The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-02
TRAVELLING LIBRARIES ON RAIL WAY LINES.
Value California Incidents Of Travel = Books for Railway Men,
Various Railroad Travelling Library Systems
SECOND PAPER.

F., library system nearly 100000 volumes
have been circulated through its opera
| tons.
Perhaps the most unique in plan ana
| complete in its appointments TOT tne
physical and intellectual welfare OF ran
way men is to be found in New 1oI IN
| city; a building admirably adapted 70
its purposes having been erected by
Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1881 1oT ~. ne
New York Central employees, ana the
work being conducted as a prahen !
| M. c. A. The writer recalls WITH IL. 49, 81
est interest visit when $500
views of reading-room and hpraiy,
classroom, a hall for lectures, plunse
and tub baths, gymnasium ana even
dormitories for men arriving Oh pIic
trains OF the library of l0,ooV Voiulilee
| technical works comprise apoal 70 co oil
| tenth. The books are distributed 70 an
stations on the New York Centrai llI s
from which acquisitions are maue ioi
| reading matter. o.
OF more than passing importance 10
| California is the travelling nprary sys
| tenn of the Wells-Fargo Library ASso.
| citation, composed of the employees OF
| the Well-known express company. ne
| library was Established in san ran
| cisco during 1880, first for the use VI
| local employees. In 1898 It's auVanease
were opened to the agents tnrousnou'
| the coast States, and in 1884 the EN-,
| ployes of the Southern Pacing RallIodu
were admitted to all its privileges, saw
| to a voice in its management Oa. .1-
| logues or supplements are dhlluany
! furnished to members and boxes Whlch
! hold two books and a magazine are
| sent to any point without cost Tor car
| ryiug in either direction. 1ney are
sent as far north as Portland, SUI llliea,
to ogden on the east, SoO mics, anu
| south to Socorro, New Mexico, ABOUT
! 1900 miles Employees on every steam
railroad within these limits are engine
| to membership in the ASSOCIATION, pro
! viding Wells, Fargo d co. nave oIices
| on the lines, thus allowing Tree trans
| nortation. There is no initiation fee.
| rbe membership dues are 25 cents per
| month and are wholly devoted to the
| purchase of books, so that every new
membership provides Tor proportion
ate increase of the library, now amount
| ing to nearly 1000 volumes. The current
| expenses of the organization are borne
! by the express company, which also
| makes substantial donations for thc
| shelves from time to time. Membership
| In this association may be continual.
| "Once a member, always a member" Gf
| the dues are kept up) is one Of their
| notices; neither removal nor change of
| business relations affects the standing
of any one after enrolment. Hence it
is not surprising that $50 members are
| taking just pride in their organization,
and that the joint circulation of books
OO0 Whether located in the desolate
surroundings of the Mojave Desert,
among the mining camps Of the Sierras,
or in the busy cities of the valleys. each
member of the association knows that, |
at nominal cost, he may learn the les
sons of the past and keep in touch with
the live thought of the present through |
the facilities thus literally afforded
him.
Is the question asked: Does this |
really payY' Yes, that is the gauge of i
this practical period in fact is the final |
test of every new plan. Does it pay to |
assist employees occupying responsible |
positions, those who had and those who |
had not early advantages, to strengthen
memory, develop judgment, cultivate
Imagination, quicken conscience, incul- |
cate lessons of justice, honesty, honor |
and morality, and lift the whole nature
into sympathetic relations with all that |
is best and most ennObling?
There seems to be but one answer to
the query, for, in the new building of
the company, spacious and beautiful
rooms are soon to be opened TO the
growing wants of the association. The
establishment of four other libraries
within the last two years, conducted on
the same plan as the San Francisco one,
| at Mexico City, Kansas City, Chicago
and Jersey City, confirms opinion of the
entire satisfaction of the company and
its wish to widely extend such benefits.
Another organization, the Library
Association of California, State bodyNl
formed to promote the welfare of all
| libraries has for a long time known of
and taken a deep interest in the out
growth of this practical work. Crafty
ing reports are also coming in to this
State society. of library extension work
at different points in California, which
will result in the founding of new
libraries and the further development
Of existing ones. Inquiries will be well
coined concerning any features of
library progress and may be addressed
to F. j. Teggert. librarian of the Me-
chanics' Institute, and the newly elect |
ed president of this association.
We have seen by this last mentioned
sketch that the travelling library sys-
tenn lives in California;; that for six
years past it has been carrying on its
work of improvement efficiently, with
out noise or display; that it is gaining
favor with express and railway men as
its value becomes more widely known
and that it's prospects for growth were
never brighter than to-day. Here is a
system in our midst that is no longer
an experiment; it is an object lesson
that may be studied by any one. Is
the question raised: When shall the
rural parts of California receive the
visits of travelling libraries?" That de-
ponds upon the liberal spirit of the men
and women of wealth toward this great
educational measure for it is imprac
tfcable for the State to take it up as a
general enterprise at present. Through
the benefactions of individuals and
clubs the travelling library is now doing
it's work In score of Eastern States:
that California will soon respond RI
these examples is a moral certainty
Amidst the costly adornings of the
new Library of Congress the stranger
who visits the reading-room cannot fail
to notice on its walls those glowing and
overture words of Lowell:
AS one lamp lights another, nor grows
less, sAo"S
So nobleness enkindleth nobIeness
GOLDEN GATE.