Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-13
BOOKS FOR ALL
IOWA READERS
Work Being Done by Iowa Iii
brary Commission Is Very
Important
HOW BOOKS CAN BE SECURED
Collections Of Fifty Books Each May
be Obtained by individuals, Groups
Of Taxpayers, Study Clubs, Women's
Clubs mad Like Organizations
Travelling Library System
Special to Times-RepublIcan.

Des Molnes, Jan. 13.---It is probable
and Importance of the work done by
the Iowa Library Commission. Under
It's efficient management any citizen OF
the state of Iowa can have books to
read and no one has any valid cx-
cuse for not awaiting themselves of
the opportunity unless II be ignorance
OF the fnct that the books are there
and can be had for the asking. In
fact even blind people are supplied
with reading matter. The commission
has In circulation at all times some-
thing over 100 collections of fifty
books each and the number of these
collections Is being constantly In
crensed These collections of fifty
books each are not changed they are
made up once according TO n given
schedule with n certain number Of
properly selected novels, somc his
tory, some science and other books
along various lines. These sections
are sent to local libraries where the
libraries are small and need supple
menting. They are sent to district
schools where the school has no library
or only a small one They can be kept
three months and an extension of
three months more secured IL needed.
Where there is no library In city a
special library association can be
formed and section Of the library
will be sent. Out at some country
cross roads group Of ten tax payers
can secure section by application.
Where an Individual Is so situated
that he no access to library he can
secure section. In every case ex-
cept that Of an Individual the only re-
isulrement .is that the freight be paid
by those getting the books. An tnd'-
vidual must pay the freight and de-
posit a certified check to the value Of
the books and the check will be re-
turned when the books are returned.
Study clubs women's clubs and like
organizations can secure books by
paying the freight.
In addition to the, regular sections
OF fifty books each the commission
makes up lists of books on special sub
jects where such are wanted for" spec
inl study. Wherever possible, both the
sections Of fifty books and the special
collections are sent to the regular IL
brary If there is one, for the reason
that 1t is desired to create the habit
OF going to the library. Just now
there are all sorts of requests for books
on Japan and Russia. Practically ev-
ne In tho tat 10 do.
sirous of studying those two countries.
Some times there are requests for
books on science or history and every
other conceivable subject. These lists
of books are made up as they come In
and ARE made up as nearly as possible
to meet the needs of the individual
case, by Miss Brown, who has charge
of the travelling library work. The
commission has duplicates Of course. OF
many Of the books. Some times when
the commission has not on hand the
work needed, loan is made from the
great state library. The state library
Is. of course. primarily a reference IL
brary and the collection must be kept
together to be used and read only in
the library room, as there is no telling
when book will be called for State
Librarian johnson Brigham is a men,
ber of the library commission and Is
anxious and willing to loan the books,
however, whenever there Is q reason
able certainty that the book will not
be wanted soon 1t Is loaned to the tray-
cling library section.
900
Outside of the regular collections of
fifty books and the special collections
that are sent to study clubs and the
like, there are what are called general
loan collections. These include librar-
les for young people; specific books for
Individuals; books for the blind. This
travelling library feature is however.
but one branch Of the work. map of
the state hanging in the office of Miss
Brown is completely dotted with cities
and sections that are reached by the
travelling libraries There are some
thing less than 400 stars on the map
pretty evenly distributed showing
where the travelling libraries go. In
the office Of Miss Alice Tyler, the sec
retary of the commission there Is
another map showing the regular city
libraries in the state. The number
has been doubled during the two years
Miss Tyler has been in charge. One
of the greatest works of the commits
sion is the encouragement Of the form
alton of libraries. There is nearly an
average of one to every county now
and 1t is Miss Tyler's ambition to have
one in every county seat In the state.
And as If the employees of the commits
sion have not already enough work to
do they will advise any individual as
we'll as libraries on the selection of
books.
Four states-Iowa, Indiana, Wiscon-
sin and Minnesota-are now working
together in the matter of travelling H.
bra ries. The secretary of the commits
sion and her assistants are not able to
read. all the books that are printed and
A1s. di1,idinQ Ii In