St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-10-25
TRAVELLING LIBRARIES.
A Paper Read at the LyndonviIlc meet
mans Clubs, by Mrs. Walter II. smith.

mans Clubs, by Mrs. Walter II. smith,
You have all been made aware by the
report you have just heard, and by the
letters which during the summer were
written each club, OF the great desire on
the part of your committee that an effort
should be made to interest the state of
Vermont in the subject of travelling libra.
ries. | say the State of Vermont advised
ly; for that is exactly the object we have
in view-our ultimate end and aim.
We wish to interest the delegates and
other friends present here, who shall in
turn interest their clubs, who shall inter.
est their own communities and the press
of their own vicinites, who shall finally
interest and move upon the legislature
of Vermont at it's session in 1900 to
make an appropriation for the purchase
of travelling libraries. 1t is a large work
which we have on our hands, and the
time is short, so it behooves us to pre-
pare ourselves for immediate action if we
hope to accomplish this result.
said we first wish to interest you who
are present. You doubtless are now in
terested and must be acquainted with
the history of the travelling library move
ment. But allow me to relate again
some Of the facts in your hearing, with
the hope that their repetition may in
crease your interest and strengthen your
faith i'll the movement.
First, let me speak of the New York
system which seems to me the best where
it is practicable. New York was the
pioneer in the movement, which is still
young. In 1892, through the efforts OF
Mr.. Melvil Dewey, director of the New
York State library, the state of New
York made an appropriation for the pur-
chase of books to be loaned to institu-
lions and groups Of taxpayers on pay
ment Of nominal fee. His plan includes
a system of central control and super.
vision of small collections of popular
books to be sent from point to point
kept in charge of responsible persons
and circulated freely among the residents
of each locality. In the first year 4e
libraries were sent out. The demand Tor
them so increased that in the fifth year
the number had grown from 46 to AT.
These libraries are carefully chosen by
1.ra n,,1 do n
the choicest and freshest publications.
large number of the books sent must
necessarily be works of fiction if the IN
terest Of the average borrower be sus
tanned. Care is taken to provide only
the very best and most wholesome stories
and to adapt them to the age and re
quirements OF those to whom they art
sent. In this respect the influence of thu
travelling libraries is certainly uplifting
and invigorating, if not distinctly educa
tional. growing interest in biography
history, economies, science and art ha:
been noted and fostered by the manage
ment, and many books in these depart
ments are continually being purchased
and sent out. Some entire libraries arr
made up of these subjects, to the exclu
sion of fiction altogether, and special col
lections sent to study clubs Throughout
the state are doing real educationa
work. The travelling libraries may b.
sent to local libraries desiring to supple
ment their limited collections, to schools
to university extension circles, or read
ing clubs, as we'll as to small hamlets o
rural communities. In places wher
there is no public library to be respons
BILE for the books, in order TOT get trave
ing library it is necessary for 25 taxpay
ers to make application for the library
to make proper guarantee against los
or damage, and to pay fee of hive do
lars. The cost of transportation is born
by the state. There is abundant test
mony OF the success OF the system whic
is regarded as an important adjunct
the states system OF instruction.
Perhaps some might say that Ne'
York with it's Hamiltonian system {
education centering in the regents of tn
university of the state could manae
such a plan better than some othe
states having different system. bu
we have the state of Michigan, tf
best example of the Jeffersonian system
equally successfully withaits travelling
braries. Michigan adopted the Ne,
York plan with various notifications 1
1895 and is now circulating 100 librarIe
of so volumes each. The state librarla
declares that in no other state Institute
has the same amount of good been dor
with so small an expenditure.
Iowa in 1896 inaugurated a s'mllt
system with an appropriation OF 81. OC
which has sufficed to purchase and circ
late so libraries, while at the presei
time applications are on file tor 20C.
Iowa, in two years 40 permanent libr
ries were organized as the direct result
visits from travelling libraries. This Ne
York system has been adopted IN Oh
also, and one or two other states. SIN
writing the above see that New Jerst
has begun the good work with the pu
chase OF 20 librares) Why should it NJ
be further extended? 1.-THE state trail
people to read and then leaves the quali'
of their reading to chance. 1t gives the
an expensive schooling, for few year
and then when few cents per capt.
will enable them to carry on the educ
ton for years, it neglects them Inc
are only a few states, however, whi'
have been generous and far sight
enough to inaugurate this education
movement but there are many more
which the same work has been do
through private bene6cence.
The story of the work in Wisconsin
most interesting. Hon. J. ii. Stout.
citizen of one OF the Western countit
seeing the remote country districts IN I
part of the state were destitute OF book