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and proceeded at once to deliver the president's annual address. In setting forth the duties of library trustees he advanced many clearcut and cogent suggestions of practical interest to all persons engaged in library work. The mission of the library, he declared, was to furnish good reading to the people. Fine buildings, adequate equipment, numerous volumes of carefully selected books, trained librarians and competent assistants, all these may be considered necessary. But the most elaborate appointment and the most intelligent service in the reading-room will not, in themselves, accomplish the mission of the library. The books must circulate. If the people will not come to the library, the library must go to the people. "It is a mistake," said he, "to suppose that it is one of the chief duties of the trustees to prepare a catalogue for the use of the public. It is their business, rather, to prepare the public for the use of the catalogue." The field he considered wide and inviting. Books could be taken to the Sabbath school, the value of the library explained there and the co-operation of the church secured. They could be taken to the factory and issued to the men and women at the close of their day's work. They could be distributed in the public schools where, under intelligent direction, rare opportunity is presented to cultivate a taste for healthful literature among the young.

At the conclusion of the president's address Miss Linda A. Eastman, of the Cleveland Public Library, delivered an interesting report on library extension. Within the past year new libraries have

been opened in Coshocton, Lisbon, Logan, Marysville and Massillon.

Miss May Prentice, of the Cleveland Normal school, made a report on "Library and Schools, and Cooperation With the Ohio Teachers' Association." This included a brief account of the meeting of the library section of that body at Put-in-Bay. In speaking of the use of the library in schools, Miss Prentice said that the books need not always bear directly upon the recitation. Some teachers would read the twenty-third Psalm to the children only to illustrate a lesson on sheep. The needs and capacity of the children should be kept in mind, and within these limits a degree of freedom should be allowed, even if it sometimes leads outside of the routine of school work.

Superintendent E. A. Jones, of Massillon, who was present as the representative of the Ohio State Teachers' Association, spoke of his mission and the intimate relation that should exist between the public school and the public library. The latter is not a supplement to our educational system; it is a component part of it. He gave a briet account of the Ohio Teachers' Reading Circle and the excellent work it has accomplished. The pupils' reading course is now read by over nine thousand children in the State. The traveling library system will enable the children in the small villages and rural districts to get the necessary books at trifling expense. Superintendent Jones stated near the close of the meeting that he was much pleased with the spirit that seems to pervade the Library Association, and

that he would have many good things to report to the educators of Ohio at their next meeting.

In the afternoon the members of the Association enjoyed a trolley ride to the National Military Home, where a very pleasant reception was tendered them. After the band concert they met in Putnam Library of the Home, where the afternoon meeting was held. In the absence of Mr. F. W. Ashley, of the Morley Library of Painesville, an excellent paper that he had prepared was read by Martin Hensel, of the Public School Library of Columbus, subject, "Some Obstacles to be Overcome in Starting and Managing a Small Library." The paper was discussed by Miss Mercer, of Miss Mercer, of Mansfield, and Miss McElwain, of Xenia. Considerable interest was manifested in the statement by the latter that the Xenia Library contains five thousand volumes, that it has thirteen hundred names on its list of contributing members, that it receives no support from taxation, and that the Reference Department is free to all who choose to visit the library. Others

participated in the discussion. After a vote of thanks to the officers of the Home for courtesies extended, the session adjourned.

The program for the evening included a very pleasant visit to the Dayton Public Library and an inspection of its interesting museum. The evening session was held in the assembly room of the library.

Four of the Dayton teachers participated in the work of the evening. Miss Lelia A. Thomas read a paper, "The Child and the Story," in which she gave a most interesting account of some experiments in the primary department

of the Dayton schools. The child read the story and then related it to the school. Minor defects in language were not noted. The child was encouraged to feel perfectly free. Results were gratifying. "School Libraries, Pictures and Books as Aids in the Schoolroom" was the subject of an address by Miss Agnes Bruce. Another phase of the subject was presented in a paper by Miss Lila P. Hall. She emphasized the importance of choosing safe books and books suited to the grade of the pupil. "Goody-good" books, as well as those of a questionable character, should be avoided. The discussion of this topic was concluded by Miss May Crowell, who described the methods of book distribution in the Dayton schools. At present the Public Library furnishes to the schools of the city, for distribution under the direction of the teacher, one book for every two pupils.

"Reading Without Tears" was the subject of a very thoughtful and original paper by Miss May Prentice. She dwelt at length upon the importance of careful selection of the first picture books that are put into the hands of little children. The picture should leave a pleasing impression on the mind of the child. It should not bring tears to his waking eyes or hideous visions to his dreams. The mind never loses its impressions. We do not forget. The mind of the little child is wonderfully receptive. Pictures that fill it with terror have more influence on the future life than most of us imagine. The child loves fun, and the things that appeal to the infant sense of humor can do no harm. Miss Prentice illustrated her address with a num

ber of drawings and several cheap picture books gathered at random from store counters.

The evening session closed with a paper by Miss Linda A. Eastman, entitled, "The Children's Children's Room." The public library should make special provision for the children. It should be made attractive to them. It should be managed by an assistant acquainted with their needs and inspired with the love of children.

Thursday morning's session was held in the parlors of the Beckel House, President Conover in the chair. A committee on Library Extension was appointed and made to include Hon. J. F. McGrew, President of the Ohio Library Commission.

Public Libraries, of Chicago, was made the official organ of the Association. A full account of the proceedings will be published in that journal. State Commissioner of Common Schools, L. D. Bonebrake, who was present, was called upon for remarks and responded in a strong address. Formerly the child was punished for bringing other than text books to school. Now he is supplied with attractive. reading matter and his natural thirst for knowledge is directed to useful ends. Mr. Bonebrake expressed great interest in the library movement now so perceptible in different parts of the State.

Hon. J. F. McGrew, of the Ohio State Library Commission, followed with remarks full of sympathetic interest in the library movement, and pledged hearty support to the "laudable work of the Association."

Maps were exhibited showing the distribution of traveling libraries through the State within the past

year. State Librarian Galbreath reported that over 400 of these had been sent out from the State Library. They had gone to the public schools, granges, women's clubs, Sunday schools, and other organizations.

Within the past year Librarian Whelpley presented to the Cincinnati Public Library a bust of his life-long friend, James Murdock. Mr. Porter, President of the Library Trustees of that city, spoke of the gift and said many complimentary things of the venerable donor.

"The Duty of the Trustees to the Library" was next considered. Mr. Shuey, of the Dayton Library Board, thought that the trustees could learn much by visiting the library between meetings and studying its needs. studying its needs. This led to a discussion on the choice of books.

Mr. A. Sheldon, of Norwalk, next presented a matter that may lead to very important results in the educational history of the State. The traveling library system, so successfully introduced by the Ohio State Library, he thought could be taken up by counties, with the county seat as a point from which books could be distributed. The suggestion was very favorably received. The State Library would favor such a plan. It would supplement the work it has already undertaken. The matter was referred to the Committee on Library Extension.

In the afternoon the Association visited the factory of the National Cash Register-the sociological wonder of the United States. Here many of the hopes of Bellamy are realized under our present industrial system. No description that we can give here will do this won

derful institution justice. It must be seen to be appreciated; men have traveled thousands of miles to see it and have felt amply repaid.

The College Section met at the hotel late in the afternoon. The classification of books was discussed, and officers were elected for the coming year.

Robinson Locke, Trustee of the Toledo Public Library, was elected President of the Association; Charles Orr, of the Case Library, Cleveland, was re-elected Secretary. The next meeting will be held in Toledo.

Thus ended the fourth annual meeting of the Ohio Library Association, the most successful, in many respects, in its history. "The prevailing thought," said Superintendent Jones, "seemed to be, how shall we get good literature to the people?"

It was an ideal meeting and the Association found Dayton an ideal place for it.

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-G. B. Bolenbaugh has entered upon his new work as assistant principal of the twenty-fourth district school, Cincinnati. He is located in the Lincoln Building which was dedicated September 14, and which is one of the finest buildings in the state, the cost being $75,000.

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- J. D. Holcomb of Rio Grande has been appointed county examiner in Gallia county. The other members of the board are W. H. Vanden of Addison, and A. C. Safford of Gallipolis.

- The next annual session of the Belmont County Teachers' Institute will be held at Bethesda August 21 to 25, 1899. The instructors will be Dr. S. C. Schmucker of West of Wichita, Kan., Miss Margaret Chester, Pa., Supt. Frank R. Dyer McCloskey now of Edinboro, Pa., and Miss Loretta McGrannahan of Wheeling, W. Va. President Brown has appointed Miss Bessie Nizum of Barnesville county secretary of the O. T. R. C. W. Č. Bowers is chairman of the executive committee.

-Supt. E. J. Shives is very happy' in his new work in Pennsylvania. He will dedicate a new twenty-one room school building in the near future. His address is Station D), Pittsburg.

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The thirty-first meeting of the Jefferson County Teachers' Association was held in the Logan school building at Mingo, October 8, and, although the association has held some lively sessions since its organization eight years ago, this meeting was pronounced a record breaker, both in numbers and interest, by all present. Supt. C. E. Oliver of. Mingo had a carefully arranged program that was well carried out in almost every detail.

At the morning session Miss Kathryn Goodlin presented a thoughtful and carefully prepared paper dealing with the difficulties

the teacher has to encounter from influences brought to bear upon the pupil outside of the school room. The forceful manner in which the subject was handled aroused a deep interest and the discussion that followed was closed only by the time. limit. .

Prin. E. S. Beacom of Bloomingdale followed in a talk on Geography. Mr. Beacom believes that better results would be secured if we paid less attention to localities and more to people, plants and animals, and he gave strong reasons for his faith. This address like the one preceding it brought the association to its feet and the discussion was continued up to the noon recess. It seemed to be the consensus of opinion that relief maps are not of much benefit to either teacher or pupil in the study of geography.

During the noon recess the members of the assocition were taken in charge by the officials of the Ætna Standard Steel Company, and piloted through its mammoth plant, following the process of steel manufacture from the ore to the finished product.

Upon reassembling Prin. J. H. Lowry of Empire read an excellent

paper on the progress that the public schools had made in the past and the opportunities for still greater progress in the future. The paper and the discussion that followed emphasized the thought that in sparsely settled localities there must be centralization of schools and uniformity of school work.

Papers on "Primary Reading" by Miss Zoe M. Day of Mingo and Miss Grace D. Knagi of Toronto, fitly crowned the successful day's work. Here as elsewhere in the proceedings the discussion was quite animated. Almost every method had an advocate. Word, sentence, phonic, Tundenberg, and even old A, B, C coming in for a share of patronage.

A solo by Miss Maud E. Lisle and a recitation by Miss Bessie Satterthwaite added to the interest of the afternoon session.

Prin. W. H. Maurer and Assistant Principal M. B. Whitaker of the Steubenville High School were both present and were heartily welcomed into the ranks of the association. It was decided to hold the next meeting in Steubenville at a time to be fixed by the executive commit

tee.

-C. E. Blue of West Unity has been appointed county examiner in Williams county. The other members of the board are P. L. Warren, West Unity, and H. L. Goll, Stryker.

-The Northern Pacific Railway has just issued a new map of Yellowstone Park, that should be in demand. It is a relief map in colors, is scientifically made, and is complete in topography and nomenclature. The map is about 22 x 28 inches in size and is printed on heavy paper, thus making it suitable for framing.

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