The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-11-08
Township Libraries.
BY PROF. GEORGE W. Hoss.

II is probably known to most OF
our readers-frst, that there is IL
brarv in each township in the State
second, that this library forms an in.
teRral part of the Common School
System. This system was inaugurated
BY the following act, approved March
A, 1853: frer
" There shall be assessed, collected
and paid, as the State and county
revenues are assessed, collected, and
paid:
!" First. On the list Of property
taxable for State purposes, the sum Of
one-quarter Of one mill on each dol
lar. q,
T'secopd. There shall be paid BY
every person liable to pay poll tax,
for State purposes, the sum Of twenty
five. cents; Provided, that said tax
shall continue for two years only.
Third, The taxes shall be APP
piled to the purchase Of Township
Libraries, under the direction Of the
State Board Of Education ~
In conformity with this act, there
we're collected and expended for.
books, within the years 1853 and
1854, $1G0, 839. {aem n 3.ai oNl
~ Under an act approved March 3,
1880, assessing one.quarter Of q mill
on the dollar, and TWENTY-FIVE cents
i On n5 thes poi, there were collected and
responded, within the year 1856, S1l0,-
,OUO., tnrfs Ear48 $4,000 II Tgtiei
+. These libraries are for the use of
the citizens of the township, and are
under the control of the Township
Trustees. Touching these two points.
an act, approved March 6, 1866, pro-
vides as follows: ~ atgas I'D b.
/. Every family in the Township
shall be entitled to two volumes at a
time, from said library, whether any
member Of such family shall attend
school or not 9IHssi
3. Such libraries shall be in
charge Of the Township Trustees, who
shall be accountable for the preserva-
tioa of the same, and may prescribe
the time of taking, and the period of
retaining books: assess and recover
damages done them by any persons,
and adopt regulations necessary for
their preservation and usefulness. ~
In furtherance Of this usefulness, the
Trustee is required to post or cause to
be posted, notice in each school
house, at the commencement of each
term of public school, stating where
the library is kept, and inviting a free
use of the books by various citizens of
the township. (See sections 36-7
School Law. fhYI 900 OH 4
Il @ AS matter of interest to all using
these libraries, we may state, by way
of conclusion. that about $4,000
worth of new books will be distribu-
ted to the libraries, in the latter part
tof December and LIST of January.
The precise value or number of these
books cannot now be stated as they
have not all been purchased The
largest portion has been purchased
and is being bound at the rate of
8 about, two thousand volumes per
week. As soon as these books shall
have all been purchased we shall pub
lish list of the same, together with
such other facts as shall be deemed of
interest to our readers. In the mean
time, the importance, management
and use of these libraries are com
mended to the careful consideration
of the reader Any suggestions look
ing to an increased .usefulness of the
same, will be thankfully received. A
good library is mine of truth. of
I which every youth may dig the golden
sands of wisdom. 81 4,er4t.iiTaH