The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-04-19
LIBRARIAN ROBERTS ADVISES THE
"OPEN SHELF" DISPLAY Of BOOKS

been restored before introducing some
thing new.
Our staff changed slightly early in
the year In June Miss Wilde resigned
to take a position with the Wheeling
Commercial Association. Miss Mac
eigh succeeded her as third assistant
and Miss Margaret Grub was elected
to the vacancy made by Miss Aacelgh's
promotion.
Throughout the summer and fall We
received and prepared for immediate
use something like 80 cases OF books
for the soldiers overseas. which meant
pretty heavy work for a force so small
as ours.
During the time that we were under
tho ban we took an inventory Of our
books aud In other ways caught up with
some work that had Of necessity gotten
behind
BY rather inadequate means we have
recorded an attendance Of 1865 in the
reading room. and reference work done
To tho amount Of 3.52+. Our latest rec
ord shows 1858 books accustomed and
SPAS resident adult cards in use and i84
new cards issued from the Children's
Department. In addition VIC have is
sued los paid nonresident cards: 1885
new books have been added within the
year-2o5 worn-outs have been replaced
and lis have been discarded being
either out Of print or superfluous copies
and We have had bound 96 magazines
and $50 books. Fines. paid cards. and
lost books have nctted S315.4o.
From present indications we are
coming back" after the war. That the
ante-bellum organizations arc reriring
IS evident by the return Of our old-timc
patrons for the old-time assistance, and
the lately returned soldier is coming to
US with a newly awakened sense of the
library'S value to hin-thankS to the
work OF the American Library Assocta-
ton for the soldiers and sailors.
IN order to cope properly and effect
lively with the conditions OF the new era
which is already here we are moved 10
make and appeal which has been crying
for hearing for long time.
More and more We arc convinced that
the free public library Is a great insti-
tction-that it's mission is to be the In
spircr, helper. and the invigorator of
the city which maintains It The
Wheeling public library is an exception
ally good one for city Of our size: our
building is convenient and comfortable;
our staff will bear comparison with
that Of other Libraries of its size, I be-
lieve- In but one respect we have not
kept abreast of library progressive
still have the closed shelf. On a recent
visit to one of the foremost Libraries Of
the country-it was somewhat embar-
RAISING to have to admit to the head Of
the institution that We were not Of the
new order in that respect.
0P the history of libra rfeS
soon disclose the fact that the closed
shelf belongs to.ancient history and is
not many removes from the closed book
Would il not be we'll for us to enter
upon the new era In the spirit Of the
era casting off effects Traditional? 1t
will do no harm to consider this from a
business point Of view.
We have almost 10000 books upon our
shelves-that means at the lowest cal
culation as many dollars invested. Our
highest average daily circulation was
Alb and for the most part the same
books circulate over and over again. and
all the rest Of the 10000 stand mute on
their shelves-col1ecting dust and vast
ing away Of dsuse. Next year the pop
ular books Of this year will be relegatde
to the standing army Of unused books
and new ones will be overworked. Now
If a merchant find old stock collecting.
he Immediately seeks method Of dis
posing Of it: he feels that his business
is q losing one unless his stock keeps
on moving.
That is exactly the situation IN q
library. unless the stock keeps moving.
tht is being read. the investment Is a
losing one. Only few days ago, VIC
gave out a biography Of Lord Pelmers-
ton which he's not been out for q years
and there are many many other books
that have stood on the shelves for rs
| many years, like Little Boy Blues toys
waiting the touch Of (readeTs) hand.
The merchant doesn't hide his stock.
but psychologically makes the greatest
display possible to lure purchasers, and
it is generally conceded that the prlnci-
| Piles OF business man much be the prtn-
ciples of the library man, hence the
| argument for the open shelf Readers
are to be made by personal contact with
| books.
Gentlemen. II you can see your way to
a favorable consideration OF the open
! shelf proposition. we feel that results
| will amply Justify the move With very
/ slight change in arrangement, our build
| ing could be admirably adapted to. the
plan and we could do more work and
better work than we have ever done be-
fore. and at the same time give to the
! good people Of Wheeling a privilege
| tiently.
Very Respectfully.
E. NJ. ROBERTS, Librarian