New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-05
LIBRARIANS IN COUNCIL.
OPENING THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

ITS annual conference yesterday, IN the lectufofOOm VI
the Young Mems Christian Association, at Twentythrd
ST. and Fourth-ave About fifty Librarians were present,
among them the folowng "a. Cutter Boston AthenRum
Mevn Dewey, Of Boston; F. b. Perkins Boston Public
Library; s. & Green Worcester Library; W. T. Fletcher
Watknson Library, Hartford; Frederick Vnon. Prince
College Library; John Edwards, Philadelphia Mer-
camille Library; Addison Van Name, Yale College
Library; A. 4. spoford, Librarian OF Congress !;
Henry A. Homes Ncw-York State Librarian !;
Charles Evans Indianapolis Public Library; William f.
Poole Chicago Public Library; John n Dyer, OF st. Louis,
and Messrs. Peoples. schnatz Pool and Noyes OF the
New-York and BROOKLYN Libraries. The opening address
delivered by the President OF the AssOcation justin
wnsor recently Superintendent Of the Boston Public
Library and no at the head Of the library of Harvard
University. In his address he said:
I think we meet with a greater confidence than last
year. and with the feeling that good work mas Deeh
begun and begun well. There are still persons who
think that the extrnt or Librarians duties IF 70 pass
books over counter, aud who fancy that no special
training is necessary TO conduct library Ii Is Wen we
sharpen our wits and know OF profession whose fol-
lowers have greater need 10 know men az they are.
Until our profession can educate lts successors I'D NUM-
equal 90 the growth OF libraries must expect that
VINO have failed In the shop the senOoEroom ana
going committees. The BODY OF librarians know, Is not
accountable f1r these accessions. Our members come
iO us ny the choice OF Others but the eihey H. cscl
thecss In hands. We must make the inheritance
Of our calling obvious % the least oO'erVant We must
urtw 20 M, by the heip Whleh we can bestoN ~ .ne
nlerected labor which We can prevent body Of the
rising generation who viii appreciate their calling Inc
members of this association are 10 nave tue snuus ~
common endeav0r, and share IN common advantages.
The public ~ to reap the BaIFeSt. Inc e1orts Mill
wHich We c0mmemorated our NAIlohal C ehtenu =.
have already begun to show results We owe thanas 20
~ me departments OF the General GDyernment tha
IN making report on the hoFarirs OF the !.
made "a ryciODeda OF science, which has gwen wider
Vows OF Il. and opened up new avenues 70 eh,etP'lse
aud uunlhccnce. We owe 10 10 the secretary Oh hs a"
sUratiOn that We have journal FOR the lnerchanSe oi
yioWs. and for the Advancement OF library eeonony;
Finally. We owe it 10 our own eNahPie tnat @ y,
spirit o. emulation las risen ID Europe ana tm some oi
next month, in London can meet to impart aha IL
rive benefit and encourageheut
The most important business OF the morning session
,Ec report OF the committee on the continuation OF
FOOTE'S Index to Periodical Literature" The details Of
the work morally discussed and the Importance
~ compiling it by the cooperation of librarians was
strongly urged The American delegates to the October
conference OF librarians in London were directed 10
consult with the English Librarians in regard to coOpe-
ration. Tile preparation and publishing arrangements
were left committee. consisting OF Mes'rs Poole,
Wnsor and Cutter The remainder Of the session was
ryeu mainly TO the reports Of the Cooperation Commit
Tee on the preparation OF uniform library supplies.
The feature Of the afternoon session was paper on
STATE Legislation IN the Natter 81 Libraries" by
william T. Poole of the Chicago Public Library. II was
listened 10 with general interest The paper was IN SUD
stance, as follows:
Crude schemes Of legislation the subject o. Libraries
have existed lu most OF the Northern Slt.s MILLIONS o
dollars heen expended IN PURCHASING district school
ligreres which clnno. now b. found. Perhaps thr
greatest impairment To the General aaopuo OF tha mol-
rn public library stem is the improyldence ana vase
ness which we everywhere attended these schools.
Dsrc-chool libraries were first established ny law 10
fas state OF N.W-Iors un ls3J. In lS35 an act
yoe rsssed appropra 5.OOOannnaliy FOR upplyng
books aad requiring towns t0 raise am equai sum D ttN
anon tog tns purpose TIE mot,e when prom pte thS
ofion was praiscwO, THY, but the methods adopted
were runous. Orier states followed ana incl, concur
rent tesumony j. tht Tie meme mas D,eh lluie re
books rapidly disappeared for they mad 10 proper care
lud the public soon ost l9eres ia me c,TciOn,, 49,
State has carried ouJ the di'.'c scheme 80 pc
ana extrayagautly as NrwY0rh, ana conseq leEty tbc
stale 70 day has on hey statute Pooh ll~ 9,l'szin-
t.xAton i1r he support or puhuc lhfarf7. tut eh.'
mas. ami lnfa ,suce. however Of some o. Ter inland
cc5 ae I'D advance 81 the legislation 81 ts state lor
they have free municipa thft- supporter i"llev.9
hy local taxation. l. -lsation or school Libraries has
been sDasr. od.c Boo sovcra! of TIRE western stl-es
Tar modern peuhc library system "Aieu na -ie u
within the Inst twenty-five years, ASKS of no appioPa
ou from the stare Tor rs support tnu Ahee j. lures uo
Stale sll eryaIJn. Those communities ouy "uNd ut'c
he population, wealth and disposition 10 su port
public hprar can nave one A. is 3cll ll'tl,i'JI anu
RI. oulv function " state legislation IN Cne matter IL u'
XIV NJ these cummuuliea te 4'-t1 20 gVy i.,al aA
projection Wi j. s1yen 20 otaer munic pal institutions
unrary aia tied FOR pablo Use u sOme'hnE more than
a collection Of books selected WIN ulthEouc' ctt4
oguad anI arranged IN an orIery manner proIee ted ny
il5ti.los rur, and Un Ter Wis. manhg hrt Ihe us
iri.f rbrtr.rs have failed from want OF sacn sn-
ltrXt.i1u. Twelve Sutes nave eAtcten la"s iOI
r.. gicilns on ihe auUuu o. taxation. and 2lying it
people greater freedom I'm making appropriations Iof
tnl, purpose. The present conf toh on ~ .u
several states the subject OF pdDhc LIBRARIES Is eA-
varied. SOine bittllE tifc lDtilfr HiAt sf
Ircr The local board o. education. and Others still
making no provision whatever. thnA this GO
-lr'..re -noula not commit Us'lf 20 any specific
form legislation az TINS ulIi put shpuiu fecOl-
Dg-ts ~ the country where tIcy do not exist.
N,u-amusbrp. IN 10. passed statute allowing town
f1 ts by taxation such sans tor Tue support OF pup
liz library a. Tie voters might dctein ne Ntine ana
Conteriicut adopted ANA e MAINTAIN the mat oil TAXI
We cent, M eaen slccc,dng year Each Of the>
STAT r. is wca.tlIet nan NeNfidnpshlfe, Out D0'h com
mac. money tor their support Vermont OCEAN ~ 1850
vIfn tie new Hampshire Law, but Tell nd'k In 1867 :"
tnaf ~ N.uc ami Connecticut Hence its libraries ar
few and foe1le. Massachusetts, bean Win the plan o.
limited taNat5n. from wrh It advanced % the sdOptl9h
OF the New-lIamp5alre law. Il ms now ~ puuhc
libraries, containing moie than millioh VOL
inIe Ia none of tlc Scy-EnS gland states Is there any
ihrlris snail De- managed In ONO and Indiana puDlc
libraries under CONTROL OF tue i0c DDals ol eue"
non and Few 81 tu Institutions nave Detl 80 success
Hl 's me M, f iris ~ rle mos extended and
erbo- tn. most carefully considered. IL crea.es an lu-
~, tC ,nd ,nuroved Dy the city Council Not more
nan one director eau b. MEMBER OF tht CIV CouhciL
TIis board has xclusiye control OF the library
Aresolutou WA chen offered by r. r. BOwker for the
appontment Ola committee OF five TO make recommends
tons 20 promote tne more general establishment Oh
public Libraries. The following COMMITTED was appoihted
.ur,tin Wnsor, william F. Poole, r. Il. BowAer II. A
rrs and John Elmonds Amoug other topics OF inter-
st discussed was the subject or special collections In
rarie instead Of special libraries The use OF scrap
hooks was strongly advocated by one member VINO sug
sested that in Il library Of subscribers, each member
should select topic which he was Interested and Keep
serap-booA for a number OF years, limiting himself TO
that topic. -.
Al the morning session to-day matters IN when the
ADVICE and cooperation Of book-pubishers are desired
will be considered. reception Will be gwen TO the
isiug Librarians in the Young Mems Christian Assoe.-
alton parlors this evening.
MIDNIGHT WEATHER REPORT
GOVERNMENT INDICATIONS.
For tho Middle States and New England,