Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-07-16
STATE LIBRARIANS.
Papers and Reports Su omitted
and Officers EIected-Bristoi
Girl Gets Prize.

lI5 SeCODu udy seSSlOH dI Jhe w dlhci
Science hall, Middlebury college, Tuesday
morning.
The president, Miss Frances Pierce, of
Ludlow, called the meeting to order and
the address of welcome was given by
President John NJ Thomas of Middlebury
college. The response was made by M.
NJ. Wilson, chairman of the state
library commission. The report of the
secretary-treasurer was read by George
D. Smith of the Billings library, Burling-
ton. The reports Of the publication, for
estry and educational committees were
read by the chairman, NJ. NJ. Wilson of
Randolph, Miss Frances Hobart of Cam
bridge and Redfield Proctor, jr., of Proc
tor. A vote of thanks to the newspapers
of this state was adopted for their willing
cooperation with the committee in dir
Getting public attention to the Libraries.
At the afternoon session reports were
read of the annual meeting of the Amer
can Library association a week ago at
Breton Woods, N. H. They were given
by Miss Bertha NJ. Shaw of Pittsford
and Miss Evelyn S. Lease of Montpelier
A paper showing the progress of forestry
in the United States and particularly in
Vermont was presented by Austin f.
Hawes of Burlington, the state forester
Miss Della l. Gri fin, of st. Johnsbury
director of the Fairbanks museum, gave
an interesting talk on the best nature
books for children, chasing as first of
interest to the children the works of
Ernest Thompson-Seton then those of
William j. Long, and next those of
Burroughs. E. NJ. Goddard, assistant
state librarian at Montpelier, discussed
the selection and use of state and gov
ernment publications. Miss Alice Shep-
pard, assistant librarian of the city
library at Springfield, Mass, brought out
the necessity of library advertising.'
The following officers were elected for
one year: Miss Frances Pierce of Lud-
low, president; Mrs. Kate w. Barney of
Springfield, vice PRESIDENT George ID.
Smith Of Burlington, secretary treasurer;
second vice presidents, Mrs a, ID. Cham
berlin of Pomfret, Mrs. n. NJ. Planter of
Bellows Falls, Miss Evelyn Lease of
Montpelier, Miss Lucy Cheney of Rut-
land, Miss Elizabeth Hills of Lyndon
vile and Miss Elizabeth Rogers of Poult-
ney.
The following nominating committee
was elected: one year, Miss Mabel Pol
lard of Chester, Mrs. George Boyce of
Barre; two years, Miss Frances Hobart
of Cambridge.
Mrs. c. NJ. Winslow of Brandon, read
resolution of appreciation of the work
done by Miss Edith Clark of Burlington,
who until two weeks ago has been the
only secretary that the State Library
association has had, which was adopted.
At the evening session large crowd
gathered at the Warner Science hall to
hear James 1. Wyer, Jr., director of the
New York Library school, and secretary
of the American Library association,
lecture ON "What Americans Read"
He said in part that the influence OF the
thousands of libraries yet cuts small
figure in the reading of the American
people, that the libraries do not exercise
the influence in determining what we
read and discriminating between what
is good and bad. The best way to find
out why libraries have so little influence
is to discover what people do read. Read
ing matter may be divided into three
classes, newspapers, magazines and
books. He further stated that the power
of the newspapers is greater than that
welded by all of the colleges. He
severely criticized the "yellow jour.
nails" but said that they formed very
small percentage of the American news.
paper, and he commended the newspa-
pers which do not indulge in sensational
methods. He said the greatest danger
is the influence of money on the press.
AS regards books Mr.. Wyer said thai
in so years the books most read have
been of class not recognized by libra
rians, such as those of f. p. Roe anC
Mary j. Holmes. The problem is what
can llOIdlldilS 10 10 enlarge lHelTS III
fluence. First, they must have larger
appropriations, then they must have
greater freedom from rules. The libra
rians must be people capable of arousinl
interest in the best literature. In con
clusion he said that the time is probably
coming when mails and express com
panies will carry books free
Wednesday the third day of the Yer
mont State Library associations meeting
was record-breaker in attendance
there being nearly 80 representative
present. 1t was announced that a SIC
prize was offered by the Vermont library
commission, to the librarian who ha,
done the most effective publicity worl
for her library during the year. Tn
prize was given to Miss Catherine Stewar
of Bristol.
The entire day was confined to tn
practical work of the association. In
structions were given in classifying
cataloging and related subjects. PraC
e,fu s,,h hAA nAi in