March 10, 1936 p.3: Reading Room has Fiction on Display

“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.

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

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.

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.

"And now a word from our sponsers..."

Oct. 18, 1935 p.1: Library Association Meets in Asheville

The North Carolina Library association held its biennial session October 10-12 at the Battery Park hotel in Asheville. Mr. Charles H. Stone, former librarian of Woman’s college, returned from his new position at William and Mary to preside over the meetings. Members of the local staff who attended were Miss Elizabeth Sampson, acting librarian; Miss Virginia Trumper, Miss Vernon Williams, and Mrs. Minnie M. Hussey.

Oct. 11, 1935 p.2: This and That from Here and There

A new use has been found for the camera. Rare books and volumes for reference are photographed in miniature on a sheet the size of notebook paper, 50 pages being placed on this size of film. They are easily stored away in libraries with very little space needed. When the reader calls for them, he places the sheet under a special binocular, turns a rank, and there is page after page of a precious volume right before his eyes.

Another method is to take a motion picture of the book or newspaper. This filing takes even less space.

Libraries will be able to exchange valuable source material without the great expense of copying; and these files will be much more complete because of the small storage space needed.

"And now a word from our sponsers..."

Oct. 1, 1935 p.2: Open Forum

Dear Editor:

A senior and a sophomore would like to know why free access cannot be had to the library. We are speaking of those novels in the reading room which we have enjoyed in the past but which at present are on the restricted shelf. These books—we know because we have read them—contain nothing whatever which would warrant their restriction for college students. Among these books is a book which year before last was a required classroom assignment.

The type of student who would take an unwholesome attitude toward certain novels has never been seen entering the reading room. There library is the corner drug store.

Mary Elizabeth Davis
Shelia Corley

"And now a word from our sponsers..."

June 11, 1935 p.4: Library Has Large Daily Circulation from Main Desk

“Reading Room Is Furnished with Easy Chairs for Restful Hours”

LOBBY CONTAINS DISPLAY

“Reserve Room Shelves Open to Students for Parallel Reading Assigned by Each Teacher”

The library of Woman’s college, a large two-story brick building, conveniently situated between classrooms and dormitories, contains 75,000 volumes of books, with an average circulation at the main desk of 200 per day. Its staff consists of ten trained librarians and thirty student assistants. This building has four large rooms, the periodical room, the reading room, the reference room, and the reserve room.

The reading room or fiction room is an attractive place to students. One-half of it is artistically furnished with easy chairs and sofas, while the other half has comfortable chairs and tables for reading. There are 2000 volumes of fiction here. Two or three shelves are set aside for interesting non-fiction books: this group is frequently changed. All of the most recent books also have their separate nook. One of the main features of the reading room is its interesting display. Every Friday afternoon teas are given at which time some faculty member or a speaker outside the college, reviews a book that is related to his field of work. There is always a display of books related to the subject of this talk. This past year an exhibit of pictures from the Grand Central Galleries of New York was shown here.

The reserve room contains the books which are most in demand by the students. This group of books cannot be checked out except from 9 o’clock at night until 8:30 the next morning. The college uses a different system concerning reserve books from most colleges. Here the stacks are open and the student finds his own book, rather than signing a slip and having to for someone else to get it. The circulation of this room alone is from 500 to 1,000 per day.

The periodicals room is very popular with the students. It contains practically all of the worthwhile magazines and newspapers. The library subscribes to 12 daily papers and to 683 magazines and weeklies. In addition to the current publications, the back issues are bound and kept in this room. Many of the sets are complete back to the very first issue ever published.

There is a small periodical room especially for freshmen who take current events. None of the upper classmen are allowed to use it.

Then there is the reference room where over 15 different sets of encyclopedias may be found. Its contents total at least 1,500 reference volumes, including dictionaries and books on many subjects.

In addition to the books in these four rooms there are three floors of stacks at the back of the building.

Upstairs in the lobby there are showcases were there is always an interesting display. This past year there were displays of old pewters, rare books, rare letters, etchings, pictures, Russian costume, etc.

This year the library staff conducted for the first time a book contest among juniors and seniors. A prize was given to the student who owned the best collection of books. This contest is to become and annual affair.

May 17, 1935 p.1: Library Located First in Administration

The first library for the use of the students at this college was in a room 20 by 30 feet in size on the first floor of the Administration building just across from the president’s office. The first collection of books was made up of donations by faculty and friends. At the request of Dr. McIver $100 was given by the faculty. Dr. and Mrs. McIver gave a number of valuable reference books as well as other kinds of books. Because of inadequate space, one fourth of the material was stored in boxes and closets.

In 1905 a new library, the gift of Andrew Carnegie, was built on its present site. This library then possessed 5,000 volumes as contrasted with over 70,000 volumes now. Miss Annie F. Petty, sister of Miss Mary Petty of the Chemistry department, was the first librarian and her assistant was Miss Mary Mullen. At the beginning of each term all new students were required to attend a series of lectures given by the librarian on the use of the library. It is interesting to note the office hours of that time. They were on week days 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and on Saturdays 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

The need for a larger library to correspond with the rapid expansion of the college was realized in 1922; the old one was remodeled and enlarged.

Soon after Charles H. Stone took the position of librarian in 1927, a division of work into loan and reserve sections was made. This was later enlarged and eventually culminated in the present open-shelf reserve system, which is practically a new project. Another step forward was the contribution of Judge Bynum’s library of 3,000 volumes.

The school of library science, installed in 1928, functioned here until the consolidation of the college with the University of North Carolina in 1933 when it was abolished. This department was one of 22 accredited by the American Library association and the Southern Association of College and Secondary Schools.

In September, 1932, the second night of freshman week, a northbound airplane flying over the college discovered that the library was on fire and circled over the library until attention of the night watchman was attracted. The fire burned around the stacks, which were fireproof, but the books in the stacks were ruined by water. The library then took up temporary quarters in the Students’ building until the building could be rebuilt. The new library, built on the foundation of the old one, opened the fall of 1933. The open rotunda and skylight were replaced by the museum cases in the upstairs hall. Down stairs in front the two stairways were done away with in order that the card catalogue could be near the loan desk. Offices were built on either side thus adding space above also. Space to accomodate 25,000 more books in the stacks was provided for. The upstairs was changed entirely. The reserve room which was then above the stacks is now in the south wing. The fiction room was then in the south wing and the library science department was in the north wing where the reading room now is. The library was refurnished with new furniture throughout and was made fireproof.

The instigation of the reading room with the readers’ adviser, who gives aid to individuals in selecting what to read, is a novel feature. No other college in the south is known to have a room to compare with the one here. Also the tea talks from 4:40-5:30 which have been given during this year are of added interest to the reading room.

"And now a word from our sponsers..."

May 3, 1935 p.4: Library News

Seven juniors and seniors have entered their collection of books in the student library contest. A prize of $10 for the best one is offered by the student government association. Announcement of the winner will be made at tea hour Friday afternoon.

There is a display of inexpensive editions in the reading room with comments of the books and various sets of books. There is also a display of books on book collecting.

In the cases in the hall sheet music by Stephen Foster and interesting old books and autographs are exhibited.

"And now a word from our sponsers..."

April 26, 1935 p.2: Library News

Beginning today, April 26, and continuing through May 3, there will be on display in the reading room personal collections of books belonging to juniors and seniors who have entered the student library contest.

Similar contests have been held for several years in a number of colleges, but so far as is known there has been no such attempt to interest North Carolina students in beginning a personal library. It is hoped that this may be an annual affair, and that through this emphasis on good reading, a new and stimulating interest in what is already one of the most valuable leisure time activities, may be increased.

Mr. Wilson, of our faculty, will speak at the usual library tea hour April 26 on “Building a Personal Library.” All students are invited to attend this opening hour of the contest.

Juniors and seniors wishing to enter the contest may still do so if they will see Mrs. Hussey at once. A prize of $10 is offered for the best collection of 25 to 50 books.

March 22, 1935 p.1: Mrs. Hussey Reviews Book By P. Buck At Tea

“Member of Library Staff Tells of Third Book of Trilogy of Novels on Love of Land”

Mrs. Hussey, of the library staff, reviewed “House Divided,” by Mrs. Pearl Buck, at the library tea on Friday afternoon, March 15. As an introduction, Mrs. Hussey explained that “House Divided” is the third of a trilogy of novels written by Mrs. Buck about China. The whole series is to be called “The Good Earth.” It has its hero Wang Loo, an old Chinese farmer who is disappointed because his sons do not love the soil as he does. The second book, “The Sons,” is the story of these children of old Wang. The third, “House Divided,” is the story of the grandson of old Wang.

The grandson loves the soil and goes back to the old farm against his father’s will. He is sent to Shanghai but does not stay there long. From Shanghai, the young man goes to America to study. In America, he idealizes his life in China, so he is very disillusioned to go back and see it as it really is. He is caught in the revolution, and only after a long period of strife does he return again to the old farm of his grandfather. As he goes back, he learns what the true values of life really are.

“It is a true picture of Chinese youth,” said Mrs. Hussey. The speaker lived for some time in China near the scenes described in the book, so she is able to speak from actual observations. She noted that the dialect was very realistic. Mrs. Hussey seemed to think the whole novel is a good interpretation of Chinese life and people.

"And now a word from our sponsers..."

Oct. 12, 1934 p.1: Library Holds Exhibit; Mrs. Gerberich Speaks

Beginning Saturday, October 13, and continuing for a week, there will be a display of Russian costumes, dolls, textbooks, posters, and icons in the upstairs lobby of the library. These articles of interest were brought back to the United States by Mrs. Nora T. Gerberich, supervisor of French at Curry Training School, who spent the past summer in Russia. During the same week, books about Russia will be on display in the reading room. Mr. Charles H. Stone, who has charge of the library lectures, stated that he hopes that at a later date Mrs. Gerberich will be able to give a talk on Russian life and customs.

"Andn now a word from our sponsers..."

Oct. 5, 1934 p.3: Fire Destroys Library Books September, 1932

“Students Building Serves as Temporary Room for Available Books”

BINDERY REPAIRS 12,000

“New Library has Numerous Improvements: Stacks are Increased; Fiction Room is attractive”

Early Thursday morning, September 15, 1932, a fire was discovered coming from the front wooden stairway. On one side a library school was established, and the equipment with the books on library science was destroyed. The upstairs was a total loss. As this was the beginning of the school year, there were few reserve books in the reserve room to be destroyed.

As the fire swept backwards to the sides, it missed the fireproof stacks; but firemen opened the roof above the stacks to make a passageway for the water and caused considerable water-damage to the books.

The library was moved to the Students building. The three society halls became the reference, reserve, and periodical rooms. A door was opened into the back, and the charging desk was placed there. This temporary library was occupied for business the Monday following the fire on Thursday.

We students cannot comprehend the task with which the authorities had to cope. At one time the bindery had 12,000 books to be rebound. These books had to be taken apart by sections, strung up on lines to dry in order to prevent mildewing and then sewed back together; then bound and 30,000 pounds of pressure applied.

The year of course was spent planning for the new library. The stairway was altered by the construction plans. The wall and floor display in the upstairs hall has taken the place of the old open rotunda and skylight. An additional office was built. Originally there were two floors of stack; now there are two and a half. The social science reading room is the other half of the third stack. In addition to making the fiction room into a formal reading room, a reader’s adviser was added to it. An open reserve shelf system was installed in the reserve room.

The library is attempting to replace the back files in periodicals.

April 26, 1934 p.4: Library Displays books on Music

“Library Shows Books Pertaining to Music During Week of Music Contest”

KINSKY EDITS HISTORY

In connection with the music contest help on the Woman’s College campus this week, the college library is displaying on shelves and tables in the reading room, a number of books pertaining to musical subjects.

“Early Keyboard Instruments,” by Philip James, shows the development of the clavichord, spinet, virginial, harpsichord, and pianoforte from their origin to the year 1820. “Musical Instrucments,” by A.J. Hipkins and William Gibb, discusses historic rare and unique instruments from every country. Both books contain plate showing instruments which have been used throughout the ages.

An attempt to stimulate the revival of music history for pleasure and profit is the purpose of “History of Music in Pictures,” edited by George Kinsky. The compiler says: “Although pictorial representations can be but makeshifts in visualizing the growth of an art of sound, yet pictorial representations are in many cases the only aids to an insight into the musical life and activity of bygone times; they are indeed the only proofs left to us which still reflect the flourishing music culture of antiquity, now long since vanished and a great part of the medieval. These pictures can alone supplement and strengthen our slender knowledge of the actual music of former times.

"And now a word from our sponsers..."

April 13, 1934 p.1: Library Displays Plates on Modern Sculpture

“S. Hartmen Edits Book Containing Plates of Well Known Work of American Sculptors”

GROUP GIVES TREND OF NEW ART

Plates on modern American sculpture are on display this week in the wall and museum cases in the upstairs lobby of the library. The plates are taken from the book, “Modern American Sculpture,” edited by Sadakichi Hartmann.

Mr. Hartmann has made a representative collection of the principal statues, reliefs, busts, statuettes, and specimens of decorative and municipal work executed by foremost sculptors in American within the last 20 years.

The purpose of the collection is to give the art student and layman an idea of present conditions, aspects, and methods of American sculpture. The object of the group is to be thoroughly representative, to sho9w what has been accomplished in various branches of glyptic art within the last 20 years.

Among the sculptors whose work will be shown are Herbert Adams, A.P. Proctor, A.S. Calder, Carl Bitter, H.H. Kitson, F.W. Ruckstubl, and Augustus St. Gaudens.

"And now a word from our sponsers..."

March 30, 1934 p.2: Open Forum

Dear Editor:

We realize that many of the C.W.A. assistant in the library have had no experience in library work, and that the regular library staff does not have time to give instructions. Yet there must be enough trained assistants to work at the load desk. It is very irritating to have to wait while the assistant searches for a book. It is still worse to wait several days for a books which the assistant reports out, to be returned to the library, when it has really not been out of the stacks. The assistant was merely unable to locate it.

Perhaps the inexperienced students could be assigned to other duties in the library without much inconvenience. We that something can be arranged so that students and library assistants will not be forced to waste this time.

A Student.

March 8, 1934 p.1: The Library Announces New Closing Hours

The appropriation from the Federal government has made it possible to employ additional students and thus keep the library and its special department open longer.

The Reserve room is now kept open from one until two o’clock every day; the Reading room is open from nine to twelve and from two to six.

"And now a word from our sponsers..."

Feb. 23, 1934 p.1: Library Announces Addition of Index

“Complete Catalogue of Fiction Is Placed in Reading Room for Use of Students”

INDEX TO LIST SEQUELS

An announcement from the library which will be of interest to all frequenters of the library concerns the new card index in the Reading Room. It is a complete catalogue of all the fiction in the room. One each card will be found the author, title and subject of the book, and on most of the cards, an annotation. If the annotation is not on the card, a reference to Keller’s “Reader’s Digest” will be given.

The card catalogue also contains a general index. For instance, novels of a historical nature or tales of mystery, are wanted they can be found listed under “Historical Fictions” and “Mystery Stories.” All other general topics are also listed in this manner.

But perhaps the most interesting feature of this catalogue is the index of sequels which is being worked out at the present. On the card of each book in the series will be listed the books coming before and after.

All these changes are being undertaken in order to make it easier for the student to find exactly the type of book she wishes to read.

Displays in the Reading Room this week center around George Washington, in honor of his birthday on the 22nd, and Paul Green, whose “House of Connelly,” is attracting much favorable attention among theater-goers.
It was announced today that the Reading Room will be open on Monday and Wednesday nights from seven to nine, until further notice. The Reserve Room is now being kept open until ten p.m.

"And now a word from our sponsers..."

Nov. 9, 1933 p.2: Open Forum

The Library staff has been keeping the reading room and the periodical room open every Sunday afternoon for the convenience of students. So far very few have taken advantage of the opportunity to use the library on Sunday. There must be a number of girls who like to read the Sunday papers or to escape from the noisy dormitories on Sunday afternoon. So remember, if you would like to use the library it is open for you.

No doubt a larger group of students will make use of this opportunity as winter comes on and there is no chance to play tennis or walk or find other outside recreations. However, if we are interested in keeping these rooms open on Sunday we will have to use them. The staff of the library have been rather disappointed in the apparent lack of appreciation of this opportunity to use the library on Sunday. So the next Sunday afternoon that you are bored with things, just drop by the library and read some good fiction in pleasant surroundings, seated in a deep armchair; or read about the week’s happenings in the new issues of the periodicals.

Oct. 5, 1933 p.2: Open Forum

H-m-m, that new Reading Room of our’s! Have you ever sunk so low in a sofa or been so comfortable in an armchair? And did you notice those lovely pictures of the cathedrals and the bowls of fresh flowers? That rug, too, it makes you feel at home right away. And if the chairs and sofa are too soft there are the equally comfortable reading tables with their chairs that fit just right. Those creamy draw curtains add just the right touch. Who couldn’t be intellectual in such surroundings?

And the best thing at all is that you don’t have to be especially intellectual here. There are some of the best thrillers, and the most hair-raising books on the shelves—some that just read themselves thru to the last page. But my, couldn’t it solve the problem of what to do on Sunday afternoons!

"And now for a word from our sponsers..."

Sept. 28, 1933 p.4: Reading Room Is to Open Sundays

“Informality is Keynote of Furnishings; New Literature Is on Shelves”

ADVISER AIDS READERS

On the second floor of the Library there is a room which is a joy to both faculty and students. This is what is known as the Special Reading Room because it has an atmosphere all its own and meets a special need of the students. With its comfortable informal furniture, soft rug and shaded lights, it invites one to rest and read for an hour or so. All of the fiction is kept on the shelves in the eastern section of this large room and in the western end are the new books and also interesting collections of travel, biography, drama, poetry, etc. Here one may sit in comfort and read. Then if the book is not finished at one sitting and the reader wishes to take it out she may sign for it at the desk in the corner of the room and keep it for either one or two weeks, depending on the nature of the book.

Sometimes a student does not know what she wants or wishes to read on some particular subject in which she is interested. At all times when the room is open a reader’s adviser is present to help with reading problems, make bibliographies, and suggest interesting books.

This room is open from Monday through Saturday from 10:00 to 12:00 each morning and from 3:00 to 5:00 each afternoon. Then Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings it is open from 7:00 to 9:00. Thinking that the students might enjoy spending Sunday afternoon in this atmosphere, the Library Staff have volunteered their services and the room will be kept open from 3:00 to 5:00 on Sunday afternoon throughout the year.

"And now a word from our sponsers..."

Sept. 28, 1933 p.1: Library Reading Room Will Be Open Sunday

Charles H. Stone announces that the library reading room and periodical room will be open to students on Sunday afternoon from 3 to 5 o’clock, beginning this Sunday, October 1. To meet the demands of the students the reading room is also extending its hours and opening from 7 to 9 o’clock on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights in addition to the daily hours of 10 to 12 and 3 to 5, on all week days and 3 to 5 on Sunday. The students are urged to take advantage of this privilege and use the reading room as much as possible.

Sept. 21, 1933 p.3: Library News

Among the numerous improvements made on campus during the vacation time, the library appears to be at the head of the list. The entire building has been remodeled and the list of books has been increased, so that all students can be well accomodated. In order to have better co-operation with the students, the librarians are asking that everyone abide by the following requests:

Keep the new Library clean; it belongs to you.

Reserve books and periodicals should not be taken from the building. However, reserve books may be signed for and taken out after nine o’clock at night, if they are returned before 8:30 the next morning. The system of reserve books is for your convenience, since the books coming under it are in constant use.

Do not bring any ink into the library. If your pen goes dry, you will find ink on the librarian’s desk. Be careful not to drop ink from your pen on the floor, and if you should, ask the librarian to see that it is cleaned up immediately.

Do not eat in the library. Crumbs not only make the place untidy, but they also draw ants and mice.

Please do not tear out or mark the periodicals. Put the magazines back where you found them so that the next person will not have difficulty in finding them.

The library is here in order to furnish books and a place in which to use them. Please be quiet so as not to bother those around you. If you are too noisy, the librarian will ring the bell on her desk. This in itself is disturbing and should not be necessary.

The reading room will be open from 10:00 to 12:00 a.m. daily and from 2 to 3 p.m. It will be open three nights a week. The circulation desk will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. I will however, close at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The reserve room will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The reserve room will also close at 6 o’clock on Saturday.

"And now a word from our sponsers..."

Sept. 21, 1933 p.3: New Library Affords Open Shelf System

Now that we are in our new library building we are anxious to give students the best service possible and we are asking their whole-hearted co-operation in bringing this about. Our new reserve room is comfortable and spacious. The system of open shelves where a student may procure a book without waiting in line to be served is quite a step forward from the old method of handing books out over the desk. In order to maintain this system, it is necessary that care be taken that no book be removed from this room. Hence someone is stationed near the door to inspect all books carried by students leaving the room. This is no reflection on any individual student and should not be interpreted as such. It is merely a precautionary measure to protect the whole student body. Please enter into the spirit of this service and make it possible for us to continue our open shelf system.

Charles Stone, Librarian

"And now a word from our sponsers..."

April 6, 1933 p.2: Open Forum

Dear Editor:

Since the library fire at the first of the year, the students have been greatly inconvenienced from time to time. The co-operation of the students, however, has been splendid in meeting the difficulties of the situation. The librarians and all concerned are grateful to them for their considerate attitude.

But: Has anyone ever considered the inconvenience and additional work such a situation has placed on the librarians? Their additional duties have been many. They have had many difficulties in their attempts to make the improvised library into a serviceable unit of the college. There has been a great deal of work connected with the repair of damaged books, cataloguing new books, and many other duties included in library work.

The librarians and their assistants have worked tirelessly to make the Students’ Building a substitute for our library. The students appreciate their service and co-operation in overcoming and unfortunate occurrence.

B.G.

March 23, 1933 p.3: Students Use Monthly Almost 20,000 Books

Does anybody have any idea how many books we use in the reserve room during one month? No, we didn’t expect you to; there’d be something wrong with you if you did. Well, in January the total number used from the reserve room was 10,653. How about that! When the attendance in the periodical and reference rooms is added, it was found that 19,091 persons used them.

The room has been so crowded in the circulation department this year that they haven’t been able to count attendance. But, nevertheless, 2,818 books have been checked out by the department.

You couldn’t use little pink slips to borrow books this year either because there just hasn’t been any room. You know from experience that you have to go through lines and lines of red tape to get periodicals and then you have to use them in the periodical room, again on account of lack of room in the circulation department.

During February, the month which the freshman had to write source themes, there were 580 unbound periodicals used and 230 bound copies from the stacks.

As for when the library will be finished, nobody seems to know. Lack of funds and rainy weather have held up construction so that it is certain that it won’t be finished June 1, as promised.

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March 16, 1933 p.2: Open Forum

Dear Editor:

It is truly disgusting to see how the library magazines get torn up! “The Stage” and “Country Home,” among others, are frequently mutilated to such a degree as to make use of them almost of no good.

May I suggest, sincerely hoping this request will receive as speedy an adjustment as did the position of the phone, that those magazines which are so treated be checked in and out by the desk librarian and carefully examined until students warrant the present usage?

Yours truly,
M.K.

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March 9, 1933 p.2: Open Forum

Dear Editor:

Have you ever been able to find anything in the reference room of the Library? If so, why—congratulations! I for one have to stumble around, looking on every shelf and then end up by having to ask the library assistant where I can locate such and such a book that I know to be in the Reference Room. The assistant is always very nice and eager to help, which is surely appreciated by the student body. But is seems to me that all this could be avoided. I am told that the books are arranged on the shelves according to a certain classification known to all librarians. However, I and most of the students are not librarians, and so I would like to suggest that a poster or a placard be placed in the reference room with a key or some notation which would enable one to locate their desired books without chasing all over the room, looking on all the shelves and sometimes giving up in despair as a freshman did last Saturday night.

S.E.

Feb. 23, 1933 p.2: Open Forum

Dear Editor:

Sometimes we forget that the library is not a place for our social gatherings. And, really, it is a most convenient place for us to meet our friends, whom we have not seen for perhaps hours and hours even days. So, at the expense of those who are studying seriously, we hang on the table corners and gossip as long as we feel so inclined. For example, the other day I saw a student leave the library after trying for 30 minutes to concentrate above the disturbing din of two girls, sitting at the table with her. Such a scene should revive our sense of justice and fair play, because there are times when we all want absolute quiet in which to study. Besides, there is a great deal of commotion made by the students coming and going. This seems to be a universal fault of ours—we are all humanly excessive in our loving to talk and socialize. And, since this fault is common to all of us, I recommend that we co-operate with each other in suppressing it.

M.B.F.

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Feb. 3, 1933 p.2: Open Forum

Dear Editor:

May I repeat a conversation which I heard in the reserve room—not verbatim, but as I remember it?

“What are you going to do this afternoon?” one student said to another.

“Oh, I don’t know,” the other tried to break off the conversation.

“Well,” persisted the first, “what did you think of the way Mary acted yesterday?”

“You’d better be quiet,” the second answered.

“You really don’t want to study, do you?” the other one whispered very loudly.

Just at that point the bell was tapped by a student assistant and all eyes turned toward the guilty person whom they had heard long before. The girl who had whispered so loudly looked up with a sneer on her face, as if to say, “Why, that is a personal insult for anyone to ring the bell because I was talking.” It IS an insult to her thoughtfulness and intelligence. The reserve room is our room and is for the benefit of all of us. It is a room in which there can be no whispering, no visiting, and by all means no gossiping, if everyone is to study.

We all like having a new chance, a new slate that the second semester gives us. Why can’t we take the new chance and make the reserve study room a place where all of us are “seen and not heard.”

E.M.

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Nov. 23, 1932 p.1: Library News

1,722 non-fiction books were circulated during the month of October.

207 fiction books went out during the same month.

108 travel books went out last month.

On one day alone during October, 995 books were used in the Reserve room.

The lowest attendance recorded here on any day during the month was 366.

During the school year 1931-32, 216,697 pairs of girlish feet crossed the threshold of the now burned library.

Sept. 29, 1932 p.4: Fire of Unknown Origin Damages College Library

“Most Serious Damage Done in Reading and Library Science Rooms”

LOSS ESITMATED AT $25,000

“Books Are Now Housed in Society Halls in Students’ Building—Stacks Not Ready for Students’ Use”

The library of the Woman’s College was badly damaged by a fire of undetermined origin early Thursday morning, September 15. The fire broke out shortly before 3 o’clock and was reported by a workman who saw the flames as he was going to work. Later discoveries were made and reported by night watchman and an air mail pilot. The latter had just left the airport when he saw the flames, and in an effort to see if help had been called, dived low over the buildings, waking many of the girls in the dormitories.

A crowd of students and faculty members gathered quickly about the building and watched as the firemen tried to get to the flames. Their work was impeded by the slate roofing which would not allow the stream of water to play on the root if the flame.

The most serious damage was made in the reading room and the library science rooms. The reserve room and the stacks were protected from the flames by the vault-like contrivance which was closed before the fire succeeded in reaching that part of the building.

The exact amount of damage actually made has not been computed. According to the local fire department, it will not exceed $25,000. However, the librarians feel that the damage will amount to a larger figure than that estimate.

The definite number of books completely ruined has not been found. Every book in the fiction room was burned beyond use, as were the majority of the books in the library science room. It is know that 27 tons of books have been taken to the bindery to be rebound. Such weight, roughly estimated, would mean between 12,000 and 15,000 books.

As yet no information about the reconstruction is available. A great deal of work has already been done both on the burned library and the improvised one in the Students’ building.

At present, reserve books are in the Cornelian society hall, reference books in the Aletheian hall, and periodicals in the Adelphian hall. The stacks not yet ready for students’ use, are being entered through Mr. Stone’s office.

"And now a word from our sponsers..."

Jan. 12, 1932 p.2: Open Forum

Dear Editor:

As everyone knows, exams are coming on, term papers are due, etc., and the library is practically full all the time. Anyone who studies there must certainly notice the lack of ventilation and the hot stuffy air. If one studies there long, one either gets awfully sleepy or develops a nice headache. Isn’t there something that we can do about it? Some students have tried to remedy the situation by opening windows which are immediately closed by those students who are “freezing to death.” I wonder if it wouldn’t be possible to have a thermometer in there and have one of the library assistants open the windows a few minutes at regular intervals and relieve the situation?

Eleanor Shelton

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Oct. 16, 1930 p.1: Vocational Desk is Added to Library

“Information on Professions and Women’s Movement is in Reading Room”

LIST TO INCLUDE BOOKS

A vocational desk, containing various kinds of information on women’s occupations and the women’s movement, is a new addition to the reading room of the library. This is made possible by the co-operation of the circulation department of the library with the vocational department.

Information given there is for the most part in books, magazine articles, and posters made by the Institute of Women’s Professional Relations. All of these will be changed occasionally to keep new material always on the desk. Interesting novels and biographies will be placed there from time to time.

There will be some general books there, such as Fleischman’s “Careers for Women,” and Hatcher’s “Occupations for Women;” and books on the women’s movement here and abroad, like Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own.”

For those who are especially interested, clippings on all sorts of occupations for women may be obtained from Mrs. Woodhouse’s office.

Oct. 2, 1930 p.5: Library Reserve Room has New Regulations

“Students Get New Privilege Under Time-Saving and Money-Saving Plan Adopted This Year”

Students using the reserve room of the library have been asked to comply with several new regulations this year. These recent rules have been adopted as time-saving and money-saving devices, according to Miss Mary Ruth Angle.

Under the new honor system students are allowed to get the books from the shelves and return them to the desk. All books are arranged in alphabetical order, and a student assistant keeps the books in perfect order. At the entrance to the room is an assistant who checks each girl’s books as she leaves the room. This is to safeguard the removal of books that are at a demand. The library staff does not want this to cause any student embarrassment but it is merely a precautionary measure.

Other reserve room regulations are the same as formerly with the exception that the room now closes at 9:30 p.m.

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Oct. 2, 1930 p.5: Many New Novels Will Be Placed in Library

“Fiction Room is to Contain Novels, Recent Purchases, Histories, Biographies, and Poetry”

TO HAVE NEW SEVEN-DAY BOOKS

Plans are underway in the library for the enlargement of the collection of books in the fiction room, with the hope that it may become a real reading room, where students and patrons of the library may have a quiet, comfortable place for recreative reading, reports Miss Irene Newton, circulation librarian. Here are to be shelved, not only novels and recent purchases of the library, but books in other fields, such as biography, history, travel, and poetry, as well. An order of new books for the seven-day shelf is now being prepared for circulation.

The fiction room is open every morning from 10 to 12 and from 3 to 5 every afternoon. The students and patrons are urged to come in during those hours and make use of the room.

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Nov. 27, 1929 (p.4): Rules for Library Usage Announced

“Reserve Books May Not Be Taken From The Room Except Overnight”

STACKS ARE NOT OPEN

Library hours on weekdays are from 8 A.M. to 10 P.M. On the main floor of the library are the reference room on the right and the periodical room on the left. The loan desk where books are charged for use outside of the building is in the main entry hall facing the entrance. The stacks, which house the greater part of the book collection are back of the loan desk and are not open to students. The offices are also on the main floor.

On the second floor on the right is the fiction room, open from 10 to 12 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Here a student may select her own book, but must have it charged before leaving the room. Here also is kept a case of seven-day books, those of special interest which have recently been added to the library. Students are not allowed to use books other than fiction in this room. It is not for study of any kind. On the left at the head of the stairs are the Library Science quarters, a laboratory and class room. At the back opening into the hall, is the reserve room. On the right at the back is a special rest room, fitted out by the freshman class of 1928.

In procuring a book, the student should consult the card catalog, copy the author’s name, title, and call number (found on upper left-hand corner of the card) on a pink slip and present this at the loan desk. When the attendant has secured the book the student must sign both cards. The attendant will then stamp the date due in the back of the book. As many books as desired may be borrowed from the stacks at a time, but are always subject to the recall by the librarian. Books may be renewed for an additional two weeks if not needed by some one else. A fine of two cents a day will be charged for all books not returned on time.

No books or magazines, bound or unbound, are to be taken from the reference room or periodical room. All such material should be returned to its proper place on the shelf after use.

In the reserve room books may be secured which the instructors have put on reserve for certain classes. Reserve books may not be taken from the room at any time during the day. They may be taken out for overnight use by signing your full name upon the cards. Books may be taken out at 9 o’clock at night and must be returned by 8:30 the next morning. Failure to return a book on time incurs a fine of 25 cents for the first hour and 10 cents per hour thereafter. Removal of a book from the reserve room will result in a fine of 10 cents per hour.

Mutilation or injury of any kind to library books or periodicals will result not only in a fine to cover damages or replacement, but also in a withdrawal of library privileges.

All reference questions should be asked at the reference desk in the reference room on the right of the entrance. The reference librarian will be glad to assist in using the ready reference books in the library, in working up bibliographies, in looking up quotations, dates, etc., and in answering any puzzling questions which may arise.

Nov. 7, 1929 (p.1 and 2): Library Becomes a Prison Vault For Poor Visitor

To the already long list of tales concerned with the absent-mindedness of the college professor and incident may be added that happened recently on our own campus—though not, be assured, to one of our faculty.

A visiting instructor, who accompanied the delegation form a little eastern college to play day Saturday, finding herself tired out at the end of the day, decided to forego the excitement of “Children of the Moon” for the quiet pleasure of an evening at the famous library of the North Carolina College for Women.

She entered its sacred portals early in the evening, secured a select volume—could it have been “How to Arouse and Maintain Enthusiasm in Sports?”—and settled herself down to read.

But alas! She know not to what she was subjecting herself! All unbeknowing, she had entered a modern lotus land where books are the flower and the hard chairs the greensward whereon the drugged one reclines. Is it sleep or merely insensibility?

Time passed. The clock struck ten. The girl at the desk yawned, announced that the library was closing, powdered her nose, pulled down the iron slide, and locked the doors. The lights went out one by one. The front door clanged behind the departing librarian.

As the lights went out a little gasp came from the corner of the library, and an authoritative voice cried out, “Turn on those lights! I have not finished my book yet.” There was no answer. Darkness and silence shrouded the library.

The phys. ed. Lady, realizing that the building was closed for the night, frenziedly began trying to find her way out. For hours she wandered around, upstairs, downstairs, in the basement, trying every door, feeling her way over countless obstacles in the dark. Ever and anon she called aloud.

Finally the professor discovered a door with a night-latch, got it open, and escaped to the open air. Returning to her dormitory, she related a story to an interested group of listeners. “I thought I should have to stay all night,” she said. “Wouldn’t that have been terrible?”

And that is the latest contribution to the classic tales of Frosh greenness, Scotch stinginess, English density, and Jewish shrewdness, and Intellectual absent-mindedness!”

"And now a word from our sponsers..."

Nov. 29, 1928 (p.4): Sophomore Class Gives Silver Tea in the Library

“Is to Celebrate the Opening of the New Reading Room Which Is Project of Sophomore Class”

The sophomore class gave a silver tea in the reading room which they have recently furnished in the library, Saturday afternoon from 4 till 6 o’clock, the purpose being to raise money to help pay for the new furniture in the room.

Mary Delia Rankin and Kate Graham met the guests at the door and directed them upstairs to the receiving line. This was composed of Elizabeth Monty, Olive Green, Mary Jane Wharton, and Evelyn McNeil. A number of guests, both students and faculty, called during the afternoon.

The class of ’31 adopted as its project the furnishing of this room, which is not to be used for serious study, but merely for light reading. The furniture is attractive and well chosen. Olive Green was the chairman of the committee in charge of furnishing the room.

"And now a word from our sponser..."

Nov. 15, 1928 (p.3): Advisory Council Has Meeting On Monday

“Appoint Committee to Discuss Noisy Conditions in the Library Reserve Room with Mr. Stone”

The Advisory Council, consisting of leading students of the campus, met the 12th of November at chapel period for a discussion of campus problem.

The topics brought up before the meeting were the trampled grass and the confusion in the post office and the library. A committee composed of Sara Brawley, Clara Guignard, and Katie Gravely was appointed to see Mr. Stone about the noisy conditions in the library, especially in the reserve room.

The Advisory Council is made up of sixteen girls who are leaders in campus activities. They are: Clara Guignard, Ruth Clinard, Rachel Aycock, Mattie Query, Polly Denson, Elizabeth Monty, Virginia Hassel, Katie Gravely, Mary Clara Tate, Frances James, Mickey Brown, Sara Brawley, Annette Rudisill, Edith Webb, Sue Underhill, and Elizabeth Combs.

Sept. 28, 1928 (p.1): College Offers Library Degree

“Twenty-Five Students Take Up This Work After Having Two Years A.B. Work”

MR. STONE HEADS DEPT.

In recognition of the possibilities of library work as a vocation, the college is for the first time offering a full time course leading to a degree in library science. Twenty-five girls, one of them a graduate of N.C., are making this work their major. A full time librarian is recognized as head of a department in any high school or college and is paid accordingly. Majors take the regular A.B. course during their freshman and sophomore years. Thirty hours of library science, including reference work, cataloguing, and circulating are required during the last two years of the college. The students may devote the rest of their time to English, History, Psychology, and their minor subject.

Two members were added to the library staff this summer—Mrs. Pierce and Miss Sankee. Mr. Stone is head of this department. The fiction room has been made into a study room for the library students, who are allowed to use the stacks at any time. The room is provided for individual desks for their use.

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May 5, 1927 (p.3): Ms. T.M. Barker of Atlanta Here

“Speaks to Students Concerning Opportunities for Library Work in South”

FIELD IS NOT CROWDED

Miss Tommy Dora Barker, librarian of the Atlanta Carnegie library and director of the Atlanta library school, spoke on “Librarianship, a Growing Profession,” to a fairly large number of students interested in librarianship on Tuesday, April 26, at 5 o’clock, in Miss Laird’s classroom in the Administration building.

Mr. Shaw, college librarian, introduced the speaker. Miss Barker first spoke of visits to several North Carolina libraries, also telling something if the work of the North Carolina Library commission, at Raleigh, where six special librarians are employed at serving the people of the state.

The library field is uncrowded, and there is increasing need of trained librarians, according to Miss Barker. Training is librarianship is given at library schools, of which there are ten or twelve in the United States, she continued saying that applicants should be graduates of a standard college. Two or four months of experience in library work are asked; this requirement cannot be demanded of all students, however, she declared, for some have not had access to a good library. The girl who is planning to be a librarian should know at least two modern languages; French, German, and Spanish are the most needed, Miss Barker stated. A knowledge of sociology, psychology, history, physics, and other sciences is indispensible, for as the speaker said the librarian’s field is “the whole field of knowledge.”

The Atlanta library school opens on September 15. Applications should be sent in before the middle of July. The course lasts nine months. Holidays included ten days at Christmas, two at Thanksgiving, and four or five in the spring. The course comprises technical training in cataloguing, reference work, compilation of bibliography, and work in library organization. A thorough acquaintance with “the librarian’s working-material books” is gained. During the second semester children’s library work is studied. Thirty-four hours of practice work in the Emory university library are required for graduation.

The library school places all graduates. The demand is greater for college and university librarians. The salary for beginning librarians is usually $1500, with an opening for advancement to a maximum, in the south, of $3600, a year.

Advanced courses in the various kinds of library work are given at Columbia university, Simmons college, Western Reserve university, at the Carnegie library school of the Pittsburg, Pa., library, and at a few other schools. Catalogues of a few other library schools are on hand at the college library, and Mr. Shaw or the library assistants will be glad to show them to any one interested in library work.

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Feb. 17, 1927 (p.1): Contemporary Art Shown in Library

“Document Room on Second Floor is Mecca of Interested Students and Public”

IS LOCALLY SPONSERED

An art collection, consisting of the works of contemporary American artists, and totalling more than $27,000 in value is on display in the document room on the second floor of the Library building.

The paintings, which were hung on Saturday under the supervision of Miss Molly Anne Peterson of the home economics department, are open to the public from 3 to 6 o’clock in the afternoon and from 7:30 to 10 o’clock in the evening. They will continue on display until the middle of next week.

The collection was obtained for exhibit by the Greensboro Art association, which has done much in the past to arouse local interest in art. The Rev. H.L. Canfield of the Universalist church is president of the association. Miss Abigail Rowley of the English department of the college is secretary.

One of the most interesting pictures, centered around the figure of an Indian and entitled “In His Garden,” is a work from the hand of Walter Ufer and was on display at the Sesqui-Centennial exhibition. The most expensive of the collection, also an out-of-door scene, is a work by Horatio Walker entitled “Maple Sugar” and is values at $3,000.

The majority of the pictures are landscape work, but a number are excellent character studies. Notable among these in conception is “Arthur Heseltine,” by Robert Vonnoh. “Peonies,” by Frederick J. Waugh, is representative of the more conventional studies.

The following are the pictures on display: “Little Sister,” Murray Bowley; “Up Hill Road,” Gardner Symons; “Their Debut,” Louise Ritman; “Trout Stream,” E. Irving Couse; “In His Garden,” Walter Ufer; Adirondack Woods,” Paul King; “Arthur Heseltine,” Robert Vonnoh; “A South Wind,” Cullen Yates; “Gulls, Peggy’s Cove,” Ernest Lawson; “Pandora,” George Elmer Browne; “Summer Afternoon,” W. Elmer Schofield; “Donatello Head,” Leslie Thompson; “Wood Interior,” Emil Carlsen; “House in the Woods,” Ben Foster; “Off Shore,” Eric Hudson; “Resting,” R. Stone Breding; “Rhododendron,” Anna Fisher; “Silent Stream,” Jonas Lie; “Pennsylvania Woods,” Charles Warner Eaton; “Last Lights on Rainier,” Evylina N. Miller; “Bywood,” A. Bower; Nocturne,” A.H. Gorson; “Maple Sugar,” Horatio Walker; “Peonies,” Frederick J. Waugh; “Bonfire,” William L. Lathrop; “White Mountains,” Jay Connoway.

Sept. 23, 1925 p.1: Changes Appear in the Library this Year

“The Reserve Books Are Moved Upstairs and the Stacks Are Closed To Students”

CO-OPERATION IS DESIRED

The outside of our library would never give a hint that it is not the same place as it was last year. Just one peep inside if the seemingly unchanged building, however, would reveal such wondrous changes that one could easily see that our library is not the same at all.

The one glance would show us a conspicuous determined-looking “quiet” sign on the desk, girls stealthily walking around on tip-toe, and books in the stacks barely peeping out of a small space in the back of the librarian’s desk. These and many other changes are all results of the new system being used in the library.

Perhaps the most important of these changes is the fact that the stacks are closed. It seems that the books in there has a most unfortunate habit of disappearing in great numbers last year, and it is hoped that by shutting them up securely and allowing no student to see them without first filling out a slip found near the card catalogue, this annoying habit of theirs may be broken.

Students may still visit the shelves for the fiction, reference, and periodicals rooms, but the stacks are to have no more student callers.

There are other changes besides the closed stacks and the unusual quiet. The reserve books, which where formerly kept at the main desk, are now in the northeast corner of the room, second floor, to the rear of the fiction room.

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Oct. 6, 1924 p.3: Library Has Three New Members this Year

The library (like every other department of the college, has increased both its staff and its equipment. There are three additional members on the staff: Miss Catherine J. Pierce, Evelyn Mendenhall, and Elizabeth Simkins.

New books dealing with almost every subject have been added. Some of the latest fiction has been obtained. Among the books are: “The Fir and the Palm,” Bibesco; “The Prisoner Who Sang,” Bojer; “You Too,” Burlingame; “The High Place,” Cabell; “Tantalius,” Easton; “The King Versus Wargrave,” Fletcher; “The Enchanted Garden,” Forman; “Waste,” Herrick; “Labyrinth,” Hull; “The Education of Anthony Dare,” Marshall; “Hazard,” Mavity; “Justice and the Peace,” Niven; “The Clevedon Case,” by Nancy and John Oakley; “The Squire,” Richards; “Mistress Wilding,” Sabatini; “Deirdre,” Stephens; “Red Sand,” Stribling; “The Gay Ones,” Towne; “The Dream,” Wells; “The Traveller in the Fur Cloak,” Weyman; “The Orange Divan,” Williams.

A list of other new books can be obtained from the leaflet, “Library Notes,” which is published monthly and kept on the desk in the library for use of the students.

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April 29, 1922 p.6: College Takes Big Stride in Building Program

“Library Moved to Basement of McIver and Construction on New One Begun”

With the opening up of the new wing to McIver Building, the practical completion of the Practice House for Home Economics, with construction under way on the Library, the Gymnasium, and the Alumnae Building and with three dormitories under way that will be open next fall, the North Carolina College for Women is continuing the building boom started last year with the erection of a new dining hall and another dormitory.

During the whole winter the campus has been busy with workmen, and during the Easter holidays the work came to a climax when the foundations for the gymnasium were laid, the new wind was given over to classes and the library was moved over into the basement of McIver in order that construction might begin at once.

When students returned after the vacation, the books had moved their resting place, and a visit to the library now necessitates a greater amount of energy, and a greater amount of self control in keeping the usual atmosphere that is found in the stately and dignified halls of a college library. Using about eight rooms, the library staff has whipped into shape a well organized library which will be used until the new one on College Avenue is completed.

Plans provide for a building costing $100,000 and trebling its present capacity. The reference and history rooms will be doubled in capacity and in the rear of the stack room will be several seminar rooms.

The gymnasium, which will be located on the extreme western side of the campus, will be rustic in construction, and will entail an expenditure of about $5,000. The roof will be of steel, and the sides will extend only six feet up, leaving the rest of the building open, protected by canvas drops in bad weather. This provides for outdoor gymnastics throughout the winter, and will combine all the features of modern gymnastic equipment. The structure will be 90x50 feet, large enough for a basketball court and an indoor baseball diamond. Owing to the large number of students expected next year both the old and new gymnasium will be used.

The Practice House for the Home Economics students is a brick house, built colonial style, equipped with every modern convenience. The seniors spend a certain time in the House each term, managing it in every detail. The furniture is being painted by the students, and the selection of the furniture and the arrangement has been done entirely by them. The House is located on the eastern edge of the campus, convenient to the new wing of McIver Building, the top floor of which will be made into a modern laboratory for Home Economics.

The Alumnae building which was started recently, will provide a place for former students and visitors to stay while at the college. The cafeteria will be erected first, and is almost completed. It will be opened next fall, and will provide for faculty and students who will not be able to get meals at the college. The building will be located across the street from the campus on Spring Garden street, and when the whole structure is completed will cost $100,000. It will contain 28 bedrooms, a cafeteria, a nursery, one lounging room and three parlors, which can all be thrown together, and the basement, which will be fitted up as a play room. Outside the cafeteria an open court will be fixed so that tables can be put out of doors in nice weather.

Three new dormitories will be open next fall and will cost $360,000 when completed and equipped. They are on the western side of the campus, formed into a group with two other dormitories, surrounding an open court.

Feb. 11, 1922 p.1: $100,000 Will Be Spent on Library Improvements

“Contracts Awarded and Bids Received when Board of Visitors Meet in February”

Bids for the work on the library will be received and contracts awarded at a meeting of the Board of Visitors which will be held February 28. It is established that the enlargement of the library, which will treble its capacity, will entail and expenditure of $100,000.

Plans as shown by Mr. Shaw, college librarian, give a library that will have much more space for the many volumes that it now crowds in, and the many students who knock at its doors.

The building will be extended on the Northern, Eastern, and Southern sides. The reference and history rooms will be doubled in capacity, and the History room will be devoted to periodicals. The offices will be moved into the new part on the Northern side and the catalogue and work rooms on the Southern sides. The stack room will extend the length of the present building, running North and South. In the rear of the stack room there will be seven seminar rooms.

Upstairs the fiction room will be over the periodical room, and the American Authors will occupy the room now occupied by fiction. Over the office will be the Document room, and over the Work room and Catalogue room will be a rest room. Over the stack room will be a room which will be vacant for ten years.

Work is excepted to start sometime in March, but until May there will be no disturbance inside, all the work being on the exterior. The books will then be moved either to the English room in Main, if they have moved into McIver, and if they have not, into the new wing of McIver. At present the library has about 18,000 volumes.

"And now a word from our sponsers"

Sept. 24, 1921 p.1: Miss Grace Stowell Will Be Reference Librarian

The library wishes to announce the inauguration this year of a service intended for the especial aid and convenience of both faculty and students in the use of the library and its resources. A new position has been created; that of reference librarian. Miss Grace Stowell has been chosen for the work, and she will be at her desk in the reference and periodical room daily during the morning and afternoon hours.

The reference librarian will assist students in finding material on any desired subject, in the use of magazine indexes and other reference books, in the preparation of bibliographies: in short she will find for anyone the available resources of the library on any subject asked for.

Because of the large student body and faculty to serve, it is desirable that requests for information or assistance be made as long before it is required as possible. Printed blank forms asking the nature of the information requested are provided at the reference desk. If the reference librarian is not on duty, fill out a card and leave it on her desk. It will, however, be more satisfactory to make requests in person.

It is the earnest desire of the entire staff to be of service to the faculty and students in every way possible. The staff is especially anxious to help those who are not yet familiar with the details of the library system. Any member of it is always available for consultation and help.

The staff this year is as follows: Charles B. Shaw, librarian; E. Elizabeth Sampson, assistant librarian and cataloger; Grace E. Stowell, reference librarian; Rosa M. Oliver, assistant in charge of circulation; Annie E. Cummings, assistant in charge of accessioning; Marie Bonitz, Mildred Burch, Daisy Hunter, Mabel Stamper, and Katherine Yoder, student assistants.

"And now a word from our sponsers..."

Oct. 2, 1920 p. 1: Many Improvements Made at the Library: Increase of Suave Welcomed

Mr. Shaw, the new Librarian, with the help of his assistants, has introduced some long-needed improvements into the library. An increase in space has been obtained by the re-arrangement of the departments and utilization of every available spot. The Freshman, in particular, will appreciate this, since it enables them to use the library at night. The fiction has been moved upstairs and the former fiction room is now occupied by the reference books, that is, by the dictionaries, and encyclopedias, and periodical indexes. The current magazines and newspapers retain their old positions. The space formerly devoted to the references is now used for biography. The history department is practically unchanged, as are shelves in rear of the library downstairs. As has been said, one of the upstairs rooms is occupied by the fiction and the other by the government documents, while the books formerly in there are in the hall outside, which has been attractively fitted up as a reading room.

Additional equipment has been added, this equipment being chairs, tables and book cases, as well as a number of new books. The Carolinian announces that a list of new books will appear in its columns in the next issue and regularly once a month thereafter.

There are some new rules relating to the library besides the ones pertaining to its use at night by Freshman. Any student may at any time take out ank book in the library except reference books and those on reserve shelf at the desk. They are to be taken out by the regular card method and may be kept for two weeks. The library will be open daily except Sundays, from 8 to 12:15 a.m. and from 2 to 5 p.m., and from 7 to 9 p.m.

Miss Elizabeth Sampson, Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts, and Mrs. Gressett, of Virginia, are the new assistant librarians, and also Miss. Schock, head of the department of German. The four student assistants are Mary Blair, Rose Oliver, Carolyn Clarks, and Hortense Mosely.

Mr. Shaw requests that the library should not be used for study except when the student is actually using the books of the library, and also that absolute quiet be observed.

These improvements are deeply appreciated by every member of the student body and faculty. Mr. Shaw has worked faithfully and her has the sincere thanks of all. Let us show our appreciation by hearty co-operation and close observation of library rules.

April 24, 1920 p.4: See the New Books at the Library

Two complete sets have recently been received. There is a set of the entire works of George Meredith which no one can afford to omit from her reading list.

The American Literature classes will be interested to know that a set of Eugene Field’s complete works has been placed in the American author’s room. Very little is known of Eugene Fields; but he has written many poems and books. One of his books is entitled a “Book of Profitable Tales.” Fields is thoroughly American, is full of wit and humor, and his tales are entertaining. Lasson Thompson has written a biography of Fields. It is a record of one of the most entertaining characters of the latter schools of American writers.

Jan. 21, 1920 p.3: College Inventory and Prospects: The Library

Are you acquainted with our college library? It has a very interesting history behind it, and a useful future before it. Our present library building was erected in 1905, and in that year our library moved from its home in Administration building to the new building.

Our college boasts that it was one of the first—if not the first—libraries ever built by Carnegie. He gave us $15,000 for the building and $3,800 for furnishings, and to this amount the college added $1,200.

The state has never made our library an appropriation, and yet in spite of the resulting lack of funds we have a fine working library. To Miss Annie Petty the credit for the excellence of our collection of books and bound magazines belongs. With only the small amount of money representing the students’ library fees, our books, magazines, papers, and additional library furniture has been bought. Out of this sum also has come the money to pay for the binding of our magazines.

These bound magazines constitute one of the strong features of our library. Some of our sets of magazines are quite rare and we should be justly proud of them. There are about 15 complete sets of magazines and broken sets of many others. Some notable sets are: “The Ladies Home Journal,” dating back to the first half of the nineteenth century, when it was published under the name of, “Godey’s Lady’s Book.” Copies we have of this magazine date back to 1844 and constitute one of the most complete sets in this part of the country.

A complete set of Harper’s Magazine to its initial issue in 1850, complete set of “The Century” from 1871 on; the Atlantic Monthly, beginning with the initial number in 1857, and the “Southern Messenger” dating back to 1841. Few libraries have such a splendid collection of bound magazines as ours boasts.

There are more than 14,000 volumes in our library now. We have had to add slowly to its number of books because of our small yearly sum available for purchasing books. Yet 300 or more girls use these books every day, for 300 is the library’s average daily attendance—while it has seating for only 92. The American Author’s room is one of the newer features of the library. This room was established by the class of 1917 and in it are to be found sets of O. Henry’s books, Riley’s, Mark Twain’s, and others. There also is a copy of Beautiful America, a book now out of print. Many beautiful steel engravings are to be found in this book. This room, like all the rest of the library, shows excellent choice in its collection of books.

Oct. 18, 1919 p. 1: Additions to Our North Carolina Books Made by Col. Olds

Col. Fred A. Olds, custodian of the State Hall of History at Raleigh, has recently made an addition to our library by presenting us with quite a number of North Carolina books. This is not the only present Col. Olds has given us. He has helped us immensely in securing the things with which we have started our college hall of history. In fact, many articles were personal contributions from Col. Olds.

Sept. 20, 1919 p.5: A Word from the Library

The Library has a warm welcome for you and is ready to serve you in your many moods.

New books are coming in and the latest magazines are ready for you. There is no better place on the campus to spend a quiet hour and renew acquaintances with old book friends or meet new ones. Especially would we commend the American Author’s Room to those who have never before been there. It is not a place for study or social intercourse, but a room where one can go and read the best from some of our own American writers, and learn to know them as delightful personalities.

If you do not care to read, rest and enjoyment may be found in the quiet and comfortable surroundings and many troubles ome problems solved and taut nerves quieted.