The interesting and unusual work of the library of the Children's Museum of the Brooklyn Institute is described by its librarian,Miriam S.Draper,in an article published in the Library Journal for April,1910.Miss Draper says:"Contrary to the general impression [the library]is not composed entirely of children's books,but of a careful selection of the best recent books upon natural history in the broadest use of the term."Miriam S.Draper was born in Roxbury,Mass.,and taught for a brief period in the public schools there.She studied in Mr.
Fletcher's school at Amherst in the summer of 1893,and was graduated from the Pratt Institute Library School in 1895.In the next five years she filled the following temporary positions:
Cataloguer,Public Library,Ilion,N.Y.;Organizer,first branch of the Queens Borough Library at Long Island City;Librarian of a branch of the Pratt Institute Free Library until its discontinuance;Cataloguer,Antioch College Library,Yellow Springs,Ohio;one of the Classifiers in the University of Pennsylvania Library during its reorganization.When the Children's Museum was opened in 1900,she became its librarian,the position she now holds.
The Children's Museum may be considered unique,because so far as we know,there is no other museum in this country or elsewhere that is devoted primarily to children and young people;in which a whole building is set apart for the purpose of interesting them in the beautiful in Nature,in the history of their country,in the customs and costumes of other nations,and the elementary principles of astronomy and physics,by means of carefully mounted specimens,attractive models,naturally colored charts,excellent apparatus,and finely illustrated books.Many of the children come to the museum so often that they feel that it is their very own,and take great pride as well as pleasure in introducing their parents and relatives,so that they may enjoy the museum and library with them.It may be called a new departure in work with children,for although it was started ten years ago,it was for some time in the nature of an experiment,but has now fully exemplified its reasons for existence.
The Children's Museum is pleasantly located in a beautiful little park,which adds greatly to its attractiveness and educational value.While situated in a residential portion of the city,amid the homes of well-to-do people,it is quite accessible by car lines to other parts of the city.In fact,classes of children accompanied by their teachers frequently come from remote sections of Brooklyn,and from the East Side of New York.We are within walking distance of thickly populated sections,such as Brownsville,and large numbers of Jewish and Italian children avail themselves of the privileges offered.It is hoped that in time each section of the city may have its own little Children's Museum,as a center of interest and incentive to broader knowledge.
We are well aware that excellent work has been done for children during the past ten years in many other museums,and perhaps the first beginning in this direction was made by the Children's Room in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.The American Museum of Natural History in New York City provides an instructor to explain some of its beautiful and interesting exhibits to children,and a similar work has been done in the Milwaukee Museum.Children have been made especially welcome in other museums,such as those at Charleston,S.C.,St.Johnsbury,Vt.,and the Stepney Borough Museum in London.All librarians are so familiar with the excellent work done in the Children's Departments of public libraries,which have developed so rapidly in almost every town and city throughout the country during the past decade,that it is not necessary to refer at length to them.
Suffice it to say,that the work of the Children's Museum and its library are quite different in plan and scope from any of the museums and libraries to which reference has been made.
Before describing in detail the work of this unique little museum,it may be of interest to know something of the early history of an institution which had its origin in connection with the first free library in Brooklyn.
As long ago as August,1823,a company of gentlemen met together to discuss the question of establishing a library for apprentices in the "Village of Brooklyn."Shortly after,the "Apprentices'
Library Association"was organized "for the exclusive benefit of the apprentices of the village forever."The library was first opened in a small building on Fulton street,on Nov.15,1823,On the Fourth of July,1825,the corner-stone of a new library building was laid,on which occasion General Lafayette took part in the formal exercises.
It is interesting to note that a year or two later,courses of lectures in "natural philosophy"and chemistry were given for the benefit of members;and the early records tell us that in illustrating a lecture on electricity the instructor,"Mr.
Steele,showed a metallic conductor used by Dr.Franklin in making experiments."Later,lectures on astronomy were given for the benefit of readers,and drawing classes established for a similar purpose.
A few years later the Library Association sold its building and removed to Washington street,where it remained for a long period of years.In 1843,the Association was reorganized under the name of the Brooklyn Institute,and privileges were extended to "minors of both sexes,"the library being called at that time the "Youth's Free Library."At the same time the custom was established of awarding premiums to readers on Washington's Birthday.Silver medals and prizes of books were given for the best essays upon geography,natural history,hydraulics,architecture,and history,as well as the best pieces of workmanship and most accurate mechanical drawings presented by readers.
