Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-08-13
The Free Travelling Libraries.

Arrangements have been made bv
which all the publications of the depart
ment of farm institutes at Madison, and
those of the agricultural department of
the University of Wisconsin, as we'll as
those of the various farmers societies
of the state will be sent directly to the
libraries of the new free travelling
libraries i'll Wood county By this
means each local library will accumu-
late a small, permanent library which
will be the property of the association
which controls it. A suitable book case
will be necessary for these books as we'll
as for the care of the travelling libraries
Mr.. Witter has decided to have such
ply the needs and will furnish each
local library association with one for
two dollars. The management of the
travelling libraries has been turned over
by Mr.. Witter to the J. D. Witter Free
Travelling Library Association, of Grand
Rapids, to which all communications
regarding the, travelling libraries should
be addressed. This association is COM
posed of the directors of the I. B. Scott
public library, and this library will be
the center from which the travelling
libraries will go and come. The books
for the travelling libraries have been
very carefully selected to include main
ly those which are wholesome and are
eagerly read by all classes Of people
Nearly half the volumes necessary for
the first fifteen libraries are now here
and all of the remainder are expected
within the next fortnight. The inter
est in the libraries IS growing and nearly
enough communities are already max
ing arrangements fOl them to make
places for all the libraries of the first
installment.
AS most of our readers know, any
community in Wood county may obtain
the travelling libraries by complying
with certain simple conditions. Ten or
more responsible residents must organ
ize local library bureau, and agree to
find a suitable place for the library and
to see that it is properly cared for. The
only expenses are the buying of a case,
which is the property of the purchas-
ers, and the labor or expense of chang
ing the Libraries when they are read.
Experience is showing that the travel
ing library system is proving even more
popular and us eful than was expected
and we can hea rtily congratulate hun
dreds of our Wood county families in
this new and remarkable opportunity
to read the choicest and brightest books
of the language practically "without
money and without price"
Citizens of Grand Rapids and Cen
tralia who have copies of magazines,
illustrated weekhe's or chiIdren's
periodicals which they are willing to
give for good purpose are requested to
notify Mr.. |. E. Philleo or the librarian
of the I. B. Scott public library. All
such periodicals will be sent out with
the first lOr Of the J. D. Witter Free
Travelling Libraries and will be fre-
quently read and thoroughly enjoyed
by the people of the smaller communi-
ties of the county. A file of the Youth s
Companion for three months, bound in
manila paper and carefully stitched will
last to be read and enjOYed by the chill
Of many families to whom such
pleasures open new worlds of happi-
ness and information.