调查江西省立图书馆报告书

敬启者：前奉　大札，派荣往南昌调查江西省立图书馆。闻命之下，惭惧交并。已于十七日呈上一函，谅邀洞鉴。于十八日启程，二十日抵南昌，亦经电告。二十二日动身回鄂，二十三号抵汉。计在南昌有一日半之勾留。除与馆长欧阳祖经及办事人员共十余人询问外，并经详细调查。兹将该馆情形报告如下：

1．馆址。馆址在百花洲（乃南昌一名胜之地）湖滨，为省政府教育厅所拨给。地点适中，风景优美；诚灌输文化，研究学术，涵养品性之绝好地方。

2．房屋。房屋系新建新式之三层楼房。宽敞宏大，光线亦好。由省政府拨款五万元为建筑费，现已落成，尚在油漆中。预计月余后，即可举行开门典礼。内部有阅览室三间，会议厅及办公室等，亦甚为完备。后面有五层楼书库一座。两旁又各有二层楼房屋一座，一为办事人员住所及食堂，一为儿童阅览室。

3．基金。该馆已有基金库券十一万元。每年息金，如作六厘计算，有六七千元，拟作购备书籍之款。现有积年息金共一万八千元。教育厅已批准一万元作为购备书籍之用，余八千元即为新馆现时之设备费。又南昌卫戍司令部张辉赞司令指拨刘焕衢捐款一万元，以四千元购置西文书籍，六千购置中文书籍。现已陆续到馆，一二月后约可到齐。

4．职员。馆长欧阳祖经曾在北平南昌教育界服务多年，素致力于图书馆事业，急谋发展。办事认真，有伟大之效力，坚忍不拔之精神（从该馆报告书中亦可见该馆奋斗精神之一斑）。对于该馆将来之发展，亦有具体计划。该馆长私人藏书颇富。对于该馆所需而一时购求不易之书，多割爱捐赠在千册以上。馆员有留美伊利诺大学图书馆专科毕业者二人。余均系各专门学校毕业，颇有办理图书馆之志趣与经验。故其服务上下一心，十分努力。该馆事业之关于登记、编目、制卡一切均用最新科学方法处理。

5．经费。查该馆常年经费，去年已增加至二万元。职员报告新馆舍址落成，房屋扩大，书籍加增，因此工作较繁，职员势必加多，而经费亦需加增。业已制定十九年度草案，请求教育厅增至六万二千余元。

6．八千元设备费。该馆已由教育厅领得基金一万八千元。以一万元添购中外自然科学社会科学两项书籍，以八千元补充新落成之馆宇设备费，经常购书费。既有增加之望，而基金亦有随扩充，此乃该馆之好现象也。

7．工程计划。该馆建筑费全部计划八万余元。建筑及设备费一万余元。建筑及设备费共需洋拾万元。已由教育厅准拨洋五万元。故将全部工程分为两期，第一期正馆工程虽已完成，第二期工程甫着手进行。内有一部工程，由该馆自行担负建筑费用。而其主要部分，则为建筑一宏大坚实之书库。此次请求拨五万元之款，即为建筑该书库之用。为该馆发展前途需要计，必须建筑书库，以便储藏新置书籍。为该馆形势计，必须建筑书库于北面，方能避免风雨之侵害。此乃调查实在之情形也。

以该省政府、市政府、警备司令部及各上级机关之如此热烈赞助，该职员如此努力进行实为他省所不及。亦应特别援助，以资鼓励。为全国倡且该馆建筑全部计划，大部分现已告成。惟请求补助建筑书库及其设备又似与会中分配款项补充原则第四项：“对于某机关加以补助时，须有（一）过去成绩，（二）维持现状能力，（三）能自求款项一部分，为重要条件”一条之各条件相合。甚望董事会对于该馆请求予以通过！惟其工程进行程序，必须有详细图样及说明书，而合乎新式图书库建筑之原则方可。鄙见如是。敬请

鉴核施行为盼！此致

中华教育文化基金委员会　公鉴

沈祖荣　谨启　民国十九年五月二十五日

（见1930年《文华图书科季刊》第二卷第三、四期）

MISS MARY ELIZABETH WOOD：The Queen of the Modern Library Movement in China

General Li Yuan Hung，late President of the Republic of China，once called Miss Wood，the founder of the Boone Library and Director of Library by the above title．It was in 1926，when she went to see him in his mansion in Tientsin in the interest of library movement in this Country．By this remark made by him，General Li consciously or unconsciously voiced the sentiment of Chinese librarians，for we all feel that to her and to her alone we owe the ideals，enthusiasm，and guidance which have brought success to the library movement in China．If we look around now，we see libraries established in many cities where none existed before，or，at most，there were only collections of books．Her untiring efforts brought a change in our conception of the library instead of a place where books are stored to a living organization．It will bring satisfaction to her and to the mission that sent her out to this land to know that most of the libraries are now administrated by young men and young women who had either trained or inspired by her．It is impossible to overestimate all she did for the Boone Library and the Library School，and all she accomplished for the Library Movement the torch of inspiration，library spirit，and personal sacrifice which she passed on to her pupils and fellow－librarians．It was like a shining light which went out from her into the dark corners of our country．

We remember vividly when Miss Wood first came to Boone School—thirty－two years ago—to care for her young brother，Rev．Robert E．Wood，who was still a power in this Diocese，soon after the old system of examinations had just passed，and the so－called“new learning”was being introduced．As a missionary，she was very much interested in this educational move，and thought that through the avenue of books，the mission she represents，could be the widest service．We could very well see the bright prospect for Boone for that time，and also the need of a library．The founding of a collegiate department in 1903 made the need more imperative．Although she had many hours of teaching，yet she at once commenced to do library work among the students．Her interest in this work grew，and she wrote letters to her friends，Women’s Auxiliaries，and the Church Periodical Club in America for help in the form of books and money．A small collection of books was gathered together and placed in a small room—the old familiar Octagon on the campus—most inadequate even for our own students，but she did not lose sight of her vision of library building．On her first furlough she devoted her time and energy to the interesting of friends of China in America in the erecting of a Library Building of Boone．Many public－spirited and Christian men and women on the other side of the Pacific，caught her vision and contributed funds towards making her dream come true．Dr．Seth Law，late President of Columbia University，was the first donor．Miss Olivia Phelps Stokes，a very well－known New York philanthropist，gave money for the auditorium in memory of her sisiter，which is called Stokes Hall after her．Many friends in Boston，Bishop Lawrence，and his two sisers Mrs．Frederick Cunningham and Mrs．Loring，Miss Marian Dec Ward，and Miss Sturgis；and，in Philadelphia，Mrs．Charles Biddle，and Mrs．John Markoe；and certain ones in Baltimore and Richmond helped to make the building possible．During the intervening years books were constantly coming from the Women’s Auxiliaries and the Church Periodical Club．

The building，with its furnishings，represents of the gifts of many devoted and interested friends of China far and wide in the Church in America．Although Grecian in its architecture，Miss Wood tried to combine with Chinese art which she loved，in its interior decorations and furnishings，that we Chinese people might see at once that the building was for us，and might feel at home there．This is evident，even before we enter，from the inscription in Chinese from our great Sage Confucius over the main door－way．We know too what the structure stands for，in the center in Chinese，are the words，“in Christ are hidden all the treasures and knowledge”．These inscriptions are carved in granite and covered with gold and shine out for all passers－by to see．Many Chinese hand carvings on the partitions and the brackets at the top of the massive pillars，on railings and windows make a favorable impression upon visitors，as works of art．But while we appreciate the beautiful building and its exquisite carvings，we must not forget—the works she did，and the trails she endured with carpenters and masons，while the building was in the process of construction．

In the spring of 1910 the Library was formally opened．Many high officials were present．Plans were immediately outlined to make the library of service outside the walls of Boone．When Miss Wood first dreamed of a Public Library that could be of service in the Wuhan cities，she did not foresee the obstacles before her．She thought the public would certainly flock into it when the library opened its doors．Her hopes that students will welcome such a privilege were shattered that first year．The great difficulty had been to bring the students of outside schools to Boone Library for reading． Repeated efforts had been made，but with little success．This was owing to long hours and fixed the rules of the government schools，and to the fact that Boone was some distance from the center．This method of circulating books failed．Then Miss Wood thought of a better plan and carried it out．It was the introduction of University Extension Lectures．

Before attempting university extension work personal visits were made to all the leading educational institution in the city．To ascertain what their attitude would be toward it．She began to call on the principals of the government schools and telling them how the Boone Library planned to go University Extension Lectures on scientific，social and literary subjects during the fall and spring terms．According she sent tickets to various schools and public institutions in advance，the number of tickets being in proportion to the number of student in that particular school．Every lecture course began with a concert．By means of these lectures the Boone Library was given a great opportunity to instruct and enlighten the community with regard to public health，good government，natural science，etc．．Many of these lectures were illustrated with lantern slides and educational films which always proved an attraction．

Two reading rooms have been opened in connection with the Boone Library．One is at St．Michael’s Church．That is frequented by citizens of that quarter，military，and other students，policemen，etc．．The other，at Trinity Church，is very flourishing．The readers are most merchants and shopkeepers．These two reading rooms have been of special service to the parishioners and residents of those sections．Through the avenue of reading rooms the Boone Library is able to do not only educational work，but also evangelistic work among these leading classes of the people．

At our home base when the Boone Library was first opened in 1910，Miss Wood aimed principally to work with students，as Wuchang had always beenna city of schools．After fruitless attempt to get students from the government schools，she changed her tactics．She again visited the principal of the government schools and put the suggestion to them that books should be brought to their doors．The plan was favorable received．Not only were traveling libraries sent to the government schools and mission schools in the city，but also to some public instructions，like the Hanyang Iron and Steel Works，Canton Hankou Railway，Yang Tze Engineering Works，etc．．Sometimes they went to far away places on the Yang Tze—Wuhu，Kiukiang，Nanchang，Shangsha，Shasi，Ichang．One went to Kaifeng in Honan，and another to Yung Ching in Chili，and still another travelled to Peping．These libraries usually made up of lots of 100 books or more．Sometimes they contain all the Chinese books，sometimes all English books and sometimes half English and Chinese．For the law school she tried to include as many books relating to law as possible；and for the agricultural school，books relating to agriculture．The difficulty she has experienced in carrying on this work has been to find suitable books in Chinese on these subjects．They have not been translated，or if so，the translation is often a poor one．One of the greatest needs in educational world in China today are books on up－to－date scientific，social and political subjects，and inspiring biographies．Literature for young people which make the lives of children in America and Europe so full of joy，is also sadly lacking．As she made up these libraries，she was constantly confronted with these needs．However she never ceased her efforts to reach out and carry the influence of books to the students gathered in our midst，though most of the work has been slow，gradual and decidedly up－hill，with one exception—the public lecture course．

As the work in the Boone Library grew，technical training became necessary．With the support of friends in the Church at home，Miss Wood sent Mr．Samuel Seng as the first student from China to America for library training，and Mr．Thomas C．S．Hu three years later．Immediately upon the return of Mr．Seng，the Boone Library linked up with the Lecture Department of the National Committee，Y．M．C．A．，Shanghai，in order that a demonstrated lecture on the Need of Public Libraries in China be given．This undertaking carried the modern library idea far afield，as these lectures demonstrated with apparatus were given in fourteen cities in China．

The next vision that came to Miss Wood was to start a library school at Boone for the training of young men for library service in this land of ours．This plan was heartily endorsed by Bishop Gilman，then President of the University，and the library school was founded as the department of the University in March of 1920，with a class of six students who have since been known as”The Happy Six”．They have established fine records of service in their careers as librarians．The work Miss Wood has done through the Library School—now the only one in China—is far reaching，because the School is graduating young men and young women every year in modern methods of library work，and these graduates are over China，holding responsible positions in libraries．Though the School has but a short history of ten years，yet the influence these graduates exert is very great．

In 1926 Miss Wood took a most significant step which proved to be of national importance．That was her lobbying in Washington for the benefit of our people．It was a suggestion made by Dr．David Yui，that if the indemnity was remitted by the United States，a portion of it be used to introduce certain models of the public library in China．A petition was therefore drawn up，embodying this idea， which was sent to the President of United States after she had succeeded in securing 150 endorsers，including leading statesmen，prominent educators，and business men who attached their signatures to this document．In order that the Bill might go through the America Congress，Miss Wood volunteered to go to Washington and work for its passage．She remained there for five months and saw particularly all the Senators and Congressmen．The Bill passed by a large majority．

In order to impress upon the members of China Foundation for the Proustion of Education and Culture，entrusted with the administration of this returned indemnity，the importance of modern public libraries，the American Library Association with a membership of 6，000 was requested to send a representative to make a survey．American friends of the Boone Library，through the efforts and influence of Miss Wood，financed this mission．Dr．Arthur E．Bostwick，Librarian of St．Louis Public Library，twice President of the Association，a great authority on the American Library system and author of many books on library science，was chosen to come to China to survey the field and advise in planning and organizing these modern public libraries．The coming of this delegate meant a launching of a National Library Movement．This has grown out of Miss Wood’s effort，the Boone Library which started in such a humble way，has slowly but steadily gone forward year by year，little by little，until the opportunity came to take a national step，which wields an influence throughout the whole country．The magnitìcent libray，now called the National Library of Peping，situated in the Palace，is the result of her faith and labor．And it is hoped，as years go by，that other libraries will follow．The same Foundation seeing the need of library training，and recognizing the work done by the Boone Library School，was prompted to make an annual grant to this School to further the work．From now on we must struggle anew to hold this privilege，as other libraries under the Government，better equipped than the Boone Library，will seek this grant．

Miss Wood was in every respect，a great and ardent library worker．She made herself fit for her work by study at different times，while on furlough，in Pratt，and Simons College，getting instructions from such competent teachers as Miss Plummer，Miss Rathbone，Miss Howe and Miss Donnelly．Her interest in the library movement in China brought wonderful results：the Boone Library and its many travelling libraries，and public reading rooms the Boone Library School which boasts of her eighty upwards of graduates serving in many places at home and abroad；the coming of Dr．Bostwick to China and subsequent establishment of National Library Association and the opening of the National Library of Peping，and the formation of the China Foundation for the Promotion of Education and Culture，one of whose projects is the advancement of library work in China．By these fruits we know the tree．

After reading of the above account of the great life of a marvelous woman，though and inadequate incomplete it may seem，one will certainly question how she came to achieve her success．She could tell better than anybody else，but she never mentioned it once．We know just this much．She prayed a great deal every day．She asked God for help when she felt weak and herself unequal to the task set．Whatever joy or grief she had，she let Gold know of it．She prayed for God’s counsel before launching any big plans．In asking for the constributions for the site，and putting up the library building，and furnishing it，and asking for gifts for books and periodicals from Women’s Auxiliaries，the Church Periodical Club，etc．，and for support to further her library work in China from year to year，she wrote thousands and thousands of letters．The reams of paper she had thus consumed would certainly fill the whole library！Is she not justified to be called by the above title—the Queen of the Modern Library Movement？She certainly deserves this honor，and will long be remembered as such，even though she has passed away．When Hans Christian Anderson died，they said of him：“Hans is not dead，he will live forever in the hearts of children”．We may well say of Miss Wood：“Miss Wood is not dead，she will live forever in the hearts of the Chinese people．”

（见1931年《文华图书馆学专科学校季刊》第三卷第三期）