New-York tribune., 1876-10-07
TIE LIBRARIAMy CONFERENCE.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 6.-The conference OF
the leading librarians OF the country closed this evening
after organizing The American Library Association"
The meetings. which have continued through three days.
have been well attended the papers presented have
been carefully prepared and highly practical IN their
recommendations Twenty-Five years ago the need OF a
perfect system OF cataogung was felt and at that
meeting the card SYSTEM which has since been almost
universally adopted was proposed. II the conference
which has Just closed results in the adoption OF an i'm
provemen equally important In making the treasures OF
public libraries available 1t viii mark epoch In
their history.
The subject of the fret paper read last evening was
"The Qualifications OF Librarian" by Mr.. Lloyd r.
Smith OF this city Mr.. s. 8. Green Of the Worcester
Free Library, in his paper the Personal Intercourse
and Relations between Librarians and Readers IN Popu-
lar Lbrares emphasized the idea that the most cordial
understanding and good will should exist between them
AT the meeting this morning, Mr. Poole offered the fol-
lowing resolution, which. after some discussion was
adopted:
Resolred That the discrimination against Libraries in
the rules Of the American Booksellers Association which
forbds the trade from supplying libraries with books at
greater discount than 20 per cent Is unjust ana n-
polite. and Is rule which no Drarian IS pouhd 10
respect.
1t also voted to memorabilia Congress in favor OF
the erection OF separate building for the Congressional
Library and committee appointed TO ascertain the
best way Of equitaby distributing public documents.
One OF the most important papers OF the whole CONFER
ence was tnat or MI A. X spOHOfdi llDraIlal Oh Non-
grCss Copyright" He said that the origin OF what
IL sometimes called the copy tax, the requirement. or
copies OF all publications protected by copyright Tor ue-
pOsit in public libraries, runs back more than two ceh
turtles Although the exactOn OF copies in the first
instance for the benefit OF the pnbnc libraries,
but OF the library OF the King thus being
analogous to the exactiOn of uthes for the
benefit OF the clergy. and like that Of special or
class privileged IL has been modified In later times so as
to couple II with the granted privilege Of an exclusive
publication. While the United states has copied
in legislation the feature Of the British law OF
copyright, that regarding the deposit OF publications
thus secured has been OF most fuctuatlng ana
uncertain character until within the past ten years
BY the act OF 1876, establishing the Smithsonian
Institution at Washington that library and the Library
Congress each declared entitled tn every copy
right publication Tne aw however, proved Ineffective
IL resulted that while some publishers faithfully oh
served is REQUIREMENTS others wholly neglected them
The law repealed p 1888 In 1850 1t was feenacted
4 regards the Library o. Congress.
The following named gentlemen were elected peIma-
nrnt officers of the assOciaton President, Justin Win
sOr OF Boston; Vicc-Pfesidents a. r. Spohord, Wash
ingtOn; william f. Poole, Chicago, and Dr. H. a;
Holmes Albany, n Y; secretary and Treasurer, MeiFu
Dewey OF Amlielst, Mass.