Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1889 — An Awful Scheme. [ARTICLE]

An Awful Scheme.

I have heard lately of a country library which is run on so ingenious a principle that I feel bound to state it for the benefit of such of my readers as may be concerned with similar institutions. Though in some sense a public library, the books are not given ■cut free, a small sum being charged, so much per day, for the use of them, and the library is open but two days in the week, and then only for a couple •of hours. The consequence is obvious —a man takes out a book and finishes •it perhaps on one of the off days. Then the work is laid aside, and he never thinks of it except on a day or at an bour when books are not received, and the result is that books are kept out for a week or two, at least, and a corresponding revenue accrues to the library. The advantage of this plan is two-fold. Few books are read (always a great point gained in a public library), and for those that are read a large fee is extorted from the reader. It is superfluous to add that the books in this library are carefully wrapped up in brown paper, and that the person who presides over it is eminently well suited for the post.— Boston Post.