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The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin

Compiled and Published Under the Direction of

J. D. Beck, Commissioner of Labor and Industrial Statistics

©1907 Democratic Printing Company, State Printer, Madison [WI]

Part V. State Institutions - Wisconsin Free Library Commission

[pp. 802-807]

MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
Name. Residence. Term expires.
JAMES M. PERELES Madison 1909
Mrs. C. S. MORRIS Berlin 1909
C. R. VAN HISE Madison ex-officio
C. P. CARY Madison ex-officio
REUBEN G. THWAITES Madison ex-officio
OFFICERS AND STAFF OF THE COMMISSION.
JAMES M. PERELESS Milwaukee Chairman
REUBEN G. THWAITES Madison Vice Chairman
HENRY E. LEGLER Milwaukee Secretary
LUTIE E. STEARNS Milwaukee Chief Traveling Library Dept.
MARY E. HAZELTINE Madison Chief Instructional Dept.
KATHERINE J. MACDONALD Madison Assistant Secretary
CHARLES McCARTHY Madison Chief Document Dept.
The Wisconsin Free Library Commission was created by an act of the legislature in 1895. It consists of five members
and its duties are to "give advice and counsel to all free libraries in the state and to all communities which may propose to establish them, as to the best means of establishing and administering such libraries, the selection of books, cataloging and other details of library management."
The Commission was organized December 3, 1895, and, although its means were very limited, it proved so useful that
the legislature of 1897 gave it larger means and duties. It was reorganized under the amended law, April 24, 1897. It has a permanent office in the capitol at Madison to which all official correspondence should be addressed and where all friends of libraries will be welcomed.
The Commission is not only willing but anxious to promote the free public library interests of Wisconsin and will cordially
accept opportunities to give personal counsel and aid. It also invites information and suggestions from all friends of libraries.
The Commission issues a "Hand Book," which gives the text of the laws of the state relating to free public libraries,
suggestions as to establishing, organizing and administering them and other useful information for members of library boards, librarians and others who are interested in libraries. It also issues a "Suggestive List of Books for Small Libraries," and other reports upon the various phases of library work which are undertaken in the state, and frequent book lists giving the titles of the best current books.
During the twelve years of the existence of the Commission there has been an unprecedented growth in the number and
quality of the public libraries of the state,--a growth so remarkable that it has attracted the attention of educators throughout the nation. During that period the number of free public libraries in the state has increased from 28 to 142. In the period under review private individuals have given more than $20,000 to traveling libraries, and $2,500,000 has been expended in public library buildings. In addition to this many cities have built fine city halls with spacious rooms especially designed for their public libraries. There are now 61 library buildings erected or provided for, and 23 libraries have quarters in city halls.
Especial attention has been given to the training of librarians and the Commission has a School for Library Training the
summer session of which is conducted in connection with the summer session of the University of Wisconsin.
The legislature of 1901 passed a law permitting county boards to establish county systems of traveling libraries. In that
year Winnebago county established a system which has been remarkably successful. Marinette, Brown, Dunn, Dodge, Jefferson, Columbia, Oconto, Portage, Sauk, Chippewa, La Crosse and Trempealeau counties have followed the example of Winnebago.
In 1896 the late J. D. Witter, of Grand Rapids, started a system of free traveling libraries in Wood county. By his will he
gave an endowment of $5,000 to maintain this system, founding, it is believed, the first county traveling library system in this country upon so permanent a basis.
Traveling libraries are small collections of books, generally from fifty to sixty in number, which are sent by the state from
one community to another. The traveling libraries sent out by the Wisconsin Free Library Commission are maintained by the state, and are circulated from the office of the Commission in the Capitol, free of all charges except the cost of transportation. These collections are made up of the best popular books in fiction, history, travel, biography, science and literature for adults and children. They are shipped in stout pine cases and are accompanied by printed catalogs and supplies necessary for keeping records of circulation. The traveling libraries are intended for farming communities and small villages not enjoying public library privileges; for villages and towns able to support public libraries, for the purpose of showing the worth of a public library and how to manage one, and also to encourage the establishment of local libraries; for villages and town already having public libraries but with book funds insufficient for frequent buying necessary to sustain public interest; for study clubs not having access to public libraries offering adequate service; and for communities whose libraries have a large number of Scandinavian, German, Bohemian or Polish patrons.
Until the summer of 1903 the books in traveling libraries came from private gifts, gifts of clubs and the subscriptions of
associations receiving traveling libraries. The legislature of 1903 appropriated money for books for traveling libraries, enabling the Commission to satisfy the demands for books better than was possible in the past. The demand is still greater than the supply. Because of these limitations the Commission must help first the smaller communities manifesting most interest in securing books and least able to get them by their own efforts.
The libraries are shipped by freight, all transportation charges being paid by the station receiving them. When the people
of one station have read the volumes of a library they are returned to the Commission where books are checked up, record of their circulation made, necessary repairs made, and then they are sent to another station.
STATE DOCUMENTS.
 
Under chapter 168, laws of 1901, the Commission was directed (1) to make a check list of the public documents of
Wisconsin; (2) to prepare catalogue cards for such documents, as published, and distribute them to public libraries; (3) to maintain a reference room in the capitol for the use of the state departments, legislatures and students of state affairs; (4) to loan from its working library books of permanent value to students throughout the state. This work has met with popular approval and extensive use is being made of the facilities offered.
STATISTICS OF TRAVELING LIBRARIES JULY 1, 1906.
 
Total number of libraries in circulation in the state ........................................................................................................ 618
Total number of groups of foreign books in the state .................................................................................................... 171
Total number of books in the state ......................................................................................................................... 30,147
Total number of stations in the state ............................................................................................................................ 454
LIBRARIES IN STATE INSTITUTIONS
Library. Librarian. No. Vols.
State Law, Madison Gilson G. Glasier 42,000
State Historical Library, Madison Isaac S. Bradley 283,096
State University, Madison Walter Smith 18,164
Normal School, Milwaukee Della G. Ovitz -----
Normal School, Oshkosh Ella Goodwin Parmele 12,317
Normal School, Platteville Bee A. Gardner 9,000
Normal School, River Falls Cornelia E. Notz 5,375
Normal School, Stevens Point Elizabeth F. Simpson 13,280
Normal School, Superior Harriet L. Eaton 7,150
Normal School, Whitewater Grace E. Salisbury 11,538
Industrial School for Boys, Waukesha J. S. Roeseler 1,215
Industrial School for Girls, Milwaukee Miss A. Kneeland 800
Northern Hospital for Insane, Ohskohs Katherine Gilson 600
State Hospital for Insane, Mendota Maud E. Archer 1,200
State Public School, Sparta Mrs. Isabel C. Park 450
State Prison, Waupun G. W. Pepper 3,350
State Reformatory, Green Bay ----- 600
Veterans' Home, Waupaca John Howard 1,500
COLLEGE AND ACADEMY LIBRARIES.
Library. Librarian. No. Vols.
Lawrence University, Appleton Zella A. Smith 28,754
Northland College, Ashland M. J. Fenenga 8,000
Wayland Academy, Beaver Dam Edwin P. Brown 2,000
Beloit College, Beloit James A. Blaisdell 50,200
St. John's Military Academy, Delafield Madame Kate Maurer 4,000
Hillside Home, Hillside Ellen C. Lloyd-Jones 5,000
Milton College, Milton Edwin Shaw 8,155
Concordia College, Milwaukee Otto Hattstaedt 6,190
Marquette College, Milwaukee V. Putten 12,400
Milwaukee Academy, Milwaukee Julius H. Pratt 1,800
Milwaukee-Downer College, Milwaukee Florence E. Weissert 7,240
St. Lawrence College, Mt. Calvary Rev. Leo Steinberg 3,500
Sacred Heart College, Prairie du Chien G. J. Schulte 11,500
Racine College, Racine Clara L. Robinson 11,000
St. Catherine's Academy, Racine Sr. M. Theophila 3,735
Ripon College, Ripon O. J. Marston 18,000
Catholic Normal School, St. Francis Rev. J. M. Kasel 5,269
St. Clara Female Academy, Sinsinawa Sr. Mary Cornelius 6,000
Northwestern University, Watertown J. H. Ott 7,480
Sacred Heart College, Watertown ----- 2,856
Carroll College, Waukesha Amanda Flattery 3,500
WISCONSIN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
 
This Association was formed February 11, 1891, and was the third State Library Association formed in the United
States. The present officers are:
 
Dr. GEORGE W. PECKHAM, Milwaukee ........................................................................................................ President
E. C. THIERS, Kenosha ............................................................................................................................ Vice-President
MAUDE MACPHERSON, Watertown ............................................................................................................. Secretary
STELLA S. LUCAS .......................................................................................................................................... Treasurer
FOX RIVER VALLEY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
 
Organized October 21, 1898.
 
ELIZABETH SMITH, De Pere ........................................................................................................................... President
H. J. MULHOLLAND, Kaukauna .............................................................................................................. Vice-President
BLANCHE THOMPSON, Ripon ....................................................................................................................... Secretary
AGNES J. PETERSEN, Manitowoc ................................................................................................................... Treasurer
Return to Chapter 5.
Return to the 1907 WI Blue Book main page.
 
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