Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-01-14
| LIBRARIANS COLUMN
Edited by Geo. H. Taylor,
City Librarian.

at more or less length the things OF
more or less interest in local way
pertaining to books and current liter
ature. i have not asked for the
space every week nor whole column
always, but l hope to find number
of things "literar. and otherwise"
that by reason of location or timeli-
ness will give THE Librarians Col
umn" something Of that current To-
cal interest that attaches to the 60
| ing of Mrs. Smith and the coming OF
Mr.. Jones.
Primarily l want to say something
about the greater popular use OF the
Public Library. Under the terms of
| the Carnegie bequest our little city
has assumed an obligation of $1,000
year. and it remains to be seen how
large interest we are gong to get on
our investment. Whether one thou
sand dollars a year will be spent
mainly in keeping green the memory
OF the dohor of the building, or in
the furnishing of a public institution
to which we can point with pride
whenever a prospective purchaser OF
real estate hits the town; or whether
we are going to work it for all it is
WORTH" as an inv ment of popular
education and culture second only in
importance to our public schools.
do not know what great authority
said it, but the monthly magazine OF
the American Library Bureau carries
as the motto on its title page this;
The Public Library is an Integral
Part OF Public Education: And the
recent growth of public libraries
among all enlightened peoples,
(thanks not little to the inspiration
and help given by Mr.. Carnegie): and
the altruistc and systematic work
these libraries are doing, fully war
rant the quoted statement.
NV recent report to the local Ii
brary Board :or the calendar year,
showing an issue OF almost one thou
sand books (o4ol per month since the
library opened would indicate that
we are doing fairly well, for 2 small
community. so far as the mere read
ing of books is concerned. ! might
go farther ard say that during the
last two months OF the period report
ed on. the classified list shows a
growing use OF books other than
light fiction: that our high school and
upper grades. Il. the suggestion OF
III. teachers, have been evidently do
ing some good supplementary read
ing and aiding their composition
work with material OF the better sort
from our library. There have also
been more books dealing with the
subjects of Religion and History ta-
ken out during Nov. and Dec. than
during any of the previous SIX
months. For these reasons l am JUS
. tilted in saying that so lar as the
original purpose OF pubic hotaiy
lis concerncd-thc lending OF books,
we may be said to be getting fair
return on our investment.
! The modern public library. howev-
er, stands for considerable more than
: this ii it is performing its full func-
| ton. II il Is being used to be best
and fullest advantage il bee comes an
active center OF intellectual life for
the community in which il exists. OF
. course much depends upon the size
OF the community and upon the equip
mcnt OF the institution. Neither Is
= its Reading Room and its Reference
) Department (cvcr when they are well
IfurnishedD. all of it. What library,
even 4 small town library like ours.
| is depends not simply on readers ior
! books. good as that Is in its way
but guidance and inspiration III read
: ing. Our excellent and cOmmodious
lecture room. (cvcry bit A. com:o7ta-
bic and inviting as the library read
ing room) ought to he turned to
greater use than VIC have yet got ont
OF it. II is Just the place for read
. ing and study classes and should
have something doing in 1t every one
OF these long winter evenings what
We need is the enthusiasts along some
special lines OF reading and study.
For instance:
The ChautauIuan magazine is on
our periodical tables. 1t has had
mapped ont in il 4 splendid course OF
| h. that would nave
jibcdf nicely with the program adopt
: ed By our Woman's Club. What
would have hindcrcd n handful OF
those less interested in the German
literature part OF the program. or
having more spare time than others,
forming a class for the specific study
of say that part of the Chautauquan :
program dealing with Woman in the
Progress OF Civilization. Another
handful might have taken UP ITS
Egypt section. say handful
because. while there is everything
the social contact for charging inter
est in a study. it is neither easy nor
!. necdful that the numbers be large;
and to drag in anyone who Is with
ont interest in the subject is deprcss-
ing instead OF helpful to such class
We ought to have even in town as
small as Rocky Ford such a number
as one might count on the fingers OF
. one hand at least. who are enough in
tercsted i'll Shakespeare to form a
Shakespeare study class. The Ii
brary has the excellent study edition
t of Shakespeare edited by VIM. J.
Rolfc, with notes and references And
| know of a few other sets owned in
. town. All we need is the Shake
spcarian enthusiast to lead off.
| 'Tb,S ;s ,n,rcl-- Suppestiyr of how
the lecture room might be profitably
utilized one evening a week or one
evening a month ~ 4 number OF such
study classes Another thing We