Organizing and Building Up the Sunday School: Modern Sunday School ManualsHurlbut, Jesse Lyman
Religion
Organizing and Building Up the Sunday School: Modern Sunday School Manuals
Hurlbut, Jesse Lyman
Sunday schools
(2) _The Assignment._ How to enable each scholar to choose his book
introduces one of the three problems in library management. The plan
generally followed is to supply each scholar with a card bearing a
number which represents the scholar. He selects from the catalogue a
large assortment of books, and writes their numbers upon his card: the
librarian assigns the scholar any one of the books selected, crosses it
from his list, and upon another list marks the number of the book
opposite the number of the scholar. The weakness of the plan is in the
fact that the scholar has no means of learning from the catalogue what
books are desirable; and a book desired by one may be entirely
undesirable to another. Theoretically the scholar has the whole
catalogue from which to choose; practically he has no choice, except the
suggestion in the titles of the books. The open-shelf plan cannot be
established in the Sunday school, for the room is usually too small, the
time of the session is too brief, and the work of the school too
important to allow interruption.
In some graded Sunday schools another plan is pursued, taking from the
scholar all choice, but assigning to each grade books of certain
numbers, all printed upon the card of the scholar, any one of which
books he may receive at any time during his stay in the grade, but each
of which will fall to his lot but once. This plan demands a library of
books carefully selected, and as carefully fitted to each grade in the
school. But this method is apt to be unsatisfactory to the scholars, who
have their own preferences among the books. The difficulties in
assigning books, and disappointments of scholars in failing to obtain
the books desired, is a frequent cause for the disuse of the library;
and this problem has not as yet been fully solved.
(3) _The Distribution._ This takes place at the close of the school, and
brings in the second problem of library management. The books may be
brought to the classes by the librarians, and distributed by the
teachers; each scholar's book being indicated by his card placed within
it. This method often causes confusion; scholars being dissatisfied
with their books and leaving their classes press around the library.
Sometimes they exchange books with each other. This is a simple plan as
far as the two scholars exchanging are concerned, but sure to make
trouble in the record of the librarian. Or each class may be dismissed
in turn, and obtain its books at the library window while passing out.
But this plan causes a congestion of scholars at the library, and also
requires much time. To manage the distribution of books demands a strong
will, coupled with a gentle manner in maintaining the library rules.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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