Maine Library Commission

Through the efforts of the Maine Federation of Women's Clubs, a traveling library system was established by law in 1899. To carry out its provisions and to encourage free public libraries, the act created a Library Commission of five members, including the State Librarian. The first year forty-two carefully elected traveling libraries were prepared and circulated. From year to year old libraries were broken up and new ones added, the report for 1919 showing a total circulation of 500 -- an increase of about twenty-four libraries a year. The libraries contain fifty books each and are sent for six months to any part of the stae on payment of five cents a volume to cover cost of transportation. Communities which would otherwise have no access to books are through the traveling libraries brought into direct and constant association with the world's best literture. The Commission has held summer schools and institutes for libraians and assisted by advice and personal visitation in the establishment and growth of new libraries. A library organizer is now employed by the Commission and her services in organizing new libraries, in converting private into public libraries, in cataloging, classifying, buying and general administration are at the call of any library in the state.