Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-01-08

bylaws to Start n Library Upon
Right Oasis.
The village library is growing NOR
and more an indispensable adjunct Il
American village life, writes q. l. Ste
venson In the New York Times. II
comes into existence and thriyes natu
rally. almost spontaneously, in thu
large towns or even In the smaller
towns. Intelligence and public senti
ment appreciate Its work. In the case
however. Of the smallest communities
scattered about our country, where its
beneficial functions ought 10 be exer
cised on a smaller radius, llbrary'l
outsetting and conducting are more DIFF
ncult matters. To start 1t upon u right
basis and to see that It conducts lts
work efficiently the constitution for
such an undertaking must be simple,
but effective. II this be well framed,
It 10 valuable IN taking the place OF
less formal responsibility among lndi-
yiduals.
Even n small library must be on q
practical working basis. Its written con.
stitution must not merely contain rules
for Its work and the duties OF those con.
cerned In this work, but hints that are
practical and judicial beyond any such
letter Of the law.
The writer begs to submit the fol.
lowing constitution. which may be use.
full to those who would like TO set
about some such village work even on
very modest footing to begin with,
but who are not quite sure of what
definite regulations and admonItlons
ought to be included In Its outset:
CONSTITUTION OF THE TOWN
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Article l. This association shall be In
corporated and known as "rhe town
Free Public Library"
Art. III. Its object shall be the diffusion
OF useful and otherwise beneficial litera-
ture within the community OF town. In
tho state OF -.
Art III. All residents OF the place
named OF proper age, either temporarily
or permanently. shall be entitled to the
privileges OF the library provided such
temporary residence be not less than for
two weeks. but to the reading room OF
the library all such residents and visitors
for even a shorter time than two weeks
shall be welcome.
Art Nv. In the character OF the books
and periodicals which the library means
to put at the service OF this community
q preference shall be given to other works
than those OF fiction. at least for tho
present. very limited amount OF fiction
shall be admissible To tho library as II
grows. and the special functions OF this
library shall be educational, particularly
In the connections OF history. biography,
travel. popular science. higher bellies let
tres and art.
Art. v. Tho practical control OF this H.
brary shall DO vested In the hands OF a
committee OF fve persons, TO be known as
the committee OF tho town Free Pub
lie library" who shall take cognlzance OF
all Its AFFAIRS. This committee can include
at least two nonresident members. The
committee shall be selected by vote OF
the residents annually. The chairman OF
the committee shall DO chosen by vote
OF the committee.
Art. vi. The selection OF tho books and
periodicals and their purchase shall bo
made by committee OF three members
chosen from the above library commit
tee and known M the book commit
tee. In their hands shall rest the re-
sponsibiiity OF adding all the literary
matter for the library either purchased
or acquired by gift or otherwise
Art VII. The library shall occupy the
most convenient and suitable quarters
possible TO II all the year round.
Bee. 4 Its daily custody ana practical
functions shall be committed TO a libra
rian chosen by the full library commit
tee by a majority out OF nys votes This
librarian shall bo entitled to such as
sistants as from time TO time may be
found expedient, such assistants 10 bo
elected by vote OF the full library COM
mittee
BYLAWS.
I. The librarian shall receive such com.
pensation In the way OF an annual SALARY
as the committee shall sanction by vote.
e. The librarian shall be on duty on
such days OF the week as the library com
mitteo shall select. from 10 o'clock In
the morning until o'clock In the even
ing or for such other hours as the commit
tee shall set, and II, In time, the library
can benencially bo kept open for the
greater part OF the day and evening tho
librarian must give all his or her time TO
tho work OF tho library.
The librarian shall keep a register OF
all fines due the library.
l. The librarian shall be personally re-
sponsibls for one-hnlf OF tho aggregate
amount OF all fines OF the library at
the end OF each six months not collected
except by special excuse by the library
committee.
g. The librarian shall make a written ro-
port each six months to the library com
mitteo In which shall be set forth the
number OF books not In loan. the number
OF books In loan. the number OF fines due,
their aggregate amount and any other
practical matters concerning the library.
g. Books can be loaned TO amy residents
OF this place OF suitable years. including
those persons residing here for not less
than two weeks and to those permanently
residing near the towns limits. but not
sotually In them. having no other library
privileges
!. Only one book can bo loaned 20 one
person per week. In the onae OF works In
several volumes only one volume Ia the
set can be loaned at n time TO one por-
son
& Patrons leaving tho town on longer
absences than week must not take
away books loaned to them.
A fine Of 10 cents shall be imposed on
the detention OF any book for one day
beyond the due date OF It's return and ot
cents for each day after the nrst days
nonreturn no fined at 10 centa
10 The librarian shall be financially re-
sponsible for books or periodicals lost
through his or her fault
II. The library committee OF the whole
shall hold a meeting every six months TO
adjust any business unless there be alb
solutely none but that for which the book
committee only need come together.
n This constitution and those bylaws
can be altered or added TO only by ma
Jority OF votes in the full library com
mittee. taken at a special meeting called
for the purpose OF considering and acting
on the matter.
Such is the working model OF the VII.
iage librnry's organization. With apol.
ogies for any shortcomings In II the
framer OF II offers II for use, with all
needful improvements that others may
make In II. I'VE air reading people.
sir" proudly declares one OF Mr.. Dick
ems Americans IN Martin ChuzElc
wit" We are such indeed, and more
such ench year and generation. II is
TO be hoped that even our small towns.
with very small public libraries. may
help on the process,
DIR, GUNNS' BLOOD AND