The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-20
THE IDEAL STATE LIBRARY.
Views of n Speaker at Recent Con-
ventiOn of Librarians.
Hartford COurant.


The ideal State Library Mr. GODDARD de-
scribed as a library located a the capital,
owned by the State. and representing every
department of knowledge; each department.
Immediately under the direction and SUI
pervision of a competent expert, and having
a supply of books, properly classified, cata-
lOgued. labelled and shelVed, not only rep
resenting the several editions of each work,
but with sufficient duplicates 10 meet every
call from every part of the State, with
department of archives representing the de-
velopment of its several towns, counties
and industries, and the genealOgies of its
families The library. to be ideal, should
have not only "A beautiful. well-arranged.
fre-proof building, with unlimited access
ible shelving but IAN unlimited appropria-
ton and the Thanking privilege" This
very thought is TO most States unthinkable.
In most State Libraries some departments
must remain either neglected or deficient,
while others may be made approximately
complete. Two extremes are to be guarded
against in library development, undue eX-
pansion and undue contraction. There are
certain lines which the people OF a state
have a right TO expect TO find in their Ii
braries States must conduct and fashion
their several establishments largely by
their business and financial abilities and re-
quirements.
Mr.. GODDARD said that state libraries
should be TO the several States what the
national library is 10 the Nation. In them
should be found everything which may be
of service to those engaged in state or
legislative work. He then proceeded TO tell
Of what
consist-the reference, law, historical and
other features of the library. He advocated
the preservation of State, county. town and
city charts and maps. pamphlets broad
sides circulars. etc, which are the very
data from which the statesmen and his
torians Of the future will gain their views
81 orr life and interpret our civilization,
an that the department of archives cannot
he overemphasized. The State publications.
AIR GODDARD advised with the wealth of in
formation which the reports contain, should
he carefully preserved and each state
should possess complete files. They should
he properly listed, and made into sets by
subject or department. They should then
dnd a ready and accessible place In state
Nhraries The exchange or state pubic
dccumeuts should be encouraged. National,
state and municipal documents are the
original sources from which students or
history economics and government draw
their Information upon public questions. II
tbase notifications cannot be found in the
STATE library where shall they be foun0E
II there is no record commissioner. then
.be state library should use its influence
,-itb those in charge OF records. II there
90 no nuhlic libraries In sections of the
State the travelling library should come IN
Narrower no one is so well equipped as
the state librarian 10 call the attention or
rhe proper officials 10 the latest ana best
systems of printing, labelling ana indexlng
state publications. Mr.. Godard conciuded
as follows: .-sa
Since there is no common STANDARD
annone the several States, either of area.
cseait6 incubation, social or economic con-
dftions beyond few fundamental lines L