Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1916-01-07
The United, States
Bureau of Education

uC I1oIlS HNoSoSIOL olNlSlOu
of the United States Bureau of
Education is performing a very
useful service in the preparation of
courses of reading on various topics
So far, ten such reading courses
have been prepared, including such
topics as the following: biography,
history, American literature, great
fiction, etc. All that the person
intending to take one of these
courses has to do is write to the
Commissioner of Education, Wash
ington, D. c., and ask for the list
of books in that course or, if he
has not made selection, ask for in
formation as to the several courses
If the person is willing to stand
an EASY examination on the course
when completed, and if by passing
this examination he furnishes salts
factory evidence of having read the
books intelligently,. he can secure a
certificate for the course, signed by
the Commissioner of Education,
This certificate, besides being a
gratifying evidence of the compile
ton of an undertaking, might
possibly be of value to the holder
in enabling him to secure coveted
position over a rival who could not
furnish such evidence of his in
terest in reading. 1t is very gen.
orally recognized among employers
that the reader of good literature
is t'much more likely than the
non-reader to be mentally alert and
consequently efficient. The main
benefit, however, of the course is
not to be measured in this way,
but in the intellectual and spiritual
advantage which comes from hav,
ing read Systematically a number
of good books selected by experts
These courses are now being
taken by people all over the United
States not only young people, but
old people as we'll and much good is
being accomplished. The main
obstacle to the very rapid increase
in the numbers enrolled as readers
is the difficulty of obtaining the
books. Especially is this true so
far as rural districts are concerned,
and such towns as have no libraries
A few may buy the books given in
the lists. but those who do not find
it convenient to buy are in the
gread majority. Nor may the
books be borrowed from the
Bureau of Education. The Bureau
is not by law allowed to lend books
as does a circulating library. All
that it can do is to suggest the
books that ought to be read and to
give certificates to those who have
completed the courses satisfactorily
1t has been suggested to the
Librarian of the State Library that
so far as Virginia is concerned the
State Library can accomplish much
toward supplying the needed books
in this State. The suggestion is
undoubtedly a good one. The
Library has large collection Of
books, and the rules of the institu-
ton are such that practically every
responsible person in the State,
over eighteen years of age, may,
without much formality, become
enrolled as borrower, and those
under eighteen may easily borrow
through their parents or teachers.
At the same time, books are now
being carried in the mails at parcel
post rates, so that a reader may
secure his books at a very small
expense.
1t would take too long to give
the rules governing the use of the
hooks of the State Library and the
enrolment of persons borrowing
The object of this noice is to give
information as to the work being
done by the Bureau of Education
and as to the ability and the desire
of the Library to cooperate by
lending to readers in the State the
necessary books.
Those interested should apply to
the Commissioner of Education,
Washington, D. c., for further in
formation as to the reading courses.
and to the Librarian of the Virgins
State Library, Richmond, Virginia,
for circular giving the rules govern
ing the use of the Library and fo'
cards to be signed in the process Of
becoming borrowers.
1t may be that this notice will
be seen by some who will not wish
to take the reading courses, but
who would like to become enrolled
as borrowers from the Virginia
State Library. If so, they should
let their wishes be known. The
authorities of the Library are sin
cerely DESTROYS of extending very
greatly the use of the Library.