Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-11-29
REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

Of the Annual Meeting of The Iowa
State Library Association, Held
at Cedar Rapids, Novem-
ber 8 and 9, 1890.
The tollosoing report By Mrs. E. II.
Carr soas ooted by the Library Board
to be printed By the city papers.
For the tenth time the Iowa Library
Association has met and discussed the
great subject of Free Public libraries.
The increasing interest manifested by
the attendance of librarians and trus.
tees at these meetings is an indication
that the people feel more and more the
necessity and need of free source
from which to draw their mental food.
This state now is proud 10 possess
many cities and towns with these pub
lie libraries, yet they are not all free.
Our state has but about forty two free
public libraries and of one of these
Manchester is justly proud. In 1872,
the Legislature enacted law giving
cities the privilege Of establishing free
libraries. Independence was the only
place to avail itsalf Of the benefit Of
the law the first year. In 1873 the law
was amended making it necessary for
the electors to vote upon the question.
Many of those who came to attend
those state meetings, came eager to
learn how to proceed in order to obtain
the coveted free library.
Miss Stearns, of the Wisconsin Lii
brary Commission, and Miss Ahearn,
publisher of the library magazine called
"public Libraries, we're again in at
tendance. Miss Stearns gave us many
inspiring ideas upon establishing libra.
ries in small places and she demonstrat-
ed how great things may come from
small beginnings. She advocated the
Library Commission, q committee
selected by the legislature whose bust
ness it is to assist in establishing libra
ries all over the State, and teach people
how to best promote their growth.
This commission must have at its dis
posal certain sum of money set aside
by the Legislature to use In their work,
but no salary ia paid to its members.
There are, at present fourteen states
having library commissions. The sub
ject created much interest and finally q
resolution, prepared by T. s. Parvin,
who for fifty-six years has been librarian
of the Masonic Library, was adopted
The following is the resolution:
Resolved, that a committee consist
ing of the state librarian, Mr.. johnson
Brigham, the president of the librarian
association, Mr.. w. H. Johnston, and
Miss l.. Stearns, of Wisconsin, whose
aid we earnestly invite, be constituted
to prepare paper setting forth the
views of the Iowa State Library Asso.
citation, of its public librarians anG
earnest library workers as to the impor
tance and necessity of the constituting
library commission, after the plan OF
Wisconsin, New York, and dozen OF
more states where the plan has beer
adopted and proved most valuable ait
in the management of our growing pub
lie libraries and the bringing home tt
the people the value and necessity O
such library commission for the genera
diffusion of knowledge among the peO
pie old and young.
That the secretary and treasurer o
J the association forward copy Of suct
paper to each and every member elec
of the general assembly with q reques
that they lend their aid to secure tn
passage of law creating such com
mission.
The effort to induce the legislator
to secure such a law four years ag
failed, but the interest is livelier tina
| ever now. Indeed, it may be said tha
the strongest purpose of those who al
8 tended the Cedar Rapids meeting wa
the desire to create greater interest i
: favor of procuring this Library Con
mission. 1t is doubtless the thing the
) would promote the greatest good
library work and that the free publ
Q library is great public educator all ii
telligent thinking people will not den
$ We had the pleasure of meetin
o President McLain, of Iowa State Un
versity, who spoke very urgently
favor of good reading and the prom
o tion and establishment of libraries.
closing he spoke of the work to be dor
q for the people at the coming session {
d the legislature.
We were proud to report the fa
that Manchester was receiving Il
a benefit of the travelling library Whit
r. stands for high degree of intelligenc
ID or desire to possess 1t.
h The President of thel associatio
70 Captain Johnston, of Fort Dodge, rel
le number of inquiries as to the trave
ing library. Librsry people ~ . ola