Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-03-06
STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION.


1he Organization Plan Has Been Carried
Into Effect.
At u special meeting of the State
Librarian Commission on February
Goth the organizer of the State travel
ing libraries reported that the scheme
of organization proposed to the commits
sion at the November stated meeting
had been carried into effect with but
one or two slight notifications. The
missing travelling library has been re-
covered, organized and will 60 into cir
culation Immediately. Travelling IL
braries had recently been sent to the
following points:
Cheswold (school), Miss " M. Coma
way, librarian; Magnolia (schocl), S.
Ii. Chambers, librarian; Ocean View
tassociation), Mrs. CIV. Tunnel, lib
rarian; Selbyville (associationl, L.
Monroe Baker, librarian; Severson 5
Neck lassociation), Mrs. Clara A. Ford,
librarian; Viola, (asSociationl, Miss
NJ. I'll. Dill, librarian. The organizer
reported that she had addressed audi
ences upon library topics at the fol-
Century Club, Wilmington Delaware
kindergarten and Froebtl Clubs, Will
mington; Dover Century Club, Dover;
Methodist Sunday school, Camden !;
New Century Club and others, George
town. New Century Club and others,
Milford: Round Table Club, Wyom-
ing; Teachers Institute, Harrington !;
teachers and others, Harrington Town
Meeting, Delaware City Town Meet
Ing, Lewes; Twentieth Century Club
and others, Smyrna; Tuesday Night
Club and others, Bridgeville.
1t was reported that the precise effect
of these addresses had Heen difficult
to estimate. In some instances much
enthusiasm had been evinced and work
in favor Of u free public library had
been Immediately begun, and in others,
while the ideas suggested were re-
ccived with favor. no results ensued,
while in yet others, where there was
apparent apathy, or open expressions
of dislpprobation had been uttered,
work for II free public library had
begun and seemed to make Roadway
upon the whole
1t was reported that the handbook
authorized by the commission has
been written and is now in the hands
of the printer. This handbook will be
given tfreel to any library in the State,
and if it is free public library will
be accompanied by the gift OF Miss NJ.
W. Plummer's very admirable little
book on library organization, Hints
to Small Libraries. y The commission
will also give to Delaware libraries q
copy of Suggested list of books
suitable for purchased for small
libraries. comprising much valuable
| advice and information as to buying,
selecting and ordering books, and
issued by the Wisconsin, Idaho, Iowa,
M hnl. I l,
| missions in conjunction The or
ganizer willingly assented to propo-
Sition that she should visit any COM
munity desiring advice either as to
the organization or reorganization of
libraries throughout the State, these
visits and this advice to be given with
out expense to the communities desir-
ing them.
The organizer reported that George
+. BoWerman, librarian of the Will
mington Institute Free Library, had
just given an entire travelling library
Of Sd volumes, which are we'll suited to
give pleasure to any age or class. They
range from picture books for the de
light of very little children to fine
| editions of "Carlyle's French Revolu-
tion, and include works by Thackery,
kipling, Stevenson, DeEoe and other
| standard and we'll known authors. 1t
is desired that Mr.. Bowerman's very
generous gift will awaken an inclina-
ton to 60 and do likewise on the part
| of those citizens whose longer term of
residence in the State must have
revealed to them the intellectual de-
| serts that exist in our small country
communities. 1t is hopeless to suppose
that those deserts can ever be made
fruitful unless the more fortunate Of
our people are willing to give from
their abundance the means of sprink-
ling them with water from the Pierian
spring, and Mr.. Bowerman gift
points the way to do this much needed
work.
1t was further reported that Mrs.
Robert Il. Holiday had given the COM
mission Hancock s "Tower of Wye"
for u travelling library, thinking that
its local color would give the book an
Queen Anne Co., Maryland into the
Ghesapeake) and Ii. p. Scott has
given SINNERS delightful Myths and
legends of our own land, y in two
volumes, and Kipling's From Sea to
Sea- in two volumes c. G. Massey
has given number of children IS books
and few novels and other books,
which will be of much assistance in
helping to equip new travelling libra
ries. Such gifts probably accomplish
an amount of good and give more
pleasure than could be produced in
any other way by many times the
amount of expenditure, and the donors
may feel richly rewarded for their
thoughtfulness and generosity by the
pleasure and incentive they help to
mt into mnnY harn and arid lives