The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-23
POOR BOOKS MAKE
POOR LIBRARIES
William D. Foulke So Informed
Visiting Delegates Last
Evening.
SMALL BOYS READ TRASH.
SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO
PERUsE DETECTIVE STORIES,
SAYS MR.. FoULkE-INTERE
TOPICS DISCUSSED.

At the first session OF the seven
teenth annual meeting of the Indiana
Library association, held at the Nor
risson-Reeves library last evening,
Mrs. Ada L. Bernhard, who is the Ii
brarian of the Morrisson-Reeves Ii
brary, gave the welcoming address, and
this was followed by most interest
ing paper read by the Hon. William
Dudley Foulke, LII. D., of Richmond,
On the subject of The Disadvantages
Of Public Library" This paper was
very much enjoyed by the large num-
Der Of delegates and guests.
1t is the general belief that the meet
ings this year are proving far more
successful and beneficial than any pre-
vious meetings.
At the meeting of the association
yesterday afternoon, Prof. Harlow
Lindley, of Earlham College. and pres
ident of the association, gave an inter-
esting address on the organization of
the present association and gave
man, of Louisville, KY. gave very in
teresting talk on THE Library and
Publicity and the discussion of the
afternoon was led by Artena NJ. Chaplin
Of the public library at Muncie.
In her welcoming address. Mrs.
Bernhard said, 1T is with the greatest
pleasure that | welcome you here to-
&c
lated on account Of it's age. We need
to associate with others of our kind
and learn their ways. 1t is wholly i'm
possible for every one connected with
the library to learn and visit other in
situations. The short vacation must
be used for recreation and the small
salaries makes long trips impossible.
1t Is generally only the chief of the
staff who attends. Therefore it means
much to us here at the Morrison
Reeves library to have the state asso-
citation meet here. The original build
ing was Of brick. erected and opened
in 1854, from the money given for the
purpose by Robert Morrison for whom
the library was named. Later additions
were made in the rear, which now
form out reference rooms. In 1893,
Mrs. Mark E. Reeves gave $1,000 to the
library, and the building was enlarged
and placed in its present condition.
The names was then changed to the
Morrison Reeves library. ~.
1t is, however, with great satisfac-
ton that the Richmond librarian plac-
ed upon the shelves in the past year.
Mr.. Foulke's Paul and Deacon" Mr..
Martins Friendly Stars" Mr.. Hale's
Week With Roosevelt at the White
House." and Mr.. MacNutts Letters Of
Cortez," all works by former Rich
mond people.
I'VE are. therefore thankful with
gratitude that you are here and that
you will not regret your trip to the ex-
IRENE eastern border of the state, and
hope that you be willing to keep the
circuit until each library in the state
shall have become immediate with the
association"
In his address Mr.. Foulke said in
part:
Great changes have been made in
the public libraries of the country.
When / was a small boy, went to the
Astor Library in New York 1t opened
in the morning at o'clock and closed
at o'clock. Here you had to look at
catalogue and many times you were
unable to find what you wanted, and
then again you might find something
on the subject, but there might not be
the best reference. The libraries
should have people in them that are
well acquainted with the books and
give the person the best book accord
ing to their own knowledge.
with the hours offered by the IL
brary the working man. who needs the
use of the library, is unable to use it
because it closes too soon. 1t is also
true that clerks who are on duty do
not get to use it."
Mr.. Foulke said: "a new era has
come, and our country is the leader in
the movement. 1t is now the object to
make the books as accessible as pos
sible so that anybody can get any
book that they may wish. 1t is in this
reason that sometimes the small IL
braries are far more valuable to the
reading public than the large library"
I'm my opinion the man who reads
a great deal is not as greatly bene-
fitted as the man who does not read so
much, but who reads well what he
does read. 1t is not the amount Of
reading; not the research one does
when working on a subject, but it is
the amount of thinking that he does
as WELL" said Mr.. Foulke.
THE theater and the press have a
great influence on the people Of the
present day.
... Theater Condemned.
AT the present time the theater has
viciousness that is apparent through
out the country and the same is true
with the press. A good press In inyal-
liable. 1t is also an educator when
good news is given to the reading
public and yellow journalism eliminat.
ed. 1t is the general saying OF edit.
ors of the yellow journals that the
people want it, but it seems to me
that no decent editor would permit
such rubbish to be published in his
paper.