The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-31
WORK OF one YEAR
Report of the Minnesota Library
Commissions Secretary.
THE EFFECT OF CUT IN FUNDS
Library Work in Leading Towns
Of the State r. Sum-
married..

y . T " & + II ( = /. - . .
The annual report Of the secretary Of
the Minnesota Library Commission, Miss
.drat1a Countryman, expresses the Tdlsap-
pOlntment OF the commission at the cut
ting down Of the annual appropriation
from $4,000 a year to So, 500. Attention is
called to the fact that Wisconsin raised
the appropriation for its commission to
$4,000. In consequence of this reduction,
the report says. no new lines of work
can be opened up, work cannot be pressed,
isolated and out-of-t the WaB communities
can not be looked uc. But; meanwhile
office work has increased and the work
already begun has grown OF Its own ac-
cord with hattering results. Concerning
the popular travelling libraries, the report
says: t4*.as@@5 .v
During the winter of 1901 there were 100
libraries of 80 volumes each, and Is libraries
OF rs yclumes each, In circulation The total
circulation was A, 645. or nearly seven time
Tor each book. II a city library should cir
culate Its books at the same rate the cir
culation would be considered phenomenal
The total number of borrowers was 1881
Two-thirds Of the places borrowing the
libraries are country communities, who would
otherwise have no library opportunities what
ever. In the towns, the travelling library has
many times given the impetus to a perma
nent library In the fall of 1901 other
libraries were added, making a total of 1875
Libraries of so volumes and GO libraries Of 25
volumes. This means 1876 libraries, contain
ing 1850 books now in circulation.
Where Gifts Would Count.
Owing to limited funds the commission
is unable to supply reference libraries but
by means of gifts from clubs the commits
sion has nine we'll arranged study libra
ries which are lent to study clubs in New
port, LeSueur, BENSON, Window, Fair
mount, Dodge Center, Glencoe and Park
Rapids. The report calls attention to the
fact that clubs would be organized in
many towns now lacking them if the need
ed material for study could be Obtained
and recommends this department ofsthe
work as worthy Of the gifts of the be-
nevolent. sr -
/ Agitation Throughout the State.
The report notes much agitation dur
ing the year on the question Of local Ii
braries and readlng-rooms and gives the
following summary of the results: =.
Albert Lea-One-half mill tax was avail
able April 1, 1901 and mill voted for next
year.
Anoka-Tax levy was increased to mill.
1 Austin-Library has received a gift of $12,-
900 from Andrew Carnegie for building.
|. Benson-The. vote to establish a library
was lost in the spring election
i Blue Earth City-Opened library and read
ing room. y
Characterised $4,000 among it's cwn citi-
zens to build library building They will
be more proud Of it than Of gift from
Carnegie H.. ~.
Crookston-Public library and athletic as
sociation organized December, 1900.
Duluth-Laid the corner stone of a $75, 900
Carnegie building July 4.
Grand Meadow-Started free library by
private contributions containing about $50
volumes.
II MISUNDERSTANDING opened in Decem-
| Der. with twenty periodicals and 100 books.
Hutchinson-Carri the library election,
and the tax levy will be available in 1902.
Janesville-Carried q ! mill tax levy in
April
Kasson-o Organized a.. library club to work
! for public library.
! Mankato-Receiyed 600 from Andrew
Carnegie for building. $50, -.
Monticello-A reading@room was opened IN
June and free circulating library of 300
| books in October.
ortonville- Started a very successful read
ing room. So. 49,. =
$4,000 for a building. &C., ,,,,~,sz
| St. Cloud-Twenty- five thousand dollars
from Mr.. Carnegie for a building, which is
| begun. .S"''hs q -.'isEs
Sleepy Eye-Dedicated a new library build
ing, cost $4,000: the gift of F. H. Dyckman,
! on May 81. fe{rts5
Spring Valley-Opened a reading and rest
room Nov l.
Stillwater-Has been offered $4,000 for a
| library building by Mr.. Carnegie. ,...
| Thief River Falls-Opened subscription
library July Is. eH.-:. -,
Wadena-Lost the vote for library in the
spring election.
| Waseca-Town Improvement league has
| opened subscription library.
| winnebago City-Failed to carry the tax
| levy for library.
| Winona-Library has been the most active
| in good works of any library in the state.
| other Valuable Work.
| The librarian of the commission in ad-
dition to her Office duties has visited
! number of local libraries to advise with
| the boards or to organize, reorgan1Ze
classify or catalogue them as the need
| required. A six weeks library school was
| conducted at the university in connection
| with the summer school, The expense OF
! the school was met from the fees and the
| summer school fund.
| An exhibit of travelling libraries and
children's books was made at the state
| fair and information given in regard to
! work of the commission.
! The plan of cooperation with other
| state commissions in work that can be
used by all is explained. By this plan the
Minnesota commission Is preparing a
| handbook for the use of all of the COM
missions and receives a bi-monthly bulle-
tin published by the Iowa commission and
| hook lists OF the Wisconsin commission
I -. In bon and ,11nn