515.

515. Usually the work of book-selection is performed by the School Libraries Committee. It has a drawback in the fact that teachers do not always receive the exact books that they wish to have for their schools, and a better method, at least in theory, is for the librarian to submit a list of the books available for purchase to the teachers, and to invite them to requisition those which they think suitable. This would forestall a very frequent criticism made by teachers; nor would the librarian experience any great difficulty in meeting the demands so made.

516.

516. The period for which a collection should remain at a school is conveniently governed by the school holidays. The summer vacation presents the best opportunity for overhauling the whole system, and where there is accommodation at the central library, and other circumstances permit, it is well to have all the collections returned there, where they may be weeded of defective and dirty books, repairs may be executed, binding arranged for, stock may be taken, and the new location of the collections determined, so that every school may recommence with a new library. But in the intervals between holidays periodical visits to the schools should be made by the schools librarian to see that the books are in order, to advise where necessary, and in other ways to maintain relations between the school and the public library. Sometimes the librarian addresses the children in the schools, upon reading or other library subjects. This visiting work should be done with tact and unobtrusively. Frequently teachers prefer to be allowed to work without the intervention of the librarian, and such preferences must be respected. The business of the librarian is to supply books, and not necessarily to exploit them—so far, at least, as schools are concerned.

Supplies Wanted:— PENNY
STAMP
Book Pockets.......................
Borrowers’ Tickets..............
Tags................
Voucher Cards.....................
CHIEF LIBRARIAN,
Central Public Library,
NEWTON.
Repairs dealt with.............vols.
Repairs put aside..............vols.
Signed,
.............................................
School Librarian.

Fig. 177a.—School Libraries Return—front ([Section 517]).

.................................................SCHOOL LIBRARY.
Issues for the month of............................................................19.....................
00102030405060708090Fiction.Totals.
1st week.
2nd week.
3rd week.
4th week.
5th week.
Number of Borrowers...............................................................

Fig. 177b.—School Libraries Return—back ([Section 517]).

517.

517. Returns of the circulation are regarded as necessary by most librarians, and have a variety of uses, as every librarian recognizes. These are usually made monthly to the librarian. The [card] shown has proved satisfactory in practice.