The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-02
STATE LIBRARIAN
BRIGHAM SPOKE
At PIER TODAY

The second general session OF the Amer
lean Library association, now holding its
18th annual meeting at Narragansett Pier.
began today with Joint session Of the
library department OF the National Educa-
tlonal association and the American LII
brary association
DR. James III. Garfield. librarian OF the
Columbia university library and chair
man of the committee on co-operatio
with The library department OF the Ma
tlohal educational association, read very
favorable report for that committee
DR.. Nathan c. Schaeffer. superintend-
ent OF public instruction I'm Pennsvlvania
and president of the National Educational
association. read an interesting address
on The Value Of Public Libraries TO the
Working Classes"
Miss Clara w Hunt. superintendent OF
the childrens department OF the Broollyn
public library. read an interesting paper
on The Chidren's Library a Moral
Force. She held that the chief aim of
the children's library should be the build =
ing OF character in the chidren-not the
mere furnishing of intellectual educa-
ton or of amusement. and that II WITS the
duty or the librarian to provide only
high class" books In the children's room
rigidly shutting out the mediocre and
the trash"
There is dishonesty In business and
politics today" said Miss Hunt. why
not when we call boys robbing apple or
chards Joke? Lying is a matter Of
course in business. Why shouldn't II be
common when parents lie TO their chill
dten, threatening punishment they never
give7"
Lutte f. Stearns, library visitor OF the
Wisconsin free library commission. at
Madison, took for her topic THE Problem
OF the Girl" She said that the greatest
problem connected with he work with the
young sht taof the girl just growing out
of Louisa Alcott and into love stories
I'VE must win our girls" said Miss
Stearns.' 10 love TO read the best standard
fiction, together with a taste for biography
and travel"
The session of the National Association
or state Libraries opened with reports
OF the various committees
state Librarian Herbert o. Brigham OF
Providence told of the cooperative work
among state libraries and said:
I'VE should have some sort Of a CO.
operation publication. in which we would
have a direct interest and which would
| be the depository for articles that now
appear In rather an obscure way. in a
local bulletin or in connection with some
official publication OF the Iibgares
Another phase OF cooperation between
the Libraries. which is az present in a
| somewhat incomplete state. is the bibliog-
raphy OF state documents. Corporation
will surely count in this particular field.
I'm systematic photography OF state
official literature lies a chance for real
cooperation; and from that source we
will undoubtedly work out the problem
presented. / feel sure that IL the libra
ries would support a venture Of this kind
and would make a pool to be sure OF its
being presented in Washington, the work
would be well worth while and would en-
able us 10 handle this vast bulk OF un-
classified matter
81 cannot conclude this paper without
referring TO the work OF Dr. whitten at
Albany. We are all greatly indebted 10
him for the valuable review of legisla-
ton, the summary and index Of legisla-
tion, and digest of governors messages
for each current year
"The careful scanning OF pending bills.
the clippings Of local newspapers which
have an obscure article under discussion
In another state. and work OF a kindred
nature will help 10 develop legislative ref
erence departments and assist In making
legislation more efficient and more In
keeping with the modern trend OF thought.
1--WE have been desiring TO do this at
the Rhode Island state Library; but our
field is small. and we have been handi-
capped In various ways, though we look
forward 10 the time when the Rhode ISL
and state Library will do exactly the
same work In this state which Mr.. Nc
Carthy has done i'm Wisconsin"
The election OF officers for the state
library association resulted as follows:
President. James l.. ellis, California:
vice president. Thomas l.. Montgomery
Pennsylvanin. second vice-president, Her
bert q Brigham. Rhode Island, secretary
treasurer. Miss Minnie NJ. Oakley, Wis
consln. executive committee. James l..
ellis. Miss Minnie oakley and John p.
Kennedy OF Virginia
Andrew Mettec OF Baltimore epoke AT
length on the need OF organizing Ma
tlonal Association OF law Librarians and II
was decided 10 consider the matter at to-
nights meeting and form permanent as
ISOLATION.
The association agreed that public docu-
ments must be made more available 10
....a.il. -..a thaf .rraafar iutprpst I'm the