gallup] THE WORK OF A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM 155 



helpful source of information in connection with the nature-study 

 and science work of the schools. 



Early in 1900 a Children's Museum Reference Library was opened 

 on the second floor of the building. The library was started as an aid 

 to children in studying the museum collections and the subjects they sug- 

 gested, its books and periodicals coming from the income of the Graham 

 Fund of the Institute, and a small annual appropriation from the 

 State. Starting with less than five hundred books the library now 

 contains over five thousand volumes composed of the best works on 

 natural history in the broadest use of the term. It supplements the 

 work of the museum in providing books of information to members of 

 the museum staff in the preparation of collections, in furnishing 

 additional information to visitors, and in offering books on the lines of 

 school work, thus forming a valuable school reference library, adapt- 

 ed to give assistance to teachers and pupils of all ages. A choice of 

 the best stories of animal life has been included as a means of 

 arousing interest in the great world of nature which seems entirely 

 outside the observation and sympathy of many city children. 



The books are carefully classified and placed upon open shelves 

 where they are easily accessible to all readers, and volumes required 

 for the study of any special subject can be consulted without formal- 

 ity. Although it is considered most desirable that the Museum 

 Library should be a reference library only, in order that all books 

 may be in readiness for use at any moment, the privilege of the 

 home use of books over night or over Sunday is now granted to any 

 teacher or student. 



The library has closely followed the growth of the museum which 

 has gradually broadened its scope and enlarged its collections to include 

 botany geography, minerals, United States history, and art. These 

 collections now fill all available space in the eleven exhibition rooms 

 of the present building and are named according to the character 

 of material displayed. The first floor contains the bird, botany, 

 insect, mineral, and zoological type rooms, and the second floor the 

 mammal, shell, geography, art, and history rooms. 



The reader may know the saying that " the finished museum is a 

 dead museum." From this viewpoint, the Children's Museum is 

 just now very much alive. No one realizes more keenly than its 

 workers the imperfections of its equipment. The lack of sufficient 

 funds for the rapid acquisition of good specimens, and the necessity 

 of using objects we are anxious to discard, will long keep us from 



