The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-28
THE TRAVELLING LIBRARY
FACTS ABOUT THE WORKINGS OF
II SYSTEM IN INDIANA.
Librarian Henry Says Persons Who
Live an Poor Land DO Most Read
ing-kind of Books Read.

People who live on poor land do more
reading than people who live or rich land"
said State Librarian William K. Henry.
This e~uphemistic utterance was made by
the state librarian recently i'm an inter-
esting talk to "A friend on the subject of
! travelling libraries. Professor Henry is in
"A position to know whereof he speaks, since
he had wide experience in Iecturing be-
fore teachers institutes prior TO his accept
ance OF the Office OF state librarian. MY
| experience with the people in the southern
part of the State" he said, has been
that they are greater readers than those
in the northern part. and / think it is for
the reason already indicated, that the soil
is, as a rule, poorer in that section than
il is up north. In those counties where
they have fewer fine horses, fewer fine bug
gies, fewer wealthy farmers, they have
more people who read good literature"
The travelling library system OF Indiana
is full of interest. yet not a great deal has
been published concerning its workings.
IL was established by the Legislature OF
1899. which made an allowance of $1,000 a
year for the expenses and $1,000 with which
to purchase books. the latter fund being
for the two years between the session OF
1899 and 1901. The late Legislature made
an appropriation of $1,000 a year for books.
The commission is now made up of Jacob
p. Dunn, Indianapolis; Joseph II. Voris.
| Bedford. and Mrs. Elizabeth Claypool Earl,
OF Connersville. Professor Henry is sec
| rotary of the commission, and the head
quarters is maintained in the suite in the
Statehouse occupied by the state library.
THREE THOUSAND BOOKS.
The commission now has a stock of near
ly three thousand books. The volumes COW
er practically all the ground that is COW
cred by a public library: felton,, history,
elementary science. poetry, ESSAYS. juvenile
| works of various KINDS and similar CLASH
fications. Each travelling library contains
about forty Volumes. and these are placed
in a strong packing case of wood, the in
side lined with heavy carton pasteboard,
fer transportation to any part of the State
where there is a demand for the books.
The way one o. these Libraries is secured
is by the formation in a neighborhood of
a library association or society, which
must be composed OF at least FIVE people.
The society elects one of its members to
act as librarian and also gives bond in
the sum of 500 for the proper care of the
library and it's return to the commission
when the limit of time for which II is taken
out Is reached.
A library association may, II it's mem.
| bers please. be selfish and retain the books
for it's own use. Secretary Henry, how
ever. encourages associations TO allow rep
| utable people to read the books. subject,
Of course, TO proper regulations and re-
strictions. Thus far, Professor Henry says,
this has been done.
1T does not cost much for any community
TO have one of these libraries. All the as
ISOLATION has TO do is 10 provide the money
with which TO transport the books from
tho GfatahorSp in IpdianQnnlic and hack
again. This amount runs from 50 cents to
| 50 %. differing with the distance OF d Ii
brary association from Indianapolis. NO
place has yet been found that had 10 pay
more than $2.25 for transportation charges
on the books.
DEMAND o LIBRARIES.
People do not read much at certain times
in the year. The demand for travelling
libraries is an excellent index of the States
| reading period. About the list of October
| requests for libraries begin TO come in pref
~ rapidly, and they continue 10 be received
| steadily up TO the LIST of May. when the IL
brary tide sets in to headquarters at In
dianapolis with a strong sweep. At this
time Room 50 on the second floor of the
Capitol holds a large number Of the wooden
cases filled with literature on a variety of
topics. There is, however. some demand
for the libraries. even at this time. show
Ills lAaN ~ W. ot1E "AC Aa2 A1AoAAA Y
spends IL outdoors or In some form Of rec
reation other than reading.
The people of Indiana appreciate the eff
forts that have been made TO provide them
with good reading at a nominal cost. since
the books that are returned to the library
commission are almost invariably in excel
lent condition. "Of course. some books are
not very well bound when We receive them
from the publishers said Mr.. Henry.
'and these, as A rule. last only three or
four trips out into the State. But We have
them repaired and rebound at a small cost.
| and they are then as good as new
The report OF the commission published
recently contains "A map showing the loca-
ton of every travelling library association
III the State. An examination OF this map
reveals some interesting facts. The great
est demand for the hooks originates in the
south central part of the State-that Is. IL
one were 10 start at a line running east
miles south he would find a greater number
OF Libraries than in any other part OF the
State. This would seem to indicate tina IN
dianapolis Is close 70 the center Of literary