The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-30

One OF the works Of the Federation
of Women's Clubs that is permanent
! and far-reaching in it's results. is the
establishment of the travelling library
which has become state institution,
and is yearly extending its work and
proving its unlimited possibilities of
good.
AS il most states, the travelling IL
brary movement in Kansas was begun
by club women. The first to observe
its need and to take active steps in adj
vancing the plan YVES Mrs. w. A John
ston Of Topeka, who continues her in
terest in tie institution and is yet an
inspiring worker in it's cause and pro-
sress- In May, 1897, the State Fedora
ton, with Mrs. Lewis Ward Moore as
the travelng library. The work of it's
establishment was continued under her
successor, Mrs. J. C. McClintock, and
completed under the administration Of
Humphrey. Mrs. D. w. Nellis, who
was chairman of the legislative CORE
spondence committee, did effective
work in planning and distributing the
first books. In May, 1898, the Social
Science Federation became active in
branch of the federation pledged 500
books and twenty dollars in money.
and this act encouraged the original
workers to an effort which resulted in
the donation of 5000 books to become
the nucleus of a permanent travelling
library system. In 1899 the legislature
was asked to take charge of the Ii
brary and be responsible for its future
care and development. The legislature
made an appropriation of 81 900 a year
and provided that certain books of the
state library be made available for the
use of the travelling library depart
ment. The following people became
members of the library commission:
Mrs. Annie L. Diggs, chairman; Mrs.
Mary Humphrey. Mrs. W. A. Johnston,
Mr.. Edward Wilder and Mr.. H. c..
Larimer. The commission elected Mr..
James L. King as secretary. This COM
mission served without compensation.
The present members are besides Mr..
King, Mrs. Johnston and Mr.. Larimer.
Mrs. Eustace Brown and Mrs. Julia E.
Brown.
About 200 persons in all have con-
tributed books to the library. Mrs.
Sarah T. D. Robinson of Lawrence,
who gave $50 books, was the largest in
dividual doner. Other generous con-
tributors were: Mr.. William Stryker,
Mr. D. W. Wilder, Mr.. Daniel Crosby,
Col w. H. Rossington, Mr.. Eugene
Ware, DR.. Charles M. Sheldon, Mrs w.
w. Curdy, Mrs. George NJ. Noble, MRS.
H. H. Hull, Mrs. p. B. Plumb, mrs; Il
P. Kellam, the Kellam Book & Sta
tionery company, the moore booh o1
Stationery company.
In it's early days the travelling library
occupied small room adjoining the
state library, but four years ago it was
moved to rooms in the basement or the
capitol in the west wing. The rooms given
to the use of the library are large ana
the walls are lined almost to the ceilln ,s
with book cases. and sectional cases are
grouped about the pillars Of the room IKE
the Green phalanx with the doors of the
cases facing outward on four sides, giving
the greatest capacity for the least room
occupied. The library now contains 80 600
books. In some of the states nota ply
New york, a unit system of handing the
books is used This means that groups
Of fifty books are made up and cataloged
They are packed in trunks and shippea
thew remain unpacked until they are or
dered out again. That is to say. each
library is made up permanently The sys-
fen, Followed bv the Kansas library allows