The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-03-10
MRS. DARROW TELLS
OF LIBRARY WORK.
WORK OF LIBRARY COMMISSION
WAS APPRECIATED BY THE
THIRTEENTH LEGISLATIVE AS
sEMRLY-FARMERs' LIBRARIES
POPULAR,

Mrs. Clara T.. barrow returned Sat
urday from Bismarck, wher she has
been an interested spectator during the
last days of the session. She was re-
appointed member of the public IL
prary commission by Governor Hanna.
Or the work of the commission Mrs.
barrow said:
i am OF course pleased to have been
reappolnted a member Of the public
library commission, but it was espe-
clally gratifying to note the friendly
interest in and appreciation of the
work Of the commission shown by the
members Of the Legislature during the
session.
The executive head of the commits
sion at Bismarck is Mrs. Minnie Clarke
Budlong, who has general supervision
OF all departments-the educational
reference. the travelling library and
the legislative reference. The legisla-
i've reference department of the COM
mission, Of which 1. A. Acker is the eff
nclel t chief, was n of the busiest Of
noes In the capitol during the session.
10 this department members came for
1acts and information pertaining to
measures before them, and were al
ways ably and courteously attended to.
mere, Also, a large number of legisla-
1--WE DlIIS Were drafted, and members
and committees found this department
OF great value in this branch of the
work. Frequently subcommittee
We're appointed to cooperate with the
legislative librarian and his assistants
TO redraft Or reshape complicated and
important measures. 1t is needless to
note this mari Of confidence in this
branch of the work of the commission
which always has been, and I trust, al
ways shall be, non-partisan and non
political.
II noticed also with pleasure that an
other branch of the work Of the COM
mission received substantial recogni-
t1on at the hands Of the legislature. l
refer to that department of which Miss
Florence MacPhee is chief. and which
has in charge the circulating of farm
ers, school and community libraries.
Old libraries, which had been in circu-
Iation for six or seven years, were
worn out n had to be replaced, but
the funds of the commission were in
adequate for the purpose and for the
purpose of meeting the demands for
new libraries at new stations. When
this was brought to the attention of
the legislature, sub-committees of the
mouse and senate appropriations COM
m1ttee thoroughly investigated the
work and needs of the commission with
the result that a bill was passed with
out amendment and without a dis
SS1NN1AS 'NNG "a OhoN CIVIL -
ating $4,000 for the purchase of books
for farmers school and community IL
brarles for the ensuing biennial period.
This meal the schools and commun-.
tiles in every county in this state, who
have been ~anxiously awaiting for
months to be supplied with books and
libraries, will be supplied within a
short time.
"Recognizing the fact that North Da-
kota is primarily ar agricultural state,
the library commission has been cir
Culating farmers libraries-small col
lections of books in heat wooden cases,
among the farmers of the state. The
books deal with the most practical
topics, such as dairying, feeding Of
farm animals. poultry raising, etc, AND
1t is the experience of the commission
that these farmers libraries-there are
now $50 stations scattered all over
the state-are of great value to the
rural communities and supplement in
a most practical ann the work of
the agricultural college by bringing
into the homes of our farmers inter-
esting and helpful discussions of prob
lens with which they lave to deal. The
numerous letters which the secretary
has received from readers and patrons
of these farmers libraries has con-
WINGED me that his branch of commits
sion work has. great possibilities of
useIul service peIore IL. n with the
appropriation made this session, the
commission will be in a position to fill
the numerous applications for farmers
libraries now on file in the office, and TO
meet the demand as it may increase in
future. 1
when I consider the fact that these
circulating libraries go into schools
and communities where books are few
and libraries inaccessible, I feel that
the public library commission is one
of the important educational agencies
OF the state.''