Film Collections.
A nucleus could be a collection of twenty films; four dealing with classics; four with the surrounding things of everyday life, forming general knowledge; four dealing with foreign countries, their social life, games, customs, etc.; four dealing with entomology, zoology, etc.; four depicting the commercial life, showing shipbuilding yards, steel works, cotton and woollen factories, pottery manufacture, etc. These films would broaden the views and strengthen the imagination of children.
The nucleus thus being formed, the films could be circulated throughout the surrounding counties, boroughs and towns; being exhibited at the local library once a week. In conjunction with these films, “reading lists” could be prepared of books for home-reading, and widely distributed. A change of film could be made once a week, which means that before the stock of films had completed one round, five months would elapse, giving ample time in which to procure future additions.
By bringing the cinema within his scope of activities, the librarian adds materially to the usefulness of the library to the community at large, proving the sterling worth of such an institution to the town. How this financial venture is to be met and supported will be the inevitable question, the answer to which is by co-operation; each town or borough taking a share of the burden and contributing financially towards their maintenance. An endeavour must be made to get the local Education Authority interested, and the battle is partly won. Submit to them a practical scheme, on a sound business footing, attractive and definite, and they will, after careful consideration, give unstintingly their financial support.
The whole of the country could be divided into areas, such as North-Eastern, North-Western, South-Eastern, South-Western, etc., where towns, etc., like Stretford, Manchester, Stockport, Bolton, Wigan, Liverpool, Southport and Chester could all produce a repertoire of film subjects. Each Authority could be responsible for the production of films relative to their own manufacture, which could be mapped out as follows:—
(1) Denton and Stockport, for hat manufacture, showing the whole of the process felt goes through, from the raw material to the finished “Sandringham.”
(2) Bradford could give a tour of the woollen mills.
(3) Nottingham the lace trade.
(4) Hanley the pottery trade.
(5) Oldham and Leigh the cotton trade.
(6) Atherton, etc., coal mining.
(7) Liverpool, the docks and shipping.
(8) Kent, for the strawberry and hop-growing industries.
(9) Devonport, the dockyards, etc., etc.
There is ample scope for the treatment of such subjects.
As described elsewhere, a Central Bureau could be established, every film classified according to subject, and from this Bureau would emanate a steady flow of purely educational films—teaching or imparting knowledge in a popular manner.
Again, where space does not permit, either in the schools or the local library, the allied sympathy of the managers of the local cinemas could be obtained, and one film could be inserted as part of their programme, securing for them the necessary audience, and at the same time advertising the Education Authority and the Library.
The aim of all libraries is to preserve knowledge for succeeding generations, and films such as those described in the preceding chapter—that portion dealing with history taught by the film—would be of permanent value for reference.
The general idea of providing a permanent record of historical events in the nation’s history is worthy of universal encouragement, and also of making these records easily accessible for public enlightenment.
It has been said that the public library should reflect every phase of mental activity, not only the high and educational kind, but also of the recreative, the social side of life. A vast amount of enlightenment and instruction, with remarkable force and rapidity, can be conveyed by the aid of the cinematograph. “Every picture tells a story,” whether it be of wonder or beauty, or of travels and national customs; some enlightenment may be gained from the exhibition. The seed sown by the pictures of this or that city, whether abroad or at home, may, eventually, be reaped in improved conditions of life and its surroundings. A clearer conception, a more sensible interpretation of the wonderful things around us, is shown than could ever be conveyed by a professor’s treatise, or an artist’s impressions.