Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1906 — LIBRARY NEWS. [ARTICLE]

LIBRARY NEWS.

A short time ago the Ladies of the Relief Corpe presented a beautiful flag to our public school. The Library would be very proud to have one too. We should like to suggest that our library building needs some decorating inside and we would very much appreciate the gift of a beautiful picture or two from any order or club, or from any individual. Following is a list of the magazines that may be found at the library: WXEKLY. Harper’s Weekly Judge Nation Puck Saturday Evening Post. MONTHLY Atlantic Monthly Case and Comment Century Critic Current Literature Educational Review Harper's Magazine Library Journal McClures Magazine Masters In Art Munsey Outing Public Librarians St. Nichols Scribner’s Magazine North American Review American Monthly Review of Reviews The electrical work has been completed at the library and all lights in, so that the room presents a very delightful appearance. All are welcome to enjoy the pleasure of a quiet Teading room for two hours each evening during the week. At a library meeting held in Wisconsin a short time ago a number of papers were read by uninterested business men who had been asked to inspect their home library and make a report on it. Many valuable points were given that would be well for our public to think about. In one town, where it was known that the working people did not use the library to any extent, the president of the local labor union was asked to make the report and to embody within it the reasons for the non-attend-ance of the laboring classes. In explanation of the causes of absenteeism on the part of the working classes, their representative insisted that the public library did not need librarians of a new order or a different olass of books to attract the working man, but that what was needed was an awakened public conscience, a conscience so wide awake that it will touch wealth not only into building and equiping libraries, but into the purpose of affording the men employes time to lay hold of the opportunity the building and equipment afford. It needs a public conscience that will help lift young men out of the erroneous impression that sport and frivolous indolence will do more to restore the exhausted physical condition than will a few hours with good books. It needs library spirit ripened in 4he public mind to the point of appreciation of the responsibility imposed on one branch for the well-being of every other by human society. Building libraries is a great work.

Would it not be a greater to give working men such hours of toil that they would be able to spend a little time each day in securing the benefits the library affords? The people of Rensselaer do not realize or appreciate the true value of the beautiful library they have in their city. Only a very few of the hundreds of inhabitants are availing themselves of the pleasure, as well as the good, that may be had at any time and with no expense. The children are the main borrowers. The library is for the older people, the parents, for the clerks, for the business men, for the office girls, for every one. Let us use it more. If the opening hours can be changed to accomodate more people, the board will be glad to make the change. The library is maintained by the people; let us have suggestions from the people as to the best way in which it may be used.