The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-23

The fact that Henry ]. Carr, of the
Scranton Public Library, has been
elected president of the American Lii
bray association is an honor of which,
perhaps, few Scrantonians, who occa-
| sionally see the quiet gentleman in
question moving about on errands in
| connection with his duties as librarian,
have an adequate conception. The Of
flee has been held by the most promi-
nent library authorities in this coun-
| try. There has usually been sharp
| contest for the position, but so valu-
| able has been Mr.. Carr's work in the
| association for many years that his
election was practically unanimous
from the start
This national body was organized
| in Philadelphia, October 6, 1876, as the
immediate result of a three days Ii
brary conference held in connection
| with the Centennial exhibition. Its
| stated purposes were to promote libra
ry interests, and increase reciprocity
and goodwill among librarians and
those interested in library economy
and photography.
At is organization, siXty-nine men,
bers We're enrolled; there are now
more than 500.
The association seeks to develop and
| strengthen the public library as an
essential part of the American educa-
| tional system. 1t therefore strives by
individual effort of members, and
| where practicable by local organiZa-
tion, to stimulate public interest in es-
tablishing or improving libraries and
thus to bring the best reading within
the reach of all.
IT'S PRINCIPAL AIMS.
In addition to advancing library in
terests generally it aims:
By organization and force of numbers
to effect needed reforms and improve
ments, most of which could not be
brought about by individual effort.
| BY cooperation to lessen labor and
expense of library administration.
| BY discussion and comparison to
utilize the combined experiments and
experience of the profession in per-
fecting plans and methods and in
solving difficulties.
| AS an outcome of It's work and in
fuence, divers library clubs and state
library associations have been formed
state library commissions and travel
ing libraries have also been estab-
lished in various states as a no less
direct result
In addition to benefits derived from
the formal proceedings, and the pa
pers presented at the various sessions
of each general meeting, those in at
tendance find a direct practical value
in the informal discussions and indi-
vidual conferences made possible by
the intervals between sessions. SINH
lar opportunities are given by the
necessity for travelling together to and
from the places of meeting, and at
the various social occasions connected
with the conferences.
Its direct influence is being observed
all over this country and Canada, and,
indeed, beyond the confines of the
continent. The magnificent gifts of
Andrew Carnegie to the establishing OF
free libraries may be distinctly the
outgrowth of the agitation made by
the association.
State associations exist in many in
stances. and the absolute need of free
Libraries is being recognized to such
an extent that in some states, as in
New Hampshire, the public library is
compulsory in every district, just as
is the public school.
AN IMPORTANT FACTOR.
In all this advance, Librarian Carr
has been an important factor His
work as secretary for many years has
probably done more to assist the pro-
gressiVe movement of the free library
system than the efforts of any other
one person. His long experience in
public libraries, his scholarly abilities,
his methodical ways, have had great
effect on the work since his official
, connection with 1t began. In this he
has received invaluable aid from his
; wife, who, herself an ex-state libra
rian of Michigan, is a lady of fine at
? tainments and wide culture.
Mrs. Carr is college bred and has
. the deepest interest in all the strug-
Ries and aims of young women in their
efforts to higher development. She is
a frequent contributor to library and
, other literature and is much sought
after for addresses to young people.
She is always given a prominent
, place in the programme at the great
> annual international meetings.
: Mr.. Carr has many illustrious pre-
= decessors in the line of ex-presidents
; of the association. Among them are
Y men whose names are familiar in lit
= erature and recognized as authority
) on special subjects to the exclusion of
' of other matters.
1 The first president OF the associa-
tion was the late Dr. Justin Winsor,
the famous librarian of Harvard, the
auothor of Narrative and Critical
History" the well known work in
Q many volumes. The second was DR..
William F, Poole, of Chicago, librarian
of Newberry library, and the eminent
h author of Poole's Index. Following
e him was Charles A. Cutler, the au-
y thor of Catalogue Rules" and libra
y rian of Forbes library, Northampton
r Mass. Frederick NJ. Crundem, libra
}. rian of the st. Louis Public library
t preceded DR.. Melville Dewey, state
) librarian of New York, probably the
!. best known authority on classification
= and library subjects in. this county
a and the author of the familiar metric
:, and decimal classification.
J. Samuel s. Green, librarian of the
e worcester Public library, author OF
u books on relations between library and
!. schools William l. Fletcher, librarian
of Amherst college, and conductor OF
the summer training class in that
city; j, N. Larned, librarian of the
Buftalo library and author of His
= tory for Ready Reference; Henry M
Utley, librarian of the Detroit Public
library; John c. Dana librarian of the
a public library of Denver Col; William
? ii. Brett, public library, Cleveland
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