Page 44 - Training for Librarianship Library Work As a Career

TRAINING FOR LIBRARIANSHIP

of the circulation department is actually in
charge of one of the strategic branches of the
library service. Hence her aim should be to
infuse in every assistant a desire to be helpful
and to increase the use of the library. By
direction and by example she should instil
high standards of treatment of the pubhc;
beyond this she should inspire in her assist-
ants not only a willingness to learn but also
to serve those for whom the library exists.
Since the circulation and reference depart-
ments are most closely in contact with the
public and are in greatest degree responsible
for the opinion which users of the library
form of it, personality and knowledge should
be, and generally are, dominant considera-
tions in appointments in these departments.
The ability to delegate authority, to direct
others, to teach them to be helpful, while set-
ting an example in helpfuhiess, are desirable
characteristics in any department head.
Since circulation work involves the issue of
books for use outside the building, some rec-
ord must be kept to indicate in whose posses-
sion any given book outside the Ubrary is.