The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-07-28
TRAVELLING LIBRARIES.
Arrangements Almost Com
pleted For Putting the
Law Into Operation.

Especial to 1.-THE Jersey City News.rJ
TRENTON, July Is, 1Ss9.-The State
Library Commission is making progress
with its plans for the establishment Of
travelling libraries in the State, for which
the Legislature at the last session APP
propriated $3.50. It is expected that
within a few weeks some definite steps
will be taken toward the establishment
of the libraries.
The movement to ~inaugurate travelling
libraries was started by the State FEEDER
alton of Women's Clubs, which began
an agitation more than a year ago. The
members of this organization are ex-
ceedingly proud of their pet scheme and
they are to be accorded the privilege of
offering suggestions to the special COM
mlttee to which the matter has been
referred, consisting of State Librarian
Henry G. Buchanan, Comptroller Han
cock and Secretary of State Wurts. The
committee has not been entirely Idle
turing the summer months, although
the project does not seem to be making
the progress expected by its promoters.
The conmitteemen are individually
gathering Information as to the character
Of the books to be purchased and the
methods of distribution.
1t is very evident that the general
public is not acquainted with the travel
ing library scheme, and diversity Of IDEAS
prevails as to it's objects. Some of the
Legislators, it is said, voted for the appro-
priation because they believed an addi-
tional political office would be created.
At least a score of men have applied for
the work of shipping and packing the
books. There We're even lawyers in the
State who were under the impression
hat the State Library was to be made
| portable and that reference books could
be borrowed by the wholesale. But this
impression has been corrected by the en-
forcement of a series of rules and regula-
| tions which prohibit the removal of any
books from the State Library except for
the use of the courts that are held In
the State House and the lawmakers when
this Legislature is in session.
The plans so far outlined provide that
| each box purchased to make up the trav-
| cling libraries is to contain fifty we'll Sc
| iected books. The boxes are to go into
| the smaller communities where no cir
| c~ulating libraries exist. The committees
| to which these books are sent must have
some sort 81 organization, say trustees,
| who will take an interest in the library.
| provide distributing points and guaran-
! tee the return of the books in good con-
dition.
The State Library Commission talks Of
| taxing the communities to be benefited y
a year. which money will be used in
keeping the books and boxes in good or
der. The selection of the books is now
going on. Lists are being examined and
available books checked off. The cor
| struction of the boxes is also receiving
| consideration.
When the scheme IS once ii operation
it is proposed to leave each library in a
community for a period of about six
months. The books will be divided
into history, fiction. science and poetry.
| Suggestions will BIZ considered as to the
| character of the book desired in the
localities interested. II some of the
Industrial villages and hamlets books OF
d scientific order viii be required instead
of fiction. The first year will be alto
eether experimental. The needs OF the
various localities will he aseertalaed ana
the assortnents arranged aceoraiHsfV.
Additional appropriations will be mace
yearly for the purchase Of new BOOKS as
+ II CIV ora needed