Roaming at will among the books, the sight of Blaikie's “How to get strong” has been the first step toward the recovery of health otherwise lost; John B. Gough's “Darkness and daylight” has brought in the same way happiness to a wretched household; while Andrew Carnegie's “Triumphant Democracy” has awakened in more than one citizen an interest and pride in his native or adopted country heretofore unknown.
There are the contents of the shelves to select from; no fear of any one leaving the library without a book; whereas, after presenting from the catalogue a list of books to be returned as “not in,” he either “hasn't time,” or “will make no further trouble,” and passes out unsatisfied.
I have already said that a possibility in one community may be impracticable in another; with us this open system has proved an unqualified success.
A community of this class is not aggressive; on the contrary they are in a library rather shy. They should be met with prompt service, and the courtesy of the drawing-room. Make them welcome as they enter the library; it is their own; help them to cultivate a personal pride in it; ascertain their tastes, (many of them will surprise us), and call their attention to such works as will gratify them, gradually leading them to higher standards when it is necessary.
If they are seeking special subjects and need our help, let us exhaust our references. To “give to him that asketh” and “the Lord loveth a cheerful giver” should be a librarian's watchword.
What does it matter if half of the pleasures, and all of the ills of our patrons be poured into our ears? It only brings us nearer to them, and shows us how to be more helpful, and widens the influence of our work.
'Tis a wise community that enables its trustees to give to their librarian sufficient clerical assistance to allow him to mingle with the people, to learn their habits and tastes, to direct their reading (especially of the young), and to assist them in their researches; for we all know that peculiarly inherent weakness of human nature, to seek for information from the highest source, and to be better satisfied, even though the same help may be rendered us by a subordinate.
The reading-room in connection with a public library may be made an important agent in the education of a community, especially of its young men and children.
After a day of hard work, what are the homes to which many of these young men return? The accommodations of a cheap boarding-house, which means a room generally occupied by two or more, with barely furniture for necessity to say nothing of comfort.