Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-21
GOOD WORK BEING DONE.

real objects or realized its necessity
The Legislature. passed the hill because
Johnson Brigham asked for It, and be-
cause the newspapers supported 1t and
nearly every woman in the state OF
Iowa seemed to be writing letters about
It. Hardly one legislator in ten knew
what the commission was for but voted
for 1t to get rid of the constant annoy
ance OF the friends of the bill.
Miss Alice S. Tyler, the library expert
who has been employed by the commits
sion as its secretary, shows i'll her re-
port that she has been in constant de-
mand to address women's clubs. library
of the state in the interest OF the free
library movement. The impetus thus
given has inspired the establishment Of
public libraries in several place Rich
men during the last year have donated
magnificent public library buildings as
follows: Hon. Joel Stewart al Grinnell.
Ex-Governor +. NJ Drake at Centervile,
and p. M. Musser at Musc;ltine. Lii
braries already established have sought
the services OF the secretary in rear
ranging their books on scientific sys-
tenn OF classification and the free library
has been kept stirring everywhere the
commissions secretary has gone.
In her report sile says that:
..It has been made manifest by the
years work that there are two distinct
lines of work that are pressing: First,
the missionary and aggressive work. or
agitation preliminary to the inaugura-
ton OF the library movement and the
establishment OF. a local free library;
and, second, the organization and i'm
provement of libraries already in ex-
istence, so that they may stand for a
real educational force in the commune
ty, the librarian herself being a vital
factor"
One Of the helpful things done by the
commission has been the periodical
clearing house. where all surplus maya
zines are sent by the various public IL
braries and an exchange made for the
volumes or odd numbers of volumes
needed by each. There has been most
hearty cooperation by various Libraries.
the following libraries having contribu-
ted in greater or less degree: Cedar
Rapids, Marshalltown, Grinnell Qowa
q
College,, Grinnell Up. Id. Ames Estate
College,, Iowa Falls, Wilton Junction
German English College). Madrid, Ed
dyville. Sioux city. Algona. Charlton,
Des Moines, Indianola tSimpson Col
lege). and individuals: Mrs. Peck of
MRS. Richards OF Des
Moines F. W. Hicknell of Des Moines,
Iowa Printing Company. Mr.. Brigham
and others. Magazines have been sent
cut as follows: Cedar Rapids. Marshall
town. Iowa City, Grinnell College, Grin
nell P. L., Burlington, Wilton Junction,
Iowa Falls and Eddyviile. a total of
s:xty-eight volumes and 1888 miscellane-
Poole's Index the value of sets of mag
azines to small libraries can scarcely be
estimated and this work is of untold
value to Iowa libraries.
The work of the commission has been
active and effective. The librarians of
the various public libraries in Iowa who
were at first disposed to discourage the
proposition. fearing that it
meant in some way state supervision
and state control Of their Libraries, have
become the commissions staunchest
friends because they have found that the
policy is all help and no
boss. However there is yet mount
ain of work ahead for the commission to
do. There are forty-eight county seats
IN the state without the privilege of free
books for their people. There are also
cities of the second class.
over 1000 Inhabitants, without free IL
braries. The Libraries that wishsto or
genize properly, according to modern
library methods. are increasing. The
commission has already done a good
work and has well earned its cost. There
Is no one movement that can administer
SO much to the comfort of living in Iowa
as the growth of the free public library.
The time will come when every town Of
any size in Iowa will have one and most
Of them will possess fine permanent
buildings.
THE COMING GREAT STATE.
Under this heading the st. Louis