The Indianapolis journal., 1899-01-18
THE LIBRARY BILLS.

THE LIBRARY BILLS.
Two bills for the establishment of travel
ing and township Libraries have been intro
duced into the Legislature. Save in two
particulars there is no essential difference
in the bills. Both provide for system for
circulating books throughout the State un-
der the direction OF the state librarian
Both provide for the establishment of
permanent township Libraries on a different
basis from that afforded by the existing
law which requires that books to the value
of 1,o00 or over shall be owned by the town
ship before tax can be levied for the sup
port of such library They do away with
this condition and provide that on appIi-
cation Of certain number of citizens of
a township the matter of a tax levy may be
decided at an election. The chief differ
ences in the proposed measures are these:
One leaves the general control of the state
library and the appointment of the librarian
in the hands of the State Board of Educa-
ton; the other provides for a special IL
brary commission of three persons to be
appointed by the Governor. One leaves the
state library as it now is, a noncirculating
collection of books having especial refer
ence to the needs of the Legislature, public
officers, scientific persons, teachers etc.,
and makes the travelling library department
entirely separate and distinct; the other bill
provides that the special library commits
sion shall make such rules for the govern
ment of the library and the use of the books
as it may see fit, thus opening the way to
an entire change in the functions and char
acter of the institution One bill asks for
an appropriation of $4,000 with which to
purchase the books to make up the travelling
libraries; the other contains no provision
of this sort, but one will be necessary, since,
as at present constituted, the state library
is made up largely of such reference books
as even circulating libraries do not allow to
be taken out.
1t is difficult to see what is to be gained
by taking the library away from the Board
of Education 1t was given into its hands
originally as the best means of securing a
nonpartisan control Whatever changes may
take place in the membership of this board
it will remain nonpartisan and be composed
of gentlemen of progressive ideas and of
be their duty to secure the best librarian
possible, and they can be depended on to
do this as well as any others who might be
selected. The multiplication of boards, with
the resulting complication of government, is
undesirable ard this item, being entirely un-
essential, may well be stricken out.
AS for the diverting of the State Library
from the purpose for which it was original
ly intended and transforming it into a
nucleus for state circulating library it will
hardly be considered by the committee
which has it in hand. And the travelling
library scheme itself is one that must be
considered with care for what it may in
vove in the future. 1t is in operation in
several States, and, according to reports, is
popular but it has hardly been in existence
long enough to enable observers to Judge
accurately of its benefits and possibilities.
One of these possibilities is a large and
increasing annual expense. Another unde-
cided question is the influence it may have
for or against the establishment of local
libraries. The theory of it's supporters is
that it excites taste for reading which
leads to the demand for home libraries, but
with books to be had merely by sending for
them it may at least be doubted whether
the theory is proved by practice. Concern
ing the desirability of a permanent local
library in every community there cannot be
two opinions. The present thousand-dollar
proviso has unquestionably in many in
stances stood in the way of securing the tax
levy and profting by the law, and the re-
moval of this impediment is to be desired.
The township library system, if put prop
erly into operation, has wide possibilities.
1t is greatly needed in connection with
school work, and whatever is done in regard
to the other features of the bills this should
have attentio' and support.