Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-12-08
SNOW HILL
LIBRARY, SURE
Public Spirited Citizens Will Or
eanize Library Association
And Garry II To Success.

Mr.. Ross Miles Diggs. field secretary
of the Maryland State Library Commits
sion has been in Snow Hill this week in
the interest of public libraries. and we
can safely announce that his visit will
result in Snow Hill having public
library. The organization of an as
ISOLATION for this purpose is now being
effected
The marvellous growth of public Ii
braries in the last decade, or the Iii
brary movement as it is called, is
brought to mind by the present activity
Of the Maryland State Library Commits
sion. Quite a number of states have
similar library commissions, which
have stimulated and directed library
establishment and development The
Maryland Commission was created by
a travelling library system, which
year to year, by the extensive use
made of the libraries. and by the ac-
QUESTION of numerous new volumes.
A travelling library comprises about
fifty books about half of which is fc-
ton and half standard works. The
quality of these libraries is constantly
improving. and the facilities are greatly
extending.
Such library may be obtained upon
the written application of three re-
sponsibe citizens of any community adj
dressed to the commission, care of The
Enoch Pratt Library. Baltimore The
only charge is registry fee of fifty
cents
Another feature of the commission 5
work is the giving of counsel and adj
vice to libraries and u persons DESTROYS
of forming libraries For this purpose,
Mr. Ross Miles Diggs, Of the Balti-
more Bar. acting as Field Secretary to
the commission. is making a tour Of
the State. getting in touch with the
leaders of thought in each community.
and discussing with them the possibility
of the creation Of local public libraries.
There is no subject which appeals
more strongly To the Eastern Shoreman
than the education of his sons and
daughters From Colonial times tn
the present We have felt pride in the
culture of our people. Good schools
and colleges. aided 10y the best Of home
training have made the sons of Eastern
Shore famous in the history of State
and Nation. There is. however, IA cry
ing need for libraries accessible to the
people of this section of the country.
While there is no dearth of reading
matter in the homes of the rich, vet
the whole community in comparison TO
the inhabitants of large cities is lament
ably lacking in facilities for reading.
1t is difficult to value the great bene-
fit and use of a public library to a com
munity. Ii benefits both rich and poor,
the educated and the ignorant, the
young and the old The public library
is part of the educational system
II aids the schools. supplements their
work, and for mature minds is "A real
university.
In answer to the questions. What
does public library do? What is it
for? - it can be said
a. That it supplies recreatve read
ing for all thepeople. The novel serves
not only to relieve the tedium of real
and common place life by lifting for
while the reader into land of ideal
life, but it also exerts an educational
influence of great force, and includes
desire for reading of better nature.
such as biography. history, and travel.
o. The public library educates the
ptbpit W utdi IiitlttStIitlN WIN SpNldi
and political problems; it makes public
opinion more sane and trustworthy; in
short. il is training of citizens.
81 That it is an aid TO every pro-
fession, art. or handicraft. that the
workers in every department who care
to study may perfect themselves in
their work.
(i) The library awakens in boys and
young men dormant fondness for
reading, and to powerful extent
counteracts the attractions of low re-
sorts and vicious tendencies.
90 The school is greatly helped in
its work by library. and its usefulness
vastly extended.
To sum up; library is a means for
elevating and refining taste. for ditFus-
ing sound principles of social and poll
teal action. for promoting the efficiency
of every worker. and for furnishing
intellectual culture to all.
We wish great success for the Library
Association which has just been inaug
urated in Snow Hill, and trust in a
few years a successful library will be
the outcome of its earnest efforts