The state library is the oldest public library in the state, the KansasNebraska act of May 80, 1854 having provided for the establishment of a territorial library to be kept at the seat of government for the use of members of the territorial government, and other people, as prescribed by law. Congress appropriated $5,000 for the initial purchase of books. The legislature created the office of territorial librarian in March, 1855. The office carried a salary of $100 which was increased to $800 in 1856, with the duties of superintendent of public schools added. The library had grown to about 4,000 volumes in 1860. From 1861 to 1865, the territorial auditor was also librarian. The office of territorial librarian was then re-established with a salary of $400. In 1867, the secretary of state was given the additional duties of librarian. In 1871, the library was separated into two divisions--law and miscellaneous, which were united by the constitution of 1875, and put in charge of the clerk of the supreme court. By law the judges of the supreme court constitute the governing board of the library. Six clerks of the court have served as state librarian since the adoption of the constitution of 1875.
     The library of the University of Nebraska being in Lincoln, it has seemed wise to develop the state library as a law library, although it still contains several thousand general works and bound files of periodicals. As a law library, it is reckoned to be one of the best collections in the country. The library now contains about 100,000 bound volumes, and many unbound pamphlets. It is the third library as to number of books in the state.
     The library is housed in handsome quarters specially designed for it on the south side of the new capitol, third floor.

     The legislature of 1901 established a library commission and designated as its members the state librarian, state superintendent, chancellor and librarian of the University of Nebraska and one person appointed by the governor. The legislature of 1933

amended this law and designated the librarian of the University of Nebraska as Public Library Commissioner. The name was changed to the Nebraska Public Library. The legislature of 1935 re-established the Library Commission of five members, all appointed by the governor, for five year terms.

     This commission is required to "encourage the establishment of libraries where none exist and the improvement of those already established." It circulates traveling libraries and sends books to any place in Nebraska in need of such service. It serves as a clearing house for library problems and gives help and advice to librarians and library trustees.

      From 1911 to 1923 the legislature appropriated money to he expended by the library commission in providing libraries for the penal and charitable institutions.

      From August 10, 1933, to June 30, 1935, the library loaned 104,115 volumes in response to 9,663 requests. These requests came from individuals or from schools, study clubs, communities without library service, libraries and many organizations.

     This board was created by an set approved June 20, 1867. The treasurer, superintendent of public instruction and five persons appointed by the governor for five-year terms, constituted the board. The legislature of 1909 passed an act creating a new board designated as the "Normal board of education." This law was declared by the supreme court to be unconstitutional in a decision rendered November 15, 1909. By a constitutional amendment effective January 1, 1921, the government of the state normal schools was vested in a board of seven, six to be appointed by the governor for six-year terms, and the superintendent of public instruction, ex-officio.

      The legislature of 1921 authorized the granting of the bachelor of arts degree, and designation of the normal schools as teachers' colleges.

      This board has control of the four state normal schools--Peru, Kearney, Wayne, Chadron.

      Biennial report and financial statement.

President--SV. R. Pate

      The territorial legislature in 1860 granted a charter for the establishment of a school of college grade in the village of Peru, a little town that had been laid out in 1856, known as Peru Landing. A group of settlers from Peru, Illinois, named the village Peru. There was nothing done, however, towards the establishment of this

school until 1865 when Peru had become a village of thirty or forty families. The first funds were solicited under the direction of Rev. Hiram Burch and William Daily. The purpose was to erect a building forty by eighty feet and three stories high to give to the conference of the M. E. church for the purpose of a female seminary. In March, 1865, sufficient funds had been raised to warrant the letting of a contract for the erection of the building. Seventy-two acres of ground were donated to the trustees for a campus. The land was paid for by Dr. J. F. Neal, Rev. Hiram Burch, and Mrs. C. B. McKenzie. Twelve acres were afterwards deeded to Mrs. C. B. McKenzie for her services as a teacher, thus leaving sixty acres of campus.

     Not being willing to wait for the erection of the building, school was opened in an unused business house. Dr. J. M. McKenzie was president of the school. This was opened in September, 1866. The new building was completed ready for occupancy in January, 1867. The enrollment the first term numbered 58 students. In the fall of 1867 the school was offered to the M. E. conference, but the offer was rejected. The school was later offered to the state of Nebraska, and the legislature of 1867, at the urgent solicitation of Col. T. J. Majors and William Daily, of Peru, established on the 60-acre campus Nebraska's first state normal school. Dr. J. M. McKenzie was elected its first president.

      The following is an extract from Dr. J. M. McKenzie's "History of the Peru State Normal School:"

      "He (Dr. McKenzie) laid the matter before the parties especially interested and it was agreed that the Seminary should be offered to the state at the meeting of the first state legislature, which would be held at Omaha in June of that year. The idea of turning it over to the state for a State University appealed more strongly to many citizens of Nemaha County. The members elected from Nemaha County as representatives in this first legislature were Col. Thomas J. Majors and Major William Daily, both ardent friends of the institution. Col. Majors at first urged Peru as the location of the State University.

      "Hon. Abe Fuller of Ashland suggested a compromise locating the University at Lincoln and the State Normal School at Peru. Through the wise and earnest efforts of Col. T. J. Majors, Major William Daily, Abe Fuller and others the state accepted the buildings and grounds and established a State Normal School at Peru. An appropriation of three thousand dollars was made for putting the building in proper condition, the stipulation being made that none of this appropriation be used for completion of the building, but that the property should be turned over free of debt and the building made usable. So the few men who had borne the financial burden so far went again to the bottom of their pockets and 'raised' $1000 to make the property free of debt and usable."

      The Peru campus now has the following buildings:

      The administration building houses the administrative offices, including the offices of the President, the Dean of Men, and the Registrar. The remaining rooms in the building are class and lecture rooms and department offices.

      The library building contains the library of 46,000 volumes, the little theater and class and lecture rooms.

      Hoyt Hall is the new science hall which was completed in 1930. It is equipped with new laboratory furniture and modern lecture and demonstration rooms.

      The auditorium has a seating capacity of twelve hundred, and it is used for general convocations, music and dramatic productions, and other assemblies.

      The T. J. Majors training building houses the elementary school and the high school. It is furnished with modern public school equipment, and is the center of the observation and practice teaching work of the prospective graduates.

      The music hall was formerly a science hall. It has been completely remodeled and the first floor is given over to the musk department and the second floor to organizations.

      The gymnasium is used by the department of physical education. A swimming pool, shower and locker rooms, and a basketball floor are a part of the equipment in this building.

      Mount Vernon Hall has rooming facilities for ninety women.

      Eliza Morgan Hall, opened September 1, 1929, accommodates one hundred and twenty women.

      The infirmary is a thoroughly modern and well-equipped hospital. Students needing the use of a hospital are cared for at cost; the services of the nurse are free.

      The industrial arts building is equipped with classrooms, shops and modern shop equipment for the department of Industrial Arts. The basement of this building houses the college power plant.

      The present faculty includes fifty-five full time members, twenty-eight men and twenty-seven women.

     Provision for a much needed normal school for western Nebraska was made by the legislature of 1903. Kearney was selected by the state board of education. A campus of over twenty acres in addition to an acre and a half upon which Green Terrace hall was located, was given to the state by the citizens of Kearney. A farm of eleven acres has since been acquired.

     To the large building, first erected, three wings have been added, a heating plant and gymnasium completed and a manual training building is nearing completion.
     On June 19, 1905 school opened with 120 students for the summer term. In the twenty-one years of the school's history, 16,003 students have matriculated; 2,034 have graduated in the senior course.
     The school now has seven affiliated rural schools which are used as demonstration schools and laboratories for the training of teachers.
     The extension department conducts its work through correspondence and study centers. During the year 1929-30, 258 students have been enrolled in the extension department.
     The faculty now consists of 54 members. The enrollment for the school year 1929-30 was 744, and for the summer school of 1930, 1,171.

     In 1909 the legislature provided for the location of a normal school in the northwestern part of the state. The state board of education selected Chadron as the site and accepted a gift of 85 acres of land on which the brick building of Chadron academy stood. Approximately one-half of that acreage is covered with pine-clad buttes and canyons, and the balance of the present 213 acres is used for campus, athletic field, tennis courts, golf course, cultivated stretches, and pasture. In addition to the administration building with its offices and 47 classrooms, there are residence halls for men and for women students, a gymnasium, power house, several buildings belonging to the agricultural department, the first unit of a training school building, a stadium, and the inital (sic) wing of a library. Both AB. and BS. degrees are offered, as well as various certificates and diplomas. Sixteen hundred and twenty-five students

have graduated from the two-year and the four-year curriculums. The enrollment for 1935-36 was 1,242, of which 595 were summer term students. There are 51 individuals in the faculty.

     The State Teachers College at Wayne, Nebraska, was organized as a private normal school in 1891, with J. M. Pile as president and owner. After the death of Mr. Pile a bill was passed in the legislature providing for the purchase of the institution which included the dormitories, the president's residence, one brick building and thirteen acres of land. By act of the legislature the school went into operation as a state normal, September 19, 1910, under the leadership of President U. S. Conn.

      The campus has been increased to fifty-one acres, beautifully landscaped and spacious in appearance. Eight large, fire-proof modern school buildings, including Pile and Neihardt Halls, two of the most beautiful and well equipped dormitories for women to be found in the middle west, have been erected.

      The faculty includes fifty-nine members.

      The college library contains a book collection of 17,600 volumes, exclusive of bound periodicals

      The training school includes all grades from the kindergarten to the twelfth grade, inclusive. The faculty consists of fourteen full-time supervisors. There is also a fully equipped one-room rural school on the campus, used exclusively for demonstration purposes.

      The enrollment has increased from 539 in 1910-li to 1888 during the year 1934-35.

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