Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-27
MAINE EDITORIAL COMMENT.
The State Librarianship.

u NoanSOf Commerclal.t
nat small, but most discriminating
ana intelligent public which has alone
been Interested in the subject, as COM
pared with that larger public which has
political interest in it. will be glad that
me controversy over the successor to thu
late Mr.: Carver as State librarian. has
AT last been settled. On Friday, Gov
nomination book the name OF Ernest W.
Emery Of Augusta as state librarian, IL
MI the vacancy i'll that office which hats
occurred since September last.
Mr.. Emery has been connected with
the state library FOR Il period of Il years
Tor me past nEe or six years as assist
amt librarian under the lamented NJ.
Carver. 1t was urged against his APP
pOintment that he was not a college
man and he was not lawyer. 1t was
argued that the office should be filled
by Il man who possessed both these ere
dentials: that the State library was main
~ Il Legislative library, created primarily
for the use of legislators i'm session. and
was In only secondary sense Il public
library.
Those. however, who endorsed Mr..
Enery's appointment were men fully
acquainted with his requirements AMI
who Well knew what was demanded by
a hrst-cliSS librarian, trained in Il libra
~ school, familiar with the intricacieS of
library economy and the admin istration
OF Il large state library. A college course
Is not SO essential a qualification for a
y
school. Moreover while much OF the use
OF the State library is that by lawyers at
the session of our legislature, it must be
remembered during MIR. Emerys connec-
ton with the Library he has given special
study to the law ana documentary
branches of the library and has had the
immediate care OF those departmentS-SO
that probably no man in Maine next to
Mir. Carver. was SO well equipped to as
sumo the custody of the State library as
is Mr. Emery. Indeed. in this respect, he
h.,ff tan tf.
siliOn than could have been any lawyer in
Maine who has not his knowledge of
books or his long experience as IN expert
librarian. In Mr.. Emery's appointment
Gov. Cobb has met the support and ap-
lroval of every nlcmbcr OF the two pub
lie library associations in Maine who en-
dorscd his candidacy. even if prevented
from going on record in his favor Mr.
Emery himself being secretary of the
Maine library association.
There are yet other reasons and those
fully as important as amy that have been
mentioned for satisfaction at the APP
pointment OF Mr.. Emery. One is that
those in favor Of the appointment Of il
skilled librarian over mere politician
have steadily persisted in their contest
until its reasonableness has been recOg-
niZed by the chief executive and the
members of the council. Another is that
It Is an encouragement to our young men
who is yet Il young man. after these Is
years Of experience in library economy
not been appointed to succeed mis- dead
chief as was his righttul inheritance, it
would have been SAYING to him and to all
young men trying for higher positions in
their native State. for which they are
qualified. We do not want you; your
place is wanted by some other, older
person. and YOU must go out of the Stat.
for your promotion Happily. Gov
Cobb ard his council have by settling
this question OF State librarian in the
way they have. said to the young men
Of Maine: There is Il chance fer you
in Maine. We want you to remain here;
do YOUR best, and show to those who
have been instrumental in procuring You
that you will not dSappoint them i'm their
choice