This is coming to mean great possibilities. If the librarian is
sympathetic and has won the hearts of the students they will come
naturally to her as a source of information on what a boy or girl
can do to earn a living. It is a serious problem to the high school
pupil,--often there is no one at home to help. The librarian must be
ready with books, pamphlets, clippings to lay before the student the
many possibilities in choosing a vocation. The books on these subjects
are the most popular books in the library of a large boys high school.
Catalogs of technical and trade schools, etc., should be on file for
reference for students desiring to plan special courses in high school
to meet their entrance requirements. Where there is a committee of
teachers on vocational direction the librarian can be of great service
in aiding in collections of books, magazines and pamphlet material.
These possibilities of the high school library make it a most tempting
field for any one interested in work with the older boys and girls. The
librarian has the opportunity of making the school library: (1) A great
working laboratory for all departments which will meet their needs for
reference and serve to stimulate interest or awaken interest in the
work of class room or laboratory. (2) A preparatory school for the
best use of college or public library by training students in the use
of a library during the four years in school. (3) Compensation to the
students for the lack of a home library. Carefully selected, largely a
collection of the best books on the subjects which high school pupils
would be interested in and containing all the really great things in
the world's literature it affords a browsing place which should mean
that inspiring and stimulating contact with books which many have
felt in their home libraries, and it should mean also that personal
guidance of the reading of the individual which in more fortunate homes
parents give to their children. And perhaps quite as important as any
other is the possibility of opening up to the high school students
and teachers the great resources of the public library. The success
of the high school library of the future will depend largely upon its
relation to the public library. We are just at the beginning of things
today in this matter of co-operation and shall probably see important
developments along this line during the next five years.
Mr. Gilbert O. Ward, supervisor of high school branches, Cleveland
public library, led the discussion on Miss Hall's paper. He said in
part:
High school pupils after all are a very small proportion of the
school community. Why should a public library put an expensive
assistant into a high school, where, after all, the actual numbers
affected are small? One answer is this: High school students like
college students, though in a less degree, are a chosen few. They
are in a position to become naturally leaders in the community.
And it seems to me that public libraries which have the chance to
establish high school branches should consider the possibilities
of the indirect influence on the community as well as the direct
influence on the limited number of high school students.
In considering now the relation between high school library and public
library, let us first sum up the needs of the high school, the points
in which the public library fails to meet the situation, and the points
in which the independent high school library is liable to failure:
The high school needs:
1. Books, freely duplicated, including general reference books, books
relating to school work and selected general reading adapted to the
abilities and appreciation of high school students.