St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-09-27

Interesting Session of Essex, Gale
donna and Orleans County Library
Heads at Orleans.


orleans, Sept 21.-The meeting of
the Librarians OF Essex, Caledonia and
Orleans counties, held at the Congre-
gational church Wednesday after
noon and evening under the auspices
of the Book and Thimble club, was a
very pleasant and profitable occasion
The session was opened at 3 o'clock
by an intermezzo on the pipe organ
by Miss Sadie Lothrop, followed by
an address Of welcome by the presi-
dent OF the club. Mrs. f. :. kinney.
The first speaker was Mrs. Jacob
Soloman of West Burke. who spoke
on Community Work That Might Be
Undertaken by a Small Library" in
which she stated that the great
handicap was lack of funds, but that
a great deal of good might be accom-
plished along the line Of extension
work The object of the library
should be to help the citizens of the
town as it already does the school
She suggested that the library be
more of a social center than it usual
~ is and in the smaller towns might
be the means of securing a lecture
course, thereby helping the commun-
ity and at the same time getting mon
ey for library purposes.
The next speaker was Mrs. G. j.
Gross of Orleans who spoke on the
Cooperation of Library and Com
munity." She told how the Or
leans library had grown from few
books in a book case in some parlor
or store, with a total of less than
TOO books to its present size, and
quarters. Since 1911 the Book and
Thimble club have had charge of it
and supported it by teas, auctions and
contributions, the town paying $3.50
per year. which is used for current
expenses. There are total of 1886
books. Twelve magazines are sub
scribed for and IA others regularly
contributed. Under the efficient lead
ership of Miss Ruth Richmond as Ii
brarian the library does very good
work and the village has the prom
Use of a library building to look for
ward to.
Miss Marie Darling then favored
the audience with a pleasing solo in
the absence of Miss Edith Lothrop.
AS Miss Mary X. Norton of Proctor
was unable to be present her paper
on Some Recent Books for Children"
was read by Miss Evelyn Lease OF
Montpelier. She expressed the need
of more inspirational books for chill
dren, and had no sympathy with tho
intermediate grammar and high school
scholars, and suggested more books
of poetry and biology.
Miss Wright, secretary of the Ii
brary commission, spoke briefly on
the commission, and told of the loan
of books and pictures which were
free to communities, Sunday schools
and study clubs, also of the financial
aids given to the struggling libraries.
Vermont should be proud of the fact
that it was the fourth state to have
such a commission. Mrs. TruaX of
st. Johnsbury told of the art collec
tions containing from 80 to 100 pic
lures. which might be kept three
weeks for the application.
Miss Eber Wiley of Barnet told
briefly of the library Of Barnet which
has S75 yearly from an endowment
fund to spend for books. There ar
three branch libraries from it as well
as books loaned to rural schools.
The last speaker of the afternoon
was Prof. c. l.. Erwin of Barton, who
spoke on the school and Library
and emphasized the fact that the
two most potent factors for the up
lift of the community were the Ii
brary and school, therefore they
should work together.
The books best enjoyed by the pu-
pills of the seventh and eighth grades
chosen from a selected list, were
Ancient Mariner" vision of Sir
LaunfauI," Great Stone Face"
"Evangeline," "Courtship of Miles
Standish,' showing that children
really care for reading of the better
class. Children and young people
should not be compelled to read the
classics or books they do not care for
but they should not be allowed to for
get them.
A delicious supper was served at
o'clock to the visiting librarians.