Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-27

Steady Growth of Good Reading Consequent
Upon Liberal Legislation in Massachusetts.

/ 4 H
Steady Growth of Good Reading Consequent
Upon Liberal Liquidation in Massachusetts.
| From the Century Magazine.
| From almost its first number this magazine
has been in the habit Of pointing out from time
to time the great value Of free public libraries
as means for spreading popular education In
an article in this department of the Century
for June, 1892, we said:
"A library is Of more use in an educational
way than a high school. The taste for good
reading is the true door to culture, and if a
taste for good reading be once established in q
young person, there is an absolute certainty Of
the attainment of degree of culture which
persevering years in school cannot give. 1t is
not enough to have free schools. wide
spread movement for libraries, which shall be
either wholly free or exceedingly cheap, would
be most wholesome one. The abolition Of
low-priced. Migrated productions. which we
nope to see brought about by copyright, would
leave the field free for libraries, and libraries
would render American well as English liter
azure OF easy access to the humblest"
This hope about copyright is at last realized.
and we are glad to see in many directions that
Its fulhiiment has come at very opportune
moment so far as the growth of the free library
movement Is concerned.
THE MASSACHUSETTS, LAW.
1t is most encouraging to learn that within
the past few years there has been a steadily
growing interest in this subject manifested in
nearly every part of the country. The chief
reason of this has undoubtedly been the action
of Massachusetts in creating free public
library publisher. whose jealous, intelligent and
successful exertions have commanded the envy
and excited the ambition of other states The
Massachusetts, commission was authorized by
law which was passed in 1890. 1t is composed
OF hve persons, appointed by the governor
who hold Offices for five years, but whose terms
expire IN different years, one new commissioner
being appointed each year. They are author
lied 10 expend. on the application OF board of
library trustees of any town having no free
library owned and controlled by the town.
fum not exceeding 500 for books TO be used in
establishing free pubic library. The trustees
who make the application must have been duly
ana regularly elected a u town meeting. The
law provides that towns establishing libraries
under the act shall appropriate certain sum
each year. according to the assessed valuation
OF their property. FOR the use and maintenance
OF the library. The governor appointed as the
first commission Mr. c. B. Tiliinghast OF Bos-
ton. Mr. Samuel 5. Green. Miss L. B. Sohier
of Beverly and Miss Anna E. Ticknor of Bos-
ton.
CONDITIONS THEN AND NOW.
When the commission entered upon its labors,
24S OF the 3il cities and towns of Massachusetts,
had Libraries in which the people had rights or
free privileges. and in l75 of the 24S there were
absolutely free public libraries under the munic-
lpal control Altogether these libraries con-
tanned about 2, SD0, 900 volumes, slightly more
than the total population in the state. The
gifts OF individuals in money. not including
gifts of books by libraries and library buildings
exceeded S5,5000O0. Yet there were still l03
towns IN the state which had no free public
libraries. These were nearly all small towns.
"a Al Irfy uiati
Upon these the commission bent its energies,
and the result OF the first years idbors
very gratifying. An appeal was issued to then.
to avail themselves OF the states offer of aid.
town meetings of 1891. Several towns made APP
preparations in excess of the amount
required by the statute. A cheering effect
of the law was the offer OF individuals of books
to aid in tho formation o: new Libraries.
and the commissioners were able to distribute
over ! 400 volumes in addition to those pur-
chased by the state In many instances asso-
cations turned over their collection of books as
gifts To the town; others made appropriations
from their treasures to aid in establishing a
library. and persons of wealth. sometimes per-
manent residents of the town. some times sum-
mer residents or visitors. made handsome gifts
of money. The total os individual gifts during
the time which has elapsed since the commits
sion was appointed is over a half million dol
lars. and In the same period individuals have
provided funds for tae erection of eleven new
libraries. During the past year several towns
have received gifts ranging from s25. 900 to
S5OO00 TO be used in building free public
library structures. In fact. the state is sprlnked
with handsome memorial library buildings.
there being something like seyenty-fiye of
these IN as many towns.
HOW A GOOD EXAMPLE WORKS.
The impulse impaired to this most patriotic
and worthy work OF popular education is not
confined 70 Massachusetts. It has spread all
over New England and is felt perceptibiy in
many western states New Hampshire has
created n similar commission and other states
are preparing 20 do the same in the near future
There are memorial library buildings going up
in increasing numbers yearly in all parts of
New England ard free public libraries are every
where coming more and more 10 be recog-
nlzed branch of the educational machinery of
every city and town in the Union An imDer-
feet report OF the gifts and requests to libraries
In the United States of which record could be
obtained was made to the conference of Librarians
IN San francisco in October. 1891. and placed
the totai at nearly s24 600 eco. The true total
Is undoubtedly far in excess of thai, but this is
sufficiently large sum to give encouraging
evidence that people of wealth realize the work
which libraries are doing.
LIBRARIES MUST BE ABSOLUTELY FREE.
1t is urged with great eG-nestness by the
leaders In the free library movement that in
order to perform perfectly their high and use
fui mission all public libraries should be abso-
lutely free The charging of fee, however
small. greatly 6iminishes the usefulness of any
library. The testimony of statistics upon this
point is conclusive. When the public library
of Springfield, which had been charging small
annual fee. was made free in 1885 the number
o. card holders during the year increased from
], 100 TO over 1000, and the circulation of books
from Al 900 to 154, 900. similar change in the
Otis library Of Norwich, Conn, made about a
year ago, increased the number of books taken
out during the following year from $40 to
5000.
COLONEL PEYTON's PLAN.