Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-04
STATE HOUSE.
Librarian Carver Sees an o.
portunity for More Work.
The Recent Meeting Of Library Com
mission at Saco.
Warden Stanley Gathering in Sebago
Lake Poachers.

State Librarian Carver reports that
the work of the department is increas-
ing rapidly, every year, not only in
amount but in interest and value. over
5000 packages have been sent out from
the library, this year, and the travelling
libraries are in increasing demand all
over the State, not only in sections
where reading matter is not easily ac-
cessible, but by people in all sections
who wish libraries upon some special
subject, like the one on China and
Japan recently sent to Machias. I'm
der the present laws, Mr.. Carver is
obliged to be in actual attendance on
the library, every day, and he whlmsi-
cally remarks that even his leisure
time has been provided for, as the rules
provide that he shall spend it in in
deXing public documents. So much of
this and other similar work is coming
in that Miss H. r. Thompson of this
city has been engaged as typewriter
Were it possible for Mr.. Carver to be
away for part of the time, he would
devote it to visiting the libraries of the
State and lecturing on library economy
and kindred subjects. I'm other words"
he said, Il should be doing what I
ought to be doing, placing library, in
terests before the people of the State.
Library work is a branch of public ed
ucatiOn and only second to the work of
the schools. While we are tagging be-
hind the Western states in their rapid
progress, yet we are having a healthy,
and perhaps n saner growth. The time
is at hand when, if the State Librarian
does not do the work of which l speak,
someone else will have to do it. In the
northwestern and central states, the
State Librarian conducts institutes and
conventions, just as the Superintend-
ents of Public Schools and other super
intendents do There is doubtless
much sound sense in Mr. Carver's ut
terances, and this matter deserves the
serious attention of the powers that be
in our State Government.
AS result of the action of the meet
mig of the. State Library Association,
held at Saco recently. the matter of
instruction of librarians by correspond
ence from the State Library. was
brought up and State Librarian Carver
has sent out the following circular let
ter to all the librarians in the State:
Dear Sir:
Under the laws of the state this
library has n certain duty to perform
to all the free public Libraries. 1t is
our duty to send to your library any
and all State publications of the cur
rent issue.
II there is any publication, report or
pamphlet of the past year which You
have not received please notify US at
once.
At the last meeting of the State Lii
brary Commission, that board voted to
inaugurate a course of correspondence
between the free libraries and the state
library You are, therefore, invited to
ask advice or state any difficulty con-
nected with the administration of your
office on which you need information.
You are encouraged and invited to ask
any question pertaining to library econ
omy in cataloging, selection of books
and other matters. Your questions will
receive prompt answers from this de-
partment or be referred to experts who
will answer them on our behalf.
About two months ago we We're in
formed by the librarian of the New
York State Library that arrangements
were soon to be made for teaching Ii
brary management. economy, bibli-
ography and general literature by cor
respondence managed by the library
school connected with that state insti-
tuition. AS soon as this arrangement
can be made. this department will see to
it that every free library in Maine may
have a course of instruction without
material cost or expense. We ask you
to enter heartily into the arrangement
above outlined which we believe to be
for the mutual advantage of all con-
cerned.
This library solicits all the duplicate
books and pamphlets you have and asks
you to send them per American Express
at our expense. We should also be
pleased to ascertain your wants. Any
books of market value sent us will be
paid for by books you may need that
we can send in exchange. Please send
list of wants. We do not care for dupli-
cate novels Such works, if of no
further use, should be donated to the
state Prison or County Jail.
Sincerely,
l.. d. CARVER,
State Librarian.