Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-01-11
The Library Commission.

The fifth annual report Of the Mary
land State Library Commission, has
just been made public.
The members Of the commission are
Dr. NJ Bates Stephens. superintendent
Of Public Instruction; Mrs. Annie B.
JetTers. State Librarian: Mr. Bernard
c. Steiner, Librarian Of the Enoch Pratt
Free Library. Mrs. John NJ. Carter, Of
Baltimore County; Mrs NJ. A Newell,
of Cecil County. Mr.. Thomas B. Mack
all and Mr.. DeCourcy W. Thom. Of
Baltimore
+ The most significant paragraphs m
the report are those summing up the
work Of Ross NJ. Diggs, Of Baltimore,
field secretary for the commission. MIR.
Diggs says, in part
II find that many large towns are
without any library facilities at all, and
such IS ~ condition Of most Of the
small towns ami villages. with a few
+ striking exceptions. The mass Of the
people in our State are not reading
/ people. ana consequently there is little
demand among them for books What
books are read consist mainly Of the
most recent light literature Ii is true
! that in q few communities a somewhat
widespread reading of the better books
occurs. and Of course. there are many
individuals Of literary taste who have
good libraries in their homes and who
deplore the lack Of broad library facili-
ties. Yet the people as d whole through
out the State read very little,
Many Of the communities are not
yet ready to acknowledge the full value
Of a public library, though there are
some who feel keenly the need of such
library To those who justly estimate
the great value Of reading this condition
Of apathy is deplorable 1t is difficult
problem to get a nonreading public To
build and maintain libraries. but 1t is
possible to convert them gradually into
reading public which will demand
books and. therefore, build Libraries.
1T is the aim Of the commission first
to stimulate demand for books and
next to help and guide the people to the
attainment of the means for meeting
their wants. Even those towns which
now want a library are unable to Dc
more than make very humble begin.
nings. These towns need not only mora
encouragement but also financial sup
port for their enterprise from without
Few men and few communities are pa.
triotic and patient enough to builC
merely the bare foundations for an in.
stitution to be enjoyed at its best il
years to come.
THE task confronting US is to get
the people themselves 10 take the frs
step and no legislation will avail to pro
mote libraries unless this step is taken
After once the people have something
which appeals to their local pride, some
thing the value Of which they beg Il
appreciate, then will they be ready t
take advantage Of State aid and be will
ing to bear tax for the support q
their local institution.
I'VE must use every effort TO induce
the people to inaugurate local libraries
however humble their beginnings be
and at the same time prepare the wa.
for the next steps in library advance
ment
The report shows the number o
travelling libraries that circulated in tn
various counties in 1907 was as follows
Anne Arundel county. 8 Baltimor'
county. 8 Calvert. Z Caroline, 6 Car
roll. Cecil. ID: Charles. 4 Dorches
ter, 3: Frederick. 5 Garrett, 2; Har
ford 8. Howard. 4 Kent, (; Mont
gomery. 2 Queen Anne's, 3; Somerset
2: Talbot, ! /, Wicomico. 4; Worcester
s6.