Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-06-18
HOME LIBRARIES.
Established Practicability OF . New Form
of Charitable Work.

Established Practicabiitty OF o New Form
of Charitable Work.
The charity organization societies Of
some Of our large cities are gradually
extending their work among the poor
and passing beyond the lines of simple
benevolence. The Baltimore society is
cooperating with the industrial educa-
ton association and cooking schools in
efforts to teach the practical principles
of social science and to apply them to
every day life, and in Boston an excel
lent work has been done by the estab-
lisilment Of home libraries.
A glance at this plan will serve to
show at once its simplicity and the
amount of good which it can undoubt-
edly accomplish. A bookcase large
enough to hold fifteen books and five
bound periodicals is fastened to tho
wall in the living room of a poor fami-
ly, u boy or girl of the house. thirteen
or fourteen years old, being made IL
brarian and held responsible for the
care of the library.
A club is formed of ten of the chill
dren of the ncighborhood, who meet
together once week Mt the house
where the library is. At these weekly
meetings Il visitor from the Children's
Aid society, which supplies the books,
is always present. The children then
return the books Which were given out
at the last meeting, and take out others
to be read at home. When this has
been done the visitor, who is generally
n woman, tries to draw out the chill
dren's opinions of the books and to
quicken their interest in what has been
read.
She also plays games with them, and
sometimes teaches sewing to any who
may have liking for it. The books
include fairy tales, stories of travel and
the lighter kind of history, and SO
when the children reach the age at
which they are permitted to use the
public library they have learned to
read better class OF books than they
would choose if they had not had the
training of the homo library.
The cost of library complete, with
forms for keeping the records, Is only
$25 This plan is undoubtedly an CT
fcctive means of benefitting the poor.
At an age when their character is FORM
ing, when their ordinary pursuits and
a,nusements bring them into close con-
tact with all that is worst in the byways
of a great city, they begin to realize
that there is something better and
brighter beyond their own daily rou-
tine, and are given an opportunity OF
enjoying a legitimate and elevating
pleasure.
The books which they take home to
read are read by their parents and by
their older brothers and sisters, and the
little librarian in whose house the library
is placed awakcns to a sense of RESPONSE
bility and orderliness The improve
ment spreads to the rest of the family,
and the home becomes brighter and
more cheerful.
The first of these libraries was started
in Boston four years ago and they now
number forty-six. The society which
has charge of them says that good
temper, good manners and cheerful
ness-what we must look for in chill
dren-follow directly in the train of
the work. Interest in reading the best
books is developed, the children's pride
is stimulated by a sense of organization
and propretorship, home amusement
and occupation become realities, the
family tie is strengthened and indi-
vilual character developed. .'-Phila-
dclphia Record.