FIFTY MILLION STRONG 



poses. An incident illustrating the good that can result from 

 township extension comes from Monoma County, Iowa. A 

 certain township librarian in this county, called the " Horse- 

 back Lady," has so extended the library work of the county 

 in accordance with the township law of the state, that at the 

 present time six townships and three towns are cooperating 

 under her efficient supervision. 



" Here is a story I was told about a boy reader whom the 

 1 Horse-back Lady ' has visited. Somebody met him riding 

 against a frightful prairie storm, sleet lashing his face. * Why 

 on earth aren't you at home somebody sick?' asked the 

 startled friend, who was making for his own dwelling. ' I'm 

 goin' to the liberry,' was the reply. ' Someone come an' tol' 

 me all about " Tom Sawyer " herself, an' I'm goin' to have it, 

 I ain't froze but one ear yet, an' I ain't got but one more to 

 freeze, an' anyhow I'm goin' to have that book.' " * 



The establishment of municipal libraries has reached the 

 greatest development in the state of Massachusetts, which 

 " is unique in having a library in every city and town of the 

 state, with one exception Newbury and that town has 

 library privileges in Newburyport, one and one-half miles 

 distant, making appropriation toward its maintenance." Many 

 states permit their municipal libraries to do rural extension 

 work, which is greatly increasing the number of country resi- 

 dents who enjoy library privileges. In many states, too, school 

 district libraries are being established in large numbers. 



Unquestionably every state should have a state library and 

 a library commission. As a matter of fact, all the states do 

 have state libraries, although some of them accomplish much 

 less than others. All the states, except a few, have library 

 commissions. Likewise, it would seem desirable that all the 

 states should have county, township and municipal library 

 laws adapted to their respective needs. No two states are 

 exactly alike, and there are few cases where the laws of one 

 state would fit perfectly into the conditions of another state. 



1 See The Outlook, January 24, 1914, p. 202. 



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