The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-03
Library Commissions Work.

The biennial report. of the state library
commission is full of valuable informa-
ton in regard to an important factor in
the intellectual improvement of the state
about which too little is known. The
commission being a comparatively new
one, no place could be found to house it
in the crowded old capitol. Hidden away
IN small, unpretentious rooms in a Min
neapolis office building the Masonic Tenn,
ple' many very familiar with nearly all
the other departments of the state govern
ment are wholly unfamiliar with this.
Once given it's proper place in the new
capitol, 1t is felt that the commission will
fare better financially, when it has a fair
opportunity to make its work known by
direct observations.
Ihe report shows plainly the pinched
effect of the reduced appropriation made
two years ago. Only the most faithful
stewardship Of commission and librarian
mas enabled the commission to meet all
the demands upon it for advice and as
sistance In promoting the public library
system of the state, keep in repair the
books of the travelling libraries and circu-
late them, pay office rent and printing
bills, and make some additions to the trav-
cling library system out of an annual ap
preparation of $780,. The work Of serv-
ing as general advisor in all library, mat
ters cannot be intrusted to any one but
an expert, but only $1,759.6O was expend-
ed in the two years for the salary of. the
librarian and the occasional help of an
assistant. -=, 5.ts :"
Under the present. appropriation, the
commission cannot expend its funds in the
most economical manner, possible, for il
is necessary for the expert librarian tt
attend to practically all of the routine 81
the office, much of which could be done
equally we'll by a clerk on a, much smaller
salary. In this situation, work that the
commission desires to do and that would
be of great service to the state, canno
be undertaken because the librarians time
is already completely filled. The CORE
spondence of the commission is eno7mou:
and grows steadily. This state of affair.
will continue SO long as the commission
performs faithfully the work for which i
was created, "to aid and encourage til,
public library system of the state,'' and S,
long as the state continues to grow. "
At the time Of the establishment Of tn
comm ission, the state could hardly be sal,
to have a library system, and the develop
ment under the fostering care of the com
mission has been remarkable. On it's pas
record, no one who has benefited by i
library should refuse to deal literally wit
an institution that has shown such goo
management Of small means and sue
devoted and valuable service. q
Out Of the biennial revenue of $s,4s1.Ss
$5, 5,55s53 has been spent on the travelin
: library system, that now has 215 cases G
twenty-five and fifty books each. Their
are now on file applications for librarie
that would require $1,000 to purchas
: books alone. These. requests are not I'll
: result of heralding the advantages Of tn
system, for this has been avoided on &C
S count Of the inability Of the conlmissio
to supply the demand made upon it. Til
t commission is asking for an appropriate
: of $4,000. -.