C. R. PERRY: At the last session of the Children's Librarians' Section
action was taken looking towards a co-operative list of books for
children. There were some features connected with it that were of such a
general character that we thought it essential that the plan come before
the Association in general session, to secure proper authority for us to
proceed with the work; furthermore, there was no further session of the
Children's Librarians' Section, so if a report was made at all it would
have to be made to the A. L. A. in general session. The report is as
follows:
_To the American Library Association_:
At the last session of the Children's Librarians' Section a committee
was appointed to formulate some plan whereby a co-operative list of
children's books may be produced, this committee to report at some
general session. We now are ready and beg leave to report progress.
We have interviewed over 50 members of the A. L. A. within the last two
days, and find a general desire for such a list. Moreover, the people
interviewed have expressed their willingness to subscribe among
themselves a sum of money necessary to cover the cost of preparing such
list (postage, typewriting, stationery, printing, etc.).
Your committee have found that one or two days are hardly sufficient to
enable us to bring our plan into perfection. We desire very strongly to
accomplish the results for which we were appointed, and therefore ask
for more time. We do respectfully recommend and ask that authority be
given to our committee to proceed with the following plan:
(1) Committee on co-operative children's list to appoint six people to
collect the subscriptions which have been promised.
(2) Some one experienced and well-known librarian to be appointed by
our committee to undertake the preparation of the said list.
(3) When such person has been appointed and has accepted, the money
raised to be turned over to that librarian.
(4) Our committee to suggest to the person undertaking this work a plan
whereby not only may be secured the approval or disapproval of
librarians and teachers as to the books of the tentative list, but
also a report as to the manner in which these books have been
received by the children in all parts of the nation.
(5) A final and definite report to be submitted at the next conference.
This report to include the books generally accepted and those
rejected as well.
Respectfully submitted,
CHESLEY R. PERRY, _Chairman_,
J. C. DANA,
ELIZA G. BROWNING.
President CARR: This report comes before you in the nature of a
recommendation, and suitable action would be to move that the
Association appoint a general committee to carry out the recommendations
of the report. That committee might consist of the members of the
present committee, who drew this report--Mr. Perry, Mr. Dana and Miss
Browning.
R. R. BOWKER: Is not this a matter which should come under the
jurisdiction of the Publishing Board? It would then give this proposed
committee somewhat the relation to the Publishing Board that is borne by
the advisory committee on printed catalog cards. Otherwise we might have
a confusion of results.
Mr. PERRY: That matter was discussed, but we felt that we were preparing
something which at the next convention might be submitted to the
Association, and then referred to the Publishing Board. We are not
expecting to prepare a list for general printing and circulation, but a
list which may be brought up at the next conference as something
definite to be referred to the Publishing Board.
It was _Voted_, That the committee acting for the Children's Librarians'
Section be appointed to carry out the work outlined.