Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1859-04-16
Circular from the State -sueerinteu-
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from the State Superintendent, contain
ing 'sremarks on the New School Lii
brary Law of Wisconsin" We would
be glad to publish the whole of it, but
it is too long. The parts omitted are
mainly devoted to showing the i'm
mense value of the "town library sys-
tenn to the state" Tho Superintendent
is jealous in his labors, and we see no
reason to- doubt that his sanguine ex-
pectations in this matter may be real
lied:
The new school Library Law, re-
Gently enacted by our State Legisla-
ture, has. four prominent provisions,
namely: =.
!. 1t provides a permanent town
School library fund, by setting apart
for this purpose, ten per cent. Of the
School fund income, subject to appor-
tionment in 1860, and annually there
after, together with the proceeds of a
special State tax, to be levied each
year, Of one-tenth of mill on the dol
lar valuation of taxable property.
2. It provides that this fund shall set
apart specifically, for establishing and
replenishing 7oacn School Libraries.
g.. It provides that the books for
these libraries shall be purchased by
public authority, :nd not by the local
school Boards as heretofore.
4. 1t provides that an extra number
Of the State Laws, Journals and Doc
uments, sufficient to supply each town
and city School library with a set, shall
be printed by the State Printer, and
delivered to the State Superintendent,
and these shall be substantially bound,
under the direction of the State Sn-
perintendent, with the approval Of the
Governor, at a cost not exceeding thir-
ty cents per volume, to be paid out of
the State Library fund.
The precise manner in which the
books shall be purchased and distribu-
ted, except that they shall be purchas-
ed ''by public authority,'' and ''distrib-
uted III some just proportion among the
towns and cities of the State" is not
specified in the act. AS the means for
the first purchase, can not, from the
terms of the law, be collected and
ready for use before next spring, it was
thought best not to cucumber the act
with details, which might have embar-
raised and endangered its PASSAGE
These details, providing for the selec-
ton and purchase Of the books, their
distribution, and regulations for the
management of the libraries, will be
carefully considered by the Hon. Hen
ry Barnard, the Superintendent of
Public Instruction, and Prof J. l..
Pickard, of the -Plattopille- Academy.
who have been appointed by the Leg
lslature to make such revision of the
school Laws of the State as they may
think necessary, and report the same
to the Governor in season to be by him
submitted to the next Legislature for
Its consideration. It need only be said
Ill this connection. that every precau-
ton will be taken to guard the inter
ests Of the State, and prevent, by eve
~ restriction Of law, the possibility of
swindling or cheating in the contract
tor the books-for upon the faithful in
vestment OF this sacred fund will much
OF the popularity and usefulness ofthis
law depend. = = \
The School Library Fund will
amount to at least s35 900 annually,
and will gradually increase in proper
ton to the increase Of the School Fund
Income, and the increase of the taxa
bic property Of the State. There will
be something like SIS, 900 year from
the School Fund Income; and one
tenth Of q mill tax on the dollar valua-
ton, on E5175, 100000 Of taxable prop
erty in the State, as equalized last
year, would realize ST, 5O0-if the tax
able property should be equalized, as
1t may be, at two hundred millions,
then the income from the specia, Ii
brary tax would amount to s2O,OOO,-
600 annually. | should conclude tn at
the Library Fund will reach not less
than $4,000 a year within the next
three years. But estimating it at $685.
600, 1t would give, on an Average, to
each of the $50 towns and cities of the
State S53 per year in books at whole
sale rates; and deductine the probable
pro rata for the cities and villages,
there would be about $40 dollars upon
an average, to each Of the rural towns.
Estimating the present population of
he State at $4,000, and dividing it by
the number of towns and cities, we
should have an average of 1888 per-
sons for each town and city; and $40
or $50 per year in books for this num-
Der would appear but a very moderate
This amount, though |
small, will nevertheless afford re-
'pectable beginning for Town school
Library, when we take into considera-
Ion that similar amount will be ad-
led annually thnrpe flor