Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-31
Hon. II. E. Dunnack
On Work of Library

The newspaper in the past three
| decades has raised the number of
those in this country who make use
OF print for recreation and informa-
ton to many millions" declared
state Librarian Henry T.. Dunnack
IN addressing the Grange Lecturers
Wednesday evening on the subject.
Tho Library and Modern Life"
livery day the newspaper gath
ers moro and prints more Of ali that
touches life" he said. "Tn their
magazine departments they publish
the novels. essays, poems, dramas.
histories and biographies of the best
writer's.
The newspapers are our educa-
t!onal salvation for they enable us
to acquire in the simplest and quick
est way little of the vast mass of
information which tho worlds web of
wires. reticulatiOn of rails and fleets
Of ocean ferries will daily bring us.
or all outside agencies 1t is the
newspaper which helps to make the
library known. ! do not need to en-
large on their almost universal SYM
.rathy for the work of the, library,
their unfailing courtesy toward it,
their readiness to print material in
regard to it.
The Library and Education
The library and the laboratory
have already practically revolution
lied the methods of higher educa-
ton. In the really modern univer-
sity. the chief, building is the library.
The library, so years ago unknown,
fas become today the center of the
institutions intellectual activity.
"The modern library is the helpful
friend nf aninnfiHa lee, -
cieties: of educational organizations:
of city improvement organizations:
Of teachers clubs. parents societies
and women's clubs.
The New Idea Of the Library
From the earliest days of her
history Maine has not ceased to
give to her people the best in litera-
ture and education. She has her re-
ward in the vast number of her sons
and daughters who have gone from
her villages and hills and from the
quiet OF her seashope hamlets to
build other states and to give TO the
world the best in government and
The fine arts.
at is not without significance
that State with less than 500 900
population has giveI. to literature,
Edwin Arlington Robinson, who re-
ceived the Pulitzer Prize for tho hest
book OF noetry in 1922. Owen Davis
who received the Pulitzer Prize for
the best play in 1899 and Edna st.
Vincent AIillay, who received the
Pulitzer Prize for the best book Of
poetry IN 1929.
among the great departments at
the State Capitol at Augusta the
Maine State Library may be called
one Of the most important. SO cou1-
pletely have the ideas and methods
OF managing the State Library
changed that We need a new name
for It. Library" used TO mean a ST.
lent place where one might go for
a quiet hour with the good and great
Of forgotten ages. Today II Is a
place where people go to find the
best market for lumber and the
shortest route to reach ii. how to
DO more and better work. Most GER
tainly Library" is wholly made
qhate name. 1t might have correct
ly been called the Vocational Uni
yersity
"Tn the early days the chief pur-
pose of the State Library was to
furnish reference books for, the
State departments. officials. legisla-
tIIre and the courts. The policy
gradually changed until all kinds of
literature was circulated and the
service was extended to all citizens.
Today the State Library Is q highly
specialized institution with experts
directing It's departments laut ADJ