Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-05
SCHOOL library LAW
Experience Of Wisconsin Valuable
in Administering the New Law
In Iowa.
Some Of the Provisions Of the
Statute in the Former
State.
Hamlin Garland's Libel on Iowa
Farmers Upper Des Moines
Editorial Association.
10 Tines-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines May o. In Wis
consin school library law has
peen in operation for a great
many years. Experience has been ac-
quired that WILDE valuable to the state
board in administering the new Iowa
law. which is somewhat similar to the
Wisconsin law. The latter. however, is
more complete, as it is the outgrowsth of |
experience. In that state 10 cents per-
capita is annually appropriated for the I
purchase of books. In Iowa j t may be
from 5 to Is cents per capita. The books
must be selected between the first days
of May and September of each year by
the town. village or city clerk. except
in cities having a board of education.
The advice of the county or city super
intendent of schools must be taken IN
the selection. The books are to be dis
tributed among the school libraries ac-
cording to the amount of money con-
tributed by each district. The state SUI
perintendent has the authorityto sus-3
pend the operation of the law in any
school district. town. village or city
WIllCII uldlIlldlIlS ii .1IeG
Unless the school district at its annual
meeting elects some other person iibrar-
ian. the clerk acts as librarian and has
| the custody of the books which he must
loan to teachers, pupils and other resi-
dents of the district in accordance with
the regulations prescribed by the state
!! superintendent. The clerk is required to
keep a record of the books received from
1 the town clerk in book furnished by
/ 1.-THE state superintendent, but during the
/ time school is in session the library is
| placed in the school house and the
lteacher acts as librarian under the su-
4. pervision of the clerk or of the libraria n
/ elected by the district The state SUI
/ perintendent furnishes all the record
1 books.
This system will be followed in Iowa
4 as far as possible within the authority
4 OF the law. The Iowa law does not give
4 the state board power to prepare and
!. furnish to districts a system OF record
!. books which are very much needed:
:! neither can the board absolutely control
THE method of handling the books. 1t
can only recommend these things. but
Its recommendations will doubtless be
ladopted. Another session of the lesis-
Ilature will have the benefit of two years
experience under this law, so that adj
iditional powers may be granted to the
board. The most necessary provision to
be required is that of keeping close ac-
count of the books when purchased so
4 THAT they are not scattered or lost. The
.limportance I. of buying books at the low
Test possible price is recognized by the
: fstatesof Wisconsin by having a central
!. distributing agent thru whom all the
tlbooks are ordered by. the districts. Thus
fl'the. lowest possible price is secured and
1.-The trouble and expense of correspond
! ing with numerous publishers is avoid
! led a list of $40 books for school librar-
les has been prepared in Wisconsin with
!, information sufficient to give an idea Of
: what each book contains. A similar list
Twill be prepared for the use of the Iowa
! and bids will be secured from
. the different houses on supplying books.
1t may be more convenient and cheaper
: Ito have the distribution made from Chi
{ cago. as nearly all of the boks will have
4 10 be shipped from the east, and most
l Of the publishers have branch houses in
IChicago. The board will have another
a meeting some time during this month
:, and consider tn list of books to be rec
: commended and prepare rules and reg
e lulations for the guidance OF school
e boards.
t State Superintendent Barrett has in
eluded in his annual report TWO timely
e Ncfapters on school libraries. particularly
+ in rural schools and villages, taken from
Il the report of the committee on relations
Y of public libraries to public schools. sub
lnitted To the council of the National
Educational Association last year by 6
cd do,
= this subject The report of that com
mittee is a valuable contribution to the
-lliterature of public school libraries an6
, Will be of great assistance TO the state
=. board and also TO district boards ant
= teachers.
Al. NJ. Adams. secretary of the Upper
Des Moines Editorial Association. ha.
IS sHannounced that this organization ha:
81 decided to accept the invitation of the
= ICommercial Exchange and the press O
,Des Moines to hold its summer meeting
,,Iin 1900 in this city. This will be The
= .iltwentieth meeting of the association
= which is the liNeliest and most practica
: editorial organization in Iowa. probabl,
s the most active that has ever been or
:, ganized in the state. 1t holds two meet
y iings every year and always has a goot
= attendance and interesting and profit
,, able meetings. Mr. Adams says that tn
n combined efforts of the two organiza
Is tions will probably bring together tn
s largest meeting of editors and new spa
per publishers that has ever been hel,
in the state. An attractive program i
being prepared. The meeting will prob
ably be held during the second week o
July. when the Midland Chautauqua
!. in session. so that the editors may hea
tho great debate between Congressma
- Dolliver of Iowa and Congressma
y Champ Clark of Missouri. The mem
bership OF the association is not lmte
to the narrow bounds its name Nigh
in indicate. 1t has members from all owe
re northern and central Iowa. It is goo
ID thing to be in.
Joseph II. Allen. of Pocahontas cour
ty, is a candidate for district delegat
ell from the Tenth district. Mr.. Allen is
sh graduate of the State University. bot
u. the collegiate and law departments. an
isa vsry popular aud enterprisir
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