The Somerset reporter., 1906-11-22

simple literalness that ii was to keep
the children from touching The books.
did not inquire # they were afraid the
books would cite, out | changed the
form of my question and asked why the
barrier was regarded as necessary She
answered that the stackroom was closed
to the public, and therefore these books
could not be- handled by the children.
Ii seemed 10 me a Gu ious example OF
inverted reasoning, and | was reminded
of the Australian judge who advised
his young and unframed professional
brother never to give reason for his
decisions, for SAID he, "your deci-
sions, If you follow your best judgment,
will generally be right, but your reasons
are sure to be wrong" However nee
essary the action of this library may be,
the reason given is surely of the boom
erang order, for If the general collection
be closed, the need is greater that spe-
cial collections like reference books and
children's books should be open. In
contrast to this experience, | visited a
few months ago the new Carnegie IL
brary In Washington, and found the
whole body of fiction on open shelves In
a large front room, and was told that 1t
is the purpose of the management to
bring the entire collection of books
from the rear stack rooms, and arrange
them in the other large well-lighted
front room, whore every one can see and
handle them. On my asking If there
would be room for all | was answered
that there would be plenty of room for
there were only 10000 (This is a
strictly Washington view OF number).
1t is often the mistake of trustees rather
than of librarians that book stacks are
closed, and som shines seems to be the
fault of architects rather than either.
When large number of reference and
standard works and chlldren's books are
on open shelves, as In the Boston Public
Library, the evil is minimized. 1t Is I'M
deniable that the open shelf adds mate
rally to the labor of the librarian, but
it is labor In good cause. If some re-
strictions seems absolutely necessary on
account of the smallness of the library
force, surely it could be made without
entirely closing the stacks. They could
be closed during rush hours, admittance
could be given to a limited number at
time. and this admission could, if
thought best, be by ticket, none being
allowed to enter when the tickets we're
exhausted. Limitations such as these
would not prevent every well DenaFeu
person, child or adult, from enjoying at
some times the privileges of the shelves.
1t is case where high license is to be
preferred to prohibition
That the library may In the fullest
way serve the reader, larger privileges
in the taking out of books need to be
given To take out at a time six or
eight or ten books on one subject or for
one purpose, means very much more
than TO take the same number consecu-
lively. Why should not the minister
take home an armtul of books from
which he can illustrate his sermon or
address? Why should not the woman
who ID arranging "a program for club
or d. A. r meeting carry away num-
Der of volumes to Gull fromP The books
are made to be used, ana they should
go to those who can use them, and not
be left to mold on the shelves. This
need of allowing more books to be TAX
en-, if the standard and older part of the
library is to be as useful as it should be,
is recognized by many libraries Some
give student or non fiction cards in ad-
dton to the general cards, and 1 have