Wisconsin magazine of history: Volume 90, number 2, winter 2006-2007

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Wisconsin Magazine of History
This pamphlet, published soon
after the
distribution of
Wisconsin s first
traveling
libraries, detailed
the benefits of a
free-traveling
library system
and offered
advice on how to
use it effectively.
A Thousand Little \km
Lutie Stearns, The Johnny Appleseed of Books
hy Stuart Stotts
We rarely think of librarians as heroes. We imagine the quiet and often resolute women and men who pad down the aisles, filling the shelves and answering our questions. However, in a quiet cor¬ ner of Wisconsin's history, we find Lutie Stearns, an unconven¬ tional, determined, and passionate woman who brought libraries to every corner of the state from 1895 to 1914; and who would qualify as a hero by any standard. Her legacy of traveling libraries formed the foundation for the system of public libraries we still enjoy today. Lutie was a progressive activist, an astute community organizer, and a revered public speaker. Most important for Wisconsin, she was the Johnny Appleseed of books.
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Winter   2006-2007
39