A Neighborhood Library 157 



the district. Of course the schoolhouse or rural 

 church may be available for the purpose, but the farm 

 home will be better for a great many reasons, among 

 them being the possibility of having the library open 

 at all hours of the day so that books may be exchanged 

 on the occasion of one's passing the place. Now, go 

 after the well-to-do residents of the district and gather 

 a fund for the library. Paint in glowing terms the 

 visions you have of this thing when it has been set 

 on foot. Declare your purpose as that of helping 

 and uplifting the community life. Show the "close- 

 fisted" resident that the establishment of a neighbor- 

 hood library will attract desirable settlers into the 

 district and improve prices of land and produce. 



After having obtained a small fund, consult the 

 best authorities for advice in selecting the books. By 

 all means avoid cheap stories and trash of every other 

 sort. Since your work is in behalf of the young, 

 obtain a few attractive and instructive picture books. 

 There can probably be obtained a book which treats 

 and illustrates fully the bird life of the local state, 

 giving a brief description and pictures in their natu- 

 ral color. Young people may be very much at- 

 tracted by authentic books of the nature-study class, 

 including those descriptive of wild animals and of 

 hunting and exploring tales. Consult the lists given 

 under the chapter on the literature in the country 

 home for additional titles and suggestions. 



If it be found difficult or impracticable to purchase 



