The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-07
CHANGE IN SYSTEM
OF ISSUING BOOKS

one OF the very HI5l lhlNBS tue Dodlu OF
trustees OF the Deborah Cook Ssyies public
library OF Pawtucket should do after the
annual appropriations for the year have
been made by the city council. is TO insist
on the establishment OF a new system OF
issuing books from that institution. The
building In which this library Is located
T. a credit 10 the man through whose lib
erality IL was erected. 1t Is a credit 10 the
city. and IL Is one OF the show places
which is always pointed TO with pride 10
sIongers coming into the city. The In
terior is we'll arranged and on the shelves
In In the various rooms are large numbers
OF valuable books The building vas de-
signed with an eye 10 comfort and con-
venence OF the reading public OF the
community and the stranger who visits
the Interior OF the structure Is always well
pleased by what he sees.
But public library is not designed or
maintained' solely for it's pleasing effect
on the eye. The city does not make appro-
priations of from $4,000 10 $1,000 every
year for the support and maintenance OF
this institution simply 10 afford pleasure
TO the stranger who desires to visit the
show places Of Pawtucket This building
and the books within IL are for the bene-
fit OF the people OF Pawtucket. The city
council makes it's annual appropriations in
order that the people may be provided
with good reading. And by people" Is
not meant a little favored few. but all
OF the persons who care TO avail them
selves OF such an opportunity.
II Is a fact that under the system that IL
now In vogue AT the public library these
conveniences are not given to all who
desire them. On the shelves are a large
number OF books. They are supposed TO
be so placed that any one looking for
certain volume will have no difficulty in
finding II. But as matter of fact this is
all theory.
Unlike the system which is used in prac-
tically all up-to-date libraries there Is no
catalogue system OF any kind The patron
eoes to the shelves and selects his own
book and then takes II to the desk where
4; Is checked ov in the card. This Of IT.
self might not be such bad matter. II
IL was ever possible TO secure the books
that the patron desires. But strange TO
say. while month after month new books
are added to the library they never reach
the shelves till long after ther newness
wear of. Here is where the fault I'm the
system lies.
III a patron happens TO be a particular
friend OF the clerk at the desk he is
usually able TO secure a good book, for all
he had TO do is 10 ask IL there Is anything
good. when the clerk will take from a pile
under the desk some OF the latest addi-
tons. and he had the chance 10 make a
selection, and those which are left are
they have been taken for the pleasure and
convenience OF the next personally known
applicant who calls.
This statement is no exaggeration. 1t is
fact that II known to practically every
one who has had desire to use the IL
brary. IL is a conditions OF things which
should he changed. and Il should be the
duty of the board OF directors to see that
this change is effected at once This con.
dition OF things is nothing new 1t has
been going on for a long time. and 1t is
only fair to say that the fault lies with the
librarian. This position Is held by Mrs
Minerva Saunders. who has held II for
many years. II may be that when the IL
brary vas located in the rooms on North
Union street Mrs. Saunders was Sits
factory librarian. and IL is entirely prob.
able that she has the capacity 10 carry
on the work satisfactorily at the present
time. but II Is certain fact that Ii is not
satisfactory 10 those people who have
from time 20 time desired 10 take books
from the library TO find that because they
had no friends at court" they were
obliged to either go without or take books
that had long since passed from the
realms OF the --latest books"
The sum of $1,000 was appropriated
for the support OF the library last
wear and this ought 20 be quite suffi-
cient. There are those who believe
that II is altogether too much, and
as things are run there now there Is
irons were given the service which they
have right TO expect there would
not be a great deal OF fault found. aud
IT is certainly up to the board OF A.
rctors 10 see that there is change.
OPENED WINTER CARNIVAL.
The winter carnival under the aus
pices OF the Pawtucket Girls club.
which occurred last evening. was en-
tirely successful, and in spite OF the
rather unpleasant weather TN the early
part of the evening there was a large
attendance. The AFFAIR was held I'm
slater hall and the artistic instincts or
the young ladies was reflected In the
decorations. which were handsome and
elaborate and thoroughly I'm keeping
with the idea OF an entertainment OF
this character. Many green boughs
were used, and by means OF these and and
paper some rather pretty winter ef-
fects were produced.
There were numerous tables placed
about the room and on these were dis
played variety of articles through
the sale. OF which goody amount OF
money was taken in last evening.
=. These tables and those In charge OF
them follows:
Cafe-Miss Elizabeth Kenyon and
Mrs George Davis; drinks. Mrs Her
grabs Miss Annle Perrin, Miss Sarah
Arnold; household booth, Mrs: Edgar
Hale. Mrs. Herbert Lonsworth. Mrs:
candy. candy Miss Miss Maud i xrnold. Miss csth.
crime sherman, Miss Annie Butter
worth. Mrs. RuSsl Dana ana MIS-.
Robert Emerson; fancy work. Miss
Mary Adams: flowers. Miss Grace Hol-
cake, Mrs. J. r. v Matthew. Miss Char
lotte DelanX, MISS Lillian Ktopinson. ,t O,n,
members OF the club proved to be ono
OF tho features of the evening, aud
the girls acquitting themselves in the
difficult evolutions most creditably un-
der tho direction OF Miss Margaret
Iinsy, by whom they were trained.
Supper was served from until 1880
o'clock by tho members of the CLUB 10
. large number OF patrons, the tables
being set in the smaller hall.
The winter carnival will he continued
tonight and Saturday evening
MoNCRIEF-ARNoLD.
James Alexander Moncrief, Jr.. ana
Miss Edna Nav Arnold, both OF this CITY
were united n marriage at the tigh
street Universalist church last evening.
the ceremony being performed by tue
pastor. Rev l.. NJ Barney. Robert NJ.
Pollard was best man, and Miss Bertha
T. C'oaaehall was bridesmaid. There was