Norwich bulletin., 1911-12-16

JONATHAN TRUMBULL.
John F'eilowes, trustee of Raymond IL
frary. Montville. Evelyn H Curtiss,
Danielson: Miss Imogene A Cash and
Harriet G. Cross Norwich; Mrs ]. G.
Burr. Baltic
The address OF welcome was given
by Principal H. A TirreIl of the Free
Academy to which c. D. Hine respond
ed. he being chairman of the meeting.
he also gave an address upon Library
Possibilities There were reports from
the different representatives Of libra
ries regarding conditions in their
rowns. and suggestions were offered.
Regarding the Peck library, Miss
of great value. While there is little
fiction, the books in art, English lit
erzcure and classics are more numer-
GUS The books in art are not in very
large numbers. but as a whole the cir
culaffon IS considerable. While there
are no fines imposed for keeping books
longer than = stated period, she finds
that the books are replaced even
though II takes some longer to bring
them back than others- The library
was solely for the use of the pupils
and when first started an excellent line
OF books had been Put in. 1t was used
q supplemental work for the vari-
Gus studies and the children using
them increase year after year
Luncheon was provided at the res
tzurant IN the Academy building
TIE first address OF the afternoon
was Some Principles OF Book Selection,
by Jonathan Trumbull, librarian at the
Otis library He said:
Librarian TrunbuII's Address.
This discussion must embrace an
unlimited scope of book selection, for
all classes This scope, however, may
be reduced by applying certain fixed
principles of selection to certain
classes of books It is here that ex-
49, 80
classes are. 10 use the Dewey classifi-
cation. religion. science and useful arts
banning only those in which expert
assistance appears TO be most needed.
have some doubts about including
philosophy. but since it has grown to |
be the fashion OF the day to turn the |
general reader TO the broad pastures
covered BY that very general term, |
new thought" 1 believe 1t viii do no |
harm TO admit free browsing to all |
readers to whom the term seems at |
trzctive- Al least the experts can |
hardly help us, as yet. for they, them |
selves. seem TO be by no means fully |
decided as 70 what new thought may /
he. nor does the general reader seem /
10 be fully convinced that he has found /
II when he seeks It Something /
from further study of the term and |
ITS definitions. or perhaps further ex-
ploirations may reiegate il to the |
things that were II is sufficient for /
in the new list of subject-readings |
adopted by the A L A.
For the rest. the various subheads /
Under philosophy may require more
or less OF expert assistance, including, |
as they do. the thoughts of the great /
thinkers Of all time on meta physics,
psychology, ethics. etc. and the |
thoughts OF little and great thinkers
On suDerstitions. humbugs and psychic
The question Of expert assistance in
the selection OF books on the general
subject of religion and especially of
theology is different All Librarians
cannot expect to be divinity students.
and IL is only to the divinity student
CT broad mind and large humane sym
pzthies that We should look for expert
assistance
Pursuing stiu further the question
II expert assistance in book selection,
we come now 10 the remaining classes
known as science and works. In both
n these the question becomes more
complicated for We must look for as
siEtance from many specialists and in
books for the general reader
ve must avoid books Of a highly tech
niczl nature. or at least remember
hat the technical student is the ex-
.eptf3n rather than the rule among
he patrons of a general public Ii
1rarT- On the other hand. some at
empts TO popularize scientific studies
nay lead to the selection of books en-
irely unfit for the purpose, so that 1t
s IN avoiding the two extremes that
he assistance Of the expert is needed.
In the useful arts much may be
lone by studying local conditions. If
/ library is located in a town whose |
industries are sof a certain.
ven defined character, the existence
Il those Industries should in a great
Measure Eoveh the selection of books
which apply to them And both in the
ciences and useful arts, books should
70 freely supplemented by periodical
literature, for books can hardly be ex-
'ected TO keep pace with the almost
ally march of progress in the htera-
ure OF the mechanical arts
II Is in the selection of books which
% not distinctly require the assistance
+ experts that the burden of work and
esponsEbilify falls on the librarian.
Mr. Trumbull cited some of the
n7ortant guides in the selection OF
c5ks new and old
Other Papers.
The other two addresses which were
card with much interest were: How
! Promote the Reading OF Better
looks. Frank c. Wilcox. librarian,
CHOKE. Mass-, and Christmas Books
n Children and Young People with
xhiblr Of bocEs). Sarolins NJ. Hewins.
zeretary public library committee.
k4sme from chs Isthnsus.
Leon A Buzzeu. son of Mr.. and
[rE 81 A. Buzzell of East Lyme, ar
red< Ehursdzr evening from Bocas del
- -hsr. ha has been in the en-