The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-07-10
ESTABLISH SYSTEM Of
COUNTY LIBRARIES
Plan Is Suggested by United
States Commissioner Of
Education.

Plans for the establishment of county
libraries In the county seats OF every
county In the country were outlined In an
address yesterday afternoon before the
joint meeting OF the library and rural
and agricultural departments by P. P.
Claxton. United States commissioner Of
educa ton at Washington, D. C, The
meeting was held in the Presbyterian
church, The address OF the commissioner
of education was made in connection
with discussion Of THE Library and
Rural Communities.
Mr., ClaNton asserted that young peo-
pie in the country have more time to
read than do city people and he said II
the proper kind OF literature was fur
nished them they would educate them
selves. He said ne saw no reason why
every county In the United States should
not either build library building or give
space in the county building for the pur-
pose. He said that circulating Libraries
we're good when nothing better could be
secured. but that this system was faulty
because II was almost impossible to Sc
cure a certain book after 1t had been cir
culated through the neighborhood.
THE Influence OF the Agricultural Col
lege on the Farmers Use of Books was
the subject of address by William NJ.
Hepburn OF Purdue university. In part
he said:
That there was need OF a recon-
structlon in the life OF the farmer has
been made plain during the last few
years, as the rural life movement has
gained ground. The efforts 10 keep
the farmer on the land and prevent
the great exodus to the city might
be described as the building of
wall around tho rural community, a
wall consisting OF three tiers. or
stories. The foundation was to be
built on Better Farming" the sec
ond story was to he Better Bust
ness" and the top story Better Liv--
ing" The agricultural colleges and
the experiment stations had laid a
part OF the foundation courses and
provided much raw material ready
for building. Since then the farmers
themselves, through their organiZa-
tiuns and through cooperation Win
the colleges and stations. have con-
trlbuted largely TO the Improvement
OF farming. Much work is now being
done to improve the methods OF mar,
Better Business conditions Tor the
farmer.
II is certain. however. that IL only
the material conditions OF the life of
the farmer are improved. the problem
will not be entirely solved; There
must be vastly improved living con
ditions. better homes. better schools,
better churches, better social condl-
tions before unrest will cease in the
country. The agricultural college can
encourage the Intelligent use OF books
and bulletins on farming. The gov
ernment and stations are turning out
tons upon tons OF printed matter,
But TOO little attention has been given
TO having this properly read or ap;,
piled by the farmer Shorter ana
simpler bulletins and circulars. the
distribution OF lists OF the best books
and bulletins would be of great as
sistance.
The magnitude of the movement to
esta blish rural school libraries was dis
cussed by Ole S. Rice, state library clerk
of wisconsin. Among those who took
part In the discussion were Ernest T.
Ealcomb. Greensboro. y, c.; z. NJ. Phil
lips. st. Paul Mnn., and Mary L. Jones
OF Los Angeles,