Rural Public Libraries

Abstract

T3UBLIC libraries, like the one in which we have the privilege *• of meeting today , which are situated in country towns, few as they unfortunately are, represent a stage in the process of carrying the institution of public libraries from the towns into the villages. Considering the honourable share the founders of this building have had in promoting the movement in these parts, one might be tempted to prophesy that this very library is likely to do good work in the future as a centre for supplying the neighbouring rural districts with books. At any rate, you will agree with me that " Rural Public Libraries " will be a not inappropriate subject for us to talk about within these walls. I must tell you that I am very far from being an authority on rural libraries, indeed, I cannot promise any information which you are not already familiar with. My desire is to offer a few practical suggestions which you, as practical librarians, will be able to weigh and criticise at your leisure. The only use in collecting particulars as to the work already done in the country, would be to show how neglected the rural districts have been by the men who have worked hard for the library movement in the towns. Not that any discredit attaches to them on that account, but surely, if we nourish for our ideal of the future of public libraries the hope that some day the library will be as necessary and universal an institution as the elementary school, we must believe that it is high time village libraries were placed on a substantial footing. The population of this country living in places of less than 3,000 inhabitants, amounts to about two-sevenths of the whole. How far is this ratio from indicating their share in the public libraries of England I The two main obstacles to the extension of public libraries into the country have been the natural backwardness and conserva-1 A paper read at Hacknall Torkaid Public library before the North Midland library Association. t i=£*

Advocacy for rural library provision in central and southern England in the late nineteenth century

“…Each 'district' (voluntary combination of parishes) would have a central reference library and reading room, mainly for students. A professional librarian would administer each district aided by part-time assistants (23).…”