Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-03
A GREAT MOVEMENT.

A GREAT MOVEMENT.
The establishment OF free public II
brarles Is becoming Il great movement
In IL majority of the American states.
1t Is not generally known here that
during the last two years free public
libraries have been opened in Eureka,
Cedar city, IEphraim. Forest DALE and
Mantl; that at the latter city an ar
mory- gymnasium building that cost
1872. COO was formally dedicated to pub
lie use 10 months ago; that the Toocic
city library is practically completed,
with plans laid also for II $1,000 gym
nasiun: that PanEuitch and other
towns have organized their libraries
without waiting FOR the erection OF n
special library building that a library
or gymnasium tax. or both, has been
voted by the following and perhaps
other municipalities in Utah: Richheid,
Price, ycrnal. Elsinore; and that In the
following towns the school libraries
have been rendered accessible to the
public: I.chi. Pleasant Grove, Charles
ton. Hebcr City. Orangevillc. Fcrron.
orderyillc. Fillmore. Mammoth Wood
ruff, Park City. Morgan and other.
places.
These facts indicate something OF the
strength OF the library Gymnasium
movement in this State. What does 1t
all signify?
The motto of the American Library
Association is: THE best reading for
the largest number at the least cost. I"
This. We arc informed, is tho specific
nim also OF the Library Gymnasium
Commission of our own state. The
members OF this body hope to see n To-
cally established. locally supported. and
locally managed library and syn,ra-
SUM within easy reach Of every citizen.
The work done thus far by our State
Commission has consisted mainly OF
an educational campaign intended to
awaken an interest in, and to create en-
thusiasm for. these Institutions. While
few If any people are to he found who
oppose the establishment of Libraries and
gymnasiuns there arr not on the
other hand. many who are actively In
terested in their creation and MAIN
tenancc by the public. To bring the
people generally irto the attitude of
lending active support to this cause.
will require much effort and very
thctful presentation of tho value of tho
library and gymnasium as means
of uplifting tho youth.
Tho effects of the work already un-
lertaken, however, arc. in many locali-
ties plainly manifest from the definite
action that has been taken and the
serious consideration that IL everywhere
given to these matters.
In general. the people feel that the
temperance movement has In the IL
brnry and gymnasium its most effective
ally and that these institutions provide
| the most feasible sensible and whole
some substitute for the saloon and for
| street loafing. Temperance advocates
hail the movement with especial cnthu-
| siasm. as do all people actively work
| Ing for political reform aud social bet
tcrmcrt.
| At present the time seems ripe for
more thorough going action The Com
mission should be authorized and en-
| couragcd by tho legislature to take FUR
ther and greater steps in the various
directions in which this marked prog
ress has already been made.
We observe from u recent Indiana re-
port that n special feature Of the work
| In indianapolis Is the very close reu-
tion between the library and tho
schools. Tho library maintains n special
department, whose sole function Is to
| aid teachers and pupils in their refer
| cncc work. Tho assistant In charge
| Of the department visits public and pri-
| vatc schools at least once during the
! year and talks to the upper grade chill
dren. invites them to the library and
teaches them how to use the catalogue
aud books to the best advantage In con-
| ncct!on with their school work. Tho
public library OF this city makes GER
| tain provisions in this direction, besides
nffording special opportunities for libra
| rans from the smaller towns to study
| library methods rs worked out and
applied in this successful example of
/! n public service library. Tho Commits
sion hopes to be able to establish among
the various librarians an association for
mutual mid and stimulation, especially
IN tho best methods OF reaching and
/. serving the public with good reading
matter