The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-08
Education Bureau Report Shows
Lack Kansas Libraries.
COUNTY INSTITUTIONS URGED
In State, 1,1S5,61O Have No Ac-
cess to Free Books.
Education an Antidote for
Social and Industrial Unrest.

Washington, May S.-Only 29.7 per
cent of the population of Kansas has
access to free public Libraries, leaving
more than one million persons not
provided with free library service, ac-
cording to the estimate of the United
States bureau of education, made pub
lie today.
American Library association Off
Gals declare that this lack, as reveal
ed by statistics of public library de-
velopment recently compiled by P. p.
Claxton. commissioner of education,
will give residents of Kansas a con-
reption of the benefit to be derived
lrom the Books for Everybody
movement launched by the associa-
non. To devote to the task of making
subtle library service a vital influence
n every American community, the A.
gody' fund of 100000. John Hef-
telfinger, of Arkansas City, is state
sirector of the Books for Everybody
Tnd. in Kansas.
The report for Kansas shows eighty
three libraries that are classed as free
public Libraries, containing 440,5SO
solumes and serving a population of
tO5,339 persons, leaving 1.1S5,610 per-
sons without access to libraries. In
the judgment of the bureau of educa-
ton. the smallest library that can
usually be depended on to render an
umes. only twenty-nine Libraries in
the state, measured by this standard
can be termed universities of the
people," They serve 391T0S persons,
with 1929, 241 persons practically de-
prived of the help of an institution
which, more than any other, promotes
adult self-education. In seventy-eight
counties there is no library with as
many as 5000 volumes. Twenty seven
counties each have a library of this
size, which might serve as a nucleus
for a county library system.
The county library is advocated by
the American Library association as
the best method of reaching the rural
districts. This form of library service
recently was endorsed by Commits
sioner Claxton.
In commenting on the results of the
bureau of education's survey, Ameri-
can Library association officials point
out that the library development of
the last several years, under the guild
ance of the efficient Kansas Travelling
Libaries commission, may be too re-
cent to be taken fully into account.
While revised population statistics
would show a much larger public
served by existing Libraries, as the
compilation is based on the 1910 cen
sus.. it is indicated, however, that the
growth of population in the wide
areas without public library service
probably would tend TO keep the per
centages, as announced by the bureau
of education. nearly constant. In
view of the rapid industrial develop
ment which is bringing into Kansas
an increasing number of new Ameri-
cans from foreign shores, who must
depend largely upon public libraries to
give them their education in American
language, institutions and ideals, the
general need for library facilities thru
out the state is declared to present a
serious situation. This condition.
coupled with the widespread social
and industrial unrest turnout the ma
ton. constitutes one reason for the
American Library associations vigor-
Gus Books for Everybody move
ment. which points to a time when
books will be freely available to every
man. woman and child in America.
in the Books for Everybody
movement in Kansas, the American
Library association will cooperate
with the Kansas Travelling Libraries
commission and with local libraries.