CHILDREN'S LIBRARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 247, 16 October 1918, Page 8

CHILDREN'S LIBRARY.

Thp land of the future lies with the child. "Give mc the child," said a wise writer, "and the State may have the man." Tt is on this idea that the children's libraries of America have had such wide spreading effects for good in the nation. Auckland has now followed in the footsteps of other cities and established a children's room at the chief library. Some years ago Wellinglon took this matter up, immediately after Ihe visit of the chief librarian to a Conference of Librarians in America, and it proved very successful, litis was especially so in the working quarter of the city, where no prettier 6ight could be seen than the numberless little lamp-lit heads bent over the books in the children's department, and the movement in Auckland will also be as greatly appreciated when the children become acquainted with the privilege. The room, which has been specially fitted for their use. is provided with stained brown wood laWes and chairs, and will accommodate forty. There arp 1400 book? arranged on shelves for their use, children's books and editions of the classics, Scrtt. Dickens, Kingsley, and others who would be likely to appeal to the little ones. The young people will be admitted up to the age of sixteen, and may take the books home by the payment of half a crown every six months. A special book collection is being made with the idea of helping the children in th'nr studies. They often ask for information on subjects which have -been set as compositions. A very good idea has been suggested by Miss Melville. Tt is proposed that the city gardener send in each daysample flowcTs to be used for decoration, which will be shown in specimen glasses, and have labels attached with the name and a few details of growth and genus. A special children's librarian will be in attendance. In America, where children's libraries are so very successful, women librarians are specially trained. In Pittsburg, Carnegie established a training college for women librarians. The chikiren'6 librarian is expected to he well-educated, broad-minded, 5 tactful,i with commonsense and judgment, and attractive to children in manner and person, and she is paid up to twenty pounds a month. Tn America all the children's -work is handled In- women. Bvery book, before it is put on the shelves, is read by a woman who posses judgment. That judgment is final. Surely this is pre-eminently work for highly-educated women, to control the . testes of the coming generation, and 1 *J«m help lay the foundation stones of ■ Jne futace, of this our nation.