PASTIME AND PROFIT

Evening Star, Issue 21656, 27 February 1934, Page 11

PASTIME AND PROFIT

READING FOR WORKLESS The duties and opportunities of public libraries in times of unemployment form the subject of an interesting article in a British journal devoted to the,welfare of libraries and their reading public. >* xo-day,” says the writer, one ot our most obvious duties is not only! to provide literature for large numbers ot unemployed, but to suggest that operation with others interested in their behalf more effective service may be given. We have on the one hand millions without work; on the other hand we have several organisations —such as the National Council tor Social Service, the British Institute ot Adult Education, the British Broadcasting Corporation, various settlements clubs, occupational centres, and local bodies which are endeavouring to train, teach, or entertain those Yr suffer from enforced leisure. Public libraries should establish and inaxntam close contact with the organisations referred to, and also with those who benefit from their activities. “A large percentage of unemployed are dispirited and rather helpless in the face of the calamity which has befallen them. Reading may be merely a pastime in their case, but if they occupy time in this way it at least diverts and entertains, may even give them hours of comparative freedom from brooding, and save, them from mental and moral deterioration. “ Others, more self-reliant and resourceful, endeavour to use their time to better advantage. It may be that they are craftsmen skilled in technical work, or they may be interested in horticulture or some other pursuit in which they wish to excel. Given the means of adding to their knowledge through books and periodicals, they will use the library for this purpose and turn the information so obtained to practical account. “Many readers, in the pursuit or hobbies or occupations which appealed to them, have entered forms of employment in which they have had no experience. Quite a number of these who have succeeded far beyond their expectations are known to us, and some have even founded businesses in which they have created employment for others less fortunate than .themselves. To name only three instances of successfully developed businesses of this nature, the first is one in which new forms of dves are used, a second is associated with the soap industry, and the third is engaged in a branch of textile manufacture. In_ each case the founder of the enterprise was an unemployed man who spent much of his time in reading literature relating to technical subjects, with the result here indicated.”