Newark post., 1922-02-22
State Library
Commission Active
Over 100 Small Libraries Are
Sent Out to Rural Schools
and Other Organi-
cations


Delawareans may take an interest
and may feel large measure OF sat-
isfaction is the work OF the State LII
brary Commission. Its history year
by year is one of quiet, steady
growth, of expansion so far as funds
permit, of continued enthusiasm on
the part of the workers and of appre-
citation on the part of the borrowers.
The Commission has over one hun
dred small libraries which are sent
to rural schools and other organiza-
tions, and it also sends out automo-
biles carrying books over % different
routes to more than 1,l00 families.
At the January meeting of the
Commission, held at its headquarters
in Dover, the annual report of the
Librarian, Miss Ida V. Culbreth gave
a very interesting survey of this
work. Miss Culbreth said in part:
During 1921 the travelling IL
braries were circulated 129 times, of
this number III were in schools and
IS with organizations; 1874 books
were loaned to CTS individuals MAX
ing total of 500 requests for books
and libraries and 7410 volumes were
sent out from this office. While there
is no great evidence of the number
of free libraries in the State being in
creased, the women's clubs are in
terested in their club libraries and
reading rooms, and a number of them
are using our travelling libraries and
books for special readings. We also
have libraries on the Pilot Boat
"Philadephia," the Maritime Ex-
change, Lewes, and the Edge Moor
Social Association.
The year 1921 was very full one
with the book-wagons, and if we
are to Judge by all that has been said
in praise of the work, the interest
displayed by the librarians, the help
they have given, the thorough enjoy
ment and helpfulness of the books, it
may indeed be considered most sue
cessful one. The following statistics
for the year exceed in number any
previous year. 298 trips were made
over the 28 routes in the State, 62
more than in 1920; 1107 homes were
visited, 152 more than in 1920; and
2S,519 volumes loaned, $500 more
than in 1920.
Persons interested in this work
realize as never before that statistics
do not tell the whole story. The re-
ports of the book-automobile librarians
show great devotion and enthusiasm
and are refreshingly full of human
interest, abounding in comments sucl
as these:
"The books are eagerly received ant
read. There is a constant appeal TO
books from people not on regula
routes"
at is a work I would like to spen
all of my time in if l could. There
a Joy in it that we can't put il
words"
Zone family from Oregon sal
they had read more since they cam
to Delaware than ever before; the
never bfore had all the books the
wanted because they lived on ranc
and could not return them on tim
conveniently"
"The children generally begin
read before we are out of sight
"People who had never had tn
'book-wagon' before expressed gres
appreciation while our regular boz
rowers often say they do not kno
what they would do without tt
books"
"a very large-print Bible we
gratefully received by an old lady wi
had asked if there was one in tt
'book-wagon.'
Gone mother asked me if | kne
T. what her little girl was crying abou
she said she was crying because 81
did not want her book to go back b
cause she just loved it."
"On one of my summer trips n
car stopped in the road; I 'phoned
garage and after some time was to
that it was not a wayside job. o.
of my borrowers was kind enough
offer to bring me with all of my boo
home. On arriving home l said,' N
what do | owe you for all
YOUR trouble?' He smiled as he
piled, Just keep on bringing us t
books"
"The old saying that 'Blessin
brighten as they take their fig
finds it's confirmation in the work
the 'book-wagon,' for even those W
have appeared Indifferent express
gret at it's discontinuance durl
mid-winter. Only the promise to