The Indianapolis journal., 1897-01-18
Library Lcgisiatlor.

To the Editor OF the IadianaroiiS Journal:
There was presented by Superintendent
GosS. OF indianapolis. at the meeting OF
the Indiana Library Association the out
line OF a library bill which will be presented
TO the General Assembly during the pres
ent session. There are many points OF ex-
cellence in the proposed bill. but the dis
cussion which followed las presentation.
which. by the way. Superintendent Goss.
who prepared the bill. aid not stay TO hear.
brought out many things i'm il which
seemed not to meet the wants and wishes
OF the people present. who were. for the
most part. club members. library workers
and librarians. Whether il Is denied or
not. the fact remains that there has been
a lack of harmony I'm the State i'm the
boards which combine the mana cement OF
both schools and libraries. There should
be arrangement made for a separate board
of management for the governance OF Ii
braries, from the State library down,
aside from the boards Of education. The
scheme proposed by MIR. Goss seems TO pro-
vide that the lamb and the hon should
lie down together. but with the lamb in
side the lion. ghe lamb in this case being
the library. Mr.. Goss explained the giving
OF the management OF libraries TO the eq-
ucational boards by saying that the people
Will not tolerate the appointment of the
new officers necessary TO carry out the plan
of Education did not desire the manage
men: OF these affairs: that they were al
ready overburdened with other matters and
uld not nave the time 10 give 10 Sucn an
important work II this then the
board ought certainly TO be relieved by the
appointment by the Governor OF an lnde-
pendent library commission. composed OF
men noted for their intelligence and for
their knowledge OF library matters This
plan has been followed by the States haV-
ing the most progressive libraries and
schools; and no great breach of honesty
from it. There seems 10 be in the pro-
posed bill of Mr.. Goss entirely too much
qs1rus' qnrn districts the being people capable 'es o
managing their own affairs in matters
pertaining TO supplying the libra
ry with proper materials or in
being honest in making the purchases.
As the bill relds nothing cali be purchased
without the approval OF the board. which
Education. and answerable 10 II alone.
Will the people more readily approve set
one appointed by the Governor. as Is done
in other States2 While there should be CO.
operation in the work of libraries and
schools, the management should be sepa-
rated as widely as possible. Library COM
missoners i'm other States serve without
pay. Have we none fitted for the Work VINO
will do so in Indiana
Another point objected TO In the bill as
read was the views entertained in regard
TO the State library. It should not be ior-
gotten that the primary intent OF this IN
stitution is to furnish a safe and Intelligent
ports government publications and kindred
things valuable to those who need them.
The province of State library Is also 10
furnish to the citizens or the state sources
of information along certain lines Which
the other libraries of the State cannot az
ford to furnish. and concerning which ono
source. rightly administered. is ssufficielit
for the whole State. This, j Relieve. was
the policy of the recent administration : IN
building up the State library
There was a committee appointed by the
Library Association TO confer with the one
from the Indiana Union of Literary Clubs.
Teachers Association and othsr associa-
tions interested i'm the matter OF library
association. Will IL not be well for those
in charge of the proposed bill to at least
listen to what others as deeply Interested
have to offer on this subject? Unless there
Is united request there VIII be nothing
done. but il seems hardly fair for one body
of people TO coerce others into silence by
fear of losing all. The Library Association
passed the following resolution:
Whereas, The interests of education
have been greatly obStructed by the law
requiring the establishment of a library OF
the value of 81. 600 by donation in communi-
levy tax on themselves for the main
tenance of a free public library; therefore.
Resolved That said obstructive law
should be repealed. and that any township
and any incorporated town should be per-
mitted to establish a free public library
and to maintain the same by taxation
With such laws passed as VIII remove the
| obstructions here referred TO. and library
| commission like that of Ohio or Wisconsin
| appointed TO help the many libraries that
would result from such removal. the mat
| ter might we'll rest for the present until
| new needs will more fully develop them
selves. TAXPAYER
INDIANAPOLIS. Jan. IS.