In the course of preparing the material for the following sketch, I was
brought into very agreeable relations with many persons whose practical
experience in library work proved of exceptional value to me. I wish
to take this means of thanking Miss Annie Carroll Moore, Supervisor of
Children’s Rooms in the New York Public Library, and Mr. C. G. Leland,
Supervisor of School Libraries and member of the New York Board of
Education, for every encouragement and assistance.
To Miss Caroline M. Hewins of the Hartford Public Library, Miss Frances
Jenkins Olcott of the Pittsburgh Carnegie Library, Miss Caroline
Burnite of the Cleveland Public Library, the Reverend Joseph McMahon,
a member of the Advisory Board of the New York Public Library, Mr.
Frederic W. Erb of the Columbia University Library, and to Mr. Tudor
Jenks, I am indebted for general advice.
In special lines, I had the privilege of consultation with Mr. Frank
Damrosch, Mr. C. Whitney Coombs, and Miss Kate Cohen for music; Miss
Emilie Michel for French; and Miss Hedwig Hotopf for German.
The librarians of Columbia University, the Pratt Institute, and the
Astor Library have rendered me marked service for which I am grateful.
I wish to thank the New York _Outlook_, _Independent_, and _Evening
Post_ for affording me opportunities to publish from time to time data
relating to juvenile books and reading.
Finally, I wish to fix the responsibility for whatever statements
are made in the way of criticism upon myself; this is only due to
those whose extensive knowledge of the subject is being exerted in a
professional capacity; and to those many authors whose books and papers
are indicated in the bibliographical notes.
M. J. M.
NEW YORK, August, 1907.