The San Francisco call., 1904-07-10

fOrnla sisters to adopt their methods
as a practical solution OF their library
difficulties. The credit OF having be-
gun this work in California Is due the
California Club Of San Francisco, which
in January. 1900, sent out in quick sue
cession five travelling libraries. Tha
president OF the California Club, Mrs.
Lowell White, also suggested this work
to the convention which met In Los
Angeles January Is. 1900 for the pur-
pose of organizing the California Fed
Grafton Of WOmen's Clubs. The Bugges-
tion was adopted with spirit by the
Los Angeles District Federation, and
the work Systematically organized.
For the following two years travelling
library work was carried on by the
California Club. with five Libraries, the
Los Angeles District Federation with
ten, Placerville with five and San Diego
with four libraries.
So far the efforts OF our club women
may be said to have had but one Dur
pose, that Of sending some healthfuI
instruction and stimulus to the isolated
homes in our great commonwealth.
1t was fervently hoped that this ben
ihcent enterprise would pass beyond
our small endeavors, as elsewhers ft
had so succeeded, and that the State
would adopt the work and extend tt
thereafter as her own.
In 1901 the League Of California
municipalities succeeded In securing
the passage Of the general library law.
Inc new statute provides for an ap-
pointive board OF trustees, with partial
charge Of membership yearly. men and
women being equally eligible as trnz-
tees. 1t authorizes contracts betwean
library boards and county SUPERVISORS
Tor the use Of travelling Libraries. and
IL allows an increase OF library tax In
cites, from to mills on the dollar
Its distinguishing feature Is the man.
datory provision for the establishment
OF free libraries In all incorporated
cities T. n petition Of Is per cent OF
the legal vote.
a year later the executive board a.
the California Federation adopted RI.
work OF library extension and appofnt-
eo committee on Libraries and port
folios.
The first work Of this committes Wa
to publish the new library law, with n
list Of the Incorporated towns entitled
to its provisions These were distrt-
outed to the clubs, which were urged
to begin agitation everywhere for thu
Tree public library. The clubs OF the
six districts responded generously To
appeals for travelling Libraries from
their respective vice chairmen. Yet
while these libraries have ,dona the
work suggested by the state Commit
tee, their control and maintenance has
always remained with the club owners.
as the surest means Of securing the
interest Of clubwomen In the work
undertaken. and OF promptly educat-
ing public sentiment At the close oye
the first years work we had forty-fva
libraries in circulation, as against
twenty-four libraries maintained By in
dividual clubs.
The quality OF these libraries haa
also greatly improved since It became
understood that they were to be used in
creating an interest IN the free public
library. The second year closed with
sixty-two travelling libraries in the
field. gain Of twelve over the previous
year. Several towns had been fncor-
porated IN order to secure the library
tax, and In two or three places the free
public library had been established.
The efforts OF the State COMMITTEES
this year. briefly stated. are: To aid In
the establishing OF free public libraries
in the Incorporated towns. and to urKs
the Incorporating Of towns for this pur-
pose. To this end We have republished
the general library law OF California.
and revised the list OF Incorporated
towns. giving their class. population
and Carnegie and other gifts for IL
brary buildings.
Great interest was shown last year IN
portfolio work and picture study, ana
We hope to accomplish fuarther good
In this direction We have now fifteen
we hope to accomplish further good
merit the name OF travelling galleries.
In the Northern district the Kings
ley Art Club circulated a travelinr e
gallery OF over 800 pictures. In Los
Angeles, the Ebell Club furnishes three
portfolios OF pictures.
At the last session Of the Lexislaturs
the Trustees OF the State Library Sc
cured such an enlargement Of their
powers as enables them to send out
travelling libraries. Fifty libraries OF
fifty volumes each were Immediately
prepared and are now In circulation
California may. therefore, be said to be
under a sort OF ideal joint control
State and Federation The two organi-
: cations working together IN perfect
harmony have this year lie travelling
,, libraries making their benehcent Jour-
|. neys about our little world
o All that Federation control In Cali
s fornia has done is but an earnest of
the things that it shall do. All agen-
: cies, all controls are blest. which, seek
e ing the sweet diffusion OF general hap
piness. bring US into one close and en-
: larging bond OF union-the Federation