Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-10-08

They spend for books each year more
than $3.000.000. The persons engaged
in library work properly so called, IN
these libraries and supporting them
selves by it, now number more than
125,000
Here then is a group of $4,000 per-
sons all engaged in the same semi
literary, semi educational occupations;
an occupation which calls for consider
able knowledge, and no small degree OF
wisdom. Within such group one
would naturally look for much co-oper-
alton along literary and especially
along booEish lines. The work on books
in all Libraries ing very similar IN
character. much it would seem,
should be done at some one place ana
cheaply reproduced or duplicated fof
all libraries Many purchases should
be made in common to secure Whole
sale rates. An agreed binding on new
books, direct from the publishers
sheets, suited for hard service, snouio
be arranged for by all libraries or ny
groups of all the libraries within Ger
tain area. constant, careful noting
of books Of 4 special character asked
for and not found should lead to sng-
gestions valuable alike TO authors. pun
fishers and students. Indexes OF the
contents of periodicals, proceedings VI
societies and general works frequently
consulted, should be published at ire
uuent intervals. having been complied
by CO. operating libraries under SIM
pie division of labor. Information
about foreign books, the imperta~
should be given to smaller Libraries,
don. EXPERTS In and out Of libraries
should DE engaged to estimate new
books as soon as they are off the
press, and the results of their labors
should be accessible, the whole or Sc
leeted portions thereof, to the smallest
libraries. The greater part OF the re
suits of the constant search for special
Information and of the listing OF
sources OF informa ton should be saved,
brought together. digested and distrlb-
uted to libraries large and small, ac-
eording to their needs.
You will say much OF this is ALREADY
being done. | would correct you aud
say only a little OF it Is being done
by no means as much as we nave
right to expect from ourselves in view
OF our opportunities. This Is no place
for details. As to several Of these lines
OF work, successful beginnings. as to
some of them, completed work, tell us
enough of the detail. We need only the
exercise of cooperative spirit and
good common sense 10 carry them fur.
Their.
Il can, however, say little about
library clubs and associations, and the
long steps we can take thru them to-
the accomplishment Of the obvious
things have mentioned. and many 9TH
err things which as yet we do not even
see.
The chief object Of a library asso-
citation is not to hold meetings. Its
chief object is to promote mutual ac-
uuaintance knowledge of our respect
i've abilities and to increase our skill in
working together to teach. that L. the
art Of CO. opera tion-to promote, that is.
social efficiency. An association
which relies on It's secretary or exec
utive committee to arrange program
and put II thru one or two meetings q
year. no matter how successful these
may be, is only touching the
outskirts of its proper field. 1t should.
as soon as organized, take up some def
mite piece OF work, better more than
one. along such lines as those / have
mentioned, appoint small
selected committees. supply
the committee with such funds as 1t
can, and stand ready to help them. The
should apportion their
tasks among the members of the asso-
citation. and set to work. Under snch a
the correspondence between
the Librarians of given association
will be continuous thru the year. Ac-
quaintance Will broaden: skin in co-op-
erative work will increase: interest Will
deepen; the associations influence will
be continuous; the membership will
increase and something will be done.
Again you viii say, much of this sort
OF thing we already do; and again l
reply that you do too little and show
small results. We can take our lesson
from our own bad example. Look at
the American Library Association. In
the twenty eight years of its existence
it has enrolled only $500 members and
it has now on its rolls only 1000 of the
12500 persons in this country who are
living by working I'm libraries.
The membership today should be not |
less than 1900. The proceedings OF the
annual meetings should go into every |
library in the country. The work OF
the association in some of its co-opera- |
tive lines should call for and get assist |
ance from at least 500 librarians in
stead of from a few dozens. I have |
heard 1t said that the A. l.. A. is large |
enough already: that the meetings are |
that the elect ana the /
select can get little from them. Those
who say such things confuse talk and
results. meetings and organizations;
statistics and work done; Capitalization
and accomplishment; and congratula-
ions and good cause therefor. Every
name added to the A. l.. A. list means
one more person more Interested IN her
profession, more ready to take a broad
.r view of it. more likely to do work Tor
t outside the red tape barrier OF her
,wn delivery desk. We need members,
lot for the sake of the A. l.. A., but for
he sake of the members themselves.
If the profession itself, of the things It
s our business, profit and pleasure 10
10.
This same line of thought applies to
avery library association. Let IT get
members; make cooperation OF the
irst Importance; count its meetings as
secondary; survey its field; find some
hing that needs to be done, and pro-
iced to do It,
ADJUSTMENTS.