第77章 PICTURE BULLETINS IN THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARY(2)

At Minneapolis Public Library an interesting experiment was tried with success by Mrs.Ellison.Arrangements were made with the Director of Drawing to have the pupils furnish the picture bulletins,Mrs.Ellison furnishing the subjects and doing the reference work.

The making of bulletins in most cases devolves on the children's librarian,but we hear from several libraries where different members of the staff take their turn,all showing a keen interest in gathering material.

Questions 4and 5.Do you have more than one bulletin at a time?

Have you noticed any poor results from exhibiting more than one at a time?

The returns as to this point were not all that had been hoped.

Two bulletins seem to be an accepted number,but more than that a question.We do not desire to confuse our children,or to detract in value from a bulletin when once posted,and most certainly not to cheapen our rooms;but if the standard is held high in each case,the number would not matter.Take for instance a hero bulletin.Here is a wealth of material which overwhelms us,and even when we have selected with the utmost thought our heroes and placed them side by side,we realize we have more or less of a jumble and have not told our story simply enough.Some division is absolutely necessary.We saw a bulletin on this subject grouped under three excellent heads:When all the world was young;In the glorious days of chivalry;Heroes of modern times.

We should like to adopt this suggestion,but instead of one,offer three bulletins,as a safeguard against confusion.

Question 6.Can you show by citing cases that this picture work is of sufficient practical use to the children to pay for time and money spent?

One library--and this is an eastern one--gives us an encouraging,inspiring reply:"Case after case,actually hundreds of letters from teachers thanking us for the work."A general summary of reports from all the libraries shows an increased demand for the books on the subject posted.The perfectly evident pleasure of the little ones in the mere looking,to say nothing of their joy in telling at one time or another something they have seen before,shows with what keenness they observe.At the Buffalo Public Library there have been on exhibition some excellent silhouette pictures made by cutting figures,trees,etc.,from black paper and pasting them on white backgrounds."The pied piper"was one subject illustrated.To appreciate this it should be understood that the figure of the piper and of each little rat,some not more than a half inch high,were cut with scissors,without any drawing whatever.These were labelled "Scissors pictures.Can you make them?"When they had been up a week,one of the boys,14years old,brought in four,one of which was better in composition than any of those exhibited.This was posted as showing what one boy had done,and this boy is studying drawing and designing this summer,with good promise.Another library cites a case in relation to school work,where the superintendent of schools offered rewards in each school of five of Landseer's pictures for the best five compositions on Landseer and his work.A collection of his pictures was gathered,a bulletin made with lists,which at once attracted the boys and girls,set many earnestly to work,who would not otherwise have given it much thought,and finally received the hearty commendation of the superintendent.Miss Clarke,of Evanston,says:"We have no children's room,and have not done enough of bulletin work to be able to speak very surely of results."Yet she can give us this,which speaks for itself."An Indian exhibit which we gave,where among the Indian curios and Navajo blankets I had all our books on Indian life and customs and our best Indian stories displayed,aroused a great demand for the books.Ikept the list of Indian books and stories posted for some months,and it was worn out and had to be replaced by a new copy,owing to its constant use.Our boys at that time really read a great deal of good literature on the subject,including Mrs.Custer's books and those by Grinnell and Lummis."These are but a few of the many interesting illustrations,yet we all know there is a great part of our work of which we can see no results,but if these bulletins beautify the room,offer some new thought to the child and give pleasure,then the time and work spent on them is a small factor,and even in that we are the gainers,as we unconsciously acquire in the making of these bulletins much general information,and an ability to present subjects in their relative value to each other which is invaluable.

Question 7.Are these bulletins allowed to circulate?

In most cases,no.Several libraries allow them to go to schools and a few make duplicates for both library and school,and in Indianapolis the bulletins are sent to other libraries in the state.This should prove very helpful to small libraries which are open but a few hours in the week.The bulletins may wear out,but a bulletin once planned,three quarters of the work is accomplished,and it is little labor to make the duplicate one.

Question 8.Please describe the exhibit which has proved of the greatest interest in the past year.