The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-04
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DR.. Chalmers Hadley of Chicago. sec
rotary of the National Library associa-
ton, former president of the National
League of Library commissions, and a
man who for a lifetime has been iden-
titled with the work of popular educa-
ton in the establishment of libraries In
the north, last night delivered at the
Chamber of Commerce auditorium his lee
ture on 1.-THE Library and the People"
DR.. Hadley came to Birmingham by ex-
press invitation Of the Chamber of Com
merce, through its president Frank Nell
son. Jr., fact which local educators
believe shows that the library movement
has ceased to be a mere literary or senti-
mental movement and is coming into rec
| ognition as business and commercial
| issue.
A representative audience greeted the
speaker, and his address was attended
throughout with unnaggins interest.
Through the courtesy of Mr.. William
Gussen, Miss Elise Jones and Miss Cor
RE Handley an excellent musical pro-
gramme was arranged The selections
rendered were as follows, Miss Handley
acting as accompanist
Violin Solo-"Love Scene" CMiersch,
Mr. Gussen.
Vocal Soio-"A swan, VGriesJ, MISS
Elise Jones.
Violin SHORTCOMINGS from svenson Mr..
Gussen.
Miss Jones.
Or. HadIey introduced.
President Frank Nelson, Jr., of the
Chamber of Commerce, was inavoidably
absent and his place in introducing the
speakers was filled by DR.. ]. H. Phil
lips DR.. Phillips stated that he regarded
II as most significant that DR.. Hadley
was to be heard under the auspices of
the Chamber of Commerce. 1t marks an
Important step. he said. in the develop
ment Of the library. the movement hav-
ing grown from one Of mere literary
and educational Importance to be live
commercial issue. There are two class
es of people in the library movement"
said DR.. Phillips, chose who are for the
library and those who are Indifferent. I
believe there is no ctass who do not ac-
knowledge the benefit Of library 1t
is to the Indifferent that we wish to
make our appeal, and to whom DR.. Had
ley directs his lecture"
BY way of introduction DR.. Hadley
declared that Birmingham on his first
visit is what he had always had the idea
1t was. another Pittsburg. In the course
many advantages accruing to q public IL
brary that is absolutely free. The various
benefits of the library In its relation to
the education and uplift OF the masses
were clearly set forth, and special en-
phasis laid on Its benefits to the labor
ing man. The Importance Of the move
ment to the business man as an invest-
ment of dollars and cents was logically
brought out. DR.. Hadley stated that
presidents and managers Of Industrial
corporations are not slow to realize that
If books on technical subjects are placed
In the hands OF their employees 1t means
higher grade of work and a more eff
fcient output for the firm. The value of
the library to the farmer the working
man, the teacher, and to society in gen.
eral was fully treated.
Or. HadIey's Address.
DR.. Hadley spoke in part as follows:
III we stop and reflect a moment We
must realize that the library movement
is rapidly gaining ground. The position
of librarian Is no mean profession; great
sums of money have been expended In
the past few years by Mr.. Carnegie; there
are 10 library schools in the United
States, all engaged in producing efficient
Librarians; library commissions have
been established in 10 states. and library
ASbOClAtlOub ia lAiAo btatcSb City CouHclS
throughout the country have been busy
in appropriating money for libraries.
and taxpayers have come to realize that
money expended for libraries Is a sound
investment.
Few people really understand what the
work IL. There Is q great difference of
opinion as to the very meaning Of the
word library. To some minds 1t repre-
sents small building Of severe Greek
architecture which might be taken for
government building or family burial
vault. To Others 1t suggests the picture
of a cold and unattractive room, the
walls OF which are lined with row upon
row of books, and around which tiptoe
few silent bookworms. But building Is
no more library than an empty build
ing with blackboards on the walls is a
schoolhouse. ]. Cotton Dana has defined
q library as q collection Of books,
building and mistress. In library
the building has been said to represent
per cent. the books 10 per cent and
the librarian Is per cent. This meaning
| Of the word library il thoroughly modern.
Mrs. Fairchild has spoken of the
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