Evening star., 1899-02-09
JOHN RUSSELL YOUNG
Biographical SketclpDf the Late Librarian
Read LaH Evening.
Meeting of hibrAry Association Mt
Columbian observation-disclosures
by De. Cyrus Adler.

The thirty-seventlrregular meeting Of the
Library Associations of Washington City
was held last severlfng at the Columbian
University. Dr9 H. C. Bolton, president of
the society, presided, and Mr.. William l..
Boyden was secretary. The feature of the
program was a Biographical Sketch of the
late John Russell Young" which had been
prepared by Mr.. A. P. c. Griffin OF the
Library of Congress, and was read by Dr.
Bolton. After speaking of such events in
Mr.. Young's life as have already been
printed in The Star, the paper stated that:
1T was no light task that confronted the
new librarian of Congress in July, 1897,
when first he entered upon the duties of
the position. Mr. Young was not one to
shirk a duty The new librarian was not
long in discovering that the collection was
very deficient in books of scholarly ma
ture, and that while rich in some direc-
trons, great gaps existed even in the works
dealing with the history and description of
our own country"
After referring to various improvements
accomplished by Mr.. Young, Mr. Griffin
said:
"a juvenile reading room had been or
dained by Mr.. Young shortly before his
death, and the carrying out of the project
only awaits the furnishings of a eommo-
dlous room which he had selected for the
purpose. The necessity of an exhaustive
catalogue of the resources of the library
was deeply felt by Mr.. Young, and the
lack of a subject index to the resources
of the library gave him great concern.
Claim of the Public.
''If he had lived but short time longer.
decisive measures would have been taken
toward realization of plans for an i'm
proved catalogue. Mr.. Young recognized
the claim of the public upon the National
Library, and paid great attention to the
answering Of queries, which came in great
numbers from all parts of the country. He
insisted that extensive research should be
made to meet all reasonable requests, ana
thousands are indebted to him for the liter
ary and historical data which they sought
from the Library of Congress.
Mr.. Young entered the library profession
without technical training, but with what
is, perhaps, better, a broad, cultivated
mind, with an intelligent discernment Of
the mission of a library and capacity of
adapting means to ends. His methods were
simple and direct. guided by a mind abhor-
rent of complicated and involved systems.
In this he was in unconscious sympathy
with the methods of that peerless librarian
the lamented Winsor. Under Mr.. Young's
guidance the library was fast becoming a
living force and rapidly gaining in public
appreciation. The inert books were trans
formed into active agents of usefulness;
scholars, students and the humbleSt in
quirers were encouraged by him, and the
policy of the widest use of the books con-
s,stent with safety was enjoined upon his
sCbordinates
Mr.. Young's characteristics.
In disposition Mr.. Young was cheerful,
often mirthfu1,F always shedding around
him a benevolent feeling. Urbane cour-
teous and gentle to the last degree, he
made labor lighter and rendered the daily
task joy to his associates. OF Astounding
benevolence, he held out helping hand to
many a struggling soul.
When John Russell Young died hu-
name, gentle and kindly spirit passed from
earth into the other, life; a career eminent
in journalism, conspicuous in diplomacy
and useful in letters ended, and the earthly
chapter in beautiful life closed"
DR. Cyrus Adler. of the Smithsonian In
stitution made an address embracing an
Account of the Second Conference on an
International Catalogue of Scientific Liter
ature.' Mr.. H P. Brown, librarian of the
department of labor. was elected to mem
bership.