Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-10-18
j. C. DANA TO
LIBRARIANS.
Head OF Newarks Institution
Made Address at New Bruins
wick Annual Meeting.

Library Association was held here yes
terday in the public library building.
There was a large attendance of Ii
brarians, and among the speakers
was John c. Dana, librarian of the
free public library of Newark. He
said in part:
at is foul years since | attended
my first meeting of the New Jersey
Library Association. This was in the
new building of the Trenton public
library in October, 1902. I had then
been in the state but a few months,
and l looked with much interest on
my new associates and friends, and
was, l admit, a little surprised at the
work waiting to be done in the field
of library promotion in state.
But | decided at nee that my IT.
prise at finding that New Jersey was
not up to some of the other states in
library matters need not be touched
with any fear that the work would
not be briskly carried on. Much had
been done in the few years since IL
braries had been seriously considered
in the state laws; the commission, al
though new and practically without
funds, had already plowed the ground
thoroughly and our association show
ed a certain aggressiveness that is
not found often among such bodies in
the eastern states. These four years
have justified my feeling about u
probable advance. The record, be-
ginning in January, 1902, is worth
running over, If only briefly.
"The association has held five IN
nual meetings at Trenton, Passaic,
Orange, Asbury Park and New Bruins
wick. The attendance has been good,
numbering from fifty to $50.
1--WE have held three other meet
ings, at Plainfield, Morristown and
Madison. These had each some spe-
cial object in view; at Plainfield to
meet people planning libraries at
places nearby; in Morristown to sug-
gest the advantages of a free public
library over a proprietary one, and
in Summit to hear trustees and IL
brary friends tell their experiences
of the possibilities of work for a
library in a community of moderate
size. / think we may say the meet
ings accomplished much, even though
definite results did not always at once
appear.
I'VE have printed three pamphlets
each of interest: Constitution and By
Laws and List of Members, Wendell
Phillips Garrison's Talk to Librar-
ians,' and Miss Winser's Aids to
Book Selection In the newspapers
as already noted, has appeared much
library news, and especially a de-
partment in the Newark Evening
News, devoted to library interests,
and continued weekly for thirty-five
weeks last winter and spring. This
should be continued, Of course, and |
hope items of interest will be sent
from other libraries to the Newark
library, or to the News direct, reg
ularly from now on"
There was a large attendance at
the meeting, librarians from all sec
tions of the state being present. Not
only was the representation large
numerically, but it covered the state
with a nearer approach to complete
ness than at any previous session.
The statistical report showed 169
mebers. During the year all obli-
cations have been met and a small
balance owed from the previous year
has been paid off. The members had
paid in ~$120.14.
The convention was called to Or
der at 10 o'clock, the minutes of the
last annual meeting being read by
Miss Elizabeth H. Wesson, of Orange,
and approved.
The following program was carried
out:
Morning Session.
The following officers were elected
for the ensuing year: President, w.
w. Bishop, Princeton; first vice lies
ident, w. C. Kimball, Passaic; second
vice president, Esther r. Burdick,
Jersey City; treasurer, Adam Strohm,
Trenton; secretary, Marie L. Provost,
Elizabeth.
Miss Sarah B. Askew, library or
ganizer for the Public Library Com
mission, of New Jersey. 1.-The Lii
brary Situation in New Jersey; and
How the New Library Association
Can Help the Commission in Its
Work"
Miss Adeline l.. Jacson, of the East
Orange public library, and Mrs. Ad-
elaide B. Blackwood, of the Ruther-
ford public library. "The Library
| Summer School at Asbury Park, and
It's Value to Those Who Attended It."
Miss Cornelia A. See, of the New
Brunswick public library. "a Good
Charging System for a Small Library,
and the Advantages of a Good Sys-
tenn"
Discussion opened by Miss Sara c.
Van de Carr, head of the delivery de-
partment of the Free public library,
Newark.
Afternoon Session 2:30 pm.
Miss Esther e. Burdick, librarian
Jersey City free public library.
School Reference Work in the Jer-
sey City Public Library"
Discussion of the following ques-
lions, presented by Miss Elizabeth
HI. Wesson librarian Orange fire. Ii