The Library World Volume 58 Issue 3

Abstract

SUN and moon and the substantial natural beauty of Folkestone combined to give the Library Association Conference this year an almost ideal setting. Moreover, it was a Conference equable in speech and with an atmosphere of good will and good sense not always present in such variegated company. This postlude to an abominable summer will be remembered with pleasure. One can say that the choice of President was entirely justified. Mr. Sydney, who spoke often with modest, often almost depreciatory tones, proved to be master of the art of handling an audience, deft in phrase, genial in his introductions and words of thanks, and as skilful at the Annual General Meeting in guiding the choppy waves of debate as we could desire him to have been. Further, the Presidential Address was a reflection of many of these qualities and in substance a candid review of the pleasures, opportunities, high aspirations which were those of many librarians but which were so often frustrated by the limitations of local thinking and, often, pinchbeck “economy”. At the same time, he emphasised the great developments that were taking place and the fail that libraries today were becoming more nationally and internationally pervasive and related. It seemed to be a most memorable address.

Citation

(1956), "The Library World Volume 58 Issue 3", New Library World, Vol. 58 No. 3, pp. 45-64. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb009405