New Britain herald., 1929-03-14
BELIEVES READING ]
 TASTE IMPROVING
Hartford Librarian Says Literary
 Ideals Are Higher

Ideals in literature are changing for the better and not for the worse. according to Trueman Temple, chief librarian of the Hartford public li- brary. in an address to the Rotary club on Men and Books" today.
 The Hartford man opened his ad- dress by telling of the most expen- sive book he ever saw. which is in the possession of J. P. Morgan. This book printed on purple parchment in letters of hammered gold, each letter hand hammered into the page, was bought for $50,o00 and could not be purchased now for a quarter of million.
 He described briefly the history of books and the growth of public li- braries. Telling of the demand for books in earlier generations MT. Temple referred to the fact that l.in- coin walked 20 miles for book on the life of Washington, while today he said people do not want to walk half mile for d good book.
 For that reason it is necessary to open branch libraries. The good li brarian of olden days was the man who guarded the books, today the good librarian, he explained, is the fellow who can get his books worn ont the most rapidly in q legitimate manner
 Deciding which books are good and which are not he said, IS Ole of the hardest jobs of q librarian. Ideals are changing all the time. un- iii older people sometimes are "p- palled at what they See,
 He told of an incident which Oc- cured in Springfield. which, he saiJ, is characteristic. A woman went into the library and complimented the li- bra rian upor having certain book on the shelf. 'lt's perfectly wonder full and teaches such great lesson. she said Its Look which every youth ought 10 read.
 That afternoon q man entered and said; You ought to be arrest ed for having a book like that in your library. You ought 10 throw it away" The Hartford librarian said both people referred to the same book and the couple were man and wife.
 We get q great many protests about certain books, all sorts of changing for the better. We are looking facts in the face such as We never did before.
 Ten years ago l thought fiction vas not worth while. Today l have changed. II broadens our sympathies. Thirly-fi>c years ago We thought children had no business in libra Ties. Today we build libraries and departments for them.'
 The speaker ,cXpla ned in detail the growth of demand in libraries for technical books of all dcscriD tons Every trade wants books, while it is Impossible to get enougn books for automobile mechanics Hc added. He told of the scorn which vas directed against 'the book farmer" of a generation ago, and said today every man refers to books applying to his business.
 Graphic illustrations of the de- mand for information from the busi ness library were given by the speaker. Questions of all kinds come to this library and are an- swered by librarians. He told of how missing men were traced and their whereabouts ascertained through the directories and tele- phone books in the library.
 A stray bit Of newspaper was what started Mark Twain on his career, according to Mir Temple. He told of Governor Trumbull's youth and how he was started on his career as manufacturer of electrical equip mcnt by book on the subject given him when he was a boy
 In conclusion Mir. Temple paid a tribute to Miss Grcta Brown of the local library and asked the Rotary club to make the support Of the library one of its objects.
 Alexander H. Scott. past president was presented with past presidents 8 jewel.