The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-25
THE KEEPERS OF BOOKS
CONVENTION Of STATE LIBRARIANS
BEGAN LAST NIGHT.
Governor Mounts Welcoming Address
Howe and j. Il. Dunn Also Spoke.

The first session Of the second annual
meeting of the National Association OF
State Librarians was held last night ut the
Statehouse. II was an informal gathering
and a pleasant one. Governor Mount well
coined the visitors. He said:
indianapolis has already become "a con-
Vention city. Its central location and its
intelligence, progress and hospitality OF its
citizens, Is winning for the capital city OF
indiana widespread fame. The free-scnooI
system OF our State places II in the fore
'front.' in the cause OF education. No state
or equal size and population has public
school fund SO large as this state. Free
child in the State. Compulsory education
laws require that all children Of certain
ages attend school. Universities, colleges
and normals abound in our State. IL there
ever existed time when Indiana was open
10 adverse criticism that time Is in the
are everywhere manifest. The public press
OF Indiana Is fully abreast with the march
Of progress Improved roads and improved
educational facilities abound in this state.
All conventions that have for their pur-
pose the elevation of mankind, the better
financial conditions are welcome TO Indiana.
L can assure you that your mission 10 our
capital city entities you 10 a most cordial
welcome.
With all thy getting get understanding
for the merchandise of it is better than
the merchandise Of silver and the. gain
doorway TO knowledge. 1T is your preroga-
tive to select the best for the library, TO
make IT., indeed, a storehouse of valuable
information. To do this requires research
and investigation. After the library has
been wisely selected then such an arrange
ment as will make this knowledge available
portant question. Accessibility TO books Is
or Importance. Township libraries, cir
culating libraries are worthy of serious con-
sideration. l have long been interested in
the perfecting of some plan that would
place good libraries where they can be made
available TO that large class who are in the
greatest need and who woulG derive the
greatest benefit therefrom. 1 mean the
towns and country For many years was
interested in maintaining a literary society
In the country near my rural home. The
country boys took a lively interest In the
this literary society; contest debates with
other literary societies were often held.
The benefits which derived from these de-
all the knowledge i ever gained in the
school or recitation rooms In these de-
the Hon. Maurice THOMPSON. i the Classical
scholar, polished speaker and literary
writer. These debates created the need of
books. This lack was partially supplied by
the township library.
THE need of libraries that would be ac-
cessible TO the country impressed me. and
doubt. Your work Is an important one.
/ trust your council will result in better
Libraries and In the making of them prac-
ly commend your work and cordially well
come you to the capital city of the great
State OF Indiana"
PROGRESS OF LIBRARIANS.
Arthur III. Chase, of New Hampshire,
thanked the Governor on behalf of the as
ISOLATION. He remarked that before this
country became a republic it had libraries,
but II remained for the nineteenth century
to make libraries a power in the land. He
0s,.to IT,
usually only bookworm, but now he must
be able to manage and broaden the library
in his charge, besides being familiar with
books.
Daniel Waite Howe was introduced as a
man who had become noted in a literary
way. He replied that Ibis friend Dunn, who
would follow him." had become noted. but
said the first library in the West was the
"Coonskin Library" at Marietta, o., and
that IL was thus called because 1t was estab-
lished with money received in payment for
coon skins. In speaking of the great de-
velopment of the country he said that thirty
six years ago he met Governor Mount on
the battlefield of Chickamauga, and the
Southern people gave them warm, il not
cordial, reception. Recently he and the
Governor were on the same field and saw
the monuments that had been erected to
both Northern and Southern soldiers who
had fallen there. And on the programme of
the meeting OF the Librarians Association
hC saw lilC iAdADcS VI &NOElHCIu anu COull-
ern librarians.
Jacob p. Dunn said that ten years ago he
appealed to the commissioners who were
building the Statehouse to make place for
the State library. One of the commissioners
told him that If he had his way the State
library would be packed in boxes and stored
In the attic. Mr.. Dunn replied that If that
were done he would move TO the Sandwich
Islands, or some other civilized place. That
was not done. He commented on the ex-
change OF State documents, which, he said
was one of the most important phases of
the State librarians work, for these docu-
mentS would some day be used in legisla-
tion. He pointed out the experiments in
legislation that are made in every State
which have already been made I'm other
States. have proved unsuccessful and have
been repealed. This could be saved he said.
by systematic exchange Of documents be-
tween States. He made a plea for the
abolition Of politics from the State library.
An Informal reception was held after the
meeting. The delegates to the convention
are Arthur II. Chase, New Hampshire:
Charles b. Galbreath. Ohio: George III bod
son. Oklahoma; Maud Thayer Illinois:
Mary c. Spencer, Michigan; Mamie Mont
gomery. South Carolina: Henry c.. Buchan-
an, New Jersey; Pauline Helm Hardin,
Kentucky: l.. f. Carver, Maine; Jennie
Lauderdale. Tennessee: Adelaide Hasse.
New York city. The sessions will continue