Page 188 - Training for librarianship; library work as a career

TRAINING FOR LIBRARIANSHIP

lation. Life in any of our larger cities gives
rise to more vital issues and problems with
which the city aldermen or councilmen are
called upon to deal than confronted the entire
nation in its early days. State and city gov-
ernment is a business, and serving the state
or municipal official is reajly serving the
business man in public employment. There
is, therefore, the same need and opportunity
for service as in business hbrarianship in
private employment.
In the past the state hbrary was frequently
regarded as a pohtical plum, and the thought
of civic obligation was often lacking in the
appointee. Recognition that the state
library must render definite service in return
for its support at public expense has, how-
ever, of late become quite general.
The fact that in fourteen states women
are in charge of the administration of the
state libraries, shows that the work here as
in other types of libraries is open to those of
merit, irrespective of sex. Salaries range
from $800 to $5000 a year. Conditions of
work are similar to those obtaining in other
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