike manner edus
Gators are recognizing that interest Is q
very important factor in the acquisition
OF knowledge, and that to ASCERTAIN tho
best way OF arousing interest II bis sub.
ject is a fundamental duty OF the taachen
a very large part, therefore, Of wliaA
We have called the recreatioaa1 part Of
tho library's work should be so classified
only from the standpoint OF tho reader'a
motive: from the point Of Wow Of the re-.
suits attained It belongs in the other al.
vision.
To increase public interest In tho pub.
lie library 30 that It may attract moro
readers. and at the Same time to mako
Its educational content better and greater
may be called the fundamental problem
Of the public librarian, SO far ns his re-.
lationship to the municipality is con.
cerned.
That 1t fs for the public interest to edu-
cate children at the public expense Is no
longer a matter Of controversy. That 10
is equally necessary to do something to
sustain and direct the desires awakened
by such training Is now Recognized all
most everywhere. The public library Is
not the only agency for doing this, but It
IS surely one of the most important.
the tendency Of the modern public library
movement. which is thing Of yesterday.
has always been toward bringing the man
and the book closer together. All the dis.
tincttve features OF the up-to-date library
Its branch buildings and collections
scattered thiclsly over our cities; its trav-
cling Libraries; the opening OF Its book
shelves to the public, SO that Its stock
may be freely seen and handled; It's ia
CiI INy Tow III
young people; Its efforts to work hand
In hand with the school and the teacher:
these and many others may be sum-
med up as so many efforts In different
directions to bring about this same re-
suit.
And 1t cannot b too strongly emphasized
that such Efforts are responses. whether
made knowingly or not. to a public need
common view of the recent spread OF
public libraries. held by people who have
not come into close contact with library
work, Is that It has been stimulated some
what artificially by large donotions. Yet
We never hear the suggestion that uni
versity growth has been similarly stimll-
lated by gifts like those OF Mr. Rookie
teller to the University of Chicago. The
fact is that In both cases the direction
OF the gifts has been influenced by a per-
ceptton OF the popular need, and that, In
stead OF artificlally creating the demand
they have followed It, and not too closely.
Our universities could doubtless receive
and assimlate many times the large
amounts that they are annually receiving:
our libraries certainly could do So
plethora OF libraries Is even far less like
~ than plethora OF universities for
the largest part of recent library dona-
lions has been conditioned on the promise
of municipal aid and support. That this
support Is rarely given where 1t should
not be given Is rendered probable by
the fact that gifts made on such condi-
lions arc not infrequently refused on tn,
ground OF inability to meet them, Wa
may therefore be reasonably sure that
In the large number of cases where they
have been accepted there has been
proper consideration. and that the accept
anca has been due to BELIEF that thu
needs and wishes OF the public have de-
manded 1t.
In the same manner, tho popularisa-
ton OF the library. as shown in all the
directions alluded to above, is due not so
much to the leadership of the librarian
although the librarian often gives him
self credit for it-as to the fact that he
has kept his ear to the ground"-thar
he has been quick to hear the rumble OF
popular opinion, to discard the frivolous
and capricious over-tones and to attuno
Work to .tue IunUaIuental nOLS. BOT
this he should certainly receive praise.
Doubtless we have not reached the and
of this progress in bringing together thu
man and the book. OF various PROPOSE
lions made from time to time, such ps
the assumption by the library of soma
OF the functions OF the bookstore. or tho
combination of kindergarten or museum
work with Its moro fundamental duties.
many will doubtless be discarded and
some adopted; but we may hope that this
will always BIO done in accordance with
the principle THAI 4 public library is
an institution 9a3 pular education in
the widest sense.
And it is greatly ts be desired that this
conception OF the public library should
be recognized not only by the general
public but especially by those who make.
print and sell books. AT present 1t Is u
widely prevalent opinion among publish
ers and booksellers that libraries injura
them by furnishing facilities for the read
ing of books without purchase. The adop-S