“Restful Surroundings of New Library Give Diversions from Class Work”
TEAS ATTRACT STUDENTS
The reading room of the library at the Woman’s college is maintained as a comfortable, attractive place where students may go to do recreation and reading. Mrs. Minnie Hussey, readers’ adviser, is in charge of this room, and is ready to help all students select good and interesting books to read.
In the old library, which was burned in 1932, a fiction room was provided. Students gave furniture for the room; and rugs, tables; and chairs were gathered from many sources. In 1931, Miss Charlotte Newton, also in charge of circulation and a teacher in the school of library science, began an annotated catalog of fiction and non-fiction books as they came into the library.
The next year, Miss Katherine Price and Mrs. Minnie Hussey came to help Miss Newton. Attractive displays were made by the library science students. Four whole shelves of popular non-fiction books were brought up from the stacks and added to the fiction room; an addition which proved to be a happy one. In the disastrous fire of 1932, from three to four thousand books in the reading room were either destroyed or burned irreparably. All the furniture and pictures, so painstakingly collected, where damaged beyond use. In 1933 a new library was opened, with a new larger and more attractive reading room, which at present plays no small part in making the students feel at home on campus. Deep, comfortable chairs and davenports, tables; lamps, rugs, draperies, pottery, and pictures help to make the room more home-like. Popular fiction and non-fiction books are scattered around the room on tables and on shelves, and the room lacks the usual formality of a library. Students may spend odd moments during the day and at night here to good advantage. The reading room is open eight hours each day and two hours on Sunday afternoon.
Library teas are held in this room from time to time. Recent books are reviewed by townspeople, faculty members, or guests from neighboring cities; and tea is served by the library staff. Current plays are reviewed, and talks are given on a wide variety of subjects.
The reading room is an exceedingly popular place not only at tea time but at all hours of the day.
Carnegie Library (UNCG)
1905-1932
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Feb.21, 1936 p.2: Open Forum
Dear Editor:
A freshman is more or less like fresh damp clay—the first few footprints make distinct impressions, but with time and additional footprints, these first impressions become confused and indistinct. So it is with the freshman. On entering school, he makes certain observations which help him to determine, independent of written rules and regulations, what things are done, and what things are definitely left undone. Thus is instilled in him something of the high aims and ideals for which his school stands. But, regrettable as it may be, he finds that these first-learned ideals are not inviolable.
During the first week of school, I was deeply impressed with the emphatic placards of the library: “This room is for study, not for visiting. Silence is requested for the benefit of those who come here to study. Assistants are asked to report anyone who does not observe this request.” Doubtless, this library was a sanctum—a true haven of refuge for those in search of peace and quiet. As all newcomers must have done, I took great pains to observe this ruling. I remember walking on tip-toe, noiselessly sliding penciled notes across the tables rather than risk the shocking disturbance of a whisper, sitting uncomfortably for uncounted moments rather than cause the annoying scrape of my chair on the floor. I remember even being cautioned to speak only in moderate tones while passing the library. Surely this was an awe inspiring institution of great learning.
Then came the change. It came on gradually, of course, as most changes do come. Perhaps it first became noticeable when something went wrong with the ventilation system in the social science reading room. The new freshman history course requires that a great deal of time be spent in this room, since the books cannot be taken out before 9 p.m. Assignments in these books are long and tedious, and require the deepest concentration. During one period of several days, the bang and clatter overhead made even reading the text next to impossible, and a grasp of its contents out of the question. With all this outside noise, it was inevitable that less care should be taken in scraping chairs on the floor, banging books on tables and shelves, noisily rattling pages, and whispering—why, one had to fairly shout inquiries at the desk! In the rush of obtaining source-theme material, above this din attendants might be heard dashing madly up and down unseen steps in the mysterious realm of the “stacks.”
Abandoning the social science room (and needless to say, at the same time abandoning much of my history reading), I sought refuge elsewhere. The reserve room seemed a likely place, since it continued to maintain a reasonable degree of quiet. However, it was usually very full of people, as well as a bit stuffy. The periodical room, by dint of its contents and the near-necessity of rattling pages seemed out of the question… Then I hit upon the ideal place—ideal for peace, quiet, and comfort. Why hadn’t I thought of that before? The recreational reading room, with its deep comfortable chairs, and its utopian silence! I settled cozily in preparation for facing a dreaded French assignment. All went well, until my eyes found the modest placard, “This room is for recreational reading only.” My French text swam uneasily before my eyes, and I soon managed to slip out unnoticed. Another chapter ended in my quest abruptly.
Without further ado I sough the one remaining spot—the hitherto unexplored reference room. For a time this served admirably. Hidden behind the imposing Oxford dictionary, I could pursue whatever course I liked, undisturbed. Then, one day a happy pair settled beside me, and began to relate in loud whispers “what he said, and why, and what she said, and why,” at great length… That was the last straw. I was completely disillusioned. But I soon found that the library, with all its noises, was a great deal better suited to the pursuit of knowledge than the dormitory. So I returned to the library, and prepared to hope for the best. Can’t something be done about it?
DISGRUNTLED FRESHMAN
A freshman is more or less like fresh damp clay—the first few footprints make distinct impressions, but with time and additional footprints, these first impressions become confused and indistinct. So it is with the freshman. On entering school, he makes certain observations which help him to determine, independent of written rules and regulations, what things are done, and what things are definitely left undone. Thus is instilled in him something of the high aims and ideals for which his school stands. But, regrettable as it may be, he finds that these first-learned ideals are not inviolable.
During the first week of school, I was deeply impressed with the emphatic placards of the library: “This room is for study, not for visiting. Silence is requested for the benefit of those who come here to study. Assistants are asked to report anyone who does not observe this request.” Doubtless, this library was a sanctum—a true haven of refuge for those in search of peace and quiet. As all newcomers must have done, I took great pains to observe this ruling. I remember walking on tip-toe, noiselessly sliding penciled notes across the tables rather than risk the shocking disturbance of a whisper, sitting uncomfortably for uncounted moments rather than cause the annoying scrape of my chair on the floor. I remember even being cautioned to speak only in moderate tones while passing the library. Surely this was an awe inspiring institution of great learning.
Then came the change. It came on gradually, of course, as most changes do come. Perhaps it first became noticeable when something went wrong with the ventilation system in the social science reading room. The new freshman history course requires that a great deal of time be spent in this room, since the books cannot be taken out before 9 p.m. Assignments in these books are long and tedious, and require the deepest concentration. During one period of several days, the bang and clatter overhead made even reading the text next to impossible, and a grasp of its contents out of the question. With all this outside noise, it was inevitable that less care should be taken in scraping chairs on the floor, banging books on tables and shelves, noisily rattling pages, and whispering—why, one had to fairly shout inquiries at the desk! In the rush of obtaining source-theme material, above this din attendants might be heard dashing madly up and down unseen steps in the mysterious realm of the “stacks.”
Abandoning the social science room (and needless to say, at the same time abandoning much of my history reading), I sought refuge elsewhere. The reserve room seemed a likely place, since it continued to maintain a reasonable degree of quiet. However, it was usually very full of people, as well as a bit stuffy. The periodical room, by dint of its contents and the near-necessity of rattling pages seemed out of the question… Then I hit upon the ideal place—ideal for peace, quiet, and comfort. Why hadn’t I thought of that before? The recreational reading room, with its deep comfortable chairs, and its utopian silence! I settled cozily in preparation for facing a dreaded French assignment. All went well, until my eyes found the modest placard, “This room is for recreational reading only.” My French text swam uneasily before my eyes, and I soon managed to slip out unnoticed. Another chapter ended in my quest abruptly.
Without further ado I sough the one remaining spot—the hitherto unexplored reference room. For a time this served admirably. Hidden behind the imposing Oxford dictionary, I could pursue whatever course I liked, undisturbed. Then, one day a happy pair settled beside me, and began to relate in loud whispers “what he said, and why, and what she said, and why,” at great length… That was the last straw. I was completely disillusioned. But I soon found that the library, with all its noises, was a great deal better suited to the pursuit of knowledge than the dormitory. So I returned to the library, and prepared to hope for the best. Can’t something be done about it?
DISGRUNTLED FRESHMAN
Friday, June 12, 2009
Feb. 21, 1936 p.1: Miss Jane Summerell Will Give Book Review
Pleasure Piece, by Rose Batterham, will be reviewed by Miss Jane Summerell of the English department at the library tea Friday afternoon, February 28, at 4:30 o’clock. Miss Batterham is a graduate of the Woman’s college. Her novel has received considerable attention in literary circles and some weeks ago was reviewed in the New York Times book review section.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Nov. 1, 1935 p.1: Library Displays Bibles This Week
“Exhibit of Special Editions and Correlated Publication is in Reading Room”
DR. KLEISS WILL SPEAK
The Bible display in the library this week and nest week is in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the printed English Bible. In commemoration of this anniversary also, Dr. Donald S. Kleiss, pastor of Greensboro’s Community church, will speak on the “History of the English Printed Bible” at a library tea in the reading room on Wednesday, November 6, at 5 o’clock.
In the Bible display, in the cases, are facsimile pages of Bibles printed from 1525 to 1611, and an exhibit of old Bibles loaned by members of the faculty and friends of the library.
In the reading room are a collection of books about the Bible, of books on the history of printing with reference to the Bible, and a small collection of children’s Bibles, as well as some interesting pamphlets on the relationship of the Bible to us.
Among the interesting facsimiles are the title page of Miles Coverdale’s first edition of the English printed Bible, printed in 1535; a page from the Bishop’s Bible, printed in 1568; and a page from the King James version, 1611, the most popular translation of the Bible. More copies of this version have been printed and sold than any other book in any other language.
Among the fascinating collection of books about the Bible, one of the most unusual is Potter’s “Is That in the Bible?” The children’s Bibles are lovely, and contain many pictures in full color. Some of the interesting pamphlets are: “What the Bible Can Do for Us Today,” “The English Bible and British and American Art,” and “The Influence of the English Bible upon the English Language and upon English and American Literature.”
The library wished to announce the gift of the Carnegie portrait by the Carnegie Foundation in honor of the celebration of the foundation’s 100th anniversary. This portrait has been received by the college, and will be on display in the reading room, along with a collection of pictures and books about Andrew Carnegie.
DR. KLEISS WILL SPEAK
The Bible display in the library this week and nest week is in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the printed English Bible. In commemoration of this anniversary also, Dr. Donald S. Kleiss, pastor of Greensboro’s Community church, will speak on the “History of the English Printed Bible” at a library tea in the reading room on Wednesday, November 6, at 5 o’clock.
In the Bible display, in the cases, are facsimile pages of Bibles printed from 1525 to 1611, and an exhibit of old Bibles loaned by members of the faculty and friends of the library.
In the reading room are a collection of books about the Bible, of books on the history of printing with reference to the Bible, and a small collection of children’s Bibles, as well as some interesting pamphlets on the relationship of the Bible to us.
Among the interesting facsimiles are the title page of Miles Coverdale’s first edition of the English printed Bible, printed in 1535; a page from the Bishop’s Bible, printed in 1568; and a page from the King James version, 1611, the most popular translation of the Bible. More copies of this version have been printed and sold than any other book in any other language.
Among the fascinating collection of books about the Bible, one of the most unusual is Potter’s “Is That in the Bible?” The children’s Bibles are lovely, and contain many pictures in full color. Some of the interesting pamphlets are: “What the Bible Can Do for Us Today,” “The English Bible and British and American Art,” and “The Influence of the English Bible upon the English Language and upon English and American Literature.”
The library wished to announce the gift of the Carnegie portrait by the Carnegie Foundation in honor of the celebration of the foundation’s 100th anniversary. This portrait has been received by the college, and will be on display in the reading room, along with a collection of pictures and books about Andrew Carnegie.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
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