Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-07-12
Practical Value of Reference Books

THE grown up novel debauchee" is
the rather strong language in when
President Edwards referred to the con-
firmed fiction reader in his paper read
at the meeting of the library section
N. E. A. in Alhambra hall yesterday
afternoon. His subject, How the
full of splendid suggestions, which will
prove valuable to both teacher and
librarian.
Prof. Edwards said in part:
ut is a comparatively easy task to
point out ways in which the librarian
may render efficient aid to the teacher.
1t is more difficult to insure in every
instance that mutual confidence and
spirit of helpfulneSS between teacher
and librarian which are essential to any
real cooperation. In many cities the
joint efforts of librarian and teacher
are achieving an encouraging success
in training pupils to a wise use OF
books. That this cooperation does not
exist in every place may be due to local
jealousies, to a distrust of new methods
and outside aid, or to other similar feel
ings which may and should be over
come.
TT is also to be remembered that the
use of the public library as an aid to
the school is a comparatively new idea,
and neither school nor library can be
Immediately and everywhere adjusted
to the new relation. The library should
recting the reading of it's patrons, es-
pecially the children, into the pest
channels. But still more directly may
the librarian aid the teacher. He may
instruct the pupils in the use OF the
library, in the consultation of reference
books. etc. He may put into the hands
of the pupil lists of books for general
reading suited to his age. and lists OF
his school work. Often a collection or
selected books may be loaned to q
school at the time when they Will pc
specially wanted by the pupils. The
story hour is an established feature in
some libraries. And in many other
ways the school may profit by the in.
telligent and sympathetic assistance OF
the librarian. Let Librarian and teach
er consult together freely and they viii
find many avenues of mutual helpful
ness"
Librarian Should Be Teacher
President Wilkinson of Emporia'
Kas opened the meeting with an ad-
dress in which he treated of the librar-
ian as a teacher, and qualified this by
suggesting that the most eftlclent FORM
of teaching is the incidental form,
which is particularly in the province
of the librarian.
Mr.. Wilkinson said in part:
'The librarian should be estimat ted on
the basis of ability to teach Too IRE,
as people estimate, the work Of a janitor
The low view holds the librarian respon-
sible mainly for such things as Reepi 6f
the IN 5aer bnSs a are Of
important, but only as they contribute to
the real end of the librarians work,
which is the teaching of the reader
Teaching is the highest function of the
human being, and the conscious giving
Of instruction is the activity that most
distinguishes man from the other ami
mails He who creates and stimulates
desire for knowledge and places that
knowledge in the reach of the seeker is
doing the very best of service as
teacher. 60,
"The librarian is in charge of a field
where many go at first for casual broWs-
ing only He should be able so to herd
ali who enter this field that they will
find rich pastures and be sure to come
again. The reader may come seeking an
Inferior book, but the librarian, If not
able to furnish the book sought, should
be able to find some other that will inter-
est The reading of inferior books would
rot be a loss of time if 1t should be the
way of approach to an interest in good
books. Without the guiding influence Of
a living present personality, the habit of
reading worthless books is likely to be-
come fixed and the time spent upon them
to be worse than wasted. If reader is
to grow he must be helped to a compre-
hension of books beyond his grasp. The
putting of the question 'Understandest
thou what thou readest?' opens the way
for instruction unto life and salvation
just as surely now as it did in the days
of Philip the eunuch.
while the library is properly labor
atory for independent research, the stu