Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-03-07

been made. and another index of all
publications Of the state agricultural
societies and experimental stations
was nearly complete. The shipping
room contained some % travelling Ii
braries either just received or about
to be shipped. together with a large
supply OF library cases. The clearing
house of periodicals contained hun
dreds of thousands of magazines. al
ranged for supplying public Libraries
with reference collections.
Among other things the loss of
which is deplored are the exhibits
just prepared for the. St Louis expo
sition. including a set of photographs
showing interior. eXteriOrs and floor
plans of most of the Libraries I'm the
state. a travelling library with its full
equipment. and a set of all publica-
tions and supplies used by the com
mission for public libraries and trav-
cling libraries. The greatest person
al loss will be felt by Miss Cornelia
Marvin. instructor. whose whole tech
nical equipment for the instruction
department. consisting of outlines.
catalogues, lectures. photographers. A
valuable manuscript, nearly ready for
the press, was swept away.
It is not too much to say that the
loss sustained by the commission can
not be estimated. Much cannot be
replaced, and all that can be made
good must be laboriously produced
from the scanty records and publica-
tions to be found in other institutions
The commission has been rendered
rooms in the State Historical library
for the present Although its loss is
great. il is hoped that it may 60 on
with its main lines of work steadily.
and that all activities may be resum-
co in the near future.
\ meeting of the commission will
he held at the earliest possible date
and decision made on the detailed
plans. Il is believed that plans may
be carried cut as announced. and that
the summer school, which offers an
exceptionally fine supplementary
elementary course, may be held as
planned.
The Wisconsin free library com
mission was established by act of the
legislature OF 1895. and was organic
cd in December of that year. 1t
started with an appropriation of $500
for travelling expenses of commission
ers in attending their meetings, in
establishing libraries and other Incl
dentals The work was found so use
nj that the successive legislatures
have extended its duties and increas-
cd the appropriations.
The duties of the commission are
10 assist in establishing new Iibrar-
les. 10 reOrganize old libraries. 10 col
lect and publish statistics of public IL
braries of the state. TO maintain a
system of travelling libraries to small
communities and study clubs. to con
duct a summer school for library
training. to visit libraries. TO give in-
stTuction and advice. TO operate a
clearing house for periodicals with
the object of building up reference
collections in public libraries. TO main
tain a reference room for state Off
Gals. the legislature and others inter
ested in documentary material. and
to publish lists for the aid of Libraries
in the selection of books.
The commission is composed of five
members, two appointed by the COVER
nor oud 4bwoa o~oRos0 sbo ,,,.o~ss<,,~
of the University of Wisconsin. the
state superintendent and the secre-
tary of the State Historical society.
Senator ]. Fl. Stout is chairman OF
the commission and F. A. Hutchins
secretary.