But to be a successful librarian, a woman must have a practical training in all the work connected with a library; and to get this it is necessary that she should become, in the first place, an assistant to some librarian, who will teach her the technicalities of his craft.
England has not as yet found it necessary to establish a special college for the training of librarians, such as is in successful operation in the United States, but still something has been done, and the L.A.U.K. examinations of library assistants is a step in the right direction; and, doubtless, before long, all applicants for the post of librarian will have to produce certificates from this body. As women prove their capability for this kind of work, better appointments than those they now fill will be thrown open to them; and they will be engaged in the higher positions in our great libraries, and will so work and use their talents that their influence will be felt by many in towns other than those in which their work lies. But that time has not yet come; they must, at present, be content to wield their sway over the libraries which are so quickly springing up around us, and let their work, by its quality and usefulness, prove them fit for still better things.
Another hindrance to the employment of women in libraries is, that many enter the field, not with the view of making it a life-work, but merely as a means to an end. They think it a pleasant sort of work, but do not intend to remain at it. Now, the best work cannot be done, unless it is felt to be the work on which one's life is to be spent, and few or no women will remain in a library after marriage, for instance. But if their work is to be a real work, this must not be an obstacle. Let the work be done during the time they are engaged in it—be it long or short,—in such a manner, that when they leave it, it has not to be done over again by the next comer, but is as perfect as it is possible to make it.
At present, the employment of women as librarians is in its infancy, but is sure to prove a success; for girls who make up their minds to embrace the library profession as their life-work will work patiently and well, and will lose no opportunity of learning all that will aid them in their duties, and will show that, given the same opportunities as boys, they will do equally as well in this as in many other professions, and may, perhaps, excel some of them.
