GROWTH OF TRAVELING LIBRARY DEPART MENT, OHIO STATE LIBRARY. The following extracts from the annual reports of the Ohio State Library present a retrospective view of the development of this depart ment : 1896. A few traveling libraries have already been sent out. Our experience leads us to believe that a plan which has worked successfully in other states would work equally well in Ohio. With present appropriations, however, the State Library will soon reach the limit of its ability to meet the public demands for books. The best that can be done under existing conditions, is to supplement the work of libraries already established and encourage library organization where none exists. The correspondence of this office is full of evidence that a revival of library interest is at hand and warrants the belief that state aid would accelerate library extension and be productive of good results. 1897. TRAVELING LIBRARIES. It is gratifying to report that a number of traveling libraries have gone to different parts of the state within the past year. There can be no question that, with proper aid, they will prove popular and potent adjuncts to our educational system. The demand for them has already surpassed the sanguine expectations of the friends of the movement. Sixty-one libraries have been sent out. The mail for the past week has brought applications for blanks at the rate of five a day. From this correspondence one might be led to suppose that the people had been ready and waiting for the opportunity to borrow books. It is encouraging that this demand is not confined to any class or section. The Federation of Women's Clubs was first to make application, possibly because officials of that organization were first apprised of the opportunity. Next came the demand from the public schools, chiefly those in rural districts and small villages where there are no public libraries. And last, but by no means least important, come the grangers of the state through their local organizations to test the practical value of the system. The testimony of all these will perhaps most fittingly exhibit what has been done and what may be done. TRAVELING LIBRARIES AND THE FEDEATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS. The General Federation of Women's Clubs was the first organization in the state to ask for traveling libraries. October 9, 1896, the first was sent to the Monday Club of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Miss Nora Mulhane, secretary. Thus far these clubs lead in the number of applicants. The following extracts from the correspondence on file will indicate their interest in the system: FROM THE ALTRURIAN CLUB, TROY, OHIO. November 7th, 1897. The library is still in circulation among our Club members who are quite enthusiastic over the good they derive from the books. How we could have carried out our program in the thorough manner we have so far, without them, I can't imagine. I hope we may be able to have more libraries and more books in them in the near future. They are surely needed. WOMAN'S FORTNIGHTLY CLUB, ASHTABULA. OHIO. October 1st, 1897. We appreciate the wisdom of the planners of this beneficent scheme. FROM AN OFFICER OF THE OHIO FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS. Springfield, Ohio, September 23rd, 1897. I wish to say that not a day passes that does not bring expressions of grati tude for the library law of 1896 and for the generous treatment of the Ohio Federation of Clubs by the State Library Commission. FROM THE 1890 CLUB OF TIFFIN, OHIO. September 7th, 1897. Our president and other ladies who have seen the list of books are much pleased with your selection and have already taken out some of the volumes. I expect them all to be taken out before Saturday evening. TRAVELING LIBRARIES AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. While the Women's Clubs have been the pioneers in this work, letters addressed to this office within the past month indicate that the common schools of the state will soon furnish the largest number of patrons. The first traveling library sent to them was shipped to Mutual, Champaign County, Ohio, for the Yankee Hill School, Elba W. Pence, teacher and librarian. We quote briefly from his last report: Mutual, Ohio, November 1st, 1897. I can certify in behalf of the Yankee Hill Library Association that the books are receiving good care at the hands of parents and pupils. School is now in ses sion again. I am striving to instill in the minds of pupils a love for reading, which is growing as their knowledge grows. I therefore wish very much that you would grant us the privilege of the continued use of the library. It is our intention to have a reading circle of pupils, and when we get this started the library will be used very much. We are well pleased with the selection of books you sent us. FROM MILLER CITY, OHIO. November 6th, 1897. I am trying to create in the pupils a taste for good literature, and the use of the State Library books is an experiment. At first I talked about the books, told some interesting things that might be found in them, and gave each pupil a book to take home and keep two weeks. At first they were only looked into and laid aside. But by meeting with the pupils and reading selected portions I am able to see quite a lively interest manifested. These meetings were held weekly in the evenings. The pupils seem never to have had suggested to them before the idea of reading a book which was not a text book. We desire the books another month, and when they are finally returned I shall make you a complete report as to their use. APPLICATION FROM TOWN WITH NO PUBLIC LIBRARY. September 13th, 1897. Our town of about three thousand population has no public library. The mills and factories employ about three hundred children between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one years. About thirty per cent of the children in our public schools drop out and engage in work in the various factories as soon as they reach the age of fourteen years. I believe that a good percentage of the young men and young ladies could be interested in a systematic course of reading if we had a library. There are very few people of wealth living in the community. Will you kindly inform me how we are to proceed? TRAVELING LIBRARY AND THE GRANGE. To C. M. Freeman, Lecturer of the State Grange, Rex, Ohio is due the credit of introducing this system to the Granges of the State. He visitedt the State Library to learn how books might be secured for the farmers. In the Ohio State Grange Quarterly Bulletin, of which he is editor, he says: "If there were more home libraries there would be less demand for social and public libraries, but in their absence the demand is great. So in the Grange, if the members were all well supplied with private libraries, the demand would not be so great for Grange libraries. The personal experience and observation of the members is very good so far as it goes, but it is limited in any society. To branch out, to cover a wider range of subjects or to pursue further those subjects with which we are partially familiar, we must call to our assistance those who possess the information after which we seek. We can more readily secure what we want through books than to attempt to obtain it from personal lectures, for to-day there is scarcely a subject that has not been written upon. It is evident then that we need books. We need them in the home, in the public library, and in the Grange. How to get more books into Granges is the subject before us and one I have studied considerably. Not only will a good library assist the lecturer in having a good program, but it will create a reading interest among the members. A great many boys and girls in the farmers' homes are starving for the want of good books. The Grange library will afford them a splendid opportunity, and if you have none, your organization is in shape to readily get a "Traveling Library" in your community, which will not only accommodate the boys and girls, but the parents as well. * * * * * * While the State Library has a large collection of books, in fitting up a “Traveling Library" for the farmer, he (the State Librarian) would need some additional books dealing directly with agricultural topics. These he assured me would be forthcoming whenever the demand was made for them, and I am anxious for the Grange to create a demand. We have as much right to these libraries, as any one. Let us not be slow in going after them. The leisure months for the farmers are here and now is the time to provide reading for the winter. Mr. Freeman then proceeds in a very practical way to instruct the Granges how to effect an organization and apply for traveling libraries. The State Library can testify that his suggestions have called forth a very hearty response from the Granges. W. H. Hamilton, Lecturer of Darby Grange No. 779, West Jefferson, Ohio, has the honor of receiving the first library sent out to such an organization. TRAVELING LIBRARIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. One of these has been sent to the Congregational Sunday-School at Rootstown, Ohio, M. L. Stahl, librarian. Another was sent to the Orton Reading Club, Grand Rapids, Ohio. Mr. Azor Thurston, librian of the club, under date of November 10, 1897, says: "We very much appreciate the courtesy of the librarian in allowing us to retain the books so long; and think we can say that all volumes have been carefully handled. This arrangements of traveling libraries is a great boon to the districts which have not access to large collections of books." 1898. COUNTY TRAVELING LIBRARIES. Mr. A. Sheldon, of Norwalk, at the Dayton meeting suggested that the traveling library system could be successfully operated in counties with the county seat as the center of distribution. This has already been tested with satisfactory results in a few counties of Wisconsin. Legislation permitting county library organization would doubtless aid the State Library in the work it has undertaken. LITERATURE SENT TO SOLDIERS. The following literature, donated by friends, was forwarded through the State Library to the Ohio Volunteers in the Spanish-American War: papers, 1,794; magazines, 3,519; books, 271: pamphlets, 159; total, 5,743. Poor transportation facilities and frequent shifting of camps prevented this patriotic enter -prise from accomplishing all that might have been desired. Distribution at so great a distance proved costly and in other respects not entirely satisfactory. A number of letters were received from army officers, however, expressing appreciation of the kindly interest of those donating and forwarding the books. TRAVELING LIBRARIES. Much space has been devoted in previous reports to the traveling library. The system continues to work well and seems destined to grow more popular. Almost every mail brings from a lengthening list of patrons words of appreciation and encouragement. A few figures will best tell the story of what has been done in this department: Traveling Libraries sent out for the year ending September 1, 1897.. 61 Libraries sent out for the past year have been distributed as follows: The traveling library department has steadily grown, and difficulty is experienced in furnishing books to meet the rapidly increasing demand. The department was organized in 1896. Libraries have been sent out as follows: Prior to November 15, 1896.... Total 2 traveling libraries.. 50 volumes. 62 traveling libraries.. 1,331 volumes. 379 traveling libraries.. 9,887 volumes. 445 traveling libraries.. 12,817 volumes. 24,085 volumes. 888 Reports received indicate that each book sent out is issued about 10 times. Taking this as a basis, the circulation of the books issued through the traveling libraries within the past year would reach about 128,170. The success of this department continues to surpass the most sanguine expectations of its friends and promoters. The New York traveling library was pioneer in the movement. Last year it loaned 14,017 volumes. It is gratifying to report that our own department organized much later, within the year just ended has been sent out 12,718 volumes. More than three-fourths of these libraries have been sent to rural communities and small villages that have no libraries. Many have gone to schools and granges remote from city or town. Nothing that the State Library has undertaken has brought to it a larger measure of nublic favor. The selection, accessioning and catologing of books and the administration of the system have made much additional labor for the library staff, but reports of good results and appreciative words from many patrons are a most gratifying return for the additional expenditure of effort and money. We have space for a few only of hundreds of appreciative letters on file in this office. 6 S. OF O. L |