Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-19

the State Library since 1909, brings before
the public some extremely interesting de-
tails. 1t has also brought out the follow
ing very interesting survey of Maine
library needs, written by an authority
on the subject
THE Maine State Library will probably
always be the largest book depository in
the State and it brings it's resources to
the widely scattered population through
its travelling libraries department. Few
states in the Union attempt work of this
sort except such states as have widely
or sparsely settled population. rural or
otherwise. The librarians report states
that there has been great demand for
works relating to politics, sociology, his
| tory, biography, travel, material on aGrl-
culture and fisheries; and last but not
least, legal works. The majority of the col
lection in the Capitol, with the exception
of works for general reference and some
legal documents. may be borrowed by any
citizen of the State upon payment of the
parcel postage both ways.
But what of the business men? There
has been no class of books which has
shown the consistent yet rapid growth
which has been evident in business books
during the past few years. compare
lively short time ago. business books were
practically unthought of except in some
lines which have always had their books
such as life insurance, banking, law, and
the like AS a rule, business has had to
grow out of itself. from information In
men, rather than in books.
ic NJ q
more and more the tremendously vital
factor in business. Besides books, tech
nical journals, and pamphlet and leaflet
material contain much literature of per-
manent worth and generally in one of
these forms matter appears which later is
published in book form. So it is not
wholly to bound volumes that the bust
ness executives as well as employees must
turn for the latest authentic information
There is apparently, however, a strik-
ingly evident lack of appreciation i'll the
New England states of business Informal
ton. Public libraries, especially in Mas
sachusetts, are extremely well established
and have excellent material. Yet the
average city or state supported library
ignores pamphlet material and pays little
or no attention to business information
The Twentieth Century idea in libraries
is becoming to mean scientific use OF
library facilities. Dead material stored
away on shelves, if not used intensively
. is an economic loss. The more progress
sve libraries make greater use of their
facilities by publicity campaigns. This
generally means newspaper notices and
10 lot
for patrons, special lists of different
classes of literature, extension and read
| ing clubs, exhibitions, lectures, and va
rious other methods. The business of be-
ing a librarian no longer calls for an ex-
tensive love of books, although such an
attitude may in itself be useful, but for
executive and administrative powers Of
high order, especially in large city sys-
TENS which require the handling of ex-
tensive budgets.
"Efficiency-the watchword in CONNER
cial and industrial life today-is slowly
but surely spreading to every activity in
the world of affairs. An Apt illustration
of a specific instance to illustrate the use
of present means may be seen in our OWL
State library.
Libraries and other public institutions
should first serve their immediate consu-
tuents-the taxpayers. The broad move
ment embracing the entire country in
bringing before the people the city gar
den plan and back to the farm move
ment" is splendid present day activity
| Scientific Investigations have been made
through governmental agencies to deter
,,,jn i've boy
business. 1t has been found that even q
! large number of business men do not
know how their own bushes is run. 1t
has also been shown that farmers. bust
ness men and others know little regarding
business and the percentage of failures is
without doubt due greatly to this lack
: of knowledge.
zone progressive institution in the East
which receives no city or state aid is do
ing what probably no other institution
I in the country is doing. Ralph" L..
Power, librarian of the College OF
Business Administration and curator
of the Commercial Museum at Bos-
ton University. is loaning books on
business and allied subjects to Libraries
in New England which have call for GER
T tam WOTkS Dul are uildDlc ~ p'i NAi'AoN
/ them. The borrowing library pays the
I postage both ways and the books may
be kept only a limited time. This Is be-
cause the Business administration Libra
ry at Boston University is purely for
reference. This library loan Of business
books is a new idea of Mr.. Power. There
are many books which are exceedingly
costly and valuable and a great many re-
lating to industries which must be pur-
chased from abroad. 1t is works such
as these when wanted for research that
Boston University Is loaning.
THE Commercial Museum in the same
institution, under the same direction as
the library has adopted policy which is
| extremely beneficial to business men in
Boston. Office Appliances for January
of this year contains an extremely inter-
esting article regarding the business IL
brary and the work which Mr.. Power is
doing for the business men of Boston
Beyond a doubt, Boston University is
showing itself to be a progressive instltu-
ton. The University is to be commended
for its progressiveness-a spirit which
might we'll be emulated by many another
| institution