Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-15

rarians, trustees Of public libraries.
ana students Of library management,
| attending.
| The occasion was the Semi-annual
meeting and no officers were elected
or other business considered, the time
being occupied in listening to able
papers on library work by librarians
and trustees, and in the evening to an
address by Prof. Melvil Dewey OF Lake
Placid, ~ Y, originator Of the Dewey
decimal system of library classifica-
| ton, and founder of the New York
Library school. The morning and at
| :ernoon sessions Were held i'm the as
sembly hall of the Watervile Public
library. and the address of the even
ing was given in the chapel of Colby
College.
The session was called to order at 10. 30
clock with President Arthur ]. Rob-
erts professor of English of Colby Col
| lcgc, in the chair.
The address of welcome was deliver
ed by Rev. Edwin c. Whittemore. D.
D., trustee of the Waterville Public Ii
brary DR.. Whittemore, after tender
| itors the freedom of the city, called at
tention to the fact that while the Wat
erville Public library is compare
lively young institution it is not the
first library of public nature that has
existed in Waterville. In the year 1901
there existed a circulating library.
whose volumes would even now be con-
suited i'll the rooms of the Waterville
Historical Society on the floor above.
The Waterville Public library was not
only not the first library in Waterville.
but it was not the only library in the
city. AS a trustee of the Coburn Insti-
tute library, the speaker invited the
visitors To inspect that library. The
Watervile Woman'S Association also
had 4 fine library. but the great libra
~ Of the city is that of Colby College.
which would be open to the public in
| the afternoon, and the visitors would
| be cordially welcomed by DR.. E. w.
Hall. the librarian.
Mrs. Kate c. Estabrook Of Orono, OF
| the Maine Library Commission. re-
sponded fittingly to the address of well
| come.
The first address of the morning was
''Somc Library Aids" by Miss Mary E.
Robbins of Boston. assistant professor
| of library science. Simmons College.
| The paper dealt with the practical side
| of library work. The speaker brought
| to tn" Maine Librarians Association
| the greetings of the Massachusetts Lii
| brary Club.
In beginning her address Miss Robins
said that in library management and
work many emergencies arise in the
experience of every librarian which are
met ny her in che way or another. and
| these methods and their results never
| become discussed in library meetings
| or in the publications devoted to libra
| ry work. 1t was her purpose to discuss
| several of these aids to library work
After discussing the advantages of
periodical reading, the speaker said
that many librarians did not circulate
their periodicals. but retained them in
the library. hampered first by the price
Of the periodical and second by the
wear ana tear due to the fiimsiness of
the cover. ~ method of making a cover
of Manila paper with paper fasteners
through the advertising pages at the
front ana back of the magazine was
shown.
Another difficulty which librarians
were forced to contend with was the
leXposure of volumes to the weather
\ heavy "storm envelope" was shown
which is used with success by the Berk-
shire Athenaeum of Pittsfield. Mass
The envelopes are distributed to the
patrons of the library. and need not be
returned unless a book is to be brought
to the library on rainy day.
Methods of marking damaged books
so tina: patrons would not be charged
with injuries they did not cause was
!, discussed.
Methods Of reaching the wants OF
children. the question of doing away
with the accessions book. Question
bulletins and other methods of adver-
Using the library fifines. and the cir
culation of pictures without reading
matter to prevent the wear and teal
of reading books taken out only fol
their pictures. We're discussed in turn
The address was heard with interest
"Our Friend the Catalogue" was the
subject of an interesting paper by Miss
Florence f. Dunn of Waterville. Mis-:
l
like successful politician. bust be
constantly in the hands of its friends
She belle we'd that in the preparation o
1.-THE catalogue too much care could no
be taken. The catalogue should no
only be an index to the books in the IL
brary but also of what the books con
tanad 1.-The analytical side of Gaia
loguing." said Miss Dunn, Twill pay
for itself in service to the public"
state Librarian Ernest w. Emery
read an interesting letter from Charlie:
If. Lummis, librarian Of the Los Ange
les Public library. on "Popularizing
Public Library" and which contained
a lot Of wholesome advice to librarians
Mr.. emery prefaced the reading OF tn
paper with an interesting sketch OF Mr.
Lummis
There was short discussion. afte
which the session was adjourned t
l215 P. NJ
n afternoon Session.
I The afternoon session was called I
+ order promptly at 2.15 P. NJ. after tn
e me mbers of the association had en-