Evening star., 1896-10-16
THE TRAVELLING LIBRARY.
A Method of Supplying Communities
With Reading Matter.

A Method OF Supplying Communities
With Reading Matter.
From tie Book Buyer.
Instant interest is always aroused by de-
scription Of the travelling library system.
not only because II is novel. but because
its value II at once apparent. As 1t is Of
special importance to reading clubs. We
shall devote this number to some account
Of Its objects and operation.
The travelling library il established by
law In New York. Iowa, Michigan and
Montana. although in the latter state the
appropriation Is not yet available. In Wis
consin they are furnished in different Sec
tious by two generous citizens, and in
other states varying tentative methods are
being tried. Mr. Stead of the Review of
Reviews. a man who looks afield with q
telescope. has In a year put two hundred
boxes OF from forty to nifty books each in
circulation In different parts Of Europe
this country, Africa and India.
The system originated In New York three
years ago. when the Albany state library
resolved to loan boxes containing from
fifty to one hundred books to such public
libraries needed them, and to communi-
ties where no libraries yet exist. The
title Is derived from the fact that each
library remains in one place but six
months, and 10 then returned to hsadquar-
ters, to be followed. II desired, by another
selection, while 1t is sent elsewhere. Print
cd catalogues are supplied with each box
and each library Is well equipped for use
although New York, 1 think. does not, as
some other states do, include book case
IN the loan. The fee is five dollars for
the larger library, three for the smaller.
and includes all charges for transportation
The application has to be made through
responsible citizens. and tho persons using
the books bind themselves to aid in any
future attempt to establish a public library
In the place. The New York system Is
n bo nf an1fd
all study and reading clubs In the state
1t will fill any list of books, and send ex-
ecuy what is needed for work Mr. East
man, the librarian In charge, Is most gem
ereus and thorough in his efforts to assist
Students. ard the New York clubs have
very superior advantages over many 9TH
ers 1t Is pleasant to know that as a con-
sequence Of the work six public libraries
have been established In the state In towns
where interest was aroused by the travel
ing library, and that at least forty thou
sand volumes have been in circulation since
the plan was adopted. The travelling IL
brary Is also an object lesson. as 1t shows
now easily the work can be managed and
how useful IT is. The Special libraries
rsiTg such subjects as Ruskin. Shakes
peare. American writers. etc. have been
supplied with not only the necessary books,
but with ample supplementary reading
In Iowa the system is comparativ
rev. but 1t resembles that managed by
New York, and Is open to study classes
inc hIchlBAu appropriation 1S liberal and
the demand is large. The Montana ar
rangement provides for libraries of one
hundred volumes each. We have not the
complete details of management, but It's
plan OF organization seems open to crtti.
cism. as control 10 given to state officers
instead OF literary workers. Minnesota in.
troduced bill at the last session Of the
legislature which failed only for want OF
time 1t places the control in the hands OF
the committee on university extension OF
the faculty of the state university. In this
connection II should be said that seyera
Universities. notably those Of Chicago and
WSccrsin. are sending out boxes of book,
Tor Use in connection with extension lee
lures. The Harvard College library. tho
Boston Atheneum. the Worcester library
ana the Massachusetts state library al
lend books to students within the statA
sidered WI
The Smithsonian Institution ana ths Sur
geon Generals ONCE library lend book,
most hberaily to students at long dis
tsnees The free Libraries Of Philad delphia
especially the Drexel. are very liberal n
their arrangements. and quite ready To-
any possible advance In the future IN,
Boston Society for the Encourag ,ment O
Study At Home has q reference librsr,
free to students working under its direc
zion. no matter where they live. The Rey
Mods library in Rochester mountains ha
mere or less organized relations with
large number Of societies. clubs and caDss