New-York tribune., 1908-01-12
HELPING THE CHILDREN.
Young Folk a Special Care of TIE
Ne1g York Public Library.

The New York Public Library gives the chld
a large place in its activities Through eyey
avenue Of approach II IS stimulating an interest
in books. especially books Of value In general
culture. 1t is creating In the children the read
ing habit and showing them how to satisfy T.
Almost as much space is devoted to childrea
as to adults. Thirty-six of the branches have
chi1dren's departnents. In each Of the nev
Carnegie buildings practically all OF the second
floor Is set aside for their use Here are lcv
tables and small chairs OF different Ehes
adapted to the changing needs Of The Developing
forms Of growing readers The woocW0rk -
attractive and the walls and windows are nade
bright with pictures and Towering plants Tns
book stacks are low and the books are SItnfa
reach OF the children. who learn here no" 70
take care OF city property and to reverence
book There are no a'Don'ts'' on the walls or a
the air. From time to time the decorations ars
changed for variety's sake. and every hond2y
is marked by appropriate pictures ana oeco-
rated placards indicating books the reading G
which would be especially interesting IA yies
Of the approaching anniversary. IL II Is Long
fellows or whittier's birthday which VII soon
he at hand the children soon discover it BIZ the
ROW of appropriate books conveniently laid
ont for their inspection. In charge OF the chI%
dren's room are always placed women who have
a special faculty for coming IN sympafneue
touch with children and who love them
So tnportant is this phase Of the library W rk
considered that director Of this kind Oh WORK
ia attached to the staff OF the chief OK the erc-
1ation denartnent This director, Miss Annie
Carroll Moore. studies how to make the
library more attractive TO young folk Attached
in turn to her staff are persons who can ten
stories particularly well They Vislr me ch-
ferent branches on days and az hours which are
oIf IN a6vanca Tickets
Of admission are given to those who vii be most
likely to be interested in the particular story To
be told. It may be fairy story or hero story.
or some other kind Of story: but It is always Of
kind that will appeal to the child Imagination.
Just before last Christmas exhibitions Of books
and pictures were arranged IN certain branches.
They were intended to convey to the children
useful suggestions for making Christmas gifts
Civic responsibility lately taught By the
process Of appealing to the aesthetic side Of ths
child nature. The best editions OF several chl-
dren's books were purchased. those which were
most beautifully bound and Illustrated. and were
the best that money could buy These were
placed In branches where the poorest children
and those OF foreign parentage might see them
Having given evidence that their hands were
clean, the children were permitted to look al
them in the library. Foreign born parents visit
ing the library and seeing their children handling
books Of self-evident quality were impressed
with the spectacle. 1t Is said that some OF these
books were handled many two hundred
times by East Side children without receiving
any more damage than they would have been
likely TO receive in a cultivated home
The idea of stimulating interest in books other
than fiction by suggestion is carried on among
adults well children. The American
Museum Of Natural History co-operates with
the library. The two in their desire to popular
ize the kinds of entertainment and information
which they have collected for the use Of the
public work together. The museum sends
out travelling exhibits Some Of these are dis
played in the library buildings Such Is that
which Illustrates Arctic life and exploration. at
the Hudson Park branch. and that illustrating
Indian customs and life, with special references,
to LongfeIloW's 'Hiawatha-" at another branch
These serve to stimulate reading on the subjects
illustrated.