THE LIBRARY IDEA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 53, 4 March 1930, Page 6

THE LIBRARY IDEA.

The suggestion made to the City Council recently that a travelling library w6uld meet the needs of the Tamaki district, coming as it did just before this week's conference in Auckland of the Dominion's librarians, recalls to mind the enormous growth of "the library idea" in recent years. The most outstanding fact about the public library system in the old lands, particularly America, is not its size, but the conception of its functions now held by librarians. But a few years ago the librarian was there chiefly to see that none but the "right sort of readers" invaded the sanctum. At late as twenty years ago no one not vouched for by two London householders could obtain a reader's card at the British Museum. To-day the librarian sees his institution not as a passive storehouse of books, but as a live factor in education. Books are the instruments of learning, ancl libraries the largest repositories of books. The library is, therefore, an essential part of the educational machinery of the community. Under the leadership of the American Library Association, an organisation of the librarians of the United States, the libraries are now engaged in devising means of carrying out this conception. Instead of making their facilities available only to those who take the initiative and come to the library, the libraries ax - e reaching out to the public. For example, the librarian acquaints himself with the educative work going on in various institutions in his city. He knows that a community church forum is presenting a series of lectures on international relations, that a labour union class is studying economics, that a group of young women in the local Y.W.C.A. is planning a winter's work in English literature. And fie will send to each a compact selection of books on their respective subjects, together with a list of additional references. The librarian himself, or one of his staff, seeks to establish relations with the individual students, to learn of their difficulties in reading, and either to help smooth out the difficulties, or suggest books' more nearly suited to the person's capacity.

Then the libraries set out to help the people who said: "Oh, I started to read up on that, but it's too hard," when it was only the first book chosen that was "too hard." This brought about the readers' advisory service, which provides individual attention for every reader, consulting with him about the books he wants to read, and preparing organised reading courses. The man or woman who walks into a public library is spoken to, their interest learned, their past education summed up and a book suggested that is commensurate with both. When the book is returned, it is discussed with the reader, his opinion drawn out as to how he wishes to proceed, and another book giyen him to carry forward his interest. For the individual who knows in advance the field lie wants to cover, or who has an unusual subject, a list of readings is prepared, with the assistance of outside experts, if necessary.

Then there is the "reading with a purpose" series. This is an expanded book list, and a concentrated study outline. It contains a selection of books on a given subject, but it does more than state them. It describes them, making clear their relation to one another and to the subject, and usually awakens interest in the subject itself, showing its value and appeal. The aim is to suggest books which give not mastery, but intelligent grasp of a subject. The American Library Association has taken the lead in preparing courses by publishing this series, which consists of some forty to fifty pamphlets, which are really short introductions to six recommended books. The subjects include philosophy, history, economics, various phases of literature, international relations, psychology, music, sculpture, painting, etc. The pamphlets are placed on sale in libraries throughout the States, and in two years more than 2,000,000 copies have been sold. It is noteworthy that the appearance of a new pamphlet is soon followed by a brisk demand for the six titles recommended for further reading. —W. R. KINGSTON.