In the following paper,read in 1897before the Friends'Library Association of Philadelphia,and the New York Library Club,Miss Mary W.Plummer discussed some of the "experiences and theories"of a number of libraries and the "requisites for the ideal children's library."Mary Wright Plummer was born in Richmond,Indiana,in 1856,was graduated from the Friends'Academy there,and was a special student at Wellesley College,1881-1882.She entered the "first class of the first library school,"and in 1888became a certified graduate of the Library School of Columbia College.For the next two years she was the head of the Cataloguing department of the St.Louis Public Library.She was Librarian of the Pratt Institute Free Library from 1890to 1904,and Director of the Pratt Institute of Library Science until 1911.She then became Principal of the Library School of the New York Public Library,the position she held until her death in 1916.Miss Plummer was President of the A.L.A.in 1915-1916.
She contributed many articles to library periodicals,and has written numerous books,several of which are for children.
It is so early in the movement for children's libraries that by taking some thought now it would seem possible to avoid much retracing of steps hereafter,and it is for this reason that even at this early day a comparison of experiences and theories by those libraries which have undertaken the work is desirable and even necessary.It is as well,perhaps,to begin with a few historical statistics,gathered from questions sent out last December and from perusal of the Library Journal reports since then.
Many libraries,probably the majority,have had an age-limit for borrowers,and the admission of children under 12to membership is of comparatively recent date.The separation of children from the adult users of the library by means of a room of their own was probably originated by the Public Library of Brookline,which in 1890set aside an unused room in its basement for a children's reading-room.In 1893the Minneapolis Public Library fitted up a library for children,from which books circulate also,where they had (as reported in December,1896)20,000volumes,the largest children's library yet reported.In 1894the Cambridge Public Library opened a reading-room and the Denver Public Library a circulating library for children.An article on the latter undertaking may be found in the Outlook for September 26,1896.
In 1895Boston,Omaha,Seattle,New Haven and San Francisco,all opened either circulating libraries or reading-rooms for children,and in 1896Detroit,Buffalo,Pittsburgh,Pratt Institute of Brooklyn,Everett (Mass.)and Kalamazoo (Mich.)followed suit.The libraries of Circleville (O.),Milwaukee,Cleveland,and Helena (Mont.)are all projecting plans for the same,and probably this year will show a notable increase.The new Public Library of Chicago has made no especial provision for children,from the fact that its situation in the heart of the business district of the city will prevent many children from coming to it,but provision of some sort will be made for them at the various branch reading-rooms throughout the city.In the new building of the Providence Library considerations of cost made it necessary to give up the addition of a children's library,a matter of great disappointment to every one.
From all these libraries except the last two,reports were received by us in December,1896,on comparing which we found considerable similarity of usage,though as there had been but little in print on the subject up to 1896this probably arose not from communication between the libraries but from the fact that like circumstances and causes produced like effects in different places.
Of the 15libraries reporting,11circulated books from the children's room,three making an age-limit for this,while the four remaining contented themselves with giving the children a reading-room,in which a number of books--about 300--were placed,for reading on the premises.The temptation for a child who becomes interested in a book,to carry it off when closing-hour comes,in order to finish it,is a strong one,and of these four libraries one reported 35books missing in its first six months,or over one-tenth of its stock.Two others which circulate from open shelves to all borrowers lost 100children's books in a little over 12months.A number of others reported that as yet they had taken no inventory of the books in the room,and were evidently willing that ignorance should remain bliss a little longer.Several report that very few books are unaccounted for,and one or two that not a book has been taken.Free access to the children's books is allowed in all the 15,and in about half of them the room is open all day,and in two cases in the evening also.
