Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-16

wants help-get them in touch with the
State library. Our reference librarian can
answer any question you might ask-give
ner tlme-from what was the name Of
George Washingtons white horse" to
does pond scum have photosynthesis? o"
smell furnish you magazine articles,
books and statistics on every subject I'M
der the sun from the feeding of babies to
the emancipation of woman. The only
charge to borrower of the Maine State
library is the cost of parcel post in send
Ing the book wanted, and any citizen Of
Maine may become a borrower of the H.
brary.
The use of the State library for refer
ence or the borrowing of books is not tho
only method by which Maine aids local
libraries. Those of you who are libraries
OF free tax supported libraries are famil-
lar with the stipend which the State an
nually pays. This is 10 per cent. of any
sum which the town or city NAV raise
for support Of the library. For the es-
Establishment Of new library the state
gives from $50 to 500 in books.
Another form Of State aid is the travel
ing library system operated by the Maine
no way of making good books freely ac-
cessiole to farmers and residents of small
communities had been devised. Students
OF the library movement realized that the
lack of library privileges in rural com
munlties was not due to failure to appre-
clate books but to certain practical diff
culties in supplying them. In 1892 MEL
vii Dewey, librarian of the state library
IN New York, secured from the legisla-
ture an appropriation to inaugurate a
new system of library extension, which
was so simple, practical and economical
that 1t was Immediately successful and
has since been followed in two-thirds of
the United States Of America. With the
money Mr.. Dewey bought a number OF
small libraries of 100 volumes each. Sta
tons for them were made in villages, in
schools. and in connection with university
centers and study clubs. A library was
sent to a station to remain six months,
and at the end of that period it was re-
turned to Albany. to be sent to another
station. These itinerant collections of
books soon became known as travelling
libraries"
Each regular travelling library contains
so books and will be sent to any com
munity in the State to remain six months.
The only cost is the fee Of $3.50 as the
State pays transportation both ways.
Evening Session
There was a good attendance when
President F'lagg called the evening ses-
sion to order and all were pleased with
the program carried out. President
Flagg announced that he had appoint
ed on the Legislative committee State
Librarian Henry E. Dunnack, j. H.
Winchester Of Corinna and Gerald G.
Wilder Of the Bowdoin College Public
library.
The opening paper upon the eve
ning's program was entitled How One
Maine Library Gives the Young Peo-
pie Instruction in the Use of Books"
and was by Miss Mary e. Averill Of
the Thompson Free library at Dover.
In Dover and Foxcroft people had felt
the need of something to make the
connection closer between the library
and the school, SO Grade TX library
class work was instigated. The pupils
of Grade TX in Dover and Foxcroft
visited the library each week and were
taught how to use the library. They
were told about the library and the
work it was attempting to do and were
later required to write essays on the
subject. The pupils were also taught
how to look up subject material for
an essay. This. work was made a.reg.