The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-15
FALL MEETING
OF R.L. LIBRARY
ASSOCIATION

held It's regular fall meeting this morn
ing at the Oakland Baptist church in Oak
land. There was an attendance of some
30 members when the meeting was
called TO order shortly before II o'clock
by the president of the association, Mr.
III l.. Koopman.
The address OF welcome was delivered
by the Rev. Irving j. Euslin, pastor OF
the church. and he dwelt briefly on the
historic village OF Oaklawn and enumer-
ated the different places that afforded
much interest 10 the visitors, and i'm be-
half OF the church the library and the
village extended a hearty welcome.
Mr.. III. o. Brigham secretary and treas
ureI of the association. then read the
mir utes OF the previous meeting, which
was held in Olneyville. and made remarks
on the financial condition OF the associa-
ton. He also read a letter from Mr..
Hoey, assistant secretary OF the Ameri-
can Library association. expressing keen
regret i'm being unable 10 be present
A round table discussion. entitled
Echoes OF the Conference at Narragan-
sett Pier" was then opened and proved
enthusiastically interesting to the mem
bers. especially those who were unable to
be present at the conference The first
paper read was by Miss Sanders OF the
Sayles Memorial library OF Pawtucket,
and she gave clear synopsis OF the
whole meeting, both as 10 the social and
business part OF the conference. Her
paper was met with murmurs OF hearty
approval In closing she said:
Looking back 10 the conference after
these months have allowed the excitement
to subside and all things TO settle into
quiet we are able TO answer these ques-
tions that have been asked us-What was
the conference as whole7 What does IL
stand for? What is it's effect upon the
librarian and the working staff2 and,
What did IL accomplish?
THE purpose of the conference was the
consideration OF every branch OF library
economy by the light OF comparison.
Through the interchange Of opinions and
open discussions the best thoughts and
the experiences OF these hundreds OF CO.
laborers. the result was a unit as TO the
best methods for the advancement and
betterment OF our libraries and our COM
munities at large. The A. L. A. confer
ence OF 1906 therefore. stands for dignity,
unity and progress. It's effect upon the
librarian and the working star is higher
aspirations, a broader, unselfsh adoption
OF the library spirit and a deeper convic-
tion OF the dignity Of the profession and
OF the constantly increasing value OF the
public library TO the people
LAS TO what IL accomplished we must
wait for the reports at the next confer
ence TO be held at Asheville North Caro-
lima. at which hope we shall all meet "
Mr.. II. o. Bugham state librarian Of
Rhode Island then took up the confer
ence as treated by the press. In part Mr.
Bugham said that after the conference he
had received from all over the countr,
160 clippings from different newspaper
that had devoted space to the conference
The local papers were considerate witt
space but as for a detail report he sal
he had TO go out OF the state to re.
ceive the account and even some OF tho
papers in the Mississippi valley publish
ed extracts from the principal addresses
Mr.. r. G. Bixby of the Providence Pub
lie library read a paper upon the "social
Side OF the Convention" saying II was
very fortunate In having a place where
social features were OF a natural conss-
quence. The environment OF the place
furnish the means just as the toys do to
child and all the members were Obliged
to do. so to speak. was TO play with them
Everything went of smoothly and 70
great part IL is due to Mr.. Bugham, who
made the arrangement and not 10 me who
carried them out"
Mr.. Edward T. Tweedell auditor OF the
Providence public library read a paper on
the assistance OF the H. T A. The hrst
impression is the extensive field that Is
being worked, and the work that others
are doing is equal with ours. Workers
that we only know by nearsay are pre-
methods and offer and recelv. suggestion
that are beneficial to each OF us
The keynote Of the convention Is a
larger field OF work for the library. A
great deal OF time was given 70 routine
matters, but greater by far TO the larger
field Of the library work. II is indeed a
pleasure to meet a man whom you have
read about in the library Journal wheth-
er II is TO soil him a ticket or teach him
how 10 open clans.
Mr.. Foster, librarian OF the public Ii
brary. read comment on the treatment
that was accorded the different members
throughout the country. He said that
he had received a letter from the secre-
tary Of the A. L. A, stating that he was
directed TO inform the different commit
tees OF their esteem and pleasure.
The convention adjourned at ! o'clock
for lunch In the historic building In the
rear OF the library.