i 
 
 732 
 D35 
 
 Library 
 School 
 
 IC-NRLF 
 
HANDBOOK 
 
 OF THE 
 
 STflTE LIBRflRY COMMISSION 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
 ESTABLISHED 1901 
 
 COMPILED FOR THE COMMISSION 
 
 BY 
 FLORENCE BAYARD KANE 
 
 Pray thee, take care, that tak'st my book in hand, 
 To read it well : that is to understand. 
 
 JONSON. 
 
 NEW EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED, 
 Including the Library Law of 1903 
 
 HEADQUARTERS AT THE 
 
 COURT HOUSE, DOVER 
 
HANDBOOK 
 
 OF THE 
 
 STflTE LIBRflRY COMMISSION 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
 ESTABLISHED 1901 
 
 COMPILED FOR THE COMMISSION 
 
 FLORENCE BAYARD KANE 
 
 Pray thee, take care, that tak'st my book in hand, 
 To read it well : that is to understand. 
 
 JONSON. 
 
 NEW EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED, 
 Including the Library Law of 1903 
 
 HEADQUARTERS AT THE 
 
 COURT HOUSE, DOVER 
 
STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION. 
 
 MRS. JAMES W. ANTHONY, 
 SMYRNA. , , 
 
 c c rmc rTr mnroSii!! 
 
 WILMINGTON. / 
 
 ISAIAH J. ERASURE, 
 SKLBYVILLE. 
 
 HENRY P. CANNON, 
 BRIDGEVILLE. 
 
 DANIEL W. CORBIT, 
 ODESSA. 
 
 MANLOVE HAYES, 
 
 MISS 
 
 MlLFORD. 
 
 MRS. ELLA C. MARSHALL, 
 DOVER. 
 
 MRS. CHARLES R. MILLER, 
 WILMINGTON. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 Appointed Jan. 14, 1902, for 2^ years. 
 
 Appointed June 3, 1901, for 5 years. 
 Appointed Dec. 17, 1903, for 5 years. 
 Appointed Dec. 17, 1903, for 5 years. 
 Appointed June 3, 1901, for 5 years. 
 Appointed June 3, 1901, for 5 years. 
 Appointed Dec. 31, 1903, for 5 years. 
 Appointed June 3, 1901, for 5 years. 
 Reappointed June 3, 1902, for 5 years. 
 
 OFFICERS. 
 
 MISS I. V. CULBRETH, LIBRARIAN. 
 
 All correspondence relating to the work of the Commission should be 
 addressed to THE STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION, DOVER, DELAWARE. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGES. 
 
 List of Members 2 
 
 Free Public Libraries 5 
 
 How to start a Free Public Library Movement 6-n 
 
 Form for a Taxpayers' Petition 7 
 
 Notice to Taxpayers 8-9 
 
 What a Free Library does for a Country Town 1 1 
 
 Reasons for Having a Free Public Library 12-14 
 
 Permanence of Delaware Libraries I 4~ I 5 
 
 Explanation of the Library Law by Henry Ridgely, Jr 16-21 
 
 District Library Commissions 21-22 
 
 By- Laws suggested for District Library Commissions .... 22-25 
 
 Suggestions to Very Small Libraries 25-33 
 
 Supplies 29 
 
 Accession Book 30 
 
 Registration Book 30, 5 1 
 
 Book Stamp 30-31 
 
 Classification 3!~32 
 
 Catalogue 32 
 
 Rules 32,55-56 
 
 Newspaper Clippings Desired 32 
 
 Selection and Purchase of Books 33~37> 79-8 1 
 
 The Librarian 38-40 
 
 General Policy of a Library 40-42 
 
 Reading Room 42-43 
 
 Periodicals 43~45 
 
 Periodical Indexes 46 
 
 Library Management 46-55 
 
 Classification 4758 
 
 Author Book Numbers 48 
 
 Catalogue 48-51 
 
 193434 
 
Library Management, continued 
 
 Note : Library of Congress Catalogue Cards 5~5 1 
 
 Shelf List 51 
 
 Registration of Readers 51-52 
 
 Fines 52 
 
 Charging System 5 2 ~ 55 
 
 (a) Borrower's Card 5 2 ~53 
 
 (b) Book Card 53~54 
 
 (c) Registration Book 51 
 
 Two Book System 55 
 
 Suggested Rules for Small Libraries 55~56 
 
 Librarian's Monthly Report 57~ 5^ 
 
 Rooms, Buildings and Fixtures ... 59~^ 1 
 
 Fittings and Supplies 61-62,80-81 
 
 Library Schools 62 
 
 Summer Library Schools 6263 
 
 American Library Association (A. L. A.) 6364 
 
 Traveling Libraries . 65-76 
 
 Rules for Lending Traveling Libraries . 6970 
 
 Circular Letter to Librarians of Traveling Libraries . . .71-72 
 Rules for Circulating Traveling Library Books ....... 7 3-74 
 
 Directions to Librarians of Traveling Libraries 74 7^ 
 
 Shipping Directions . 76 
 
 Aids and Guides in Library Work 77~8i 
 
 Library Periodicals 77 
 
 Books on Classification and Cataloguing 78 
 
 Aids in Selecting Books 79 
 
 Periodicals 80 
 
 Periodical Subscription Agencies 80 
 
 Fittings and Supplies 80-81 
 
 Additional Useful Addresses . 81 
 
 Penalty for Injuring Library Property 82 
 
 Synopsis of Library Law Relating to District Free Public Libraries 83-88 
 
 Library Law of 1903 1 89-100 
 
 Errata loi 
 
OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION 
 
 THE ST^TIE 
 DELAWARE. 
 
 Consider what you have in the smallest well chosen library. A 
 company of the wisest, wittiest men picked out of all civil countries, in 
 a thousand years, have set in best order the results of their learning and 
 wisdom. EMERSON. 
 
 FREE PUBLIC LIBRARIES. 
 
 The initiative in all library movements must come from 
 individuals and communities, but the State Library Com- 
 mission of Delaware stands ready to render all possible as- 
 sistance to the end that the libraries of Delaware may be 
 raised to a higher rank and that the citizens of the State 
 may be happier and better fitted for citizenship by reason 
 of their acquaintance with "the literature of power which 
 inspires and builds character, and of the literature of 
 knowledge which informs and builds prosperity." 
 
 The compilation of this Handbook has been very ma- 
 terially aided by the kindness and generosity of the older 
 State Library Commissions, and contains so much that will 
 aid our various school districts in their efforts to avail 
 themselves of the opportunities opened to them by the 
 passage of the new Library Law of March 31, 1903, that 
 it is hoped that the little book may be read with attention 
 by those into whose hands it falls. 
 
 The purposes for which this Commission was created 
 were to promote the establishment and efficiency of Free 
 Public Libraries. Can it serve your community in either 
 
of these respects by co-operating with any local movement 
 in these directions ? 
 
 Do you desire more information on library subjects ? 
 
 Many inquiries regarding the organization of libraries, 
 procuring a competent librarian, the selection of books, 
 library supplies, classification, cataloguing, etc., are an- 
 swered in this book, but should further information be de- 
 sired, every effort will be made to give it, and a personal 
 visit will be made if deemed necessary, without expense to 
 the local library whenever possible. 
 
 All correspondence relating to the work of the Commis- 
 sion should be addressed to The State Library Commission, 
 Dover, Delaware. 
 
 Ignorance is a prolific mother of vice and crime, and whatever tends 
 to destroy ignorance aims a blow also at the existence of crime. 
 
 ANON. 
 
 HOW TO START A FREE PUBLIC 
 LIBRARY MOVEMENT. 
 
 The first step must be to arouse public sentiment in its 
 favor. 
 
 A few earnest people realizing the need of a Library, 
 must determine that the people of their community shall 
 have the benefit of free books, and must plan and work 
 and agitate until every one is aroused to the fact that this 
 opportunity is for them and for their children if they will 
 but take it. 
 
 They should hold a small meeting of influential workers 
 for the measure, and decide upon a definite plan of action. 
 
 As it is essential that the provisions of the law should be 
 fully understood by the active spirits engaged in the work 
 of awakening public sentiment upon this subject, the law 
 should be carefully read and considered, and for its full 
 comprehension no better help could be desired than will 
 
be found in the admirably clear and simple explanation of 
 it written by Henry Ridgely, Jr. Esq., of Dover, for the 
 sixth annual meeting of the Delaware State Federation of 
 Women's Clubs, held in May 1903, which follows this ar? 
 ticle on p. 16. 
 
 A synopsis of the amended Library Law will precede its 
 full text, and may also be found helpful to a proper un- 
 derstanding of it. Both the synopsis and the Law will 
 be found at the end of the Handbook, on pages 83-100. 
 
 When the attention of the public is thoroughly aroused, 
 the time will have come to present the petition of the 
 necessary number of qualified electors to the School Board, 
 or Committee, that the question of whether or not they 
 will have a Free Public Library should be submitted to the 
 voters on the next day after the regular school election. 
 The following is a good form for such a petition : 
 
 FORM 
 
 FOR A PETITION OF QUALIFIED ELECTORS TO A 
 BOARD OF EDUCATION 
 
 OR 
 SCHOOL COMMITTEE. 
 
 Place 
 
 Date 
 
 T Board of Education 
 
 To the J or of School District, No. 
 
 ( School Committee 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 We, the undersigned qualified electors in said district, 
 respectfully request the Board of Education, or School 
 Committee, to submit the question as to the establishment 
 of a Free Public Library in said district to the qualified 
 electors thereof, at a special election to be held on the day 
 
8 
 
 next following the next town election, not being Sunday 
 or a legal holiday. 
 Signatures : 
 
 On receiving such a petition, duly signed, at least thirty 
 days before the regular school elections, it is the duty of 
 the Board of Education, or School Committee, to give the 
 notices required by law, but if for any reason they neglect 
 their duty, any qualified elector man or woman may 
 give the notices and they will be equally effectual. The 
 following is a good form for such notices, and its state- 
 ments can be readily altered to suit, the facts in the case. 
 
 A FORM FOR A NOTICE TO QUALIFIED ELECTORS. 
 NOTICE ! 
 
 WHEREAS, A Petition has been presented to the Board 
 of Education, or School Committee, of School District, No. 
 
 of , County by at least qualified 
 
 electors in said District thirty days at least before the next 
 succeeding regular school election, praying that the Board 
 of Education, or School Committee, submit the question as 
 to the establishment of a Free Public Library in said dis- 
 trict to the qualified electors thereof, at a special election 
 to be held on the day next following the ensuing regular 
 school election. 
 
 Now, THEREFORE, In pursuance of said petition and by 
 virtue of the power and authority contained in Chapter 362, 
 Vol. 22, Laws of Delaware, entitled, "An Act providing 
 for the Establishment and Maintenance of Free Public 
 Libraries," the Board of Education, or School Committee, 
 
 of District No. hereby gives notice that on Monday, 
 
 the day of June, 190 , (it being the day next 
 
 following the ensuing regular town election, not Sunday or 
 a legal holiday), a special election will be held for the pur- 
 
pose of submitting to the qualified electors of said District 
 the question as to the establishment of a Free Public 
 Library. 
 
 Those favoring the establishment of a Free Library will 
 vote by ballot, upon which shall be printed or written the 
 words "For a Free Library ;" and those opposing the es- 
 tablishment of a Free Library will vote by ballot upon 
 which shall be printed or written the words "Against a 
 Free Library." 
 
 Said election will be held in the in District No. 
 
 of , on the day and year aforesaid, and will be 
 
 opened at o'clock M., and closed at o'clock, 
 
 - M., and will be conducted, ballots counted and results 
 certified as now are provided by the Law for regular school 
 elections. 
 
 The Board of Education, or School Committee, of Dis- 
 trict No. of . 
 
 Attest : Clerk. 
 
 , , 190 . 
 
 The friendly services of some one member of the Board 
 should be enlisted that he may be ready to support the pe- 
 tition and introduce a resolution to submit the question to 
 the voters as requested. 
 
 Usually the members of the School Boards will be found 
 very willing to follow public sentiment in founding public 
 enterprises, but, like other human beings they are governed 
 somewhat by their prejudices and should be approached by 
 people whom they respect, and who have tact and good 
 judgment. An enthusiastic but tactless hobby rider may 
 easily undo months of careful work in the development of 
 interest and confidence in a library movement. 
 
 The chief difficulty which will confront the library 
 worker will probably be on the part of the tax-payers who 
 naturally object to any increase of their burdens, but it 
 
10 
 
 seems likely that their objections will be readily over-ruled 
 when they realize that the amount of tax permitted by law 
 is so small, and the benefits to accrue to its use so great, 
 and a tactful person ought to be able to persuade the most 
 obdurate tax-payer to withdraw his opposition. 
 
 The necessity of a Free Public Library should be urged 
 through the local press, upon the platform and by private 
 appeals. Include in the canvass all citizens irrespective of 
 creed, business or politics, whether educated or illiterate. 
 To ignore any class is to imply its indifference to educa- 
 tion and frequently to make its leaders hostile when they 
 might well have been enthusiastic friends. 
 
 Enlist the support of the teachers, and through them, of 
 the children and parents. Literary societies, Chautauqua 
 circles, Debating and Women's Clubs and all other allied 
 agencies for the public good should be earnest champions 
 of the movement. 
 
 The local newspapers will be found to be a powerful 
 agency in enlisting and sustaining interest in the measure. 
 
 Herewith are presented some of the reasons which have 
 found weight in other States where the success of Free 
 Public Libraries is no longer questioned and where, even 
 in the smallest communities, it has long passed the stage of 
 experiment. And let those Delawareans who after reading 
 will still say that "Ours is not a reading community, "- 
 that "No one round here cares for books," or that "We 
 have no time to read" let them turn to p. 20 of this 
 Handbook and find the answer to all such Doubting 
 Thomases in Henry Ridgely, Jr. 's account of the library 
 experience of Dover. What has happened there is in no 
 way exceptional beyond the fact that it has occurred in 
 the heart of our own little State it is the practically uni- 
 versal experience of libraries everywhere, which, however 
 small, are owned by the people ; which have a steady 
 growth from year to year, however slow ; which are abso- 
 
II 
 
 lutely free, and which have an assured income, though it 
 be one of but a few dollars. 
 
 The more books of the right kind are read, the more efficient a Na- 
 tion becomes. To deny that books of the right kind contribute to hu- 
 man efficiency, or that the great books of a Nation contribute to a Na- 
 tion's efficiency, is like a refusal to acknowledge that heat comes from 
 the sun, or motive power from steam. No man or woman who contests 
 that sort of proposition deserves a hearing. SIDNEY LEE. 
 
 All may learn, and all may be comforted. I Corinthians xiv, 31. 
 
 WHAT A FREE LIBRARY DOES FOR A 
 COUNTRY TOWN. 
 
 1. It keeps boys home in the evening by giving them 
 well-written stories of adventure. 
 
 2. It gives teachers and pupils interesting books to aid 
 their school work in history and geography, and makes 
 better citizens of them by enlarging their knowledge of 
 their country and its growth. 
 
 3. It provides books on the care of children and ani- 
 mals, cookery and housekeeping, building and gardening, 
 and teaches young readers how to make simple dynamos, 
 telephones and other machines. 
 
 4. It helps clubs that are studying history, literature, 
 or life in other countries, and throws light upon Sunday- 
 school lessons. 
 
 5. It furnishes books of selections for reading aloud, 
 suggestions for entertainments and home amusements, and 
 hints on correct speech and good manners. 
 
 6. It teaches the names and habits of the plants, birds 
 and insects of the neighborhood, and the differences in 
 soil and rock. 
 
 7. It tells the story of the town from its settlement, 
 and keeps a record of all important events in its history. 
 
 8. It offers pleasant and wholesome stories to readers of 
 all ages. 
 
12 
 
 Let us thank God for books. When I consider what some books 
 have done for the world, and what they are doing, how they keep up 
 our hope, awaken new courage and faith, soothe pain, give an ideal life 
 to those whose homes are hard and cold, bind together distant ages and 
 foreign lands, create new worlds of beauty, bring down truths from 
 Heaven I give eternal blessings for this gift and pray that we may use 
 it aright, and abuse it not. CLARKE. 
 
 REASONS FOR HAVING A FREE PUBLIC 
 LIBRARY. 
 
 The Public Libraries have without delay become an es- 
 sential part of a public education system and are as clearly 
 useful as the Public Schools. They are not only classed 
 with schools but have generally become influential adjuncts 
 of the Public Schools. The number of readers is rapidly 
 increasing and the character of the books is constantly im- 
 proving. 
 
 Not unfrequently the objection is heard that the Public 
 Libraries are opening the doors to light and useless books ; 
 that reading can be, and often is, carried to a vicious and 
 enervating excess, and therefore that the Libraries' influ- 
 ence is doubtful and on the whole not good. This argu- 
 ment does not need elaborate exposure. 
 
 The main purpose of the Library is to counteract and 
 check the circulation and influence of the empty and not 
 infrequently vicious books that are so rife. A visit to any 
 news-stand will disclose a world of low and demoralizing 
 ' 'penny dreadfuls" and other trash. These are bought by 
 boys and girls because they want to read and can nowhere 
 else obtain reading material. This deluge of worthless 
 periodicals and books can be counteracted only by gratui- 
 tous supplies from the Public Library. 
 
 Whether these counteracting books be fiction or not, 
 they may be pure and harmless, and often of intellectual 
 merit and moral excellence. The question is not whether 
 people shall read fiction for read it they will but 
 
13 
 
 whether they are to have good fiction instead of worthless 
 and harmful trash. 
 
 The tendency to read inferior books can soon be checked 
 by a good Library. If the attention of the children in 
 school is directed to good books, and the Free Library 
 contains such books, there will be no thought of the news- 
 stand as the place for finding reading matter. 
 
 The economical reason for establishing Free Public 
 Libraries is the fact that public officers and public taxation 
 manage and support them efficiently and make them avail- 
 able to the largest number of readers. By means of a 
 Free Library there is the best utilization of effort and of 
 resources at a small cost to individuals. 
 
 While a private library may greatly delight and improve 
 the owner and his immediate circle of friends, it is a lux- 
 ury to which he and they only can resort. 
 
 A Library charging a fee may bring comfort to a re- 
 spectable board of directors by ministering to a small and 
 financially independent circle of booktakers, by its free- 
 dom from the rush of numerous and eager readers, and by 
 strict conformity to the notions and vagaries of the man- 
 agers. But such a Library never realizes the highest 
 utility. The greater part of the books lie untouched upon 
 the shelves and compared with the Free Library it is a 
 lame and impotent affair. 
 
 The books of a Public Library actively pervade the 
 community ; they reach and are influential with very large 
 numbers and the utility of the common possession books 
 is multiplied without limit. 
 
 Before several of our towns lies the question of open- 
 ing to all what is now limited to those who pay a fee. 
 This is not merely a limitation it is practically a prohibi- 
 tion. 
 
 Whether right or wrong, and that we need not now 
 discuss, human beings as at present constituted will not 
 
14 
 
 frequent in large numbers Libraries that charge a fee. The 
 spirit of the age and the tendency of liberal communities 
 are entirely in favor of furnishing this means of education 
 and amusement without charge. Certainly towns which 
 can maintain by taxation, paupers, parks, highways and 
 schools have no reasonable ground for denying free read- 
 ing to their inhabitants. 
 
 These towns spend vast sums of money in providing 
 education, and yet omit the small extra expenditure which 
 would enable young men and women to continue their 
 education. 
 
 The experience of the Library Commissions of our other 
 States has amply demonstrated that Libraries and literature 
 are sought for and appreciated quite as much by rural com- 
 munities as by the larger towns, and not unfrequently the 
 appreciation is apparently keener because of the absence 
 of interests and amusements other than those provided by 
 the Library. There is now no real reason why every part 
 of this State may not enjoy the advantages and pleasures 
 of book distribution, for concentration of effort in the 
 small towns elsewhere has provided efficient, attractive and 
 economical Libraries, and could as well do so here. 
 
 PERMANENCE OF DELAWARE 
 LIBRARIES. 
 
 An important point to be considered is that Delaware's 
 Public Libraries are to be permanent and growing institu- 
 tions. A stationary Library is soon exhausted by every 
 active reader, and afterwards fails to offer that novelty 
 which is one of the strongest inducements to reading, but 
 our law has been wisely so drawn by Henry Ridgely, Jr. 
 that those school distric's which once decide in favor of hav- 
 ing Free Libraries bind themselves to annually make appro- 
 priations to maintain them afterwards, and by this means 
 the law has provided for yearly additions of new books. 
 
15 
 
 The collection of books once formed and steadily en- 
 larged will place these experimental Libraries beyond the 
 reach of change, beyond the doubts and fears of to-day, 
 and will justify the hopes and aspirations of their pro- 
 moters. If only fifty or one or two hundred books can be 
 added to each small Library annually, it requires little 
 computation to make it plain that allowing for loss and 
 wear at the end of a decade or two, there must be many 
 large and useful Libraries in Delaware. 
 
 To them as to a visible nucleus will be attracted gifts 
 and legacies, and with the current of popular attention 
 constantly directed to them, and with the children passing 
 through them on their way to the activities of life, they 
 are certain to become the centers of the intellectual life of 
 the people, for though "Laws die; Books never" said 
 Richelieu. 
 
 Libraries are needed to furnish the incentive and the 
 opportunity for wider study to the pupils of the schools, to 
 teach them "the science and art of reading for a purpose," 
 to give each child with a hidden talent the chance to dis- 
 cover and develop it; to give to each workman and arti- 
 san a chance to know what his ambitious fellows are doing ; 
 to give to tired men and women weary and worn from 
 treading a narrow round excursions in fresh and delight- 
 ful fields ; to give to clubs for study and amusement ma- 
 terials for better work ; and last, but by no means least, to 
 give wholesome employment to all classes for those idle 
 hours that wreck more lives than any other cause. 
 
 If a Book come from the heart, it will contrive to reach other hearts ; 
 all art and author-craft are of small account to that ... In Books 
 lies the soul of the whole Past Time ; the articulate audible voice of the 
 Past, when the body and material substance of it has altogether vanished 
 like a dream . . . All that mankind has done, thought, gained, or 
 been : it is lying as in magic preservation in the pages of Books. 
 
 CARLYLE. 
 
i6 
 
 Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for 
 granted, nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider. 
 
 BACON. 
 
 EXPLANATION OF THE LIBRARY LAW 
 
 BY 
 
 HENRY RIDGELY, JR. 
 
 Two years and a-half ago the establishment of a Free 
 Library anywhere in the State of Delaware, except Wil- 
 mington, was dependent upon individual philanthropy ; 
 to-day nothing more is required than energy and public 
 spirit. 
 
 In the past, no community in our State could hope to 
 furnish its inhabitants with free reading material unless 
 through the generosity of a wealthy citizen ; in this pres- 
 ent, no community need be without such a hope and its 
 speedy consummation. 
 
 Before, there were good reasons why there were no 
 more Public Libraries in Delaware ; now there is no valid 
 excuse for the lack of them in any section. 
 
 In 1901, our incorporated towns generally were given 
 the opportunity of establishing Free Public Libraries ; in 
 1903 it has been made possible to have as many such Li- 
 braries in Delaware as there are public school buildings. 
 
 As is known, the whole State is apportioned into school 
 districts so that every community may have its free school. 
 By the recent new or amendatory Library Act, these school 
 districts have been made library districts also, so that every 
 community with a free school may have a Free Library as 
 well. 
 
 The manner of going about the establishment of a Free 
 Public Library in a school district is simple enough. The 
 first step is to present a petition to the School Board or 
 Committee of the district. All that the petition need 
 State is that the signers are qualified electors of the school 
 
17 
 
 district, that they desire a Free Library established therein, 
 and that they request the Board or Committee to call an 
 election for that purpose on the day following the next 
 regular school election, not being Sunday or a legal holi- 
 day. [See p. 6. Ed.] 
 
 The number of signers necessary to such a petition de- 
 pends upon the class to which the district belongs as fixed 
 by the law. This classifying of the districts will be ex- 
 p^lained hereafter. At present, it is sufficient to state that 
 if the district be of the first or second class, twenty sign- 
 ers are required : if of the third, fourth or fifth class, ten 
 signers ; and in districts of the sixth or seventh class, five 
 signers. 
 
 The petition must be presented at least thirty days be- 
 fore the then next succeeding school election. 
 
 After such a petition is presented, the School Board 
 or Committee is bound to call the special election as 
 requested. Everyone qualified to vote at the school elec- 
 tion, may legally vote at such special election. This in- 
 cludes, of course, all resident female tax-payers. If at the 
 special election, a majority of the ballots cast is marked 
 "Fora Free Library," the main object has been accom- 
 plished. If, however, a majority is against it, work for it 
 the next time ; the law permits you to try each year until 
 you succeed. 
 
 In this connection it may not be improper to call your 
 attention to the fact that as our State Constitution makes it 
 imperative that districts for schools for the whites be kept 
 separate and distinct from those for the blacks ; this dis- 
 tinction and separation is, of course, continued in the case 
 of Library districts also. 
 
 A very pertinent question may suggest itself here, how 
 are the means with which to maintain a Free Library to 
 be secured, even if it be established by vote? The an- 
 swer is, exactly as are funds for your common schools. 
 And here it becomes necessary to explain the classification 
 
of the school districts into library districts before adverted 
 to. 
 
 The amount of money necessary for the maintenance of 
 a Free Library varies, of course, according to the number 
 of its probable members, etc. Our school law permits or 
 requires certain school districts to raise one sum for current 
 school expenses, others, a different sum, and so on. 
 
 The Free Library Law takes this distinction in school 
 districts as the basis for determining how much money 
 may be required for free libraries, and on this, classifies 
 the library districts as follows ; that is, the library districts 
 being identical with the school districts, the former are ar- 
 ranged in classes according to the sums of money which 
 the School Boards or Committees are authorized to raise 
 annually for school purposes. 
 
 Thus, every district in which the sum authorized to be 
 raised by its School Board or Committee for school ex- 
 penses is $6,000 or more, is called a library district of the 
 < 'First Class." 
 
 Every district in which the sum so authorized is not 
 less than $4,000, nor as much as $6,000, is called a 
 library district of the "Second Class." 
 
 Every district in which such sum is not less than $2,000, 
 nor as much as $4,000, is called a library district of the 
 "Third Class." 
 
 Every district in which such sum is not less than $1,000, 
 nor as much as $2,000, is called a library district of the 
 "Fourth Class." 
 
 Every district in which such sum is not less than $500, 
 nor as much as $1,000, is called a library district of the 
 "Fifth Class." 
 
 Every district in which such sum is not less than $200 
 nor as much as $500, is called a library district of the 
 "Sixth Class." 
 
 And every district in which such sum is less than $200 
 is called a library district of the "Seventh Class." 
 
Ask any member of your School Board or Committee 
 what sum is authorized to be raised annually for the 
 schools, and you will be able at once to determine which 
 class of library districts you live in. 
 
 Having ascertained this, you will then know how much 
 money you may be able to get for your Free Library ; for 
 when a vote in favor of a library has been had, the School 
 Board or Committee is bound to raise by taxation for your 
 library a sum determined by the class of the district in 
 which the library has been voted for. 
 
 Thus in districts of the first class, the Board or Com- 
 mittee can raise for the library each year not less than 
 $250, nor more than $600 ; if of the second class, any 
 sum not less than $150 nor more than $400 ; if of the 
 third class, any sum not less than $100, nor more than 
 $300; if of the fourth class, any sum not less $75, nor 
 more than $200 ; if of the fifth class, any sum not less 
 than $50, nor more than $150 ; if of the sixth class, any 
 sum not less than $40, nor more than $100 ; and if of the 
 seventh class, any sum not less than $25, nor more than 
 #75- 
 
 For example, the Dover Library, being of the First 
 Class, can count upon the School Board of Dover to raise 
 for the Library any sum between $250 and $600. 
 
 In each case, the School Board or Committee is given a 
 certain discretion as to the sum which it is to raise for a 
 Free Library ; that is, it can't give less than a certain sum 
 named, nor more than a certain other sum specified in the 
 law. 
 
 In addition to the sum raised by taxation, the Library 
 also is entitled to a State dividend each year, the amount 
 of which is de terminable likewise by the class ; the dividend 
 being one-half of the minimum amount authorized to be 
 raised as before explained. Thus, Dover, being in the 
 First Class, will receive $125 yearly from the State, that be- 
 
2O 
 
 ing one-half of the $250, which is the lowest sum its Board 
 can raise for its Library. 
 
 It may be urged that in the case of districts below the 
 first, second or third classes, the sums of money which can 
 be counted on, are too small for the maintenance of a Free 
 Library. 
 
 To such an objection, several answers may be made. 
 Make your start, the rest will come. If necessary, begin 
 with a few books only, and build round them. You are 
 not working for one day but for generations. Our free 
 schools were inaugurated on the smallest and most econom- 
 ical scale. They have grown and flourished. So will it 
 be with the Free Libraries. 
 
 Moreover, you may increase the amount for your Library 
 to any sum desired by securing a special vote for this pur- 
 pose at any election of Library Commissioners. Start 
 your Library ; make it popular ; the money will be forth- 
 coming. 
 
 It may be urged again that the people do not really 
 need or want a Library. Persons may and probably do 
 think so. They are the ones who will say to you that they 
 are in favor of the Library themselves, but will warn you 
 against an attempt to establish one. Let me give you our 
 experience in Dover as an answer to such objectors. 
 
 For a number of years Dover had a most excellent sub- 
 scription Library. It had about three thousand books, 
 among the best published, and a good reading room with a 
 dozen or more of the best current periodicals. The mem- 
 bership fee was in time reduced to only one dollar a year, 
 two cents a week, in order that every family (so it was said) 
 might be able to have at least one subscription. Never- 
 theless, the membership roll became so small that even a 
 trifling sum required for the librarian, and heating and 
 lighting could be secured only through outside philanthropy. 
 
 When there was some talk of trying to establish a Free 
 Library in Dover, many people said it was absurd ; that 
 
21 
 
 the experience of the subscription Library proved clearly 
 that a Library here was not needed or wanted ; that the 
 readers owned their own books ; and so forth and so on. 
 Nevertheless the Free Library was established, and before 
 the doors had been opened half a year, in one single month, 
 over sixteen hundred pieces of reading matter had been 
 taken out from its shelves. Sixteen hundred books and 
 periodicals taken out in a single month, after such a brief 
 establishment, was enough to startle the most sanguine of 
 us. And yet, some very good people had said our town 
 didn't want or didn't need a Free Library ! 
 
 The need is present in every community, and desire in 
 many ; what is needed, and all that is needed, is energy 
 and persistent endeavor, and a little public spirit. 
 
 He who calls in the aid of an equal understanding, doubles his own ; 
 and he who profits by a superior understanding, raises his power to a 
 level with the height of the superior understanding he unites with. 
 
 BURKE. 
 
 DISTRICT LIBRARY COMMISSIONS. 
 
 The law provides that both women and men may serve 
 in these bodies, and that the number of members which 
 compose them shall vary according to the class into which 
 their districts fall, and must be as follows : 
 
 ist and 2d class, 9 members. 
 
 3d and 4th class, 5 members. 
 
 5th, 6th and yth class, 3 members. 
 
 As the management of a Public Library calls for the 
 exercise of many kinds of intelligence and ability besides 
 those used in the judgment of books, it is in the highest 
 degree important that great care should be taken in the 
 selection of these members, and some of the number 
 should assuredly be chosen because of eminence in ex- 
 ecutive ability, of business sagacity, and of unblemished 
 
22 
 
 integrity in political power, as well as for knowledge of 
 books. 
 
 The Library in fulfilling its highest functions will con- 
 tinually be brought into relations with its community which 
 will require the active use of each one of these qualities as 
 well as many others equally practical, and capacity and 
 willingness to work are more useful than a taste for litera- 
 ture without them. 
 
 Last, but by no means least, "the possession of that tolerant 
 temper which allows a man or woman to work harmoniously 
 and effectively as a member of the board, where individual 
 opinions and desires must always be balanced and modified 
 by the will and wisdom of the majority, is also a very 
 necessary endowment for such a position." 
 
 If possible try to have the interests of various sections of 
 the town represented and let neither church nor politics 
 affect the choice of library commissioners. 
 
 By reading we acquaint ourselves, in a very extensive manner, with 
 the affairs, actions and thoughts of the living and the dead, in the most 
 remote actions, and in the most distant ages ; and that with as much 
 ease as though they lived in our own age and nation. WATTS. 
 
 BY-LAWS SUGGESTED 
 For District Library Commissions. 
 
 i. OFFICERS. The officers of the District Library Com- 
 mission shall be a President, Vice-President and Secretary, 
 who shall be elected annually from its own members. 
 
 The President shall perform the duties generally per- 
 taining to that office, and in conjunction with the finance 
 committee shall make an estimate at the close of each 
 fiscal year of the probable expenses for the ensuing year, 
 and submit the same to the Commission for its action. 
 
 The Vice-President shall, in the absence or disability of 
 the President, perform all the duties of the President. 
 
23 
 
 The Secretary shall record all the official actions of the 
 Commission and have custody of all its official books, 
 records and accounts except those in current use by 
 another officer. 
 
 2. MEETINGS. The regular meetings of the Com- 
 mission shall be on the of each month at 
 
 p. m., at . 
 
 The annual meeting shall be on the of 
 
 in each year. 
 
 Special meetings shall be called by the President or by 
 request of any two members of the Commission for the 
 transaction only of business stated in the call. 
 
 Five, three or two (according to the class of the Dis- 
 trict), members shall constitute a quorum. 
 
 3. COMMITTEES. At the annual meeting the President 
 shall appoint standing committees as follows : A com- 
 mittee of members on books and supplies, a com- 
 mittee of members on finance, and a committee 
 
 of members on buildings and premises. 
 
 The committee on books and supplies shall supervise the 
 selection, buying, exchange and binding of books and 
 periodicals, and have general supervision of the adminis- 
 tration of the Library and reading room. 
 
 The finance committee shall have charge of all Library 
 finances, and examine and report upon all bills against the 
 Commission, and make an annual investigation of and re- 
 port upon the library fund in the hands of the Treasurer 
 of the School District. 
 
 The committee on buildings and premises shall have 
 general charge of the heating, lighting and arrangement 
 of the rooms, and the care of the fixtures and furniture. 
 
 4. CLAIMS. All claims against the District Library 
 Commission must be presented at a meeting of the Com- 
 mission and referred to the committee on finance for in- 
 vestigation and report. The President and the Secretary 
 
24 
 
 shall draw orders upon the Treasurer of the School District 
 for the payment of bills which the Commission orders paid. 
 
 5. LIBRARIAN. The Librarian shall have charge of the 
 Library and reading room and be responsible for the care 
 of the books and other library property ; classify and 
 arrange all books and publications and keep the same 
 catalogued according to such plans as may be approved by 
 the District Library Commission ; promptly report any de- 
 linquencies to the committee on books and supplies ; keep 
 exact account of all monies received from fines and other 
 sources and report all amounts to the Commission at its 
 
 regular meetings in , , , , 
 
 and pay all balances to the Secretary at the designated 
 meetings, and discharge such other duties as may be pre- 
 scribed by the District Library Commission, provided that 
 in the performance of such duties she shall not incur debt 
 or liability of any kind without express authority from the 
 Commission. 
 
 NOTE. Most small libraries will find it quite sufficient 
 to hold regular meetings once in two or three months. 
 
 When the Library's receipts from fines are light, the 
 Librarian might be allowed to retain them for some time, 
 and pay very small bills for postage, etc. , from them. 
 When settling with the Secretary she may pay the full 
 amounts and be given an order for the amount of her ex- 
 penditure. The Secretary should pay the balance to the 
 Treasurer of the School District before the time of the 
 final meeting and report. 
 
 When a Library Commission receives considerable sums 
 of money from other sources than from public taxation, it 
 may be advisable to elect a Treasurer from its own mem- 
 bers, and in such a case that officer should give adequate 
 bonds. 
 
 Many Libraries call in all their books by July ist each 
 year for the annual inventory to be taken before making 
 
25 
 
 up the report to be presented to the District at the annual 
 school meeting. If an accurate charging system is used it 
 is not really necessary to recall the books. 
 
 In books are treasures more than gold. 
 Great thoughts come down from minds of old, 
 Embalmed in forms that ever live, 
 And never cease their life to give. 
 How grand the monuments of mind ! 
 Which leave all others far behind 
 And shine with light that is sublime 
 Lighthouses on the coasts of Time ! 
 
 JOHN MOORE. 
 
 SUGGESTIONS TO VERY SMALL 
 LIBRARIES. 
 
 Friends of libraries, do not be discourged by the idea 
 that your Library, if you would have one, must make a 
 very small beginning. Scattered over this great country 
 of ours are hundreds of successful libraries begun on no 
 larger scale, and on a much more uncertain basis than 
 yours will be. Remember that year by year yours must 
 grow, and in proportion as you love and care for it, the 
 growth will be more rapid and healthy. 
 
 Therefore be content to have your collection of books a 
 very small one at first, and to have your equipment of the 
 smallest, least expensive sort, for five or ten years from 
 now you will realize that with all its lacks and deficiencies 
 your Library has been a source of pride and pleasure to its 
 earliest supporters, and that it has been of real value in 
 the community. 
 
 It will be unnecessary to have all the records and sys- 
 tems of management, etc., detailed elsewhere in this book 
 (though it will surely repay you to read it all, for the sake 
 of the suggestions and the general theory of Library policy 
 it prescribes), but for yourselves and the immediate pres- 
 
26 
 
 ent, much less elaborate "fixings" will be necessary and 
 desirable. 
 
 You may have to open your Library in the Schoolhouse 
 in the woods, and there are worse places for it than in so 
 sweet and fragrant a spot ; or perhaps a disused room over 
 the "Store" will be lent for the purpose; or the vestry 
 room of the Church may be made to do double duty. But 
 wherever you may keep your books, try to obtain reading 
 room privileges for your public as well as shelf room for 
 your books, and to make the place just as cheerful, clean 
 and bright as the circumstances permit. 
 
 Have your shelves (8 inches deep, by 10 high, will 
 accommodate nine-tenths of the books published), arranged 
 where the books will be least likely to be disturbed by 
 passing children and where they will make as attractive an 
 appearance as possible. Let the shelves be of smooth un- 
 painted boards, but keep them clean, and do not let them 
 be too long or they will sag under the weight of books and 
 look ugly, and perhaps damage the tops of tall books on 
 the shelves below. 
 
 The shelf divisions or supports ought not to be further 
 apart than from 32 to 36 inches, and if you are careful to 
 observe this rule, the shelves need not be more than three- 
 fourths of an inch thick. Do not have them higher than 
 you can reach conveniently (five shelves will be about 
 enough). Keep the lowest shelf three or four inches 
 above the floor to avoid having the sweepings and scrub 
 water spoil the books. 
 
 If you are lucky enough to have begged, borrowed or 
 bought as many as a thousand volumes to begin with, it 
 will be worth your while to insist on your Librarian's mak- 
 ing a study of the slightly more elaborate system of Library 
 management suggested elsewhere in this book ; but if you 
 begin with but one or two hundred books, and expect to 
 increase the collection by 20 to 50 volumes a year, then 
 
27 
 
 the methods described below will be sufficient and easier 
 at first. 
 
 If you can begin in a room especially devoted to the 
 Library's uses try to have it on the ground floor. Make 
 the room as attractive as you possibly can, and as cheer- 
 ful. Have the chairs as comfortable as you can get 
 it does not matter if they are of different patterns, 
 and try to have a few low ones for the little people. 
 
 A pot of geraniums or oxalis in the window, a rug of 
 bright rag carpet on the floor, a neat sheet of blotting 
 paper on the Librarian's table will add very much to the 
 pleasantness of the room, and will not cost a great deal. 
 
 Probably the neighbors would contribute some flowers 
 and chairs and a small deal table with a drawer in it for a 
 Librarian's desk. This would be sufficient for several 
 years to come. 
 
 Have a nice large table of plain deal, and keep on it 
 the newest numbers of the magazines neatly arranged. If 
 your income is small do not subscribe to the more ex- 
 pensive ones. At first take McClure, Munsey, Ladies 
 Home Journal, Youth's Companion, American Agricul- 
 turalist and the New York Times Saturday Book Review. 
 Nearly all can be had for $i each, and there is not one of 
 them that will not give an immense amount of pleasure 
 and profit to its readers. 
 
 Later in the Library's life, you will probably want to 
 add Harper and the Century, Scribner and Country Life, 
 etc., but probably not at first. 
 
 Do not buy any books the first year or so which will 
 not be used or read a good deal. George F. Bowerman, 
 Librarian of the Wilmington Institute Free Library, and a 
 member of the State Library Commission, has offered to 
 give any Delaware District Library the benefit of his ex- 
 pert knowledge in this matter, and if you will write to 
 him, or go to see him, and tell him how much money you 
 
28 
 
 have for books, he will aid you to make a selection, or 
 make one for you, and will get for you the largest discount 
 possible from his own dealers. This aid will save inex- 
 perienced book committees a great deal of money, and 
 many mistakes, and they cannot do better than to avail 
 themselves of the offer. 
 
 A hundred dollars should give you about forty or fifty 
 good novels, nearly as many children's books, about thirty 
 volumes of history, travel, biography, farming, and a 
 reference book or two, like some of Brewer's Handbooks, 
 or Bartlett's Familiar quotations. 
 
 There are numbers of excellent books to be had for the 
 asking, if one is interested enough to write a polite letter, 
 enclosing a stamp, and wise enough to appreciate the 
 value of the gift of a pamphlet or an unbound book. 
 
 Many of the railroads issue most attractive and inter- 
 esting books about places on their routes, and many shops 
 advertise themselves by giving information about the 
 articles which are their specialties. For instance, Wright, 
 Tyndall & Van Roden, of Philadelphia, have a "Book of 
 Pottery Marks," by W. Percival Jervis, which is an ex- 
 cellent book of reference for those interested in this sub- 
 ject. 
 
 If such books are kept carefully, they form quite a 
 valuable addition to the working stock of small libraries 
 which cannot afford expensive individual works on the 
 topics treated, nor yet cyclopedias. 
 
 The World Almanac, at 25 cents, will provide a Library 
 with a most varied fund of information about innumerable 
 subjects upon which people are always asking questions 
 such as the following : The labor laws ; the members of 
 the Senate ; the records of trotting horses ; when and 
 where Maude Adams was born ; who is the oldest of the 
 "Forty Immortals" of the "Academy" and why Cardinal 
 Richelieu founded it in 1635 ; how many survivors of the 
 War of 1812 are on the pension rolls, and a vast assort- 
 
2 9 
 
 ment of educational, governmental, masonic, sporting and 
 scientific statistics of all sorts geographical, climatic, 
 genealogical and banking information. It will be more 
 useful and more easily consulted than many a more ex- 
 pensive book or set of books. 
 
 From even the smallest Library thus equipped you can 
 get a great deal of information at very trifling expense and 
 trouble, and the sooner your District Library is begun the 
 better for all concerned. 
 
 For details of management, etc., you are referred to 
 both preceding and succeeding pages in this handbook and 
 to Plummer's "Hints for Small Libraries," both of 
 which you will do well to read with care, and to re- 
 fer to as difficulties arise. If met in a right spirit, 
 it is only fun to solve those difficulties, and your 
 Library will become a delight and enjoyment to you all. 
 
 Make its atmosphere as bright, hospitable and informal 
 as you possibly can ; extend its privileges as freely as you 
 know how ; keep it clean, have flowers in it, and sunshine 
 in winter, shade in summer, courtesy and kindliness at all 
 times, and there is no question that it will prosper and do 
 good. 
 
 SUPPLIES. 
 
 Even the smallest Library will need : 
 Accession book. 
 Registration book. 
 Book-stamp. 
 Book-pockets. 
 Book cards. 
 Borrower's cards. 
 Catalogue cards. 
 
 The last three items had best be bought of the Library 
 Bureau. 
 
 The first four can be got from any stationer. 
 
30 
 
 ACCESSION BOOK. 
 
 For the accession book in which to keep a record of 
 each addition to the Library, a ruled blank book about 8 
 by 10 inches will do. The Librarian can rule vertical 
 lines in it on each page, so spaced that she can enter in 
 columns the following items about each book, and to do 
 so will take the two pages facing each other and necessitate 
 using abbreviations when possible : Date (when entry 
 made}. Accession No. Author (surname, followed by 
 initials). Title (very brief). Place (where published). 
 Publisher (first name of firm is enough). Date (of publi- 
 cation). Pages (those numbered in main part of book). 
 Size. Binding (whether cloth, paper or leather, etc.) 
 Source (who gave it or of whom it was bought). Cost. 
 Remarks (whether re -bound, lost or withdrawn). Each 
 horizontal line should be numbered, and the same 
 number neatly written at the bottom of the first page fol- 
 lowing the title page in the book which is described on 
 that line. 
 
 Never give the same number twice if a book is lost or 
 destroyed its number is lost too, and a duplicate book or a 
 second copy must have a new number. 
 
 In such cases be sure to write in "Remarks" what has 
 become of the missing book and it is well to draw a 
 straight line right through its record to show at a glance 
 that you no longer have that book. 
 
 REGISTRATION BOOK. 
 
 The registration book may be just such another blank 
 book as the accession book, and its use as well as that of 
 the book cards, borrowers' cards and book pockets is care- 
 fully and clearly described in this handbook. (See index.) 
 
 BOOK STAMP. 
 
 The book stamp is merely a rubber stamp to be used 
 with an ink pad. It should bear the name and address of 
 the Library, and is employed as a mark of identification of 
 
the Library's property, to be stamped in each book to 
 show to whom it belongs. 
 
 Take pains to stamp your books evenly and carefully 
 and always in the same places in each separate book say 
 on the inside cover, on the first and last pages, and on the 
 margins of pp. 25 and 50. If used with care the stamps 
 will not disfigure the books. You will find a green, black, 
 purple or blue ink pad preferable, as the red pads are of a 
 very ugly tint. 
 
 CLASSIFICATION. 
 
 Even in the smallest Libraries it will be far better to 
 use at least so much of the Dewey Decimal Classification 
 as is described in Plummer's "Hints to Small Libraries," 
 because it will save trouble as the Library grows, but in 
 the beginning if there are only 100 to 300 books it may 
 seem easier to roughly class the books in groups as follows : 
 
 A Reference books (dictionaries, encyclopedias, 
 almanacs, etc.) 
 
 B Biography. 
 
 C History (including politics, economics and social 
 science. ) 
 
 D Literature (including essays, sermons and religion.) 
 
 E Science (including useful arts, agriculture, educa- 
 tion, etc.,) 
 
 F Fiction. 
 
 G Description, geography (including voyages and 
 travels. ) 
 
 J Juveniles or children's books. 
 
 K Amusements, games and sports. 
 
 L Fine arts (including painting, photography, de- 
 signing, sculpture, etc.) 
 
 M Miscellaneous. 
 
 All librarians are advised to take the trouble to under- 
 stand the Decimal Classification, however, as its groupings 
 are logical and elastic, and are readily comprehended as 
 one grows accustomed to their use. 
 
32 
 
 Whatever system is employed the class marks should be 
 neatly written in the cover of each book close to the upper 
 left hand corner, and also on the catalogue and shelf list 
 cards as elsewhere described. Then arrange the books 
 on the shelves according to their class, and arrange each 
 class alphabetically by the author's surname. 
 
 CATALOGUE. 
 
 For very small libraries a shelf list will serve for a 
 catalogue for a few years. Write very neatly on your 
 cards (see index), the following items in the following 
 order, giving one card to each book unless the work is in 
 more than one volume, then one card does for them all : 
 
 Class No Author's surname, initials 
 
 Author's Initial Title (brief) 
 
 Accession No. Vol. (No. if more than one) 
 
 Date (of publication) 
 
 Arrange the cards in the same order in their box that 
 you have the books on the shelves, do not allow any one 
 to remove them nor to alter their arrangement, though if 
 you use this shelf list for a catalogue you must give your 
 public free access to the cards as well as to the books. 
 
 RULES. 
 For rules, etc., (see index). 
 
 NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS DESIRED. 
 
 The State Library Commission of Delaware wishes to 
 keep a complete record of the growth of public, school and 
 traveling libraries in the State. To the end that it may 
 successfully do so, it asks Librarians and all friends of 
 libraries in Delaware, to send clippings or newspapers 
 showing the beginnings and growth of all Libraries. Notes 
 of improvements, changes, new books, gifts, entertain- 
 ments for libraries, criticisms, reports all will be grate- 
 fully received by the State Library Commission, Dover, 
 Delaware. 
 
33 
 
 Books should to one of these four ends conduce 
 For wisdom, piety, delight or use. 
 
 CHAUCER. 
 
 When a book raises your spirit and inspires you with noble and 
 courageous feelings, seek for no other rule to judge the event by ; it is 
 good and made by a good workman. DE LA BRUYERE. 
 
 SELECTION AND PURCHASE OF BOOKS. 
 
 If possible the selection of books should rest with the 
 Librarian under the general supervision of the Library 
 Commission or Book Committee. In making a selection 
 it will not be wise to consider merely the amount of money 
 in hand to be expended, but also the sums which will 
 probably be available for each succeeding year. 
 
 The choice should be influenced by the occupations and 
 leading interests of the community, its character, and aver- 
 age intelligence and habits. Keep in mind the avowed 
 purposes of the free tax supported Library, viz : To help 
 people to be happy, to help them to become wise, to en- 
 courage them to be good. 
 
 Remember that it is for all, and the first books bought 
 should therefore be those which experience shows that 
 people enjoy. They should be wholesome and interesting, 
 and should be in large proportion for children. 
 
 Fortunately the whole world enjoys the best children's 
 books, and as children are the Library's best pupils, they 
 should be most considered. Through the children, homes 
 are reached. Through their use of the Library, and their 
 approval of it, they add to its popularity. 
 
 The small District Library in its. early life may well be- 
 gin near the level of the community's average reading, 
 but as it is the purpose of the Public Library to develop 
 some degree of literary culture among its readers, the se- 
 lection of books for it should always strive to be a little in 
 advance of public demand, for as a rule people will read 
 
34 
 
 books which are above their own intellectual and moral 
 standards, and hence are benefited by reading. 
 
 The initial collection of a Library may well be based upon 
 the subject list of the catalogue of the "A. L. A." Model 
 Library of 8,000 volumes to be shown by the American 
 Library Association at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, 
 1904, (Library of Congress, Washington, D. C. Free.), 
 and to a large extent its books should also be included in 
 any Library. By this means a broad foundation for the 
 Library will be established, and upon it the Library can 
 be built up and enlarged to meet the special needs of those 
 who use it, and what these needs are to be only experience 
 can teach. 
 
 The proportion of books in the various departments of 
 knowledge must necessarily vary in different libraries, but 
 the following, recommended by J. C. Dana in his ad- 
 mirable "Library Primer" (Library Bureau, $i), will be 
 a good general guide : 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 General works 04 
 
 Philosophy . . . . 01 
 
 Religion : 02 
 
 Sociology 09 
 
 Philology . . .01 
 
 Science 08 
 
 Useful arts 06 
 
 Fine arts 04 
 
 Literature 12 
 
 Biography 10 
 
 History 13 
 
 Travel . . 10 
 
 Fiction . 20 
 
 Total ioo 
 
 No Library, however small, can dispense with some 
 books of reference, but it is not necessary to buy the 
 
35 
 
 most expensive for instance, the New International or the 
 new edition of Chambers' Encyclopedia, would be far more 
 useful in any small Library than the Encyclopedia Brit- 
 tanica and it costs about a third as much. 
 
 An excellent list of reference books will be found in 
 "Hints to small libraries." (see index. ) A knowledge 
 of one's state and one's county should assuredly be de- 
 veloped as much as possible. Books of local and national 
 biography, natural science, politics, literature and history 
 should be purchased as largely as the library funds justify, 
 while it will not be wise to devote much money to the 
 purchase of rare or very old books which will never be 
 read. 
 
 Much can be done in the direction of fostering local 
 historical interests by collecting and storing all manner of 
 materials for preserving local records. Programmes of en- 
 tertainments given to further public enterprises, local 
 theatre programmes, library notices, photographs of old 
 landmarks often issued as advertisements these and 
 many other unconsidered trifles will eventually become 
 valuable, and can be acquired and kept at little or no ex- 
 pense by the Free Public Libraries, if the Librarians are 
 sufficiently interested. A note in the local papers may 
 bring the Library valuable gifts of this sort, and a cour- 
 teous acknowledgment of every gift, however small, be it 
 of books, money or papers, will help to make friends for 
 the Library and keep alive interest in its work. 
 
 "Books of purely ephemeral value, books made of bass- 
 wood paper and printed with logwood ink, should be ex- 
 cluded," says Mr. Hutchins of the Wisconsin Library 
 Commission, and the library world concurs in his dictum. 
 
 Therefore, in buying standard authors always choose 
 good, though plain editions, for the expenses of rebinding 
 and of strain on readers' eyes should be considered. 
 
 In buying classics choose standard full editions, such as 
 Bonn's. 
 
36 
 
 In buying translations select only the best, as Worme- 
 ley's Balzac, or Wister's from the German. 
 
 In buying novels, choose well-bound, well-printed edi- 
 tions. 
 
 Do not buy second hand books unless you have seen 
 them or can return them if they do not suit. Unless books 
 are clean and in good condition the public will abuse them 
 and too many libraries are but little more than collections 
 of soiled books. 
 
 It is not generally possible to buy advantageously of local 
 dealers at present, as ordinarily they cannot afford to give 
 good terms and frequently are unable to give proper assist- 
 ance in the selection .of editions, etc. 
 
 It is usually better to go to a dealer in a large city and it 
 is much more economical to order through one dealer when 
 possible, in order to avoid annoyance, mistakes, extra ex- 
 pressage and correspondence. A good dealer will be able 
 to give much valuable advice as to editions and will be 
 careful to send you only the latest scientific publications. 
 All Libraries should receive a discount of at least 10%. 
 
 It will be much better for the interests of the Library to 
 make the book purchases frequent rather than large, both 
 because this attains greater economy in preparing the 
 books for circulation, and because they come before the 
 reader with more sense of novelty and freshness. "It is 
 better to spend an income of $600 per year in monthly in- 
 stallments of $50 than it is to buy $300 lots twice a year." 
 
 Keep a record of all orders. For books, this record 
 should be on separate slips, and should have the author's 
 name, brief title, number of volumes, place, publisher, date 
 and if possible, the publisher's price, dealer's name, date 
 of order, and, if the purchase has been requested by a 
 reader, that person's name and address. All libraries 
 should encourage their readers to suggest books desired by 
 them which are not in the Library, and it would be well 
 
37 
 
 to provide slips for the purpose of receiving these sugges- 
 tions, and as far as practicable they should be acted upon. 
 
 The Commission issues "Suggestive lists of Books for a 
 Small Library" in conjunction with the State Library 
 Commissions of Wisconsin, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota and 
 Nebraska, and these lists with much useful information 
 about buying, ordering, etc., will be mailed free to any 
 one who will write to the State Library Commission to 
 ask for them. Ten of these lists have already been issued, 
 and they have been found invaluable in many States be- 
 sides those responsible for their publication. 
 
 They have been complied mainly by Frank Hutchins 
 of the Wisconsin Free Library Commission, than whom 
 no one is more competent to judge of books for such a 
 purpose, and the books selected for inclusion in the lists 
 have been actually examined before being admitted to 
 them. 
 
 For further guidance in choosing books for the District 
 Libraries a list of aids and guides in the selection of books 
 will be found (see index), and it should be born in mind 
 that besides those mentioned there are a number of other 
 excellent lists of popular books comp'iled by experts which 
 can be had at cost price or for the asking from Librarians 
 or publishers. 
 
 If a book be of religion, and brings God nearer to my heart and life ; 
 if it be of humanity, and brings me nearer to the heart and life of man ; 
 if it be of philosophy, and makes this universe glow to me with a new 
 grace ; or of metaphysics, and brings me more truly to myself ; if it be 
 poem, or story, adventure or history, or biography, and. I feel that it 
 makes me more of a man, more dutiful, and sincere, and trusty, then 
 no matter who wrote it or what men may say about it, the judgment is 
 set in my own soul. REV. ROBERT COLLYER. 
 
A use-ful les-son you may con 
 My Child, from the Cham-e-le-on. 
 He has the Gift ex-tre-me-ly rare 
 In An-i-mals, of Savoir Faire. 
 And if the secret you would guess 
 Of the Cham-e-le-on' s Success, 
 A-dapt your-self with great-est Care 
 To your Sur-round-ings ev-ery- where, 
 And then unless your Sex prevent 
 You may some-day, be Pres-i-dent ! 
 
 HERFORD. 
 
 THE LIBRARIAN. 
 
 Upon this subject we can do no better than to quote 
 from the Wisconsin Library Commission's Handbook. Its 
 presentation of the requirements for a Librarian has re- 
 ceived cordial endorsement from other State Library Com- 
 missions all over the country, and from all Librarians, and 
 while it may be impossible for Delaware's District Library 
 Commissions in every instance, to act upon the advice 
 contained in the following extract, its general trend must 
 be kept in mind if the Libraries are ever to attain their 
 highest usefulness and noblest ideals. 
 
 "As the usefulness of the Library will depend upon its 
 Librarian, the greafest care should be exercised in se- 
 lecting that officer. 
 
 "She should be engaged even before the general char- 
 acter of the Library and plan of administration have been 
 determined, she should not be chosen because she is some- 
 body's aunt, because she is poor and deserving, because 
 she is kindly, because she belongs to a certain church or 
 literary society, nor even because she has a reputation as a 
 reader of books. 
 
 "She should have culture, executive ability, tact, sym- 
 pathy for children and some knowledge of library methods. 
 
 "Save money in other ways but never by employing a 
 forceless man or woman as Librarian. 
 
39 
 
 Trained librarians are best, but if you have but little 
 money and must be content to employ some local applicant 
 without experience, insist that the appointee shall im- 
 mediately make an intelligent study of library methods in 
 some Library School, Summer Library School, or in some 
 small Library. 
 
 She should become imbued with "library spirit" and be 
 keenly alive to the tremendous possibilities of her work. 
 
 She should learn how to get help from other Librarians, 
 and from the vast store of library experience found in 
 books, when she is puzzled by professional problems. 
 
 Few persons in a community have such great oppor- 
 tunities as the Librarian. 
 
 Children and the best children's books should be her 
 constant associates and friends, for she may shape the read- 
 ing, and so the thoughts, of hundreds of impressionable 
 little ones. She should be a leader and a teacher, earnest, 
 enthusiastic and intelligent. She should be able to win 
 the confidence of children and should be wise to lead them 
 by easy stages from good books to the best. 
 
 When a board of directors can secure such a Librarian 
 they may. wisely afford to employ her even if her salary 
 eats up a large portion of the income. A Librarian should 
 be in fact, as well as in theory, the responsible head of the 
 Library and should be consulted in all matters relative to 
 its management. Directors should impose responsibilities, 
 grant freedom and exact results." 
 
 Should the District Library Commission deem it im- 
 possible to pay for the services of a trained librarian, they 
 will surely be able to find in every community some young 
 woman of good education and pleasant manner and ad- 
 dress, whose tastes would lead her to undertake her work 
 in the right spirit at least and for such a one the six 
 weeks of training in one of the summer training schools 
 would be the means of her undertaking her work with an 
 
40 
 
 intelligence, helpfulness and enthusiasm which would prove 
 invaluable to the interests of the Library. 
 
 It would also be wise to engage the services of a trained 
 organizer from one of the Library schools for a few weeks 
 at least, to guide and assist the Librarian in beginning the 
 work, for if it is done properly at first it will not need to 
 be done over again at greater expense of time and money 
 at a later stage of the work after the Library has grown as 
 it needs must with its yearly appropriations from District 
 and State. 
 
 Advice and information with regard to permanent 
 librarians, their terms, etc., can also be best obtained by 
 application to the Library schools. 
 
 To the Librarian herself may be quoted this advice from 
 one of the strongest and most original of America's 
 librarians, John Cotton Dana: "Be punctual ; be atten- 
 tive ; help to develop enthusiasm in your assistants ; be 
 neat and consistent in your dress ; be dignified but 
 courteous in your manner. Be careful in your contracts ; 
 be square with your board ; be concise and technical ; be 
 accurate ; be courageous and self-reliant ; be careful about 
 acknowledgments ; be not worshipped of your work ; be 
 careful of your health. Last of all, be yourself?" 
 
 Books let us into the souls of men, and lay open to us the secrets of 
 our own. They are the first and last, the most home-felt, the most 
 heart-felt of all our enjoyments. WILLIAM HAZLITT. 
 
 GENERAL POLICY OF A LIBRARY. 
 
 Make the regulations few and unobtrusive. Let the 
 atmosphere of the Library be cheerful and orderly, and 
 insist that Librarian and assistants thall treat every one, 
 young and old, ignorant or educated, with a uniform 
 obliging courtesy. 
 
 Have open shelves and give the public free access to the 
 
41 
 
 books. They like to handle and examine the books and 
 it is a valuable part of their education that they should do 
 so. One may well "give the people at least such liberty 
 with their own collection of books as the bookseller gives 
 them with his. Trust the American genius for self-control. 
 Remember the deference for the rights of others with 
 which you and your fellows conduct yourselves in your 
 own homes, at public tables, at general gatherings" (y. C. 
 Dana}, and remember always that the Library can only 
 perform its high functions in proportion to the use it re- 
 ceives. 
 
 People will go to a Library because they like to go and 
 not because some one else thinks they ought to, and any 
 policy which imposes unnecessary checks upon the public 
 will help to render the Libraries by just so much the less 
 agreeable and will seriously lessen their usefulness. 
 
 Such rules and regulations as are passed should be en- 
 forced, but see to it that they are as few and as little 
 annoying to the public as possible. 
 
 It cannot be too strongly impressed upon those in charge 
 of libraries that the work of greatest consequence in a Free 
 Public Library will probably not take the form of inspiring 
 a book output which is the result of careful research or 
 which will be a valuable contribution to science, art or in- 
 dustry, but rather in the general and gradual elevation of 
 intellectual tone in our small communities, the stimulation 
 of an enduring spirit, an interest in the thought of the 
 world, and in broadening the minds of average men and 
 women. The Free Public Library is the school of the 
 many, but if "the many" play truant it will not be 
 an effective school they must work in it, play in it, 
 handle its books, and by so doing come to know them, 
 use them, and gain wisdom from that use. 
 
 It is strongly urged that all" Delaware' s Free Libraries 
 should extend their privileges fully and cordially to their 
 country neighbors, and that, should the District Library 
 
42 
 
 Commissions feel it necessary to exact a fee for this ex- 
 tension of the privileges, they will endeavor to make the 
 fee as small a one as possible. 
 
 By reading of books, we may learn something from all parts of man- 
 kind ; whereas by observation we learn all from ourselves, and only 
 what comes within our own direct cognizance. By conversation we 
 can only enjoy the unction of a very few persons, those who are mov- 
 ing, and live at the same time that we do that is, our neighbors and 
 contemporaries, WATTS. 
 
 READING ROOM. 
 
 Wherever there is a possibility of a reading room there 
 should be one in connection with the Library, for they often 
 prove its most attractive feature. The general atmosphere 
 of this room should be as quiet, cheerful, orderly and in- 
 viting as possible. 
 
 There should be no signs commanding the users of the 
 Library to do or not to do various things. If the Librarian 
 finds that patrons abuse their privileges, or are noisy or 
 otherwise inconsiderate of the rights of others, she must try 
 to tactfully bring about the change she requires, and she 
 may occasionally post a notice courteously requesting it. 
 Signs giving helpful information to readers are of course 
 permissible, but it should be seen to that they harmonize 
 with the furnishing of the room and are clean. Gray or 
 some other neutral tint is usually preferable to white card 
 board for all such signs. 
 
 For use in the reading room, a village Library ought to 
 keep the files of local papers and if the funds permit the 
 expenditure, one or two dailies or a weekly from the near- 
 est large town. It would scarcely be expedient to go furth- 
 er in this direction the money used could be more use- 
 fully applied elsewhere. It may be suggested that local 
 editors are often willing from motives of civic pride, to 
 give the local libraries copies of their papers free of charge, 
 
43 
 
 and they would unquestionably be the more inclined to do 
 so were they assured that the files would be kept for 
 reference. 
 
 It is a tie between men to have read the same book ; and it is a dis- 
 advantage not to have read the book your mates have read r or not to 
 have read it at the same time, so that it may take the place in your cul- 
 ture it does in theirs, and you shall understand their allusions to it r and 
 not give it more or less emphasis than they do. EMERSON. 
 
 PERIODICALS. 
 
 More than one little struggling Library has been enabled 
 to hold its own with its small Public by means of two or 
 three sets of Periodicals, and has been enabled by their 
 means to accomplish work which could not have been so well 
 done by the aid of many professed books of reference, the 
 purchase of which would have exhausted the entire book 
 fund. "Given Poole's Index and a complete set of Littell'' 's 
 Living Age ($6 a year), and of Harper ($4 a year), more 
 work can be done than with twice that number of reference 
 books not periodicals," says Frederic W. Faxon, of the 
 Boston Book Co. 
 
 They furnish us with the best fiction, the best poetry, 
 the best discussions of all subjects old and new ; the latest 
 science, and beyond all this they draw us into relation with 
 the great outer world and the current of human interests in 
 all fields and on all subjects. 
 
 It will do far more to stimulate the mental life of a com- 
 munity and to broaden its horizon, deepen its sympathies, 
 awaken its observation and encourage its aspirations, if the 
 village Library diverts a part of its book fund from acquir- 
 ing inferior books, and more especially inferior novels, to 
 the purchase and care of good periodicals. 
 
 These not only play the part of inciting and creating in- 
 terests of various sorts, but they are most valuable for ref- 
 erence work. In the better class of reviews, one who 
 
44 
 
 knows how to look, will usually find both sides of almost 
 any subject in articles written by the most eminent students 
 of that subject, and in a language intelligible to all. 
 
 This mine of information is opened to the reader in 
 small libraries by the use of Poole's Index of magazines, 
 abridged, indexing to the close of 1900, and by the Read- 
 er's Guide to Periodical Literature (Wilson, Minneapolis, 
 $6 a year) indexing to date. By means of these indexes 
 a Library has the equipment for tracing almost any maga- 
 zine article wanted. The new index to St. Nicholas, pub- 
 lished by H. W. Wilson, Minneapolis, for $4, would be 
 simply invaluable to teachers and children in any Library 
 so fortunate as to own even a partial set of the 27 bound 
 volumes which compose that treasure house of childhood 
 and it would often be of service to others seeking a fa- 
 miliar and untechnical treatment of many topics. 
 
 To attract children it would be wise to have a few good 
 juvenile magazines say St. Nicholas and The Youth s 
 Companion and as for the standard and popular monthlies 
 and quarterlies, there should be no question as to taking 
 them they are a necessity. Whether the Library has a 
 reading room or not, these should be taken as freely as the 
 Library funds admit. 
 
 Post a list of the periodicals regularly received by the 
 Library in the Reading Room, and also a list of those 
 taken which are indexed in "Poole," or in the "Reader's 
 Guide," or in the St. Nicholas Index if you possess the in- 
 dexes. (See p. 46.) These three lists might be neatly 
 type written on one page, if the list is a small one, or on 
 two or more fastened together, if larger. 
 
 It would be well to send a copy of these lists to your 
 local papers three or four times a year, and to ask their 
 readers to cut out and keep the slips. Post these lists, 
 and those recording additions of new books, or reading 
 lists on some subject of local or of passing interest, in the 
 schools, the post office, in R. R. stations, in the hotels, 
 
45 
 
 the shop windows, grange meetings, or, wherever else they 
 may call attention to the fact that the Library is trying to 
 serve its community. 
 
 The custom of circulating the unbound back numbers of 
 current magazines is growing in favor in American libra- 
 ries, though the readers are generally not allowed to 
 keep them more than three days or a week, and without 
 the privilege of renewal. If this is done, the magazines 
 should be put in binders made to fit the magazine, and 
 marked both with its and the Library's name, in order to 
 identify it as the Library's property and to keep the ma- 
 gazine clean and smooth. Strong manila paper covers 
 will be found fairly satisfactory for this purpose, though a 
 cheap temporary binding is better. 
 
 A careful record should be kept of each magazine 
 ordered, of whom ordered, of the cost of subscription, 
 and of the dates when ordered, when the subscription be- 
 gins and expires, and of the agency's receipted bill. The 
 Commission recommends the system of record described 
 in "Hints to Small Libraries." It will be found compact, 
 economical and accurate. (See index. ) 
 
 It is best and most economical both of time and money 
 to order periodicals through an agency, and to arrange that 
 subscriptions shall coincide with the calendar year, disre- 
 garding the volume arrangements of the publishers. From 
 5 to 20 per cent, can often be saved on the cost of per- 
 iodicals by ordering them in this way through a reliable 
 subscription agency. 
 
 Love of reading enables a man to exchange the weary hours which 
 come to every one, for hours of delight. MONTESQUIEU. 
 
4 6 
 
 PERIODICAL INDEXES. 
 
 Poolers Index to Periodical Literature. Abridged 
 edition. Houghton. $12. 
 
 Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature. H. W. Wil- 
 son, Minneapolis, Minn. $6. Each month's issue 
 cumulates the entries of the previous numbers of 62 ma- 
 gazines, covering the period from Jan. ist to date. 
 
 Index to St. Nicholas. H. W. Wilson, Minneapolis, 
 Minn. $4. 
 
 There are three classes of readers ; some enjoy without judgment ; 
 others judge without enjoyment ; and some there are who judge while 
 they enjoy, and enjoy while they judge. GOETHE. 
 
 LIBRARY MANAGEMENT. 
 
 Libraries started with an assured income, however small, 
 with a right spirit, a good Librarian and even a few enter- 
 taining books, can hardly fail of success. Many problems 
 will arise as the Library grows, but much help in solving 
 them may always be obtained from the experience of others. 
 Therefore it is most necessary for those engaged in organiz- 
 ing libraries to get thoroughly into touch with their co-work- 
 ers elsewhere in order that they may be able to take ad- 
 vantage of the store of accumulated experience thus to be 
 obtained. 
 
 It is much better not to begin by projecting great plans 
 at the outset, but it is wisdom to make a beginning, how- 
 ever small, and to "cross your bridges as you come to 
 them" is a very good general rule for the village library. 
 Whatever it succeeds in doing becomes a fulcrum for 
 further efforts, and will aid and illustrate the arguments 
 for interesting people in the work. 
 
 In newspaper and other notices of the Library, it will 
 often be found wiser to refrain from figures and to give 
 
47 
 
 only general statements as to what it has accomplished and 
 what it hopes to do. 
 
 As regards the details of management, no District Li- 
 brary Commission can do better than to adopt in general 
 the advice contained in Miss Mary W. Plummer's "Hints 
 to Small Libraries" of which a copy will be presented by 
 the State Library Commission, to any Free Public Library 
 or District Library Commission of Delaware, which will 
 apply for it. The plans laid down in this very admirable 
 little work are capable of expansion to meet the needs of 
 rapidly growing Libraries and the means and methods Miss 
 Plummer describes are at once economical, practical and 
 liberal. All readers are referred to her book for explana- 
 tion of the technical terms in the series of recommenda- 
 tions that follow, but those whose little libraries must be- 
 gin at the very beginning, whose income must long remain 
 but a few dollars a year, whose Librarian's salary must be 
 so small that it can scarcely be seen without the aid of a 
 miscroscope these readers are especially asked to turn 
 also to "Suggestions to very Small Libraries" on /. 25, 
 whose recommendations may be found more immediately 
 useful to them. 
 
 Classification. The Commission recommends that the 
 Dewey Decimal system of classifying books be adopted 
 in all Libraries possessing as many as 1000 volumes, as 
 being more widely used than any other, as being "less 
 expensive ; more easily understood, remembered and used ; 
 practical rather than theoretical ; brief and familiar in its 
 nomenclature ; best for arranging pamphlets, sale dupli- 
 cates and notes, and for indexing ; susceptible of partial 
 and gradual adoption without confusion ; more conven- 
 ient in keeping statistics, and checks for books off the 
 shelves ; the most satisfactory adaptation of the card cata- 
 logue principle to the shelves. It requires less space to 
 shelve the books ; uses simpler symbols and fewer of them ; 
 can be expanded without limit and without confusion or 
 
4 8 
 
 waste of labor, in both catalogues and on shelves, or in 
 catalogues alone-; checks more thoroughly and conven- 
 iently against mistakes ; admits more readily numerous 
 cross references ; is unchangeable in its call numbers, 
 and so gives them in all places where needed; in its in- 
 dex affords an answer to the greatest objection to class 
 catalogues, and is the first satisfactory union of the advan- 
 tages of the class and dictionary systems" it is, on the 
 whole, as elastic and satisfactory as any known system of 
 classification and is to be had already worked out and 
 printed in a convenient and intelligible and inexpensive 
 form. 
 
 The "Abridged Decimal Classification and Relativ 
 Index" will be found the most satisfactory for libraries of 
 not more than five thousand volumes, and its use allows of 
 easy expansion into the unabridged form should the change 
 prove necessary. (Library Bureau. $i.) 
 
 Plummer's "Hints to Small Libraries" contains a few of 
 its main divisions, and with the aid of her clear explana- 
 tion no Librarian will find the system troublesome to use 
 even for the very smallest collection of books. 
 
 Author Book Numbers. The Commission recommends 
 the use of the "Cutter Book Numbers," ($i.) with 
 full explanations of how to use them. A little attention 
 will make the system easy to apply. Somewhat simplified 
 explanations will be sent on request by the State Library 
 Commission with Miss Plummer's "Hints to Small Libra- 
 ries." The use of these tables -in assigning distinguish- 
 ing book numbers greatly facilitates the arrangement of all 
 the books in a given group or class in the alphabetical 
 order of their authors' names, both on the shelves and in 
 the catalogue, and they are a great convenience to the 
 librarian, and, if free access to the shelves is allowed, as 
 the Commission strongly recommends, to the public also. 
 
 Catalogue. The Commission strongly recommends 
 that all libraries should keep their catalogues on cards. 
 
49 
 
 The public will immediately ask for printed lists or cata- 
 logues, but only the richest institutions can afford to have 
 them. They are very expensive, they are out of date be- 
 fore issued, they cannot often be sold ; they require train- 
 ing and experience to make properly, and the money and 
 time they cost had far better be expended otherwise. 
 
 Print lists of new books in the newspapers and save the 
 slips. Post them in the Library. Send them to the 
 schools, the reading, study and debating clubs, and 
 women's clubs, the P. O., the R. R. stations anywhere 
 and everywhere in short, where they may call attention to 
 the fact that the Library lives and grows. Then put your 
 time, skill, energy and money into the making of a full 
 card catalogue ; keep it up to date ; give the Public ac- 
 cess to it ; then teach them how to use it, and you will 
 find the printed catalogue unneeded. The Commission 
 recommends using the " Dictionary" form of card cata- 
 logue, on "33 1. 'standard catalogue cards," (Library 
 Bureau, $2.25 per 1,000), according to the cataloguing 
 rules given in Dewey's "Simplified Library School Rules." 
 (Library Bureau, $1.25.) 
 
 Here it will suffice to say that in a dictionary catalogue, 
 authors, titles and subjects are placed in one alphabetical 
 series, and it will be readily seen how great a convenience 
 this might be to a reader who, remembering the author, but 
 not the name nor subject of some desired book, or know- 
 ing the subject but neither title nor author, or the title and 
 neither subject nor author could, on consulting the cata- 
 logue exactly as he would a dictionary in the light of the 
 one piece of information he did possess, immediately 
 supply the missing links, and learn where in the Library 
 his book might be. 
 
 Full explanation of a dictionary catalogue by its invent- 
 or, the late Charles A. Cutter, can be procured on applica- 
 tion to the U. S. Bureau of Education, for Cutter's Rules 
 for a Dictionary Catalogue, 1891, p. 99-103. These rules 
 
50 
 
 have been adopted by the American Library Association. 
 
 Note. The Library of Congress is now prepared to 
 furnish copies of any of the catalogue cards which it is 
 now currently printing or which it has heretofore printed 
 so far as copies for these can be supplied from stock. 
 
 This will include : 
 
 (a) Books currently copyrighted under the laws of the 
 United States. 
 
 (b) Miscellaneous material so far as acquired by it. 
 
 (c) All other books in its present collection as these are 
 reached in the process of reclassifi cation. 
 
 These cards are author cards only, but in the following 
 groups at least, subject headings will be suggested, and 
 on all they may be prefixed with pen or typewriter to the 
 author cards to form subject cards. 
 it Copyrighted books. 
 
 2. Bibliography and library science. 
 
 3. American history. 
 
 4. Each new group as reclassified. 
 
 COST. The charge will be based upon the cost of the 
 extra copies plus 10 per cent. It will not exceed 2 cents 
 for a single copy of a single card, and ^ cent more for 
 each additional copy, and less if the order is received be- 
 fore the cards are printed. 
 
 ORDERING. In ordering these cards write as follows on 
 a 33 size (5^x7^ centimetres) slip of paper : 
 
 Author's surname, First name (in full). 
 Brief title. Edition. 
 
 Publisher, Copyright date. 
 
 Add the Library's name and the number of cards wanted 
 on each slip, and mail them in an envelope with a franked 
 label which will be provided on request by the Library of 
 Congress. 
 
 For orders of a certain size there is a considerable dis- 
 count allowed, and on this point all Delaware Librarians 
 
are advised to write to George F. Bowerman, Librarian of 
 the Wilmington Institute Free Library, and member of the 
 State Library Commission of Delaware. Mr. Bowerman 
 has kindly offered to help any of our Libraries to take ad- 
 vantage of this discount and to give them any further in- 
 formation on the subject that they may require. 
 
 Shelf List. The commission recommends that all Li- 
 braries should keep a shelf list on cards (32 1. size being 
 much the best for this purpose, Library Bureau, $1.60 per 
 1,000.) It is a catalogue of all the books in a Library 
 arranged in the order in which they stand on the shelves 
 a subject index of the Library, and is indispensable to 
 the proper administration of one, for the work of stock 
 taking, and of correctly class-numbering and author-num- 
 bering new books. Very clear and simple rules for mak- 
 ing a shelf list will be found in Dewey's "Simplified Li- 
 brary School Rules," p. 65. 
 
 Registration of Readers. In small places where the 
 Librarian can generally know of her own knowledge 
 the character and standing of the persons who will apply 
 for books it will be undesirable and unnecessary for a small 
 Library to burden itself with a guaranty system which 
 would but involve double work in the cases where fines 
 must be collected for the loss or undue detention of books. 
 
 A numerical Register of Borrowers might well be kept 
 in a book, each page of which is headed by a printed 
 agreement to pay all fines due by the Borrower and to obey 
 the rules of the Library. Each applicant signing his name 
 below this agreement will thus have given his pledge. 
 
 The lines of this book should be numbered consecutive- 
 ly, each number representing a Borrower, and his signa- 
 ture and address should follow on the same line. 
 
 The date should be written each morning before any 
 new names are added. 
 
 Each person's number and the date of the expiration of 
 
52 
 
 his privileges should be written on his card. It is usual to 
 require Borrowers to renew their library agreements every 
 one or two years. If, for any reason, a Borrower should 
 be deprived of his privileges, the fact should be entered in 
 the registration book after his name. If red ink is used for 
 this purpose, it will assist the eye in noting the record. In 
 order to form an idea of how many people are using the 
 Library at any given time an account of the expiration 
 and renewals of library privileges should be kept. 
 
 FINES. The assessment and collection of fines is one 
 of the most disagreeable and difficult of a Librarian's du- 
 ties, but in order to make it as little unpleasant as possible, 
 it should be done promptly and firmly without respect of 
 persons. Lost books should be paid for at their original 
 cost in order to compensate the Library not merely for 
 their loss but for the additional work of replacing them. 
 
 Charging System. The Commission recommends the 
 following charging system as being rapid and accurate and 
 requiring but little of the public : 
 
 (a) BORROWER'S CARD. On a card (33a charging 
 card, Library Bureau, $2 per 1,000), known as the Read- 
 er's or Borrower's card is written in the upper left hand 
 corner the Borrower's number (see Registration Book), 
 and in the upper right hand corner the date of the expira- 
 tion of his Library privileges. On the line below, his sur- 
 name followed by his given names. On the line below 
 that, his address. These cards should be filed alphabeti- 
 cally by the Borrower's name in a "tray" kept for that 
 purpose (see Library Bureau catalogue. ) When he desires 
 to borrow a book, this card should be found and the date 
 of issue written in the first vacant space below his name 
 and address. In the vacant space next to the right should 
 
 be written the call number (as _ consisting of both 
 
 D65 
 
 class and book number), of the book he takes, and the 
 card filed again until the book is returned, when the card 
 
53 
 
 should be found and the date of return entered in the va- 
 cant space next to the right of the call number. No 
 spaces or lines should be skipped or omitted, and when the 
 face of the card is full, the back should be used in the 
 same manner. When necessary to make a new card for a 
 borrower, it should be marked "card 2," and so on, and 
 the old cards filed for statistics. 
 
 (b) BOOK CARD. Each book in the Library should 
 have a card similar to the Borrower's card, but of a differ- 
 ent color in order to avoid confusion (these can be bought 
 in ten colors of the Library Bureau. The Commission uses 
 a white borrower's card and a blue book card in its Travel- 
 ing Libraries). 
 
 On the book card the class number should be written 
 on the left side of the top line, and the book number on 
 the right. On the line should be written the author's sur- 
 name, and on a third line a brief title of the book. 
 
 In the back of each book, inside the cover, should be a 
 pocket consisting of a plain square of white paper pasted 
 at the sides and lower edge, and large enough to admit of 
 the book card's being slipped in and out readily. In this 
 pocket the book card is kept while on the shelves. Book 
 pockets can be obtained in many forms and at various 
 prices, but the Commission find the plain white squares 
 (4x4 ins.) used in their Traveling Libraries entirely satis- 
 factory, and they cost about 5oc a thousand from any 
 stationer or printer. 
 
 When a book is borrowed the book card should be with- 
 drawn from its pocket and the date of issue should be en- 
 tered both on the pocket, and in the first vacant space be- 
 low the title on the card. The reader's number (always 
 to be found on his card) should be written on the card in 
 the next space to the right, and then filed in a box similar 
 to that in which the borrower's cards are kept. 
 
 At the end of the day the book cards should be 
 
54 
 
 arranged in the order of their class numbers first, 
 and then alphabetically by the book numbers. Thus 
 (Class No ) 9 and then th 
 
 065 (Book No.) Eio 
 
 should be filed away by date, each day's cards being 
 separated by guide cards or by thin pieces of wood bear- 
 ing the number of the day in the upper left hand corner. 
 These pieces of wood should be taller than the cards when 
 standing upright in their tray. One division of the card 
 box or tray, as librarians term them, should be used for the 
 cards of books which are out over time, and if the Librarian 
 chooses, this division might be subdivided for book over- 
 due one week or less, the next for books overdue between 
 one or two weeks, etc. 
 
 When the Borrower brings his book back, the book card 
 is found by means of the date on the book pocket, and as 
 soon as the date of return has been entered on the Bor- 
 rower's card as before described, the book card is put in 
 its pocket and the book on the shelf. 
 
 It is best to do this at once if possible, but it may hap- 
 pen that several people will be waiting to borrow or re- 
 turn books, in which case, the Librarian may lay the re- 
 turned book aside until she has leisure to attend to it. 
 Should the Borrower desire to take another books, how- 
 ever, his card must be found immediately, and the date of 
 return of his book entered on it before he can take another. 
 
 This, doubtless, appears very complicated as read, but 
 it is a system in use in many progressive libraries and in 
 practice will be found very simple and rapid as soon as 
 the librarian is accustomed to it. 
 
 In order to understand it more quickly it might be well 
 either to apply to the State Library Commission for sample 
 Borrower's and Book cards filled out, or to borrow one of 
 its Traveling Libraries in which the books are charged in 
 this manner. 
 
55 
 
 From the book card the Borrower's number is found 
 and if necessary to look up his name the Registration book 
 will give it. In a small library the Librarian will seldom 
 find this necessary as she soon becomes familiar with the 
 names and faces of the readers. 
 
 This charging system answers many questions quickly 
 
 and accurately. Is ^ 20 on the shelves ? No. Who has 
 065 
 
 it? (Look through the charging tray for Book card). 
 150 has it. Who is 150? (Look in the Registration 
 book for No.) How long has 150 had it ? Since Febru- 
 ary 14. 
 
 Has Mary Smith a book? (Look in tray arranged by 
 Borrower's surnames). Yes. What book? 920-065. 
 How long has she had it ? Since February 14. 
 
 Two BOOK SYSTEM. The Commission recommends 
 permitting readers to borrow two books at a time if they 
 wish, of which but one shall be a novel. This system has 
 proved very successful in inducing library patrons to read 
 a much larger proportion of books of history, biography, 
 travel, science and literature. 
 
 Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company, and 
 reflection must finish him. LOCKE. 
 
 SUGGESTED RULES FOR SMALL 
 LIBRARIES. 
 
 Rules should be as simple and as few as possible and 
 should be designed not to restrict liberty but to restrain 
 license, and to make the use of the Library equally easy 
 and pleasant for every one. 
 
 i. (a) READERS. Upon signing the agreement any 
 
 resident of may borrow books from the Free 
 
 Public Library so long as he complies with the rules. 
 
 (b) Persons not residing in may be entitled to 
 
56 
 
 the privileges of the Library upon the payment of per 
 
 year, and after signing the agreement to comply with the 
 rules, at the discretion of the Librarian. 
 
 AGREEMENT. 
 
 (c) Being a resident of I hereby agree as 
 
 a borrower from the Free Public Library of 
 
 to pay promptly any fines due from me for over-detention 
 of books, or for injuries of any kind beyond reasonable 
 wear to any book while it is charged to me. 
 
 2. BOOKS. Two books not fiction, or one of fiction 
 and one not fiction, may be borrowed at a time. Two 
 volumes of the same work are considered as one book. 
 
 3. FINES. A fine of one cent a day including Sunday 
 and legal holidays shall be paid for each book kept over- 
 time. No book shall be lent to any one to whom a book 
 or an unpaid fine is charged. 
 
 4. RESERVES. A reader wishing a book already loaned to 
 another person, may have it reserved for him for forty- 
 eight hours after its return, on request to the Librarian. 
 
 5. RENEWAL. A reader returning a book which has not 
 been reserved, may renew it for two weeks. 
 
 6. INJURIES. Notes, corrections of the press, marks of 
 any kind, or turning down of the leaves, are expressly for- 
 bidden, and all losses or injuries beyond reasonable wear, 
 however caused, must be promptly adjusted to the satis- 
 faction of the Librarian by the person to whom the book is 
 charged. 
 
 Every great book is an action, and every great action is a book. 
 
 MARTIN LUTHER. 
 
57 
 
 LIBRARIAN'S MONTHLY REPORT. 
 
 In every well -managed Library, a monthly report should 
 be prepared for the School Library Commission in order 
 that it may be kept informed as to the activities of the 
 Library. These reports should always contain the same 
 items each month in order to insure accuracy in the 
 Library statistics. The following form - suggested by the 
 Iowa Library Commission presents the necessary details in 
 very compact and intelligible manner : 
 
 FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, DELAWARE. 
 
 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT FOR MONTH OF , 190 
 
 ADDITIONS. 
 
 Books purchased. 
 
 Books given. 
 
 Magazines bound. 
 Books rebound. 
 
 Books wornout or withdrawn. 
 
 Books repaired (in the Library). 
 
 New readers registered. 
 
 CIRCULATION. 
 
 Number of books issued. 
 
 Number of days open for issue of books. 
 
 Average daily circulation. 
 
 Largest daily circulation. 
 
 Smallest daily circulation. 
 
 Percentage of fiction circulated. 
 
 Number of visitors to reading room and reference 
 room. 
 
 RECEIPTS. 
 
 Fines on overdue books 
 Damaged or lost books. - 
 Cards to non-residents. 
 
CLASSIFED REPORT. 
 
 
 Additions. 
 
 Circulation. 
 
 Per Cent, of 
 Circulation. 
 
 General Reference Books 
 and Periodicals .... 
 Philosophy 
 
 
 
 
 Religion 
 
 
 
 
 Sociology 
 
 
 
 
 Philology 
 
 
 
 
 Natural science 
 Useful arts . . . 
 
 
 
 
 Fine arts 
 
 
 
 
 Literature 
 
 
 
 
 History .... 
 
 
 
 
 Travel ... 
 
 
 
 
 Biography 
 
 
 
 
 Adult fiction . 
 
 
 
 
 Juvenile fiction 
 Foreign books 
 Current periodicals . . . 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 -LIBRARIAN. 
 
 O for a Booke and a shadie Nooke, eyther in-a-dore or out ; 
 
 With the grene leaves whesp'ring overhede, 
 
 Or the streete cryes all about. 
 Where I male Reade all at my ease, both of the Newe and Olde; 
 
 For a jollie goode Booke whereon to looke 
 
 Is better to me than Golde. 
 
59 
 
 ROOMS, BUILDINGS AND FIXTURES. 
 
 As a rule it will be found wiser to adopt temporary 
 quarters while the Library Commission and Librarian gain 
 experience, and the Library's needs define themselves. 
 Should the Library be so fortunate as to possess a building 
 fund it will do no harm to let it accumulate and too great 
 haste in this matter is likely to do a great deal of harm. 
 
 If, however, the question of building arises it will be 
 found in every case more satisfactory and economical to 
 employ a really competent architect. The best of these 
 charge but very little more than the worst about 5 % of 
 the cost of building and the price of this commission will 
 be more than saved to the Library in various ways by their 
 employment. 
 
 Much valuable information on Library architecture is to 
 be found in the volumes of "Public Libraries," with 
 bibliographies of the subject, and no plans should be made 
 before it has been carefully studied by both the Library 
 Commission and the Librarian. 
 
 Especially helpful and suggestive on this subject is 
 Soule's "Library Rooms and Buildings," one of the li- 
 brary tracts issued by the Publishing Board of the Ameri- 
 can Library Association (10^ Beacon St., Boston, Mass.) 
 for five cents. 
 
 While no specific plan can be recommended that would 
 suit every Library, there are a few general rules which are 
 endorsed by the Library profession as a whole which have 
 been summarized as follows : 
 
 "A Library building should be planned for Library work. 
 
 Every Library building should be planned especially for 
 the kind of work to be done, and the community to be 
 served. 
 
 The interior arrangement ought to be planned before the 
 exterior is considered. 
 
 No convenience of arrangement should be sacrificed for 
 mere architectural effect. 
 
6o 
 
 The plan should be adapted to probabilities and possi- 
 bilities of growth and development. 
 
 Simplicity of decoration is essential in the work rooms 
 and reading rooms. 
 
 The building should be planned with a view to economi- 
 cal administration. 
 
 The rooms for public use should be so arranged as to 
 allow complete supervision with the fewest possible at- 
 tendants. 
 
 There should be throughout as much natural light as 
 possible. 
 
 Windows should extend up to the ceiling to light 
 thoroughly the upper part of the room. 
 
 Windows in a book room should be placed opposite the 
 intervals between book-cases. 
 
 In a circulating library the books most in use should be 
 shelved in floor cases close to the delivery desk. 
 
 A space of at least five feet should be left between floor 
 cases. (If the public is excluded, 3 feet is ample). 
 
 No shelf, in any form of book-case, should be higher 
 than a person of moderate height can reach without a 
 step-ladder. 
 
 Shelving for folios and quartos should be provided in 
 every book room. 
 
 Straight flights are preferable to circular stairs. 
 
 The form of shelving which is growing in favor is the 
 arrangement of floor cases in large rooms with space be- 
 tween the tops of the book-cases and ceiling for circulation 
 of air and the diffusion of light. 
 
 Modern library plans provide accommodations for 
 readers near the books they want to use, whatever system 
 of shelving i adopted." 
 
 Avoid having more partitions than you can dispense 
 with they take away from the sense of openness and space 
 a library room should have. 
 
f UNIVERSITY j 
 
 61 
 
 The simpler and less ornate the furniture, fittings and 
 decoration of a library room, the better. 
 
 Single shelves should not be more than 3 ft.xy*^ ins. 
 and 10 inches should be allowed between shelves. Shelves 
 should be movable and easily adjustable. If in the form 
 of a book case it will be best not to have them more than 
 7 ft. high." 
 
 For cases, furniture, catalogue cases, cards, trays and 
 all manner of labor saving devices consult the catalogue of 
 the Library Bureau. 
 
 Many times the reading of a book has made the fortune of man, 
 has decided his way of life. It makes friends. ' Tis the tie between 
 men to have been delighted with the same book. Every one of us is 
 always in search of his friend ; and when, unexpectedly, he finds a 
 stranger enjoying the rare poet or thinker who is dear to his own 
 solitude, it is like finding a brother. EMERSON. 
 
 FITTINGS AND SUPPLIES. 
 
 It is the truest economy in the long rung to provide the 
 best labor saving equipment, even at a greater first cost. 
 These Libraries must grow, and the management will soon 
 come to recognize that they have made a mistake if they 
 have not made a sacrifice to obtain the adequate ' 'tools of 
 the trade' ' at first. It should be borne in mind that these 
 first expenses are similar to the equipment of a school 
 room with its desks, seats, blackboards, etc. They are ex- 
 penses to be incurred but once and they are essential to 
 the work to be performed. All those supplies and station- 
 ery peculiar to the proper administration of a Library had 
 best be bought of the Library Bureau, if disappointment 
 and ultimately greater expense are to be avoided. There 
 is a branch office at 112 North Broad St., Phila. , and its 
 invaluable catalogue can be obtained for the asking and 
 should be carefully examined by all Librarians and Boards 
 of Library management. For ordinary stationery and 
 
62 
 
 office supplies the W. H. Hoskins Co., 906 Chestnut St., 
 Phila., will probably give satisfaction. Their catalogue 
 also will be helpful to the Librarian. 
 
 The improvement of a Httle time may be a gain to all eternity. 
 
 BENJAMIN WHICHCOTE. 
 
 LIBRARY SCHOOLS. 
 
 All these Library Schools are sending out graduates who 
 are trained and enthusiastic, with from one to two years 
 training and experience and to these schools the District 
 Library Commissions of Delaware are referred for advice 
 as to the employment of librarians or organizers. Infor- 
 mation as to their courses of instruction may be obtained 
 on application to the directors. 
 
 New York State Library School, Albany : Melvil Dewey, 
 Di rector. 
 
 Pratt Institute Library School, Brooklyn : Miss Mary 
 W. Plummer, Director. 
 
 Drexel Institute Library School, Philadelphia : Miss 
 Alice B. Kroeger, Director. 
 
 University of Illinois Library School, Champaign, Ills. : 
 Miss Katharine L. Sharp, Director. 
 
 Simmons College Library Training Course, Boston : 
 Miss Mary E. Robbins, Instructor. 
 
 Western Reserve University Library School, Cleveland, 
 O. : William H. Brett, Dean. 
 
 The Carnegie Library Training School for Children's 
 Librarians, Pittsburg, Pa. : Miss Frances J. Olcott, 
 Director. 
 
 SUMMER LIBRARY SCHOOLS. 
 
 The courses in these are intended to assist the Librarians 
 of the very small public and school Libraries, and to in- 
 crease the usefulness of the assistants in larger Libraries. 
 
63 
 
 They are especially valuable in affording opportunities 
 to get into touch with co-workers in the same field, and in 
 arousing in their pupils the * 'modern library spirit." 
 Moreover, the opportunity for comparison of methods and 
 exchange of ideas and experience has proved of inestimable 
 value to the pupils of these schools, and to the institutions 
 which employ them. 
 
 New York State Summer Library School, Albany : Mel- 
 vil Dewey, Director. 
 
 Chautauqua Summer School of Library Science, Chau- 
 tauqua, N. Y. : Melvil Dewey, Director. 
 
 Amherst Summer School of Library Science, Amherst, 
 Mass. : VV. I. Fletcher, Director. 
 
 Indiana Summer Library School, Winona Lake, Ind. : 
 Miss Merica Hoagland, Library Commission, Indian- 
 apolis. 
 
 Iowa State University, Iowa City : Miss Alice S. Tyler, 
 Director. 
 
 Wisconsin Free Library Commission, Madison : Miss 
 Cornelia Marvin, Director. 
 
 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of 
 knowledge. PROVERBS, 13:13. 
 
 Knowledge of books in a man of business is a torch in the hands of 
 one who is willing and able to show those who are bewildered, the 
 way which leads to prosperity and welfare. ADDISON. 
 
 AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. 
 
 The American Library Association is the national or- 
 ganization of people interested in Libraries, and has now 
 a membership of over a thousand. It was established in 
 1876 for the purpose of advancing general library interests 
 in every practicable way, and its avowed objects are : 
 
 i. By organization and force of numbers to effect 
 
6 4 
 
 needed reforms and improvements most of which could 
 not be brought about by individual effort. 
 
 2. By co-operation to lessen the labor and expense of 
 Library administration. 
 
 3. By discussion and comparison to utilize the combined 
 experiment and experience of the profession in perfecting 
 plans and methods and in solving difficulties. 
 
 4. By meetings and correspondence to promote ac- 
 quaintance and esprit de corps. 
 
 The fee is $2 a year and all interested persons and in- 
 stitutions are eligible to membership. 
 
 The Association meets as a body once a year and the 
 proceedings of these meetings are printed in full and dis- 
 tributed to all members. It publishes a Handbook which 
 gives full information of its work and terms of membership, 
 and which may be had upon application to the Secretary, 
 J. I. Wyer, Jr., University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb. 
 
 Every person actively engaged in Library work owes it 
 to themselves as well as to their profession to become a 
 member of the A. L. A. One cannot join it, work with it 
 and for it and not increase one's efficiency in many ways. 
 
 Nearly all of the other States have smaller Library as- 
 sociations, and it is to be hoped that Delaware will not 
 defer adding hers to the list, as they are very active 
 agencies for fostering Library interests in various ways. 
 
 Other things being equal, the man who has the greatest amount of in- 
 tellectual resources is in the least danger from inferior temptations if 
 for no other reason, because he has fewer idle moments. The ruin of 
 most men dates from some idle hour. HILLARD. 
 
65 
 
 TRAVELING LIBRARIES. 
 
 The State Federation of Women's Clubs gave the State 
 Library Commission seven Traveling Libraries consisting 
 of 50 volumes each of wholesome and interesting books 
 which it loans to any school or community under condi- 
 tions hereinafter described. Since that time the Commis- 
 sion has received from the Wilmington New-Century Club, 
 13 similar Libraries; from the Dover Century Club, 7 Li- 
 braries ; from Miss Florence Bayard Kane, 3 Libraries, 
 and from George F. Bowerman, i Library. To ijtie date 
 of the publication of this Handbook the Commission owns 
 45 such Libraries and is constantly adding to the number 
 by purchase. 
 
 The Commission has urgent need for many more Travel- 
 ing Libraries, and contributions either of books or of 
 money for the purpose of equipping them will be thank- 
 fully accepted. At the same time it should be said that 
 the books for such Libraries can only be of very great 
 value if they are carefully selected and bought with refer- 
 ence to their especial purpose. 
 
 As Mr. Hutchins of Wisconsin has said, "We have 
 passed the day of experiment. Hap-hazard Traveling Li- 
 braries those for which the books are gathered at hap- 
 hazard, administered at hap-hazard, and supervised in the 
 same way served a good purpose at one time. In the 
 future, Traveling Libraries . . . should be purchased 
 in series by careful students of the communities which they 
 are to visit, and should be administered and supervised by 
 people who make the work a business whether such busi- 
 ness be voluntary or paid. This means that in the future 
 considerable amounts of money should be raised for the 
 administration of Traveling Libraries as well as for their 
 purchase. ' ' 
 
 Elsewhere he says no less truly, "Books of ephemeral 
 value, books made of basswood paper and logwood ink, 
 should be excluded because the child will not cherish 
 
 ff UNIVERSITY 
 
 V OF 
 
 ^4; ifr\BA\k^p 
 
66 
 
 them," and it is a fact known to experience that no one 
 else will either. 
 
 In speaking of Library work it may be safely assumed 
 that every one will consider the work done for children in 
 their regard as the most important, however forcibly the 
 needs of older people present themselves, and it seems to 
 be conceded by every one at all attentive to the subject 
 that the largest amount of reading is done by children be- 
 tween the ages of twelve and fourteen. 
 
 Therefore, it will readily be admitted that that im- 
 portance of providing books suitable for children of such 
 an age can scarcely be over-estimated, and that to begin 
 at twelve to make the selection is to begin too late, and 
 we should begin before they learn to read by reading to 
 them. 
 
 It may also be assumed that the home where cultivated 
 parents train their children to enjoy reading the best books, 
 is the best of all libraries that books read for pleasure, 
 read over and over again at home, do far more to shape 
 ideals, determine character, and form the visions which 
 "flash upon that inward eye which is the bliss of solitude" 
 than books studied at school, or borrowed with no other 
 standard of choice than mere momentary diversion, but 
 the fact must be faced that the majority of homes are 
 bookless. 
 
 For the children of these homes and for many other 
 uses we must have the Free Public Library, but through- 
 out farming communities and the small towns in which 
 Delaware's population is so largely to be found, the means 
 of providing good literature is lacking unless the people 
 unite in assisting the State Library Commission by their 
 gifts to equip and circulate properly selected and sufficiently 
 numerous Traveling Libraries. 
 
 Such gifts shall bear the names of the donors both in the 
 books and on the cases, and the people who have furnished 
 the means for this work everywhere, are agreed that no 
 
6 7 
 
 other philanthropic work of which they have knowledge 
 does so much undoubted good in proportion to its cost. 
 
 The Libraries afford the eminently practical and- 
 economical means of realizing our American ideal of "the 
 greatest good to the greatest number, ' ' and as more than 
 twenty of our other States are, by their means, success- 
 fully coping with the problem of making good literature 
 accessible to all classes in their small communities, there 
 would seem to be no reason why the people of Delaware 
 should be less fortunate. 
 
 The economy of this method of possessing a Library 
 should appeal strongly to the minds of any practical people 
 for taxes, local rent, fuel, light, librarian's salary and 
 the costs of library equipments are spared their publics. 
 Moreover, the Commission can buy books at a lower rate 
 than is possible to individuals. 
 
 The great advantages of the system in other respects 
 should as surely make a powerful appeal to the good sense 
 and good will of us all "if it be the duty of the State to 
 give to each citizen an opportunity to learn to read, 
 surely it is equally its duty to give to each citizen an op- 
 portunity to use his power wisely for himself and the State, 
 and this can be done for all the readers of a community at 
 a fraction of the cost necessary to teach him to read, and 
 thereby his power to do may be made a lifelong education 
 for him and a source of illimitable pleasure." 
 
 Dreams, books are each a world ; and books we know 
 Are a substantial world, both pure and good, 
 Round these with tendrils strong as flesh and blood 
 Our pastime and our happiness will grow. 
 
 WORDSWORTH. 
 
 These Traveling Libraries, properly equipped and ad- 
 ministered, should prove a most powerful lure away from 
 less worthy occupations and amusements and would put the 
 
68 
 
 control of the reading of large numbers of people into the 
 hands of those who have the Library experience of the 
 . world at their command and that too while the literary 
 tastes of their readers are being formed or created ! 
 
 The interest in books once aroused would be kept alive 
 by the frequent exchange of one Library for another for 
 most naturally the near prospect of a change would keep 
 each reader alert to learn which were the best books and to 
 get them promptly. It would seem as though each Libra- 
 ry station must become a centre of light and of delight 
 to its neighborhood and should do much to build up a 
 nobler social and intellectual life, and to give an abundant 
 supply of wholesome reading to people who, very possibly, 
 would otherwise have none. 
 
 It not only should supply such literature to the people, 
 but it would, in many cases, confine their reading to it 
 until their tastes were formed, and by leaving no room, nor 
 time for bad books, would prevent their circulation by the 
 most natural, wholesome method imaginable. 
 
 It should tend "to make helpful, inspiring themes the 
 burden of the common thought substituting quite simply 
 and naturally, helpful conversations on really interesting 
 impersonal topics for petty gossip, scandal, and oral and 
 printed wickedness." ' 
 
 One cannot limit its sphere of usefulness, for its best work 
 will be done in those places where there is no similar edu- 
 cational force at work for any but children, and if one re- 
 gards a Library as Librarians do, as the "People's Univer- 
 sity." then one must admit that its curriculum is as broad 
 as the needs of human nature. 
 
 Its teachings cease neither by day nor by night, neither 
 on work days nor holidays. Informing, inspiring, amus- 
 ing old as well as young, learned as well as ignorant, rich 
 and poor equally ! Helping the child at his play, the 
 teacher in school, the mother at home giving of its stores 
 of knowledge and pleasure to the farmer at his plough, to 
 
69 
 
 the invalid in the sick room, to the traveler on his journey 
 all life may be illuminated by the radiance of this lamp 
 of beauty, of knowledge, and of truth, that waits but to be 
 lighted by the common sense of needs, of generosity, and 
 of sympathy on the part of our fellow citizens which shall 
 lead them to follow the patriotic example of the State 
 Federation of Women's Clubs and give the means of con- 
 tinuing and perfecting the work unselfishly and generously 
 begun by them while they had no thought of personally 
 profiting by the free dissemination of their gifts. 
 
 A little peaceful home 
 
 Bounds all my wants and wishes ; add to this 
 My book and friend, and this is happiness. 
 
 Di RIOZA. 
 
 RULES FOR LENDING TRAVELING 
 LIBRARIES. 
 
 On satisfactory assurance that all rules of the State 
 Library Commission will be complied with, Traveling 
 Libraries may be lent to the following classes of borrowers : 
 
 T. BORROWERS. A State Traveling Library will be 
 loaned to : 
 
 (a) Any school, college or seminary upon application 
 of its principal. 
 
 (b) Any village, town or community, Study or other 
 Club, Grange, Post, Lodge, business corporation or other 
 similar organizations, which will form a library association 
 of not less than five members, and will agree to be re- 
 sponsible for the safe keeping and return of the Library, 
 and to observe the rules made for its management. 
 
 (c) Any Library upon application of its trustees or 
 commissioners. If loaned to a subscription Library it 
 must agree to loan the books of the Traveling Library to 
 any one in the community free of charge. 
 
2. APPLICATION. Application must be made upon a 
 blank furnished by the Commission, and must designate 
 the place in which the Library will be kept, and the name 
 of the person or persons chosen to serve as Librarian and 
 Secretary. 
 
 3. TIME. The Traveling Library shall not be kept 
 longer than three months at a time except by special per- 
 mission. It may be exchanged for another on the same 
 terms, and these exchanges may continue so long as rules 
 are properly observed. 
 
 4. LIBRARIAN. The Librarian shall care for the books 
 while under his control and shall keep such records of 
 circulation, etc., as shall be required by the Commission. 
 
 5. INJURIES. Notes, correction of the press, marks of 
 any kind, or turning down of leaves, are especially for- 
 bidden. In returning the case of books, such precaution 
 shall be taken as shall ensure the safe return of the books. 
 
 6. VIOLATION OF RULES. For wilful violation of any 
 rule, or unnecessary carelessness in the use of the books, 
 the Commission reserves the right to suspend the privilege 
 of borrowing Libraries. 
 
 7. No charge may be made for the use of the books. 
 
 The Commission hopes to be able to purchase new and 
 carefully selected Libraries at frequent intervals. They 
 may be lent as a whole, selections from different sets being 
 impracticable. In selecting a Library, borrowers would 
 do well to mention several in order of preference, in case 
 the first choice should not be available. 
 
 The Commission will sometimes be able to send a small 
 number of magazines with the Libraries if an association 
 desires them. These magazines may be freely loaned 
 where they will give most pleasure and need not be re- 
 turned to the Commission. 
 
If Milton will cross my threshold to sing to me of Paradise ; and 
 Shakespeare to open to me the worlds of imagination and the workings 
 of the human heart ; and Franklin to enrich me with his practical wis- 
 dom I shall not pine for want of intellectual companionship, and I 
 may become a cultivated man, though excluded from what is called the 
 best society in the place where I live. CHANNING. 
 
 TO THE LIBRARIANS 
 
 of the 
 Traveling Libraries. 
 
 These little Libraries are sent forth with an earnest de- 
 sire to give pleasure and help to every one throughout our 
 State. Their ultimate success and usefulness must depend 
 largely upon your efforts, and the criticisms of your bor- 
 rowers and your own reading will soon enable you to give 
 very valuable assistance to them and the Commission as to 
 the choice of books. These are suited to various tastes 
 and needs, and the mere fact that a reader has not found 
 what he wanted in his first choice is not a reason for his 
 refraining from making a second. 
 
 Your interest will grow with your success in converting 
 people who are not habitual readers into becoming such 
 but you must not let yourself be discouraged if you do not 
 always succeed immediately and with each individual. 
 
 Try to train your readers to handle books carefully and 
 to keep them clean. Remind the children that clean 
 hands are necessary if the books are to be so, and if each 
 reader will unselfishly consider his successor's pleasure 
 every one will be able to handle clean books. It is much 
 easier to teach this cleanliness and carefulness while books 
 are new than after they become soiled, but even with the 
 older books which have already been abused, an attentive 
 Librarian can do much to train his public. It might be 
 well to suggest to many of your readers that they should 
 cover the books they borrow. 
 
 The permanent success of the Traveling Libraries will 
 
72 
 
 depend very much upon proper care of the books, and the 
 length of time they will wear, therefore it is important 
 that every one, especially children, should be gently cau- 
 tioned to treat the books with care. Try, however, to 
 use tact and not to make any one afraid to borrow the 
 books freely. 
 
 The habit of reading good literature is far more impor- 
 tant than the saving of the books or the money involved, 
 but if you take your public into your confidence in this 
 matter, most persons will be glad to aid you, and will readily 
 appreciate the good sense and necessity of giving the care 
 you require. Especially will this be true when it is learned 
 that in sending out Libraries, preference will be given to 
 those communities which return them in best condition in 
 proportion to the amount of use which has been made of 
 them. 
 
 Please arrange the books straight on the shelves or flat 
 upon their sides if oversized and in returning the Libraries, 
 pack the books so securely that they cannot slide or shift 
 in their places. 
 
 If the leaves of the books become loose, do not reissue 
 them (unless yon can neatly fasten the leaves into position 
 again), but keep them in your possession till the Library 
 is returned. 
 
 If any of your readers persist in soiling the books un- 
 duly, refuse to loan them until you write to the Commis- 
 sion for instructions. 
 
 Where the cost of a book appears in the catalogue, you 
 should collect its cost should the book be lost or damaged 
 unduly, otherwise it will be necessary to write to the Com- 
 mission for instructions. 
 
 You will confer a favor by making any suggestions that 
 will lead to the increased usefulness of these Libraries. 
 
 ' 'The first thing one ought to do, after having borrowed a book, is to 
 read it, so as to be able to return it as soon as possible." MENAGE. 
 
73 
 
 RULES FOR CIRCULATING TRAVELING 
 LIBRARY BOOKS. 
 
 1. PLACE AND TIME. The Library shall be kept at a 
 convenient place and be open for delivering and returning 
 books at such times as the borrowing association shall di- 
 rect, providing that such time shall not be less than three 
 hours on two days of each week, of which due public no- 
 tice shall be given. 
 
 2. READERS. After signing the agreement any resident 
 of the locality may draw books so long as he complies with 
 the rules. Persons residing outside the locality to which 
 the Library is lent shall be entitled to the same privileges 
 when their agreement is endorsed by the Librarian. 
 
 AGREEMENT. 
 
 Being a resident of I hereby agree as a bor- 
 rower from the State Library Commission of Delaware, to 
 pay promptly any fines due from me for over-detention of 
 books, or for injuries of any kind beyond reasonable wear 
 to any book while it is charged to me. 
 
 Persons residing outside the locality to which the Libra- 
 ry is lent, shall be entitled to the same privileges when 
 their agreement is signed by the Librarian. 
 
 3. BOOKS. One volume may be drawn by each reader 
 and kept for two weeks. 
 
 4. FINES. A fine of one cent a day including Sunday 
 and legal holidays shall be paid for each book kept over 
 time, and any money thus received shall be used under di- 
 rection of the borrowing association for Library expenses. 
 No book shall be lent to any one to' whom a book or an un- 
 paid fine is charged. 
 
 5. RESERVES. A reader wishing a book not at the time 
 on the shelves may have it reserved for him for forty -eight 
 hours after its return, by giving notice to the Librarian. 
 
 6. RENEWAL. A reader returning a book which is not 
 reserved may renew it for two weeks. 
 
74 
 
 7- INJURIES. Notes, corrections of the press, marks of 
 any kind, or turning down of leaves, is expressly forbidden, 
 and all losses or injuries beyond reasonable wear, however 
 caused, must be promptly adjusted to the satisfaction of 
 the Librarian by the person to whom the book is charged. 
 
 In a book-plate of the last century, the owner of the book has the 
 following pertinent quotati6n from the Psalms : "It is the wicked that 
 borroweth, and payeth not again." 
 
 DIRECTIONS TO LIBRARIANS OF 
 TRAVELING LIBRARIES. 
 
 SHELF ARRANGEMENT. Arrange the books in the case 
 in the order of the numbered labels on their backs, except 
 that when the book is over-sized it may be arranged out 
 of sequence, if necessary. 
 
 BORROWERS CARDS. Have the Borrowers' cards properly 
 signed and if necessary endorsed. Write in ink all other 
 items indicated on the face of the cards surname of 
 Reader, given name, number, residence, date. 
 
 NUMBERS. Assign a number to each Borrower in the 
 order of his application, and write it in the place indicated 
 on his card. Arrange these cards, alphabetically by the 
 surname in the charging case. 
 
 The Librarian will find it useful to keep a numerical 
 register of borrowers in order to avoid assigning the same 
 number to different persons. 
 
 BOOK CARDS. Each book has a blue card with the 
 shelf No. written in the upper left hand corner. Below is 
 a Class number, Book number, Author and Title. 
 
 When a book is given out, enter the date of issue in the 
 ist column on the book card, and the borrower's No. in 
 the 2d column, and place the card in the charging case 
 arranged numerically by the shelf number. 
 
 On the borrower's card, write the date in the ist column, 
 
75 
 
 and the shelf No. of the book in the 2d, and replace the 
 card in its numerical order in the file. (The shelf No. is 
 always on the back of the book, on the book-plate, book- 
 pocket, and book card. ) 
 
 In making entries on the book cards and borrowers' 
 cards, do not skip any spaces in the columns. When the 
 faces of the cards are full, use the backs in the same man- 
 ner. 
 
 Use the blue book card till it is full, then make a new 
 book card exactly like it, numbering it carefully "card 2" 
 on the upper right hand corner. Preserve and return 
 "card i" for statistics. 
 
 DATES. Use the following method of dating and ab- 
 breviations for month and year : 
 
 Ja. F. Mr. Ap. My. Je. Jl. Ag. S. O. N. D. 
 e. g. : 21 Ja. '4. 28 Jl. '4. 
 
 DISCHARGING. When a book is returned take its book- 
 card from the charging case, and replace the card in the 
 book, and the book on the shelf. Write the date of re- 
 turn on the borrower's card in the next space to the right 
 of the shelf No. and return the card to the file. 
 
 RENEWAL. To renew a book, enter the date of its re- 
 turn as described above and then charge it exactly as if 
 drawn for the first time. 
 
 RESERVES. To reserve a book, write (in pencil) on its 
 card in the space for the next borrower, the name of the 
 reader asking for the reserve, and return the card to its 
 place in the charging case. When the book is brought in, 
 immediately notify the person for whom it is reserved, 
 and keep the book for him till the close of the first library 
 day, ending not less than 48 hours after sending the Li- 
 brarian's notice. If not called for within the time specified, 
 erase the penciled name and return the book card to the 
 book. 
 
 OVERDUE BOOKS. At least once a week examine bor- 
 rowers' cards for overdue books, and promptly notify any 
 
7 6 
 
 one more than a week in arrears, collecting the fine on 
 the return of the book. Do not lend a book to any one 
 having a fine unpaid. Should the amount of the fines col- 
 lected exceed the cost of the library expenses, the Com- 
 mission should be notified of the fact and will instruct the 
 Librarian as to the disposition of the fund. 
 
 REPORTS. Carefully keep and return all cards to the 
 State Library Commission, Dover, Delaware. 
 
 If a new supply either of borrowers' or book cards is 
 needed, send for them promptly. 
 
 SHIPPING DIRECTIONS. All express charges, but not 
 local carriage, are paid by the State Library Commission. 
 
 UNPACKING. Unscrew the box cover. Be careful not 
 to mar the book case. The keys are in an envelope tacked 
 inside the cover. Store box, cover and screws in a safe, 
 dry place. Package labels for return will be found with 
 the book lists. 
 
 Mail receipt card promptly after comparing items with 
 contents of the boxes. 
 
 RETURNING. Compare books to be returned with the 
 list sent, examining them for lost leaves or mutilations. 
 Take especial care to have all the book cards in the books. 
 Return borrower's cards for statistics. 
 
 Pack books and case in the same packing box and in 
 the same manner in which they were sent. Wrap the 
 charging case carefully in very thick folds of paper, and 
 have the outer wrapper securely folded and fastened on. 
 The keys for both book case and charging case should be 
 placed in an envelope and tacked inside the cover of the 
 packing box. Notify the Commission as to date of ship- 
 ment and express C. O. D. 
 
 Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we 
 know where we can find information upon it. When we inquire into 
 any subject, the first thing we have to do, is to know what books have 
 treated of it. This leads us to look at catalogues and the backs of 
 books in libraries. DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON. 
 
77 
 
 "What we read with inclination works a much stronger impression. 
 
 "If we read without inclination, half the mind is employed in fixing 
 the attention, so there is but one-half to be employed on what we 
 read." DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON. 
 
 AIDS AND GUIDES IN LIBRARY WORK. 
 
 Dana, J. C. Library Primer. Library Bureau. $i. 
 Devvey, Melvil, ed. Papers prepared for the American 
 Library Association for its annual meeting held at the 
 Columbian Exposition, 1893. Bureau of Education, 
 Washington, D. C. Free. 
 
 Covers very fully the entire field of library economy 
 and will prove very useful to any librarian. 
 Library Bureau Catalog. Library Bureau, 112 North 
 Broad Street., Philadelphia. Free. 
 
 Very useful to any worker in a Library. 
 Plummer, M. W. Hints to Small Libraries ; rev. and enl. 
 Truslove, N. Y., 1898. 5oc. 
 
 Will be given to any Free Public Library in Dela- 
 ware, upon request to the State Library Commission. 
 It will prove an invaluable aid to both Librarians 
 and District Library Commissioners in their work of 
 organization. 
 
 Contents : Receiving and entering books ; book 
 numbers and cataloguing ; shelf list and inventory ; 
 mechanical preparation of books for the shelves ; 
 binding ; relations with the public ; charging sys- 
 tem ; reading room ; reference work ; selecting and 
 ordering books ; rooms and fixtures ; library tools. 
 
 LIBRARY PBRIODICAS, 
 Library Journal. 298 Broadway, New York. Monthly, 
 
 $5. Official organ of the A. L. A. and the best journal 
 
 of library science in existence. 
 Public Libraries. Library Bureau. Monthly, $i. A 
 
 journal specially devoted to the needs of small libraries, 
 
 and very valuable to them. 
 
78 
 
 BOOKS ON CLASSIFICATION AND CATA- 
 LOGUING. 
 
 American Library Association. List of Subject Headings 
 for use in a Dictionary Catalogue. Library Bureau, 
 Phila. $2. 
 
 . Catalog of the A. L. A. Library; 8,000 v. for a 
 
 popular library, selected by the American Library As- 
 sociation, to be shown at the Louisiana Purchase Expo- 
 sition, 1904. Library of Congress, Wash., D. C. Free. 
 Shows how books should be classified and catalogued, 
 and includes a model dictionary catalogue. Will 
 greatly assist Librarians and Book Committees in the 
 selection and arrangement of books. 
 
 Cutter, C. A. Rules for a Dictionary Catalog, ed. 3, 
 1891, (in U. S. Bureau of Education special report on 
 Public Libraries, pt. 2.) U. S. Bureau of Education, 
 Wash., D. C. Free. 
 
 This is a masterly treatise on the subject by its in- 
 ventors. A new edition is to be issued this year. 
 
 . Decimal Author Tables. Library Bureau. Phila. 
 
 $1.25. A scheme by which books may be given dis- 
 tinctive numbers by which they may be alphabetically 
 arranged under their subjects both on the shelves and in 
 the catalogue. 
 
 Dewey, Melvil. Abridged Decimal Classification and Rel- 
 ativ Index. Library Bureau, Phila. [1894]. $i. Short 
 form of the Decimal Classification adapted to the needs 
 of small or slowly growing Libraries. 
 
 . Simplified Library School Rules. Library Bureau, 
 
 Phila., 1898. Pap. $i. cloth $1.25. 
 
 Includes card catalog, accession and shelf list rules, 
 book numbers, library handwriting, punctuation and 
 abbreviations. 
 
79 
 
 AIDS IN SELECTING BOOKS. 
 
 American Library Association. Annotated Lists. 
 
 Books for Boys and Girls, a Selected List Compiled 
 by Caroline M. Hewins, Librarian of Hartford Pub- 
 lic Library. $.05. 
 
 American Library Association. Annotated Lists. 
 
 Guide to the Study and Use of Reference Books by 
 Alice B. Kroeger, Director of Drexel Institute Library 
 School, Phila. $1.25. 
 
 American Library Association. Model Library of 8,000 
 v. to be shown by the American Library Association at 
 the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, 1904. Library of 
 Congress, Wash., D. C. Free. 
 
 This list has been reviewed by 268 different critics 
 representing leading colleges and universities, libra- 
 ries and professions. 
 
 Its subject list might well be the basis of any Libra- 
 ry's collection of books, and it furnishes a perfect 
 working model of classification, author book number- 
 ing and subject heading according to the best expert 
 judgment to be obtained. No cataloguer nor book 
 committee should be without it. 
 
 Carnegie Library, Pittsburg. List of 100 Entertaining 
 Biographies. 
 
 Annotated and very well selected. 
 
 Carnegie Library, Pittsburg. List of 1053 Books agreed 
 upon by the Cleveland Public Free Library and the 
 Carnegie (Pittsburg) Libraries for children's reading. 
 
 Iowa Library Commission, DesMoines. List of Books for 
 Children, compiled and annotated by Annie Carroll 
 Moore (of the children's department of the Pratt Insti- 
 tute Library, Brooklyn. Excellent list. Free. 
 
 N. Y. State Library. Lists of best books of the year. Is- 
 sued annually since 1894. 
 
8o 
 
 Publisher's Trade List Annual. Catalogues of all im- 
 portant American publishers bound together. Pub- 
 lisher's Weekly, N. Y. $2 a year. 
 
 "Suggestive Lists of Books for a Small Library," recom- 
 mended by the Library Commissions of Iowa, Minne- 
 sota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Delaware. 
 
 Nine of these have been issued and can be had upon 
 application to the State Library Commission. Free. 
 Give extremely valuable information as to ordering, 
 etc., and annotated lists of public documents useful 
 to a small Library are in Nos. 7 and 8. 
 To aid in buying for small Libraries, three classes of 
 books are marked : (a) 20 most important books of the 
 year; (b) includes 30 next most important books; and 
 (c) indicates 50 more, to make up 100 books. 
 
 PERIODICALS. 
 Athenaeum, London, Eng. $3. 
 N. Y. Times Saturday Book Review, Weekly. $i. 
 Publisher's Weekly, 59 Duane St., N. Y. $3. 
 American Book Trade Journal. 
 
 PERIODICAL SUBSCRIPTION AGENCIES. 
 Kenyon News and Postal Subscription Co. , Chic. , Ills. 
 Stechert, Gustav E. 9 E. i6th Street. 
 
 FITTINGS AND SUPPLIES. 
 
 Library Bureau. 112 North Broad St., Phila. , 
 
 For all catalogue and shelf list cards and such other ma- 
 terial as is especially designed for Library use. 
 
 W. H. Hoskins Co., 904 Chestnut St., Phila. 
 Other supplies. 
 
 If thou wilt receive profit, read with humility, simplicity and faith ; 
 and seek not at any time the fame of being learned. 
 
 THOMAS A KEMPIS. 
 
8i 
 
 ADDITIONAL USEFUL ADDRESSES. 
 
 Second-hand (and New) Books. 
 Leary, Stuart & Co., 9 South Ninth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Shop-worn Books. 
 
 Philadelphia Book-Store Co., 1516 Chestnut St., 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Bargain Books. 
 Cora E. McDevitt, i Barclay St., New York, N. Y. 
 
 Book-Binder. 
 
 Robert T. Stewart & Son, 615 Shipley St., 
 
 Wilmington, Del. 
 
 All of these firms will give trustworthy and efficient 
 service, and small Libraries can save a great deal of money 
 by employing their aid in addition to that of their regular 
 bookdealers. 
 
 THE BOOK. 
 
 There is no frigate like a book 
 
 To take us leagues away, 
 Nor any coursers like a page 
 
 Of prancing poetry. 
 This traverse may the poorest take 
 
 Without oppress of toll ; 
 Hoty frugal is the chariot 
 
 That bears a human soul ! 
 
 EMILY DICKINSON. 
 
82 
 
 PENALTY FOR INJURY TO LIBRARY 
 PROPERTY. 
 
 AN ACT 
 
 TO PREVENT MALICIOUS INJURY IN LIBRARIES, MUSEUMS 
 AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 Be it enacted, &c. 
 
 Section i. If any person, having access to or being 
 in possession of any book, magazine, newspaper, pamphlet, 
 manuscript, map, chart, plan, painting, picture, engraving, 
 photograph or other work of literature or object of art, 
 science, mechanical skill or curiosity owned by or deposited 
 in any Library incorporated by or organized under the 
 laws of this State, or in the Library, cabinet or museum of 
 any educational institution, or the Historical Society in 
 this State, shall wilfully or maliciously cut, mark, mutilate, 
 deface, soil, obliterate, break, destroy, or in anywise in- 
 jure the same, write in or upon the same, or procure 
 the same to be done, or shall wilfully or maliciously in- 
 jure or deface any label, tag, book-plate, book-card or 
 book-pocket, or the Library marks or numbers on the 
 same, such person shall be deemed guilty of a misdemea- 
 nor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not exceed- 
 ing twenty-five dollars or imprisoned not exceeding six 
 months, or both, at the discretion of the court. 
 
 Passed at Dover, March 25, 
 
 An author may be considered as a merciful substitute for the Legis- 
 lature. He acts not by punishing crimes, but by preventing them. 
 
 GOLDSMITH. 
 
83 
 
 SYNOPSIS 
 
 OF THE LAW RELATING TO THE 
 ESTABLISHMENT OF 
 
 FREE PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 by the 
 SCHOOL DISTRICTS. 
 
 Section 3. The Commission shall have general super- 
 vision of all Libraries in the State established under this 
 law ... It shall demand such reports as it deems 
 proper and shall certify to the State Treasurer when any 
 such Library is entitled to State aid. . . . 
 
 Section 4. Provides that any School District in the 
 State may receive gifts or bequests for the foundation or 
 maintenance of a Free Public Library. 
 
 Section 5. Authorizes any School District to establish 
 a Free Public Library if a majority of the electors of the 
 School District vote in favor of doing so. 
 
 Section 6. For the purposes of this Act, all the School 
 Districts of the State are classified according to the sums 
 which their several Boards of Education or School Com- 
 mittees are legally authorized to raise by taxation for 
 school expenses. The classification is as follows : 
 First class Districts annually raise from . $6,000 upward. 
 Second " ' " " between 4,000 to #6,000 
 
 Third " " " " " 2,000 to 4,000 
 
 Fourth " " " " " 1,000 to 2,000 
 
 Fifth " " " " " 500 to 1,000 
 
 Sixth " " " " " 200 to 500 
 
 Seventh" " " " less than 200. 
 
 Section 7. Provides that upon request of a sufficient 
 number of electors to their Board of Education or School 
 Committee of any School District, thirty days before the 
 regular school election, the question as to the establish- 
 ment of a Free Public Library in the District must be 
 
8 4 
 
 submitted to the voters at a special election to be held 
 the next day after the regular election. The number of 
 electors who must so petition is as follows : 
 
 For First and Second-class Districts, 20 electors. 
 
 For Third, Fourth and Fifth class Districts, 10 electors. 
 
 For Sixth and Seventh class Districts, 5 electors. 
 
 Section 8. The vote must be by ballot upon which 
 shall be written or printed either the words "For a Free 
 Library," or ''Against a Free Library," and a majority of 
 the ballots cast at this special election shall decide the 
 question. All persons entitled to vote at the last regular 
 school election are entitled to vote at this special election 
 also. 
 
 The place of voting, conduct of the election, counting 
 of ballots and the like shall be as provided by law in the 
 District wherein the question is submitted. 
 
 The Board of Education or School Committee upon be- 
 ing petitioned to submit this question to the voters, must 
 post notices {see p. 9) to that effect in at least five public 
 places in the District at least ten days before the election 
 is to take place, and the notices must state not only the 
 question to be voted upon, but shall state when and where 
 the election shall be held. 
 
 In case the Board of Education or School Committee 
 neglects or refuses to give such notice, any qualified elector 
 may do so and their notice shall be equally effectual. 
 
 Section 9. If the vote shall be against the establish- 
 ment of a Free Public Library the question may be brought 
 up again in the same way at a special election the day after 
 the next school election. 
 
 Section 10. If the vote is in favor of the establishment 
 of a Free Public Library, then the Board of Education or 
 School Committee is required to raise by taxation a sum of 
 money for the purpose. The amount of the sum to be 
 raised shall be determined by the class to which the Dis- 
 trict belongs and will be as follows : 
 
85 
 
 For First class Districts, from $250 to $600 
 
 For Second " " between 150 to 400 
 
 For Third " " " . : , 100 to 300 
 
 For Fourth " " " ...... 75 to 200 
 
 For Fifth " " " 50 to 150 
 
 For Sixth " " " 40 to 100 
 
 For Seventh " " " 25 to 75 
 
 Annually thereafter the Board of Education or School 
 Committee shall raise the specified sum for the support 
 and increase of the Library established. 
 
 All such sums shall be raised as those for current school 
 expenses are, and, if the Board of Education or School 
 Committee deem it necessary, they may be in addition to 
 to the amount authorized in the District for such school 
 expenses. 
 
 Any District may fix the sum to be raised for Library 
 support during the ensuing year, providing the sum raised 
 is not less than the minimum required by law according to 
 the table above. 
 
 The vote to fix a sum shall be by ballot. 
 
 Section n. A Free Public Library having been voted 
 for, the Board of Education or School Committee must im- 
 mediately elect a School District Library Commission of 
 which the number of members and the length of their 
 terms shall be according to the class of their District as 
 follows : 
 For First and Second class Districts, 3 members for i year 
 
 For ' '( 2 " 
 
 ]?QI- ( (i ei it ?" 
 
 For Third and Fourth " "" 2 " i " 
 
 For " tl tl " 2 " 2 ft 
 
 For '< I (t 3 " 
 
 For 5th, 6th and 7th " " i " i " 
 
 For " " " " " 2 " 2 " 
 
 F or tt t* tt T K 3 (< 
 
86 
 
 All of these members shall serve until their successors 
 are duly chosen and qualified. 
 
 Having established a Free Public Library, thereafter the 
 electors must annually elect the members of their School 
 District Library Commission at a special election to be 
 held the day after the regular school election. 
 
 The members may or may not be members of the Board 
 of Education or School Committee, and they may be either 
 women or men. 
 
 Section 12. The first meeting of the District Library 
 Commission shall be on the first Tuesday next succeeding 
 the election of its members, and it must organize by elect- 
 ing a Chairman, Secretary and such other officials as it 
 deems necessary. 
 
 The Treasurer of the School District shall be Treasurer 
 of the Library Commission, and subject to the Commission 
 as to the money of which the Commission has custody. 
 
 A vacancy in the Commission may be filled by the Com- 
 mission till the next election of members occurs. A fail- 
 ure to attend three successive meetings of the Commission 
 may be declared a vacancy at the option of the other 
 members. 
 
 Section 13. The District Library Commission shall 
 have entire control of the Library and its property of all 
 sorts. 
 
 It shall make an explicit report to the District at each 
 annual school meeting of all its receipts and expenditures, 
 and of all the property in its care. 
 
 It shall also recommend as to the amount of money it 
 deems necessary to raise for the Library for the ensuing 
 year, and must do so before fixing the rate of taxation for 
 the Library by the Board of Education or the School 
 Committee. It shall also make such reports embracing 
 such matters as the State Library Commission shall require. 
 
 The District Library Commission shall also have the 
 power to obtain or to accept room and equipment for a 
 
87 
 
 Library and to employ the necessary caretakers and to 
 have all necessary powers for the foundation and mainten- 
 ance of a Library, including the making of all rules and 
 regulations for the conduct of its employees, use of its 
 property and the conduct of people in and about the 
 Library, providing the use of it, its reading matter and 
 privileges are free to people in the District or to any per- 
 son outside the District who owns property assessable with- 
 in it. 
 
 The District Library Commission is authorized to en- 
 force these rules by a penalty which it may impose at its 
 discretion. 
 
 This penalty may consist either of a suspension of the 
 privileges of the Library, or of a money fine which may 
 be collected, if necessary, by proceedings instituted in the 
 name of the District before a Justice of the Peace of the 
 County. 
 
 The money thus collected must be paid to the District 
 Library Commission to be used for the Library. 
 
 Section 14. The District Library Commission may, in 
 its discretion and upon payment of such fee as it deems 
 proper, admit persons living outside the District to use the 
 Library, and reading room in the same manner as the 
 residents of the District. 
 
 Section 15. Any two or more School Districts may 
 unite for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of this Act. 
 
 Whenever five electors of any such Districts shall petition 
 therefor, the committee shall arrange with the Boards of 
 Education or School Committees of any other said Districts 
 for a special election to determine the establishment of a 
 Free Public Library for said Districts. For the purposes 
 of this Act, such Districts shall be considered as belonging 
 to the class which any one of the said Districts would have 
 belonged to if they had not united. 
 
 Section 16. Whenever the State Library Commission 
 
88 
 
 shall certify to the State Treasurer that any School District 
 or union of School Districts has established a Free Public 
 Library according to the provisions of this law, then the 
 State Treasurer shall pay to the District Library Commis- 
 sion one-half the lowest sum prescribed in Section 10, for 
 the class in which these Districts belong, and annually 
 thereafter he shall pay a like sum to the District Library 
 Commission upon the certificate of the State Library Com- 
 mission that the District has raised its necessary quota for 
 the support of its Free Public Library. 
 
 I am not going to speak with disparagement of the library of refer- 
 ence, but I am going to speak with peculiar admiration and affection of 
 the library of circulation; and or this reason: because it tends to 
 purify and maintain that which is the very strength of a nation, the very 
 glory of a people; among all the ordinances of God, the most merciful 
 and the most amicable the domestic system of the country. And I 
 hope that many a husband, and many a brother, availing himself of the 
 opportunity offered, will carry the book to his own fireside, and make 
 his wife and his children, or his mother and his sister, partake of his 
 studies. SHAFTESBUR Y. 
 
8 9 
 
 LAWS OF DELAWARE. 
 VOL. 22. 
 
 CHAPTER 362. 
 
 OK FREE PUBLIC LIBRARIES. 
 
 AN ACT 
 PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE 
 
 OF FREE PUBLIC LIBRARIES. 
 Be it enacted, &c. 
 
 Section i. That as soon as may be after the adoption 
 of this Act, there shall be created and established a board 
 to be known as "The State Library Commission for the 
 State of Delaware." Said Commission shall be composed 
 of nine persons to be appointed by the Governor, who 
 shall respectively hold office for the term of five years or 
 until their successors are duly chosen ; provided, that in 
 the first Commission created under this Act, the Governor 
 shall appoint three members for the term of one year, 
 three members for the term of three years, and three mem- 
 bers for the term of five years. All vacancies on said 
 Commission, whether occurring by expiration of term, or 
 otherwise, shall be filled by the Governor. No person 
 shall be ineligible by reason of sex to serve on the Com- 
 mission. 
 
 Section 2. The said Commission shall organize by the 
 selection from its members of a chairman and such other 
 officers as are or may be deemed advisable ; provided, that 
 the State Librarian shall, by virtue of his office, be the 
 Secretary of said Commission, but shall have no vote or 
 voice in the acts and proceedings of said Commission. No 
 member shall receive any salary or compensation for his 
 services as such Commissioner. 
 
 The Commission is hereby authorized and empowered to 
 expend such sum or sums as it shall deem proper and neces- 
 sary for effectuating the objects of this Act, provided said 
 
sums shall not in the aggregate in any one year exceed the 
 sum of seven hundred dollars exclusive of the expenses ac- 
 tually incurred by the members in attendance on the Com- 
 mission, and of sums expended for necessary printing, post- 
 age and stationery. Such sums, together with the actual 
 expenses of the members incurred in attending the Com- 
 mission and all bills for necessary printing, postage and 
 stationery, shall be paid by the State Treasurer to the said 
 Commission, upon the order or orders of its Chairman or 
 President, attested by its Secretary. 
 
 Section 3. The said Commission shall have general su- 
 pervision over all Libraries in this State established or 
 maintained under the provisions of this Act ; and shall 
 have the supervision and control of all circulating Libraries 
 now, or hereafter to be, established under the provisions of 
 Chapter 220, of Volume 21, of the Laws of Delaware; 
 shall have power to require of any and all District Library 
 Commissions created as hereinafter provided such reports as 
 are or may be deemed proper ; shall make certificate to 
 the State Treasurer when any Library is entitled to State 
 aid, as hereafter provided ; and shall have all further and 
 other powers necessary and proper for the general super- 
 vision of the Libraries aforesaid. The State Library Com- 
 mission shall have power to make all rules and by-laws for 
 its own government. The said Commission shall, in the 
 month of January in each year in which there is a regular 
 biennial session of the General Assembly of this State, 
 make report to said General Assembly of its doings and of 
 any recommendations deemed advisable. 
 
 Section 4. Any single, united, consolidated or incor- 
 porated School District in this State may receive in its 
 corporate capacity and hold any devise, bequest or dona- 
 tion for the foundation and establishment or for the main- 
 tenance, support and increase of a Free Public Library 
 within the same. 
 
 Section 5. Any single, united, consolidated or incor- 
 
9' 
 
 porated School District in this State is hereby authorized 
 and empowered to establish and maintain a Free Public 
 Library, with or without reading room, provided that at 
 any election held as hereinafter provided, a majority of the 
 qualified electors of said School District then present and 
 voting, shall vote in favor of such establishment. 
 
 Section 6. For the purposes of this Act, all the School 
 Districts in this State, single, united, consolidated and in- 
 corporated, are classified according to the sums which the 
 several Boards of Education or School Committees are au- 
 thorized by law to levy and raise by taxation annually for 
 current school expenses, as follows, namely : 
 
 Every District in which the sum authorized as aforesaid 
 is six thousand dollars or more, shall be deemed and taken 
 to be a District of the First Class ; every District in which 
 the sum authorized as aforesaid is not less than four thous- 
 and nor as much as six thousand dollars, shall be deemed 
 and taken to be a District of the Second Class ; every Dis- 
 trict in which the sum authorized as aforesaid is not less 
 than two thousand, nor as much as four thousand dollars, 
 shall be deemed and taken to be a District of the Third 
 Class ; every District in which the sum authorized as afore- 
 said is not less than one thousand, nor as much as two 
 thousand dollars, shall be deemed and taken to be a District 
 of the Fourth Class ; every District in which the sum au- 
 thorized as aforesaid is not less than five hundred, nor as 
 much as one thousand dollars, shall be deemed and taken 
 to to be a district of the Fifth Class ; every District in 
 which the sum authorized as aforesaid is not less than two 
 hundred, nor as much as five hundred dollars, shall be 
 deemed and taken to be a District of the Sixth Class ; and 
 every District in which the sum authorized as aforesaid is 
 less than two hundred dollars shall be deemed and taken 
 to be a District of the Seventh Class. 
 
 Section 7. Every Board of Education or School Com- 
 mittee in this State shall submit the question as to the es- 
 
9 2 
 
 tablishment of a Free Public Library in said District to 
 the qualified electors thereof, at a special election to be 
 held on the day next following the ensuing regular school 
 election in such District, not being Sunday or a legal holi- 
 day ; provided said Board or Committee be petitioned so 
 to do thirty days at least before the next succeeding regular 
 school election in such District, by a number of the quali- 
 fied electors thereof. The number of qualified electors 
 who must petition as aforesaid, shall be as follows, name- 
 ly : in Districts of the First or Second Class, twenty quali- 
 fied electors; in Districts of the Third, Fourth or Fifth 
 Class, ten qualified electors ; and in Districts of the Sixth 
 or Seventh Class, five qualified electors. 
 
 Section 8. The vote on the question as to the establish- 
 ment of a Free Public Library, when submitted as aforesaid, 
 shall be by ballot, upon which shall be printed or written 
 either the words "For a Free Library," or the words 
 ' 'Against a Free Library." A majority of the ballots cast 
 legally at said election shall determine the question. All 
 persons entitled to vote at the regular school election next 
 before such special election shall be entitled to vote on 
 such question. In all respects the place of voting, and the 
 conduct of the election, counting of ballots, and the like, 
 shall be as now are, or hereafter may be, provided by law 
 for the regular school election in the School District where- 
 in such question is submitted. Provided, that the Board 
 of Education or School Committee, upon being petitioned 
 to submit the question of the establishment of a Free Library 
 as hereinbefore provided, shall give notice of such sub- 
 mission by printed advertisements posted in at least five 
 public places in said District at least ten days before the 
 election. The said advertisements shall state the question 
 to be submitted as hereinbefore provided, and the time 
 and place of voting upon such question. In case any 
 Board of Education or School Committee shall neglect or 
 refuse to give such notice, any qualified elector may do so, 
 
93 
 
 and the notice so given shall be as effectual as though 
 given by said Board or Committee. 
 
 Section 9. If a majority of the ballots cast as aforesaid 
 shall be against the establishment of a Free Library, the 
 question as to such establishment may again be submitted 
 at special elections to be held on the day next following 
 any regular school election thereafter ensuing (not being 
 Sunday or a legal holiday) as often as petitions therefor 
 shall be presented to the said Board of Education or 
 School Committee as hereinbefore provided. 
 
 Section 10. If at any election the qualified electors 
 shall in the manner aforesaid, declare in favor of the es- 
 tablishment of a Free Public Library in any District, then 
 the Board of Education or School Committee thereof shall, 
 and it is hereby authorized, empowered and required to 
 levy and raise by taxation for the purpose of the establish- 
 ment of such Library therein, and also for the maintenance, 
 increase and support of said Library for the year then next 
 ensuing, a sum determinable by the class in which such 
 District belongs, that is to say : If such District be of the 
 First Class, the sum required to be levied and raised as 
 aforesaid shall be not less than two hundred and fifty, nor 
 more than six hundred dollars ; if such District be of the 
 Second Class, the sum so required as aforesaid shall be 
 not less than one hundred and fifty, nor more than four 
 hundred dollars ; if such District be of the Third Class the 
 sum so required as aforesaid shall be not less than one 
 hundred, nor more than three hundred dollars ; if such 
 District be of the Fourth Class, the sum so required as 
 aforesaid shall be not less than seventy-five dollars, nor 
 more than two hundred dollars ; if such District be of the 
 Fifth Class, the sum so required as aforesaid shall be not 
 less than fifty, nor more than one hundred and fifty dol- 
 lars ; if such District be of the Sixth Class, the sum so re- 
 quired as aforesaid shall be not less than forty, nor more 
 than one hundred dollars ; and if such District be of the 
 
94 
 
 Seventh Class, the sum so required as aforesaid shall be 
 not less than twenty-five, nor more than seventy-five 
 dollars. 
 
 And annually thereafter, such Board of Education or 
 School Committee shall levy and raise by taxation for the 
 maintenance and increase of the Library so established as 
 aforesaid, a sum as hereinbefore prescribed and limited in 
 this section for the establishment of such Library. 
 
 All sums authorized to be levied and raised by taxation 
 under this Act, shall be levied, raised and collected as 
 school taxes for current school expenses are, and shall, if 
 the said Board or Committee deem it necessary, be in ex- 
 cess of and in addition to the sum or amount authorized 
 to be raised in said District by taxation for current school 
 expenses. 
 
 Any District in which a Library has been established as 
 aforesaid, may fix any sum (not less than the minimum 
 sum required to be raised in said District as hereinbefore 
 prescribed in this section) to be levied and raised in the 
 District for the maintenance and increase of the Library 
 therein during the ensuing year : the vote to fix any sum 
 shall be by ballot, and a majority of the ballots cast at 
 such election shall determine the question. 
 
 Section n. Every School District in this State which 
 shall establish a Free Public Library pursuant to the pro- 
 visions of this Act, shall annually thereafter, at an election 
 held on the day next following the regular school election 
 (not being Sunday or a legal holiday) elect members of a 
 School District Library Commission. 
 
 The said District Library Commission shall be com- 
 posed of the following number of members, namely : if it 
 be a Commission in a District of the First or Second Class, 
 nine members ; in a District of the Third or Fourth Class, 
 five members ; in a District of the Fifth, Sixth or Seventh 
 Class, three members. The members shall hold office for 
 
95 
 
 the term of three years, or until their successors are duly 
 elected and qualified ; provided that at the first election of 
 said Commission next succeeding the establishment of a 
 Free Public Library as aforesaid the members of said Com- 
 mission shall be elected for the following terms, namely : 
 for a District of the First or Second Class, three members 
 shall be elected for one year, three for two years, and 
 three for three years, or until their successors are duly 
 chosen and qualified ; for a District of the Third or 
 Fourth Class, two of the members shall be elected for one 
 year, two for two years, and one for three years, or until 
 their successors are duly chosen and qualified ; for a Dis- 
 trict of the Fifth, Sixth or Seventh class, one of the mem- 
 bers shall be elected for one year, one for two years, and 
 one for three years, or until their successors are duly 
 chosen and qualified ; provided further, that the Board of 
 Education or School Committee in any School District 
 wherein the question as to the establishment of a Free 
 Public Library has been submitted and carried in favor of 
 such establishment as hereinbefore provided, shall, as 
 soon as may be after the decision upon such question has 
 been ascertained, elect all of the members of such District 
 Library Commission to compose the first District Library 
 Commission to act until their successors have been elected 
 by the qualified electors of the District at the time herein- 
 before provided for such election. 
 
 The members of any District Library Commission may or 
 may not be members of the Board of Education or School 
 Committee of the District and no person shall be ineligible 
 to serve on said Commission by reason of sex. The election 
 of the members of said Commission at any district election 
 shall be by ballot by the qualified electors of said District, 
 and, in all other respects except as to the day of election 
 shall be conducted as is the election of members of the 
 Board of Education or School Committee in the District. 
 
 Section 12. The first meeting of the District Library 
 
9 6 
 
 Commission shall be on the evening of Tuesday next suc- 
 ceeding the election of its members. The Commission 
 shall organize by electing from its members a chairman 
 and secretary, and such other officers as it may deem 
 proper. The treasurer of the School District shall be the 
 treasurer of said Commission, and shall be subject to all 
 orders of said Commission relative to moneys in his hands 
 of which the said Commission has custody, as provided in 
 this Act. The official bond of said treasurer shall be held 
 and deemed to cover and include all such moneys, and the 
 due and proper accounting therefor. A vacancy in said 
 Commission caused by refusal to act, death, resignation or 
 otherwise, shall be filled by said Commission until the 
 regular school election next succeeding. A failure to at- 
 tend three meetings of said Commission in succession shall, 
 at the option of said Commission, be deemed a vacancy. 
 
 Section 13. The District Library Commission so elected 
 as aforesaid shall have the entire custody and manage- 
 ment of the Library and all property owned or leased, or 
 donated, relating thereto, and all money raised by the 
 District or donated for its establishment and maintenance, 
 or paid by the State Treasurer, as hereinafter provided, 
 shall be placed in the care and custody of said Commission 
 to be expended or retained by said Commission for and in 
 behalf of the District for the foundation and establishment 
 and for the maintenance and increase of its Free Pubiic 
 Library. 
 
 The Commission shall make an explicit report to the 
 District at each annual school meeting of all its receipts 
 and expenditures, and of all the property of the District in 
 its care and custody, including a statement of any unex- 
 pended balance of money, and of any bequests or do- 
 nations in behalf of the District, and of any sum or sums 
 received from the State as hereinafter provided, with such 
 recommendations with reference to same as is deemed 
 necessary for the District to consider. 
 
97 
 
 The said Commission shall also make report and recom- 
 mendation concerning the amount of money deemed 
 necessary and proper by said Commission to be raised by 
 taxation for any one year for said Library, to the Board of 
 Education or School Committee after the selection of said 
 Commission as aforesaid and prior to the fixing of the rate 
 of taxation for said purpose by said Board of Education, 
 or School Committee. The said District Library Com- 
 mission shall also make such reports, at such times and 
 embracing such matters, to the State Library Commission 
 created by this Act as the said State Library Commission 
 shall order and direct. 
 
 The said District Library Commission shall also have 
 the power to procure by purchase, lease or acceptance of a 
 gift or donation, a room or rooms for said Library, and to 
 fit and furnish for the heat and light in the same, and the 
 care thereof; and may, with the consent of the Board of 
 Education or the School Committee, use any school room 
 or rooms for this purpose ; to purchase or accept donations 
 or gifts of books, magazines, newspapers and reviews ; to 
 employ a librarian or librarians and a custodian and care- 
 taker, and shall have such further and additional powers 
 in the premises as are or may be deemed necessary for the 
 foundation and establishment, and the support and main- 
 tenance of a Library, or a Library and reading room. 
 
 The said Commission shall also have the power to make 
 such rules and regulations for the conduct of the persons 
 employed by it, and for the care and use of the books, 
 newspapers, magazines and reviews in said Library by the 
 persons having authority to use said Library, and also con- 
 cerning the conduct and deportment of all persons while 
 in or about said Library or Library and reading room, as 
 said Commission shall or may from time to time deem 
 proper and advisable ; provided, the use of said Library 
 or Library and reading room or the contents thereof shall 
 be free to said District, or to any person outside the Dis- 
 
9 8 
 
 trict who owns real estate assessable for the school of the 
 District. The rules and regulations so made by said Com- 
 mission shall be enforcible by a penalty which the Commis- 
 sion is hereby authorized the same for a Library, or a Li- 
 brary and reading room, to provide to impose. 
 
 Such penalty shall consist either of a suspension from the 
 privileges of said Library or Library and reading room and 
 the contents thereof, or by a money fine. All money 
 fines imposed as aforesaid may be collected by proceedings 
 instituted in the corporate name of the District before any 
 Justice of the Peace of the County, and jurisdiction to 
 hear and finally determine all such proceedings is hereby 
 conferred upon any and all Justices of the Peace. The 
 process, mode of proceeding and rendering of judgment 
 shall be as now is, or hereafter may be, provided by law 
 for the collection of fines before Justices of the Peace. 
 
 All fines so collected shall be paid to the District and by 
 it paid over to the District Library Commission to be used 
 as other money of which it has the custody and care as 
 hereinbefore provided. 
 
 Section 14. In addition to its other powers, the Dis- 
 trict Library Commission may, if it deem proper, permit 
 persons living without the corporate limits of said District, 
 to enjoy and use said Library or Library and reading room 
 exactly as though residents of said District, upon the pay- 
 ment to said Commission for the use of the Library such 
 fee or fees as said Commission shall deem proper. 
 
 Section 15. That any two or more School Districts 
 may unite for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of this 
 Act, whenever any School Committee of any such dis- 
 tricts shall be petitioned therefor by at least five qualified 
 electors thereof, said Committee shall arrange with the 
 School Committee of any other of said Districts for the 
 holding of a special election to determine the question. 
 At such election, any qualified elector in any one of said 
 Districts shall be entitled to vote at said special election. 
 
99 
 
 If a majority of the votes then cast shall be in favor of 
 uniting and establishing a Free Library for said Districts, 
 the same shall be deemed and taken to be effected. The 
 Districts so united shall be taken to be one District for the 
 purposes of this Act, and shall be considered as belonging 
 to the class which any one of said Districts would have be- 
 longed to if there had been no union. 
 
 Section 16. Whenever the State Library Commission 
 shall certify to the State Treasurer of the State of Dela- 
 ware that any single, united, consolidated or incorporated 
 School District in this State has established a Free Public 
 Library therein, and has raised by taxation, gift, or other- 
 wise a sum not less than the sum prescribed by Section 10 
 of this Act for the class to which such District belongs, for 
 the support and maintenance of said Library for the year 
 then next ensuing, that then said State Treasurer shall pay 
 to the District Library Commission of any such School 
 District, a sum equal to one-half of the lowest sum pre- 
 scribed in Section 10 of this Act for the class in which 
 such District belongs ; and annually thereafter, the said 
 State Treasurer shall pay to said District Library Commis- 
 sion, a like sum, upon the certificate of the State Library 
 Commission that said District has raised by taxation, gift, 
 or otherwise a sum as hereinbefore provided for the main- 
 tenance and support of a Free Public Library therein for 
 the year next ensuing. 
 
 Section 17. That the Free Public Library heretofore 
 established in the Town of Dover be, and the same is 
 hereby transferred to and made the Free Public Library of 
 the United School District known as "Dover Public 
 Schools;" and all the rights, powers, privileges and duties 
 prescribed by this Act for Free Libraries to be established 
 under its provisions, shall immediately vest in the Library 
 so transferred, and in the said United School District, and 
 in the Board of Education thereof, and in the local Libra- 
 ry Commission having control thereof precisely as if said 
 
ICO 
 
 Free Library had been established in said United School 
 Districts in the first instance. The members of the local 
 Library Commission having control of said Free Library 
 at the time of the passage of this Act shall compose the 
 District Library Commission after such transfer during the 
 respective terms for which they were severally elected. 
 
 That the Free Library known as the "Corbit Library" 
 provided for under Chapter 416 of Volume n of 
 the Laws of Delaware be and the same is hereby made a 
 School District Library for the purpose of receiving all 
 benefits provided in Section 17 of this Act, and for the 
 purpose of ascertaining what appropriation said Library 
 shall receive under said Section from the State Treasurer, 
 said Corbit Library shall be deemed and taken to be a Li- 
 brary established under the provisions of this Act in a 
 School District of the Third Class ; but in all other re- 
 spects said Corbit Library shall remain and continue as 
 though this Act had not been passed. 
 
 Approved March 9, A. D. ipoi. 
 Amended and Approved March jf, A. D. 
 
 And I do not mean by all this my talk, that young gentlemen should 
 always be poring on a book, and by using good studies should loose 
 honest pleasure and haunt no good pastime : I mean nothing less. . . 
 I would wish that beside some good time fitly appointed, and constant- 
 ly kept, to increase by reading the knowledge of the tongue and learn- 
 ing ; young gentlemen should use and delight in all courtly exercises 
 and gentlemanlike pastimes. ROGER ASCHAM. 
 
101 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 "State" should be state, p. 16, last line, 
 "discourged" should be discouraged, p. 25, fl 3, line I. 
 "(See index)" should be (see Table of Contents), pp. 30, 32, 35, 
 37, 45- 
 
 Omit "initials," p. 32, fl 2, line 6. 
 
 Omit "Author's Initial," p. 32, fl 2, line 7. 
 
 "Event" should be issue, p. 33, line 6. 
 
 ? should be ! p. 40, close of fl 4. 
 
 Insert heading, Registration Book, to fl 4, p. 51. 
 
 Insert heading Book Pocket, to fl 4, p. 53. 
 
 "e" should be i in "whesp'ring," p. 58, line 2 of quotation. 
 
 Omit g in "rung," p. 61, fl 5, line i. 
 
 "e" should be c in School, p. 62, fl 3, of "Library Schools." 
 
 Add s to experiment," p. 64, fl 3. 
 
 "their" should be this, p. 66, line 5. 
 
 "that" should be the, p. 66, fl 2, line i. 
 
 Insert so after "power to do," p. 67, fl 4, line 9. 
 
 Di Rioza should be Di Rioja, p. 69. 
 
 Abbreviation for June should be Jn. not Je., p. 75, fl 5. 
 
 Omit "s" in "inventors," p. 78, fl 4, line 2. 
 
 Insert f before "or," p. 88, line 3 of quotation. 
 
Wherever we go in life, even in the darkest alleys of literature, a 
 good and an evil example will always be put before us, and because this 
 world is not Heaven, we must be left to make our choice between good 
 and evil ; but the more a person's views are enlarged, and the wider 
 the choice that is offered to him, the better hope there is that he may 
 take the good and leave the evil. All that we can do is to give him 
 light light in every possible direction, and if a man chooses to make 
 a bad use of his eyes and ears, and of his other faculties, all that we 
 can say is, we have done our best, we cannot make the world Heaven. 
 
 ARCHBISHOP WHATELY. 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF