Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-23
A County Library
AS clearinghouse

Every inhabitant of the United
States. no matter how far from the
eenters of population, will have prae-
tically as good library facilities as are
now enjoyed by the average city
dweller. if plans for the establishment
OF 4 new type OF book distributing
agency work out according to the an
ticipations Of the United States Conf
missioner of Education, DE- p Z.
Glaxton. who is personally interested
in their development. As the rural
population of the United States num-
hers about 81 per cent. OF the total
population. the new library plan may
have the effect Of doubling the effec-
tiveness of libraries. and of raising the
standard of culture in this country To
4 corresponding degree.
The basis OF the new scheme OF book
distribution is the establishment of
libraries supported not by the State
city, or town, as TT present. but by
the county, with Il central clearing
house and branches at every pest OIL
fee, town hall, school. or other center
OF community life. Under this plan.
many sections of the country which
at present have no libraries will be
enabled to establish them. If a given
county has re community large
enough To support 4 library Hnaided,
the county library plan Will enable all
the communities To club their re-
sources by levying 4 county tax for
library purposes. free use of the
books SO obtained being insured by
system of branches maintained at
common meeting places. Thus every
time a rural resident goes to the near
est store, or every time his child goes
to school, he will find a we'll equipped
library at his elbow
Like the travelling libraries main
tanned by a number of states. the
county library aims to find "a book
for every man. and a man for every
book Although the two institutions
have much in common, the more re-
stricted territory covered by the coun-
ty library allows it to adapt itself
more closely TO local needs than is
possible for the state book distribut-
| ing agency.
The county-lihrary plan has already
been put into successful operation in
| Van Vert county, Ohio, where 4 main
! depository and Il branches are main
| tanned at an expenditure of between
| $4,000 and 5000 a year, this sum be-
| ing raised by leVying half-mill coun-
| ty tax. The same appropriation also
covered the cost last year of placing
| 50 additional branch libraries in the
public schools. Fourteen counties in
! Wisconsin are now enjoying similar
| facilities.
4 consider the eounty-library plan
an important step il the educational
development of this country" said DR..
| Claxton Yesterday" As is well known.
the schooling of most persons is of
| such short duration that their cul-
tural development must be obtained
| principally by their own efforts from
| books, and any plan which will in
| crease the number and availability of
| the books at their command will nat
] urally be an important factor in rails
| ing the standard of the average per-
| sons education.
| Generally speaking, the cities of
the United States are well supplied
| with library facilities. However,
| there still remains the great problem
of giving the rural citizen the same
| opportunities of contact with the
world of books as are enjoyed by his
city brother. Personally, 1 believe
that the inhabitants of rural districts
profit even more from reading than do
| those who live in our centers of popu-
| lation. My own experience, as well
| as that of other educators, has been
| that country people read better books
| than townfolk: they read better books
| and get more out of them.
The ultimate effect of aiding the
| reaching habit among the rural citi-
| Zens, Therefore, may readily be not
| only to increase the number OF read
ers in this country but also to raise
| the standard of reading, and conse-
tquently the standard of life and cui-
ture.