Page:ABC of Library Science.pdf/19

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5 7. make such use of leisure as will promote their personal and social wellbeing. PEOPLE'S UNIVERSITY The public library is called the People's Univer- sity' because it offers to the individual opportunity to continue voluntarily, at his own pace, his life long education. To-day's readers seek information on developments in the fields of nuclear science, electronics, outer space, computer method and other subjects which were even beyond a man's dream half century ago. Moreover, they also come to the public library for facts concerning local, state, national, and world affairs in order to exercise to the full their responsibilities as citizens. Hence the public library should be the agency with an obli- Kation to provide materials on all facts of contro- versial issues. Books contain the creative ideas of thinkers, who have inspired mankind since the beginning of written communication. The public library system makes available to citizens of all ages, the accumula- tion of more than 5,000 years of knowlegde. Hence the public library should be developed as an arm of free public education provided by a people's 'Govern- ment. In fact the school system and the public library should grow on parallel lines since the school system is the avenue of formal education and the public library, an informal one. 479 The public library should provide materials for all ages of people and on nearly all subjects of human interest as far as possible, taking into con- sideration only budget allotment and human under- standing.