398 RURAL SOCIOLOGY 



returned to the state or county authorities where the books are 

 checked up, a record of their circulation is taken, and necessary 

 repairs are made, after which it is sent to another community. 

 The rural community is at no expense except that the cost of 

 transportation is generally paid by the local patrons. In no 

 event, however, is even an insignificant financial payment on the 

 part of the patrons made the condition of obtaining the books 

 from the local custodian. 



The rule is that the traveling library shall be kept in the most 

 centrally located and most easily accessible place that can be 

 found. The local postoflfice is an ideal place, but a general store 

 often serves the purpose well. Frequentty the local merchant 

 finds that his increased trade well repays him for the time spent 

 in caring for the library, since the presence of the books attracts 

 the public to his place of business. Where there is no postoffice 

 or store, a creamery, a cheese factory, or a private residence be- 

 comes the home of the little group* of books. Sometimes the 

 library is located in a schoolhouse, but since a schoolhouse is 

 closed evenings,. Saturdays, and during long vacation periods, 

 the books so located are not always accessible. It is found also 

 that adults do not usually patronize libraries which are located 

 in schoolhouses. 



Records indicate that the tastes of country readers differ very 

 little from the tastes of city people. An examination of the re- 

 corded circulation of certain books explodes the theory that the 

 interests of country people are peculiar to country districts. 

 Farmers refuse to read the books which theorists think they 

 ought to read. For example, even the best book on farm topics 

 is rather less popular in the country than in the city. On the 

 other hand, a book that is popular in the city is likely to be 

 popular in the country. Further, however, a good book sent to 

 the country is more likely to be read there than in the city, since 

 there is in the country little or no competition from the poor, 

 but possible more attractive, best-seller. 



It is an interesting fact that the country boy or girl is very 

 much the same sort of an individual as is the city youth and 

 likes the same sort of books. Prof. B. A. Heydrick, of the High 

 School of Commerce of New York City, asked six hundred city 

 boys to give him a list of the twenty books which they liked best. 



