The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-08-18
FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
Superintendent Martin Issues Circular TO
SuperintendentS and Teachers,

loving circular letter has been issued
from the Office of the State Superin
tendent of Education:
"To County Superintendents, Trus
tees and Teachers:
ALLOW me to call your attention
TO the urgent need of libraries in our
oomh.on schools. Many of our
schools have we'll arranged working
libraries but hundreds of them have
no provision whatever for tho thou.
sands of bright pupils who are hun
gerlng and thirsting for something
more than is furnished by tho daily
routine of text book work. And.
then, there are thousands of children
who spend much precious time in
wanton idleness which might be
proftably spent in reading the best
literature. In addition to it's dis
clplinary features, small library
will be used by Il judicious teacher
for the purpose of inspiring pupils
to wider outlook and a nokler life.
In fact, | have observed the work
lngs of some small libraries in coun-
try schools recently and have noticed
that such libraries work a wholesome
influence on the entire community,
They give subjects Of community IN.
terests and prevent gossip and disa-
greements
ut is scarcely necessary 10 argue
the benefits of school libraries. One
has only to 60 into school room
and hear pupils recite, or examine
some sets Of examination papers, to
find out by general intelligence and
excellence of expression the students
who have had access to good books
and who have been readers. ThoYa
is vast amount of ignorance of cur
rent knowledge and information.
Many homes are not provided with
newspapers, magazines or any litera-
ture which will teach living history
and widen the horizon of the life of
the bright boys and girls who ema-
nate from them.
"Every school ought to have its
dictionary and, if possible, it's ency-
clopedia-and yet how many have
neitherf After a library has been
begun in school, it is easy for it to
accumulate, and soon many other
valuable books of reference and paral-
lei reading will be collected which
enable teachers to train for research,
culture and scholarship. l have
known a teacher in a country school
to raise $40 or $12 with an enter
tainment, to start library and then
the trustees provided q nice book,
case with a lock and key. Gifts of
books we're made by various public
spirited people and that case also re-
ceived various papers and magazines.
The library grew to such proportions
that the community decided to build
new and more elegant house to
harmonize with the new book case
and new books. Other equipment
was purchased to match and, in ad-
dition to reforming the physical sur
roundings of that schoolhouse, that
library is working a very beneficent
reformation of whole school dis
trict. All this was brought about
by the effect of Jealous, useful
teacher.
"Some library equipment is necos-
sary in order that the teacher NAV
teach pupils how to read and what
to read The whole course of 9
pupils life maybe changed by Civ
ing him a love for reading and {
taste for good books. Newspapers
magazines and other periodicals ex
ert great educational Influence, anc
these might we'll find space III we'll
ordered book. case in q public school
Some are especially adapted and ,
teacher can use them with wonderful
results.
at is my desire that we got al
least small library started in all o
the schools in our state which have
no such provision. and | ask 70,
your CO cooperation in this very impor
tant and far reaching work. | have
asked Dr. JAS. p. Kinard, of Win