Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-05-17
26TH MEETING maine LIBRARY
ASSOCIATION, UNITARIAN CHURCH

The 18th meeting OF the Maine Library
day morning at 1880 O'Clock in the Uni
tartan church, Waterville. A large num-
Der of exhibits were shown in the Ware
parlors. where the delegates, who rep
resented many cities and towns IN the
State. examined them previous to the
opening Of the meeting in the church.
Pres. Dunnaeks Address
Rev Henry Z. Dunnack. president OF
the association, presided and following
the reports of the secretary and treas
urer gave an address on Library De
velopment in Maine He first made
the statement that the two central Ii
brary agencies author.zen By the State
are the Maine State Library and the
Maine Library Commission. He gave
the history of the State library from the
time when it had its beginning in re-
solve by the Legislature of 1885, which
required the secretary of State to pun
chase, under the direction OF the gov
ernor. a library for the use of the Leg
islature and to expend $500 for the same
TO the present when on its shelves will
be found 100. 00l books and pamphlets and
rs periodicals which contain full AMI
equal representation of the various
branches of history, law, science, 'e-
ligion, political economy, industrial ana
fine arts. language and literature. Mr.
Dunnack empha sized the fact that any
citizen of Maine may borrow books OF
the State library. In 1917 over 1000 per-
sons were served in person or by mail
Mr.. Dunnack also gave the history of
the travelling library system, which was
established by law in 1899 through the
efforts of the Maine Federation of We
mems Clubs. The libraries contain ~
books each and are sent to any part of
the State on payment of five cents a
volume to cover the cost of transporta-
ton. The first year AZ travelling libra
res were prepared and circulated and
in 1917 392 libraries were in circulation
These Libraries are under the dire ctlon
of a library commission, one OF whom
is the State librarian. The present mem
bers of the commission are William H.
Hartshorn. Mrs. Kate G. Estabrook. ].
Howard Winchester. Charles A. Flagg
and Henry L. Dunnac..
In referring to Maine and the
world war, Mr.. Dunnack spoke of
the splendid work done by Governor
i-illiken personally and through Ad
jutant General Presson in getting to-
gether all possible information and
! material for instant use and in two
hours after the opening of the legis-
lative session on the morning follow
ing the Presidents war message,
passed a s1,000,000 appropriation bill
for war purposes. Other war meas
ures Of the Legislature were also emu
merated. The speaker stated that the
contributions to the various funds
have averaged more than $50 for
every man, woman and child in the
State. He spoke of the work of the
Junior Volunteers and gave it I'M
stinted praise He touched upon the
work of the Food Administration and
the cooperation of the Library asso-
citation in this regard. He also stated
that more than 10000 of Names sons
are in the various branches Of the
service.
Mr.. Dunraek reported more than
$500, 0G0 books collected by the libra
ries in the State during the intensive
March campaign. file made it plain
however that the book campaign is
not over. Books will be needed as
long as the war lasts. Maine sent
s3,42l.29 towards the 81 900 900 fund Of
Hn no
maintained during the summer trav-
cling libraries at several war camps.
He called attention TO the advan-
tages obtained by advertising the
library as one would q business and
also to the fact that the library as n
the industrial classes and the bust
ness people. 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. The
printed word is now becoming more
and more the tremendously vital fac
tor In business" said Mr.. Dunnack
and gave some suggestions as to
what kind Of books for libraries to
obtain along these lines.
The report also showed how the
Library Commission is cooperating
with the State Board Of Education
along its various lines of activities.
Also the work Of founding new libra
ries was fully reported and the aid
which the State affords in such cases
| was fully explained. The State will
/ Ia 20
cent. in --ilue Of the books and docu-
ments purchased by the town for
such newly founded libraries, except
that the donation shall not exceed
800 and provided that the town shall
! have raised and appropriated not
| less than 800 for the purchase of
such hooks and have made provision
for the care and distribution of its
own books and those purchased by
the State,
An exhaustive and comprehensive
| report on what the Libraries are doing
was also given by President Dunnack,
and Normal schools and closed with
| a lengthy report on the State Library
! its functions and its work.
A nominating committee consist
ing of ]. Howard Winchester of Cor
lima: Mrs. Anna Reed of Fairfield
and Miss Lucinda Marston of Pres
que Isle and a resolutions committee
| consisting of G. 6. Wilder of Bow
dein; Charles A. Flagg of Bangor and
Frederick Persons of Bangor were
appointed by the President.
An invitation to visit the college