The morning call., 1891-10-16
Is ALMOST ENDED.
Meeting of the American Library
Association.
Visit to the State University, Piedmont and
Observation-Disclosures by the Starr
King fraternity.

The American Library Association con-
ference is almost at an end. Two business
sessions were held yesterday, one in the
morning in San Francisco and another at
night in Oakland. the afternoon being de-
voted to pleasure.
President Green called the association to
order at $50 o'clock, following which each
member was presented with small SOU
yenir by Miss Hancock of Sacramento-a
small phial of pebbles gathered from Pes
cadero beach,
The first paper heard was by G. NJ. James
of Salem. Mass, on the likelihood of con-
tagious diseases being spread by library
books. The author said he had submitted
the question to librarians and had received
ffty-two replies. of which number only one
was in the affirmative. He explained the
plan used by the Chicago Board OF Health
in dsnfectiDg books during the prevalence
of those diseases.
ACCESS TO SHELVES"
ACCESS to Shelves" as applied to the
general public. whether it would be bene-
fetal in influencing greater amount of
book-using than was developed from the
catalogue system OF not, was the subject of
a paper prepared by Herbert Putnam of
NJ Dub Tue dulIOL Hdu lOI lucu uO
positive opinion Old the subject. Rev. I'll. +.
jerks of Canton, Mass, commenced to read
the paper, but was attacked by falnting
spell and had to be removed to the pariors.
Another paper on the same subject by
William II. Brett of Cleveland was read by
Mrs. Sherman, after which the meeting ad-
jOurned.
Messrs. J. A. McKinnon, J. C. Rowell. Il.
F. Peterson and j. E. McEhath of Oakland
took charge OF the Librarians yesterday
afternoon, and when the programme for the
afternoon and evening had been completed,
1t was the unanimous opinion that the day
had been the most enjoyable one of the visit
thus far. Leaving San Francisco at o'clock
the run was made to Berkeley in a few min
utes. The guests were conducted through
the grounds OF the State University to the
library building, assembling i'll the art gal
lery.
SPEECH OF WELCOME.
President Martin Kellogg, in a neat and
short speech, welcomed them, and S. SWEET
Green responded. The party was then di-
yided. Those WHO desired to see the yari-
Gus departments of the institution were
placed in charge OF several members OF the
faculty, while the balance remained AT the
library aHd art gallery. On leaving the
grounds two electric cars were found in
readiness and the party was rapidly con-
yeyed 10 Oakland, where visit was paid
to the public library, after which the
a trip to Piedmont. The enthusiasm Of
the guests was freely expressed, and large
portion of the trip was made with them
standing in order to lose no part of the
varied scenic panorama to be seen on this
line.
PLEASURE TRIP.
The return was equally productive OF
pleasure. and the guests were conducted to
the quarters Of the Starr King Fraternity,
where, alter Il few minutes spent in re-
moving the dust from their persons, supper
was announced.
The repast, an entirely informal one. was
set in the dIning-rnoms upstairs, which had
been exQuisitely decorated for the occasion
with the chOIceSt and most beautiful flow
erS. At each cover was placed tasteful
boutonniere for the guests, and the VIII lie
sweet strains of music lOated up from he
reception-rooms. A bevy of young lad les
Of the Unitarian Church served the choice
vandS.
On descending to the lower floor a short
time WAS given to reception OF an Iu-
formal character. DIR. 5. Ii. Melvin Chair
man of the Board OF Library Trustees. and
DR.. WendIe, pastor of the Unitarian
Church, made short ad dresses of welcome,
and Miss Ina ID. C0olbrlth of Oakland re-
cited an original poem entitled I'm the
Library" after which the librarians ad-
journed to the Unitarian Church. where the
evening session was To be held.
EVENING SESSION.
The first proceeding was the reading of a
portion Of paper upon Public Support of
the Public Library" by Daniel Beckwith of
the Provide nee (R. L. Athenaum. Follow
ing this was a very interesting paper on
Impressions in foreign libraries and notes
on the recent meeting of the Library AssO-
citation OF the United Kingdom" by Miss
Mary S. Cutler. Vice Director of the Lii
brary School at Albany, n. Y. TIE impress
sions of the author were evidently not in
favor Of the management OF foreign libra
ries. as compared with those of the United
States.
Miss Louise S. Cutler. a niece of the
author. read the paper. MIR. G. A. Gutter
of the Boston Athen8um made a few re-
marks on Library AssOciatioDs-The ne
eessity of their being and tbs effect of their
works; the benefit of State library assOcia-
tons, the States In which they existed and
the absence of any such organizations on
the Pacific Coast"
ENDowING A LIBRARY.
J. P. Rowel read an original and humor-
Gus receipt called How 10 Endow a Lii
brary."
II. II. Utley lucidly explained how he had
remembered and reclassified the Detroit
Public Library Of $4,000 volumes without
stopping the regular routine OF the library.
John Z. Irish was called upon to address
the meeting, which he did briefly. the pith
OF his remarks being the inestimabe value
10 all classes Oh mankind OF cOnuenSe0
catalogue Of all the best books in the world,
and the propriety of such work being
pushed forward now.
President Green informed him that such O
work was being compiled now.
No further business being before the
meeting. an adjournment was taken in
order to reach the train for San Francisco.
There will be business session this
morning, the afternoon being devoted to Wis
iting the libraries in the city and the even
ing to banquet at the Palace Hotel.
PERSONAL NOTES.