Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-02

do your duty" was the watchword
the new librarian laid down for his
assistants guidance. In the course of
his address, Mr.. Lummis said:
II have found that in this world we
always get along better by a clear
understanding at the outset. That,
through no fault of ours, you and
are in situation not altogether with
out embarrassment, makes such under
standing all the more important.
al Am Librarian"
'In every branch of business there
must be head. The public service
is business. In this department of that
service am now head. If you will
realize this, it will add to your present
comfort and efficiency-for nothing is
more disquieting in any service than
uncertainty and fear of change. You
are being told many things. Don't
worry. Who was, could or should be
librarian is no longer our business.
am librarian-and shall be for plenty
long enough for you and me to acquire
the fixed habit of pulling together in
eur common duty. Nothing short of
a board appointed for that express
purpose can change this status-and
that will not be soon.
when 1, myself, give up this library
it will be when / have so developed
and established in 1t the larger plans
for which 1 have come, that the COM
oG I'll
mand their retention; when 1 can feel
that have done my share and that
some other citizen should bear the pen
alties which always surround such
duties. The duties we must share; the
penalties I shall, as far as possible,
take upon myself and keep from you.
Meanwhile, none of us are here to
do politics for ourselves or for any
one else; nor to make, nor to be in
volved in agitations. 1t is your place
and mine to see that, so far as we
are permitted, this institution shall be
a utility at home and a credit abroad.
There is no statute to prevent any other
person who so desires, from advertising
it or any feature of it as a discredit
to the city; but 1t is my business and
yours to see that they shall have no
honorable justification for so doing. We
are here to make the best library we
can. There are plenty of other people
to attend to the other things. You and
1 are here exclusively to find out how
far we can make so many books go,
to do the greatest good to the greatest
number. My responsibility is to devise
means and administer them; your
responsibility is to help me devise
such means and to help me carry them
out While L am here, you can devote
yourselves to your duties without fear
of anyone or anything. The only ques-
tion that shall ever be asked of you or
about you is, How does she do her
work?'
Promises Square Deal
II am going to give this library the
best there is in me. That means that
I shall give as much also to you. You
shall have absolutely a square deal;
and besides that, any help that l can
give. l, in turn, shall need your help
and the library needs that you give It,
Only by mutual understanding and co.
operation can we secure the only object
which you and have any business to
'conslder-the constantly increasing
efficiency of an important public SER
vice. There is no institution In the
world so good that 1t cannot be made
better, if enough people work long
enough, hard enough and intelligently
enough for that purpose. l am here not
to criticise but to construct. In ask
ing your cooperation ask in good
faith. mean to give you mine. Loyal
service to the public merits support
When 1 ask you TO do your best for
the public. pledge myself to stand by
you. You know your work. am going
to trust you to do It, am going TO
know. also, exactly how well you do It..