PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMISSION OF INDIANA. OFFICE, STATE HOUSE, INDIANAPOLIS. Commissioners Appointed by the Governor. MRS. ELIZABETH C. EARL, Connersville. JACOB P. DUNN, Indianapolis. WILLIAM W. PARSONS, Terre Haute. Executive Staff. CHALMERS HADLEY-Secretary and State Organizer. LILLIAN B. ARNOLD-Asst. State Organizer and Instructor. GEORGIA H. REYNOLDS-Librarian, Traveling libraries. ELIZABETH B. NOEL-Assistant and Stenographer. HOWARD HUFFMAN-Shipping Clerk. : Public Library Commission of Indiana. Report of the Public Library Commission of Indiana. Organization Library work with children. Financial statement. Library buildings Examples of recent library construction in Indiana. County libraries .... Century of library development in Indiana. Carnegie library donations in Indiana... Publications of the Public Library Commission of Indiana. Rules and regulations for public libraries. Paragraph reports concerning Indiana libraries. 38 45 73 82 Decisions rendered by the Attorney-General regarding provisions in ་ PLATES. PAGE Traveling library station in country 14 miles from a public library... 26 Millinery store-Traveling library station. Terre Haute, Emeline Fairbanks Memorial Library. 28 Report of the Public Library Commission of Indiana. To the General Assembly of the State of Indiana: In forming its plans for library extension in Indiana, the Public Library Commission has had in mind a single purpose, to give every man, woman and child an opportunity to secure through books that self-culture which must be included in any broad system of education if the people are to be raised to that contentment and successful self-government which makes for true happiness and advancement. To this end the Library Commission has encouraged the organization of public libraries in as many communities as the people's interest could be enlisted to establish them under the laws of the State, and public opinion insist upon their proper tax support. When libraries have been established, emphasis has been laid upon their proper maintenance in accordance with well established principles of modern library administration. Recognizing the futility of seeking to improve library conditions without the co-operation of librarians, the Public Library Commission of Indiana has sought to place within the reach of the libraries of the State, facilities for library training through library institutes, library summer schools, instruction in local libraries, correspondence and lectures by experienced librarians from various parts of the country. To afford the high school graduate the training necessary to successfully administer the tax-supported libraries of the small towns and cities, to give opportunity to the college graduate to acquire knowledge of modern library methods within the border of his own State, the Public Library Commission encouraged the establishment of the Library School at Indianapolis under the auspices of the Winona Technical Institute. Through the traveling library system the people in unincorporated communities, or towns and cities having no library privileges, have supplied to them the public traveling library; thus the use of good books has been placed within the reach of all the people of the State. These traveling libraries have frequently been the means of encouraging the establishment of permanent public libraries. They are used, too, to supplement the scanty collections in the smaller tax-supported libraries of the State. The increasing use of the special subject libraries is evidence of the appreciation which this department of traveling libraries has merited. The farmers, through addresses at the Purdue University annual conference of farmers' institute workers and at county farmers' institutes, have increased their knowledge of scientific farming, while their wives and daughters have become more and more interested in home making subjects for reading. ་ Indiana was the first State to centralize through a Library Commission the library work with schools. By means of instruction in summer library schools, addresses at teachers' and library institutes, courses of lectures in normal schools and visits to local libraries prepared to institute such work, the Library Commission made such a creditable beginning in work with schools that letters and visitors from various parts of the United States have been received, seeking information as to this branch of work. Closely allied to this is the newer development of courses of library lectures in colleges and universities. Without attempting instruction in technical library processes, college presidents and trustees are beginning to realize the advantage of giving the students at the outset of their college courses such instruction in the use of reference books, indexes, bibliographies and authorities as will render their studies more interesting and vital and provide pleasurable reading in a manner which enriches and safeguards life. Through its Library Occurrent, publication of various lists, free distribution of printed matter, including the A. L. A. book lists to aid in book selection, through correspondence and visits, the Library Commission seeks to come into closer touch with all library centers of the State and country. The following report of work accomplished along the lines indicated above will demonstrate to what extent the purpose of the Commission has been effected. JACOB P. DUNN, President, ELIZABETH CLAYPOOL EARL, Public Library Commission of Indiana. |