The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-18
Carnegie Has Given S2SO,OOO
to Help Build Them.
TWELVE ON HIS LIST.
Kansas City Got $4,000 From
the Iron King.
Club Women Doing Much to
Help the Cause.

to the public in Kansas, according to
a handbook of Kansas libraries just
issued as a bulletin of the University
of Kansas. There may be more than
this number. but that is all that were
reported for purposes of classification
in the handbook. In addition to these
there are a number of reading rooms in
Y. M. c. a. rooms, besides a large
number of school libraries throughout
the state.
Andrew Carnegie has aided in the
erection of twelve library buildings in
Kansas, for which he has given $780,
600. The most valuable one is at Kan
sas City. Kas., for which Carnegie gave
$75,000. The list of Carnegie libraries
in the state is as follows:
Leavenworth free public library,
$50. 900
Emporie free public library, $40, 900.
Anderson Memorial library, $50, 900.
Ottawa free public library, $4,000
Lawrence free public library, $25, 900.
Hutchinson free public library $15, 900.
winfield free public library, $4,000.
Fort Scott free public library, $15, 900.
600. w.
Manhattan free public library. 100000
Newton free public library, $4,000.
| Salina free public library, S15 900.
In addition to these a number of
other Libraries are housed in their own
buildings. There is the Spooner library
at the University of Kansas, the -Bos-
Well library at WaShburn, and Baker
university is to have a fine library
building. The state has built one for
the State Normal school. Topeka and
CaWker each have their own library
buildings.
| From perusal of the histories of the
various libraries in the state it would
seem that the women's clubs have been
instrumental in starting the majority,
and large number are still mana ged
and In some cases maintained by these
clubs As rule, however, after the
clubs have demonstrated the value of
a pubic library, the city in which it is
and support it by taxation
The handbook consists of a pamphlet
OF over a hundred pages, illustrated
with number of pictures of library
buildings. 1t is edited by Carrie NJ
| Watson, librarian of the University OF
] Kansas, and Edith M Clark, her as
tsistant In the preface they say:
rms handbook is a contribution to
the history Of the library movement in
Kansas, and purposes to give an ac-
count of the organization, maintenance
and administration of libraries in this
/ commonwealth.
/ Massachusetts, Connecticut and Ohio
! have already published histories of theil
| libraries. and other states have similar
work in preparation.
| mo one except the United States
| commissioner of education has ever at
! tempted to collect data concerning Kan
sas libraries, and there was nowhere E
complete list of the public libraries OF
the state. The preliminary working lis
for this report was formed from the
lists of Kansas libraries in the reports
of the commissioner of education anC
from the lists of repositories for fedora
documents in Kansas given in the re
ports OF the superintendent of docu
nfcs xryf%
State Historical society, the trayelin:
libraries commission and other sources
Between 400 and 500 circular letters O
inquiry were sent ont in December, 1902
and January, 1908, to the public societ,
and college libraries, to the high schools
and the superintendents of city schools
of the state. Some answered promptly
others, and by far the greater number
have not answered at all. Second let
ters were sent to the more importan
libraries. These ELECTED replies from
few. Third and fourth letters were sen
to the silent majority. Again, some re
piled and others did not. 1t is the latte
which are here omitted. In the case O
several institutions which publish cata
logues or reports, material concernin
their libraries was adapted for insertio
in this report Only few high school
replied, and the material given by mos
was SO meager that it seemed best t
! give in tabular form merely the mum
ber OF volumes.
: EToDaply the most striking point q
E this report is that it shows the par
5 that the womens clubs have taken i
l establishing libraries in the state
I'm few towns, generous citizen
D have furnished the means to start Il
brary. In the aggregate, gifts to Kan
4 sas libraries have been considerable.
1.-THE extension of modern librar
methods may be noted by the number {
libraries which have adopted syste
matte classification, only few re
q | porting a system of our own and b
the large percentage having some sol
of a catalog.
n IN very few towns is there the ce
# operation between school and librar
t, that should exist for the greatest eff
cheney.
e mo public library makes mention
d any effort to collect local historical ms
IS terial and municipal documents. To al
= as historian for the community seen
: peculiarly the province of the public l
d s'The larger proportion of subscriptic
o and association libraries to the free pEl
a lie Libraries vii be be- noticed. @ This eond
fast realizing that the public library
IS one of the necessary institutions of T
e public school, must receive regular muni
/ ipa1 support.
n ssIt is hoped that the knowledge gains
, by reading these accounts of past effor
n and present conditions in the Kansas
/ brary field will stimulate the growing
r DTaTY spirit IN the state anu lnSFSoy lee
:. to the further Strengthening of the pc
. pies university.
- THAT this is an incomplete account
the libraries in Kansas is only too ev
dent but if it should serve as the bas
for some one who will prepare ad
= ouate history of the subject, it will n,
i have been sent forth in vair-''
I The libraries of which a brief histol
: is given in the handbook. with the nun
q her of books in each, are as follows:
:. PIace-Naue of Library. Volume
E. a4ebise-,iHq;dI college 67
: Atchison-Public -..--- ..-..-...-..-.... 81
It Atchison-st. Benediet's. college,. 15.f