Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-06-03
(By MRS. NJ. Z. PLAssMANN)

NNE field in which women are doing
good service is library work. Most
" OF the librarians in Montana, as
elsewhere throughout the Union
are women, Notwithstanding the pay is
by no means large, and chances for pro-
motion are limited. Not alone this, but
1t is claimed that women entering upon
library work, like those who enter Hades
Leave hope behind" at least in the way
of matrimony, in the majority OF in
stances.
While the position Of librarian does
not interfere with the matrimonial
chances of men, but few of them care TO
take up this work for the other reasons
noted above, except in state libraries or
those of a similar kind, with its accom-
panying honor.
The matrimonial hopelessness Of the
Job caused one poet. formerly OF Mon
tana, TO make 1t the subject OF some
facetious lines. He was permitted TO leave
the state unframed, as he assured the
local librarians he did not refer TO them,
his characters being creatures Of his i'm
agination. merely, and not drawn from
life.
There is one library in Missoula coun-
ty. however, which is under the Supervi-
sion of a man, and doing splendid work,
says Miss Elizabeth B. POWELL. MISSOURI
librarian. 1t is a movable affair being
installed in a car, gray in color to dis
E1Aoll L Y AAOAAA tAANAI SAA1
the logging camps of the Anaconda Cop
per Mining company. 1t is provided with
steps for entering, these being either
lowered or raised when the library is or
is not open as the case may be. Wnen
the camp moves on an engine is attached
TO the library car, n taxes IL 10 ls
new station. The librarian is an en-
ploye of the company, and the idea OF
having such a library originated with
Kenneth Ross, who was then in charge
of the Anaconda's logging operations.
The librarian makes regular reports TO
the county librarian, who aids him IN
every way possible by supplying books
specially requested. The car is well light
ed and heated, and contains a long read
ing table and arm chairs. Around its
three sides are open book shelves, and at
one end is the desk of the librarian.
From this car bundles of books are sent
to outlying camps where the workers
cannot come to the library.
Through the help given by the library,
1t is said "one man was helped TO obtain
q patent on a water power Device. an
other supplied with material for his cor
~respondence course and to q young col
lege student were sent plays and BOOKS
upon drama"
There were three months, while log
ging was not going on, the library was
closed, but during the other nine months
over 5000 men visited the car and $500
books were drawn. h is a remarkably
good record, and should serve to do away
with the accepted notion that lumber
jacks" are simply "roughnecks,' with no
literary cravings.
Outside of Seattle's great public IL
brary are some receptacles Inscribed like
this, If my memory serves me right,
Magazines for the Lumber Camps" to
which all were asked to donate 1t i'm
pressed me as being an excellent idea:
but it cannot be compared with this of
Kenneth Ross. New and helpful ideas
thrive wonderfully in M~ontana's stimuli
lating air.
In the recent effort to boost Montana
products, the organ of the women's clubs
rendered material assistance. HI Mon
tana Woman devoted its April issue to
tina end. From 1t we gather much USE
full information along this line. For ex-
ample. we now know that the best peas
In the country are raised in Montana;
that Montana -four is produced in such
quantities it is shipped from coast to
coast; that If you purchase nursery stock
with the expectation 1t will grow, 1T is
best to buy from a Montana nursery;
that Montana honey cannot be surpassed,
and other equally illuminating facts. IL
also gave a report of what the women
over in Idaho did to stimulate home in
dustries. This movement was under the
auspices of the Idaho Federation of
Women's Clubs, and its slogan was What
Idaho Makes, Makes Idaho" There were
Exhibits, displays, contests, demonstra-
tions,' and even the radio was used to
advertise the superiority of Idaho prod
ucts. Club women distributed litera-
ture of Idaho manufacturers by a house
to house canvass, signed up pledge cards
for h~ome-buying Of Idaho products, post
ed anti-peddler cards, and actually took
orders for Idaho products through the
local retailers. Thousands attended the
shows and sales in 20 cities and the sale
of Idaho products is said to have in
creased 100 per cent"
That is all very well, but should go
further. Merchants should agree to sup
ply themselves SO far as possible from
Montana producers-in other words-not
alone from the large wholesale compa-
mics, but from the farmers and others
who are forced to compete at a disad-
vantage with outsiders.
In the opinion of the editor of The
Montana Woman, Montana merchants
should push" Montana products in pref