Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-07
LIBRARY CONFERENCE
Book Distributors Meeting at
Narrangansett.
MANY MATTERS DISCUSSED
Book Buying and Binding Debated
by Delegates.
DISTRICTS REPRESENTATIVES
Conference With Teachers and Inspec-
tion of the Libraries Of Prov
y idence.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

NAIlf<ANrANSEll FlEh, II. l..
July 5. 1905.
The American Library Association has
been holding its twenty-eighth annual con-
ference at Narragansett Pier. There are
nine hundred members in attendance Wash
ington being well represented by delegates
from the Library of Congress. superintend-
ent of documents Office. the departmental
libraries and the Public Library. The Pub
lie Library sent three delegates beside the
librarian, who believes that personal con-
tact with other members of the profession
gathered for purposes of serious discussion
broadens the outlook and tends to greater
development in the work.
The librarians began to arrive as early
us June q, although tho general sessions
old not convene until June %. The after
noon of June 20 was given up to meetings
of the executive board, council and COM
mittees. In the evening an informal recep-
ton was held at the Mathewson House, the
official headquarters. This gave an oppor-
tunity to renew old acquaintances and form
new ones the majority of the people best
known in the library world being present.
The morning of June 30 was left free to
afford an opportunity for exploring the ms
toric and picturesque Narragansett Pier,
which Is in close proximity to region
unique in Its romantic setting. At 2:30
pm. the first general session was held Mr.
Frank r. Hill, librarian or the Brooklyn
Public Library, president of the association.
presiding. Mr.. Hill said it seemed only MT
ting that the day should be Rhode Island
day.. Mr.. Frederick H. Jackson. lieuten-
ant governor of Rhode Island, the first
speaker of the day welcomed the associa-
ton in behalf of the state, followed by ad-
dresses of welcome FROM Mr.. harry l..
Koopman. librarian of Brown University,
and president of the Rhode Island Library
Association, in behalf of the Rhode Island
Association, and Mr.. Roland c. Hazard. in
behalf of the local committee Mr.. Frank
p Hill responded to this triple welcome and
then addressed the meeting on Some
Phases of Library Development
Book Buying and Book Binding
Then followed the reports of the council,
officers and committees. Mr.. A. E. Bost-
wick. chairman of the committee on book
buying. spoke of the six bulletins issued by
the committee. which have gone to all mem
bers of the A. L. A. by insertion in the
A. L. A. book list: to readers of the Lii
brary journal and public libraries and to
about 1000 others. In this way informa-
ton regarding book purchases, with names
of dealers and titles of recent special cata-
logues and book lists, copyright law library
discount and other data of value to library
book buyers has been disseminated.
Mr.. George F. Bowerman, librarian OF
the Public Library, Washington, D. c.,
chairman of the committee on book binding
and book papers, gave an account of the
work OF the leather and paper laboratory
Omitted States bureau of chemistry De-
partment of Agricultural, furnished an es-
innate. of the wearing quality of original
editions (before reminding of books issued
by various firms compiled from statistics
kept by various libraries and negotiations
with publishers to induce them to supply
especially bound editions of popular books
That this is a burning question was proved
by the animated discussion which follow.
ed and by the recommendation that the
committee be continued another year so
that further statistics and information
might be gathered.
Sunday free until evening when the
association members gathered at headquar-
tiers, where program had been arranged
consisting of singing and of authors read
ings. A much appreciated poem was re I'd
by Mr.. Sam Walter Foss called Joy or
the Library Staff" The evening ended
with stereooticon views giving the social
side of the last twelve conferences by F.
w Faxon, chairman of the travel commit
tee.
The librarians at the conference gathered
together are full of enthusiasm, lofty pur-
pose and zeal to accomplish Rhode Island.
though very small state is the proud nos
SCISSOR of eighty-three libraries and of
this number ffty-five are free public liz
brarfes, showing its belief in. Ifbrarie az
part or the great educational system of
our land.
In Conference With Teachers
A large gathering of members assembled
Monday in a joint general session with the
National Educational Association. DIR
James H. Garfield. librarian Columbia Uni
versity and chairman of the committee on
cooperation with the library department of
the New England association in the chair
An address was delivered by DR.. Nathan c.
Schaeffer, superintendent of public instruc-
tion pennsylvania, and president of the
New England association, showing the i'm
DOrtaQCe of IN hatt
and library. This address was followed by
one from DR.. James N. Wilkinson presf-
dent OF the Kansas State Normal College
also member of the New Eng and associ-
alton AS this meeting was entirely along
educational lines, papers were read empha-
sizing the necessity of the library's respon-
sibility In directing the reading of children
along the right lines. Miss Clara w Hunt
superintendent of the chldren's department
of the Public Library, Brooklyn. New york.
made plea for better and more careful
book selection in our chidren's rooms and
more rigidly shutting out the mediocre and
trash, emphasizing the fact that the chill
dren's library is moral force
The problem of the girl just growing out
of the children's library into the adult de-
partment was handled by Miss Lutte T.
Stearns, library visitor Of the Wisconsin
free library commission. She pointed out
that tine problem to be solved is how 10
guide her and how to via her attention to
a love of the best standard fiction together
with a taste for biography and travel
The third general session opened at y
pm. Monday. The subject was the public
library as a municipal institution David
A. Body. president of the board of trus-
tees Brooklyn Public Library, showed its re-
lation to the city educational insti-
tuition. Horace G. Wadlin, librarian of the
Boston Public Library. showed how thepub-
lie library as a municipal institution meets
conditions essentially modern, fixes its poll
cies and determines its administration He
pointed out the outlook for the future and
prospect OF success. Mr.. Green librarian
OF Oakland Library, California, told of the
effects of the earthquake and fire on San
Francisco libraries. The meeting closed
with the reports of the committees.
Providence Day.
Tuesday. July 3. was Providence day. A
specially chartered boat conveyed the party
to Providence. where the city was practi-
cally at their disposal Street cars marked
special could be boarded at any point
every fifteen minutes free of charge during
the entire day. Brown University, John
Carter Brown Rhode Island Historical So
ciety and state law libraries, Providence
Athena e1lY1 DuhliC and state lfhra ri mara