Page 185 - Training for librarianship; library work as a career

TRAINING FOR LIBRARIANSHIP

to our stock of available information, and this
information at times forms a basis for or
serves as a guide in legislation. In addition,
the newspaper, the magazine and pamphlet
do much to formulate and influence public
opinion. With these studies and with the
steady output of the press, the modern legis-
lator can neither keep up nor be expected to
have a complete acquaintance.
It is here that the state library, and the
legislative and municipal reference libraries
step in. They stand between the legislator
and the public, interpreting to him sympa-
thetically from every angle the latter's prob-
lems. They stand between him and the
studentor research organization, interpreting
the meaning of their research. They digest
information bearing directly on legislation
and place it before the legislator in such form
that he can understand what is being con-
sidered. They inform him of the history and
results of similar legislation, they supply
copies of bills introduced in the same or in
other states, and they acquaint him through
newspaper clippings and other means with
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