Chapter I: Preface

A library primer was published in the first six numbers of Public Libraries in 1896. It was quite largely made up of extracts from an article by Dr W.F. Poole on The organization and management of public libraries, which formed part of the report on Public libraries in the U.S., published by the U.S. Bureau of education in 1876; from W.I. Fletcher's Public libraries in America; from Mary W. Plummer's Hints to small libraries; and from papers in the Library journal and A.L.A. proceedings.

At the request of a number of people interested I have revised, rewritten, and extended the original draft for publication in book form. Additional material has been taken from many sources. I have tried to give credit in good measure. The prevailing tendency among librarians is to share ideas, to give to one another the benefit of all their suggestions and experiences. The result is a large fund of library knowledge which is common property. From this fund most of this book is taken.

The Library Primer is what its name implies. It does not try to be exhaustive in any part of the field. It tries to open up the subject of library management for the small library, and to show how large it is and how much librarians have yet to learn and to do.

The City library, J.C.D. Springfield, Mass.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I, The beginnings--Library law 9

II, Preliminary work 10

III, What does a public library do for a community? 12

IV, General policy of the library 15

V, Trustees 17

VI, The librarian 20

VII, The trained librarian 23

VIII, Rooms, building, fixtures, furniture 25

IX, Things needed in beginning work 30

X, The Library Bureau 35

XI, Selecting books 39

XII, Reference books for a small library 46

XIII, Reference work 53

XIV, Reading room 57

XV, List of periodicals 61

XVI, Buying books 63

XVII, Ink and handwriting 69

XVIII, Care of books 73

XIX, Accessioning 76

XX, Classifying 78

XXI, Decimal classification 81

XXII, Expansive classification 84

XXIII, Author numbers or book marks 91

XXIV, Shelf list 92

XXV, Cataloging 94

XXVI, Preparing books for the shelf 99

XXVII, Binding and mending 103

XXVIII, Pamphlets 108

XXIX, Public documents 110

XXX, Checking the library 113

XXXI, Lists, bulletins, and printed catalogs 114

XXXII, Charging systems 116

XXXIII, Meeting the public 122

XXXIV, The public library for the public 123

XXXV, Advice to a librarian 126

XXXVI, The librarian as a host 128

XXXVII, Making friends for the library 131

XXXVIII, Public libraries and recreation 133

XXXIX, Books as useful tools 134

XL, Village library successfully managed 135

XLI, Rules for the public 137

XLII, Rules for trustees and employes 140

XLIII, Reports 146

XLIV, Library legislation 147

XLV, A.L.A. and other library associations 152

XLVI, Library schools and classes 154

XLVII, Library department of N.E.A. 156

XLVIII, Young people and the schools 157

XLIX, How can the library assist the school? 160

L, Children's room 163

LI, Schoolroom libraries 164

LII, Children's home libraries 166

LIII, Literary clubs and libraries 168

LIV, Museums, lectures, etc. 170

LV, Rules for the care of photographs 171

Library Primer