Page images
PDF
EPUB

consist in permanent and wise institutions, designed to fit our citizens for the proper discharge of their duties as members of a great community, whose duration and prosperity depend upon the knowledge and virtue of the people.

"We first teach the children of the republic to read, and to appreciate instruction. We lead them to thirst for information, and then seek to open the fountains which may satisfy that thirst. The common school is the first step in their advancement-the school district library is partially designed to be the second. It supplies information of a more varied and extensive sort—and if that information comes clothed in allurements of a virtuous, or entertainment of an innocent character, it is the more welcome on that account. These are mere incidents, however-when they appear alone, they want that substantial recommendation which is necessary to secure their introduction into the school district library. Books designed for amusement simply-to while away a vacant hour, and be forgotten like ephemera-are evidently no worthy occupants of the shelves of such a library. There is enough which is instructive and substantial to exhaust the public liberality, without squandering the well-meant beneficence of the state in transient and trivial publications, which amuse to-day and to-morrow are rubbish. The books, therefore,' says one of the Superintendents before quoted, 'should be such as will be useful among the inhabitants generally. They should not be children's books, or of a juvenile character, or light and frivolous tales and romances; but works conveying solid information, which will excite a thirst for knowledge, and also gratify it, as far as such a library can.

The following remarks from the annual report of the Superintendent of common schools, for the year 1844, will exhibit more fully the view taken of this branch of the subject by the depart

ment:

"There is reason to apprehend that the officers charged with the duty of selecting books for these libraries have too generally failed to appreciate the importance of a suitable provision for the intellectual and moral wants of the children of the district. Much misapprehension has existed on this subject, in consequence of the general prohibition, contained in the instructions heretofore communicated from this department, against the introduction inte the school libraries of books of 'a merely juvenile character.' The true principles upon which the selections for these institutions should be made, may be clearly inferred, as well from the original design of the appropriation, as from the contemporaneous exposition of the Superintendent, under whose immediate auspices it was first carried into effect. The distribution of the fund provided for this purpose, was directed by the act under which it was supplied, to be made in like manner and upon the like condition as the school moneys are now or shall hereafter be distributed, except that the trustees of the several districts shall appropriate the sum received to the purchase of a district library. The amount

of library money, therefore, under this provision, to which each district became entitled, was in proportion to the number of children between the ages of five and sixteen, residing therein, compared with the aggregate number in all the districts, and not in proportion to the adult population merely, or the whole population combined. The primary object of the institution of district libraries, was declared in the circular of Gen. Dix accompanying the publication of the act of 1838, to be 'to disseminate works suited to the intellectual improvement of the great body of the people, rather than to throw into school districts for the use of the young, books of a merely juvenile character; and that by collecting a large amount of useful information, where it will be easily accessible, the influence of these establishments can hardly fail to be in the highest degree salutary to those who have finished their common school education, as well as to those who have not. The object in view will probably be best answered by having books suitable for all ages above ten or twelve years, though the proportion for those of mature age ought to be by far the greatest.' When it is considered that the foundations of education are laid during the period of youth, and that the taste for reading and study is, with rare exceptions, formed and matured at this period, if at all, the importance of furnishing an adequate supply of books, adapted to the comprehension of the immature but expanding intellect-suited to its various stages of mental growth, and calculated to lead it onward by a gradual transition, from one field of intellectual and moral culture to another, cannot fail to be appreciated. And even if the intellectual wants of many of the inhabitants of the districts, of more mature age, are duly considered, it admits of little doubt that a due proportion of works of a more familiar and elementary character than are the mass of those generally selected, would have a tendency not only to promote, but often to create that taste for mental pursuits which leads by a rapid and sure progression to a more extended acquaintance with the broad domains of knowledge. Those whose circumstances and pursuits in life, have hitherto precluded any systematic investigation of literary subjects, and who, if they possessed the desire, were debarred the means of intellectual improvement now brought within their reach, can scarcely be expected to pass at once to that high appreciation of useful knowledge, which the perusal of elaborate treatise on any of the numerous branches of science or metaphysics requires; and the fact brought to view by the annual reports of the County Superintendents, that by far the greater proportion of the inhabitants of the several districts neglect to avail themselves of the privileges of the library, indicates too general a failure, to supply these institutions with the requisite proportion of elementary books.

"In the selection of books for the district libraries, suitable provision should be made for every gradation of intellectual advancement; from that of a child, whose insatiable curiosity eagerly prompts to a more intimate acquaintance with the world of mat

ter and of mind, to that of the most finished scholar, who is prepared to augment his stock of knowledge by every means which may be brought within his reach. The prevalence of an enlightened appreciation of the requirements of our people in this respect, has already secured the application of the highest grade of mental and moral excellence to the elementary departments of literature : and works adapted to the comprehension of the most immature intellect, and at the same time conveying the most valuable information to more advanced minds, have been provided-wholly free, on the one hand, from that puerility which is fit only for the nursery, and on the other, from those generalizations and assumptions which are adapted only to advanced stages of mental progress. A more liberal infusion of this class of publications, sanctioned by the approbation of the most experienced friends of education into our district libraries, would, it is confidently believed, remove many of those obstacles to their general utility, which otherwise are liable to be perpetuated from generation to generation."

It is the duty of the trustees to provide a plain and sufficient case for the library, with a good lock, if the district shall have neglected to do so. They are also to cause the books and case to be repaired as soon as may be, when injured; and to provide suf ficient wrapping paper to cover their books, and the necessary writing paper to enable the librarian to keep minutes of the delivery and return of books. These are proper expenses for the preservation and repair of the books, and are to be defrayed by a tax on the district, which is to be added by the trustees to any tax voted by a district meeting. It is not necessary that the tax to defray these expenses should be voted by the inhabitants of the district; it is to be assessed and collected in the same manner as a tax for building or repairing a school-house, or to furnish it with necessary fuel and appendages.

:

The trustees of each school district are required, at the time of making their annual reports, to deliver to the Town Superintendent of common schools of their town, a catalogue containing the titles of all the books in the district library, not previously reported, with the number of volumes of each set or series, and the condition of such books, whether sound, or injured, or defaced. This catalogue must be signed by them and by the librarian.

Trustees are authorized by the regulations of the Superintendent

in pursuance of law, to impose the following fines:

1st. For each day's detention of a book beyond the time allowed by the regulation, six cents, but not to be imposed for more than ten days' detention.

2d. For the destruction or loss of a book, a fine equal to the full value of the book, or of the set, if it be one of a series, with the addition to such value of ten cents for each volume. And on the payment of such fine, the party fined shall be entitled to the residue of the series. If he has also been fined for detaining such book, then the said ten cents shall not be added to the value.

3d. For any injury which a book may sustain after it shall be taken out by a borrower, and before its return, a fine may be imposed of six cents for every spot of grease or oil upon the cover or upon any leaf of the volume; for writing in or defacing any book not less than ten cents, nor more than the value of the book; for cutting or tearing the cover, or the binding, or any leaf, not less than ten cents, nor more than the value of the book.

4th. If a leaf be torn out, or so defaced or mutilated that it cannot be read, or if any thing be written in the volume, or any other injury done to it, which renders it unfit for general circulation, the trustees will consider it a destruction of the book, and will impose a fine accordingly, as above provided in case of loss of a book.

5th. When a book shall have been detained seven days beyond the twenty days allowed by the regulations, the librarian is to give notice to the borrower to return the same within three days, If not returned at that time, the trustees may consider the book lost or destroyed, and may impose a fine for its destruction in addition to the fines for its detention.

Previous to the imposition of any fine, two days' written or verbal notice is to be given by any trustee, or the librarian, or any other person authorized by either of them, to the person charged, to show cause why he should not be fined for the alleged offence or neglect; and if within that time good cause be not shown, the trustees must impose the fine herein prescribed. No other excuse for an extraordinary injury to a book, that is, for such an injury as would not be occasioned by its ordinary use should be received, except the fact that the book was as much injured when it was taken out by the person charged, as it was when he returned it. As such loss must fall on some one, it is more just that it should be borne by the party whose duty it was to take care of the volume, than by the district. Negligence can be prevented, and disputes avoided, only by the adoption of this rule. Subject to these general principles the imposition of all, or any of these fines, is discretionary with the trustees, and they should ordinarily be imposed only for wilful or culpably negligent injuries to books, or where the district actually sustains a loss, or serious injury. Reasonable excuses for the detention of the books beyond the twenty days, should in all cases be received.

The librarian is to inform the trustees of every notice given by him to show cause against the imposition of a fine; and they are to assemble at the time and place appointed by him, or by any notice given by them, or any one of them; and to hear the charge and defence. They are to keep a book of minutes, in which every fine imposed by them, and the cause, shall be entered and signed by them, or the major part of them. Such original minutes, or a copy certified by them, or the major part of them, or by the clerk of the district, is made conclusive evidence of the fact that a fine

was imposed as stated in such minutes, according to the regulations. It is the duty of trustees to prosecute promptly for the colleetion of all fines imposed by them. Fines collected for the detention of books, or for injuries to them, are to be applied to defray the expense of repairing the books in the library. Fines collected for the loss or destruction of any book, or of a set or series of books, are to be applied to the purchase of the same or other suitable books.

VII. ANNUAL REPORT OF TRUSTEES.

1. WHEN TO BE MADE, AND WHAT TO CONTAIN.

By section 116 of the act of 1847, (No. 136,) trustees are required to make and transmit their annual reports to the Town Superintendent, between the first and fifteenth days of January in each year. By § 115, (No. 137,) such report is to be dated on the first day of January, and must specify:

1. The whole time any school has been kept in their district during the year ending on the day previous to the date of suck report, and distinguishing what portion of the time such school has been kept by qualified teachers :

2. The amount of moneys received from the Town Superintendent of common schools, during such year, and the manner in which such moneys have been expended:

3. The number of children taught in the district during suck year, and the name and age of each child:

4. The name and age of each child residing in the district, on the last day of December previous to the making of such report, over theage of four years and under twenty-one years of age, (except Indian children, otherwise provided for by law,) and the names of the parents or other persons with whom such children shall respectively reside and the number of children residing with each. 5. The amount of money paid for teachers' wages, in addition to the public money paid therefor, the amount of taxes levied in said district for purchasing school-house sites, for building, hiring, purchasing, repairing and insuring school-houses, for fuel, for supplying deficiencies in rate-bills, for district libraries or for any other purpose allowed by law, and such other information in relation to the schools and the districts as the Superintendent of common schools may from time to time require.

By virtue of the authority conferred on the Superintendent, under this provision, they are also required to state in their annual reports,

1. The number of books belonging to their district library on the last day of December in each year:

!

2. The number of times the school in their district has been inspected and visited by the Town Superintendents, respectively, during the year reported:

3. The names of the several school books in use in the school in their district, during such year:

« PreviousContinue »