The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-21
MR.. EARL C. SVEN
MADE ASSISTANT
Washington Man Elected to
Second Place in State
Library.
He is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
VIII Take Charge Early in Sep
tembcr-Will Have Ex-
pert Cataloguer
HE is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The State Library Board me'e last
night. elected Mr.. Earl G.. SVEN, of
Washington. y. c.. assistant librarian
to succeed Mr. Edward S. Evans, re-.
signed. and authorized the librarian to
employ an expert cataloguer to begin
work at the same time with the new
assistant. Both are to serve at the
pleasure of the Library Board.
Chairman Gordon and Messrs. Pendle-
ton and Patteson were the only mem
bers present. Judge Garnett and Mr.,
Fishburne being absent. The meeting
was one of the briefest held in a
long time. The members went in at
$40 and came out at 1880. They
usually sit until midniSht.
DIR. II. r. McIlwaine, the State libra
rian. was present, and 1t was upon
his recommendation that Mr.. SVEN was
chosen. Asked when the new assistant
would go in, DR.. Mcllwaine said it
would take him some time to wind
up his affairs in the Congressional
Library. though he would probably take
charge of his new place early in
September.
The salary of the proposed expert
cataloguer will not exceed SIS per
month"; and the man for this place will
not be chosen until Dr. McIlwaine has
a chance to confer with his new as
sistant on the subject
The New officer.
Mr.. Earl G. SVEN, who has been
appointed Assistant Librarian of the
Virginia State Library, was born in
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is between
thirty-tiv and thirtysiX years of age.
He received his school training in the
public schools of his native city. He
entered Lafayette College. Pa, in
1859, graduating in 1893 His expert
ence in library work has been unus-
ually broad During the four years
that he was student at Lafayette he
was an assistant in the college library,
being on duty for four hours day.
The summer of 1898 he spent in Madi-
son, Wis, taking course In library
methods under the direction of the
Library Commission of the State. For
the summer of 1899 he was an assistant
lin the John Crerar Library, Chicago.
In April, 1900. after an examination,
he received an appointment as cata-
loguer and indeXer in the library of
the Superintendent of Documents,
washington, d. c.. holding the posi-
Ition till September, 1901, when he was
made librarian of the Armour Insti-
tute, Chicago. In July,@l9u2, ne lett
this position for better one In the
Library of Congress, with Which in
stitutlon he has since been steadily
connected. His present rank is that OF
Chief of the. Catalogue Division of the
Copyright Office, his salary being
$1.400 year.
Well Indorscd.
Mr.. Sven comes to the Virginia
State Library highly recommended, but
the Endorsement of him that had more
weight. probably, with the Library
Board than any other was one from
Mr.. Alexander w, Weddell. The fol-
| lowing is an extract:
During the three years / have been
in the Library of Congress have been
| in almost daily contact With Mr.. Sven
have seen the quality of the work per-
formed In his department.. sand have
seen his manner of handling men and
things, ] give 1t as my fixed opinion
Ethat the State Library would he for
|tunate In securing man of Mr. Swem's
high tone, capabllity industry and 10y
Ialty From my Knowledge of Mir. SVEN
and of the vacant office have no
lhesitatlon in saying that 4 regard him
las the man for the place.