Evening journal., 1919-02-01
BECK wagons Did
EXCELLENT WORK
State Library Commission
Presents Bienn al Report
to General Assembly
NEED FOR INCREASE
IN APPROPRIATION

Good work done by the travelling
Libraries and the book wagons the past
two years is shown in the eighth bien-
nlal report Of the State Library Com
mission. submitted TO the General AS
sembly. Tie members Of this commits
sion are Mrs. James w. Anthony. OF
Smyrna. A. L. Bailey, Wilmington;
Henry p. Cannon. Bridgeville: Daniel
w. Corblt, Odessa; Miss Anna B. Hayes.
Dover: Mrs. Charles r. Miller. Whining
ton: Miss Margaret Orr. Lewes. Mrs.
Charles Prettyman. Milford, and Mrs.
Henry Ridgely. Dover.
The commission received on appro-
priaton from the State OF $500 for
each Of the past two years. all OF which
as shown by the report was expended.
Daniel w. Corbit, president OF the
commission, In his report says:
In common with all other organiza-
tions the State Library Commission has
been affected by the entrance OF the
United States into the European war.
The character OF some OF the books
supplied TO readers has changed: we
have sent books for the use OF the men
at the naval base In Lewes, and we
have taken active part In the campaigns
OF the A. L. A. War Service Committee.
THE daily work OF the commission Is,
for the most part. confined to two lines
OF activity; % supplying books TO the
people in the smaller towns and rural
districts through travelling libraries; ~
delivering hooks at the door to people
living In the country.
~ d Ali Na4
Of nifty books each. put up In stout
book cases, and sent 10 schools, Sunday
schools. oranges. small public Libraries.
and IN fact TO any organization willing
TO be responsible for the books and
make them accessible 10 the public. II
IS interesting TO note that while In 1917
the number Of books sent out from the
commission headquarters was nearly
200 more than for the year 1916, the
number sent In 1918 was more than 25OO
less than in 1911. the smallest number
issued in this way for several years.
Quite clearly this sudden drop In use
must be attributed 10 the 'act that
all organizations in the State have heen
Onsy In war work and many OF them
have had no time or inclination to take
charge OF a travelling library.
1.-The book wagon routes, however
have proved TO be more popular than
ever before. The report OF the librarian
shows that each year there has been the
phenomenal growth Of more than p
Per cent in the number OF books de-
llyered. The amount OF work that can
be done by the commission through
book WAGONS can be measured solely
by the amount OF money at its disposal.
Our experience proves that there exists
In the rural districts OF the State posi-
tive hunger for books.
"The members OF the commission can
not nay TOO hlRh tribute 10 the women
who have charge OF these book wagons.
NoiwiihstsndlnG the hardships. the poor
pay. the occasional disappointments.
these women have worked hard ana
Loyalty for the good OF the State"
Miss Ida v Culbreth, the librarian, In
her report says In part:
IN the two years 2,2O6 volumes were
purchased and ti0l were added by gift.
These books were accustomed. classi-
ned. eatalogued and arranged for book
WAGONS. for the open shelf collection
and in fixed groups for travelling
Libraries.
Travelling Libraries, 1917.
statistics for the year 1917 snow an
Increase over 1916 in all branches OF the
work OF the State Library Commission.
'In 1917 eiehty-eight 1857 libraries were
sent to schools. seven (1l 70 puDllc
libraries and twenty-one l2i) 10 otner
ORGANIZATIONS. Five (ol study clups
borrowed 25 hooks and 3s5 individuals
borrowed ii06 books, making a total
Of SOC requests for libraries ana Dooks'
and 1915 volumes loaned.
In 1918 slxty-eisth (6o) lioraries
. we're sent TO schools; three ~ u
public Libraries and fourteen (i4l 10
Othe- o~eanlZation. Six (6) study CLUBS
borrowed thirteen 49, books ana 20
individuals borrowed 49i books, making
a total OF 366 requests for libraries ana
books, and 1899 volumes loaned.
Book Wagons.
"The book wagons without q doubt
have proved the most satisfactory WORK
the State Library Commission mas
undertaken, for results OF much that
has been accomplished can be seen and
felt in an afternoon spent on one OF
these routes, the interest OF the major
ity of the patrons being very evident.
There are twenty-five l22) BOOK
wagon routes In the State: New
Castle county has three ~. Kent has
welve ,i2) and Sussex county mas
ieven Cd.
AIn the past two years 325 trips were
made, 1919 families visited and 1860
books loaned on these trips. Each route
covers about twenty-five miles and each
one visited once q month. when books
which had been left the month before
are exchanged for Others"
Reports OF the Librarians at Dover.
Odessa and Rehoboth affiliated with the
commission shows increased interest.