The record-union., 1898-11-26
/ LIBRARIANS IN
CONFERENCE.
Interesting Papers Read at Yes
days Session.

ent system. They were certainly too
valuable for general circulation, and
he thought they should be held as
books of reference. While he did not
care to express any opinion as to the
value of travelling libraries, he was in
clined to think that there were q
great many books In the State Library
of a character that could never be
sent through the mails or by express
without serious damage.
He showed that the library was found
ed in 1861 as an aid to legislators, State
officials, etc. Since that day, he said,
the library had outgrown its purpose,
having now 1O7, 900 volumes.
The great question that struck the
speaker was, how can the library be
used best for the greatest benefit of the
masses. He said the public had a
right to assume that every book in the
library had definite value. The ques-
tion was what to do with that value.
Several systems were proposed-trav-
cling libraries and inter-library loans
There was another system by which it
might be turned into a department for
the gathering of valuable information.
In conclusion, the speaker said he was
~ LAO OpAl1OI ll1dl lllCIS SAOulu DC d
law by which the trustees would be
allowed to experiment on methods for
the Improvement OF the library. He
suggested that the Law Department
ought to be in a separate place; that it
be opened SO that lawyers could have
access to it at later hours than the
general library is open, and that other
improvements ought to be made. He
60 ha
ing was defective, and that there ought
to be one by which subjects, as well
as authors would appear in the index.
After this paper the Chairman invit-
ed the audience to participate in the
discussion. He called on Will S.
Green, who had been library trustee.
Mr.. Green said that he agreed fully
with the idea that the library should
be removed as far as possible from poll
tics. He was opposed to the travelling
system, and did not see how it would
be possible for a reference library to
be Of value If it should become circulat-
ing in character. If a book were want
ed 1T should be on the shelf at the time
needed. He believed there were
great many current works of fiction
that should not be in the State libra
ry. He thought no such book should
be there, unless it be a rare volume
Any book that might be bought for a
small sum at the ordinary stores would
be out of place in the State Library.
After he had finished, the Chairman
called upon w. H. Mills, who said:
L am on the program for tonight,
and 1 ought not to speak now. Any
how, among so many specialists, I feel
a little like the candidate for Mayor,
who said: I have came, but I will
not be sorry when I have went
may say word, however, regarding
politics. I cannot see how the library
can be taken from the control of the
people. In this country, government
rests with the people, and to say that
the library should be taken from them
is to impeach their intelligence The
way for self-governing people to learn
how to govern is to let them be allowed
to govern. Let them understand that
this library is a part of the State edu-
cational system, and let them learn to
control it. 1t is certain that the libra
ry will not be governed by a wisdon
higher than that of its owner Improve
ment in government will come when
you raise the intelligence of all the
people"
Joseph G. Rowell said he did not care
whether the library were in or out of
politics, provided the staff in charge
would do their work carefully when
asked to do so. He favored the travel
ing system, and asked whether it was
cheaper for the book to be sent to the
citizen or for the citizen to come a long
distance to the book. He said he had
lately had books from the Massachu-
setts and others from the Wisconsin Ii
braries. He thought the system good.
and that it was at least worth careful
study.
Mr.. Green explained that he spoke of
politics in the first instance in gen
eral way. He would have a library
controlled somewhat as a school, not
subject to all sorts of political changes.
though of course controlled by the peo-
pie.
TRUSTEE RYAN WELCOMES THEM
Frank D. Ryan, President of the Ii
brary Trustees, was then introduced.
On behalf of the Library Trustees he
welcomed the librarians, and said he
would be glad to have information. and
he felt sure that the Trustees would
be grateful for any light on the SUBJ
ject of the management of the library.
He said the Trustees desired to do all
in their power to make the library use
full to all the people.
SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
w. w. Seaman, Assistant State Ii
brarian. read very instructive, though
technical paper, on the Relations of
Public School Libraries to the State
Library" He cited the history of the
public school libraries, which he pro-
nounced beneficent, and concluded with
the thought that they were not in a
position to avail themselves of any
special benefits of the State Library.
He thought the school libraries were
doing a great work, but he did not see
how they could ever use the wealth of
the State Library. He showed that
the total expenditure for school libra
ries since 1866 has been $2,326,176 and
that nearly million books have been
bought. He also showed that a large
amount of the district money has at
tunes been expended for apparatus, and
that there were many abuses of this
law In the past. The average annual
expenditure for school libraries is now
ABOUT $4,000 The speaker said he