Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-21
MISS JULIA w. WILLIAMSON
On the Library League

L boys and girls find the opportunity to
study current issues and problems. and 1t is
indeed amazing what they accomplish" ac-
cording to Miss Julia w. Williamson. su-
pervisOr of story telling and the Library
League of the Free Library of Philadelphia.
1T is most informal organization, she
said today. ''Nou know, James NJ. Beck
recently made a plea that the young men OF
the country, whatever their party affiliations,
organize to study the current issues. and in
n way the Library League is offering this
very opportunity 10 its boy and girl mem
bers. The intelligent interest shown is most
gratifying.
Started Library in 1906
I'VE started the Library League in 1906,
10 hold growing boys and girls in the transi-
tion period between public school and shop
or factory. The first scheme was to organize
among the boys and girls group of reading
clubs, to interest the members in good books.
These clubs were finally formed and then
loosely organized into league, so the
different groups in various parts of the city
could get into touch with each other.
I'VE so arranged matters that each club
was self governing. A simple form Of par
liamentary practice was used. Under this
plan we soon found the clubs could govern
themselves and plan most interesting pro-
grams. These programs went far ahead OF
the plans of the various librarians and vol
unteer leaders. We soon found our proper
inches as advisers and critics rather than
leaders in the accepted sense of the word.
1.-THE children in the clubs range in age
from the youngest at twelve years to eighteen
years and more. We take in the seventh and
eighth grades. Meetings are held in the
library buildings in the evenings. 1t is a
loosely organized group. No special effort is
made to organize them the children ask for
clubs themselves. These clubs are something
the boys and girls want, and we now have
! them for boys and girls in many libraries.
rha branches have n
league now are: Frankford branch, Frank
ford avenue and Overlngton street. for
girls Germantown branch, Vernon Park,
for girls; IIaddington branch, Sixty fifth
street and Girard avenue, for boys; Holmes
burg branch, Frankford avenue and Hartel
street, for girls; Kingsessing branch, Fifty
first street below Chester avenue, for girls
and for boys.
Richmond branch. Indiana avenue and
Almond street, for girls and for boys; South
Philadelphia branch 24O7 South Broad
street, where we have several clubs; South
wark branch, Fifth and Ellsworth street
with clubs for boys and girls.
Literary Side
''The programs usually dwell at first upon
the literary side, upon animal stories and
famous stories Great heroes and heroines
are popular so are mystery stories, famous
escapes and tales of adventure. The authors
studied most are Robert Louis Stevenson
Mark Twain, TolstOy, Louisa Alcott, Long
fellow or Victor Hugo, according to the
choice of the members
after the first year the clubs usually
develop along special lines, the boys pre-
ferring discussions and debates upon various
topics. Orations are prepared. The girls
are more likely TO follow the book talks with
excursions into dramatics. Both girls and
boys have written and presented scenes from
books at club meetings. More elaborate
plays also have been given before audiences.
1.-THE most ambitious attempt was made
last year by the Richmond Club, which gave
scenes from Ben IIur.' Scenes are also
given frequently from Tom Sawyer and from
dickens. Dickens Christmas Carol is n
fayorite. This season the Richmond Club
is at work on play called For the Honor
of Euphcmedae.'
Theatre Parties
There Is another activity also, and that
Is the attendance at plays in the theatres.
For the last three years we have orgunized
parties and attended Il play each year. The
three plays so far seen were Treasure
Island George Arliss in pOldekin' and
Abraham Lincoln.
''In this connection 1t has been Interesting
for us to note that boys nowadays are nor
getting much TO the theatre. They go TO tbe
movies instead. When we go to a play wa
find that n majority of the boys and girls are
| In q theatre for the first time. They are
| usually delighted with the spoken drama
"While the league Is q comparatively small
thing as compared with the work Of tho Free
Library in other fields, the members feel n
has a strong place as an educational force