The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17
PUBLIC LIBRARY
A BOON TO ALL
Booklovers In Conference at
Santa Rosa Discuss Ways
of Developing Institution
MANY PAPERS ARE READ
Tell Of Best Means to Be
Used in Fostering a
Proper Love for Literature
MANY PAPERS ARE READ

The Napa and Sonoma Valleys Con-
ference of the Library Association of
California, held at Santa Rosa Satur-
day, April 3. was the first Of a new Sc
ries Of library meetings to be conduct
ed at various cities in the State. The
design Of these gatherings is to In
crease the general interest in public IL
braries by the discussion of vital topics.
The first paper presented was of q
historical character, by Rev. L. D.
Rathbone, trustee of the Santa Rosa
library. The growth Of this library
was traced from its beginning in 1869
to the present time, when 1t has re-
ceived a $4,000 building site from the
citizens, $4,000 for the building from
Andrew Carnegie and $1,000 from Mel
son Carr for the steel book stacks. The
blue basalt stone used in the construc-
tion Of the structure was presented by
]. M. Mcdonald Of San Francisco. Be
sides reviewing the scope and satisfac-
tory results Of the library influences,
particular stress was laid by the speak
er upon the value of the work per-
formed by the librarian, Miss Bertha
Kumli.
E. NJ. Cox, Superintendent of Schools,
in paper upon the value of a library
TO the community showed the intimate
connection which should exist between
schools and public libraries, the aid af-
forded to student life through wider
knowledge of history and literature
and the culture which a library brings
to a community.
The practical topic of what a town
can do for a library was the theme of
Charles s. Greene, librarian of the Oak
land Public Library. 1t was stated that
in the Ebell Society the Oakland IL
brary had found a constant friend. Not
only did this society raise s2O, 900 for
the library site and $4,000 for the chill
dren's room, but when the Teachers
Club wanted more books the Ebell gave
$50 upon the condition that the library
would give the same amount for such
accessions to its shelves.
State Librarian Gillis closed the dis
cussion with a presentation of the new
work begun by the State Library and
the aims it had in view for the extern
sion Of the library interest throughout
California. This conference is regard
ed as one of the most profitable ones
ever held by the library association.
WOODLAND LIBRARY.
For the construction of the Wood
land Carnegie building the bid of w.
H. Cursor. Offering to do the work for
$962S so, has been accepted by the
library trustees. An intimation being
given through a local paper that any
applicant for the privilege of furnish
ing the cornerstone might be gratifed,
Fred Haase promptly responded with
the offer of such a gift. The donation
has been accepted with the thanks of
the library board. The grand master
Of. the Grand Lodge Of Masons has
been asked to lay the cornerstone of
the building.
The EbeI Society of Oakland is send
ing out travelling libraries to various
communities. One library with eighty
one volumes has been sent to San Le-
andre, Alameda County, and placed in
drug store for the use of the public
Miss Juliet Lumbard, teacher in
the Berkeley schools, has been elected
by the board Of library trustees to the
position of children's librarian. The
salary is to be $50 per month.
To replace the wornout carpet on the
floor of the State Library the trustees
have decided to have a polished wood
flooring laid at an expense of $1450.
A library club has recently been or
ganized by the staff of the Stanford
University Library. It's object is to
discuss topics relating to library work
and to- promote social feeling between
the different departments of the insti-
tuition. There are now fifteen members
in the club, which proposes to hold
monthly meetings.
Burglars seem to be seeking new
fields for the exploits by invading pub
lie libraries. The Oakland library late
ly suffered through a midnight visit
the loss of 81 so in postage stamps.
In Santa Barbara some robbers OBJ
tained $40 in small coins from the cash
box Of the Public Library.
LECTURES IN OROVILLE.