登陆注册
15365500000030

第30章 THE WORK FOR CHILDREN IN FREE LIBRARIES(2)

The number of volumes shelved ranges all the way from 300to 20,000,the average number being from 3,000to 4,000.An age-limit for the use of the room is set by seven libraries,three of these making the limit for circulation only,while eight admit children of any age,and doubtless make provision for the very youngest The circulation of these rooms that lend books ranges from 65to 350as a daily average,frequently exceeding this.As a rule,one attendant is kept in the room,with assistance when necessary,two libraries only reporting two regular assistants and the Boston Public Library three.The Detroit Library has two attendants in order to give the children personal attention.The library at Kalamazoo has for one of its assistants a trained kindergarten.Eight libraries report no reference-books on the children's shelves and the majority of the others only a few such works.The largest number of periodicals taken appears to be our own list of 10,though by this time the libraries reporting in 1896may have increased their number.Instead of taking a variety of periodicals,they seem to prefer duplicating a few favorites.One library reports a number of copies of Puck taken for children,the wisdom of which I should doubt,and two subscribe for Golden Days.The Minneapolis Library circulates 10copies of St.Nicholas.The Boston Public Library,having a large foreign clientele among children as well as adults,takes one German and one French periodical for them.In the Detroit Library the Scientific American is on the list,and in our children's library we take a copy of Harper's Weekly.

A number of libraries report crowding and lack of time and space.

In one no periodicals can be kept in the children's library,because there is no room for the children to sit down to read them.Another reports as many as 75children frequently in the room at once,a third that the room is so full children have often to be sent out,and a fourth,which at the time was only a reading-room,that the attendance was so large very little could be done except to keep order.Most of the libraries report a fair proportion of foreigners among the children,and one speaks of having many colored children among the readers.

Turning from these reports to a general consideration of the subject,we must admit,first,that a definite decision as to the object of a children's library is the first thing needful.

This decision will doubtless vary in different libraries,and the results will differ accordingly,but almost any decision is better than none,since one cannot be arrived at without giving much thought to the subject,and the desirable thing is that the work should be entered upon thoughtfully.

We have passed the time when reading in itself was considered a vast good.The ability to read may easily be a curse to the child,for unless he be provided something fit to read,it is an ability as powerful for evil as for good.When we consider the dime-novels,the class of literature known as Sunday-school books,the sensational newspapers,the vicious literature insinuated into schools,and the tons of printed matter issued by reputable publishers,written by reputable people,good enough in its intention but utterly lacking in nourishment,and,therefore,doing a positive harm in occupying the place of better things--when we consider that all these are brought within a child's reach by the ability to read,we cannot help seeing that the librarian,in his capacity as selector of books for the library,has the initial responsibility.Certain classes of the printed stuff just spoken of do not,of course,find their way into children's libraries,since they are barred out from all respectable shelves;but we are still too lenient with print because it is print,and every single book should be carefully examined before it goes into a library where children should have access to the shelves.

But given an ideal selection of books,or as near it as we can get and still have enough books to go around,is just the reading of them--that is,the passing of the eye over the types,gaining a momentary impression--the most desirable thing to be got out of them?Are there not here and there children who are reading to the lasting detriment of their memories and powers of observation and reflection,stuffing themselves with type,as it were?Nearly every observant librarian knows of such cases.Are there not days when the shining of the sun,the briskness of the air,the greenness of the turf and of the trees,should have their invitation seconded by the librarian,and the child be persuaded AWAY from the library instead of TO it?We are supposed to contribute with our books toward the sound mind,but we should be none the less advocates of the sound body--and the child who reads all day indoors when he ought to be out in the fresh air among his kind,should have our especial watching.

But,granted the suitable book and the suitable time for reading,what do we know of the effect our books are having?We count our circulation just the same whether a book is kept two days--about long enough for the family to look at the pictures--or a week.

Whether it has been really read we do not know.Sometimes I think those pencilled notes on the margin,recording the child's disgust or satisfaction,should have more meaning for us than they do.At least,they prove that the book has taken hold of the reader's imagination and sympathies.Don't let us be too severe with a criticism written in the honest feeling of the moment (if it be in pencil);we are really gathering psychological and sociological data for which the child-study clubs would thank us,perhaps.

同类推荐
  • 五国故事

    五国故事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 法华三昧忏仪勘定元本

    法华三昧忏仪勘定元本

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 念佛镜

    念佛镜

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 通俗编

    通俗编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 雨航杂录

    雨航杂录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 英雄对决

    英雄对决

    刀塔剑圣“勇往直前才是真正的剑道!”亚索“吾之初心,永不会忘,此剑之势,愈斩愈烈”拍拍熊“我是肉山杀手!”雷霆咆哮”熊人族,无所畏惧“地卜师“你的命运我已经占卜出来,是死亡!“卡牌大师“顺我者昌,逆我者亡!此乃天意!”二者相遇,勇者胜?智者胜?少年潘三来到这个世界,发现刀塔和英雄联盟的英雄都在一起,发现这个世界也是那么真实。
  • 绝恋秦朝之前世今生

    绝恋秦朝之前世今生

    他和他是父子,他冷情,无情,寡情却又绝对的痴情,他是雄霸天下的一国之君;他温文俊美,胸怀天下,霸道柔情,他是百姓众望所归的王位继承人,在爱情的国度里两个人却爱上了同一个女子。他和他是兄弟,他是王位的第一继承人,他是国君最受宠的小儿子,为了各自最心爱的女人,兄弟之情在这场爱情,政治的较量中能否最终得以继续?他和她是姐妹,她远离红尘,美丽冷情,却演绎着世上最感人的姐妹亲情;她清丽绝俗,灵动可爱,在今生和前世里却无法解开那千年的诅咒。绝恋秦朝,这跨越千年的爱恋最终会是怎样的结局?谁的温暖怀抱,才是我漂泊的灵魂最终可以停靠的港湾?
  • 早安,总裁娇妻

    早安,总裁娇妻

    她与他,一面之交,他便要求她做他老婆!欧码噶,这男子脑子有病吧!她被他拐走,每天宠在心间。传说中他是一个不折不扣不近女色的好总裁。难道我来到了一个假世界?听了一个假传说?
  • 舒歌传

    舒歌传

    她林千雅是二十一世纪的商业女王事业如日中天。他爱新觉罗胤禩是康熙宠爱的第八个儿子仁义孝顺有贤王之称一块价值连城的古玉让她穿越到康熙四十七年,与康熙和他的儿子们结下了不解之缘。意外穿越她从天而降跌入他的怀抱。他对她一见倾心甘愿爱她宠她顺她守护她,只要她想他便随时出现在她身边。他是康熙的第四子爱新觉罗胤禛表面恭谨仁孝实际却心狠手辣一心只为皇位,他和她相遇深深被她吸引他爱她却伤害她利用她,让她心灰意冷。她是费扬古最爱的女儿一生只钟爱四阿哥儿时被歹人掳走时隔多年她沦为奴隶当街叫卖,她们相遇,她救了她给她取名林千雪从此她成了她的妹。嫁衣红帐四人的爱恨痴缠又该如何画上句号。
  • 城市罪恶之大地的裂变

    城市罪恶之大地的裂变

    霓虹擦亮我的唇彩,香水里弥漫着醉人的味道,今夜月色撩人,一刻千金。迫不及待想看我的魔术秀?代价不菲哦,成为我的傀儡吧!你是打算主动臣服,还是,想要玩儿硬的?
  • 浮生梦:前世缘今世圆

    浮生梦:前世缘今世圆

    其实这个世上,并没有弱者重要的是是否合适自己的领域发光发亮
  • 破道灭神传

    破道灭神传

    地球上青少年一代最为出色的习武之人,吴峰,因为判官一个蛋疼的失误,导致他阳寿未尽就英年早逝,但,一段生命的结束也是另一段传奇的开始。。。。九轮大陆上风平浪静的背后却隐藏着巨大的危机陷阱,就像灾难来临之前的平静,本来准备完全的邪恶势力却因为吴峰的出现而彻底打乱!究竟吴峰能在这异世掀起怎样一场风暴呢?大家拭目以待吧!豪杰新书《破道灭神传》已经发布,希望大家多多支持,谢谢。书号:725301
  • 六域癫狂

    六域癫狂

    六域癫狂谁与笑,江山不改我称王。武道至尊唯独我,美女簇拥李萧阳。武道世界六域鼎立,因一起上古断根大陆闹得无比动荡,而闹得六域动荡者武道人称他为萧王、李萧阳......
  • 王牌探长法医妻

    王牌探长法医妻

    传说侦探界有一只大神,他像只猫一样傲娇。传说人人想要爱他,亲近他?但是除了她。大神为此很恼怒,决定主动出击,要扳回一局。可惜人家不感冒,直接回了一句:“大神请留步,我对猫毛过敏!”
  • 云南那些诡异之事

    云南那些诡异之事

    这是叙述作者云南老家的一些诡异之事,老波和胖子出生在云南省镇雄县一个偏远的山村,从小就听长辈们说那些稀奇古怪的灵异之事,起初两个人胆子都大都喜欢听这些故事,直到有一次,发生了一件另方圆百里十里八村都毛骨悚然的事情之后.....