The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-01-08
no OR HE sc CHO )IS.
A ConSensus Of Opinion on the Sub.
ject Of Libraries.
WRITTRN BY ]. FRANK FoosHE.

should Ne: Road by All, PARENTS,
auardians or q theirs Who Are
lntcrested In the Vel
fare of Chtl.iren.
The following is the first part of ian;
article written by Mr. J. Frank
Fooshe. editor OF the Winnsboro News
and Herald for The State The second
part will be published next week:
81 AS Important as Is the school libra
/ ry as a factor in the develop of
the very best in school work, the se-.
lecting OF the books that. are to go
therein is OF far greater inn portance.t
The measure OF success that will at
tend any efforts In the direetionsof
the esta blishment Of library will de-
pend In no small measure upon how
we'll the details of this difficult task
are carried out The getting Of the
most books for the least money orsthe
getting of the books that will he most
Ornamental will not atone for any err
rors that may be made in getting
those books that will not be read or
lin gettin those that ought not to be
read. As most school libraries have
to be started on a very small scale,
There is a great temptation to make
the first Of the two blunders men
toned. But it Is well to bear in mind
that 6. few well chosen books that will
be read over and over, that are stimu-
lating in the matter Of developing
the reading habit, are worth many
times over any number of those that
may fail in these two most important
respects. And even where the first
books have been found to be well Sc.
lected, the problem of selecting those
that are to be added is still difficult
one.
2s Within the past six years about 400
volumes have been bought for the
library Of Mt. Zion; and as to how
we'll this law Of selection has been ob.
served the list that is appended below
will attest. In keeping with the prac-
tlce of the past few years about so to
100 volumes will be added thereto In
the next few weeks. The committee
that ilas III Charge Lilc selection of tine
books that are to be purchased decd-
part Of the funds that will be availa,
BILE In getting the views Of others as
to what books should be added. Ac-
cordingly they prepared list Of the
hooks that are now in the library and
sent the same to about $50 teachers
and few who had taught school. No
lists were sent out Of the State for the
simple reason that the committee de-
sired its information from those who
were personally known to them aud
,5sssno had had to do with problems
most Similar to those confronting
4 them. Then, too, they had already
d made very free use Of the many pre-
pared lists that are often sent out.
The questions we're not only for Sug-
gestiOnS as to the best books to be ad.
ded to the list, but also in regard tC
certain phases Of library work. While
the number of answers that have been
received thereto has not been as large
as had been hoped, yet many valuable
7 suggestions were contained therein
Z and a study OF these might be prof ia
5 BILE at this time. Especially is this
true at this time, for it is getting tt
be more and more a custom to direct
the proceedings arising from the usu
al Christmas entertainments towards
the establishing of library. And
when the proceeds are in hand the
teacher has that difficult problem oil
making the best selection and cherish
.es any helps that may be given from
, any source in the solution of the same.
The following is a list Of those who
answered the questions: DR.. j. L.
Mccain of Erskine, Prof. II. 4. Cook
of Furman, Prof. w. S. Morrison and
81. S. McLucas Of Clemson, Dr. ID. d.
Wallace of Wofrord, Supt. Es.s !!
Dreher Of the Columbia oJy SCHOOLS,
Supt. w. A. Stucks,N the Newberry
schools, Princiisii e. G. McCants Of the
7zzaA derson Graded schools, Editor Zach
RsGhee of the Spartanburg Herald,
Prof. Patterson Wardlaw of the South
Carolina )llege, and Rev. j. II. Bold
ridge of Lancaster. The above list
includes five college professors, two
graded school superintendents, one
school principal, one editor and one
minister.
HOW TO START A LIBRARY.
+ Inasmuch as the matter of estab-
fishing library is one that is likely
TO be Of the greatest interest their an
swers on this point are given first.
There seems to be unanimity of
opinion that the best way to get this
work started Is by getting the chill
dren Of the school interested in the
matter. 1t is not SO much the getting
the funds with WHICH to start the
work as it is in awakening an interest
that will result In the free use Of the
books when they have been purchas-
ed. DR.. Mccain suggests that it is
best to raise the necessary funds by
means Of entertainments In which
the children, themselves take pro-
minent part" and by such enthusi-
asm on the part of the teacher as will |
awaken desire for literature in the |
school and in the community, and
lead patrons to contribute money and |
books" DR.. Boldridge takes the
view that "a careful explanation of
the need Of the library will create a
Willingness to give to It's establish
ment;" and adds that in his expert
ence in which he established several |
libraries that i secured the coopera-
tion Of the Students" Prof. Ward. |
law follows up the same idea in the
following suggestion: "Dy contribu
tion of m oney, OF books or OF old peri.
odicals by citizens; entertainments;
donations by the lend a-hand society;
contributions of public documents nv |