Opera Omnia

INSTRUCTION III
THE PEOPLE'S LIBRARIES
A Note on the Pious Union for all Vocations

There is a new Pious Union in favor of all vocations and for all ministries and apostolates. It has already the legitimate approval of Ecclesiastical Authority.
The purpose of the Pious Union Prayer, Suffering and Charity for all Vocations is to guarantee the Church a contribution of prayer, mortification and charity for these three graces and intentions:
a) That our heavenly Father, the Lord of the harvest, will send ecclesiastic and religious vocations (for all the apostolates) in sufficient numbers for the dioceses, for the Church, for the whole of humanity, in compliance with what Jesus our Teacher said: Messis quidem multa, operarii autem pauci. Rogate ergo Dominum messis ut mittat operarios in messem suam. - The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest (Mt 9:37-38).

b) That those called will respond and be docile to God's invitation and be made worthy of their vocation following the example of our Divine Teacher: Erat subditus illis (Mariae et Joseph)… et proficiebat sapientia et aetate et gratia apud Deum et homines. He was obedient to (Mary and Joseph)… and he increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man [Lk 2:51-52].
c) That all those consecrated to God will persevere, become holy and commit all their talents to the salvation of people's souls, in keeping with our Divine Teacher's words: Pater, sanctifica eos in veritate. - Father, sanctify them in the truth (Jn 17:17). Qui manet in me et ego in eo hic fert fructum multum. - He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit (Jn 15:5). There are two levels of participation in the spirit of this Pious Union; people are free to take part on the first level only, or to move on to the second as well.

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Art. 195. The textbooks to be used in the houses of study, especially those of philosophy and theology, should be of the best, free from the least taint of error, and should inspire devotion towards the Chair of Peter.
Art. 196. Professors shall take care to expound rational philosophy and theology in complete accord with the teaching of the Angelic Doctor, and to hold fast to his doctrines and principles.

Art. 197. During the term of studies no duties shall be imposed on the professors and students which may interfere in any way with their studies or classes.

General Association of Libraries>¹

In 1921,² the Pious Society of Saint Paul founded in its Mother House (Alba) the General Association of Libraries, commonly known, in its abbreviated form, as A.G.B.
Now it is a matter of developing it further, updating it, and reorganizing it. All these needs have become clearer in these past years.
Initially, it had developed quickly, thanks to the work of our Fr Francis Borrano:
- many thousands of libraries founded;
- many thousands of libraries supplied with books;
- many thousands of libraries helped were given advice and sometimes material help also;
- various general and local initiatives.
Just one year after its establishment the person in charge wrote in the Pauline Cooperators' Union magazine: The numerous libraries founded by the Pious Society of Saint Paul shows how useful and practical this initiative is; it answers a real need.
A militant Catholic, very much in touch with people because of his work, gave this advice: If

the Pious Society of Saint Paul were to make a start on family libraries it would be fulfilling a holy mission; they would need to be established, however, in a wise and practical way for the moral and cultural uplift of people.

Statute

Art. 1. - The General Association of Libraries is formally established within the Pious Society of Saint Paul.
Art. 2. - The object is to combine individual efforts and to develop more broad-based scientific, professional, educational and moral instruction.
Art. 3. - Means: Establish new libraries in every field, in families, parishes, schools, businesses, workers' clubs, hospitals, and so on.
Stock libraries already established, particularly public libraries, with specialist and reference publications; likewise universities, municipalities, and seminaries.
Guarantee and facilitate the supply of morally healthy and useful books, and prepare, on request, suitable catalogues for libraries and so on.
Art. 4 - All existing libraries, whether public or private, can be members of the Association.
Art. 5 - The registration fee is L. 1000, paid once and for all; L. 1000 for the annual membership card. This entitles members to the catalogue, easy terms and correspondence.
Art. 6 - All libraries are entitled to a discount of 20% on books published by the Pious Society of Saint Paul and 15% on those of other publishing houses.

The A.G.B.'s headquarters is currently in Turin - SAIE.
This centre has gone on working for many years; many libraries have been established in primary schools, starting from third, fourth, fifth classes and upwards; as well as providing small bookcases, especially for family use.
The libraries are set up and stocked with books from our various Vocation houses in Italy.

Object

To establish in every parish the parish library.
To establish a reading centre with useful, helpful, good books in every municipality, institute, and group of families.
To establish a wide-ranging library, catering for a variety of people in every hospital, business, association, ship, and prison.
To establish a small family library in every home.
To establish a library to complement school lessons and for reference work in every school.
To establish a library with books on religion and science, as well as works of specialization and fiction, depending on the type of area and demand.
Uplift the spirit, the culture, and the moral and civil level of the whole people.
Today there is much more free time. Let us help people use it in a healthy and useful way.
Promoters, booksellers, and all who can do so,

should, when possible and where appropriate, promote the library; instruct people how to go about it; explain the general rules for its management and operation.
It is the hour of the libraries. There is talk of it everywhere. Our competitors are taking advantage of it.

The distribution of books

You need a capable person to take care of a mobile library and to see that readers get their books. She or he has to know the various categories of books that are in the library and to which type of reader each book is suited. Every title can be recorded in the entry book with one or more signs indicating the type of reader it is suitable for.
All you need is a few hours a week, depending on the number of people and the convenience of distribution. In the smaller centres two hours on a Sunday could be sufficient. In larger centres you could count on an extra day, such as market day.

Why? Importance, necessity, efficacy


Importance. In our age the library is high on the list of the various means of distribution and education. The library, in fact, makes books available for all categories of people; it gives access to people who cannot afford to buy books. Not only, but it catalogues books conveniently

in order, according to type, thus making choice easier. It gives books greater usefulness as a result of a more rapid and frequent circulation.

Necessity. At a time when there is such a glut of printed matter, combined with an increased desire to read, a library is a must. It is only right and proper then to plug this growth industry that could, and unfortunately often does, degenerate into an undeniable, insatiable and disordered craze for harmful reading.
It is no longer a luxury today to want the latest books on the market. Books, which once were the reserve of the wealthy have today become a necessity for the majority.

Efficacy. The library broadens religious instruction, it promotes the formation of the individual and the values of society, it blends the duty of teaching with its application. It thus undertakes a role, not only of preservation but also of formation and apostolate.

Particular rules for the mobile libraries

1. - The Association is placed under the protection of Saint Paul, Patron of the Publications Apostolate, and of Mary, Queen of Apostles.
2. - The members commit themselves to work in this branch of the Apostolate for the founding of new libraries

and by cooperating in an effective way to support and develop those already in existence.
3. - ction plan:
- Give the maximum importance to prayer, because this is a true apostolate;
- Undertake as wide a distribution as possible of good books, especially of those which have a sound Christian basis, and of our magazines and papers.
A periodical will keep the Associated Libraries uptodate on new publications.

Series of safeguards

Not everyone has the opportunity, the time, or the requisite knowledge of books to make a personal choice.
To get around such difficulties and to avoid people being without a library, the A.G.B. has instituted a series of safeguards for the establishment of the library. It also selects the books more appropriate for the particular needs which are to be set out with the request for an estimate.
It is sufficient to indicate the type of people for whom the library has to cater.

Establishing a Library

Where the importance and need of a library is more deeply felt, it can be given a set of rules and further possible expansion by establishing it as an Association

with its own Rules and Board of Management which will oversee its development, normal running, promotion and the collection of the necessary funds.
The choice of books depends by right on the apostle himself together with the pastor.
It is axiomatic that there be a choice of good books and that such books are to be read. By books that meet the taste of readers we mean books that are wholesome and principled.
Choice will depend on the level of education, and the social, moral and religious situation of the parish.
According to the case the choice could be:
Mainly ascetic if, for example, the object is to round off the work of the confessor, the catechist, and the preacher regarding the spiritual needs of the faithful.
Mainly entertaining and educative if the object in particular is to deter readers from bad books and to attract them to good books.
Mainly cultural when, dealing with middle class people or a student body, the concern is more for literary, scientific and professional learning.
Mainly religious or pastoral if the object is to consolidate the work of the pastor, by means of books on formation and religious culture. This is the ideal type.
Here pride of place will be given to the Bible, to works of the Holy Fathers, Doctors and Church writers, theology for lay people, catechism, ascetical works, lives of the saints,

edifying biographies, missionary reading, collections of year by year illustrated religious periodicals, and so on.

Guide the choice

Banish the thought that people do not enjoy spiritual books. They do enjoy them, they want them and they understand them more than we give them credit for. What Cardinal Mercier said remains true: You need to stand up yourself in order to pull others up.
Quite often you will notice that readers' tastes follow those of the librarians. When the latter know how to recommend a book they can be certain that it will be enjoyed and do good. Naturally you must not throw down your arms at the first difficulty…

Apart from mainly religious books, there is a need for light reading: novels, short stories, travel books.
Sometimes such books will have little that is positive or pastoral; nonetheless they act as an antidote and will open the way, little by little, to other more profitable and educational books. It is a good idea to add to light reading books others that will uplift the mind.
Caution is needed in the choice of novels. Harm can often be hidden in a few sentences, sufficient at times to upset a person's calm.
Books that scourge vices which young people are still unaware of are be reserved for adults. When choosing titles use such practical evaluation criteria as the Index of Prohibited

Books, Church approval, the guidance of Catholic magazines and reviews, good sense, the conditions of time and place, the class of readers.

Funding

Funding is often an inevitable difficulty; it is where many people draw back, and at times even the most wonderful initiatives falter.
A fund is a necessary and indispensable item for the organization and establishment of even a small library. Funds can be acquired by subscription, a lottery, a lucky dip, a concert, a small exhibition; through various offerings or some other initiative.
Some help can come from the allocation for the distribution of the books, which, although minimal, is a must.
There is also to be a gala day for the library. Our opponents do this to launch their newspapers or libraries.

Organization

We are referring here in particular to the parish libraries. Do not make the mistake of thinking that, once the library is established with a good choice of books, it can be left to its own devices.
Good organization includes: suitable technical installation, the means of livelihood, the way it is to run, the training of the librarian.
The location of the library is essential. Still, at times,

at least initially, this can be remedied with an enclosed cupboard or bookcase.
Procuring a livelihood could at first glance seem an arduous task. But in practice it should not be so if you know how to involve all the parishioners, authorities, teachers, parents, young people, and Catholic associations.