Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-16

Monday afternoon was attended ny
about 40 members from different pats
of the State.
Pres. Fiass Presides
President c. A. Flagg OF Bangor act
ed as presiding officer, and p *. Jones
of Orono, librarian of the Onive: sity
of Maine. acted as secretary. The
meeting opened with the reading Of
the treasurer's report, by Han
nah Leach. The report was ac-
cepted, and President Elagg then de-
livered a short address to the meet
ing, speaking briefly of the work
which the commission has done in the
State since it's formation is years age.
he stated also that the only original
members who are still in the ..rganiza-
ton are Miss Julia Clapp Of this city
and Mary NJ. Curran Of Bangor. He
spoke very highly Of the great work
which State Librarian Dunnack mas
been doing towards the extension Of
the travelling libraries throughout
Maine, and of the tremendous oppcr-
tunity for good which this work pos
sesses.
He stated that the Maine Library AS
ISOLATION commenced again this year
to hold bi-monthly meetings, and also
of the summer schools Cor librarians
and others interested in library work,
which are to be revived after having
been discontinued since the fall o. 1914.
He also spoke of the great Importance
of cooperation between the library
and the school teacher, and of the ben
eft which can be derived from the use
Of the library by students. In speak
made concerning a State library, he
said The Blaine site has been pro-
posed as desirable for State library.
and no more fitting memorial could
possibly be erected to the srea- states
man than this"
Committee on Resolutions
His address was followed by applause
and business meeting was then held,
State Librarian Dunnack moved that
a committee on resolutions lie appoint
ed. This was done, and tne committee
appointed consisted of Miss Clapp,
Miss Brainerd and Mr. Winchester.
who then left the meeting to make out
their report. A committee on nomina-
lions was appointed, consisting Of Mr..
Dunnack, Gerald G. Wilder of Ran
gor and Miss Furnish. Then a general
discussion Of several topics took place,
among others the opening of libraries
on Sundays and holidays.
The concensus Of opinion seemed to
be that in most cases the opening of
libraries Sundays is not of any partic-
ular benefit. Quite a number Of the IL
brarians present had tried it and found
that people as a rule 90 not take ad
vantage of this to any extent. Presi-
dent Flagg then advised the appoint
ing Of committee on legislation for
the coming year, the motion was sec
onded and carried.
Rev. n. e. Ounnaek
A fine address on the Library
Outlook in Maine" was read By Mr..
Dunnack Among other things he stat
ed that although Maine has done very
little compared to the other New Eng
land states, several new libraries have
been established in the last two years,
and others are coming.
He spoke Of the circulating libraries
which have been tablished through
out the State, with mothers clubs, ru-
raj schools, and juvenile organizations.
and thanked State Superintendent
Taylor for his great assistance in this
good work. He said that the great
problem is to get people to read good
books, that the average man and
woman reads lot OF worthless fiction,
and little else. He stated that his last
two years have shown that most people
do not appreciate good reading, that
he has bought quantities of the very
finest books and that it is not pos
sible to get people to read them, that
many of these books will always be
there at the State library, monument
tc. his ignorance of the reading wants
of the people. The public libraries of
the State of Maine do not get close
enough to the people" he said and
went on to state that the buildings
were in most cases so fine that the
average man does not feel at home in
them. He gave his conception Of what
goes to make up an ideal library. and
said, Every story that is cheap in
quality. no matter what it's price.
helps to make cheap boy or girl"
He showed how the free public Ii
brary helps toward progress and eff
cheney, and said that the four things
which reading ought to give to the
reader are pleasure, culture, ideals and
force. He closed by telling very in
teresting story and adding that the Ii
braries can be Of tho greatest possible
good to the State.
Supt. Taylor
A short talk by Superintendent Tay-
Tor was listened to with close interest.
He told the assemblr that his time for
the past year has been passed in Wis
iting small schools, Of four or less
teachers. and he stated that in many
of these small schools the Libraries are
rot adequate to the needs, although in
several places, such as Eustis ana
Stratton. good starts have been made.
He spoke of the great difficulty OF get
ting appropriations for school libra
ries. on account Of the school trus-
tees, who in many cases think that II
the text books are provided scholars
nothing more is needed. He spoke OF
the cost Of graduation exercises in
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