uld be understood, also, that it is a librarian's duty to state
fully the worth of the services of his assistants, and seek adequate
compensation for them.

A board of trustees can do much, and should always do as much as
possible, to keep the interests of a library and of a librarian from
being sacrificed to supposed exigencies of politics.

In some portions of the country the appointment and removal of
librarians for political reasons has become a scandal.

A board of trustees owes it to its librarian to protect him from the
vagaries of impracticable men who may by some chance become members of
the board.

For example, it should quietly vote down unwise propositions, as they
are made by fussy or narrow men; by those persons who, while they are
self-confident, are also ignorant; by men who are so constituted as
always to oppose or hold back, or go ahead recklessly; and by such
persons as wish to have a hand in doing everything which it is the duty
of the librarian to do, and yet are unwilling to give any time or
thought to the conduct of affairs.

There is a tendency in many boards of trustees, when a single member is
urgent in opposition to some measure proposed by a librarian, and the
other members have no positive opinions regarding the matter, to yield
to the objector.

Such oppositions may afford a proper excuse for the delay, but should
not be allowed to become permanently efficacious in preventing the
execution of a project, without the librarian has been given ample
opportunities, for explaining the grounds of his recommendation. The
librarian should always be treated as a cooperator, and not as an
unintelligent servant. It would always be unwise in him to press the
adoption of measures until their wisdom is generally recognized by the
trustees. Still his reasons for advising action should be ascertained
and duly considered.

A board of trustees will always do well to have the librarian present at
its regular meetings. His knowledge and experience will be found of
value.

His plans will be the better understood. He, too, by being present will
not only comprehend better than in any other way the wishes of the board
of trustees (and its members), but, that which is of great importance
will catch the spirit which animates it, and become aware of the general
principles which it desires should underlie the administration of the
institution.

Trustees should bear in mind that unnecessary delays are to be