Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-15

Inc present library % In the north.
eastern wing OF the State House, but
tns main library only about $4,000
III the total 10000 volumes can be
housed, the remainder being crowded
away in widely separated places all
over the building, wherever room IL
available. In the morning meeting, CON-
SIDERABLE time was given to the dis
cussion of resolution made at the
last meeting as to the advisability Of
q system Of fertilization Of Librarians,
but no decision was reached.
Then the formal instruction Of school
children in the use Of libraries was
brought up for discussion, and John A.
Lowe gave an interesting account Of
the manner in which this work is car
ried on by the Massachusetts, com.
mission. There was also a brief dis
cussion Of the advisability Of intro
ducing such instruction into the Nor
NAL schools of the State.
In the afternoon another session was
held, and at this time q number Of
other vital topics were brought up and
discussed, the first being 1.-THE function
of the library to vitalize knowledge"
At this session, Charles F. Belden
presided. and Mrs. Belle H. johnson
acted as secretary. Prof. Emerson said
in regard to the first topic. Vocation
al training seems to be the way in
which most of our knowledge vital
ICES" and he added that 1t Is his be-
lief that there is another way fully as
important, and that that way 10 by
means of the imagination. He COM
mented on the fact that all the knowl-
edge of the old world and the new are
stored up in the library. and said,
1.-THE knowledgeSof our American peo-
pie as class is very superficial, land
told of watching young man and his
wife who were ahead of him on the
car, who purchased a Boston Ameri-
can" and at once fell to studying the
comic section. 1T may not have been
demoralizing, but 1t was neither ele-
waiting nor vitalizing," said the doctor.
He spoke Of the good work being done
by teachers for furthering the library
work and said that the way to get boys
and young men to read good books Ii to
give them a prominent place In the libra
ries. II teach history, and I find that
the boys who come to my classes. sup
American history In many cases have no
conception of the meaning of the Pilgrim
movement which resulted In the settling
of their own country" 1.-The value OF the
library institute" How simple can ef-
fective cataloguing for the small library
be made" Library inspection stand
ards" I'm what way, If any, have the
large libraries helped the smaller ones,'
These were some Of the topics brought up
for discussion. In which everyone present
took part. Mr.. Belden said: I'm order
for library in New York to receive
state aid 1t must have been open so many
hours, must have a certain circulation,
and the report blank system is used 10
determine these things" ]. H. Winches-
ter explained a system of deposit stations
whereby the rural schools could be sup
piled with small libraries, and State Ii
brarian Dunnack gave an account OF the
work being done by his department in
sending books to the smaller towns all
over Maine. Mrs. Belle Johnson, the Wis.,
iting expert, told Of various methods IN
vogue among the librations OF Connecti-
cut, and when the meeting broke UP at
S.25 p. M. it was generally felt that a
good deal had been accomplished In the
limited amount of time which was at
hand. si