The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-22

the State library Kinder such rules and
regulations as the board may adopt:
provided. that no manuscript or rec
ord of airy kind, and no book, portrait,
be taken from the library room by
anyone, and no book shall be kept
out CT the library for more than two
weeks" Under what may be called
the elastic clause of the above. name
~. that which extends the use of the
library to such other persons as the
library may deem fit" the library
board has allowed the privilege of
borrowing books for home use 10 be
extended to those recommended by
any ere belonging 10 one OF the ella sses
named in the law. and, in addition.
to ministers and teachers throughout
the state and to members of study
clubs. Another sections of the laws
of the State relating to the Virginia
State library is as follows: 1T fthe IL
brary hoard) may likewise arrange
for loans with the library of congress
and other Libraries which grant like
privilege to the Virginia State library"
This is the provision Of law warrant
Ing the system of interlibrary loans,
according to which the State library
may send books to any other library
in the State. or, in fact, beyond the
State According to this system, many
books are lent to borrowers away
from Richmo nd who are in the neigh
borhood of libraries, the borrower
simply getting his local library to hor-
row the book desired from the State
library and the local library turning
ii over when borrowed 10 him. Bor-
rowers are required TO pay the cost
of carriage of books each way. The
library board has ruled that II a bor
rover at the end of the two weeks for
which book is originally lent ex-
presses a Willingness TO return the
book, but asks for a renewal Of two
weeks. the book may he considered as
''constructively'' returned and the re-
newal may be granted. Only one re-
newal however, Is permitted. II
borrower fails to return a book on
tine-that Is. If he fails TO return
book at the end of two weeks which
has not been renewed or book at the
end Of four weeks which has been re-
newed--a fine of two cents day is
assessed against him for each book
thus retained A borrower Is not al
lowed to take out any other books
until all fines assessed against him
have been paid.
In one way or another the result
has reached that almost anyone in the
State may borrow books from the State
library, and the use of the library has
become fairly general throughout the
State. II sometimes happens. how
ever that a would he borrower is not
near a library and that he does not
know any State official or member of
the general assembly. Such a person
suffers a hardship as compared with
other citizens OF the state. 1t would
seem that in order 10 meet such cases.
as we'll as In order 10 render il even
easier for all TO use the library. 1t
would be we'll for the library board
to adopt a resolution whereby any
person in the State might be allowed
To borrow books on his giving proof
that he Is resident of the State and
on his promising to abide by the rules
OF the library in reference 10 the re-
turn of books and payment OF fines.
When the parcels pos, bill was under
discussion. Il was hoped by all inter-
ested in libraries that 1t would conta in
clause allowing. the carriage of
books at merchandise rate. This was,
however. unfortunately, not done. and
the borrowers 81 books which are sent
by mail are still required to pay s
cents a pound postage. Where sew
eral books are borrowed. and the
weight exceeds three pounds, II Is
cheaper TO send the books by express.
In either case, the cost is so great
as to keep down the use Of books
outside OF Richmond. Steps are be-
ing taken by library authorities
throughout the country to have the
parcels post law amended by the ad-
dition of "A book post feature. so that
users of books from libraries may get
them by mail as cheaply as they may
secure merchandise. The use of the
library by persons outside Of Rich
+ a
the obstacles in the way, grown con-
siderahly, especially among the pupils
of schools. academies and colleges
who are seeking material for use in
the preparation of essays and debates.
The Travelling Library System.
But the main way In which the
State library is used In the interior
of the State Is through the travelling
library system. The travelling library
department of the State library con-
tains more than 10000 books pur-
chased by special appropriations made
by the general assembly. and the rules
for the conduct of the travelling library
system are entirely different from the
rules for the conduct OF the main
library. The 10, 900 books in the trav-
cling library department are made up
into collections of from twenty-five to
fifty books OF miscellaneous litera-
Fture, These are sent to various sta
tons throughout the State, a station
being established whenever ten tax
payers form themselves into a library
association. elect officers, with a H.
brarian, and apply for one OF these
collections. collection is allowed to
stay at any one station for six months.
and sometimes longer. When coIIec-
ton number one has seen service for
six months. or occasionally longer.
at Station A. 1t is returned to the
State library. examined, and the books
put in proper condition and then sent
to Station B or c and 80 on. In this
way. theoretically, any one collection
will in the course OF time make the
rounds of all the stations in the State.
The libraries consist OF three kinds
general libraries for adult readers.
school libraries SD special collections.
The special collections are for study
clubs engaged on any special topic.
OF all the kinds together there are
|232 collections. These are in very ac-
tive circulation throughout the State.
so that last year more than 10000
books were sent out. This Is a very
popular feature Of the work Of the
library, and large appropriation
should be made for its conduct.
The State library y doing a very
extended and valuable work. II
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