the United States, but its success might well
prove suggestive to library trustees in other states. The
three following papers were all read at a single library
conference in 1890, which may show that there was then some
degree of awakening to the necessity for discussing this
phase of library administration.

LIBRARY WORK FROM THE TRUSTEES' STANDPOINT

A few first principles by the president of the Board of what
was at that time the St. Louis Public School Library, since
1893 the St. Louis Public Library. The Rev. Mr. Learned read
this paper at the Fabyan's Conference of the American
Library Association, in 1890.

John Calvin Learned was born in Dublin, N.H., Aug. 7, 1834.
He engaged in teaching, went to Missouri in 1856 and in 1859
entered Harvard Divinity School. After graduation he was
pastor of a Unitarian church in Exeter, N.H., and in 1870
took charge of the newly-organized Church of the Unity in
St. Louis where he remained until his death, Dec. 8, 1893.
He was a member of the Board of Managers of the Public
School Library from 1884 to 1892 and its president for half
that period.

An old play has it that "trustees are not to be trifled with" and, as
they are not only allowed but invited to come among the librarians to
assert their rights and their authority, why should they not do it
vigorously? Did they not originate the librarian? "Shall the thing
formed say to him that formed it, 'Why hast thou made me thus?'"

Yet to assume such creative power must load us down with
responsibilities--greater, I fear, than some of us have joyfully
accepted. In fact, do not trustees incline, as a rule, to throw too much
of the burden of library administration upon the librarian? If the
incumbent of this office is fairly willing and capable, is he not
suffered to do pretty much as he pleases, except it may be with regard
to such large measures as the construction of buildings and the
management of investments?

Proportioned to the authority of trustees, however, is their
responsibility. To whom much is given, of them much is required. And the
position of the better sort of trustee valuable to the best work of the
librarian, is not that sinecure seat sometimes depicted. He must
constantly stand as the able and ready advisor of the librarian, and for
the honor and defence of the library. He will be made the court of
ultimate appeal in many