West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-08-23


centers. A map prepared by the
Massachusetts library commission,
the oldest of the state commissions
and the mother of succession of
most active ones, shows that of the
557 towns in the state only seven
are without free public library.
A collection of more than 400
carefully selected volumes makes up
the fourth division of the exhibit.
1t is confined very largely to works
on photography and library science,
economy and history, and along
these lines it represents the best
work and thought and most ad-
vanced ideas Of American libra.
rians. 1t is rich and valuable in
its specially bound collections of
printed matter issued by the Ameri-
can Library Association, state and
local library clubs, and library
schools; in its statistical collections
in manuscript, in the collection of
portraits of officers and members of
the national association; in its
books and pamphlets dealing with
the newest problems and latest de-
velopme is of library work, that is,
with home education, home libra
ries, travelling libraries, state libra
ny commissions, library legislation,
state aid to libraries, intimate re
lations with The public schools and
children'S departments in public
Libraries; its examples of great Ii
brary catalogues and the ingenious
American periodical indexes, the
latest Of which the eHmNlaIige inaer,
keeps this great mass of literature
continuously indexed down to the
month preceding that of publication.
In word the library is simply in
valuable to the student of American
library history, methods and pro-
gress.
The limited space allows little
room for library appliances. There
are several volumes of blanks show
ing forms used by the Chicago,
Boston and St. Louis public libra
ries, the New York state library,
etc examples of various methods
of classification, cataloguing, charg-
ing Of books, etc. an interesting
collection OF printed cards illustrat-
ing one of the most useful methods
OF library cooperation and an at
tractive collection of picture
bulletins, a new device for attracting
attention and enticing people to
read.
One Of The latest features Of
American library work and the one
which is perhaps making the great
est progress to day, that Of the
travelling library, inaugurated by
Mevil Dewey, at tn. New York
State library in 1899, is shown by
the travel.stained case and well-worn
books Of the Stout travelling
library, No. 60, " sent by the Wis
consin Library Commission, and
which has been in actual use in the
hamlets and remote farming dis.
tricts Of the State. Another branch
Of this same work Of sending books
90 the people is shown by the
/ Carnegie Home Library, which has
done for the poor districts Of Pitts
burg what the Stout Library has
done for the small villages Of Wis
consin. The question Of how to
get the people 10 read good books,
or in other words, get books to the
people, is one Of the most vital and
interesting problems with which
[ American Guardianship IS now deal
ing. The American Library Associa
ton exhibit not only concerns itself
with the history Of the past but It is
a careful well thought out and ar.
ranged study Of the modern library
movement in America, a movement
which keeps America ahead 10 day
/ in library methods and administra
ton, as it has stood at the head
from the first, since BENJAMIN
/ Franklin founded in Philadelphia,
IN I74s, the first public library.