isa-normaladvance-1903-00083

Description:	THE NORMAL ADVANCE.83for the boys were in close proximity and withoutany enclosing lattice or fence as a screen, and theyard was in a neglected condition. The furniturewas meager, consisting of a small table, threecrude red benches, two old. chairs, some thirty-fivesingle desks in fairly good repair, and four sidelamps, two only having chimneys.The books belonging to the school, kept in asmall closet with chalk, etc., and at various partsof the room, without bookcase, were as follows:Robinson Crusoe, Deerslayer, A Tale of TwoCities, John Halifax, Gentleman, Tom Brownat Oxford, Swiss Family Robinson, The Pathfinder, Tennysons Poems, Whittiers Poems,Longfellows Poems, etc.The librarian of the State Normal School, Mr.Arthur Cunningham, having examined the abovelist of books, says: I found seventy-one volumes,which might be classed as/follows:Poetry, 6 volumes fiction, 36 volumes fables, 4volumes religion, 1 volume natural science^ 8volumes geography, 4 volumes biography, 4 volumes history, 8 volumes. •In general the books have, been quite well selected, considering the needs of the children, but it isevident that there is not a sufficient number ofbooks on any of these subjects, with the exceptionof fiction. The duplication of certain books forsystematic class use is certainly desirable. And itwould be well to round up the collection somewhatby adding at least from fifty to a hundred volumeson the following subjects, which are not now represented :Practical ethics: Character, conduct of life,success, etc.Civics.Mythology and folklore.Astronomy.Fine Arts: Drawing, painting, architecture,etc.Games, sports and amusements.Foreign literature.European history.The history of the old township libraries in thisState is a record of mismanagement, misuse, neglect and dissipation. Mr. Dunn, in his monograph on The Libraries of Indiana, makes thissignificant statement, which should be as a lampto our feet and a light unto our path: . Leftwithout any support whatever, the libraries wereof necessity doomed to continual deterioration.No new book could be added except by donation.When a book wore out it could not be replaced.If the binding came off, it could not be rebound..Then, aside from the material deterioration, apublic library is always on the retrograde in usefulness if it be not growing. People who wish toread finish such books as they care for, and then,having no further use for the library, take no further interest in it. It gradually drops out of sight.What difference does it make if the one, who isburdened with the care of the library, boxes it upand stores it in his cellar ? What, even if he loanthe books to his friends and make no pretense ofseeing that they are returned ? Who cares ? Thetownship libraries died of starvation and neglect,and care must be taken that history does not repeat itself in the management of school libraries.The County Superintendent should keep a careful inventory by author, title and imprint of allbooks entrusted to a teacher, and the teachershould make an annual report to the County Superintendent of the librarys use, condition, losses,etc., with suggestions as to its improvement. Allbooks needing repair should be withdrawn fromuse and returned to the Superintendent.The books should be labeled and indeliblystamped as property of the school, and under nocircumstance should a book be used until it is soidentified.Td bring about the Highest usefulness of evena small collection of books, it is necessary thatsome sort of a simple classification be adopted,and I would suggest that the briefest form of theDewey system be used, which can be expandedfrom time to time to meet the growing needs ofthe library. This will give but ten classes at thestart. A card may be obtained of the Library Bureau, showing the ten classes and the ten divisionsof each class. The number of the class to whicha book belongs should be indicated on the upperpart of the Denson label posted on the back of the
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/33840
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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