Page 82 - Training for librarianship; library work as a career
P. 82
TRAINING FOR LIBRARIANSHIP
Anyone standing in the doorway of any
of our larger public libraries is impressed at
once with the diflPerent types of persons who
come in and out of its doors. There is hardly
an occupational activity which the public
library does not serve. Where the character
of the patronage is such that intensive service
is advisable, special departments have been
created. Such departments as those devoted
to technology, science, economics, fine arts,
government documents, patents, newspapers,
magazines, manuscripts, foreign languages
or civihzations, etc., are quite commonly met
with to-day. These are in charge of special
librarians trained for the work. The special
departments are intended to give to the
reader better service which specialization
makes possible. In some cities branches to
serve business men have been established; in
others the hbrary cooperates with indus-
trial establishments by furnishing books
for use of employees or others, provided
the employer furnishes the quarters and
the librarian.
Another feature of the work of the public
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