The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-16
THESE HANDLE BOOKS
FOR READING PEOPLE.
StateLibrafy Association Meets
and Hears an Address From
Warren Upham.
Special to The Globe.

i
OWATONNA, Mimi. Oct. 15.-The an
nual convention of the Minnesota State
Public Library association is in session
here The first session opened in the pub
lie library this evening. There was a
large number of delegates present, and
While the attendance from abroad was
smaller than was expected, citizens and
residents interested in library questions
filled the library building An unusuai
amount of enthusiasm is shown, and the
convention is a success. The public Ii
brary had been prettily decorated for the
occasion and presented a very attractive
appearance. The decorati tons We're made
under the direction of Mesdames, r. G.
Nelson, l.. F. Hammel, j. NJ. Schaffer ana
John Lynard.
There are several exhibits of general
interest at the library The trustees room
is given over to display of picture bulle-
tins from the Owatonna free public Ii
brary and other libraries. The art room.
is made very attractive by an exhibit
from the Beard studio Minneapolis, and
the st. Nicholas league pictures on behalf
OF the city and the Owatonna public Ii
brary board. L. l.. Wheelock delivered
an address of welcome. He dwelt on the
benefits of a public library. 1t not only
elevates the citizens, he said but the
community al large. 1t is an educa tional
force.
An address was made by Warren Up
ham. librarian OF the State Historical So
clety, St Paul. He spoke on The His
Tory and Literature or Minnesota in the
Library of the Minnesota Historical So
ciety." Mr.. Upham said:
In its great work for the people of our
state the Minnesota Historical aims TO
gather into its library whatever is pub
hshed concerning our state history, and
also all publications of Minnesota authors.
The scope of this library is not restrict
ed TO Minnesota history, but comprises
other states of the Union, Canada, Mex
leo and all our American continent North
and South, and also, though with less
1uliness, all countries of Europe and of
every part of the world. For the states
man or student in Minnesota needs to
know somewhat of the history of the
Whole United States and of all foreign
countries. seas and islands, around the
globe. Therefore our historical socierS
dlllSently gathers information from all
the earth, as stored in historical descrip-
tive, biographical statistical and scien.
tific books, pamphlets, newspapers aliases
and maps.
But a line is drawn in this library
against certain classes of publica lions
which folm large part OF our city and
town Libraries, as also of all colleges and
university libraries namely. novels
poetry. the drama, art ethics and so
forth, including the whole range of fiction
anu anu essays ana
criticisms, excepting SO far as these great
fields of literature become subjects of
history.
Further we must except whatever is
produced and published by Minnesota
writer's in any department of literature
although otherwise, if many of these
works were produced by authors outside
of this state they would not be desired
Thus novels and poetry essays and SER
mons, school books, and everything
literary that Minnesota people publish are
sought and treasured on shelves assigned
in this library for preservation of our state
literature. Let all Minnesota authors re
member accordingly to donate their works
to the historical society, assured that
they will be well catalogued and placed
in cases where they will be seen together
as the contributions of Minnesota to the
worlds literary Industries