The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-05-15
School District I.tbrarte,.
We cut the following from the Ottawa
High School Journal Of Wednesday:

We cut the following from the Ottawa
High School Journal Of Wednesday:
LIBRAKIEs.-We see that many of the
districts of our State arc availing themselves
Of the rare opportunity Of purchasing the
limos District School Libraries. tour in
number. The ordinary price Of such libra
RES is 5 go, but 4. D. Moore, Of N. Y, has
agIeed to furnish the State with these libra
ries at S54 each.-The selection Of books
for these Libraries Qour in number has re-
ceived the unanimous approval of the State
Board of Education. and all who have been
conSulted.-Thcse libraries are composed Of
books upon great variety Of subjects. con-
nected with the practical duties and intere sts
OF life. Agriculture, the |. aiding interest
Of the State, and the basis Of individual ard
public prosperity, has received special at
ten,ion in the selection.
We have before US the circular of Mr.. 4.
o. Moore, Of n. Y. giving the different lists
Gt books. which he calls Illinois District
School Libraries" alluded to in the above.
numbered sevcrally from One to Four, and
which said books he proposes to sell to the
different school districts in Illinois at the
low rate OF SjI, while the books are actual
" cheap lat $780," &c. We have taken
the pains TO read over with some care the
titles Of the books brought together in these
Libraries" and think we are prepared to
Civ: our opinion as to the character of the
collcction-and b W far it is adapted to the
want for library in the School Districts Of
our County and State. Mr.. Moore. We be-
lieve, is a publisher of agricultural books
and such only. He consulis his own inter
es, by furnishing in these Libraries all / is
owH publications. and the balance in such
books as he can trade his own for to the
greatest Pr.fit
In his circular to the District School Di-
rec,ors, he says, "Ag,icu!iurc. the leading
tention." To this we say, agriculture is a
grRt subject in its place-but somewhat
different from-literature, history, travels.
natural sciences, &c, &r.-and not at all
the thing to create or crafty taste for read
ing among the rising generation.
Very few of these farm 5ooks-works on
manures, muck, farm implements. blowing,
planting, &c, were ever prepared with any
reference to prairie country A few Of
these works might be useful to farmers but
are not suited TO the intellectual wants Of
their families. How can young persons of
either sex be edited or probably spend
their time IN perusinS essays on the most
approved method of breeding, crossing and
roarng-hOgs, sheep, cattle and horses?
1t would he just as proper to make out
the balance OF the library, with all the
works on Cookery and Domestic Economy
that have been publshed-for the benefit
Of the farmers wives and daughters-or be-
cause the farming interest is an important
one why not expend the money, provided
in the school law for school libraries, in pa
tent corn Planters for the use of the District
These libraries cost S54 each. We find in
library No. !. Agricultural works TO the
amount Of S23, IS; in No. ?, S24,O0; in No
3, S20,3j, and of the balance but small
portion are copyright works or such as any
intelligent board of directors would select
If left to their own choice
We think it moderate estimate to say
Of icss g6s ik WGaaP es4f22prh g ga% third
school disirict-indccd we can show that
for tie price Of o:e OF these libraries, books
can be obtained which as library in any
neiguborhood, would be worth all four Of
these. The Library clause OF the new
School Law does not require the directors
TO purehnsc my particular collection OF
books. Wha; coHsjeiera ton could have in
fuccd the State Board of Education to re-
commend these libraries-we cannot ina
CINE; nor can we any more understand how
our friend, Prof Stone has been led so uu-
quadiiiedly to endorse these libraries, which
strike US as such palpable catch penny az
fairs.