Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-30
.LUMMIS REVIEWS
LIBRARY PROGRESS
DURING PAST YEAR
LOS ANGELES IDEAS WIDELY COPIED
Roof Garden Reading Room, Autograph Collection,
Guides for Strangers and Up-to-Date Scrap.
books Prove to Be Popular Innovations

even OF tnlT0-ClaSS, and was long ago
abandoned. Some one had to be sent to
find the attendant wanted; It therefore
cost the library twice as much for ev-
cry consultation as it now does.
Senate and Equal Suffrage
1.-THE first democratic experiment and
the first equal suffrage in public Ii
braries The library senate, founded
September 1, 1906, includes all heads
of departments and every permanent
assistant, besides an elective represen-
tative from the attendant body. 1t
meets regularly twice a month to make
suggestions as to the betterment of the
service, and has already made more
suggestions, which have been acted
upon, than were ever before made and
acted upon in any five years in the
history of the library.
1.-THE segregation of the money ac-
counts of the French libraries, form
erly dumped in with other accounts.
"a modern method of filing corres-
pondence, including the simple plan
of getting letters and then answering
them.
1.-THE raising by about 80 per cent
Of the standards of the training class
from which the attendants of the IL
brary are monthly recruited.
"These innovations for our appren-
tices include a physical examination
Ito determine fitness for this confining
work., college conditions to be made
up by special examination (and every
candidate passed to enter the two last
training classes has been conditioned),
besides 25 per cent more hours of work
daily. Furthermore the training class
has been put in charge of a committee
of the library senate, and for the first
time its curriculum is systematized.
For Post-Graduates
"A postgraduate course for mem
bers Of the staff. Lectures have been
given by experts to the staff on va
rious occasions on subjects with which
the attendants Of a public library
should be familiar. These lectures have
been not only by principals of this
library but by outsiders of national
reputation.
"a formal system to make the
branch libraries more useful to their
patrons in proportion to the library as
q whole. Within a year the first crit
ical inventory of the branches have
been made and the first systematic
plan for their Improvement. There was
no pretense of system in their former
content, and the service to them was
equally in need of reform.
local firms, and abolishing here the
rock-ribbed tradition that the library
bureau of New York is the only crea-
ture that can supply furniture or cards
to a public library. AS a matter of
fact, local houses, on the average, sup
ply precisely the same material If de-
sired at far cheaper rate.
Merit System
"a reorganization of the staff on the
merit system exclusively, and an ad-
vance in salaries affecting all. The
minimum last year was $50 a month.
1t has been raised to $35. Besides this,
more than half the staff were promot-
ed in salary for merit.
Reform of the special privileges
under which I found more than 2000
books out of the library without cards.
Some of these books have been with
held from public use for more than
two years. Under the present regula-
tions even the mayor or a councilman
or a library director must take out his
books on a card, just as an ordinary
mortal, and return them under the
same rules and penalties.
For the convenience of scholars
who are known or vouched for special
loan cards, good for four days, have
been put in force for reference books.
"The evaluation of books by the YER
dict of a recognized authority as to
valuation of a given volume, and
made part Of that volume.
1.-THE appointment of two attendants
with badges as 'guideD to meet and
direct strangers. These walking in
formation DESKS nominated by the sem
ate, have already proved their useful
ness.
"The establishment of experimental
branch libraries on the public play
grounds in August, 1906. This expert
ment was so successful that we have
established a permanent new branch
for playground No. 1 (Violet and San
Mateo streets), which will be made
effective as soon as the quarters (pro-
vided free of cost to the library are
ready, probably about February 1,
1907.
''The abolishment of a branch which
circulated an average of eighteen books
a day and delivery station which did
no better.
Four New Stations
"The installation of five new deposit
stations which gives promise Of larger
ones.
"The installation Of a showcase in
which the typographical and pictorial
treasures of the library are exhibited.
Drinking water, toilet rooms, check
room for hats, umbrellas, coats and
parcels, public telephone. All these
simple conveniences were lacking in
a library patronized by 1000 people
day.
Accounting by receipt for postage
stamps taken by members of the staff
from the clerk of the board for library
business.
Posting the regulations for each
department in that department, for
the benefit of the training class and
of other persons scheduled temporarily
thereto. They have never before had
anything to which to refer as au-
thority.
Requiring monthly written reports
from the two assistant Librarians, who
have never before made reports.
Putting the janitor service in charge
of the senate committee on care Of
building, which has already resulted
in great improvement in our house
keeping.
Anniversary exhibits by bulletin
boards and showcase.
''Experted listG of the most valuable
articles in the current periodicals and