Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-10-08
Fourteenth Annual Session
Concludes With a Brilliant
Address by j. C. Dana
LARGE GATHERING HEARD HIM
Public Librarian OF Newark, N. j.,
Talks at the Presbyterian Church on
Library Opportunities" -Associa-
ton Passes Resolutions of Thanks
for courtesies Extended to Them.

Presbyterian church Wednesday even
ing. President Brigham called the
meeting to order, and, after few INTRO
ductory remarks, and informal express
sions OF the associations appreciation
of the efforts of its Marshaltown en-
tertainers. called for the report of the
resolutions committee, which was giyer
by Mr.. John M. Brainerd, of Boone
Thanks were formally rendered for the
pleasant and profitable time enjoyed by
all. and hearty appreciation of the
ors. A fitting tribute was paid to the
retiring officers OF the association, and
welcome extended to those just enter
ing upon their terms of office.
Following the report was the intro
duction to the audience, which al
most completely filled the room, of Mr.
John Cotton Dana, public librarian of
Newark, n. ]. BY Mr.. Dana's request
the musical number was given first
place on the program. Mrs. +. l..
Meeker delighted her hearers with a
pleasing selection, singing Herbert
Dale Jones Thought Fancies." accom-
panied by Mrs. E. r. Lay. She re-
sponded to the generous applause with
an equally pleasing encore. BY sug-
gestion of Mr.. Brigham a resolution
expressing thanks for the musical treat
Just enjoyed, was added to those al
ready drawn up. Mr.. Dana's subject
was Library Opportunities" and en-
braced many important points in Il
brary life, that come before the librar-
ians daily. The lecture was thor
ouEhly enjoyed. and was considered q
follows:
Free public libraries are natural
product Of our times Librarians have
done much for libraries. Circumstances
have done much more. Man has in re-
cent years gained mastery over ma
ture. All men now find life easier; many
now command leisure. Man has learned
that wise conduct comes only from
knowledge and good habits; and has
found it profitable to cultivate good
habits and to make knowledge easily
accessible, He has learned that only
where the people rule are progress sure
and happiness secure. He has widened
80
helping his fellows to get knowledge,
skiil, wisdom, and pleasure. He has
increased his productive power until
surplus wealth ts abundant. He has
learned to write more books and on
the utilitarian side at least, better
books. And he has learned how to null
tiply these new books and the old ones
as well, with astonishing cheapness.
~ nd
public libraries result.
lon our part, we of the library world
have, especially since 1875, developed
the art of caring for books, and have
delighted in the discipline of line and
rule. At the same time the general
desire for librares-stimnlated and
aided somewhat, so We hope by our
own efforts, has expressed itself in
buildings which are, as you may select
them, monuments OF Ignorance or OF
wisdom, OF egotism or of unselfishness,
OF proper civic pride or political sin.
We see ourselves now, putting cues
lions OF enumeration, tabulation and
installation into their proper and sub
ordinate places, and facing the broader
questions OF how to discriminate among
books, how to help people to enjoy
books, and how to find the hbrary's
proper place in the community
Il am not trying TO give you final
answers to these greater questions. !
wish to suggest briefly some of the
things that we can try. 1t is only by
making trial Of these things and of
others not yet even thought OF. that
we can properly orient ourselves. can
Discover the possibilities of Libraries
and their proper functions.
81 must be brief, and so must seem
dogmatic There is not time for discus
sion: only for plain statement.
Strive for greater simplicity and
economy. An invoice which calls for
II carefully written items for every
book entered; book list which, where
duplicated for staff and readers calls
for Is items for every book, these are
too cumbersome and expensive. Labels
plates. pockets, marks and numbers on
the books themselves, their name is
legion, and many Of them are needless.
Even the labels can be omitted on most
of. the most-used books and on many
Of the others. The detail Of the registra-
ton of borrowers and OF the processes
of lending have grown beyond reason
as did the other details l have men,
tioned-during our period Of precision
and tabulation. 1t is time to prune
Them We suffer from our bindings
and our re-bindings. A little cooper
alton in the binding of the original
sheets from the publishers would save
us hundreds Of thousands of dollars
every year. Let us forget some of
Dur rules and try for wider views.
I'm your relations with the public,
keep in mind expansion, efficiency and
tiberality. Libraries We're once only
for students. and we have grown up in
the shadow of the old thought. 1t is
the common impression that only read
ers are proper library users. In fact.
the library is for all the world and for
I'LL the world as it is. Most men work;
do things. They can not be readers of
books; but they can use books. The
use of books-the brief practical use
of books in libraries by non-readers
from every walk in life--will increase
beyond our widest dreams in the next
as years. We should be preparing our
selves and our Libraries for this devel-
Dpment, and should assist 1t.
THE business man does not come
10 the library. We can take it to him.
WHY not open shelves of books, with |
Imple methods Of lending, at central !