The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-15
TRAVELLING LIBRARIES.
Their acknowledgement in New York and Wisconsin
Object With Possibilities When Adopted in
California.
California.

at is, after all, not the few great libra
ries, but the thousand small ones that
may do most for the people"
The Sth day of February, 1893, is a
red letter day in the annals of the
library world. On this date the first
travelling library was sent out by the
Regents of the University of New York,
to begin in that State form Of pOpu
lar instruction which has achieved in
slant success. Rich in the possession
of nearly 600 libraries in general use,
varying in size from 1000 to 400 600 vol
umeS, New York is also fortunate in
having some of the abIest librarians in
the Union, and an enlightened public
sentiment respecting the educational
value of Libraries. Annual legislative
appropriations of $4,000 enable the Uni
versity Regents not only to aid weak
local libraries, but, besides, to create
large duplicate department in the State
library. From this department the
travelling libraries were dispatched
They consist of so to 100 volumes, being
in fact, miniature Libraries, put up in
bookcases, and are sent for terms of
three or four months on their work Of
education. The use of the books is free,
under simple rules, including a guar
antee for the safety of the library, but
the receivers pay freight charges both
ways.
Our space does not allow quoting of
details of the establishment of the sys-
tenn, but it may be observed that strug-
Cling libraries have been encouraged,
many new ones started, schools bene-
flied beyond measure, grange meetings
made more effective, extension centers
quickened to stronger life, and, resi-
dence at summer hotels made more en-
joyable by the visits of these libraries.
During the last year particular atten-
ton has been paid to the needs of study
clubs, and it is now possible for a~club
in any part Of New York to obtain from
the Regents entire libraries upon spe-
cial subjects under study by the club.
Among these are economics, agricul-
ture, literature, history and other de-
partments. Every possible attention is
paid to all genuine wants, and the 6S7
travelling libraries now in success
full use indicate the esteem in which
they are universally held. These are
some Of the results of six years of
thoughtful, energetic action in the EN-
pire State, under the direction of Melvil
Dewey.
Turning to Wisconsin, we see a field
in which some of the finest library ex-
tension work has been accomplished
under totally different conditions from
those just noted Comparatively a new
State, with extensive areas of forest
and of land deforested in certain sec
tons, sparsely populated in whole re-
gions with settlers from Germany, Swe-
den and Poland, and, with slight gener-
al knowledge of library benefits, it was
impossible to launch the travelling
library. system with State aid in 1896
Fortunately, Senator j. H. Stout, rec
ognizing the urgent need, generously
placed funds at the disposal of the new
library commission for the starting of
twenty-five libraries in the county Of
Dunn. This number he has increased
to thirty-seven. Emulating this liberal
example, a banker, Mr.. ]. D. Witter
provided the means for twenty-five IL
braries for Wood County. The work
was to be confined to these two coun-
ties leach of the area of Alameda COun-
ty), to be under close local supervision
and designed for farming communities
but free to all. The books chosen were
popular ones of interesting travel and
biography, the best of modern and
standard fiction while science, history
and childrens books were not over
looked. Additions to the books sent were
soon made of old magazines. picture
papers and children's periodicals, all of
which were to be retained in the neigh
borhood. Local associations We're re
quired to be formed, but no expenses
beyond freight charges were to be met
In Dunn County, of the thirty-four
stations established for the care of the
libraries, twenty-five were in farm
houses. nine in postoffices, two in stores
and one in a railroad depot, thus bring
ing the supplies of books into closest
touch to the people.
The benefits conferred by these librar-
les can hardly be computed; in Dunn
County they reach in their range prac-
tically all of the $4,000 population living
beyond the limits of the city of Memo
monte. Joyous recreation, instruction,
from grinding toll, sweetness and light
entering darkened lives, and a quicken
ing Of mental power have been its fruits
to adults; while to thousands of chill
dren it has been a veritable entrance
into a new world of picture and story
and the beginning of higher ideals of
life.
Awakened public sentiment secured
annual appropriations from the Legis-
lature of $4,000 providing for the main
tenance of two efficient field secretar-
les. Still another result, though not
unexpected, is seen in the founding of
eighteen local libraries within the past
year. Other private donors, clubs and
declarations have taken up this pioneer
work in various portions of the State,
and to-day there are over $50 travelling
libraries circulating in as many as a
score of counties.
OF the travelling library work in other
States it may be mentioned that Mich
igan, Iowa and Ohio have successfully
adopted it by stated appropriations, and
in twenty additional States reports are
given that individuals, clubs and espe-
cially declarations are constantly in
creasing the number and range of these
libraries.
Particularly does the cause of educa-
ton appeal to women's clubs, and the
organized power of the best women of
the land is now effectively exerted for
the spread of good literature among the
masses of the people. So rapid has baan
the growth of this movement that it
is estimated that in these twenty-five
States there are now over 1000 travelling
Libraries in circulation with about 100,-