The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-03-21
Couderspert Library Association


we hope great good in the future to
our young people who cultivate love
for reading and who wish to use all
the means i'll their power to make
themselves intelligent and interest
ing members of society, and to those
who are older who wish to retain
what was learned in their schOOl-days
and to keep some trace of the worlds
progress. I'm these directions our
abundant periodical literature is per-
haps the best assistant. and it is a
happy thing for the country that there
are so many valuable papers and mag
azines taken and read-I wish there
fewer of other sorts. But we need
books also, and those hest provided
with them in their own homes are
often the ones who most avail them
selye- Of the additional help afforded
hN the Library.
There are so many books that We
need for reference or occasional ex-
animation, as we 90 to a dictionary
or encyclopedia, that a circulating IL
hrary containing some supply of them
is of great value in neighborhood.
This Library is small, far too small
for our needs, and the funds are too
low 10 admit Of additions being made
10 it. but there is still much in il that
is valuable, and it will, we trust, serve
rs nucleus around which to gather
not only books and reading matter Of
the best kinds but specimens in nat
ural history. botany, geology and
in time-Othcr sciences. 1t Is now
in the scmi-torpid state in which so
many Of our great literary institu.
tions have lain for often long period
of their early existence. Shall We
he careless of it and let it die, and
then, perhaps, have to hegin again
al the beginning and 30 through the
whole process of building up library
and scientific museum in later wears
Would it not he better to give some
attention TO improving what We have
and making it more valuable for daily
use as well rs to put IT on footing
where it will grow of itself What is
needed first is that all members Of
the Association who are in arrears
should pay their dues, fifty cents per
annum. and attend meetings and see
that such officers as they wish are
elected TO manage its affairs. The
amount is so small that it seems a if
any one might see that it was regu-
larly paid.
Then the officers should devise
some plan, 10y subscription on other
wise, to add to the funds OH hand
sufficiently to procure some addition
of new and standard books at once.
The hooks are now kept in good
order at Miss Metzger's store, and
persons seeking them are attended to
promptly and courteously. Being
near the centre Of the village. the Iii
brarv is easily accessible to al. We
wish To make it useful to all and to
80 improve its condition by additions
10 it and additional interest in it, that
when the lecture season opens again
We may he able to secure some speak
crs who shall stimulate our whole peo-
BlC to make new advances. We wish
this society TO become benefit. not
only To this immediate vicinity but
to the whole County: and that all
will feel anxious to assist in making
collections that shall bc helpful to
themselves and others. Specimens
ofplants nicely pressed and arranged;
of insects. with some account Of their
habits; Of fungi morc or less cunous ;
ot' birds and little quadrupeds; II
brought by those who have oppor-
tunity to observe and procure them,
would soon make q valuable collec-
tion and eases would be provided for
their preservation.
We trust many of our young peo-
de will feel sufficiently interested to
do something for the Library, its sup
port and increase, and that we shall
remember that as far is knowledge
and science 90 VIC are all young
very young indeed.