The San Francisco call., 1904-02-03
STATE LIBRARIES MEET
WITH UNUSUAL SUCCESS
California Association Does Much to Promote IN
terest of Plan for Free Education Membership
Is Rapidly Increasing and Outlook Is Bright

The Library Association of California
is the only body in this State organized
for the special purpose of fostering
general interest in public libraries and
Of promoting their welfare. It's men,
bership is composed of librarians,
library trustees and others who are en-
gagged In allied educational work. This
association Is now endeavoring to en-
large it's membership and its useful
ness.
From time to time 1t will publish bull
letins Of professional value and also
some Of the papers read at the associa-
tion meetings, and through its advisory
committee will furnish suggestions and
advice to new libraries and others
needing assistance. Joy Lichtenstein,
assistant librarian of the San Francis
co Public Library, is the president of
the association and Margaret A.
Schmidt, librarian of the North Beach
Branch Library, is its secretary. Such
helpfulness in the organization and
management Of the small Libraries Of
the State is greatly needed.
A score of similar organizations in
different States of the Union are doing
excellent work IN raising the ideals of
the public library system. Mill Valley
has Just finished a new room In the
schoolhouse for a school library and
reading-room. The library wal be well
supplied with reference works. The
question arises, Why should not Mill
Valley organize and maintain a free
public library under the provisions Of
the general library law Of the State?
Mill Valley has an assessed valuation
of hree-quarters of a million dollars,
is not burdened with oppressive debt
and is rapidly growing.
Nearly every public library in the
State has grown from humble begin
nings. In San Juan, San Benito Coun-
ty, little librarycstarteo in 1896 has
gradually acquired 2OOO volumes. It's
history is like that Of other libraries.
of progress made under discourage
ment and many difficulties. The So
ciety which supports the library and
reading room is hopeful of better days
for the institution.
The City Trustees OF San Mateo have
recently decided to turn over the large
hall belonging to the city to the board
Of library trustees for library purposes,
the present library quarters being
cramped and generally undesirable. 1t
will, however, be necessary to raise
$4,000 by popular subscription for the
library equipment for the hall.
San Luis Obispo has secured a site
for it's new Carnegie library building.
the lot fronting "A feet on Monterey
street and ia feet on Broad street, and
@le library board now invites competi-
tive plans for the building The design
calls for one-story building with
basement. The main floor is to have a
general reading room. librarians room
to be used also by the trustees and a
stack room which will accommodate
10000 volumes. In the basement are to
be a janitor's room, rooms for storage,
fuel and bicycles. besides a dumb
waiter to the main floor. The total
cost must not exceed $4,000, the gift be-
ing $4,000.
Andrew Carnegie has not been able
till of late to bestow any gifts for
library buildings upon the cities of
Oregon. The State of Oregon had
no general library law permitting suf-
ficient taxation for public library pur-
poses Until q lew lliOuluS dSOJ anu
therefore not city in the State could
meet Mr. Carnegie's requirements for
the annual maintenance Of a library.
The new legislation permits every city,
unless hampered by charter restric-
tions, to appropriate any amount for
library support which the city au-
thorities desire. Eugene, the seat of
the State University, is one of the first
places in Oregon to receive an offer
from Mr.. Carnegie Of a gift of $4,000.
The proposition is now before the City
Council.
The second report of Portland, Or
free library was made January 20. 1t
shows a marked growth in the useful
ness of the library. The total circula-
ton Of books for the year was 146,000
Owing to the limitation in the new
charter of Portland allowing but one
fifth of mill on the dollar tax on city
property for library uses it has been
necessary for the library to avail itself
of the new law allowing county tax
for library support. Onder this pro-