See Transcriber's notes at end of text.
LIBRARY IDEALS
LIBRARY IDEALS
BY
HENRY E. LEGLER
Compiled and Edited by His Son,
HENRY M. LEGLER.
CHICAGO : : LONDON
THE OPEN COURT PUBLISHING COMPANY
1918
COPYRIGHT BY
THE OPEN COURT PUBLISHING COMPANY
1918
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
CONTENTS
WISCONSIN, a true cradle of freedom and successful government, hasfostered several librarians who were true humanists. Dr. Peckham wasone. Dr. Thwaites was another. Henry E. Legler was unlike either ofthese, but greater than either in his continued and unabated activityfor the good of the people.
Once, on being complimented for his splendid work in natural historyand his persistence in the pursuit of scientific facts, Dr. Peckhamremarked: "Oh, yes, but the facts have no value in themselves. Theymerely build up the groundwork of the ideas, and help you climb to thepoint of view where the deeper aspects of the subject spread out beforeyou like a landscape beneath a mountain-top."
Mr. Legler's activity in behalf of libraries will support the sameexplanation. He seemed always immersed in detail, always planningsome movement and carrying it into effect by his peculiar, dynamicpersistence. But he who observed the man kindly and closely cannot have