The New York herald., 1877-09-05
CONFERENCE OF LIBRARIANS.

THE FIRST DAYS SESSION AT THE YOUNG MEN 8
CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION BUILDING-oENEEAL
DISCUSSION ON THE METHODS OF CLASSIFYING
AND INDExINa BOOKS.
Tho Annual Conference OF American Librarians was
opened at ten O'Clock yesterday morning IN the lecture
room OF the Young Mems Christian Association Build
ing by an address iron The President Of the American
Library Association, Mr. justin Wnso., recently su-
perinteudept OF the Boston Pubic Library and now
at the head OF the library OF Harvard University A
large number OF librarians and others Interested IN the
work OF the association were present during the pro-
cecdings prominent among Them being the follow
ing:-Mr. G. A. Cutler, OF the Boston Atheneum; Mr.
j. b. Perkins, OF the Boston Public Library; Mr..
Meivil Dewey, OF Boston; Mr.. S. s. Green, OF the
Worcester Library; Mr.. W. T. Fletcher, OF the Wat
kinson Library, Hartford; Mr. Frederick vinlon, OF
Princeton College Library; Mr. Noyes. OF the Brook
lyn Mercantile Library; Mr. John Edwards, OF
the Philadelphia Mercantile Library; Mr. Addison
Van Name, Yale College Library; Mr A. T. Spoi-
ford, Librarian Of Congress; Mr. Henry A. holmes,
New York State Librarian; Mr. William +. Poole,
Chicago Public Library; Mr. Charles Evans, indian
apolis Pubic Library; Mr. Joun W. Dyer Of ST.
Louis; Mr. Peoples Mr. Schwarz and Mr. Pool, Of the
New York and Brooklyn Libraries; MI. George II.
Putnam, MIR. +. w. Cnrstern and number Of others.
PROCEEDINGS.
The proceedings OF the Conference were formally
opened by Mr.. Winsor. who briefly stated the pur-
poses for which II had been convened He spoke oil
difference between the Conference OF yester.
day and the OF the same date iD the preceding
year, and ascribed yesterdays large attendance solely
TO the interest which was being manifested III all
parts OF the Union IN the work of tho as
socalion, which hud, during the past year,
assumed vesy large and encouraging proportions.
Mr. Winsor then aaverted to the obstacles which had
thrown III the way OF the association and OF the
opposition which u hud met from the very persons
who should have been foremost in its defence, and
wnile regrettng these unseemy lnterlerences he still
fc reolced that they mad been made Us lney served
10 snow 10 greater advantage the wonderful vitality
that had already been infused INTO the assOciation
The President next entered INTO some remarks upon
the duties OF librarians IN general and the work winch
they called upon 10 perform, ana closed his re-
marks by expressing the CONVICTION that the associa.
ton had entered upon long and successful career
and the hope that Tho future IT'S increase in men,
bershp the scope oi Its work would be as large
u had been in the year JusL past.
The chief business 0i the morning session was tho
report 0f the committee on continuation oi "Poole's
Index 10 Periodical Literature" whose details were
generally discussed. Much stress was laid upon the
Importance OF completing this work by the co-opera-
tion Of hbrarles the American delegates To The
Conference Of Librarians IN London October and 3,
were directed TO consult with the Englisn librarians
The purpose OF gaming their cooperation also IN
the The preparations tor the publication Of this
work then assigned to committee specially APP
pointed Tor the purpose consisting OF Messrs Poole,
Wnsor ana Cutler.
The OF tho morning session was devoted chiefly
10 u discussion OF tue CO.OpeTdtOn COfumlttoe| lor
tn, preparation OF uniform library COPIES and at It's
close the session was adjourned until two O'Clock In
The afternoon.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
The business Oi the afternoon session was opened
by address, delivered by Mr. W. f. Poole OF Chicago,
the various glslalve acts winch nad from time 10
ime been passeu with SPECIAL reference Tue welfare
anu preservation OF libraries. Besides entering into
number OF details IN this con nectl0n the speaker
quoted many statistics support OF his statements,
aud took the position that While be believed there
should be State law for the support oi libraries,
be was still opposed TO such law becoming general
over tue land.
A general discussion then ensued connection with
Mr.. P0ole's remarks on the feasibility oil invoking
work of The association 10 the establishment OF
libraries and the collection OF books which was ended
by one OF the librarians making motion that com
mLtee Of i've be appointed " consider the matter
This motion being carried, the following committee
appointed :-Messrs. Winsor, Po0lo Brewer,
still more general topics the Conference adjourned to
reassembie a. eleven O'Clock this morning
To-DAY's PROGRAMME.
AT eleven O'Clock this morning the nrst session ot
the day viii be opened. II has been apart BY the
officers 0 the ASSOCIATION Tor the discussion oi those
questions in which the advice aud cooperation OF the
publishers desired, and "a very earnest wish was
expressed yesterday that they would attend this morn
ing session. The questions to be discussed include
codo OF uniform rules Or cataloguing designations OF
the of books, abbreviatons ur use IN caalogu-
ing and other like purposes, printed slips Tor GAIA
los use aud the best binding Tor library purposes
Other sessions will be held to-day at Two O'Clock and
7. NJ, and the ASSOCIATION Is particularly de-
sirous that all who Ieel interest IN tho work o.
libraries will attend. In the evening reception Will
be gwen to the visiting librarians III The parl0rs oil the
Young Meu's Christian Association Building