New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-04
LIBRARLAYS At BOSTON.

soCIAnoN-PAPERs READ AND TOPICS Dis
CUssFD.
lFHoM sPEcrtr CORRESPONDENTS OF THE rRInuSrl
BosToN. Mass, July 3.-A NewYork citi-
zen travelling 90 Boston hardly gets outside OF west
chester County before he hears something about Bos
tons big library" Ho introduces the subject HIM
SELF lie will talk Of parks and bouevards and bridges
and sometimes OF his cys school system, but never OF
her free public library. And is simply beeause-it
well to emphasize tine fact-NewYork has no free pub
lie library But, per contra, the BOstonlan grows eo-
oucnt on this theme. Starting with the CarIyllsm that
great library is the peoples university he calls at
tenton to the fact that Boston has the only great
library the country, SRA thasaurus OF knowledge
monument of civic generosity enduring than That
OF Bunker Hll. There is denying that the library
helps 10 make Boston the Mecca OF all those who 20 on
pgmages especially of that class Of pilgrims who are
tins week meeting here for third general conference
/ mean the American Library Association. The olc-
fashioned librarian not itineran Like the books
% Dygonc age he chained TO desk and his Office
being that OF custodian purely and simply, mis- oppor
tunlties for association with ms fcllowwOr ers were
iueagre and seldom improved. During the last three
years. however, remarkable esprit az corps mas been
developed among librarians and the conference winch
opened on Monday a reunion OF friends cooperating
IN a common cause with similar methods and similar
aims.
The Librarians come from dozen different States,
Massachusetts heading the lists with about dty repre-
sentaves, ana their numbers have been augmented by
nonprOfcs- Ona element whose interest In the Work
of the conference adds very much to lis power and
effectiveness The first days proceedings we're mainly
preliminary The president, MIR. Justin Wnsor OF Har-
ward University read address OF welcome and con-
graduation lie stated the progress of the American
Library Association from Its inception in 1876, and
closed with cuOgy Of Antonio Panizz late Librarian
Of the British Museum. or him he said "IAe WOrld
has perhaps greater librarian. He bad to
overcome stod content, the hardest of tasks He had
to WHY virtues tnat were dormant Ike the vital prln-
eipe Of the grain in munm!es But he did It, He made
the respectable weenOugns unders and that there was
work to do and they did it, while their National ex-
chequer was shuddering at the cost OF additional
Bloomsbury lands for their great Museum Library he
made the little sketch that dropped that magnificent
dome from the skies right amidst the pile and showed
how power evolves from the centre Upon TINS very
table he sketched that historic pan aud this seat,
long the throne OF Antonio Panzz becomes to-day the
chair Of this transatlantic assembage Of librarians" In
the evening the members attended reception given by
Mr. George b. Chase OF the Board OF Trustees OF the
Boston Public Library, at ms residence on BeacOn-st
Oliver Wendell Holmes the II ON. Alexander II. Rice,
the Rev. James Freeman Clarke, Professor william
Everett Dr. A. i. Peabody and the Rev. j. T. hale
the invited guests. The last named, by the
way, the Rev Dr. Hale having just received the
degree from Harvard University.
The second session Of the Conference opened yes
terday by the reading OF paper Fiction in Libraries
by Charles Francis Adams IT, OF the Board Of Trustees
well Quan to speak Oh the subject OF library admin
istrat,n The Quincy catalogue has passed for
vel of SKILL and the notes prepaTedby Mr. Adams his
tory and similar subjects nave been quoted of great
aI,e TO the uulearnyd reader Mr. Adams's statement
that he considered his work in that direction iIcon-
sidered and misappicd excited DO small surprise lie
saiJ Thar ms proved that the class for whom
the written obtained no appreciate benefit
prebcnsion Of professors sons 6u not 10 the Children
Of the poorer and more ignorant classes lie proposed
series Of horn books OF popular reading on all suD-
jects containing the best lists OF each tnat could be
complied with the simplest and painest lie
precaed very strongly the purchase OF sensational ne
not furnish amusements TO its ctzons Light literature
should be limited TO The ordinary Circulating libraries
The best nucleus Tor puDlc library ~me proposed TO
educate its readers, he considered 10 De
set Of Haper,s, No; Adga.ines Mr.. Robert G
several interesting facts concerning the methods en-
OF their pupils reading THOSE IN the more advanced
classes required TO Keep notebook III which they
by the teacher and once week they required to
form teacher of all they have read during the week
list OF books Of course, furnishes valuable data
for the principal and the Superintendent
Papers were read by Mrs. KaIe GarDett Wells on
the Young" by Miss Mary A. Bean OF the Brookline
Nlass Public Library, on the Use VI Fiction by School
Child en- 8" ana by Samuel s. Green Of the Worcester
Mass Public L. braIy Sensational Fiction In Pub
lie Libraries" The subjects OF these papers were also
Rev Dr. Il. L. Hale. Colonel HigginsOn and others.
Colonel II gginsOn made very wlty plea for the boy
submitting that he WIS not therefore totally dcprayed
lie suggested substitution IN place OF prohibition as
proper under which to regulate the reading Of
boys
In the afternoon, by invitation OF Mayor Prince, the
members went on excursion as far Deer Island
ana NantaskeT Beach, IN Boston HarDOr.g
AZ tine third DAYS session Mr. John Edmunds,
OF the Mercantile Library, Philadelphia, reported
from the Committee on the EXchanse OF Du-
pcates in Libraries OF the establishment Of
exchange at libraries centrally located, and the
occasional publication OfcataOgues OF works held IN
duplicate. Mr.. X. X. BOwker OF The Library Journal
reported from the Committee Publishers little snps,
the report being of a technical character. II fol-
lowed by pref paper the same subject by Pittman
Mann.
Papers were read by W. d. Clarke. OF Boston, on
'TEefts Public Libraries -; by III. a. Hager, Pro
fessOr En- OmOOgy Harvard University, Insect
Pests in Libraries -; By Dr. David +. Lincoln. On the
Ventilation Of Public Buildings aud Dy W. f. Poole OF
the Chicago Public Library, the Spread OF Con-
tagiOus Diseases by Circulating Libraries" Mr. Poole
stated that large number OF letters from medical ana
sanitary tx perts nad received, all OF which went
show cODtagDIs diseases had never been impaired
by "a book from a. circulating library
Mr.. Windsor opened discussion on the " COnstTuc-
tlOu of Library Buildings" which was continued by
Henry Van Brunt, architect, Il Boston, ". f. Poole, of
Chicago Mr.. Gilman Of the Vermont ls,OTical So
ciety Reuben GuiId Of Brown University ;. 5. Green.
of Worcester Mr.. VintOn, Of the College Library OF
Princeton; Mr. Fanham " the Theological Library
OF Boston. IN the afternoon the association visited Hai
ward University The closing session held in the
evening