The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1920-06-12
farm JEWELLERS
ASK FOR BOOKS
Announcement of the Books for
! Everybody" Movement
Brings Letter Flood.
INFORMATIVE WORKS SOUGHT
Requests for Reading Matter Range
From Volume on Drainage to
Collins Book of the
Stars"

: The announcement Of the entrance
of the American Library Association
upon the Books for Everybody" move
ment and still later news accounts of
the activities of the organization along
these lines resulted in a widespread
appeal from residents Of the rural dis
tricts of the country for books on farm
ling. Whether the American farmer is
simply evidencing his ambition to do
a good Job better or whether the better
crops of his neighbor, who has attend
ed an agricultural college or school, has
spurred him on is a matter difficult to
determine. But the fact remains the
farmer is asking for books. The great
majority Of American farmers are Ell
Their without libraries and book service
or they are inadequately served.
One of the points which the Ameri-
can Library Association in its Books
for Everybody" movement is strongly
urging is the extension Of the county
library system in states where enabling
acts have been passed-some twenty
one In number-and the proper legisla-
ton in others which have not yet TAX
en- the step. The system, with its CEN
trail library and radiating lines to sta
lions in the remotest sections of the
county, assures good books to every
man, woman and child who cares to
reach out hand and grasp one.
Letters Show Need Of Service.
The American Library Association is
mot giving its entire attention to the
urban dweller, nor is it neglecting the
centers of population for the rural dis
Itricts and communities. 1t is, however
iunquestionably eager TO create a steady
flow of informative reading to rural
America. That the need for such serv
| ice exists and that it is anxiously
sought is evidenced in every letter Of
this nature received by state library
commissions and by the A. L. A. A few
excerpts have been selected because
they seem to express most truly tn
needs Of thousands Of others.
When Lydia Carlson, whose farm
Is beyond Mason, Wis, asked for copie
of "productive Farm Crops" PRO
ductive Vegetable Growing" and "Prin
ciples Of the Practice of Poultry Rails
ing" she echoed the book needs OF he
neighbors. Then she revealed the fac
that her eyes are not always in tn
burrows by asking for a copy OF Co
Inns ''Book of the Stars"
What Others Desired.
There was a pressing need benin
the letter from James Dunn, who live
fen miles from Convent, La, the neal
est town, which has population 9
only 500 people. He asked for a COP
Of practical Farm Drainage" Th
task of keeping his acres dry was b
vond him. Walter Williams Of 0sse
wis. wanted to know if he could NAL
fuel alcohol from frozen potatoes an
snoiled fruits, and If he could, WEI
there any books on the subject. II
requests run the whole range OF far
operations. Some wish to know no
to treat scale. others desire facts
hog raising. Books giving informatit
ON crop rotation are in demand.
The American Library Associate
Is raising 100000 fund to inan
the Books for Everybody" moveme
which during the next three years "
} he carried on in cooperation with ext
ing libraries and library agencies. Z
money is not being raised through t
medium of an intensive drive b
through the individual efforts OF t
librarians, library trustees and frien
Of libraries.