佐野理念の転換過程

一我が国巡回文庫の頽廃化の歴史Ⅱ一

抄録

Since Tomosaburo Sano, the founder of the travelling libraries, began a travelling library in order to promote city and town libraries in Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1907, various evaluations have been added to the public library world. By persuing the history of the development of travelling libraries, right existence of those libraries are demonstrated. Here is mentioned the history between 1907 and 1909.
While Sano was establishing the travelling libraries both in Akita and Yamaguchi Prefecture, Minister Ishihara of Chiba Prefecture set up travelling library called Chiba-ken Tsuzoku Buuko in June, 1907. Chiba Prefecture was divided into 60 wards and each ward had its reading room in a primary school. About 100 books were delivered at a time, and the travelling was once a year and the term of its circulation was one month. But this travelling library ceased to exist in 1909. Although the tenure of the library was very short, its influence was worthwhile to be noted.
Two month after the Chiba-ken Tsuzoku Travelling Library started, a travelling library was established in Ibaragi Prefecture in June 1907. At first the number of stations was three and gradually increased. The object of this small library was to develop the city and town libraries in the Prefecture, but later it changed into an educational organization culturing moral and industrious idea of the young people.
In 1908 the travelling library of Sekizen Union in Niigata Prefeture was started. This library was presented by a director of the Union, Mr. Ichisuke Sakurai. The great difference between this library and others existed in the difference between private and public organization. The fact that a private organization had been connected with library service, contributed greatly not only to the library development in Niigata Prefecture but also to the library world in Japan. The other important contribution was that it had the great influence in popularizing a library in Japan.
In February 1909 the rule of encouraging a travelling library was enforced in Hiroshima Prefecture. This shows the fact that a travelling library became not only common among the nation, but also the library movement itself became very active.
In 1909 travelling libraries were established in four prefectures including Miyagi Prefecture.
Before the Law enforced in 1910 the travelling libraries were set up in ten prefectures and almost all the libraries derived from Yamaguchi Prefecture. But the unfortunate fact was that the founder's idea was disregarded and that its form was only applied. This was the weak point to the library world and later in its turn it was abused by bureaucracy as the means of “Judicious guidance of public thoughts” and “Edification of the Nation”.