The Elementary School Library

THE ELEMENTARY LIBRARY BY WILLIAM A. KING PRINCIPAL OF B. F. DAY SCHOOL, SEATTLE CO-AUTHOR, THE TEACHING AND SUPERVISION OF READING COPYRIGHT, 1929, BY CHARLES SCRIBNERS SONS PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. IN MEMORY OF MY MOTHER. PREFACE There is a real need as well as an increasing demand for a practical treatment of the elementary school library. A thorough consideration of modern educational objectives and of the nature and aspects of the learning processes places a premium on that agency which provides an attractive environment, abundant reading materials, stimulating social contacts, and facilitates a wholesome interrelation of all departments of the school. The purpose of this book is to show how the elementary school library functions effectively in all these ways. Vital problems of organization, administration, and guidance are given definite, specific treatment. The fol lowing partial list of topics suggests to some extent the range and nature of the contents of this volume Major objectives of the elementary school library Library, the heart of the school Pupil activities in the library Location, furniture and equipment Qualifications of the teacher-librarian Cooperation with the public library Elementary school programs including school library service Training in the intelligent use of the library Helpful, varied lists of children's books and magazines Reading guidance Measuring the efficiency of an elementary school library A variety of library programs in actual operation in platoon and other schools is given. Special attention is paid to the reading-library departments of the newer non-auditorium type of platoon schools in Seattle. This type of organizationprovides libraries and reading library teachers without the expense of extra class rooms or added teaching staff. This feature should be helpful to the many administrators who are interested in studying the different types of organization that have embodied library or special reading service in their schools. This book is intended for superintendents, principals, supervisors, and school librarians who are concerned with the problems of establishing and maintaining library service in their schools, and for institutions offering courses in school library practice. Classroom teachers also will find it helpful and suggestive. The fact that the establishment of the elementary library in the majority of schools is an enter prise of the future, and that each administrator faces a different series of problems in securing library service for his school, is fully appreciated. Accordingly, the intention has been to present a variety of practical suggestions so as not only to stimulate improvement in schools in which libraries are already established, but to encourage a beginning in those schools whose pro grams do not as yet provide library service for their boys and girls. The materials of the book have been assembled from a number of sources. One of these was a conference on the elementary school library at the University of Washington during the summer of 1927. This conference was held under the joint auspices of the American Library Association, the Department of Elementary School Principals of the National Education Association, and the Extension Department of the University of Washington. It was in charge of Miss Lucille F. Fargo, General Assistant, Board of Education for Librarianship, theAmerican Library Association, and the author. One phase of preparation for this conference was the circulation of a questionnaire on the elementary school library. An interpretation of returns from this questionnaire is incorporated in this volume...