Evening star., 1922-07-09

the public develop a taste for stand
ard and virile literature in the public
libraries and the little branch libra
ries connected with book stores and
drug stores, where books are circu-
lated till their titles are dimmed and
their backs broken.
Many Openings Here.
In Washington there are many
openings in the various government
departments for librarians, as nearly
every department has its own library.
which is often composed mainly Of
valuable records along highly special
lied lines. The State Department
library has copies of all kinds Of
books on treaties. international prob
lens. political economy, etc. Work
in this library would be excellent
training for one who wished to ac-
quire an extensive study along these
lines. The Army Medical Library and
specialize in works along medical
lines. The library of the bdreau Of
education specializes in books dealing
with that subject in it's many inter
esting phases. The patent office. the
Navy Department, the War Depart
collections of books on their particu-
lar subjects. These just suggest the
widespread possibilities for the girl
who wishes to specialize in some par
ticular line other than library work,
but for which detailed reference and
research work is a necessary pre-
liminary.
Until recently library work. like
teaching, has been a much underpaid
profession. 1t is becoming more and
more appreciated as a real profession,
however, and the pay Is being raised
y~f- = 20
institutions for those so employed.
Before the war the pay of librarians
in the National Library of Congress-
was considered very good. but with
the new standards established since
the war 1t Is now much lower than
that offered librarians in many other
places, and consequently there have
been many vacancies in important
posts in the Congressional Library
during the last year. 1t is hoped
that Congress may make the neces-
sary appropriations soon to increase
the pay OF these employees, who are
splendidly trained. college graduates
in many cases, and who have to have
the necessities of life now as much
as they needed them before the war.
Third Largest LibEery.
The Library Of Congress Is the third
largest library in the world. The
lioteque Rationale in Paris is second.
the national library, as work done
there is recognized as Of very high
standing not only in this country but
all over the world. At present there
are over zoo girls and women en-
ployed a. assistant Librarians in the
ninety-one women in the catalogue
division alone. forming by far the
greater part Of the personnel of this
very important division in the ma
tional library. A woman, Miss Jes-
sica Louise Farnham, is secretary of
Among the many trained women In
the Library of Congress is Miss M. A.
Gilkfe. who has been connected with
the catalogue division since August 1,
1888. She Is New England woman.
She went to high school in Water,
town. Mass, and then entered Welles-
ley College. After completing her
studies there she went to Paris for
further study and travelled extensively
In Europe. She began her library
experience In the Boston Public LII
brary and the Boston Athenaeum Lii
brary under Mr.. Charles A. Cutter.
cataloguer and classifier at the Mer-
camille Library In st. Louis and three
years as librarian Of the Washington
City Free Library. Miss Gilkie came
to her present position in the Con-
gressional Library. She has been In
the national library for twenty-four
years and does some reference work
as well as cataloguing. In regard to
opportunities for women in this pro-
fession Miss Gilkie says:
Demand Inereasins.
'The demand for trained workers
In libraries. business houses, biblio-
graphical societies~ and other insti-
tutions is rapidly increasing. wide
general information, good health, an
alert mind and an aptitude for hard
work are invaluable assets and fun
damental for success and ADVANCE
mont in the work. A college degree
or its equivalent in reading, travel
and varied experience are more and
moro recognised AZ necessary. This
does not mean, of course, that no
good library work has been done with
Tess, but standards are constantly be-
ing raised and the best library
schools are now demanding the col
lege degree for admission.
For the reference work and cata-
loguing In q large library q knowl-
edge Of French and German Is essen
tial. and knowledge Of italian.