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

force from and after its approval bv the
governor ny 'ne
During the interim between the two
sessions of the legislature, the friends
on TINS work have still been active in
us interests, and, as one of the argI-
nlentS urged against the work was that
the country people did not want these
books, that the libraries would NOT ho
USED, and so the money of the state
spent FOR nothing, a series of obiect
lessons mas been prepared. to prove
lhat 1t is an actual want that we are
seeking to supply. In MINNEAPOLIS the
llrst step was taken in the direction
OF district, free travelling libraries, and
TINS example has since been followed
ny three other towns in the state. Miss
Nratla Countryman, of MINNEAPOLIS
pubic library, may be called the NOV
ing spirit in the whole of this work in
Lhls state, and she is one whose in
Huence IN this direction is gradually he
coming felt very widely. The Mime
apoIls Woman's Council last wear held
meetings to consider this work, and de-
clued TO lnaugurate in Hennepin coun-
ty a travelling library system. Thnv
arranged for advisory, book woyo 80
means, transportation and rules ana
regulations committees. They sent OFF
hotlces to every pOstoffice in the corn-
w. calling the attention Of the nnnnIe
10 the new plan. They also decided
mat any community could have hooks
on the following conditions:
flrst-That application shouId ba
community - 'iie'
SecOnd-That there should ne q Foo
or 81 for each library, to cover. cost of
transportation both ways and renaire
Inc books were then obtained hv
means of contributions Of books ana
money from the different clubs ana
one woman donated the cases in which
the hrst twelve libraries were sent out
AIteaay some twelve or fifteen libraries
lave peen sent out upon application.
ana MISS Countryman reports that tne
letters received from these DeOnIe show
Lhelr gladness and appreciation Tn
Duluth the work was also startod ~
MISS Countryman, who arranged. as
indeed she has in all the other COM
ues where the work has been begI1n
that the club women should call a
i55ieellhg at which the subject should he
discussed, and action taken in rnoard
to it. Miss Stearns. of Wisconsin 9e'I y
MISS Anderson, of MINNEAPOLIS, also
spoke strongly on the subject and &C
soon as the more formal prOera nor1n
was over an organization was effected
TO carry on the work The men of Tho
city as well as the club women. inter
ested themselves in the matter. and he
lore this first meeting adjourned
WE'VE cases of fifty books each had
been pledged. Money for the cases fnr
SIX or these libraries was raised bv
having DR. Richard Burton deliver
two lectures. This district has at nres-
ent but these six libraries in circuIa-
ton, but it hopes to have more sent
out soon.
In Mankato the club women were
gathered together in their public lfbrarv
ana addressed by Miss Countryman and
stWaKeneo TO the advisability of the
Work for them One Of the women most
interested writes: I'VE advertised q If
tie and talked q good deal, with the
result that the different clubs donated
ABOUT $50 books, and raised money
enough for four oak cases." One cIuh
IN the city, composed entirely of men.
became so much interested in the work
that they gave the ladies five dollars
TO heIp on. The circulation of this
2 &C. ol liorarles is confined to Blue
Earth county. One man from
town that has received one Of these
libraries said that he would rather nav
haH the cost himself than not have n
Rochester has also made itself an
other center for this work, and the his
tories Of Minneapolis and Duluth and
Mankato have repeated themselves
here. :"
Thus you see a very good work has
been begun, and if this local work
could but spread itself all over the
state we need ask nothing more: but
since this cannot be hoped for, may we
not beg every man and woman WIN
reads this little history to do all that
may be possible to procure state aid
for this work?
Watch for Number SIX.