The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-05-12
farm jewellers
ASK FOR BOOKS
announcement Of the Books for
Everybody" Movement
brinqS Letter Flood.
1nF0RMATIvE WORKS SOUGHT
tRequests for Reading Matter Range
From Volume on Drainage .
Collins "eook Of the
9tars,"

The announcement Of the entrance
4of the American Library Association
upon the Books for Everybody" move
.,1nent and still later news accounts of
the activities of the organization along
these lines resulted In q widespread
appeal from residents of the rural dis
tricts Of the country for books on farm
ting. Whether the American farmer 10
simply evidencing his ambition ia. do
a good job better or whether the better
crops of his neighbor, who has attend
Led an agricultural college or school, has
apurred 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 e.
ther 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 cumberland the proper legisla-
tion In others which have not yet TAX
len the step. The system, with its GEN.
tral library and radtating lines to sta
tions in the remotest sections OF the
county, assures good books to every
man. woman and child who cares to
reach out 4 hand and grasp one.
Letters Show Need Of Service.
The American Library Association 10
mot giving its entire attention to the
urban dweller, nor is it neglecting the
.centers Of population for the rural dis
sr1cts and communities It is, however,
Nunquestionably eager to create a steady
flow of Informative reading to rural
America. That the need for such serv-
tee exists and that 1t is anxiously
sought 10 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 the
needs Of thousands OF others.
When Lydia Carlson, whose farm
ID beyond Mason, Wis, asked for copies
Of productive Farm Crops" "Pro-
-ductiye Vegetable Growing" and "Prin-
,ciples Of the Practice Of Poultry Rails
ing" she echoed the book needs Of her
ineighbors. Then she revealed the fact
that her eyes are not always in the
burrows by asking for copy Of Col
:lins' Book Of the Stars"
What Others Desired.
There was a pressing need behind
the letter from James Dunn, who lives
ten miles from Convent, La, the near
,est town, which has a population of
only 500 people. He asked for copy
.of "Practical Farm Drainage" The
task Of keeping his acres dry was be-
:yond him. Walter Williams Of Osseo,
Wis.,, wanted to know If he could make
fuel alcohol from frozen potatoes and
spoiled fruits, and If he could, were
there any books on the subject. The
requests run the whole range. Of farm
operations. Some wish to know how
to treat scale. others desire facts on
hog raising. Books giving Information
On crop rotation are in demand.
The American Library Association
is raising q $2.O0000o fund to finance
the Books for Everybody" movement