3
y 131
XXXVIII, Public libraries and recreation 133
XXXIX, Books as useful tools 134
XL, Village library successfully managed 135
XLI, Rules for the public 137
XLII, Rules for trustees and employés 140
XLIII, Reports 146
XLIV, Library legislation 147
XLV, A.L.A. and other library associations 152
XLVI, Library schools and classes 154
XLVII, Library department of N.E.A. 156
XLVIII, Young people and the schools 157
XLIX, How can the library assist the school? 160
L, Children's room 163
LI, Schoolroom libraries 164
LII, Children's home libraries 166
LIII, Literary clubs and libraries 168
LIV, Museums, lectures, etc. 170
LV, Rules for the care of photographs 171
CHAPTER I
The beginnings--Library law
If the establishment of a free public library in your town is under consideration, the first question is probably this: Is there a statute which authorizes a tax for the support of a public library? Your state library commission, if you have one, will tell you if your state gives aid to local public libraries. It will also tell you about your library law. If you have no library commission, consult a lawyer and get from him a careful statement of what can be done under present statutory regulations. If your state has no library law, or none which seems appropriate in your community, it may be necessary to suspend all work, save the fostering of a sentiment favorable to a library, until a good law is secured.
In chapters 44 and 45 will be found a list of state library commissions, important provisions in library laws, and the names of the states having the best library laws at present.
Before taking any definite steps, learn about the beginnings of other libraries by writing to people who have had experience, and especially to libraries in communities similar in size and character to your own