Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

| people the best in literature and edu-
cation. She has her reward in the
vast number of her sons and daugh-
tiers who have helped TO build other
states and to give the world the best
in government and fine arts.
| 1t is not without significance that a
state with a population of less than
| 100000 has given to literature three
! Pulitzer prize winners in two years.
Edwin Arlington Robinson, in 1922.
received the award for the best book
of poetry for that year; in 1928.
owen Davis and Edna st. Vincent
Millay received the awards for the
best play and the best volume of
poetry Of the year. Another Maine
prize winner was Charles Boardman
| Halves who was awarded the John
| Newberry Medal for 1928. This
medal is given to that book which. in
the opinion of the children's libra
rians, is to be considered 1.-The most
distinguished contribution to Amer
lean literature for children"
Early Progress
Maine has had Libraries from early
colonial times-they have. evolved
here as elsewhere. from the parish.
| club, and association library to the
! free public library of today. In fact,
we may be proud that Maine in 1854
was the third in the United States
to adopt free library law. Well
toward the front have we stood on
those notable steps OF library pro-
| gress-the grant of state aid in the
establishment and maintenance of
free public libraries. and the inaugu-
ration of a travelling library system.
| In the early days the chief purpose
| of the state library was to furnish
reference books for the state depart
ments, officials, legislature and the
courts. The policy gradually changed
until all kinds of literature were cir
culated and the service was extended
! to all citizens.
! The state library is highly
specialized institution, with experts
directing its departments, and adj
! justing it to the ever growing de-
| mands and needs of a new industrial
period.
| Reference Bureau
! The general reference bureau sup
plies information on all subjects.
| Within the last few years the work
of this department has increased
| enormously as the residents of the
state have come to realize that any
one in Maine is entitled to use the
library not only for purposes of gen.
eral culture, but also for assistance
|
partment receives ana answers re-
quests for information on wide
range of subjects. This department
has no modern fiction but at the dis
posal of its patrons nre books on
masonry, carpentry. heating, paint
ing, accounting, craftsmanship, liter
allure, journalism. Psychology, re-
ligion, political science, law, educa-
ton. commerce. science, medicine, en-
gineering, agriculture, manufactures,
, building. architecture. travels, biog-
! raphy, the domestic arts, and history.
! Whatever patrons interests may
be- the library is equipped to supply
j books along that line. and it is also
ready to furnish information on sub
, Jects for club papers. school essays,
college theses, debates. etc. thereby
experimenting the resources of local
I libraries and high SCHOOLS and bring
ing to the most remote portions of
! the state the advantages and facili-
I ties OF an up-to-date reference libra
! ry. Most residents of rural districts
are familiar with shopping by mail.
! but only a few states can boast a
/ mail order service in reference libra
ries. issuing books. one two or three
/ at time to any individual who
; wishes them.
Owing to the fact that there are
| almost daily additions 20 the library,
! 1t Is not feasible to publish a cata-
/ logue. but on request d list of books
! en- any subject in which q patron is
; interested. will be prepared.
Legislative Reference Bureau
The legislative reference bureau
| has special charge of the law section
| and is in touch with oil the lawyers
, in the state. Further. through this
10. -
i lature has placed at his disposal the
/ latest information on any subject in
which he may be Interested To
make this work possible. it is ncces-
Sary to collect. digest ard index many
4 periodicals. reports. pamphlets and
books. and all research work must be
done between sessions. as during the
sessions the entire tlE,e of at least
three members of the staff is spent
in the actual serving Of the legis-
lators. Among the most important
features of this work ire the collec-
! ton. arrangement, ANA filing of ma
! terial on public questions. as the
latest information is rarely. if ever,
available in book form. and the So
called "ephemerar' l.tel ature Of the
day contains matter too valuable to
be thrown away.
The Industrial Bureau
| The industrial bureau specializcs
IN books dealing with the subjects by
which Maine people earn a living.
Through it's agencies the farmer
, goes to agricultural college. the
! housewife to the school of household
economics. the bookkeerer to the COL
, lege of business administration. the
road maker to the engineering school.
The state library Is equipped with
material useful to Industrial workers:
books and pamphlets descriptive of
the industrial processes, biographies
or industrial leaders. uade publica-
tons. technical journals and articles
which Will interest :radesmen. In a
word. the library gives attention to
literature on vocational work,
Historical Bureau
The historical bureau has charge
OF all matters relating TO the history
OF the state. counties and towns, as
we'll as all state reports. All state
documents and reports are distrib-
uted by this bureau. The bureau in
/ terests itself in all local historical
work. advises about writing local his
torres, vital statistics and genoa logies
Bureau of Library Extension
The bureau of library extension
carries the library work to the local
communities through
Travelling Libraries. Collections of
books of every description. carefully
selected and widely advertised are
sent to the remotest corners of the
state to provide reading for recre-
ational, inspirational and educationa
purposes. A library of fifty volumes
costs only $3.50
Schools of Instrucfiop Tboca ~ohoa,-