INTRODUCTORY NOTE Three numbers of the Yearbook of Library Commissions were published by the League,-in 1906, 1907, and 1908. In 1910 there was published a Handbook, giving a history of Commission work and of the League of Library Commissions, and a full account of the work and organization of each commission. The plan was to supplement this Handbook with Yearbooks, but the only one to be issued was published in 1912. At the annual meeting of the League in 1914, it was decided to issue a new edition of the Handbook, but this work was not begun until the spring of 1916, Complete information concerning each commission, it has been impossible to obtain; but if the information contained is to be timely the Handbook cannot be delayed further. Only two commissions have failed to send any information. In one of these cases the information in the 1910 Handbook was reprinted, and in the other, information was obtained from a librarian in the state concerned. As far as possible, and to a very great extent, the material submitted has been printed verbatim for the purpose of making the account authoritative. In the Yearbook for 1912, there were printed financial and statistical tables. In attempting to make out similar tables for this Handbook, the editor became convinced of the almost absolute worthlessness of these tables as a basis for comparison or even a true indication of the work of the various commissions. Conditions vary so much in different states that any heading chosen for a table is liable to have a peculiar significance in each state, and the figures printed in a table under this heading are not accurate unless accompanied by the explanation of the one reporting. For this reason, then, it has seemed necessary to print the financial and statistical reports in the form reported with the general account of each commission's work. The Historical Summary and the section on the League of Library Commissions have been retained from the 1910 Handbook with such corrections and additions as were needed to bring them to date. There has been added a list of the officers of the League since its formation. Acknowledgment is made to the officers of the individual commissions-to some for their promptness and to others for the courteous patience with which they have borne the persistent requests of the editor. DIRECTORY OF COMMISSIONS AND THEIR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS *Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Division of Educational Extension. State Capitol, Montgomery. Thomas M. Owen, Director. Arkansas. Arkansas Library Commission. Little Rock. Charles H. Brough, Chairman, State University, Fayetteville. *California. State Library, Sacramento. James L. Gillis, State Librarian. Colorado Board of Library Commissioners. Public Library, Denver. Chalmers Hadley, President. Colorado Traveling Library Commission. The Capitol, Denver. Mrs. Fannie Galloway, President. *Connecticut Public Library Committee. State Capitol, Hartford. Mrs. Belle Holcomb Johnson, Library Visitor. *Delaware State Library Commission. State Library, Dover. Thomas W. Wilson, Secretary. *Georgia Library Commission. Carnegie Library, Atlanta. Susie Lee Crumley, Organizer. Idaho State Library Commission. State House, Boise. Bernice McCoy, Secretary. *Illinois Library Extension Commission. Anna May Price, Secretary. *Indiana Public Library Commission. Springfield. The Capitol, In dianapolis. Henry N. Sanborn, Secretary. *Iowa Library Commission. State Historical Building, Des Moines. Julia A. Robinson, Secretary. *Kansas Traveling Libraries Commission: State Library, Topeka. Mrs. Adrian L. Greene, Secretary. *Kentucky Library Commission. The Capitol, Frankfort. Fannie C. Rawson, Secretary. *Maine Library Commission. Henry E. Dunnack, Secretary. State Library, Augusta. *Indicates members of League of Library Commissions. *Maryland Public Library Commission. Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore. Bernard C. Steiner, Secretary. *Massachusetts Free Public Library Commission. State House, Boston. John A. Lowe, Agent. *Michigan State Board of Library Commissioners. State Library, Lansing. Mrs. Mary C. Spencer, Secretary. *Minnesota Public Library Commission. The Capitol, St. Paul. Clara F. Baldwin, Secretary. *Missouri Library Commission. Capitol Annex, Jefferson City. Elizabeth B. Wales, Secretary. *Nebraska Public Library Commission. The Capitol, Lincoln. Charlotte Templeton, Secretary. New Hampshire Public Library Commission. State Library, Concord. Arthur H. Chase, Librarian. *New Jersey Public Library Commission. State Library, Trenton. Henry C. Buchanan, Secretary. *New York. Educational Department. Educational extension division, William R. Watson, chief, State Library, Albany. *North Carolina Library Commission. State House, Raleigh. Minnie W. Leatherman, Secretary. *North Dakota Public Library Commission. The Capitol, Bismarck. Mrs. Minnie C. Budlong, Secretary and Director. *Ohio Board of Library Commissioners. State Library, Columbus. C. B. Galbreath, State Librarian. Oregon State Library. State House, Salem. Cornelia Marvin, Librarian. *Pennsylvania Free Library Commission. State Library, Harrisburg. Robert P. Bliss, Assistant Secretary. *Rhode Island State Committee of Libraries. State House, Providence. Walter E. Ranger, Secretary. *South Dakota Free Library Commission. Pierre. Lois A. Spencer, Field Librarian. Tennessee State Board of Education. State Capitol, Nashville. Mrs. Pearl Williams Kelley, Director of library extension, State Library. Free traveling libraries. |