The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-11

work which are being followed today,
surely there is none of deeper and more
vital interest to a woman's club than
the library work, which, like a great
tidal wave, arose quietly and Crept
upon us almost unawares, but is now
spreading over all this broad land of
ours"
After running over the states where
the travelling libraries have flourished
largely through the efforts of Women's
clubs, Mrs. COnant continues:
Nov we will look more closely at
the work. that has been done in our own
state. In. 1894 theHState Librarians
Association of Minnesota introduced in
the Legislatures a bill asking for an
appropriation by the state for travel
ing libraries. This was lost, but it's
chief promoters only bided their time,
and two years later Joined hands with
the Minnesota State Federation of
WOmen's Clubs, and another bill was
prepared and introduced simultaneous
ly both in house and senate The SEN
ate bill passed safely, but was lost in
the house. At that, although we trem-
bled we said, All is not yet LOST and
set to work vigorously, until the house
bill came up. This was lost by two
votes only; and the winter of 1898 will
see its reintrOductiOn, and a more de-
termined effort to put it drought and
let US all hope for more enlightened
and better educated representatives,
who viii see it's wisdom, and will vote
for it by a large majority.
This bill was carefully prepared,
and seemed to combine the best fea-
lures Of all the travelling library acts
in active operation in other states. 1t
ran as follows:
An act to create and provide for system of
IFaVenhS libraries to promote the establish
ment Of free public libraries and to create
state public library commission
state of Minnesota:
Be it eracted by the legislature of tho
state of Minnesota:
Section l. There is hereby created a system
Oh traVSHng Libraries, which shall be under
the management and control of the state Ii
br9ry commission herein provided for.
sec. 2 There is hereby created a state
PUBIC library commission consisting of five
members.
See. 3 The president of the state uni
Yerslty anc the state superintendent of n1,hIic
instruction are hereby constituted ex-offcio
members Of said state public library com
mission, and the governor of the State shall
as speedily possible after the passage ~
this act, appoint by ard with the coPsept
OF the senate, three suitable parsons, residents
in the state of Minnesota, as members of said
state library commission. The commission
shall elect its own officers.
Sec. +. Any person eligible to vote for
county superintendent of schools under the
laws of this state shall be eligible tn an
pointment one of said commissioners
Sec. s. Ore of the members appointed nv
the governor shall be appointed for the term
OF Two years from jan. /, 180; one member
snail be APPOINTED for four years from Ian
l, 49,, and one member for six years from
Jan; !, l83-; and they shall hold Office for
said terms respectively or until their suc
cessors are appointed and qualified.
Sec. g. All subsequent appointments of
commissioners for said board shall be for
SIX years from Jan. l, of the year in which
the APPOINTMENT was made or until the sue
cessor is appointed and qualified, exceDt in
case or aDpolntement of members to fiji va
canc-es caused by resignation sdeatb or ra
moval which appointment shall he maHe for
tne uneX9ired term of the member whose
death resignation or removal caused the
Sec. 7. No meber of said state Ibrarv
commission shall ever receive any salsry
per dem, or compensation of any kind for
services as such commissioner
Sec. Members Of the state library com
mission may be allowed and paid necessary
travelling expenses in attending meetings
Of the commission, or in visiting and estah
ishlng Libraries, and other Incidental and
necessary expenses connected with the work
OF the commission, provided that the whole
amount 50 paid in any one year, including
clerical assistance shall not exceed 81 006
during the year l89-, and 5000 each year there
Sec. 9. The state library commission j..
authorized 10 purchase collections of books,
the same to be the property of the state of
Minnesota, which books shall form a state
circulating library, and from which anv town
Minnesota may borrow books, under the
rules and regulations made by the state
library commission These books are TO he
divided by the commission into groups, and
are to be known as the Minnesota travelling
libraries. The commission shall catalogue
and otherwise prepare such books for crcu-
lation and shall make rules and regulations
according TO which the business of the com
mission shall be done, and such as shall in
sure the care. preservation and safe return
of al books loaned.
Sec. 10. The librarian or trustee of any