New-York tribune., 1907-12-12
Of Interest ~
" TO Uomen.
PRAISES OUR LIBRARIES
Circulating Ones Unique, Says
,Szcedish WOman Librarian.

Miss Valfrd Palmgren. the young Swedish wom-
an VINO sails for home to-day after a three months
study Of American libraries is taking back a most
enthusiastic report of our circulating system She
sent here by her government, being given
State Library at Stockholm. where she Is ASSIST
ant librarian. Considering that she holds sucn an
important appointment, one for when speclai
dspensaton from the King was necessary, as only
men are eligible state offices in Sweden; and
considering that she has gone deeply INTO phlIotoSS
speaks at least four languages fuently, and mas
y,or a doctors degree from UpsaIa University
considering all this. Miss Pa!mgren looks absuTdly
young She really is under thirty. and yesterday
when she talked with The Tribune reporter. dressed
in a blouse and walking skirt, with her curly DARK
hair knotted at the back of her head she looked
like u schoolgirl. AS for her manner, II Is a good
deal simpler and more una1ected 'iiah 1Hal u
some school girls. ~
Your circulating Libraries are wonderful" she
said There is nothing like them In Europe
nothing 1t is true there great libraries there
containing priceless books and old manuscripts, pg
is the historical idea; the HpTiries are IePoL
tories where books kept for future generations
What / think so beautiful about your librarles Is
that what the people want they must nave ana
the librarians there TO help them
Even the European reference Libraries are not
IKE yours In the great library in Paris there are
aanv booIls-yes: but II is not easy get at them
You have not simply 10 ill out card ana hailo II
10 a librarian and In a few moments set you
book as in the Astor Library here you must 90
number Of things. and wait long whIe- Inc
methods are antiquated. =. ,.
HoNever it is not reference Ibrarles put cIrcu- n
latinC Libraries, that Miss PalmSren has beeh
studying here. Her country has not oone huct III
way O providing people with DOCKS 10 Iedu III
their homes. The few circulating iofaIleS o"eo i
has are not systcmatized Some are under state anu
some under municipal control ana some are ~ y 49,
enterprises They open only two hours Gay,
And in your country the Libraries are open
twelve hours day" said Miss Palmgren. But sIle
would not say whether her visit here was likely "
result in any library changes in Sweden. lheS @
nave not told me their hereafters, she said sill-
Ing. They sent TO see what could see fe,
haps when 1 get home can do something myselL
for circulating Libraries, but there IS so uiuch 70
do do not know where to begin. Sweden has not
seemed to see the need OF providing BOOKS anu
then there is always the money question: 0"euen
is poor-not like this country
what libraries have you visted!
Il have been here three months ana seen a'
least four n day" said Miss Palmgren / saw 'he
Historical Library, in Madison Wis.-the loveIes,
city in the world 1 think; and that Is beautl1ui
library l the Chicago libraries ana those ~ ~
many Western cities, and everywhere an the h-ast,
and everywhere 4 Is the same SO rnuch IS dohe
for the people. I don't think they realize how much
is done for them. Why in places where there are
foreigners the Libraries have books Tor them IN
their own tongues. In Providence, whero there are
many SHedes there is library of Swedish books
Thee are libraries OF Yiddish books, German and
French / was much interested in your New YORK
library for the blind Europe does nothing IKE
that The schools thero-schools for the bind l
nearl-haye books in raised print. but not the IL
braries supported by the governments But the
best thing about your libraries is the work in the
children's department. Have you ever been in one
of YOUR libraries when the children come for books?
If not do GO 1t is worth seeing. We have no
chiIdrcn's libraries in Sweden. nor do the schools
there work in conjunction with the libraries as
they do here
Miss Palmgren has been d great traveller every
where in Europe THAT made it so interesting 10
come here" she said. There points of con-
trast. but l may say, without exaggeratlon' that
have never enjoyed any country as have enjoyed
this You have Il beautiful country you Americans.
And YOU have 50 much You are not over
crowded, are.
"Did | come here alone? Yes, but l didn't mind;
| knew IL would be pleasant, and / was right
Everybody has been delightful 10 me, and
everywhere il has been made easy for me to see
what | wanted TO see. In Washington l had the
Measure OF meeting President Roosevelt What did
think of him? / thought him remarkable man.
He has such an eager interest in everything, your
President. or course ] visited the Congressional
library. 1t is beautiful There are many things in
America I wanted to see for which didn't have
time; but l sent 10 study your circulating
libraries and now my time is up and l must go
home