St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1912-01-26
The Library
LIBRARY BLUE PRINT.


asked II she might take home a H..
brary book for her father on her
own card. She was given the book
along with an adult application
blank aud a request that her father
fill out the other before calling for
other books
"Oh, no." she exclaimed, che
doesn't want to join.
II was explained that it would be
necessary for him to do so II he
wished to continue using the libra
~, because there are many of the
adult books which cannot be given
out on juvenile cards
well, said the little girl, "can
he join without going through all
that blue printl"
Without whatp"
Without all that blue print
He said he wasn't going to go thru
all that blue print. "
"Wasn't 1t red tape your father
said ?"
"Oh, yes, that was IL, red tape" ="
This incident raises the question
of how much "blue print is re-
qured in the securing of library
privileges aud why IL is required.
The application blanks which
are given out on request contain a
printed agreement to the effect that
the undersigned will obey the libra
ry rules, pay all fines and give inn
mediate notice OF change of address.
This the applicant is required to
sigh in ink, because the applications
are kept on file for years, aud in
addition he must secure as refer
euce the signature OF one adult res
ident OF Multnomah county outside
OF his immediate family, who is
willing to vouch for his character.
He may then draw books at once.
II is conceded that II is sad to
consider how many independent
minded people may be hungering
after knowledge and yet nobly de-
elining to satisfy that hunger be.
cause their principles forbid their
bowing TO all this iormality.
We think il must be principle,
not simply dislike of effort that the
objection is made. II is something
on the same principle, no doubt, as
that by which our forefathers de-
cllned to drink taxed tea, no matter
how small the tax. "No blueprint
no matter how little" How this
would have CALLED Lincoln, who
walked barefoot ~ miles to secure
a book and husked corn three days
10 earn anotherl If he had been
required To make out a library APP
plication blank in order to gain ac-
cess to several thousand volumes
no doubt he would have indignant.
ly refused and chopped rails all his
lie rather than gain knowledge
thus.
This is a free country. Secure a
reference to a mans characterl
Why, history tells us some of the
noblest men who ever lived have at
times been so misunderstood that
they had not a single friend out
side their own family. If one of
these geniuses walks into the St.
Johus library is he to be refused a
book ? Terrible to contemplate,
but il is feared he is. The libra
rians would gladly trust any aud
all men without limit, but unfortu-
nately the books belong not to the
Librarians but to the people and the
people are yet so narrow minded as
to wish to put some slight restric-
tions about their property.
Some consolation lies in the tho't
of what a splendid incident the just
supposed case would furnish for
the biography of this genius, how
he was once turned away from the
St. Johns library. What focks of
tourists would seek us out in the
futurel We venture to guess the Ii
brary would thus give more aid to
the Booster club in turning away one
genius than in serving 40 common
men.
The library is indebted to anoth-
er of its would-be patrons for a sug-
gestion which may be of value to
any friendless genius. This patron
chose a book, but on finding what
"blue print must be gone through
with, murmured: too much tom
my-rot" and walked out with dig
nifty. The next day he sent his wife
to go through the "blue print and
secure his book. Perhaps your
wife, not being a genius, may be
able 10 secure a reference