The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1862-02-06
Communications.
Public Libraries.

your readers might feel an interest in
the subject of Public Libraries, / send
you short sketch of one existing in
Penn Township, together with few re-
marks on the formation Of public libra
ries generally. The one to which l al
lude was founded on the 7th of Janua-
ry, 1858, and is known by the name of
the "Highlahd Club" 1t was founded
by company of young men, who had
not the means wherewith to obtain q
thorough education.
The first purchase of books consisted
OF 40 small volumes-not q very for
midable library, but subsequent addi-
tons have increased il to between 300
aud 400 volumes, of the choicest pro-
ductions in the English language
This, we believe, is the largest public
library in the county; if it is not, it
soon will be, The basis on which it is
founded, is as follows:
Members pay annually s1.25. This
entities them to an active membership.
20 per cent. of this is deducted for q
contingent fund, the remainder is ex-
pended for books. If any person con
tinues to pay five years in succession,
he becomes life member, or if he will
pay $500 down, it will answer the Same
purpose. On every Eve dollars thus
paid in, he is entitled to draw one book,
and hold the same six weeks, provided
he continues to pay the 81 rs annually
On neglecting or refusing to pay this,
he is debarred the use of the library,
yet he can still hold the full amount
of his investment, if it reaches FIVE
doHars; but if it fall below this sum,
then it becomes the property of the So
ciety. Members are also privileged to
draw one book, for every 81 ,25 paid an
nually.
In connection with the library there
is Literary Society that meets every
two weeks. The exercises consist of
Discussions, Essays, Lectures, and va
rious other literary performances.
would here remark that it is impossible
to found Literary Society of any i'm
portance without a library for a nu-
cleus. 1t will invariably degenerate
into mere SqaaJJling Club. 1t mat
ters not how well the mind is by nature
gifted, nature alone never made good
writer or debater. A good extempora-
neous debater must have a respectable
knowledge of every department of Sci
ence and Literature. This can be &C
quired only by the assistance of good
and we'll assorted library, such as few in
diViduals are able to possess. But if
twenty or more persons will unite them
selves into society, they can in five
years have library that will answer ev
cry purpose.
Libraries are the only instruments by
which pure and solid literature can be
infused into the masses. We have fire.
quently thought that that fickleness, so
characteristic Of the American people,
was the consequence of too free and
extensive use of Newspapers, and other
periodical literature, with which the ma.
ton is flooded. This kind of reading
will never make a learned man, nor
will it ever give one knowledge of
good sound principles, such as consti-
tute tho foundation of Government,
Religion, Morals and the fixed Sci
ences. They bear the fruits of the sur
face, never penetrating beneath that
wave which concoals great truths.
Why has not Hillsboro (that "Model
Town Public Library2 Outside of
the Female College, there is not a col
lection Of books worthy Of notice.
Even the one in the College is surpass-
ed by that of the "HigkLdRd Club"
know, for have the catalogues of both.
The former may excel in number, but
not in the quality of reading natter
True, the Common School Library is
benefit to some, but it is too limited by
far to meet the wants Of the public 1t
was only designed for a certain class,
and We have thought sometimes wheth-
or it was not failure altogether.
One thing may be expected by those
who attempt to establish public libra
ries, that is, opposition. The one allu-
ded to in this article has experienced it,
but thanks to perseverance it is now be-
yond the reach Of croakers. We will
enpmerate a few classes from which op-
position may be expected: 1.-THE Eoafcr,
the Jogie, the s.oel, and last, but not
least, the Picayune man, that always
judges the merits Of any enterprise by
the number of half-dimca visible there
in. He keeps constantly near him a
pair of very small scales, (not tho Phi
losopher's) with which he weighs all
matters connected with the public vel
fare. Ho uses but one weight, that is