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Page 60
CHAPTER LIII
Literary clubs and libraries
Evva L. Moore, Withers' public library
[Public Libraries, June, 1897]
In your community are a number of literary clubs; if there are not, it
lies within the power of the librarian to create them: an evening club
composed of men and women; a ladies' club for the study of household
economics; a young ladies' club for the study of music or some
literary topic; a club for young men in which to study sociology;
a novel club for the study of the world's great fiction. For
constitutions suitable for such clubs, account of administration,
organization, etc., consult the Extension bulletin no. 11 of the
university of the state of New York, and Bulletin no. 1, June, 1896,
of the Michigan State library, and List of books for women and girls
and their clubs.
The study club is one of the best means of extending the influence
of your library; of securing the attention and hold of the people.
It awakens thought, arouses discussions, puts into circulation books
which otherwise might stand idle on the shelves.
It is necessary to study carefully the courses of study of the
different clubs, and to do this the programs must be on file in the
library. If they are printed (and encourage this) so much the better;
if in manuscript they can be used with small inconvenience.
If the program is prepared week by week only, make arrangements to
have it sent immediately to the library; also watch your local paper
for notices.
No doubt the officers of the various clubs come to you for suggestions
when arranging the course of study for the year, and to inquire as
to the resources of the library on the subject in hand, in order that
every effort may be made to fill the gaps in the library collection.
When a request of this kind comes, suggestions and assistance may be
obtained from the two bulletins mentioned above, as, in addition to
information along the lines of organization, they contain outlines of
study.
Harper's bazaar devotes a page each week to club women and club work.
University-extension bulletins and courses of study offer numerous
suggestions.
The literary clubs of the smaller towns without libraries, within a
radius of a few miles of your own small town, copying after their
more pretentious sister along literary lines, should have your
encouragement and assistance. Lend all the books that you can spare on
as easy terms as are compatible with your rules; in short, institute
traveling libraries on a small scale.
CHAPTER LIV
Museums, lectures, etc.
A museum in connection with the library, either historical or
scientific, or an art gallery, may be made a source of attraction, and
of much educational value. The collecting of antiquities, or natural
history specimens, or rare bindings, or ancient books or manuscripts,
is generally taken up by societies organized for such purposes. The
library should try to bring these collections into such relations
with itself as to add to its own attractiveness, and to make more
interesting and instructive the collections.
A library can often very happily advertise itself, and encourage
the use of its books, by establishing a series of lectures.
Entertainments, somewhat of the nature of receptions, or exhibits of
the library's treasures in the library itself, will sometimes add to
the institution's popularity, and will always afford a good excuse for
sending to leading people in the community a note reminding them of
the library's existence and perhaps of its needs.
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