The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-07-17
PLAN A LIBRARY
FOR The kIDDIEs
Board of Directors Is Con
sidering a Special Building
AS a Book Center For
the Children.
PART or EXTENSION PLAN

Believing that Wordsworth was right
when he said the child is father of
the man q directors Of the Gilbert M.
Simmons Library are going to make
the Kenoshans Of the future men and
women Of wide reading and culture by
the establishment Of a special library
for the kiddies. The idea is hardly
more than dream as yet, but dream
that may come true under the operation
of the library extension policy recently
adopted by the local library board.
The plan for the children s library
comprehends. a special building on d
site sufficiently spacious to allow a set
ting of shrubbery and flowers. From
the depths Of this natural loneliness
would rise a little palace, haunted by
the shades Of Peter Rabbit, Rapunzel,
Snow White, Sir Launcelot, and all of
the other heroes and heroines that grace
the lore Of chivalry and fairyland.
The exterior Of the building would be
staidly classical and follow in its main
lines, at least, the architecture of the
memorial library in the park.
The interior would offer more posi-
bilities for. a play of fantasy. Beyond
the marble atrium and the main lobby.
which would be of necessity very con-
lventional, would lie reading -rooms done
in gay shades Of rose and blue with
frescoed friezes depicting the advent
ures OF Don Quixote, the pilgrimage of
the child-crusaders, or the more modern
but equally mystical experiences of
Alice in Wonderland Everywhere
would be. suggestions Of the romance
that lies between the modest covers
Of books bound in pale green, laven-
der, or gray.
In an atmosphere Of this sort vibrant
with ldealism and poetry story-hours
would be conducted by talented story
teilers. The contributions in every in
stance would be borrowed from books
IN the children 8 library so that when
the Riddles clamored for more of the
same it would be available in volumes
adapted to their understanding and
In this way the children would learn
to enjoy books of the better kind be-
fore they were old enough to sneak
away into the garnet for a stolen hour
with Diamond Dick Jesse James ],
| "Beulah' or .sSt. Elmo.
The idea for the kiddies library has
been conceived by members Of the board
who have watched the growth and de-
velopment Of the children s work at
the Gilbert NJ. Simmons Library. They
have visited the small but CHEEKY base
ment room, have seen the youngsters en-
thralled by the offerings of the story
teliers, and have learned from the rec
ords at the desk that the call for
ch1ldren's books and children Is actiyi-
ties Tar exceeds the supply and facili-
Ties OF the main library in the park.
Accordingly they are exploiting the
idea OF new building for the children
as part of the Kenosha Library
Extension Plan.
Ihe suggestion has met with the
most instant favor wherever it has
Deen presented. School officials are es-
peclally anxious to see it succeed be-
cause It would supplement work Of the
same sort now efficiently but too infre-
quently introduced into the routine du-
ties OF the school-room. Parents, too,
are partial to the idea because they
see IN the kiddies library new institu-
ZION Offering Iplift for their children.
In spite Of the fact that the project
= still IN the dream stage, local ar
cnlfects Of vision are already drawing
tentative plans for the children IS
library and will shortly submit them
to the members of the Library
Extension Board.