Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-25
Travelling Libraries.


Travelling libraries are to the sno,,
settlement in the seantlly populato,
country districts what the free clrcu,a,-
ing library Is to the large city-gooa
reading placed within easy access Of all
me system of travelling libraries nro.
woes a number OF small stout wooden
boxes fitted with shelves and hlnped
doors, each filled with from fiftv Ia
hundred books. the works of stanoara
writer's. Each box Is provided with =
catalogue and a set of call cards. so thai
the custodian may keep track Of the out
standing books The boxes are GIIaa
from one general place, usually the az
fice Of the state library com mission. and
are then sent out to the various place.
asking for them.
The way Of obtaining them is simnl.
ana easy: A few Of the inhabitants of a
place Write, requesting that a library be
put in their vicinity, and appoint a care
taker or librarian. Often tne postmas.
ter. the Storekeeper or the schooi-tearher
can act III this capacity. Then the an
pHcation Is sent to the state librarian
ana IN short time the box viii be re-
ceiVed. 1t is placed in a convenient mart
OF the chosen house, and becomes an AZ
tractiVe object for old and young alike
Each box stays at its station" siy
months, and with it is sent a list of the
contents Of other boxes that new ono
may he selected Understandable Then
house or store. and different set ~
books takes its place.
The travelling library is considered an
excellent introduction to the permanent
free library in the smaller villages. and
where such a free library has been estab-
llshed by the local authorities the stare
Will supply the newest books and latest
periodicals by means of the travelling
boxes Of books. These libraries are also
Of great aid to the isolated student. who
can, upon the payment of a small fee
and express charges, procure a set of
books on any subject he may desire to
study. They are also used a good deal
by reading circles and study classes es-
pecldlly when some particular subject ia
20 be taken up. and many technical
books Of reference are needed which
would be expensive for the class to pur-
chase. but which the library supplies
In Georgia and Tennessee numbers Of
these boxes of good reading are kent cir
culating among the mountain people and
the scattered farmers. The greater part
Of the work in these states has so far
been accomplished through the efforts of
tne state declarations of women's clubs
Nebraska and Iowa have also accom-
plished much unler the same auspices.
while in New Jersey, through the earn
est work Of the women's clubs through
out the state the last legislature passed
bill providing for state maintenance OF
signed by the governor, and will soon be
in active operation.
The great good resulting from these
libraries Is looked upon as one of the
most potent forces toward the promulga-
ti0n OF universal education. 1t is really
a system of free-circulating libraries,
without the expense OF buildings salar-
les or a Superfluous number of new
books; for each box, staying as it does
six months, is thoroughly read; no books
lie idle on the shelf and there are no du-
plicates. Thus the cost is reduced to a
minimum, and the power of usefulness is
increased 10 a maximum.
This system of aiding education must
eventually bring good results. For the
greatest care is taken in selecting the
contents of the boxes; only the best 1T
erature in books and magazines is per-
mitted. Thus sort of censorship is
practised over the reading of a large
portion of the growing population. for
experience and statistics point clearly to
the fact that these libraries are most
used by the boys and girls who have out
grown school, and yet have not settled
down to habits Of Industry or thought
fulness. and in this manner their minds
are turned in the right channels; they
are made acquainted with the master
minds of the world of letters. and they
seldom turn back from the chosen path
of good reading and the pleasant COM
partnership of books.
The travelling library does its. work
silently. steadily ana worthily. and no
state or community ever having tried the
system fails to acknowledge its great
power. Its work is. of course slow, but
it is distinetively helpful, as it opens the
doors to so many avenues otherwise
closed to the poor farmer lad, the hard
worked mill girl, the overtired school,
teacher. and gives rest and comfort to
50 many wornOut, mentally half-starved
farmers wives and daughters. while it
aids the farmer and mis- sons to till their
ground so much better, that by the state
authorities. as we'll as by those interested
in public education and those receiving
its direct benefits. it is looked upon with
great favor.
1t establishes free day and night
school wherever these boxes are put.
school which is always open and within
the reach of old and young; one that
never closes for evenings. holidays or
Sundays, and where something of inter-
est can always be found. 1t seems i'm
possible to devise any system of popular
education which will give so much enter
tainment and information so Well chosen
and SO easily obtained at so small n cost
as the travelling library.-New York Tri-
hunp