Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-30
DISCUSS LIBRARIE S
Meeting Of Representatives of Three
Associations. go
The TOPICS SPECIALLY PRESENTED
American and Foreign Production
of Books Compared.
S ESS1ON THIS EVENING

The second session of the meeting of rem
resentatives of the Washington Library As
ISOLATION, the New Jersey Library Associa-
ton and the Pennsylvania Library Ciup, re-
spectfvely, was held this morning In the
Carroll Institute Hall Ten o'clock was
named in the program as the time for OPEN
ing but only a few of the members were
present at that time, and the attendance
was not large at any period of the proceed
ihss- IL was evident that the attractions
o. the city We're superior to those of the
program, although, as subsequent expert
ence proved. the Merit of the latter was Of
high order.
Dr. Ernest c. Richardson the president
OF the New Jersey Library Association. pre-
Sized and made the opening address, which
was on the subject of Relative Book Pro-
ouctforf-American and Foreign"
He referred to the efforts being made to
centraIlze the educational facilities of this
Gi1y, ana sad 1t was no doubt true that the
Library OF Congress was destined to be-
come more and more a center of research
superior to the British museum. He said
now that suitable building for such a pur-
pose na9 been secured and as man for
the work had been obtained all that re-
manned was for Congress to provide the
means for the development Of the library
he then quoted some figures which, he said,
had been given considerable cirrryia tion RI
the effect that in the annual production NJ
books the United States stood near the
front of the list of the nations of the worJd.
Accordins to this estimate. he said, Ger
many printed the greatest number Of books:
tnen came France. Italy, Great Britain and
the United States.
He explained that these figures were mis-
leading and that the United States really
produced more books than any other coun-
try In the world, except possibly. Great
Britain. He also added that this country
also excelled IN the quality Of the literature
produced.
New Jersey Law.
The next paper was read by Mr. II. G..
Buchanan Of the New Jersey State Library,
which gave an account of the law enacted
by the legislature Of that state establishing
library commission for providing free H.
braries throughout the state. He also spoke
OF the work accomplished by the travelling
libraries and what the state il doing fo1
school libraries. He said the state naus
OUT s2,uoo annually for this latter purpose.
In the discussion which followed. DR. 81
Darlington Bolton remarked, in reference
10 the statistics given by Dr. Richa rdson
OF the production OF books In this country
~ INA. q inempef OF Congress. in referring to
an appropriation asked for to purchase for.
eign books, said, why should we do tbat,
me United states prints as good books az
any foreign country"
What the Small Public Library Neef,s~.
was ths theme of q paper by Miss JsabeI
Ely Lord Of Bryn Mawr College librarv
she called attention to the tone of disan.
peintment often employed in speaking nj
Inc the small Libraries. and said that a small
norary IN small place exerts an tnfiu-
ence that Is perhaps greater than that OF
the large library in a large place. she
emphasized the Importance of the personS
aNty OF tho one who il at the head OF 4
s sa1 library. She said, OF course, the
librarian must not only have the grace of
common sense but knowledge. and the LAT
ter. she said. could be secured The seif.
trained librarian. she claimed, can be well
ilLoed lot MS work. and she added that II
should attend a library school She did
not wish, however. to depreciate the adj
vantaSee OF library school training but
sibie. In the discussion in this par.e, ~
point was further emphasized Of the I'M
portant influence Of small libraries.
Library and Club.
'Librarfes and CIuhs, xas the tonio Of q