Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-11
NOW MY IDEA IS THIS!
Daily Talks With Thinking Philadephans Subjects They
KnoV Best
from 15,OOO,OOO to 10000. 900 volumes a
year, II the book fund were sufficient to
supply the demand.
Real Value Of a Library

year. II the book fund were suficient to
supply the demand.
Real Value Of Library
but these statistical figures have moth.
ing to do with the real value of this peo.
pies university. The tremendous increase
schools Of the United States furnishes ample
evidence of the appreciation of the pub.
Tic OF all avenues Of instruction and infor-
nation. The proprietary institution has
us place and should be supported literally
oy those who have ample means, to provide
%,ah tor tne collection of literature and material
Whicn is unnecessary in any private library,
material which is required by the scholar
VINO cannot obtain it himself
One OF the greatest elements of value in
a library is the freedom of access TO the
books, the actual examination and handling
OF them on the shelves. with an attendant
at hand not only to give information when
needed, but to go far afield to get for the
student what he really requires.
"An interesting case, which will show
what l mean by ultimate service, occurred
at Harrisburg while ! was State Librarian.
"A resident of one of the counties in the
center of the State came to US. saying that
he was to take a trip to Sumatra and
horneo ana that, in order to get the required
him to go to Washington, Baltimore,
Boston and some other cities to get the
books he wanted. In the end, we sent n
those libraries and got the books for him,
which he was permitted to examine at his
own nome; we acting rs trustees for the vol.
umes uhtll they were returned.
All Reading Beneficial
Ihis, OF course, was an unusual case.
ana II was service not to be expected
by the patrons of n library, and NOT alwavs
possible for the library to give. But it H.
iustlates = what l mean; the ultimate in
service Is not to let any one fail through
lack OF information, no matter whence
1t may be necessary to get it.
'All reading, whether recreationaI, ,or in
formative. has value. l have never d;S.
counted the recreational feature, as 7 ho.
iieve that the great point is to get peonle
TO read; IT you can do this. they will aiI
get something of value out of it.
Lhe library Is great stimulus in the
library: people can find what they Want
or the librarians can tell them whers IL m,o,
be found. This is one of the develonmnmtss ~
OF the modern library, as in the old dnvs ~
was sometimes impossible either TO find wbat
VT was WANTED wanted or to find out where it could
More Money Needed
THE great need of all public libror;oa !.
Tor more money to get books. II ,s 20
easier to get money to put up ibrorv h',;ia !" iar
ings than 1t Is to get money for tbo '"nu an'I
tents of the building. The buildina .eon,. eom.
to be regarded as sort of stationarv monr
ment to the donor, quite apart from % ~.
fact that the building is useless With ,,s ome
the contents thereof "'""u'
Books are SO expensive tbot ,,
donated lor the purchase OF them now onIv
go about half as far as they did feu, vo" oo,y
ago. Bindings. too, are expensivs ''ars a,S
so much lower In quality that tbe' comu mu
scientious librarian must think twico o .on-
the Volumes worth before he orders n %n 10 TO
| rebound. 'S oooK
AN important thing in the develo,,.n.
| OF the library is the classification Eem'
merly there were many of these now thoro oro
are only few, and, therefore # ow iS mere mere
easier for the library patron TO Ana mncn m,',ot
| he wants. There are ACTUALLY oni. , Mnat
or four classitcations used in libraE ar;aa .nree
| the better kind, and the systematia os VI
| loguing has been thoroughly worked e",u' o,s.
The dictionary catalogue is generaiIv ,,ou1 on,'
SO mat any person can go into any On" e'1S' 81
say ion, Libraries and know exnctjv h, w.,
to use the catalogue. We, who have h",', "m
continuously interested in this matter, uIioi'
is really one for all the people, mov "i'oi i"oi.
forward with confidence to n much v,,Inn toHn
provision OF all that is worth while whether the,
II Dc libraries, museums, art galleries nnrr.
or recreation grounds. The trend ~ .Hs
American public lies distinctly In that A. A.
= NskaaM y