MODERN NOVEMENT. It was the chief duty of the old librarian to get and keep books. Their use was a subordinate consideration. The library was a storehouse. But the modern library is less a reservoir than a fountain. Its librarian is an active. aggressive factor in popular education. lie recognizes fully his duty to get and to keep, but puts far above this his greater duty to use. The old library was of interest only to the learned few. The modern library has won an equal place beside the public school.
The present will be known to historians as the library age. In a single year 100 new general library laws have been passed by American States. In public interest and support, in liberal ity of laws and appropriations, in magnitude of individual gifts, the modern library movement exceeds any other in history. It meets not with jealousy and antagonism, lint with sympathy and cordial supphrt from those concerned with the other half of education, the schools.
The most potent and most economical influence to be exerted for good on young and old is through reading. It is the longest lever with which hnman hands have ever pried. Educa tional experts declare that the chief influence on the child is not father. mother, teacher, or school, but what he reads. This reading can be guided effectively and economically by free public libra ries. The vast percentage of children are aide to secure. only the barest elements of education before becoming., bread-winners. During life the rest is gained, whether of information or inspira tion, from what they read.
The birth-year of active, new work, of the 1110(1(.1.11 library movement, was IS76. In it was founded the American Library Association. a most potent national body. The Library Journal was established as its official organ. The Library Bureau, a centre for library enterprises, started its work, which has grown from a few hundred dollars the first year to over a million dollars annually, and has introduced card indexes and other labor-saving devices into a score of coun tries. Later the 'United States Bureau of Educa tion published a volume of essays and statistics on public libraries in the United States. Cut ter's Rules for a dictionary catalogue. and the decimal classification and relative index. ap peared. In !SSG the Library Journal was sup plemented by Library Notes. later replaced by Public Libraries, published since 1896 by the Library Bureau.
In 11193, at the Columbian Exposition, a national comparative library exhibit. prepared by the New York State Library, was a prominent fea ture in the United States Building. Similar exhibits. limited by lack of space, were made at the Paris Exposition of 1900 and the Pan American of 1901. The A. L. R. Catalog of 5000 of the best books for a village library was a leading feature of the Chicago exhibit, and the New York State Library took charge of its revision for the Saint Louis Exposition.
Significant of the new part public libraries are playing is the action of one of the shrewdest observers among mankind's greatest friends, Andrew Carnegie, who, in his avowed purpose of distributing his wealth for the greatest good of his fellows, finds nothing which promises so large returns as coiiperation with communities which are willing to pledge themselves per manently to devote, from public funds or other sources, for the annual maintenance of a public library, one-tenth the sum given by Mr. Carnegie for a building. Up to January 1, 1903, Mr. Carnegie had given 730 libraries and had appli cations for S00 more, most of which he hoped to grant.
The clearest testimony that the great library movement is accepted as educational is found in the fact that circulating, subscription, and pro prietary libraries have given way before the tax-supported free public library, just as the private and denominational schools have been so often replaced by the tax-supported free high school. All the important steps in the develop ment of the school system have already been taken also for libraries; such as educating public sentiment, making libraries entirely free, giving grants and subsidies from public money, super vision, reports. professional journals, training schools and classes corresponding to normal schools and teachers' classes, institutes. inspec tors; and, .most important of all, establishing State library commissions, which will inevitably grow to State departments like that already established in New York. Two other steps are advocated to complete the correspondence: re quiring librarians to attend institutes as a con dition of receiving public library money. and requiring State certification of librarians as to fitness for their duties.