Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-13
FREE LIBRARIES.
Their Organization and Main
tainance Freely Discussed.
Maine Library Association Holds a
Most Interesting Meeting.
OftIcers EIected--papers Read and Discussed
Enjoyable Lecture and Sociabic.

The weather was not such, Thursday as
the Maine Library Association would have
chosen for the first meeting since its or
ganization, few years ago, but there was
very good attendance at the meetings.
In the morning, the association was
| reorganized, and the following officers
| elected: President, f. W. Hall. librarian
OF Colby college; vice presidents, Mrs, M.
I'll. Curran, librarian of the Bangor free
library, and Miss Alice G.. Furblsh librar-
ian of the Portland public library; sccre-
| tary, Miss H. c. Fcrnald of Maine State
college Orono; treasurer, Prof. George r.
Little, librarian of Bowdoin college,
During the remainder of the morning
| the members were entertained by State
Librarian Carver and Assistant Librarian
+. w. Emery, who showed the visitors the
system and some of the interesting fea.
lures Of the library. The morning was
pleasantly passed. in the most informal
discussions of library topics.
The afternoon meeting was held in the
Senate chamber. The subjects brought
| up were discussed most openly much to
the instruction and enjoyment of those
present
The opening paper was read by Mrs. H.
c. Fernald. on Organization and Manage
ment of Public Libraries" The paper
was thoroughly appreciated and was fol
lowed by a general discussion in which
Mr.. Carver took prominent part. The
latter also gave an extended discourse mp
on the laws relating to the organization OF
the libraries, and the Inducements which
the State offered
He also, during the discussions offered
many suggestions from his extensive ex
perience, on the selection of books, and the
reading of criticisms in periodicals, to
what extent and in what way to accept
them.
Colonel Fred Atwood, to whom the or
ganization of the Winterport free library
is largely due, gave an extensive descrip
ton of the organization and management
of the library. He said that each sub
scriber to the corporation paid 50 for the
support of the organization at the first the
library having been open part of one day
of the week
As the funds grew aud the inters st
spread, the open time was increased.
On the first day, IL volumes were lei
out; the next week, 20; after few weeks,
1917 were delivered. The library now has
about 1000 volumes. 1t has been Il sue
cess in every way. books having been re
ceived by donation, aud ether ways, from
all over the country. Recently 900
volumes were given out in one week.
| Miss Sarah B. Nichols of the Calais free
library, spoke of the care to be used in re
| gard to the selection of books. She told
| OF a legacy from J. S. Pike amounting to
| sl5, geo. 1t is now possible to use the in
| terest on about $4,000. The peculiar con
| ditions of the will are such that no book
can be purchased except that it has been
published 10 years.
| In regard to the Bangor library, it was
stated that most of the books were pur-
chased by the librarian, but that expcn-
sive and doubtful books were left to a
| special committee.
Rev W. W. Ranney of Auburn, was
unable tn be present to read his paper on
Necessity of Public Libraries In Country
! Towns In his place Superintendent Of
Schools Stetson offered few words in re
| gard to the Auburn library.
Many other representatives of libraries
expressed their views on the selection of
books and on the management of the
several libraries which had some under
| their experience.
| 1t is very interesting to note the expert
ence of the little town Of Grafton in the
establishment OF free library, given as
follows:
| "In 1890, the town contained only 9S
Inhabitants and had a total valuation of
less than S75, 1000.
| 1.-THE intelligent and progressive people
of that little community determined to
have free library. In the spring of 1895
the town appropriated for that purpose
$3.50, and provided a place for the safe
keeping of the books. On a certificate of
these facts, the State library sent books,
selected by trustees of Grafton library,
valued at see, and the treasurer of that
| town received from the State treasurer the
sum of s12 as State stipend. Thus, in
less than six months, this little town had
a collection of books costing 1892.
1--WE are not informed that any inhabi-
tant of that community has suffered from
want, on account of that outlay. Indeed,
there is reason to believe that there is still
existing in that community u lively in
terest in the free library
"a letter was recently received from the
selectmen of that town asking for advice
and instructions as to their duty in the
premises. What Grafton has done, any
j