Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-10-28
STATE HOUSE..
Interesting Ideas Advanced In PAPER
Written By Librarian Carver,
Damage At New England Building Has Been
Considerably Exaggerated.

state Librarian Carver was unah,a
to attend the meeting of tho Eastern
Maine Library Club at Corinna ri
day. but he sent paper which u.s
read and proved of great interest Tho
| address is of interest to po, or,,
librarians but all lovers Of books ang
was as follows:
The most important ana tbo 49,.
Cii.joult duty lib arian has "a na,-
ifoh is that OF answering rightfully
and pleasantly TIE numberlcss onoc-
utns ! Is Patrons shower upon him 4.
tfel.' dally visits to the library. The
"!u saving that you Should answer a
iool accC riding 70 his folly is coarse
and rrde in its form Of expression ana
Il lse and cruel in its spirit The fool.
ISL rarely ask questions. the wise ask
many. that they may ACQUIRE further
knc Wledge ara wisdom. | am sl,ro
thAt no such unjust rule Of action has
been advocated among the librarians
uf Maine. We should revise this rule
$" That II may conform to the trun
| ih II Of christianity and ID the best
lf"ttlcc Of high profession. We snotld
answer every person according Ia his
wisdom and the extent of his
Knowledge. In order to carry out sir-
cosstullv this rul" Of action II. mus,
he careful that We do not oycr.v.im,tn
our own Knowledge Ii IL far bott.r
\" answer 4 question hy saying II 40
Aoi hhuW" than il is tn civo Il half enr-
rt,t MI cvasiv" answer. When L patru.n
ASKS 4 question "f The librarian a.. has
S ll-ht To haze il distinctly understood
that ne knows something of IN. sui
J"ct himself Often ne knows far mor,.
about Il than the librarian. Hence Ma
should not underestimate thr intalli-
I"nto and knowledge ~ th, uuestiautl.
ANA in our answer it IL Wrll to pay him
TIM compliment of assuming that he is
intelligent and We'll read upon the sub
j"ct. II il true that The same answer
~ tht same question should not hc
fixed ANA inVariable. 4 mere hint W.
suggestion viii suffice ID fully answer
an Intelligent student. while Il detailed
explanation may b. required to satisfy
on" If limited requirements ana .Icu
intellect
Neither is il wise "a profitable, tn
overWhelm any patron seeking light
books bearing upon thc topic. Few
l,nNc the time M capacity L. digest the
contents Of fifteen or twenty books Ill
0nr sitting. The over-earnest III
bI;rian often errS in this branch uf his
labor. He may get the reputation Of
knowing every book in his library
bearing even remotely upon given
subject and Vet. fail in giving i'm
mediate aid 10 his patron who may be
u, sirnus of investigating only a single
phase Of the topic. one book upon any
subject nearly always satisfies the
patron. provided il be the right book.
Here is where the wisdom knowledge
ana fitness Of the librarian il demon
strateG. If he can ascertain what par
tiCular portion Of any subject his read
- desires to investigate and can read
ily supply him with the single volume
which best answers the questions de
sired. he has best served the cause Of
library work ana has shown himself
4 daptel TO his profession.
II the librarian fails in this depart
ment If his labor it will be We'll for him
to SEX other employment. To answer
truthfuIly ana wisely the questions of
! bui patrons anu ~ ditttl tilttl III
vlstigations in manner that shall
savc them ard You much unnecessary
labor and time, requires the highest
d-2r,, of efficiency on Your part, and
is the foundation stone upon which all
other work and usefulness Of your Ii
l1ary rests.
IN thn reference and study depart
m.nt of the library the librarian needs
~ exercise always the kindly. modest,
spirit that snail max" him
4 fellow student with the investigator
N vhom he seeks 10 aid. This is true ,
even ~ n" STUDY o1 INC most tilNidl
matters. II the librarian possesses this !
SpitiI at AT times ii viii carry him for
ward to success ana save him from
hostile criticism in the administration 4
NJ hiS work. II viii serve N place III
sympathy with the public Whn patron
izcS tly library and enable him "
serve them more rliicirhtiN- 1T I'M
p"'' ''"ti"'lh'r II A'S ",'''SN. II.
pfaili' h'eHS III Tu"'" "6"'' 4,