Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-10-28
THE VALUE Of A
GOOD LIBRARY
Written by Mrs. Geo. Gibson
and Read by Mrs. E. B. Brun-
dage at Federation Meeting,
October 14th.

SVkVbSI ETSits
We read in history of the age of
stone, the age of bronze, the golden
age, the Georgian age, the Victorian
age,-we have now arrived at what
may be dominated with undoubted
propriety,- the Age of Study. Sure
ly never before, in the history of the
world, has the public awakened to
its resp sponsibilities, in this direction,
as at the present time, and the all
pervading quest for knowledge is pur-
sued with a mental avidity little short
of the miraculous. Nowhere is this
quest more plainly recognized than
in the public libraries.
A hundred years ago these reposi-
tories of literature were unknown
in the country, and though the state
ment may seem too incredible for be-
lief it is not much more than 60
years ago since the first tax-support-
ed public library was founded in
Boston. Less than Is years ago the
first "children's room" was opened.
Today books flow from the press in
beWildering flood while thousands
of public libraries are scattered thru
the land, with commodious rooms de-
voted to student use, and a staff of
librarians especially trained to care
for them All these are a part from
the benefactions of Mr.. Carnegie,
which are in some respects, the most
noteworthy events of the past ten
years.
So rapid has been the development
of library work, and SO considerable
the expenditure of time and money
for the purpose, that critical pub
lie may pertinently ask ''What af-
ter all is the true value of a pub
lie library to a community" In a
five minute talk it would be impos-
sible to give any comprehensive ans
wer to the query. One can merely
/ hint at the advantages, educational,
moral and intellectual derived from
good reading, in broadening and stim
ulating the youthful mind, and in
forming childish ideals that go far
toward fixing lasting standards OF
right and wrong. We can all remem-
Der the thrill that came to us in the
story of Cinderella, and the persecu-
tions she suffered at the hands OF
her imperious, and evilly disposed
step-sisters. How our hearts revoltet
at their tyranies, and what a relief
it was, to our strained sympathies
when the Prince found his lovely
lady in the owner of the little glass
slipper.
In the splendid pages Of Froissart
with his dazzling descriptions OF
wars and tournaments, Sir Walter
Scott confessed to having received
the first inspiration to his border
tales and the marvellous presenta.
tions of pageantry of cloth, of gold
and knights and ladies, depicted in
his famous world read story Of Ivan
hoe, which in turn inspired other
and chivalry. There can be no ques-
ton but that books have been the
nle kers of men. Perhaps few can
understand how much Froedle's child
studies have done for the children
of England, Germany and America
how much we owe to the books OF
Elerce of the Andes, Of Livingston
who created markets in the dark con
tinent: Of Lindall with his works on
light and water; of Ruskin with his
laws of art transferred from studios
to every department of modern life
and the delights engendered by the
re-aWakening to the beautiful in ma
ture through the enchanting pages
Of Elizabeth in her German garden.
We hear of good books being of
fered to children for the purpose of
cUltivating in them, the so-called
reading habit" an offensive term
suggestive term of the alcohol ha-
bit'and the <'opium habit, why not
rather say for the purpose of ac-
quainting them with the pleasures of
reading, andfostering a refined taste
in the literature of knowledge and
the literature of power lie wide fields
to be developed.
Literature means light on the path
the thoughts of men who have lived,
loved, succeeded or brave1y failed
literature turns its light on the dead
past, and makes it live again. Let
/ ters shed their radiance upon life S
open road, and make existence beau
tiful and bright. The men who live
in ihiStOry are simply those whose