Evening star., 1939-04-26
Importance Of Library
Leadership Stressed
Letter to Mckinley in Dr..
Putnom's Behalf Is
Reproduced
To the Editor Of The Star:

Reproduced
| To the Editor of The Star:
Finding successor for DR.. Herbert
Putnam, librarian of Congress, is no easy
task. President Roosevelt has been try
ing for nearly year to discover the ideal
man for the job. think it might in
terest him. as I am sure 1t will interest
others, to read the following letter, writ
ten by DR.. Melvil Dewey to President
William Mckinley. January 81, 1899:
Dear Mr.. President: We believe pro-
foundly in your desire in every case to
do what is best for the American people. I
therefore venture to write you frankly
because many Of us are in great fear
lest mistake be made which will cripple
and embarrass American education for
possibly long generation. The intelli-
gent librarians and those best qualified
to judge of library matters in this coun-
try are very deeply concerned over the
rumors of the possible appointment to
the headship of the national library of
man who has not proved fully his fitness
for this most responsible position in what
has come to be profession. am re-
ceiving kilograms and letters from the
strongest men begging for any influence
to avert what would be esteemed in our
circles as little less than a national
calamity. write strongly because the
matter is vitality important. America is
recognized by other nations as easily first
in librarianship. The Library of Congress
has utterly failed in the past not only
to lead but to take any important part
in the marvellous development of this
quarter century. Our new building is the
finest in the world. We have right to
expect great things. Not one of the cam
didates whose names are in the public
prints commands any confidence from
the library profession. They may be
estimable gentlemen, but the danger is
too great. Some of them have secured
Endorsements from men whose names
ought to count. Several of the strongest
Endorsements to my certain knowledge
were given without understanding the
case and would be withdrawn if it could
be done without giving offense. I have
assured the people whom have met that
I could not believe it possible that you
would fill this position hurriedly or with
any man about whose entire fitness
there was any doubt. I inclose an edi-
torial which has just come to my
desk, because it is a fair, temperate
statement of the case, perhaps as good
as any of the many sent me. have no
knowledge of the writer, but the position
fairly represents the people whose opin-
ion ought to weigh most in filling this
great position. The fact that man may
have been librarian IS not enough.
There are very few of the 5000 librarians
in this country at all adequate for these
responsibilities. 1t Is possible that no
one of the strongest men will accept the
position under present conditions, and
in that case it would be better to over
ride the demand that a professional Ii
man of great administrative capacity and
broad sympathies with the modern IL
brary movement The impression is
practically universal that no one of the
eight or nine candidates whose names
have appeared is at all adequate.
"As the founder and for most of its
history the secretary and executive Off
Ger of the American Library Association,
of which 1 have twice been president;
as the founder of the Library Journal
and of the Library School. have more
than any other American been brought
into contact with the leading
spirits who have made American librar-
ianship the first in the world. I feel that
I have a right therefore to send this
letter and to beg with great earnestness
that you do not fill this position with a
candidate such as are now being so
persistently urged upon you. know
the circumstances of the library, and
1t will get on very we'll with the force
as now organized without any official
head, probably great deal better than
with either of the experimental heads
which are urged on your consideration.
Your assurance that no appointment
would be made hastily would relieve
you from great deal of the pressure,
for most of these men know very well
that their candidacy would under no
circumstances stand the scrutiny of six
months consideration.
"You will doubtless wish to know who
would be the best man from our stand
point. I can assure you of the warmest
approval from the great body of Ameri-
can librarians, If you could secure
Herbert Putnam, now librarian of the
Boston Public Library, Harvard grad
uate, and most successful as librarian
at Minneapolis. In his later position
he has shown qualities in dealing with
hard problems, in harmonizing diverse
interests and in effective administra-
ton which make him an ideal man for
this great position. I know that Mr..
putnam does not desire to go to WASH
lngton and would promptly decline to
be candidate. I am confident, how
ever, that If the appointment were
rendered to him, with his keen sense
OF duty to the public and with the
pressure which would be brought to
bear on him from the leading Librarians
OF the country, he could he induced