Williston graphic., 1916-11-02
BOOK KEEPERS
COMPARE NOTES
LIBRARIANS OF STATE HOLD
SUCCESSFUL ANNUAL CON.
VENTION HERE
Visitors Enjoy Stay in City-Enter-
tanned BY Ladies and Commercial
Club

vASAsOIS AIUJOy Ot0y III SlCy-EUVeI~
tanned BY Ladies and Commercial
Club
! The weather man, the hospitable
spirit of the Williston people and the,
ability of the principal speakers on
the program of the eleventh annual
convention of the State Library As
sociation all combined to make it both
pleasant and profitable. The dele.
gates arrived on No. Thursday at
ternoon and spent Thursday evening
in informal conference over problems
common to all.
Friday morning the formal sessions
opened with an address of welcome
by E. r. Brownson, president of the
local board. who said that Librarians
are much like central telephone off,
ces, connecting rich and poor, high
and low alike with the books and in
formation they are in search of. He.
also ranked the library with the,
school and the church as strong
educational force in the community.
President Steele of jamestown re-
sponded with brief history Of the
whole library movement and said that
the mission of the modern library was
not to guard its book but to get them
used, to make every man and women
of any intelligence reader of good
books. He offered as a motto for the
modern librarian the following re-
solve: 81 must yoke every book on
my shelf to some reader"
Mrs. Budlong, of the State Library
Commission at Bismarck, who said
she was used to "impersonating," took
the discussion of Library Supplies"
in place of Mrs. McVeety of Fargo.
The consensus of opinion was that it.
was economy in the long run to buy
in large quantities as possible. Miss
Greene of the Minot Public Library
led the discussion Of library recc-
and methods of simplifying. S.,
factory methods ,of doing necessarS
things with brief entries were well
tested. The librarians time is spen.
to better advantage on books and peo-
pie than on too many records.
Mr.. Steele gave a brief review Of
the duties of library trustee, limit
ing his activities largely to the fnan-
cial part of the library affairs. If a
satisfactory librarian is found the IL
brary policy would better be left
largely in her hands.
MlS lOOh w LIlc uloCuS--
sion and said that trustees duties
library can be brought to the notice
and use of the public through five peo-
pie better than through one alone, and
when the library board understand
what the librarian is trying to do they
can spread the influence wider than
she can by herself. Then, too, in
North Dakota the librarian is often
isolated, professionally, and needs
the contact with others who have her
problems. The board should see that
the librarian attends the annual con-
vention and, better still, that she is
accompanied by one of her board who
will profit by the larger understand
ing Of library problems and possibili-
ties.
At 1890 the visiting librarians and
the local library board adjourned to
the Congregational Church basement
where delightful luncheon was serv-
ed to them by the Ladies' Aid. The
library board were the hosts to the,
library association and to represen--
tatives of the various civic organiza-
tions and clubs of Williston. Yellow
and white were the colors used, and
the service was in the hands of white
gowned ladies with yellow aprons.
Following the luncheon were two
short after-dinner talks, both excel
lent. Mrs. Budlong gave brief
synopsis of the service rendered the
state by the Library Commission at
Bismarck, and Miss Drake Of Sioux
City spoke on "The Library and the
Business Man" Test your library,
was her advice, and see if it isn't
ready to furnish you. just the fact
you need to-day in your work. Her
description of the way in which the
Sioux City library has met the test
was both amusing and inspiring.
efficiency" is evidently her watch
word.
The afternoon program was devoted
largely to a report of good recent
books; A few novels were mentioned
but the reviews ran largely to psy-
chology and biography, for human
nature is certainly the most fascin-
ating subject under the sun. Travel
came in for a share, especially books
about the West.
Rev. J. H. Batten very kindly con-
sented to take over at The last min
ute the discussion of "The Library
and the Movies" and a lively inter
change of ideas followed as to how
such a powerful factor for uplift and
education could be made worth while,
instead of a purely commercial affair.
A ride in the fresh air in automo
biles furnished by the commercial
club was very welcome after day
spent in continual discussion and the
visitors were deeply interested in the
pontoon bridge, the first that many
of them had ever seen.
Miss brakes Address
The evening session of the conven-
tion was attended by number of in
terested townspeople and was per-
haps the most delightful session Of
all. Mrs. Jackson, accompanied by
Miss Jeanette Craven, opened the
program with violin solo and was
heartily encored. Then Pres. Steele
CONTINUED on page q