Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-26
STATE HOUSE.
Librarian Carver Gives Advice
on Establishing Free Libraries.
Wise Proverbs Prepared by Superin-
tendent Stetson.
General Farnham Busy Arranging for
Coming Encampment.

Hon. l.. d. Carver, State librarian.
gives the following advice as to the
best method to pursue in order to es-
tablish a free library in any Maine
town:
Your letter is at hand in which you
ask for advice as to the best method
to pursue in orGer to establish a free
library in your town. AS the condi
ticns in all places are not the same
caa only venture to give you a general
outline Of procedure.
You should first organize 4 library
| association under chapter 30 of the Re
vised Statutes. Blanks for that pur-
pose can be obtained at the State Ii
brary. At your first meeting a board
of three or five directors should b.
chosen; one Of whom should be pres!-
dent Of the association. You will al1o
choose some capable person as secre-
| fary and treasurer.
| Your association Will then be il z
| position to act. Usually the opening
oc Il reading room for the young people,
one or more evenings in the week is adj
visable. You can then contribute
money for the purchase OF books,
|
gifts from all your citizens and ask by
| circular letter contributions from for
mcr residents and natives Of your town.
residing in Maine and other states Of
the Union.
after you have collected enough
| books to justify this action, You can
open a loaning department., charging Il
small fee. You can also procure from
| the State the loan of a travelling Ii
| brary composed of now books. These
| books will add much to the interest,
and aid you in securing additional
members for your association. ana
| larger contributions. When your as
| +Ociaton has become we'll established,
ana the sentiment Of the town is
favorable YOU should make a free gift
If all your books and other library
property to the town. on condition tina t
T. he inhabitants thereof shall maintain
free library and that your associa-
ton shall have the selection of Il ma
jority of the trustees of the library. In
| this manner. when the library is turned
over to the town, your association still
continues to exist. thus securing to the
| library a legally organized body of men
and women Interested in its welfare
and vigorous maintenance who will
stand ready to give aid when the town
neglacts its duty in this direction.
There are many other suggestions
that could be made respecting minor
matters that will naturally suggest
| themselves to your mind as you enter
upon this work. The Importance of
uniting all the different literary So
| cieties i'll your town in support of the
| library movement should be among
your first thoughts.
The school, the church and the wO-
mems clubs can be made strong and
| efficient allies in carrying on your I'M
selfish work. The State library can
contribute much, and when your town
is ready to take the library and make
it free. the State will give books to the
value of one hundred dollars and cash
to the amount of ten per cent of the
sum the town may raise and APP
propriate for the support of the Ii
braTy.
| Whenever or wherever a library as
sCciation is formed and established it
is of great importance that immediate
notice be given to the State librarian.
| As secretary of the Maine Library
| Commission he is ready both to furn-
ish printed matter respecting approved
methods of library organization, and
to visit such places giving timely aid
which will be of most value in the
earlier ana more difficult period of the
library's development"