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 T... -->>
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