Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-26
RURAL BOOK DELIVERY.
Maryland Library Delivers Desired
Books at Farmers Dwellings by
Special Wagon.

Special Wagon,
A library which serves an entire coun
ty is the somewhat unique Institution at
Hagerstown, Maryland, known as the
Washington County Free Library. 1t is
not a county library in name only, for
its patrons include the farmer on the
back road as well as the city resident.
Obviously the methods which prevail in
most libraries would not prove satisfac-
tory where it is necessary to deliver
books over an area of 500 square miles.
Several plans have been tried for dis
tributing the books in the villages and
among the rural population of the eoun-
ty. There are. for example, about IS de-
post stations in various sections of the
county. each of which is miniature
library. These stations are located in
stores or postoffices in the larger towns
and in private houses where the COM
munities are small The books are kept
in boxes with shelves. each of which con
tains so volumes, At frequent intervals
the boxes are changed. so that each
neighborhoed is able to enjoy the latest
works soon after they are published
AS soon as the plan of sending out
these deposit stations was adopted. The
librarian. Miss Mary L. Titcomb. Yer
mont woman of unusual ability eoneeiv-
ed the idea of distributing the boxes by
means of a special wagon. which should
also deliver books TO the farmers along
the public roads in the more isolated
sections
1t was in this way that the Washing
ton County library wagon came into be-
ing. II was designed by Miss Titcomb
and arranged with rows of shelves on
each side. shut in by substantial doors,
with space in the middle of the wagon
for the deposit boxes. The shelves were
made large enough to contain 200 vol
umes. from which the farmers along the
route might make selection. the name
being entered on card. as is the Gus
tom with most libraries.
For several years, this wagon travelled
about the county, covering is routes,
some of which required four days to
traverse. More than 1000 volumes were
circulated in one year by means of this
wagon alone. and it is estimated that
each book was read twice. neighbers Of
ten exchanging books between the visits
of the library wagon.
Just at present this wagon is out of
commission. having been in collision with
a Norfolk & Western railroad train The
librarian and trustees are now consider
ing the advisability of replacing it with
an automobile built on much the same
lines. but capable of carrying a larger
number of books. In any case. a library
on wheels. either motor driven or drawn
by horses viii soon be again rumbling
over the roads of Washington county.
This history of this rural library SER
vice has been full of interest AT the be-
ginning. 1t was vigorously opposed by
many of the county residents. who could
see no value in books and who in many
instances refused TO accept them when
they were brought to their doors. For
a long time some of the old-time farm
ers would not permit their wives or chill
dren to enjoy the privileges of the library
wagon. Fortunately. the driver was a
man of tact and being familiar with the
characteristics of the people of that sec
ton, never allowed himself to be dis
turbed by criticism or rebuffs but called
regularly at every house along his route
In the last year or two. most of the
opposition has been broken down, so
that now the visits of the wagon are
looked forward to with keenest pleasure
and the books seized upon with avidity
The library wagon has really justified
itself by its works The books carried
are chosen with the greatest care and
cover wide range of subjects There
are works on agriculture for the up-to-
date farmer, books on home making for
the housewife a selected number of
novels for all classes and the best juven-
ale books for the children 1t is a rather
eurious fact that books about the civil
war are especially popular.
The activities Of the library are by no
means confined to the distribution of
books in the ways. mentioned Sunday
school libraries in various parts of the
county are also supplied with books and
one or more reading rooms are benefited
in the same way.
Perhaps the most Hteresting work.
apart from that of the library wagon is
in connection with public schools The
library has splendid collection of books
and pictures confined exclusively to what
is called the school department BY
means OF this department the schools in
both the city and county districts are
able to distribute TO their pupils the best
kind of reading. The pictures which are
circulated among the schools arouse al.
most as much interest as the books and
are found TO be of the greatest value in
the way Of furnishing subjects for story
telling. language work and the like
This collection now numbers about 1900
Dfctures
There are various other ways In which
this library Is made TO serve the inter
eets OF the entire county. proving that It
- possible to make the oenters of popula-
ton contribute not little to the work
of relieving the isolation of the rural dis
tricts.-chfistian Science Monitor