The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-27
STATE LIBRARY'S
FINE EXHIBIT
MRS. supLoNe PRESENTING Ap.
VANTAeEs OF FREE BOOKS
TO FAIR VISITORS.


Grand Forks. N. D., July eth,
exhibit of the North Dakota state H.
brary commission which Is shown ii
the right hand corner as YOU enter IN.
Liberal Arts building and A. I'm chang,
or the state secretary, Mrs. Minnie
clarke Burlong Of Bismarck, Is one oil
the very new displays to be feature
OF the state fair. The object of the
exhibit is to put before the public the
privileges Of the states free libraries
and this is the first time the exhibit
has been shown In Grand Forks. 1t be-
ing prepared for the first time last
year. Mrs. Budlong is assisted by
Sveinbjorn Johnson, former legislative
reference Librarian, and both are most
generous and interesting in explaining
to the visitors the object of the exhibit
and something Of it's growth since its
| establishment In 1908.
The display includes books from the
farmers library, the children's library
and the travelling library. and these
books are on fiction, travel. history.
| outdoor life, home and health. science
agriculture, nature, adventure. biog-
raphy, poems, essays and miscel
laneous subjects for young folks.
adults, men, mothers and students.
These also include books in foreign
languages for the older people who
have come to this country and win
probably never learn English well
enough to enjoy English story books.
The cases in which the books are
shipped are also shown and several
bulletins which are prepared for use
of the Librarians over the state. The
machine with which hooks are resew-
ed and the book press is there while
a map Of the state best shows the
growth of patronage of the free Ii
braries. There are stations in almost
every county and in each community
where one library has been sent 1t is
a noticeable fact that the good news
has been spread to the neighbors and
there are groups Of three and four
stations in that immediate section.
Aim of Free Libraries.
The aim of the free distribution OF
books by the state commission is to
bring good books within reach of all
residents, particularly In isolated dis
tricts, to supply technical books es-
pecially on farming, to furnish schools
with supplementary reading, to assist
clubs and individuals in research work.
to aid libraries in planning buildings,
selecting books. securing trained Ii
brarians or in any other way in which
advice and suggestion may be helpful,
That the people of the state may I'M
derstand this opportunity and how to
secure its benefits the exhibit is shown
at the State fair.
The growth and approval with which
the plan is being met is shown
In the fact that from a starting of
nineteen travelling stations in 1908
there are now approximately 246 sta
lions. The number Of libraries has
Increased to about $50 and there are
more than twenty-five farmers Ii
braries. Before this years report was
made out there were 615S books in
the travelling list, $50 in the farmers
and 2425 in the educational reference.
How TO Secure Them.
Collections Of forty to fifty books for
reading or study by adults or children.
packed in substantial wooden cases
will be loaned to any village. town or
community which will form a library
association of six members or anv
school or study club which will act
as an association. They are entirely
free except for cost of transportation
and must be returned at the end of six
months. A farmers library consists
Of twelve to sixteen technical books
on farming and only three substantial
men must sign the application guar
anteeing the safe return Of the collec-
tion at the end of three months.
Books Kept Sanitary.
The public need not fear that the
travelling Libraries are not kept SAM
tary. The moment they are returned
to the Bismarck Office the covers are
given soap and brush scrubbing ana
then given a coating of shelac, look
ing just like new. Every page Is gone
over with erasers and cleaners and It
is thoroughly mended before made
ready for another delivery. During
the summer months the office force is
increased by dozens who do nothing
but wash, purify and mend the books
which come in at the close OF the
school year.
Mrs. Budlong is very enthusiasts
with the manner in which the depart
ment is growing and already sees
great results from the study that the
books have brought about She says
1t is very interesting work and the
results are always ample pay for