Collections
Kinds of Libraries
Two distinct collections of books were kept for traveling purposes, composed of:
- Regular Libraries: These consisted of fifty volumes, lent as a whole collection, arranged in fixed groups, designated by number, with lists of books included in each group. Lists of the Regular Libraries were sent, and in selecting, borrowers indicate the number of the collection wanted, giving several numbers in order of preference.
- General Loan: These were a collection of books on subjects of interest from which selection was made when requests are received for material on a special subject or for a special class of readers.
General Loan Collections
General loan collections included:
Books for Study Clubs: Study clubs and similar organizations for study and improvement could borrow books on subjects to be studied.
Libraries for Young People: The demand for books for young people was apparent especially in the rural schools, as supplementary to their own libraries, and was made possible under the school district library law.
Individual Loans: Books for study and interest, that weren't available through the local public library or through a local organization already in agreement with the Traveling Library. Individuals could request them by making a deposit covering the retail price of the books.
Books for the Blind: The Iowa Library Commission added this feature to the work of the Traveling Library with the hope of reaching every blind person in the state, either those who could already read braille, or those who were studying it.
Debate Material: Debate material was primarily loaned to the high schools and smaller colleges of the state. For the subject selected each year by the High School Debating League a list of reference material was prepared and duplicated many times for several locations to use simultaneously.
Picture Collections: These exhibits were framed without glass and were loaned for a period of two weeks for free exhibit purposes to libraries, clubs, schools, churches, and other organizations in the state.
Christmas Exhibit: The Christmas Exhibits consisted of 50 books each and were loaned immediately preceding Christmas to assist librarians in interesting parents in the purchase of better books as Christmas gifts.
Doll Exhibit: A private collection of dolls owned by the secretary was placed at the disposal of the Traveling Library for lending.
State Fair Exhibit: This was used to call the attention of state fair visitors to the work of the Library Commission and the Traveling Library.
Summer Loans: During the summer, books were loaned to such groups as the YMCA, the YWCA, the Camp Fire Girls, the Boy Scouts and other organizations for reading. Thus utilizing collections that may lay idle when schools were not in session.
Teacher's Reading Circles: A large number of requests were for books selected for reading by teachers for the renewal of their teaching certificates.