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Show "In My Opinion ..." (Editor's Note: Bulletin readers need no introduction to Aurelia Bennion, this week's guest editor of the "In My Opinion . . ." column. One of the southeast's outstanding citizens, Miss Bennion has done yoeman service in the community ever since she came out here as head librarian of the Sprague Branch Library Li-brary several years ago. Her excellent work in her chosen field has marked her for greater recognition beyond that of her community com-munity alone. 'The Utah Library Association has had her lead the fight for better library service and recognition in the state. At present she heads the committee which is presenting the problems of libraries in the state to the legislators now in session. She welcomed wel-comed the opportunity to express to Bulletin readers her opinion on the subject and we are proud to give her the voice.) By Aurelia Bennion Editorial on State Library In all states of the Union, the state governments have assumed as-sumed the responsibility of educating the children and young people. In most of the states, the government has also provided for further education of the people by free, tax-supported library service on a state-wide basis to supplement the existing city, municipal, or county or regional libraries. In some states, this assistance is by book collections only, while in others, the assistance as-sistance is by financial aid in addition to the books. In Utah we have no state agency for this service, either to existing libraries or to individuals without any service. Many of the local libraries are very inadequate and in many places O there are no 'libraries whatever. Four counties of the stale are without them and altogether 25 per cent of the people have no service. Utah (with perhaps one exception) is the only state that has no state library agency. To many people, free public libraries mean places to find recreational rec-reational reading only, but to many who have needed and found such service, it means a place to find informational material on many subjects how to plan, finance and build a house and how to furnish, decorate and landscape it. To many it has provided information and instruction for new jobs or new trades. It has ' meant aid in pursuing a hobby, research on special subjects, instruction in-struction on how to care for babies and children, on how to cook and preserve foods to best advantage all of these are just a few of the possibilities. The free library therefore ' provides such helps to many people who cannot afford to purchase such books or to those who would have no need for keeping books in their homes but need them occasionally. It supplements and continues the work of the schools in preparing people to take their places Oin society. There is a bill before the present Legislature, which provides pro-vides for the establishment of a state library agency to administer aid to existing local libraries and to people without service through the circulation of books and by advice on best ways and means in already established libraries and to encourage the es- tablishment of new ones. For several reasons this year is a very suitable year to establish estab-lish statewide library service one reason that Utah could not qualify for probable federal funds to be used in each state for library demonstration purpose. Another reason is that in this Centennial year it would be appropriate to continue what the pioneers started here in Utah soon after they came. At the first general assembly in 1819-50, a request was made of Congress to appropriate S5000 for the purchae of books and like material to carry on education. This collection of books and later additions brought by Wilford Woodruff in 1852 and by all groups coming west, were established in a reading room in the old Council House on Main and South Temple. The pioneers believed in education and improvement and our observance and study this Centennial year should bring about not only a realization that we today should carry on with the same determination and courage and vision to obtain what we need as they did. Let's strive to maintain the good things I they started. |