And in,the doing,an incidental and a great contribution is made to society as a whole.For,as the story hour unfolds a new world to the listener whose life has been bounded by a litter-covered alley and three bare walls,or whose look into the outside world has been perhaps a roof of tar and gravel and a yawning chasm beyond,so the development of the imagination through the right sort of books shall make possible the fullest development of the individual boy and girl.In many a life there has been a supreme moment when some circumstance,some stimulus has changed that life for good or ill.For want of that stimulus,the dormant power of many a man has gone to waste.Half the derelicts of humanity who are but outcasts of the night had in them the making of good men--perhaps some of them of great men,in science or in art.There is no waste that is greater than lost opportunity;there is no loss so great as undiscovered resource.Speaking of imagination in work,Mr.Hamilton Wright Mabie points out that:
"So long as the uses of the imagination in creative work are so little comprehended by the great majority of men,it can hardly be expected that its practical uses will be understood.There is a general if somewhat vague recognition of the force and beauty of its achievements as illustrated in the work of Dante,Raphael,Rembrandt and Wagner;but very few people perceive the play of this supreme architectural and structural faculty in the great works of engineering,or in the sublime guesses at truth which science sometimes makes when she comes to the end of the solid road of fact along which she has traveled.The scientist the engineer,the constructive man in every department of work uses the imagination quite as much as the artist;for the imagination is not a decorator and embellisher,as so many appear to think;it is a creator and constructor.Wherever work is done on great lines or life is lived in field of constant fertility,the imagination is always the central and shaping power."I would have liked in this over-lengthy,but yet fragmentary survey of the field from the viewpoint of the library,to say something of the mistakes which have perhaps been made,and which may still be made unguardedly by reason of over-zeal whereby the relationship of the work to other things may be ignored or misunderstood;of the danger that over-strong consciousness as to possession of high ideals may dictate too urgent use of books that may have literary style,but do not reach the heart of the boy--driving him to the comic supplement and to the dregs of print for his reading hours.These,and other comments must be left for another occasion.
I would also have liked to say something of the history of work with children in libraries,but Miss Josephine Rathbone has told the story fully and well.In that history,when it shall be written a quarter century hence,it will be fitting to give full meed of honor to Samuel Sweet Greene,Edwin H.Anderson,Mrs.H.
L.Elmendorf,Miss Frances J.Olcott,Miss Linda A.Eastman and some of the other splendid women of the profession whose presence here precludes the mention of their names.
So,too,I would have liked to give the result,statistically,of an inquiry,which the helpful kindness of Miss Faith E.Smith,chairman of this section,has enabled me to make.It must suffice here to limit the statement to a brief summary that shows less what has been accomplished than what remains to be attempted:
There are in the United States to-day approximately 1,500public libraries containing each more than 5,000volumes.The number reporting children's work is 525,with a total of 676rooms having an aggregate seating capacity of 21,821,and an available combined supply of 1,771,161volumes on open shelves.The number of libraries in which story hours are held is 152,and 304report work with schools.Of course,this work is pitifully meager as to many libraries.The number of children who come more or less under the direct influence of children's librarians is generously estimated as 1,035,195(103libraries,including all the large systems reporting).There are in the United States of children from 6to 16years of age,approximately thirty-three millions.
Behind the work of the children's librarians there is a fine spirit of optimism--not blind to difficulties,but courageous,ardent and hopeful.
Disregarding ridicule,which is but a cheap substitute for wit;regardful of criticism,which is often provocative or promotive of improvement,inspired with the dignity of their high calling,and with a fine vision that projects itself into the future,the librarians engaged in the work with children willingly give thereto the finest and the best of personality that they possess.
Descriptive of their spirit,we may aptly paraphrase the words of a great humanitarian of our own generation:
"Some there are,the builders of humanity's temples,who are laboring to give a vast heritage to the children of all the world.They build patiently,for they have faith in their work.
"And this is their faith--that the power of the world springs from the common labor and strife and conquest of the countless age of human life and struggle;that not for a few was that labor and that struggle,but for all.And the common labor of the race for the common good and the common joy will bring that fulness of life which sordid greed and blighting ignorance would make impossible."And you have the faith of the builders.
