Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-07-11
The American Library Association.
From the Boston Trayrllrr.l

From the Boston TRAVELLED
Time was when librarian was generally
looked upon as without the pale OF clviilz"-
ton. He was pictured 10 the popular eye
as taller. whose office was Ia see that the
volumes placed in his charge were taken
from the shelves as rarely as possible, anu
who regarded with a jealous eye the venture
some individual afflicted with IL desire to con-
suit books wherever they might he touh"'
But all that has been changed. Nlthih tue
past ten years the care of hooks mas ne'"''e
profession. and the librarian OF great IL
brary is now locked upon as most impor-
tant parsonage We are reminded oil thls
change by the Conference "i The American
Library Association which has been held in
this city during the three day Just past, and
whose proceedings have been marked by The
earnest discussion of various subjects con
nccted with what We may call library econ"-
mics As the secretary oi the Association
remarked in his opening address. ii is just
one thousand DAYS since the first conference
was held in Philadelphia. In this one thou
| sand DAYS the amount OF work done and IN
tercst awakened is almost incalculahle. n
| journal has been established, which is now
| The accredited organ of all librarians speak
Ing the English language Valuable papers
have been read and lectures have been given
introducing reforms in library management
and our English brethren, inspired hy the
example set by their trans Atlantic co-lat,nr-
ers, have ill their turn formed an association
of librarians, which accepts the Li6T"'y
,J0urRal as an official publication.
All this shows that the people are waking
nm To the value of the efficient, wcll-managed
public library, as an important factor in mot
| ern civilization. Such an institution IS IN
| fact. Peoples University, a university
which presents curriculum of the broadest
character and which receives within its
boundaries every applicant, from the shoe
black in search of the last story paper 10 the
scholar who avais himself of the rich treas
ures of learning in its charge. lis professors
are the greatest thinkers of all ages, and they
offer instruction without money and without
price Taking into account its vast inilu-
ence for good or evil it will readily be seen
how important 1t is that such an institution
should be conducted in the most
liberal and intelligent manner. CUES
tions are continually arising among libra
rians as to methods which can be determin-
ed upon only by careful comparison of per-
sonal experiences by practical men who have
given their lifetime to the profession. Such
comparison and discussion the American
Library Association is intended to provide,
and already schemes by which vast amount
of labor will be saved and proportional
amount of good done have been inaugurated.
The most important of these are the prepara-
ton of complete catalogue OF books issued
in this country from the beginning; title
slip registry, by which works issued from
the press are caialogued once for all at a
central office. and the duplicate slips dis
tributed to the various libraries throughout
the country and the establishment OF a
hibliothecal museum, where will be
exhibited the best appliances for
facilitating library work. Much has
been done already, but much remains for
the future. New questions are continually
arising as the work progresses, and we see
no reason to doubt the increasing usefulness
OF the society.
To the literary man andthc lover OF books,
wherever he may he found, aside from those
interested in purely technical points, the
discussion of themes in which he is naturally
interested cannot he devoid of profit, and
such are gladly welcomed To membership and
are invited To take an active part in the pro
ceedings. With such useful aims and pur
| poses, the association certainly deserves Tho
hearty cooperation of every friend OF edu-
cation throughout the country, and with this
aid grand work will undoubtedly he achicy'
ed through its agency.