Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-02-04
THE IMPORTANCE OF LIBRARIES
INCUR SCHOOLS.


nitv at large should take a greater
interest in than what they do tits
as essential that our young folks
have something in the way OF maya
zines, newspapers and other reading
matter as it is for them to have school
hooks. IF we would encourage them
to read the daily and weekly papers,
and what ever useful books they may
hear of no difference if there is a
little fiction in it, we would not hea"
so much grumbling when they nave
TO get their lessons, for the next gay
of school. We would know where
some of our boys and girls are OF
evenings. We should tell them OF
things of interest that we have read
in some newspaper or magazine. Get
them to form a habit and taste loF
reading; make them love every thing
that is intelligent, we would not have
so many heart-aehes or spend so
many lonely evenings. Get them to
cultivate a taste for reading, listen
to anything they may have to tell OF
something they have read during the
day. whether it interests you or not,
from the fairy story baby Tot has
managed to spell out or gotten some
one of the family to read to her, to
the things of greater interest and I'M
portance, that the older ones may
have to tell. Spend at least one hour
each evening. in discussing what
each one has read and explaining
anything they don't thoroughly I'M
derstand. But how are they to have
these things to tell and discuss If
thew have no means of getting the
books to read ? Connect library to
our dav schools, fill it with books
and papers that will interest the
scholars, from the juvenile rhymes
and fairy stories to the ancient and
modern histories, subscribe for at
least one of the daily papers and
such other papers as Youths Com
panion, Harpers Young People, and
Vide Aacake, what boy or girl would
not cultivate q taste for reading II
such literary treats were afforded
them? The next question that would
naturally arise is how are we to get
these libraries ? must we go down IN
our own pockets and buy them? In
one sense no, for I am afraid if we
did thew would be very few. And
in another yes, by doing all we can
to encourage those who are trying
to Get them. Here is a plan that
teacher in the State of West Nlr-
ginia adopted, and | think it very
good one. Each year when it came
time for his school to close he would
give q concert or rather a school eX-
hibition, charge the small sum OF ten
cents for grown persons and halt
price for children. He had the use
of the high school hall and after all
the expenses were paid he would in
vest the remainder in books. The
first year he also wrote to the State
and County Superintendent and to
the principals of some of the schools
in the State telling them what Ire
had done and asking their assis-
lance. very few but what donated
him at least one book, some of
course more, and to-day that school,
although it has never had more than
thirty scholars, on an average, and
never until recently over five months
school can boast of as good library
as there is IN the State. five would
initiate that teachers zeal in trying
to interest and advance our young
people IN the literary world, we would
not have so few of them attending
our lyceums and other places of in
struction. We can crowd the halls
of such places to their utmost capac-
ity if we take a step in the right di-
rection, and | know Of no better way