IDEAL CHILD'S LIBRARIES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1797, 9 July 1913, Page 7

IDEAL CHILD'S LIBRARIES.

THE) ENGLISH STYLE. (By Telograpli.—Special Correspondent,!, \ Christchurch, July 8. A year or two ago a start was made in Christchurch with a Children's Department at tho Public Library, and, for a time, much interest was taken in it. From various reasons that mtorest ■waned somewhat, though the youth of tho city were quito as eager to benefit from it as was the' case when the department was first started. A representative of tho "Broiling News" saw Mr. E. J, Bell, tho librarian at tho Public Library, and he gave some interesting information as to what is being done by tho English libraries in this direction.

"Nearly every library with sufficient accommodation, sadd Mr, Bell, "is providing departments for tho ueo of children only. Some contain both lending and reference librarios, audi also a read-ing-room. The reference department usually contains text-books dealing witlv tho subjects which children generally, learn at school, with the addition of die tionaries, encyclopaedias, etc. The cir-. culating department generally ha< amongst its collection books of adveiu ture, and tho beet historical novels, such as those of .Scott, Lyttonj Dickens, etc.. in abridged form, specially adapted foi children. The non-fiction sections con* tain works Upon i exploration, natur« study, history, engineering, otc., with it few standard biogra-phies, and volumes oi poetry, mostly written expressly foi children. A few years ago a prominent librarian issued printed lists of questions Hdlatinp to various books in tho children's department, and, from the answers received, 'Robinson. Crusoe,' waa tho most popular book. Anderson's 'Fairy Tales,' and' 'Alice in Wonderland' camo next, with 'Tom Brown'a Schooldbys' following. Tho ordinary children's reading-room in tho English libraries is usually bright and attractive, and contains popular magazines, such ad 'The Girls' Own Paper,' 'Boys' o\n( Paper,' 'Captain,' 'Chums,' and tlw various school magazines. Very often tho readling-room and circulating depart, ment are combined. Tho advantage o) this is that they oaai bo supervised by on« assistant. Tho rules and regulations arc generally not stringent, tho children being admitted upon being guaranteed by a school teacher or householder, and the age-limit is usually fixed from 10 to 14 rears. Some authorities allow no agelimit whatever, tho children being admitted as soon as tliey can read, and arc recommended by the teachers. A gro.il' part of the success of tho juvonilo department is due to tho assistants having been trained- to help children in tlio selection of their books, and to givo tliom all tlw assistance nossible. Lectures to children, and the 'Story Hour,' aro other features of library work that aro being developed. Tho aim, of courses, is to inculcate a love of reading, and, in this way, the boys and•' girls have been introduced to such works as 'Ivamhoo,' "David Copperileld,' 'Westward Ho,' as well a« tlioso upon tlio popular sciences, etc. Most librarians agreo that it is much tho best oovrso to allow chiJdrea (b become acquainted with tho .attractions and uses of good books, and the functions of tile public library as early as possible, and', to this end, they should bo encouraged to make use of tho library ami not discouraged."