TRAVELLING LIBRARIES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2334, 16 December 1914, Page 6

TRAVELLING LIBRARIES

IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. The American system of travelling libraries for.the State primary schools, which has been in operation in Wellington for over too years, has proved a complete success. Not all theschools have been supplied with books for the time mentioned, as it is only during ,the past twelve months , that some of 'the_ schools, have benefited by the innovation, and some are still to be catered for. It was,necessarily a system that had to be 'introduced gradually, but such has- been^-the euccess attendant upon the City Council's enterprise that all schools which apply and .which do , not possess libraries of their own are to. be provided for during the. coming year. The only; schools that are not included jn the system .at present are IV. Aro, Mitchelltowii. Maranui, and Island Bay, jvhilst the Terrace and lulbirnie Schools are said to possess fairly good libraries of their own. Mr. W. T. Grundy, r headmaster of the Clyde Quay School, who was the first to apply for books under the new system, is enthusiastic in its praise,, and is quite sure that the literature placed at the disposal of the children is helpful to them in their general studies and a general acceleration to the inquiring;./mind. "It could not be better," aaid he to a Dominion reporter yesterday. "Not only do we get an excellent supply of well-selected books, hut such is the interest that is being taken in tho-system by the Free Public Library officials (and Miss Sievwright in partioular) that teachers are able to, get books for the library which they consider especially suited to those under their control. Each teacher has,a wall cupboard capable of holding the books required for the year, and a register is kept showing exactly where every book is held. So effective is this method and so careful are the children of the books,, that we have only lost three in two and a half years. I believe it is a grand idea, and the City Council deeerves all credit for taking it up as it hps done." The Public Librarian. (Mr. Herbert Baillie), who advocated the adoption of the travelling Jibrary system, js assured by the schoolmasters that it is a great success, and one that adds a zest to school life ,in general. He comments favourably on the care taken of the hooks by the school children. Incidentally he dropped'the remark that generally speaking books are not so well bound as .they used to be, and consequently their life is not so long. There is a soft light paper now used in. many books which will not stand 'a. great deal of wear. The paper is easily cut by i.the thread binding, and once it breaks away the leaves-.full out. 'This paper is generally ueed in the case of cheaper hooks, and those naturally required to be carefully handled- ■ ■ ■