Evening journal., 1907-01-31
WORK OF THE
STATE LIBRARY
So Libraries in Circulation
During Year According to
Second Biennial Report

Manlove Hayes. president( Of the
State Library Commission, yesterday
forward his second biennial report to
the General Assembly. Il follows;
To the Honorable the General ASSEM-
bly, OF the StSate of Delaware@
Gentlemen.
The state Library Commission, or
ganized under the Act Of March. A. -,
l90l-amcnded by the act OF March, 1908
respectfully submits the following re-
port:
AS stated in our report TO the last
General Assembly. the Commission
during the first two years OF its exist
ence made strenuous effort by cor
rospondence and personal appeals 10
the intelligent citizens of many Of the
towns in the state 10 establish free
libraries as an aid TO education which
Is everywhere acknowledged to be con-
ducive to good citizenship.
Though not so successful In its ef-
forts as the Commission hoped 20 be-
yet in two OF the most important
towns, Dover and Odessa---in which eN-
cellent libraries had been for many
years established and conducted on the
subscription plan, Cat a very small an-
nual charge) the managers determined
to convert them into free Libraries
under the Act Of holland they are
now conducted under the provisions OF
the Act as amended IN 1908 making
school Districts the center Of Free
Libraries" The books the cases and
other property of the companies having
been freely given to the new organi1a
tions. affording a substantial founda
tion for enlargement; each OF these
libraries has acquired by purchase ol
Gift a carefully selected list Of books
which were catalogued, classified and
arranged in cases and readily available
to the Free District Library organiza'
tions.
| In the last two years. the state Librarl
Commission has devoted special attention
/ TO the maintenance and circulation o
| travelling Libraries, commencing with
/ few cases. holding each about nifty books
the number has been increased 70 fifty-si'
cases. These libraries arc I'm the care o
Miss Ida Culbreth. a capable librarian
and arc sent out TO applicants TO all part
OF the State. under rules for the guidanc
OF tho temporary custodian. to care 70
and keep the books in circulation; fine
are imposed II books arc lost or damage
or cases detained overtime. Many Of thcs
libraries are sent on application to teach
ers OF the village or country schools an
are highly appreciated. It requires
| great deal Of personal attention on IN
part OF the librarian 70 manage this busi
ness systematically and successfully. 7
exchanging the returned cases for other.
care is taken that the books are not dupli
Gated and a new supply OF books must b
constantly on hand to replace those tha
are worn, or TO afford attractive readinl
SO efficient has the work been done, ths
but a small loss in books has been incui
red and the Women's Clubs. Of Whining
ton and Dover. who first started tn
travelling library movement, have turne
their libraries over 20 the state Comml
sion as being better prepared to condu,
the business I'm a systematic way and b
trained librarian.
Miss Culbreth IS deserving of the higl
est commendation for the enthusiastic an
efficient way in which her work has bee
done.
We believe the circulation OF these /
braries afford the best possible means
awakening in tho young pupils OF our pull
Ito schools a fondness for reading and "
hope will arouse in older people. rarticu
arly OF our larger towns a sense OF m
Importance of establishing free llbrari.
for the benefit OF all who come with
their benefcent influence.
Thomas w. Wilson. the State Librar
ian. in addition to his duties as secre
tary to the commission, has acted as Il
treasurer during the last two year.
The commission Is under obligation {
him for his efficient services, as show
by the annexed statement OF the treas
lurer: the expenses have been With
the appropriation 70 the commission.
We also submit a short statement @
the librarian. which gives somewha
more in detail the distinctive characte
Of this work and the way in which It
conducted.