Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-10-13

story telling and I think experience
has shown that 1t can, we may we'll
feel justified in taking up this work.
1t is not a fad"
This morning the opening address
was delivered by P. B. Wright of st.
Joseph, Mo-, who used as his subject
Book Buying Problems. mt. Wright s
address was followed by discussion
from trustees present, each giving
their ideas in regards to purchasing
books for the shelves of the libraries
they represented, and dealing with
the book agent problem.
Senator G. ]. A. Ericsson, of Boone,
delivered the next address using as a
topic, Library Legislation, Present
and Future" which was followed by a
discussion of the topic, in charge of
Mrs. A. B. Howe of Marshalltown.
A motion was made that message
OF regret be sent to M. H. Douglas of
Grinnell. president of the association,
who was unable to be present at the
convention. The motion was carried.
The session closed with reading OF
the treasurer's report by Mrs. j. M.
Carpenter of Fl Dodge.
Sends Letter of Regret.
Miss M. 3. Ahern of Chicago, editor
of Public Libraries" who was to have
delivered the principal address Of this
mornings session, was unable to be
present at the convention. The fol
lowing letter of regret sent by her to
the convention was read yesterday
afternoon:
1T is with the greatest regret that
am compelled to ask you to make
my excuses to such part of the Iowa
Library association as may feel dis
appointed at my absence from the
meeting at Ottumwa. nave made ex-
traordinary efforts to arrange the null
titude of demands made upon me, SO
that might attend at least part of
the session, as l wrote you some time
ago.
Gin conjunction Of unforeseen
events at this time, however, l find 1t
a physical impossibility to be present
with you at the Ottumwa meeting. But,
let me assure you, and the other mem
bers of the association who have so
kindly insisted on my being present,
that am with you In spirit, and in
deepest sympathy with your efforts to
forward the library interests Of the
whole state of Iowa.
II recall with much pleasure the
many happy occasions when l have
been the guest of the Iowa Library as
ISOLATION and the Iowa Library School,
and in so remembering, more deep
ly realize what I am missing when
the association is meeting under such
suspicious circumstances, as I am
sure are present at Ottumwa this
year.
please convey to the association
my congratulations on the growth in
attainments, that l can see has been
made when looking at 1t in the time
between the days of the first meetings
in Des Moines and the gathering as it
is today.
81 would like to send message IF
good cheer to the libraries of Iowa and
a hope that the long stride forward
that mas been made may not cease
until, in professional zeal, in effective
growth. the true library spirit in Iowa
may stand forth peer, to the express
| sion given it anywhere else in the
broad land. In library work, as in
any other activity where concerted ac-
ton is desirable, it is necessary that
there be long pull, hard pull, and
above all, pull all together in order
that the work be crowned with sue
cess. In such an effort l count it an
honor to be included.
yours very cordially,
Mary, E. Ahern."
Convention Notes.