The Washington herald., 1908-06-25
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

caoins; many went as legitimate spoils Of
war; and many were sold to Northern
libraries by impoverished owners, 50 that
'he best South Americana is to be found
now In the British Museum or among
English state papers. The Southern plant
er OF colonial and post-Revolutionary days
mad his English factor set aside $40 from
every cargo OF tobacco 20 buy books for
his private library. Now the purchases
that count are made by the public libra
RES The past two years each averaging
about $500 a year for North Carolina
5000 for Massachusetts,, $1,000 for Cali
tornia and $4,000 for New York.
The aim Of the Libraries IS 10 reach and
uplft all people One-third OF the books
issued are for children. so there arises
the need Of placing before them the right
material seeing that the reading may
supplement the school work. that IL NAV
be eleva;ing to home life. that picture
books capable OF awakening an interest
in art are given. that fairy tales keen
alive the dream world. and that nature
DOCKS and hero tales are plentiful. The
modern library that has not its children's
room is rare. Special work. as recently
done In various public libraries OF the
Iand' includes the development Of State
archives In Connecticut Pennsylvania
and Texas: State biological work in Con-
necticut; document collecting in Maine.
oregon. and Vermont. travelling libraries
in Tennessee, Washington and Wlscin-
SIM and books for the blind in Colorado.
Harvard library has long been noted FOR
It's folklore collection. and the Public Ii
brary Of Boston for It's Shakespearean
literature. Washington State Library has
several branches Of work. including a
summer library school and women's study
clubs.
The libraries have been OF untold aid 10
the blind. They have not only put books
in their hands, but they have taught
them handicrafts. have been directly and
indirectly responsible for the opening OF
schools for them. and are now even go
Ing 70 :he expense OF getting out cata-
iogues for them in BraIle. Led by the
Free Library. of Philadelphia. nearly a
score Of libraries are doing special work
for the blind. 1t is the great hope OF the
public Libraries to reach all tie people OF
the nation. Among the poor whites Of the
south the work is the slowe5t. for even
when illiteracy has been overcome. the
Anglo-Saxon conservatism and opposition
TO paternal!sm in any form have not
been so easy 10 overcome. These are now
being reached by travelling libraries n |
system Of educational effort that was born
OF the fertile brain OF Melvil Dewey. OF
the State Library. OF New York. and had |
its beginning in that State in 1852. |
Through State library commissions. the |
library workers hope eventually 20 place
libraries in reach Of the members Of rural |
communities. as we'll as those Of the city |
and town.
The work Of the public libraries IN So
cial and moral, as we'll as Intellectual bet |
terment. is considerable. To these leading /
thinkers point for a help in solving the |
Sunday problem" All the leading free 4
Libraries Of the country. with the excep- /
ton Of the Free Library Of Philadelphia, /
are open certain hours on Sunday. havens \
for the homeless and diversions for idle \
minds. The way for the library worker .
has invariably led up hill. but the meas
ure Of progress between John Harvards s
small collection OF books and the libraries
Of Boston and New York, Of Philadel-
phia or Washington IS the measure o: |
the nation. It's greatest exemplhcation is .
found in the Library Of Congress. housed /
In the most complete library building in /
the world. The 500 volumes bought fron,
Jefferson have increased 10 a million and
a half. and the building. designed by the
nations leading architects. built Of its
most beautiful stones and marbles. and
decorated by its leading artists. stands
as a monument 10 the progress Of the ma
ton.
Copyright. 1908, by Frederic J. Haskn.l
TO-morrow-"Gettin the Nomina-
4