The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-01-27
SCHOOL LIBRARY.
An Earnest call for the Establish
ment of School Libraries.

Two wears since q committee was appointed
by the State Teachers Association to make a
report on the condition OF school libraries IN
this State; and 10 formulate any suggestions
which might aid in that work. When TINS
committee made its report 1t was freely uls'
cussed and the committee was instructed 70
prepare and distribute very widely, circu'
lar letter, TO the teachers OF SCUM Iasoiina Ia
in order to aid those already seeing Inc I'M
portance OF such work but without lhe eS,
perience necessary TO carry IL 10 successful
completion.
has prepared the enclosed letter and list ol
books: we beg TO express the hope that this
matter will not be disposed or as so many cir.
culars are, but will be read Dy every one III
terested In education.
Respectfully yours,
J. w. Thomson,
Patterson Wardlaw,
4. NJ. Rankin, Committee.
In order that this paper may not be OF un.
reasonable length, we have conflned ourselves
closely TO the question Of school libraries.
We need not stop to argue that school II.
brares are productive OF great benett; out
will CONTEXT ourselves with calling your at
teution TO the sure and rapid mental growth
to be observed IN all who read {: and also
TO the fact, acknowledged by all who are
posted on the subject, that no school Is thor
oughtly first-class, without having within
reach OF the pupils q collection OF good book $.
The first question of course is, what books
are to be thus used? Our answer is, what
ever you can get, excluding, Of course, al
ways, any book that is OF vicious tone: but
remember that the only books which will be
OF any service are those which will be read by
children. There are many written for this
purpose, and we urge you to provide them. as
by their use you can cultivate the reading
habit. This habit once formed will md 1000
Tor itself. We earnestly advise against the
purchasing of dictionaries, books generally
called classics, ency lopCedias, or works OF re-
ference at first. These will be very profitable
additions to your list after a short time, but
hal shown purchases
during the first few years OF the library re-
suits in docking up large proportion ol
your funds when every cent ought TO be In
active use provide at first only such books
as will suit Juvenile tastes; but you may be
assured that with reading The taste Will I'M
prove and mature.
The al.important question Is. how are
books to be procured. The consensus OF
opinion seems to be that, in any effort Of this
kind, the teacher must be the mover. We
know that in many cases, probably In most,
teachers bold positions for one year only,
and that to engage IN this work under such a
condition Is TO SOW where another will most
likely lreap. Notwithstanding this we beg
YOU to remember that IT Is for the good OF the
children that this work Is TO be done, and we
call on you in their name TO Interest your
sell: II may be missionary work, but II is one
in which no step carefully taken will ever be
lost; and though you may not see the fruit o!
your labors, you will have Sown good seed,
and harvest must follow. Besides this,
some one must make the beginning, and II
may be that elsewhere beginning is being
made for you.
In order to secure books large amount OF
money is not necessary : the first twenty-five
cents clay buy a book that Will do immea-
urable good but those who furnish the funds
must remember that great results must not
be expected from the use OF Insignificant
means; that to stunt young enterprise is 10
prevent bountiful return. After the first
supply is. purchased, and the children given a
taste Of what is In store, we know Of no case
in which the growth or the library has not
been sure, though perhaps slow.
AS this money IS to be expended for the
from from The n @ public School fG5d but experience
has shown that Boards of Trustees, as a rule,
are deaf 10 appeal OF this nature. However,
to make the application cannot hurt your
ton, your effort will tend TO bring this work
TO the favorable consideration OF those who,
perhaps, have never thought OF II before,
thus beginning the educationiof public senti-
There Is a better founded hope of success In
an application TO the trustees as individuals,
and TO patrons as such. If the need is clearly
and forcibly presented, 1t will hardly be in
vain.
II all other means fail there is last resort
try the children. If parents cannot or will
not give money themselves, 1t is not likely
they will give through their children. But
almost every child has fun Of his own or
each may be induced TO bring contribution
of poultry, chickens, or of something salable.
In one case reported to US, success was at
tanned through the gift Of an egg every Mon
day morning, from each pupil. The duties OF
general manager OF such enterprises must be
assumed by the teacher.
We have left to the last any mention OF
another source Of supply. For some years
past Miss Sarah P. Brigham, of Grafton,
Mass. has.been distributing, throughout this
State, reading matter contributed by the
"Lend-a- Hand book mission These contr-
buttons are sent to any one who will receive
them free OF charge, even freight being al
most always prepaid. There is no obligation
resting on the recipient save the moral one TO
improve the opportunity thus afforded.
Much valuable reading matter has been sup
piled in this manner 10 those who lacked, the
contributions consisting mainly of maya
zines and illustrated papers which are of
great service in inducing children TO read.
Some bound volumes have been contributed,
but not many.
In conclusion, let US beg you personally to
try some or all of these plans until you have
set in motion the library work, which,
whether you remain or go to another field Of
labor, will surely educate the children among
whom you are laboring.
We inclose with this list of books, with
prices, such as we consider suitable for school
libraries. Every book named has been tested
and the grouding of the books IS the result OF
the experience of the committee and others
whom they have consulted.
The members Of the committee will gladly
correspond with all teachers wishing to con-
suit them further, and ask especially for re-
ports OF all progress made.
j. w. Thomson, Rock. Hill. S. G.
Patterson Wardlaw. Columbia, =. G.,