Maintaining the Collection
Loaning a Collection
The usual ways of securing books from the Traveling Library were through: (1) the local public library; (2) a library association, created for the purpose, where no tax-supported library exists; (3) a group of ten taxpayers, where no local association exists; (4) clubs, schools and other organizations; or (5) individuals.
An agreement had to be filed with the Traveling Library before a collection could be sent. Once filed, the agreement for the collection required that the materials must be kept in a convenient place, open for the delivery and return of books, determined upon by the local library or organization. The location of the library was very important. It had to be kept at a central accessible point, where people would have no hesitancy going to visit. No fee could be charged for the use of these books.
Borrowers paid for the transportation of the collections, both in receiving and returning. The books were loaned free on this condition. Regular library collections were loaned for a period of three months, but if an extention of time was requested, it was given upon application. Shelving was provided for the books within the caring boxes, so that their care and safety was assured.
Caring for the Collections
It was an ever present and intricate problem of what was the best use for the older and out of date books in the Traveling Library collection. Collections that were getting constant use would become incomplete because of the wearing out or loss of certain books belonging to the sets. Oftentimes it was difficult to replace the specific books and the book lists were constantly being revised and updated. It was determined that the demand was for more and more newer collections of recent books and the older collections would need to be retired or updated for the collections to be desirable.
Protecting the Patrons
It was reported in the 1906 Iowa Library Commssion Report, that in order to safeguard those who used the Traveling Library, books from the collections were thoroughly fumigated when returned. If books were in a household where there were such contagious diseases as diphtheria, scarlet fever, or small-pox, the books were destroyed by the health officer, and a signed statement from him was placed on file. But in 1941 different theories were being prescribed by professional librarians to combat the spread of disease. Iowa Library Quarterly 14(4), advised the use of formaldehyde drops between the pages of a book, which was then placed in a tight container for 24 hours, with additional formaldehyde inside the container. Considerable time was given to the study of references in medical liturature which dealt with the subject of books in relation to communicable disease. In general it was found that books were regarded as playing an insignificant part in the spread of disease.