Rational Library Work with Children and the Preparation for It
By Frances Jenkins Olcott, Head of Children's Department, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
It is not the purpose of this paper to discuss the influence of good reading on children, but rather to outline a practical organization for the distribution of books among children. As a premise it is assumed that the public library is already an acknowledged educational factor, its chief duty being the distribution of good reading to the masses, and that in order to secure generally an intelligent use of the library by adults, it is necessary to begin by educating the children. This last does not mean, however, that we should organize our work with children at the expense of adult work. To do so would be to defeat the object for which library work with children exists. Instead, we should set aside a suitable portion of the library fund to provide books, special quarters, and attendants for the children, the amount of this fund to be decided by the needs of the library. Naturally, a library specializing in reference work, or having any other important specialty, would not spend the larger share of its fund on the children's room; while, on the other hand, a library in a tenement district, where two-thirds or more of its patrons were children, would spend its funds accordingly. Rational library work with children must adjust itself to the needs of the library as a whole, and be based on a study of the social conditions of the people who will use the library. Nationality, religion, occupations, and living conditions should be considered, books selected, and methods adjusted according to actual needs. This requires, on the part of the children's librarian, a wide knowledge of books and some experience in working with different classes of people. It is most convenient for me to illustrate an organization based on social conditions by describing the work with children of our own library, that is, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. First, let me draw your attention to the fact that our work with children is only one of the activities of the library, and is not carried on at the expense of other departments.
The organization has been made to meet the needs of Pittsburgh and of no other city. Conditions in Pittsburgh are as follows: Within an area that might reasonably be included in her limits there is a population of about one million. Within her present limits the census records show a population of 321,616 persons, more than two-thirds of whom are either foreign born, or children of foreign born parents, and persons of negro descent. The negroes alone number more than 17,000, which is 5.3 per cent. of the whole recorded population. Perhaps the most surprising facts relate to professions and industries. There are more than 90,000 mechanics, skilled workmen, day laborers, servants, etc.; 34,000 persons engaged in trade and transportation; as against 6,000 professional men and women.
Pittsburgh is a city of contrasts, built on many hills, and divided by three rivers. The hillsides and perpendicular bluffs along the rivers are dotted with wooden shanties, while many families live in "jo-boats" moored to river banks. From the very back doors of many fine residences in the East End and from near beautiful parks there stretch, hidden by the hills, long runs and gullies that are filled with shanties, while in
