The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1919-11-20
NORTH DAKOT'ALI
BRARY ASSOCIATION

The fourteenth annual meeting Of
the North Dakota Library Association
was held at Valley City, Nov. 1O-l1,
1919, in the heart Of one of the sever
est blizzards North Dakota has had
! for many years. In spite of the winds,
x the drifts, the binding snow, the
meeting was well attended and en-
Enthusiastically enjoyed. The prelim-
mary social evening and the first
morning sessionsWere held at the pub
lie library, the remaining meetings at
the State Normal school. ~
The first papers on the program
were on the subject Of cooperation
between school and library. Miss
Lowry, assistant librarian Of the state
Normal, spoke from the standpoint Of
the Normal School, Prof. Brown, prin-
cipal Of Valley City High school from
the standpoint of the Public School,
Miss Lowry stated that the needs of
the Normal school are very different
from those of the High school and
college, as Normal students, as teach
ers have to train children in the love
! of books. The teacher influences the
reading of the child more than any,
and should therefore have special in
struction in selection Of books and be
thoroughly trained in the use sof a
library. The Normal library should
be completely equipped. Books in
many cases Should Be selected from
lists compiled by teachers in special
fields. A Normal school should have
a children's department, easily ac-
cessible, bright and pleasant. 1t would
be well, also, to have a model High
school library. ..ssl3 N
The students should be informed of
the State Library Commission, Of the
bulletins, leaflets, and other general
help the commission offers. They
should also be instructed about the
laws Of the state which control the
formation of public libraries and on
the use of public documents. The
Normal student should be filled with
the gospel Of the library.
Mr.. Brown, in his stirring address
stated that school purpose was to.
make citizens, regardless Of how they
are made, to instill character, form
good, lasting habits. In making citi-
zenship of the highest type, minds
should be made ready for problems,
ready to meet the present day needs
of community. Students should be
encouraged in wide reading Of up-to-
date works. The desire to devour,
present day material is increasing.
The librarian should cooperate with
the teacher in selectings books, should
be interested in the school, in every
thing that is going on in school life.
The librarian should work with the
student like a teacher, showing him
how to use the library intelligently
so he will always feel at home there.
:, Mr.. Adam StrohIn, librarian of the
Detroit, Mich. public library gaveSthea
leading speech Of the convention, sub
ject, "The Enlarged Program" He
said in part: The motive power back
Of our Enlarged program is our de-
votion to the service Of promoting and
stimulating sound public thinking,
grinding mental and physical energy
into fruitful channels, and releasing
noble impulses and sympathies for
their application in human relations:
The welfare and public recognition
of the American library Association
are Of very incidental consideration in
our proposed enlarged activities. In
deed we will fail altogether, as we de-
serve to do, if we exploit ourselves, or
urn our resources, our service records,
our professional credit toward selfish
ends. We must not be found among
the &profiteers. Our ranks must be
made up Of men and women faithful
but not famous.
ssg The new grouping Of nations, the
groping yearnings and released pow
er of human masses make us realize
that these are days of immeasurable
possibilities. People must have am
pie opportunities. People must have
opportunity to learn the errors and
blessings of our modern civilization
by unrestricted access to the records |
Of our civilization. The sanity Of
public opinion and the safety of pub
Tic instinct depends upon the oppor-
tunity, Of the individual to form his
own Independent Judgment.
The most important local issue
brought before the convention was
plea, presented by Miss Green Of Mi
not for the Organization Of county
libraries in North Dakota. Steps were
taken toward the legislation neces-
sary to bring practical results. "a Pc
tition was drawn, a copy OF which will
be sent to each library in the state.
Signers will be sought among people
in the county in which each respectivel
library is located. These petitions;
signed, will be presented at the annuali
meeting next year and legislation will
follow.
Mrs. Allen, wife Of the president Of
the State Normal: gave q delightful
tea Monday, after WHICH q brilliant i
program was given by Isolde Menges,
noted English violinist, in the audi
torium of the Normal.
The association voted to hold the
1920 meeting at Jamestown, and elect
ed the following officers:
President Mr.. Keater, University
Of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Vice President Miss Margaret
Green, Minot.
Secretary and Treasurer Miss
Sarah Helen Griffiths, Valley City.
The following resolutions were pre-
sented to the convention:
We, the members Of the North Da
kota Library Association assembled
for our fourteenth annual convention
place ourselves on record in the fol-