The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-19
OPPORTUNITY OF
 PUBLIC LIBRARY

Ottawa, ontario June 1s.-The oppor- tunity afforded by the public library as an open door for information and culture will be set forth prominently at the con- ference of librarians of the United States and Canada at Ottawa, Ontario, June 2s to July 2.
 The concern of the community in the awakening and development of taste in individuals will be the keynote of the programme papers and addresses. This thought will be outlined in President El- mendorfs address and three of the gen. era1 sessions will develop the theme more fully. Library publicity, book advertis- ing, the breadth and limitations of book buying, and the efficiency of library as sistants and their relations to the pub lie will be among the topics discussed. fife programme will partal<e of the inter national nature of the meeting, one ses- sion being wholly devoted to Canadian topics by Canadian speakers, among whom will be George E. Foster, Canadian minister of trade and commerce; James W. Robertson, C. NJ G., of the commits sion of conservation; Prof. Andrew Mar shall of McGil university. Montreal. and George E. Locke, librarian of the Toronto public library.
 Other speakers will be William H. Hat ton of New London. Wis, Carl E. Rodon, of the Chicago public library; Walter L.. Brown, librarian of Buffalo; Carl H. Milan, secretary of the Indiana library commission; Miss Tessa l.. kelso of New York, Miss Mary E. Hazeltine, principal of the Wisconsin library school; Miss Edith Tobitt librarian of Omaha; Adam Strohm of the Detroit public library, and Chalmers Hadlev, librarian of Denver.
 One evening will be devoted to an ad- dress by pr. George E. Vincent, president of the University of Minnesota, and for merly dean of the University of Chicago. Several sections and affiliated organiza- tions will hold meetings In Ottawa at the same time. among which are the state IT, brarians, the flaw ibrarans, the League of Library Commissions and the Special Libraries association.
 For the first time in it's history the pres- ident of the American Library association is woman. At the 1911 conference held at Pasadena. Cal, Mrs. H. L. Elmendorf. vice librarian of the Buffalo public library. was unanimously elected president, the li- brarians following the example of the National Education association in choos- ing Mrs. Ella F'lagg Young as it's presi- dent, and the National Association of Charities and Correction in electing Miss JdllE AuNdllS us US iltdu. MIS-. AlHltn- dorf formerly was chief librarian of the Milwaukee public library, and is one of the recognized authorities of the country in book selection She was one of the edi- tors of the American Library Association Catalog of 5000 Volumes for a Popular Library" published In 1904, which has been the most valuable and widely used li- brary aid ever compiled. The other of ficers are; First vice president. Henry E. Fogler. librarian of the Chicago public library; second vice president, Miss Mary W. Hummer. director of the New York Public Library school; secretary and ex- ecutive officer, George B. Utley of Chi cago. and treasurer, Carl B. Roden. as- sistant librarian of the Chicago public library.
 The American Library association was organized in 1876 and has held annual con- ferences every year since except in 1878 and 1884. The headquarters offices are in tine Chicago Public Library building. There are at present about 2300 members.