The evening world., 1920-08-03
Odd Queries
Puzzle Staff
At Public Library
Big Organization Is Called
on for Facts, Figures,
Dates and AdUice.

TT would be hard to prove whether
lending books for reading at home
or providing them for study and
reference within the building is the
more important duty Of a public
library, says a writer in a recent
number Of the Library Bulletin of the
New York Public Library. Few per
sons, after reflection. would contend
that answering questions is more i'm
portant than either, but no libra tan
will deny that 1t is a notable part of
his work, and that the demands
made upon him by inquirers are In
cessant and of the most extraordi-
nary variety. A question brought to
a library, either by letter or by word
Of mouth, may be answered In sec
ond, OF It may require hours of re-
search by the librarians and weeks
or months OF study by the ouestioner.
There Is no satisfactory way =
count the number OF questions cs>svd,
In any given time, of the New York
Public Library. Whether the inquirer
applies by letter, goes to the informa-
rooms of the reference department
in the Central Building, or TO one Of
the numerous agencies of the circu-
lation department outside that
building, his question falls into one
of three classes. First, there are
simple questions about the library
and its books, which are answered at
once without reference to any book.
Typical of these inquiries would be
n question about the resources OF the
different parts of the library; re-
quest for the title of a good book upon
subject which has a great body
OF literature--as Napoleon or the
American Civil War. Second, there
are questions to be answered not in
Btantly, but in moment or two, by
consulting one Of the obvious books
Of reference, Third, there are diff
cult problems which require research.
Probably the library succeeds In an
swering at least 30 per cent. OF what
may be called the important and legit-
innate questions. Inquiries that lie
within the field OF rational science, OF
literature in its widest sense, of his-
tory, or OF the known record OF mans
thought may fairly expect an answer.
1t Is the freak" question in science,
the dubious by-path OF history, the
stray quotation which present difficult
ties. These and the fugitive" poem
so-called, perhaps, because II Is a fll-
gitive from the justice which IL nigh:
receive from q competent critic-oftnn
go their doubtful and anonymous
way. with their mystery. whatever II
Is, unsolved. Perhaps the sum OF the
worlds knowledge is not seriously
lessened.
Here are a few unanswered ques-
lions, sent by letter to the New York
Public Library in the early months
OF this year:
"Will you kindly give the name Of
the publication, as well as the pub-
lishers name, of a book OF diagrams
and charts showing wiring systems of
all cars, including 1920 models?" -.
Can you give me any information
-author-publisher - date - about
/ book on the San Domingo revolution
My customer thinks Il wal
published thirty or forty years ago.
and that the title may have been
| Evenings in Boston,"
II should be greatly obliged II you
would let me know in which volume
| OF Jerome X. Jerome his A Most Tn
common Patient appears"
kindly advise me II you have the
| following work: photographic de la
Papeterie, by Charles Dumercy. Brux-
Giles: F.. Larcier. 1888 If not, could
| you direct me to an American library
where this photography could Le
found2"
About twenty-five years ago there
appeared in some magazine or news
paper n poem entitled Jonathan Jay
1t was about q poor little boy who
had to wear his fathers big boots 70
school, and tho other boys made fun
Of him. I want TO get q copy Of this
poem, and write 70 know II you can
tell me where can get it
"One OF our newspapers has beon
asked for the author of the line:
How to the line. lot tho chips fall
where they may
Can you, out of the wealth of YOUR
department, dig It up7"
About two months ago 1 road.
either in the New York Evening Post
or some other Newspaper or periodi-
cal, among the book reviews, an ar
ticle reviewing q book on PArlia-
mentary Form of Government, by a
French author. member of the French
Chamber OF Deputies . IshouId
like to have the accurate title of the
book, with name OF author and pub
Usher .. remember that n
had been translated from the French
and that the English version had been
published"