We Had Done Wonderfully Well … Considering: Madison County's Odyssey from Bookmobile to Public Library

Abstract

"The story of extension library work in the mountains," says Alfred H. Perrin, "is an interesting but as yet largely unresearched topic." A study of such work in Madison County, North Carolina, must be made in the context of the cultural and economic life of the region. Little more than two decades ago Madison County was without public library service of any kind. Although North Carolina had long placed a high priority on public libraries and, as early as 1923, had begun bookmobile service in Durham County, the inhabitants of Madison, isolated geo- graphically by rugged mountain and unimproved roads, were further hampered by their lack of cash income, their generally low educational level, and the unavailability of books. They did have a regard for books, however, as evidenced by the fact that people treasured old volumes passed down from generation to generation and by the willingness with which whole families sacrificed to enable a child to further his education. It is not surprising, therefore, that in 1955 when the Home Demonstration Club received a prize from THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER the ladies voted to contribute the $25.00 award toward the establishment of a county library.