Amador ledger., 1903-10-23
TRAVELLING LIBRARIES.

The following article from the
Stockton Mail explains how small
communities can secure the benefits
of the state library at trifling cost.
Certainly several towns in Amador
county should take advantage of this
liberal law. A room for a library
can be secured in a central location
free of rent for one year, in order to
get such a desirable movement
started. The total expense need be
but few dollars for librarian and
for lights. The experiment is worthy
of a trial:
The Mail has received from State Lii
brarian James L. Gillis of Sacramento
circular outlining the conditions on
which travelling libraries are sent out
from the state library. For some time
complaint was made that the money ex-
pended for the maintenance of the state
library benefited only few people out
side OF Sacramento. Accordingly it was
decided to put the books into general
circulation, and plan has been de-
vised that should be of great benefit to
rural communities and small towns.
Each travelling library is made up of
fifty volumes, including works of fic-
ton, science, travel, history, religion,
etc. 1t is sent out in a case accom-
panied by loan cards, and other details
necessary for the care of books. Full
Instructions for the management of the
library also accompany the outfit.
The library can be placed in school
houses, churches, stores, or private
houses. The care and circulation of the
books are left entirely to the local Off
GERS appointed for that purpose.
On satisfactory guarantee that all
rules will be complied with, travelling
libraries may be loaned to any COM
munity without public library, on ap-
plication of five resident taxpayers.
The responsibility and identity of
these taxpayers must be certified to by
a superior judge. They must form
themselves into library association,
and appoint a secretary, who is to rep
resent them in all their dealings with
the state library.
The fee of So for each library is paya-
bic in advance, and should be sent with
| the taxpayers application. This entities
the association to suitable cases, find
ing lists, necessary blanks, and trans
portation of the library both ways.
The library may be kept three
months, when by special permission the
time may be extended three months
longer. At the end of the six mouths,
however, it must be returned, and a
| new library will be sent.
Notes, corrections of the text. or
marks OF any kind on travelling library
books are Internationally forbidden.
Borrowing taxpayers will be held re-
sponsible for all losses or injuries, be-
yond reasonable wear.
The library must be kept open not
less than one hour on three DAYS of
each week. No membership fee can be
charged, but fines may be imposed for
injuries to books or keeping them long
er than specified time.
There is hardly community in the
state which should not become patron
OF the state library if it does not have
library OF its own. Such an oppor-
tunity to read the best literature with
practically no expense should be eager
~ improved. Many boy and girl finds
lie on the farm or in village rather
uuIl, anu lung WINTER evenings some
times pass drearily; but with good
books in the homes one of the benefits
of city life will be brought to the most
remote community.
Ministers and school teachers should
take the lead in organizing clubs of
taxpayers to secure travelling libraries
from Sacramento. Application blanks
for securing library and other infor-
nation on the subject will be mailed to
anyone who will address the California
State Library, Travelling Libraries De-
.partment, Sacramento.