The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-02-05
AFFAlRs.ARE.lNsGooD SHAPE
President pelpores the Tendency o
Readers Toward Trashy Fiction
Which Is Read Simply Because
Il Is "New..

u
sf the most eventful. and. / trust. not
unsuccessful years OF the Astoria pub
DC library association. During the year
Just ended many of our most cherished
hopes have been realized. some Of
which have been long desired and
seemingly almost unattainable. but
have. at last been made possible
through faithful labor and friendly
sympathy.
Fer much of this our gratitude is due
10 the city council, whose interest," has
Anally Obtained sors US the passing of
an ordinance alloNipgns a M-mill tax
for library purposes, and the full sum
raised by that tax amounting to $40
a month. This is of greatest value to
us, relieving US, as it does, Of the i'm
mediate pressure due TO lack OF funds
To the kindness of the council also we
owe the setting aside OF two rooms in
the new city hall, which will be a
pleasant change for us after our
cramped quarters. Several other i'm
provements have been thought of. but
was considered wise to postpone any
definite action until the rooms are
ready for occupancy.
Among the most important changes
was the resignation of our former IL
brarian, Miss Geary, who for many
years was one of the greatest factors
in the success of our library, an earn
est, sympathetic worker. whose loss
viii not soon be forgotten.
Our grief at her departure has been
somewhat assauged by the election of
Mrs. Upshur, formerly a valued mem
Der of the board and whose work has
already shown great efficiency. Miss
Mary Nowlen also has resigned her po-
sition as assistant librarian to fill q
more important position.
A matter of great pleasure to us is
that we have been enabled to increase
the salaries of both librarians from
the former meager stipend to an
amount better suited to their faithful
labor and accomplishment
We have cut the number Of yearly
entertainments from four to two, be-
Ieving that this restriction will be ap.
preciatei. both by the talented peo-
pie, whose assistance we ask and by
the public, whose patronage and good
Eill we rely upon. BY this procedure
ye think the former will more willing
" yield their services and the latter
viii be more responsive to the de.
mand Of their interest and pocket
books.
This year. as We have had but one
entertainment, our funds have been
somewhat restricted for the purchase
Of new books. This question of new
books is one of the most interesting
We have to face. We have about 5000
volumes in our library, yet we are in
cessantly greeted with the cry mo
books in your old library" because the
very latest books are not forthcoming.
II is from library statistics that the
literary standard of town is judged
According to this estimate what are
ge to think of the literary standing
sf Astoria, when in our library, our
ew classics and few books of real val.
ne are left peacefully in dusty seclus-
ion while the new ephemeral fiction ls
eagerly sought and greedily devoured
There are some readers who care for
literature of higher class, tho their
numbers, unfortunately, are small, ana
il is for these people We should put
forth our best efforts in hopes that 1t
may become contagious. Instead Of
crowding our shelves with weak, ima-
tative fiction. which Is destined to live
but a year or two and then vanish
Utterly, ought we not to buy books Of
lasting value Of science, philosophy
biography, essays, etc, which would be
helpful to the student and serious read
er and not the mere pastime Of an idle
hour? Fiction we must have, too, not
a haphazard mixture, but wise cnoice
of books which have stood the test
of time and much reading, those which
are initiated not the initiate. Let US
get books that help people to live
better and more thoughtful lives, not
she ones that cause them to forget
their duties and fill their minds with
silly, unreal ideas of life.
Unfortunately the present state of
finances viii not allow us to make an
extensive purchase in this line Of liter
ature as we would like, but we trust
the future win find us more able to
meet with the wants. The proceeds
Of our next entertainment we hope TO
devote to this object. Let us hope IL
win be a success, both artistically and
pecuniarily. 1t is desired that it be
thoroughly understood that all money
expended for books is raised by the
several committees during the year.
Our association was fortunate