Industrialist from Manhattan, Kansas • 8

346 THE INDUSTRIALIST. and men of wealth have made unprecedented gifts to establish libraries. Many millions have been given for this purpose. Sixty million or more has been proffered the United States in the last three years. Libraries costing from a thousand dollars up among the millions have been erected over a wide extent of country.

They are partly the result of local effort and partly the result of gift. The old-time library had for its object, accumulation, and its principal care was for the books, lying on the shelves largely unused and collecting dust and in some instances chained fast. A different spirit pervades the library of to-day- a spirit that is humane and helpful; a spirit that would awaken the interests of the public and urge the book upon those who would not seek it for themselves. The atmosphere is kindy and sympathetic, and the broadest spirit of hospitality prevails; free access to the shelves is granted, and everything done to serve the interest of the reader and bring the student in close contact with the books. The modern librarian, who well might choose the royal motto, "Ich Dien," is alert for anything that may improve the service of the library and extend its field of usefulness, realizing that it is a direct educational work that the library has to do, and that it is destined to play an important part in raising the standard of citizenship.

It has been well said "that the public library forms one side of a grand trinity as a means of public advancement -the library, the school, and the church; its base, the public school; the church, with its moral teachings and care for the spiritual man, forms one of the sides; the public library forms the other, by its broad and general training of all classes and sects." Inventive genius has kept step with the march of progress since the time of the old hand-press, and has multiplied the number of books and made them more easily obtained. Photo engraving and other methods of illustrating have taken the place of wood engraving, now almost a lost art, making the books not only more artistic but more attractive and instructive. From this wealth of material, librarians may choose the best books in the range of human knowledge; books of recreation, books of information, and books of inspiration, according to the especial needs of the institution and its educational aims. "The true university is a collection of and all books are books,.