Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-12-17

Mrs. c. |. Hodges Gives Her Expert
snes 70 tks " Library commsssIon.

- - - 49,
Joys" Mrs. Anne (DuBois) Hodges pub
fishes IN the last Bulletin Of the Vermont
Library commission q delightful article
revealing the aims and pleasures Of her
four years service In the Kimbau Public
library in which she did such good and
enduring work. The story Of her expert
enee, full OF inspiration aud the happi-
ness always found in labor for the things
worth while, will be OF great interest to
the many patrons OF the library who
knew and appreciated the value OF her
work in this community. Mrs. Hodges
writes:-
II Is pleasure to me to have chance
TO suggest some Of the joys and privileges
Of being All amateur librarian. l appre-
ciate the fact that the rewards and posi-
ton OF professional librarian are much
more often discussed and may be Of much
more impo -tance, bat believe the every
day results Of the work are as effective on
the life Of the amateur.
] call a non-professional librarian an
amateur, bat that doesn't Imply that the
work 10 the library was simply recreation
and with no object. call myself an am
ateur; for had no library training and
had never considered library work as
profession until it was practically thrust
upon me. In fact, felt had no right
to consider It q possibility. So my de-
light as the work impressed me with its
scope, its seriousness and its pleasures
and posi- oilities, was that Of an explorer
IN a strange land. won't speak Of the
result Of an amateurs work. Library
trustees may not find so much pleasure in
Il. only hope my four years work was
not all superficial. / surely hope I gave
something for what had given me.
went into new building with 1000
new books--we were all new, and our ball
ance wheel was an old library OF about
5000 volumes which began to accumulate
in 1860. We had no magazines, the read
ing room was an innovation, also the re-
quired quiet In the building. The trus-
tees were in close touch with each days
work, the townspeople were eager in
their interest and the children were inter
esting in their eagerness. EreaIize / was
given . splendid opportunity and one
that seldom comes. / worked for three
months with q man who re-catalogued
the old books and established Tor as the
Dewey classification. . card catalogue,
etc. II was q worthy work and the re-
suits have been q great satisfaction.
had not long been alone and In charge
before began to realize l had a large
task before me. / was like many others
on the outside who felt that library work
was simple, was work in q straight line,
more or less mechanical and just with 3
daily routine to meet. How decidedly
that IL the opinion Of the average layman
have come to know more and more, as
has everyone in the work doubtless. They
agree that library is an advantage to the
town, a good thing for the community,
they enjoy it thoroughly themselves and
give ungrudgingty their one-eighth OF
one cent on taxes for its support. and
they arr good friends Of the librarian.
But maybe they do not realize that IL
brary to be valuable must never stand
still; II must grow in power with every
book added; must make for itself place
that not hing else will fill; must make il
self not only necessary as q depository, &
\ storehouse, an exchange, bat must make
itself extremely interesting and vital. A
dead library is q sad affair, II Is much
more hopeless than no library. had used
large Libraries and small libraries but
never knew what had to be back OF the
librarians desk until / stood there alone,
and knew the problem OF this library
usefulness was for me to attempt to solve.
With the realization of the chance given
me came deep interest and an inspira-
ton, and / count an inspiration that il
real as a great Joy.
! know Il IL human nature to like "a
/ feel We are q necessary part Of this
worlds work, and q librarian, even Z
very small one, can realize she has share
in q world movement, q state and nation.
al movem ent. and that her work counts
either for better or worse. OF course
she mustn't expect to see startling results
| from her work alone, but ii has placs
and q share and an influence. That was
joy to me and always an encourage
ment.
There are so many phases Of library
work that one can surely find her favorits
sphere of activity among them. In 9
small library the librarian has certain
amount OF executive work, of disciplinary
practice. pedagogical suggestion, social
activity and interests, and literary devel
opment, and there is always q chance fol
Intellectual growth and a splendid oppor.
tunity for it. In other words Librarian
must be able to keep a petty cash &C
count; keep the library in order; keep thu
books in place; look over inteIligently th'
abundant supply OF catalogues. circulars
ETC.. which each mail brings, and pici
out the wheat from the chat; keep thl
children quiet in the reading room lever
when they are looking at funny pictures)
and yet make them feel glad they cam
and want to come again; suggest 4
teachers something several children hav'
! found interesting to read aloud in schoo
for recreation; supply poems on Washing
ton ss,shich are not too old" when pu
oil brings q note over in school hours
follow the literature classes In thei
readings, and have pictorial war refer
ences at hand. She must make guest
/ Of townspeople welcome. and learn some
thing Of libraries in their towns, oftel
. getting very useful library suggestions
she must keep in touch with books beinl
published, books running serially. know
! how good they are or how poor. and VIII
would enjoy them; she must watch to
book on special subjects for customer
who nave asked it, and she must--an'
can with no effort I think-be intruste'