Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-03-14
CAPITOL GOSSIP.
Something Ebont Libraries and LIZ
brary workers.

There is a modest little room,
No. 206, on the second floor of
the Capitol, from which there
radiates a wonderful influence of
good. This influence is due in
part to the nature of the work
done there, but largely to the
character, energy and zeal of the
workers.. am speaking of the
room Of the Wisconsin Free Ii
brary Commission.
This Commission was created
by(an act of the legislature in
1895, six years ago. It's object,
briefly stated, is, ''to give advice
and council to all free libraries in
the state and to all communities
which may propose to establish
them, as to the best means of es-
tablishing and administering such
libraries the selection of books,
cataloging and other details of IL
brary management.
The Commission was made to
consist of five members, two to
be appointed by the Governor
and three to be ox-ofcio mem
bers. The appointed members
are the Hon. J. HI. Stout, of
Menomonie and Mrs. Charles S.
Morris, of Berlin, and the ex-
oGcio are President Adams, of
the University, State Superinten-
dent Harvey and Reuben G.
Thwaites, Secretary Of the State
Historical Society. James Fl.
Stout is the chairman of the com
mission, Frank A. Hutchins is
secretary, Miss L. E. Stearns is
library organizer, Miss Cornelia
Marvin is library instructor and
director of the summer school
and Miss Katherine [. Mcdonald
is Office secretary. Senator Stout,
the chairman, is the great, quiet,
powerful Corliss engine behind
the dynamo, and the other four
members of the commission are
worthy factors in the work done,
but it is the last four named that
attend to the execution of affairs
in all its details.
Since the work of the commits
sion began six years ago it has
broadened out wonderfully. 1t
found about thirty free public Ii
braries in the state and now there
is 100. But few of the thirty were
then in good condition, but many
of the 100 are almost ideal libra
ries. Not all the ideal libraries
are large, some of the compare
lively small ones are among the
best, notably that at Mosinee,
Marathon county.
The legislature has not been
slow to recognize the public value
of the service of the commission
and so its powers and scope have
been enlarged from time to time,
and more liberal provisions have
been made for the support of pub
lie libraries. The present legis-
lature is considering bills still fur
Their to improve the free library
system.
One of the most interesting fea-
lures of the commission is that
connected with the so-called ira
yelling libraries. In 1896 the
Hon. J. FL. Stout bought sixteen
sets Of about fifty books each,
had them put up in snug boxes
SO made that when opened they
formed convenient book cases,
and sent them out by farmers to
as many school districts in Dunn
county for free use there. When
the books in any one of these lit
lie libraries had been read the
box was sent back to Menomonie
md exchanged for another. This
plan for good was SO effective and
became so popular that Mr.. Stout
his number to 81.
There arc now 215 Of these Ii
braries In the state. Mr.. Hutch
ms says that we need and must
nave /, 500. Here is . chance for
some one to help along good
sause.
The commission ns another
lind Of wsrk on hand 10 looml