A broader idea of library work with children necessitates greater knowledge of other agencies which work with them and a spirit of willing cooperation on the part of the children's librarian.From her experience in the city of Washington Miss Herbert contributed the following article of The Library Journal.Clara Wells Herbert was born in Stockbridge,Mass.;was a student in Vassar from 1894to 1896;received a special certificate from the Training School for Children's Librarians in 1904;was children's librarian in the Brooklyn Public Library from 1904to 1907,and since that time has been the head of the Children's department in the Public Library of the District of Columbia.
The children's departments of many city libraries are carrying on a fine aggressive work and through branch children's rooms,close work with schools,including deposits of books in classrooms,deposits of books and story-telling in playgrounds,home libraries and home visiting,are coming close to the children and putting good books within their reach.Such work rests upon a large staff and a generous appropriation.On the other hand,the small town library has the advantage of informal relations with its people and is a part of the various activities of the town.
Between these two types of libraries is a third.It is located in a city too large for the helpful informal relations of the town library.It cannot,on the other hand,carry on its own aggressive work,for it is hampered by the smallness of its staff and the meagerness of its appropriation.
To libraries of this sort the effecting of cordial relations with other civic institutions is of the utmost importance.Upon it depends largely the outside work of the library and a specialized knowledge of conditions very essential for intelligent work.
Nor is the library the only one to profit by cooperation.
"I never thought of asking for help there,"said a probation officer recently when talking of her difficulties in keeping a record of the use of the withdrawn books given to the court by the library.Not more than we need the benefit of the intimate personal knowledge of conditions of such workers,do they often need the help the library stands ready and eager to give but which they do not think to ask.
The work of the children's department should be then twofold in purpose--to reach the children directly as far as possible,and to establish such relations with other organizations as will render it a vital interested force in the community,a place where people will naturally turn for help along the line of its work.
Certain practices which have been found useful in effecting this cooperation may be suggestive,but the basis of any satisfactory relationship is interest and the desire to help and has its beginnings in the children's room.
The children's librarian should keep always in mind that the city is full of workers who,strong in the belief that the hope of the future is in the children,are doing devoted work in their behalf.Sooner or later they will visit the children's room and the opportunity presents itself to know their particular line of work.It is interesting to note in how many of such cases the conversation contains something which may be applied with advantage to the library's activities.At least,the visitor receives the impression that the library assistant is interested in any work done for children and,if at some future time a need presents itself,turns to her for assistance.
