The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-06-06
WANDERING
Splendid Idea Carried Out By the New
York University.

Splendid Idea Carried Out by the New
York University.
Not one in a thousand probably of the
residents of New York who live in the
large cities knows that the state main
tains what may be called "a travelling
library" 1t is under the control of the
public libraries department of the Uni
tersity of the State of New York, and
consists of a box of books, 20 or SO In
number, which win be sent to any repu-
table citizen in any city or village upon
application to that department of the
state government at Albany.
A school-teacher, for instance, may
have this library sent to him for cir
culation among his pupils or the mem-
hers of their families at a cost SO small
that IA assessmentof five cents a month
win cover all expenses. With the books
is al oak bookcase, a lock and key and a
cabinet to hold book cards and readers
cards, both of which are supplied. He
will also receive supply of little, print
ed catalogues, containing the titles Of
al the books in the library, with COM
ments on their contents. The library
may be kept for six months. Upon its
return another may be secured. A fee
Of three dollars for so books and Ave
dollars for 100 volumes covers all ex-
penses Of transportation and every
thing else.
The books which make up the libra
ries are selected by the book board,
made up Of five members Of the stan OF
the New York state library. Occasional
" an expert on the subject Of books is
called upon to select a special list. One
Of the collections is called the Mountain
side library. The selection was MAIDS
by Edward Eggleston. He has chosen.
five volumes on social science, among
them Bryce's american Common
wealth" and Smiles "Self-Help." Seven
books relate to natural science and two
to useful arts-"How to Make q Garden
and Farmers Veterinary Adviser
Fifty are fiction and the remainder Of
the 100 treat of literature, biography,
history and travel. There are special
libraries arranged for children's read
ing. Others deal with special topics.
There is one library which relates to
American history exclusively and an
other which treats of French history.
Another box has so works on political
economy. AS the circulation of the
libraries is almost entirely among the
agricultural part of the population
books of special interest to the tillerso of
the soil hold a prominent place.
Besides all these there are university
extension circles. The books are select
ed by the lecturer. The same privilege
is extended to registered home-study
clubs and reading circles.
The statistics concerning these wan
dering bookshelves contain some inter
esting lessons. One is that the great
reading public is honest. Books arc
rarely damaged and almost never "lost,
strayed or stolen.' Out of 1900 sent
out only n was lost, and that one was
paid for by the village trustee. Each
library averages 300 readers.
The idea is only just out of its ex-
detrimental stage, but it is considered a
great success and capable of unlimited
development. It was first put in practi-
cal operation three years ago, having
been made possible by a special act OF
the Legislature in 1s92.-N. Y. Tribune,