The Portland daily press., 1895-07-10

&c LIBRARY METHODS OF STUDY.
"Library Methods of Study" was the
subject of paper by Caroline NJ. Hewins,
librarian of the Hartford public library.
Hartford, CT.
1t is important, said she, that teachers
and librarians should know how to work
together in making the best use of free
public libraries. Within the last 20 years
much has been done by both, notably by
Mr.. Green of the Worcester public library.
Mr.. Foster of the Providence public
library, Miss Stearns of the Milwaukee
public library, Mr.. Metcalf of the Wells
school, Boston, Mr.. Sawin of the Point
street grammar school, Providence, and
Mr.. Sickley, superintendent of schools
| Poughkeepsie.
All the New England states and New
York encourage the formation and main
tenance of free libraries by Offering gifts
of books or annual appropriations of
money
Every town in Maine maintaining
public library reports. May to the state
preceding year, and obtains from the
state 10 per cent. of that amount with
which to buy more books. Lists of books
| SO bought are reported.
In towns of less than 1900 inhabitants
if the voters have raised S100 for books
and provided for their care, they may re-
ceive from the state librarian books
| than half the cost of books bought by the
town to found library, and not more
than 500 in any case.
| Librarians or trustees may ask the Gov.
| ernor and council for advice in selecting
b ooks. and receive at the state library in.
struction in cataloguing and library ad-
ministration.
| Miss Hewins proceeded to give synop
sis of the legislation in favor Of the public
library in other states of the union. in
Guiding New Hampshire, Massachusetts.
Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut,
New York, California. Colorado and
Wisconsin and said teachers should use
in towns where there are none, and if
possible induce them to buy duplicate
copies of interesting books to be sent
from district to district for supplementary
reading. Library books should be used
| freely in schools, and children should be
taught the care of books, the use of refer
ence books and indexes, and should learn
the art of getting at and verifying facts
They should also be taught that some
books have a value entirely outside their
| literary quality.
| Teachers cannot expect children to en-
| JOY and appreciate books unless they
themselves understand how to use a
Z,
with their pupils minds and tastes, and
have a wide acquaintance with whatever
there is in the worlds literature that an
peals to a child's mind.
The following committees were an
nounced:
Committee on observation-disclosures
Cogswell, Cambridge, Mass. w. W. Cur
tbs, Pawtucket, R. l. o. Fl. Drake, Pitts
field, Me-. John Peck, New Britain.
Conn.
Committee on Membership A. f.
Pease, Northampton, Mass. G. T. Ames,
Hartford. Conn. j. E. Mowry, Provi-
Committee ON Nominations = o. B.
Bruce, Lynn, Mass. Thomas B. Stock
well, Providence, r. I. Charming Fol
som, Dover; A. H. Campbell, johnson,
VT. A. W. Harris, Orono.
A committe from the Women's Litera-
ry Union acted as reception committee
at City Hall yesterday, and will SO act
during the week. The committee consists
of the Shailer Club and is made up1as fol.
lows: Miss Adams, principal of the
Shailer school, and president of the club,
Miss Giles, Miss A. J. Evans, Miss Lulu
Hoyt, Miss Elizabeth Hallowell, Miss
Myra Russell, Miss E. I. Carleton, Miss
Myra Eastman, Miss Francella Evans,
Miss A. P. Brackett. Miss Mary Welch,
Miss Emma Taylor, Mrs. T. J. Brown
and Miss E. O. Hawkes..
These ladies wear badges and are ready
to assist all who ask for information or
desire introductions, etc
EVENING SESSION.
In spite of the down-pour of rain an
excellent audience gathered in the eve
ming. President Stetson began the ses-
sion by reading kilograms from Rev. DIR.
J. R. Day, chancellor of Syracuse Uni
versity, who is at his summer home in
Monmouth, Me-, and could not come,
and from President Gates of Amherst,
who was also detained at home.
In the place of these Mr. Stetson an
nounced President B. L. Whitman of
Colby, an announcement that wa re-
ceiyed with loud applause.
The Temple quartette sang 'sWelsh
waltz, "Gay Hearts, by Macy.
President Stetson read letter from
President Charles F. Thwing of Western
Reserve and Adelbert College, who was
unable to be present, but sent his paper
to be read by Rev. tDr. James g. Merrill,
an old friend. President Thwing is a
native Of Maine, son of Deacon j. P.
Thwing of Pennington.
The paper in full, follows:
PRESIDENT THwING'S ADDRESS.
How far the American College has
helped American life is one of those gen
eral questions which can receive only a
general answer. sometimes am led to
believe that the influence of the American
College has gone through all the ranges
of the manifold and diverse life of
America am at times also compelled
to think that the influence of the college
has touched only the higher and the more
scholarly relations It has helped to
train one third Of all our statesmen;
more than third of our best authors
almost half of our more distinguished
physicians; fully one half of our lawyers;
more than half of our best ctergymen,
and considerably more than half Of our
most conspicuous educators. So far as
the influence Of these leaders in national
lifo = sy,ta tho lifo nf +ba