Frostburg mining journal., 1903-01-17
VILLAGE LIBRARY.
sCme SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO
CONDUCT ONE.
OF Great Value n the Right Kind OF
Books Are ChOsen-COnstitutio and
Bylaws to start n Library Upon "a
Right nRSis.

Right Basis.
The village library is growing more
and more an Indispensable adjunct to
American village life. writes T. |. Ste
Ncnson in the New York Times. 1t
comes into existence and thriycs uatii-
rally, almost spontaneously. in the
large towns or even in the smaller
towns. Intelligence and public scnti-
mcnt appreciate its work. In the case,
however. of the smallest communities
scattered about our country. where its
beneficial functions ought to he cXcr-
ciS"d on smaller radius. II library's
outscttinS and conducting are more diff.
hcult matters. To start it upon Il right
basis and To see that il conducts It's
work efficiently the constitution for
such an undertaking must be simple.
hnt effective. If this he well framed,
il is valuable In taking the place OF
less formal responsibility among indi.
vidualS.
Even small library must he on
practical working basis. Its written con-
stitution must not merely contain rules
ccrnrd in this work, but hints that are
practical and judicial Lcyond any such
letter of the law.
The writer begs to submit the fol
lowing constitution. which may be use
ful TO those who would like TO set
about some such village work even on
Il very modest footing to begin with.
IA nj it., .I,,t
definite regulations and admonitions
ought to be included in its outset:
CONSTITUTION OF THE TOWN
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Article |. This association shall be in
corporatcd and known as The town
Free Public Library"
Art. II. Its object shall be the diffusion
OF useful and otherwise beneficial ltera-
ture within the community of town. in
the state of -
Art. ILL., All residents of the place
named of proper age, either temporarily
or permanently. shall he 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 IA shorter time than two weeks
shall be welcome.
Art. ~. In the character of the books
and periodicals which the library means
to put at the service of this community
preference shall be given to other WORKS
than those of fiction at least for the
present very limited amount of fiction
shall be admissible to the library as it
grows. and the special functions of this
library shall he educational particularly
in the connections of history. biography.
travel. popular science higher bellies let
tres and art
Art. V. The practical control OF this IL
brary shall be vested in the hands of
committee OF five persons. to be known as
the comIEittee of the town Free Pub
lie library who shall take coEniZancc OF
all its AFFAIRS This committee can include
at least two nonresident members. The
committee shall be selected by IA vote of
the residents annually II" chairman OF
the committee shall be chosen by IA vote
of the committee.
Art vi The selection of the books and
periodicals. and their purchase shall be
made by committee of three members
chosen from the above library commit
tee and known the book commit
tee. In their hands shall rest the re-
sponslbility 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 it all the year round.
Sec. .. Its daily custody and practical
functions shall he committed to a libra
rian chosen by the full library commit
tee by a majority out of live votes. This
librarian shall he entitled to such
siStantS as from time to time may be
found eXpedient. such assistants to be
elected by vote of the full library COM
mittce.
BYLAWS.
|. The librarian shall receive such COM
pensation in the way OF an annual salary
as the committee shall sanction by vote.
=. The librarian shall he ON duty on
such days of the week as the library com
mittee 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 if. I'm time. the library
can bcneticially be kept open for the
greater part of the day and evening the
librarian must give all his or her time to
the work of the library.
.. The librarian shall keep a register OF
all fines due the library.
l. The librarian shall be personally re-
sponsble for one-half OF the 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.
} The librarian shall make a written re-
port each six months to the library COM
mittec In which shall be set forth the
number of books not In loan, the number
of books in loan. the number of fines due.
practical matters concerning the library.
&. I:ool,S can be loaned to any 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
actually in them. having no other library
privileges.
Z Only one book can be loaned to ono
person per week. In the case of works In
several volumes only one volume In the
set can bc loaned at time to ono per-
son.
S Patrons leaving the 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 its return and or
2 cents for each day after the hrSt day
nonrcturn fined at 10 cents
10. The librarian shall be financially re-
sponsble for books or periodicals lost
through his or her fault.
II. The library committee of the whole
shall hold meeting every six months TO
adjust any business, unless there be aD-
solutely none but that for which the book
committee only need come together.
u This constitution and these bylaws
can be altered or added to only by a ma
jority of votes in the full library COM
mittee taken at n special meeting called
for the purpose of considering and acting
on the matter
Such is the working model of the viii
Iagc library's organization. With apol-
ogies for any shortcomings in II the
Trainer of 1t offers II for use. with all
needfu improvements that others may
,t,., infr