第74章 THE LIBRARY AND THE CHILDREN(2)

The Maxson book marks have been very useful in connection with the league,and have suggested a series of book marks which will also serve as bulletins for league notes,little lists of good books,suggestions about reading,etc.The color will be changed each time,as variety is pleasing to children.The Cleveland Public Library.LIBRARY LEAGUE BOOK MARK NO.1.

Boys and Girls:How would you like to have a new book mark every month or two with Library League news,and suggestions about good books?That is what the Library is going to try to give you.Read this one through,use it until you get the next one,which will be Library League Book Mark No.2;then put No.1away with your League certificate and keep it carefully as a part of your League records,that some day you will be proud to own and to show.

League Report:The Library League was started March 29th,1897.

On December 31st,1897it numbered 14,074.How large is it going to be on its first birthday anniversary?What the League has done:It has brought many children to the Library who never used it before.It has taught many boys and girls to love books and to handle them carefully with clean hands.Many books have been reported which were in bad condition,and the juvenile books are now in better shape than before the League began its work.

Library League Reading Clubs:Some of the League members have been starting reading clubs.One of these clubs is a Travel Club,and another is a Biography Club.The Library assistants will be glad to tell League members about these clubs if they would like to form others.

Library League Motto:Clean hearts,clean hands,clean books.

(OVER)The other side of this book mark contains a list of the juvenile periodicals in the library.No.2gives the beginning of a little serial,in which a thread of story will weave in hints on reading and on the care and use of books.

At our main library the children have come in such numbers after school and on Saturdays,that it has been impossible to push the work much this past winter,for fear the adults should suffer.It was finally decided that we must achieve the impossible,and by shifting about and putting up glass partitions,have a separate children's room instead of the open juvenile alcove.This room,while not half so large as it should be to meet the needs of the work,is indeed a great improvement in giving the children a place which they feel to be really their own;the change has involved the re-registration of the children having cards here,but it is affording much needed relief at the general receiving desks,and will greatly facilitate the service to adults,at the same time making it possible to do much more for the little people.