Books Are Friends

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 48, 24 May 1940, Page 42

Books Are Friends

HE other day I went along to the Public Library and saw it for the first time with new eyes. I was struck with the air of solemnity the silence gives-like some shrine or temple. Yet it is not an oppressive silence. Then I noticed the people — not as library subscribers — but as individuals. Children, young girls, men and women of all stamps and ages, all devotees at the same shrine. In the newspaper room a motion-picture producer would have enjoyed the conglomerate types gathered there for his inspection. Of course a library is a nice snug place wherein to seek refuge on a raw day — with a little pleasant reading thrown in as a side-line, and they come there in their dozens; the poor, the shabby, and the derelict. I felt like a trespasser as I stole a glance over the bowed shoulders at their choice of literature. Shakespeare and Voltairedown to Gardening Notes and Practical Hints on Carpentry.

The Librarian in Charge I caught the friendly eye of the Librarian in Charge, and decided to pry a little further into the mysteries. She was willing and even pleased to enlighten me. A Librarian in Charge sounds a formidable person, but this particular one was not. She had a young, merry face and an infectious laugh. Her grey hair was the only sign of surrender to her official title. She led me into her private sanctum, where we sat and talked. "You know," she said, "people have misconceptions about a library assistant’s job. They imagine it is a leisurely one, whereas it is such a busy life that it restricts one’s outside activities to a little social world of our own right here among the books. And it is really a very happy world." "Tell me," I said, "about the girls. 7 know it is a pretty popular ambition to join a library."

Some Funny Ideas "Well, I don’t know of a better one," she answered. "But people do have the funniest ideas about it. I often have inquiries from elderly ladies with literary leanings who think their particular destiny is to be enshrined in a library, and if a young girl shows some aptitude at school, a library career is usually the first thing to come into consideration, But that is only one side of it. Certainly, a girl has to be properly equipped for this work; in fact, she has to pass a special examination after matriculating before she is eligible to enter." "Is that the only examination?" "No, there are two further examinations before she becomes a fully fledged Library Associate. But there is other work attached to it, a routine for the day, that often surprises new juniors, who start off with the idea that all they have to do is to grace the library with their presence-and improve their minds by reading books." "But they do read?" (Continued on next page)

Books Are Friends (Continued from pr€vious page) "Of course, we encourage it — and along the right lines, but that occupies a very small part of their time." "What other duties have they?" Mending and Washing "Well, they start work at nine o'clock, and till ten o’clock they dust the rooms, prepare the counters, lay out stock, and get things in general readiness for the day. Then there are such duties as bookkeeping, filing, mending, and washing books." "How do you do that?" "With vinegar and water. It’s a job I like. It takes off all grease marks and brings the colour up beautifully. Then there is the task of re-shelving books, clearing tables, counter duty — issuing books, taking in returns, etc." "It sounds like a good day’s work." "It is,’ she laughed. "Six of them! Then there is the cataloguing department, which is really a specialised work and calls for a knowledge of languages." Pleasing the Public "It must be difficult to get into the way of knowing what everyone wants?" "Not really; you’d be surprised to see how quickly the girls learn to know the different types of people and what par ticular literature they favour, For example, I'll say to one of the girls —

‘Go and find Mrs. So-and-So a nice human love-story’ — or — ‘Mr. So-and-So wants something on architecture.’ There, of course, the Reference Room comes in." "The different types of people who frequent the library must interest you. I was doing a bit of private snooping when I came in. They would make marvellous extras for a movie crowd scene." She laughed at that. Special " Types " "I wish you could see some of our special types-particularly amongst the men. One we christened Bill Sikes — as we had a sneaking suspicion he served regular periods under lock and key. He would come and collect a big parcel of books and then disappear mysteriously for a couple of months. But he would always turn up again and willingly pay the outstanding fines. We all liked him-despite our suspicions as to his integrity." I thanked the Librarian for the interview and the privileged glimpse she had given me behind the shrine. She gave me a merry smile, "That is part of my job-to dispense trade secrets." An elderly spinster who had been hovering near appealed to the Librarian. "I simply can’t choose a book. I wonder if you would help me?" I left them-deep in discussion as to the relative merits of Mary Mitchell and Francis Brett Young.