Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-21
The State Commissions Plans
Largely Undeveloped, Com
pared With Some States
BUYING OF SCHOOL LIBRARIES
Law Requiring Them Must Sooner Of
Later Require Supervision at the
Hands Of the Library Commission
Duties of Library Inspector II
Lincoln steffens Expected to Visit
Iowa.
to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Jan. 21.-The work OF
the Iowa library commission seems
only in its infancy as compared with
some of the other states, YET a vast
amount of work has been done here.
Wisconsin appropriates $1S,00) year
and Iowa appropriates $4,000 ~ year to
the work of their commissions. In
Wisconsin there is secretary and two
assistants to do the work that the
secretary alone is trying to do in this
state. And yet in some things Iowa
is doing the best work. The work Of
sending out special collections Of books
to study clubs for study along special
lines is done in this state to greater
extent than in Wisconsin or any Of the
western states. There are VIII ole fields
Of work, however, that as yet have not
been touched in this state. The law re-
quiring the purchase Of schoo libraries
sooner or later will require supervision
at the hands Of the library commis-
sion. School teachers are us tally able
people, but are not conver;ant with
the manner of using books in their
schools and the purchase of library
is but the first step, and the smallest
one. New York state employs an as
sistant secretary to give attention to
nothing but supervision of tn = libraries
purchased by the schools advising the
teachers as to their proper use. In
Wisconsin and New York alike one
persons time is taken up with visiting
and inspecting the libraries over the
state, instructing the librari ans as to
the best methods and seeing that liz
braries are properly conducted. Some
librarians get the idea that the books
belong to them and that the public
have certain privileges only. This
assistant is supposed to co. rect these
tendencies and at stated intervals in
the summer gets the libraris ms togeth-
er for training school. Another as
sistantS time is taken wi IN visiting
the cities and towns of the state where
there is no library and crea ing a sem
timent in favor of one. All of these
lines OF work in Iowa are now done by
Miss Alice Tyler, the secre :ary of the
commission.
| The program for the gospel seed
corn specials will be run earlier this
year and the program and schedule of
the trips will probably be made pub
lie some time next week. Secretary
Wells Of the Grain Dealers Associa-
ton is at work on them at this time
and is comforting with the railroads.
1t is expected that by ru ming them
earlier great deal more goods will be
accomplished by the trips. Longer
stops will be made at each place this
year than was done last.
1t develops that there is consider
able grounds for expecting that SOON
er or later Lincoln Steffans of the
McClures Magazine will visit Iowa and
find something interesting to write a.
bout on Iowa affairs. 1t is learned
that one of Mr.. Steffens friends in
the west made inquiries concerning
sources Of information in this state
and then met Steffens in Chicago and
had talk with him on the conditions
here. What conclusion was reached as
would hardly find any big Doodle deals
or anything of that natul e, but there
is believed to be fruitful field in this
state as an economic uly of politi-
cal conditions. Records and files at
the state house would supply the bulk
of the information. A little inquiry
from individuals could supply the bal
ance of the material for an excellent
study.
Most excellent results lave thus far
attended the work of the state census.
The communications from the auditors
and assessors to the executive council
are very encouraging. Everyone ex-
presses a desire to do the work thor
oughly and we'll. 1t was early i'm
pressed upon the auditors that the
responsibility largely rested upon them.
The fear has been that the Supervis-
ors would not provide proper compen-
sation for the work and in such an
event the assessors could only resign,
rush thru the work in an unsatisfac-
tory manner or else do the work at a
financial loss to themselves by putting
in more time than they were adequat-
civ paid for. State Pr nter Murphy
who was at the state house yester-
day, expressed such fear. He stated
that the county funds were usually
barely large enough as 1t was and su-
pervisors would be very slow to make
any further drain upon slch funds. 1t
is possible that such a condition may
develop late. The assessors may learn
! late in the work that the work will be
too great for the amount If money they
will receive and quit. Secretary Dav-
idson of the executive council, anti
cipates little troubles from this source
and believes for the most part very
satisfactory work will t'e done. Ad-
ditional circulars were sent ,out today
answering some thirty or more Ques-
tions that have been asked. The CEN