Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-24

PROVES TO BE
CULTURE HELP
Motorized Library of Mobiles
vile Distributes Books
in Country.

Not so many years ago you heard the
argument that the automobile was dss-
tined to monopolize peoples time, that
they would nave no more leisure hours
for reading and that the Nation would
consequently degenerate below its pres
ert standard OF culture.
Since then, Of course, II has been proved
pretty definitely that exactly the reverse
Il, true The automobile saves such an
enormous amount Of time that people
have more opportunity than ever to read.
There is no danger that the motor car
and culture will ever conflict.
AS a matter OF fact, there are q num-
Der Of librarians In the country today who
will tell you that the automobile is help
ing them introduce traces Of culture In
TO communities that otherwise would
fail to develop an sppetits for books for
years 10 come. These librarians are tax
ing their books to the farms1by auto
mobile. They are introducing the motor
lied library, and the success which has
attended their efforts indicates that # Is
one Of the certain American institutions
OF the future.
HOUSE TO HOUSE
PLAN SUCCEEDS.
Particular success with the motorized
library is found in the case OF Mobiles
Vile. In an exceedingly interesting ar
tfcle- describing the methods and results
employed In delivering the library to the
farmers door, Miss Lulu NJ Miesse' No
blesviIle's librarian says:
1--WE tried both adult and Juvenile sta
tons in schoolhouses and homes and
found the adult section was not well
patronized. The country schools ars
N nrIv ziW
months a year. So the house to house
plan OF service was determined upon.
We visited some other cities where IL
brary autos were in use. and after look
ing over various chassis and trucks, we
decided upon a Dodge Brothers business
car In the first place IL did not need
a great deal Of remodeling for our pur-
pose. II was strongly built and highly
recommended by people who were using
Il, for durability under hard service,
which we know our car must receive.
"The seats were already comfortable.
We had the wire screens and the entire
back removed. The steel sides were
bent over seven inches and used for
shelves IN front Of the book cases. In
side the car we built our book cases
OF oak, with glass doors opening out
ward on both sides Of the truck, so
that it adTertises its own wares as 1t
travels over the country, The shelves
slant slightly back to hold the books
EwRy from the glass.
SIXTEEN TRIPS NOW,
MORE ARE NEEDED.
"Our territory Is now laid in sixteen
runs, but we must add at least Eve to
these in order to cover IL. Some of our
trips are long. Number one, for in
stance, is forty-two miles long and be-
gins and ends ten miles from Noblesville.
We have driven our car through fresh
gravel mud and over ice. as we travel
four days a week we cannot wait for
good roads. The work is very interest
ing and grows more so as the librarians
and the people get better acquainted
The demand for books has been so great
that IT has been almost impossible to
satisfy both the city and the country
as we were not expecting and not well
enough prepared for the voracious appe-
tite for reading matter which we Gre
ated
"Our library car Is called 'Parnassus'
after Christopher Morley's book. Par
nassus on Wheels 1t is a very inter
esting little book, about book peddling.
We use an old fashioned dinner bell
to call orr patrons, this being more
effective than the horn. One side OF
the car is used for adult and the other
for children's books. We carry about
300 books on the shelves and extra fiction
and Juvenile books inside. Fiction is
in greatest demand. but we also circulate
books on farming. travel, history.
literature, music. and Bible literature.
We carry fairy stories and bear stories
for the youn ger children and have IN
PRODUCED many youthful readers 70 Little
Women, Tom Sawyer, and Pinochio. One
great advantage Of our system to the
rural patrons is that there are no fines
attached to books charged to the library
auto cards.
The people in the country think we
made good choice OF s car, as It is
good car, but not the most expensive
They make many comments on the car.
especially since we have met the men
in the homes.
FAVORED By STATE
LIBRARY COMMISSION.
The Indiana library commission Is
trying TO push the country library idea
as are many other States. 1t is much
better to have~a strong central library,
where decent salaries are paid. than so
many small Libraries, barely alive, and
OF not much use in the community. The
Indiana Librarians are very much in
terested 10 our work
Our car now regularly visits almost
500 homes and has about I5OO patrons,
the circulation running from 100 to $50
per run. We Will give more service
when the remainder OF our territory is
organized. 1t is the most interesting
library work we have ever done and
We hope all Of Indiana may have similar
Rervfca IN tho mar Pr4,ra