Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1914-06-18


and ehagrined 70 learn that The koaI
had no library facilities or any fs6er
voir from which could Be- drawn liteF
afy matter for either disersi 4. im
provement Of the mind u educatitns
purposes This incident induced me Il
endeavof 10 work out i plan which
have long had in mind. and which.
think il well worth consideration aii,
adoption.
81 ] am sstisfed that 1t i possible B,
cc-operation and very smtil a,nount d
fort p create i Rnblx Eibfsf3 q
EhaFISs Town. ard llso faf her 10 | *
the lead hnd set the example Of how Il
establish system which can be intro
duced and utilized BY other towns and
communities throughout the entire
country. thus making books and ail
other reading matter available to all
the people.
Strange to say. In every town, vii.
ia9e and even rural communities, there
are many Of the salient requisites nec-
essary for the installation of a Public
Library. There is Public LibrArg
Building already in existence. There
is Librarian available. 81
There are also the means for distribu4
| ting and returning the books to the
| library I'll without COST which viii
place books and literature 1t the dis
posal Of every family in each neighhor.
Ehood
| These statements may appear rather
broad and even somewhat, startling,
but they are true when one remembers
That every town, village, and rural
ccmmuHity ia The United States has its
Public School building,
| Why sh6uadnot this building, which
is paid for and condupttd at the ex
peDse of the community. be utilized to
/ house library, which would not in..
terfere il the least with its usefulness
or be contrary to tine educational OBJ
jects Of our Pubic Schools, for lih.
rary Of good literature is but another
form of Post School or Graduate edl-
cation 10 fact, It would seem most
logicei and appropriate and be prac-'
tical enlargement Of the usefulness and
value of the school and building, for 1t
| is =n.n..igersally acknowledged that all
good reading is educating. s &
1t would develop further and high
er educational and recyeationaI featnrdl
in the Public Schools than does now
exist.
.Aeolna III st.ikal
bsfi sEI 81 IL shbsrinte hsl6iit
Should there be any objection 81 tllgs
ground Of additional duties imposed 81
the teacher, the care OF the library and
the n Hlinal duties connt cted herewith
could be deli gated TO one or more Of
the elder pupils, which would give them
good and valuable practical training
or even an outsider might look ter Ii
occasionally
The right kind of Schoolmaster will.
be more than willing to act as Librar-s
ian or oversee the duties. They will
be very simple; Consisting only Of keep
ing the slips or receipts for books with
drawn and destroying them when the
books are returned
For the outgoing books subscribers
would make out their own
slips, as they do in all libraries. leaving
same in place of the book. Then some
of the scholars might be elected and
would probably be glad Of the distinc-
ton of being appointed Acting Librar
ian, notifying those who Kept books
overtime to return them. keeping the
books in their proper places on the
ahelves and looking after The records
and details Of the Institution. Cards
pasted in the books, with spaces for
each withdrawal and return, are about
the only records actually necessary.
All these things are certainly simple
and most reasonable and logical They
could easily be put into practice with
out the necessity Of anyone being q
"Superman" and seem well worth the
trial, The next, and perhaps the most
important question, is how to obtain
the books or the library itself.
There are in almost every household
that ! can recall, one or more books
lying around somewhere Once read,
they are held as of little value. Some
times there are books about the house
that are seldom used and are more or
less nuisance to take care Of. am
Satisfied that there is scarcely family
/ in Charles Town or the county that
could not contribute 4 few without
missing them.
Rummage sales frequently occure,
where more Or less attractive things
which have been knocking about the
ho1se. or which people haye become
tired Of o. cease TO yalge. GAN be bought
for little q nothing. i am ieeFtain chat
4 book rp /! q in the average house
| held would bring to light 4 number of
4 volumes and magazines which would
/ form substantial contribution to the
school Or county library and be use-
/ full and valuable nuclus. In this way
| . library Of from one hundred % ave
hundred books would be readily avail.
4 able for cash and every schooIhcuse ID
the county. Central libraries could bs
formed at the High Schools Of the