The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-23
HOW THE LIBRARY
GAINED A FOOTING
Looked Dark About Two Years
Ago
MUCH PROMISED NOW
Under Direction of Miss Greene and
Miss Chapman Institution Has
Reached Early Maturity.
Opening In October.
MUCH PROMISED NOW
BY EDWARD roRGEsoNT.


The campaign that has been started in
interest of the betterment of the Bir-
mingham public library is progressing
splendidly. 1t is generally believed by
those who are backing the project of af-
fording the people of the city the many
advantages of free public library that
the time is not far distant when the hopes
entertained for such an institution will be
realized. The movement for the estab-
Isl ment of the library has led ia pre-
Curious existence since the time when the
idea Was first entertained. 1t began three
years ago, when a number of Birming-
hams leading citizens called attention to
the fact that the city was sorely in need
of free public library, where the edu-
cational idea might be carried out as
regards the masses who were denied the
opportunity of self-education because OF
the lack of one.
At the time some enthusiasm was
aroused, The organization known as the
Birmingham Public Library association
was formed, but 1t seemed that interest
In the !; Ian was lacking, and the member
ship of the association was not as large
as was heedful A library numbering
some 12,000 volumes, including reference
books and official government reports,
which was maintained by the Board of
Education and membership fee of 81. so
per year, fffclded an excellent nucleus
for future enlargement Since that time
| the members of the association have been
| tireless and conscientious workers for the
| good of the library. Absolutely no in
| ducement was offered them further than
the desire 10 strive for the public well
fare in aiding the library movement.
Great strides have been made toward
reao hing the desired end In the first
place, the number of volumes in possess
sion of the library has been increased to
1900 The literary clubs of the city have
! been active in making and securing do
nations OF books To these organizations
and to the donations of private individually
as we'll as to the work of the library az
ISOLATION, much credit is due for the in
creased number OF volumes
An Attractive Library.
| In addition to the new books obtained
Improvement fas progressed In many
| other lines. In almost every way the IL
brary has been made more attractive.
When the cid plan was in operation only
the magazines and reference books were
open TO these visiting the reading rooms.
All this, however. has been altered. After
careful study an excellent scheme of
shelving was devised. whereby visitors
and those not members of the library
might have free access to all books Be-
fore these improvements were made II
was necessary for the librarian to make
use of a stepladder In order to reach
many of the volumes.
Several new rooms have been thrown
open, among them being the new apart
ment to be appropriated for a special
children's department. In the near future
tho gallery of the council chamber will
be floored, thus affording spacious room
for new books. The reference department
has been greatly improved by being
transferred from the small room In which
1t was formerly located into larger and
more adequate quarters.
The membership of the libraray has
perceptibly increased of late. The
special plan Of charging 20 cents for
q months subscription met with much
seocess. many taking advantage of the
OPP ortunity of becoming members for
the vacation period. The visitors to
the reading rooms are many. This fact
alone goes to show that tho library has
become more popular with the general
public than ever before.
system of Catalouinu.
Every modern facility has been en-
ployed to simplify the operation of the
library. Prominent among these is
the new system of cataloging the
books that has been recently adopted.
The method is that Endorsed by the
American Library association, and en-
ployed in leading Libraries throughout
the country. 1t consists mainly in the
fling of various cards, bearing the
name, the name of the author and a
general description Of each book in the
library. For each colume four cards are
put on file. one containing the name
of the special class of literature to
which the book belongs, as history.
philosophy, politics and the like; one
with the name of the book; one bear
ing the authors name and a fourth the
number of the volume. By means of
this innovation it may be learned
whether the book Is out by simply re-
ferring to the file. The system was
invented by Melville Dewey man
prominent in library work in the state
of New York, and Is in general use In
libraries throughout the United States.
Public Opening In October.
On the first Of October the library
will be thrown open to the public and
all people of good repute may become
members. To insure the good purpose
of all desiring to become members, 1t
will be required of each to have his
application signed by a taxpayer OF
the community The memberships
taken out will be valid for a period
of five years. and may be forfeited for
sufficient reason.
Among the books that will be ac-
cessible to the public will be a collec-
ton Of works on technical subjects,
which will doubtless prove of special
interest to workmen and students in
the various fields. The Pastors union
of this city is working to secure a de-
partment in the library devoted to
books on theological subjects. 1t is in
tended to provide source Of informa-