Evening star., 1933-02-05
3,4OO A DAY VISIT
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Job.Seekers Among Those
Applying for Information
and Reading Matter.
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

$500 people a day visit the central
branch OF the Washington Public Lii
brary. Miss Grace B. Finpey, director
Of circulation, discussed some Of the
problems which they bring to the in
formation desk and the readers ad-
Vise-s.
"The tastes of these visitors vary"
she said. depending upon their diff
fecent educational qualifications. Their
inquiries may be practical, cultural or
recreatlonal.
"They frequently volunteer the in
formation that they are out of work
temporarily and have come to the
library to secure reading material to
make good use Of their time. For ex-
ample, q violinist, formerly with one
of the large orchestras, asked for ele-
mentary instruction books on piano
playing, hoping to develop new skill
IN his leisure.
"A young man said, This library is
with feeling, This place Is Gods bless
ing to people like myself, who have no
other place to CO.
"A small boy in tattered coat
asked eagerly for practical books. My
mother said you might get us some
books on how to earn money at home,'"
he explained.
Short Grammar Course.
"A short course In English grammar.
spelling and punctuation was mapped
out for young man who came back
later to say that the help he had Sc
cured had aided him in landing a Job.
"A pathetic case was that Of young
man who had had a serious illness
which left him very nervous, irritable
and dissatisfied. His father would carry
him into the library, there to consult
one OF the advisers who would outline
the contents Of several books worth
trying In an effort to distract attention
from himsef. From time to time he
would return and the adviser always
tried to have ready a new prescription,
until he finally reached the stage where
his mental atmosphere was cleared and
his bodily strength renewed 1t was
pleasure to see this CHEEKY young man
later, coming in always with a smile.
Another patron Of the library Is an
invalid, confined to her bed with heart
trouble, but interested in all types of
literature, particularly religion, its his
tory and evolution. Her maid Is sent
IN at regular intervals for books.
Members of the bonus army visited
the library. Some asked for books on
the war. others for pre-war books, still
others for a list OF places to see in
Washington
spoc;al interest recently has been
shown, Miss Finney declares. in books
on anusements in the home, such as
backgammon, checkers. chess, wood
craft, philately, etc. Persons out of
work want something to while away
the idle hours.
Many Problems Acute.
Many acute problems come to the in
formation desk. Men who have been
1ucicughed and are puzzled about their
status come to examine civil service
Tcgu ATOMS. Students ask for material
fot theses on how ether countries are
working their way out" effects Of the
bonus cad prohibition on business con-
di.ion1," "the machine age" and "the
u-o OF the library in the depression"
Many mothers come at night to get
books Tor their children. Their house
held duties keep them too completely
occupied to come during the day. Some
books. They feel that they are being
left Eell nd as the children advance, and
eventually they ask the advisers to sug-
{. 2SG bccks which they themselves may
enjoy and from which they may learn
sc-nC hing that may help them to talk
the came language" as the younger gen.
Grafton.
TIE fine arts division Of the library
"hes proved immeasurably helpful to
ianumerab!e persons seeking employ
ment or trying to improve their quail
fications for their present positions.
Miss Finney tells Of woman who was
promised a situation In lace and linen
shop if she could qualify. The library
aided her to study laces and lace max
ing. Another woman was the wife OF a
Russian artist, a transient in Washing
ton. She desired copies OF art maga-
zines which had mentioned her hus-
bands work with approval that she
might show them to dealers he was en-
deavoring to interest. A third applicant
was a middle-aged woman trying to
support herself and an invalid daughter
in California. She came for designs
for stenciled trays for which she found
q market especially at Christmas, In
local gift shops and stores.
I'm many instances" Miss F1nney
SAYS, pictures serve as substitutes IoI
books. For example, a school teacher
comes in for groups Of pictures on a
variety of subjects. They are 1or tne
entertainment OF an invalid mothef' 100
weak to hold book in her hands. An
other case Is that Of a paralyzed man
who sends an attendant for pictures
every other day. Prints on every con-
ceiyable subject have been sent to MN,
and he has studied them all with
eagerness. ona oor,es
for nrints and art books for her father,
an artist who Is unable to get ABOUT
because of an injury to his PACK: an
slInoccupied' woman Is regular VlSiIoi'
reading books on famous paintings. Sne
told us that when she feels lonely, sne
visits the art galleries, and then comes
to the library for books to learn ABOUT
the artists"
Many Demand Fiction.
The fiction division is a door to free
dom for many, Miss Finney IS con-
yinced. "The one reading table" sne
explains. always Is occupied, the ma
jority of the readers being men. f1c.
tion appears to be one OF the nlSt
means of escape from trouble. It mih-
rates the ills of the day in helping
people to catch vision OF distant
ideal. For the man or woman VINO
finds time hangs heavy" on his or her
hands. this room Is place OF great en-
joyment. l..
"For instance, 1t meant much to .
man Who asked Tor DOCK Oh GlIeAo.
{ ourtry life. He was given Freeman
"S;ascph end His Brethren" Whcn ne
r7turneJ it. asking for another such
q fi1e book" he explained that the
,calc of the story was Suffolk, his own
birthplace. In q strange country, with
GU work, he appreciated the volume as
"a friend from home"
"An elderly woman expressed her
philosophy Of reading In the words, IN
my younger days was keeniy inter-
ested in non-flction for all the ln1orma-
t:on i, could give me on many sub
,acts. Eut now have lived my lie
cnd Go not seek information, but
4: ..-2,ply pleasure in reading which helps
ms to forget"
TIE biographical division has found
hat Biographies are almost as allur-
ing as fiction" Many frequenters OF
this room have their heroes and hero
v>Af NJ