In Society — A Call to Found an International Children's Library in Lebanon

When we hear of the importance given to children's literature in the civilized countries, we feel a pang at this deprivation which our little ones meet with in this field. In the middle of last month there passed through Beirut Mrs. Lepman, the Englishwoman responsible for the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany.

At a gathering that brought together some of the ladies of education and those concerned with children's literature, Mrs. Lepman spoke of the great work to which she has devoted herself, and for which she has earned a high decoration from the government of Stockholm, as the person who has done more than any other in the service of children's literature in the world. For besides her many writings, hers is the credit for gathering the books and stories of the little ones from the various corners of the world, and for seeing to their translation into all manner of languages and their circulation among the children and young people of the world.

Mrs. Lepman affirms, from long experience, that the literature of the little ones is the best means to understanding and acquaintance, and thereby to love — and love does not come without knowledge and understanding...

She spoke of the brilliant success which the "International Youth Library" has met with in Munich: it now contains 35,000 books from 39 different countries, and the library is visited daily by 200–300 children whose ages range between 5 and 15 — they frequent the library to read, to become acquainted with one another, or to draw...

At this meeting Mrs. Lepman called for the founding of a branch of the "International Youth Library" in Beirut, after the example of the advanced countries, such as Sweden and Norway, Switzerland, France, America, England, Germany, and many others. She declared her readiness to offer artistic and technical and even financial assistance. She also asked the ladies present to take the cause into consideration, in view of its importance and its useful educational mission — and she appealed to them to collect what books for the little ones they could, and tales fabulous or true from the heritage of Lebanon and the Arab countries, and she would undertake the matter of their translation into the major languages and their publication in the branches of the international library in all parts of the world.

The editor-in-chief of this magazine — who was among those listening to Mrs. Lepman, and who is joined in her opinion by the two Misses Zahiyah Dughan and Ihsan Himsani and by Mrs. Loreen Rihani — believes that this is a golden opportunity to render this precious service to our little ones, and she hopes that every reader will consider these words addressed to her, and will get in touch with the office of "The Woman's Voice" if she finds she has any help she can give toward setting up this vital project...