The World’s Work WALTER H. PAGE, EpitTor CONTENTS FOR JUNE,; 1907 THE POWER TRANSFORMING SOUTHERN INDUSTRY Frontis piece PHeeARISEN. SOUTH - 3 2 = = é A PICTORIAL INTERPRETATION THE ERA OF BIG-CITY BUILDING THE COMMERCE OF THE GREAT VALLEY THE HEALTH OF THE LOWER SOUTH OUR FOREST WEALTH THE SIBLEY COTTON MILLS AT AUGUSTA, GA. ONE OF THE IRON FURNACES AT BIRMINGHAM, ALA. A VIEW OF MEMPHIS, TENN. A BIRDS’-EYE VIEW OF THE JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION THE JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION (Illustrated) - - CHARLES F. STANSBURY NATURE’S GIFTS TO THE SOUTH (Illustrated) - HERBERT A. SMITH Mere Otis VAST RESERVES, - - - - D.* A. TOMPKINS THE RAILROAD’S WORK IN THE SOUTH - W. W. FINLEY 2a RAILROAD ENTERPRISES OF THE SOUTH -- anes M. Krys PVMINMIGRATION TO THE SOUTH -- - - -' - - = - ite PLAND SOUTH (lllustrated) - - ,=: = = CLARENCE H. POE iabeoeU GH S INTELLECTUAL EXPRESSION:«= —-"~ - - Epwin Mims THE GROWTH OF THE LIBRARIES -_*- - .- - Louis R./Witson Mea GHING MARMERS TO FARM® -- - =" = THE COTTON MILLS AND THE PEOPLE (Illustrated) ARTHUR W. PAGE THE LOWER SOUTH (illustrated) .- - = - -- - WALTER HeePacE TERMS: $3.00 a year; single copies, 25 cents. Published monthly. Copyright, 1907, by Doubleday, Page & Company All rights reserved. Entered at the Post-office at New York, N. Y., as second-class mail matter. Country Life in America Farming The Garden Magazine NEW YORK 1515 eerie Building DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY, 433 East Sixteenth Street “eTy ‘Arotmo3}uoyy 0} WyS1] sorpddns yorym [ez oy} sMoys ydersojoyd SIU], ‘WotuA oy) jo are IepIUIs Aue IOAO aSeJURApe JuLJOduN Ue UOT aTOYM sIy} ButAT3 ‘Aamod pue zYSI] Jo ddINOs aI[qIss9I9B sour ‘SoUT[ UOISSTWSURI} 99URzSIP BuO] &q ‘pue ysodvayo ay}—12mod-asi0y Ssnonut}Uod Coo‘ooo‘€ UPY} VIOW DALY ‘po}eUIT}SO AjaAtyeAIasuoo usveq sey }t ‘uoisat ueryporeddy oy} WOlf SWICII}S IU, AULSAGNI NYAHLNAOS DNINAOASNVUL SI LVHL AAMOd AHL fae chOWLR OF THE LIBRARIES THE CIRCULATION OF BOOKS IN SOUTHERN CITIES, TOWNS, AND SCHOOLS BY LOUIS R. EN years ago, in a magazine descriptive of the general growth of the Southern States, a statement of the develop- ment of the library as an institution which largely affected the life of the South would Then there was — scarcely have found a place. no clearly defined, well-organized library move- ment. ‘The free public library, the finest pro- duct of all library development, was scarcely known. But the modern library—rural, public, col- lege, and traveling—has, since 1896, firmly established itself as an institution making for saner life and broader culture. Possibly the most notable step taken has been the establishment of the rural school library. In North Carolina, when the educational qualification for suffrage was enacted, some- thing very definite in the way of greater educa- tional facilities for all the people had to be provided. The legislature of 1901 equipped, with the aid of funds raised by the school districts and counties, at. least six rural school libraries in each of the ninety-seven counties. By means of further appropriations in 1903 and 1905, the number of libraries in each county was increased from six to eighteen, ~ and on June 30th, 1906, 1,400 of these libraries, containing a total of 125,000 volumes, were in operation in the state. In Virginia, the same idea has been carried out by a system of traveling school libraries, _ which has been operative since October, 1906, F [| and 2,625 volumes have been put in immediate circulation. Libraries containing fifty volumes each are made up from it and sent out daily to the rural school stations throughout the state. Every station is allowed to keep its collection for four or six months, and then to send it back to the state library to receive a new collection. At the close of December, 1906, twenty __ thoroughly equipped Carnegie libraries, repre- _ Senting $537,000 in buildings, were in operation Since 1897, Durham, Raleigh, Texas. » a ™“~ \e Greensboro, Asheville, WILSON Charlotte, and other North Carolina towns, a score or more in all, have established public libraries, and during the year 1906 the five towns just named re- corded loans totaling 200,000 volumes among 25,000 borrowers. In 1905-6, Virginia and Arkansas each established its first three public libraries. Within the past six months, Atlanta has received $30,000 for two additional branch libraries, Louisville $200,000 for eight similar branch stations, and the New Orleans library is just finishing its $200,000 quarters. The most significant fact growing out of the activities of these public libraries, however, is not that they have been placed on a sound financial basis and are recording a splendid total of loans, but rather that they have tended to reproduce themselves in other communities. In Charlotte, Atlanta, Austin, Louisville, Chat- tanooga, Nashville—in fact, in all the larger towns—the public library has been a fertile centre from which decidedly active influences have spread. In each of these libraries, a system of apprenticeship and general library instruction has been maintained which has quickened individual growth, and a publicity bureau has been operated which has helped to form and crystallize a fine, ‘general library sentiment. Southern college libraries have also under- gone a complete revolution in spirit, although their growth has not been so apparent as that of the school and public libraries. While they have not served the public directly, they have served it none the less effectively by impressing the student with the true import- ance of the library as an institution. Quietly, but at the same time enthusiastically, they have worked their way up to a place of dignity and power in college life. Ten years ago, the library was useful to the student of literat- ure primarily, and not to the college as a whole; but, since it has come to be more and more a perfectly equipped laboratory, and since the 8986 librarian is no longer a mere curator of books but a well-trained, professional man, the library has been recognized as an active force in college life. Their growth, however, has not been entirely intensive. Since 1895, the University of Vir- ginia has erected a $60,000 library building and has added 50,000 volumes to the 12,000 saved from the disastrous fire which destroyed its former library. In North Carolina, Trinity College has received a splendid $50,000 build- ing since 1899 and has increased its book col- lection from 11,000 to 37,000 volumes. In September of the present year, the University of North Carolina will house its present col- lection of 45,000 volumes in a new, fire-proof structure and will enjoy, in addition to its present library revenues, the income from a new $55,coo endowment fund for books. At the Universities of Georgia and Louisiana, $50,000 library buildings have been occupied in the last four years and material additions have been made to the original collections. South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, and Ala- bama have each added one or more college library buildings since 1905; and since January of the present year, Florida has received a gift of $40,000 for library purposes at Stetson University. BOOKS FOR RURAL DISTRICTS The traveling library, too, has firmly estab- lished itself in the South and has met with immediate success. Its general adoption in rural and sparsely settled communities is cer- tain, being conditioned solely upon a proper provision by the states for its care and direc- tion. Georgia inaugurated the movement in 1898, By 1905 twenty-three schools had been added to the traveling list; ninety-seven schools and forty-six rural communities had received circulating collections; 4,174 magazines and periodicals had been sent out; and since 1808, 800 schools have been influenced to make permanent improvements upon their school- houses or grounds; 400 have established libra- ries of their own; forty-six rural communities have founded village improvement societies, and a total of 5,468 books have been kept in constant circulation, In North Carolina and Texas, the movement has found strong support in the Federation of Women’s Clubs. In Virginia the traveling libraries have been placed under direct..state control. A fund of $7,500 was appropriated, d. for, their, maintenance for two THE GROWTH OF THE LIBRARIES years. Free transportation was received from. the railroads; and thus the small Virginia village, which hitherto has contented itself with its general store, post-office, school, and church, has been brought under the broaden- ing, vitalizing influence of the open book. The most conclusive proof of library devel- opment is the state library association. In seven of the Southern States, such an organiza- tion—composed of librarians, trustees, educa- tors, members of social clubs, and cthers—has been formed. Witha membership of 1,000, these associations have given serious consideration to various library problems and have worked toward one common end—the popularization of the library movement and the creation of a public sentiment sufficiently strong to insure every community some form of library facilities. The state library commissions of Maryland, Virginia, ‘Tennessee, and Georgia have grown out of the state associations and have placed all forms of public library activity upon a permanent basis. In North Carolina, Alabama, and Texas, the state associations have not yet succeeded in securing definite legislation, but the need has been clearly shown and the demand, sooner or later, will be met. In Georgia and Texas, library progress of all kinds has been longer lived and the results are more satisfying. In South Carolina, Miss- issippi, and Florida, growth has been less evident. But everywhere throughout the South undisputed progress has been made. ‘Three facts in this connection are significant. The first is that the American Library Association held its annual meeting this year in Asheville. — A development of sufficient magnitude in the South brought this deliberative body to the — Southern field for the discussion of special problems of the Southern libraries. The second is that, at its last annual meeting, — the Southern Educational Association created — a permanent department of libraries, thereby — insuring the library due consideration in the — educational work of the South. . The third, and the most significant, is that — there is now in Atlanta a highly developed, — well-attended library training school. This marks the passing of the untrained librarian — in the South. In the last ten years, the Southern ibang 7 has made a long stride forward. It has been making for a broader culture and for a larger view of life. Its success is assured. ff et 7 o P ye ie”, y