The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1909-09-02

milan and Hungarian dsalets, who
are very proud of the fact that
tour librarian lives with u.s." and
then they come to the library and
get books from her. In the chill
dren's room of this library, two or
three women of high education,
technical training and noble per-
sonal qualities are constantly en-
gagged with the children who come
there. They assist, advise, and
guide with an parent absence Of
intention or design that masks q
comprehe nsive study Of the chill
dren. their needs, abilities, and
the scope of their comprehension. I.
In one case "easy books" are pro.
vided for the child who has al
most to spell his way through; in
another thrilling incident of a
book is read to enthrall the inter-
est of the boy who is inclined to
be unruly; another is reminded of
the Library League motto, "Clean
hands, clean hearts, clean books, "
and directed to the wash. basin /;
while books for the parents who
read English only with difficulty
are chosen with care and sent out
with joy.
In Libraries 80 situated especial
emphasis is laid upon the develop
ment of patriotism. On natural
holidays picture bulletins and
other exhibits suitable to the oc.
casion are developed with great
care, and that librarian felt well
repaid, who, on Washington g
birthday, heard a crowd of foreign
looking children dividing them
selves into those who were "born
in Bohemia" and those who, more
fortunate, are eligible for the
Presidency!
Does this sound like work fol
good citizenship Well, this toe
is library work.
| Another very interesting work
is in the way of clubs and reading
circles. There is time at ahou,
the period'of adolescence when il
seems necessary to belong to {
n club. Some librarians have turn
ed this instinct to advantage by
forming clubs in which books ant
reading are a part. Clubs for th'
study of birds, insects, botany, de
batting clubs and reading circles
all may center around the library
and be under the influence of ,
librarian who acts as guide, phi
losopher and friend. This worl
is immensely interesting and capa
BILE of infinite adaptation.
For the smaller children there il
the Story-Hour, now a part of th'
regular work of almost every
library. Stories are told, eithe,
by the librarian or by voluntee
assistants, always with the objec
of leading to an interest in books
For young children or for Hitter
ate children the stories must b.
simple and of absorbing interest
the object at first being simply tt
enlist the interest and secure tn,
friendship of the children. Stel
by step they are led on into tht
realms of good literature and fint
feeling. The world-old myths anG
legends are presented first in theil
natural story telling form. Robir
Hood, the Knights of the Round
Table, and all the heroes of tn.
days of chlvalry are made known
through the story hour. A wei
told story creates seasons inter
est in the books where it can be
read and again enjoyed in the
reading.
| 1t has been said that "the story
of the hour is an opportunity, first
OF all to give keenest joy to the
child and at the same time to sci
his standard for judging Other
stories by those he hears, to give
him love for beautiful form, to
introduce him to books he might
never choose for himself and to
bind him to the friend who tells
him stories go that he will feel q
confidence in her suggestions.
Our purpose in telling stories is
to give familiarity with good
English, to cultivate the imagina
ton, to develope the sympathy
and to give clear impression OF
moral truth"
Lists of suitable stories with
suggestions as to the telling have
been compiled by the Pittsburg
Public Library and by others, and
would be as valuable to mothers
and to teachers as they are to
librarians.
This work with children brings
us naturally to the subject of Co.
operation between the library and
the school. The forms which this
takes are as varied as are the indi-
vidualities of schools and Libraries
of teachers and librarians. In
general It may be said that the
librarians stand ready to do any