The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-03-03
Necessity of the School Library.

uho WuiCu uhuol Dc uuu CuhhOe 10
otherwise" The necessity for a thing
exists when we cannot successfully ac-
complish given purpose, without the
aid of the thing desired; for instance,
The necessity of funds to support pub
lie credit, no man questions" "The
necessity of economy in domestic con-
Germs, is admitted" and we may add,
the necessity of the school library is APP
parent to all who are interested in Civ
ing to our schools the best that can be
given, in order that they may meet the
demands of this progressive age; and
yet there are these who do not seem to
see that the school library is neces-
sity. AS evidence of this let's look for
a moment at the conditions as we actu-
ally find them.
There are in Shiawassee county 1877
districts, of which 11S are district or
rural schools. There are about 80 dis
trict libraries in the county; every vii
lage school, except one, has library
of literary reading and school refer
ences Of from 100 to 800 volumes; the
city schools have large libraries
Venice is the banner township in dis
trict libraries; as six of her eight schools
are provided, and nearly every one of
these libraries came through the action
of the school board and patrons, thus
showing what may be accomplished by
united effort. We commend to the
other townships of the county, the
action of these wise and progressive
school boards. However, the great
majority of the district libraries in the
county came through the action of the
teachers, in holding socials, entertain
ments, etc.. and in one or two instances,
patrons have opposed putting in the
library, even after the teacher had
raised the money.
We are confronted with the fact then,
that about IS per cent of the district
schools in our county have as yet NO
libraries, and people do not see or rea-
lie the necessity of them. We believe,
however. that in every one of these
nearly 80 districts, there are some at
least who are interested; and our hope
is, we may through them, and by the
efforts of our teachers, see our district
schools better provided for.
AS early as 1927 the governor of New
York recommended the establishment
of school district libraries, and in 1886
a law was passed by the legislature of
that state, which permitted school dis
tricts to raise money by tax for the sup.
port of libraries.
In1838 further provision was made
by authorizing an annual appropriation
of S55, 900 from the general school fund,
on condition that districts would raise
an equal sum. Thus early in the his
tory Of education in this country was
the school library recognized as neces-
sity, and provisions made for its intro
duction. The educational system of
Michigan has the reputation of being
one of the best in the Union; and so,
early in her history, provided similar
law to that of New York.
"Public Libraries" says the U. S.
Commissioner of Education, in his re-
port some years ago. "are now uni
regarded by school officers and
friends of education as an indispensa-
BILE compliment to our system of free
schools"
Our cities and villages have largely
kept pace with this expressed thought
and have provided for their respective
but not so with our rural
districts.
The value of school library will de-
pend upon the character of books, of
which it is composed, and the uses to
which it is applied. A large and expen-
sive collection of books is not needed,
but the books should be instructive and
interesting to children so that through
their perusal they may not only obtain
useful information, but imbibe taste
for reading. BY this means an anti
dote may, in part at least, be applied to
the influences of the trashy, exciting,
sensational literature, which so greatly
abounds at the present time, and which
is so apt to corrupt both the minds and
morals of the young.
A library is necessary to supplement
the instruction given in the class room.
If, for instance, care be taken and OPP
portunities sought during the lessons in
geography, history, or in any other of
the studies, to introduce some little
book from the library and to read few
interesting paragraphs illustrating the
lesson. A brief notice and commenda-
ton of the book at the close of the ex-
ercise, with a few hints as to how best
to read it, will utilize many valuable
work that might otherwise remain un-
touched upon the shelves. A teacher
has failed in one of the most important
of all his duties, If, being in possession