Show rr v LITERARY r L-r 1 1 i i Jit Editor University Chronicle I have been requested to contribute to your your paper an article touching the progress progress progress pro pro- gress and management of the Library and Reading Room My biennial report report report re re- port rendered in December to the President President President dent will show that in the two years just past some over 2000 volumes including pamphlets have been added to the Lib Lib- As an item of almost equal importance importance importance im im- I might mention that the card catalogue begun two years ago has progressed progressed progressed pro pro- gressed so far as to include all the miscellaneous miscellaneous miscellaneous mis mis- works and the most useful of the scientific reports from Government Government Government Govern Govern- ment surveys and other public The catalogue will be made accessible accessible accessible ac ac- to the students as soon as a suitable place can be prepared for it But the most significant ant indication of progress to be not noted d from the records is is that during January 1894 from four to five times as many books of the Library Library Library Lib Lib- were used med by students as during January 1893 This showing is of such merit that I think the Library may well afford to divide the honors of it by frankly attributing a fair proportion to the he advance in the grade and quality of the student body This improvement has been even more strikingly manifested in the general decorum of the students who frequent the Reading Room and shows that the spirit of advance must be somewhat of an epidemic throughout through through- out mt the institution The usefulness of a Reading Room i iso is isso isso so far dependent upon the character of f fits its discipline that it might almost as aswell aswell well be without books as to be erly With perfect order secured the next point of usefulness is the bringing of the student in as close communion as possible with the books To perfect these two conditions the policy of the Library under its present management is not to multiply rules but rather to enforce with as much rigor as possible the few which experience has proved to tobe tobe tobe be necessary to a consistent system of order and to limit the use of the Reading Reading Reading Read Read- ing Room to those students only who manifest a disposition to comply with the letter and spirit of the regulations These are essentially the same as they have been for years past the only change being in the discretion exercised by the Librarian At present any student having occasion occasion occasion occa occa- sion to examine a number of references not in the reading room cases may be admitted to the alcoves by asking permissIOn permission permission per per- mission of the Librarian or in charge and naming the class of books which he wishes to examine Students may also take books home over night or in some cases for a longer period but permission of the Librarian must be obtained in every case and unless a longer time is allowed the book must be returned by 9 30 a. a m. m on the day following For the large majority of the students students stu stu- dents lents these simple suggestions will undoubtedly undoubtedly undoubtedly un un- be sufficient but unfortunately unfortunately a tely in all such assemblies there are to tobe tobe tobe be found a few persons who seem fated to be perpetually out of order While innocent perhaps of any evil intent and under constant and almost painful exertions to be correct they manage in ill some way to create more confusion than ought to be privileged to a score of ordinary ordinary ordinary or or- persons However much they are to be pitied they must still be en- en dured d and provided for Following are area a few plain hints for the especial guidance guidance guidance guid guid- ance of these victims of misfortune HINTS TO THE THOUGHTLESS ESS f Read all the notices on the bulletins r and elsewhere and do not deface or tam tamper per wi with th them 1 t. Do not indulge in debates at the Library Library Library Lib Lib- door in fact do not shout at the top of your voice on any subject while in that position Such vociferations are not adapted to the unenthusiastic audiences aud audiences ud that assemble in the Reading Readings s Room Close the door when you pass in or out and do not let it slam r Do not stride boisterously across the floor or ramble about the Reading Room more than is necessary 4 Do not rattle the chairs in handling them or leave them standing in the aisles when vacated they should be quietly replaced under the tables so that the aisles may always be clear Do not leave the books and magazines of the reading room lying about on the tables return them to their places Do not scratch the walls or mar the thel l furni furniture ture or tear the papers or write te in the books of the Library r Finally do not allow any accident or r. r circumstance to you that rules are designed only for persons of smaller y consequence than yourself nor should l R you make the still more pitiable mistake of wasting and your energies energies' reputation in vaIn vain inventions to evade rules howL however however how how- L' L ever ever unimportant Make an effort to discover all ail the regulations prescribed J for the government of the institution y that is educating you respect them as you you respect yourself and be controlled by them Bear in mind always that to tobe tobe be a gentleman is worthy of the greatest i. i L effort of the grandest intellect while to toI tobe tobe I be an educated clown is of all human aspirations the most detestable G Q Coray Cordy t |