The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-02
President Owen Reports

existence dates from November q. 1904.
At that time the library interests of the
state were in chaotic condition, and
altogether without form. Catching some
thing of the spirit of library growth from
some of those sections of the state where
1t had already taken firm root, and where
it was in a healthy condition. some few
of us felt that the time was ripe for or
ganized effort here, and to that end we
perfected plans for this association
The several meetings of the association
have been held as follows November
21-22, 1904, Montgomery; December 40,
1905. Mobile; May 10, 1907, Montgomery;
November 1921, 1907, Birmingham Besse-
mer and Ensley; Decmbeer $40 1908, An
niston, Jacksonville and Gadsden.
THE meetings have been well attended
as rule, and, so far as / am informed,
all of the librarians and library workers
have without exception Joined enthusi-
astically In our support.
THE main purpose of the organization,
as so far developed. has been, as outlined
in Its constitution: The promotion of
libraries and library interests in Ala
bama' In our present stage of develop
ment that has been take to mean that
our first duty was in behalf of extension
work and the general strengthening of
existing libraries, rather than any inten-
sve effort in behalf Of the technical side
of library administration. Therefore, Ue
effort has been made looking to the de-
velopment of interest In libraries where
none has heretofore existed, with a view
to the esta blishment of free public IL
brary, colleges and schools have been
urged to provide for and literally sup
port the library side of the college equip
ment, and every agency possible has been
brought into requisition in these direc-
tons. And yet the technical side has
oil a bou aar
estly for trained Guardianship. separate
library buildings, and singeness Of adj
minstration.
cat the second annual meeting 1905, the
association took over the small travelling
library collections Of the Alabama Fed
Grafton of Women's Clubs, and Immediate
ly provided for their circulation by
travelling library committee, of which
Miss Laura NJ Fillmore was the execu-
tive secretary. This work was carried
on until 1907, when the state relieved the
association of the travelling library work
Free Public Library Growth.
when this association was organized
November 81, 1904, there was only one
absolutely free public library in the state
and that honor belongs to the Carnegie
library Of Montgomery. There were prob
ably a half dozen public libraries, So
called. in the state, but their use was
limited to subscribers, or subject to con-
ditions which, under any rules of fair
consideration. would exclude them from
the free public library class. From the
agitation which Immediately followed has
come about the erection of and mainten-
ance of free public library at Decatur,
Selma, Bessemer. Ensley, Avondale, Gads-
den, Talladega and Troy. The library at
Eufaula dates contemporaneously with
our association.
when we entered upon our campaign
of activity there were not exceeding five
library buildings In the state; that is,
buildings exclusively devoted to library
uses. Those of which we have informa-