Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-10

There is a new scheme on foot for the
better education Of the people through
the agency of the library. This latest
one which is meeting with the approval
of those who have heard of it, is being
advanced by the New England Education
League of which w. Scott of Cambridge,
Mass, is the secretary.
In talking of the matter, Saturday, Ii
brarian Carver explained. that the plan
is similar to that Of the travelling Ii
brary, only that it is more feasible and
would be of use TO the general public in
a greater extent than the travelling IL
braries. The plan is to use the United
States mail as the distributor. and have
a central library. They wish the postage
on the books to be reduced TO one cent a
pound and thus a person who could pre-
scribe to the rules, could send postal
card to the library and have the book de-
livered TO him in any part of the Sta.e.
after which he could return it and all
upon the payment Of the small postage.
Perhaps the letter of explanation ana
the reasons why il would be beneficial
will make the matter clearer to the real
er.
In his letter to Librarian Carver, the
secretary of the association said in brief:
public libraries have generally been
started by towns and cities with some
help from the state. They are usually To-
cal. Many think the local idea will in
time be modified by a larger unit Of adj
ministration and support by creating
comprehensive library districts, by MAX
ing cities or central libraries serve a
branches and deliveries or similar meth
DDS. BY using the postoffice system OF
distribution and readjustment of library
administration somewhat, it seems each
postoffice might be like a branch library,
and to get a book from the public library
would be as easy as TO get letter from
the mail
Users of libraries who cannot readily
reach the central Libraries, will appre-
ciate the need of improving present con-
ditions of circulation of books. Many To-
calities can scarcely hope, to have Il
brary advantages unless by better distri-
button from large central libraries, More
than half the towns of Connecticut and
Vermont, for example. have no public or
free library. The same is the case in
many parts of our country
Some libraries founded by philan-
| thropists or associations are not local.
| but admit to use Of books, persons at a
distance In such cases the present mai
| rates are so large as to be prohlbltiVe
BY giving to public and Incorporated IL
braries the rates given to publishers, viz
one cent a pound. the circulation of sucf
libraries would be much facilitated.
| The reasons why the admission OF pub
| lie and incorporated libraries as secont
class mail matter, one cent per pound
are thus summed:
II is in harmony with the spirit of thu
postal laws TO diffuse good reading Il
promote the circulation of literary, scien
tific and other publications which tenC
to public enlightenment. The public Il
brary is a leading agency in this line
Both should work together.
The spread of library advantages is i
timately connected with popular educa
ion which the general, state and loca
governments have from the first pro
NOTED in a liberal manner and in man.
ways.
The people who maintain public libra
res mostly, are under state laws and b,
| direct taxation, are the Same WHO main
ain the postal system under nationa
laws. BY thus using the postal system
they simply become their own carrier
and grant themselves the same privilege
which they give the private publishers.
Matters now carried at second postas
or. in certain cases, carried free is nc
supposed to have a superior. If it has a
eoual. claim to such rating compare
with the public library which has so d
s rect a bearing on the public welfare q
TO Justify a tax for its support.
: Such provision will promote the circ,
lation of books everywhere, especially
I the regions where no libraries exist ;
we'll as at library centers. to great
degree than can otherwise be secured.
g will tend to the founding of more publ
r libraries and to develop syste
d which will reach every family and i
re dividual.
I'd IF for economic reasons it is nece
sarv. a short carriage might be grant