Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/322

 Oregon Library Commisrion, which had been created in 1 905 for the purpose of extending the iiee of books throughout the state by a system of traveling libraries, and for advisory work with public libraries. When the State Library ¥ras turned over to this Board of Trustees the name, Oregon Library Commission was dropped, and to the Trustees of the State Library all the state library work was given ¥rith the exception of the Supreme Court Law Libraiy, which is under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, and consists of law books only. The Supreme Court Judges had previously conslitttted die Board for the State Libraiy. Hie reason for the establishment of the Library Commission in 1905 was the necessity for the distribution of books for coun^ try places and small towns; the funda- btatb xjbkaby sbaIi mental purpose of the movement was to provide equality of opportunity for country and city. During the biennial period ending September 30, 1916, the State Library sent out over 104,000 volumes by mail, freight and express, reaching the small public libraries, schools, granges, and people in isolated places in the State. The borrower pays the cost of transportation, but the service of the library is entirely free. Through this traveling library system and its general loan collection, groups of books are sent to clubs, schools, county agricultural agents, debating teams and other organizations. Through the continuous distribution of books and other literature, the Oregon State Library has become a highly valued and important factor in advancing the kind of intelligence which is especially essential in a state where the right of equal suffrage has been established by popular vote.

Bone Dry Laws of Oregon. Earlier in its history than any other State in the Union, perhaps, Oregon enacted Diyilizeu by GoOglc